I do enjoy reading the paper, but I will admit that I often flip straight to the goss and gloss section before reading the "real" news. This habit of mine is so well known that my wonderful mother sent me an article from the Washington Post's well endowed beauty section. The article is titled Makeup that won't cost a pretty penny and gives suggestions for how to buy your makeup for cheap. Considering that I fall into the "poor uni student" category, I'm always up for tips on how to save money - especially on products that I buy often. So here are the highlights from the article:
Drugstore Savings
People often buy high-end products when they're looking for something new, but don't overlook the drugstore brands! You'll often find something you fall in love with and will keep buying, saving you money for years! Drugstores can still be a little pricey though, try to shop the sales or buy online. I prefer drugstore.com which also includes beauty.com, make sure you spend $25 and you'll get free shipping! The Post suggest harmondiscount.com but I think the sales on the other sites are a bit better. Ebay and Amazon also have good deals on beauty products and are worldwide - perfect for if you don't live in the US. Make sure you use coupons too! Most companies have facebook and twitter and will use social media to offer discount to their followers. Make sure you add your favorite brands to stay updated on their new products and any incentives they're offering.
Ample Samples
Being able to try a product before you buy it is wonderful! You'll end up saving so much by finding a product that truly suits your skin tone and features before you buy, instead of buying five products before you find the perfect one. You can always use freebie sites (the post suggests heyitsfree.com and freeflys.com but these are only applicable in the US) but they can often be frustrating and hard to navigate. I suggest going to a beauty counter and asking for samples (and a makeup lesson!) and trying a few brands before you decide. Monthly subscription services are also great for trying new products. I suggest Glossybox for those in the UK, Beauty Army or Birch Box for my fellow Americans, and Lust Have It for Aussies and Kiwis. For about $15 a month you will be sent 5-6 products (usually travel sized) which are tailored to your tastes. I've found heaps of new favorites through these services and find them a wonderful value and something to look forward to every month!
Save to Splurge
There are certain products that you should splurge on but some that are just not worth it! Products like lipgloss loo the very similar whether you spend $2 or $20 on it. You'd be better off splurging on a good foundation and concealer (BeautiControl's Wet/Dry compact is my favorite). If you do find an expensive product that you just can't live with out, try to but when the company is having a bonus deal. Many beauty counters or stores will give you a gift you a spend a certain amount (Sephora.com is definitely a site that you wait for a good giveaway!). Remember to check online at drugstore.com to see if it's cheaper to buy online (it usually is).
What are your secrets for getting good deals on beauty products?
Such a good article Mary! I especially love the tip of saving to splurge - agree that some products are just worth the investment! I find that by following my favourite brands on their Facebook pages & subscribing to their newsletters, I'm usually first in the know when they are having a sale or GWP promotion! x
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