No-Regrets Beauty Shopping

Want To Stock Up On All Your Essentials, Find Formulas That Work For You—and Save Time And Cash? Well, Obviously.

- Genevieve Monsma

UNLIKE SHOES, cars, and furniture, beauty products rarely go on sale. In fact, for years, the only way to get a beauty deal was to storm a department store during gift-with-purchase week and score yours before they ran out. But the beauty landscape has changed. Thanks to the proliferation of boutiques and online stores, competition for your beauty buck is fierce, forcing retailers to find creative ways to lure you into their stores. The result: specials, samples, and a slew of free services that all translate into savings, as well as a more enjoyable and efficient shopping experience. Use these strategies to take full advantage of the new beauty benefits.

1 TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Nearly anywhere you go to buy lipstick or dry shampoo, you can (and should) expect permission to test-run a product before you buy it. “In an effort to keep pace with boutiques and department stores, many drugstores now also have tester units and floating sales staff to help consumers make shade selections,” says Sara Skirboll, a shopping expert for RetailMeNot. “And if there isn’t a tester, a salesperson may be allowed to open one. A polite ask usually goes a long way.” Walgreens has more than 3,000 beauty consultants nationwide, who are “trained to assist with color matching, application, and more,” says Lauren Brindley, group vice president of beauty and personal care for Walgreens.

2 ASK FOR A SAMPLE TO GO