the 28th journal
bumper budget beauty breakdown
Hello, hi there and a very warm welcome to the 28th edition of the journal! Thank you for coming back, we have some super fun beauty talk ahead of us.
It truly feels fitting that for the 28th journal we have an absolute bumper edition brought together by an idea one of you suggested! 28 is a good number for me so I’ve packed as much value into this for you, hoping to pass on all the useful beauty knowledge I have rolling around in the upstairs.
We are of course talking all things budget - how to get the most out of your routine, where to splurge and where to save, key times of year for sales and why cheap doesn’t necessarily mean boring or rubbish. Money is a stress point for so many of us in recent times but I really don’t think that means we need to compromise or deprive ourselves of the joy a new blush or sheet mask could give us. For that reason, every single recommendation in this issue is under $40.
If you find yourself thinking of your own tips or advice while reading, please leave it in the comments! I’m sure we would all love to benefit from shared knowledge.
Enough chit chat; let’s talk beauty.
Where To Splurge, Where To Save
This is a question that pops up all the time - where in my routine do I spend money and where can I save some? I’m going to bounce that ball right back into your court and say that basically it’s up to you and where your priorities lie. Essentially, the best products to invest in are the ones that help you work towards your goals or help you feel your best.
Let me give you an example; if you really struggle with dark spots and dull skin, continuing to purchase a serum that’s helping to brighten and even your skin might be a top priority for you. Or maybe you have a sunscreen formula that looks amazing under your makeup and feels seamless, so you *actually* wear it every day. Invest in what you’re seeing results from and what aligns with your goals.
If that feels too vague, let me give you a back to basics list of where to splurge or save if it were me assessing my own routine.
Splurge
Actives that work for your skin and towards your skin goals. This may look like a retinal or vitamin c that is well tolerated by your skin type and comes in a format that works in your routine. You do not have to spend big to get effective skincare, but if you have a vitamin c serum that you enjoy using and find effective, keep investing in it
Sunscreen that makes you want to wear sunscreen. Sun protection is very important and sunscreen is just one part of that, so whatever formula means you’re wearing it everyday is worth investing in.
Save
Simple hydration steps. Hydration doesn’t have to be hard or complicated and there are some excellent products for whichever step in your routine you want to boost your hydration. Think a lightweight serum or rich cream that does the job and does it very well.
Anything excessive. Again, I know this sounds vague but what I’m talking about is the products in your routine that you don’t really understand or know what they’re doing. I like to do a regular audit of my routine which means checking in with myself about how my skin feels, then going through the products I’m using and checking that they align with my goals. If any product in my routine doesn’t make sense or I can’t explain why I’m using it, it goes on the list to be used up and then not repurchased. This is one of my favourite things to do, so you can literally hit me up online and we can do one together.
How To Make The Most of Your Beauty Investments
One of the best ways to save money on your beauty routine is to get the most out of where you’ve already invested or spent your money. When I say investment, that can mean something as simple as a blush brush all the way up to in salon treatments. Let’s get into it.
Look after your makeup brushes. Keeping your brushes clean and cleaning them properly can help extend their life. When cleaning the bristles, make sure you’re working gently and try to dry them so that water isn’t running back into where the glue is. Clean brushes also help your makeup apply better and reduce the bacteria you’re introducing to your face (which can mean less irritation and breakouts too!).
Wear your sunscreen. You may have heard people (me) say that if you’re not wearing your sunscreen, you may as well not bother with your other skincare. It’s a little hyperbolic but also kind of true. Combining sunscreen with your other sun safe practices gives your skincare products the best opportunity to work so that you’re getting the most out of them.
Follow procedure instructions. If you’re ever paying to go have professional treatments (facials, laser etc) please follow any prep or aftercare instructions as you best you can. I know it sounds a bit silly, but when you’re investing in professional services you really should take it seriously so that a) you minimise the chances of a bad reaction but also b) obviously so you’re giving it the best chance of getting optimal results.
Store products safely. A lot of beauty products come with a recommendation for how to store them (usually out of direct sunlight, in a dry place under 25 degrees). Making sure you follow these instructions helps look after your products, preventing degradation and helping you get the whole life of the product without diminishing performance.
