1. Make Hair Color Last Longer
The longer you can wait between salon visits, the more money you can save on your hair color. Swap your regular shampoo and conditioner for a color boosting one like John Frieda’s Lustrous Touch line. Then for an extra brightening effect, use John Frieda’s Color Glaze once a month. Want to be even more economical? Return to your roots. Ask your stylist take your hair color back to its natural shade so you won’t have to worry about keeping up with your roots anymore.

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2. Swear by Drugstore Mascara
Just about every beauty expert you ask will agree – mascara is one cosmetic that you really don’t have to spend a lot on to get a good product that’ll give great results. Two to try to get full and lush lashes for less: old favorite, Maybelline Great Lash Mascara and new favorite, CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara.

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3. Become a Multi-Tasker
Instead of buying several products to do several different things, stick to multi-use products that can tackle several jobs. For example, Laura Yoder founder of trend advice site 24-7 Style is a fan of Smith’s Rosebud Salve. “I use it for dry lips, dry hands, and when I have static in my hair just rub a little between my hands and then on my ends to take care of it for the remainder of the day,” she says. And for your makeup bag: Loreal's Hip Illuminating Highlighter. Use this shimmering pink duo on your cheeks, lips, eyes, lips or anywhere you want a rosy glow or a hint of pink.

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4. Stick to the Classics
Just like in fashion, in beauty, it’s best to stick to the classics rather than blow your budget on wear-it-once trends. So instead of testing out purple and blue eye shadows, go for a brown or bronze palette like the Prestige Beauty Bar Eye Palette in Earthling. These colors will always be in style and look good on just about every skin tone.

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5. DIY Mani / Pedi
One of the easiest ways to save on beauty is to give up salon manicures and pedicures and do them yourself at home instead. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up the pampering experience of getting your nails done. Soak your tootsies in Sally Hansen’s Mineral Foot Soak – Dead Sea salt, herbal extracts and botanicals will help soothe and soften. You should get a set of tools like the Ms. Manicure kit which includes everything from a nail brush to a cuticle nipper. Finally, don’t feel like you have to miss out on trendy polish hues by going DIY. Try Sally Hansen’s budget-friendly dark and metallic collection inspired by top fashion designer, Tracy Reese.

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6. Think Before You Buy Hair Products
San Francisco hair colorist Mia stresses that you can get amazing hair styling products at drugstore prices – you just have to know what to look for. First, she suggests gravitating toward big names. Sally Hershberger, for example, recently launched a mass market product line called Supreme Head. And according to Mia, the Shagg Spray is so sought after that it has been selling out at Manhattan Walgreens locations. You should also look for knockoffs of prestige product stars. Mia likes Pantene Pro-V Spray Wax to create layers and define curls with flexible hold. “The ingredients are identical to the much pricier Warren-Tricomi product spray wax found only in specialty stores,” she says.

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7. Hair Salon Smarts
There’s no reason to pay full price for a hair cut or blow out when you’re cutting corners. Call around to hair salons in your neighborhood to find beauty schools that offer either free or incredibly low-priced hair cuts performed by their staff in training. Some salons have special training nights or offer free bang trims to regular customers which can freshen up your style between cuts. And if you prefer to have your hair blown out, it might be time to hunt down and sign up for a blow out class so you can perfect the task at home (and save yourself a lot over time!). Many salons offer them and sometimes they’re free or come with an equal value of styling products.

8. Budget Base
If you’re a fan of mineral makeup, we don’t blame you. It’s great for women with sensitive skin and is often easier to apply flawlessly than liquid foundation. Unfortunately it can be expensive. Eyes Lips Face, however, has a starter kit that’s right in our recessionista price range. Plus since they’re in powder form, it’s easy to mix a bit of the concealer with your base to alter the color. This way you can ensure the color is appropriate all year long and avoid buying a new shade every time your skin tone gets lighter and darker with the seasons.

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9. Become a Spa Chef
If you’re craving a professional facial, try mixing one up in your kitchen at home like the Honey Moisture Mask created by aesthetician Christopher Watt for the National Honey Board. This hydrating mask, perfect for transforming dry winter skin, is super easy for at home spa novices because it only has two ingredients. Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Dampen your face and neck and smooth the mixture over your skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Then rinse off with warm water.

10. Maintain Good Skincare Habits
You don’t need to spend a lot to have great skin, but you do need to have a good skin care regimen. Dalia Kalai, a dermatologist in Delray Beach, Florida says that it’s actually better to have fewer products in your beauty cabinet. Not only does a long list of products cost more, it leaves you open to a longer list of potential skin irritants, too. So Kalai says to stick with a simple cleanser like Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser. And if you want a budget-friendly anti-aging solution, wear sunscreen daily to prevent further damage and look for ingredients that have been proven to be effective – peptides and retinol. Try Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive or Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum.

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