Saving Your Pennies: Beauty

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I don't know if you've seen my 'Saving Pennies: Style' post, but I thought it was about time I did another post of this nature, but this time make it about beauty. Because carrying signs around that say "Give us money, we are pretty" is not guaranteed to work. I don't begrudge anyone spending their money on expensive cosmetics. Spend your money how you like. I just thought I'd do this post for people with money troubles who don't want to neglect their appearance. I do not claim to be an expert. I am no make-up artist or hairdresser. Just a girl who reads a lot of magazines and owns way too many beauty products.

I thought I'd break this post up into the following sections: hair, make-up, skincare and nails. I want to include a few tips and notes from my experiences with different things and a list of basic products that most people need to create a variety of looks. And, yeah this post is probably going to be pretty extensive. I will try and keep it as short as possible. I just wanted to write something basic that separates what you really need from what all of the magazines will tell you that you need. I would love to actually create a list of items and prices as an example, but I don't want to be seen as advertising or defaming anyone.

Also, I want you all to know that I'm not trying to say that people have to do anything to make themselves more beautiful. It's up to you if you want to wear make-up or not and how much. This is simply a guide for people who want to buy this stuff, but are on a budget. Make-up does not always make a person look better. If you use make-up correctly it can help you to accentuate your best features. Sometimes the best looks are the more natural ones or the ones where you emphasise one feature. 

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HAIR:

I wanted to cover the topics of hair-colouring, styling for special occasions, everyday styling, hair-cuts and haircare. Hair can be one of the most expensive aspects of a woman's beauty regime.

HAIRCUTS:

Most hairdressers recommend a period of about 4-8 weeks between trims, but this depends on the style of haircut and the type of hair you have. Unless you are a hairdresser or are really handy with a pair of scissors I wouldn't recommend cutting your own hair (though I know of a few vintage enthusiasts who do and they seem to do a fine job). The price of a trim is usually cheaper than a "Style Cut" and the price will vary between places. You will have to check around for prices, but the home-hair dressers are usually cheaper than salons because they don't have to pay salon rent or wages for other hair-dressers. You can also try a barber shop if your hair cut is pretty basic and you just need a trim. I've done it a few times and I didn't have any real issues with my hair cut. 

HAIR COLOUR:

Getting your hair coloured by a hairdresser is definitely more expensive that getting it coloured at home, but hairdressers can usually apply the colours a little neater and they can do all the tricky stuff like Ombre tips, streaks and foils. If you want to dye your hair a plain colour at home I recommend getting a friend to do it for you. I often dye my mother's hair and she dyes mine. If you don't have any gray hairs you could just choose not to colour your hair. I know some people who actually can't colour their hair. The colour just doesn't "stick" and it rinses out pretty quickly.

HAIR STYLING:

There are a lot of books, YouTube videos and blogs designed for the DIY hair stylist. Though, while it is arguable cheaper to style your own hair it's not for everyone. My sister had her hair styled professionally for her graduation and debutante ball, And, I think it was money well spent. It looked pretty flawless and it lasted. Again, shop around for prices from different hairdressers sometimes they will have deals on offer where you can get your make-up applied professionally as well.

HAIR CARE:

If you don't have any problems with hair being too oily or dry you usually don't have to spend too much on a shampoo. I wouldn't go for the cheapest brand, but there's usually something decent available in a supermarket that will do the job.

CURLING:

If you like to curl your hair can pick up a packet of pin curl clips pretty cheap on eBay (correct name double-prong clips), but this method is time consuming. If you are going to by a hot-tool it's important to consider what effect you want to create, because some tools only have one purpose. I have seen a few people use a straightener to create a few different effects, but I have tried it and i don't think it works as well as the individual tools do. It is important to consider the quality of a product versus the price, because if it doesn't work you've just wasted money on it. Some examples of the different tools you can get include: curling irons, curling wands, straighteners, hairdryer (and attachments), wavers, crimpers and hot rollers/sticks.

