Double-Duty Beauty

If there is one thing that the recession taught us, it’s that we can simplify our lives and use less. These products can all do more than one job in a pinch, meaning that you will save precious storage space, money from not buying multiple products, and your sanity, since you will de-clutter your beauty routine.

Vaseline is a multitasking wonder and should be in everyone’s bathroom. It is great for deep moisturizing on dry areas like elbow, knees, and feet. You can use it as a lip balm, a cuticle moisturizer, and an eyebrow gel (to tame those unruly hairs), and you can apply it to eyelashes overnight to moisturize and thicken them. You can also apply some to your teeth to avoid lips sticking to your teeth and to give you a shiny smile. Applying it to your eyelids will give you a dewy glow in place of eye shadow.

If you run out of shave gel, a great substitute is likely already sitting in your shower. Hair conditioner works in place of shave gel to protect and moisturize your skin as you shave. I haven’t used shaving gel or cream in years, opting for double-duty products like conditioner or moisturizing body washes instead. You’ll be going through a lot of conditioner this way, so it’s best not to use an expensive salon brand to shave your legs. Instead, opt for an affordable drug store brand like TRESemmé or Suave.

Stains have gained popularity for lip and cheek color over the last few years. There are some products that can provide suitable, long-lasting color to both cheeks and lips, like Benefit’s Benetint or Posetint, which applies like a nail polish with a tiny brush, or Stila Convertible Color, which can be applied with your fingers or a synthetic brush like a cream eye shadow or lip color.

BB creams are multitasking masters [please link to the BB cream article]. While they may not live up to every claim that has been made about them, at the very least they are a tinted moisturizer that likely has SPF. If it can lighten your dark marks and prevent acne, it truly earns a place on this list.

Toothpaste already cleans your teeth and freshens your breath (as long as you remember to brush your tongue) but it can do more outside of your mouth. If you have a zit, apply a bit of toothpaste overnight. The toothpaste will dry the zit out, so you will have to exfoliate the dead skin off the next morning and apply concealer to the remains.

Speaking of concealer, if you run out, you can dab foundation on problem spots with a small brush. It won’t have the same level of coverage, but it will do in a pinch. Apply a powder to set it.

If you have a bronzing powder you really love, you can use it as an eye shadow. Take a small brush or eye shadow applicator and use it to apply the powder to your eyelids. This also works with powdered blush.

These tips should have your beauty products working overtime and should free up some space in your makeup bag. If you have to multitask all day, the least you can ask of your beauty products is to do the same.