Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It may be a cliché, but it’s true. We all want to look our best. Whether we’re heading to the office or grabbing brunch with our friends, you want to look like the best version of you. Social media influencers have us thinking we need the latest £40 luxury foundation or a sold-out blusher. You don’t need to break the bank to jump on the latest trends or upgrade your makeup look. Whether you want to get the latest must-have items at a discount or find the best budget-friendly options, we have all the tips and tricks you need.
Find Discount Codes
If you’re eyeing a new lipstick or lash set, like the Lola Lashes Amethyst Kit, you want to stop before hitting ‘add to cart’. Almost every beauty brand has discount codes that you can use at checkout. A quick scroll through the brand’s homepage might show you that they have a discount code for first-time orders. Whether you’re ordering one item or an entire collection, you can save yourself a few pennies to put towards your next purchase.
You can use DealUK to check for discount codes before you start shopping online. We look around the internet to find the best discount codes to get your beauty products at the best price.
Research Parent Companies
Did you know that most of the budget-friendly brands you find in Boots are owned by the same companies behind the big-name brands? Makeup dupes make more sense when you realise they’re made by the same company. Do you know that 7 companies own almost every major beauty brand? Estee Lauder owns everything from Tom Ford Beauty to Origins. L’Oreal has one of the most varied portfolios, ranging from NYX Cosmetics to Yves Saint Laurent and Lancome.
If you love a product that is out of your budget, you may find another brand that makes a look-alike dupe from within the same parent company. Estee Lauder’s iconic Double Wear Foundation is one of the best-selling products in the industry. If you don’t fancy spending £34 on a foundation, you can pick up the L’Oreal True Match for £9.99 instead.
Look for Gift Sets + Travel Sizes
Gift sets are for more than just Christmas. They’re a must-have for anyone on a budget. Gift sets can be a great way to test-drive smaller sizes of products before investing in the full-size version. How often do you hit a pan on a product? You can treat yourself to a gift set like the Erborian My Perfect Beauty Bowl as an introduction to the brand. Skincare products are the perfect choice for picking up in a gift set, especially sheet and clay masks that you can incorporate into your self-care routine.
Most gift sets will tell you what the RRP is of the collective products inside. You can usually get a full-size product included in your kit, along with a few sample sizes for you to experiment with. Gift sets are offered all year round, with some brands offering them as a staple part of their collections. These gift sets can act as an entry-level product if you want to scale up to a mid-tier or luxury beauty brand.
If you don’t want to commit to a gift set, travel size versions are your best friend. Most brands offer a travel-size version of their best-selling products. You can check out the Benefit They’re Real! Magnet Mascara travel size for £13.50. Don’t forget to add your discount codes to save money off these budget-friendly options.
Invest in Staple Products
Sometimes, you have to spend money to save money. Investing in staples like a nail kit means you can save on the cost of a salon manicure. The price of the Mylee ‘The Full Works Complete Gel Polish Kit’ will set you back the cost of 3 or 4 manicures. If you’re someone who religiously has their nails done, this could save you hundreds of pounds a year. When you invest in essentials like an at-home gel manicure kit, you can use the money you’re saving to purchase other items on your makeup wish list.
Just like your nails, hair treatments can often set you back a pretty penny. Some of the most trending hair tools right now are at an affordable price point, like the Revlon One-Step Dryer and Volumiser. You can give yourself a bouncy blow-dry at home in one step.
Join Loyalty Programmes
If you’re someone who likes to shop at one store, loyalty points can quickly start to add up. The bonus of a loyalty programme is that you can still gather points while using a discount code. You’ll often get exclusive discount codes or coupons as part of your membership. Boots is one store that usually gives you a coupon for one of their in-house brands with your receipt.
It’s also worth looking out for their special points promotions, like £10 worth of points when you spend £50. When these loyalty rewards pop up, you can splurge on luxury beauty staples like the Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered Palette. If you like to treat yourself on a special occasion, you can gather up your points throughout the year and spend them on a gift for yourself on your birthday or Christmas. You could pick up a bottle of your favourite perfume or refresh your collection with a cult-favourite like YSL’s Black Opium.
We hope these five tips and tricks have shown you that you can look your best on a budget. Even if you’re someone who likes luxury beauty, you can get the must-have products at a cheaper price or experiment with a travel-size first. Don’t forget about loyalty programmes and take the time to research parent brands. One of our favourite tips is to invest in staple products for at-home treatments that let you save money and spend it elsewhere.
Want more secrets on how to live your best life on a budget? Check out our top tips and tricks here!
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DealUK – Helping you live for less with tips and UK deals.
