-
Step 1
Buy something first. Most department store brands, such as Clinique and Estee Lauder, will offer free sample sizes and sometimes full sizes of different cosmetics if you make a minimum purchase first. Sometimes this can be quite low, and not only do you get the item you have purchased, you also get quite a few cosmetics to try.
-
Step 2
Shop at an outlet store. Most outlet malls will have a cosmetics store where you can purchase the sample bags talked about above. These will most likely cost you the amount you would have paid for an item from the store but this way you can choose from many different bags instead of accepting the particular samples the store offers at any given time. This is a great way to try out the product before paying department store prices, and some are even full-size samples.
-
Step 3
Buy cosmetics in lots. On any popular auction site you can find cosmetics at a low price sold in lots. These lots allow you to sample various colors and types of cosmetics while not paying a fortune. Most of the samples are brand new, but be sure to look first before purchasing. Even opened cosmetics can be fine to use, depending on the type, such as mineral makeup.
-
Step 4
Shop at a flea market. A flea market might not sound like the place to get makeup, but many flea market stores sell just that. Find cosmetics at a low price by shopping at these stores. You can even get suggestions on best-selling products and talk to someone who has experience with the particular brand of cosmetics.
-
Step 5
Trade with friends. If you have friends who also love department store cosmetics, there are times that they may have something in their sample bags that they do not want and will trade with you. If it’s an item they don’t care to use at all, sometimes they will even give you the product. Set up a trading system with friends to get samples that might otherwise go unused.
