Makeup can be addicting. With many products, shades, and discounts popping in stores and online, it’s difficult not to splurge now and then.
Oftentimes, the budget doesn’t agree with beauty impulses. But one does not need to spend a lot when it comes to makeup with these tips.
You will be surprised by the number of options there are when you’re running on a low budget. For instance, buying a drugstore setting powder is an affordable alternative for you, and if you’re a person who has oily skin, you have to be very careful about what you’re applying to your face. Just make sure to find the proper guidance to buy a product that has excellent quality and suits your type of skin.
- Consider Drugstore Brands
A lot of people think pricey or luxury makeup brands are always better. That leads them to think inexpensive products that promise just as much don’t exist.
What defines good makeup doesn’t rely on its price point but its pigmentation and effect on the skin. As subjective as that may be, there is always a drugstore version of items that equal the quality of most luxury brands. If you’re used to buying from upscale stores, try “downgrading” one product at a time to test if a cheaper product is an acceptable alternative. Your wallet may even be thankful for it.
- Collect Samples
Don’t be afraid to ask for samples from makeup counters before committing to buying the actual full-size products. Stocking up on free makeup samples allows you to test which product works and which to spend or splurge on.
- Stretch Your Products
Don’t abandon makeup or toiletries just because of the urge to buy a new one. Find usable and reusable makeup products at home, and use them entirely before buying replacements or more products.
Take fake eyelashes as an example, most of them are made of plastic and are only used once. However, these days a lot of people are more drawn to use reusable eyelash extensions, they can be worn and washed multiple times, and there are more customized options with your preferred shapes and length. A number of brands, such as Lilac and Sweed lashes classic collection, offer a wide variety of reusable DIY natural eyelashes.
Do this with your future purchases too. Do make sure to stretch your use of existing products, like mixing the remaining contents of the foundation with sunscreen. It’ll be like creating a BB cream in the process without even harming the skin (and your wallet).
- Buy in Bulk or Large Quantities
Buying in bulk or the largest size saves time and money. Do this for products you can’t live without and will use at every possible opportunity. Buy in bulk when the price is right, and see the immediate differences in the accumulated savings as compared to buying in small quantities.
- Sell Unused or Slightly Used Makeup
When receiving makeup that’s not even the right shade or if you change your mind about a product you’ve just bought, the best bet is to start selling these makeup products online. A lot of beauty stores don’t usually give refunds for makeup purchases, but there are many online sites to market to. Just make sure to be honest when it comes to the product description, and offer a reasonable price while you’re at it.
- Buy Multipurpose Makeup
In this fast-paced world, time is considered a luxury. Luckily, many beauty brands have made it possible to pull off stunning looks while using fewer products to make getting ready much easier. Cream products get a reputation for being gentle on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. Gel blushes can be used as lipstick, while eyeshadow kits may serve as highlighters, bronzers, and blush.
And with the expiration dates, having products that can be used for more than one purpose means having fewer things to throw away while saving time and money.
- Watch Beauty Reviews before Purchasing
Thanks to beauty bloggers and vloggers, honest reviews of makeup are now accessible to beauty enthusiasts everywhere—and at a diverse rate at that. Browse through YouTube for beauty reviews or numerous beauty blogs to find (or even interact with) someone you can relate your beauty concerns to. This’ll help you curate and make smarter choices when purchasing and using makeup.
- Host a Beauty Swap Party
The beauty community can be welcoming both for professionals and newbies—and beauty and skin care somehow make a good conversation starter. From time to time, it’s quite normal to make mistakes when buying makeup, so you may want to give a beauty swap party a try.
It’s like a clothing swap, but with makeup products. A small number of guests can bring their unused or slightly used items they wish to dispose of, and everyone goes home with a bag of makeup. Not only will it be able to build a community of beauty enthusiasts, but the minigathering will also be doing its part of caring for the environment.
- Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
In case you don’t know, there are beauty brands that reward discounts or products upon returning their used-up containers to their stores. So don’t immediately dump empty compacts and tubes in the trash. Some stores refill existing containers for a cheaper price.
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