8 Money-Saving Beauty Hacks
ILLUSTRATIONS BY MALLORY HEYER.
At the end of every season, all the gorgeous clothes, shoes, and accessories that have been tempting us for months go on sale. From Zara to Net-A-Porter, it’s a discounted free-for-all for weeks on end. However, scoring a deal on beauty products at the end of every season? Not so easy. Why does fashion get to have all the fun, you ask? Not so fast.
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There are actually plenty of ways to save money on your makeup, skin care, and hair care this time of year. You just have to be a little more strategic. Start with holiday gift sets, add in packaging makeovers, and sprinkle in a few rarely advertised flash sales, and you’re left with the three pillars of savvy beauty shopping. Read on for (much, much) more intel.
You know that alarm on your phone you use to wake up on time and not forget your laundry’s in the dryer? Ain’t nothin’ wrong with setting it for the next big beauty flash sale. Sign up for email blasts from sites that move product quickly, then pounce when an item strikes your fancy.
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Bookmark sites like Gilt, Zulily, HauteLook,Groupon, and LivingSocial to get started.
If you’re reading a story about getting discounts on beauty products, chances are you’re already a member of the rewards programs at stores like Sephora and Ulta. But, it turns out, tons of other sites have really rad loyalty programs, and they all work a little differently.
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Sephora and Clarins award points that you can use to claim handy travel-sized samples, while Ulta’s points give you discounts off future purchases. Brands like Tarte and Smashbox issue you gift cards to be used on whatever you’d like. One thing most of these have in common? Free stuff on your birthday. Score.
If you do decide to pull the trigger on something full-price, do yourself a favor and do a quick Google search before finalizing your online order. Simply search the name of the retailer and the phrase “coupon code.” If the site you’re shopping is offering any kind of deal, sites like Retail Me Not and Coupons will alert you with the code. Then, just plug it in at checkout.
While it’s not the best strategy for nabbing limited-edition products that could sell out, filling your cart and then closing out is a shopper behavior that prompts retailers to automatically generate a coupon code to lure you back in to purchase. Simply sign in, fill your cart, then close out. There’s no telling if it will work at any given time — it all depends on the site — but if it does, a sweet 10-to-20% discount will arrive by way of email or pop-up box.
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This one comes with a BIG disclaimer: A lot of brands don’t stand behind the products sold on marketplace sites like Amazon or eBay. However, if you stick to just the brands that sell directly through those sites, you can score buys for a steal. Check your favorite brand’s website for a list of its authorized retailers to be sure.
It’s not rocket science: Holiday sets are a great way to both stock up and try new things without committing to full-size products. This is especially beneficial if you’re on the hunt for formulas that are challenging, if not impossible, to try in the store. (Think mascara, eyeliner, and skin care.) The little stickers on the outside of the packaging might be annoying to remove before wrapping, but they’re a clear reminder of the extra money you saved when you gift them to yourself. Go ahead, we won’t tell.
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No one likes having their inbox inundated with mass emails from every e-commerce site they’ve ever browsed, but signing up for them really is the best way to stay up-to-date on holiday sales. It’s especially smart to use these sales to stock up on the things you know you run out of frequently. (Just keep expiration dates in mind.)
For every product that’s still in its original packaging (like Maybelline Great Lash) there are 10 that have been revamped more than once. Since the beauty industry loves to update the lids, jars, and most of all, the labels, of products, you can score the outdated packaging at prices designed to liquidate it fast in-store. (Check the ends of the aisles, where drugstores typically stash sale items.) Sometimes, these older products also end up on discount sites — which, like Amazon, can come with greater risks, so we don’t recommend them.
By Lexy Lebsack
