The best health and beauty tips to cut down costs

The rising cost of living is affecting consumers across the board with everything from food to petrol prices soaring.

One area where households may look to cut costs is on their health and beauty outgoings with many viewing these purchases as unnecessary spending.

However, there are a number of tips and tricks people can use to save on treatments and products – without having to give them up entirely.

i has compiled an in-depth guide to how you can continue to look and feel your best, on a budget.

Make up

There are a number of things people can do to save money on make up.

Firstly, cutting out non essential items could help you save hundreds a year. However, if you’re not prepared to do that, switch to budget brands.

Chloe Carmichael, Founder of Chloe’s Deal Club, said: “Finding dupes of your favourite beauty items can save you a huge amount.”

Budget-friendly stores such as Aldi, Lidl and Primark often have amazing dupes.

For example, Aldi and Lidl have perfume dupes that could save you £80 to £100.

Jane Hawkes, a consumer expert, added: “Embrace store brand products, beauty products don’t need to be high-end brands to do the job. You can still look your best without big price tag products.”

New customers can also save by signing up to brands email newsletters or create free accounts in return for freebies.

For example, Face Theory, a skincare brand, offers 250 points, equivalent to a £5 voucher, just for joining their free loyalty program.

Consumers may also get free beauty items on their birthday just for signing up to the newsletters.

Ms Carmichael added: “The Body Shop offers a great birthday gift where you get a free £5 voucher just for joining their Loyalty Club and entering your birthday.

“There’s no minimum spend either, so for £5 you could bag a Shower Gel Trio Gift Set, Tea Tree Facial Wash, Lip Balms, Sheets Masks or Camomile Cleansing Butter.

“Rituals also offer a free full-size Shower Oil on your birthday, which you can add your order, when you register for the Rituals Cosmetics newsletter.”

Checking out online videos on trusted websites for DIY beauty tips is another way to cut costs as well as teach you a new skill.

Many influencers have YouTube channels with step by step tutorials on a number of make up looks – and beauty treatments.

Again, for those not willing to give up their beauty products, they could consider becoming a beauty product tester and get free samples, although this is a competitive market.

An easier way to save is by taking advantage of beauty box deals.

Ms Carmichael added: “Beauty boxes can also be a very affordable way to discover new products whilst saving money.

“You probably won’t know what items are inside the box, but if there’s any that don’t suit your preferences, you could keep them as gifts or donate them.”

Beauty boxes often come as subscriptions with ‘first box’ offers. Glossybox, for example, sometimes offer a free box when people sign up whilst the OK Beauty Box and FeelUnique have also offered their first box for just £4.95.

One way to actually make money from shopping for health and beauty products is by using cashback websites such as Quidco and Top Cashback.

These sites offer generous rewards for shopping as you would normally with customers just having to visit the site through the website links.

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Hairdressing

One of the best tips to save on your hairdo is by visiting a local training college.

Many are looking for models so students can practice their hairdressing or beauty skills.

They will offer a range of treatments and services which will be a fraction of the cost and the students are supervised by a fully trained hairdresser.

Another plan is to use hairdressers who either come to your house or work from home as this significantly reduces costs.

It is also worth investing in solid soaps and shampoo bars as these can last three times as long as liquid alternatives and only cost 8p per wash.

Loyalty cards

It’s worth making the most of loyalty cards in beauty stores. Boots has one of the best loyalty schemes on the high street where consumers can pick up 4 points for every £1 spent.

If you collect enough points, you can use them to get new makeup for free.

Over 60s and parents can also benefit from double points on some products and you can get 200 points just by downloading the Advantage card app.

Superdrug Health & Beautycard members also have access to special offers on Thursdays, such as boosted reward points or free products.

Until 19 April, you can get a free fruit shower gel when you spend over £15. For every £1 you spend, you’ll get 1 point (equivalent to 1p). You can also use your points for part payment of a product too.

Home treatments

There are a number of treatments people flock to salons for including manicures, waxing and facials.

However, the majority of which can be performed at home for a much lower cost.

For example, exfoliating socks are a great alternative to a more expensive in-salon pedicure. Footner offers a pair for just £9.99.

Similarly, Fimpo, an at-home manicure brand, has just launched with prices also starting at £9.99. At-home manicures are cheaper and quicker than getting your nails done.

Meanwhile, press-on nails mean that you can mimic long salon nail-extensions from the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the cost.

There are also more tricky procedures that customers can do, although they may take some time and practice.

Eyelash extensions are a popular beauty treatment that many had to go without during the pandemic when salons were closed.

However, some people learnt to do it themselves.

Riannon Palmer, director of PR firm, Lem-uhn, said: “I do my own lash curl every few months. I started doing it because lockdown meant beauty salons had closed, but it’s so easy that I’ve kept it up.

“I’ve bought two kits over two years as they seem to last about a year for £20 each. Prior to this, I was spending at least £50 each time so I’m making around a £230 saving each year.”

Another treatment that many could do from the comfort of their own home is waxing.

When customers shave, they spend roughly £11.99 per month on razor heads – this is £143 per year. If they wax, this can cost up to £600 per year for monthly salon appointments.

But by buying an at home hair removal device, you are saving money in the long run.

There are now a number available in the market and whilst they can cost in their hundreds, it is ultimately cheaper than relying on salon treatments every few weeks.

