How to Get Skincare Samples for FREE!

Okay, so there really isn't some secret code for getting free samples, but I just wanted to remind people that 85% of the time, you can try out a skincare item for free before buying the product. I think a lot of people tend to forget that samples are available and abundant!

Anyway, besides following Skinacea’s Four Golden Rules, it’s always good to test drive a product before buying the real thing.

Sometimes online websites will provide freebies (Dove is pretty great at that) you can get by filling out a form. Some skincare companies are also very generous and will send you samples if you request them via email. However, most of the time, you have to get samples from department store counters or Sephora.

It will depend on the sales lady though. Some of them are very generous with samples, while others are a bit stingy. I guess a few of them think that people who ask for samples just want to get things for free and so they may be reluctant to give you a sample. But, if you think of it another way, sample use is a great way to encourage you to buy the real thing. Unfortunately, there are people out there who hawk around for any free samples instead of genuinely wanting to try a certain product, so if you are one of these people, please stop doing that. You’re ruining it for the rest of us!

I like to sweet talk the sales lady at the makeup counter and tell her things like, “oh, I can tell you use (enter product name of the sample you want to try) because your skin is so luminous and line-free!” Stuff like that usually works like a charm. Just make sure you say things that are realistic and not too over-the-top, like telling a 60-year old woman she looks like she just turned 25.

Anyway, if you can’t get any samples, swapping for used products may also do the trick. If your friends or family members have the product, you can also persuade them to let you try some. OR, you can simply buy the product from somewhere with a good return policy.

However, I am against people using up 50+% of a product and then returning it for a full refund. Even if the product didn’t work out for you, you’ve already used up more than half! But, that’s just me. And that’s why I always try to get samples instead of buying the actual product. I get to use it to see if I like it without feeling guilty about wanting to return the used items for 100% money back!

Many skin care companies now sell samples you can purchase for a fraction of the price. This is great because you can try a product without chalking up the money to buy the full-size version. The thing is, it's hard to tell how long a sample will last you (and sometimes you need a few weeks to see if a product is working or not), packet samples are difficult to seal tightly, and you'll have to pay for shipping twice if you order from online stores. Besides buying samples, many brands also offer a free 60-day trial period where you can to return the product within those 60 days if it doesn't work out for you.

So, get your hands on some samples before trying the real thing. You could be saving yourself a lot of money!

NOTE: Off the top of my head, a couple of websites offer free samples. One is Mario Badesco (you fill out a skin analysis questionnaire and they send you samples suitable for your skin type). The other is Revive (you fill out some information and get to choose 2 samples from their site).

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