The little-known beauty websites where you can buy make-up and skincare including Charlotte Tilbury and Dior for 70% off
YOU might think buying beauty products second-hand is icky.
But on many websites this means grabbing brand new, unopened items for a fraction of their original price.
Cosmetics are one of the fastest growing areas for pre-owned buys, according to online marketplace Mercari.
Lina Cameron, a make-up artist and natural beauty coach, regularly searches sites such as eBay and Vinted for discounted products to use on herself and her clients.
On average, she reckons she saves about 50 per cent on the usual price.
For example, she tries to buy her favourite cleanser by Eve Lom unopened on eBay.
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She has also bagged Dior eyeshadow pallets and Charlotte Tilbury setting powder for almost half the usual cost.
“I have to have products in lots of shades for clients so this saves me a lot of money,” she says.
Currently, there are 100ml Eve Lom cleansers in their original, unopened packaging on eBay for £25. They usually retail for £65.
Here, Lina reveals the risks and rewards of buying second-hand — and highlights the best sites to use and some of the current bargains.
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VINTED
SELLERS can post pictures of their beauty products and say how much they want. Buyers can haggle but pay shipping and a buyer’s fee.
Vinted rules state sellers can only list items that are unopened, unused and are in original packaging, including new cosmetics, devices and gadgets.
- Fenty Beauty skin tint, 32ml
- New: £29
- Pre-owned: £11.20
eBay
INDIVIDUALS may advertise beauty items they no longer want, but eBay does not allow cosmetics that have been opened or used.
There are also businesses selling “imperfect beauty” items, factory seconds or products that are as new but come in damaged packaging.
- Tan Luxe The Face self-tan drops, 30ml
- New: £36
- Pre-owned: £18.98
Reliked
A SITE that sells pre-loved items, including beauty products, from influencers and celebrities.
Discounts can be up to 70 per cent off retail price.
The site guarantees every item is genuine and has come from “trusted personalities”. Cosmetics tend to be from online influencers.
- Milk Makeup Tint spritz, 5g
- New: £22
- Pre-owned: £14
Depop
ANYONE can list beauty products for sale on Depop and set their own price.
But rules say cosmetics and perfumes must be genuine and unused.
Buyers now have to pay a marketplace fee on top of the cost of the item, which is up to five per cent of the cost plus a fixed amount up to £1.
- Glossier soft touch lip creme, 6ml
- New: £24
- Pre-owned: £8.99
This Is Beauty
ALL products come directly from UK shops, including online and high street retailers, who cannot sell them due to the packaging being damaged or opened.
Items are up to 70 per cent less than normal price.
The site does a quality control check before listing an item for sale, stating what the issue is.
- Jimmy Choo eau de toilette spray
- New: £79 ????
- Pre-owned: £40.95
Bop
OPERATES in a similar way to This Is Beauty, sourcing products directly from brands.
Each product is inspected and it only sells those that are new, unopened and safe for use.
Packaging may be damaged or items were returned, excess or out-of-season stock, old formulations or had quality control issues.
- Philip Kingsley body building shampoo, 75ml
- New: £12
- Pre-owned: £1.49
Dangers to be aware of
SHOPPING second-hand means a risk of buying fakes.
Have a good look at the packaging and only buy items with lots of photographs, rather than just one.
Check expiry dates, too. Organic products with few preservatives go out of date quickly.
You may want to use a sanitising spray on products.
Lina says: “You can spray powders, bronzers and powder product and kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria. Lipstick you can also spray or shave, but I would never buy lip gloss or mascara on a resale site.”
When buying on Vinted, eBay or Depop, it is at your own risk, whereas some sites sanitise or do the checking for you.
Other sites sell products direct from brands and shops that are guaranteed to have never been touched, but they may be missing packaging or have a dented box.
GIFT CARDS BEING WASTED
ARE you expecting to receive a gift card this Christmas? If so, check the terms and make sure you use it before it expires.
An estimated £300million in vouchers and cards go unspent every year, according to Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
After 18 months, top-selling gift card One4all loses 90p a month until the balance reaches zero. Others may end up being useless within months if a retailer goes bust.
Sarah said: “The last few years have taught us that even big household names aren’t immune to this.
"If they do go out of business it will be up to administrators whether they continue to accept vouchers, so they could be worth nothing.”
Over the past few years, big-name retailers including Wilko, Paper-chase and M&Co have collapsed into admin-istration.
While retailers such as Wilko continue to accept gift card payments until they close, this is not always the case when a retailer collapses.
Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: “You can try to make a claim in writing to the administrators with proof of your vouchers.
“But before you do this, it is worth calling or visiting the store to check the voucher can be used.”
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Shoppers should also take care with vouchers for experience days as they have two deadlines – one for when the experience must be claimed and another for when the activity must take place.
Olivia Marshall
BANK ON A FESTIVE BONUS
LLOYDS is giving customers who switch to one of its accounts £200 just in time for Christmas – but you need to be quick.
The high street giant is offering the cash to new and existing customers who move to its Club Lloyds account.
But there are just days left to get the deal as it will be pulled on Tuesday.
To be eligible, you must use the Current Account Switch Service to change from your bank to Lloyds.
This service moves your direct debits, payments and balance to your new bank. To get the bonus, you need at least three direct debits set up.
You cannot have received a switching bonus from Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland since April 2020.
Existing Lloyds customers can also get the deal if they swap to Club Lloyds and meet the criteria.
The account comes with a range of benefits, including 12 months of Disney+, six cinema tickets or a magazine subscription. But it has a £3 monthly fee unless you pay in £2,000 or more a month.
The offer is also available when you switch to the Club Lloyds Platinum Account or Club Lloyds Silver Account, but these have much higher fees.
To switch, open the Lloyds account online, in branch, by phone or through its app. When you apply, you will be asked if you want to swap from another bank.
The money should be paid into your account within three working days of the switch being complete.
Amelia Stout