Building your professional makeup artistry kit is a big expense – especially when you’re just starting out! Although there are plenty of products you can save on, there are still those few that you prefer to be professional-grade cosmetics.
This is totally reasonable – high-end makeup is generally made with better ingredients, and looks better when applied to the skin. So if you want to stick with your trusted Makeup Forever foundation instead of testing out 50 different drugstore dupes, you’ll need to know the best ways to invest!
Read on for the top ways to find discounts as a working makeup artist – your wallet will thank you for it!
Call Around
As an emerging makeup artist, you need to build your kit up fast. Without it, there are no appointments (or disappointed clients!). The quickest way to find out where you’re eligible for discounts is to contact people. Reading guidelines and stories online can give you a sense of what you might need and who might give you a discount, but you need to know now. Simply pick up the phone or send an email – you’ll get a direct answer!
You can call stores, like your local Sephora or M.A.C., but you can also reach out to your makeup school and bigger businesses. Using the discounts you get from your makeup academy is the easiest way to start forming a list of vendors. Call up your school to find out what you’ll need!
Just as well, calling the brands themselves can give you a direct answer. For example, if you give M.A.C. a call, they’ll tell you a) if you’re eligible for a discount, and b) what you need in order to apply for it. Don’t wait – reaching out is the best way to learn more.
Apply!
Even if you’ve just started your makeup business, you should still apply for discounts with vendors and cosmetic companies. In most cases, you’ll need to prove you’re working as a makeup artist – but even if you only have a few business materials, it’s still proof that you’re working!
Showing vendors that you are working on clients, whether through a portfolio, website, or business cards, will help you gain access to their awesome makeup discounts. Sometimes, you’ll need to apply more than once. There are companies who ask for more proof than others, but don’t sweat it. Once you get your business off the ground, you can apply for more discounts as you go.
Just as with makeup jobs, there’s no harm in applying!
Shop Online
A golden rule for any shopping spree: check it out online first! There are tons of discount and wholesale websites that sell products at a lesser rate. If you can access makeup at a discount with one of these companies, you’re good to go! Never will you ever have to pay full price for makeup again.
Do your research on the top discount makeup vendors on the web. Create a list and check them out for yourself. Always make sure they are legitimate discounts and not just a spam website trying to trick customers!
Companies like Frends Beauty will provide discounts for makeup artists on a range of brands and products. Buying online is much easier than heading to multiple stores and beauty counter locations – you’ll save time and money!
Go Couponing
Good old coupons – although they’re becoming a thing of the past, they can save you a few dollars here and there! Mainly for drugstore products, you’ll find coupons in magazines, flyers, websites, and more. If you’re a frugal shopper, you know some apps that can flag deals near you.
Apps such as Flipp will help you seek out local deals at different stores. From Wal-Mart to Target to Walgreens, you’ll be able to land the best drugstore makeup discounts in town. Plus, you can also save on your grocery bill while you’re at it!
Use Rewards
You know how every single store asks if you want to sign up for their rewards card? Most of the time, it’s easiest to just say no and move on – but not with cosmetics! If you’re a practicing makeup artist, you know without a doubt that you’ll be repurchasing in the future. Always find out if there’s a reward program or points to be earned when you shop.
For example, Sephora’s Beauty Insider program is a fantastic opportunity for makeup artists to receive a kickback from their shopping. Once you save up 100 points, you can either order one of the product samples on offer, or continue saving for an even bigger reward!
Some stores will also let you return empty containers in exchange for a new product. The Back-to-M.A.C. program is great for this – bring back six empty primary packaging containers and you’ll walk out with a brand new lipstick. Best of all, this is available to everyone, so spread the word!
