When some retailers need to ditch an excess of beauty products, they sell it to these deep-discount shops—and that means savings for you. The stock can be old, but follow these guidelines, and it’s easy to nab real deals.
Here are 8 ways to get the best beauty buys!
BEWARE OF HEAT DAMAGE
It can diminish a product’s performance and tends to be an issue with ones that have spent time in a hot warehouse. Lipsticks and liquid and cream foundations are especially susceptible to heat damage, though powders and lip glosses tend to fare well, says cosmetic chemist Ni’kita Wilson.
LOOK FOR SEALED PACKAGING
“I wouldn’t buy any product that didn’t have a seal, on the box itself or around the bottle or in the cap,” says Francesca Fusco, professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “Otherwise, you don’t know if it’s been opened and exposed to air, which degrades the efficacy, or if someone has sampled it, which could introduce bacteria.”
GIVE POWDERS THE SHAKE TEST
Pressed versions can be dropped and broken. To weed out the damaged ones, gently rattle the container next to your ear and listen for the sound of crumbled bits, recommends makeup artist Maria Verel.
STOCK UP ON TOOLS
Basics like nail files, wooden cuticle pushers, foot buffers, mirrors, sharpeners, and hair brushes are ideal picks because the quality doesn’t vary much, says Verel. READ THE REST HERE!
