With some of the Biggest names in the industry like Smashbox, Stila, and Benefit feeling the tug of the recession, it's no wonder that the amount of incentives to spend has sky-rocketed, Just about everywhere you look, there's a "Spend 30 and get 40 dollars worth of gifts FREE" signs popping up everywhere. But who can blame them? Though the recession has been devastating to many (myself included, my husband lost his job) there have been some perks. I have received nuemerous e-mails detailing the free items and promotions, sales and giveaways, and just over all NEED for sales, that it's hard not to take advantage of such things. (Especially if you're a make-up lover like myself) Stila especially has gone above and beyond to reach more customers. They currently have a promotion that if you spend 50 dollars, they give you their fall runway palette for free! This is a 3 shade palette with a beautiful leather flower on the front and a full sized black matte eye khol with the promo code FALLPALETTE.

Another company is smashbox. Though they already offer free shipping everyday on any size purchase, they have been throwing things in their virtual clearence bins like it's nothin. Signature LE collections, a once unheard of thing to put on sale, are now marked down by anywhere from 50% to 75% off. On top of that, they too have been doing many a promotion and the most recent one would be their free lipsticks. Once you spend 55 dollars, you'll receive their ultra creamy sheer berry shade lipstick free. Type in code LUSTHV at chekout and it's all yours! If that's not enough every order gets free delux samples. Anyone fond of the makeup world can tell you the difference between a normal sample and a delux one: Quality. You get a feel for the product in a large sized packaging. These arre always included and the once "1 per order" motto has been tossed for a newer, more refreshing pace of "Here, take a few."

All in all, in times like these, it's the silver linings that keep us afloat. So smile and shop and know that atleast your getting your moneys worth!