As beauty enthusiasts here at the Beauty School Blog, it’s hard not to go a little overboard when it comes to testing out exciting new products. And we need to make sure we’re trying out a generous portion of our new cleanser, moisturizer or hair products, right? Not quite.
Since we also love saving money, we decided to look into how much of our favorite products we really need to use in order to get the optimal benefit. It turns out that we can use a lot less product while still achieving the same results. Check out these beauty “portion sizes” to get the most out of your products!
Facial Cleanser: Dime-Sized Portion
Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser – $32
This amount of cleanser should be enough to cleanse your face and neck without irritating or drying out your skin. This applies to liquid cleansers, but if you prefer a foaming cleanser, one pump should do the trick.
Eye Cream: Penny-Sized Portion
Benefit Cosmetics “It’s Potent!” Eye Cream – $34
Divide this amount between the area around both of your eyes, gently patting the cream with your ring finger underneath your eyes. Be careful not to overdo it with eye cream, since using too much will actually irritate your eyes and can complicate makeup application.
Moisturizer: Quarter-Sized Portion
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion – $26
Apply a quarter-sized dollop to your face and neck to keep your skin hydrated and smooth. When using a night cream you may find that you can use even less, since nighttime formulas can be more concentrated than their daytime counterparts.
Shampoo: Blackberry-Sized Portion for Short Hair & Strawberry-Sized Portion for Long Hair
L’Oréal Paris Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo – $4.99
The amount of shampoo you need to effectively cleanse your hair depends on how long your hair is. Begin shampooing your hair at the roots and concentrate most of the product there, and slowly lather until you’ve reached about halfway down your strands.
Conditioner: Cherry-Sized Portion for Short Hair & Two Raspberries-Worth for Long Hair
L’Oréal Paris Total Repair 5 Restoring Conditioner – $4.99
Using too much conditioner will only weigh your hair down, so just use enough to make sure the mid-length and ends of your hair receive some TLC. For gals with extra dry locks, add an extra dollop as needed. When using a deep conditioner or a hair mask, you’ll want to apply a larger amount of product, about the size of an apricot, to make sure your hair is thoroughly coated and drenched with moisture and benefits.
Styling Cream: One to Two Pumpkin Seeds-Worth
Living Proof Frizz Styling Cream – $26
To avoid greasy strands, apply a few small pumps of styling cream about the size of two pumpkin seeds. Allow the product to spread evenly throughout your locks and comb if desired. With hair serums and oils, opt to use a little less, as they moisturize more deeply. Since every product is different, make sure you read the bottle as well to see what the brand recommends.
Mousse: Mandarin Orange-Sized Portion
Dove Style + Care Nourishing Amplifier Mousse – $3.49
Since mousse is still concentrated despite how light and airy it feels, you won’t want to overdo it. Otherwise, you’ll end up with the dreaded “mousse crunch” our middle-school selves knew all too well. Start small with a small handful of mousse about the size of a mandarin orange, and add a bit extra only if needed.
To keep your skin healthy and your hair looking ***flawless, follow these beauty portion guidelines!
What are some of your favorite beauty products? Are you guilty of using too much of your favorite products?