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Get Pearly Whites from Strawberries? Beauty Tricks on a Budget

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Kean chapter.

There’s no harm in trying out some natural or inexpensive ways to aide your daily or weekly routine, is there? If your wallet is feeling a little slim these days, you can avoid buying all the latest in beauty products especially when it comes to the basics like whitening strips, makeup remover and foundation primer.

 
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but can a strawberry a week keep your teeth white and chic?Fruits are known to help radiate your skin but whitening your smile takes their benefits to a whole new level. Of course eating fruits is a plus but using a homemade strawberry toothpaste may be the next whitening strip. Strawberries contain a high amount of malic acid, which is useful to get a glowing smile, according to TLC. Mix them with baking soda to make your very own toothpaste for a dazzling set of pearly whites.
 
To start, crush garden grown strawberries, then mix them with ½ teaspoon of baking soda.Then   with a soft toothbrush, cover your teeth with the mix. After leaving it on your teeth for 5 minutes, brush to remove the mixture. Dr. Carrel, a Manhattan dentist, said you can apply this once a week. But don’t use it too often as the acid can damage the enamel on your teeth. Carrel says it’s no replacement for a whitening treatment but it is a quick and cheap way for your teeth to shine.

 
Have you ever forgotten to buy makeup remover and been on the last drop? I have.  My good friend gave me a little tip that helps when you are strapped for cash. If you have a baby around the house, you are in luck. Baby shampoo is an effective and frugal way to wipe away stubborn mascara. Don’t have baby shampoo around? Dive into your beach bag to find some baby oil, which is a close second to remove waterproof makeup.
 
You’ll be makeup free in no time. If you have both handy ou can just simply try either with a cotton ball. They are super gentle and will never leave you scrubbing at your eyes when you are out of remover. It definitely helps save a few bucks and they are super gentle for sensitive skin, as one might suspect for baby products. 

 If foundation primer is also lacking in your makeup bag, you might be inclined to go down a particularly different aisle at the drug store.When I used makeup primer for the first time, I became a bit spoiled. Now I’d rather always have it. However, if I am on a budget and don’t feel like spending a ton on the brand name, I turn to a different product, one some would think is utterly crazy.

  
Believe me, my face was nothing but shocked the first time I heard about it. Prepare yourself because anti-chafing gel, commonly known as chub-rub cream for the thighs, contains almost the exact ingredients as its extremely different primer product.
 
Monistat anti-chafing gel, not to be confused with their other products, is often compared to expensive primer products by the key ingredient dimethicone, a skin softener found in makeup primers. It allows your skin to breathe and locks in moisture under makeup, keeping it nourished. It has a smooth effect comparable to many makeup primers, so if you’re on a budget and not easily embarrassed, you may want to head to that specific women’s section at your local drug store. 

Avani Kapur is a senior at Kean University studying Writing with a minor in Communication.  She is currently an intern at Kooba Bags in New York City.  She also contributes to the student newspaper at her school, The Tower. She loves to travel and just came back from a summer study abroad in gorgeous Florence.  Avani also loves shopping and has an obsession with cute heels, bags and leather jackets.  In her free time you can find her writing at Starbucks, cooking, or lounging on the couch with her adorable kitten, Fred, and her dog, Bella.  She is so excited to be part of the HerCampus team!