Budget-Friendly Health and Beauty DIY Home Hacks

Products Needed: Baby powder, cotton buds, mascara
What it Does: Lengthens lashes 
Cost: $2*

Everyone wants to have long, luscious lashes that look full and plump, but with new mascaras coming out every day it can be difficult to know which one to buy. More often than not, the end result doesn’t look like the advertisement anyway. There’s a hack for this, too. 

Baby Powder for Longer Lashes @elle / @ideiasincriveis / Pinterest.com

Taking a cotton bud, dipping it into baby powder, and applying a thin layer to lashes before applying mascara supposedly helps the product to stick. When the mascara goes on it’s as if you’ve shelled out for some professional extensions, according to some bloggers. 

Products Needed: Bra inserts 
What it Does: Acts as a beauty blender 
Cost: $3*

Beauty blenders have been all the rage for quite some time now, but that doesn’t stop savvy makeup lovers from trying to find new ways to serve face. A while ago, silicone blenders became popular, but then someone discovered that bra inserts do exactly the same job. 

Bra Insert for Applying Makeup @bustledotcom / Pinterest.com

If you’ve already got one of these at home then this will cost you nothing. You simply use the insert in the same way you would a blender to apply your makeup. The upside? Unlike a sponge, the silicone won’t absorb a ton of your product, meaning your foundation will ultimately last longer and you won’t have to buy new ones as often. 

Products Needed: Aspirin and water 
What it Does: Removes blemishes for clear skin
Cost: $1*

Aspirin doesn’t cost a lot of money, but did you know that it has tons of other uses? It’s not just a simple painkiller. Some beauty moguls swear by grinding Aspirin down into a paste and mixing it with water, before applying it as a face mask. So, how does it work? 

Aspirin for Blemishes @heathertallody / @stylecraze /Pinterest.com

The compounds contained in the tablets are similar to those found in leading beauty products. The mask can reportedly help combat acne, tighten wrinkles, and even help soothe irritated skin. Considering it’s much cheaper than buying a top-of-the-line mask, this one could be worth a try. 

Products Needed: Vaseline, perfume or cologne 
What it Does: Holds the scent for longer 
Cost: $2*

Have you ever shelled out a small fortune for a perfume or cologne that you really love, only to get annoyed when you can’t smell it by midday? Even the most expensive perfumes don’t always last until you leave the office, but don’t worry – there’s a hack for this, too. 

Vaseline for All-Day Scent @redbookmag / Pinterest.com

According to thrifty experts, you don’t need to spend more money on a different perfume, just put a thin layer of Vaseline on your wrists and neck before spraying the scent. The vaseline will hold it, making it last much longer. The best part? A tub costs less than $2 at Target.

Products Needed: Roll on or spray-on deodorant/servants 
What it Does: Creates a barrier to stop rubbing 
Cost: $3*

Not only can deodorant be used on certain areas to stop chafing but it can also be used on the feet to stop shoes or sandals from rubbing and causing blisters. Just either spray your feet or apply some roll-on deodorant and away you go to enjoy a pain-free day.

Deoderant for Blisters @purewow / Pinterest.com

Or, you could take a leaf out of Queen Elizabeth’s book. The Queen reportedly hands her new shoes over to a servant to wear for a few days to soften them. By the time they’re given back, they’re comfortable to wear.

Products Needed: Toothpaste
What it Does: Brightens nails 
Cost: $2*

In case you haven’t guessed, toothpaste can be used for all sorts of things when it comes to beauty. Some put it on blemishes, some use it as lip gloss – others use it to brighten their fingernails. Kiss goodbye to costly cuticle oil and hello to minty fresh wizardry. 

Toothpaste for Bright Nails @elsierabalais / Pinterest.com

All you have to do is take an old toothbrush and give your nails a scrub with toothpaste. Or, if you’ve got particularly sensitive skin, rubbing it in with your fingers does the trick, too. Leave it for a few minutes and wipe it off to reveal bright, healthy-looking nails. 

Products Needed: Old coffee grounds
What it Does: Exfoliates skin
Cost: Free

It’s no secret that Americans consume a lot of coffee. In fact, nearly every nation in the world loves a steaming cup of Joe, which is why used coffee grounds are easy to come by. Next time you make a pot, don’t be so quick to throw out the grounds. Instead, keep them. 

Coffee Grounds for Exfoilating @brolonga / @shopify / Pinterest.com

Coffee grounds make for an excellent exfoliator. Not only are they the perfect texture to get rid of the layers of skin, but the caffeine also has plenty of antioxidants to benefit the skin. It doesn’t matter if you use Starbucks or Kroger’s own! Some people swear by this hack, saying it’s much better than any expensive facial.

