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People love to get a good deal. After all, why should you pay money for an item if you can get it for free (or for a significant discount)? When you save money on one item, you can apply the difference toward something else you need or want. Scoring great freebies is one way to cut back on the cost of living and also lets you try out new products with no associated risk.

What are freebies? Companies give away free samples to get the word out about their products or to expand their customer base. You can score toiletries, food, makeup and more. With a little bit of work, you’ll find a wide variety of samples from many different companies.

What Kind Of Freebies Are Out There?

If you are just getting started as a deal hunter, you likely do not realize how popular this topic is on the Internet. There is a huge community out there, with more members joining each day, that are on the look out for free items. There are so many deals available if you just know where to look.

Even large companies, like Pampers and Gillette, participate in the giveaways. It is not unusual to see makeup samples from Yves Saint Laurent, MAC and Benefit, either.

I’ve benefited greatly from searching for freebies online. I have great perfume samples. I’ve been gifted free food and toiletry items. I’ve even been lucky enough to eat at a local restaurant and not pay anything out of pocket. I’ve saved a lot of money during this process, and it makes me feel good to be able to help my family’s finances in that way.

Finding Freebies

It is really simple to begin looking for deals. All you need is internet access and a device that allows you to get online. You also need a mailbox. Typically, when you see a freebie that you want, you simply have to enter your address so the company knows where to send the item. Each product is different; some may take longer than others to get to you.

If you get impatient waiting for freebies to be sent to you, try a different route. You can get coupons and pick up your freebies at the store if you would like. You just need to submit your email address and the coupon will be sent right to you.

In some cases, you don’t even need to print out the coupon. All you have to do is pull it up on your smartphone and the store can scan it that way. This makes it even easier to collect your freebies.

Getting Started

There are certain freebies that I like more than others. As you get started on your deal hunting journey, why not check out a few of my favorites? First, sign up for the Krispy Kreme fan club. You’ll get a coupon for a free donut! Also, look into scoring a sample of moisturizing face cream from Aveeno.

Advice

There are a few things that you can do to make this process go smoothly. First, set up an email address solely for the purpose of getting these deals. That way, you don’t have to worry about a bunch of emails clogging your normal inbox.

Regularly look at your junk folder to make sure nothing was sent there accidentally. If your browser asks if you want it to save your contact information, select “yes;” this will save you time as you fill out different forms.

There are a lot of freebies just waiting for you to collect them. There is no reason why you shouldn’t get started today. Before you know it, you will be racking up the savings!

The beauty industry in the UK is one of the most popular and profitable being worth approximately over £17 million and statistics indicate that this will increase as the year progresses.

While beauty may be great for the national economy, it is not beneficial for the consumer’s pocket. Records show that the average British female will spend an overwhelming £100,000 on beauty products in her lifetime. It is seen that facial beauty products occupy the largest proportion of this amount with the average annual spending amount being approximately £279.41. That calculates to be £18,000 or so across the woman’s overall life span.

One of the top attributes all women aspire towards is having a healthy complexion. Statistics show that approximately 24% of females cite dry and cracked skin as their largest concern, with oily complexions following closely at 22%. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not the most concerning attribute coming in at only 15%; however, it does still contribute to the disruption of a healthy of complexion. This explains why foundation is another big facial beauty product expense.

By using a high quality foundation from a designer brand, it is possible to gain a healthy complexion. Unfortunately, this designer brand setting can cost the average person up to £30 or more; therefore, it is essential that we find the best foundation first time around to avoid unnecessary expenditure. While colour-matching is often performed in-store, the artificial lighting and professional application can result in choosing the incorrect product.

Needless to say, it would be ideal if we could take home generous samples of brand foundations to try each for several days. You would not have to waste money on products that are not well-suited to your skin type or tone.

The positive news is that free beauty products are now available from Wow Free Stuff giving you a full month’s worth of foundation samples from designer brands. The products can be collected from store counters and tried at home. I tried the items myself to find the perfect foundation for my skin tone and here is what I discovered:

• The Clinique Superblanced™ Silk Makeup SPF 15 10-Day Sample

As part of the free samples selection was this Clinique foundation product. A new, highly rated item that is ideal if you are searching for a foundation offering sheer to moderate coverage. It has an oil-free base with a natural, ‘naked’ matte finish making it perfect for combination or oily skin types.

