1) I rarely buy anything fitted (Ex: 100% polyester, 100% rayon) online (only example I can think of that is an exception is "boyfriend" or loose fitting blouses, blazers, etc. although almost everything is better with at least a bit of stretch!). You are taking a shot in the dark if you think every garment is measured to the exact one fourth of an inch. Don't get me wrong, I use those size guides as a general idea, but I keep in mind the fabric blend. My favorite items from online are stretchy dresses, pants, skirts, etc. because they are a guaranteed fit, if you have an general idea of your measurements. A great guideline when shopping for dresses, tops, pants, skirts, whatever article of clothing will be very stretchy and comfy if its a jersey fabric or has at least 3 or 4% spandex or elastin and the rest of the fabric will be cotton or a cotton, polyester blend. I personally don't like rayon/nylon with spandex because sometimes it can make the clothing feel rough and kind of stiff.
2) Make sure you read the return policy for online orders! There are several websites out there with great return policies, some of them even cover your return shipping.
3) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, always google the websites name and the word 'coupon,' 'coupon code,' or 'promo code.' The most popular site, my go to site for coupons, is retailmenot.com. Before you checkout, always search for a coupon code. You can also sometimes find them in blogs as well. They're worth a shot every time!
4) Consider how much you spend on shipping. Speaking of shipping costs, most stores have a dollar amount to reach and then you'll get free shipping. Now, I don't condone over buying (some of us might know what that feels like... me, maybe I've bought a little too much before! Lol) but only put what you need in your cart and if it doesn't meet the required shipping, find out how much it costs to ship your order at that amount. Sometimes it's around $5. In some cases, like if I'm far away from the free shipping price, I'll pay to ship IF its reasonable AND it's not available anywhere else for a better overall price, including any tax. Add in any discount codes you find, as well.
5) Keep an eye out for sales, especially near the end of a season (like right now, today, go! Lol). I have an email that is mostly devoted to websites I subscribe to. They keep you up to date on any sales, but be forewarned, you will have to sift through a bit of junk. Since I'm somewhat glued to my iPhone (I'm sure some of you can relate!) I check my email a few times a day and keep on top of deleting most emails that don't interest me. Here's emails you need to look out for: anything % off site wide, % off already reduced sale items, new markdowns, or any specials where the free deluxe sized gift is something you're truly interested in trying, make sure the needed dollar amount isn't a crazy number first (try not to fall for things you might think you want but end up getting thrown out a year later).
6) Find ways to create an account (sometimes signing up for email is optional or you can unsubscribe just from the emails) and create a saved wish list or closet of items you are interested in or items that you find you are missing in your wardrobe. This way you can check up on things to see if they get marked down. Watch for markdowns in the early week. Look for sales and free shipping on any $ amount through the middle of the week. I feel during weekends, it can be hard to find good specials.
7) READ REVIEWS! Almost all comments are worth reading. Good or bad. Don't let an initial low rating deter you from items you find you truly love, but read the review. If it is defective or cheap looking in person, you'd want to save yourself the hassle! However sometimes the review is just a personal opinion. I take those more lightly than good, solid review comments or anything greater than 4/5 stars that has more than 15 reviews I'd say (based on the popularity/availability of the product) is the way to go.
8) Do what you're doing right now! Read blogs, reviews, watch YouTube makeup favorites videos or just makeup tutorials. Most of the time they at least mention the product, if not link it below the video, for your easy access. You can see that product in action and the immediate results of the application. Take note of products 2 or more people mention positively. I think this is the future of cosmetic sales! We trust other people like us! Especially people you know aren't sponsored. There are a lot of amazing YouTube channels like that. It's a great resource for all things beauty and fashion!
I hope these tips help! I was going to link some of my favorite sites, but this blog is already a novel. Bravo if you've made it to the end, much thanks for your interest in this blog!
