10 Beauty New Year’s Resolutions That Won’t Break the Bank

Guest article by Casey Slide

Every year, I make a couple resolutions, including a financial New Year’s resolution and a health and beauty one. Since I’m on a tight budget, I always try to pick cost-effective beauty goals. As much as I’d love to buy a gym membership or get electrolysis, some of the best things I can do for my body don’t cost a penny and have greater effects than the more costly solutions.

If you’re also on a tight budget but need a way to better yourself in the new year, use these 10 beauty resolutions to get started.

Totally Free Options

1. Get Your Beauty Rest
Getting the proper amount of rest can make you appear more beautiful, healthy, and alert. In fact, according to one study performed by Swedish researchers, a good night’s sleep is the most effective beauty treatment available. The body repairs itself on a cellular level while you sleep, which helps you look younger for longer. Aim to get 8 hours of sleep each night in order to get the maximum effect from your beauty rest.

2. Don’t Pop Your Pimples
What’s worse than having a pimple or blackhead? A scar or an infection. Having your hands near your face can cause breakouts. Make this resolution now so that when you walk by a mirror and notice a tiny imperfection, you won’t impulsively pick at the blemish.

Additionally, if you bite your nails, commit to stopping that bad beauty habit. Use nail polish to help you stay away from your nails and as a reminder not to touch your face.

3. Take a Warm Shower Instead of a Hot Shower
This free beauty resolution also saves you money on your gas or electric bill. Instead of taking a hot shower, turn the temperature down just a little to take a warm shower. It may take time to get used to the warm water, but you’ll notice right away that your skin has more moisture, particularly in the winter months.

4. Rinse Hair in Cool Water
If you decide to switch to warm showers, go all the way and rinse your hair with cool water to make your hair shinier. I love the effect this has on my hair, but I have to really brace myself for the cold water. You really have to commit to saving money to follow through with these resolutions.

Inexpensive Options

5. Wash Your Face Before You Go to Bed
If you’re like me, once it gets to a certain time of night, I become too tired to do anything. If I haven’t washed my face at that point, I forget it altogether. But by doing this, I am only harming myself, especially if I am wearing makeup.

Washing your face before bed cleanses you from a long day giving you a fresh feeling. It also removes makeup which otherwise opens your face to dirt and bacteria, leading to breakouts. Make sure you wash your face with a facial cleanser, and if you wear mascara, use a makeup remover appropriate for your eyes. Drugstores and grocery stores have an array of good facial cleansers available for less than $5.

6. Floss
What’s the purpose of flossing? To keep your teeth healthy and strong. The effects of not flossing create a downward spiral that can eventually result in the loss of your teeth. Plaque becomes tartar, tartar causes gingivitis, and gingivitis leads to periodontal disease.

While dentists and periodontists can fix these unpleasant†occurrences, treatment can be costly and painful. Do yourself a favor and take the easier, more cost-effective route by flossing and taking care of your teeth.

Tip: If you don’t have time to floss, try flossing while watching TV, sitting at red lights, or in the shower – which gives you an excuse to enjoy the warm water.

7. Use a SPF Moisturizer
I’m a young adult, but I have already started to notice the effects of the sun that come with age – sunspots. In addition to sunspots, the sun also causes wrinkles and skin cancer. Exposure to the sun affects beauty and youthfulness, as well as your health.

You can protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen. Many products you already use, including moisturizers and makeup, have sunblock. Look for SPF moisturizers and makeup at the grocery store and the drugstore to find multiple options under $10.

8. Discard Expired Makeup
The majority of women do not take expiration dates for makeup seriously, or perhaps they don’t realize that makeup has expiration dates at all. Makeup doesn’t last forever and breeds bacteria that can harm sensitive areas, such as the eyes.

Label products when you purchase them and throw them out as they expire. Cosmetics don’t always have expiration dates, but you can find guidelines for discarding expired makeup online. While you may spend more money when you throw away old makeup, you’ll also avoid potential medical problems and associated bills.

9. Do Home Manicures and Pedicures
Instead of paying for expensive nail treatments at salons, make a resolution to do your nails at home for one year. This saves a lot of money, and it also saves you time since you won’t have to drive to get your nails done or wait at the salon. Watch for sales at the drugstores to stock up on nail polish and store it in a cool, dark place to avoid separation and discoloration.

You can also commit yourself to moisturize your feet daily to help heal cracked heels. To do this, put lotion on your feet each night and then wear socks overnight. This inexpensive cure really works to heal worn-down feet.

10. Make Homemade Natural Shampoo
You can learn to make your own natural homemade shampoo recipes online, including several options that will work with your hair type. When you make your own shampoo, you save money and you avoid putting harsh chemicals on your body or down your drain.

I use malt vinegar or cider vinegar as a rinse because it removes dandruff and relieves an itchy scalp. In addition to homemade shampoo, you can try to go natural with other products, such as homemade toothpaste and acne treatments.

Final Thoughts

This year, improve your health and focus on your beauty without putting yourself in a more challenging financial situation. Ultimately, you do not need to make expensive purchases to have a healthier look. Get a good night’s sleep every night, use preventive measures like flossing, avoid harmful chemicals, wash, and moisturize to improve your overall health and beauty. Good luck!

What are your cost-effective beauty New Year’s resolutions? Please share your tips below.

Guest post by Casey Slide – a stay-at-home mom in the Atlanta area who writes about frugal lifestyle, beauty, and home living topics on Money Crashers.