sizegenetics review
I admit it, I am a beauty product addict. If it smells good, I want it. Through a series of strategies, I have been able to acquire lots of great lotions, potions, makeup, etc. for next to nothing, and in fact have plenty to give away and sell. A look in my bathroom is rather comical. My husband has a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo and a washcloth in the shower. That's it. I have several scrubby/ex foliating things, three partially used bottles of shampoo, four conditioners, a razor and shave gel, a face scrub, two types of body wash, and two bars of soap. Whew. Silly, yes.. But I like to be able to have different products to choose from depending on my mood and the occasion-and all of it cost me just pennies on the dollar.
Through a series of strategies, its easy to get lots of health and beauty items cheaply. Coupons are probably the easiest way. If you have a store that doubles coupons, you may be able to get toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc for free or for pennies by matching coupons and sales. This is where much of my stuff comes from. Don't keep more than you can use before the expiration. Donate the rest to charity (domestic violence shelters and nursing homes both really appreciate toiletries and things to make their ladies feel special. Nail polish is a great donation too. Always get receipt from charitable donations for tax deductions) or sell extra items at your next yard sale for a profit. You can also make gift baskets of products. These are much appreciated as silent auction items, or as gifts for young women or college students. Buy extras of good coupons on line (check eBay, or coupon clipping service websites), or buy multiples of the paper if you notice a really good coupon.
For instance, one great coupon that came out was a deal where if you bought a fancy new razor (the type with 18 blades, that vibrates, sings and tells you the sports scores- OK- not really, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they come out with next!) – you got a four pack of the refill cartridges for free. A local store had the razors on clearance for $2. So, for each $2, I got the razor, and a set of $10 refill cartridges. I kept two razors (in case one handle broke) and all of the refills. I sold the razors at my next yard sale for $3. I have about a five year supply of these blades for free, plus a few dollars profit! I knew this was a high value coupon when it came out, and got all of the copies I could.
Dollar stores are an increasingly good place to find beauty products. For me, I'd rather have 5 bottles of cheap but good smelling lotion in different scents than one expensive bottle. I like being able to change scents with my mood. Dollar Tree has its own “April Bath and Shower” line of scented lotions, gels, etc. They come in cute packaging and great smells. A few in a nice basket with a good book and a candle makes a nice gift. Dollar stores also are a great source for cheap bubble bath. Again, they come in a bunch of scents and make great bubble bath or body wash. Usually a 32-48 oz bottle is $1. Much cheaper than buying body wash. They also have closeout items from other stores. My local dollar store once had my favorite type of conditioner (regular retail $7 a bottle), for $1 a bottle. I bought all that they had.
Cosmetics counters at department stores are also good sources of high quality products. If you ask nicely, they are usually willing to give you a sample of many of their products. Don't go overboard with this, but if you see a product you'd like to try, it doesn't hurt to ask for a sample. If you have to have a certain brand of department store cosmetics, wait to buy your necessities until they go into their “gift” period, where they offer a gift with purchase. You will often get lots of little free samples, as well as a nice cosmetics bag, etc. It is usually well worth waiting to buy during this time. You fill find the gift promotions advertised in the store and usually in the newspaper advertisements as well. Some counters also offer free make over, but be aware the protocol on these vary from counter to counter. Some will act like you're stealing if you don't buy anything when they're done, some aren't pushy at all. I avoid them because once a makeup person stuck a eyeliner pencil in my eye.. Ick! They can also be a good place to get new makeup application ideas.
If you work at a cosmetics counter, see what they do with the returned items and testers. Often employees are allowed to divide these amongst themselves, but ask first! If you are a fan of department store or high end cosmetics and skin bare brands, also check eBay.
Rite aid drugstores have a cosmetic guarantee that if you buy it and don't like it (even if you just don't like the color on you, etc.) they will give you your money back. CVS offers great deals on beauty products in the form of “extra care bucks” (that can be used on almost anything in the store). Walgreens and Rite Aid stores both have monthly rebate books. I usually get at least 20 items a month for free between these three chains, which has allowed me to try lots of different brands of cosmetics and skin care items.
One thing that you should not be frugal with is sun screen. Skin cancer is an expensive and painful prospect. Don't be stingy with it either- approximately two shot glasses of sun screen are necessary to cover a body, and you should reapply often, especially if you get wet or sweaty. Don't stockpile sun screen, the SPF value halves every 12 months. So last years bottle of 30 SPF is only equal to 15 or so this summer. Match coupons to sales or rebates for best value. We also have bought store brand sun screen cheaply and found it to work well. I've also bought a brand of lotion called NO-AD- they don't advertise so that they can keep their costs down. I've always been pleased with the quality.
