Beauty Tricks that Save Time and Money

Let's face it, the modern woman is busier than ever. The economy has us all tightening our purse strings, and we're all looking for ways to live more time and cost efficient lives. Save yourself some time and money with these simple beauty tricks.

Moisturizer: Tired of scrubbing your face raw to remove that eye makeup? Don't want to spend the extra bucks for an eye makeup remover? No problem. Make your facial lotion or moisturizer do double duty. I wouldn't recommend this trick if you use an expensive moisturizer, but a dab of that store brand moisturizer will quickly remove what's left of your smoky eye look. Now there's no need to rub your face red or fall prey to those overpriced makeup removing wipes.

Nylons: Did the morning rush leave you with those embarrassing white deodorant marks all over your black blouse? Not to worry. Grab that pair of nylons and rub those stains right out. If you don't have nylons handy, try a pair of trouser socks or any fabric that's made with a high nylon content. Many polyester blend fabrics will rub the deodorant marks right out as well. There's no need for water or stain removers with this trick. Just rub fabric to fabric as soon as you see those white marks and watch them fade away.

Conditioner: Out of shaving cream? Give your legs that silky, soft feel without the foam. Use a dab of your hair conditioner as a shaving cream replacement. You can also use a light hand or body lotion, but be sure not to let it clog your razor so you protect your legs from nicks and cuts.

Sugar: Is our skin dry and unsightly? Exfoliate that dryness away by adding some sugar to your body wash or shower gel. The granules of sugar will help remove that flaky skin. Unlike salt-based exfoliating products, this sweet exfoliating mix won't burn if you have any cuts or open wounds.

Olive Oil: Fresh out of your favorite hand lotion? Simply head to your kitchen. That bottle of olive oil isn't just kind to your insides. It's also a great natural moisturizer for your skin. You can even put a small amount in a travel size bottle and pop it in your purse. Use this as an alternative for alcohol based lotions that do more to dry your skin than moisturize it. Dab some olive oil on those lips to soothe away winter's chap as well. It's a multipurpose, all natural product!

Lotion: Are fly away hairs driving you bonkers? There's really no need to spend an arm and a leg on those expensive hair smoothing products if you just want to tame a few hairs. Just rub that inexpensive hand lotion between your palms and apply to those out of control fly away hairs. Don't forget that over washing your hair can dry it out and make fly aways worse. Unless you have oily hair, you can skip shampooing every day, and opt for every two or three days. You'll also be conserving your shampoo and saving time in the shower.

Eyeliner and Hairspray: Eyebrows out of control? Even the most perfectly tweezed brows can have their flaws. Fill in bald or thin spots with an eyeliner pencil. There's really no need to pay more for a "special" brow pencil. Keep brows in place and maintain that perfect arch by applying a squirt of hairspray or spray gel.

These are just a few tips to keep you looking gorgeous all while saving time and money. Get resourceful the next time you run out of a beauty product and scout around the house to see if you might be able to come up with a suitable substitute. With any luck, you might just save yourself a few bucks and a run to the store.