How To Save Money On High End Beauty Products 10/16/2009

A few places to save money on beauty products. My first collage with Paint.net. Yay for smooshed logos, haha!

Beauty products can get pretty pricey, which is why I’m always looking for sales and discounts. Really, who isn’t? Here are some tips to save some money while still getting your beauty fix.

• Sign up for email newsletters from your fave brands. They constantly have special offers and discounts just for subscribers.
• Join the “frequent buyer” programs, e.g. Sally Beauty’s Card, Sephora’s Beauty Insider, and Ulta’s Rewards. Some benefits include discounts, exclusive products, getting new products first, and even free products. Most are free to join while some cost a small amount of money. For example, Sally’s costs $5 per year, but the savings are pretty big and will pay for itself in one or two visits, especially if you color your hair on your own or buy as much nail polish as I do, haha!
• Social networking is your friend. Become fans of your fave brands on Facebook and/or follow them on Twitter. Some offer specials just for their fans and followers.
• Sephora weekly specials and sales. Check these sections on Sephora.com for major savings on products, including tons of seasonal palettes and gift sets. Some specials are also in Sephora stores, so keep your eyes open the next time you stop by one.
• Check “vintage/last call/buh-byes” sections of your fave brands’ websites. These are the sections with products that are being discontinued, or just having the packaging changed.

Sephora and beauty counters are great for getting the latest products, but those new products have to go somewhere when they aren’t considered new anymore. That’s where CCO’s, discount retailers (and e-tailers), and sample sale sites come into the picture. Just because the products aren’t in the most recent collection doesn’t mean that they’re “too old” or expired. These retailers also guarantee that the products are authentic so you don’t have to worry about being ripped off. Here are a few stores where you can get high end beauty products at crazy low prices.

• Cosmetic Company Outlets (CCO’s) are retail stores that are found at premium outlet malls across the United States. They carry products by brands that are owned by Estee Lauder such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Origins, Prescriptives, and more. They sell discontinued products most of the time, but may have a few current ones mixed in there too. Products are usually marked down 30% or more! Here’s a list of locations so you can find a store near you.
• Discount stores like Ross, Marshalls, and TJMaxx usually have a section for beauty products. Shopping at these places is pretty hit or miss since different locations carry different products. Also, some locations I’ve seen are pretty messy, with products strewn all over the place, some of them even opened and used (eew!). So, make sure the products you pick up are clean and sealed to avoid contamination. I don’t want you getting sick, now, ya hear?
• Costco has a massive beauty and personal care section. You never know what you’ll find, so snoop around there the next time you go buy your 425-pack of toilet paper, haha! Check out some of the products I’ve found on my latest Costco runs.

Those are the physical stores that I know of as places to save on beauty products. Now, for the online retailers.

• BeautyTicket.com is a website that sells luxury beauty products at up to 85% off retail! Some brands they sell include Stila, YSL, Sue Devitt, Vincent Longo, Smashbox, Bliss, the list goes on. More products and brands are added frequently so be sure to sign up for their newsletter if you want to keep a close eye on new stuff that comes in, and get special discounts.
• BeautyCrunch.com is a similar site to Beauty Ticket, but with less variety (not to say that’s a bad thing ’cause it isn’t). Stila, DuWop, Too Faced, Pop Beauty, Senna and a few more brands are sold there.
• The Fairest is a sample sale site that focuses on beauty products (makeup, skin care, and hair care). They sell select products from various companies at deep discounts. Sales last no more than 3 days, so you gotta hurry before everything is sold out. You can sign up here and take advantage of the sales.
• The Skinny is also a sample sale site, but their main focus is luxury skin care. Perricone MD and Lisa Hoffman Beauty are a few upcoming brands that will go on sale. This site doesn’t launch ’till October 21st, but you can sign up now and be informed when the sales start.
• Head2Toe Beauty is the place to get nail polish and nail care supplies at dirt cheap prices. You can get big brands like OPI, China Glaze, Orly, CND, Poshe and tons more for almost half off! If you’re a polish junkie like me, this is the place to get your color fix for cheap. One downside, shipping can be pricey (but fast and reliable) so make your haul worth it.
• Hautelook is a sample sale site that focuses on fashion and accessories, but they usually have one or two beauty sales mixed in, as you can tell by all the times I share sales going on at this site. Here’s an invite to join and stay on top of what goes on sale.
• Gilt Groupe is another sample sale site that focuses on fashion, but may have a beauty sale once in a while. Here’s an invite to join and stay in the know about the sales.

Well, those all my tips and places that I know of to save big on high end beauty products. Got some tips of your own? Do tell! Oh, and you’re welcome.

Hope you’re having an awesome Friday night!