Gotta stock up on new lotions and potions? Why not score a freebie while you're at it?

The shelf life of most cosmetics is three to four months. With that turn around, you're likely to buy cosmetics and skin care several times a year, and it's not exactly the kind of stuff you want to buy on consignment. Many popular skin care, perfume, and makeup brands seldom have sales, so how can a frugal beauty junkie get the most bang for the buck?

Gifts with purchase, of course! Here's why GWPs are my favorite kind of deal:

You Can Try Before You Buy

Most GWPs contain new products and popular favorites. A good freebie lets you sample the goods before you spend your hard-earned cash. That way, you don't have a bathroom cabinet filled with mascaras that clump and shampoos that leave your hair limp.

You Can Fly in Style

Deluxe samples are perfect for plane flights or overnight trips. Most have just enough to get you through a long weekend away without causing a security hassle at the airport.

You Have Spare to Share

When you get gifts with purchase from your favorite brands, you're likely to get the mini versions of products you love. Share them with friends, and maybe they'll turn you on to their favorites as well. Some women organize product swaps to trade their GWP swag. One girl's trash is another's new favorite cleanser.

Convinced? Well then, feast your eyes on the top free beauty gifts with purchase I've found this week:

1. Shu Uemura is known for their pure cosmetics and skin care products. For only $50, you can receive four deluxe samples when you use one of our Shu Uemura coupons.

2. Men who enjoy DKNY fragrances can score a great DKNY messenger bag, the perfect size for a laptop, with any $50 purchase now at Macy's.

3. Pack your Benefit makeup away with this free Gabbi Bag, a $24 value, with $60 purchase.

4. From Beauty.com, a great place for gifts with beauty purchases, you can get an $85 Strivectin gift free with a $75 purchase. If you're a fan of this "better than Botox" line, it's a no-brainer.

5. Sephora lets you sample an array of scents with any purchase. There are fourteen, so you're sure to find at least one that tickles your fancy!

6. Sally Beauty supply is offering a free hair dryer with a flat iron purchase to keep you smooth and shiny without breaking your bank.

7. With your $100 Kinerase purchase at drugstore.com, get Kinerase Advanced Repair Serum (a $135 value) for free.

8. Get a Clarins extra firming travel set with your $75 Clarins purchase--perfect for a summer getaway.

9. Get a bevy of Lancome goodies, worth $95, with your purchase of $29.50 at Nordstrom.

10. Here's a great GWP for a low minimum purchase:$40 worth of deluxe samples free with a $25 purchase from ULTA.

So how can you make sure to get a great bonus when you have to put down a stack of cash at the makeup counter?

Check in with your favorite department stores for upcoming gifts with purchase events.

Check out this site for great current gifts with purchase.

And of course, always check savings.com and follow me on Twitter @SavingsMBones.

Know any other great gifts with purchase that I missed? Share them in the comments!