5 Tips for Saving Money on Natural Skincare
Written by Stacy Karen, Contributing Writer
As we learn more about how our skin absorbs the products we slather on, it’s only natural that we desire to use safe alternatives as part of our regular skin care routine.
If you’ve taken a peek at some of the organic/natural skin care products on the market, you already know how expensive they can be. When we are seeking to do what is best for our health and the health of our family, this can be really frustrating.
Thankfully there are a number of ways to take good care of our skin without busting the budget.
1. Use Less than Recommended
Most products overestimate the amount needed. Try using one squirt of cleanser instead of two.
This takes a little experimentation and will vary depending on the particular type of product being used. For example, I can easily get away with one pump of my cleanser (which recommends two), but need the full amount of moisturizer.
Only wash your face with cleanser in the evening. Splash with water in the morning.
Don’t feel bad about doing this! It is actually a great way to avoid over-washing. Washing your face too often will result in skin being out of balance (too dry or too oily).
If using liquid cleanser, make it go further by filling an old foaming soap dispenser 3/4 of the way with water and the rest with cleanser, tighten lid and shake to blend. Use a few pumps of cleanser when needed.
2. Use bars instead of liquid soap or moisturizer
Liquid products are easy to waste; squirt out a little too much and there’s no turning back (the only choices are to use it up or wash it off). On the other hand, bars of soap or lotion are difficult to over use.
A good bar of soap usually costs less than liquid soap or cleanser and will last much longer.
Image from HardLotion.com
Hard lotion bars have the same advantage; they last well, are simple to make and inexpensive to buy. Lotion bars may cost more than a bottle of lotion, but this is off-set by the fact that they last longer.
3. Use Multitasking Products
Products that have more than one function are usually money savers (and sanity savers). Using one item instead of two, simplifies your skin care routine and helps keep clutter in check.
Some examples of multitasking products:
- Shampoo and body bars (such as those from Apple Valley Natural Soap)
- Face and body bars (Rachel from Small Notebook explains how she uses the Kiss My Face body bar to wash her face and body.)
- Liquid Castile Soap for hair and body
My husband uses Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile soap to wash face, body, and hair. It last forever! I only buy him one or two bottles a year.
4. Make Your Own
Making your own products doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, it doesn’t have to involve any “making” at all.
Scoop some coconut oil in a jar and you’ve got an excellent moisturizer for face and body, sprinkle baking soda on a damp toothbrush and you’ve created an all-natural lip-scuff (just rub onto damp lips and wash off with warm water).
Here are a few simple alternatives to store-bought products:
Facial Cleanser: Honey is wonderful for your skin and makes an excellent cleanser. Used alone it won’t remove all the dirt and gunk, but it will provide lots of skin-enhancing benefits. Find out how and when to wash your face with honey at Crunchy Betty. (You really should try it. It’s amazing.)
To remove make-up using honey follow these instructions (also at Crunchy Betty). Honey can also be used as a hair treatment, among other things.
Another effective facial cleanser is oil. The oil cleansing method is simple and frugal. Surprisingly it doesn’t leave skin oily and often eliminates the need for moisturizer. Be sure to watch Stephanie’s video in which she demonstrates how to clean your skin using this method.
Astringent/Toner: Witch Hazel tightens skin and removes excess dirt or oil. Apply a a small amount (about a teaspoon) with a cotton ball.
To make a scented astringent, add 5 to 10 drops of pure essential oil to 1/2 cup of witch hazel. Lavender and sweet orange essential oil are good choices.
Diluted apple cider vinegar also makes a great toner. To make: mix one cup of distilled water with 1/8 cup of apple cider vinegar. Add up to 5 drops of essential oil, if desired.
Moisturizer for face : Coconut oil and jojoba oil both hydrate and nourish skin. Coconut oil is the least expensive option and has the added bonus of being useful for cooking too.
Moisturizer for body: Coconut, olive, or safflower oil. Best used right after a shower, apply these oils all over for some serious moisturizing.
Exfoliator for face: Mix baking soda, corn meal or finely ground oatmeal or sunflowers seeds with a little water to make a paste. Using circular motions, apply to face, avoiding the eye area. Allow to sit for a few minutes before washing off with warm water.
Exfoliator for body: Sugar or salt remove dead skin cells very effectively. Before learning to make my own scrubs, I purchased a favorite from time to time at $20 a jar! A homemade version can be made for less than $3.
