1. Go back to beauty school
Most of us will confess to owning a shade or two of those pop eye shadows that stay unopened way past their expiry date just because we were too lazy to figure out how to actually use them. One way to max your money's worth is to learn how to use all the cosmetics you own with a makeup lesson once every few years. Not only does this arm you with the know-how to use the makeup you already have, but it also updates you on the latest shades and techniques, as well as learning about the best products for your skin type, helping you make smarter buys. Enrol at the Make Up For Ever studio, The Dubai Mall, where you can learn techniques for the eyes or the complexion, from Dh150, call 04-3253496. Alternatively, invest in a full Everyday Essential Make-Up Course at the newly-opened Illumin8 Media Make-Up Studio in JLT. The Dh1,299 you spend on this intensive two-day course is a wise long-term investment, making you more makeup savvy. Call 050-8728374.
2. Shop smart
"Shopping at Duty Free is a great way to pick up affordable, travel-sized makeup palettes, lip colours or fragrances," says Jill. "My favourite palettes are Clinique and Estee Lauder, which now fit everything you need into mini-palettes." Also, at many beauty stores and counters throughout the UAE, shoppers are entitled to free product samples of skincare and makeup. Make it a point to check with the counter sales person if your purchase entitles you to freebie samples, too. Stores like Boots often have a ‘buy one, get one free' offer on various brands, so look out for the products that come under that scheme. And yes, do keep your eyes and ears open for early bird discounts at salons or stores. At beauty store-salons such as Merle Norman (Dubai Festival City), you can get a 50 per cent off on services like facials and spa manis and pedis every Sunday.
3. Raid your kitchen
For beauty treats that cost next to nothing, but can work well, why not DIY with food? A facial exfoliator can be made at home with olive oil and sugar if you're on a really tight budget. Or, concoct your own facial cleanser with yogurt, gramflour and oats. For an affordable yet effective body scrub mix together a handful of sea salt with a few drops of essential oil such as peppermint. Visit http://allnaturalbeauty.us for some great recipes for hair and skin.
4. Try before you buy
Never buy makeup, skincare and perfumes in a hurry. Even if you've been lusting after that gorgeous red lip shade for weeks, don't give into temptation just yet. Ask the cosmetics counter for a complimentary makeover to first see if you can pull off the bold scarlet lip and then decide. Free in-store makeovers are also a great way to sample new-season collections and see if you like the textures and they suit your skin tone, before committing to purchases. Skincare brands such as Clinique and Elemis also help you know your skin type through their complimentary in-store facial analysis.
5. Reach for a bottle
Save yourself thousands of dirhams each year by colouring your hair home instead of forking out for a hairdresser. For dazzling salon-style results at home, learn to use the enclosed tube of gloss-sealing deep conditioner the right way. Don't just rinse it out straight away, instead use it as a treatment. Wrap your head in a shower cap, heat it up with your blow dryer and leave it on for 20 minutes - this will seal in the gloss. Also, if all you're looking to achieve are a few subtle highlights, a gentle home highlighting kit like Kelly Van Gogh's will save a lot of money. "When attempting highlights at home, first create a few lighter strands on sections that frame the face and then proceed further - that's the area where they'll stand out the most," says Kelly.
6. Go online
Sign up for a membership at online sites Spagenie (www.spagenie.ae), Cobone (www.cobone.ae), Groupon (www.groupon.ae) and discover fabulous discounted salon and spa deals. We also love Salon4D (www.salon4d.com) for its heavily discounted offers and cheap treats - its directory of salons also makes it easy to locate the best deals in your area.
7. Make it a multitasker
You don't always need a separate product for each and every purpose. "Seek heavy-duty makeup and skincare multitaskers as those save time, money and leave you looking great as well," says, Dubai makeup artist Jill Peters. Multipurpose creams get our vote every time. Many of Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream pots are great to use either for eyes and cheeks or on lips and cheeks. "Always analyse the colour closely when picking a multipurpose product: if you pick something that's too red, orangey or pink, it'll work for the cheeks and lips but not for the lids," says Jill. But a natural brown or shimmering nude can be worn all over. Other multitaskers worth a try are tinted moisturisers, foundations with serum or SPF, dual-coloured eyeshadows, mascaras with growth boosting serums, lip and cheek stains and tinted lip plumpers.
8. Be resourceful
Bored of your old lipstick collection and looking for a fresh shade? "Rather than buying new lip colours, create your own DIY lip palette so you can mix and match the existing colours together to invent new shades," says Jill. "To create your own lip palette, buy a small plastic tool palette traditionally used to hold nails and screws (you can get them at ACE Hardware). To decant used lipsticks into it, use a small wooden knife or spatula and remove the lipstick from the case and then mash it into your new palette. It's best to keep the tray colour coordinated so that the reds flow through to pinks then to peaches etc," says Jill. And if your best mascara's gone gloopy, place the tube in a mug of warm water for a minute. It will help to thin the formula and ensure it glides over your lashes.
9. Refill and recycle
Aside from reducing your carbon footprint, being mindful of packaging can help you save precious dirhams, too. Some brands offer financial incentives for returning empty packaging - this is one of the many reasons we love Lush. Return any five pots to Lush stores and you'll be rewarded with a free Fresh Face Mask.
10. Sign up to galmbox
A locally based online beauty site, GlamBox (www.glambox.me) is the best way to try a beauty product before you invest it in. Simply subscribe and you'll receive a box of product beauty samples from a variety of brands - think Elemis, Elizabeth Arden, Lancome, Vichy and Kiehl's - couriered direct to your doorstep anywhere in the UAE every month. The beauty of this is that it's also customised, so you fill in a ‘beauty profile' and you get personalised goodies for your skin type. At Dh150 for a three-month membership, Dh300 for six months, and Dh550 for a year, GlamBox works out as an affordable option. You can also earn GlamPoints by sharing beauty tips, voicing your opinions and filling out surveys - and for every 500 GlamPoints, you get Dh50 off full-sized products. We love it!
11. Buy All-in-One remedies
For those tired of wasting time and money on beauty products unnecessarily, there are a few fabulous all-in-one remedies that are natural enough to be used by all the family and serve a range of purposes. One of our favourites is Dubai-based Shiffa’s Healing Balm, a multipurpose soothing formula with organic Chamomile, Arnica and Shea Butter, which can be used as a face/body moisturiser, a makeup primer, to calm spots, treat insect bites and it even works on nappy rash. Making its debut in the market is Irish all-natural beauty company Human+Kind, which has launched four simple, all-natural products that each meet a multitude of beauty needs. We love the All-in-One Family
Remedy Cream – completely chemical-free, it works wonders for eczema, psoriasis, acne-prone and sensitive skins and can be used as an all-over moisturiser, to strengthen brittle nails, to treat cold sores, insect bites and sunburn, and to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
