Makeup Freebies

From LoveToKnow Makeup

Beauty addicts will be thrilled to learn that there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in makeup freebies. The Internet, cosmetic boutiques and department store counters are all veritable minefields of free goodies. It's just a matter of knowing where to look!

Learn how to get free beauty samples!

The Beauty of Makeup Freebies

They say the best things in life are free. While high-end beauty products may not exactly come cheap, it's safe to say that you can probably try them out for very little. In many cases, companies offer free makeup samples as an incentive to purchase the full-size version. Makeup freebies are easy to find if you know where to turn.

Turn to the Internet first. Typically, freebies offered online come with no strings attached. Just provide the Web site in question with your contact information and a sample will be sent to you in the mail. However, there are also opportunities to receive extras with your online purchase – these, of course, are not freebies but the famous GWP (gift with purchase).

Shopping aficionados know the importance of seeing a cosmetic product in the flesh. The way a product looks in person can make all the difference! Likewise, the way it looks in the packaging can often be drastically different from the way it looks when applied to your face or body. This is where free samples come in. A generous sample that allows you at least a few days to test out the product is ideal, because it allows your skin time to react to the product and allows you to determine whether the product is right for you.

Where to Look

There are plenty of Web sites that specialize in makeup freebies. Department store counters and specialty stores, such as Sephora, also offer samples on occasion. The following is a breakdown of where exactly to look if you're in the market for a few great freebies.

Web Sites

Walmart: Perhaps not surprisingly, leading retailer Walmart is also a leader when it comes to offering freebies. Though their selection is not limited solely to beauty products, they frequently offer a wide range of cosmetic, hair and skin care products. The sample selection changes frequently, so it is advisable to check back at least weekly for the newest offerings.
Teen Freeway: It may be targeted toward teens, but people of all ages can enjoy the samples offered at Teen Freeway. The cosmetic and beauty sections are updated frequently, and typically include a wide variety of opportunities, such as fragrance samples and vouchers for free facials.
Smashbox: Lunch is now a gorgeous affair, thanks to luxury cosmetic company Smashbox Cosmetics. Every Thursday, the company's Let's Do Lunch promotion offers customers a free, full-size gift with any purchase made on the Smashbox Web site between 9am and 2pm PST.
Style For Free: This outstanding online resource is a one-stop shop for all your freebie needs. In addition to free beauty product offers, which include everything from coupons to shipping codes to samples, the site also features deals on fashion, shoes, jewelry and more.

Specialty Stores

Sephora: The indulgent beauty store isn't stingy when it comes to doling out free samples of their high-end products. Receiving a generous product sample is as easy as requesting one from a sales associate. Products such as hair and skin care are typically packaged in small plastic jars, while fragrances are squirted into small vials. Easily packaged makeup items, such as liquid foundations and primers, are also available.

The store occasionally has sample-sized items of mascara, lipstick and similar products. Additionally, the Sephora Web site offers customers three free samples with every online purchase.

Ulta Cosmetics: While you may not find an abundance of free products at Ulta, you might be lucky to run into one of their famous GWP promotions. The beauty of the Ulta GWP is in the sheer number of products offered. Typically, an Ulta makeup gift consists of several different items, often offered in a choice of warm or cool colors. Combined with the store's frequent discount coupons, the GWP ends up being well worth the money spent.

Department Stores

Hitting the department store cosmetic counters may be your best bet in obtaining those highly-coveted freebies. Most counters keep a limited stock of select products in sample sizes behind the counter. Additionally, many department stores offer generous freebies with purchases. Promotions like the yearly beauty events at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman typically offer a designer cosmetic case or makeup bag filled to the brim with high-end cosmetic samples.