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How do you make your beauty budget stretch?
For basics and skincare, I try to purchase when there is a sale going on (like 20% off) or say a 3x or 5x point event (Ulta).
— Christine
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For me, it’s all about strategic buying during sales, bulding up or using Plenti points at Macy’s, Nordstrom Notes and for Neiman Maecus, gift cards.
As Christine I always buy my staples or products from a permanent range in sales or in bulk (shampoo and body wash in bigger format). I just scored a buy 1 get 1 free deal on my mascara today!
I always keep an eye on my skincare stash to not run out of essentials (moisturiser, serums and such). For the rest, I am in no hurry. I have enough makeup to last me a bit without buying anything lol!
I use coupons and look for sales. I save up points from Sephora and Ulta. When I need to replace an empty Estee Lauder or Clinique product, I try to wait for them to offer gifts with purchase, which usually includes eye cream and moisturizer.
Only buy what I really need and only if I am really almost out of something. I still have five unopened mascaras in my drawer from the time when I bought “backups” on a whim.
I have officially banned myself from buying backups, except for a “buy one, get one” deal on a favorite product that I use on a regular basis. I have to be almost out of a particular product before I allow myself to buy its replacement.
For many years I used Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation. Then it started disappearing from stores. Thinking it was being discontinued, I bought six of them. Several months later, I discovered my HG foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear, which I’ve been using ever since. And now those Colorstay jars are stashed away unopened in a box. What a waste of money!
I have a favourite foundation – the Clarins Ever Lasting one, which is my holy grail. But I also use my Rimmel Match Perfection on “ordinary days”. So, maybe, you can use up your Colourstay for work days and keep your Double Wear for special occasions….
I sort of do that, but I use the EstƩe Lauder for work and evenings and the cheap stuff for weekend errands like grocery shopping.
I almost always wait for a sale. There are a few things that I don’t wait to buy…mostly ABH or ND palettes.
I keep a shopping/wish list that’s sectioned into “need-ish” and “want”. Then on items that I will certainly purchase or repurchase, I’ll try to wait until a sale or just manage it all according to my monthly budget, which I just don’t exceed. Also, if there’s a costly item, I’ll try to balance use against a less costly version; like, eye creams: my favorite is expensive, so I’ll alternate with a less costly but ok one.
Lately I’ve come to realize that I own far more stuff than I’ll ever use, so I’m not really taxing my budget too much, so if there’s something I need, I can usually manage.
“Need-ish”..I love it! I am well familiar with that category!
Certain items need not be expensive at all, so when it comes to cleansers and make-up removers, I go completely drugstore brands and store brands. I’m not at all concerned about using baby oil to remove my waterproof mascara and eyeliner, because I always clean my face afterwards, removing any residual oil left.
I also take full advantage of all the coupons and codes I can for everything else. This includes my eye serum, daytime sunscreen moisturizer, vite C serum, and some HE color cosmetics, too. Points at Ulta help out with mid-end and lower end essentials that I keep stocked up on, ie; Maybelline Full & Soft Waterproof Mascara, Essence Midnight In Paris Gel Liner, haircare, etc.
Buy during sales or max points, I haven’t bought mascara since last year when I needed to get a waterproof one and I think I’ve been using mini’s for even another year before that as I just get them with points or my sephora subscription.
I try hard not to buy dupes for colors unless it’s the difference of like a matte vs a glitter or something.
I sink most of my money into skincare so I don’t feel hideous when not wearing makeup.
I wait for Sephora’s VIB 20% off sales but, best of all, shopping at Shoppers Drug Mart on Thursdays always gets me 20% off and I can rack up the Optimum points during the frequent 20X the points events and then use those points to pay for my splurges and indulgences. I just wish there were stores near me that carried Chanel, Dior, Darphin, etc.
I love buying skincare and makeup from QVC. They have some fab brands, that are normally cheaper than high street. But the best thing is that you can try stuff and send it back if you donāt like it.
I donāt mind spending money on products that I love to use, but I hate it when products sit there because your skin doesnāt agree with them or you ordered the wrong colour.
Budget? What’s that?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
No, seriously, I usually wait until my favoured skincare brands are Buy 2, get the 3rd Free or something. I have a little hoard of backups and goodies for gifts that I’ve gotten on sale or have ordered an extra to get over the free shipping limit but for makeup, I’m am less strict with myself – when Coloured Raine Queen of Hearts was finally stocked on BeautyBay, I clicked those Add to Cart and Checkout buttons pretty damn quick.
Lol! That is what I said to my husband, budget! You can’t have a budget for makeup that’s totally unrealistic. End of subject.
I use credit card reward points to get gift cards for Sephora.
I hardly ever purchase skincare at full price – I wait until there are major sales on (especially in June and December) and then go for it.
Also, one of our major budget beauty shops here in Aus (Priceline) offers a whopping beauty bag GWP for $60 worth of on sale products. I have pretty well used most of the products and have tried new, cruelty free brands that otherwise I would not have used.
As for makeup purchases, again I wait for the sales that are geniune – eg 30% off or more and stock up on a few basics like setting powder, foundation, eye brow pencils, blush and mascara.
Sales, special offers, etc. I don’t normally buy makeup full price, apart from MAC (thanks MAC! š ) or limited edition stuff (which, to be honest, I mostly buy from MAC).
So, technically, I save quite a good amount, but the full prices here are prohibiting considering the average wage in the country.
I try and take advantage of the F & F sales, Spring/Winter Sephora sales and any other coupons that come up. I try to purchase the expensive components of my skin care during the Sephora sales. Whenever possible I try and purchase from Ulta or other providers that offer points that can be redeemed for money off on the products I purchase. I really wish Sephora would re-vamp their rewards program to allow points to be used for money off.
The most important thing I do is use Ebates. I try and wait until Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom’s etc. are offering the higher percent bonus percentage, so generally 8% and then purchase then. If it is something I can’t wait on then I just take whatever Ebates is offering, of course. Even 4% back when you have spent a couple of hundred dollars adds up.
Budget? I need to run and hide! Iām terrible at it. Iām good with all sorts of makeup for three more lives or 9 like a cat but surprisingly have run out of serum and a good night moisturizing cream. Any recommendations welcome. Iām thinking of trying The Ordinary for the first time. Dry/combination skin.
What is a beauty budget???