We don’t always need the most expensive cosmetics to get the best bang for our bucks. Drugstore items can come in handy when looking for ways to save and to make the most out of a purchase.
If you think you have to have the top-of-the-line products to achieve the best results, think again. This slideshow provides tips and tricks to make the most out of your beauty regime and your products with items you can find in a drugstore.
1) Ice trays to custom blend lip colors or foundation
Simply blend your favorite lip colors or foundations to create your own custom blends. Just wash it as normal when done to start over.
2) Baking soda to clean brushes and combs
Dissolve about 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda in lukewarm water. Then, place your hair combs and brushes to let them soak.
3) Coffee as an all-natural hair color revitalizer
Brew a strong pot of coffee. Shampoo your hair and then douse your strands with coffee after it has cooled down to a warm temperature. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes, rinse, and apply conditioner.
4) Band-Aids to create unique nail patterns
Use the tiny holes on the Band-Aid to create cool polka dot nail art.
Paint your nails one color. Cut one of the perforated sides off of the Band-Aid and stick it over a dry, coated nail. Then, paint the entire surface with an accent color. Once completely dry, peel carefully. Done!
5) Baby powder for voluminous eyelashes
Curl your lashes, apply one coat of mascara, dust a small amount of baby powder with a Q-tip or makeup applicator, and then apply another coat of mascara.
6) Shaving cream to get rid of foundation and bronzer stains
Simply rub the area lightly with the cream and a damp cloth. If the item is machine washable, throw it in the washer otherwise, rinse!
7) Apple cider vinegar to remove product build-up in hair and straighten
Dilute 1/2 a cup of apple cider vinegar with 4 cups of water. Then, shampoo and rinse.
8) Vaseline to make scents last longer
Just apply to your pressure points before spraying your favorite fragrance over it.
9) Tissue to keep lipstick in place
Place a thin tissue over your lips after applying your lipstick. Then, lightly dust with a translucent powder over the tissue.
10) Toothpaste to whiten yellow nails
Scrub the toothpaste onto your nails. Let sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse. You can add a few drops of lemon juice for added whitening effect.
Make sure you use a whitening toothpaste!
11) Sticky binder reinforcements to add art to nails
Simply paint your nails one color, put on the sticky reinforcements, and then apply polish of a different color. When completely dry, remove the stickies.
12) Soy milk to stay looking young
Soak a cotton ball in milk, then apply it as you would your toner. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Then, rinse with cold water.
13) Aspirin and lemon juice for cracked heels
Grind 10 aspirin pills into a powder. Then add lemon juice to make a paste. Apply the mixture with a cotton pad onto your heels. Use gauze and a plastic bag to secure the cotton pad on your feet and let sit overnight.
14) Cornstarch to make fingernail polish matte
Simply mix a bit of cornstarch with your nail polish. Take a very small amount of cornstarch and mix it with your choice of nail polish color.
Don’t put the cornstarch in the nail polish bottle! Pour some nail polish aside and then add the cornstarch to it. A paper plate would be great.
15) Post-It notes to draw a flawless cat eye
Just place it along side your face and follow the line.
16) Raw honey for skincare
Apply a thin layer on your face and let sit for about 30 minutes. Rinse off.
17) Vodka to clean razors and to keep them sharper for longer
It’s simple! Just soak your razor in vodka for no more than 5-10 minutes.
18) Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to remove makeup stains on countertops
Wet the sponge and rub it against the area. VoilĂ ! It should erase just as the name implies.
19) Banana Peels to whiten teeth
Rub the inside of the banana peel inside your teeth – top and bottom. Do this for about a minute and then let sit for 10 minutes. Get a dry toothbrush and start brushing! Do this a few times a week for the best results.
20) Coffee filters to blot oily skin
Just blot your face to get rid of oily skin!
21) Sharpies to touch-up chipped polish
Grab a sharpie the same color of your nail polish and fix up those nicks.
22) Listerine for sweaty armpits
This can reduce the amount of sweat under your arms!
Just put some on a cotton ball or something similar and apply it under your arms.
23) Coconut oil for skincare
A good amount of people swear by coconut oil. But if you’re prone to breakouts and acne, it’s best to avoid applying it onto your face. If you have really dry skin, it’s okay to use coconut oil on your face.
Simply rub the oil into your hands until it melts. Then, apply to face. You can also use it on your skin!
24) Matches as nail filer
Running late or lost your nail filer? You can use matches to file your nails in a pinch.
25) Uncoated aspirin to fix skin problems
Take 5 uncoated aspirin pills and dissolve them in about a quarter cup of warm, distilled water. Stir until it becomes a paste-like consistency. You can also add a teaspoon of honey. Once it’s about the same temperature as your skin, apply to the parts of your body affected by acne or other inflammation.
Leave on for about 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
26) Toothbrush to prevent hair flyaways and style bangs
Spritz some hairspray onto a clean toothbrush and use to tame flyaways and style your bangs.
27) Olive oil to break down makeup
Put some olive oil onto a paper towel and swirl your makeup tools on it to break down the makeup.
