Last Updated on September 10, 2022
Contents
Saving Money on Makeup
Good quality makeup matters. If you enjoy using makeup products and do it regularly, you know how important it is to choose quality cosmetics. Yet, there might come a time when you want to spend less on beauty products.
Cutting down on makeup expenses without compromising looks and comfort is possible. Learn how to save money on makeup as we walk you through several strategies, from budgeting tips to free samples.
The Amount of Makeup Women Use
A relatively high number of young women wear makeup. According to a survey from the Renfrew Center Foundation, 58% of girls between 8 and 18 use makeup. 65% of these girls started wearing makeup before they turned 13. Among adult women, almost 40% wear makeup every day.
A Grand View Research suggests that by 2030 the beauty and personal care industry will reach a market size of $937.1 billion dollars. These numbers indicate that the beauty industry is thriving and consumers are spending money on a product category that’s not necessarily essential. You may want to reduce your makeup-related costs and we have a few solutions to achieve this goal.
How to Get Makeup for Free
The best way to save money on something is not to spend money on it. It sounds counterintuitive, but it isn’t. You could save money on makeup by getting products for free.
Free makeup samples
There are many ways to grab free makeup samples. Another one is to look for discounts and coupons online and in-store. You might find offers such as buy one, get one for free.
You can also become a product tester to get makeup samples for free directly from reputable brands such as L’Oreal. Another solution is using websites that offer product testing programs and free makeup samples, such as Influenster or SampleSource.
You can also get free makeup samples from different beauty counters in department stores. These usually have samples clients can use. One of the brands that regularly gives free cosmetics samples is The Body Shop.
Rewards recycling programs
Some companies offer freebies for those who commit to an environmentally-friendly approach.
For example, Mac has a rewards recycling scheme that encourages clients to return cosmetics containers. The company gives a free lipstick to anyone who returns six primary packaging containers. The scheme goes by the name Back 2 Mac and is still available. If you want a free Mac lipstick and you’re a regular, take advantage.
Why Try to Save Money on Makeup?
Saving money on makeup might not seem like an essential money-saving solution. How much makeup can you use throughout the year, right? The answer varies based on your habits and makeup preferences. You could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars per year on makeup. Regardless of how much money your beauty routine costs, it’s worth trying to reduce your spending.
Cutting one type of expense can create the financially sound habit of being more frugal across all your expenses. This month, you might reduce your makeup budget. Next month, you can reduce grocery spending. The following, try to see if you can spend less on gas, and so on. You might achieve significant savings in six months following this path. Here’s a simulation with a savings goal of 10% on these categories:
Regular Monthly Budget | New Budget (-10%) | One Month Savings | Six Months Savings |
Makeup – $70 | $63 | $7 | $42 |
Grocery – $400 | $360 | $40 | $240 |
Gas – $200 | $180 | $20 | $120 |
Total savings: $67 | Total savings:$402 |
If you adhere to a strict makeup routine and love using makeup, you might buy a new product each month. These products’ prices vary on a brand and quality basis.
As an example, we’ve set a monthly makeup budget of $70. Cutting this expense category by only 10% means $7 saved each month. In a year, you could save almost $100 on makeup. Now, imagine applying the 10% rule to most or all of your expenses. As the table above shows, you could set aside almost $500 per year by reducing your makeup, grocery, and gas spending.
The average unit price of cosmetics in the U.S.
To realize how much you can save on makeup, you might first want to learn how much makeup costs. Here is a breakdown of makeup costs at drug stores and mass market retailers per category according to a 2021 Statista report.
Facial Cosmetics Category | Average Unit Price in U.S. Dollars |
Powder | $7.47 |
Foundation | $9.64 |
Blush | $6.46 |
Concealer | $7.48 |
Makeup combo | $9.09 |
The price per makeup item depends on where you shop. According to Whatitcosts.com, you can get lipstick for up to $10 from a drugstore. If you want a designer brand, the price increases to $20-$35 or more per lipstick. Where can you do your makeup shopping to spend less on cosmetics? Here are a few tips.
Buy Cosmetics from Drugstores
If you’ve used a particular cosmetics brand for years, you might not feel ready to give it up. You don’t need to make a decision right away. Experiment with other products for a while. Let’s say you already have that favorite lipstick in your purse. It will last for some time. Take advantage of this time to try one or two cheaper drugstore lipsticks.
If you end up disliking them, give them away. The best-case scenario is you’ll fall for one of these cheaper items and stick with it. Start with a bit of research to make the leap from big brands to drugstore products.
You want to learn how to save money on makeup, but you also want to find good makeup and avoid low-quality products. Start looking for cheap but reliable cosmetics. There’s not a better place than the internet. You can check out forums or social media groups that debate this topic. You can also google the best drugstore cosmetic options.
For example, we came across this Cosmopolitan post about 13 of the best drugstore lipsticks costing under $10.
