By Christa Joanna Lee for Teen Vogue.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@sephora
You need to try these makeup moves.
You've picked out the perfect primer for a party, a sunscreen to get you through concert season, and the #nofilter-worthy foundation of your dreams. Then, you get to checkout after your Sephora shopping spree and you do a double take when you see what you owe.
If this scenario sounds all too familiar, you're definitely not alone. Whether you pack your cart with tons of mini beauty goodies or you've had your eye on a single, but pricey, designer item, sometimes it's hard to justify spending a month's worth of hard-earned money all in one place. These tricks below, however, will help you discover sneaky ways to save money on Sephora's most-loved and newest items. From shipping savings to secret discounts, read on below for all the ways to shop smart at one of your favorite beauty stops.
1. Follow Sephora on social media.
Each of the brand's social media outlets offers fun surprises like discounts, free giveaways, and free Beauty Insider points that you can use toward a gift.
2. On that note... Become a Beauty Insider.
Sephora has one of the most bomb loyalty programs out there. A free membership gets you a free birthday gift, access to in-store classes (hello samples!), and free two-day shipping when you reach VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) level. Rack up those points -- they never expire.
3. Shop in store.
Online, you have to make a purchase to redeem points, but in stores you don't need to!
4. Get a student discount.
At StudentRate.com you can get up to 10% cash back on any purchase.
5. Buy discounted gift cards.
On Raise.com, another person's trash is your treasure. You can purchase gift cards that people no longer want for steep discounts. Most of them are redeemable online so you can get shopping right away!
6. Chat with a consultant.
Sometimes a little bit of know-how can prevent you from making a purchase you regret. Pull aside any of their knowledgeable staff and they'll be happy to help you figure out a product that will work best for you so you don't have buyer's remorse.
7. Take home tons of samples.
You can grab up to three samples from each of Sephora's main departments (skincare, makeup, and fragrance) and three free samples per online order. Stock up and they're great for travel!
8. Download the Ibotta app.
If you use the free Ibotta app to upload your receipt, get $5 back on your next $50 purchase.
9. Don't get temped by the travel-size section at the checkout line.
Everything just looks so much cuter in mini form, but unless you're going on a major trip, you're better off with a free sample than spending money on a travel-size beauty product that you'll only use once at home.
10. Bookmark Beauty Deals.
All of the brand's limited specials are found on this site -- it's like a cheat sheet of beauty codes for free discounts and deals. Right now they have a free deluxe sample of Smashbox's new X-Rated Mascara and a BareMinerals Mini Face Trio (score!).
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