With thousands of lotions and potions out there in the virtual marketplace, it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the bounty of beauty products online. But with the right websites and apps in your digital black book, you can quickly and easily sift through product reviews, snap up deals (including freebies!) and get insider DIY beauty tips and tutorials. Consider these 22 websites and five apps your definitive beauty tools.
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Why shop for beauty products online? These are the benefits:
• Comparing prices is easier. At GetInvisibleHand.com, you can download a browser tool that alerts you, no matter what site you’re on, if the product you’re looking at can be found cheaper elsewhere.
• You can get cash back. Lots of beauty sites participate at eBates.com, a cash-back site that tracks your purchases and sends you a rebate check.
• Receipts are safely stored in your e-mail (not in the depths of your handbag), in case you need to return anything. Note that return policies vary from site to site, so make sure to read the fine print before you buy.
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5 websites to find inexpensive beauty products:
• Folica.com: Great for anything hair-related, including serums and curling irons. Find top-10 lists based on consumer reviews and in-house testing, as well as price matching, promotion codes and a great rewards program: For every $200 spent, you get a $10 gift certificate.
• Drugstore.com: This digital convenience store sells beauty products at competitive prices. Click the “Sales & Coupons” tab to see what’s currently marked down, and sign up to learn via e-mail when your must-haves go on sale.
• EyesLipsFace.com: The bargain-friendly beauty brand E.l.f. sells makeup for as low as $1 and gift sets — eye-shadow palettes, say — starting at $3. Follow E.l.f. on Facebook for information on free-shipping promotion codes and for the chance to nab prizes.
• Dermstore.com: Free shipping (always), a gift with every purchase and the ability to shop by ingredient are just the beginning. Also cool: By adding items to your My Favorites list, you can get them for 10 percent off.
• BeautyEncounter.com: New subscribers to the site’s mailing list score 10 percent off their first purchase, plus free samples. There’s also a loyalty program, so you can rack up points for beauty loot.
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3 places to find free beauty samples:
• OhYesItsFree.com: This free-sample aggregator boasts “100 percent real freebies” — just check out the Beauty Freebies section under the Freebies tab and you’ll see links to the latest giveaways offered across the Web. Cetaphil skin-care products, Rave hairspray and Pureology shampoo and conditioner are just a few examples of what’s been posted here.
• PinkPanel.com: Anyone who signs up at PinkPanel.com will be e-mailed several times a year about opportunities to receive free skin-care and makeup products. All you have to do in return is fill out a survey. Sometimes you’ll even get paid. And each month, one feedback provider wins a beauty gift basket.
• Walmart.com: If you haven’t done so already, bookmark this site’s Free Samples & Savings section, then visit it daily. In addition to food and home-related goodies, you can find beauty products up for grabs from time to time. Hey, it’s worth a shot, right?
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5 beauty apps to download:
• If you want inspiration, use Beautylish (free on iPhone and Android). You’ll see photos galore of hairstyles, makeup trends, nail designs, bridal looks and more, plus savvy tips and tutorials.
• If you’re visiting the salon, use HairMakeover (free on iPhone). Upload your photo to virtually try out different hairstyles, cuts and colors, then share your look with friends for a second opinion.
•If you’re shopping in-store, use Pretty in my Pocket (free on iPhone). Scan the bar code of the product you’re eyeing to read reviews, find ratings and get helpful hints on how to use it.
• If you’re not sure what skin products to buy, use MySkin (free on iPhone). Input your skin type and it’ll match you up with unbiased product suggestions.
• If you want to go green, use GoodGuide (free on iPhone and Android). Just how environmentally friendly is that makeup remover? Snap a bar-code pic to view the product’s and the maker’s eco-ratings.
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3 places to read honest product reviews:
• MakeupAlley.com: At this user-generated-testimonials site, you get honest feedback from more than 1.8 million people. You can easily search for products and interact with other consumers on its lively message boards.
• TotalBeauty.com: This site is widely trusted for unbiased reviews. The best part? Every review you write gets you closer to Elite status and access to exclusive giveaways. Reviewers provide in-depth profiles, so you can read reliable critiques from women whose styles align with yours.
• The Blogosphere: Not only do beauty bloggers often give solid product write-ups, many offer videos, how-tos and giveaways. Some trusted sources: 15MinuteBeauty.com, TheBeautySnoop.com, TheMakeupBlogger.com, MaskCara.com and MyBeautyBunny.com.
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Where to watch the best video tutorials:
• For makeup, subscribe to YouTube.com/NikkiPhillippi. This vlogger offers step-by-step makeup-application videos that are easy to follow and won’t waste your time or money.
• For hair, subscribe to YouTube.com/LuxyHair. If you think you’re not skilled enough to create the braids and updos splashed across Pinterest, think again. YouTube favorites Mimi and Leyla make it simple.
• For do-it-yourself tips, subscribe to YouTube.com/MichellePhan. This YouTube sensation covers all the basics as well as specific topics, like what makeup to wear with eyeglasses. And she’s got a huge following: more than 5 million subscribers.
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How do you find beauty products for less? Tell us your best tips!