SSBS #010: How to save money on safer products
HULLLOOOO LOVE!
Today we are going to dive into one of my absolute favorite topics in all the land, how to save money on safer skincare and makeup products.
While I am fully invested in the why behind choosing safer, non-toxic products for you and your family, and maybe you are too, that doesn’t negate the fact that right now, as the industry works to catch up to the safety data we know, safer products can be more expensive than your average drugstore beauty item.
Companies like Beautycounter are working to hold ALL companies to a higher safety standard by advocating for consumer health protective legislation across the board. By doing this, ultimately we could create a marketplace where access to safer products across ALL price points would be a very achievable reality.
In the meantime, I’m going to show you how to prioritize where to place your budget, based on priorities, and how to take advantage of opportunities most companies extend regularly to get a significant discount on the products you love.
When we are able to understand these priorities, and see what money saving options are in front of us, we’re better able to make confident choices with our money - knowing that every dollar we spend is vote for the world we want! Imagine living in a world where we get happy skin, healthy bodies, and spending that aligns with our personal budget - ALL GOOD THINGS FRIEND!
Now, let's dive in.
#1 Focus on products that sit longer on your skin
When you’re trying to switch to safer products, it can feel extremely overwhelming to imagine tossing out everything you use at once and finding safer alternatives that don’t break the bank.
This is why I encourage you to focus on the products that will impact your health the most if they contain potentially toxic ingredients - those are generally the products that sit on your skin the longest, and have the highest chance of absorbing those chemicals over time.
Here’s a quick, but non-exhaustive list of the products I would consider prioritizing when making the switch to safer:
Serums
Facial moisturizers (lotions, eye creams, creams, etc.)
Sunscreens or SPF products
All makeup products, especially foundations
Body lotions
deodorants
Focusing on these types of products will allow you to tap into what’s called the 80/20 rule - you can focus on 20% of the products that when switched out, will give you 80% of the positive results.
A quick personal note here, when considering a product like a body lotion in which I will use a large quantity very consistently, and knowing I don’t need a high powered luxury lotion for my entire body, I will source the safest, most affordable option I can like THIS product, or THIS one.
#2 Focus on power products
When you’re going to spend more money on a product, I would focus on spending that budget on products that are POWERFUL. These are products like treatments and serums that sit on your skin AND also deliver major results for your skin. THEY DO THE MOST.
You can get really safe products that aren’t high performing, which in my opinion is a waste of money. A coconut oil based serum might be super safe and affordable, but ultimately at the end of the day, it may not be delivering the results you want, which is why I’d allocate most of my budget for these powerhouse products.
Here’s a quick list of some of the powerhouse products I prioritize:
You can get a lot accomplished with adding safer power products into your conventional routine, making a health impact, and knowing your spending money on products that are going to change your skin too.
#3 Focus on products that are multi-use
If you can find products that check multiple boxes for your skincare and makeup needs, then you are saving money in the long run. The really cool thing is that there are lots of products out there on the market that do just that!
You can have beautiful, safer, and high performing products that are minimal and effective. You don’t need a cabinet full of schtuff to see results, trust me!
Here are a few skincare products that can perform double duty for you:
Cleansing Balm: a heavy duty cleanser that also can be used as an overnight moisture mask, a split end balm, a healing balm for minor cuts and scrapes, and after sun balm and more. The cool thing is while this product is an investment up front, it can last 6+ months or more! If not this brand, look for one similar to this.
Charcoal Mask: You can use this as a weekly skin detox treatment, an overnight spot treatment for blemishes, an arm pit detox product, a mosquito bite treatment and more! If not this brand, look for one similar to this.
Daily Sheer Defense with SPF 25 - Instead of using both a daytime moisturizer AND an SPF for your face, look for products that do both! If not this brand, look for one similar to this.
Charcoal Cleaning Bar - love this facial bar that is great for oily skin and for body use as well! With appropriate storage, this bar can also last 6+ months. If not this brand, look for one similar to this.
Here are some makeup items that can serve multiple purposes for you:
Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20: This product provides light coverage and evens skin tone, can serve as your daily moisturizer AND provides SPF protection for daily exposure. If not this brand, look for one that performs similarly.
Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation: The magic of this foundation is you can layer it for more coverage, which means you can skip the concealer and appy an extra layer under eyes if you need to! Bonus bonus is that there are also powerful skincare ingredients in this product so it’s not just makeup, it’s skincare too! I don’t currently know of an alternative brand that does what this product does.
Cheeky Cream Blush: This incredible product can be used on cheeks, lips, AND eyes if you like, for a full monochrome look! If not this brand, look for one similar to this.
