Beauty Deal Checklist

If you have been following this blog then you know that there are so many different avenues to score a deal or discount when shopping for makeup and skincare products. Nine out of ten beauty purchases I make are discounted either through a sale that I was anticipating or by being resourceful and exhausting what I call the Beauty Deal Checklist. Below is that very list which includes all the ways to potentially save on your next beauty purchase.

Is there an upcoming sale?

Most beauty brands have a pretty consistent annual sales schedule. Family & Friends Sales, Black Friday Sales, Boxing Days Sales, End of Season Sales, etc. typically fall in the same months every year. I have memorized the sales schedules for my favourite brands which has really paid off. I now plan my purchases accordingly and am able to save a lot of money. For example, I am starting to run low on one of my favourite eye creams by Bobbi Brown but I know if I wait a while longer then I can get it for 25% off during their Friends & Family Sale in April. The first thing I ask myself when I want to buy a product is “when is their next sale?” Click here to see the sales schedules for over 30 popular brands already summarized for you.

Is this my first purchase with the beauty brand online or ever?

I am sure we have all taken advantage of a first purchase promo code when shopping online for not just beauty products but almost any product. In this day and age, online shopping is more popular than ever and a lot of companies are investing in an e-commerce platform which comes with many benefits. They can reach a larger market, they are not bound by store hours, and it usually results in higher conversion rates. Potential buyers are more likely to make a purchase when they can place their order instantly rather than wait for a store to open.

Enticing potential buyers with a first purchase promo code helps companies increase conversion rates and secure the sale. If you are exploring buying a beauty brand online for the first time you should ALWAYS look and take advantage of this offer on the brand’s website. I have used dozens of these promo codes in the past and it has paid off. Click here for a list of some of the most tempting and generous first purchase promo codes in the beauty world.

Do any of my friends need to buy something from this beauty brand also?

A referral program is marketing tactic that aims to encourage existing customers to recommend a brand to their friends/family with the use of referral rewards. Research has shown that customers acquired through paid customer referral programs have a higher retention rate and higher initial sales than other customers. A lot of Beauty Companies have jumped on this opportunity and have created a “Refer a Friend” program which incentivizes both individuals once the person being referred makes their first purchase. The incentive could be a discount, reward points, or even a free gift. Whenever I need to make a cosmetic or skincare purchase I typically ask my friends if they need anything as well since we will both benefit from a discount. Click here for a list of Beauty Companies that have gotten it right with their referral programs and offer some great incentives.

Is this a product I buy often and do they have an auto-replenishment plan?

A lot of beauty brands are starting to offer auto-replenishment plans where a consumer can sign up to have an item automatically ship to their home based on when they typically run out of the product. Having shoppers subscribe to these programs is a major win for a company given that they have a guaranteed future sale as well as consumer loyalty. In return, these plans typically come with perks to incentivize consumers to sign up. These perks usually include a discount and free shipping. There are only a select number of brands and products that I would consider an auto replenishment plan for but it is certainly worth it for your holy grail products that you always reorder. Stay tuned for an article on some of the best auto replenishment programs that I know in the beauty world.

Is this beauty brand eligible for cashback?

The world of cashback sites has taken off with dozens of new companies popping up and offering rewards for consumers to do their online shopping in the form of cashback. The concept is simple. Instead of going directly to an online shop, you access the retailer through a link from a cashback website. You still receive your item directly from the retailer, but you also get some money from the cashback website which is often in the form of a percentage of the price you paid.

There are so many cashback sites now. Most people are familiar with Rakuten (formerly Ebates) but if you search cashback sites in Canada you will get a number of results including Shopper Army, Swagbucks, etc. I ALWAYS consult these sites before making a beauty purchase as more and more brands are appearing on these sites. I have been fortunate to score upwards of 15% cashback which would have been the same as getting a 15% discount on my order. Stay tuned for an article about which cashback sites to use for different beauty brands and click here to learn about my experience with Swagbucks.

Does the brand I am buying from have a beauty recycling program?

This may not be an obvious question to consider when making a beauty purchase but if you are looking to reorder an item and are sitting on empty containers then it is worth investigating. More and more companies are offering incentives to consumers (i.e. discounts) to bring back their empty products/containers and they will do the recycling for them. Click here for a list of beauty recycling programs in Canada where brands have stepped up and established recycling programs. These will not only help the environment but also help your wallet with a little incentive/discount to bring in your empties.

Conclusion

I absolutely love shopping for beauty products and this beauty deal checklist has been instrumental in allowing me to indulge in this passion and not break the bank. It has become almost impossible for me to buy any makeup or skincare product full price and I hope this list benefits you and changes the way you shop for beauty products.