YOUR ARSENAL:

Basic items that everyone should have:

- A shampoo and conditioner (check the quantities the larger containers are usually cheaper per litre)

-A leave in conditioner or hair oil ( good for winter months or after swimming in chlorine pools and can reduce frizz)

-A hairbrush and comb. (something with longer bristles if you have tangly hair. A tail comb is handy for styling hair)

- some hair spray

-pins/barrettes/alice bands/hair bands (whichever you prefer for keeping your hair tidy/styling)

Extras that are only required for specific needs:

-Dried shampoo

- mousse/gel/wax

-shower cap

-specialty brushes

-pomade

-shine/gloss spray

-detangling spray

-setting lotions

-hair masks

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MAKE-UP:

There was a feature about women's beauty products on TV the other day. Apparently most women have hundreds of dollars worth of make-up products stored in their bathroom drawers and they just keep buying more. My dad looked at me and I said "hey! I'd never store make-up in the bathroom. hello? Mold..." which obviously wasn't the point, but the point is, that unless you are a total make-up fanatic who likes to experiment with a heap of different eye shadows and liners, you probably don't need a lot of make-up. And, if you are, there are ways to hoard every colour of the rainbow without going broke. 

Brands I would Recommend:

E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) is a brand that sells a big range of make-up at lower than average prices. Not all of the products are winners though, so I would google reviews for the products you want to purchase. 

Sleek Make-up I really like this brand. Not everyone is a fan, but for the price you can't complain. I find it cheapest to buy direct from their website.

NYX  has a big range of colours and specialty make-up products. This brand is available from Crush Cosmetics.

AVON pretty decent prices. Though I usually do wait for catalogue sales. Some of the Colour trend stuff isn't very long lasting though.

Sites I would Recommend:

Crush Cosmetics I have done a few purchases on here. Some brands do get marked up quite a bit, but not all of them. The shop has it's own brand of make-up brushes that are really soft.

Priceline Is an Aussie department store that specialises in Health and Beauty products. 

Fashion Addict Another Aussie Site. The prices are really good on here, but watch out for the cheaper, lower quality products.

MULTIPURPOSE PRODUCTS:

- You can use lipstick as a cream blush and cream eye shadow. (not recommended for oily skin)

- You can use blush as an eye shadow

- You can use a light pearly eye shadow as a highlight.

- You can use a concealer as an eye-primer (a pencil concealer can also per used as a nude lip liner)

APPLICATION:

There are a lot of websites and books out there dedicated to helping you get the perfect winged eyeliner and statement lip, but if you are still unsure about doing your own make-up for special events you can get a make-up artist do it for you or purchase a lesson with one so that you can do your own in the future. 

YOUR ARSENAL:

Basics that can create a variety of looks:

- Eye shadow colours: a matte neutral, a champagne colour (for highlights), a medium brown (for contouring) and a metallic colour (like gold or silver for a night out). You can usually get a neutral palette that has most of these shades included.

- A medium neutral lip colour (such as a mauve, pink or brown)

-A red lipstick for good occasions (you could choose another bright or dark colour instead like plum, fuchsia or tangerine)

-a clear, shimmery lip gloss.

-A blusher and a bronzer (you can sometimes get these in a palette that comes with a highlight shade.

-A waterproof mascara ( I always by waterproof when I can unless the colour is purple or something and it's not available in a waterproof variety)

-chosen base (if you have relatively clear skin a tinted moisturiser is fine)

-primer (your skin will thank you for it)

-concealer

-an eye liner in black or brown

-a basic set of brushes (one for powder, blush, eye shadow, brows, lips)

Extras that you don't need, but can buy if you want:

- a variety of liners

- a variety of lipsticks, paints or glosses

- a variety of blushes

- a variety of eye-shadows

-an eye shadow base or primer

- a variety of mascaras

- a brow kit

- a variety of lip pencils

- a highlight

- setting sprays

- lip seal

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SKINCARE:

Thanks to Department store brands and a few other affordable brands like 'Simple', most skincare products are available at a fairly cheap price. It doesn't matter if your approach to skincare is chemical or natural, you can usually find a decent product for less than fifteen bucks. If you are really stretched for money try the 'Beauty Essentials' brand from Priceline, which is by far the cheapest I have seen. 

Basics that everyone should have:

- Cleanser for face (In the old days cold cream cleansers were very popular and they are still very available today)

-Eye make-up remover or Makeup wipes. If you are going to wear make-up you will need this.

-Face Moisturiser

-Body Wash and Hand Soap (try something soap free if you have dry or sensitive skin)

-Moisturiser (even if you don't have dry skin, this will come in handy for winter months and sunburn affected skin. If you have sensitive skin choose something that's fragrance free. Redwin's Vitamin E cream is fairly cheap and is a rich moisturiser.

