I’ll be candid: Halloween has never been my favorite holiday.
For weeks leading up to Oct. 31 I’m cranky and resist dressing up. Then a few days before the party I start feeling left out and cobble an outfit together at the last minute.
It inevitably ends up costing way too much.
I always feel ridiculous in a thrown-together costume while everyone else seems to have a clever pun and flawless Pinterest-level makeup.
Not this year, though.
Even though Halloween falls on a Wednesday, I plan to be ready — and I’m determined not to overspend.
A coworker (who’s far more skilled with cosmetics than I am — thanks, Kelsey) recently shared a tip: buying actual makeup from a beauty retailer like Ulta often makes more financial sense than grabbing the “cheap” Halloween supplies at Party City.
I was skeptical at first. But it turns out she was right. Here’s why.
1. “Real” Makeup Can Be Less Expensive
This was my stumbling block. I know how much my everyday makeup costs, so the idea that buying legitimate cosmetics could be cheaper than the costume aisle seemed unlikely.
Yet you can often find more affordable Halloween makeup options at Ulta — both in their stores and online.
And if you know where to look, you can layer on discounts to reduce the cost even more.
For example, you can earn free Ulta gift cards by completing surveys on Swagbucks (which also gives you a $5 starter bonus).
Buy an Ulta gift card through Swagbucks and shop Ulta via the site. You’ll earn two Swagbucks (SBs) for every $1 you spend, and SBs can be redeemed for gift cards.
To put that in perspective, 2,500 SBs converts to a $25 PayPal gift card that you can use for online purchases.
In many cases, basic costume items cost less when bought from a place like Ulta.
Here’s a comparison of several products and their prices:
Fake eyelashes:
- Sultry False Eyelashes: $4.99 at Party City
- Ardell Glamour Multipack (four sets): $11.99 at Ulta, roughly $3 per set
Lipstick:
- Gold Glitter Lipstick: $2.99 at Party City
- Makeup Revolution lipstick: $2.49 at Ulta
Eyeliner:
- Black Shimmer Eye Liner: $3.99 at Party City
- Essence Kajal Eye Pencil: $1.49 at Ulta (also offered in white)
Self-adhesive face jewels:
- Adult Sea Siren Mermaid Makeup Kit: $9.99 at Party City
- Lottie London Mermaid Self-Adhesive Jewels: $5.49 at Ulta (online-only)
Setting powder:
- Colorless Setting Powder: $3.99 at Party City
- E.L.F. Prime & Stay Finishing Powder: $2 at Ulta (online-only)
Bonus: Here are seven other ways you can save money at Ulta.
2. “Real” Makeup Tends to Be Higher Quality
Once, in middle school, I decided to be a clown for Halloween — for reasons unknown to me now.
I despise clowns, and my face ended up caked in paint, which aggravated my acne-prone skin. I’m pretty sure there’s an awkward photo of that floating around somewhere.
When I dressed as a scarecrow a few years later, the red paint on my cheeks caused trouble. It wouldn’t come off easily — even with makeup remover — and showing up to class on Monday was an ordeal.
One advantage of using genuine makeup is the improved quality. It’s less likely to trigger a bad skin reaction, and many real cosmetic products are formulated to last, so they’re less prone to smearing or sliding off during a boisterous night out.
3. “Real” Makeup Stores Better (and Can Be Reused)
I kept that red face paint palette from my scarecrow costume because it felt wasteful to use a small amount and throw the rest away.
A few months later, while moving, I found it — completely dried up.
Authentic makeup generally stores better and lasts longer. Depending on the item, it might still be good well into the next season.
Also, you’re much more likely to rewear an eyeliner or a neutral lipstick than you are to reuse black face paint on any regular day.
4. “Real” Makeup Gives You More Choices
The Halloween aisle at Party City typically offers a narrow range: white face paint, a clown palette, maybe a couple lipstick shades.
Shopping at a beauty retailer like Ulta opens up a far wider selection. You’re not forced to buy a five-color eyeshadow kit, for instance — you can pick a single shade you actually want and will use again.
And the lipstick variety is impressive: black, green, purple, even neon yellow if that’s your vibe.
Another benefit is originality. You’re less likely to bump into someone wearing the same prepackaged kit, so your costume will feel unique. And on Halloween, that often matters — because nothing’s more awkward than matching someone else’s look.
Carson Brooks is a staff writer at Savinly.
Also, if you’re hunting for costume inspiration or planning to splurge on something wild, check out ridiculously expensive halloween costumes for ideas.