Use tools consistently. If you have made the investment in a tool like an LED mask, Dyson Airwrap or NU Face make sure you take the time to understand how it fits into your routine and really commit to using it consistently. When I first got my LED mask, I started putting a reminder in my phone so that every evening I’m washing my face and using my mask as many nights as possible. Consistency is the best way to get the most out of tools in terms of results, as well as that feeling that you’re getting your money’s worth.
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10 Budget Skincare Products I Love
Being on a budget with your beauty absolutely does not mean you need to compromise and if I’m being honest, these recommendations are products I thoroughly enjoyed that also happen to very affordable.
Cancer Council Face Day Wear Serum Hydrating SPF50+, $25
Hydrating, gives a beautiful glowy finish and sits well under makeup.
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, $25
Everyone needs a micellar water in their life and this one is just so good.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum, $9.50 - $17
This is my go to niacinamide formula because it’s so effective and I like how it sinks in super quickly.
Everyday by Frank Body Hydrating Gel Moisturiser, $16
This range is (in my opinion) is criminally underrated. As a moisturiser it delivers on that hydration and skin softening you really want in a quickly absorbed formula.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, $18
A cult classic for a reason - cleanses without stripping and packed with great ceramides. Excellent for any skin type.
tbh skincare Rebound Skin Milk Activated Cica Toner, $30
I think I’ve now shared about this in 3 different newsletters? Maybe even more. But yeah, it’s that good and an even better price.
Bondi Sands Eye Spy Vitamin C Eye Cream, $20
This is one of maybe 3 skincare products for the eye area that I actually like and it might be my favourite of them. Just so good for that instant brightening look.
Beauti-Fltr Featherlight SPF50+, $25
I have emptied at least 6 of these now, I just really love the finish, I feel like just this on my skin on a weekend is a whole fresh faced vibe.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, $29.90
Want to get in on the peptide hype? This one has multiple and is well loved for a reason.
Frank Body Super Ceramide Oil, $30
This is the ultimate skincare comfort product if you’re dealing with dry irritation or scaliness. It’s great all the time but it really shines as a reparative helping hand.
PSA: I have of course put the prices there so you know how much they are normally, but you can so often find them on sale at one of the retailers.
A Full Face of Makeup For $225
You know what makes doing your makeup extra fun? When the products are high performance, look super cute and come with a very nice price tag. I went through my beauty stash and pulled together a full, very me look for a grand total of $225 (but honestly, you could get it for quite a bit less because of sales).
Base: Mecca Max Off Duty Skin Tint, $32
Concealer: Tower28 Swipe Serum Concealer, $36
Bronzer: Australis Dewy + Daring Bronzer, $16
Blush: Mecca Max Off Duty Liquid Blush, $24
Brows: Australis Incredi-Brow Gel, $16
Mascara: Glossier Lash Slick in Brown, $33
Eye Shadow: Mecca Max Zoom Shadow Stick Matte, $20
Lips: Tower28 OneLiner in Work of Art, $24 + Maybelline Lifter Plump Blush Blaze, $24
Sales, Savings and Stashes
If you are someone who values having a specific skincare routine or everyday makeup, then I recommend genuinely incorporating that into your budget. It is going to make it so much easier when it comes time to restock your favourites or take advantage of sales offers and discounts. Here are a few ways that I make money less of a stress:
Put it in your budget. Go through everything you use regularly, add it all up and then divide that amount into a weekly dollar amount that you can set aside. Just like you might for bills money, putting aside $10 or $15 or whatever amount weekly feels much more manageable than running out of everything in the same week and suddenly getting hit with a $300 cart to try and restock. If you have some money sitting in your beauty fund already, it makes it much easier to take advantage of sales.
Shop the sales but strategically. This feels a little obvious - of course we want to save money in a sale - but what I mean is use sale offers as a way to restock on your daily non-negotiables. A great example of this is the fan favourite Ultra Violette Skinvestment Day, which they seem to do annually and allows you to get 2 for the price of 1 on key formulas. Let me know if you’d like a little spreadsheet or alert about regular sales and I can put one together!
Brand loyalty matters. A lot of brands these days offer much better sales, deals or even subscription style orders then if you were to shop through a Mecca or Sephora. If you have one brand you have a particular loyalty to or a lot of your routine is from the one place, it is absolutely worth checking out their offers and making sure you’re signed up for any loyalty systems.
Shop your own stash first. Again this feels obvious, but its a reminder I often could use hearing. Shop your own products and stash first before you purchase because guess what - using what you already own is the best way to save money. If scrolling has you tempted to add to cart simply to jump on a trend, have a little look through what you own first and I think you might be surprised how qucikly you forget what treasures you have on hand.
