Tip #1: Find a Cheaper Alternative
Expensive products don't necessarily work any better than a less expensive brand. Instead of spending a ton on a high end product, look for a similar one with a smaller price tag.
This is where reading ingredient labels comes in handy. Find a bargain alternative with the same ingredients as the high priced version. Proactiv may contain benzoyl peroxide, but so do less expensive skin care kits. Remember, generic products work too!
You don't have to stop at OTC products. Many of your prescription medications also come in generic versions (i.e. Retin-A and tretinoin). Again, generic brands aren't less effective, but they can make a big difference in the amount you pay. Ask your doctor to prescribe a generic version, if available.
Tip #2: Avoid Product Overload
Do you have a cabinet full of skin care products you've only used a handful of times? Are you tempted to buy that salicylic acid cleanser on the store shelf even though you already have three others at home?
Jumping from product to product isn't good for your skin, or your wallet. If you stop using a treatment after just a few days, you'll never get the results you want. Remember, it takes at least eight weeks before you'll start to really notice an improvement of your skin. Stick with a product for at least that long before moving on to another product. You'll give the treatment a chance to work, and avoid an overload of half-empty bottles on your bathroom shelf.
Tip #3: Use Your Products Correctly
You may be tempted to slather gobs of acne treatment products on your skin, in the hopes it will clear pimples fast. Over-applying won't clear acne any faster. If the directions say to apply a pea sized amount, that's really all that you need. Using any more, you're wasting your money.
On the flip side, if you constantly forget to use your products, you may find yourself with a nearly full tube that's past it's expiration date. That's just like throwing money down the drain. If you need help remembering your treatments, leave your medication out on the counter in plain sight to jog your memory.