28) Sudocrem for peeling and blistering sunburns
Just apply it to the sunburnt area. It will help to ease the pain of a burn and can even prevent scars from forming after the burn heals.
29) Peppermint oil as lip balm
Just add a drop of peppermint oil to your lips. If it’s too tingly, you can apply it with your favorite lip balm or coconut oil.
30) Tin foil to attain curly hair
With tin foil and a flat iron, you can get curly hair! You can see the many tutorials
here on the many different ways on how to do so!
31) Toothpicks to fix nail polish mistakes
Use toothpicks to get to those hard-to-reach areas to remove extra polish. Just be careful!
32) Cinnamon as an acne remedy
Mix a 1 tablespoon of cinnamon with 2-3 teaspoons of honey to form a paste. Apply to the problem areas and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
33) Petroleum Jelly for acne
Just rub it on top of your favorite moisturizer or acne treatment. Petroleum jelly can help to make it work even better by creating a barrier for your skin. The barrier doesn’t allow moisture to escape and helps the skin to heal naturally.
34) Chapstick for minor skin cuts
Just apply it to the minor cut or scrape to stop it from bleeding in addition to soothing and healing your skin.
35) Cooking spray to keep cuticles hydrated and get polish to dry quicker
Just spray on your fingers from about 6 inches away.
36) Apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash
It may not sound like a good time but it works wonders.
Mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water and swish it around.
37) Distilled white vinegar to remove gel cheek stain
Simply mix a little distilled white vinegar with some water. It cleans faster than soap and water and won’t dry your skin out!
38) Pomegranate seeds for lip and cheek color
Take a few Pomegranate seeds and crush with your favorite, plain lip balm. Pomegranate also acts as a moisturizer.
39) Metal spoons to combat puffiness
Chill the spoons, either overnight in a refrigerator or in a cold glass of water. Take out and apply to the area under your eye. Keep it there until the spoon warms to the same temperature as your skin.
40) Rubber bands to fix French manicures
Wrap a rubber band tightly around your finger so it lies straight on the nail and just below the tip. Apply polish to the part of the nail that is sticking out.
41) Dawn dish detergent to remove makeup stains from clothing
Add a bit of Dawn to the stain and rub it. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Proceed to rub the stain in circular motions and rinse.
42) VapoRub for reducing stretch marks
Just rub it on! It won’t make the marks disappear but it can reduce their appearance, many claim.
43) Rubber bands to open nail polish
It isn’t uncommon for our nail polish lids to feel glued on.
Just take a rubberband and wrap it around the lid for grip. Now twist!
44) Baby oil as a gloss for lips
It can soften and heal your lips! Just apply.
Put a small piece of duct tape on the wart and leave it. Then, once every 3 to 6 days, remove the duct tape, and file the wart with a pumice stone. When the wart is exposed, soak it in warm water. After 10-12 hours of it being exposed, repeat the above steps until the wart is gone.
46) Unsweetened cocoa powder for brunettes
Mix unsweetened cocoa powder with baby powder to combat greasy hair. Rub in until blended. It’s also a color match for darker hair.
47) Baby powder for greasy hair
Add baby powder to your roots before going to bed. Rub in until blended.
48) Glue as nail polish remover
Replace your base coat with glue. Let dry and then apply your polish. When ready to remove, just peel it off.
49) Spoons for winged liner
Use the handle to draw a straight line along the edge. Then use the spoon’s bulb to draw the curve. Fill the edge and then connect it to the other end.
50) Cold-pressed avocado oil for skin care
You can put a few tablespoons in your bath water.
It can also be mixed with equal parts olive oil and used to treat dry skin. Put on twice a day.
You can even use it as a facial peel. Just take the inside of an avocado peel and massage it into your face. Let sit for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
51) Petroleum Jelly to fix eyeliner mistakes
Just apply it to the areas that need fixing and wipe away.
52) Lemon to even out skin discoloration on knees and elbows
Rub knees and elbows with lemon to even out their complexion in relation to the rest of your body.
53) Rubbing alcohol to reset broken makeup foundation
Carefully break up the powder even more. Just add a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Grab a spoon and begin to press back into shape.
54) Use a lighter to turn drugstore pencil into gel
Be careful! Make sure the pencil is cooled before applying! Melting the tip of the pencil makes for a gel-like consistency and smoother application.
55) Tea bags to soothe razor burns
Place tea bags in hot water. Remove and let cool in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Take out and massage onto skin for a few minutes. Repeat as neccesary.
56) Refrigerator to store your drug store cosmetics
Simple enough, just place your drugstore cosmetics inside. The cooling effect reduces puffing around the eyes and skin.
57) Dryer sheets to remove static from hair
Gently smooth a dryer sheet onto your hair or even your hairbrush to reduce static. You can even rub it over your pillow to prevent flyaways at night.
58) Cornstarch as dry shampoo
This works the same way as baby powder. Apply to roots and rub in.
59) A hairdryer to use on your eyelash curler to make the curl last
Just blast your eyelash curler with heat before using. It works similar to a curling iron.
60) Old store bag for storage
Just toss your cosmetics in a bag hanging from a doorknob!
Will you try any of these hacks?
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