You can start with a similar list or make your own list of drugstores selling quality cosmetics. The steps to take while switching from brand name cosmetics to generic brands include:
- Choose the type of cosmetics that interest you.
- Look for drugstores that sell them.
- Visit those stores to check out their products.
- Buy one or two items to try.
You can start with brands you are already familiar with but you don’t yet use, such as
- Revlon
- NYX
- Maybelline New York
Here, check out a list of makeup products from these brands that cost under $20.
The pros and cons of buying cosmetics from drugstores vs. high-end stores
There are both advantages and drawbacks to switching to less famous cosmetic brands. If your purpose is saving money, the effort might be worth it. Here are the main pros and cons of buying drugstore cosmetics
Pros
- They cost less than designer makeup.
- These products are available in plenty of stores.
- They can provide quality on par with more expensive brands.
Cons
- Big brands usually provide the best quality. Plus, you get the chance to use samples in-store.
- You might not want to give up your favorite brand, even if it costs more. ‘
- Changing your makeup brand might cause skin problems.
You might have sensitive skin that’s already used to high-quality or organic cosmetics. Switching to another brand could have a less than friendly impact on your skin and cause irritation. Of course, this is not the case with all cosmetics.
If you want to safely switch to lower-priced cosmetic brands, you could ask for a specialist’s advice, such as a dermatologist.
How to Save Money on Makeup While Shopping
Here are a few recommendations to save money during makeup shopping. You can apply them one by one and see what method suits you best.
Compare prices while buying cosmetics
A good way to cut your makeup expenses is to compare prices. The purpose is to find the best price. You might even have fun if you’re passionate about makeup. To ensure you get the best price for the items you want to try, check out at least three options. Let’s say you want to get a new lipstick from a popular drugstore brand. You could check out the price of the item at multiple stores, such as:
- Walmart
- Ulta
- Amazon
- Walgreens
- CVS
Even if the price difference is not significant, spending only $1 or $2 less still counts at checkout.
Check makeup deals
Always be on the lookout for price discounts and deals. This habit can help you save money on any product, not just makeup. It also implies a willingness to change and adapt. You might not find a discount on your favorite blush brand, but you could try a similar product that’s on sale. Who knows, you might discover a new favorite!
Look for the following types of everyday deals:
- Holiday discounts: available before special occasions such as Christmas
- Product bundles: packages containing several products
- Seasonal sales: discounts taking place every year in the same period (e.g. June-July)
Check out prices online
We’ve already given some examples of online stores selling cosmetics. There is no strict rule when it comes to buying online. The prices may or may not be lower compared to brick-and-mortar stores.
The difference is that traditional shops that have a physical location incur higher costs (rent, shop assistants, etc.). For this, they might apply higher prices to make profits. Selling online may be more cost-effective for retailers. It’s always worth checking how much your makeup products cost in virtual shops.
Use price-comparison apps
Use price comparison apps such as ShopSavvy or PriceGrabber. It will make it easier to find good makeup deals. These will show you how much a product costs in different stores. You can also use them to stay updated with the latest discounts.
Price comparison apps allow you to scan a product’s barcode to get several price offers. You can shop in the best place and use the apps to access online offers and promotions. Additionally, you might be able to use these apps for cashback deals or other shopping perks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I save money on makeup without giving up my favorite brand?
If you ask yourself why you can’t save money on cosmetics, scrutinize your spending habits. You might be buying more products than you need. You might rush to buy every new product a big brand releases rather than waiting for a discount.
Look for deals to save money on makeup while still enjoying your favorite brand. Consider getting a loyalty card if the company offers one. It can help you earn points that turn into discounts.
What advantages come with saving money on makeup?
Saving money on makeup allows you to start or build your savings account. Every small effort matters towards your savings goal. If you learn how to save money on makeup, you can also apply this mindset to other expenses.
How can I save money on makeup by budgeting?
To make sure you spend a limited amount of money on beauty products, try budgeting. That means setting a fixed amount for this expense category. Budgeting can help you save money and fix your credit as fast as you can. Here are three budgeting methods you might want to try.
This method implies using only 50% of your budget for monthly necessities. 30% is allocated toward non-essential expenses, such as makeup products. The remaining 20% represents savings.
This system involves separate spending categories. Once you create them, allocate a firm budget to each one. Only use the allocated budget for each expenditure.
This strategy is usually helpful for bills, but you can apply it to any expense. It means saving 50% of your expenses’ worth from each paycheck. If you want to buy makeup worth $200 next month, save $100 from this month’s and next month’s paychecks.
Sources:
IAC Publishing. (n.d.). What percent of girls wear makeup? Reference. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://www.reference.com/world-view/percent-girls-wear-makeup-61bf7dc65ec02047
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MAC Cosmetics. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://www.maccosmetics.com/giving_back/back_to_mac.tmpl
Published by Statista Research Department, & 2, M. (2022, May 2). Facial cosmetics: Average unit price by category. Statista. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/898345/us-facial-cosmetics-unit-price-by-product/
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