Cheap Trick: Alternative Uses for Hair Conditioner

I love a product I can use for multiple purposes. A while back I wrote about how I use Carmex to perform double duty -- both to moisturize my lips and my cuticles. It might sound strange, but it works. That got me thinking, what other everyday products do we have that aren't limited to their intended use? And what are the chances some of us never even thought about these alternative uses?

Chances are, many of us haven't thought about how some of our products could work double (or more) duty. And I bet knowing some of these things might just change our lives (or more likely help us out in a pinch).

Case in point: Conditioner.

Did you know how many different uses it has? Plenty. Today, I'll be sharing some of its other practical uses that are related to your beauty regimen.

Use it as shaving cream for soft, smooth, touchable legs

I learned this little trick from an exotic dancer (don't judge!). To be accurate, I learned it from a coworker who was dating an exotic dancer. I was bemoaning a recent conditioner purchase that had been a complete flop on my hair. And this guy pipes in and told me, "You know, my girlfriend uses conditioner as shaving cream and it works really well."

After taking a second to process that, I thought, "That's genius!" After all, exotic dancers need to have soft, smooth skin, right? I'm assuming that's a job requirement along with impressive pole skills (don't judge, that's challenging). She must know what she's talking about.

As it turns out, it works quite well. First, it's a great lubricant on your legs and barrier between your skin and your razor. And while it's doing that, it's moisturizing your skin! Makes sense, right? After all, conditioner is meant to moisturize your hair. Why wouldn't it work on your skin? Turns out, it does.

After trying it, I was quite impressed. My legs were soft, smooth, and irresistibly touchable. Plus, I didn't end up tossing my money in the trash because I was able to use up that bottle of conditioner on my legs.  Major bonus. The only caveat: be careful in the shower, conditioner can make the shower/tub floor a little slippery.

The next time you go on a trip and forget to pack shaving cream, reach for your conditioner instead. Or you can just replace your shaving cream altogether if you'd like.

When in a pinch, use it to remove your makeup

I'd never thought to use conditioner as a makeup remover before. Whenever I run out of makeup removing wipes or eye make up remover, I tend to reach for my facial moisturizer (How's that for a second use for your moisturizer too?) since it loosens up makeup and glides over your skin without tugging. It's especially good when removing pesky eye makeup.

Turns out, the same can be done with conditioner. Just moisten a cotton swab with it and remove away. It will dissolve makeup and soften your skin without being greasy. Make sure not to get it in your eyes, especially if your conditioner has a lot of fragrance.

Condition scratchy makeup brushes

By now most of us know that you can use baby shampoo (because it's gentle) and even some dish soap to clean all the makeup out of your makeup brushes. Here's hoping you're doing it because a lot of bacteria can build up in your brushes and you're rubbing them all over your face (yuck!). But enough of the lecture. 

If you find that your brushes are feeling a bit rough and scratchy after you wash them, try conditioning. It's simple. After you cleanse your brushes, make sure you rinse them thoroughly. Then work a little conditioner (not a lot) into the bristles, let it sit for 10-20 minutes then rinse it out. Voila! Soft brushes! 

Use it as a makeshift cuticle cream (and even lotion)

The same concept that worked for Carmex holds true for your conditioner. If your cuticles are in need of a little love, try rubbing some conditioner on them while you're in the shower. 

Similarly, you can use your conditioner to moisturize your skin if you're in a pinch. 

Use conditioner to wash your hair

We've all seen the Wen cleansing conditioner commercials and probably marveled at how nice, shiny, healthy, and manageable the model's hair looked. Well, I'm here to tell you that you don't necessarily have to splurge on a fancy cleansing conditioner to achieve similar results. If you want to give your hair a break from harsh suds (or if you're running late and need to wash your hair in a hurry), just "wash" your hair with your conditioner. 

Dampen your hair, generously apply conditioner to your tresses, let it sit for 3-5 minutes while you shower, then rinse out. If you have thin or limp locks, make sure not to use too much conditioner and rinse thoroughly to try to keep it from weighing down your hair. 

Well, there you have it, five new ways you can use your conditioner to enhance your beauty routine. Some of my favorite non-beauty related uses include: using conditioner to hand wash delicates like lingerie (skip the pricey specialty detergents), rubbing conditioner on zippers that tend to stick, and applying conditioner around a band-aid to make removal less painful. 

Have you tried any of these alternative uses for your conditioner? Are there any uses you love that I missed? 

Quick tip: A fix for sweaty feet

Just a quick note to everyone - You can also use spray-on deodorant if you don't like the idea of rubbing deodorant on your feet directly from the deodorant bar (for example if you are using a travel one in your purse that you also use on your armpits).


