5 Ways to Cut the Cost of Cosmetics

Did you know that the average makeup bag’s contents add up to $200? “The good news is there are ways to lower makeup costs without having to put up with inferior quality or forgoing your favorite items,” says Anita Naik, the beauty expert at Voucher Codes. “By shopping smartly, you can still have a fab bag of products.” Here are Naik’s top tips:

1. Shop budget for trend products.

Trend products are those beauty items that you know you’re only going to wear for the season. This means things like last year’s neon shades, or this year’s volumizing mascara. Saving here allows you to work the trend but also save money for the items you do need to spend on.

2. Don’t skimp on foundation, concealers, and problem areas.

Makeup wise, your money should go towards the products that you either use a lot of (foundation) or on problem areas that need to be addressed (creams that fight dry skin, blemishes, and fine lines). Spending big on foundations and concealers also means one more thing — spot on skin matches. The more expensive ranges not only have better formulas but also a more extensive range of shades. For instance, Nars Sheer Foundation ($32.90, Amazon) not only has an innovative formula that brightens and clarifies your skin tone, but you have 11 shades to choose from. Another great option is Clinique’s 2-in-1 Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer ($29, Nordstrom) This fab two-in-one has multiple skin benefits and an impressive 21 shades to choose from.

3. Try cheaper brands.

Don’t be afraid to try cheaper brands. You may love MAC and Nars eye shadows, but these can set you back as much as $30. By comparison, L’Oreal and Maybelline shadows are usually around the $10 mark and have a very good texture, pigmentation and staying power. A good example is Bourjois’ Smoky Stories Palette ($11.41, Amazon). The quad allows you to prime, shadow, define, and highlight the eyes with four shades that are incredibly velvety and soft, with a quality that goes beyond its price tag. Bourjois’s single eyeshadows are also cult favorites as they have an ultra-soft, silky, light and easy-to-blend texture.

4. Spend on perfume.

There’s a reason why spending on perfume is worth it. For starters, your perfume will last longer and, most importantly, the more expensive perfumes have more subtle multi-layered notes. This means you won’t end up just smelling sweet or fruity or woody but will get a more dynamic scent that’s very personal. That said, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a top-end perfume. The best way to bag a designer scent at a cheaper price is to grab a discount from sites.

5. Shop smartly for nail polishes.

Shopping smartly for nail polishes doesn’t always mean going for the cheapest polish. For a polish to be a smart buy, it should hit three criteria: be the right shade, have staying power, and go on smoothly. For this reason, mid-range polishes beat $1 polishes hands down. One of my favorites is the Maybelline Color Show range ($7.35, Amazon). There are 50 shades to see you through any occasion from current fashion favorite Urban Turquoise to summer-ready Urban Coral.

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