One good way to find free makeup samples is to
visit your favorite companies' web sites every few weeks. Olay (http://www.olay.com),
Neutrogena (http://www.neutrogena.com),
and others frequently offer free samples or discount coupons.
Even the more expensive cosmetics, like MAC Cosmetics, L'Oreal
Makeup, and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, occasionally advertise
samples online. In some cases, you can get a freebie if you make
a purchase through the web site. At the time this article was
written, Sephora was offering three free samples with any online
order.
Cosmetic companies usually ask for your e-mail
address so they can send you ads and other sample offers, which
may not be a bad thing if you're a fan of their products. The
company should have a clearly stated privacy policy assuring you
that they won't sell your address to others. Even so, you may
want to set up a secondary e-mail account to receive the ads and
offers, so your main mailbox doesn't get cluttered.
Companies that sell makeup at department
stores sometimes offer special sample kits when you make a
purchase at the counter. Several times a year, Clinique Makeup
offers bonus packages with generous samples of new products and
old favorites. Check online to see if your favorite company
gives similar freebies, and when.
Secrets to Samples
Even when the company isn't officially
offering samples, smart shoppers know to ask if there's
something they want to try. Some of the department store
companies keep sample sizes on hand, but you have ask for them.
Some companies provide tiny vials so that the makeup specialist
can make you your own, personalized sample from the tester
lipsticks, creams, or other products.
The secret to getting these unofficial samples
is threefold. First, smile and be pleasant: remember, the person
behind the counter is doing you a favor. Second, don't be a
sample hog. Ask for only one or two things at a time. And third,
if you're going to make a habit of asking, be sure to be a good
customer, too. You're much more likely to get free makeup
samples if you come back regularly to buy some of the products
you've tried.
Freebies on the Internet
An Internet search for "free makeup samples"
turns up dozens of sites that promise to connect you with free
offers. Some of these are maintained as a hobby by men or women
who just enjoy surfing the web for freebies. They keep track of
which cosmetics companies are offering samples and provide links
to the companies' web sites. Some even rate the quality of the
offers.
Other freebie sites are for-profit companies
that collect personal information. These sites often promise
huge rewards, like high-value gift cards or lots of samples from
different sources. Think twice before sending detailed
information in exchange for free samples. If you wind up with a
mailbox full of spam—or worse, become the victim of identity
theft—those samples might not have been worth it.
Other Sources of Free Makeup
Samples
When you're at the drugstore or specialty
store like Ulta Cosmetics, keep an eye out for free makeup
samples attached to products you already buy. For example, even
if you don't need a new bottle of moisturizer right this minute,
you might want to pick one up if a sample of the company's new
eye cream is included.
Peruse for advertisements on TV and in your
favorite magazines. With a careful eye, you might discover
something free from a new company or from a brand you've been
wanting to try. You might even catch a free sample of a product
you use every day, in a size that's handy for travel.
