Beauty on a Budget Handbook

[skincare_expert]

There are plenty of reasons to be thrifty when it comes to skincare & beauty: a constant shift in trends, changes in skin type due to weather or hormones, empty promises on the Latest and Greatest product...and most people I know, even if they're pretty comfortable financially, don't want to be throwing money away on products, no matter how miraculous they might be.

Skincare-News.com recently published a guide to their top articles on budget beauty (you can find the guide here). Check out these highlights, and feel free to add comments, questions, or suggest your own budget-related topic!

1. Budget Beauty: Where to Spend Your Money. When it comes to choosing skincare products, knowing what’s worth the splurge-and what you can pass on-may be a challenge. Here you’ll find clear-cut tips on how to allocate your budget for skincare and beauty to help avoid pricey mistakes. For instance, rather than dropping a pretty penny on a fancy makeup remover or a high-end cleanser, save your splurges for serums and night creams, which come with a higher concentration of active ingredients. Find out more about which products are worth their higher price tag and which can deliver all the benefits you need without the extra money.
   
   
2. Smart Skincare Shopping. We all want dramatic results from our skincare products, but is it worth spending $50 to $100 on that promising serum or skin cream? Skincare ingredients are more advanced than ever, but that also means they’re more expensive. From pricey essential oils in face and body products to pure pigments in color cosmetics, it helps to know what’s worth the extra money. Learn how to do your homework on ingredients, get more for your money and determine the true quality of your makeup and skincare.
   
   
3. 10 Penny-Pinching Ways to Pamper Yourself. Treating yourself to a beauty treatment can seem like an indulgence, particularly in a struggling economy. Fortunately, you can pamper yourself without overspending-and enjoy benefits like less stress and better skin. Here are 10 budget-friendly ways to treat yourself with easy at-home beauty treatments for your hair, skin and nails. Plus, get suggestions for decadent but affordable products, from chemical-free nail polish to nourishing hair masks and sweet-smelling body washes.
   
   
4. Money-Saving Tips for Radiant Summer Skin. The heat of summer can take its toll on your skin-excess oil, breakouts, dry skin and sun damage are just a few possible side effects of high temperatures. But getting your skin in shape doesn’t mean your wallet has to suffer. Learn how to treat imbalanced skin with home remedies and achieve natural radiance without spending a fortune.
   
   
5. 10 Skin-Boosting Recipes for Spring & Summer. If you’re on a budget, one of the easiest ways to cut costs-and achieve glowing skin-is to make your own skin treatments. These 10 DIY beauty recipes require minimal effort, and chances are you already have some of the ingredients in your kitchen. Whether you’re looking for a quick fix to brighten dull skin or a simple remedy for problems like acne and rosacea, check out this article for whipping up natural skin treatments at home.
   
   


How do you save money on skin/hair care? Do you go wild with DIY, give yourself a "beauty allowance" each month, or only shop sales?

I'm becoming a bit more savvy at concocting my own treatments with natural ingredients (like brown sugar & honey scrubs, Epsom bath salts with Ylang ylang essential oil, and coconut oil hair for my hair). I love feeling like I'm saving money AND pampering myself!