Cheap Alternatives to Pricey Beauty Products for Women

I'm really cheap. Makeup and Beauty products are, in my opinion, often ridiculously overpriced.

I've come up, with a bit of research, with many cheap alternatives to ordinary products like toners, moisturizers, conditioners, etc.

Maybe other women would like to try these at-home alternatives as well?

Facial Toner:
Fill a little plastic bottle with Witch Hazel and add a few drops of Tea Tree Oil. Shake before each use. You can easily adjust the amount of Tea Tree Oil to create a weaker or stronger product, depending on your skin's sensitivity. Use like any other toner.

Facial Moisturizer:
Jojoba Oil! My skin is very oily, yet despite this product's name, it actually reduces oil production.

Be sure your face is damp or even wet when you use this product. Put 2 drops of the oil on your fingertips and massage into face. I put most on my wrinkly eye area, spreading the rest lightly on face and neck.

This is by far the best facial moisturizer I've ever used. It helps to even out skin tone, actually reduces acne, and does not feel oily.

Jason Brand Jojoba Oil is available at local health food stores, but costs twice as much as Jojoba “Massage Oil” (same thing) online. I get mine from www.wellspringtrading.com, $4 for 2 oz. I've used this same container daily for over 8 months now.

Makeup Setting Spray:
I bought Rosewater once at the health food store for this purpose, and really liked it. Especially if you use mineral makeup, it helps to “set” it with a light spritz when you're done.

After I used up the Rosewater, I cleaned the sprayer bottle and filed it with bottled water and a few drops of Orange and Lemon Essential Oil. Works just as well as the Rosewater, and a tiny container of Orange or Lemon Essential Oil is enough for at least a dozen refills.

I use this same spray to wet my face after my toner, then apply the Jojoba Oil.

Makeup Remover:
Coconut Oil. I just dip a tissue in the (huge) container and rub gently over eyes and face to remove even the heaviest makeup. The makeup just zips right off.

Then I wash (I like Cetaphil to wash my face, and it's cheap at Wal-Mart).

I got a huge container (16 oz.) of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil at the health food store for about $16.00. Also available online, of course.

Note, you can also eat this stuff for its health benefits; many folk do. Link to health benefits of Coconut Oil here:

http://www.coconutoil.com/research.htm

Hair Conditioner:
Again, Coconut Oil. Apply to your hands and rub throughout dry hair. Some women sleep with this on. I'll leave it on for a couple of hours. Then wash and condition hair as usual. Makes your hair so very soft and shiny!

Women with very long hair might like to put a very small amount of Coconut Oil only on the ends.

Facial Mask and Scrub:
BC Headache Powder and Honey. This is the best facial mask/scrub I have ever used! Plus it's not only very cheap, it's ridiculously easy to use.

I empty the BC Headache Powder in my (clean) palm and cover it with a teaspoon or two of ordinary honey from the grocery store. Mix it all up with your fingertips.

I like to apply to a damp face. You can scrub if you like, or just apply to your face, depending on your skin's sensitivity. Leave on for about 10 minutes, and rinse.

Note: Some people are allergic to the caffeine in this powder. If you have such an allergy you can just crush up two ordinary aspirin or allow them to dissolve in water, then mix them with the honey and use as above. I use the powder because of the caffeine, which reduces the appearance of veins and large pores, and because the powder is so very easy to use.

Tooth Whitener:
You know this stuff is pricey even at Wal-Mart, right? I tried Crest's White-Strips and found they hurt my teeth, even hours later.

Instead, I now use this little mix: 2 Tablespoons of Baking Powder and 2 Tablespoons of Hydrogen Peroxide. Dip your toothbrush in their and brush as usual.

Works great, and does not hurt my teeth.

Scented Body Sprays:
I like to use an empty sprayer bottle and put bottled water, a bit of rubbing alcohol, and Essential Oils in there as cheap alternatives to scented body sprays.

I'm very fond of Lavender and Orange Oils, and can mix up 4+ refills of these sprays for the price of one little container of Essential Oil. It's also fun to mix your own custom scents this way. Shake well before each use.

Cheap Makeup of Excellent Quality:
I've no association with this company, but highly recommend ELF (www.eyeslipsface.com). They have eyeshadow quads, clear mascara, eyeshadow brushes, lip balms, and many other great products for $1.00 each.

I used to use Burt's Bees lip balms, but ELF's Therapeutic Conditioning Balm stays on longer and moisturizes much better, plus it's 1/3rd the price.

Their $1.00 eyelash curler is the best I've ever used. I usually order online, but certain Dollar General, Target, and Big Lots stores carry ELF products.

If you sign up (as I did) for their e-newsletter on their website, you get frequent coupon codes for even more discounts.