Best Makeup Websites for Buying Makeup Online

In this article we’ll review the best makeup websites for buying makeup online to make sure you’re ALWAYS getting the best products for the best prices.

Oh, online shopping. It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? You can shop in your pajamas without being side-eyed, avoid the masses during the holiday seasons, and so on. Loading up your virtual cart with your favorite makeup items is a dream…until you see that dreaded shipping cost. Let’s say you’re ordering your favorite concealer and some BB cream for $30, and the shipping is $7.99. That’s over 26% of the cost of the foundation itself. I totally understand the cost from a business standpoint. But being a frugal gal, I just can’t bring myself to justify spending the extra cash.

So, what’s a makeup addict to do? BaumBeauty’s tagline  ‘Beauty On A Budget’ is actually my own personal motto regarding all things makeup, haircare, and fashion. Do I love high-quality? Absolutely. Do I love saving money? Of course! So I do my best to mix the two together, and that’s what this post is all about. If you want the makeup, fashion, and beauty products you love without paying a fortune, this article is for you.

I’ve scoured the Internet (and my e-mail inbox) to compile a mega list of companies that offer deals like free shipping no minimum, promo codes, freebies, and more. This list features nothing but the real deal – no ‘Take ten surveys and provide your social security number and your firstborn child to get a freebie!’ nonsense. So without further ado, here’s my pick of makeup and beauty companies that have the best freebies and discounts to offer:

Smashbox Cosmetics – Smashbox is undoubtedly one of the most well-known names in the cosmetics industry. This brand has expanded and thrived since 1990, and they continue to offer high-end products that makeup mavens adore. Smashbox has amazing deals for their customers; when you shop online:

• You receive free US shipping no minimum on all orders, $5.00 for 2-3 day shipping, and $10.00 for overnight shipping
• You receive free sample products with each order.
• You earn points via the Smashbox Rewards program; this program allows you to earn points that convert into ‘SmashCash’.
• BaumBeauty Tip: To find discounted products, go to Smashbox’s Final Call section. If you’re hesitant to spend money on products you haven’t tried, you can also save cash by buying smaller versions of their popular products in the Travel section. 

e.l.f. Cosmetics – If you’ve been reading BaumBeauty for awhile, you know that I’m a huge fan of e.l.f. Cosmetics. They have a great variety of quality products, and their prices are amazing. If you follow us on Instagram, you’ve also seen that I post about their constant sales, free gifts with purchases, and more. These are the makeup freebies and free shipping offers you can get from e.l.f. Cosmetics:

• You get free US shipping on your first order when you sign up for their e-mail list.
• You get free US shipping on all orders $25 or more.
• Receive e-mails a few times per week with codes for sales, free shipping, and more.
• The Beauty Squad rewards program is a free program that offers a free birthday gift, discounts on purchases, makeup freebies, and more.
• BaumBeauty Tip: You can usually combine promo codes with e.l.f. Cosmetics. For example, you can add a free shipping code and a free gift code onto one order. Deals on deals!

ColourPop Cosmetics – I only became aware of ColourPop a few months ago – thank you, Instagram! They offer very reasonably priced products that receive pretty consistently great feedback. If you explore the Instagram tag “ColourPopMe”, you’ll see how colorful and pigmented these products are. So, what free makeup deals do you get when you order from ColourPop?

• Receive a $5 off ColourPop promo code when you sign up for e-mails.
• You get free US shipping on all orders $30 or more, and $4.99 shipping on other orders.
• BaumBeauty Tip: use the $5.00 off promo code and you’re essentially getting free shipping on your first order!
• We did a review of our favorite ColourPop products here!