The unique formula of Clinique’s Silk Makeup sample is beneficial because it adds moisture to the skin removing oil where required. This mixture not only improves the skin’s complexion, but also makes the wear comfortable throughout the day. The SPF protection is a bonus feature helping the skin appear vibrant and as attractive as it would without a foundation.

Even with the advantages of the product, a bottle of this foundation costs a mere £23 making it ideal for your skin and pocket.

I received my FREE 10 DAY SAMPLE by following the directions on Wow Free Stuff.

The Clinique Superblanced™ Silk Makeup SPF 15 foundation was the first sample I tried and I was initially very impressed with its performance. The assistant at the beauty store matched my skin tone well applying blusher and lipstick in addition. I walked out of Boots pharmacy feeling like a model, convinced I had located my perfect product. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

As time passed, I attempted to replicate the initial look created by the assistant at Boots. Sadly, I found this procedure too difficult to perform and I found that the foundation was not blending correctly. It began appearing too rigid and heavy for my preference and I was no longer interested in the formula.

• The Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10 10-Day Sample

Voted first in the United Kingdom, the Double Wear by Estee Lauder is an iconic foundation beauty product. Its promise to keep the wearer appearing fresh and natural-looking is the base of its cult following. Regardless of what you are doing, where you are, the climate or culture, Estee Lauder ensure that you will continue looking flawless.

The beauty product is available in 44 skin tone colours making it near impossible to not find a foundation to match your skin. I was lucky enough to receive a free 10 day sample of this foundation by following the directions on Wow Free Stuff.

When collecting my sample from the House of Fraser, the Estee Lauder beauty counter assistant provided me with information regarding the product and its advantages. She used an eye match tool to find the ideal colour for me and tested a sample near my neck.

I will admit, I was not keen on the foundation in the beginning as I prefer lighter formulas. I was also put off by the product’s supposed 24-hour durability. I felt the foundation was not suitable to my face and as the product was not applied to my face in-store, I had yet to determine whether or not it was worth my time.

When I used the sample at home, I began to take an interest and it grew on me. While I do find the formula to be slightly heavy, the colour tone match was perfect and looked natural. I am also highly impressed with the buildability of the foundation.

• The Smashbox Studio Skin 15-Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation 7-Day Sample

As noted in Glamour Magazine, the Smashbox Studio Skin foundation is one of the most beneficial beauty products and is definitely worth spending money on. Created without the use of chemicals, oils or dangerous fragrances, this product can hydrate the skin without unwanted shine.

The Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating foundation is a highly practical option for daily use. It is perspiration-resistant and offers 15-hour coverage for the wearer, which is ideal for people who have busy lives or enjoy attending the gym after work.

The question remains: is this product ideal for your skin tone? I was curious if Smashbox had developed the perfect foundation for my skin, so I tried the free 7 day sample with thanks to Wow Free Stuff.

Disregarding the popular Studio Skin Primer, I had not used a Smashbox product before in my beauty regime. I was slightly dubious about the product; however, the counter assistant at Boots assured me that this foundation was fantastic. In fact, to convince me she even threw in a hydrating prima sample.

Similar to the Estee Lauder option mentioned above, this product was tested on a small portion of my face. It was only once I returned home that I was able to see the full effect on my entire face. The result: I like the product.

Smashbox has really smashed it out of the box with this foundation. It is beneficial in that it glides on easily during application and was not too matte in appearance. Lighter than the other samples, it met my colour preference and skin tone needs.

• The Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup 10-Day Sample

A second free sample from Estee Lauder was the Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick foundation product. This was an ideal option because it presented as a liquid makeup stick and a pro tool in one.

The formula was light in weight and hydrating giving the skin a healthy complexion. It is easily used for sheer to medium coverage and can last for approximately eight hours.

Certain beauty brands offer free samples to potential customers allowing them to try the new product before making a purchase. There is nothing more annoying than spending large amounts of money on new foundations when it does not even match your skin tone correctly. However, beauty experts in the industry know certain secrets about how to get your hands on specific free make-up products, simply by asking for a make-up sample.

Estee Lauder, Benefit and Soap & Glory are among the larger corporations who hand out free make-up samples; but the supplies are limited, so you need to know where to find these samples. Skincare companies, such as L’Occitane and L’Oreal are also known to give out small samples of their new products to potential clients before any purchases are made. There are certain methods whereby you can gain hold of these samples including requesting the products online or asking for samples in a retail store.

While you might not always be able to bag a full-sized tube of Mac brand foundation, it is possible to obtain small pots of the product that are ideal to slip into your favourite handbag for travelling purposes. So, before you decide to splash out on the latest Givenchy lipstick, try to use these top tips to make sure you cannot obtain the product for free before making a purchase.

