I'm a SAHM and don't have much money for beauty treatments--

My biggest "trick" lately is to highlight my own hair. I bought a big tub of powdered "lightener" and a bottle of "developer" at Sally's Beauty Supply, plus a few frosting caps, for about $15 total. It is enough to highlight your hair 10-20 times (you'll have to buy caps each time; about $1 each).

It's pretty easy to do; if you're nervous, go to the L'Oreal website and read the directions for their highlighting kit. I just pull out hair through every 4th hole or so wtih the crochet hook thing, mix up the powder lightener and gel developer to make a paste (no exact amounts, just until it's easy to work with), put it on the pulled-out hairs, and leave it on 40 minutes--test your hair the first time at 20, 30, 40 minutes to see when it's done, then you'll know for future times.

After a year or so, my hair was looking orange and I discovered a product called "toner" by Clairol that you can also buy at Sally's for $4 or so--after you rinse out the highlighting mixture, you mix the toner with developer and let it sit for just 5 minutes on the highlighted hair and rinse it out--gets rid of all the brassy tones.

I love my highlighted hair, and to do it every 6 weeks or so, it probably costs less than $6 and takes less than 2 hours total. The ladies at the Beauty supply store can help you find the right products and tell you how to use them.

--betsy

Ok ladies...I am also a SAHM w/ VERY little extra $ to spend on product..but I LOVE them...I just recently found a sight that has CHANGED my life! : ) makeupalley.com this is a product swap sight...you can choose if you swap for only new products or if your willng to swap for used products....here is an example of my latest AWESOME swap.... I had a pair of Nike exercise tennis shoes that I had only worn a couple times (which by the way I had gotten so dirt cheap it's not even funny) I swapped them for a box full of Estee Lauder and Dior assorted creams/lotions and 2 bottles of perfume (all of which I had chosen from her list)! What a GREAT way to try HIGH end products w/o spending a ton! If you don't want to swap at least check out the sight because they have a full "product review" area that will tell you just about anything you want to know about all products!

My beauty secret is Walgreens!

Almost every week they have makeup, or hair products buy one get one free - and they accept coupons! Also - very few people know this - but if you keep your receipt - you can return that lipstick or eye shadow that just did'nt work for you!

Walgreens sells generic Alpha Hydroxy for a few dollars a bottle. It doesn't smell pretty or come in a fancy bottle, but it works just the same. Also they sell Vitamin E creme which is good for evening out complexions. You can even catch those BOGO free.

For a foot scrub I use kosher salt, either plain or mixed with a little body scrub.

I also love Suave products, particuraly their oatmeal lotion - it's very soothing. When Suave is on sale at Kroger, if you have a coupon you can usually get it for free or a few cents.

Bronzer, mascara, and lip gloss are what you really must have, and they dont have to be pricy either. also get your own calus scraper, when you get out of the shower scrap the bottom of you feet a few times and you will never need a pedicure.