Better and Less Expensive Skin Care Using Samples

We women (and the metro men) have to take care of our skin, and it seems that the generally polished look is more important than ever, especially for the natural "little or no make up" look. But whew! The creams and potions can cost so much! $50-$75-$100 or more...all for that precious jar or tube of beauty.

But, wait - the OTC drugstore versions of the latest skin care discoveries are better than ever at a decent price. My bottle of new Garnier Skin Renew with 28 SPF was only $10 on sale, and with the thrifty pump application, will last for months. And there are so many sales and coupons to apply, too.

What's more - there are hidden savings in all the samples the cosmetic industry offers. Samples of lotions ans creams are all over the place if you keep a look out. At the traditional cosmetic counter (often with a coupon - that's how I got my Clarin sample) - at a makeup store like Sephora (where I got a trio of mini lip glosses on my birthday plus a purse-sized hand cream) or Aveda (where I scored a perfume oil with a refillable pocket atomizer, more hand cream, and even a soothing hand massage) - all without spending a cent.

How do you find out about these giveaways?

(1) Freebie sites - Sites like www.freestufftimes.com list the new samples daily, and these offers often go fast. (I missed some Lever soap at the www.walmart.com site - all gone very quickly.) There are other sites like www.freakyfreddie.com where I go to double check the beauty category, to see if I have missed anything.

(2) Join all the VIP sites for magazines and brands as you can - as they often offer samples.
(3) I am a member of www.vocalpoint.com - which recently offered a 28-day supply of a new Olay age-defying formula. (Olay is very generous in its samples of their new products.)

(4) Join Facebook sites like the one for Philosophy for more sample offers.

(5) Rule of Thumb:" Fill out ANY forms from any skincare line - the toniest ones often offer the most generous samples(such as my eyecream from Mlabs).

(6) Pick up Avon samples from street fairs and so on. (It has converted me to the new Avon and I have bought some skin cream from www.avon.com when the shipping was FREE.)

(7) You can even find samples of shampoo and lotions at your health food store (along with vitamin samples). There is a local store I frequent especially because I know that I can usually score some samples there when I shop.)

Remember that there is usually more than one application in each sample packet, so after use, close them up with a bobby pin or paper clip to keep them from drying out, and let you benefit from all of it.

These small sizes are great for travel, especially with all the current restrictions. I take my mini deodorant samples and my toothpaste samples when I go away for a weekend, along with my skin and shampoo samples, and leave the big bottles and jars at home. It amazes me that nowadays people actually BUY these trial sizes at the drugstore (my husband did). All of MINE are gratis.

Using samples of fancy products will give you a sense of what the good stuff is like (often not much better than today's drug store brands!) And by using up your samples you are also at the same time stretching your skin care stash. I have counted out all my packets of samples and found that I had a MONTH'S worth of them. That's a substantial savings, no?

The cosmetic and skin care industry is very generous with their samples, thank heaven, and I do admit that I really DO like to try before I buy. But the penny pincher in me is like a kid at Xmas when the mail bag brings another sample - or I find another offer/coupon on line. OK - it's so girly, but it is fun, and to my mind, a very win/win "sitch" - No? Enjoy - You CAN afford it.