If you have NO MONEY what can you do to improve your skin and hair?

[YouBoughtMeAWall]

My skin is awful right now. So dry, breakouts all around my mouth and jaw line, bumpy and just ugh. My hair is dull and feels like it barely goes a day without getting greasy. I’m sure over indulgence at Christmas is to blame. I’m jobless and reliant on UC. There’s no room in the budget at all for buying anything to correct these issues but I’m sure there must be some things I can do. Other than drinking more water which I’m doing.

I’m sure there are loads of people in this position right now so I thought a thread with some free (like using things we might have at home already) or very low cost remedies would be useful.

Any suggestions?

I am trained in beauty But have had periods of my life where I’ve had no money and can’t Afford my usual nice skin care so have had to go very basic and use simple home remedies...

First thing first ask your doctor for a face wash and or cream for your doctors they are probably hormonal if in your chin or due to wearing a mask.

Using a bit of vinegar in a jug with cold water lean over the bath after you have finished washing your hair and pour on your head leave for a minute then rinse with cool water quickly. Makes it so shiny and great for greasy hair I do it myself!

Also make a mask from natural yoghurt and honey. The yoghurt has lactic acids which exfoliates and the honey is a humectant so attracts and keeps moisture in the skin as well as being anti bacterial for breakouts.

Use a tiny bit of whatever oil you use in the kitchen to massage your face for as long as you can while watching tv in the evening look up videos on YouTube. Remove with a warm flannel after.

For really spotty areas or large spots use an aspirin (Or 2 for larger area) with a drop of water on it, crush then add a tiny bit of Honey. Massage in and leave for 30 min. The aspirin has salicylic acid in which helps clear pores and really helps reduce spots.

Use your left over coffee grounds or sugar mix with whatever cheap oil you have and massage on to dry body then add a bit of water and scrub some more!

Excercise. I hate it but it does make you look better!

Water

Hope this helps OP I know how you feel when you want to buy beauty products but don’t have the money!

The pound shop sells Vosene shampoo which has been a complete game changer for my greasy, lank hair. I can now go 3 days without washing. I also in Pound Land bought a pack of 3 mini buffer/loofah pads, I use one on my face every few days and it really makes a difference to how my skin looks and feels.

Turn the central heating off and bundle up instead.

It might be what's causing your breakouts too. It always causes me dry skin around my mouth. Recon it dries hair out too.

@jamesfailedmarshmallows

The pound shop sells Vosene shampoo which has been a complete game changer for my greasy, lank hair. I can now go 3 days without washing. I also in Pound Land bought a pack of 3 mini buffer/loofah pads, I use one on my face every few days and it really makes a difference to how my skin looks and feels.

Seriously? Vosene? I'm buying it today!

Yes never it was recommended on S&B board and I was sceptical but it is really good.

Vosene isn’t tested on animals like head and shoulders is either.

Water, vitamins, sun screen

Hope this doesn't sound too stupid but firstly go into your bathroom, drawers etc. and pull out anything you have already. Any face creams, any body lotions or scrubs, any nail stuff and any hair treatments and shampoos you have. I honestly believe that it doesn't matter what you use, so long as you do something.

Some of the best beauty treatments I have don't cost anything or a lot.

Face massage. Look on YouTube for something to follow.
If you have any conditioner, put it on and leave it on for a few hours as a mask.
Do you have any oils in the house e.g. baby oil or any left over oils? Get some course salt and make a body scrub and keep in a Tupperware box.

Don't dry your hair unless you have to. Let it air dry in the house if it is warm enough. You aren't going anywhere. The best condition hair I've ever had was when I lived somewhere hot and I didn't use a hairdryer for years.

@nevernotstruggling

Someone recommended on here lately to dump some sugar in a handful of shower gel to use as a body scrub. I tried it last night. It was actually really good. I used caster sugar as that's what I found in the cupboard. There's probably a less messy way of doing it than what I did - next time I'm pretty mixing it!! I can't use oily scrubs it affects my skin but this was soap and grit only so much better for me.

For reference it was a super cheap shower gel from also or Lidl that I used as the dds have a habit of drowning themselves in it 😂

oh yes - think I will try this. with olive oil too. got some pink himalayan rock salt from Poundland a while ago and going to use that with olive oil and essential oils to do a nice body scrub too.

@TwentyTwentyOne

Hope this doesn't sound too stupid but firstly go into your bathroom, drawers etc. and pull out anything you have already. Any face creams, any body lotions or scrubs, any nail stuff and any hair treatments and shampoos you have. I honestly believe that it doesn't matter what you use, so long as you do something.

