Money-Saving Makeup Trick: Making Your Cosmetics Do Double Duty

For many women, cosmetics aren't a luxury; they are truly a necessity. Having accepted that fact, it's good to know that a little creativity, patience and ingenuity can go a long way in stretching your money spent on make up.

I am a huge fan of Maybelline's Mousse line of products, particularly their foundations: still as silky smooth on the skin, almost like applying a balm. I was recently at my drug store to pick up a prescription when I came upon a large bin full of discounted cosmetics.

The first thing to remember in buying 'smart' makeup: Much of the actual price that you pay goes into the packaging and advertising costs. The actual 'bones' of the product don't really differ that much from line to line, nor from name brand to generics. Do not buy your make up at specialty shops or department stores, unless you absolutely have to, or the stores are running those brand promotions: buy an item for $25 or less, and walk away also with a tote bag/purse/cosmetics bag/box full of sample AND regularly-sized products. With the market so fierce now for buyer allegiance, many brands are now offering much better and more plentiful products in those 'goodie' bags.

Buy your cosmetics at your local grocery or drug store. Invariably, they will be running sales (buy one, get one free), offering coupons, or, as in the case of the store that I frequent, putting out large amounts of highly-discounted cosmetics at up to 75% off.

I dug through the bin and found many of the 'usual suspects': false eye lashes, eyelash glue, lipsticks and lip glosses in varying shades of orange and purple hues, nail polishes to match. But there were some pretty darned good buys as well. I needed new blush. While there wasn't blush in that deep discount bin, there were several jars of Maybelline Mousse Eye Shadow in a gorgeous color called Tranquil Rose.

Perfect! I purchased all of the little jars that I could find (there were only three of them, each priced at $1). I use the Mousse rose colored eye shadow as blush. Just like their foundation, it goes on wonderfully smooth. Actually, you only need a tiny dab of the shadow to use as blush; a little goes a long way. On those occasions when I'm going out for the evenings, I match my blush and my eye shadow. An equally small dab of Tranquil Rose at the outer corner of my eyes looks really, really good, and it also draws attention to your cheek bones because the shade matches your blush.

If you run across any of the Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow in any of their shades of pink eye shadow - especially on sale! - run, don't walk, with them to the counter. They'll do double duty as blush and eye shadow for a long, long time.