Free Holiday Makeup Samples at Beauty Counters
Check spend thresholds, codes, and tester safety before asking for holiday makeup samples at the counter.
Yes, you can get free holiday makeup samples at beauty counters, but most require a qualifying purchase or membership tier. A gift with purchase is a free mini or sample set earned by reaching a stated spend amount. Beauty counters are staffed makeup sections inside department and beauty stores.
Holiday terms change quickly, so read the spend amount, code, dates, and store rules before you go.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 02, 2026.
What holiday sample bag is listed now?
Sephora lists a holiday-season bag for Rouge members: 10 samples with $150 spend using code INTHEBAG, online only through 11/9/26 the Sephora holiday offers page. That offer is online only, so it is not handed over at a counter. Enter the code at checkout and check that the bag appears before you pay.
What does Ulta list this season?
Ulta Beauty lists over 130 active gifts with purchase, largely deluxe samples and minis tied to qualifying brand or spend thresholds the Ulta gifts with purchase hub. Compare the listings before you buy.
- Note the qualifying brand.
- Note the spend threshold.
- Note online versus in-store availability.
What do department-store counters list?
Nordstrom lists about 125 concurrent free gifts with purchase, including Bobbi Brown deluxe lip, eyeshadow and mascara samples with a $100 purchase, valid online and in stores the Nordstrom gifts with purchase page. Ask the counter which brand thresholds are active that day. Bring the product page or offer text so staff can match the exact set.
How can you handle testers safely?
The FDA urges shoppers not to share cosmetics and not to use retail-store testers unless applied with single-use applicators the FDA cosmetics safety guidance. It also advises discarding eye makeup after an eye infection. Use a fresh applicator for each try and avoid lip or eye testers applied directly from the container.
Ask staff for a fresh applicator and skip the tester if none is available.