Our Mirror Beauty Lead Zoe has made a promise to do her beauty treatments from home this January in a bid to save £715 with Botox alternatives and home facials
January always feels like a fresh start and a time to hit reset, not just on my routines but on my spending, too. After the indulgence of the holidays, I found myself staring at my bank account and thinking: maybe it’s time to be a bit smarter with my beauty budget.
I love my usual salon treatments, from gel nails to brow tints, LED facials to the occasional Botox refresh, but this month I’ve been testing ways to get the same results at home without the hefty price tags. It’s been a mix of curiosity, necessity and a bit of fun experimentation- and so far, my skin, nails, and wallet are all thanking me.
So, from a home radiofrequency gadget to tighten skin, to a ‘Botox in a bottle’ ingredient you can find in a £9 serum, here’s how save…
DIY gel nails
Total monthly saving: £120
Winter wellbeing beauty box worth £245 now under £50 – including NEOM and silk pillowcase
I love the look of freshly done gel nails, but salons can easily cost £40-£50 per session. This month, I swapped in the Mylee home gel kit, which comes with everything you need: LED lamp, base and top coats, and long-lasting polish. The result? Salon-worthy shine and durability without leaving the house. The £100 kit price costs the same as two salon sessions, and then I’ll be saving roughly £120 a month just by doing it myself. Bonus: no awkward scheduling, and I can change colour whenever I like.
Underlash lash extensions
Total monthly saving: £100
I’ve also been experimenting with Ardell underlash strips, which achieve the same fluttery effect as salon lash extensions without the £50 per infill session cost. They’re quick to apply, last 7-10 days and don’t damage my natural lashes. When I had salon lash extensions, I needed them done every two weeks, so this £25 kit (which lasts several applications) is saving me a significant amount of money.
Home brow tinting
Total monthly saving: £30
A professional brow tint can set you back £30 every month, but with Eylure’s at-home tinting kit, I can keep my brows looking polished on my own schedule. The kit is easy to use, gives a natural effect, and keeps my brows defined. Over a month, that’s another £30 saved- and no more awkward ‘waiting for colour to develop’ moments at the salon.
LED skin therapy from home
Total monthly saving: £200
Aesthetic clinic LED sessions start at £50 a pop, but using Shark’s LED mask at home means I can get red, blue and near-infrared light therapy without the appointment fees. The mask is lightweight, wireless and fits my face perfectly, making my skin calmer, brighter, and more even. Doing 4-5 sessions a week instead of paying for clinic appointments saves roughly £200 a month.
Radiofrequency gadget
Total monthly saving: £200
I’ve also recently swapped professional radiofrequency treatments for CurrentBody’s at-home device, which tightens and firms the skin over a few weeks. While aesthetic clinic sessions cost £200+ each, doing it at home lets me space sessions as I please, saving me £300–£400 per month while still seeing results. If you’ve been considering radiofrequency in a bid to tighten your skin without turning to needles, it’s well worth looking this gadget up.
Spacing out Botox with argireline
Total monthly saving: £65
Botox is great, but it’s pricey – one session can cost £200–£400, depending on the number of areas treated. This month, I’m supplementing with products containing argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), a peptide that relaxes muscles in a gentler way. Both Skinceuticals (£130) and The Ordinary (£9.90) carry serums with it. While it’s not a full Botox replacement, using it consistently lets me space out injections, potentially letting me go six months instead of four before turning to needles.
*Total monthly savings worked out after the price of the product/kits have been paid off
