Do you want to always look put together, but you’re on a budget? Well, you’re in the right place. These 12 tips will transform you into a polished version of yourself without breaking the bank.
I am no fashionista, but I know the art of looking put together and exuding confidence. Does that mean I don’t spend 65% of my time in slippers and sweatpants? Hell no, I live in comfy clothes at home. Thus, my tips are grounded in realism.
Without further ado, here are my 12 realistic tips to always look put together on a budget.
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12 Budget-Friendly Tips To Always Look Put Together
1. Manicured Nails
Should you get your nails done monthly? Nope. I did that for a while and stopped cause of budget living. My sister recently started doing nails as a hobby, so I am lucky to score free nails.
You can do your own nails, whether it is acrylic, gel, or just nail polish. Otherwise, flaunt your natural nails. There is nothing wrong with bare nails. You can still look polished, as long as you keep them clean and neat. Oh, and clear nail polish does wonders!
2. Eyebrows on Fleek
It will be a sad day if I have to give up getting my brows done. I opt for a wax and hybrid brow treatment monthly because it saves me so much time. If my brows are done, I don’t feel like I need any makeup, and I don’t even own an eyebrow pencil anymore. It boosts my confidence immensely. Check out my brow artist here.
Okay, so you don’t have an affordable brow artist near you? Then wax or pluck your brows yourself. You will always look put together if your brows are shaped.
3. Proper Skincare
Say it with me: skincare is essential. I don’t believe in expensive skincare products. There, I said it, lol. I use affordable products, and my skin is doing great. Just make sure you get products that work for your skin type.
I have dry skin and found that these products work the best for me:
- CeraVe Cleanser (morning and evening)
- Bionike Toner (morning and evening)
- inoPharm Pure Hyaluronic Acid (morning and evening) – This is an incredibly affordable serum. I also love The Ordinary’s and SkinRepublic’s serum.
- The Ordinary’s Retinol serum (only in the evening)
- CeraVe Cream (morning and evening)
- Bio-oil (only in the evening)
I would love to add more serums to my skincare, however, it can get expensive. The only expensive item from the list is bio-oil, but I’ll never stop using it. It is magic in a bottle!
4. Find a Signature Scent
Perfume exudes power and confidence. Now, you may ask, “Steph, have you seen the prices of perfumes?” To that, I reply, “Yes, and it is ridiculous.”
I opt for generic perfumes. I love the scent of Aromatics in Black, but you will never catch me buying a bottle. So, I buy the generic versions. It smells exactly the same and gives the same results as the real McCoy.
5. Let’s Talk Wadrobe
There are a couple of things you can do to create a wardrobe that will make you look put together:
- Stick to a certain color palette – I prefer neutrals because that gives me flexibility to mix and match
- Narrow down your aesthetic – You don’t have to stick to one style in particular, for instance, I love old money chic and streetwear. Yup, different sides of the spectrum, but somehow it works
- Build a capsule wardrobe by owning a limited collection that could be worn in several different ways.
Polished clothes don’t have to be expensive. You can look put together with a Shein wardrobe. I adore my Shein collection.
6. Learn How To Accessorize
Accessories make all the difference! It is the perfect way to up-style your clothes. I’m talking jewelry, coats, belts, hair accessories, and more.
My favorite outfit at this moment is a pair of jeans and a plain black shirt. Boring, right? Nope, not when you accessorize. I add gold touches with costume jewelry, a $4 classy-looking watch, a Temu belt, sneakers, a coat/jacket, hair accessories, and a frame string. I’ve recently gotten into stylish frame strings for my glasses, and they just add something extra to an ordinary outfit.
7. Keep Lip Balm On You
Prevent dry-looking and chapped lips by always carrying lip balm with you. I keep Vaseline on my desk, especially during winter. This is the tiniest change you can make to look put together.
8. Good Hair, Better Mood
I love trying new things with my hair. I’ve done money pieces, bright red, rose gold, blonde, two-tone, ombrés, etc. However, I’ve only recently discovered the style that suits me perfectly, and it skyrocketed my confidence: brown with highlights and wispy bangs.
Find your perfect haircut and color. It makes all the difference. Some hot tips:
- Choose a color that will hide your regrowth so you don’t have to color your hair as often – I only go to the hair salon 3-4 times a year.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things – your hair will grow back.
- Take your face shape into account when deciding on a hairstyle
On the other side of the coin, learn about your hair. Does it want to curl naturally? Which products work for you? Adjust your routine to your hair type.
9. Teeth Whitening
As a coffee addict, this is something I need to invest in more. Pearly whites really give a put-together look.
However, I bleached my teeth once, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience… It made my teeth so sensitive. But I tried whitening strips since then and can vouch that it didn’t give the same repercussions. Not to mention, it is so much more accessible and affordable!
10. Makeup?
Is makeup essential to look put together? Absolutely not. I only wear a full face of makeup on occasion, and it doesn’t affect my confidence level whatsoever.
That being said, I love my BB cream and use it daily. It evens out my skin tone without looking unnatural. I use the Rimmel Kind & Free BB cream. 10/10 recommend!
11. Organize Your Handbag
Guilty as charged, lol. I am one of those people who collect useless slips in my handbag. However, it is not cute to fumble in your handbag while someone is waiting.
Make a point to keep your handbag organized. I only use a crossbody bag now, so trash accumulation is much harder. It can barely fit my wallet, phone, and keys. That’s a life hack right there!
12. Confidence. Confidence. Confidence.
The number one tip to always look put together is to be confident. The best part is that confidence is a habit, and habits can be learned.
Why is confidence important?
- Confidence is directly linked to success
- Beauty is an attitude
- Increases self-worth
- Improves mental health
- Makes you more impenetrable to others’ opinions
I wrote a complete article on the 13 habits of highly confident women. It is worth checking out!
Conclusion
Always look put together without breaking the bank by incorporating these 12 tips into your life. Walk with confidence, take care of your skin, and let the small things make the biggest difference.
And most of all, do it for yourself.
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Have a great day wherever you are in the world!
Love, Steph ♥
