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What's your Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping strategy for beauty?
Make plans; think about what you really need/want and try to create lists of what you’re most interested in, where you might be able to get it for the lowest price, and then try to stick to those lists. I find that going into any sale week without knowing what I want makes it overwhelming or me more prone to buying something I really didn’t need or want in the first place.
— Christine
Because I’m loosing my job on US Thanksgiving (with nothing else planned), no big spending on Black Friday for me. If the the Urban Decay sale (free shipping and 255 off) is valid on ud.ca, I’m getting a single eyeshadow (Vice) that I can’t find on Sephora. That’s all. If it doesn’t work out, no big deal. I just bought myself the UD Vice rebel lipstick (there was still some in store, yay) and it’s fab.
I’m so sorry to hear about your job, Karine! I hope you can enjoy the holiday for a bit and that a new door will open for you soon!
Thank you. I’m working hard on finding something else.
I’d glad for your swatches, there was few palette I though “OMG I need” and after seeing the swatches I’m like “oh but I have dupes and similar shades”. It meaks me feel less like I’m missing out.
I hope you find a new job soon Karine, it must be quite worrisome for you.
Thank you Genevieve, it is cause I’m single and I’m alone paying all my bills. I have fatastic parents ready to help and I have an interview tomorow
Keeping my fingers crossed for your interview – I hope you like the place and they love you.
Strategy: I am on a no buy until next year. I stocked up and did enough damage with the VIB sale this year. Pat McGrath absolutely slayed me lipstick wise.. I plan to avoid all further temptations with holiday ‘sets’.. I simply do not get the use out of them to justify their purchase. I hate buying makeup because it is a ‘good deal’. This typically results in ho-hum reception and tucking it into a drawer to never get used. I never buy makeup/perfume as gifts.
I have a hard enough time finding 1 or 2 lipstick shades here and there that I really like — so I never go for those sets. Total waste of money for me, too. Now fragrance sets — that’s a whole different story, lol. I look for my favs this time of year in those ‘value’ sets, and if I find one, I make the mad dash with my hair on fire to the nearest cash register. Score!
I used the Sephora Sale to get most of the expensive beauty stuff I needed (I’m quite frugal with beauty, I keep to the minimum number of products and just I replace what I finished). So I don’t plan beauty purchases for Black Friday; I might need a new brow set product, but I’m still researching which one to buy.
I’m going to middle of nowhere MN from Wed-Mon with no cell service and spotty internet, so my strategy is just not even be near a store or computer lol 🙂
My beloved Decleor is no longer going to be shipped to the USA. I’m looking for the best deal I can get on a couple items I’d love to restock before they’re no longer available. (Heavy sigh.) If I find the right fragrance set, I’ll splurge, but I don’t plan on anything else. I’m well stocked. (Writing that sounds funny, like I’m a squirrel who has stocked her pantry for the winter.)
Skinstore/Dermstore both carry Decleor it seems!
Thanks, Christine. I get their e-mail notifications, but I’m looking for December when the sales are even better. I got a spa-sized serum last year (4x as much — huge!) for less than the retail price of the itty-bitty bottle. It’s the best skincare deal I’ve ever made. But, I know I’ve got to dive in soon before everything’s gone. I doubt I’ll ever get my fav moisturizer again (HG forever) unless I buy it from Europe (ugh!). But for now, I got a sample of Belif Moisturizing Bomb at Sephora awhile ago and bought it during the recent sale. Adding to it a drop of glycerin and the above serum, it’s doing the job nicely. What a pleasant surprise! And, I’m certainly not complaining about the lower price!!!
Buyinvite Australia regularly has deals on Decleor products. I am not sure whether they ship internationally or not. Hopefully you can find somewhere that does. It is SO annoying when that happens.
Thanks, Genevieve. I will look into it. And, no, I’m not happy about it at all. Such a good line. I feel like I’m saying goodbye to a dear friend.
My plan is to not buy anything! I overspent during the Sephora VIB sale and my job hunt has been wildly unsuccessful, so no new makeup for me this weekend! I’ll just stay home and play with what I already have 🙂
The only thing I might buy is the double pack of UD All Nighter with the 25% discount, if I can get it. Otherwise, I’ve done enough damage to my bank account already this year, so I’m going to enjoy all the great things I’ve already bought recently.
