Photo: The Body Shop
Merry Cranberry Gift Set

While it’s better to give than to receive, it’s even better to receive a free gift with purchase.

However, if you’re a Makeup Moxie who’s on a tight holiday budget, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of holiday promotions and end up spending more than you planned.

If you’re looking to maximize your holiday budget by spending as little as possible and still snagging some great free gifts, then the following gift guide is made especially for you.

If saving money isn’t an issue for you, then by all means, spend away! This guide, however, will help you to navigate today’s online holiday sales by recommending gifts whose total price at checkout will bring you as close as possible to the minimum purchase amount required to receive the free gift.

The deals featured in this guide have to meet two important criteria:

1. If you receive the free gift, you’ll also get free shipping.
2. The free gifts are nice enough to stand on their own as a second gift or as a stocking stuffer (This will be true in most cases, but be sure to read my warning below :).

Ready to minimize spending and maximize the gift-giving? Here are my favorite free gift offers of the day:

PHILOSOPHY

The Free Gift: Valued at $65, The Philosophy Tote Bag is definitely nice enough to give as a gift all by itself. The tote includes the Grace Soap Trio, Pure Grace Hair Conditioner (16 oz) and Inner Grace Shower Gel (2 oz).

Minimum You Need to Spend to Qualify: $125

Money-Saving Strategy: Buy three $35 holiday sets and one $20 holiday set (or two $10 stocking stuffers) and get the free gift.

The Bestselling Gingerbread Man Gift Set
Photo: Philosophy.com

1. Three $35 Holiday Sets…
   • Scrumptious Gingerbread Man Set
   • Candy Cane Hat Box Gift Set
   • Cookbook Value Set ($38)
2. …and one of these $20 Holiday Sets:
• Happy Holidays Cinnamon Buns Inspired Gift Set
• The Gingerbread Man Inspired Gift Set
• Two Holiday Lip Shines ($10 each) available in flavors like Double Rich Hot Cocoa, Powdered Sugar Cookie, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Cinnamon Buns.

Total Price: $125 - $128

Actual Value: $190 - $193

Promotion Code: Enter code grace during checkout.

THE BODY SHOP
The Free Gift: A cute makeup bag stuffed with beauty goodies (a $35 value) with $65 Purchase. Includes Travel size versions of the Satsuma Body Butter, Vitamin E Moisture Cream, White Musk Eau de Toilette, and Super Volume Mascara.

Minimum You Need to Spend to Qualify: $65. However, if you buy today (November 26, 2007), you’ll get an additional %15 off all purchases. This means you get to fill your shopping cart with $77 worth of beauty treats…and pay only $65.45 after the discount is applied.

Money-Saving Strategy: Buy two $25 holiday sets and one $27 holiday set to qualify for your free gift.

Perfect for the lipgloss-lover, these super sheer Lipshines are housed in a festive tin ($27, The Body Shop)

1. Buy Two of These $25 Holiday Sets…
   • Blissful Body Butter Delights Gift
   • Merry Cranberry Gift
   • Merry Rich Plum Gift
2. …and One of These $27 Holiday Sets:
   • Lip Shine Time Gift
   • For Men Face Care Gift ($30)
   • Fresh Festive Home Fragrance Gift ($28)

Total Price: $77-$80

Actual Value: $112-$115

LAURA MERCIER (at Nordstrom)

The Free Gift: A bag filled with Laura Mercier deluxe samples when you purchase $100 worth of Laura Mercier products from Nordstrom.

Minimum You Need to Spend to Qualify: Spend $100 on Laura Mercier products from Nordstrom.

Money-Saving Strategy: Snag the free Laura Mercier goody bag by buying one $65 Laura Mercier “Trio” Gift Set and adding on a $40 Laura Mercier Stocking Stuffer.

The Laura Mercier Luxury Soap Set makes a great hostess gift for holiday parties.

1. Buy one $65 Laura Mercier Trio Set (available in three fragrances)
2. …and add on a $40 Laura Mercier Stocking Stuffer like the Lip Plumper Set, Mini Lip Color Set, or Luxury Soap Set ($35)

Total Price: $105

Actual Value: $105 + Value of free gift

ESTEE LAUDER (at Macy’s)
The Free Gift: Okay, this one is a little different. It’s actually a combination of a promotion on a gift that’s an excellent value and a freebie that’s not necessarily “gift” quality in and of itself (but is still nice to have).

The mondo Estee Lauder Makeup Artist Professional Color Collection with a retail value of $250 only costs $48.50 with any Estee Lauder fragrance purchase.

In addition, you get a free beauty sample pack with any $70 beauty purchase (automatically added at checkout).

Minimum You Need to Spend to Qualify: While any Estee Lauder fragrance purchase will qualify you for the special price on the Makeup Artist Profession Color Collection, you’ll still need to spend at least $26.50 in order to take advantage of Macy’s free shipping with any $25 purchase

Estee Lauder Fragrance Treasures Set at Macy’s.

Recommended Purchases: The Estee Lauder Fragrance Treasures Set comes in a pretty gift box and includes a zippered travel case and mini versions of Estee Lauder Pleasures, Beautiful Love, Beautiful, and Pure White Linen. Price $29.50.

Total Price: $78

Actual Value: $279.50

Coupon Codes: Be sure to enter BIGDAY at checkout to get free shipping.

Final Tips on Getting Free Gifts:

• It’s important to remember that you only get one free gift when you meet the minimum purchase amount. If you’re spending double the amount (or more) of anything I recommended above, split your purchase into two transactions. That way, you’ll get an additional free gift per qualifying purchase.
• Be careful if you decide to give away any of the free gifts as a “standalone” present. Consider whether the gift-getter will realize that they are getting a gift that you didn’t actually “pay” for. The people you need to watch out for are, obviously, Makeup Moxies who know these deals like the back of their manicured hands ;)

Happy Shopping, Makeup Moxies!