Page 82 - Money - November 2018

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Some items are just as good—and a lot cheaper—at a pharmacy. BY ALLANA AKHTAR

1. TRAVEL-SIZE ITEMS don’t always equal qual-
Many Sephora locations ity—it’s more important
have bins of small, travel- that the sunscreen lives
size products lining the up to its SPF claim and
checkout area, a strategy that sunbathers apply
designed to stimulate im- (and reapply) it often.
pulse buys.The tiny prod-
ucts may seem like a deal, 3. MASCARA
but be wary.“They are su- As with sunscreen, drug-
per high-priced and not store mascara works just
worth the cost,” says for- as well as the luxury ver-
mer employee and beauty sion—and costs much
blogger Tiffany Colon. less, says freelance
Take Clinique’s makeup artist Ivy Boyd.
Dramatically Different Walgreens sells mas-
Moisturizing Gel.The trial cara from brands like May-
size costs 33¢ per milli- belline and Rimmel for
liter, compared with just around $5,while Sepho-
20¢ per milliliter for the ra’s full-size selections
value size. start around $12 and can
If you want to try an retail for as much as $70,
item but don’t want to if the name Christian
commit to purchasing it Louboutin is involved.
yet, you can always ask Boyd, who worked at a
for a sample.Julia Sephora in Iowa from
McNamee, a beauty blog- 2012 to 2014, recom-
ger and YouTuber at mends buying everyday
JuliaxBabee who used to mascara from drugstores
work at a Sephora store and splurging on Sephora
in Willow Grove, Pa., says mascara for special
Sephora employees will occasions.
give you a free sample of
any product—even lip-
THOUGH THERE’S NO SUCH THING as wearing “too much” stick and eye shadow. 4. MAKEUP BRUSHES
makeup, you could be spending too much on it. Sephora sells individual
Shoppers across the country are buying more and 2. SUNSCREEN brushes for eyes, face,
and other applications,
more makeup: Usage increased 6% in the past year, AND MOISTURIZER as well as sets that in-
according to market analytics firm NPD Group. And “Moisturizers are so clude a combination of
overpriced these days for brushes.Though the set
Sephora, the nation’s top beauty seller, plays a key part in the quality and the ingre- appears to be a better
enabling this trend. dients they require,” says deal—nine Sephora brand
YouTube beauty blogger brushes cost $62, while a
The retail store’s products almost universally have Nathalie Nieves. single large powder brush
aesthetically pleasing packaging and targeted branding, Nieves, who worked at costs $40—McNamee
one of Sephora’s New says the set typically has
making them an enticing splurge. But you shouldn’t be so
York stores, says drug- basic brushes that are
quick to pick up every item that catches your eye. Former store moisturizer and rough on the face.
Sephora employees have revealed to MONEY how the SPF sunscreens (such as For more affordable
those by Cetaphil and brushes and brush sets,
store encourages you to spend more—and which items Aveeno) work just as well she suggests versions
aren’t worth its high prices. as Sephora products for from retailers Morphe SAM DEITCH—BFA NYC.COM/SHUTTERSTOCK
a fraction of the price. ($25 for 12 brushes)
Here are the top four products former Sephora
According to Consumer or Crown ($14 for 12)
employees recommend you do not buy from the store. Reports, name brands instead.
MONE Y. C O M NO VEMBER 2 018