Suddenly Frugal Blogger Leah Ingram says the key is looking for beauty rewards. For example, if you buy MAC cosmetics, you'll spend $14.50 for a lipstick. But, you can get those lipsticks for free just by recycling.
Ingram explains, "MAC has this program "Back to MAC" where, if you send back 6 packages -- not the box, but the jar or the compact -- six of them, they will give you a free lipstick."
Sephora sells department store cosmetics inside JC Penney stores and online. If you shop online, you can take advantage of the site's Beauty Insider reward program.
"Their rewards program is pretty simple," Ingram explains. "One point for every dollar that you spend, and then you cash in those rewards at certain levels, so at 250 points and 500 points."
Another online option is Beauty.com and its companion site Drugstore.com. When you shop either site, you'll get 5% of your purchase back as a reward at the end of each calendar quarter. So, if you spend ten dollars on a necessity like bathroom tissue, you can take 50 cents off your next cosmetics purchase.
And finally, don't forget to take advantage of loyalty cards and coupons when you're buying makeup at the drugstore. Rite Aid Wellness cardholders get 10% off regular-price items, and CVS Extra Care Bucks cardholders will get a $5 coupon for every $50 they spend on beauty products.
