How to Score Amazing Dollar-Store Beauty Steals

Photo: Roger Cabello

When some retailers need to ditch an excess of beauty products, they sell it to these deep-discount shops—and that means savings for you. The stock can be old, but follow these guidelines, and it's easy to nab real deals.

Beware of Heat Damage

It can diminish a product's performance and tends to be an issue with ones that have spent time in a hot warehouse. Lipsticks and liquid and cream foundations are especially susceptible to heat damage, though powders and lip glosses tend to fare well, says cosmetic chemist Ni'kita Wilson.

 

 

More from Allure: The 11 Hottest Haircuts Right Now 10 Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio

Look for Sealed Packaging

"I wouldn't buy any product that didn't have a seal, on the box itself or around the bottle or in the cap," says Francesca Fusco, professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "Otherwise, you don't know if it's been opened and exposed to air, which degrades the efficacy, or if someone has sampled it, which could introduce bacteria."

Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio

Give Powders the Shake Test

Pressed powders can be dropped and broken. To weed out the damaged ones, gently rattle the container next to your ear and listen for the sound of crumbled bits, recommends makeup artist Maria Verel.

Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio

Stock Up on Tools

Basics like nail files, wooden cuticle pushers, foot buffers, mirrors, makeup sharpeners, and hair brushes are ideal picks because the quality doesn't vary much, says Verel.

Photo: Roger Cabello

Check the Testers

Many dollar stores don't offer testers, but when they do, look to see if they're clean (for heaven's sake, don't use them). If they are, the products should be, too. "It's a sign that the makeup hasn't been there for too long," says Verel.

Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio

Make Sure You Can Read the Labels

No matter how tempting or cheap a skin-care product is, bypass it if you can't read the language on the package. "I've seen a few foreign skin-care products that looked interesting, but I had no idea what the ingredients were," says Fusco.

Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio

Skip Hair Appliances with Damaged Boxes

"Chances are high they've been dropped, and with something like a blow-dryer, you can't look inside to check for visible cracks," says Fugate.

Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio

Make Repeat Visits

The selection is nearly constantly changing, so frequent stop-ins are the best way to grab deals.

 

 

 

 

 

More from Allure:

10 New Sexy (and Speedy) Makeup Looks

31 New Hair Ideas for 2011

Find the Best Haircut for Your Face Shape

10 Easy New Hair Ideas for Summer