Affordable Skin Care That Works Wonders for Your Skin and Saves You Money

| January 14, 2016

skin careWhile everyone wants to take care of their skin, the financial cost of brand-name products, toners, cleansers, etc. can seem daunting.   There are ways to take care of your skin without breaking the bank.  Use the 9 tips below to affordably take care of your skin.

Hydrate Your Skin

There are two ways to make sure that your skin stays hydrated.  The first is to make sure that you drink plenty of water.  You should drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.

A 2-Step Vs. 10-Step Skin-Care Routine

Whether you’re simply obsessed with skin care or are on a mission to find the best products for your sometimes moody, often confusing skin, you’ve probably spent some time perusing the internet looking for answers. (Hey, you’re here, aren’t ya?) And

When you are dehydrated, your skin is the first to suffer.  A good rule of thumb is that if you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.  The second way to make sure that your skin stays hydrated is to lotion it morning and night.  You can buy an inexpensive face lotion from your local drugstore for about $8.

Wash Your Brushes

This is a nearly-free option to take care of your skin.  You should clean your brushes every time you use them as they are a perfect breeding ground for germs and bacteria!

While there are pricy options available for special brush cleansing kits; soap, water, and the palm of your hand work just fine.   Wet your brush, squirt soap into your hand, and wash your brushes, scrubbing in a circular motion.   The only price you will pay is the cost of soap and water to make sure that your brushes are clean.

Eat Healthy

Woman's hands with water splash

Woman’s hands with water splash

If you eat healthy, your body will take care of itself.  Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, and consume less junk.  Cut back on your sugar intake, stop buying chips, cook more meals yourself, and buy more whole foods.  Start reading labels and learn what you are putting into your body.  Make sure that you drink plenty of water, as stated above.

Eat plenty of fiber, protein, calcium, healthy fats carbohydrates, and whole grains.  Healthy eating can seem like it is expensive at first, but you’ll quickly realize that cooking your own food can actually decrease your grocery bill.

Quit Smoking

Many studies have shown that smoking makes your skin wrinkle and age faster.  Popular studies include twin studies, where identical twins —  one smoking, and one non-smoking — are compared after one twin has smoked for many years.  Smoking decreases blood flow to the skin, depleting the skin of necessary oxygen and nutrients.

Essentially, smoking suffocates the skin.  The effects of smoking can starve your skin for up to 90 minutes per smoke.  Smoking also creates wrinkles due to the repetitive motions – pursed lips and furrowed brow.  You will find that you have more money for other things when you quit buying cigarettes.

Drink Less Alcohol

Much like smoking, alcohol has a negative effect on the skin.  It dehydrates your skin, causes acne, makes you age faster, and can aggravate previous skin conditions.

Alcohol slows the production of vasopressin, a hormone that controls water balance, causing problems not only in your skin, but in the rest of your body as well.  Decreasing your alcohol intake (or cutting it out of your diet completely) is a skin-care treatment that will actually save you money.

Soak Up the Sun

 

Spa girl with a towel on her head applying facial clay mask andYour skin needs vitamin D in order to thrive, and unfortunately, it’s a nutrient that your body cannot make itself.  Instead of buying expensive supplements, spend a few minutes a day in the sun.  However, you should always protect your skin when you go outside by applying sunscreen and staying in the shade during peak hours (11 am to 3 pm).

Avoid tanning and sunburning, as these can damage your skin. Stepping outside is a completely free way to take care of your skin.   (You can also get vitamin D from the foods you eat.  Seafood is exceptionally high in vitamin D, and eating it can help more than just your skin.)

De-stress

Stress can trigger breakouts and skin sensitivities.  It can also deepen wrinkles along the forehead and around the eyes.  Take time every day to de-stress.  Some popular methods include: meditation, yoga, exercise, going for a walk in nature, bringing fresh flowers or plants into your home and workspace, watch a good movie, write, confide in a good friend, etc.

While you can spend a lot of money to de-stress by going on vacation, typically, de-stressing can be very inexpensive, if not free.

Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin – Mayo Clinic

You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin …

Get a Clay Mask

Clay is one of the most affordable face masks out there.  Clay contains bentonite clay, a compound from volcanic ash that has incredible detoxifying properties.

It can be used to heal eczema, remove toxins, bring oxygen to your skin cells, alkalize the body, and more.  You can get very effective clay mud mask for $8 on Amazon (Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is a popular choice of mask).

Understand Your Skin Type

If you have dry skin, and you buy products specifically made for oily skin, you might actually do more damage to your skin.  This will make your skin trouble worsen.

Make sure that you buy products that are made for your skin type, whether it is oily, dry, or normal.    While it may not necessarily save you money by choosing proper products for your skin type, it will ensure that your products are more effective.

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