I also do not use products for my skin that have been tested on animals. I save lots of money by not wearing make-up and by using a bar of sandalwood soap to wash my hair and body. I used soap to wash my hair as a last resort on vacation several years ago and found that it gave my hair a lot more body than I’d had in 20 years of using traditional shampoos and conditioners. I spend $4 a month on soap.

Instead of buying overpriced shaving cream marketed towards women, I use hair conditioner. Also born out of necessity, I buy a giant tub of hair conditioner (Tresemme is about $5 for 32 oz) and it makes my legs far silkier than they ever were when I used shaving cream. It goes a really long way too. I found Gillette Shave Gel for women for $2.69 for 7 oz. So Tresemme as shaving solution is $.15 per ounce and Shave Gel is sold at $.38 per ounce and feels less wonderful.

Trent, many men have said that they prefer a natural look on women and don’t realize that conservatively applied makeup creates that “natural” appearance. Usually people who say they don’t like makeup have Tammy Faye in mind. Light makeup evens the complexion, enhances color, and defines features. It does not make one look like a peacock.

I would also appreciate it if those who do not wear makeup daily or frequently refrain from helping the “ladies” out with helpful tips for buying it on the cheap. Cheap mascara and eye makeup is a good way to end up in the doctor’s office with a painful sty. I’d rather spend $20 on a tube of higher end mascara than pay $80 at the doctor’s and pharmacist’s (missing work while I’m treating the problem) for a complication stemming from poor quality cosmetics.

As far as shampoo/conditioner/etc, I simply budget to spend more on Aveda products. They are better for the environment, have a minimal odor, and are my preferred products. To each their own :)

Frankly, I wear cosmetics because I like the way I look better WITH them than WITHOUT them. A few dollars a month for fresh eye makeup versus multiple thousands in plastic surgery or therapy = saving money! :-)

Likewise for coloring my hair. Ten dollars a month for home color versus over $100 at a salon = saving money.

Using sunscreen and good pure moisturizers versus microdermabrasion = saving money.

Home mani/pedi, shaving instead of getting waxed or lasered, staying out of the tanning salon, cutting my own hair = saving money.

I think the tips for “do without or make your own” are a little on the frugal edge. Looking/feeling one’s (economically achievable) best is such a huge psychological advantage – in work, relationships, whatever – that $50/mo in the budget is pretty reasonable.

Now, given all that, if someone is spending a lot MORE than this on grooming, then all of the above tips might apply!

I vote for not shaving my legs when it is not necessary in order to reduce costs. Wear pants more and shave less.

As for makeup… I suppose I should wear it, but I just cannot wrap my mind around why it is so blooming important to put pastes and chemicals on your face every day and clean it off every night in order to be respected at work. All of my coworkers, husband, and future employers are just going to have to DEAL WITH IT.

I’m pretty well respected in my current job, and I’ve never worn makeup a day in my life. Not even for my wedding.

Because I work in nasty environments, I use half antibacterial dish detergent and half shampoo, and full dish detergent for shower body wash.

Flea markets have great deals on cosmetics and toiletries. I generally use a scented hand lotion or cream in lieu of perfume, and cut it by half with either unscented hand cream, or petroleum jelly, whichever is cheapest. Half peroxide and half methylated (green) alcohol makes an excellent astringent.

Women who don’t wear cosmetics do get treated with disrespect, and I was once asked if I was “too cheap or too poor” to wear them. I use a colored lip pencil and an eye pencil for brows and liner, nothing else, to keep the b***’s off my back.

If sanitizer needs to contain ’65%’ alcohol, why is Purell only 62%?

Alcohol concentration must be above 60% for alcohol rubs to be effective in killing microbes. Researchers at East Tennessee State University found that products with alcohol concentrations as low as 40% are available in American stores.

As a couple of others have mentioned, cutting down on the numerous chemicals you put on your skin is such a good idea. Wearing less make-up would be one way to do this–and if more women would wear less make-up, it would become more acceptible.

For those of you who are going to use the standard cosmetics and hair care products, you might want to pick up a copy of Paula Begoun’s books, “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me” and “Don’t Buy Haircare Products Without Me.” She rates cosmetics & haircare products on their effectiveness and a lot of the products she recommends are the less expensive ones (White Rain shampoo & conditioner, for example).

I just found that major cosmetic sites like LORAC have a discount section – so the eyeshadow I loved is now 75% off – even with paying shipping, it’s a good deal on good quality. Some friends went in on an order with me, too – so we could get enough for free shipping without buying more than we needed.

It doesn’t necessarily have to cost more, either. It just takes being aware of which companies to buy from. Caring Consumer has a list, and it just takes looking them up. I found a lot of the companies I already buy from were on the “good” list, and others were an easy switch and were the same price.