After taking a hiatus from the Beauty Chat buzz, I am back just in time for the New Year. Please don’t be mistaken by my leave of absence as being indicative of a fun-filled vaycay, adorned with tropical cocktails and extravagant timeshares. Rather, it was characterized by never-ending stress and long nights of studying for the most important test of my life to date – the LSAT. 

And one wee hour of the night, while buried in pages of prep material whose ink reeked of frustration and lengthy moments of “um,” I had a moment of clarity in the form of “Wow, I have really let myself go!” My Benefit compact stared back at me in sheer mockery as I noted the Groucho Marx brows, stress blemishes, and washed-out roots that blended into two-tone hair frenzy. What was a working, budget-dependent woman to do?  

Granted, it’s easy to become lax on the beauty regimen when deadlines are murkily approaching, and getting projects done become minute-by-minute momentous. Not to mention, having a not-so-glamorous economy as the nation’s backdrop can render your wallets even more conscientious.

Because I am a beauty advent, finding a balance between inner and outer beauty was in order!

So here are tricks and tips that me and my bank account live by, which just might do wonders for you too:

√ Let’s face it – your face is the first part of you that people see. Eyebrows are especially poignant. Rather trying to yank out that ingrown hair via tweezers, eyebrow threading is the way to go. I pay 12 big ones for brows and upper lip at my local hole-in-the-wall salon every two weeks.

√  Good skin provides the foundation of a solid beauty routine. The key to keeping my facial canvas fresh is a good exfoliator. St. Ives Apricot Scrub is more than decent and beyond reasonably priced. Once a week is good – twice at max – to give your skin a deep cleaning. For a light, dewy look on the go, I use Benefit “That Gal” Brightening Facial Primer, which I apply prior to my foundation or wear alone.  

√  ChapStick – Need I say more? And it’ll cost you all of $2.

√  I know many of you gals are addicted to the regular “mani and pedi.” However, when times are tough, a $25 to $40 sitting session can add up. If you can stand to lose the acrylics, stick to the one and only pedicure. Typically, a pedicure should run you about $20, not including tip or the “flower.” As for your hands, acrylics damage your cuticles and over time cause a brittle feel to your nails. So have a personal kit with clippers and cuticle oil (Sally Hansen’s Vitamin-E nail and cuticle oil), and take a couple minutes to groom them every so often.

Remember, staying active can provide a productive lifestyle; however, you don’t necessarily have to wear your chaos. You can maintain that busy, yet beauty-conscience broad in you without it costing you too much energy or money.  Don’t worry, though, a slip is totally warranted (ahem, unshaved legs). 

What are some of your thrifty, time-saving tips?

Photo Credit: TV.PopCrunch.com and Sephora

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