It is no secret that the beauty industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world. It has been estimated that the average American woman spends nearly $3800 annually on beauty and fitness costs. Common expenses include haircare, skincare, makeup, and gym memberships. During the pandemic many places such as gyms, nail salons, spas, hair salons, and other beauty businesses had to temporally shut down. This resulted in many people finding alternative ways to workout or tend to beauty needs. It also resulted in a “natural beauty” trend on social media where women discussed the benefits of embracing a makeup free look and wearing their natural hair and hair color. Some women even used the COVID lockdown to focus on skin, hair, and nail health, by reducing the use of heat, dye, and other chemicals in their hair and reducing the use of acrylic nails. When the COVID restrictions ended, some people returned to a sense of normalcy through returning to the gym, hair salons, nail salons, and other spas. Some continued to either embrace the “natural beauty” trend and focus on skin, hair, and nail health. Others returned to previous beauty standards but continued to tend to their own hair and nail needs. Unfortunately, the results of COVID increased the costs of everyday goods such as food, gas, and household expenses, so many are looking for ways to reduce spending.
I believe it is possible to have a beauty regimen, engage in self-care and save money through budgeting. First, I think it is important to look at your beauty regimen and explore which parts of the regimen could negatively impact your health. For women who tan, explore methods to achieve the same results without exposing your skin to the harmful effects of UV light. For women who dye and chemically straighten their hair, explore options to achieve the same result without the chemicals. Secondly it is important to look at your skills to see which of the beauty needs you can complete on your own. Can you complete your own waxing at home? Can you arch or thread your own eyebrows at home? Which of your hair care needs can you complete at home? Can you purchase items to complete pedicures and manicures at home? Are there makeup tutorials that will allow you to create a professional look in the home? Can you focus on skin health (i.e., daily moisturizing and hydration) to improve your skin’s appearance and reduce your use of makeup? Once you explore which beauty needs you can complete in your home, explore which products need to be purchased. Do your hair care needs require the use of several shampoos and conditioners? Or can you use three simple products to achieve the same results. Is your skin relatively healthy and clear enough to include a simple cleanser, moisturizer, and basic exfoliating product? Can you use natural products such as cucumbers and tomato juice to address your skin needs?
I complete most of my facials at home once a week. I also complete my pedicures and manicures at home. During the winter, I create a face mask that includes tomatoes, cucumbers, and lemons to tone and combat dry winter skin. I found this face mask mixing bowl kit helpful when mixing the products, storing them, and using some as a natural face mist. https://amzn.to/3NmXjbd
I also invested in this manicure, pedicure, and facial kit which allows for nail care, grooming of eyebrows, and pore extraction. https://amzn.to/3ndXmvj To complete my manicures I use this bowl to soak my nails and cuticles https://amzn.to/3NkvVuq and this bowl for my pedicures as it includes various attachments that scrub your feet and provides a relaxing waterfall experience https://amzn.to/3HoGUyY.
Consider exploring which aspects of your beauty regimen you can modify to save money and improve your health and wellness.
Wishing you health and happiness
My Mind, My Body, My Journey™ 