Laid Back Sample Project - Update 5



Feels quite good to have finished some larger sample sized products for the fifth instalment of my Laid Back Sample Challenge - sachets are nice to use up but getting to toss a larger product always brings a bigger sense of satisfaction for me!

Marc Jacobs Oh Lola!
I have this in a solid ring form and love it, but for some reason the actual perfume disappears on me almost immediately! Such a shame as the scent is seriously lovely, and the bottle is stunning.

Thierry Mugler Angel EDT (travel size)
This reinvention of the classic Angel fragrance sat so well on me that I'm lusting over a large bottle of this one, perhaps as a Christmas gift? It's gourmand and has an edge to it that I adore, and the fact that it lasts on my skin is a rare treat for me.

Benefit Foamingly Clean Facial Wash
I went in expecting to hate the foaming aspect of this, but it actually puffs up and lathers rather than foaming, and it feels so decadent on my skin that I actually enjoyed using this! It wasn't as gentle as a milk or balm cleanser but I felt like it really cleansed my skin well.

Kiehl's Orange Flower & Lychee Skin Softening Lotion
I mentioned in my empties post that this was one of the nicest lotions I'd ever used, and I stand by that! I can't seem to find this particular scent on the website though, which alarms me slightly...has this been discontinued?!

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A few future purchases were noted from this round of samples, but I'm content to have a running list of quality products to lust over while I continue to churn through my collection, donating or using up products I no longer need in my stash. I know it may seem like decluttering is a bit of a trend at the moment but I think learning to love (and use!) what you have is always a good thing, trend or not, so I'm all up on that wagon and riding it towards a neater house and neater mind!

 

Previous updates!
Original Project Post
Update 1ft. Versace, Lush, Dior and LaGaia
Update 2 ft. Balenciaga, Biore, Mario Badescu and Missha
Update 3 ft. Benefit, L'Oreal, L'Occitane and Smashbox

Update 3 ft. Aveda, Lush, Estee Lauder and YSL

 

Emma x

The Nail Polish Declutter

Following on from my 2015 goal of slimlining my skincare and makeup stash, I decided to also rifle through my ridiculous nail polish stash and get rid of a few bottles. I must admit that I had hopes of trimming it down in anticipation of gaining some new nail polish racks and storage in the New Year, something that the husband hinted at looking into to help get my beauty room looking neater. It sure would help selecting manicure colours, which is often frustrating with my collection being spread out in various storage units in that office!

colours I have given away or am about to

I knew I needed to relinquish my hold on ‘nice colours’ that I would never wear – using excuses about future nail art enterprises and how pretty they looked in the bottle just isn’t going to cut it anymore. I basically know what I like to wear when it comes to nail shades, and yet here I sit with a veritable tonne of baby pink shades that will never see the light of day on my fingertips! I have to admit that it was hard for the hoarder in me to look at beautiful bottles from Australis, Darling and Essie and make the decision to add them to the pile, but ultimately they are too nice to waste away collection dust and the shades will better suit the deeper skin tones of my family anyway.

My plan is to go through and get rid of a few polishes at a time (judging by these photos I'm keeping all of my cool-toned shades, ha!) and whittle down my collection bit by bit, that way it won't feel overwhelming for me. Seriously though, if you saw how many polishes I have...

Charlie being most helpful during my nail polish declutter!

Most of the ladies in my family wear nail polish regularly so giving these away shouldn’t be too hard, and I’m looking forward to displaying my beloved nail shades once we decide on what racks would suit the room best. Would you be interested in a polish storage post when that day comes?

-Emma x