Cosmetics can be expensive and colors often look completely different after we get them home and actually apply them to our face. After many years of costly makeup mistakes, I learned some money-saving tips.
First of all, instead of buying costly cosmetic items on impulse, try to find samples of any product you plan to buy ahead of time if you can. Some stores offer "beauty days" where samples are available for free. New product samples come out in magazines or can be requested on company websites.
You can often get samples of new products just by requesting them when checking out at cosmetics counters, especially at large chain drug stores. I usually just ask "Do you have samples of any new skin care or cosmetic samples I can take home and try?" In addition, ask at your favorite stores and see if any of them will take cosmetic item returns that are the wrong color or that have been opened. Most won't, but some will.
If all else fails, whenever you buy a cosmetic and the color doesn't look right after you get it home, try mixing it or layering it with a darker or lighter shade to change the color. I have lighter and darker lipsticks I put over wrong colors to alter them. Blush that is too light can be used as a highlighter or underneath a darker shade to add an overall glow to the face. Liquid foundations are easily mixed with lighter or darker colors to get just the right shade. Eye shadows can be lightly layered and blended to change incorrect shades.
If you can't find a way to layer or blend the incorrect shade, go to the manufacturer's website and see if they offer a money-back guarantee. The cost of postage to send in the item is often less than the cost of the item itself. Be sure to keep all your receipts just in case!
By G. Lomax from Dallas, TX
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CVS and Walgreens will accept returns on opened cosmetics. Just make sure to keep your receipt. Major brands are on sale every week (buy 1 get 1 free or 50% off) so check your Sunday papers or look at the ads online.
There are inexpensive brands that are quite good. Try NYC & Co. or Wet & Wild. You don't have to spend a lot.
I can't believe nobody mentioned Avon! I have been selling for over a year now and using their products for about fifteen! I admit some things do seem a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. You have to compare apples to apples, you can't compare Avon to Wet N Wild, which I can't believe grown women use that anymore! I don't think I have used that since I was eleven.
Compare Avon to the pricey department store brands that you pay $35 for a lipstick then paying $8 for Avon doesn't seem so bad. Avon has buy one get one deals almost every campaign and you can get eye pencils for as low as .99. Everything is super high quality, and they have samples of almost everything they sell, and they take back anything you don't like or want for whatever reason no questions asked. I have used almost every brand of makeup out there from the least to most expensive and nothing compares to Avon!
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