Office workers know that to stay ahead in the game, one must look presentable at all times in the workplace. Apart from learning how to dress appropriately for the job, professionals must also be well-groomed for the office, and this means that one needs to invest in salon treatments, skincare, and cosmetics.
Professionals who earn six-figure salaries may have no problem booking hair and nail appointments at fancy salons, and some wouldn’t balk at spending $500 on a face cream touted to keep wrinkles at bay. But for most office workers, having a set budget to spend on one’s beauty needs may be unrealistic, what with the rising cost of other necessities these days.
The good news is that there are many ways that professionals can still look good without spending a fortune on the latest beauty treatments or makeup. With a little research, one can definitely save lots of money on everything that he or she needs to look great for the office.
Here are some tips on how professionals can save on cosmetics, skin care, and salon visits.
Salon visits
Choose a hairstyle that’s easy to maintain. Layered, choppy cuts may look great for a few weeks, but it could look like a disaster after it grows out. Women with short hairstyles may need to spend more to keep their hair looking good that women with medium to long hair.
If all that you need is a quick trim, there’s no need to go to a pricey salon to have it done. If you have to confidence to do it yourself, do so. Otherwise, head to the nearest Cost Cutters or Supercuts to get it done.
Learn how to color your own hair. To get fantastic results, opt to go no more than two shades lighter or darker than your own hair color. For stress-free hair coloring, try one of those bubble hair dyes that is all the rage in Asia. A bottle of Prettia Bubble Hair Color costs only $11 on Amazon, while having your hair professionally colored costs anywhere from $70 to $250.
Nails
New York professionals have the advantage when it comes to nail salons, as there are some places that offer basic manicures for only $10. But if you live somewhere else or if you just want to save money, consider doing your own nails at home.
Head to the nearest drug store and get some cotton balls, some polish remover, a nail file, a buffer, nail clippers, an orange wood stick to push back cuticles, a bottle of nail polish and an inexpensive top coat. Keep your nails on the short side for easy maintenance, and choose pale nail lacquer shades so chips won’t be noticeable.
Skincare
You don’t need to go overboard spending on skin products to look great. All one needs is a cleanser, a moisturizer, and sunscreen. It’s up to you if you want to spend more on extras such as toners, masks, serums, and spot treatments. Try products from Nivea, Neutrogena, Ponds, Olay, Garnier, and Burt’s Bees for skincare products that won’t break the bank.
Makeup
Some women find it hard to pare down their beauty arsenal to the very basics. For work, a good foundation, powder for touch-ups, a concealer, a brow product, four eyeshadows in neutral colors, eyeliner, mascara, and one or two lip colors will suffice.
Beauty bloggers know that to save money on makeup, one must know where to find duplicates, or dupes of certain products. Oftentimes, you can find the same shade of lipstick or blush that you love for a more affordable price. Check out the Temptalia beauty blog for dupes of high-end products, as well as the Instagram account Dupethat.
Multitask your products. The darkest shade in a contour kit can be used to fill in brows. Lipsticks can substitute for cream blush in a pinch, while a slick of Vaseline can tame brows, add sheen to cheekbones, and give lips a glossy finish.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s tips on how to look good for work while on a budget.
