Ask Amy: Price Of Beauty

By Amy Davis

HOUSTON – You're asking Amy where to find beauty on a budget.

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From face cream to bronzers, where you shop could put a wrinkle in your wallet. KPRC Local 2 investigative reporter Amy Davis hit store aisles to compare prices so you don't have to.

Earlier this month we compared the prices of over-the-counter drugs and Target came out as the lowest-priced by far.

This time we shopped the same six stores with much different results.

No matter what it is that makes you feel pretty, paying too much can turn your supermodel smile into a fast frown.

We're on the move, scanning the aisles of CVS, H-E-B, Kroger, Target, Walgreen's and Walmart, comparing the cost of everything from moisturizers to mascara.

Most woman know you can save money on things like moisturizer by skipping the department store and stopping by the drugstore or grocery store instead, but we were surprised to learn a bottle of Oil of Olay Definity moisturizer cost us $10 more at CVS and Walgreen's than it did at Walmart.

The Revlon Colorstay lipstick was $5.62 at Kroger and $9.99 at both CVS and Walgreen's.

Covergirl's Aqua Smoothers foundation was also least expensive at Kroger at $4.60. We could almost buy two at Kroger for the same amount we'd pay for just one at CVS, where they sell for $8.79.

In fact, CVS was the most expensive of all of the stores. The total cost of six items on our list there was $77.74. Walmart had the lowest price for all six items at $58.03 The spread between the highest and lowest-priced stores was $19.71.

Walgreen's was the second highest at $76.04. The other three stores fell within a few dollars of each other.

The moral of this story: Beauty comes with a much higher price tag at the drug store.

All of the retailers we shopped take competitor's coupons. With prices so close between some stores, it's worth it to check out rewards programs and sales to get the very best deals.

To see a list of all of the beauty products we purchased and the prices at each store, click here.


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