If you’re like most college students, you’re on a budget. And if you’re like me, you’re a beauty O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D college student on a budget. And when I say obsessed, I mean 10-different-foundations obsessed. Because of my beauty obsession, I’ve had to watch my spending on makeup and skincare more closely since moving away from home, but that doesn’t mean I’ve had to cut buying makeup out of my life. I’ve managed to put together a list of my top five beauty saving hacks below!
Tip #1: Buy lipstick and mascara from the drugstore
If the drugstore does anything well, it’s mascara and lipstick. The quality will be just as good, if you find the right brand, and the colors are often exact dupes. The Cover Girl Super Sizer mascara is an amazing mascara that will only cost you $7.49, and the Wet N’ Wild matte lipsticks are some of the most pigmented at the drugstore. While there are really great foundations, bronzers and eyeshadows at the drugstore as well, mascara and lipstick are almost always hits.
Tip #2: Buy from Birchbox
A lot of people know of Birchbox as the little box that comes in the mail every month, but they also have an amazing online shop stocked full of products that you won’t see at Sephora. They also have an amazing reward system. Every $10 that you spend in the birchbox store, you get a dollar to use toward your next purchase! You can’t beat that!
Tip #3: Use all the reward systems
You’re spending money anyway! Might as well get something for it. Never miss out on a reward system! Sephora, CVS, Ulta and Walgreens all have great reward systems that can save you some money on your next makeup purchase!
Tip #4: Make your own masks
My personal favorite is honey mixed with olive oil, for when my skin is feeling really parched, or lemon mixed with sweet almond oil to brighten! You don’t have to spend a ton of money at Sephora or Ulta to get a great face mask!
Tip #5: Always ask for samples
Even if they don’t advertise it, any beauty store will give you free samples of pretty much anything. Samples of eye creme and face/eye primer last the longest, so shoot for those!