The average woman in the UK spends a staggering £872 a year on makeup and facial cosmetics, according to a survey of 1,000 woman carried out by the online perfume shop Fragrance Direct. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to look great.
Here are some of the thriftiest beauty secrets you need to know…
- If you’ve accidentally bought foundation in a shade too dark, don’t waste money binning it and purchasing another one. Instead, blending it with a bit of moisturiser will help create a lighter tone
- Fix broken lipstick by melting the broken parts together with a lighter or match and then placing it in the fridge for an hour to seal
- Double up the usage. The right shade of lipstick could also be used as a cream blush. Or a shimmery eyeshadow could be used as a highlighter
- Cut open tubes. Just because nothing comes out when you press the pump doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of product stuck at the bottom of the container. So, cut it open to make the most of every last drop
- Create your own matte nail look by adding corn starch to a clear nail varnish. You can then use this mixture as a topcoat over any colour to give it a matte look
- There are lots of expensive gels on the market to help reduce undereye puffiness. But try placing a spoon in the freezer overnight and holding it underneath your eyelids for a couple of minutes each morning
- Cut face wipes in half. They should still be large enough to clean makeup off or cleanse your face
- Make your own dry shampoo – if you have light hair just mix cornflour with an essential oil of your choice. For darker hair, add some cocoa powder to the mix
- Exfoliate your lips by gently brushing them with an old toothbrush
- Broken eyeshadow, blusher or compact? Why not completely crush it and put it in a jar so you can use it with a brush as a loose powder?
For more great money-saving tips, tricks and hacks, check out Take a Break Super Savers, available to buy at greatmagazines.co.uk.