Lots of women, and some men, will tell you they spend a lot of money to stay beautiful.
“We spend so much on makeup every year,” said Lindsay Schafer.
But Schafer didn’t have to spend a dime to get her latest beauty product: a jar of Clinique moisturizing cream. She got it for free Wednesday.
“I think it’s a good deal for us women,” she said, referring to a $175 million cosmetics giveaway that is the result of a class-action lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that retailers and cosmetics and fragrance manufacturers overcharged customers for their products for years. To settle the lawsuit, the companies agreed to offer millions of dollars’ worth of free products such as makeup, perfume, body lotions, shower gels and anti-aging products.
“Everyone wants to get free stuff,” Corin Hayden said as she held a jar of Clinique cream. “When you can get something free for paying for overpriced products, why not?”
Hayden was one of many who lined up for their free products at participating stores in Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
Participating department stores with locations in Colorado include Dillard’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The stores at Cherry Creek offered a choice of two products: Clinique facial cream and Estee Lauder facial serum.
The list of cosmetics that could be given away includes 20 productsthat are worth an average of $25 apiece.
The nationwide giveaway began Tuesday, and the products are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The settlement stipulates that customers are to receive only one item. They must sign a document confirming they purchased department-store cosmetics between May 29, 1994, and July 16, 2003.
