My Cheap Beauty Tips for Girls Will Save You Money – Go to a Middle Eastern Market
Are you a beauty fanatic on a budget? Here are a few tips to help you look your best and save money in the long run.
Instead of spending money on products, one Moroccan woman shared some cultural DIY remedies she could try and cheap products she could buy instead, including an exfoliant from Amazon.
Reddit user LallaSarora shared some helpful tips for a fun beauty routine on a budget.
Not only were these tricks useful for saving money, but some of them were also better for the environment, as they allowed the products to be used for much longer.
Pinch and save
For example, if you have tubes of cream, she recommended cutting the ends off when they’re empty.
“There is usually some product left over that you were unable to squeeze out, so you can just scoop it out and store it in an empty container,” she explains.
The same goes for sheet masks, which are “simply cloth soaked in serum.”
Instead of throwing away the container, she suggested squeezing out the excess serum and using it as you normally would apply a facial serum.
DIY EYELASH SERUM
She then encouraged others to go to a Middle Eastern market and purchase 100% pure argan oil.
“We Moroccans use argan oil for all facets of our beauty, not just our hair,” she said.
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She explained that she applies it to her skin, eyebrows and lashes every night at the end of her skin care routine.
“My lashes get complimented a lot. I don’t even wear mascara unless I’m going to a special event because my lashes are naturally long,” she added.
She said she uses argan oil on her lashes because it “doesn’t cause sunken circles under the eyes like some brands of lash serums do.”
BENEFITS OF ARGAN OIL
LallaSarora raved about the “very versatile” oil in another comment.
She said that not only is it a great eyelash serum, but some people also use it to remove makeup and strengthen their nails.
“It is customary to put some of it in a bowl with an equal amount of lemon juice,” she added.
She explained that “lemon juice brightens the nails, while argan oil strengthens them.”
She also advised women not to pay too much attention to their nails.
“It is enough to file, shape and polish your nails, possibly with a coat of clear nail polish,” she said.
DIY TOOTH MOLD
The Reddit user also shared a method to whiten your teeth at home.
“If you don’t have a teeth whitening tray, you can make one yourself,” she said.
All you need is a football mouthguard.
Hold it under hot water with a spoon until it becomes “a little wobbly and pliable.”
“Place it on your teeth and use your tongue and fingers to press it down so it conforms to the shape of your teeth and gums,” she explains.
Once that is done, trim away the excess edges.
Then apply whitening gel to your teeth and place the tray on top.
She recommended leaving it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
“This is cheaper than having a mold made at the dentist, and whitening gel is more economical than strips,” she says.
DIY FOOT WAKEUP
She also told you how to make your own foot bath with cooking oil.
First, put the warm water and oil in a bath.
“Soak your feet until they are soft and then scrub off the dead skin cells.
She said you can add anything to the foot bath, such as salt, bubble bath, milk, herbs and even bath tea.
“After you exfoliate your feet, you can apply a foot mask (which is quite inexpensive) or apply a thick lotion or glycerin before putting on thick socks,” she added.
FRAGRANT FINDS
As an alternative to perfume, LallaSarora recommended Arabian attars, which are fragrance oils.
“Like argan oil, you can buy them in stores in the Middle East. They are cheap, very potent and there is a huge selection,” she said.
They do not dry out because they do not contain alcohol.
“If you apply it to yourself before you spray on perfume, the perfume will last longer,” she advises.
She also pointed out that if you look carefully, you can find some pretty good imitations of existing perfumes.
“I have a Zimaya imitation of the famous Delina from Parfums De Marly which not only smells 99% the same, but also lasts longer,” she said.
She said the retail price was £260, which is about $350, but she bought it for £40, which is about $53.
You can also use them as a hair perfume by massaging it into your hair. Since it is oil based, it lasts a long time.
HAIR CARE HELP
Speaking of beautiful hair, the Redditor admitted that she is “prone to dandruff” and that aloe vera is an “amazing” solution to her problem.
“My dandruff has improved so much since I started applying it to my scalp after washing my hair while it is still damp,” she added.
Small, flat, round silicone brushes that she calls “shampoo brushes” are also an inexpensive way to combat dandruff and stimulate hair growth.
She said that in every hammam towel and toiletry bag in Morocco you will find a shampoo brush.
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“That’s non-negotiable,” she added.
A hammam is similar to a public steam bath or bathhouse that is part of Islamic culture.
LallaSarora also mentioned an Algerian product called kardoune that reduces frizz, prevents your hair from tangling while you sleep and straightens it.
“You wrap a long, thin piece of ribbon around damp hair in a low ponytail, rolling it tightly from top to bottom,” she said.
“It prevents frizz and prevents your hair from getting tangled at night. It also helps with styling. Secure it with scrunchies and use hair oil first if necessary.”
AMAZON ADVICE
Finally, she recommended Korean bath towels from Amazon as an inexpensive exfoliant.
The website sells a set of four Korean exfoliating mitts for $8.99.
“They are literally the only exfoliating gloves I have found that are as effective as the gloves Moroccans use in the hammam,” she said.