Thanks to the ubiquitous "buy this, get that free" slogans in our commercial culture, many of us have a rather narrow definition of product samples. Beauty samples usually come free with a full size purchase or by request at cosmetics counters in department stores. But that definition limits sample opportunities by geography, marketing strategies, and the generosity of counter staff.

If you want your samples, your way, try buying samples online. Ebay is a great place to start. Use the keywords "sample" and/or "travel size" in your product searches to find the best deals. But if Ebay doesn't scratch your itch, here's a list of some more specific places to score some samples.

Makeup

MAC Pigment Samples

Use caution when purchasing MAC pigment samples online. There's a frakton of counterfeit full sized MAC products out there and those at least require some sort of packaging. Subbing in a dupe pigment for a sample jar would be a snap.

Your best bet is the store at Makeup Geek. There are nearly 100 different shades available, many of them PRO colors (aka normally only available to makeup artists), for around $4 per 1/4 teaspoon of pigment. The shop also sells samples of MAC Paintpots, MAC Face Powders, and Ben Nye pigments.

Beauty From the Earth Samples

Mineral makeup retailer Beauty From the Earth offers sample sizes of most of their products. Samples of the multi-use minerals, mineral blush, glitters, and bronzers cost $2 for 0.5 grams. Foundation samples are $2 for 2 grams. The company also offers a bargain multi-use mineral Color of the Week which knocks a full size (1 to 3 grams) shade down to $2.

Glamour Doll Eyes Samples

Indie mineral cosmetics company Glamour Doll Eyes offers sample sizes of all their shadows. A sample baggie is $1.50 and a sample jar is $2.50. If you decide to buy the full size after you've tried the sample, message the company and they'll deduct the price of the sample from the full size price ($6). How cool is that?

Etsy Seller Samples 

There are some fantastic mineral makeup companies on Etsy that offer sample sizes of select products. My favorites are Patina Minerals, Pink Quartz Minerals, Allure By Jen, and Pure Fusion Makeup.

Fragrance

Mainstream Scent Samples

Beauty Encounter is the best place online to find mainstream scents. They stock samples from names like Carolina Herrera, Alexander McQueen, and Kenneth Cole. Prices and sizes vary but most are under $5. The store also stocks samples of rarer fragrances.

Vintage/Rare Scent Samples

LuckyScent sells small glass vial samples of scents from the likes of Acqua di Biella, biehl parfumkunstwerke, and Costume National. Prices vary but most are under $5.

The Perfumed Court offers decants (poured from the original bottle into a sample vial) of a wide variety of fragrances. There are a few mainstream options, like Donna Karan Iris, but most fall into the vintage/rare category. Featured scents include Domenico Caraceni Ivy League and Serge Lutens Bas de soie.

Know a site with great samples? Drop a link in the comments!

Tags: Beauty 101