Women's Health, Your Way

Ask & Search With Clara

Welcome to a new standard for women's health answers.

The Wellness Edit / How To Look High-Maintenance on a Low-Maintenance Budget:...

How To Look High-Maintenance on a Low-Maintenance Budget: The Best Ways To Save on Your Beauty Routine At Home

How To Look High-Maintenance on a Low-Maintenance Budget: The Best Ways To Save on Your Beauty Routine At Home

Beauty upkeep in this economy?! With everything getting more expensive, I thought a refresher on some budget-friendly beauty routine hacks might be useful for a simple summer refresh. Between nails, lashes, brows, facials, and hair, the costs add up faster than we'd like to admit. But here's the thing, your wallet has been waiting to hear: you can absolutely look polished and put-together without the hefty price tag.

Start by shopping your own stash. Before you click "add to cart" on anything new, raid your bathroom drawer. Many of us have multiple sunscreens or concealers we only half-use (if they’re not expired!). Work through what you already have first. Instant savings, zero effort.

Simplify your skincare. More products don't mean better skin. Streamlining a laundry list of expensive products saves both time and money — and many people actually get better results when they swap a complicated skincare regimen for high-quality basics. A good cleanser, face oil, and SPF? That's honestly the trio.

Go DIY on brows and lashes. A lash tint and curl enhances lashes for six to eight weeks and saves precious time in your morning routine. For brows, at-home tinting kits are budget-friendly and surprisingly easy to master.

Lean into low-maintenance hair. Choosing styles that embrace your hair's natural texture — like textured bobs or layered cuts — means less time and money spent styling.

The glow-up doesn't have to cost a fortune. Work smarter, not harder, and keep that money in your cute wallet instead.

More from The Wellness Edit

Are your pilates classes starting to add up? Workout memberships can be expensive, and honestly? You don't need one. Some of the best workouts out there cost exactly zero dollars,... Read more
Everyone’s in their Pilates Princess era (if you’re one such Pilates Princess, love that for you!), but I’d just like to practice my inversions. Absolutely no slander to the exercise... Read more
Hii friends! Long time(-ish), no Wellness Edit! I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend and were able to properly relax – whatever that means to you! For a dear... Read more
Because sobriety is in, and I'm the kind of gal who is always down for a frink (fun drink). If you haven’t seen the term “sober curious” bandied about online,... Read more
I have a confession to make. Though I love a wellness trend as much as the next girly, I’m beginning to wonder, are we doing too much? It’s just that... Read more
I’ve taken creatine supplements, so you don’t have to! Well, I haven’t been all that consistent with my supplements, so this edit will be a bit more research-based than experiential.... Read more
In theory, I adore a lazy Sunday – sleeping in a bit later than you normally would, then, still lazing about in bed, a morning beverage in one hand, a... Read more
Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month to all who celebrate! With our AANHPI friends in mind, I’d like to write a bit about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)... Read more
Hii friends, you may have noticed, but I’ve been a bit backlogged this week – that is, I missed Tuesday’s column – and, no, I did not forget! I may... Read more