To make a basic body scrub, mix one cup of sugar or salt with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of oil (start with 1/4 cup and increase until desired consistency is reached).
For further details (and over 30 scrub recipes), see my new ebook: Simple Scrubs to Make and Give. A comprehensive guide to making your own all-natural scrubs for face and body. Use Coupon Code KeeperHome to get 20% off until 1/13.
*Stephanie’s note: Stacy’s book is amazing! Who knew how many different types of scrubs that you could make out of simple and frugal ingredients?
5. Shop Online
Search for coupons
If purchasing skin care products online, always search for coupons first. This is a great habit to get into with all online shopping. I’m amazed at how often there are coupons available for things I intend to buy.
Follow your favorite brands on facebook and sign up for their newsletter
Many companies provide coupons to those who like their facebook page. Mineral Fusion is one good example. (Like their Facebook page and get a $3-off coupon)
Email newsletters are another way to stay up-to-date on any sales. When possible, stock up on products you use at sale prices.
Shop through Ebates
Another habit that has served me well over the years is beginning my online shopping at ebates.com. Many companies provide cash back for purchases made through their site, some up to 30% (most are 10% and under). Pair shopping through ebates with a coupon code to save even more.
Shop at Vitacost.com (start at Ebates)
Vitacost has some of the best prices on well-known skin care products as well as reasonable shipping fees.
Many name-brand, all natural products are available, as are the basic ingredients listed above in the make your own section (i.e. coconut oil, jojoba oil, honey, baking soda). Go through Ebates to get extra cash back.
If you’ve never shopped through Vitacost before, you can also get a $10 coupon just for signing up, to put towards anything you like! The coupon will arrive in your email inbox, usually within about 10-20 minutes of signing up, and then you simply use the code that you’re given as you checkout with your order.
Sign-up for Groupon and Eversave
From time to time Groupon, Eversave and Jasmere have deals for online stores or local companies that carry natural skincare products. On these occasions you maybe able to save 50% or more.
Bonus tip: Stay Well-Hydrated and Eat Good Food
Drinking enough water will help skin stay in good condition as will eating good food (including healthy fats) and avoiding junk. What we put in our bodies is just as important as what we put on our bodies.
Eating well and drinking enough water doesn’t eliminate every skin condition or issue, but it certainly gives your body the best chance to fix any problems that may arise.
Love these tips! Thanks for sharing. I only wash my face (w/ a bar soap) at night and splash with water in the AM. I also use Witch Hazel as an astringent, after cleansing, in the evening. It is amazing how much money I am saving by switching to a bar soap. You are so right – hard to overuse and waste!
I would love to try your basic body scrub. You mention mixing the sugar or salt with oil. Which type of oil should I use? Thanks again! Love your site and information.
To make the body scrub I usually use almond, olive, or safflower oil.
Great post! I love the point about using multi-purpose products. I use bar soap made by a friend – and I use it to wash my hair, wash my body, AND shave with. One bar, three purposes. Plus, less clutter in the shower. 🙂
It’s great that you can use one bar for three purposes! That’s what I call a multitasking product 😉
EXCELLENT ideas!! I’ve been looking at my half used bottle of Ponds’ and wondering whether to buy more for when I empty this out in a week or so, or try something natural… Can’t wait to try out those ideas!
I hope you find some ideas that work well for you.
Thanks for that Apple Valley Soap link! I’ve been looking for a good shampoo/body bar and the “Wild North” one sounds amazing.
Their shampoo soaps really are fantastic. I’ve completely switched over to using them. I’ve tried a bunch of their shampoo/body bars and they’ve all been amazing. I just got a sample of Wild North with my latest package and it smells great. 🙂
Love this post! I just tried the facial scrub with baking soda, corner meal and water paste. Worked so well. My face is smoother and less dried out than it normally feels after using the grocery store generic brand I’ve used in the past! I will definitely continue this new routine and will be trying many of the others you mentioned above. Many, many thanks!
So glad the scrub worked well for you!
Love this post, because I agree with pretty much everything you said! I use hard lotion bars and think they last longer (plus they really are easy to make). I like multi-use products. I use Dr. Bronner’s for my kid’s hair and bodies and I use a soap/shampoo bar from Apple Valley Naturals for all of my shower needs.
