13 Makeup Tricks To Save Money

Makeup is a girl's best friend, but her wallet's worst enemy. If you feel that your beauty habits are breaking the bank check out these tricks to save your hard earned cash.

Revive Dried Out Mascara

This is possibly the worst thing to ever happen. You go to apply your favorite trusty mascara, but when you open it you realize it’s clumpy and dried up. Before you run to the drug store to drop $10 on another tube try this simple trick to breathe new life into the tube. Place the tube in a cup of hot water. The heat will melt the dried up mascara and it will be good as new.

Recycle

Makeup products come in little containers that are just too cute to throw away when you’ve used the entire product. Did you know you can bring empty MAC and Lush containers back to the store to get free products! Yes, you read that right! You’re saving the environment and your wallet with one simple action!

DIY Brush Cleaner

It is so important to clean your makeup brushes weekly so you get rid of all the germs and oils that build up in the bristles. But instead of spending some major cash on brand name brush cleaners, make your own with only two ingredients. Mix gentle antibacterial soap, like Dawn, with organic coconut oil for a super cheap but effective brush cleaner.

Avoid Eye Level

I’m going to let you in on a little marketing secret. Cosmetic stores like Sephora and Ulta put their most expensive products at eye level since those are the first products you see! How could they be so manipulative? So instead of grabbing that lip-gloss right in front of you, look on the lower shelves for less expensive but still good quality alternatives.

Recycle Old Mascara Wands

Even though each mascara brand claims to have a special formula, every mascara is pretty much made up of the same ingredients. The thing you are really paying for is the specially designed brush. If you run out of your favorite $35 mascara save the brush. Use the same brush with a different, cheaper mascara brand. It won’t be long until you notice that your lashes look exactly the same as with the brand that cost an arm and a leg.

Shop Online

Next time you’re at you favorite cosmetic store, take pictures of all the items you want then leave the store without buying anything. I know, it’s going to take all the will power you have. Then buy all the products online at the store’s website. Stores like Sephora, Ulta, and ELF include free samples with online purchases. It’s a great way to get free makeup as well as try out some new products.

Beauty Blogger Sales

Bloggers usually include promotional codes and sale notices on their websites. Sign up to receive a weekly email from your favorite beauty blogs. These email newsletters usually contain info or a heads up about beauty sales. It’s the perfect way to gain access to sales you otherwise wouldn’t have even known about.

Sample First

Perfume can definitely be a bank breaker. Before you spend your entire paycheck on a big bottle, ask for a sample or travel size. Test out the fragrance for a week so you really make sure you like how it smells and how long is lasts. Sometimes you think you have fallen in love with a fragrance in the store, but a week later you realize it’s not really for you.

Fake Falsies

If you’re totally in love with false lashes and can’t go a day without them, you might not realize how much you are spending. Before you buy a weeks supply of falsies, try this trick to fake the falsie look. Using a Q-tip coat your lashes with baby powder. Then apply mascara and repeat. The baby powder clings to the lashes making them appear longer and thicker.

Penny Pincher Lip Plumper

If you’re dying for Angelina Jolie’s plump pout, you’re not alone. But, please do not spend your life savings on expensive products and risky procedures. You can make your own lip plumper with just two ingredients. Put a few drops of natural peppermint oil in your favorite lip gloss and apply. You will notice a difference.

Half It

Do you always find yourself running to the store to pick up more makeup sponges or cotton rounds? To make them last longer you can cut them in half, which means fewer trips to the store and into your wallet. Now you magically have twice as many for the same price. And half of the sponge/cotton round lasts as long as the whole one.

Don’t Pump Mascara

When you’re putting on your mascara, do you pump the wand in the tube to make sure it is covered with mascara? Don’t! That lets in a lot of air, which makes the liquid dry out way faster. Instead, twirl the wand inside the tube. Your mascara will last twice as long now.

Discount Stores

Check out stores like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack for high quality products at a much nicer price. The shades might be out of season, but you can just save them for later. Discount stores are also a great place to get fragrances that are last season, but hello? They still smell great.