The Frugal Beauty

Makeup can be quite pricey, especially if you are (or become) a makeup junkie! Here are some tips to help you save a few bucks:

The obvious... Check out the SALE section. Items that are seasonal will likely go on sale after the season is over. Also, discontinued items are likely to be found in the sale section, just don't get too attached to those, as they'll be hard or impossible to find once the remaining the stock is sold.

P.S. I hear that Sephora places their most expensive items at eye-level, so try looking at the lower shelves to see what you find! :)

Shop discount sites, like HauteLook and Beauty Encounter.

If you're okay with purchasing gently used products, look into resale sites, such as MUABS. Most of the sellers are artists just trying to get rid of excess makeup. You can sanitize products with isopropyl alcohol, like Alcone (which is recommended for beauty products), or use products made specifically for sanitizing makeup, like those from the Beauty So Clean line.

Find dupes. My all time favorite site for dupes is Temptalia. Pinterest is also pretty good for finding dupes, but can end up with few suggestions and/or wind up with pins that lead to expired links.

Get antiquated with return policies. Stores like Sephora and MAC will take back opened items (and pay for the return shipping!), so you won't waste money by keeping products you realized you didn't like.

Get enrolled in loyalty programs. Sally, Ulta, Sephora and many other stores have programs that allow you to save money, collect free points towards rewards or money off, and/or qualify you for free gifts. Who doesn't like any of those?

Search for coupon codes at sites like Retail Me Not and Ebates (which also offers cash back on your online purchases). 

Shop in stores that give free samples. Deluxe-sized samples are a plus! This allows you to try a product prior to deciding if you want to spend on the full-sized product.

Purchase Beauty Boxes. Whether it's a subscription-based box or sample boxes that are launched every so often, beauty boxes are a great bang for your buck! My personal fave is BoxyCharm ($21 a month), but many prefer Ipsy ($10 a month). Don't want to commit? Check out Target's Beauty Box ($7 a box). Just keep an eye out, because they sell out quick!

Buy travel sized products. (MAC has a whole section dedicated to these.) When it comes to makeup, I find some of these to be more cost efficient than the full sized ones. Mascara is one item that I'd definitely recommend buying travel sized. It expires in about 3 months, which is about when I get done with a travel sized tube. If I had a full sized one, I'd likely be tossing out product, along with dollars.
However, if you do use all of the product before it's time to toss it, calculate the price per weight. For example: MAC's Prep + Prime Fix+ Sized To Go is $10 for 1 ounce. The full sized is $22 for 3.4 ounces. You pay $6.47 an ounce in the full sized version, so go for it if you'll use it all. 

Look for sets. You can find sets that vary from "faves" of a certain brand to customizable ones. Again, why spend money on larger sized products that'll expire or you'll only use for the season? Save money by buying small. 

Follow makeup artists on Instagram! Every so often they'll share a coupon code for whatever they're advertising. The codes are typically specific to them and won't be found anywhere else. Make sure to follow me too (@yoursassyflo)! I'll always try my best to share whatever sales and/or coupon codes I know about. (Bear with me as I get use to staying on top of things while still managing my chaotic life! :P)

So... What are you waiting for? Go spend money! Wisely, of course. ;)

If you have any suggestions to add, please feel free to drop a comment! We're in this together, beauties! I want to learn from you too! 

Happy Shopping!