Beauty on a Budget

Here are some of the ways I save money on pampering myself that you can do too!

Ditch the salon for DIY alternatives

I used to think nothing of spending £20 to get my nails done or £15 on a spray tan. Once I started saving for a house I knew I couldn’t justify this kind of spending. I’ve since found a few alternative do it yourself products that look just as good.

My favourite false nails are by Elegant Touch, they are usually around £8 a pack. I tend to stock up when they’re on offer, at the moment Elegant Touch are rebranding their packaging so keep your eye out for the older style packs. I managed to get my favourite set for just £4 in Asda a few days ago. The nails are really easy to use and last for ages if applied correctly.

 

I don’t fake tan much anymore but when I do I tend to go for St Moriz self tanning mousse. It goes on easily and gives a nice colour which isn’t bad for £3 a bottle. My absolute favourite fake tan is St Tropez in shower; this is a bit more expensive but it gives a really natural looking tan and lasts for a week or so once built up. It’s really quick and easy to apply as you just rub it on for three minutes then shower off. It retails at £14 a bottle but is sometimes available for about £8.

 

Over the last couple of years I have mastered the art of applying false lashes, I find Eyelure are the best quality for the price. The lashes are about £5 a set but Lloyd’s pharmacy currently have some available for £2.95 a pack and an additional 20% off using the discount code: SHOPAGAIN20 plus they offer free click and collect making the lashes just £2.35!

 

 

Stockpiling

If I see a product I use on a good offer, I stock up. I have a collection of eyeliners, lip balms and face masks tucked away in a drawer for whenever I need them. Superdrug tends to be the best for stocking up on these kinds of offers, they often have deals that can be stacked together for maximum savings. One of the best deals I got was on Sleek eyeliner, it usually costs £2.99 for one, I got three for just £1.98 and got a free key ring. The offers were: 3 for 2, £2 off each product for Health and Beauty Card members and a free key ring when buying three beauty products.

 

I have also got a few deals where the free gift has been better than the item it came with. A few weeks ago I got two free Skin Republic face mask worth £5.49 each when I bought 6 reduced to clear lip balms for £1.12. Even the lady at the checkout couldn’t believe it. It’s always worth checking what offers are available to make these savings and also build up a nice stockpile of beauty goodies without it costing a fortune.

Groupon

I used to go for regular pamper days and hair cuts before I became a hardcore saver. Still wanting to treat myself every now and again I use Groupon local deals to enjoy a spa day or a fancy hair treatment. I always check to see if the deal is actually worth it and 9 times out of 10 it is actually cheaper on Groupon, especially if there is a discount code available as well.

Vouchercloud and Vouchercodes tend to be best for the latest discounts on local deals. It’s akso worth checking Quidco or TopCashback to see if you can save even more money. The best deal I managed to get through Groupon was a spa day at The Radisson Blu in Manchester for £55.20. It sounds pricey but that got spa access for two people, a 45 minute back, neck and shoulder massage, a 30 minute facial, a bottle of prosecco and a box of chocolates each! So it is definitely worth having a look at what deals are available.

Debenhams Beauty Card

If you don’t have a Debenhams Beauty Card, you need to get one! Even if you don’t shop at Debenhams it’s worth having because once a month they release a ‘Let’s Talk Beauty’ box that contains a free premium beauty product or sample. All you have to do is go to the fragrance counter in your local Debenhams, show your Beauty Card and ask for the latest Let’s Talk Beauty box. The cashier will scan your card and hand you a box with a fab freebie in it.

This is quickly growing in popularity so the best way to get hold of one of the boxes is to go on the day they are released. I’ve been lucky so far and always got a box. I’ve had free mini Clinique Moisturiser, a full size Rituals shower gel, travel size Benefit brow products, Estée Lauder night serum and 5ml bottles of Guerlain and Marc Jacobs perfume. There’s not a chance I’d be buying these products whilst trying hard to save so it’s fab knowing I’ll get a premium beauty product for free each month.

There are other brilliant benefits to the having a card, on your birthday you get a free facial and a free Benefit brow wax! I absolutely love Birthday freebies and if you want to find out about some other free birthday treats have a look at my post: My Top 10 Birthday Freebies!

Freebies

On the subject of free stuff, I’ve recently discovered Sopost deals. These are postal freebies offered at random by companies. They can be hard to come by but I’ve found the Instagram freebie community is great at sharing the latest deals when they come up. When a deal is available all you do is follow the deal link and request the item using your name and address, a few days or weeks later the item arrives through the post free of charge.

I’ve done quite well in the last few weeks, I’ve had a free 75ml Sanctuary bubblebath, three mini samples of Caudalie face products, L’Oréal hair mask samples, and a few trial size John Freida products. It’s great having new products to try out as it means I can have a little pamper session without it costing a thing.

Another way to get freebies is using in store free trials. My fellow freebie blogger Freebeewitch always has the latest info on free samples. My favourite recommendations from her have allowed me to get three 10 day trials of Clinique’s Even Better Glow foundation and a travel size sample of Lancôme foundation. Both products were colour matched in store and handed over for free!

Let me know what you do to save money on beauty products in the comments below and follow my Instagram to see my latest deals and bargains!

Happy Sunday,

 

Thrifty Clair x