Better Budget Health and Beauty Ideas

The health and beauty industry is always booming, making over $90 billion a year thanks to an endless wave of products. We are always looking for the next best thing to make our skin brighter or our teeth whiter, but that means constantly spending money on the latest fad to hit the shelves. 

What if we told you that you can achieve great results by simply getting inventive with household products like Starbucks coffee or Colgate toothpaste? The following hacks might seem a little crazy, but they could save you some precious dollars.  

1. Baby Powder for Longer Lashes

Everyone wants to have long, luscious lashes that look full and plump, but with new mascaras coming out every day it can be difficult to know which one to buy. More often than not, the end result doesn’t look like the advertisement anyway. There’s a hack for this, too. 

Taking a cotton bud, dipping it into baby powder, and applying a thin layer to lashes before applying mascara supposedly helps the product to stick. When the mascara goes on it’s as if you’ve shelled out for some professional extensions, according to some bloggers. 

2. Bra Insert for Applying Makeup

Beauty blenders have been all the rage for quite some time now, but that doesn’t stop savvy makeup lovers from trying to find new ways to serve face. A while ago, silicone blenders became popular, but then someone discovered that bra inserts do exactly the same job. 

If you’ve already got one of these at home then this will cost you nothing. You simply use the insert in the same way you would a blender to apply your makeup. The upside? Unlike a sponge, the silicone won’t absorb a ton of your product, meaning your foundation will ultimately last longer and you won’t have to buy new ones as often. 

3. Aspirin for Blemishes

Aspirin doesn’t cost a lot of money, but did you know that it has tons of other uses? It’s not just a simple painkiller. Some beauty moguls swear by grinding Aspirin down into a paste and mixing it with water, before applying it as a face mask. So, how does it work? 

The compounds contained in the tablets are similar to those found in leading beauty products. The mask can reportedly help combat acne, tighten wrinkles, and even help soothe irritated skin. Considering it’s much cheaper than buying a top-of-the-line mask, this one could be worth a try. 

4. Vaseline for All-Day Scent

Have you ever shelled out a small fortune for a perfume or cologne that you really love, only to get annoyed when you can’t smell it by midday? Even the most expensive perfumes don’t always last until you leave the office, but don’t worry – there’s a hack for this, too. 

According to thrifty experts, you don’t need to spend more money on a different perfume, just put a thin layer of Vaseline on your wrists and neck before spraying the scent. The vaseline will hold it, making it last much longer. The best part? A tub costs less than $2 at Target.

5. Deodorant for Blisters…Or Servants

Not only can deodorant be used on certain areas to stop chafing but it can also be used on the feet to stop shoes or sandals from rubbing and causing blisters. Just either spray your feet or apply some roll-on deodorant and away you go to enjoy a pain-free day.

Or, you could take a leaf out of Queen Elizabeth’s book. The Queen reportedly hands her new shoes over to a servant to wear for a few days to soften them. By the time they’re given back, they’re comfortable to wear.

6. Foil for Teeth Whitening

Let’s face it, we all want whiter teeth, but how many of us can actually afford to buy the costly products that actually work? There are plenty of hacks out there that supposedly help to whiten teeth, including this one that only requires foil, baking soda, and salt. 

According to some sources, mixing baking soda with salt and water to form a paste, applying that to teeth, and then wrapping the teeth in foil can help you get that Hollywood smile. While the results certainly look decent if some blogs are to be believed, there are those that say it’s not the healthiest way to get pearly whites. 

7. Toothpaste for Bright Nails

In case you haven’t guessed, toothpaste can be used for all sorts of things when it comes to beauty. Some put it on blemishes, some use it as lip gloss – others use it to brighten their fingernails. Kiss goodbye to costly cuticle oil and hello to minty fresh wizardry. 

All you have to do is take an old toothbrush and give your nails a scrub with toothpaste. Or, if you’ve got particularly sensitive skin, rubbing it in with your fingers does the trick, too. Leave it for a few minutes and wipe it off to reveal bright, healthy-looking nails. 

8. Coffee Grounds for Exfoliation

It’s no secret that Americans consume a lot of coffee. In fact, nearly every nation in the world loves a steaming cup of Joe, which is why used coffee grounds are easy to come by. Next time you make a pot, don’t be so quick to throw out the grounds. Instead, keep them. 

Coffee grounds make for an excellent exfoliator. Not only are they the perfect texture to get rid of the layers of skin, but the caffeine also has plenty of antioxidants to benefit the skin. It doesn’t matter if you use Starbucks or Kroger’s own! Some people swear by this hack, saying it’s much better than any expensive facial.

9. Beer for Shiny Hair

The last thing most of us think about when we buy a 6-pack of beer is washing our hair with it, but maybe we need to reconsider. Yes, beer is great for drinking – but it’s also great for clarifying the hair, too. What’s more, it’s not a difficult process to wrap your head around. 

Beer can get you tipsy, but it’s also full of nutrients that can inject much-needed moisture into the hair to make it shiny and luscious. So, next time you’ve got one Budweiser left in the fridge, you may want to weigh up the options. Would it be better in a glass, or in the shower?

10. PVA Glue for Blackhead Removal

PVA glue isn’t the first thing that most of us would want to put on our faces, but according to some beauty bloggers, we’re missing a trick. A few years ago, blackhead removal masks became popular. These sticky creams dry on the skin before being peeled off, taking all sorts of nasty directly out of your skin with it. 

These masks don’t cost a lot of money to buy, however, some say that PVA glue works just as well. While we can’t attest to the effectiveness of this, if it’s as good as some Instagrammers say it is, it could be a very cheap and worthwhile addition to your beauty routine!? ?  ?