Taking care of yourself while taking care of others isn’t always easy, costing you time as well as money. Featured in the Fall 2010 issue of Scrubs, from appearance pros and nurses in the know, smart strategies for skimping on primping.
Less Is More
• To keep her complexion clear and youthful, Nancy Beck, a critical care nurse in Columbia, Mo., relies on the ultra-pricey SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic®—she just uses a lot less than the directions mandate. “My dermatologist told me I can use it every two to three days and have the same benefit,” Beck says. “You probably won’t read that on the company website!” Apply the same strategy to your own beauty routines. Do you really need to “lather, rinse, repeat” or will one wash cycle give you squeaky-clean hair? You may even want to shampoo every other day or every two days, since frequent washing can strip hair of its natural oils.
• Use a little less makeup. For instance, apply foundation only on blemishes and discolorations rather than on your entire face and you’ll prevent the aging effect that commonly comes with harsh hospital lights.
• By using only half a bottle of hair color at a time, Maggie Perez, a school nurse in Los Fresnos, Texas, is able to get two treatments for her white hair instead of one. “I also use a 10-minute application, which works fine and saves time as my life is so full of activity between working and homemaking.”
Rely on Refills
• Packaging runs up the cost of any product. The next time you’re out of a must-have makeup, see if it’s available in a streamlined version. “A refill is about $3 to $5 cheaper than a replacement,” says Eunie Lee, a WHAT KIND? nurse in Pasadena, Calif., whose favorites include M.A.C, Stila and Laura Mercier. “I buy approximately six to eight eye shadows and blushes a year, so that’s about $18 to $40 saved.” Many other major brands also offer refills.
• Lee depends on UNII Palette, a magnetized makeup organizer that consolidates makeup refills of all sorts in a single slim, mirrored case (uniicosmetics.com). “I’m up early and need to be on the go in a hurry,” Lee says. “This compact saves me time.”
Invest in What You Wear Every Day
• A good haircut
• A classic coat or jacket
• A purse you really love
For more Life Solutions pick up the latest issue of Scrubs magazine, available at a retail store near you!
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