I really love the new spray on sun screens. It is much easier to have a fidgety kid (or husband) stand still while you spray them quickly instead of taking the time to rub in a bunch of sun screen. Protect your lips with sun block lip balm as well, and wear sunglasses. You can get all of these items cheaply by watching the drugstore sales. I got a bunch of bottles of the spray sun screen free last year by combining a sale and a coupon. I sold them for $5 a bottle at our local flea market (along with other extra health and beauty products I had gotten free), and earned a little extra spending money for our beach vacation!
Free health and beauty samples abound on the Internet. High end lotions, makeup, etc are also often offered as sweepstakes prizes. I have tried many very expensive products this way, and still contend that for normal skin and for the vast majority of products, the cheap brand works just as well. The freesamplesite is my favorite website for finding freebies. Sign up for a free version of automatic form filling software (I like roboform) to make signing up for freebies faster.
If you have skin with special needs, or really like a certain brand, check eBay. You can often by “lots” of an product that will give you a several month or year supply. Make sure to factor in shipping costs. Also, talk to your doctor, they might have samples of stronger, prescription products that might work for you.
Grocery stores tend to have a high markup on health and beauty items, avoid buying here without checking prices elsewhere.
Warehouse stores can be a decent deal on health and beauty products. You are buying in bulk, and often buying economy sized bottles of products. Save a few of your smaller bottles when you are done with them, and refill these smaller bottles from the larger warehouse store bottles. This way you don't have to keep that gallon jug of shampoo in the bathtub, just re-fill the smaller bottles as needed. The easiest way to figure out weather you are getting a good deal is to break down your cost on the item by ounce (or bar of soap, etc.). If I know I usually don't pay more than 25 cents for a bar of soap, or 6 cents per ounce of shampoo, it is much easier to determine which deals are actually going to save you money.
If you have the time and interest, many products can be made at home. There are many websites that give directions for products like homemade “bath bombs”, lotions, etc. There are also tons of recipes for hair masks and facials that can be made from ingredients you may have on hand. Many homemade products, if packaged attractively, can make great gifts!
A couple of super easy examples:
- White sugar and honey mixed is a good body scrub.
- Add fragrance (body- safe essential oils) and body safe coloring to Epsom salts for decorative and personalized bath salts. Put in pretty containers (the dollar stores generally sell nice glass bottles) for nice gifts.
For those that travel, hotel sized soaps, lotions and shampoos abound. These are OK to take daily, as they are included in the cost of your room. Don't take toilet paper, tissue boxes, light bulbs, pillows, robes, etc. That's not just being too cheap, its stealing. If you hate leaving the ½ used bar of soap behind, stick a baggie in your toiletry case and bring it home with you.
Hair care:
For a moisturizing hair mask, try Mayonnaise. Apply to damp hair, let sit 15 minutes or so, then rinse WELL. Don't do if you dislike the smell of mayonnaise!
If a product like hair spray is too strong, dilute with water. It'll make the product last longer and work better! I also dilute other products, or mix them to make my own products. (Don't ever mix cleaning products, but you're usually OK with stuff like lotion, makeup etc., just use your common sense) If I buy a lipstick shade that is too dark, I'll melt it with a shade that is a little too light. Put them in an old lip gloss pot and you have a new, custom made lip color! I mix moisturizer with foundation to create a lighter feeling, moisturizing foundation.
I often mix “overfragranced” products with unfragranced products to cut down on the overpowering aroma and make the product last longer. I had a brand of hand lotion I loved, but a pea sized dab would smell up a room for a good 10 minutes. I mixed a little bit in with an unscented lotion, and poured it into a pretty bottle. It made a wonderful, lightly fragranced body lotion. I made the expensive bottle last longer, and didn't overpower people when I walked into a room.
Facial care:
I'm a big fan of the facial cleansing cloths that several companies make. Basically, you add water, and you've got your own little disposable soap filled washcloth. I don't use them at home, but they're wonderful for camping and travel. But- at 20 cents (or more!) each, they're not cheap. I realized I the washcloths were actually much bigger than I needed, so I cut them into quarters. They still work great, and I have 4 times the amount of cloths for the money (I cut dryer sheets in halves or quarters as well to extend a box)
Make sure your bar soap does not sit in water between uses. The dryer a soap is, the longer it will last. Soap holders are available that stick on the shower wall with a suction cup and hold the soap upright and allow water to drain off. They're great and they also save you space in the shower! For space, we also have a rack that hangs from the shower head and two suction baskets to hold shampoos and such, in addition to the built in shelves. Most of these storage items can be found at many dollar stores. Make sure they can hold the weight of whatever you are putting in them. Two big bottles of shampoo and a plastic shelf falling on your toes during your morning shower is not a good way to start the day!
