News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

Five Below vs. Dollar Tree: Which Has Better Beauty Deals?

Score some amazing beauty deals for less when you shop at Five Below or Dollar Tree.

five below vs dolla tree
Updated Nov. 14, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Both Five Below and Dollar Tree make it easy to save on everyday essentials. And each store offers plenty of beauty items, from skincare to makeup, to help you stick to your budget.

But which store offers the better prices overall for your favorite brands and products? We’ve put these two stores to the test to find out.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Five Below Makeup Sponges vs. Dollar Tree Makeup Sponges

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz makeup sponges

Price: $5.00 vs. $1.25

In this battle between makeup sponges, it may come down to personal preference over price.

You can get a three-pack of Five Below’s infused blending sponges for $5, and each sponge comes with a different infusion to give your skin a healthier glow while you apply your makeup.

Meanwhile, this one-pack of textured Real Techniques Dollar Tree sponge can help tone and help prep your skin with vegan collagen while still only costing $1.25. Buy three, and you will still save over Five Below’s sponges.

Five Below Mascara vs. Dollar Tree Mascara

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz 3 pieces mascara set

Price: $5.00 vs. $1.25

While the Dollar Tree deal may be more affordable, Five Below offers one set that includes three different types of mascara.

The Five Below Smoke & Mirrors mascara is vegan and comes with three brushes to help define, lift, and curl your eyelashes for, you guessed it, $5, while a one-pack of Dollar Tree’s Wet n’ Wild mascara can help give you the look of full, healthy lashes for less for $1.25.

Five Below Foundation vs. Dollar Tree Foundation

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz glow foundation

Price: $5.00 vs. $1.25

These two stores offer a range of foundations for different skin tones and types, and Dollar Tree might just reign supreme.

Dollar Tree’s Clean Beauty foundation option only costs $1.25 for 0.4 ounces compared to $5 for one ounce of Five Below’s Wet n’ Wild. Plus, the Clean Beauty buy comes in an easy squeeze bottle, while Five Below’s has a glass bottle.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Five Below Skincare vs. Dollar Tree Skincare

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz pink clay skincare

Price: $5.00 vs. $1.25

Don’t let these prices fool you – the Five Below find is actually more cost-effective.

You get six ounces of Freeman Pink French Clay peel-off mask for $5 at Five Below, compared to one ounce of Biore’ charcoal cleanser at Dollar Tree. The Dollar Tree find might be good if you’re traveling, but Five Below wins this round overall.

Five Below Body Lotion vs. Dollar Tree Body Lotion

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz body lotion beauty cream

Price: $5.00 vs. $1.25

You get to snag some Dove body lotion from Dollar Tree for an affordable price, compared to Five below.

Five Below’s St. Ives Renewing Collagen & Elastin body lotion is great for better hydration, but you’ll spend less on Dollar Tree’s Dove Body Love Beauty Cream for a lotion that does double duty as a face cream and body lotion. Plus, the Dove from Dollar Tree offers fast absorption and over 24 hours of hydrated skin.

Five Below Nail Polish vs. Dollar Tree Nail Polish

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz nail polish

Price: $3.50 vs. $1.25

If you’re looking for a fast-drying nail polish, then both stores have you covered.

For a fraction of the cost, you get nearly the same amount of Colorvibe nail polish from Dollar Tree as Wet n’ Wild from Five Below. And Dollar Tree has a range of colors to choose from, so you know you’re getting a good deal on just the right shade.

Five Below Shampoo vs. Dollar Tree Shampoo

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz miracle volume shampoo

Price: $5.00 vs. $1.25

Though you’re saving more money at Dollar Tree, Five Below does have a better selection of name brands.

This Aussie shampoo at Five Below gives you less than the Dollar Tree counterpart, White Rain, but sometimes it’s worth those extra dollars. You can even find your Aussie conditioner and styling products at Five Below for less.

Five Below Lip Balm vs. Dollar Tree Lip Balm

Courtesy of FinanceBuzz lip balm

Price: $4.25 vs. $1.25

You can find Blistex at both value stores, but which has the better deal?

Five Below has a three-pack of tropical flavors that’s perfect for the summer, and it’s only $0.50 more than if you bought three lip balms from Dollar Tree. However, the medicated lip balm from Dollar Tree might be a better option if you suffer from dry lips.

Bottom line

Brastock Images/Adobe brunette buying shampoo adobe

Whether you’re looking to save money on groceries, home goods, beauty items, or other must-haves, both Five Below and Dollar Tree have a variety of deals. 

Sometimes, you may want to go with the better price, but other times, spending a little more to get your favorite brands is worth it. All in all, you can’t go wrong with these value stores for all your beauty needs.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Author Details

Ariel Taranski

Ariel Taranski is a writer for FinanceBuzz. She has worked as a content marketer for CPAs and financial advisors, and she enjoys being frugal and money-savvy in her day-to-day life. Ariel has also worked with clients such as The Knot, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Alpha Prime, and many more in her time as a freelance writer.