17 Easy Ways to Save Money at Sephora, Because the Memes Don't Lie

Listen, we love a good shopping spree as much as the next girl, but those "take all my money" memes are way too real when it comes to Sephora. One second we're just popping in to grab a new mascara, then 20 minutes, $100, and a bag full of checkout-aisle minis later, the damage has been done. There's no truer love-hate relationship, and if you're here reading this (which, yes, you are), we've got a hunch you also know the struggle all too well.

But here's the thing, we'd rather let someone pry our Kat Von D lipsticks and Dr. Jart+ color correctors from our cold dead hands than stop shopping at Sephora, so we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of all the ways you can save money the next time you run out of eyeliner. According to makeup artists, beauty enthusiasts on Reddit, and of course, the good peeps at Sephora, these are the tips and tricks that will save you a few bucks and score you the best perks. Just be sure to let us know what awesome stuff you're nabbing so we can try it too. OK?

1. If you're in school, sign up for a student discount.
College is great. But the broke-ness that comes with student loans is not. However, you can actually use that student-life status to get yourself up to 10-percent cash back on a Sephora purchase at studentrate.com.

2. Check out the Sephora beauty deals page.
Sephora is quite literally doing the work for you here. Make sure to regularly keep tabs on this part of the site to see what kind of codes for discounts, deals, and samples are available. They change often, so the tab is rife with opportunities to save money.

3. Skip singles and spring for palettes.
Celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli suggests picking up palettes of the products you use most. “As a makeup artist, I only travel with lip and eye palettes since you have so many choices at your fingertips," he says. "So if you know you're a lipstick girl, buy a lip palate instead of five separate lipsticks. You're bound to save money that way." Our favorite of the moment? The Urban Decay Junkie Vice Lipstick Palette, which will only set you back $20 for 12 shades—nearly the cost of a single Vice Lipstick bullet.

4. Join the Beauty Insider club.
This one is obvious, but it bears repeating. If you join the Beauty Insider program (which is free, BTW), a world of options become available to you. Not only do you get a free yearly birthday gift with your membership, but you also get access to in-store events and the chance to rack up tons and tons of points that never expire. Those points will come in handy because you can cash them in for perks and deluxe product samples.

5. Mark your calendar for the semiannual sales.
Twice a year Beauty Insiders get early access to up to 15 percent of products. Make your beauty wish list and save your splurges for these crucial biannual events. Think of the savings on that fancy serum you love!

6. Schedule a customized makeover.
A gem of a tip from Reddit's Makeup Addiction community: If you know you're going to splurge on a whole new look, schedule a makeover. “You need to spend a minimum of $50, but a certified artist will help you pick things out," writes one Redditor. "Let them know your experience with makeup, and they will accommodate that.” Translation: You'll get expert tips on how to best achieve your new face beat—it’s efficient, and as they say, time is money. Also, if you get to the VIB Rouge level (which means that you spend $1,000 in a year), you get unlimited free custom makeovers, so you could save yourself the money you would otherwise need for a makeup artist for special events like a wedding.

7. Or just ask for a mini makeover.
If you don’t want to spend the $50 minimum for a custom makeover, there’s always the free mini makeover or mini facial. There's no appointment necessary, either, and you get to learn a new technique while you pamper.

8. Sign up for a free beauty class.
Sephora is constantly holding free classes where you can master new tricks and trends. As with the mini makeover, there's no pressure to buy anything, but we can't promise you won't want to.

9. Add more multitasking products to your makeup bag.
The best makeup is the kind you can make all your own, and more and more beauty brands are catching on to that fact (see these game-changers). Scibelli seconds that. “Think savvy," he says. "Your bronzer could be used as a contour or a neutral eyeshadow.” Not only will it save you cash, it will also cut down on space.

10. Shop Sephora brand products.
Why is the Sephora brand such a huge contender in the market? Well, simply put, it's more affordable than the high-end brands, and Sephora creates similar shades and textures. “I'm an avid fan of their glosses, mascaras, and eye and lip pencils," says celebrity makeup artist Lindsey Williams. "They've also perfected a great brush line that truly fits every need you could possibly imagine. They aren't all that expensive, so you aren't sacrificing quality for a lower price.”

11. Get to know the return policy.
This one requires vigilance, but if you're regularly perusing the store and site, it's worth keeping tabs on price tags. According to the store's returns protocol, if you’ve recently bought makeup and it goes on sale within two weeks of your purchase, the difference in payment can be refunded to you.

12. Make liberal use of the sales section.
“My favorite way to shop Sephora when I want deals and steals is checking their online sales section once a month,” Williams says. “If I have to buy something, I'll always check out the sales area. Brands and collections are constantly moving through the store, and sometimes I get lucky and find little gems.” It's not just Sephora brand products that end up there. Look and you might find some major fan favorites like Urban Decay, Smashbox, and Make Up For Ever in the mix.

13. Never, ever skip a sample.
Reddit confirms: You can get three samples in every section sold at Sephora. So you can get your skin care, makeup, hair care, and fragrance bases covered in one trip. You’ll get a taste of products without having to purchase them and save yourself the time of taking advantage of Sephora’s admittedly awesome return policy later if you don’t like them.

14. Cash in your VIB points in-store.
A little known fact worth repeating: If you're a Beauty Insider of any level, you have to make a purchase online in order to cash in points for products. However, this isn't the case in-store. You can just pop up at the counter, ask to trade them in, and walk out with a free mini haul.

15. Download the Ibotta app.
Welcome to your new favorite thing about your phone. With the Ibotta app, you can score rebates on purchases just by uploading your receipt on it—no questions asked. Then cash out to a Sephora gift card in $20 increments. Awesome. We know.

16. Look for value and gift sets.
Reddit and makeup artists all agree that gift sets are where it’s at. There are always multipack gift sets that are crammed with tons of amazing options at great values. Sure, you might not use every single piece in the kit, but this is probably the easiest and cheapest way to find your new favorite mascara or lip gloss without going through a ton of full-sized tubes.

17. Do the math.
This requires some simple division, but hang with us here. Sephora offers a number of value-sized products at a lower price per ounce than the standard option. So if a product is offered in a jumbo size, you can do some simple arithmetic and see how much money you're saving over the smaller sizes. One caveat: Make sure it's something you'll actually use up before its expiration date. Mascara, for example, is often worth buying in travel size because it's cheaper and the formula won't dry out.

See you in the checkout aisle?

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