4 Tips for Choosing Beauty Products That Won’t Break the Bank

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Love beauty products? Read on for tips to save money on the ones you buy. 

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could just roll out of bed each morning looking our best? But alas, many of us inevitably wake up with those dreaded dark circles under our eyes. And sometimes, despite eating well, our skin just doesn’t like to cooperate.

That’s where beauty products come in. American women spend an average of $115 on makeup and beauty treatments per month, according to Booksy. And while that’s perhaps not such a shocking amount, it’s also not exactly small.

The good news, though, is that there are steps you can take to save money on beauty products and supplies. Here are some tips worth employing.

1. Read product reviews before making a purchase

Those expensive products you see advertised on TV and in magazines? They’re not necessarily as good as you’d think they are, despite their hefty price tag.

Before you spend money on beauty products, take the time to see what the people who use them have to say. You may find that a so-called miracle product with a $49 price tag doesn’t work any better than the drugstore version for $7.

2. Talk to your dermatologist about products within your budget

No one knows skin better than dermatologists. If you have a good relationship with yours, talk to them about the products you’re using and ask if they can recommend more budget-friendly alternatives. If you’re looking for a product that can smooth wrinkles or address issues with acne breakouts, your dermatologist might be a great source of information.

Also, you never know what free samples your dermatologist might have. Snagging those is another good way to lower your credit card tab.

3. Ask friends to sample their products before you commit

You might think there’s a $39 foundation that’s a much better buy than the $19 bottle you use now. But wouldn’t it be a shame to invest that $39 only to wind up unhappy with the product? And unfortunately, it’s usually hard to return makeup, for obvious reasons.

Before you spend money on new beauty products, ask around to see if any friends of yours have them on hand. Trying out products once before buying could spare you some purchases that aren’t apt to work out.

4. See if your go-to products are available in bulk

Some beauty and skincare products you use regularly may be available in bulk or larger quantities. It pays to see if your local Costco warehouse carries any of the items you use, or if you can snag a discount by purchasing a larger size on Amazon.

To be clear, though, this strategy should really only be used for products you use daily. Beauty products tend to have a limited shelf life, so you don’t want to buy a given item in bulk if it’s only something you use for a night out. But if there’s a skin cleanser you use daily, that’s the sort of product you may want to seek out in a larger size or supply.

Maintaining your beauty routine can get expensive. But thankfully, making the right moves could result in a nice amount of savings.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Maurie Backman has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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