Additional video-related information:

Related video: How to keep your feet from sliding out of your shoes http://youtu.be/kFysk82naPY

On my face:

Sephora Collection Jumbo Liner 12hr Wear - Taupe
e.l.f. waterproof liquid eyeliner - black
Sephora Collection Microsmooth Foundation - Nude
Sephora Microsmooth Bronzer Duo - Honey
Coastal Scents 10 blush palette
Coastal Scents 15 concealer palette
Maybelline Define-a-brow - Medium brown
L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber - Black
Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume - Very Black

Nails: Sally Hansen Pacific Blue & Mint Sorbet

Quick Tip: Keep your feet from slipping out of your shoes with hairspray

In a Pinch: Quickie Eyeshadow Brushes

Ever been in rush when you packed your bags for a trip, only to realize you forgot your eyeshadow brushes? Fear not, you don't have to go out and buy a back up set (you could, but if you don't absolutely have to), just check out this quick and easy remedy.

Video: Remedy for razor bumps and ingrown hairs

Well, here is a video to accompany my post about remedying razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

Cheap Trick: Do Away with Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs

I was watching a video by DulceCandy87 titled “How to Remove Acne Scars,” and in it, she reviews a line of skin and makeup products that were sent to her for the purpose of review by blinc and resurf.a.stic. One of the products she reviewed was a skin product that would help treat ingrown hairs (resurf.a.stic ingrown hair). This product got me thinking. While, I do not doubt that the product works, as she says that she’s used it and likes it, why would I pay $40, when there are cheaper, and easier-to-find alternatives to help you avoid the dreaded razor bump and ingrown hair?

I am not writing this post to discredit the product that DulceCandy87 talks about in her video. Hey, if it works, then there is yet another tool in your arsenal with which to battle this dreaded skin irritation. My intention with this post is to bring to your attention another possible solution that you may very well already have in your medicine cabinet. If you don’t already own a tube of this, then it’s easy to find at any local drugstore, and it will not put a dent in your pocketbook. If it works for you, then you can keep the $40 you would have spent on the ingrown hair treatment by blinc, and use it to buy something more fun, like possibly some of the blinc cosmetics that DulceCandy87 discusses in her video, or any other product your little heart desires.

Ok, so what is this cheap treatment? Good old Neosporin. That’s right. This antibacterial cream can be used to do more than just treat cuts and scrapes. So, I suppose this can be added to my list of multitasking products, alongside jojoba oil and Carmex.

I use Neosporin (or really the generic Target version for some extra money-saving bliss) to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs along the bikini line region, and I’ve got to tell you, it’s certainly worked for me. I know that for many, bathing suit season is over, but down here in Florida, it’s still in full swing (and probably will be for a few more months, seeing as we are still experiencing 90+ degree temperatures). The heat, combined with friction from your undies (or swimsuit) or pants on freshly-shaved sensitive skin is just a recipe for razor bumps and ingrown hairs. And who wants to sport a swimsuit with icky-looking red bumps anywhere on their body, let alone around the bikini region? Even if you are not sporting a swimsuit these little bumps are pests. Not only are they eyesores, but they are particularly uncomfortable, especially when your unmentionables and clothes rub up against them, irritating them even more.

So, what’s a gal to do? Stop grooming? If that’s not an option you want to consider, then let Neosporin come to your rescue. Simply shave as usual — preferably using some sort of shaving cream, dry shaving only makes the problem worse — and when you get out of the shower apply a thin layer of Neosporin. Why does this work? It's simple. First, it provides a barrier for friction against your gentle skin. Second, Neosporin is a form of antibiotic that inhibits the growth of bacteria, which is why it keeps your scrapes and cuts from becoming infected. When you shave, bacteria can more easily get in to your pores/hair follicles (which is only made easier when it’s hot outside, bacteria breeding ground, and you’ve got clothing creating friction and rubbing that bacteria into your skin). When you apply Neosporin, you help keep that bacteria from growing in your hair follicle, clogging it, and causing ingrown hairs and razor bumps.

Another good practice, shave in the same direction as your hair grows, this way, you are not pushing against the grain, causing the hair to get pushed in to the pore and result in an ingrown hair. If you must shave against he grain to get that close shave, especially in the bikini region, then be sure to use Neosporin afterwards.

Well, there you have it, a money-saving beauty tip. I read this tip in a beauty magazine over the summer and a razor-bump-free summer, and hopefully a razor-bump-free life, and hopefully so will you.

Beauty product multitasker: Jojoba Oil

I think I may be late to the game on this one, but I just recently discovered the pleasures of jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-bah). I've been using Desert Essence 100% Pure Jojoba Oil. It's only been a few days, but I do have to say it works great as a makeup remover. For those afraid to use oil on their faces, be calm. It's supposed to be good for your skin and hair. That being said, when it is applied to the face as a makeup remover, it does leave some residue behind, so after you use it to quickly and easily remove your makeup, wash your face with your regular cleanser. You are supposed to do that whenever you use a make up remover anyway, that way your face wash can actually cleanse your skin and get into those pores without the makeup getting in the way. 

