6 Ways to Save on Beauty Products

AlamyWebsites can help direct you to beauty-related freebies. Inner beauty matters most in my book, but trying to look your best outwardly can be important, too. Striving for beauty on the outside by using beauty products can help boost your confidence and show others that you take good care of yourself. On average, Americans spend more than $400 a year on personal care products. Although cosmetics and beauty products can add up to a pretty penny, beauty doesn't need to come with a hefty price tag. Here are some tips to manage beauty on a budget. 1. Free Samples Marketers love giving out free samples so consumers have the chance to try new products and fall in love with their products. The hope is that if you try a little, you'll like it enough to buy the full-size product at its full retail price. For frugal shoppers, free samples can be a tool that allows us the chance to stretch our dollars. By taking advantage of a variety of free beauty samples from many manufacturers, over time we can end up with enough free sample products to replace a few full-size ones. One woman who has perfected the search for freebies is Heather Hernandez, founder of Freebies4Mom.com. She started her site, which curates the best free samples available online, back in 2007. By signing up for her free e-mail newsletter you can be notified when new free samples are available and where to get them. Besides visiting Freebies4Mom.com, Heather shares two of her favorite sources for online freebies: SampleSource and PinchMe. SampleSource.com is a relatively new site that allows users to get free brand name samples. She recently received a free shampoo and new toothbrush from their site, which is free to join. PinchMe.com allows consumers to try free products in exchange for providing feedback on a short survey. On her last visit to the site, she got to select a free nail polish in the color of her choice. PinchMe has become very popular, so she recommends that you "pay attention to the date and time of their next free sample release because they run out fast." 2. Trade With all those free samples, you are bound to have a cosmetic or beauty care product that you don't want or need, or perhaps you use it and don't like it. Instead of letting them go to waste, find someone to trade that product with. You may find the most success by trading online on sites like eDivv.com. Founder Casey Casterline shared with me her reason for starting her site: "As women, we obtain many beauty products through many outlets including beauty subscription boxes, gifts with purchase and your everyday impulse purchases. Unfortunately, many of these products end up in a drawer and unused, wasting money. EDivv.com was created to help women gain value for the items that they weren't going to use in exchange for products they want by providing an easy to use, fun, and engaging online community for trading. We believe beauty should never go to waste." 3. Discount Beauty Stores and Websites There are a variety of beauty stores such as Ulta (ULTA) and Sally (SBH) that offer a wide range of beauty products at discount. Also, websites such as Drugstore.com and EyesLipsFace.com are known for offering great deals on makeup. 4. Drugstores Drugstores such as CVS (CVS), Rite Aid (RAD) and Walgreens (WAG) can be a great place to purchase beauty products. You'll see frequent sales and often have the chance to earn back money through each drugstore's reward program, when you purchase a certain amount of a particular brand. Plus you can combine these deals with manufacturer and store coupons to get even more bang for your buck. Some drugstores also offer a money-back guarantee on cosmetics. For example, CVS allows you to return opened and used makeup and beauty products if you're unsatisfied with it. This is perfect for those that are disappointed with a new product purchase or who accidentally purchased the wrong shade or product. Refunds need to occur within 60 days of purchase at CVS, and it is best to bring your original receipt. 5. Dollar Stores Don't dismiss the dollar store for beauty products. This can be a great place to buy items such as` cotton balls, Q-tips, powder pads, nail files, nail polish and polish remover. Check out the selection at your store and test a few products to see which are comparable to your regular name brand purchases. Remember it's only costing you a dollar, so it's okay to be a little adventurous. 6. Free Makeovers and Bonus Gift Bags A little pampering can go a long way and many cosmetic retailers will give you a free makeover or complimentary makeup application at their counter, so you can see the results of their products. Just be advised that they'll be trying to sell you on all the products they're using on you. Before you even walk over to the makeup counter, I recommend you set a product limit or price limit in advance. For example, limit yourself to just one or two key products that are the most important beauty staple. Keep note of other items you like, and save up your money to purchase those items at another time, or place those on your wish list for upcoming holidays. Department stores often have seasonal gift bag incentives. Although you typically can't control the exact shades or colors in your free makeup bag, you do get a wide variety of items which often include moisturizer, mascara, blush and lipstick. There are many ways to save on beauty products, but these six sweet tips are a great start to help you keep your beauty regime in check. .