Cheap beauty hacks

Beauty doesn’t always have to cost a thing. Some of your yet to be discovered beauty secrets are probably already in your home.

Level up your appearance while saving your coins, because that’s what a #GirlBoss would do. Below are some cheap beauty hacks that you can replace your pricier ones with.

Vaseline for stronger nails

Every household typically has a substantial number of Vaseline tubs. It is a very affordable, multipurpose household item. Other than deeply nourishing skin, growing lashes, and removing waterproof makeup, Vaseline can actually strengthen weak, brittle nails. Applying it onto your nail bed and cuticles nourishes your nails from deep within, making them much stronger over time.

Cutting makeup wipes in half

Doing this prolongs the time period that you would have taken to finish a full packet of face wipes. Although there are safer alternatives to removing makeup from the delicate skin on your face, no one can deny the convenience of good old makeup wipes.

Bicarbonate of soda for whiter teeth

Brushing your teeth with bicarbonate of soda will save you money that you would have otherwise spent on teeth-whitening products. It is excellent for removing surface stains. It might not necessarily make your teeth look pearly white, but it's a much more affordable alternative regardless.

Simply dab your toothbrush onto some bicarbonate of soda (different from the one you clean or cook with), then top it with your normal toothpaste. Do this every one or two days because overusing it will damage your tooth enamel.

Toothbrush for your edges

Don’t worry, you won’t need to use the same toothbrush that you brush your teeth with. Simply buy the cheapest toothbrush on the supermarket shelf. You don’t have to replace it every three months like the toothbrush that you brush with, just make sure you wash it at least once a week to wash away the dried up gel and strands of hair.

To lay your edges, swoop the short baby hairs, which are right at the edge of your hairline, away from your face and into the rest of your hair. You can be creative with the bend of the swoop to make it look fancy. Doing this makes a regular hairstyle look like you put way more effort into it than you probably did.

Honey mask

You probably have a pot or bottle of honey in your kitchen right now. If not, grab one the next time you’re at the supermarket. Raw honey is rich in antioxidants, which slow down ageing, and antibacterial properties which fight acne. Cleopatra actually included honey in her beauty routine!

Simply apply a tablespoon of plain honey to a clean face, and let it sit for 10 or so minutes. Rinse, then moisturise. Your skin will feel soft, moisturised and look very radiant.

You can apply a plain honey mask to your hair too. Before you shampoo your hair, mix it with olive oil and let it sit for 30 minutes. Afterwards, shampoo your hair like always. Your hair will feel very soft with added shine.

Braiding your own hair

Need a quick fix in the middle of a busy month? You have probably found yourself in a situation where your hair desperately needs to be in a protective style, after months of being left open. Set a few hours for yourself to braid your own hair.

The best part about this is that the labour is free, all you need to do is buy a few packets of braids, and ask a friend or family member to help you part the sections. In the end, you would have saved yourself time and money.