Suzann member for 34 weeks 8 hours Send a message

With so many new makeup companies springing up, the temptation is there to try some new looks. But what if you want to try a brand that only sells from their website?

1. Check the beauty blogs for reviews of the product you want to try.

2. Go to the company's website, and check out their return policy. Many online makeup companies allow for returns.

3. While you're at the site, see if they sell sample sizes of their products. I got marvelous samples at Monave Minerals - very reasonably priced. You get a lot for your money in the samples. And some companies, like Afterglow Cosmetics, even let you return your sample for a refund (excluding shipping cost)! I think that's awesome. Make sure, if you are going to return, that you follow the company's instructions.

4. Paying with a credit card is safe these days. All the good sites use encrypted technology - sometimes called Secure Technology. Paypal is great, too. I've become a total Paypal person. It's easier and quicker than credit cards, and you don't have to be entering long numbers into the checkout form.

5. Also, when buying from a website, make sure you know what their estimated delivery time will be. I would suggest jotting that date as a tickler on your calendar, so you can keep track of what's arrived and what's still to come.

6. This is just me - but if you're an animal lover, make sure they specifically say on their site that they don't test their makeup on animals. And that they don't purchase ingredients from companies that test on animals.

Buying makeup on the Web opens a huge, new world of colors, textures, new products, and new ideas.

How have your web-purchase experiences been?