We asked the BuzzFeed Community to share their best inexpensive beauty hacks for college students. Here are some of the best responses:
1. Save money by removing your makeup with Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water instead of makeup wipes.
"Switch to micellar water to remove your makeup! Before that, I was going through a lot of makeup wipes to remove my makeup. By reducing how many wipes I'm throwing out, I’m not hurting the environment as much. Plus, the micellar bottle lasts a lot longer so I save money."
Get a 13.5-ounce bottle from Amazon for $6.79.
2. Cut your Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes in half to make them go further.
"Cut your makeup wipes into smaller squares so they'll last longer. You honestly don't need the entire wipe every time, and you save a ton of money by stretching them out for twice as long."
—hannahiren
Get a 25-count pack of wipes from Amazon for $7.90.
3. Double cleansing may help to fight stress-induced breakouts.
"At night, I cleanse twice, first to remove surface debris, makeup, and oil, and then again to penetrate deeper into the pores. Then, I use a toner to balance the pH of my skin. And lastly, I moisturize to lock in hydration and prevent bacteria from getting in. It's very common to use an oil-based cleanser first, and then a water-based cleanser."
Here's more info on double cleansing.
4. And regardless of how tired you are, you need to wash your face daily.
"Wash your face every night. I don't care how drunk or how hungover you are or how awful you feel. No product can replace personal hygiene, hydration, and sleep. It doesn't matter what miracle cream you use if you aren't taking care of yourself."
—w4a91ac44c
5. Shop the beauty aisles of TJ Maxx to find popular makeup brands that have been heavily discounted.
"Shop at TJ Maxx to find steals on expensive makeup! I got a five-piece Anastasia Beverley Hills set for less than $80. It retails for more than $150! I’ve seen MAC, Too Faced, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Bite Beauty, Kat Von D, Urban Decay, Marc Jacobs, and much more."
6. If you find a product you absolutely love, see if you can find an inexpensive dupe online.
"You should check out shophush.com. They carry $10 dupes of $65 palettes, and shipping is free on orders over $25. They have an entire $2-and-under section. If you’ve been eyeing that Anastasia Beverley Hills palette but just can’t bring yourself to spend $40, this is the site for you!"
7. Keep a picker-upper, like Thayer's Witch Hazel, close by for those long nights of studying and pesky midterm breakouts.
"Witch hazel is super cheap. Just put some on a cotton pad and use it as a toner after you wash your face. The real hack is filling a spray bottle with it, and using it as a toning refreshing face mist during long library sessions and early classes."
—marleynx
Get a 12-ounce bottle from Amazon for $6.99.
8. Develop a makeup routine that'll get you out of your dorm room in under 10 minutes.
"Here's my foolproof routine for fast mornings: Eyebrow pencil for fill-ins, a great mascara, any drugstore setting spray, concealer for any discolorations or acne, and a lip balm or gloss! Such a natural no-makeup look that I love."
—euhegiap
9. Make your own facial scrub out of sugar and olive oil to remove dead skin and give yourself a fresh-faced glow.
"If you have a problem with dull, dry skin, make a facial scrub out of sugar and olive oil. It's gentle, moisturizing, and super cheap. Also it doesn't clog pores or irritate acne."
—nathanvh
10. Throw on a Burt's Bees Hydrating Sheet Mask to hydrate your skin after a long day of classes.
11. Clear blackheads with an at-home spot treatment instead of buying it at the store.
"Combine baking soda and water together to make a paste and apply it to your face. It gets rid of blackheads better than any mask!"
—r48ea13d15
12. Cheaply whiten teeth by mixing baking soda with your toothpaste.
"Baking soda mixed with your toothpaste is a much cheaper way to whiten teeth than whitening strips or from the dentist! Plus, you'll see an immediate difference."
We tried the teeth cleaning hack, plus more DIY baking soda treatments. See the results here.
13. Use cucumber slices to help with puffy eyes.
"Take some cucumber slices from the dining hall for those puffy eyes. Just place them on your eyes for 10-15 minutes in the morning, and you'll immediately look and feel better."
—veronikam2
14. Stock up on samples and inexpensive beauty boxes to discover what you like.
"Walmart offers a $5 beauty box each season with items like lotion, shampoo/conditioner, face masks, mascara, eye shadow, full-size lipstick, etc. If you’re willing to spend $10 a month, Ipsy bags are also an awesome way to test new products out, and it’s more personalized to your preferences. I saved so much money in college!"
—meganf21
Get a beauty box from Walmart for $5 and a beauty box from Ipsy for $10.
15. Utilize CVS coupons and Extrabucks to save money on beauty and skincare products.
"You can print out CVS coupons online, get weekly coupons on the app, and learn how to use Extrabucks. Even when you pay the full price, you'll actually be getting money back in savings. With every $50 you spend on beauty, you get $5 back for the next time."
Get the CVS app here.
16. Reuse your coffee grounds to make exfoliating masks.
"Save your coffee grounds. You can use them to make exfoliating masks."
17. Lock in moisture or even exfoliate with Vaseline.
"I have extremely dry skin and this stuff is amazing. I use it on my lips, feet, knees, elbows, the list goes on. I even take a little and mix it with some brown sugar to make a lip scrub."
Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $12.33.
18. And finally, don't be afraid to return makeup if it's not a right fit — you deserve to have something that works for you.
"Don't be afraid to return makeup that is not working for you! Even if it's inexpensive, drugstore makeup. It's better to have a product that works than to have wasted money on a product you don't ever use."
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Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.
