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What are your top three tips for shopping for beauty products online?
What are your top three tips for shopping for beauty products online? Share yours!
1.) Make sure you’re familiar with the retailer’s return policy, in case something doesn’t work out, breaks, etc. 2.) Always look for coupons – you can usually find ones for free shipping, small samples, and the like. (Consider signing up for the retailer’s newsletter if you are a frequent shopper.) 3.) Search for reviews/swatches for a product you’re unsure about to get a better feel for how it might perform or look.
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I use Pintrest for swatches, lots of opinions and photos of the same product. Cash back combined with with a coupon code is the best way to go, and a good return policy/ return to store option.
Piggybacking off of the 2nd tip – if you have a bit of a shopping problem (like myself!), create an email account exclusively for brand/store newsletters & coupons. Only check it when you need to buy something and plan to go shopping. That way when you check your regular email, you won’t be tempted by sales/offers when you don’t need anything. I read that somewhere, I think a magazine but I don’t remember the source (sorry!).
I think you’ve covered the points, I would consider important. The best tool for me is just searching a given product and finding different photos, reviews, etc. It gives you a better idea of how the product may appear on different skin tones, and in different lighting conditions. I love comparison swatches with similar products or comparison swatches of a products range of colours. Sadly, most of the on-lines shops have terrible swatches of their products.. It seems Sephora changed their swatches and now they are even more terrible! Saks is perfectly awful too! Independent swatches are much better IMO. And hey, Christine, love the link inclusion of swatch comparisons on your review posts. LOVE it!
Great tips, Christine!
1) If you’re interested in buying a cosmetic online, seek out swatches online first and try to find a “swatcher” that is close to your skin tone. Read reviews to get an idea of whether it will work for your needs.
2) Know the on-line retailor’s return policy and if it is in another country, know the customs situation for your country.
3)Don’t buy clothing on-line unless everything you try on the the store in your presumed size fits you (this is my problem:))
Outside of the ones you’ve mentioned Christine (because that would be redundant :P)
1) If you’re not subscribed to a retailer/brand’s e-mail and don’t want to be bogged down by e-mails always check either their facebook page (good for smaller retailers/brands) or retailmenot.com for coupon codes
2) Ebates – always ebates, look the retailer up even if you’re in doubt because you just never know! and who doesn’t like cash back?
I can’t think of a third thing to add :/
I don’t have any particularly unique ones. I agree, search for swatches/reviews and check for coupons. I would also say try TRY to get a sample somehow before purchasing. Also, remember that a lot of retailers have annual F&F sales, so if you can hold out, I recommend waiting for those
I *rarely* buy online, and unless it’s a brand I’m already familiar with, I absolutely won’t. Unless it’s a replacement for something I’ve run out of (or lost, LOL), I will not order any face products; foundations are the most difficult product for me to buy due to my odd coloring, and it’s honestly not worth the hassle of returning, regardless of “customer-friendly” return policies. I figure if I can make it to a counter or post-office to make the return, I can just as easily make it to the mall for the original purchase, LOL. As for reviews, there are many products that get horrible reviews, but are actually among the ones I reach for most often; there are also products that get raves that just cut it for me, particularly face products & eyeliner. Fortunately, there are only a few brands I buy from on a regular basis, so if I found myself *really* wanting a product, I may be a bit more willing to chance a product blindly from those brands. I’m very apprehensive about “online exclusives”, and brands only available online, as it sometimes makes me wonder why they’re not available to try in-person…
1. Read (multiple) online reviews.
2. Research swatches in different light settings.
3. Purchase from either the retailer or a trustworthy site. NEVER buy beauty products from Ebay. (Made that mistake. Turns out $15 was indeed too good to be true for Benefit Sugarbomb. The real one is so much better! lol.)