Don't be afraid to try cheap shampoos. I know, many of you will clutch your Salon shampoo bottles and sneer with disgust at the cheapo brands , but I love Suave, vo5, and other inexpensive brands of hair products. For my hair type, conditioner is much more important than shampoo, and it is not uncommon for me to buy .78 cent shampoo and then spend 10 times that amount on a good bottle of hair conditioner. Some of the cheaper brands smell great, and have lots of varieties to choose from.
Deodorant stones are a natural alternative to deodorant and last for years. If you prefer traditional deodorant, you can easily get it for $1 or less per stick or bottle by combining sales and coupons. Women can use men's deodorant. Some women actually prefer to use the men's varieties, as they sometimes seem more potent than the women's versions. This is a tip I've only used if I needed too, like if we went on a trip and I forgot to pack my deodorant. Men's deodorant is so highly fragranced, whenever I'vie put it on, I keep catching whiffs of the fragrance, and turning around to see where my husband is.. Then realizing it's me that smells like Old Spice or Right Guard! But it will work in a pinch, and if you found a scent you like, could work everyday. Many products are fine for men or women. The segregation of products is mostly a marketing thing. If you dislike “floral” or “powder” fragrances, try some mens products, you may be pleased with how they work and smell. Unscented varieties of products can be used by men and women alike.
Several people I know swear by the Mitchum brand of deodorant. I've used it, and been pleased with it, but don't find it works really works any better for me than other brands. It must work differently with different body chemistries, as I have several friends who wouldn't be caught without it, and will happily buy any I can find cheaply.
There are tons of “clear” deodorant varieties available now. If you are going to wear sleeveless shirts, please, use the “invisible” or “clear” deodorants. No one wants to see your nasty armpit gook if you wear the other sort. The “clear” varieties used to be more rare, and more expensive, but these days you can find them at your local dollar store, and most deodorant companies make clear versions of their products.
Invariably, you will try products that don't work as well as you would like. What should you do with 3/4 full bottle of shampoo that makes your hair feel like straw? What about the fragranced lotion that your husband says smells more like “feet” than “freesia”? A quick Internet search will yield you lots of off the wall, but useful ideas for these products.
Toothpaste (plain white paste styles) can be used to fill small holes in walls.
Hair conditioner can be used as shaving cream or scented types can be as a fabric softener (put a dab on a plain washcloth and throw in with clothes. Shampoo can also be used in the wash, it gets grease out of clothes well. I've mixed fragranced shampoo ½ and ½ with unfragranced laundry detergent and it came out great.
A small container (sample size is the best) of dental floss is great to have in your purse. Its not only good for your dental hygiene, but is sturdy string that can be handy to have around. I can't tell you how many times I have used dental floss to sew on a button, or to tie something together. I even used dental floss as a make shift shoe string once.
Disliked shaving cream can be sprayed on a table (make sure it won't harm the finish), and used like finger paint for kids. They love playing in it.
Look up reviews of beauty products on line before you buy them. I had a urge to try a new form of lotion that is supposed to be a miracle worker. It's supposed to firm, tighten, tan, tone, and make you smell good too. At $15 a bottle, I decided to check out the product reviews on line before I bought it. I was so glad I did. People had so many complaints about the product, and not one person said that they were pleased with it!
When a new product first comes out, the companies are often willing to put a lot of money into promotions. This can come in the form of free samples, high value coupons, try me free rebates, etc. By using these strategies, I am often able to buy just introduced products for pennies on the dollar. Sometimes they even pay me to buy them. A new type of over the counter medicine was recently introduced. The company put out a high dollar coupon (this one was equal to about 50% off of the regular retail price). The same product was featured as being free after rebate at my local drugstore. They sent me the full price of the product for my rebate check, even though I had used a $4 coupon. After taxes and a stamp, they paid me about $3.25 to try this new product!
Your skin care needs will likely change as you get older. Changing brands every once in awhile can get you out of a skin care or makeup rut.
Don't be afraid to buy new brands, or try new products. By utilizing coupons, rebates, sales and other strategies-You'll save a lot of money, and might find a new favorite!
Derrick Joyce