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Monday 8 October 2012

Frugal things to put on your face

I've wondered for a while whether I had anything worthwhile to share about beauty routines. But then I listened through a whole feature on Woman's Hour where they talked us through how to save money by painting our own nails. Really, Jenni Murray? Is this where we've ended up?

So, what the hell? Whatever I write, it can't compare too badly against a woman on the radio applying her glossy top coat.

Gwyneth Paltrow, according to my mother-in-law's magazines, keeps her routine simple with just a cleanser and 'facial oils'. Maybe Gywneth buys something like this, at £205 for 100ml. Who knows what cleanser she uses.

I use whatever cleanser is on offer at the Pound Shop. (Poundland is just a little bit fab - they regularly have branded products in there, so there's no fear of burning your skin off with a nameless bottle of weird.)

So. Here's where I go all Gwyneth.

Rub in your cleanser, run a flannel under the hot tap, and wipe it off. Leave your face warm and very slightly damp. Then put a couple of drops of Rosehip Seed Oil, which is one of the main ingredients of many of the facial oils you can buy anyway, into your palms and massage into your face. (Don't rub your eyes, just hold your hands over them for a while so some of the oil goes on.) We're using two or three drops here - you won't end up looking like you fell into a chip pan. It's lovely. It doesn't smell of anything (though you can whack some lavender in, if you're so inclined.) It's £3.99 for 50ml, and it will last for absolutely ages.

For exfoliator, if you need it, just throw your used coffee grounds into a jar and mix some olive oil in. Come on. Who wouldn't want to rub this on their face?


Okay. Okay. It looks like mud. And you need a nice hot washcloth to rub it off otherwise you will feel like you fell into the chip pan. But it works, it works really well, and it's practically cost-free.

(As an aside - Mr Coffee has very happily used a mixture of caster oil and olive oil as a shaving oil for ages, in an idea based on the oil-based cleansing method. (Let's make this clear that this was at my instigation - please do not go away from this believing that my husband spends his time online researching beauty routines, since I would be in a good deal of trouble if I were to give that impression.) I can't remember the last time I bought caster oil, but it certainly wasn't this year. The bottle is going strong, and as far as I can remember it only cost a couple of quid in the first place.)

So there we have it. At a rough guess, my beauty routine costs about £8 a year. I wonder if Gwyneth could say that?


28 comments:

  1. I need pictures of the coffee cleanse. Really.

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  2. I agree with Ali. I am off to buy rosehip oil now. I cleans everyday with liz earle, but never moisturise!

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    1. Liz Earle? Wow. That puts my Poundland fixation to shame.

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  3. I haven't been particularly mindful of skincare for the past 40-odd years either. But I do find that doing something turns out to make a difference (who knew?) so I am trying to make a bit more of an effort. I'm freckly so I wear a sunscreeny thing during the day, though I only started doing that a couple of years ago.

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  4. I buy a giant bottle of rosewater (a litre at a time which is the most economical way), and use it for cleanser, toner, eye make up remover, healing balm for invalid children, etc. I decant it from the ugly plastic bottle into an old blue Neals Yard one so it looks very tasteful on my bathroom shelf. And I drink lots of water which is supposed to plump up your skin - I don't think I have any more wrinkles than acquaintances who favour the expensive stuff, but then I don't look at myself with my specs on. Not being able to see yourself clearly in the mirror is very anti-ageing ...

    Pomona x

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    1. Rosewater? I'm intrigued. Where do you get that from?

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  5. cleanser? oh you mean water.
    I'm a bio oil girl, or the homebargains cheaper version if I can get it. my skin is red and dry and cross without it (ok sometimes even with it...). will look into the rose hip oil. intrigued by the shaving oils, off to do some research.

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  6. I developed a weird patch of tan on my forehead after the birth of my 3rd child and to avoid the 'guess what continent Mum's patch will look like this year' game, each spring/summer I have taken to wearing moisturising sun screen but otherwise would be firmly with Sue.

    I am intrigued by the possibility of making a difference but as I work from home and no one really sees me at the school gate (I hide behind a bush) I'm not sure I can be bothered. I don't drink coffee either, do you think tea leaves would work?

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  7. Not sure. But I'm not going to stop you giving it a try...

    Littlest's pregnancy gift to me was a patch of colour right on the bridge of my nose, for which I am not at all grateful.

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  8. No, me neither, I also think it is mean of mine to mock.

    On second thoughts I think they may be too soggy, best stick to reading them.

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  9. I once read that expensive cleansers are pointless - that gentle exfoliation with a flannel is all that's required. I'm a Liz Earle girl for moisturiser in the winter but I don't think there's one with an SPF so for summer I go neutrogena. I like the coffee grounds idea and am going to have a go. I think the best thing for skin is the tried and tested water, fresh fruit/veg and sleep route.

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  10. I use tap water which is virtually free. Works fine, but then I don't wear any make up to scrub off.

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    1. Nothing at all wrong with tap water. And, as Janice points out, you can even drink it!

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  11. Ditto Ali on the coffee photographs. Is it easy to rinse off?

    I do just plain old water too, or on occasion a bit of baby lotion. Between having three babies, even though I've never used it on them, the free johnson's bottles from the bounty bags have kept me going for years. I've decided to ignore the shelf life on the side as I don't think that even existed when I was growing up, and I have never heard of any baby lotion-related deaths.

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    1. It is a bit bonkers to rinse off - you do need a hot flannel. Otherwise you end up a bit bitty, and alarmingly brown...

      I never really got into baby lotion - the smell was so evocative, it reminded me of nappy bags and wipes. Which is strange, since with cloth nappies I never really used nappy bags and wipes...

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  12. I use a cheap cleanser/toner-in-one from Boots and then Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter as my moisturiser - if it's good enough for a baby's bum, it's good enough for my face... It's not expensive in the first place (£2.89 for 125ml and because it's thick and creamy you don't need much so it lasts ages), but I stock up on it when Waitrose have their regular '1/3 off all baby items' promotion.

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    1. I used to go on Mumsnet where they would rave about Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter. We don't have a Waitrose anywhere near, so I shall just have to believe you all!

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  13. There's been a run on Darphin Orange Blossom Aromatic Care, only one left in stock. Hurry! Hurry!

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  14. Rosehip seed oil, who knew! Seriously, I shall try this, thank you :)

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  15. I am a no make up and Nivea woman but do like oils too. Egg white makes a great face mask and sugar and oil for gardening hands and tired feet, put some peppermint essential oil in for the feet. Like Pomona I look at myself sans glasses and they are a strong prescription.....

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    1. I do the sugar and oil thing after gardening too, that's a great tip.

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  16. What a great post. I use soap (supermarket family pack), water and Nivea, and I think I look about 10 years younger than I am.

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  17. Great post. I am so nosey that i like to hear what other people use to clean themselves with! I am going to try the facial oil - am I really susceptibleand easily led? Yes I am! I use supermarket cleanser and whatever moisturiser is on special offer, but my now ageing skin needs a bit more moisture in the cold weather.

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    1. I am quite happy for people to be easily led, as long as it is by me.

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  18. Here's what Gwyneth uses. Pleased to see Boots No 7 in there:

    http://www.goop.com/journal/get/172/the-english-pharmacy

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