Rare price drop on luxe item you'd never consider purchasing
If you've been carefully curating your beauty wishlist, while also watching your hard-earned savings disappear each week trying to keep up with the cost of living (or even just the price of a decent coffee or strawberry matcha), now is the time to clear your schedule.
End of financial year (EOFY) sales are here, and they're bigger than ever. Retailers are dropping huge discounts to make way for new stock in the financial year, which, long story short, means your dream serum or that mascara you've been eyeing off for months is suddenly within reach.
One of the big events is Myer 's 20 per cent off beauty sale this weekend, offering amazing price reductions on iconic products for Myer One members both in-store and online.
They're the kinds of items that have earned cult status over the years, seen on the runway, in backstage kits, and in the routines of women across the world, and thanks to their viral status, they're constantly selling out.
So, if any of these products have been sitting in your haphazardly curated Notes app 'To Buy' list, it's time to get them out of digital purgatory and into your shopping cart this Saturday and Sunday.
'Smart splurging'
Myer chief merchandise officer Belinda Slifkas urges shoppers to get in quick to avoid disappointment.
'Many of the products featured in this sale are among our fastest movers,' Ms Slifkas told news.com.au.
'They regularly sell out, especially during high-traffic sale periods. We often see certain shades or sizes become unavailable within the first couple of days. These products tend to have a strong repeat customer base, which contributes to their consistent popularity.
'That's why we always recommend shopping early in the sale to secure your favourites – especially when it comes to high-demand hero products.'
She said the sale is a great opportunity for consumers to partake in what is known as 'smart splurging'.
'This is a growing trend, where customers use sales to invest in higher-end beauty with long-term value,' she said.
'We also notice a spike in gift purchases during these times, with many taking advantage of the discounts to spoil loved ones – or themselves – with premium products they may not usually purchase at full price.'
To help you decide what to add to your cart, let's find out exactly what will be on sale and whether or not it's worth the hype.
Clarins Double Serum 50mL, $194 to $155.20
Clarins Double Serum has secured its status as a skincare icon.
Whether you've spotted it on your favourite influencer's shelf or heard about it from a friend, this powerhouse of a serum is renowned for a reason.
It's often touted as a 'complete age-defying concentrate' and promises to literally 'change your skin's future' using 95 per cent naturally sourced ingredients and 22 plant extracts.
Its dual formula claims to help your skin combat all those nasty free radicals that can cause ageing, dehydration, and wrinkles, leaving it looking smoother, brighter, and all-round healthier.
One bottle is sold every four seconds worldwide, which amounts to a staggering 7.9 million units a year, so it's safe to say people think it lives up to its hefty claims.
And with over 450 awards under its belt, it's clear that the beauty pros think so too.
Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum 50mL, $199 to $159.20
Speaking of icons, Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Serum is a night-time staple for a reason.
About 22 bottles are sold every minute worldwide, totalling over 11.5 million a year.
If you've been curious about what makes this little bottle so legendary, now's the perfect time to incorporate it into your routine and give the $199 price tag a miss.
It's packed with hyaluronic acid and Chronolux Power Signal Technology, which is a fancy way to say it helps repair and strengthen the skin's moisture barrier while you sleep.
Like the Clarins Double Serum, it too is designed to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, with many users waking up to noticeably smoother, more even-toned skin.
Dermatologists often recommend it for its gentle yet effective formula, making it suitable for nearly any skin type.
Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+™ 125mL, $65 to $52
When it comes to skincare and makeup that stands the test of time, Clinique is a name that often comes up.
Their Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+™ launched in 1968 and is a classic your mum probably used. You might now too, because you began stealing it out of her drawer when you were a kid and then got hooked on its hydrating goodness.
The lightweight, fragrance-free moisturiser is designed to strengthen the skin's moisture barrier and improve resilience against environmental stressors. It's especially popular among those with sensitive or combination skin due to its gentle, non-irritating ingredients.
According to the brand, one bottle is sold every 3.6 seconds worldwide, which is about 8.8 million bottles a year.
And let's not forget the Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, which has found a whole new audience thanks to TikTok. Seven units are now sold every minute globally, or over 3.6 million a year.
It's a sheer, buildable formula that adapts to your natural lip colour for a universally flattering look that provides just enough tint to elevate your lips without feeling heavy or sticky.
If you've been anywhere remotely online in the last few years, you will have stumbled across Benefit on one of your many feeds.
But you might be surprised to learn the brand has actually been around since 1976 and has long been a leader in the prestige mascara market.
Its mascaras are known for their volumising and lengthening formulas, often featuring unique brush shapes that make application a breeze and give a 'falsie-like' effect without clumps or smudging.
Another of the brand's beloved products, Benetint, has also become a classic in its own right.
This iconic rose-tinted lip and cheek stain was originally created for an exotic dancer in the 70s and has since achieved cult-fave status, with one selling every 11 seconds worldwide, or over three million a year.
Normally retailing for $55, it's the kind of product that's worth every penny.
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