This article was co-authored by How.com.vn staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Amy Bobinger has been a writer and editor at How.com.vn since 2017. She especially enjoys writing articles that help people overcome interpersonal hurdles but frequently covers a variety of subjects, including health and wellness, spirituality, gardening, and more. Amy graduated with a B.A. in English Lit from Mississippi College in 2011 and now lives in her hometown with her husband and two young sons.
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If you love makeup, you know that the cost of cosmetics can add up fast. Fortunately, many stores and brands offer free makeup samples to their customers. This is a great way to try out a new product without having to commit to the price tag. You can often ask for samples when you visit a store in person, but you can also get free samples when you buy products online, join rewards programs from your favorite beauty stores, or attend a beauty convention to rack up on the latest swag!
Steps
Scoring Free Samples in Person
Ask for samples at the counter of most major beauty stores. If you want to try a product before you buy it, visit a beauty store like Sephora or Ulta, or stop by the beauty counter at a department store like Nordstrom, and ask if they have any samples available. Often, the salespeople will have trial-size versions of different products that you can have for free, or they may even transfer a little of the product into a small container for you to take home.[1]- If you can, visit during off-hours when it’s less crowded. That way, the salespeople won’t be rushed and will be more receptive to helping you get the samples you want. Weekdays during the day, for example, aren't as busy as weekends.
- Do a little research first and have a list of the specific brands or items you'd like to try.
Get a free makeover at a beauty store like Sephora or MAC. Visit a beauty store that offers complimentary services like makeup tutorials or demonstrations. After your makeover, ask if you can take any leftover samples that the makeup artist uses home with you.- Pick a service related to the type of samples you want. For example, if you’d like free foundation samples, choose a skincare makeover or lesson on foundation or concealer.
- Other popular stores that do free makeovers include Ulta and Nordstrom.
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Shop on Black Friday to get makeup samples and discounts. Go to your favorite stores on Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. On Black Friday, most retailers offer some of the best deals of the year, along with promotions like freebies that are designed to entice crowds of shoppers.- Go as early in the day as possible, preferably in the morning. Promotional products, especially free ones, usually run out quickly.
Did You Know? Many stores have big sales on their websites on Black Friday as well. However, you’ll probably find the best deals online that following Monday, known in retail as Cyber Monday.
Attend beauty conventions if you don’t mind paying the registration fee. While you’ll have to pay for admission to these events, you’ll also have the opportunity to collect tons of free samples once you’re inside. Take a tote bag and browse the different vendors, who will often have baskets of cosmetic samples sitting out for you to snag.- Conferences can range from $50 to $100, depending on the size. However, many people leave with a collection of samples and full-sized products that are worth at least the ticket price.[2]
- Search for conventions and conferences in your area or follow popular beauty bloggers to find which events they attend or like.
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Getting Free Samples Online
Join any free rewards programs offered by your favorite brands or stores. Sign up to be a member of a retailer’s rewards program or subscribe to their email newsletter for the opportunity to receive free samples when you join or on your birthday. Typically, you earn points toward samples or full-sized products with every purchase you make. You may even occasionally receive rewards just for being a member of the program, like a gift on your birthday![3]- You can find rewards programs at major retailers, like Sephora and Ulta, but some brands, like MAC and Smashbox, have online loyalty programs on their websites as well.
- You can even join a loyalty program at a chain store like CVS or Walgreens to earn free full-sized products from popular drug-store brands!
- Join as many different retailers’ programs as you’d can to get as many rewards as possible.
Get free samples when you buy online from stores like Sephora. Visit different retailers’ websites to find any current deals or promotions that give you samples for free with the purchase of other items. If you know you're buying something anyway, like a new hairbrush, see if you can buy it from a site that offers free samples instead of from a site without any perks.[4]- If you order online from Sephora, for example, you'll receive 2 free beauty samples, but many other beauty retailers offer similar deals as well.[5]
- Some companies may have a minimum purchase to receive samples, like $25 or $50.
- Keep an eye out for these types of deals around the holidays, like Christmas or New Year’s, when they’re more popular.
Enter a giveaway on social media if you want to win samples. Follow your favorite beauty brands on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter for the chance to win free samples through giveaways. Keep an eye out for contests that require you to like, share, or comment on a post to be entered to win, then follow the directions to enter. While it's not a guarantee, if you're lucky, you could score free product from a brand you love![6]- Make sure your notifications from the brand’s page are turned on in your settings if you’re using Instagram.
Tip: Read the rules of the giveaway to find out if you can comment or tag a post multiple times to count as multiple entries. The more you enter, the more likely you are to win!
Sign up to be a product tester for the chance to try full-size products. Find companies that offer cosmetic product testing or review programs. Register to receive samples in exchange for writing positive reviews, sharing the product on your social media pages, or completing a survey.[7]- Know what the expectations are when you sign up. For example, if you agree to share the product on your Facebook page, ask the company if there’s there a specific photo you need to post, key talking points, or a certain time they want the post to go up.
- Some popular companies for makeup testing include Influenster, PINCHMe, and Vogue Insiders.
Request samples by writing an email if you want a specific product. Make a list of brands or companies where you’d like to get free samples from. Then, find an email address for the company’s media relations or customer service department on the company’s “About Us” or “Contact Us” page. To write the email, start by complimenting the company’s cosmetics and then work your way to requesting samples. When you’re finished, hit the send button.[8]- If you’re a blogger or social media influencer, include that you can provide free publicity to your followers for the brand.
Write something like...
“Dear Sir/Madam, I’ve been a very loyal customer of XYZ Cosmetics for almost 10 years. It’s the only lipstick that I use! I love how moisturizing and long-lasting it is. I’d like to try the new line of lipsticks you just released. Would you be able to send me a few samples? I’m so excited to add them to my collection of XYZ Cosmetics! Sincerely, Jane Doe”Advertisement
Expert Q&A
References
- ↑ https://moneypantry.com/free-beauty-samples/
- ↑ https://thechicdaily.com/2016/02/11/are-beauty-conventions-worth-it/
- ↑ https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/money/free-or-affordable-makeup
- ↑ https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/money/free-or-affordable-makeup
- ↑ https://www.sephora.com/beauty/free-beauty-samples
- ↑ https://moneypantry.com/free-beauty-samples/
- ↑ https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/money/free-or-affordable-makeup
- ↑ https://moneypantry.com/free-beauty-samples/
About this article
To get free makeup samples in person, ask at the counter of a major beauty store like Sephora or Ultra, which often give out testers of different products. If you don’t have a beauty store near you, ask at the beauty counter of your nearest department store like Nordstrom. Alternatively, join a free reward program online for your favorite brands or stores, which often send you free samples when you join, on your birthday, or at random times. Keep an eye on their social media pages too, since they often have giveaways for free samples. For more tips, including how to become a product tester to get free makeup samples, read on!
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