Beauty hacks are insider tips and tricks to simplify your beauty routines, get better results, and save money. These genius beauty hacks will upgrade your makeup, hair, skincare and nail game without splurging on expensive products or tools.
A recent survey found that 82% of women look up beauty tips and product reviews online before making a purchase. With so many options and influencers promoting the latest beauty trends, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why these 30 affordable, creative beauty hacks are game-changing.
These tried-and-true beauty hacks come straight from industry experts, celebrity makeup artists, hair stylists and estheticians. From quick makeup tricks to revive dry hair to DIY skincare remedies, these simple yet brilliant beauty hacks will streamline your routine while delivering amazing results. You’ll learn how to use unexpected household items, affordable drugstore finds, and easy techniques to level up your beauty game on a budget.
Ready to be a beauty hack master? Let’s get started with our first category – makeup beauty hacks that will have you looking flawless in no time!
Makeup Tips and Tricks
Every woman needs a few genius makeup hacks in her beauty arsenal. These pro tips and tricks will help you achieve flawless makeup looks using unexpected items and easy techniques. Kiss cakey foundation, smudged liner, and other makeup mishaps goodbye!
Quick Lash Curling Hack
Out of eyelash curler? No problem! Here’s a quick lash curling hack using a spoon:
- Take a clean spoon (metal or plastic works)
- Heat the curved outer edge of the spoon briefly by holding it under your blow dryer
- Let the spoon cool for 15 seconds until warm but not burning hot
- Place your lashes against the curved edge and gently push up and towards your lids
This gives you gorgeous, lifted lashes instantly. Just be careful not to burn or pinch your lid.
Easy Eyebrow Hack
Full, defined eyebrows instantly frame and polish your face. This brow hack is a total gamechanger:
- Use a slanted eyebrow brush and a matte bronzer 1-2 shades darker than your brow color
- Brush the bronzer through brows in hair-like flicking motions
- Focus on sparse areas to realistically fill in
Bronzer looks incredibly natural compared to pencils or pomades that can look harsh. This soft, diffused finish looks like real hair!
The Perfect Winged Eyeliner Hack
Winged liner is notoriously tricky to master. This eyeliner hack makes it easy:
- First, tightline your upper lash line with a pencil or gel liner
- Next, place a small piece of scotch tape flat against outer corner of each eye at your desired angle
- Use the tape edge as a stencil guide to draw perfectly straight lines
Peel off the tape and voila – crisp, symmetrical winged liner for a flawless cat eye every time!
DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner
Cleaning makeup brushes weekly helps prevent makeup buildup and skin issues. Make your own brush cleaner with:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp dish soap
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
Mix it all together and dip makeup brushes in to swish and swirl against your palm. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear.
Makeup Setting Spray Hack
Tired of having expensive setting sprays? Make your own by simply mixing:
- 1 part rose water
- 1 part glycerin
- 2 parts purified water
Store in a small mist bottle and spritz face after makeup application. This DIY setting mist helps powders melt into skin and locks your look in place.
Those are just a few pro makeup beauty hacks to get you started. Next up, let’s move on to some brilliant hair hacks!
Hair Hacks
Whether you’re battling dryness, frizz, lack of volume or just want to cut down on styling time, these hair hacks are total game-changers. From reviving damaged locks to gorgeous no-heat curls, you’ll find plenty of budget-friendly ways to get your dream hair.
Revive Dry, Damaged Hair
Give parched strands a moisture boost with this easy deep conditioning hair hack:
- Mash up an over-ripe avocado until smooth and creamy
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil and 1 tbsp honey
- Apply the mask from roots to ends
- Cover hair with a shower cap and let it soak in for 30 mins
- Rinse thoroughly
The healthy fats and antioxidants in avocado deeply hydrate and strengthen hair. Honey is a humectant that locks in moisture.
