January is the perfect time for a financial and personal reset, especially after the festive season's indulgences. For Zoe Cripps, the Mirror's Head of Beauty, Fashion and Shopping, this meant scrutinising her beauty budget and finding ingenious ways to replicate salon results from the comfort of her home. Her mission? To save a staggering £715 in a single month by swapping pricey professional appointments for savvy at-home solutions.
The High-Street Beauty Revolution
Zoe's experiment wasn't about sacrificing quality but embracing a new approach to self-care. She discovered that with the right tools and products, achieving a polished look is entirely possible without the hefty salon price tags. From advanced skincare gadgets to affordable serums, the market is now brimming with professional-grade alternatives designed for consumer use.
Major Savings Breakdown: From Nails to Neurotoxins
Her savings came from several key swaps, each targeting a common salon expenditure. The first was ditching the gel manicure appointment. Instead of paying £40-£50 per session, she invested in the Mylee The Full Works Gel nail kit. After the initial outlay, this move is set to save her approximately £120 monthly, offering salon-level durability and shine on her own schedule.
For lashes, Zoe turned to Ardell's underlash strips, achieving a fluttery, extension-like effect without the £50 infill cost every two weeks. The £25 kit provides multiple applications, leading to a monthly saving of around £100. Similarly, an Eylure at-home brow tinting kit replaced her £30 monthly professional tint, keeping her brows defined for a fraction of the price.
High-Tech Skincare at Home
The most significant savings came from advanced skincare treatments. Zoe substituted clinical LED therapy sessions, which start at £50 each, with a Shark LED mask for home use. By conducting four to five sessions weekly herself, she pockets roughly £200 per month.
Even more impressive were the savings on radiofrequency treatments. By using CurrentBody's at-home device instead of £200+ clinic sessions, she estimates a monthly saving of £300–£400, while still enjoying skin-tightening benefits over time.
The 'Liquid Botox' Alternative
Perhaps the most intriguing swap involves managing Botox appointments. While not a complete replacement, Zoe is using serums containing the peptide argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) to extend the time between injections. This ingredient helps relax facial muscles gently. Options range from high-end versions like Skinceuticals (£130) to The Ordinary's remarkably accessible £9.90 serum. This strategy could allow her to space treatments from four to six months apart, saving at least £65 monthly on average.
Zoe's January experiment proves that with a bit of research and initial investment, maintaining a rigorous beauty routine doesn't have to decimate your bank account. The combined monthly savings, after the cost of the initial kits, total an eye-watering £715, demonstrating that smart, at-home beauty can be both effective and extraordinarily economical.