Some of the best beauty treatments I have don't cost anything or a lot.

Face massage. Look on YouTube for something to follow.
If you have any conditioner, put it on and leave it on for a few hours as a mask.
Do you have any oils in the house e.g. baby oil or any left over oils? Get some course salt and make a body scrub and keep in a Tupperware box.

Don't dry your hair unless you have to. Let it air dry in the house if it is warm enough. You aren't going anywhere. The best condition hair I've ever had was when I lived somewhere hot and I didn't use a hairdryer for years.

totally agreed with this - any samples and travel sizes you may have accumulated too.

It's amazing when I go through my samples and travel size boxes seeing what I have and haven't got and a lot of the time they're great!

Good sleep, plenty of water, good diet.
That would do much more than any beauty product though.

Water, fresh fruit and veg, low fat diet, exercise, cheap moisturiser eg Aldi. Ditto shampoo

Thank you all you superstars! You’ve all made me feel so much better just reading all these suggestions. So many to try!

My skin seems to have calmed down a bit. I’m thinking it was hormonal as my period came. They were very sore and itchy spots, I never usually break out like that. I’m going to go through the thread properly and see what I have in already over the weekend to start treating my skin.

Water
No make-up
Moisturise
With greasy hair you may be better to go without washing it for say a week (it will get horrendous before it gets better) or just say every 3rd day a few times until improves then its natural balance restores and it'll be a lot less greasy from then on.
Don't use a hairdryer if can avoid it. If you do need to use conditioner or hair dries out.
Try and keep fat in your diet in reasonable amounts.
I'm using a cheap shampoo and conditioner at the moment with lychee from Sainsburys, that seems to leave hair soft and clean. About £1 a bottle. It's lychee and something.

I used to drink peppermint tea before bed (stopped while bf) I would wash my face then go over my face using the teabag as an exfoliant.

Drink lots of water , don't smoke , don't drink and get lots of fresh air .

I agree with the above except for the don't drink bit.

I don't think leading a completely puritan lifestyle helps ageing. You have to have fun and relax too.

See your gp regarding breakouts for your skin. Prescription should be free on uc.

Lots of water, enough sleep, as much veggies as you can afford and try to avoid sugar and salt as much as possible (I know not easy when trying to feed yourself on a tight budget).

Don't touch your face. Unless you are cleansing your face or applying makeup with clean hands make an effort not to touch it. Your hands easily pick up germs that will transfer to your face. After making a conscious effort to do this I noticed that I hadn't had a cold for a couple of years when normally I would have had 2 or 3 in that time. Obviously with Covid it's a great tip too.

Cheap veg like spring greens and carrots are nutrient dense, it doesn’t have to be asparagus.

@YouBoughtMeAWall I always used Nivea Micellar water and my face always felt bleurgh. During the first lockdown, I had run out but couldn't go anywhere to get more. I had a Dove soap bar kicking about so thought I'd give that a go with a flannel and water and it had such an amazing effect! I now no longer wear foundation

Just giving this brilliant thread a refresh, great tips on here that might help someone with things the way they are right now.

In case you felt your skin was bad at least you're not a Zombie like this thread! Which I like very much. I've shaved my head last year and not used shampoo or any other product since, except conditioner every few weeks when it gets greasy.. I clean it in the bubbly bath water with a nitty gritty comb, which I have to do all the time having little kids anyway. It's fricken lovely, soft and not greasy at all. Wish I started years ago.

I also recommend exercising till you sweat once or twice a week, and wild swimming in the sea, lakes or rivers. Be sure to be safe and know what you're doing.. freshwater is just as dangerous as the sea.

Also epilating, (when you can afford to, buy a decent one like silk epil) the epilator will pay for itself in blades even if you still shave your bikini and underarms. If you pay an extra £5 or so you can get the exfoliating heads set and save £ on face/body scrub too. (I know it's not totally free but I wish I did that sooner too!)

I have a pod coffee machine and every so often I dump the used granules into a mug, mix with some almond oil (could use olive) and a tsp of granulated sugar with a few drops of rose oil (optional). I massage into my face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then dampen it and really exfoliate. My face looks amazing after, the caffeine in the coffee really brightens my skin and the oil makes it soft.

If you are near a Savers shop, they do a skincare brand called Face Facts. Really cheap, the eye cream is £1.69, and a massive bottle of gentle cleanser is £3 i think. I've been using it and its pretty good. There is also a serum and Moisturiser too.