I’ve enlisted the help of members of the Facebook Group, Mrs Gloss & The Goss (HERE) who have very kindly put forward suggestions for the most generous-with-samples beauty sites. There is nothing this amazing group doesn’t know about beauty but if you feel you have your own favourites, please do leave them in the comment section. Remember back in the day when you had to fight for a tester of anything? These days brands can’t give away samples quick enough – because sampling works!
It seems that with many sites, their sampling offer stated is the minimum – you may well end up with extra samples depending upon what’s available at the time. Oh, and always check the ‘Offers’ section first before starting your shopping – I’ve seen some incredibly good value offers while researching this post.
Another key point to remember is that if a site has had a drop of very popular product, sales activity will be high, which can mean a depletion in sampling choice.
Multi-brand sites are dependent upon what samples the brands they sell supply. A new drop of samples on one site may well be replicated on another multi-brand site who offer a better sampling campaign in general, so always double check!
Alway head to the ‘Offers’ section on beauty retails sites – while researching this feature, I’ve seen some incredible offers (notably, Clarins).
Don’t forget that you might get more generous sampling in-store rather than on-line – once you’re having a serious conversation with a sales assistant, they can be much more tailored in how they sample and introduce you to other lines within the brand with judicious sampling.
Next up in nominations, is Liz Earle. Currently, the site is offering very decent sample sizes – between 15ml and 50ml – and you get three with an order over £50. If your order is £20 or above, you get a free 50ml Eye Lotion. Delivery is free over £50.
Estee Lauder. It seems this site has impressive offers all round – currently a free lipstick trio with orders over £70 (lipsticks start at £21 each), but in terms of sampling, you’ll receive two small samples (i.e. a fragrance phial) with every order, which goes up to an additional two luxury size samples if you spend over £60. I’ve spotted a new section, as yet empty, called The Mini Bar – it may be to purchase samples or select what you’d like to try. We shall see! Delivery is free.
FeelUnique. Several members mentioned the FeelUnique Pick & Mix where you can choose five sample sized items for £3.95 postage, but two free samples is standard with orders over £30. One member said that she has ordered three months in a row and four out of five each time have been decent sample sizes with only one being a sachet or similar nominal sample. You can also filter by product and get a better idea of which are the best to order.
Clarins offers 3 x 5 and 10ml samples depending upon spend with a wide variety to choose from. So far, it’s the only one I’ve seen sampling sun care alongside skin care and foundation. Free delivery over £50. There’s a handy current offer of over £60 spend, four delux samples sizes worth approx. £86.
Charlottetilbury.com: Two free samples as standard (of skin care, lipstick kiss cards or foundation in sachets) and currently three Lipstick Kiss Cards as well with any orders. Glossers report receiving more than the ‘official’ amount of samples when they’ve placed orders. Delivery is free over £49.
Urban Decay offers 3 samples with every order and free gift wrap and postage. Samples seem to be mainly sachets or bubbles of foundation, concealer and primers but one Mrs Gloss contributor made a pre Christmas purchase and also received a mini Razor Sharp Eyeliner and a mini Perversion Mascara.
Cultbeauty.co.uk definitely gets the thumbs up from Glossers – two samples come with a £50 or over spend from a good selection of hair, skincare and occasionally make up. At the moment there is a small bottle of Beauty Blender Cleanser, and sachets of various skin care. Postage is free with a £50+ spend.
Benefit offers four ‘deluxe’ sample sizes and they’re mainly make-up. Currently, their sampling offer (and my goodness those mini makeups are handy!) includes deluxe minis of Roller Lash, Benebalm, Gimme NBrow and Browvo on orders over £45. Postage is free over £30.
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