SCANNING the shelves for your favorite beauty buy, a flash of color catches your eye and you’re hit with a sudden wave of excitement.
You identified a heavily discounted price, right next for that lippy you’ve been wanting.
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And it’s all yours, thanks to that loyalty card stored in your bag (or, more likely, in an app on your phone).
Shop carefully and you can save money on everything from face washes and shampoos to pricey moisturizers and beauty accessories thanks to loyalty cards.
But consumer group Which? accused retailers of engaging in “dubious tactics” to try to pressure shoppers into using their schemes.
So do they really offer good value for money? Or are they just a clever marketing strategy designed to make us part with our hard-earned money?
Boots and Superdrug are among a growing number of retailers offering “member” prices, allowing you Photograph buy certain products cheaper if you stick to their schemes.
There is also online savings, with sites such as Look Fantastic and Beauty Bay, which allow you to accumulate points on purchases.
Four in five shoppers are members of at least one loyalty card scheme, according to retail analyst Mintel.
Tesco boss Ken Murphy says it would be “crazy” to shop without a Clubcard.
Although Boots claims its customers have saved more than £50 million through its Price Advantage business.
Consumer expert Helen Dewdney, of thecomplainingcow.co.uk, says: “As with all things we buy, not every deal will be the best.
“Loyalty schemes exist for marketing, to attract customers to stores or online and to obtain their data.
“However, as so many stores now run loyalty schemes, just because one seems like a good deal, there may be another store where the offer is better.”
Here, we reveal which stores actually offer the cheapest beauty items. . .
- All prices are correct at the time of printing.
Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-up Remover, 125ml
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- Boots: £3.99
- Advantage Card: £3.44
- Superdrug: £3.99
- Member Price: £2.49
- Sainsbury’s: £3.50
- Tesco: £3.55
- Cheapest = Clubcard: £2.45
- Amazon: £2.50
- Looks Fantastic: N/A
Weleda Skin Food Cream, 75ml
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- Boots: £14.95
- Advantage Card: £11
- Superdrug: £14.95
- Sainsbury’s: £13.50
- Tesco: £13
- Cheapest = Amazon: £8.13
- Looks Fantastic: £10.47
Vosene Original Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, 300ml
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- Boots: £2.15
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £2
- Superdrug: £2.15
- Cheapest = Sainsbury’s: £2
- Cheapest = Tesco: £2
- Cheapest = Amazon: £2
- Looks Fantastic: N/A
Nivea Refreshing Facial Wash Gel, 150ml
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- Boots: £4.59
- Advantage Card: £2.10
- Superdrug: £4.55
- Member Price: £2.29
- Sainsbury’s: £2.55
- Cheapest = Tesco: £1.99
- Amazon: £13.80 for 3 (£4.60 each)
- Looks Fantastic: N/A
Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Cream, 50ml
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- Boots: £43.99
- Advantage card: £25
- Superdrug: £44
- Sainsbury’s: £44
- Nectar Card: £22
- Tesco: £38 Club Card: £19
- Cheapest = Amazon: £18.99
- Looks Fantastic: £34.99
Nivea Soothing Micellar Water Sensitive Skin 400ml
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- Boots: £5.99
- Advantage Card: £3.74
- Superdrug: £5.95
- Member Price: £2.99
- Sainsbury’s: £5
- Tesco: £4.75
- Cheapest = Clubcard: £2.35
- Amazon: £2.49
- Looks Fantastic: N/A
Blistex MedPlus lip balm SPF 15
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- Boots: £2.49
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £2
- Superdrug: £2.19
- Sainsbury’s: £2.30
- Tesco: £2.30
- Amazon: £4.54
- Looks Fantastic: N/A
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
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- Boots: £4.69
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £3.10
- Superdrug: £4.69
- Sainsbury’s: £4.70
- Nectar Card: £3.70
- Tesco: £4.50
- Club card: £3.50
- Amazon: N/A
- Looks Fantastic: £6.99 for two (£3.50 each)
Garnier Skin Active Vitamin C 2 in 1 Brightening Serum Cream, 50ml
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- Boots: £10.99
- Advantage card: £7.50
- Superdrug: £10.99
- Member Price: £7.32
- Sainsbury’s: £11
- Nectar Card: £7.35
- Tesco: £12
- Club card: £8
- Cheapest = Amazon: £6.27
- Looks Fantastic: £10.99
Aussie Mighty Mega Everyday Clarifying Vegan Shampoo, 500ml
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- Boots: £5.99
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £5
- Superdrug: £5.99
- Sainsbury’s: £5.50
- Tesco: £6
- Amazon: N/A
- Looks Fantastic: N/A
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Firework Mascara, 7.2ml
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- Boots: £12.99
- Advantage card: £10.99
- Superdrug: £12.99
- Member Price: £10.99
- Cheapest = Sainsbury’s: £10
- Tesco: N/A
- Amazon: £10.99
- Looks Fantastic: £12.99
DO RESEARCH – IT’S WORTH IT
A DISCOUNT or store loyalty scheme doesn’t mean you won’t find the same product for less elsewhere, says Helen Dewdney of consumer website The Complaining Cow.
She continues: “The trick to knowing if you’re really getting a bargain is to use a price comparison site.
“While doing your research can be time-consuming, it is crucial to getting the best price. Amazon is often considered the cheapest place for most things, but that’s not always the case.
The tracking website camelcamelcamel.com monitors Amazon items and tells you when prices are dropping, along with their price history.
“The Boots Advantage card can be very good value. You earn three points for every £1 spent – and 500 points equals £5. That’s 3p back for every £1 spent. Those over 60 can collect eight points per £1.
“It also offers a ten per cent discount on many Boots own brand items, and there are personalized offers too.
“Boots £10 Tuesday has great weekly bargains. And you can recycle five old cosmetic containers for 500 points at participating stores.
“With the JamDoughnut cashback app, you can earn rewards points by purchasing prepaid gift cards to use online, in-store or over the phone.
“Currently for Boots there is a saving of 3.75%.
“With the Mad About Money app, you can get vouchers with similar discounts, but save before you buy so the money stays in your pocket. It’s currently five percent off.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
