I’ll be honest – it’s not always easy being a blogger. It can get expensive, buying into trends and trying out new products. Since I’ve promised that this is an honest website, I want to stay true to that and tell you that it’s a lot of work to be a beauty blogger, both from a content aspect and financial one as well.  So today, I’m sharing a few ways I save money while doing what I love!

Sample sizes are your friend!

Did you know that you can get samples made for you at Sephora at no cost? This is one of my favorite hacks for expensive skincare; I’ll get a sample (or two) of something like Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial™, which retails for $80, and give it a try before committing to buying the full-size product. I also like to sample foundations when trying to find the perfect formula and shade; why buy a bunch of bottles when you can try all of the brands at the same time for free?!

Speaking of sizes, look for travel!

Many brands make travel sizes of their most popular products. Tatcha and Kiehl’s, in particular, have most of their products in travel sizes for far cheaper than the full-size counterparts. If you travel as much as I do, this cost-cutting method works across the board!

Search for promo codes

I always look for a promo code when I’m shopping online. Websites like ASOS and Topshop have student discounts through websites like Student Beans and UniDays, and you can also google things like, “Sephora Promo Codes” to see the current offers. You might have to spend ten extra minutes hunting for a code, but it’ll be worth it when you save that extra money!

Try a subscription service

Now, yes, this is something that costs money. But if you commit to subscribing to a service like Birchbox, Ipsy, or Sephora Play rather than buying new products, you’ll get a box of products to try out every month instead. I don’t currently use any kind of subscription service, but I’ve discovered some great products through them in the past!

Organize a Swap Meet with your friends

I love going through my friends’ skincare and makeup just for fun, but sometimes we’ll actually swap products or recommend products to each other. I always love to hear about the products that my friends love, and I’m more likely to listen to their reviews than those of strangers. Exchanging products is a great way to try new ones without spending a dime.