#4 Replace products gradually
This one is simple, replace as your budget allows. If you know you want high performing products that are also safe and don’t want to compromise on that, the best thing to do is to replace your products slowly over time.
I like to look at what I currently use, then take stock of what is going to run out first. If my cleanser is going to run out first and soon, then I would prioritize replacing it with a safer alternative when it’s time to buy a new one. Then, you just move down the line as you run out! That way you aren’t wasting any products you’ve previously purchased, and you’re able to do it without stressing about spending too much up front.
I know the impulse once you start to learn about product safety is to throw everything out at once (and yes, there can be cost benefits to that too) but if it’s not reasonable for you to do that, know that small swaps over time will get you the same results ultimately!
#5 Take advantage of cost savings companies offer
The truth is companies WANT you to be able to purchase their products. Nowadays, almost every company I shop with is going to do as much as they can to increase access to their products in multiple ways. So before you click purchase on anything, make sure you are checking to see if any of these cost-saving options are available to you!
AFFILIATE LINKS - So many brands out there now understand the power of social selling, meaning that when you try something and you like it, you’re likely to tell your friends about it! Because this is a win for the company, they want to reward you! Make sure you check all your favorite company sites to see if they offer an affiliate program or a chance to become a consultant (essentially the same thing) for their products and company. For some companies this is free to join, others might require a small fee depending on the level of support they provide to you. And you DO NOT have to be an “influencer”, have a large social media following or anything like that to become an affiliate for most of these companies. Having a link or becoming a consultant, typically allows you to either share a code with your friends, earn commission when you share your link, or both, along with a special discount for your purchases. Win win, all around!
DISCOUNT CODES - I don’t know about you, but before I purchase literally ANYTHING, I’m doing a quick google search for current discount codes. I also like to think back to my favorite online “influencers” to see if they’ve shared a discount code for this particular item before, knowing that I can both save money on my purchase AND support someone whose content I value!
Two discount codes I hand out regularly are for Beautycounter (CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off a new customers first purchase) and Primally Pure (JESS10 for 10% off your order)
REWARDS PROGRAMS - To me this is also a no brainer! For many companies, to become part of their rewards programs it’s usually free, or a small fee to access BIG perks if you plan to order more than once. There are safer companies like Credo Beauty, Primally Pure, and Beautycounter that offer really great rewards programs with awesome benefits!
BUNDLE DISCOUNTS - If you ever fall into a situation where you need to replace multiple products at once or start from scratch on your skincare or makeup routine, I highly recommend looking for companies that offer pre-bundled packages at a discount! Usually the savings range from 5-25% off depending on the company, which is huge! My favorite makeup bundle gets you a HUGE discount for the products you’re probably already using, which is so great!
PAY OVER TIME OPTIONS (think Klarna etc.) - This option might not be for everyone, but most of these options nowadays are so great for those of us who do want to potentially make a bigger purchase upfront, but pay for it over time. Most of these options are interest free nowadays, which means you can get the products you love and want, and work it into your monthly budget, guilt free. My favorite safer skincare company offers this, and so many of my clients take advantage!
SALES - Another potential no-brainer, but whenever I need to make a bigger purchase I oftentiimes check in with the company or person selling the product to see if there are any upcoming sales to take advantage of! As a general rule, most companies are going to offer some sort of sale during most major holidays (think Black Friday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.) so I like to save my bigger purchases for then!
AUTO REPLENISH - A lot of companies are now offering price discounts for customers who choose the auto ship option for their favorite staple items. My favorite skincare company offers this, and I have many clients who take advantage of the 5-10% extra savings on their essentials!
WOOHOO! What a doozy of an email, amiright?? My hope is that after reading through, you’ll feel empowered to do a quick rundown of your routine, your skincare needs, and your families needs and reconcile what you want/need with your current financial situation by simply organizing your priorities and money saving options.
The old you was feeling stressed and overwhelmed with how to make this work, and the new you can feel calm and prepared to make these changes fit your unique needs. What a relief to know that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and that you don’t have to break the bank to have safer, high-performing products in your home!
I hope that today, you breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that there are many ways to tackle safer products that work with your budget.
You’ve got this friend, and if ever you feel the overwhelm creep in again, know I’m always an email away to help hold your hand. If you’d like more brand suggestions for safer products in a wide range of budgets, hit REPLY here, and I’m happy to shoot you a list of companies I love!
TL;DR:
Focus on products that sit longer on your skin
Focus on power products
Focus on multi-use products
Replace your products gradually
Take advantage of cost savings that companies offer
See you again next week friend. The holiday season is right around the corner and we’re going to chat how to give the gift of safer products within every budget!
Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:
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