I’m sure you’ve all done it; reached for your favourite cleaner, moisturiser or hair product and then realised you’ve run out. I know that my friends must be sick of me pinching their facial wipes and hairspray when I stay at their houses. It seems like every single time I pack an overnight bag I forget one vital part of my beauty regime.
Charlotte mentioned how she recently went away for the weekend and accidentally left her usual skincare favourites at home forcing her to use a bumper bottle of fragrance-free body lotion as a cleanser, eye make-up remover and moisturiser. Mrs O’Shea was pleased to report that although her make-up free skin was a little shinier there was no discernible difference when full make-up was applied. As usual the RMS team then proceeded to have a good old chin wag about this, sharing our own improvisation techniques when some of our most loved beauty products have run out or miraculously disappeared from our wash bags on weekends away.
A scour of the internet revealed that people are substituting their usual beauty routine for some very odd and innovative things. Before I go any further I want to stress that we do not endorse any of the methods and products that we’re about to reveal. We’re just putting them out there! We’ve asked around and here’s our very original list of household products that have been used in an emergency.
Tomato ketchup for restoring chlorine soaked green tinged hair back to its former blonde glory. (As this appears to be the only cure for tinged hair is there actually a beauty equivalent?!) Anti bacterial hand wash instead of an acne specific face wash A tiny smidgen of hand cream instead of hair conditioner to smooth locks. (Tried and tested, just don’t use too much or you end up with greasy tresses) A dab of petroleum jelly instead of eye cream or eye make-up remover. (Apparently Jennifer Anniston does this and she always looks AMAZING). A hot water and sugar solution spread through the hair if you’ve run out of hairspray. (I would be afraid that I’d attract a swarm of flies so I think I’d prefer to stick to floppy hair than an infestation.) Haemorrhoid cream to reduce under eye puffiness. (This just seems wrong on so many levels) Toothpaste or Sudacrem for soothing spots Anti-ageing hand cream instead of the usual anti-aging moisturiser from the same range. (I’ve often wondered how cream knows which part of the body it’s moisturising anyway)
So have we missed any of your spontaneous beauty tips? What measures have you been forced to take when you’ve realised your beauty cupboard is bare?
Please do share your top improvisation tips. You don’t just need to stick to beauty!
On the vaseline front – a fancy dermatologist (as in one that treats celeb types) told me that a dab of this was as good as any other “eye cream” to prevent dryness. In the winter especially I sometimes put some on before I go to bed and my concealer goes on much better in the morning.
Coconut oil for everything – cleanser, moisturiser, hair mask, cuticle cream, eyelash serum!
Just been reading up on this Emily. Who knew Coconut Oil had so many uses?! Do you find it leaves your skin greasy?
Strangely it doesn’t and I have typical combination skin. I don’t always use it on my face though only when I’m out of other products. My nails are definitely benefitting, they’ve never been this long or strong. I have a friend who swears by coconut oil pulling too but I’ve yet to try it
I’m off to read up about oil pulling now….x
I have a friend who used to have to wear fake tan for dance competitions, there were often application mishaps and she used to swear by mixing lemon juice and raw sugar together to remove streaks xx
Great tip Helen, especially as Fake Tan season is quickly approaching… x
Vaseline on the eyelashes before bed – sounds weird but it has made mine grow like crazy and mascara goes on SO much better the next day (after I’ve washed it off, obvs!). Sorry, not strictly an improvisation tip but there’s gotta be something in this whole vaseline/eye care theory?!
Hi Leanne! A girl I went to school with used to do this you know – and said the same, I wonder if it’s the fact it makes your lashes more supple and prevents them from snapping/being pulled out (I am so careless when removing eye-makeup, really must sort that out!)
Do you just apply it to the roots or a bit of the lid too?
Boo! I want thicker lashes but my eyes just swell up if I put vaseline anywhere near them 🙁
Not really a substitute and no good if you’ve also run out of conditioner but it can be used (and I have) instead of shaving gel though unlikely if you’ve sensitive skin. Re the ketchup thing, I think that purple shampoo you can buy does the same thing and you might smell nicer!
I think the conditioner trick is much better than using shaving gel. Definitely less drying on the skin
I started using olive oil as make up remover when I had run out of my usual one and it works way better than the cleanser I used to use. My skin had started getting very dry during the day then very greasy overnight, but using the olive oil has made it all better. It also totally melts my mascara and eyeliner so no more panda eyes in the morning 🙂 A drop or two of lavender oil makes it smell less like cooking 😉
Hello Kiddo, I’m on the hunt for a new eye make-up remover as I always seem to have black eyes in the morning. Might be worth a try….
I’ve totally done the toothpaste one for spots, it works! But what works better is if you get a face cloth/flannel and run it under really hot water and press that onto the spot for a god few minutes then wipe away, the spot is gone! Toothpaste is good for redness – though I’d do that at night and leave it on. I also swear by the Vaseline on the lashes tip too.
A tip for whiter teeth that my mum does – after using her usual tooth paste on her teeth she gives them a quick brush with bicarbonate of soda and then rinses. It works for her (I personally don’t like the taste and fortunately have fairly white teeth!)
Ema tell me more about the spot trick! Nothing but hot water and a flannel?
Yep that’s all there is to it, it has to be quite hot, which can be a bit uncomfortable at first but it really does work! You just press your finger into the flannel onto the spot and hold it for a good while and then wipe away!
Like an individual facial steam for each blemish. Genius!
Lanacane, ie the weird gel that is meant to stop thigh chafing (!), has the exact ingredients and feel of smashbox primer and will do the exact same job of keeping your make up on. Who knew! 🙂
Erm….WOW! have you tried this?!
Getting loads of great tips
I’ve used lipstick as blusher before when I found myself looking very pale!
Brown eyeshadow you can wet and use as an eyeliner
I’ve also used it to cover up a few grey hairs inbetween having my hair coloured!
Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream lip balm you can use on anything cuticles, dry patches, burns.
Hi Stacey, I quite like lipstick as blush, it looks fresh – I wonder if it has basically the same ingredients as cream blush anyway? I wet my slightly shimmery eyeshadow to give a “foil” effect for nights out x