Free or discounted makeup? How to save money when buying beauty products!

Skincare and makeup can dig a big hole in your bank account and any way to save money would be a big help! In this post I’m going to share my tips and tricks to save money on beauty products!

Loyalty cards!

These are really easy to join and you get points when you spend there! These money are converted to money value and can then be spent towards more beauty products. I have cards for Boots, Superdrug and Debenhams. As well as getting points for buying from them, you also get emails that entitle you to exclusive sales and discounts. My Boots card can be loaded with multiple offers and therefore means I can save money on beauty items from their store. The biggest bonus of this Boots card means I can save money on Fenty beauty as it’s now stocked there!

Subscribe to Beauty Boxes

Now I’ve never done this but after seeing so many influencers use them, I definitely want to! Some you can pay as little as £10 a month for and they have partnerships with big brands! For example Glossybox charge £10 a month for a box of 5 items, some of them being full sized products worth more than the box itself! Also many boxes have collaborations with big brands and again with Glossybox, they even have a partnership with Huda Beauty! These are the perfect way to try high-end beauty products whilst saving money. You don’t have to deal with the hefty price tag! Please keep in mind however that obviously they’ll be products you may not like in these but that’s a given as they can’t customise a box for each person!

Compare prices between larger and smaller containers

This one has saved me so much more money! I love the Pixi Glow tonic and I used to always buy the smaller bottle but now, I won’t buy any other than the bigger one. Why? Because the 100ml bottle is priced at £10, whereas the 250ml bottle is priced at £18. That’s more than double the product for less than double the price! I always compare prices now as it can save you a lot of money in the long run. Would you rather pay £18 less times or £10 more times? Over time, you really save the money although you’re spending slightly more each time you purchase! This is also the case with other beauty brands, so check your products!

Take advantage of free testers!

There’s nothing wrong with buying testers but I honestly think they’re not worth the money. Some can cost £10 and you only get 3 uses! I know it’s to test them but it’s much better to get them for free. Usually brands offer them online if you spend a certain amount of money and more often than not, you choose the ones you want. Choose the products you want to test. This way you can see if you like the product before you actually buy it. It’s better than purchasing the full size then deciding you don’t like it. Especially if you can’t return once it’s used! In-store a lot of brands will also give you free tester samples too. Sometimes randomly but other times you can actually request them! I’ve had Bobbi Brown and Mac foundation samples just by asking and I found myself liking the Bobbi Brown one! I was glad I didn’t just take the plunge and buy the Mac one however, as the sample proved that it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.

Check out TK Maxx

In America, I’m pretty sure this is TJ Maxx. This is honestly the best place to save money on beauty products! From TK Maxx I have purchased a rose quartz face roller, a discounted Foreo Luna Mini and a discounted Becca sunkissed set! I’ve also seen Kiehl’s and Estée Lauder products which are sometimes discounted up to 66%! Foreo Luna Mini’s are sold at £119, I paid £79. This is a 34% saving! Not only can you save money on beauty products, you can also save money on fashion. They have clothing items from Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. With TK Maxx however, you have to buy when you see it or regret it forever as they don’t stock many of each product. When it’s gone, it’s gone!

Use Youtubers’ and bloggers’ discount codes

They’re thrown out in so many Instagram posts, videos and blog posts and they’re actually there to help you too! Not only do you get discounted make up, but you’re helping the person who provided you the discount! Some codes can get you 30% off which can be a huge help! A lot of influencers only promote products they love however, it’s better to check out the profile to ensure they don’t jump on any offer they get. I personally like when there’s a video with the discount code or swatches/ a review if it’s with a blog post. I just feel this helps you get a better picture of how the product performs and if it’s really worth your money. If there’s a product you’ve seen all over social media that you’re interested, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll find a discount code to go with it!

Drugstore products!

May seem simple but it works! Many high-end makeup products have drugstore dupes in case you’re not prepared to spend for the more expensive option! Obviously sometimes you’ll want to get the high-end option but just keep in mind you’re likely to find a cheaper alternative. Revolution have uncanny dupes for many high end products and they work amazingly! Not only do the drugstore hold shoes however, they also have their own products that outshine high-end products! I love Maybelline mascaras and don’t see a need to spend so much on high-end ones. The only high end mascara I do have is Benefit’s Roller Lash and that was what I received in a gift set at Christmas. It is amazing but I wouldn’t spend my own money on it. I’d rather save my money and buy a Maybelline alternative. I also particular love MUA’s loose highlight that’s only £3!

These are the only tips I have, let me know of any you guys have in the comments below!