Your guide to the best BEAUTY bargains

You don’t have to spend a million dollars to look like a million dollars. In fact, some of the best-performing beauty products are downright reasonably priced. Here’s where to find the best buys for your skin, hair and face.

Skin care, hair care & makeup

Product sampling programs typically send 4-6 samples  per month, often including full-size products, with packages valued at up to $250. Most include free shipping and allow you to cancel subscription at any time.

Birchbox

The most popular sampling program. Brands include Benefit,  bareMinerals, Carol’s Daughter, DDF, Essie, NARS, Stila and Smashbox. Price Options: $110/one year or $10/month.

Glossybox

One of the newer programs. Brands include Ahara, Burberry, Ellis Faas, Kinerase, Kryolan, Ole Henrickson and Phyto Paris. Price options: $21 per month. Discounts for 6 or 12-month subscriptions also available.

New Beauty Test Tube

Sponsored by New Beauty Magazine. Brands include Garnier, Lumene, Neutrogena, Olay, Perricone MD, philosophy and Smashbox. TestTube is delivered quarterly for $29.95 per tube.

Sample Society  

A collaboration between Beauty Bar and Allure magazine. Pricing: $15/month for 5 deluxe samples. Menbership includes a one-year subscription to Allure magazine

Your guide to the best STYLE bargains

You don’t have to spend a million dollars to look like a million dollars. In fact, some of the hottest fashions are downright reasonably priced. Here’s where to find the best buys for your wardrobe.

  

Shoes, handbags & apparel

The shoe-subscription concept was pioneered by Kim Kardashian’s ShoeDazzle, a service that lets members select new shoes every month for about $40 per pair.

Since then, a number of competitor programs have entered the market and the concept has expanded into several different product categories. These programs can help you keep your closet and jewelry box fresh for less:

JustFab

Kimora Lee Simmons is spokesperson for this program that offers jewelry, jeans, shoes and handbags. Nothing on the site cost more than $40 and includes free shipping both ways.

StyleMint

Wonder twins Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen back this program, which has sister programs JewelMint, with designs by Kate Bowsorth, and ShoeMint, with designs by Rachel Bilson.