Yes, it's very possible to receive free makeup samples — you just got to know how it works and where to look.
While some of the items below work more like a free gift with a purchase, we also have ways to get actually free makeup, perfume, and skincare samples below. And we're talking samples from top brands, high-end even (like Hermes).
Psst … Don’t forget to download The Krazy Coupon Lady app to get the latest makeup coupons and deals on all things beauty. Or, you can text HACKS to 57299. And if you want more info on free stuff, check out our tips on getting birthday freebies or free rewards for students.
Beauty Freebies Available Now
Does Sephora still give free samples, online or in-store?
Yep, you can get free samples from Sephora in a couple of ways. If you want samples absolutely for free while visiting a store, tell an associate that you're considering purchasing an item and ask if it's ok to bring home a sample. They'll usually say yes. This works for makeup, perfume, and skincare items.
Sephora also offers free items with online purchases, along with free samples on your birthday. With any online, you get two free samples. Find some of their offerings below.
As for your birthday, all three tiers of Beauty Insider members (Insider, VIB, and Rouge) can redeem a free gift in-store at any Sephora or Sephora at Kohl's location. You're better off redeeming this gift in-store, because otherwise, you'd have place an order of $25 or more to redeem it online. Note that the free gift is up to the store's selection of offerings at that time.
RELATED: Here's Which Free Sephora Birthday Gifts Are Worth the Most in 2024
Does Ulta give away free samples?
Yes, with a caveat. In November 2023, Ulta free Sample kiosks popped up in select stores in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas. You could get one free sample a week.
Note that you have to be an Ulta Beauty Rewards member to redeem a free sample — which, don't worry, still means you don't have to pay anything. The Ulta Beauty Rewards program is simply a loyalty rewards program that is free to join.
Otherwise, the only other way to get free samples at Ulta is through their Free Gifts with Purchase program, which is definitely worth your time. For example, I've been able to shop a holiday sale where they offered BOGO 40% off, and on top of my purchase, I got some free La Roche Posay samples. I personally think the samples offered are better than Sephora's, since Ulta will often include mini-sized bottles of products rather than just satchets.
How can I get free samples from skincare companies?
If there's a brand you really love, you can check their official website to see if they're giving away any free samples. For example, right now, you can get a free Cerave Moisturizing Cream, while supplies last. You just have to enter your shipping info on their website.
La Roche Posay had a similar deal in late 2023, but supplies have run out. No worries, though, because these deals happen all the time.
Is the Walmart Beauty Box really free?
The Walmart Beauty Box comes out four times a year and is always free — you just pay $7 for shipping.
So what’s in the Walmart Beauty Box? In my last box, I got samples of:
NYX lipglosses (2)
That’s at least $15 worth of product for just under $7. Not bad!
Will any beauty companies give me free stuff in exchange for an honest review?
Love sharing your opinion with others? (Same, girl. Same.) Thankfully, there are plenty of companies that will send out free products in exchange for your honest review.
Some sites offer free makeup samples and skin care samples, while others send out full-size products. Free products aren’t guaranteed, of course, but it can’t hurt to sign up and give it a try.
Here are some companies that send out free skin care samples and free makeup samples by mail:
PINCHme
Sign up with PINCHme to give honest product reviews, and they will send you a PINCHme box of full-size products from Biore, Skittles, Elf Cosmetics, and more!
L’Oreal
Fill out a survey to be considered for the L’Oreal consumer testing panel. Brands like Kiehl’s, Maybelline, Skinceuticals, Urban Decay, Lancome, and many more fall under the L’Oreal umbrella.
Influenster
Sign up for Influenster and connect your social media accounts for the chance to receive a VoxBox, which is packed with full-size products that you can try, review, and discuss with other bloggers, testers, and influencers on their platform.
BzzAgent
Fill out a survey, connect your social account, and you could receive a BzzKit with some of your favorite brands’ products to review. The more you participate with BzzAgent, the more products they’ll send you. Freebies range from beauty and makeup products to even food and grocery items.
ThePinkPanel
Fill out a short questionnaire from ThePinkPanel and you could be selected to receive free samples of skin care or makeup products for you to test and then review. In some cases, you may even get paid $50 to $200 for your participation.
Are there any beauty subscriptions that offer free trials before you fully commit to them?
Here are a couple of subscription services that offer free trials, which is a great way to try before you buy:
Curology: Get a free trial of Curology’s individualized skin care set and pay just $4.95 for shipping. Curology normally starts at $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping per month for trial sizes of whichever products they recommend for your skin care routine. Make sure you cancel after you get your free trial if you don’t want to be billed for the next shipment.
Lumin: Men’s skin care matters, too, and you’d better believe that men’s skin care subscription boxes are a thing. Lumin, a subscription service for men’s hair, skin, and body products, will do a free trial for new customers. You get to pick which box you want — each has three generously sized products that they say should last two months — and you only pay $6.95 for shipping. A Lumin box typically runs $60 – $76.50.
PRO TIP: Though not as exciting as a free box or bag full of products, higher-end services like Allure Beauty Box and BirchBox will often send newbies complimentary full- and/or sample-size products as a bonus in their first box.
Do any companies send you free makeup samples by mail?
If you’re going to be spending money on certain products anyway, make sure you are racking up all the freebies you can in the process! FYI, some sites require a minimum spend in order to get your free sample(s).
Here are the sites that we know offer free beauty samples when you make a purchase online:
Can couponing help me score any makeup freebies?
Consistently getting your hands on free makeup products and skin care goodies is best done through couponing.
Recently at Target, L’Oreal Cream Cleanser was marked down to $5.99 for a 5-oz bottle. Target also had a promotion where if you bought three bottles, you’d get a $10 Target gift card. Plus, I found a Target Circle offer for a certain percentage off and L’Oreal coupons for a few dollars off. I combined all of this, and not only was this cleanser free, but I made a few bucks on the deal.
Trust me, learning how to coupon is worth it! And Target is the best place to start.
Drugstores like Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS are also hot spots for deals on free beauty and health products thanks to their rewards programs.
PRO TIP: Always look for makeup coupons and deals on the KCL website.
Do any beauty brands host giveaways?
Loads of beauty brands do giveaways that they advertise (sometimes exclusively) on their social media accounts. If you love a brand, make sure you follow them on social media channels so you know when freebies, sweepstakes, and giveaways are happening.
Here are some brands that have regularly held giveaways in the past on either Instagram or Facebook (or both!):
Tell us what you think