Do you ever think about changing your skincare and makeup routines? It’s easy to get into a rut and, particularly at this time of year, many of us begin to realise that our current routine may not be enough to keep us glowing through the cold winter months.
But if you want to try out new skincare and cosmetic products, it’s difficult to know where to start. TV adverts, magazines and social media are full of claims about wonderful products that will supposedly transform the way we look and feel if only we will give them a try. The problem is that most of us simply cannot afford to try them all!
If you want to update your skincare and make up routines, the best thing to do is to take your time and look around for products that may be suitable for you. By all means read the adverts, but also look at reviews from existing customers to see how the product works in reality. It’s also good to get word of mouth recommendations from family and friends. And it might also be worth either going to a department store counter to get a few tips and perhaps try out some products, or paying for a facial and/or makeup session in a salon to see how different products work for you.
But once you have identified a few new products that you would like to add to your skincare and make up routines, what is the best way to buy them? It would be so easy to end up spending a small fortune, and many of us are unable or unwilling to do that on a regular basis.
Let’s explore a few potential ways of getting top quality cosmetics at a fraction of the cost.
Many of us shop online for pretty much everything, and there are many bargains to be had in the beauty sector. It is always worth checking the websites of products that you are looking for and/or stores that you tend to shop in to see if there are any special deals to be found.
Also search for online discount beauty suppliers – for example BrandAlley and Beauty Outlet. There are many such retailers around and with a little bit of research you may be able to find what you are looking for at a great price, either as a one-off or regular purchase.
And don’t overlook major online retailers such as Amazon who also offer competitive prices on many skincare and cosmetic items.
When shopping online you can sometimes make further savings by adding a discount voucher from one of the many voucher sites available. For example Voucher Codes, Groupon or Wowcher.
Discounted products do vary regularly, so it is worth checking from week to week what you could get a discount on and shopping according to the deals available.
Skincare and make up is one sector where it is often a good idea to shop in person as well as online. Large department stores and chemists often have special offers on these products. There may be a clearance sale on, or some kind of 3 for 2 offer. You may also be given free samples or vouchers towards your next purchase.
So it is definitely worth putting in a bit of legwork to find some really good deals.
Many cosmetic companies offer loyalty schemes and these are well worth joining if you have found a brand you like. You may get regular discounts off purchases, or perhaps a voucher every time you spend a certain amount.
And if you subscribe to the company’s newsletters you will always be the first to know about any special deals that are going, and may be sent little extras such as vouchers on your birthday.
Another option to consider is signing up to a beauty subscription box. These vary between different companies. For example, if you subscribe to one from a magazine you are likely to get a variety of different beauty products each month, which means you can try out samples of different products and could find something you really like.
If you subscribe to a beauty box from a cosmetic company, you will get a monthly selection of products from the company. And some companies enable you to tailor your subscription box to only include the products you particularly want, so that you save money on products that you would want to buy anyway.
Beauty subscription boxes tend to start at around £15 per month, and you can usually sign up for 3, 6, or 12 months.
So whether you want to try out lots of new and different products, or save money on those that you buy regularly, it could be worth investigating whether a subscription beauty box could help.
Beauty and skincare dupes have been trending for the last 3-4 years. The basic idea is that they are an affordable product that mirrors a more expensive product. So if there is a product that you would love to buy but don’t want the high price tag, it is worth Googling whether there is a recommended dupe available.
Some examples of dupes recommended by beauty editors are:
You will need to research and try products for yourself, but you could end up being pleasantly surprised by finding something very similar to your desired product at a fraction of the cost.
Closely related to the dupe concept is the company Beauty Pie. Beauty Pie is a luxury beauty Buyers’ Club and has been described by Elle magazine as “the best kept secret in the beauty industry”.
Founded by beauty, wellness and skincare expert, Marcia Kilgore, the aim of Beauty Pie is to offer top quality beauty products direct from the labs that create them. This means that Beauty Pie cuts out costs such as middlemen, retailers, premises and packaging, and brings the savings to you.
Beauty Pie describe themselves as a luxury Costco, selling premium quality wellness and beauty products at discounted prices.
Access to Beauty Pie is free for 30 days, after which there is a membership fee of either £59 paid annually or £10 paid monthly. But if you can make great savings on the products you use it could be well worth it.
We hope that this article helps you to find ways to buy the cosmetics and skincare products that you want at a fraction of the cost, and to take good care of yourself this winter.
Check back here soon for more lifestyle tips from direct lender Munzee Loans.
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