- Deodorant

-Sunscreen (supermarket brands are way cheaper than other brands. I go for water resistant SPF 50+)

-a good lip balm

Extras that not everyone will need:

- Toner (good for people who have problems with larger pores)

- Exfoliating Scrub (good for buffing away dead skin)

-Clay Mask (good for drawing out imperfections)

-Pimple Cream

-Eye Cream

There are some vintage beauty guides out there that offer a DIY approach to skin care. Depending on what methods you use, you might save some money.

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NAILS:

Now I don't know about you, but I find it pretty hard to hand over $20 for a bottle of nail polish just because it has a special brand name. Now if you are going to do nail art you are going to need a whole heap of different tools and pens and paints. However, I decided to just do a section for the average nail painter who wants plain nails.

I have bought most of my nail colours from the chemist in town. Ultra3 brand is usually $2 each. There is a MUD brand available at the supermarket for about $3. Sinful Colours from Target is about $5 and there is an Essence brand available on Priceline for $2.75.

If you are not big on nails and don't have a steady hand you may be better off paying for your nails to get done professionally instead of spending money on nail polish .

Basics:

- a nude or light pink polish and white polish/tip whitener for a french manicure look

- a medium pink

-a red (to go with your red lipstick)

-a manicure set (you can usually pick one up for under $10 from a cheapy store)

-nail polish remover.

-top coat

EXTRAS you might want or need:

- Base Coat (if you have issues with your nails yellowing)

-Nail strengthener (if you have brittle nails)

-Matte top coat (if you want a matte finish or have a pastel polish that goes streaky)

-all the polishes you heart desires.

-Nail art stuff.

AND NOW TIME FOR SOME FUN GIFs...

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'Princess Diaries' Movie

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'Wish Upon a Star' Movie

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'St Trinnians' Movie 

AND, REMEMBER: STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF...

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'Ten Things I Hate About You'

Don't feel like you have to wear makeup if you don't want to or don't have a lot of money to spare. I just wanted to share a few of my favourite shops and brands that are quite affordable who those that want to do the full face make-up and can't afford to buy expensive products or don't know where to start. I hope this was helpful.

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie

Saving Your Pennies: Style

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I've known some people that have always been really bad with money and I've noticed that difficulty saving money is becoming a more common trait among people in general. I understand that things have gotten dearer, that the economy isn't fabulous and that small businesses are suffering. I understand all this and I know that I am not exactly the model citizen to be doing this kind of post seeing as I live with my parents and don't have to pay for a lot of things that adults have to pay for. I do think that I can do an okay job at finding bargains though and it bothers me when people spend money on overpriced things when they obviously can't afford it (but, you know, if you have enough money do what you want). I've been Inspired to write this because of those people, even though I know they probably won't read this post. That's just how it is.

When my sister did her graduation I had heard a few girls boast about how much their dresses cost. It was kind of ridiculous that they thought the price of their dress meant that it was going to be better than any other dress. On the night there were girls with dresses from many different price ranges. The expensive dresses in comparison to the ordinarily priced dresses? Not much difference. some of the styles were very similar. And, I couldn't understand purchasing a dress for "that" price for one night. A dress that will probably be subject to closet moths or tissue paper for the rest of eternity. 

In this post I'll talk about, what I know about dressing nice for a reasonable price. I'll talk about places to buy from , what to buy, mixing and matching and DIY. I'm hoping that I can link you to or suggest some ideas that will keep you looking stylish without costing too much money. I don't believe that an outfit should have to cost a fortune and it can be surprising what you can come up with on a budget or how you can update your wardrobe with only a few small purchases.

WHERE TO BUY:

- One of my favourite places in my town to go shopping is the Op shop. Here's the Op shopping guide I wrote  a while back. Or, here's another post that shows my love for Old People's Clothes. I got some of my favourite clothes from our local charity stores and love that they are affordable, pre-loved and often last longer than department store goods (strange but true), they also tend to fit better as the older styles were more about the waist than the hips. Things to consider: you may need to alter the clothes, you will have to check for stains, missing buttons, holes etc. If you are buying an evening dress in a small town you may need to consider the possibility that someone will recognise it. Obviously, some clothes will be old-fashioned or out-of-style. And, they aren't all gems. Thrifting is a special form of treasure hunting.

