Beauty on a BUDGET

I've always been a budgeter. It's in my DNA-I, simply, cannot help it. 

But, after a particularly expensive month,

[moving costs AND brake and rotor replacements AND an electric and gas bill that resembles a rent check]

I have gone back to my beauty budgeting basics, and something amazing happened!

"What happened?" you ask?

I'll tell you what happened.

My face brightened up.

My hair became silkier.

My smile became whiter.

And my wallet fattened up.

These are tricks that are already out there and I have always known, but I have been keeping them to myself-it's time to let the cat out of the bag.

I've been in the beauty industry for so many years that I  have become a product junkie. 

Really,  I am a junkie. 

Let's just say my idea of fun is reading the ingredient list on the back of a new facial serum.

So, I am running low on product, and had a dilemma.

I could either bite the financial bullet, and make a product order, or go to the grocery story.

I chose the grocery story, and I'm so happy I did.

THE ONLY 4 PRODUCTS YOU'LL EVER NEED

....drum roll....

1. Baking soda

2. Apple Cider Vinegar 

3. Coconut oil

4. Corn Starch

What do I use baking soda for?

1) I wash my face with it.

• First, I wet my face,
• then, I dab my finger in the baking soda and rub it around my hands until its watery-pasty,
• scrub my face,
• rinse off.

2) I whiten my teeth with it.

• brush teeth as normal
• sprinkle some baking soda on your toothbrush
• pour a little peroxide on top
• brush teeth
• rinse with water

3) I wash my hair with it. 

     Right now you're like 'What?? Gross' but trust me on this one. I've been hesitant to share this beauty secret because of all the disgusting looks I get, but after seeing it make its rounds on PINTEREST, I feel secure enough to come out and let everyone know how amazing it actually is.
You can google it yourself....people do it all the time!
I  haven't used shampoo in almost a year since I switched over to Wen, which is a 'cleansing conditioner', and I wont ever use any sort of shampoo again. I've seen such an amazing difference in my hair. Detergents in shampoo strip away all your natural oils and dries out your hair. I'm super blonde and use bleach about every 6-8 weeks [bleach is just another word for damage], so I don't want to apply anything else to my hair that will dry it out more. Wen was the perfect solution, BUT, its kinda pricey so I started googling alternatives. That's when I stumbled upon "No POO shampooing" with baking soda. I had to give it a try.

• First I mix one part baking soda into 6 parts water... I use a clear condiment bottle with a pointy tip I bought from the grocery store to mix and use it in.
• Second, after I have already soaked my hair in water under the shower, I squirt the baking soda solution right onto my scalp.
• Third, I massage in into my scalp and roots.
• Lastly, I rinse like normal

There's an adjustment period you have to go through before your hair get used to this kind of washing, but if you can tough it out--its SO worth it!  I only have to wash my hair twice a week, and for how blond I am, I have thicker, longer,  and healthier hair--I know this is all because of not using shampoo.

4) I use it as an exfolient.
     Never buy Apricot Scrub again. Instead, do exactly as I stated in #1, except use more baking soda than water when making the paste. This mixture should be thicker and grainier than the wash, and when applying it use circular motions around the areas you want to exfoliate.
 


What do I use Apple Cider Vinegar for? * Make sure to buy the BRAGGS brand, it's best.
1) As a facial toner.
      ACV is nature's greatest PH balancer. I make sure to dilute it with some water, because it is so strong!
2) I use it as a spot treatment.
      If I have a zit or blemish coming on, I dab a little full strength ACV right onto the spot. Its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory so it reduces swelling and redness. It also has a lot of natural acids in it, so it is exfoliating and correcting dark spots as well.
3) As a good morning wake up to my digestive tract.
     This may be off subject, but I take a shot of it in the mornings. ACV is SO good for your insides, too. It alkalizes your system and helps get rid of soar throats, sinus infections, and runny noses.
4) I use it as hair conditioner.
      Yep, it works! It detangles, locks in moisture, and makes your hair SO shiny. After I wash with the baking soda mixture, I use ACV just periodically to help condition my hair. Make sure to dilute it with water though... I use a small spray bottle and go about 50% ACV, 50% water.


What do I use coconut oil for? *buy 100% raw, virgin, organic coconut oil
      The better question would be what don't I use coconut oil for.
1) Eye makeup remover...makes your eyelashes grow longer and healthier, too.
2) Hair conditioning treatment
3) Body Lotion
4) Body Scrub...I mix it with sugar and essential oils
5) Eczema treatment
6) Face moisturizer
7) Chap stick
8) I use it on cuts, bruises and scrapes. (it helps with healing)
9) I put it in tea and drink it.
10) I cook with it
11) Baby lotion...My kids use nothing else.


What do I use corn starch for?
1) Dry shampoo.
      It's, hands down, THE best dry shampoo you could ever buy. Right now you're like, 'but I have dark hair....it will make my hair look gray." NO IT WON'T! Sprinkle a little cocoa powder in it...voila.

Switch over and you'll save boat loads of money, all while looking like a mega babe.

Promise.