How to Get Products for Free
Everyone loves free things, but how does one actually go about getting free things? I’ve seen (and been tricked) into signing up for those “free fly” ads on social media and all it ever gets me is spam mail! You go through countless pages of declining special offers, waiting for the free products page, only to discover – there are NO free products, just a bunch of junk mail at the end.
And it is really frustrating. BUT, fairly recently, I’ve found some pretty great ways to get products for FREE. I’ve gotten so many free products over the last year, it isn’t even funny, and I expect even more to come this year. This is a list of where & how I get to try products (most full size) for free.
Standard Disclosure: Affiliate links are used throughout this post. I may receive a small commission from anything ordered using one of these links. This is at no cost to you.
#1 INFLUENSTER
This, in my opinion, is the best site to get free things! You go through a survey (and link all your social media accounts) when you sign up, asking about the kinds of products you like, how much you spend, what your income range and family are like (and so on).
Then they will select whatever campaigns they think will be good for you. You will get AND email from them with new opportunities saying "take this survey to see if you're a fit for our next VOXBOX". Then you'll either get in, or not.
Some are only online (a virtual voxbox) and you get coupons to try products, and some (most of what I’ve gotten) are actual boxes full of product(s) that come in the mail – absolutely FREE.
I will say, that the “catch” here is this: the more involved you are (engaging on their feed/social media outlets and reviewing products) the more likely they are to send you more/better products. I started out getting boxes full of random stuff (sometimes things I liked and some that were more "generic").
But the more campaigns you accept and badges you earn, the more you will get selected for. So, do EVERYTHING they send your way (even if you think it’s totally lame), so you can start earning badges and getting the good stuff. I think I went through 5 surveys before I actually got selected for a box, so DON’T GIVE UP!
These photos are just what I’ve gotten in the last year (2016). (update: recently I've gotten Marc Jacobs matte eyeliner & coconut glow, acqua di giorgio armani cologne, Kat Von D Saint & Sinner perfume, bareMinerals foundation, Erno Laszlo Viatmin C Peel, Ole Henriksen C-Rush Brightening Gel Creme and L'Oreal Color Riche Coral Lipsticks on the way)
Additionally, these are prizes I have won from Influenster (even MORE free stuff). You win the prizes by being one of the top "influencers" in that campaign. That's why I say do EVERYTHING they throw your way, so you can add up those badges!! (update: I have won Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb, Not Your Mother's hair products, Erno Laszlo oil cleansers and more!)
#2 BzzAgent
I've worked with BzzAgent on several campaigns now (when I first created this post, I had only received the "welcome package" below). I’ve been a member of this community since December 2016. Some of the products I've received are: Gliss Extra Volume Lift-Up Spray, Sensodyne Deep Clean, Micellar Cleansing Water, Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo & Conditioner and the L'Oreal Paris Paradise Enchanted Eyeshadow Palette.
They are a lot LESS “work” than Influenster, but I also feel like the quality/amount of products offered, are not quite as high-end. Like, I've only seen drugstore/affordable products come through. Which is great, cause I still buy/use those things, but Influenster can get you access to the GOOD STUFF. And I've noticed they typically only offer ONE product per campaign (unlike an Influenster box that could have multiple items included). But hey, if it's ONE really good free product that you want (like that L'Oreal eyeshadow palette), it might just be worth it ;)
Okay, so *technically* this box is not FREE, because you have to pay $5 for shipping – but really, common’ $5 for shipping? That’s practically free! There were 6 samples in my winter box, and I was not complaining about that pesky little shipping cost. You only get these boxes every quarter/season, so it’s not like you’re spending $5 every month (and even that's not a bad deal!). Just four times a year! $20 to try great products that come right to your door? Sign me up (and I did)!
When I first signed up for this box (over a year ago), they did not tailor it to your preference. It was (and still is) seasonally based, so they just gave you whatever they wanted to, for that season. Now, however, you CAN tailor it to your specific need/wants/desires! I just updated mine and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I could do with more full or travel sizes, verses the one time use samples, but I still think it's worth it. They also have pregnancy boxes, baby/toddler boxes and I think even men's boxes... The Walmart Beauty Box sure has come a long way in a just a couple of years!
#4 Instagram Giveaways
This one may seem a little weird because I’ve pretty much just been sharing about subscription type boxes and how to get them. Those ways are fail proof – because I’ve actually seen the success and products from those companies. This one is a little more up to chance, if you will. BUT, I have actually won several FREE products from contests on Instagram.
Hear me out... I was like you, I was SUPER skeptical and thought they were rigged (and maybe some of them are, but not all of them!). Honestly, I would say enter any of them that you want – if you even remotely like that product, go for it. Just follow whatever they say to do in their caption and do it.
But, do it better than everyone else. If they say post the picture for extra points, do it. If they say tag 3 friends, tag 30 friends (and split it up at different times in the day). I’m so dead serious – my friends probably hated me because I would tag them in like 5 giveaways a day, but I did WIN some of them, so there! ;) Someone’s gotta win those contests – why can’t it be you?
(update: This is in regards to personal/small giveaways ONLY. I host a ton of "loop" giveaways, the ones that offer $500+ in Paypal cash or an iPhoneX and you have to follow 25+ accounts. Those are the ones you want to mostly stay away from. There are HUNDREDS of people entering those contests and your odds of winning are extremely thin. The Instagram giveaways I'm talking about are the ones that you only have to follow two accounts (the influencer's and the shop's) and their comments are in the lower digits. Or giveaways that offer multiple winners (like 5+). It can be done! You just have to think small)
I've actually won even more contests than the ones I've pictured below, but I didn't take any pics!
So, there you have it y'all; ways to legitimately get products for FREE. Feel free to ask me any questions about any of the ways I get free products, I’d love to hear from you and help you out any way that I can. I know this works and is a tried & true way to receive products at no cost to you, because I’ve done them all.
I would love to know any other ways you’ve been getting products for free that don’t end up in a bunch of unwanted spam mail! Leave a comment below with your thoughts and insights! (update: there are several more free product companies I've been a part of, so I'll be linking those soon too!)