Drugstore dupes are all well and good when you are at home with access to all of your favorite discount brands, but if consistency of function through the repeated purchase of your go-to products is important to you, embracing luxury cosmetic brands _ and their greater availability abroad _ can save you big bucks compared to international shipping costs for lower-priced counterparts.
Because I appreciate the simplicity of using a few, high-quality items, and the predictability of having access to those items no matter where I am in the world, I've made the conscious decision to switch over to high-end makeup exclusively. Here are some of my favorite ways to save money on these products, whether I'm at home or abroad.
Tips: As someone who was raised with the waste-not-want-not philosophy, I've always tried to apply the same logic to my makeup consumption. This is especially important to your bottom budget line when you throw down big bucks for the good stuff. One way I've found to consume less product is to apply with brushes instead of sponges, since they don't tend to absorb product. Less is wasted, providing more bang for your buck.
When I find myself in the same location for more than a day or two, I revert to storing my liquid product tubes vertically. This keeps the product all in one spot for use, rather than smeared all over the inside of the tube where I can't access it. Just before a repurchase, I've been known to cut open the tube to get the very last bits. Even if I only get two days of additional application, I still consider it a win since it is makeup that would have otherwise been thrown away.
Embracing products packaged in pump containers is another winning strategy to employ, and an easy way to maintain portion control. I've been using this particular approach for nearly a year with my glass tube of MAC Pro Longwear liquid concealer. Not only is its compact size extremely well suited to my lifestyle of full-time travel, but I also have roughly 20 percent of it still in the bottle. This certainly wouldn't be the case if I hadn't had complete control over the amount I dispense each time. Incidentally, this same brand also sells eye shadow refill inserts for 10 bucks less than the full compact equivalent, and has a packaging exchange program that allows customers to turn in empty makeup containers for free lipstick.
Freebies: Complimentary cosmetic items in general are a great way to increase the value of a luxury expenditure, and a common practice with many global brands. If you don't notice anything online about an upcoming gift-with-purchase offer, there's no reason to be shy about asking the representative behind the counter when you can expect to see the next one. Many include seven items or more along with a makeup bag for purchases over a certain amount. There's no use spending a hundred bucks to get $40 worth of free product gifts, but if you are planning on restocking your fragrance or throwing down for an expensive eye shadow palette anyway, why not do it when you can get some extra goodies at no additional charge?
If you find yourself overwhelmed with searching out the freebie deals for all of your favorite stores and brands, you might try exploring one of the curated websites that list these types of treasure troves. Makeupbonuses.com for example, allows internet visitors to view current gift-with-purchase offers by store as well as by cosmetic company. Brands such as Sephora, Clinique, Bobbi Brown and more make frequent appearances. Appropriate coupon codes are also provided with individual listings.
Tricks: Looking for bundles and sets offered by your favorite brands can often provide unexpected savings as well. For example, I recently noticed the Cat Eyes shadow palette from Too Faced sells for $36, while the Cat Eyes Purrrfection Set available for $32 contains the same palette along with a tube of primer and a matching makeup brush. Some of Benefit's brow kits offer similar savings compared to the cost of the individual products.
Duty-free shopping options offer additional discounts when restocking abroad by allowing travelers to avoid added local taxes. That said, knowing what's offered in your departure airport's shopping area can be key to timing your purchases correctly. I recently purchased replacement products in an expensive international city with a hefty local tax. Imagine my dismay when I saw all of those same products for sale tax-free near my departure gate a few weeks later.
Mailing-list memberships for various makeup retailers may not be effective while traveling, but can certainly keep your bottom line in check when leveraged effectively at home. Jumping on free sample opportunities, planning ahead for a major annual sale or obtaining high-value coupon codes redeemable for mail orders are all savings tricks you can implement with information delivered to your inbox.
