Multiple Blue Rings

24 Tips to Save Money on Cosmetics, Makeup & Toiletries

1. Use What You Already Have

Many of us abandon our makeup or toiletries before we even finish using them because we decide we don’t like something about them.  For example, you might throw away toothpaste that tastes just a little too much like baking soda. You may also have toiletries in the cabinets or the linen closet that you forgot about buying.

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2. Downgrade to Less Expensive Brands

This may seem obvious, but many people think they must buy salon-quality shampoo or department store makeup.  If you have always used pricey name brand products, you may not realize that many good, inexpensive brands exist. Challenge yourself to downgrade one product, to see if the cheaper product is an acceptable substitute.

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3. Buy in Bulk or Family Size

Typically, buying in bulk or buying the largest size available saves you some money. If you do this for all your toiletries, you can see how the savings quickly accumulate. Make sure to check the price per unit when purchasing the largest size available. Sometimes stores purposely charge more for the largest sizes, knowing that shoppers 

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3. Buy in Bulk or Family Size

automatically think they can get the best deal on the family size.

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4. Combine Coupons with Sales

I save money on makeup and toiletries by finding coupons for items during sales. In fact, I don’t use many items, like toothpaste, unless I can get them for free. When you see a great bargain by combining discount grocery coupons with sales, stock up so that you have enough for several months until the next opportunity. Sign up 

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4. Combine Coupons with Sales

for email updates for your favorite brands to receive updates about sales, and scour weekly store circulars online to find out when your favorite products go on sale.

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5. Collect Samples

I always have a stockpile of samples sitting under my counter. I make sure to bring home the toiletries from hotels, get free product samples whenever I go to festivals or other public events with vendors, and ask for samples from makeup counters.  Even drugstore makeup counters have samples available upon request. You can stockpile free 

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5. Collect Samples

makeup and toiletries by collecting samples and you can also try products before buying.

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6. Use Less

Have you ever seen an advertisement for toothpaste where the glob of toothpaste completely covers the toothbrush?  Advertisers use this image on purpose. The more toothpaste you use each time you brush, the more you have to buy. You can get your teeth just as clean by using a quarter of what the manufacturers recommend.

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6. Use Less

In addition, you don’t have to lather, rinse, and repeat your shampoo in order to get your hair clean. Try to use less toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, and even toilet paper.

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7. One Bottle for the Entire Household

It seems that every person in the family has their own favorite brand or product. If you have a household with five people, and everyone uses a different brand of shampoo, you have to buy five different shampoos.  You then have to make room to store them and take the chance that family members won’t use every bottle. Try to coordinate 

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7. One Bottle for the Entire Household

with your family members on a preferred brand, or take turns picking the product.

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8. Make Your Own

You can save money by making your own toiletries. Simple recipes have inexpensive ingredients and you can find the ingredients at most grocery stores and drug stores.  I make my own laundry detergent, and I have also made my own shampoo.

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9. Use Natural Alternatives

If you have ever had to buy an ultra-powered dandruff shampoo, you probably cringed at the price.  Instead of buying dandruff shampoo, I use malt vinegar or apple cider vinegar as a rinse after shampooing my hair. This cleared up my dandruff and left only a hint of vinegar smell. You can also try using baking soda 

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9. Use Natural Alternatives

instead of shampoo and toothpaste.

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10. Be Flexible

If you want to get the absolute best deal possible, you need to be flexible about what products you buy.  For example, my husband and I prefer to use bar soap, but whenever I am able to get body wash shower gel for free, we use that instead.

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11. Shop in Unconventional Locations

Although I prefer to buy makeup and toiletries at drugstores, you can also find great prices on makeup and toiletries by shopping in some unconventional locations.  Dollar stores have a wide selection of toiletries, and some of these stores also offer makeup. You can also search for cheap makeup and toiletries at 

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11. Shop in Unconventional Locations

festivals, craft fairs, flea markets, and online.

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12. Consider Why You Buy Makeup

Do you buy makeup to look pretty for a date or to make you look more professional at work? Do you buy makeup out of habit or buy it whenever you feel down, as a pick-me-up? Make sure that you have a valid reason for purchasing cosmetics. If you have a false impression that makeup will make you feel better, you must try to break this shopping habit.

