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Play the long game.
Whether you’re in money-saving mode, or you want to make your beauty products last longer for fear of not being able to get hold of a replacement, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re getting the most from the products you already have. We’ve pulled together the best tricks and clever hacks to make your beloved beauty products last longer.
How to make Perfume last longer
Perfume bottles make for some of the prettiest packaging of all beauty products, and there’s nothing better than displaying them in full view on your dressing table or bathroom shelf. However, if you want your perfume to keep its scent for longer, you may want to hide it away for now. "Only when the fragrance is in the bottle - sunlight damages the fragrance over time, altering the odour and destroying top notes," explains Sarah Rotheram, CEO of Miller Harris. "It is best to keep your fragrances in a cool dark place."
As for application, Sarah recommends spritzing onto freshly moisturised skin. "One of my top tips would be to make sure you moisturise - fragrance seems to evaporate quickest from dryer skin. So using a body lotion or creme, depending on your preference, will impact the longevity of your fragrance and extend its life. If there is a matching body lotion and bath line, use this too, is it will help to build layers of fragrance on the skin, making it last longer and feel even more luxurious."
How to prolong the shelf-life of your Foundation, Liquid Blush and Concealer
One of the biggest debates among makeup artists is whether sponges, brushes or fingers are best for blending. While the verdict is still out in terms of their respective results, there's a surefire winner when it comes to preserving your product.
Sponges and brush bristles both absorb makeup in order to distribute it onto the skin, but this also means that a certain amount of residue is left on each applicator (which is also what makes cleaning your makeup tools so important). Over time, this can add up a significant amount of product that you could have otherwise used on your skin. Fingers, on the other hand, won’t absorb any formula and are easy to clean.
How to maximise your Shampoo and Conditioner
One of the biggest mistakes we make when it comes to in-shower hair care is the amount we use as well as how we apply it. According to Anabel Kingsley, Philip Kingsley Brand President and Consultant Trichologist, there are a number of ways to make sure you're getting the most out of your haircare products. "Firstly, make sure you wet your hair thoroughly. The wetter your hair is, the better a shampoo will disperse through it. This also means you don’t have to use as much shampoo," she says.
Anabel also advises that you focus your shampoo on the scalp, rather than using up the product on lengths and ends of hair. "There is no need to rub shampoo into the lengths of your hair - any suds that run down through them will be enough to remove dirt and products."
As for the exact amount you need? “For fine to normal hair density, those with shorter hair need to use the size of a 5p coin amount of shampoo and conditioner, whereas those with medium length hair need to use a 10p coin size amount, and those with long hair need a 50p size amount to be able to thoroughly cleanse the hair," says Michael Shaun Corby, Global Creative Director for Living Proof. "For thicker hair types you will need double the amount of shampoo and conditioner purely because of the density of the hair, so you need more product. Coarse hair types need the same amount of shampoo as fine hair types but double the conditioner, this is because coarse hair tends to be more brittle, and because of its curves, the cuticles are raised compared to straight hair types, so its more susceptible to damage as water (even humidity) can pass through more easily, leading to frizz. The extra conditioner will keep the cuticles in place helping to prevent damage.”
How to make your Skincare last
If you're a fan of active ingredients like retinol and Vitamin C, you may want to keep your skincare products out of direct sunlight. "Unfortunately pure ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a highly unstable molecule which reacts very easily with the air and light and therefore oxidises extremely quickly making it ineffective," explains Nausheen Qureshi, biochemist, cosmetic scientist and founder of Elequra Skincare. "Look for high quality products that contain esters of vitamin C like Elequra Radiance Accelerator Serum. This means the vitamin C is encapsulated for double protection. These products are usually more expensive but are so worth it as will last for a long time and work harder and more effectively when you put them onto your skin!"
Another point to make note of is that your skin's needs change depending on your daily environment and exposure to different aggressors like pollution. "It's really important to note that you don't need your full skincare arsenal every day when you're at home," says Nausheen. "Save your cleanser for once a day and use smaller amounts. You are probably not wearing as much makeup and have less exposure to pollution, so there's less to remove on your skin."
Finally, Nausheen notes the importance of optimising your existing serums. "Using a foam cleanser before using serums will half the amount of serum you need. This is because the foam clears any oils from your skin ensuring the serums can penetrate the skin," she explains. "Plus, using a pH activating products, like Elequra Boosting pH Mist, will help create a pH gradient on your skin to help actives absorb twice as fast and therefore requiring less product."
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