NYX Cosmetics – NYX Cosmetics is undoubtedly my go-to brand for lipstick, eye makeup, BB cream…okay, pretty much everything. They’ve got me hooked. I’ve featured their Soft Matte Lip Creams in several of our Instagram and Facebook posts. I find that their quality is on par with many high-end brands that cost two or three times as much. Their products are fairly priced, and they offer some awesome deals. For example:

• You get 20% off your first order when you sign up for their e-mail list.
• You get free US shipping on orders over $25.
• BaumBeauty Tip: The NYX website has an online-only clearance and sale section with items averaging 50% off their original price. Check it out!

wet n wild Beauty – wet n wild is a well-known drugstore brand; they’ve been lining the shelves of shops ever since I was a young teen. However, their impressively low prices are misleading – this is not a case of ‘you get what you pay for’! Their cosmetics and nail polishes offer excellent quality, and many of their items are considered dupes for high-end brands. So, what wet n wild freebies are available for you to take advantage of?

• You receive 10% off your first order by subscribing to their e-mail list.
• You receive free US shipping on all orders over $35.
• BaumBeauty Tip: The wet n wild Beauty online store has limited edition makeup and special sales that cannot be found in retail stores.

H&M – When you hear the name ‘H&M’, you likely think of clothing first and foremost. This brand is one that keeps up with the latest trends and offers them at very affordable prices. I’m personally a huge fan of their purses, shoes, and denim. However, that’s not all they have to offer. H&M has their own line of beauty products online; the line includes nail polish, beauty blender-style sponges, makeup brushes, cream lipstick, eyeshadow palettes, lip balm, face masks, scrubs, and much more. When you shop on their website:

• You get 20% off one item of your choice plus free shipping on your first order when you sign up for their e-mails.
• You receive promotional e-mails with free US shipping promo codes; I receive one every few months or so. You’ll also receive e-mails about special sales, clearance, and more.
• BaumBeauty Tip: H&M consistently has amazing Black Friday sales. I’m talking jeans and full outfits for less than $15 each, beanies for a few bucks, and rings for a dollar or two. Such good deals!

Forever 21 – Forever 21 is a popular fashion retailer that offers a broad selection of trendy clothing for women, men, and children. They also carry jewelry, accessories, and cosmetics. As of right now, their online store sells the makeup brands LA GIRL, Love & Beauty (Forever 21’s own brand), IM MEME, Burt’s Bees, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and more. Forever 21 is overall pretty affordable; my endless mountain of black leggings cost less than $4.00 per pair. There are a few Forever 21 free shipping deals and discounts for you to enjoy:

• Receive 10% off your first order by signing up for their e-mails.
• Free US shipping on all orders over $50.
• Receive promotional e-mails with promo codes for free shipping no minimum, flash sales, clearance sales, and more.
• BaumBeauty Tip: Forever 21 is another one of my online go-to stores during Black Friday weekend. They usually combine free shipping with huge discounts on products! I’ve bought jewelry for as little as $1.00 and jeans for less than $10 during these sales.

Coastal Scents Cosmetics – Coastal Scents is another brand that I discovered via Instagram, and I was instantly attracted to them. Firstly, their prices are very low – their individual eyeshadows (Hot Pots) are only $1.95 each. They also give customers amazing flexibility for customizing their own palettes to create completely unique looks. These are some Coastal Scents deals worth checking out:

• $5 off Coastal Scents when you refer a friend; your friend also receives $5 off.
• Receive promotional e-mails about Coastal Scents flash sales and huge discounts like their recent 70% off sale or $4.95 lip color palette sale.
• Check out the Coastal Scents Sales section on their website to find products marked down insanely low. For example, eyeshadow palettes are 60% off in this section as I type this!
• BaumBeauty Tip: Enter to win Free Coastal Scents Giftcards on their website. This isn’t a guaranteed freebie, but it’s a nice little perk! There’s a big list of previous winners at the link, so you can see that this is a pretty popular ongoing giveaway.

