Danielle’s What’s Worth It & What’s Not: Beauty Edition

By Danielle Graham

It’s tax season. A.k.a. coming face-to-face with how expensive it is to simply exist. And if we’re being real, a chance to take stock of how and where we’re spending our money.

I’m a 40-something woman in a career that necessitates taking care of how I look. I also like feeling good in my skin. My goals are simple: I want to look fresh and put together without spending the equivalent of a mortgage payment each month to get there.

After years of testing, spending, and overdoing it, I’ve become very specific about where my money goes. And where it doesn’t.

I INVEST IN:

Salon Hair Colour/Care: If I were forced to choose to spend on only one beauty expense for the rest of my life, this would be it. Being blonde and maintaining it is a commitment (IYKYK). I’ve been seeing the same colourist for years, and he is a master at the art of blondifying. I’ve shifted to a more lived-in blonde shade, which helps stretch appointments, but I’m still in the chair every three months. For me, it’s worth it. I also stick with salon-quality haircare. Davines is my go-to for both shampoo and conditioner.

Lash Lift: After years of sitting in a makeup chair every day, I now live most of my life makeup-free. I prefer the ease of a bare face, and I like modelling a message for my daughters that women don’t need makeup every time we leave the house. A lash lift is my shortcut. Every four to six weeks, it gives just enough lift and definition to make my eyes pop and gives the effect of mascara without using it.

Sunscreen: Of all the times I wish I could get in a time machine, few rank higher than wanting to go back to 20-year-old Danielle to tell her to wear sunscreen. Now, it’s non-negotiable—and not all formulas are created equal. After a lot of testing, I’ve landed on Clinique’s UV Solutions Hydrating SPF 50 as my holy grail. It’s hydrating, invisible on the skin, and protects against both UVA and UVB. No notes.

Skin Treatments: Skin quality is a priority for me. I recently tried SkinVive, and let me tell you, the glow is real. It’s microdroplet hyaluronic acid injected just under the skin, giving that hydrated, dewy, lit-from-within look. It lasts up to nine months and, for me, it’s worth it. The same goes for Botox. I go three to four times a year. I think of these as maintaining the baseline of my skin, so I can keep everything else simple.

Skin Care: This is where it’s easy to go off the rails financially. A 12-step routine can’t be me. Instead, I focus on a few heavy hitters: a good retinal (I love Avène’s 0.05%), a high-quality serum (I like Vivier Radiance Serum), and targeted treatments with proven ingredients (I use Jouviance’s Cera+ and Niacinamide). That’s it. Effective, not excessive.

I SAVE ON:

Nails: I broke up with my bi-weekly nail appointments a few years ago and never looked back. It always felt like another task on my to-do list. I’m now a press-on girly. imPRESS are my favourites because of how easy they are to apply and how well they last. I usually get two solid weeks out of them. If I’m painting at home, Essie long-wear does the job.

Mascara: Hear me when I say this: you don’t need to spend more than $20 to get a great mascara. Drugstore mascara is elite, and IMO L’Oréal makes some of the best. Extensionist is my current favourite, but OG Voluminous will always be a go-to as well.

Cleanser: We can really save here. CeraVe, Cetaphil, and Byoma all make great cleansers that do the job without breaking the bank.

Primer: When I do wear makeup, I want it to stay in place all day, and I want to look glowy. Covergirl’s TruBlend Plush Plump Primer delivers both. I love it so much that I buy at least two at a time so I never run out.

Brow Tint: Possibly my favourite at-home beauty hack: Just For Men Moustache and Beard Dye to tint my brows. It’s easy to use, gives a great tint and lasts a couple of weeks before I need to touch it up.

Instagram Ads: If something is sold to me as a must-have, I take a hard pass. Impulse buys add up fast, and I would rather spend that money on the things I know actually work.

Consider this my personal audit. Less trying everything, more sticking with what actually works. And spending on the things that actually pay off. Turns out, that’s the real glow-up.