This thread is amazing. So glad I found it!
First, the "bad" (i.e. what I USED to do and have now stopped doing).
In middle/high school I had terrible acne. Before seeing a dermatologist, I spend so much money on crappy makeup and things like Clearasil, Noxema, Clean n' Clear. You name it, I tried it. Same with acne meds - you name it, I was on it. When I was in college I was finally able to stop taking acne meds and instead went for the Proactive route. I don't use that anymore, but I'll cover that in a minute. I've spent a lot on makeup over the years as well, given that I had a pretty bad acne problem for a while. And for hair, I've tried every product under the sun to get my curly hair under control.
Current routines:
Face: I now only use Cetaphil cleanser and SPF moisturizer. My skin still gets a bit oily, so I'm curious about this oil cleanser that people are making. Would it make my skin more oily or make it healthier? I drink a lot of water and herbal tea, so I think this contributes heavily to a better complexion compared to when I was younger and drank a ton of diet pepsi.
Body: My mom is addicted to Bath and Body Works (and shopping in general), so I usually get free body wash and lotion a few times a year from her. I am actually not a fan of these products, but I'm not going to pass up free things. When I buy my own soap, I get bar soap from my local farmer's market and get an Aveeno-brand body lotion with SPF. In the summer I always use the Aveeno SPF since my skin is more exposed to the sun then.
Hair: I use the 365 brand (Whole Foods) shampoo and conditioner usually. I was experiencing very dry scalp recently and switching to a shampoo without sodium laurel sulfate has helped. Since I have curly hair it is better for me to only shampoo my hair every other day. I do condition every day, though. I'll occasionally get salon-quality shampoo and conditioner from my mother since she runs a beauty salon (we live 1,000 miles away from each other so I don't get these things often). She also cuts my hair when we see each other, so I don't spend any money on the salon. I used to go to the salon anyway, but stopped when I realized I could save around $200 a year if I just had my mom cut my hair! I also never used to dye my hair, but lately I've found it fun. Again, my mom does it, so it only costs me about $5 to buy the bottle of dye from the beauty supply store as my mom has the rest of the ingredients. I like my hair as it is, but for $5 every few months, it is worth it to me to change things up a bit.
Shaving: I wax my underarms, but I've only had to buy one kit over the past year and it cost $15. I use GiGi hemp wax. The wax isn't even half gone, so this should last me a few years! I have a razor for my legs and probably only go through 3-4 blades a year. I don't shave every day in the winter, but usually have to in the summer. Body hair is the bane of my existence! I once spent $1,000 on laser hair removal for my bikini area. I will never do that again, because the hair was never permanently removed. However, I don't regret getting it done because it did improve the amount of ingrown hairs I get on that area of my body. I hardly get any now and the frequency of hair is less than it used to be. But I've just accepted that I'm a hairy person and do what I can. A set of tweezers, razor, and hemp wax is working well for now. I am curious if an epilator would work on me, because that initial investment could save me money over time.
Make-Up: I use Bare Essentials products, but only have to buy powder and primer more than once a year. I use eye shadows for a long time and get every last ounce out of my mascara tube. I have had to wear makeup more often lately - usually 6 days a week because my jobs require me to look nice. I have to look nice at my 9-5 job and I also have to look nice as a waitress. I often have to touch up my make-up in between jobs, which means I use more. It sucks, but that is the way it is right now. I probably spend $100 on makeup a year, so perhaps I can bring this down a bit. I do have to use concealer on my undereyes, but I think I might switch to a cheaper brand.
Overall health: I drink lots of water and herbal tea. I also try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as I can and go light on the meat. I do eat quite a bit of grains as well, probably more than I should. I have a sweet tooth, but try not to go overboard. I don't have a car where I live, so I walk a lot. I take the bus to work and walk when the weather is nice. I am trying to decide if I want to get a bike - my old one was stolen, so I'm hesitant. I also do yoga at home via podcasts and YouTube. My main "beauty" weakness is massage. I LOVE massages. I would have one every week if I could afford it. I only get two a year right now, and that just doesn't feel like enough.
Shoes: The bad news here is I was born with bad feet. I was never one to wear super high-heels, but in the past few years I've discovered that I can't wear high heels at all and that even flats hurt. I recently went to the podiatrist because my feet were hurting every single day. I'll be getting custom insoles soon and I have a list of shoes that I can buy. I will have to buy high-quality shoes from now on, meaning I will have to spend more money. If I don't do this then I'll likely have to have surgery someday. So this is a necessary expense.
Clothes: I only buy clothes when I absolutely need them. My mom, the one addicted to shopping, picks me up things now and then and sends me gift cards to stores. While I would prefer she not do that, I've given up on trying to tell her I only shop at TJ Maxx or second-time stores. She has learned that buying me a TJ Maxx gift card is appreciated, so I end up buying a lot of clothes there. I have learned what works on my body, though, so I have a good set of black/brown work pants and skirts, and jeans for casual outings. I probably buy 1-2 new tops in the winter and summer since I wear out my clothes rather quickly. This, however, might have been due to the poor water quality in my old building. I moved a few months ago and noticed that my clothes don't take as much of a beating as they used to. I tend to buy solid colors and standard pieces since those don't go out of style. I also value comfort over anything. My friends used to tease me for that, but I think I'm the one who is going to be better off, financially in the long run :) I'm also the one person who still has clothes from high school...yeah...I was in high school 10 years ago. But nothing is wrong with this sweatshirt so why get rid of it? I recently just got rid of a pair of sweatpants from high school because the elastic was falling out. I was quite sad about that, actually!
Nails: I hate the feeling of nail polish or fake nails on my fingers, so I don't have to worry about that! I do enjoy pedicures, but it is something I can live without. I occasionally paint my toenails (in the summer only) and have 2 shades I use and have had for years. Can't remember the last time I bought nail polish.