The Balm Cosmetics – The Balm is a unique cosmetics brand that I discovered when I was subscribed to Ipsy. I’ve got a rich plum eyeshadow from this brand that’s in adorable packaging. The brand gives off a cool retro/vintage vibe with their products and packaging. The Balm Offers a handful of perks to their customers. Some examples include:

• You get 10% off your first order by subscribing to their e-mail list.
• You get free US shipping no minimum on all orders.
• BaumBeauty Tip: Join theBalm Rewards program if you shop here – it’s totally free to join. You earn one point per $1 you spend. These points add up to discounts ranging from $5 off to $20 off your purchase.

MAC Cosmetics – MAC Cosmetics is without a doubt one of the most well-known brands in the makeup industry. Their products are not only favored among everyday makeup mavens, they’re also seen on celebrities, runways, and more. Their products have an excellent reputation for being high-quality. I’m personally a huge fan of their black pencil liner so for me personally this is one of the best makeup websites. So, what can you enjoy when you order from MAC?

• Free US shipping no minimum, $5.00 shipping for 2-3 day delivery, and $10 shipping for overnight delivery.
• Free samples with every order and no promo code is required for this.
• If you join the MAC Select Program, you can receive free perks just for being a MAC customer. Some examples include a free MAC anniversary gift and exclusive members only products. It’s free to join!
• BaumBeauty Tip: MAC is another company that offers travel-sized versions of their products for very attractive prices. Not ready to drop $23.00 on a mascara you’ve never tried? No problem! Get a $10 mascara in travel size to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Ulta Beauty – Ulta is personally one of my favorite places to buy makeup and in my opinion one of the best makeup websites. They offer a huge selection of drugstore, mid-range, and high-end products. They also have their own super affordable brand of beauty products that offer great quality for the price. Aside from a great variety of options, you can enjoy free Ulta perks such as:

• The Ultamate Rewards Program, which includes:
  • free makeup on your birthday
  • points on purchases that add up to $ off discounts
  • points can be used on any products
• Exclusive free Ulta coupons and special deals via e-mail on a weekly basis (on average). One coupon that I frequently receive via e-mail is $3.50 off a $15 purchase.
• BaumBeauty Tip: Combine your points and coupons to get huge discounts! For example, I currently have $6 off due to points. I also have a coupon for $3.50 off my $15 purchase. By combining these, I can get a nice, guilt-free haul from Ulta. Double check your points balance and e-mail before ordering!

Milani Cosmetics – Milani is a drugstore brand that I’d never heard of until I joined Reddit’s MakeupAddiction community (love you all). They offer a great selection of products for fairly low prices, but the quality is far from sub-par. I’ve got their Amore Matte Lip Cream, which is a mere $9, and it’s a dream. Personally, I also find that their packaging is sleek, stylish, and upscale. It feels like I’m indulging in a luxury brand, but I get to save myself some cash. So when you order from Milani.com, what do you get?

• Receive free US shipping on orders over $25.
• BaumBeauty Tip: When shopping on their site, sort by “Sales” in the category you’re browsing. All of the currently discounted items will be listed first! 

Tarte Cosmetics – Tarte Cosmetics is another well-known brand that offers a broad selection of natural makeup and skin care products. Their Amazonian Clay eyeshadow palette and Marajuca Creaseless Concealer are two of their hottest items, with the latter being an Allure magazine award-winner. If you’re a fan of cruelty-free makeup, you’ll be happy to know that this brand is all about that. Tarte has quite a few goodies to offer to their customers:

• Get 15% off of your first order when you visit their website.
• Get free US shipping and a free sample on orders over $40. Shipping for orders under $40 varies between $5.00 and $6.99.
• BaumBeauty Tip: Want free Tarte samples? Sign up for the Tarte Tokens program! This is their rewards program where you can also get a free birthday gift, special savings, and more. Signup is free, and you can earn tokens to get as much as $50 off your Tarte purchase.