1. Asking At The Beauty Store Counters

While making a request for free makeup samples in person can be overwhelming, it is something that you should take advantage of. Beauty counters in retail outlets such as Debenhams, House of Fraser and Boots will often have free samples available for customers who wish to try the product before making purchases.

However, you should be aware that make-up artists do not hand the free samples out to simply any person; you need to show a genuine interest in the product before they will give you a sample. According to the founder of LatestFreeStuff.co.uk, Deepak Tailor, if you are considering spending at least £20 or more on a make-up product, it is highly recommended that you ask for a sample to try beforehand.

Clarins is a brand well-known for their freebies and these skincare brands are often more generous with free products than make-up counters. Just remember that the store assistants will not hand samples out if they believe you are in it to collect the freebie and not try the product.

2. Sign Up To Test Make-Up Products

Large brands will typically send out free product samples in exchange for customer feedback. In some cases, the company will ask for feedback to be sent directly to the business; however, other brands may ask you to share your opinions and thoughts on social media sites including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

According to Deepak Tailor, skincare and make-up brands are constantly searching for bloggers and testers to use their products and offer feedback before the item is released to the public. To use the samples, it is recommended that you sign up to the big brands’ product testing panels. Of course, not all of the brands will use your services as they may be targeting a specific demographic; for example, a skincare company may be testing products on females between the ages of 20 and 25 years.

Soap & Glory have a ‘Beauty Brigade’ product testing group where members can register and will be sent products to review from their homes. Another skincare brand, Elemis, allows customers to register for the chance to test new products before they are released to the general public.

3. Feel Unique Pick And Mix

Feel Unique is an online beauty brand offering customers the chance to choose a maximum of five free product samples per month from over 400 sample brands, such as Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, Clinique moisturisers and Yves Saint Laurent fragrances.

The samples available from Feel Unique are small measuring in at approximately 1.5ml per perfume sample and a single sachet for foundation items; however, this amount can last a long time. You will need to pay an amount for packaging and postage, approximately £4; but you will receive a gift voucher worth the amount paid which can be redeemed in a beauty store.

4. Freebies On Social Media

It is common for people to see items on their Facebook timeline showing skincare brands offering free samples in exchange for post sharing or liking. Unfortunately, the limited number of samples makes it difficult to find the samples and obtain the items. Magic Freebies is one website that collects these social media offers allowing you to find them in a single online area.

Current sample offers available from Magic Freebies includes beauty samples from Estee Lauder, such as a 10-day foundation and primer. Of course, there are various other options when you register to another sample website.

Magic Freebies is not the only free sample website and other websites, such as LatestDeals.co.uk and LatestFreeStuff.co.uk, collect all current deals available offering free samples available when registering to other websites. In previous years, these websites listed free samples from large brands including Estee Lauder, Chanel, Revlon, MAC and L’Oreal; so, it is definitely worth keeping your eye on the sites.

A lot can be made about the cost of living. For some, it is a non-issue but for the vast majority of us, it is a big issue. Unfortunately, things only seem to be getting grim by the day. Even though our government does pursue policies geared towards reigning in on the cost of living, most of the policies outcomes are usually short lived, and sooner or later, the cost shoots up again.

When the going gets tough, we often end up reducing our spending, opting to take care of the basics only, thereby forgoing many of the luxuries spending that we are accustomed to. However, this should not always be the case, more so when there are alternatives you can turn to.

Herein is a guide on how to use one of the most common resources in the modern era we live in – the internet – to reduce your spending, by finding alternative sources of the pleasure products you love. You may not know it but it is possible to enjoy your favourite satellite TV show and trips to the movies, go out for dinner, keep fit, and stock up on your favourite snacks all for free. All you need to know is how and where to look for these freebies on the internet.

Open Your Notebook, Let’s Get Started

As mentioned, the only resource that you will need is the internet. Obviously, you will need a device to connect to the internet as well. With these two items, you are ready.

#1. Setting Up An Email Account For Receiving Freebies

The first task in this endeavour is to set up and email account solely for the purpose of receiving freebies. The main reason for this is to reduce the amount of junk email you receive in your ordinary email. For you to receive the freebies that are on offer you have to give up your email address to the companies providing the freebies.

