Best Discount Beauty Products: The Dos and Don’ts of Shopping

The cosmetic industry overwhelms us with choices. We spend billions of dollars every year on lipstick, foundation, nail polish and eye shadow. We then discover that we ran out of pressed powder, mascara, eyeliner and brushes. Out of all the brands, stores and colors, how should we know what to buy? These Dos and Don’ts should streamline your cluttered make-up case and beauty budget.

DO invest in a quality foundation. It’s the base of your make-up and is worn all day, every day. Mineral powder not only works better but is also better for your skin. It doesn’t become thick with time or feel heavy. And if you forget to wash your face you won’t break out in the morning. One tub of mineral powder should last about eight months. BareMinerals is a great brand!

DON’T think department stores aren’t good enough. Brands like Almay, Maybelline and CoverGirl offer quality products for a fraction of what you’d find at other stores. Take advantage of their personalized eye shadows and cheaper eye liner. The average eye shadow container is exhausted after about two months of consistent use. An eight dollar eye shadow at the department store is a much better bargain than a twenty dollar Clinique purchase.

DO spend more on make-up brushes. You may be reluctant to drop a twenty-dollar bill on a Kabuki brush, but I’ve found that I go through four five-dollar brushes in less time than a higher-quality make-up brush. The higher quality brushes also stay together better after washing.

DON’T spend a lot on lipstick. This tip can be ignored if you’re one of the lucky ones that found your shade. But I think the majority of us buy tube after tube of lipstick only to find that each one looks terrible. And the average lipstick is about fifteen dollars. The solution? Take the time to stop at your favorite make-up counter for a free color test with a professional make-up artist.

DO buy a higher-end deodorant. I found out you shouldn’t have to apply your deodorant twice a day. It should be strong enough to last the whole day. I don’t believe a ten-dollar deodorant would do a better job than a five-dollar one, but I do believe a five dollar one would do better job than one that costs a dollar.

DON’T buy tons of nail polish. The average nail polish is about five dollars and the range of colors seem to be infinite. It’s quite easy to become gravitated towards that section of the store and through a few in your basket. But be selective and make sure that you really love the color because a bottle of nail polish takes a long time to use up. Stay away from fads that will be gone the next season so you can get the most use out of your colors as possible. Red, pink and nude colors are classic.

DO find a good chapstick. You know what I mean: the cakey, bad tasting chapstick that was cheap so you threw it on the conveyor belt at the register. Your lips have the right to be moisturized at all times. Chapstick is a great base for your lipstick. I don’t like spending around four dollars for a tube of chapstick, but Burt’s Bees is more than sufficient to cure dry lips and lasts for months.

The cosmetic industry wants you to empty your wallet every time you set foot in a store, but there are very few products that are worth your every penny. By sorting through the overwhelming varieties you should find that it’s possible to take care of yourself, feel beautiful and be smart all at the same time.

What are some tips you have when it comes to shopping for beauty products? Leave a comment below!