Getting Hold of Beauty Samples for Free!

Beauty products like the latest ‘must have’ foundation or that moisturiser that ‘takes years off you’ are all the rage right now, but with a single pot of cosmetics costing £30 to £40 or even more, how can you try them out before you buy them?

What you don’t want to happen is to go out and buy a whole pot of your chosen cosmetics and then find out afterwards that it’s not right for you or you just plain don’t like it. This is the scenario you want to avoid, where you’ve wasted a load of your hard-earned cash!

The Savvy Sampler Hunter

The good news is that you can get to sample those beauty products for free by getting hold of samples the major cosmetics producers create for the express purpose allowing customers to try them out. You can do so a number of different ways and in this article, we’ll teach you how to make use of them.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Going to Your Local Beauty Counter

The major beauty brands know that if you try a small amount of their products for free that there’s a good chance that you’ll come back and buy the full size one at the full price. This is why they offer them.

These samples are freely available at your local beauty counter, but is some simple etiquette to follow whilst at your local Boots that will mean you get what you’re after without ruffling the feathers of the people who work there.

One thing to take note of at this point, is that the brands of skincare tend to offer more in the way of samples that some of the generic beauty counters. For example, Sephora cosmetics are known to allow you to sample up to three different products at the same time!

Clinique, Clarins and Aveda are also known to offer plenty of good sized samples, in fact there are lots of brands that want you to take their samples and will encourage you to do so. MAC, Bobbi Brown and Benefit are some other good ones to try out.

The first thing to remember is that you should in no way, feel embarrassed in requesting to be provided with beauty samples. It is a perfectly natural part of the buying process, particularly when it comes to skin and hair which are as varied and unique as each individual. You have every right to compare products to find the best one for you. Beauty brands use samples as a way to generate interest and drive revenue, so you should make use of it.

Don’t Go in Acting Entitled

The worst thing you can do is to go in acting rude and acting overly entitled. Aside from the fact that it’s impolite and wrong, the provision of samples is done at the discretion of the salesperson, as they don’t HAVE to give you anything if they see fit. Be nice, be polite and you’ll more than likely get what you need.

Do Your Research

Your typical salesperson will sense when an a serious buyer comes across their path, as they tend to know what they’re talking about. If you do a bit of homework about what it is you’re looking for and the response you get should be that much more positive. You can say something along the lines of “I’ve heard that Clinique have a new toner out and I’m interested in trying it out before I buy some”. You’ll appear less like someone trying to get a freebie and more like a serious shopper and that much more likely to get some good samples.

Don’t Go in When It’s Busy

If you want to be blessed with lots of lovely samples, then you’re better going in during the slower hours of the day, early in the morning or in the evening. If you go in at lunch time and it’s hugely busy, the salesperson won’t be as relaxed and will be much less likely to talk you through the various products they offer.

Quote the Names of Competitors

When buying anything from a salesperson, mentioning one of their major rivals, saying that you’ve “always used their stuff” is a bit of a red rag to a bull. They naturally want to ‘turn you from the dark side’ to their products, meaning you’ve got more chance of being showered with samples!

Pop In Regularly

If you show your face at the same stores and beauty counters on a regular basis, the staff there will see you as a loyal ‘regular’, which will improve your chances of free samples. If they think that you’re just passing and they’ll likely never see you again, the freebies will probably stay in their cupboards.

Unpackaged Samples

Don’t be surprised if the samples you get given are not pre packaged, as there are lots of brands that will dispense a free sample in front of you into a generic pot. In particular, brands like Clinique and Kiehls use plastic pots called ‘drams’ for everything from shampoo to foundation.

Keep Your Eye Out for Product Launches

When a new product launches, more often than not, the marketing budget for it will be that much bigger than others. The upshot of this is that there should be more freebies on offer for you to enjoy. However, you need to get in there quick, as the samples for launch products run out fast!

Book Yourself a Consultation

Lastly, when on the hunt for skincare, a good move is to book a consultation during a slower part of the day, as you will receive skincare samples specifically tailored to your skin type.

It just remains for us to say Good Luck! on your search for freebies and we hope that this article and the tips and advice shown here helps you walk away with armfuls of free samples.

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