Beauty Budget Calculator: Plan Your Monthly Spending
Enter your monthly beauty budget and what you spend in seven categories to see whether you are over or under, each category's share, and the limits…
Beauty Product Comparison Tool: Compare Price and Features
Enter the price and size of two or three beauty products to compare the price for the same amount, the cost of each use, and how many of your chosen features each one has.
The beauty product comparison tool puts two or three products on the same scale. A large bottle and a small one become comparable once you see the price for the same amount and the cost of each use.
What this tool does
For each product, it divides the price by the size to give a price for a standard amount, and divides the price by the number of uses to give a cost for each use. It also counts how many of four features you ticked for each product. It compares only what you enter, and it does not test or rate products.
What you enter
| Field | What to enter | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Unit of all sizes | Milliliters, grams, fluid ounces, ounces or pieces | One unit for every product |
| Name | Optional. "Product A" is used if left empty. | Up to 60 characters |
| Price | The price of one pack | Required for A and B |
| Size | The net content printed on the pack | Required for A and B |
| Uses in one pack | How many times you can use it | Optional, 1 or more |
| Four features | Fragrance-free, suits my skin or hair type, has the ingredient or feature I want, packaging I prefer | Boxes to tick |
Product C is optional. If you type anything for it, its price and size are needed too. Use a point for decimals.
How the result is worked out
- Price for the same amount = price ÷ size × 100 for milliliters and grams, shown as the price for each 100 ml or 100 g. For fluid ounces, ounces and pieces, it is the price for one.
- Cost for each use = price ÷ uses in one pack, when you gave the uses.
- The product with the lowest price for the same amount is named first. The result also says how many percent more the dearest product costs for the same amount.
- The lowest cost for each use is named when at least two products have a number of uses.
- The product, or products, with the most features ticked are named.
Messages you may see
- "Choose the unit that the sizes are in." when the unit is empty.
- "Enter the price." and "Enter the size." under a product that needs them.
- "The price must be between 0.01 and 1,000,000." for zero or a negative number.
- "The size must be a number." when a field holds letters.
How to use it
- Read the size from each pack, and make sure that all sizes are in the same unit.
- Enter the prices and sizes, and the number of uses if you know it.
- Tick the features that each product has.
- Select "Compare", and weigh the price against the features.
Worked example
Serum One costs 24 for 30 ml and gives about 60 uses. It is fragrance-free and suits your skin. Serum Two costs 36 for 50 ml and gives about 120 uses, and it suits your skin.
Serum One costs 80.00 for each 100 ml and 0.40 for each use. Serum Two costs 72.00 for each 100 ml and 0.30 for each use. Serum Two has the lowest price for the same amount, and Serum One costs 11.1% more. Serum One has the most features ticked, with 2 of 4. The choice is between a lower cost and a fragrance-free formula.
Limits and assumptions
A lower price for the same amount is not always better value. Products differ in strength and in how much you need each time, which is why the cost for each use is often the fairer figure. The four features are your own judgment, and each counts the same. To estimate the number of uses in a pack, try the Skincare Product Refill Calculator. How to Compare Makeup Prices, Sizes, and Value explains unit prices in more detail.
Related on ArniSun
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the price per 100 ml?
Divide the price by the size in milliliters, and multiply by 100. A 30 ml serum at 24 costs 24 ÷ 30 × 100 = 80 for each 100 ml.
Is the bigger pack always cheaper?
Usually for the same amount, but not always, and only if you finish it before it expires. Compare the price for the same amount, and check the period after opening.
What if I do not know the number of uses?
Leave it empty. The comparison then uses the price for the same amount only. You can estimate uses by dividing the size by the amount you use each time.