Free Personalized Skin Care Samples
Make This Site Unique

Mario Badescu

I have two skin care companies that I am loyal to … sort of. I am always looking for new and better skin care products and am easily lured to try different products.

I discovered Mario Badescu Skin Care Online Store while I was doing some research for an anti aging column I write elsewhere on the net. Apparently, this is a New York City spa that sells its own line of skin care and spa products.

This is a good site with good products but needs more information on the site.

What the Site Sells

This site sells only Mario Badescu skin care products which apparently have a huge celebrity following.

Navigation and Ordering

This site is really simple. It has links to its products, zillions of names and photos of celebrities that use the products, consulting (More on that later), and gifts packages for their spa.

The best feature I have found on the site is the one under the “Consult” tab. There, you can fill out a questionnaire about your skin, age, products you use, etc. and you will receive good sized samples of products that are best for you based on your answers.

I did this and received several nice sided samples completely free of charge. After trying them, I like them enough to order at least one and maybe another later on. If I didn’t already have so much, I would buy their night cream as well.

Anyone can get their free skin care regiment samples just by answering a few questions. You don’t even pay for postage.

To make a regular order, you just browse through and find what you want. Descriptions are good and products are separated into skin type or need to make choosing easy. Add items to your cart and continue until you are finished shopping.

Go to the checkout. New shoppers or those who didn’t take advantage of the free sample program will need to register on the site before continuing. That takes a minute and includes filling in the usual name, address, and email info as well as picking a password for future visits.

You will see your shipping and, for me, your tax and total.

If all is well, continue on to pay by major credit card.

You will receive a confirmation and shipping email. Orders arrive fast — well under a week in my case.

My Experience

I filled out my skin type questionnaire and received several multiuse samples of the products that were suggested to me completely free of charge — no shipping costs even. Inside the package was a product catalog with all the products that the site sells. You can order by phone or mail through the catalog or log on and order on the site.

Also inside the bubble bag was a personalized brochure with my name on it and the names of the products suggested for me as well as instructions for use.

What a great marketing idea!

After trying my free products, I decided to buy the toner that was suggested for my skin. I logged on and quickly found what I needed and ordered it. The toner was reasonably priced but I wasn’t thrilled with the $4.95 shipping and tax I was charged.

I received my confirmation email and my shipping email quickly.

My order arrived quickly with another catalog.

Everything went smoothly and customer service stressed that I should call or write with any questions I have about their products or the use of them.

Shipping and Returns

The site doesn’t have a page that tells about either of these policies.

My catalog tells me that shipping is $4.95 for orders under $60.00, $6.95 for orders up to $100.00, and $8.50 for orders over $100.00.

New York and New Jersey residents must pay sales tax.

There are two expedited shipping methods for higher fees.

They ship internationally but I don’t know the shipping costs for other countries (and can’t find them anywhere).

As for returns, I have no idea. There is nothing on the site or in the catalog that tells me whether I can return a product or not. Perhaps giving away the samples is their way of making sure you know what you are getting and returns are not an issue.

I urge you to get your free samples no matter what. What have you got to lose? Plus, this stuff is really quite good and not overly expensive.

Conclusion

The site has their toll free number and address prominently displayed and I suggest you call them if you have any questions at all before ordering.

I like this site as far as products, the free samples, and prices.

I am not thrilled that shipping costs aren’t easily found on the site and there is nothing at all about whether you can return a product.

Still, this is a good skin care site with good products and good service.

I give it 4 stars.

I would go with 5 if they had a page with their stated policies and shipping costs so I didn’t have to guess what I need to pay in shipping until the end of my order (unless I have a catalog) and so I know whether products are returnable.

Recommended:

Yes

–P. Therre