Makeup can be very expensive, especially when you wear it every day and have to replace your products quite often. So, we are here to give you a short guide on how to make makeup more affordable! When you know where to look, you can save plenty of money on your makeup, so you can enjoy this wonderful and creative hobby without breaking the bank.
Head To The Drugstore
The first thing you can do to save money on your makeup is to avoid expensive makeup counters and to head to the drugstore. Makeup from the drugstore is much more affordable and you can find great quality brands when you know where to look (see the section below). Plus, it’s really easy to access drugstore makeup wherever you are, so you don’t need to travel for ages just to pick up your favourite mascara! This is definitely the number one tip when it comes to saving money on your makeup.
Look For Dupes
A makeup dupe is a makeup product that has a similar texture, consistency and shade to a more expensive alternative. People look for dupes so they can access products similar to famous high end makeup, but without the price tag. There are so many different people online who spend their time looking for the best makeup dupes and reviewing them, so the hard work is done for you!
If you aren’t sure which products you want but are ready to try out a few dupes, then head to YouTube and watch some videos of some of the best dupes on the market at the minute. For those of you who have a specific high-end product in mind, you can search something like “Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dupes” and you will get plenty of different options. This is such a great way to try out new products and access that high-end quality for a fraction of the price.
Wait For The Sales
If you want to try the real deal rather than dupes, then a great way to access expensive products for much cheaper is to wait for the sales. You could wait for Black Friday makeup sales, January sales or summer sales and stock up on all your favourite products. There is no need to compromise on the quality here and you could save up throughout the year so you know you can get all of your favourite products in one go.
We all love a good sale and makeup brands are often very generous when it comes to sale periods! So, keep your eye out and prepare to bag a bargain.
Choose Palettes Over Single Eyeshadows
Another good way to save money on your products is to choose palettes over single eyeshadows. Buying individual eyeshadows is very expensive, whereas, with a palette, you get a great amount of variety at a much better value than if you were to buy them all separately. Plus, with palettes, you might have the chance to try a few new shades that you wouldn’t consider otherwise! This is a great opportunity to save money and also be more creative.
Recycle Packaging For Free Products
Some companies offer schemes that allow you to collect makeup packaging, return it to the company and get discounts or free products in return. Major companies like Mac offer this, where you can return any 6 pieces of primary packaging and you get a free lipstick of your choice! Many other makeup brands offer similar schemes, so you will save money in the long run.
Get Free Samples
Another simple way to make makeup more affordable is to find free samples online. Head to Google and search for free cosmetic samples and you’ll be surprised at how much you can find! You can try before you buy and get creative with new products that you might not have otherwise thought of buying, like a new shade of pink lipstick or different face cream. If you don’t like them, you haven’t lost out. If you do like them, you can go on to buy the full-size version! You can find a lot of skincare testers for when you aren’t wearing makeup, so you know you’re looking after your skin.
You won’t be wasting money on products you are unsure about and you can try new things. Instead of going online, you could also go down to your local makeup counters and say you have been considering buying a particular product and ask if they have any testers available. This is also a great tip for perfume, like JLo’s Promise or Flowerbomb. although it isn’t makeup!
Use Loyalty Cards
Our final tip to help you save money on your makeup is to use loyalty cards. You can buy your favourite makeup product or makeup brushes at discounted prices, even getting it for free if you collect enough points! In the UK, Boots offers a great rewards scheme, which means you can easily build points over time when buying any kind of cosmetics or toiletries. The points soon add up and you can treat yourself to some lovely new makeup.
Final Thoughts
Buying new makeup doesn’t have to be really expensive every time, as there are plenty of ways you can save money on it. From recycling old packaging to waiting for sales and using loyalty cards, your options are endless!