Sephora – I don’t think I’ve ever met a makeup maven who hasn’t heard of Sephora. This cosmetics retailer is similar to Ulta, but it focuses more on high-end products that tend to cost more. However, their selection of makeup and skincare products is always on point! Their website also features advice and how-to videos that you can use to hone your makeup skills. When you shop at Sephora, you:

• Get three free Sephora samples with every order.
• Receive free US shipping on orders over $50, and pay $5.95 on all other orders.
• Free Beauty Insider Rewards programs that include perks like a free birthday gift and free beauty classes.
• BaumBeauty Tip: If you shop online at Sephora frequently, consider signing up for their free two-day shipping for one year. It’s $10.00 per year, but the cost quickly pays for itself if you’re a frequent shopper.

Nordstrom – Nordstrom is another brand on this list that offers makeup and fashion all on one website. Yes, this retailer is rather expensive compared to others on the list. But their international status of being an incredibly high-end brand is for good reason. From runways to toddler boy’s closets, their hot items can suit just about anyone. If you feel like indulging in a Nordstrom online shopping spree, you can:

• Get free US shipping no minimum on all orders.
• Sign up for the free Nordstrom Rewards program where you earn one point per dollar spent. You receive a $20 off Nordstrom Note for every 2,000 points earned.
• BaumBeauty Tip: Want to save some cash? Check out the Nordstrom Sale section of the website. By just doing some quick browsing, I found shoes that are 67 percent off their original price. Talk about some guilt-free shopping!

Zappos – No, Zappos is not a makeup brand or retailer. However, this online retailer absolutely falls into the ‘beauty on a budget’ category. Brands available range from high-end names like Dolce Vita and Alexander McQueen to popular athletic brands like Nike and Adidas. They sell clothes, shoes, purses, backpacks, accessories for men, women, and children. Here are a two perks you can get when you place a Zappos Order:

• Receive free US shipping no minimum on all orders.
• Join the free Zappos Rewards Programs to earn points and get freebies, access to special promotions, and more.
• BaumBeauty Tip: Zappo’s has a massive clearance section with over 30,000 items at any given time. And these aren’t just random items either. There’s currently a stellar selection of Nike shoes that average $20 off their original price!

BeautyBay – BeautyBay is an online retailer that offers over 200 brands of cosmetics, skincare, beauty tools, fragrances, and more. The modern layout of the site is incredibly easy to navigate, so finding your must-have products is a breeze. I was pleased to discover that BeautyBay has quite a few perks to offer customers like you:

• Receive free US shipping on all orders over $20.
• Receive promo codes sent via e-mail newsletters.
• Discover promo codes featured on BeautyBay’s social media pages (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc).
• BaumBeauty Tip: Visit the BeautyBay Outlet page for hundreds of sale items on fantastic protects. As of right now, an Algenist anti-aging cream is over $15 off the original price. A Pixi Undercover Crayon is about 50%. You get the gist – great deals you can’t beat!

So, there you have it! Nearly twenty popular makeup and beauty retailers that offer free shipping, awesome promotions, and so much more. Whether you want to make a modest purchase or go on an all-out haul, these codes and deals will save you some serious cash.

Do you have any brands that you think we should add to the list of the best places to buy makeup online? What’s your experience with using these promo codes and shipping deals? As always, we love feedback and hearing from our BaumBeauty readers. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with other makeup and fashion lovers like yourself! Don’t forget to sign up for our spam-free e-mail list to stay tuned for our next post.

(As a disclaimer, I’d like to let you know that these companies and best makeup websites may change their shipping policies and promotional codes at any time. All of the information listed above is accurate at the time this article was published. We’ll do our best to keep you informed of any changes that may occur!)

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Amy Baum

Thanks for reading! My name is Amy. I'm a 20-something mother, avid coffee drinker, freelance writer, and makeup junkie. I'm also a sucker for sales, discounts, and saving money. And that's exactly why I'm sharing my cosmetic and beauty adventure on BaumBeauty!

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