Volume-Boosting Hair Hack
Pump up the volume and add major body to thin, limp hair with this full-proof volumizing hack:
- Flip head over and apply a root-lifting spray, volumizer or mousse
- Divide hair into sections and spritz each with cocktail of 1 part leave-in conditioner and 4 parts water
- Use fingers to scrunch and twist hair upwards while blow drying with a diffuser
- Once dry, blast roots with cool air to set the lifted shape
The lifting spray combined with the extra moisture and scrunching/twisting motion helps amp up volume ten-fold.
No-Frizz Curly Hair Hacks
Heat and humidity are the curl’s worst enemies. Tame frizzy, unruly curls using these tricks:
- Always use a microfiber hair towel or old t-shirt to blot curls when wet to reduce friction
- Let hair air-dry completely before scrunching in a curl-enhancing cream or styler
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase to maintain definition overnight
- Revive day-old curls by flipping head over and misting with a curling spray mixture of water, conditioner and gel
Hide Greasy Roots
Greasy roots between washes? Use this easy dry shampoo hack to fake a fresher look:
- Cut a makeup blending sponge cleanly in half with scissors
- Lightly dab the sponge over oily roots and part line to absorb oil
- Finish by applying a quick spritz of dry shampoo over the same areas
The sponge soaks up excess grease first, allowing the dry shampoo to absorb any remaining oil for added freshness.
Boost Shine Instantly
Give your hair an instant glossy boost using this shine-enhancing hack:
After styling, simply rub a tiny dab of coconut, olive or argan oil between your palms. Lightly smooth over the outer hair cuticle from mid-lengths to ends to tame frizz and add beautiful sheen.
That’s the key – use only the smallest amount and concentrate it on the outer cuticle layer rather than applying directly to roots. This gives glass-like shine without weighing hair down.
Those are just some of the top hair hacks that stylists swear by. Up next – skincare hacks for a radiant, glowing complexion!
Skincare Hacks
Investing in your skin pays off big-time when it comes to achieving a naturally radiant, youthful glow. But you don’t need pricey products and treatments to get great results. These genius skincare beauty hacks utilize affordable, natural ingredients for smoother, brighter, more rejuvenated skin from head-to-toe.
DIY Face Mask Recipes
Treat your complexion to a spa-worthy facial with these easy DIY face mask recipes:
Brightening Vitamin C Mask
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp plain yogurt
Honey is a natural humectant, while vitamin C brightens and boosts collagen.
Clarifying Oatmeal Mask
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- 1/4 cup warm milk or cream
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Oatmeal gently buffs away dead skin cells, while lactic acid in milk dissolves debris from pores.
Hydrating Avocado Mask
- 1/2 ripe avocado, mashed
- 1 tsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 tsp honey
The fatty acids and antioxidants in avocado provide intense hydration.
Get Rid of Puffy Eyes Fast
Woke up with puffy, swollen eyes? Reach for green tea bags! The tannins in green tea have potent anti-inflammatory properties to quickly minimize under-eye bags and dark circles.
Simply soak two green tea bags in cool water and let them chill in the fridge for 20 minutes. Then lie back and place the cool tea bags over your closed eyes for 15 minutes. You’ll look fresh and wide awake in no time!
The Best Hack for Soft, Smooth Feet
Get baby-soft feet using this beauty editor-approved hack:
- Before bed, slather feet with a thick salve like Bag Balm or Vaseline
- Cover feet with a pair of soft cotton socks
- Sleep in the socks overnight
- Remove socks in the morning and gently exfoliate off any dead skin
The occlusive ointment helps infuse intense hydration as you sleep. Your feet will literally shed layers of dry, calloused skin, leaving them smooth and renewed. Do this weekly for sandal-worthy feet!
