Elegant Beauty Habits That Save Time and Money

Wouldn’t it be nice to create a self-care routine that keeps more money in your pocket, eliminates stress, and leaves you exuding elegance?

It is very possible and actually pretty easy. I’m sharing my own easy tips to help you refine your beauty routine for a more natural, clutter free, and budget friendly lifestyle.
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1. Swap Face Scrub for a Wash Cloth

Whatever your face scrub claims to do for you, I can assure you that it is a completely unnecessary product. Refine your routine and declutter your shower by eliminating this stuff from your life. Instead, use a good old fashioned cotton wash cloth twice per week to gently exfoliate your skin. My skin feels amazingly soft and smooth when I do this.

And the best part? A cotton washcloth is simple and all natural, cotton is usually the only ingredient. How many ingredients are in your face scrub and do you actually know what they are? What’s more is that once you invest in a set of washcloths you won’t need to spend more money on them. They will last for a very long time as long as they are not the super cheapies.
 
 
2. Wear Less Makeup

A few years ago, I refined the products I keep in my makeup collection and began a minimalist makeup routine. On ordinary days I wear very little makeup and I don’t feel or look frumpy. I look real and feel free, but still pleasant and put together.

I embrace and appreciate my true self.  I spend less time painting myself up and more time doing the things that I love.


3. Drink Less Coffee, Drink More Water

The high amounts of caffeine in coffee dehydrate the skin which makes it look dull and aged. It also increases cortisol leaving you feeling wired and stressed out. None of this is very elegant.
 
Drinking more water actually makes your skin look plump while keeping you moisturized from the inside. When I drink a proper amount of water I feel less anxious and as if clean, positive energy is flowing through me.
 
And then there is the financial aspect. If you brew 12 cups of good coffee (which is easily shared between two coffee lovers) that works out to be just under $4 a day, or $120 per month. If you were to cut that in half it would only cost you $60 per month and you’ll look and feel more relaxed.
 
I looked up the cost of city water which is so easily purified at home, and in my town it cost $4.03 per 1,000 gallons. Yes, that’s 1,000 gallons. Wow, do I really need to do the math on that cup of water?
 

4. Drink Less Alcohol, Drink More Tea

A bottle of decent wine, which has five glasses in it, was $15 at my grocery store. That’s $3 per glass! And a twelve pack of beer was about $16, over a dollar per drink. A box of twenty green tea bags was $2.98 and much better for your health.
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Not only is tea drinking a classy and elegant activity, certain types of tea improve memory, are anti-inflammatories, and decrease blood pressure. Those are all things that alcohol actually make worse.
 

5. Don’t Paint Your Fingernails

Although I love the look of manicured fingernails with a pretty coat of polish, I opt to save my time and money by keeping my fingernails neatly trimmed, clean, and free of polish. They always look elegant because I never have chipped polish.
 

6. Use Generic Pore Strips

I’ve tried store brand pore strips from both Target and Walmart. I’ve tried name brand pore strips, as well, and guess what. I will not pay for name brand pore strips if the generic ones are out of stock. The generic ones from both stores work perfectly and save me a ton of money, about $3 per box!
 

7. Use Peroxide Instead of Whitening Strips

I’ll admit, teeth whitening systems strips work pretty well. But I only use them every once in a while because they cost quite a bit and take up a considerable amount of time and effort. I’ve been rinsing my mouth with peroxide after brushing for about a decade now. This won’t make your smile movie star white, but it’s a quick and cheap way to consistently keep your teeth from staining and it improves your oral health. Not to mention, peroxide is the active ingredient in whitening strips.
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8. Use Your Gifts

I’m talking about all of those birthday and Christmas gifts that you have received. I’ve been given many beauty products as gifts and it’s a wonderful way to discover great makeup and skincare. Take them out of the cabinet and give them a try. Go ahead and declutter the ones you don’t love. 

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With commitment and consistency, these subtle lifestyle shifts will bring you more simplicity, peace, and confidence. Enjoy!​

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