Eyebrow tinting can also be done at home, as well as laminations. The London Brow Co. At Home Brow Lamination Kit costs £39.99 with the kit providing six months worth of treatments, saving you time and money.

Eylure Dybrow also offers at-home brow tinting and retails for £5.87 on Amazon, a lot cheaper than getting your brows tinted in the salon with results lasting for up-to six weeks.

Skincare

Skincare is one of the most popular beauty treatment with many splashing the cash to improve their complexion.

Making your products last longer is one of the best ways to cut down on costs and storing your skincare in the correct conditions is the easiest way to extend the shelf life of your products, Kimberley Hulme, a skincare expert said.

“When it comes to choosing skincare products, consider those that come in smaller quantities to ensure you are minimising waste. While larger products can look really impressive, the reality is that if they are not stored in near perfect condition they will begin to expire well before you reach the bottom.”

Ms Hulme added that, while it can be tempting to splurge on the latest skincare products, it is important to be mindful of storage space and the steps you take to prevent expired products don’t become part of your skincare routine.

“Streamlining your skincare routine is a great way to get rid of any products that have expired or are showing really obvious signs that they are past their best.

“It is important to keep track of when your products are expiring to ensure you are getting the most out of your skincare routine.”

There are also apps that can help with cutting costs on your favourite skincare products including an app called SKIN.

Users create a shelf of their favourite products online and the app notifies them whenever a product is discounted.

It also has a price comparison tool so users can easily find the cheapest place to buy a product at any given time. The average user has saved an average of 28 per cent so far.

Sanitary products

The average person will use between 14,000 and 18,000 disposable pads, tampons and pantyliners during their lifetime which is a lot of money compared to buying period pants which for at least three years.

FLUX Undies are a British period pant brand that focuses on a future of sustainable modern period care to end period plastic.

The range starts at £16.95 and they last for at least three years – in most cases longer.

Refillable products

Some of the best loved beauty brands have begun offering refillable products in an effort to cut down on waste.

They will offer freebies and vouchers for recycling your empty beauty and skincare containers. It’s a win-win situation, keeping your empty containers out of landfill whilst being rewarded.

Ms Carmichael has compiled some of the best schemes below.

Lush

Scheme name: Five for a Fresh Mask

Details: Return empty, full size bottles or black pots and get 50p off your purchase. Return 5 for a free face or scalp mask.

Saving: £9+

Boots

Scheme name: Recycle at Boots

Details: Return 5 empty beauty, wellness, dental and healthcare containers (any brand that can’t be recycled at home) and get 250 Boots Advantage Card points – equivalent to £2.50 – when you spend £10 or more.

Saving: £2.50

MAC

Scheme name: Back to MAC

Details: Return 6 empty MAC containers and get a free MAC lipstick of your choice.

Saving: £17.50

Mac also offers customisable eyeshadow palettes where customers can choose which colours to fill the pan with, cutting down on unused shades.

John Lewis

Scheme name: BeautyCycle

Details: Return 5 empty beauty containers in-store and get a free £5 beauty voucher to use at point of exchange.

Saving: £5

Kiehl’s

Scheme name: Recycle & Be Rewarded

Details: Return 10 empty beauty and skincare containers and get a free travel size product or £10 voucher.

Fitness

As a result of the pandemic, there was a surge in home workouts as people looked for new methods to stay fit.

Despite gyms reopening some time ago, many have opted to stick with these workouts as they are much cheaper and time efficient.

A large number of new apps and websites has flocked to the market as a result, taking advantage of customers looking to maintain their fitness at cut prices.

A popular app, Les Mills, gives users hundreds of fitness videos to follow from home and will give customers the first 30 days free before they can decide on a package.

Those looking to stick with the package pay £9.99 a month for a years subscription or £12.99 for a monthly package.

Fiit, another app, gives new users 14 days free before users sign up for £10 a month for a yearly subscription or £20 a month for a flexible package.

This is often much cheaper than joining gyms, many of which charge users up to hundreds of pounds each month for their facilities.

Another way to save on fitness could be to purchase workout equipment upfront.

Whilst buying equipment like exercise bikes may be an expensive outlay at first, in the long run, if you are a regular user, it could save you hundreds on spin classes which can cost up to £20 per session.

Eloise Skinner, a fitness and yoga expert, added there are a number of ways to cut down on fitness costs.

She said: “When it comes to yoga, the tradition encourages a community-led approach. So, if you’re looking to save on pricey gym or studio classes, look out for community yoga sessions.

“You’ll often find these running in community hubs, libraries, schools or shops. For example, Sweaty Betty run a selection of regular free classes for their local communities.”

She added customers can still work out successfully from home without having to pay out for pricey equipment.

“If you can’t afford the latest yoga mat, look for alternatives. If you have a fitness mat use that – or use an old beach towel as an alternative. You can also double up with a towel or thin blanket over the top of a cheap mat, if your mat isn’t the thickness you’d like.

“As for other props: a large book can serve as a block, a dressing gown cord or belt can become a yoga strap and you can grab your own pillows and cushions to serve as bolsters.”

Another top tip is to follow your favourite teachers online, and make the most of their free resources. Many will use Instagram Lives or post YouTube videos you can watch to follow their classes.