Hydrate Dry Skin Fast
Thirsty, parched skin? Replenish lost hydration with this ultra-moisturizing hack using glycerin, a powerful humectant:
- In a spray bottle, mix 1 part glycerin with 4 parts rosewater or distilled water
- After showering, mist the glycerin solution liberally all over damp skin
- Let it absorb for 2-3 minutes
- Follow with your regular body lotion or cream
Glycerin draws moisture deep into the skin and boosts your moisturizer’s hydrating effects. Your dry patches and flakes will drastically improve.
An Acne-Fighting Turmeric Mask
Turmeric is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory powerhouse for treating acne. Make a clarifying turmeric face mask using:
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 1 tsp milk or plain yogurt
Mix into a paste and apply all over clean, dry skin for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. You’ll notice brighter, more even-toned skin too!
Those are just some of the top skincare beauty hacks to give you a radiant, glowing complexion. Next, let’s cover some clever nail hacks!
Nail DIY Hacks
Want salon-quality nails from the comfort of home? These clever nail hacks will help you achieve a perfect DIY manicure and pedicure with minimal time, effort and money spent. Say goodbye to smudges, chips and other mani/pedi mistakes!
The Secret to a Perfect At-Home Mani
Follow this easy hack for a professional-looking at-home manicure every time:
- Start by pushing back cuticles with a cuticle stick
- Next, soak fingertips in warm soapy water for 2-3 minutes to soften cuticles
- Gently scrape away any excess cuticle with a curved nipper
- Buff nails lightly with a 4-way buffer block
- Wipe nails with alcohol to degrease before polishing
- Use a small makeup wedge to wipe polish from edges for crisp lines
This simple nail prep routine makes all the difference for a flawless, long-lasting DIY mani.
Dry Nail Polish Super Fast
Need your polish to dry pronto? Use this quick dry nail hack:
- Apply a thick, generous coat of polish to each nail
- Then blast your nails with a hairdryer at the highest, coolest setting
- Let the focused air flow over each nail for 60 seconds
The cool shot of air causes the polish to dry lightning fast! You can gently tap and feel for any wet areas that need more air time.
Easily Remove Glitter Nail Polish
Glitter polish is notoriously hard to remove. Make it easy with this foil method:
- Remove as much polish as you can with remover and a cotton round
- Soak small cotton balls in acetone remover
- Place the cotton balls over each nail and wrap the tip in foil
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the foil to “bake” the glitter off
- Use an orange stick to gently scrape off the loosened glitter
The foil creates a steamy environment that melts and breaks down the glitter particles, making removal mess-free.
Prevent Smudged Pedicures
There’s nothing worse than ruining a fresh pedicure by smudging nails after! This genius hack solves that:
- Cut a sun visor or flexible plastic place mat into toe separators
- Slip the separators between each toe right after polishing
- Leave them on for 15-20 minutes to allow polish to fully set
The separators suspend your toes apart so nails don’t bump each other while drying. Your pedi will stay perfectly smooth!
Make Your Manicure Last Way Longer
Extend the life of your manicure with this long-lasting hack:
- After applying color polish, finish with a gel top coat like Seche Vite
- Then go over the entire nail again with a quick-dry top coat spray like Drib Dry
The gel topcoat provides a thick, plasticized seal that locks in polish. The spray adds an extra layer of protection so nails have serious staying power.
Up next – budget-friendly beauty hacks to help you save big without sacrificing quality!
More Budget-Friendly Beauty Hacks
Looking beautiful doesn’t have to break the bank. These money-saving beauty hacks allow you to indulge in luxe products and tools for a fraction of the price. You’ll also find genius ways to score free beauty loot!
Affordable Dupes for Pricey Beauty Products
You can achieve virtually identical results using more affordable product dupes, such as:
- E.L.F. 16 HR Camo Concealer ($6) as a dupe for Tarte Shape Tape ($27)
- Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Foundation ($6) dupes Tarte’s cult Amazonian Clay Foundation ($39)
- NYX Butter Gloss ($5) is extremely similar to Fenty’s Gloss Bomb ($19)
- OGX Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo ($6) works just as well as pricier argan oil shampoos
- Soap & Glory Body Butters ($11) perform like luxe body creams costing $50+
With a little research, you can find incredible affordable alternatives to splurge-worthy beauty faves.
