Are Aussie Beauty Addicts Actually Being Ripped Off?
We did the research.
Aussie beauty addicts often feel like they're paying more than their American counterparts. But how much are they actually being ripped off?
BuzzFeed Oz set out to discover if Aussie beauty addicts are really getting the raw end of the deal.
Here's how we did it.
Using the current prices on both the Australian and American retailers' websites, we then added the the nationwide average sales tax of 5.45% to the American price. Using Google's currency converter on July 3rd at an exchange rate of 76 Australian cents to every US dollar, we then translated the American price + tax to Australian currency to see how the Australian price compared.
We began with Sephora.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con Palette
Ouch.
Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick
Tarte Cheek Stain
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
WE'RE CHEAPER THAN AMERICA! This is a small victory, but a victory nonetheless!
So how does Mecca Cosmetica compare?
Mecca has a price promise on its website that states that they stay as close to America's prices as possible.
"The pricing of each of our brands is reviewed every 6 to 9 months on a rolling monthly basis. During times of exceptional volatility around the $AUD, Mecca may review prices more frequently," the website states.
So what about the additional costs? The website says that "Mecca builds in an amount of 5% of the $AUD retail price to cover costs such as shipping & handling costs, and 10% for the Australian GST. To keep things simple, we round this final amount to the nearest dollar."
We set out to test this promise.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
Holy shit! $4.10 is actually a pretty significant saving compared to the US price.
NARS Blush
Too Faced Natural Matte Eyeshadow Collection
Urban Decay Naked Palette
So this is definitely a better deal than buying the Naked palette online, which is nice to know.
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner
So the perfect cat-eye costs us an extra $1.38. You know what is equal, though? The struggle of achieving the perfect winged liner. We all suffer together when it comes to that.
Smashbox Bronze Lights Compact
So what about the department stores?
From our conversions, Mecca showed that they don't put a huge mark-up on most of their items. Would the department stores prove themselves, also?
Benefit They're Real Mascara
An $6.87 price hike on an item that costs $40 is actually pretty big, and ouch. Our bank accounts felt that one.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat
Illamasqua Sculpting Duo
This is basically the best thing ever.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow
Not great. These shimmery cream eyeshadows might be a great look, but that price hike isn't.
Christian Dior 5 Couleurs Designer Palette
Literally WTF why are Aussies getting charged an additional $17.39?!?! Like, as if $85.61 wasn't an obnoxiously inflated price for five eyeshadows to begin with, and they're just like, "nah, chuck another 17 bucks on it, I reckon".
And what about David Jones?
Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Foundation
An extra $12.09 for a flawless complexion?!?! Way harsh, Chanel. Way harsh, David Jones.
M.A.C. Lipstick
Okay, so Aussies are paying an additional $13.91 on every. Single. Lipstick. WTF??? That would be almost enough for a second lipstick in America! M.A.C., why do you hate us?!?!
Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Lipstick
Lancôme Hypnose Star Mascara
Okay first, $52 is an insane amount of money to charge for mascara, but knowing that $12.64 of that is just Aussies getting fucked over makes it hurt that little bit more.
Laura Mercier Moisture Suprème Foundation
That is a significant amount of savings and we are here. For. It.
Guerlain Meteorite Pearls Illuminating Powder
WHOA YOU GUYS. IT GOT BETTER. Saving $15 on a cult favourite?!?! YES, PLEASE x 1,000,000!
But what about the brands at Priceline?
The department store brands were a bit of a mixed bag. Depending on the brand, Aussies are either overpaying up to $17, or saving up to $15. So how do the brands at Priceline compete?
Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick
L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Eyeshadow Quads
That is a GIANT mark up, Priceline. Thanks.
Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal 24hr Cream Gel Shadow
Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips
So this Naked Palette dupe may be significantly cheaper than Urban Decay's, but it's somehow got a larger mark-up?
Essie Mint Candy Apple Nail Polish
When contacted, Priceline told BuzzFeed News that the fault lies with suppliers.
"There is no doubt that suppliers with an international presence sell products to retailers in different countries at different prices. As a result, consumers will see different on-shelf prices from one country to another. For our part, we endeavour to give our customers the widest range, strongest value and expert service of any cosmetics retailer in Australia. To this end, we work with our suppliers to provide the best outcomes for our customers."
And last but not least, what about Target?
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
Target has a lot of the same brands as Priceline, but one brand they've started stocking recently is NYX, a favourite among beauty addicts looking for affordable dupes for their favourite cult items. Well, NYX may be affordable in Australia, but the mark up is still large.
CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara
WTF guys, this is insane! A price difference of $12.21 which means we're paying close to TRIPLE the amount for this mascara. MOTHERFUCKING WHAT?????
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
EXCUSE ME TARGET BUT THIS NO LONGER SEEMS LIKE A BEAUTY ON A BUDGET.