Beauty Tips That Won't Break the Bank

When it comes to looking your best, upkeep costs like make-up, hair care, skin care and spa treatments can cost a pretty penny. American women spend an average of $7 billion a year on cosmetics and services each year, according to a 2008 study by the YWCA. Luckily, the price of beauty can be trimmed when you replace salon treatments for do-it-yourself solutions that cost less than $10.

No matter how chic your outfit is, bad nails or hair will ruin it all.
— Emily Clark, personal shopper and stylist at Alberta Ferretti

Radiant Skin

Household items are a great option for cost-effective skin care, said Lauren Luke, a self-taught makeup artist who rose to fame with YouTube beauty tutorials.
"You can use honey with sugar and salt crystals for a great smelling home face mask. You can also make a yogurt face mask from fresh yogurt, which is great for the skin. Top it off with some cucumber sliced for each eye to soothe," said Luke, who recently released her line of cosmetics.
Most people spend their money on anti-aging creams, but Luke said they're not necessary. "As long as you keep up the daily moisturizing and wash make up off before bed properly, then you don't need to splurge too much on expensive creams," she said.
Avoid exposure to the sun to maintain healthy, young looking skin. Wear moisturizers and foundations with sun protection. They don't have to be expensive to be good, but they do have to be safe to keep skin looking young, she said.
A final skin tip: Drink plenty of water. It keeps toxins at bay, leading to clearer looking skin, Luke said.