Do they still hand out free foundation samples?

[OriginalGeordie]

Do the high end makeup counters still hand out free foundation samples or do you have to make a purchase these days? I really want to try out the YSL All Hours foundation but had a disaster with Nars sheer glow last year (looks horrific on me), so I’d rather try it before I waste anymore money.

I remember getting some quite generous Lancôme samples about 10 years ago.

yea - the Estee Lauder counter at boots did me two reasonable sized bottles of Double Wear and double wear light so I could check the shades in daylight. v helpful indeed.

I think most will give you a sample if they've applied make up to you and you've then hummed and hawed over it. I find that Benefit are really good at giving samples and I had an email from Estee Lauder this week advertising their Double Wear samples.

I have had one from Laura Mercier this week and v recently from Bobbi.

YY Laura Mercier , DD had a foundation colour match and they gave her a sample bottle.

Mac give generous samples of their foundation too

Yes. They put some into little tiny bottles or pots. I had a few samples from Bobbi Brown and Lancome last year whilst I was searching for a new one. I get a couple of close shades in the formula I'm interested in to ensure an exact colour match.

If a counter refused I wouldn't buy from them. It's normal good customer service.

(I went with Lancome teint idole 24hr btw. Excellent shade range, good for combi skin. Light to medium coverage. Doesn't budge once on.)

Well you can all guess what I'm doing Monday lol

I bought (I thought a few, but actually 500) sample pots with very secure lids for bring makeup on overnight trips. I always keep a few empty ones in my bag in case I come across counters that don't offer samples. They always seem happy enough to put a sample of foundation in them for me.

I’m almost 40 and finding that foundation is wearing differently on me these days. It’s hard to find one that doesn’t sit really heavily on my skin and accentuates every pore and line! The ones that don’t do this don’t have enough coverage!

Yes but they're always dark brown for some reason. Nobody ever GIVES away the palest shades. Whenever I ask, that's all they can give me, shades that clearly aren't going to suit.

I love love love chanel les beige in shade 30 but it is a ludicrous amount of money. I recommend this original geordie. I'm 47 and although not wrinkly really, make up can make me look worse or better. It can go either way.

here

Lancôme definitely do- I had some the other day. And No.7 do the little pots that they put your chosen/advised samples in.