Beauty Budget Secrets

The insider scoop on how to save money on beauty products.

I have a new obsession. No, it’s not the latest lash-lengthening mascara – although I do predict a new tube in my future (or three for $1) given this new obsession: Couponing. I know clipping coupons doesn’t sound that exciting but hey, if a girl’s gonna spa, a girl’s gotta save some cash.

So here’s the story. Last Saturday morning, I attended a Grocery Coupon Workshop led by frugalista Melissa Hurst, the creator of Saving Cents with Sense. Melissa is a working mom of three and a smartie pants when it comes to saving money. I say that with all due respect. I was literally blown away by her in-depth knowledge of how to work a coupon. Did you know, for example, that at most Phoenix area Safeway, Fry’s and Bashas’ grocery stores, a coupon with a face value of less than a $1 is valued at a $1? That means if you have a coupon for 25 cents off Olay face cream, you’ll actually get $1 off at the register at those participating stores.

This, my Spa Girl fans, is spa money on the table.

We learned all sorts of mind-blowing ways to shave bucks off your grocery bill and just when I thought my little Spa Girl head was going to explode, we moved on to the subject of drugstores. Oh. Heck. Yeah.

What I discovered, thanks to Melissa’s practical insights, is that drugstores are a goldmine of beauty savings. Case in point is the CVS Pharmacy’s ExtraCare Beauty Club. The CVS Beauty Club works like this: Sign up for free, get a 10% off coupon for joining and start earning ExtraBucks Rewards with your purchases. Think of earning ExtraBucks as actual cash in your pocket.

Walgreens has a similar program called Balanced Rewards, where you sign up as a member and start earning points, which equate to dollars with select product purchases and promotions. They have a program called Walk with Walgreens, where you can earn points by getting out and walking. How brilliant is that?

Other ways to save is to join an online beauty membership rewards program or if you like to try out new products, consider joining a sampling program.

Rewards programs:

• Sally Beauty Club: Your $5 membership fee comes right back to you as a $5 credit toward any purchase made during the month of your enrollment. Perks include members-only pricing and  a 15% off reward with every $25 you spend during a month.
• Beauty Perks at Beauty.com: Get free shipping, free samples and earn 5% back in drugstore.com dollars with your free membership.
• Ulta Rewards Membership: The free membership allows you to build rewards based on your spending
• Sephora Beauty Insider: Join for free and with every dollar you spend, you earn a point. Redeem points for select products.

Sampling programs:

• NewBeauty TestTube: A favorite among beautyphiles, this program includes a sampling of full-size and luxury sample-size prestige skincare and beauty products valued at $150 for $29.95 plus shipping every three months.
• Yuzen: Yuzen is a monthly delivery of lovely, origami-styled box filled with full and sample-sized health and eco-friendly spa products valued at $60 for $26 a month or $78 for three months including shipping.
• Birchbox: Just $10 a month gets you a sampling of beauty products that are available in full size for purchase on the website. Earn points through purchases, product surveys, and referrals.
• BeautyFix: A creation of Dermstore, you choose eight products for $49 including shipping. You can earn rewards through referrals and are privy to member-only discounts.

I’m happy to report too that I saved $48 on my grocery bill after my class with Melissa. That’s a spa pedicure, my Spa Girl fans. Happy shopping!

How do you save money on beauty products in your household? Do tell by commenting below!