You know I'm tight when ... The Tube Cutter .

Hi my darlings, hope today is bringing you joy and fulfilment.

Today's been a gob-smackingly gorgeous Spring day so it's brought me joy and fulfilment in bucket loads.  Last week, not so much.  Whilst I wasn't quite confined to barracks, I did spend more time indoors than I would have liked due to rain and winds.  

On one such stir-crazy day, I found myself walking around the bathroom noting signs that a pensioner lives in this house!  You know, random little things,  money-saving, some quirky, some a tad old-lady.  And I started taking photos because, well, because I just like sharing with you guys !

When I took stock of the photos, I realised that these aren't funny ways I'd taken up now that I'm living on a reduced income.  I realised that some are things I've been doing since my early teens, like the one I share with you here today.  

Creams came out of pocket money back then in my teens, or from holiday job earnings, and I often found myself with a seemingly empty tube of moisturiser or foundation, and no money for a replacement.  So I eked every last drop of everything. 

And so this frugal habit has continued, apparently.

 So without further waffle, here's my first stop during my pictorial walkabout.  You know I'm tight when you see ...

this.  The cut tube.

 Tubes eventually appear to be empty.  But they are so not!  I dissect the tube, then I "live" off the cream that would otherwise have been thrown away with the tube.  Often there is an amazing amount still in the tube.  Often I live off the dregs for days.  (I use this Clarins product on an irregular basis so it lasts for simply ages anyway) 

The Clarins plastic is quite hard to snip but this is a better example of my work ...

Unadulterated.

Adulterated.

This is usually the end result, a much neater sealed container.  Aethestically pleasing and far more hygienic as the tube is properly sealed.

BTW, I have quickly become infatuated with this moisturiser.  If you haven't already developed your own little love affair with it I really do recommend you try it.  And Boots is selling this Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream at half price right now, £3.49, so it would be rude not to try it eh?

So let's talk about gels.  

I just love the feel of gels on my skin.  And I swear gel does something quite magical to older skin.  Gel seems to tighten the skin as it moisturises and my skin feels fresher, cleaner too.

So with this big gelmance going on,  I grab an eye gel whenever I can.  Same thing, gel's divine on the eyes too. OK, brace yourselves.  Waitrose Pure Eye Gel is sold at £1.33.  And frequently Waitrose does one of those BOGOFs on it.  I pounce and scoop up multiple buys!

With these two buys my whole face is fully moisturised for under a fiver!

Now, a warning.  If you've read about my approach to about eye hygiene (SEE HERE) , it will not surprise you that I definitely do not advocate using the thrifty cutting open technique with eye products.  Nuff said.

I keep my face clear of any creams or products at night.  My face likes this break and shows its thanks by feeling moist when I wake up. Each to her own, this may not work for your skin type but that's the way my skin rolls.

So with no night cream,  that really IS my full 24/7 skin care for under £5!

And now, this is probably quite "duh", but I've only just realised that the amount that's squeezed out of tube with one squeeze before it runs out of puff is probably the right amount per application.

Yeah, it's really DUH and I am a tad embarrassed about only realising this recently but it really stands to reason that the clever designers would design tubes so that the prescribed amount  comes out in one splosh on your hand.

So, I've got that off my chest, but if you haven't worked that one out yet, well, you're welcome!

And finally, here's the funny thing.   I thought it was just old me who cuts her tubes, so to speak!  But I think Anna of Mutton Style has been tube cutting and Lisa of Coast to Coast showed a pic of her tube work yesterday.  Great minds eh?


So, dear readers, today I've shared with you two great moisturizing products.  And I've shared tube-cutting to get the most from your buys, but maybe you've been doing this for years too?   Maybe you've got money saving tips you'd like to share today?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments box below ..





A la perchoine.

I Reveal All ... Eventually!!

Chanel, Vitalumière Satin Smoothing Fluid Make Up SPF15

I've said it before but there are some things I just haven't economised on in pensionerhood. 

One of those things is this foundation

Chanel vitalumiere-satin-smoothing-fluid-make-up-spf15

It's light and moist and gives just the sort of cover I need these days.  I recommend it.

The blurb says that it is a source of youth and light, it revives tired, dull complexions and that its fluid texture contains moisturisers to ensure maximum comfort for the skin. 

I think it delivers.  Mostly.  The "youth" bit it stretching my boundaries! 

My complexion is supposed to appear visibly rested, with its vitality and luminosity restored.

Well, my skin always looks better with a light coating of this stuff and if luminous means that it feels "invisible" when on, if that makes any sense, then it certainly does deliver - I think it is the luminosity bit that I am most sold on as I believe I do see that on my skin.

I have noticed that a my skin has lightened in the last few years.  The ruddiness has reduced.  I think it's nature's way that as hair lightens and turns grey, the skin keeps in sync by lightening too, to compensate and complement.  How clever!

Thus, the foundation shades I've used in past years for summer and winter now appear a little too dark and don't blend well with my neck. 

 So I am experimenting with lighter shades of foundation on this lighter skin of mine. 

I'm trying out this shade, 20 Clair/Cameo.  So far, it looks like it's pretty perfect for me.

I'll report back if that changes!

I've also developed a little "trick" in recent weeks that I just may well keep.  I dot light amounts of foundation on the areas that need cover - for me this is cheeks and nose, where I am at my ruddiest. but we are all different.  I then use the residue on my fingers (or sponge, your choice) and work it in to the rest of the face, upwards from the jaw level and inwards from the brow and sides. 

This seems to lose the edge-lines and neck-blend, creating a softer, more blended look. 

I've also found a cheap-as-chips BB cream which does a great job too when applied in the same way.  It's also more widely available, e.g. Boots and Amazon - my Chanel must-have is pretty tricky to find in the high street so I tend to order online.

Here's the little beauty:

Simple+bb+balm, £4.19 at Boots

And right now whilst on holiday, I'm using it over its smart sister:

                                      

Simple Kind to Skin+ Illuminating Radiance Cream 50ml - £4.39 at Boots here.

Both under £5, how's that for economising?!


And, in closing, I can honestly say that I do enjoy the (getting more frequent) days when I reveal all - no foundation, no BB balm, just light moisturiser with me shining through - bien dans ma peau!

Have you made adjustments to your look as the years have gone by?
Like reducing the amount of make-up you wear?
Or enjoying going au-naturel, being bien dans votre peau?

Do you have any tips to share?

A la perchoine.