-You can also get vintage at garage/yard sales, markets and from Nanna's closet. 

-Another one of my favourite places to buy is Online. It can be a bit of a risk sometimes and there can be a few disappointments along the way, but it is fairly cheap and there are some really cool things available. Here's an Online Shopping Guide that I wrote a while ago. My favourtie stores are vintage re-pro stores such as Modcloth and Lace Affair. I also really like the Cotton-on store and department stores or department store brands (like Mix Apparel). The downside: some things have to be tried on and shouldn't be bought online, it takes time to arrive, it may be slightly different than you expected and damage can occur in the post.

-I know I have already mentioned online shopping, but shops like Etsy and Ebay are different again because there are so many different sellers using the one store. I always adjust the filters on an ebay search to "Price+Postage = lowest" and to "buy it now" because I can't be bothered with auctions. An item that starts of at 5c can quickly become expensive if there are a few bidders interested. There are many cheap accessories available on Ebay that cost a lot less than the same item in another store. I'm not just talking knock-off items either. Many of these items aren't even branded. I'm talking plain patent hand-bags, sunglasses and scarves. There are also a lot of clothes from Asia available that are really cheap. Unfortunately these are usually one-size items that are quite small. I do fit some of these in the looser styles, but I don't fit any of the shoes because my feet are too big. The downsides of ebay are: not always the best quality, sizing can be an issue, arrival time and your usual online shopping issues.

-Your local news agency. It sounds suss, I know, but some magazines come with free stuff that is actually pretty decent. I've scored a beach bag from a Vogue mag, a black scarf, two shirts from a Dolly mag and two basic skirts. Again, some of these things won't fit everyone, but the accessories are cool.

-Department Stores. For underwear, sleepwear, basics etc. Sometimes you can find some pretty cool things at a discount/department store. 

WHEN YOU'RE BUYING:

-There are some items that just shouldn't cost too much money. Shoes for example. They are close to the ground, they are going to get dirty, get wet, get scratched. If you pay a lot of money for a pair of shoes they should be comfortable, durable and work appropriate.

-Quality vs Quantity. I am all for a good bargain, but I am not excited about buying something that is trashed upon arrival or the first wear, because depending on what it is I may be needing to purchase another item and paying more in the long run. After a while you start to learn about the quality items. For Example, I try to buy the Sheer Relief hosiery because it tends to last.

-Sometimes you've just gotta wait for the sales. And, I guess this is why I generally gravitate towards the sales sections of a website or physical store.

WHAT TO BUY:

-One of my favourite things to buy are accessories. If you buy them online you don't need to worry too much about the fit (except when it's a belt) and they can update an old outfit. I did read an article once where an old lady said that she loved scarves because you could buy a scarf that would allow you to wear items together that you couldn't previously. The scarf would have a pattern of two or three colours  and could be worn with plain coloured basics in those colours. 

-Another Idea is to wear your more expensive items with your thrifted ones. 

-Everyone should have basics in their wardrobe. A little black dress or three, a good pair of shoes, a sensible pair of shoes, a comfy pair of jeans etc.

-I have this really old Home Economics text book that belonged to my aunt. In the book it is explained that if Sally (or some other generic name) were to buy/make Three button up shirts and Three skirts using matching colours she could create a variety of outfits. I think there was a green leaf print fabric, a beige fabric and a khaki. Sally made a skirt and shirt out of each. I like to take the same sort of approach to creating a wardrobe and I think it works. Obviously in this day and age, if you are more of a printed shirt and shorts kind of girl you can do the same; buy plain shorts in different colours and printed shirts that have similar colours in the print. etc.

DO IT YOURSELF: 

-I am a bit of a crafty person and I do occasionally attempt a DIY project. Depending on what it is a DIY project can save money. A DIY project is an original and if made well can last a long time. There are plenty of sites and books dedicated to DIY fashion. The downsides: DIY doesn't always work out.

-A few basic techniques, like stitching on a button can help you keep your clothes for longer. 

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This is hopefully going to be the first in a series of guides on saving money. I hope it's helpful and I hope you all understand that in no way am I against people purchasing expensive items that they can afford. I am thinking that I will do a post about Entertainment, a post about lifestyle and then maybe some about general saving tips. Thoughts or suggestions?

Your Favourite Blogger,

Natalie