Free makeup may sound like a fun (not-extremely-necessary) treat to most people, but to many beauty junkies, it can mean avoiding near bankruptcy. Yep, a beauty-obsessed gal's insatiable urge to punch up her pout with the latest liquid lipstick, liven her lids with all 30 shades of the newest eye shadow palette or fight the signs of aging with that revolutionary serum can add up. And it often means that beauty lovers' makeup bags are overflowing with products, while their wallets are more drained than that bottle of their signature scent.

And while beauty junkies are all too familiar with the financial woes associated with their all-consuming desire for cosmetics, they might not know that they can feed their addiction — for free. That's because many beauty brands offer consumers free makeup throughout the year — and you barely have to do anything to reap your complimentary beauty products. And we're talking about more than just the free makeup samples that many brands hand out; think free, full-sized lipsticks, face masks and even $50 gift cards to blow on the beauty products of your choice.

Here, we bring you 11 ways to get free makeup — so your wallet can bulge as much as that makeup bag stuffed with oh-so-much swag.

Image via Imaxtree

If your bank account is just as empty as the M.A.C. beauty products on your bathroom counter, then it might interest you to know that you can exchange 'em for a free lipstick of your choice, thanks to the brand's Back-to-M.A.C. Program. Think of it as an exchange program that's environmentally -- and wallet -- friendly.

One woman's garbage is another woman's free beauty product. Lush Cosmetics' 5-Pot Program lets customers exchange five empty product "pots" (made from 100 percent recycled material, of course) for one of the brand's Fresh Face Masks. That way, you can do something that's good for the environment and your skin.

Here's news that will feed our Instagram addiction (as if we needed another excuse to spend more time trolling our feeds): Lancôme's Elite Rewards program credits you with 50 points every time you connect with the brand via social media. You can pick up another 100 by providing your birthday and contact information, as well as another 10 for every dollar you spend with the brand. Translation: It won't take you much time (or money) to earn enough points to claim your free fave Lancôme products, spa services or offers from the brand's VIP partners, which include Gilt and Perrin Paris. We'd say those offers definitely deserve a "like" on any social media channel.

Don't think that high-end brands are above treating the masses to freebies; when you become a YSL Beauty Blackbook member by signing up for the designer brand's emails, you automatically receive a free Volupte Tint-In-Oil lip gloss sample. Plus, you can expect a full-size and personalized product (hey, they still have to live up to their luxury label name somehow) on your birthday, as well as two free samples with every order.