Levies, budget cuts and three-day weeks. Hands up who's got any spare change left to splash on beauty treatments? Yep, didn't think so. All's not lost though for the product buff who can't enter a department store without visiting a cosmetics stand or three, because, happily, there are a select coterie of brands which offer at-counter services like colour and skincare analysis, mini-massage and even fragrance consultations. And the best bit for cash-strapped beauty junkies? It's all free.

MASSAGE ME

THE DEAL: Crappy day at the office? Dublin-based stress-balls are in luck, as Origins has two counters in the city and county offering the Centre Peace service. Twenty minutes worth of head massage using the mintily-calming Peace of Mind product can be had for absolutely zero outlay. That's not all – you'll also be treated to a back massage using a jacknobber (fear not, it's just a special knobbly massage tool), a hand and arm rub and a skincare consultation.

THE DETAILS: No appointment necessary; just rock up to Origins counters at Clerys on O'Connell Street, Arnotts on Henry Street, or House of Fraser in Dundrum Town Centre.

TIME FOR TEA

THE DEAL: Purveyors of Auyrveda-inspired beauty and wellness products, Aveda makes the at-counter experience as enjoyable as possible too. While you browse the selection of goodies on offer, you can enjoy a free cup of Organic Comforting Tea. It's caffeine-free, made from 100% organic herbs and comes served in a recycled paper cup. If you're too busy to hang about then no problem – you can even have it to go.

THE DETAILS: Available at Aveda counters at Brown Thomas Dublin and Cork and House of Fraser, Dundrum. Tea an unappealing prospect? The brand also offers complimentary stress-relieving neck and shoulder rituals.

DIAGNOSTIC DELIGHTS

THE DEAL: Confused about your skintype and even more bamboozled about what you should be using on it? You're not alone. At Clinique, you can avail of a bit more than the standard counter experience. While you sit comfortably in its scientifically-monikered Diagnostic Centre, your consultant will use tools like the Clinique Diagnostic Mirror to check out your complexion concerns, and suggest appropriate skincare for your needs. The relief!

THE DETAILS: Available exclusively at Clinique's stall at Debenham's Henry Street, Dublin, store, where an appointment is recommended. To book, phone 01 814 7200.

THAT'S HANDY

THE DEAL: Lucky ladies in Dublin and Cork can sashay up to their nearest Jo Malone counter and ask for the brand's signature hand and arm massage – excellent therapy if you've been lugging around a lot of shopping bags, eh? Choose a scented body lotion or crème of your choice and your Jo Malone Stylist will administer a deliciously-fragranced 10-minute treat. The finishing touch? You'll get a spritz of cologne too. Perfectly delightful, darling.

THE DETAILS: No pre-booking is necessary, just drop into Jo Malone at Brown Thomas stores in Dublin or Cork.

GOOD FOUNDATIONS

THE DEAL: Those decent skins at Estée Lauder want to ensure that mná na h-Éireann are wearing the correct base, and that's why the brand has developed its very benevolent Your Shade, Your Finish, Your Match service. The iMatch Shade Finder – which uses coloured swatches placed on a transparent sheet – is held up to your complexion, helping the assistant to decide what's right for you. Once that's all sorted, you'll get a free 10-day supply of your perfect foundation shade to trial at home. Can't do fairer than that, really.

THE DETAILS: No appointment is needed, just arrive at your local Estée Lauder counter (at department stores) and request the service.

THE GOOD SKIN GUIDE

THE DEAL: An integral part of a Dermalogica facial is face mapping, a technique that allows your therapist to assess your skin, identify its concerns and prescribe appropriate skincare for use at home. It's a really useful tool that can help you to understand your skin better – and therefore treat it the right way. Taking about 20 minutes, the service is free at the Metro Medi Spa, downstairs at Toni & Guy on Dublin's Clarendon Street.

THE DETAILS: Booking is advised as you'll be able to pick your time (call 01 671 4403), but you can also walk in and request the service. There is absolutely no obligation to book facial appointments or buy products.

SKIN SAVER

THE DEAL: Did you know that every Lancôme sales assistant is trained to give expert advice? Yup, it's true, and one of the ways they can do that is via the Diagnos Express service. Using what looks suspiciously like an iPod, your counter consultant can attach probes (steady now) to measure hydration and sebum levels as well as skin firmness. They can even tell you the level of sun damage you've suffered thanks to a hyper-magnified camera lens and polarised light. Warning – skin looks gross under such close scrutiny, but this is an educational (if sobering) look at your complexion and what it needs. And of course, it's totally free.

THE DETAILS: The service is permanently available at Lancôme counters in department stores and rotates through pharmacies – phone yours to check when it will be available.

sample sized

There's really nothing like getting to try before you buy, especially with personalised products like foundation and skincare. You're more likely to be able to bag a freebie of a new product than one that's been around for a bit, and while not all brands carry trial sizes (and equally, there's no guarantee they'll be in stock, either) here's a lowdown of some companies who are generous with samples.

Vichy

With 700 locations nationwide, Vichy products are available in almost every pharmacy in the country. Samples are generally available and as the brand runs so many in-store promotions and events, you can usually bag some advice as well as trial sizes that are suitable for your skintype.

Clarins

Depending on the counter, there'll be a range of samples available, typically skincare for men and women. Makeup junkies, take note: the brand is re-packaging its cosmetic trial sizes; they'll be back on counter in April.

Biotherm

Biotherm is relatively new to Ireland. It offers some great products for men as well as decently-priced skin and bodycare. It has a skin-consultation programme called Bioscan, which is a tool that reveals your skin's surface condition, and you'll snaffle some free samples at the end of that.

Clinique

Depending on the counter and availability, you can ask an assistant for samples of products you'd be interested in trying before you splash the cash.

Chanel

Samples for new products like the latest foundation and skincare releases should be on counter – a great way to check out if what you're after actually suits you before you commit to purchase.