9 Awesome Ways to Save Money on Beauty Products

Tip #1. Sale Away

The frustration of treating yourself to a new product only to see it go on sale two weeks later; we've all been there. Get to know when your favourite shops have their sales to never miss out on a bargain. Most shops will start a sale the day after Christmas and will continue throughout January. Keep an eye out for the special offers on Dis-Chem's beauty fairs (the next one is mid-February) and their regular value for money two plus one discount deals. Plus, their in-store beauty bins are always full of discontinued stock i.e. perfectly good products from last season. Also, hunt down when and where many cosmetic brands have their factory sales and/or discontinued stock shops.
 

Tip #2. Copy Cat

Don't be lured into spending way too much on a product because you're blinded by the fancy designer label. Sure, most of the time high-end products will have more luxurious consistencies or fancier ingredients, but when it comes to colour more often than not you can find a cheaper alternative that looks just as good. Check out @dupethat on Instagram as well as Temptalia’s amazing 'dupe list' where you can type in your favourite designer products and be shown a list of products that are a (near) perfect match! For example, if MAC's most coveted shade Ruby Woo is too pricey for you, you could try the near-identical Maybelline's Very Cherry. @dupethat
 
Related: The Latest (and Greatest) Beauty Buzz Terms You Need to Know
 

Tip #3. Opt In

Usually we just delete the newsletters that mysteriously pop in our Inbox without reading them, but you could be throwing away hundreds of discounts and deals. Sign up for reputable newsletters and read them thoroughly for any signs of discount codes, vouchers and special deals (don't forget we also offer lots of free giveaways and vouchers - sign up here). We love Hyperli and DealZone for super cheap massages, spa days and more, and RubyBox, where you fill in your beauty profile and receive free (yes, free!) personalised samples to test at home, plus leave and read detailed reviews so you can make more informed choices when doing your beauty shop.
 

Tip #4. Scent Saver

Did you know that most of the reason why fragrances cost so much is the packaging and the brand name attached to it? The truth is you don't need your signature scent to come in a bottle shaped like a flower; you just need the floral scent. Fragrance Boutique takes the fuss out of fragrance bottles, bringing all your favourite smells in a simple spray, saving you literally hundreds of rands. DKNY's Be Delicious can cost R1290 for 100ml but you can get it for R390 at Fragrance Boutique (without the apple-shaped bottle of course).
 

Tip #5. Free Face

All beauty counters, like MAC, The Body Shop and at shops like Dis-Chem, offer some kind of in-store make up application service; you just have to ask. Make an appointment the next time you have a big event; most stores will offer to do your make up for free as long as you buy something, which, let's be honest, you were going to do anyway. Feeling super cheap? No one will stop you from testing out all the in-store testers, you can do your whole face this way, we won't tell! Just steer clear from using tester mascara (you don't want a sty before your big night out) and wipe any other products you use with a tissue first.
 

Tip #6. Sample Sized

You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive, and why should you treat a new face cream any differently, I mean, this is your skin we're talking about! Ask for samples of the products you'd like to try at your favourite brand’s beauty counter to take home and try out for yourself. You can even get free samples at certain branded on-line sites like Estee Lauder.
 

Tip #7. Loyal is Lekker

Sure, you've got your SmartShopper/Woolworths card but did you know your favourite beauty store probably also has a rewards/loyalty card? You can get money back, exclusive discounts, hear about sales first, earn eBucks and more. Our top picks are the Dis-Chem Loyalty Benefit Programme, Edgars ThankU card, Clicks ClubCard, Carlton Hair Loyalty App and The Body Shop's Love Your Body Rewards Programme. From a slightly different angle (where you can also become part of a recycling effort), MAC offers a free lipstick in exchange for 6 empty (MAC) lipstick tubes to their loyal customers.
 

Tip #8. Buy Off-Brand

Know when to buy branded items and when you could get away with something much cheaper i.e. face cream is worth the extra buck, but no one needs fancy brand name cuticle sticks. You can save oodles of cash by buy buying your basics, like cotton wool, ear buds and body cream, from the generic brand selection at Dis-Chem or from your local discount store. There are also low cost multi-purpose natural substitutes like coconut oil (Lifestyle Coconut Oil is organic and odourless) which can be used as a face & body moisturiser, hair mask, shaving cream, cuticle remover, heel balm - and much more.
 

Tip #9. Do It Yourself

The ultimate way to save money is to not spend it at all. There are so many DIY recipes online for face masks, lip balms and even make up, all using ingredients you have in your house. Did you know you could make your own lip gloss from beetroot, eye makeup remover from a mixture of natural oils, or bronzer from cinnamon and cocoa? Check out Make Up Tutorials list for more Do It Yourself goodies.
 
Related: How to Chill Out with a Blissful at Home Spa Day 

Have you ever been faced with a shattered eyeshadow or blush, or a lipstick which has snapped in half? And thought - oh no, what a waste of money? It's heart-breaking when you've just spent a bundle on a good product only to find it rendered practically useless. The good news is that these little mishaps can be quickly fixed - see the simple and brilliant tricks below. And the big bonus? You can now use all the money you just saved on replacing them for your next beauty treat...

 

 

View Video. How To: Fix A Broken Lipstick