15 Ways to Save Money on Makeup, Skincare, and Haircare

Want to Save Money on Makeup? All us girls wanna look pretty, but makeup, skincare, and haircare can get mighty expensive!

That’s why we are helping you get all the makeup, skincare, haircare, and other beauty products at the very best price possible!

If you wish to fill your beauty drawer in your bathroom with fantastic products that do more and mean you spend less, then this list is for you!

Note: Cheaper products are not bad and you might be super surprised that some might be even better than the expensive ones.

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1. Look at Permanent Makeup

Yes, a radical idea, and one that might be controversial with many and certainly not cheap – but after the initial cost – you can get years out of beautifully done permanent makeup and wake up looking fantastic every morning.

About Permanent Makeup

Permanent Makeup or ‘Cosmetic Tattooing’ lasts from three to seven years, but does fade gradually during that time.  Cosmetic Tattooing can be done on the eyebrows (micro-blading), lips, eyelids (eyeliner) and you can even get fake freckles!  You really should shop around to get the most skilled artist you can afford and ensure you see loads of before and after photographs to see examples of their work – if you opt for ‘just the cheapest’,  you could end up being a part of these ‘permanent makeup fails‘….

The pain factor really depends on where you get the tattooing done (I’ve had the eyeliner done personally and it is quite sore during the process, eyebrows not so much) – but it depends on your pain threshold.

2. Use Less Foundation By Using a Primer

Using a primer means that you use less foundation and this saves you money, the primer also allows you to have a nice smooth surface ready for the foundation. It is a perfect product that will help you look amazing and also saves you money.  Plus using a primer can even mean you don’t need to wear any foundation – it will blur the impurities and will sop up any excess oil that can make you shiny – plus primer is a whole lot cheaper than foundation!

You can pick up fantastic primers for under $15!  We love this one from The Ordinary that is only $12!

3. Collect Makeup Samples

Many companies give you samples to test out. Collect as many as you can and use these to see what you like. This way you are not wasting money on items you might not like and when you finally know what you want to buy you can look for the best price. Sephora allows you to add 2 free samples to your order, MAC Cosmetics has 1 free sample available with purchase.

We also have a huge list of all the available Free Samples in Australia.

4. Use Discounts and Sales Events to Get Your Makeup Cheaper

Look at buying makeup in the sales, many great bargains can be sourced at the end of the financial year, post-Christmas Shopping, or the half-year clearance sales. Also, keep your eyes out for the end of stock clearances in your favorite shops, sometimes the end-of-run lines get put in bins as they have all been prices reduced

5. Ask for Makeup as a Gift

Is your birthday coming up?, Anniversary, Christmas or a just because of gift? If so, ask them for makeup and make sure to give whoever has asked a detailed breakdown of what you want and from where. Hubby and kids can create a beauty basket with some products you love and have been needing.

6. Only Purchase Makeup and Skincare Products That are Important to You

Making sure that you spend your money on only the products that you use all the time and that are your daily staple. Remember: Less is more and getting more of something is not always a good idea. Makeup does have an expiry date so a good deal might not be a good idea.

7. Buy Your Products in Larger sizes for products you use all the time

If you have a favorite item see if they stock it in a bigger size. This way you will not have to buy it as frequently and save money as well.

8. Check out the Sales Pages of Online Retailers

There are literally thousands of online makeup and beauty websites now – and they are having sales all the time – maybe they have your favorite brand at half the price!  It’s a great idea to have a look at these websites on a regular basis to see if you can get your brand for less.

Here are the sales pages of the biggest and best!

• Cosmetic Capital Clearance Sale
• RY: Recreate Yourself Clearance Sale

9. Buy Makeup from Discount Brands

Save money and get some quality products from discounted brands. Shopping at your local chemist and discount website is a cost saver rather than a department store. You can also download an app called Brandefy: Affordable Beauty, which compares affordable alternatives to well-known brands of makeup and skincare products.  As well as this, look at lots of the discount online stores that quite often have beauty sales.

We recommend the following best online shopping sites:

• Ozsale
• Kogan
• Crazy Sales
• Groupon (particularly great to get discount hair and beauty services!)

10. Use Your Student Discount

Check with the shop you wish to purchase from if they accept student discounts and how much they give you off your purchase. Many sites use another site, Student Beans, to verify that you are a student and let you know what discounts are available. One that is currently advertised is that Estée Lauder is offering students 10% off.

11. Buy at Duty-Free Stores

If you are planning on travelling, grabbing your cosmetics duty free is a great way to get cheaper makeup items. If you have been lusting after a certain product, do a simple search for duty-free shops in your local area to see what is available.

11. Buy/Exchange/Swap Makeup
You might have makeup you don’t like or need. Your friend might have some makeup you want, so you can either buy it. exchange or swap makeup between you and then everyone is happy and of course not forking out heaps of money to get new makeup products.

12. Find Dupes of Your Favourite Products

For every cult brand of makeup, there is a lower cost dupe available! Follow popular beauty blogs or Youtube Channels that tell you their favourite dupes!

13. $2 Shops Can Have Great Bargains
Make sure to shop in places that are out of the ordinary for you, and I’ll let you in on a secret, you will be pleasantly surprised. The bargain shops or otherwise known as the $2 shop has things you never thought they would stock and all for a cheaper price than you have been paying. Pop in and see if they can help you out with your makeup needs.  The one I frequent has a whole aisle devoted to makeup and beauty.

14. Beauty School MakeOver

Many beauty schools allow the public to come in and have their makeup done by their final year students. It is all supervised and looked after by the school’s teachers and the students need the practice. So you can get your makeup done for free and help out a student that is learning their craft. Perfect for a night out on the town. Call your local schools and TAFE to see if they have a day where you can help out a student and get a makeover too!

15. Don’t Buy Makeup impulsively!

Yes, this one is a hard one and one that might take a bit of work to master. Sometimes you really want something BADLY and convince yourself that it is essential. It is a good idea to think about your purchase, the cost, and if you actually need it before splurging.

16. Join a Rewards Program 

Check out the list of reward programs for the makeup savvy.

“I don’t think I could live without hair, makeup, and styling, let alone be the performer I am. I am a glamour girl through and through. I believe in the glamorous life and I live one.” Lady Gaga

Do you have a favourite money-saving tip to save on makeup?
Let us know and we will add it to our detailed list.