Free makeup birthday gifts 2016 - Sephora, Ulta, Urban Decay

We all love birthday gift freebies, so as someone with an early in the year birthday I wanted to share what I got! Sephora, Ulta, and Urban Decay all have rewards programs that offer birthday perks.

Sephora birthday gift 2016

Sephora offers two choices for your free 2016 birthday gift - a skincare set from Fresh or a makeup set from Marc Jacobs. Normally I choose the Sephora makeup set over the skincare, but this year's Marc Jacobs duo didn't interest me. I prefer thin eyeliner pencils over the thicker gel pencils to get a precise, thin line or to tightline and I prefer tinted lip balm or lip gloss to full on lipstick, so I went for the other option.

I was really excited to try Fresh minis of the rose face mask and soy face cleanser - I have loved everything I have tried from Fresh in the past, especially their lip treatments. I am pleased to report both of these are quite nice and don't irritate my sensitive skin. My favorite of the two is the rose face mask - it smells like real roses! Neither product is a game changer, but I enjoy using them.

I didn't love either one of last year's NARS pencils (Rikugien was fine but nothing special and Cruella was crazy drying on me), so 2016 is a step up.

NEWBEAUTY Amazon promo code for prime day - my picks

Hi guys! Today only (7/15/2015) Amazon is offering a promo code for select luxury beauty makeup,  brushes, skincare, and other beauty items for Prime Day. Prime members can use the code NEWBEAUTY once for 35% off. You can click here to see the items available for this promotion (not an affiliate link, just a deal junkie).

There are quite a few things available and you can only use the code once, so I wanted to share my picks:

1. Real Techniques Starter Set - $6.72

The Real Techniques Starter Set (not an affiliate link) includes the base shadow brush, deluxe crease brush, accent brush, fine liner brush, brow brush, and case. Amazon has it for $10.34 regular price, which comes out to $6.72 with the promo code. Considering Ulta has it for $17.99, it is a pretty great deal.

2. Real Techniques Travel Essentials Set - $7.27

The Real Techniques Travel Essentials Set (not an affiliate link) includes the essential foundation brush, multi task brush, domed shadow brush, and a case. Amazon has it for $11.19 regular price, which comes out to $7.27 with the 35% off promo code. Ulta also sells this set for $17.99.

How to save money buying makeup on Amazon

I admit, I'm pretty proud of myself for this killer deal I got on Amazon - I got the Cover Girl Clump Crusher Extensions mascara for free! Amazon has stepped up their makeup & beauty selling game lately, with adding a luxury beauty section, a Korean beauty section, and offering more coupons. I can't resist browsing for makeup deals on Amazon as an add on to what is already in my cart.

So, here is how I got this mascara for so cheap:

1. Shop around on prices. Cover Girl mascaras are $7.99 at my Ulta. Amazon had the Cover Girl Clump Crusher Extensions in Very Black for $4.89 - already a huge savings! Plus, free shipping as an add on item (you have to buy $25 of stuff).
2. Check for coupons. Amazon offers makeup coupons! (not an affiliate link, just really effing excited about coupons) FYI, I have Amazon Prime and some coupons are only available to Prime members. They change pretty regularly, but as I am writing this, you can get: $3.00 off a Cover Girl mascara, $3.00 off a Cover Girl Outlast foundation, $1.00 off or 25% off select Tom's of Maine lip products, $3.00 off a Olay ProX or Regenerist product, 15% off select Burt's Bees products, and more. 
3. Clip coupons. Below each coupon, you can click "clip coupon" and it automatically takes the amount off at checkout. 
4. Stack any other rewards. I have my Discover card saved on my Amazon account, so I can use my Discover card cash back bonus to check out on Amazon. I like to use my 1% cashback bonus money for online shopping because it feels like a reward. I used cash back bonus on the remaining $1.89 and the mascara was effectively free!