Makeup can be pricey, and we all know that. Beauty enthusiasts are often bombarded with $100 makeup palettes and skincare lines that cost significantly more. While those items are amazing, it’s understandable if you want more affordable products. Thankfully, you can always learn how to get cheap makeup.
I participate in affiliate programs, including Amazon Affiliates, and may earn a small commission if products are purchased through links on the site.
How To Get Makeup For Cheap

Check Out The Deals Section
Head over to the Beauty Blog page, and scroll down. You’ll find an excellent deals section with promo codes and sales for some of the best beauty brands.
Sign Up For Subscription Boxes
Boxes like BoxyCharm and Ipsy are well known for giving you luxury makeup. Once you break down the cost, you find out that you only pay about $5 per item. I have a $50 moisturizer that is perfect for my skin, which I got for $5.
Not only do you get makeup and skincare at a great price, but you also have an opportunity for more deals. Sometimes, subscription boxes wind up with way more products than they need to put in boxes. They sell these to you at a crazy discount via their flash sales. I know Ipsy flash sales are great, so I assume BoxyCharm ones are also.
Buy Cult Favorites Wholesale
You can find drugstore makeup by the pallet. When you come across Too Faced makeup being sold wholesale, you’re only paying a fraction of the cost you would pay in stores.
There is a slight catch, though. When you buy wholesale, you’ll have to buy more than one of each item. Instead of one tremendous eyeshadow palette, you will wind up with twelve, for example.
This idea also turns into a side hustle. Sell the other ones on sites like Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace. Then, you can get your makeup for free.
Check Out Companies That Give Free Makeup Samples
Companies that give free makeup samples will give you some makeup to try. Granted, you’re not getting full-sized makeup that will last for months, but you’re still getting to use luxury makeup products at no cost to you.
Discount Stores
Stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s always have a killer beauty section, and it’s packed with name-brand makeup. You can even find MAC makeup on clearance! Granted, it might be last season’s, so you’re not exactly getting a product from their latest release, but who cares?
Check Out Poshmark And eBay
When Ipsy has flash sales, many products are gone relatively quickly. Then, I see those same eyeshadow palettes pop up on these sites. People buy them from there or pick them up wholesale and then sell them to you. They profit, but you still get high-end makeup without paying full price.
Sign Up For Rewards Points
If you’re spending money on makeup anyway, you might as well get some free makeup! You can save up reward points to get some free or cheap makeup. Sephora has a rewards points program; you get Ipsy points for every product you review, and plenty of other stores do. Scroll to the bottom of the store’s page to sign up!
Subscribe For Emails
Most online stores give you a one-time discount for signing up for emails. While this isn’t help you discover how to get cheap makeup long-term, every little bit helps when you have a makeup addiction.
Write About Makeup
If you love makeup and writing and have something to offer the world of makeup, you just found a fun hobby and a chance to get free makeup. Granted, companies won’t start sending you makeup pallets after your first article.
However, there is a chance that you can become an influencer over time. I got a $200 Hibella Smart Sensor mirror in exchange for an honest review. You can join some affiliate sites to help others find products they’ll love, too!
Sign Up For Influenster
If you want to become an influencer, consider signing up for Influenster. This isn’t to keep your vanity stocked with the latest releases from high-end makeup brands, but you occasionally get to try superb makeup releases before other people do.
Check Out Different Makeup Brands
Some brands, like ELF, are heard about over and over again. These same brands are surprisingly affordable! If you’re in a makeup rut, need something new, and don’t have a lot of extra cash to spend, consider going with a different brand. Fabulous makeup doesn’t have to be expensive.
When we think about stores like Sephora and Ulta, we think of luxury makeup that costs an arm and a leg, but that isn’t always the case. They also carry many affordable brands. If you’re shopping online, you can always check out the reviews before you buy.
Shop Clearance Sections
You can find some great products from brands like Tarte on sale. When you’re shopping online, check out the clearance section. Typically, stores will clearance items because the makeup line releases a new line of products of the same type.
There’s nothing wrong with the products on clearance, either. Go to the Sephora website (or wherever you shop for makeup online), go to the clearance section, and then filter the products according to price.
Try Drugstore Brands
The days of drugstore brands being low-quality are past us. Now, brands like L’Oreal have a team of researchers and scientists to help them formulate products with science-backed ingredients to ensure they’re effective. You’ll discover pigmented eyeshadow, mascara that lasts all day, and the foundation won’t make you look orange. Maybelline is one of the hottest brands. You can check it out here!
Other Makeup Shopping Tips To Keep You Stocked

While these are great ways to ensure you’re not paying full price for makeup, it’s not all about learning how to get cheap makeup. You must also ensure your vanity stays stocked with all your favorite products.
Stock Up During Sales
If you have a favorite makeup product and find it on sale, buy more than one. Makeup can last for a few years before going bad. Some products can last five years if correctly stored and remain unopened. When you stock up during a sale, you never pay the total price for your makeup necessities.
Browse Makeup In Your Free Time
When you’re bored and pull out your phone, check out the clearance section instead of heading to social media. You will find various deals, a great way to see if your favorite products are on sale.
Subscribe To Your Favorite Stores
Subscribing can do much more than offering you a tremendous one-time coupon. You also get notified about the latest deals and online flash sales. Some places, like Sephora and BareMinerals, also offer you a gift for your birthday! That’s a great way to get a few incredible birthday presents.
How To Find Affordable Makeup
Finding cheap makeup, especially if you’re a fan of high-end brands, can be challenging. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the makeup samples you get when visiting Sephora. Instead, try these tips to keep your vanity fully stocked. Check out the home page for the latest sales and coupon codes from the hottest brands!
Related Articles
Can You Use Eyeshadow As Blush
