SCANNING the shelves for your favourite beauty buy, a flash of colour catches your eye and you are hit by a sudden rush of excitement.
You have spotted a heavily discounted price tag right next to that lippy you have been wanting.
And it’s all yours, thanks to that loyalty card tucked away in your purse (or, more likely, on an app on your phone).
Shop carefully and you can save cash on everything from face wash and shampoo to pricey moisturisers and beauty gadgets, thanks to loyalty cards.
But consumer group Which? has accused retailers of engaging in “dodgy tactics” to try to push shoppers to use their schemes.
So do they genuinely offer value for money? Or are they just a clever marketing ploy designed to make us part with our hard-earned cash?
Boots and Superdrug are among a growing number of retailers offering “member” prices, allowing you to snap up certain products cheaper if you sign up to their schemes.
There are savings to be had online, too, with websites such as Look Fantastic and Beauty Bay allowing you to collect points with purchases.
Four out of five shoppers are a member of at least one loyalty card scheme, according to retail analyst Mintel.
Tesco chief Ken Murphy says you would be “mad” to shop without a Clubcard.
While Boots says its customers have saved more than £50million through its Price Advantage deals.
Consumer expert Helen Dewdney, of thecomplainingcow.co.uk, says: “As with all things we purchase, not every offer will be the best one.
“Loyalty schemes are there for marketing, to entice customers into stores or online and to get your data.
“However, because so many stores now run loyalty schemes, just because one seems like a good bargain, there may be another store where the offer is better.”
Here, we reveal which stores really offer the cheapest beauty items . . .
- All prices correct at time of going to press.
Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover, 125ml
12
- 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
- Look Fantastic: N/A
Weleda Skin Food Cream, 75ml
12
- Boots: £14.95
- Advantage card: £11
- Superdrug: £14.95
- Sainsbury’s: £13.50
- Tesco: £13
- Cheapest = Amazon: £8.13
- Look Fantastic: £10.47
Vosene Original Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, 300ml
12
- Boots: £2.15
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £2
- Superdrug: £2.15
- Cheapest = Sainsbury’s: £2
- Cheapest = Tesco: £2
- Cheapest = Amazon: £2
- Look Fantastic: N/A
Nivea Refreshing Face Wash Gel, 150ml
12
- 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)
- Look Fantastic: N/A
Olay Retinol 24 Max Night Cream, 50ml
12
- Boots: £43.99
- Advantage card: £25
- Superdrug: £44
- Sainsbury’s: £44
- Nectar card: £22
- Tesco: £38 Clubcard: £19
- Cheapest = Amazon: £18.99
- Look Fantastic: £34.99
Nivea Micellar Water Soothing for Sensitive Skin 400ml
12
- 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
- Look Fantastic: N/A
Blistex MedPlus SPF 15 Lip Balm
12
- Boots: £2.49
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £2
- Superdrug: £2.19
- Sainsbury’s: £2.30
- Tesco: £2.30
- Amazon: £4.54
- Look Fantastic: N/A
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
12
- Boots: £4.69
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £3.10
- Superdrug: £4.69
- Sainsbury’s: £4.70
- Nectar card: £3.70
- Tesco: £4.50
- Clubcard: £3.50
- Amazon: N/A
- Look Fantastic: £6.99 for two (£3.50 each)
Garnier Skin Active Vitamin C 2in1 Brightening Serum Cream, 50ml
12
- Boots: £10.99
- Advantage card: £7.50
- Superdrug: £10.99
- Member price: £7.32
- Sainsbury’s: £11
- Nectar card: £7.35
- Tesco: £12
- Clubcard: £8
- Cheapest = Amazon: £6.27
- Look Fantastic: £10.99
Aussie Mighty Mega Everyday Clarifying Vegan Shampoo, 500ml
12
- Boots: £5.99
- Cheapest = Advantage card: £5
- Superdrug: £5.99
- Sainsbury’s: £5.50
- Tesco: £6
- Amazon: N/A
- Look Fantastic: N/A
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Firework Mascara, 7.2ml
12
- Boots: £12.99
- Advantage card: £10.99
- Superdrug: £12.99
- Member price: £10.99
- Cheapest = Sainsbury’s: £10
- Tesco: N/A
- Amazon: £10.99
- Look Fantastic: £12.99
DO RESEARCH – IT’S WORTH IT
A DISCOUNT or store loyalty scheme does not mean you won’t find the same product for less elsewhere, says Helen Dewdney from consumer website The Complaining Cow.
She continues: “The trick to knowing if you are really getting a bargain is to use a price comparison website.
“Although doing your research can be time-consuming, it is crucial for getting the best price. Amazon is often considered the cheapest place for most things, but it’s not always the case.
Tracking site camelcamelcamel.com monitors Amazon items and lets you know when prices are dropping, together with their price history.
“The Boots Advantage card can be really good value. You get three points for every £1 spent – and 500 points equals £5. That’s 3p back for every £1 you spend. The over-60s can collect eight points per £1.
“It also provides a ten per cent discount on many Boots own-brand items, and there are tailored offers, too.
“Boots £10 Tuesday has some great bargains weekly. And you can recycle five old cosmetic containers for 500 points at participating stores.
“With cashback app JamDoughnut, you can earn reward points by buying pre-payment gift cards to use online, in-store or on the phone.
“Currently, for Boots, there is a saving of 3.75 per cent.
“With the Mad About Money app, you can get similar discounted vouchers, but you save before you buy so the money stays in your pocket. Currently it’s five per cent off.”