Have you considered buying makeup on ebay, but are scared thinking about what you might receive? Do you want to know how to find new, unused products at great prices? This guide is designed to help you shop for the items you want with no unexpected surprises.

There are several things to consider when purchasing makeup and skin care on ebay. If you take away only one piece of information from this guide, I hope it is this. Read the entire auction before you bid. Do not assume anything unless it is specifically listed in the auction. Most sellers take great care to represent their items accurately, but they do not usually specify what their items are not. Most sellers do not specify if an item is not factory sealed, not fresh, not from a smoke or pet-free environment, not a full size item, etc., but they will list the condition (new, used, etc) and the size of the item itself. If these things are not listed in the auction, contact the seller prior to bidding to avoid any unpleasant suprises.

Now, onto some other important issues to consider....

First, do you want full size items, such as those found in department stores? Would you prefer a smaller, sample size so you can try a product before buying?
Most cosmetic and skin care items sold on ebay come in different sizes. If you have tried a product before and know you like it, you may want to purchase a full size item. Familiarize yourself with the measurements of a full size item. For example, a full size Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow is 0.57 grams. A full size Bare Escentuals Foundation is 9 grams.

Many sellers offer sample sizes. Trying a sample is a very good way to try a product without investing in a full size item. Some of the samples are made in the factory while others are made by the seller (the seller takes a particular size sample from a larger size package and repackages the item.) Some sellers take a picture of the actual item being sold, while others take a picture of the full size container.

Another note regarding size, it can be very difficult to convey the actual size of an item when your customers cannot hold it in their own hands before buying. Many sellers use a coin or some other familiar object to help their customers get a better idea of the size of their item. They may also include measurements to further assist their customers.

Second, Do you want something new and fresh, unused and untested? Is it important to you that an item be factory sealed?
Most sellers will list the condition of the item (new, factory sealed, unused, untested, etc.) If an item is not listed as factory sealed, it is probably not factory sealed. Some makeup and skin care items may not come to the seller sealed.  In that case, has the seller specified whether the item is new and fresh, unopened and untested?  If an items is not listed as new, it is probably not new. If it is not listed as unopened and untested, it may not be.

Most sellers and buyers consider new to mean unused, untested and fresh. However, if those things are not addressed within the auction, please contact the seller prior to bidding. If it is important to you that the item you purchase come from a smoke-free or pet-free environment, please look for that in the auction or contact the seller.

Third, Have you checked the seller's reputation (feedback rating)?  Does the seller have a history of happy or disgruntled customers?  Does the seller have a large number of repeat customers or do people not come back after shopping with this seller?  Have buyers felt the seller sent items that were not as described?

There are a lot of great sellers with all different feedback ratings.  The total feedback score is only one thing to consider when looking at a seller's auction.   It is important to look at the total number of positive feedback received (to see if this seller has repeat customers) and to read the feedback a seller has received, particularly those that are neutral or negative comments.  No matter how wonderful the seller, it is impossible to please every customer every time.  As a buyer, you want to find out why.

What was the unhappy customer's complaint?  Did they give the seller an opportunity to resolve the problem before leaving feedback?  Did the seller attempt to resolve the situation?  Was this a simple miscommunication?   And, most importantly, does the feedback claim products are different than advertised? (advertised as new, but obviously used; a different size item than listed and pictured; sealed item, but rancid when opened.) 

Feedback not only tells you what the customer thought of the buying experience with the seller, but it also tells you how the seller will react if you have a problem or concern.  Sellers and buyers have the ability to respond or follow up to feedback.  Did the seller respond in a professional manner or resort to insults?  Did the buyer add a comment stating that the issue was resolved or that after trying to resolve the matter the seller was unhelpful? 

Most sellers list their shipping costs in their listings (or include a shipping calculator that give you your shipping cost).  Please review this information carefully and consider these questions.

Did the seller specify how they will be shipping your purchase?  Some sellers specify a shipping cost, but do not specify how a package will be shipped.  There are many shipping options with most carriers.  The US Post Office offers First Class Mail, Parcel Post, Priority Mail, Express Mail, Airmail Letter, and much more.  Each class of mail has a different average delivery time.  If it is important for you to receive an item quickly, ask the seller how they will ship your item.  If available, Priority Mail with the Post Office is usually a reasonably priced option with an average delivery time of 2-3 business days (from drop off to delivery.) 

Does this seller offer more than one shipping option?  If the seller offers more than one option, how much more is it for a faster delivery option?  For example, the price difference between parcel post and priority mail for a 1 pound package is very small (the current price difference is $0.10.  For that $0.10, you can expect and average delivery time of 2-3 business days. 

What is the seller's average handling time for a package?  Ebay has recently added the option to specify an average handling time for a package (the time from payment until an item is shipped.)  If it is not specified and that information is important to you, please contact the seller prior to bidding.

Where is the seller located in relation to you?   Coast to Coast shipping can take the longest amount of time, particularly for parcel post and first class mail.  Parcel post can take up to 30 days and First Class Mail can take 11 business days or longer.

Did the seller purchase Delivery Confirmation from the US Post Office?  Most sellers purchase delivery confirmation for their packages.  There are two different types of delivery confirmation available from the US Post Office.  The first is the Delivery Confirmation one can purchase at the post office counter.  It usually updates within 1 business day after mailing to show the post office has received the package.  The second type is Online Delivery Confirmation.  If your seller has purchased your postage online (through paypal shipping, endicia, etc), they have probably purchased online delivery confirmation.  Online delivery confirmation does not usually update until a package reaches the destination post office.  On rare occasions, the delivery confirmation information does not update until after a package is delivered.   This can cause some frustration from buyers because the post office website includes a disclaimer stating that they may not have the package.  This does not mean that the seller has not sent your package.  If you are concerned, please contact your seller.

I hope this information has helped you on your way to making successful skin care and makeup purchases on ebay.  If you like this guide, I would appreciate it if you rated my guide.  If not, or if you feel some information is missing, please email me and let me know.  Thanks so much!  Best of luck!