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13. Try It Before You Buy It

Not too long ago, I ran out of blush so I went up to the store to buy more. I picked out a shade that I thought looked similar to the one I had purchased before.  Wrong! The bright shade made me look like a clown. Had I tried this item before I made the purchase, I would have saved myself $25. I also could have prevented another trip back to the store to 

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13. Try It Before You Buy It

buy more. Some stores and brands offer refunds if the product doesn’t meet expectations. Learn more about stores and brands’ policies, to see if you can return items you don’t like.

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14. Only Buy the Most Important Products

I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I do like to wear blush. It makes me look more vibrant and alive, and so I don’t mind spending a little more money on blush.  Similarly, I have a friend who only wears mascara, so all of her makeup budget goes toward mascara. Choose the important products and treat them as a splurge – 

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14. Only Buy the Most Important Products

or the only makeup you purchase at all.

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15. Buy Quality Makeup Brushes

Sometimes it really doesn’t matter what product you use as long as it is applied properly. Applying eye shadow with a Q-tip is not going to look as good as an eye shadow brush no matter what brand you choose. Good brushes can be very expensive so you need to make sure that you take proper care of them. If you spend more money on 

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15. Buy Quality Makeup Brushes

brushes, you’ll be able to get away with buying cheaper makeup. Makeup brushes, sponges, and applicators last longer when you wash them in soap and water every three to four months. Carefully rinse the brushes and applicators, squeezing away any excess water, then leave them to air-dry on a clean towel.

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16. Consider Expiration Dates

Different types of makeup products have different expiration dates. For instance, you should only keep eye makeup, such as mascara, for three months. On the other end of the spectrum, dry makeup, such as blush, lasts for two years. If you buy makeup, make sure you can use it before the expiration date. If you can’t use it all, you 

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16. Consider Expiration Dates

should consider buying cheaper brands.

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17. Shop During Bonus Time

Several of the major cosmetic companies occasionally offer bonus gifts when a customer makes a minimum purchase. For example, Estée Lauder may offer a free eye makeup remover, some brushes, and a lipstick to anyone who spends over $50. If you plan on purchasing over $50 from Estée Lauder, try to time your 

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17. Shop During Bonus Time

purchase so you can get the free gift. If you don’t need to spend $50, however, don’t spend your money just to get the gift.

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18. Ask for a Gift

Consider asking for money toward makeup as a gift for your birthday or for Christmas or on other holidays. Some brands, like MAC, even offer gift cards for their stores.

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19. Go to a Beauty School

If you want to wear makeup to a special event, but you don’t want to have to purchase it, go to a beauty school and let one of the students do your makeup.  This works well for students going to prom or for a bride’s wedding makeup. This benefits both parties because you receive a free or 

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19. Go to a Beauty School

inexpensive makeover, and the beauty student gets some practice.

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20. Fix Broken Makeup

If you break an eye shadow kit or crack the lid of a compact, you don’t have to throw the product away.  Instead, scrape the remains of the product into a tiny jar or box with a lid, and continue to reuse the product.

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21. Buy Makeup That Does Double Duty

Buy products that you can use for more than one purpose. For example, you can use some gel blushes as lipstick. You can use some powder eye shadow kits for blush. Indian Earth makeup can replace blush, bronzer, eyeliner, eye shadow, lip liner, lipstick, and nail polish. Since makeup has expiration dates, finding products you can use

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21. Buy Makeup That Does Double Duty

for more than one purpose can save money because you have less to throw away.

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22. Shop Duty-Free Stores

If you travel internationally, stop in at the duty-free stores to find deals on your favorite department store brands.  Duty-free stores offer great deals on products you use every day, and they sometimes have special offers.

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23. Remember That Less Is More

Don’t overdo it when you apply makeup. You only need one coat of mascara and one coat of blush to last the entire day.  Using a damp makeup sponge to apply foundation cuts down on the amount of foundation you use. Don’t wear makeup every day; save your products for when you have special plans, instead. When 

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23. Remember That Less Is More

you use less makeup, you save money because your makeup lasts a lot longer.

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24. Use Employee Discounts

If you need a larger discount on makeup, consider taking a part-time job working as a makeup consultant or working for a store that sells makeup.  In addition to coupons and sales, you receive an employee discount, which drastically reduces the cost of your products.

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