Unfortunately, once you give these companies you email address, you are assured of receiving a lot of emails that you are not necessarily interested in and have little to no benefit for you. As such, you might consider them as spam emails. Nonetheless, they keep coming and the more freebies you receive from different companies the more they are bound to increase. To avoid this mess, we recommend creating a new email address.

There numerous high-quality and secure email services such as Gmail and Yahoo Mail. While setting up the email, make sure the address is simple and easy to remember as you do not require a complicated email address for this task. However, since the email address will contain your personal information, make the password is strong.

Using the email, you should create a Facebook account as well. Many of the social media savvy companies are now focusing on giving freebies through social media sites (Facebook Likes come to mind) as much as they do using the email. However, you need not worry about your privacy. You can always adjust your privacy settings to make your account as private as possible, making you invisible so that people cannot find you.

Signing Up To Freebies Websites

The best way to find businesses giving free stuff is to sign up to websites of communities that lists various businesses providing freebies. However, you do not need to sign up to all of such websites as they most often provide the same information. Only once in a while will a freebies website list an exclusive deal.

A good website to use is wowfreestuff.com. The good thing about this website is its simplicity. On the far right of the website, is a list of all website currently providing free stuff. That is the list you are going to use. However, before opting into certain deals, ensure that they are not competition. You would not want to spend a great deal of time filling in forms only to gain nothing from your effort thereafter. Another good website is the Vonbeau website.

Setting Up Where To Receive The Free Items

When it comes to setting up the mailing address, many people just opt to use their regular mailing addresses. However, some do opt to use an additional P.O. Box to double the amount of free stuff they receive. However, you should note that some businesses do not accept P.O. Boxes.

After setting up everything it is time to receive the freebies. Ideally, you would want to receive anything and everything even when you are sure that you will not be using a particular item. You can always give it to a neighbour, a family member, or a friend. Plus they are free.

Until recently, I had not worn makeup at all. This was primarily due to the cost, but also due to the fact that it is challenging to find the correct product to meet my skin tone. However, all this changed when a sales associate at a makeup boutique offered me a lesson on getting free makeup samples. Since that day, I have received handfuls of samples and this article will provide information on how to get these samples.

Firstly, here are four makeup products you can receive without having to pay anything.

Foundation

A previous post by Bargain Babe showed her speaking to a professional makeup artist who stated that she pays for more for certain products, such as foundation, that are in close contact to her skin. For other products, she will tend to use drugstore brands. By choosing the correct product for your skin, it is important you opt for the correct color or you will be wasting your hard-earned cash.

To avoid making an incorrect choice, it is recommended that you try a sample of the product before committing to the makeup item. This is particularly true if you are using a department store brand.

Mascara

The flirty lashes are a must-have for almost all women, but some mascara can result in clumpy messes instead of long lashes. To avoid this issue, it is recommended that you ask for a sample instead of using the testers others have used at the store. The eye area is a highly sensitive one and you do not want to catch any infections from previous testers. I was able to get a free version of Lancôme’s High Definition mascara from their counter when I asked for a sample.

Perfume

A person’s skin reacts differently to different perfumes; therefore, it is essential that you request a trial size before purchasing the perfume itself. Before committing to L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, I asked for a sample and received one.

Skin Care Products

My skin is sensitive and this means I can use only certain skin care products. By using sample products before purchasing the full item, I am able to determine whether or not the product is suitable for my skin. At the moment I am trying Bare Escentuals’ cleanser and moisturizer before deciding on whether or not to purchase the full bottle.

Now that you know which products you can receive as a sample, here is a guide on how to get makeup samples without making a purchase.

Be Friendly

The first point to consider when trying to receive a sample is to be friendly to the person behind the makeup counter. A sales person is more likely to assist individuals who are polite and courteous instead of rude and arrogant. Of course, this friendliness must not be faked or you will not receive any samples.

Make Conversation

Some of the sales people are amateur makeup artists and will enjoy sharing their secrets, so it is recommended that you make conversation to “pick their brains” regarding makeup application. For example, one sales associate tipped me to use Stila’s convertible color on my cheeks and lips.

Ask For The Samples

The aim of the conversation is to ultimately ask for samples, and it is as easy as asking for them. The majority of makeup boutiques will have samples for customers wishing to try a product and all you need to do is request them. However, if you are not keen on speaking to a sales person, it is possible to obtain free samples online from drugstore company websites or makeup store websites.

Make A Purchase

While asking for samples is fine, it is recommended that you make a purchase as well and not use samples only. This will help you build a relationship with the sales associates at the makeup boutiques and could lead to more free samples.