Use it allllllll up. Cutting open apparently empty bottles or tubes will often give you quite a bit more than just throwing it away. You can get product keys that help squeeze more out or I recommend picking up a travel beauty set that you can decant product into once it gets difficult to get it out of the packaging.
Fragrance On a Budget
If there is one area of beauty where it can feel really tough not to splurge, it’s fragrance. Perfumes definitely have that luxury or indulgent association and it can be rare to find even a 50mL bottle for less than $100. That is where body mists enter the chat.
I feel like they get labelled as a bit cringe or less cool, but body mists can be really cool and a great way to enjoy fragrance in your everyday at a more affordable price point. Generally you are sacrificing a little on wear time, but you can definitely pick up some lovely and fresh fragrances that will still get you those compliments.
Mecca Max Optimist Barefoot on the Dancefloor
There are a few different scents in this range but this is my personal favourite. They’re fresh and the notes hit just right - this one is a warm and zesty combination. $32 at Mecca.
Nautica Jasmine Coast Body Mist
This is quite a fruity but calming scent that features jasmine and is such a delight to use. For me it kind of feels like that chill vibe you have in the evening on a holiday. $20 at Chemist Warehouse.
The Body Shop Coconut Body Mist
If you’re after true to label scents, go for The Body Shop. I mean that in the absolute best way - their Strawberry scent smells like juicy strawberries and this coconut scent is warm and sweet and just the perfect amount of coconut that smells yummy but not crossing into sickly sweet. $22 at The Body Shop.
Straand HeavenScent Hair Perfume + Gloss
Ok so this is technically a hair scent but it smells incredible and gives you bonus hair benefits, what’s not to love?? Floral and citrus notes keep things fresh but it also has great lasting power and I personally am quite a fan of having fragrance in my hair and how it dissipates throughout the day. $38 at Straand and Sephora.
The Big Three
Ok, you know how you have your big three in astrology? This is just the beauty product version of that, and yes I think I’m pretty clever thank you very much. The Sun will be something that’s going on my face on the daily, Moon is for the nighttime routine heroes and Rising is for the newcomer or rising favourite of the week.
SUN: THE ORDINARY MULTI-ACTIVE DELIVERY ESSENCE
This product was meant for this issue because not only is it affordable already ($20.80) but it also helps your other skincare absorb better. So we’re talking about a lightweight essence that offers hydration but also boosts the other skincare you apply afterwards. It is specifically tested with their own niacinamide formula, so that would likely be where you’d see the best results but no doubt you’ll still see an impact with other formulas.
I know an essence might seem like one of those extra ‘nice to have’ steps but for me it makes such a difference for such an easy and affordable inclusion. This is probably a really god recommendation for a range of skin types as well because I know that some of you find a milky style formula a bit heavy for your skin.
Shop it here.
MOON: FRANK BODY SUPER CERAMIDE CREAM
I listed the oil from this range earlier and just had to include the cream here too because this is such a gorgeous moisturiser and perfect to have on hand as we move into the cooler weather. It’s packed with ceramides and niacinamide in a lush but not too heavy formula that really melts into the skin.
I enjoy using it mostly as the last step in my evening routine, as my moisturiser all over my face but also during the day a little bit for any especially dry or irritated patches. Also, for a little pot you get a lot of life out of this one and it lasts for ages.
Shop it here.
RISING: GARNIER DAMAGE ERASER KERATIN FILLER
Recently I’ve been turning to Chemist Warehouse or even my grocery shop as a great excuse to peruse the haircare aisle and basically try anything Garnier tells me will help reach my glossy, shiny hair goals. This is perhaps my favourite find so far because it is super affordable and I’m already seeing such genuine results.
I’ve been using it each time I wash my hair at the moment (about twice a week) as a pre shampoo style treatment and it feels like the overall health of my hair is getting better. Like it just feels healthier and more a bit more dense and my curls have been loving it too. For the price and how easy it is to use, it is an absolute winner.
Shop it here.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of the 28th edition of Morgan’s Skin Journal! if you’re made it this far, I hope that means you’ve enjoyed it and would consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy it. There’s so much beauty goodness to come in 2025 and I hope you join me for it. I’ll play myself out with a little song recommendation for your week 💚