Whether you consider yourself a natural frugalista, bargainista, or recessionista, pinching pennies and repurposing items you have on hand can be fabulous!  Here’s one of my favorite tips to shop smarter (not harder) and get more bang for your buck:

Making up is (not) hard to do: You may be “worth it,” but anyone who’s been to a beauty counter to have her face beat knows those powders, lashes, and lip glosses add up.  First, nix prestige-brand makeup for Maybelline and Cover Girl, or mix and match.  Coupons can often be found in the Sunday paper for cosmetics brands found in grocery or big box stores (you are clipping coupons, right?).  That’s how I justify buying a $7 wand of CoverGirl LashBlast mascara (which, if you haven’t tried it yet, is the bomb.com…)!  I’ve also trimmed my beauty budget by signing up for the membership programs offered at Ulta via Ultamate Rewards and at Sephora via BeautyInsider (which also gives members a free gift on their birthday!).  Also, for every six empty MAC makeup containters you recycle at MAC Cosmetics, get one regular lipstick (not lipglass, etc.) for free (either online or at the counter). 

Image courtesy of  Etsy