Plus, I totally do the “making” product thing (without really making much of anything). I use plain coconut oil as a moisturizer for my lips and body all the time, and of course, the oil cleansing method is fantastic.
And as for searching for coupons, I thought I should mention that not only can you search for real printable coupons (of which there are many), but whenever buying online, always go to a site like RetailMeNot.com and search for the website that you are about to place an order through. At least 50% of the time, I find a coupon code that saves me at least 5-15%, occasionally more. This works for ANY type of online store- glasses/contact lenses, electronics, clothing, etc..
Good point about Retail Me Not. That is a great place to find coupons.
I love Vitacost!! We buy most of our supplements and bath products from there because it is so cheap.
This post is insipring me to try the oil cleansing method once again and this time on a regular basis to see if I can tell a difference in my skin! I like the ACV toner idea too.
I currently use witch hazel and make my own body scrub using oil and brown sugar. It’s a wonderful exfoliator. I do use homemade soaps, and I just recently won some goat milk soap from a wonderful lady who I will be purchasing from in the future. You can find the soaps on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/dixiesoaps?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=App_Seller&utm_content=shops&utm_campaign=fb_seller_shop2. I will be purchasing the coconut oil soon, and I’ve been wanting to order Dr. Bronner’s as well, so I will put that on my order list as well. Excellent post! Thank you so much!
This is such a great post! I am always looking for new chemical-free alternatives for products – my goal is to have an all-out chemical free home!
Thanks Kristen. I’d like a chemical free home, too. It’s a process 🙂
Great post! However, I would caution against using coconut oil on your face as it has been known to cause breakouts. I moisturize with just a drop or two of another oil carrier such as almond, olive or jojoba. Thanks for all the tips!
That’s a good point. Everyone’s skin is different. I have used coconut oil for years and not suffered any breakouts. Almond, olive and jojoba are great for the skin too.
I use hydrogen peroxide and water for mouthwash. It might be my imagination, but I think it is whitening my teeth too…
I have heard that, Valerie, about tooth whitening with hydrogen peroxide. I’m not completely sure about the safety of it (I just haven’t researched it yet, but perhaps others have?), but this post talks about that very idea:
http://www.thethriftymama.com/2009/11/whiten-teeth-1.html
Yes peroxide can be good but you may want to use caution if you have amalgam(mercury) fillings. Research this on internet with the effects of peroxide just to be cautious.
I made a few lovely bath treats for Christmas:
http://www.nzecochick.com/2012/01/circulation-bath.html
http://www.nzecochick.com/2012/01/lavendar-sugar-scrub.html
These were cheap easy to make and most fo the items are already in your home. Thanks for this great post. really got me thinking
these are great idea. right now we make our own deodorant, use the baking soda/acv shampoo and rinse method, and i use coconut oil as an eye makeup remover. i know i have a long way to go in simplifying my beauty routine, but i have liked each small step we have made and feel like they work just as well as the commercial alternatives but save us money!
You are smart to take small steps. That way the changes are not overwhelming and more likely to stick.
Thanks for sharing this great info..I like doing body scrub but I’m not using salt..I use only the other brand..I love visiting your site..
Another great way to save money is to start a wholesale buying club through Frontier. You only need five families and they will give you a wholesale account. They have all sorts of organic spices, herbs, and skincare products for around 40% off.
I use Dr. Bronner’s castille soap for everything! It’s perfect with a little baking soda for an exfoliater. Then I use the vinegar and water solution for a toner and then almond oil for the moisturizer.
the great thing about using a bar of soap over squrty bottles is typically there is little to no packaging, so even more eco. some of the products we sell come in one very thing cardboard box and cost not even close to what the squrty products cost.
I make several of my own homemade skin products. One trick you didn’t mention was using tea as a toner. Both chamomile and green tea are known to prevent acne. Chamomile is also calming for the skin. I steep 2 chamomile tea bags and 1 green tea bag in a glass of hot filtered water till it cools to room temperature. I then store in an airtight container in the fridge. I use the cool solution with a cotton ball or soft rag. I even place the cotton swab on my eyes for 10-20 seconds to fade under eye circles and puffiness. The green tea and chamomile will prevent acne and calm skin. The cool temperature will close pores. It costs pennies and lasts me a month or 2 in the fridge. 🙂