DIY Your Own Beauty Products
Why pay premium pricing when you can DIY your own beauty products at home? It’s easy with recipes like:
Basic Sugar Scrub
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut, olive or grapeseed oil
- Optional add-ins: vanilla, lemon, essential oils
Moisturizing Bath Melts
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1/3 cup coconut or olive oil
- 10-15 drops essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus
Rose Water Toner
- 1 cup rose water or rose hydrosol
- 1 tbsp vegetable glycerin
- 5-10 drops rose essential oil
Customize DIY products with your favorite fragrances, botanicals and nourishing oils.
Multi-Use Beauty Staples
Maximize your beauty budget by looking for multi-use products that pull double (or triple!) duty like:
- Coconut oil (makeup remover, hair mask, body moisturizer)
- Rose water spray (toner, setting spray, refresher)
- Castor oil (hair growth treatment, moisturizing cleanser)
- Raw honey (face mask, spot treatment, hair conditioner)
- Aloe vera gel (sunburn soother, leave-in hair conditioner)
The more ways you can use a product, the better value it is!
Unexpected Bargain Beauty Tools
Who needs to splurge on expensive beauty tools when you can find amazing budget buys? Try using:
- Makeup sponge wedges ($1 for 8 at the dollar store) for crisp lip lines
- Men’s buffer puff ($3) as a dry brush for body exfoliation
- Basting brush ($2) for perfectly striped bronzer and contour
- Rubber kitchen spatula ($1) to evenly apply face masks
- Cotton couch remover pads ($3) as disposable makeup removers
Get creative and you’ll discover household items work remarkably well as cheap beauty tools.
How to Score Free Beauty Samples & Product Tests
Before committing to full-size beauty splurges, try scoring free samples! Sign up at sites like:
- Influenster – Get free samples, contests and discount codes
- PinkSeoul – Korean beauty brands frequently offer free samples
- Sephora BioDermaPLUS – Fill out a profile for free skincare samples
- Allure Beauty Enthusiast Program – Take surveys for editor’s box samples
You can also contact brands directly, especially when browsing in-store. Simply ask an associate politely if any free samples are available!
General Beauty Routine Hacks
In addition to product and tool-specific hacks, there are many clever techniques to streamline your entire beauty routine. These simple tricks will save you time while helping you look more polished from head to toe.
Quick Beauty Routine Shortcuts
Wake up late but still want to look put together? Use these smart shortcuts:
- Sweep cream blush onto eyes, lips and cheeks for an instant monochromatic look
- Wrap hair in a bun maker sponge while showering for beautiful, bouncy curls
- Mix face moisturizer with liquid bronzer for an all-over healthy glow
- Dust bronzer into hairline and neck area for a subtle, sun-kissed effect
- Set makeup with a spritz of rosewater instead of powder
Employ a few quick hacks like these and you’ll look like you spent way more time getting ready.
Clever Beauty Uses for Household Items
Believe it or not, many common household items can work amazingly well as affordable beauty tools and products, such as:
- Beer for shiny hair – The proteins and vitamin B help strenghten and add glossiness
- Potatoes for puffy eyes – Simply grate and place the shredded potato into tea bags to reduce swelling
- Coffee grounds for cellulite scrub – The caffeine helps tighten skin while exfoliating
- Aluminum foil for straighter hair – Wrap sections with foil before straightening for crease-free results
- White vinegar as a clarifying rinse – Removes buildup from hair for clean, bouncy tresses
- Baking soda as an exfoliating cleanser – Creates a gentle microdermabrasion effect
Get creative and you’ll find inexpensive beauty uses for pantry staples you already own.
No-Heat Trick to Straighten Hair
Want silky-smooth straight locks without the damage of hot tools? All you need are some knee-high stockings!
