Women spend thousands of dollars on beauty products throughout their lifetime. But how much of that is wasted?
Every squeeze, squirt and scoop is costing you cash, so here at TODAY Style, we want to help you portion control your beauty routine. That way, you can save your skin while also saving money.
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Cleansers
Whether you're opting for a cream, gel or liquid cleanser, look to squeeze out about one cranberry's size and volume. That's really all you need, whether the formula suds up or not.
If you double cleanse to remove waterproof makeup, go for half the amount during the first rinse, then follow up with the other half to wash away long-wear foundations and mascaras.
Scrubs
When portioning out grainy scrubs, keep your dollop to the volume of one raspberry to cover both your face and neck. As a general rule, you should exfoliate gingerly once or twice a week at most.
Serums
More is more, right? Wrong! Concentrated serums might offer double or triple the active ingredients of your anti-aging creams and dousing skin may lead to irritation. A pea-sized drop is all you need!
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Eye cream
"Apply sparingly" is the particularly vague wording many packages use. Brands usually don't offer a specific amount of product to use (surely they want you to get through that tube, bottle or tub as quickly as possible), but you need less eye cream than you probably imagined. Think a sunflower seed's worth for each eye — that's it!
The rich emollients in eye cream have been designed to absorb deeply, so a small smear will do the job. Too much product will increase the risk of eye irritation and may even interfere with makeup application. Cake-y concealer? This may be the change you need.
Moisturizer
New technology in skin care helps active ingredients absorb and moisturize deeply, without the sticky, oily residue. For both morning moisturizers and night creams, aim for the volume and length of one almond. To apply, dot lotion all over your face and neck before smoothing it out for even distribution.
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Sunscreen (for the face)
Whether you're opting for a chemical or physical sunscreen, efficacy is reliant on fully covering skin's real estate. When it comes to your face and neck, scoop out a portion similar to one plump grape and make sure to cover the top of your ears and through your hairline, dermatologist Dr. Eric Schweiger confirms.
Neck cream
Don't forget your neck! A blueberry-sized serving will accurately cover under your chin, behind your neck and through the decollate area to keep this area hydrated.
And there you have it. Portion control has never been easier!
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