Expert Money-Saving Beauty Tips

Double the Pleasure, Half the Cost

To further lighten your purse (but not wallet) load, consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch suggests going for multitasking beauty products. Purchase cheek stains that are lip glosses, foundations with SPF and moisturizing benefits, and wands with mascara on one side and eyeliner on the other. "Plus, you can pack light when traveling!" she adds.

1 / 10

Become a Model

Image Source: Aveda

Don't let expensive upkeep fees (especially when it comes to regular blowouts and color touch-ups) keep you from reaching your full hair potential. Instead, look into salon programs that offer discounted services to those willing to give students experience. At the Aveda Institute, customers can expect to pay about half of what they would at an Aveda salon, if not less.

"When students are in their first phases, they often need models to practice with, and those services are generally free of charge. The students graduate to the clinic floor after significant dedicated theory and practice hours. They are also supervised by a licensed educator throughout their service," says Aveda Executive Director of Institute Development Suzanne Bettendorf.

2 / 10

Play Around

Image Source: Sonia Kashuk

Want to get the most of your makeup? Makeup artist and founder of Sonia Kashuk Beauty Sonia Kashuk suggests playing with intensity. "You can get so many hues out of one tube of lipstick just by using a lip brush to build color and combining with a lip pencil to adjust tone. Vary from a soft, sheer stain to a full-power pout. The possibilities are endless."

3 / 10

Service Scout

Image Source: Metamorphosis Day Spa/Gilt City

The introduction of limited-time deal sites like Lifebooker proved a real game-changer in the beauty industry, allowing shoppers more leverage and an easy platform for comparing prices. In addition to listing services, LivingSocial, Groupon, and (Bliss Spa regular) Gilt City offer up discounted vouchers and products, often upward of 50 percent off.

4 / 10

Clip and Code

Image Source: Bliss

From the local convenience store to high-end boutiques, coupons can be a great resource for cutting costs. "Check sites like Coupon Sherpa, which aggregate beauty coupons where you can find deals for Bliss, Avon, Clarins, Beauty.com, and Sephora," says Woroch. "You can also download their app for mobile coupons to save in store. What's more, you can double your discount by using discount gift cards to the stores you plan to shop at from sites like Gift Card Granny to save an additional 10 to 25 percent off.”

5 / 10

Sign (or Search) Your Way Free

Image Source: Sephora

If you have (or are on the hunt for) a go-to beauty destination, More With Less Today founder Lori Felix suggests signing up for loyalty programs. "If you are a member of Shop Your Way with Sears and Kmart, you will often get free Surprise Points sent to your account. This amount can range from $5 to over $20 and usually expires within a few days. Use the points to order your favorite makeup online from Kmart.com. A new Shop Your Way account also comes with three months of free shipping and the option to have a free personal shopper who can help you locate makeup products."

In addition to racking up points, Sephora Beauty Insiders receive birthday gifts and regular samples with purchases and can sign up to attend free beauty classes inside Sephora stores. "Learn everything from customizing a skin care routine to creating the perfect smoky eye. Classes are held on Sunday at more than 60 stores in the country. Check with your local stores for schedules and times," advises Felix. Another stellar option: Origins offers free minifacials at its shops.

Bonus Tip: Don't shop at one store frequently enough to make insider programs worth your while? Felix suggests checking in on sites like FreeBeautyEvents.com. Just plug in your zip code, and they track in-store beauty events in your location, often with giveaways, demos, and swag!"

6 / 10

Buy in Bulk

Image Source: Schick

If you share a shower with family or roommates, look for economy sizes or multipacks of your favorite products. Buying in bulk will save you money and time on return trips. Many brands also offer bonus-style packaging with an extra trial and sometimes full-size portions of the same or new items.

When planning your shopping trip, try to be realistic about how quickly you can get through everything. Woroch cautions, "Many beauty products have expiration dates, so the less you buy, the less you'll waste if you don't use them before they expire."

7 / 10

Shop Around

Image Source: Bare Escentuals/QVC

One of the many things that's great about your relationship with beauty is that it doesn't have to be exclusive. "I never shop at just one retailer. If it's a product that is carried multiple places, I price-compare to see who has the best deals on the product at that time!" says consumer and savings expert and BoardwalkSavers.com contributor Candice Cerro Aragon.

She also advises against limiting yourself to well-known beauty retailers. "Even QVC and HSN will sell really great beauty products at a special price. On top of that, they regularly offer additional discounts with promotional codes and sometimes even have a limited-edition product."

8 / 10

Get "Duped"

Image Source: Target

Fall hard for a high-end item and now struggling to support your designer beauty habit? Felix says to search the web for 'makeup dupes,' and you will find reviews of popular expensive makeup brands alongside the cheaper versions.

You can stretch your wallet even further by looking for generic versions of your favorite drugstore brands, which are typically displayed right next (and bare a strong resemblance) to them for increased visibility. You'll find many products are comparable to your everyday staples, if not even better. For example, we love these Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes (pictured) from Target's extensive Up & Up line.

And don't be so quick to knock affordable originals. "I love Bonne Bell Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker," says Aragon. "It never costs more than $2, and it keeps my lips moisturized but also has a great tint. There are other great finds at drugstores too, such as makeup brushes and lip colors."

9 / 10

Save Your Empties

Image Source: Lush Fresh Cosmetics

Tend to stick to one or a few brands when racking up products? Check to see if they reward recycling with complimentary products.

Through MAC's Back to MAC program, you can score a free lipstick of your choice as a thank you for returning six MAC primary packaging containers either in store or through the mail (just visit the website to fill out a quick form before sending).

Similarly, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics offers customers a free Fresh Face Mask in exchange for five empty, clean Lush pots, and Kiehl's awards shoppers a complimentary travel collection product for every 10 full-size product empties returned. (Both offers are in stores only.) Happy saving!

10 / 10