Great skin on a shoestring

Analaura Luna

When it comes to having great skin, price can sometimes seem prohibitive. But despite what all the marketing hype has to say, good skincare doesn't have to cost a fortune or take up your whole day. The truth is, you can get good results just by knowing what’s good for you.

Gorgeous skin: we all want it, and a lot of the time the world seems to be conspiring to keep us from having it. We work hard, we don’t get enough sleep, we’re stressed, we’re tired – and most of us just can't afford to spend the time getting pampered at the day spa each week! And that’s where a whole range of products step in to ‘help us out’. Cleansers, toners, moisturisers, exfoliants, anti-wrinkle creams, eye creams – by the time we’ve bought and used all the items that promise to deliver gorgeous skin, it’s no surprise that we start to get the feeling that having the perfect face is costing us an arm and a leg.

Now the research suggests that we’re probably right. Nutrimetics Beauty Lab Report reveals that the average Aussie woman spends 24 minutes a day and almost $840 a year on her basic beauty routine – and since the report also suggests that girls may now be jumping on the beauty bandwagon as young as eight, that’s a long time to be spending your hard-earned cash on looking great! When it comes to healthy skin, price can seem like it’s worth it. But the big question is: do you really need all those expensive products to enjoy having great skin? It turns out that some of the best things you can do for your complexion are quick, easy – and won’t break your budget.

Take a tip from Twilight
Thinking about getting a ‘healthy’ tan? Think again! Sun exposure damages your skin, and can cause wrinkles, dryness and age spots - and all of that looks anything but healthy! Try to stay out of the sun in the middle of the day, and always apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you go outside. An SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen is the best option for maintaining youthful skin, and remember that your skin can still suffer damage even when it’s cloudy outside – sunscreen isn’t just for days that ‘look’ hot.

Revitalise yourself
One of the most important aspects of skincare has nothing to do with what you put on your skin … it’s all about what you put into it! Giving your skin the right nutrients can give it a whole new lease on life – and fortunately that doesn’t have to mean stocking up on expensive vitamins pills. Vitamin C from foods like oranges, strawberries and broccoli can increase your skin’s supply of collagen, dried apricots or sunflower seeds help improve skin tone and onion and garlic in your meals can help with a smooth complexion. Fresh produce should be a big part of your weekly shopping list anyway – it costs less than the processed stuff and it’s better for you in all sorts of ways – so it's easy to make sure you’re giving your skin a treat as well as your tastebuds. And best of all, a simple and inexpensive way to ‘moisturise’ your skin is from the inside, with water! Experts suggest we aim for about eight glasses of of the clear stuff a day to really get results.

Know your stuff
A good moisturiser is an essential part of a good skincare routine … but we all know that some products make promises that seem too good to be true. Just about everyone has been taken in once or twice by flashy packaging and a strong marketing campaign, but the truth is that it’s what’s in the product that counts. The important thing is to know your skin type and understand which products will benefit it, so head to the experts to find out what's best for your skin type, then ignore the flashy marketing and stick to what you know works.

When you get right down to it, looking great is about taking care of yourself. Getting your routine right can help you look good without spending a fortune … and giving your budget a bit more breathing space just might help keep those worry lines to a minimum as well!

Author's Biography

Analaura Luna is an author, wealth adviser and founder of Your Family Your Money. Your Family Your Money’s goal is to simplify traditionally complex financial strategies, demystify financial jargon and debunk common financial myths, becoming every family’s first stop for financial advice, information and inspiration.