1. Stop hyperventilating. This is m/u, not heart surgery. 2. Edit the lists, in order of priority. That makes it easier to fill in, given OOS or SO. 3. Include sales prices, and keep a running count, so as not to way exceed what should be the budget. 4. If you keep a m/u planning calendar, you can be prepared for the probability of sales at specific time periods. That can be helpful in comparing /contrasting, say Viseart at Muse.pro vs. Beautylish gift card, vs. Sephora. A calendar, especially/ mini journal can be invaluable for saving on permanent products, provided you subscribe to delayed gratification. A good thing to track is which specific products/colors are exclusive to which sites. And do not assume the brand.com will have all shades/colors. It is not true and They want us on the hunt. Remember to look to the future. If you are BI, you will get 15% at the S sale, but prob will get 20 at Nars.com f&f. Personally, I track promos that happen once a year. In this BF case, for me it’s Zoeva. Get out the pruning shears for that list. In the late summer, it’s Muse.pro. Early Nov, Beautylish gift card. I try to practice infinite patience, and to get personal AND m/u priorities straight.
My strategy is mostly to avoid going to stores at all — I don’t enjoy the crowds and dramas — and when I shop online, it’s only by pre-set list. I’ll shop ahead tonight or tomorrow night to stock up necessities ahead of Black Friday.
This year, I have nothing on my ‘needs’ list, so other than the MUFE eyeshadows sale, I don’t expect to do any purchases on Black Friday/Cyber Monday.
AB, thank you for reminding me about the MUFE sale in your comments! It had totally slipped my mind!
Happy to help. 🙂
Honestly, I really hadn’t thought about BF beauty purchases too much, except for the UD sale. Most of my BF sales purchase funds will be going towards a Roku Smart TV. Possibly a new recliner, too!
Oh wait! That’s right, the MUFE Artist Shadows sale! Whew, I almost forgot about that one.
Roku is worth it.
I sorted my makeup to have a good view of what I own and might need.
So my strategy is asking myself : DO I REALLY REALLLY REALLLLLY NEED THAT?!
And hope for the best .. may all the forces be with me.
I don’t really have one. I have never had a strategy for any kind of shopping on Black Friday. I might check out my favorite retailers websites and see if I can find anything, but other than that, it’s just a normal day for me.
I would agree with you Christine – make plans and draw up a wish list – even if it’s for Christmas shopping for family, friends and work collegues. That way you get your Christmas shopping done and really good value presents at a reasonable price.
My strategy is to stay out of the stores and off my computer. I am not optimistic.
I was thinking to actually go through my stash collection and write every item down to make me realize I dint a thing! Tons of eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks, eyeliners, oh! And do I need another highlighter? NOPE! Absolutely not! But made a wish of Colourpop super shock shadows and they keep blinking those beauties at….what’s a girl to do? I really want many of them! Waiting for a good discount is only for fun but I love those! I have the Yes! Please!, $aucey and is gorgeous! The Hello Kitty, and forgot another one I got those two last on sale. So pretty! They are killing me! Lol! ???♀️
Happy Thanksgivings everyone! ???
My strategy is to be done before Black Friday and so far I am right on schedule. I have completed all of my shopping for family and friends and have just a couple of things to pick up for my daughter’s friends. Now for myself, because if I don’t buy myself what I want I won’t get it, LOL. I have a very short list. I am considering the most decadent powder from Shiseido simply because I absolutely love the compact. Stupid reason I know but it is beautiful. How bad could the powder be, I wonder? Also thinking about a Dior palette. I know that Dior e/s palettes are not always reviewed well but in general, they work for me and I picked up the Ruby palette when it came out. I wasn’t sure about the one that I really wanted which was the green palette. I still am not sure but I recently saw an older palette that I really like so thinking about that one. I have an email from Dior about Black Friday so may pick that up on-line. Otherwise, I plan on avoiding Black Friday completely.
I heard that Dior has completely revamped their eyeshadow formula. I’ve been eyeing the all matte palettes. I hope they come out with more and more as time goes on.
For starters, I don’t subscribe to going anywhere physically on BF. It’s too much insanity and hassle to me. I have a planned purchase coming up at Nordstrom for the 10 point event and I’m still eyeing the Viseart Pro, so my current plan for Friday and Monday is…nothing! I haven’t seen anything that I’m keeping a countdown clock on like I did last year for the ABH sale. Perhaps something will catch my eye, but I’ll be just as content if it doesn’t.