I won’t lie – I am a beauty fanatic. There was a day when I could have conducted some pretty elaborate chemistry experiments using only the products in my medicine cabinet, and frequently did – on my face. These days, I have far less time to spend on beauty, and I need products that are efficient and effective. I also need these products to be convenient to buy – the easier it is for me to get my hands on a bottle of shampoo, the better. Here, my tips for saving on all the stuff you need to look your best.
1. Research before you buy: Just because a celebrity uses it or a beauty editor recommends it, that doesn’t mean that it’s the best product for you. Sign up for a professional beauty review site, like Beautypedia.com – the absolute best, or a consumer review site, like makeupalley.com, and read up on new products before you shell out the money for them. That way, when you go to Sephora or to a department store, you are armed with more information and won’t be taken in by the hype.
2. Decide where to skimp, where to splurge: Spend your beauty dollar wisely, and not on products where your money is literally going down the drain. This includes shampoo, facial cleanser, and body wash. A well-formulated drugstore version of any of these products will get you the same results as the more expensive version. There are other products, however, where spending a little more gets you a better product, and foundation is one of those items. Not only is it impossible to pick the right color at a drugstore, but I have found higher-end foundations to be superior in texture and wearability. I also will never, ever buy an inexpensive perfume.
3. Decide How Much You Like That Pretty Packaging: Because, after all, you are paying for it. If gorgeous packaging is important to you, know that it’s built into the high cost of high-end products. Fortunately, most drugstore and health food store products have had face lifts that make them virtually indistinguishable from the expensive stuff.
4. More Money Doesn’t Buy You a Better Anti-Ager: With the exception of a prescription product like Retin-A, which has been scientifically proven to alter the way that your skin functions, effective ingredients and formulations are available at all price ranges. Find a really well-formulated skincare product (check Beautypedia!) that you can afford, and you are more likely to use it regularly and in sufficient quantities to see a difference.
5. Repurpose Products: Stuck with an expensive anti-ager that makes you break out. Repurpose it, and use it on your hands and your chest. Hate that new body wash. Pour it into a hand pump and use it as a hand wash. A powder that’s too dark can be used as a bronzer or a contourer. And if all else fails, pass it along to a friend.
6. Shop Around: If you know what you are looking for, shopping online can be fast, convenient, and more affordable. Sites like soap.com and drugstore.com offer great deals and free shipping offers, as well as a massive assortment of products. Other stores, like Sephora, offer your choice of samples when you buy online.
7. Flash Sales, Again: Many of the top flash sale sites (see yesterday’s blog) offer great deals on beauty products, but http://www.beautystory.com/ is dedicated exclusively to beauty products.
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