Here's how I use it:

• For eye makeup removal, I add a few drops to a cotton swab, pat it onto my eyelid, and just like that, my makeup melts right off. 

• For the rest of my face, I add about a dime-sized amount to my hand, rub onto my dry face, then rinse off with water, pat dry with towel, and wash with regular face wash. 

So, you're probably thinking, "Ok, Erika, but what's the big deal?" Well, for starters, this oil is much cheaper than other oil makeup removers like MAC ($24 for 5 oz) and NARS ($40 for 6 oz) at $12.99 for 4 oz. Now, I must state, that I have never used the cleansing oils from NARS and MAC, but I have heard that the Dessert Essence Jojoba Oil does leave more residue behind than the NARS and MAC versions, which wash off with water. But, for me, washing my face afterwards takes care of that. 

But that's not really why its impressive (although saving some cash is always a good reason to switch to a product, as long as it works). I'm impressed with it for its many other possibilities. I like multitasking beauty products. By that, I mean I like products that I can use for multiple reasons, kind of like my Carmex doubling as a good cuticle cream. Jojoba oil is just one such product. While I've only used it as a makeup remover thus far, I do plan to try some of these other uses out, namely, I am intrigued to test it out on my hair, as it is supposed to help heal dry and damaged hair, making it soft and shiny. Apparently, jojoba oil is beneficial to skin and hair because its molecular structure is similar to that of hair and skin's sebum (fancy word for oil). 

Here are some of the many uses possible with jojoba oil from the Desert Essence website:

• Facial cleanser and moisturizer: best for normal to dry skin. Add a few drops of jojoba oil to our fingers or a cotton swab, apply to face, and remove with water. Gently pat a few more drops of jojoba oil to your damp skin to attain a lasting moisture treatment. (I may try this in the winter, when my skin gets dryer)
• Body moisturizer: Apply jojoba oil to your skin immediately after you shower while skin is still damp to seal in moisture. 
• Massage and bath oil: Add a few drops of jojoba oil to your bath for soft moisturized skin, or use it to give your honey a back massage.
• Foot and hand lotion: Sandals got your feet feeling rough this summer? Apply jojoba oil to your feet, wrap in gauze, and put on socks. Leave on for an hour for smoother, softer tootsies. 
• Hair and scalp moisturizer:  Massage a few drops of jojoba oil to your scalp and rub in to relieve dryness or deep condition your hair by adding a quarter-sized amount into hands, smooth over hair (applying mostly to the ends), leave in for 5-10 minutes then shampoo your hair and style as normal. 
• Combat split ends and frizzies: rub a few drops into your hands and apply to the ends of your hair while our hair is still damp. 
• Lip conditioner: smooth onto lips for a overnight treatment
• Cuticle oil: No Carmex handy? No problem, rub jojoba oil onto your cuticles
• Shaving: For the dudes, apply to beard beneath shaving cream to prevent razor burn and for soft, smooth skin. Apply to freshly shaved skin to soothe and moisturize. Ladies, do the same for your legs. 

Desert Essence Jojoba Oil is vegan, cruelty free, and made from renewable sources.
Where to buy: Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, http://www.desertessence.com/

Here's a video that pretty much tells you what you just read.



Tweet

Affordable Beauty Tip: Carmex the Multitasker

So, I got this little tip, and I just had to rush over and share it with you. It's a cheap cuticle fix, and the best part is that you don't need a extra product specifically designed for cuticles. The trick, you've propbably figured out from the title and the picture is Carmex. I love Carmex. I've been using it on my lips for a long time. I like its moisturizing prowess and its sun protective qualities (SPF, hooray!). Down here in the Sunshine State it's a must for healthy lips. I always have a little jar in my purse. Best of all, it's cheap, and it lasts! And now, to add to its fabulosity, it can multitask.

My sister just gave me this wonderful tip that she got from a friend who she says as fabulous nails. Just rub a little Carmex on your cuticles and go! My sister gets acrylics and says her cuticles are dry after just a few days, and when she saw her friends nails she had to comment that they looked so nice. Her friend turned to her in surprise and said, "Really, I desperately need a fill!" My sister told her she couldnt' even notice. So her friend said that she rubs Carmex on her cuticles to keep them moist. My sister quickly followed suit and has now reported back that it works. When she told me, I instantly reached into my purse for my handy Carmex jar and did the same. It certainly moisturized. Now lets see how I do! If it works, I won't be replenishing my cuticle oils, which I hardly ever use because I always forget! I'll never forget my Carmex though!

Enjoy! Does anyone else have any multitasking beauty tips to share? Comment below.

Tweet