Products Needed: Bright red lipstick, any brand 
What it Does: Color cancels dark circles 
Cost: $5*

Whether you’re male or female, you’ll know the pain of waking up after a restless night and looking like you’ve been dragged through a hedge backward thanks to the big bags under your eyes. Concealer doesn’t always do a great job covering it, but another common makeup item could. 

Red Lipstick for Eye Bags @5minutecraftsfamily / Pinterest.com

All you need is a bright red lipstick from somewhere like Target or Sephora. It doesn’t need to be an expensive one. Use it underneath your eyes like concealer and you’ll look ready for the day in no time at all. The pigment in the lipstick cancels out the dark more effectively than standard concealer, , making for a cheap alternative. 

Products Needed: Mayonnaise, wide-tooth comb, shower cap 
What it Does: Hair mask to make hair shiny
Cost: $3*

The very thought of using mayonnaise as a shampoo might be enough to turn some people off, but those that try this hack usually love it. You’ll need a big tub of mayo, a wide-tooth comb, and a shower cap to complete this particular DIY hack. 

Mayonnaise for Shiny Hair @bustledotcom / Pinterest.com

Slather the mayonnaise all over your hair like you’re created a pastrami sandwich. Rub it in, comb it through, and then put the shower cap on and leave it to rest for 20 minutes. Rinse it out, and then your hair should be the picture of health. The hack even has celebrity endorsements. If millionaires are using it, then it must be special.

Products Needed: Two floss picks 
What it Does: Cleans pores 
Cost: $2*

Pore strips can cost a few dollars if you go for a decent brand, but why do that when you could get the same effect by using something you’ve probably already got at home? One beauty blogger made waves when she unleashed this hack onto the world in 2017. 

Floss Sticks @kidsdentalsmile/@glamour

Simply use a hot towel on your skin for five minutes to get the pores nice and open, before taking two disposable floss picks and scraping them over your skin in tandem. You’ll be surprised at all the junk that comes flying out of your skin. If you don’t have floss picks, you can get a bag on Amazon for next to nothing.

Products Needed: Baby powder
What it Does: Helps easily remove sand 
Cost: $5*

Beach days are great fun for all the family, but there’s one thing most of us dread: getting dressed when it’s time to go home. If you normally spend an age sitting on your towel, trying to remove clingy, scratchy sand from your skin, then this hack is for you. All you need is baby powder. 

Baby Powder @inquirer

Believe it or not, baby powder from stores like Kroger dries the sand and makes it easy to brush off in a heartbeat. As an added bonus, skin feels silky smooth and smells just like a newborn baby, which is a nice little extra.

Products Needed: A metal or plastic fork
What it Does: Provides a guide for contour 
Cost: $1/free*

Let’s face it, most of us have a fork lying around at home, so this hack is basically completely free. If you’ve spent years trying to master the art of contouring but have always found it difficult, then you might just need to take a trip to your kitchen. 

Fork for Perfect Contour @makeuphousehold / Instagram.com

If you place the fork on your nose, it acts as a guideline so you know exactly where to put the highlight (in the middle) and the shade (either side). It might seem like a bizarre thing to do with a fork, but as long as you clean it afterward, who’s going to know? Some make up artists spend thousands of dollars learning how to properly contour, so this is an extra-cheap alternative.

Products Needed: Two cold spoons 
What it Does: Reduces swelling 
Cost: Free 

There’s a 99.9% chance you’ve got two spoons lying in your cutlery drawer, waiting to be pulled out at breakfast time. However, you might want to think about taking two of them and allocating them for an altogether different purpose. Putting two spoons in the freezer could be hugely beneficial further down the line. 

Spoons @pinterest/@etsy

If you eat some bad seafood, suffer particularly with hayfever, or need to quieten your skin after a good cry session, then cold spoons are invaluable. The cold metal instantly soothes skin and can help restore brightness and eliminate puffiness. Gua sha can do a similar job, but do you really want to shell out $10 on Amazon when you’ve got something at home? 

Products Needed: Dryer sheet, hairbrush 
What it Does: Eliminates static 
Cost: $3*

If you’ve got a dryer the chances are that you’ve got dryer sheets lurking around in the pantry, but if you don’t, don’t panic. You can pick them up for just a couple of bucks at stores like Walmart – and you’ll be glad you did. If you’ve got long hair, you’ll know how irritating it is when static comes to town.

Hairbrush for static @missginadarling/Twitter

There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’ve put your finger in a socket, but dryer sheets can help remedy this. They’re specially designed to take the static out of clothes in the dryer, so all you need to do is stick one on top of your hairbrush and brush your hair. You’ll be grounded in a hot second.