This Side of Sunny

Green on a Shoestring: Beauty

Photo taken in Paris, circa 2003 and yes, my hair was that short and no, I won't go that short again!

I've had numerous hair lengths, styles, and colors. Sometimes I'm in the mood for barely there makeup and other times I like eyeliner and a bit of "pop". In this season of my life, I am using a more streamlined, natural approach for beauty routine. Right now it's working for my time as well as my budget.

Over the past two years I've experimented with some of the natural methods but nothing stuck. This year, I'm trying out a few new things and revisiting some old ideas.

Face

Recently, I've gone back to using the oil cleansing method because my skin is so dry in the winter in Arizona and let's face it, it's cheaper than slathering on wrinkle cream! I bought these lovely washcloths from Target as a treat to myself (the dark blue bottle holds my oil mixture). After you slather your face with the oil blend, you put a warm washcloth on your face, giving it a steam facial. Then you gently clean the oil off- works well taking off makeup too!

Here's some great how-to posts if you want to try it.

Simple Mom

Sorta Crunchy

Keeper of the Home

Body

Jake and I have enjoyed Dr. Bonner's Peppermint Liquid soap, it smells delicious and leaves your skin tingling. We bought the big bottle for about $17 and it lasted forever, since you only need a little bit. However, I didn't buy it again since I got tired of the tingly feeling and I don't go to Sprouts often where they carry other scents. We're going to use up what we have and then try it again.

Goals:

• Try Dr. Bonner's almond scent
• Use Kiss My Face olive oil bar soap

Lotion

Neither the Mango Body Butter from The Body Shop nor my favorite go-to lightly scented cherry almond Jergens, scored well on the Skin Deep Database.

For my face, I've been using Aveeno products, which are expensive. So far, a little coconut oil has gone a long way. I know, it's like I'm raiding the pantry to use in my bathroom. Weird but it's meets my main goals- cheap and simple.

Goals:

• Make some using a recipe from this book
• Then, because I will get lazy busy, purchase some hard lotion from Made-On- Chocolate lotion? Yes, please!

Makeup & Others

Deodorant

I use Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant which is aluminum and paraben free. While I lived in the Philippines, I made my own which was a mistake. The main ingredient is coconut oil which has a low melting point, combined with high humidity turned out to be a disaster. Trying to put on a goopy mess under my arm every morning? No thanks! Since we have central air and dry weather, it might work here but it was too messy for me, not even going to try it again.

Mascara

I use Covergirl Nature Luxe, which I'm sure is just as bad as the pink and green tube I usually buy.

Goal:

• Use Boots No7 Maximum Volume Mascara (#2 on Skin Deep)

Eye Shadow

Right now, I use Maybelline because it's cheap and easy to get in the store. I am not a fan of the mineral shadows that go everywhere but your lids. It was too much work in the morning to use those. I am a fan of the mineral pressed powder eyeshadows but they are expensive!

Would love:

• To try Jane Iredale's eye shadows

Goal:

• Stick with Boots No7 brand, easy on the wallet and a low score on Skin Deep

Lipstick

I only own one lipstick. The other night I was out on a date with the hubby and I put some on after we ate at the restaruant. I ate a mint and was spitting it out because it tasted like perfume. I thought that was so weird until I realized I my lipstick must have rubbed off on the mint. Yuck! 

Goal:

• Don't eat lipstick

Lipgloss

I love all brands of lipgloss but like the ones that aren't sticky. I use Burt's Bees, EOS, Carmax, etc. 

Hair

For over two years I didn't dye my hair because I wanted to avoid all the nasty chemicals but then I got tired of my mousy brown. Again, I like change! So, I just used Clariol Natural Instincts (#6 on Skin Deep) that was non-permanent and contained no ammonia. As for the money, I figure I don't go in for professional highlights and only get my hair cut every six months so I still end up saving.

Other ideas on beauty products and routines:

Small Notebook

Gidget Goes Home

Keeper of the Home

 

Hairy Adventure

I have three men in my life who constantly need hair cuts.  Their hair grows fast, as I'm sure many of you know.  Think about all the money you are forking over every month or two.  Let's do some math:

Hubby Jake: $25, with tip (he goes to a stylist that has been doing his family hair for decades)

Boys: $12-15 each, including tip

Cost every 6-8 weeks: Around $50

So mama is their new stylist!  Now, the first couple of times on the boys weren't pretty but that's because they kept squirming (read: not my fault, haha).

When we lived in the Philippines, services like that were so cheap, I didn't even bother.  We spent $10 total on all three with tip included!  But now that we are back in the States, time to for me to take it back over. 

When money is tight, I make sure the kids and the hubby get what they need but a lot of my little things are pushed to the side.  By cutting their hair and saving that money, I can afford to splurge on myself once in a while.  That 50 bucks can sure buy a lot of iced white mochas at Starbucks or a few books at Barnes and Nobles.  Think of it as paying yourself.

If you want to try it, here are some tips I've learned along the way:

• Start by paying for the cuts.  I know this seems weird because you are trying to save money (or spend some on yourself) but it's easier to follow the style after a couple of weeks.
• Invest in a hair trimmer set.  Makes life a whole lot easier.
• Get a pair of scissors just for hair and don't use them on anything else.  I have tried to use regular house scissors which tend to not cut the hair but grab and drag it instead.  No wonder my five year old gets squirmy.
• Use different attachment numbers.  If you don't, then you will end up with buzz hair, not a bad thing if you're enlisting them for the military.  I usually use the largest clip (no. 4) for the sides, blend the sides with the top using a smaller clip (no. 2) and use scissors for the rest.
• Tie a sheet around their neck (only to keep the itchy hairs away).  Although my boys are small so naked works best for them and then into the bath they go!
• Don't be afraid.  You can do this and you'll get better after lots of practice.  If you mess up, there's always a no. 2 clip to buzz all the mistakes away!  Great thing about men's hair is it grows back very quickly.

Good luck with the good cuts!