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Updated Feb 2026.
I’ve always loved beauty. From rummaging through Boots for affordable staples to slowly building a collection of high-end favourites. While I still enjoy high street products, I often turn to luxury beauty for things like foundation and lipstick, especially when shade range or performance really matters.
Like most people, I still need to budget carefully. Rent, bills, and savings come first. Over time I’ve developed a few simple ways to enjoy high-end beauty without overspending. Here are the tips that work for me.
How I Budget for High-End Beauty
Here is my advice if you’d like to buy some luxury beauty products on a budget.
Cover your living costs first
Cover your essentials first. Rent, bills, food and savings should always come before beauty purchases.
Make a list
At the end of the month before I get paid, I make a list of the products I want to buy and stick to it. There are a few things I have wanted to try out for a little while now (hello, Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk), but my budget has not stretched that far to buy them yet and there were other beauty products I prioritised.
Do your research
Research before you buy. Read reviews, check real swatches, and test in store if possible. Product photos can be misleading, so seeing how something performs in real life helps avoid expensive mistakes.
Don’t purchase similar products
I try not to buy products when I already own something similar. No one really needs four rosy pink powder blushers. I try only to buy something similar when I have hit pan or there is a sale on and I want to stock up on something I love.
Consider the season
As a rule of thumb, I tend to have a one-in, one-out policy and I tend to buy products for the season. For example, I love MAC’s Rebel lipstick, but it’s a deep plum and as we’re going into warmer months I won’t wear it as much. Instead I’m looking to buy things I’ll make use of now, such as sheerer, brighter lipsticks.
Make a purchase once a month (or less)
I usually set a budget and purchase a few things off my list in one order once a month or less. I find it much easier to stay on top of my finances when I know exactly what is going out of my account and when. Making multiple purchases a month makes it so much harder to keep track and means I run the risk of overspending. Also if I limit the number of purchases I make throughout the month, it gives me time to think about the products on my list. Am I really going to use that lip liner?
Consider which products to splash out on, and when to buy budget
There are some products I absolutely love, use every day, and know I will absolutely purchase again. For me that’s foundation and lipstick. I’ve finally found a foundation that works for me, and nude lipsticks that work for fair skin. I use these products every day and so to me it’s worth the little extra cash. Conversely, I budget on eyebrow products and body lotions. I have my trusty high street versions that suit me just fine and haven’t been tempted by high end.
Ways to Save on Luxury Beauty Purchases
Shop during the sales and use discount codes
I often stack sales, discount codes and cashback to reduce costs. Referral programmes can also help as you get money off. Below are my referral codes, I earn a small credit at no extra cost to you.
You can use my referral code for Lookfantastic to receive £10 off your first order if you spend £25 or more (in the interest of transparency, I also get £5 credit). Cult Beauty has a similar referral scheme (£5 off a £25 order).
Send your referral code to family and friends
Just like I did above, share your referral codes to friends and family so you can utilise the discount code again. It’s a good way to save if there is no site-wide sale.
Use cashback sites and tool bars
I usually combine shopping with a discount code or during the sales, with a cashback site. Cashback tools actually work with a wide range of sites not just ones that are beauty related. I tend to find larger online stores offer the best returns. ASOS offer up to 13% cashback and Waterstones offer up to 6.6%. It all adds up.
I use TopCashback and between the beauty sites I mentioned, you can receive cashback of up to between 11% and 13%. Combined with a discount code or sale, you could save a good chunk of money. If you want to join TopCashback and earn a £5 bonus, you can use my referral code (I earn £20, but once you have an account you can refer friends and family etc with your own code).
Otherwise you can search TopCashback on Google. I really do recommend it for making savings on online purchases. You basically make an account and then install a toolbar which gives you a notification every time you are on a site you can get cashback from.
Do you ever buy high end beauty products? How do you budget for big purchases?
