Want free skincare samples?
You’re not alone.
Skincare is big business. In 2025, the U.S. skincare market will make over $26 billion.
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Skincare products sure are popular and with good reason.
The right products can make your skin look healthy and fresh.
But skincare products are expensive. Even drugstore generic brands are not cheap.
The good news?
You don’t have to spend money to try great products.
In this post, I’ll show you easy ways to get free skincare samples from real brands. No tricks. No scams.
Just simple steps that work.
Table of Contents
Why Get Free Skincare Samples?
Skincare samples give you the chance to try out new products and brands without having to part with any of your hard-earned cash.
This means that you don’t waste any money buying products that you don’t end up liking.
Free samples of skincare products allow you to try out everything from rejuvenating serums to hydrating moisturizers, all without spending a cent.
What Types of Free Skincare Samples Can You Get?
Before we get into how to get free skincare samples, let’s talk about what kinds of samples you can actually score from the places we’ll mention.
Here are some common types of free skincare samples you might get:
- Moisturizers to keep your skin soft and hydrated
- Face serums packed with vitamins and antioxidants
- Sunscreens that protect your skin from sun damage
- Cleansers to wash away dirt and makeup
- Toners to balance your skin’s pH
- Eye creams that reduce puffiness and dark circles
- Face masks for deep cleansing or hydration
- Exfoliators to gently remove dead skin cells
- Lip balms for soft, smooth lips
- Facial oils that nourish and repair your skin
- Acne treatments to help clear breakouts
- Anti-aging creams to fight wrinkles and fine lines
- Makeup removers that leave your skin fresh
- Night creams to repair skin while you sleep
- Sheet masks for a quick boost of moisture
Knowing what’s out there can make it easier to pick which samples to try first. And most of these samples come from well-known brands you can trust.
How to Get Free Skincare Samples
Getting free skincare samples is easier than you think. You just need to know where to look.
Below, you’ll find 10 tips on how to get skincare samples for free.
Please note that some of these options require you to make a purchase before you can get the samples. Others may require you to leave a review. Some of these tips don’t require either of those things.
Now, onto the list!
1. Local beauty counters
In-store beauty counters are honestly one of your best options if you’re looking to get your hands on some complimentary skincare products.
Brands want to sell products. This means many of them will give away free samples of products as an incentive for customers to make a purchase in the future.
My mom is an expert at the beauty counter and has gotten free samples of everything from moisturizer to cosmetic bags to night creams.
2. Sephora
Sephora allows you to add free samples to your order. Only one of each sample can be added per order.
Samples available vary. In the past though, I’ve seen things like serum and night cream offered in the free sample section at Sephora.
- Get your free samples here.
3. Beauty blogging
Beauty blogs can be very popular. Consider starting one all about skincare.
Post consistently to drive traffic to your site.
Once you’ve built up your readership, you can monetize your blog by putting ads from Google AdSense and affiliate links to products on your site.
Use the money you make to get free skincare products.
Provided you have a large enough audience for your blog, you can work with skincare brands to create sponsored content.
Although the process varies from project to project, typically brands will send you free beauty products to promote and create content about on your blog. This could be a product review for example.
You get free skincare products, and the brand gets more visibility for its products.
Start by getting a domain and hosting from sites like Bluehost, HostGator, and GoDaddy. Then create content and publish it through a platform like WordPress.org.
4. Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty is a popular store to shop at for beauty products. The retailer provides free gift with purchase offers.
There you can find lots of different cosmetic products for free.
This includes skincare products like moisturizer, serum, and cleanser. Ulta Beauty is a great place to find samples from well-known brands like Estee Lauder, Clarins, and Dermalogica.
The products available vary. Be sure to check out the selection and see what freebies you can get!
- Get your free samples here.
5. Dermalogica
Dermalogica is a professional-grade skincare brand. The American company has everything you need to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
Get free skincare samples from Dermalogica, like serum, SPF, and cleanser.
- Get your free samples here.
6. Product testing panels
There are companies that pay you to test out products. This can include skincare products.
Although it varies depending on the product testing panel you use, typically, the process involves you testing out products and then providing your feedback on them.
Here are some product testing panels to get you started:
7. First Aid Beauty
First Aid Beauty is a well-known skincare brand specializing in products that soothe and heal sensitive skin.
The company provides products for all skin types and issues, like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
You can get complimentary samples with free shipping!
- Get your free samples here.
8. Clarins
French cosmetics company, Clarins, provides free samples both online and at its in-store counters.
You can choose three samples from an assortment of skincare and makeup minis every time you place an order online.
Or you can head to your nearest Clarins counter and talk to a Beauty Advisor to discover a selection of skincare and makeup samples.
- Get your free samples here.
9. UpCircle
UpCircle provides an excellent selection of free beauty products, including skincare products.
Find skincare essentials, like moisturizer, serum, toner, and face masks, all for free at UpCircle.
- Get your free samples here.
10. Contact skincare brands directly
I would recommend contacting a few skincare brands and asking if they have any free samples that they could mail out to you.
Because companies want new customers, they sometimes mail out freebies as an incentive to potential customers. The hope is that the customer likes the freebie and then buys something from the brand.
Most companies have a contact page on their site. It may include a contact form, an email address, a mailing address, or a phone number that you can use to get in touch.
Get in touch with skincare companies, let them know that you want to try some of their products, and ask if they have any free samples that they could mail to you.
You may not get any free samples, or you might get a discount or promo code at least. It’s worth asking though.
11. Sign up for brand newsletters
One simple way to score free skincare samples is by signing up for brand newsletters.
These days, almost every single brand uses newsletters to increase sales and customer loyalty.
They do it by using their newsletter to send exclusive sample offers, discounts, and early access to new products right to your inbox.
It’s an easy and often overlooked way to get free stuff without much effort.
Just be ready for a few emails! I would actually create a separate email address just to join the newsletters for brands you like. That way your personal inbox doesn’t get bombarded every day.
And oh, this applies to almost every brand in any industry you can think of. It’s not just limited to beauty brands.
If you want to get free skincare samples, it’s smart to sign up for newsletters from both the skincare brands themselves and the big retailers that sell those products.
Brands often send out exclusive sample offers, but retailers like Sephora or Ulta also share deals, promotions, and chances to try new products.
By signing up for both, you double your chances of getting free samples and staying updated on the latest skincare freebies.
Here are some popular skincare brands to sign up for:
- Cetaphil
- Neutrogena
- Olay
- La Roche-Posay
- CeraVe
- The Ordinary
- Kiehl’s
- Paula’s Choice
- Drunk Elephant
- Aveeno
- Bioderma
- Eucerin
- Vichy
- Fresh
- Origins
And here are some retailers to keep an eye on:
- Sephora
- Ulta Beauty
- Nordstrom
By the way, you can usually find the newsletter sign-up box right on the brand’s homepage, often at the bottom of the page. Some brands even have a special page just for signing up. If you don’t see it, a quick Google search like “Brand name newsletter sign up” usually does the trick.
What Are the Best Ways to Get Skincare Samples for Free?
I’ve given you a lot of places/tips on how to get skincare products for free.
What’s the best option though?
For me, Sephora wins out when it comes to ordering online. The selection of products is good so that’s a big plus for me.
After that, I think that going into local beauty stores and just talking to the person at the counter is one of the most effective ways to find samples of skincare products that won’t cost you a penny.
Enjoy Your Free Skincare Samples!
Skincare shouldn’t have to be super expensive. I know that with the cost of everything nowadays (gas, groceries, you name it), staying within your budget can be tough.
That’s why it’s so good to get freebies where you can.
And with these tips on how to get free skincare samples, you can do just that
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