In November 2022, Beautytap, the leading platform for honest and educationally-driven product reviews, UGC and video campaigns, launched the Digital PRO Card Membership Program. To date, anywhere from 20-40 brands participate or have participated in this experts-only discount program.

There are a lot of reasons Beauty Experts take advantage of this exclusive perk where participating brands offer discounts between 20-40%. More about Beautytap’s groundbreaking Digital PRO Card Membership Program below.

What Type of Industry Professionals Are Using the PRO Card?

The Beauty Experts who are members of the Beautytap commumity represent every facet of the beauty industry, including cosmetologists, beauty school students, estheticians, hair stylists, retail beauty associates, makeup artists, and beauty educators.

Which Brands Are the Pros Buying?

Many Beauty Experts have bought products from viral sunscreen brand Vacation and from Versed – and not just for their personal use. Licensed Esthetician Carolyn Crowe Fain purchased birthday presents from Versed (“almost the entire line”) for her 19-year-old daughter, who is “obsessed with this line.” I, too, am among the Vacation devotees and have expanded my collection to include products I didn’t review for Beautytap (including the Chardonnay Oil SPF 30, which feels and smells divine). I’ve also bought additional products from CLE Cosmetics to gift to friends during the holidays and Sibu (to increase my existing subscriber discount).

What’s Driving Purchases?

On any given day, it doesn’t take much to convince me to try something new from a brand I’ve tried through Beautytap’s Review Program, and as a professional beauty writer for more than 13 years, I still invest a substantial amount of my own money buying products directly. For me, it contributes to my integrity, and I appreciate having the ability to share insights about brands I especially enjoy.

Crowe has a covet-worthy wish list in progress. Her top picks include Cosmedix, for use in facials and to retail; Skinworx because “it’s an exceptional skin rejuvenation brand;” Soo’AE “for pimple patches and eye gel masks for personal and professional use;” and ieró Beauty “for products that cross paths with spiritual ritual and [utilize] naturally soothing, grounded ingredients.” Crowe is “attempting to design both a face and body treatment utilizing ieró’s products for a ‘spiritually guided’ treatment.”

Deep Discounts Trigger Sales During Uncertain Times

With skyrocketing inflation and wages failing to keep pace, Beauty Experts are not immune to financial uncertainty. Crowe says, “Financial uncertainty is a bigger issue than I wish it was for myself, my clients, and a lot of the population. But the discount is a factor in choosing products for pro treatments and creating a home care routine.” And the size of the discount really matters. Beauty Expert Elizabeth Brand says, “The 30% off discount for Vacation was a big draw for me.”

The SIBU Omega 7 Soft-gels and Sea Berry Seed Oil are two of my long-time favorites, so I was delighted to take advantage of their generous 40% off discount. It’s one of the largest in the program, and it even applies to Sibu’s subscription program. Tip: Their Polishing Facial Cleanser is a “must have” for oily or combination skin and works equally well for my normal-to-dry skin.

How Much Do Beauty Experts Typically Spend?

Everyone’s needs vary, and because Beauty Experts who participate in the Review Program receive free products for testing, many of them are cautious about their purchases. Average purchases total anywhere from $40 to $200, but most of us try to maximize our discount by reaching the free shipping threshold.

The Experts Explain Their PRO Discount Card Wishes

Since there are anywhere from 20-40 brand discounts to choose from, we asked the experts what else they’d like from the PRO card program. For Crowe, there’s a two-pronged answer: “More devices!! Microcurrent, RF, hair removal, 3 to 7  level LED devices. They’re so useful to accelerate desired results sooner rather than later, and professional-only products to use for licensed estheticians, stylists, etc.”

Other experts want larger back bar sizes and discount minimums of at least 25% since other direct discounts meet or exceed that offering at various times during the year.

Other Pro Discount Programs and How the PRO Card Figures Into the Mix

Many Beauty Experts also have access to pro discount programs from brands they use frequently. Crowe has discount cards for MAC Pro, NARS Cosmetics, and Make Up For Ever” for both personal and professional use, but, like many experts, she’s thankful for the Beautytap PRO Discount because she can “switch up” products and experience something new while keeping her knowledge and brand awareness up to date.

So … how are you maximizing your discount privileges? Drop a comment below.

Learn more about how to become of member of the Beautytap community and enjoy countless perks, including the PRO Card by clicking here.

If you’re a brand and would like to learn more about how to partner with Beautytap to help drive conversions, please click here.