Beauty Bargains

Luxe doesn’t have to mean eye-wateringly expensive. Here’s how to find a few beauty bargains this winter… Go for own-brand Supermarkets and fashion brands often have their own beauty ranges. Aldi’s Lacura range (www.aldi. co.uk) has a legion of loyal fans and you can pick up an eye palette for just £5.99. And H&M’s nail polishes are amongst the best I’ve tried, and an absolute bargain at just £3.99. My nails stayed chip-free for weeks.

Scour discount sites

Check out stores like TK Maxx and B&M. You’ll often find heavily discounted skincare, cosmetics, electricals and toiletries from top brands. A quick search on www.tkmaxx.com uncovered a Calvin Klein perfume at 70% off, a Rodial moisturiser at 76% off and an Eve Lom gift set at 49% off.

Try something new

We often stick to products we know, but it’s worth trying cheaper brands now and then. Inecto, for example, gets great reviews. All products are vegan, made in the UK and up to 98% natural. Plus, prices start at under £2. Try the Argan range for super-shiny hair. A full-size bottle of shampoo is just £1.49. Find your nearest stockist at www.inecto.com.

Consider memberships

Memberships like those offered by Beauty Pie give you the chance to buy luxury products at a fraction of the price. Beauty Pie’s memberships start from £5 a month. You can then purchase products ranging from moisturisers (priced from £8.48) to fragrance (priced from £18.67). They’re created in some of the world’s top labs but are a heck of a lot cheaper than you could buy them for in store. I took out a £10-a-month plan (three-month minimum) and saved more than £150 in my first month. My favourite product so far is the Plantastic Apricot Butter Cleansing Balm, which leaves skin feeling incredibly soft and hydrated. At the time of publishing, BEAUTYPIE10 will get you an extra £10 off at www. beautypie.com.

Buy in bulk

Products usually come down in price as they go up in volume. So, if you’re treating yourself to a favourite product, it usually pays to buy the biggest size you can afford. For example, a 400ml bottle of Faith in Nature’s Grapefruit & Orange Shampoo is £5.79 (£14.48 a litre), but you can get a 5 litre bottle from Amazon for £35 (£7 a litre). Don’t want to use the same product for a whole year? Look out for refill shops where you take your own container to stock up on food and toiletries, or consider sharing products (and costs) with friends and family.

Sign up for sales

Sign up for Money Saving Expert’s newsletter to find out when your favourite shops’ sales start. It’s also worth checking whether you can get a discount as a reward for signing up to brands’ own newsletters. And check sites like www.vouchercodes.co.uk before you buy anything at full price.

By Kate Duggan