- Apply a heat protectant cream or serum to damp hair
- Brush hair thoroughly and create a low ponytail
- Divide ponytail into 1-inch subsections
- Tightly wrap each section from end to roots with a knee-high stocking
- Let hair completely dry this way, then unwrap
The compression of the stocking, combined with the cream, works to straighten hair for a sleek, polished finish.
Soothe Sunburn Fast
We’ve all been there – spent a little too much time in the sun only to wake up lobster-red. Soothe scorched skin fast with this cooling sunburn hack:
- Brew 2 cups of green tea and let it chill in the fridge
- Pour the green tea into a clean spray bottle
- Generously mist the sunburned areas with the chilled green tea
- Let it air dry (don’t wipe off) and reapply as needed
Green tea contains antioxidants that reduce inflammation, pain and risk of peeling. The tannins also help remove heat trapped in the skin.
How to Look Awake When You’re Exhausted
Fake a well-rested look when you’re running on empty with these bright eye tricks:
- Use an eye massage tool or jade roller to reduce puffiness and dark circles
- Curl lashes and apply a couple coats of lengthening mascara
- Dab on a champagne or pearly shadow to inner corners
- Use a nude eyeliner on the waterlines to counteract redness
- Set concealer with a yellow color-correcting powder to brighten
These subtle techniques instantly open up and refresh tired-looking eyes when you’re sleep deprived.
Those are just some of the top general beauty routine hacks to simplify your daily regimen while still looking incredible! Let’s quickly summarize all the amazing hacks we covered.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a beauty minimalist or a full-blown product junkie, having a few key beauty hacks up your sleeve can totally transform your routine. The 30 brilliant hacks we covered span makeup, hair, skincare, nails and general tips to streamline your regimen.
For the makeup lovers, you learned game-changing tricks like conditioning and curling lashes with a spoon, perfecting a winged liner look using scotch tape, and filling in eyebrows naturally with bronzer. DIY makeup setting spray and dry brush cleaner hacks let you achieve pro results on a budget.
The hair hacks showed you how to revive dry, damaged locks with a hydrating avocado mask, create amazing volume without backcombing, and tame frizzy curls with simple techniques. You’ll never look at coconut oil the same after learning its super shine-boosting powers!
On the skincare front, you got recipes for brightening vitamin C masks, tricks to depuff eyes instantly, and ultra-moisturizing hacks to banish dryness from head to toe using affordable pantry items like glycerin and raw honey. That unexpected turmeric mask is a must-try for clearing acne!
Your at-home mani game is forever changed thanks to hacks like the perfect polish removal technique, quick drying tricks, and giving your pedicure an instant salon finish by suspending toes apart as they dry.
Beyond product tips, you leveled up your entire beauty routine using smart shortcuts, multi-use products that streamline your routine, and unexpected household items that work amazingly well for beauty purposes.
From quick volumizing tricks to soothing sunburns to faking an awake look, these beauty hacks deliver amazing results for a fraction of the cost and effort. So what are you waiting for? Put these brilliant tips into action for a radiant, polished look from head-to-toe!
References:
Makeup Artist Product Dupes: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/g27527387/walmart-affordable-beauty-products/
DIY Beauty Recipes: https://formulabotanica.com/beauty-products-to-make-at-home/
Household Items as Beauty Tools: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a7142/unconventional-household-beauty-products/
Celebrity Hairstylist Tricks: https://www.glamour.com/story/hair-tips-from-celebrity-stylists
Dermatologist Skincare Tips: https://www.allure.com/story/best-skin-care-tips-dermatologists
Essential Hair Oils: https://wanderby.com/essential-oils-wonders-hair/
Better Hair: https://wanderby.com/your-hair-is-what-you-eat-9-ways-to-better-hair/
Best Eye Color: https://wanderby.com/the-best-eye-color-to-make-brown-eyes-pop/
