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

Laid Back Sample Project - Update 4

I've got some pretty nice samples waiting in the wings to be trialled, and I'm enjoying this relaxed project even more than I thought I would! It feels so positive to be actually using the products and documenting my thoughts and first impressions - it satisfies the hoarder in me to have a record of things and new stuff keeps the beauty junkie in me alive, too!

Aveda Damage Remedy Conditioner
I managed to squeeze two uses from this sample size, and it really highlighted how ineffective my current hair mask is (that I use as conditioner!) I tend to stick with drugstore hair products but this smelt nice and did a good job of softening my strands, so who knows!

Lush Yummy Mummy Shower Gel
I actually finished this a little while ago (seen in my empties!) but forgot to include it in my sample project! I didn't mind the strong iris scent but there are others from Lush that I prefer so I will stick to buying those.

YSL Shocking Faux Cils Mascara
This mascara is a thing of beauty - I am pretty lucky in the lash department but never has it been more evident than when I'm wearing this bad boy! The downside to this is that I now despise most of my current lash options as they pale in comparison to this...

Estee Lauder Modern Muse
I absolutely adore this scent, and have used up another sample vial of it in the past, too. It's a scent I spray on anytime I pass an Estee Lauder counter, which says to me that I need to pick up a full size in the future!

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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

Hope you're having a wonderful week so far, sending positive vibes out to all of you for the week ahead!
-Emma x

Laid Back Sample Project - Update 2

I think I could be moving through this sample project a little faster, but the 'laid back' nature of it negates all guilt and the fact that I'm clearing out my sample stores is a wonderful thing no matter the pace! Perfume samples seem to be the fastest movers as I find them wonderful to try out on work days, and I already have another scent ready to be reviewed in the next instalment of the project. You can read my original Laid Back Sample Project post here, and the first update here.

Balenciaga Rosebotanica

I'm generally a fan of Balenciaga fragrances but this didn't sit well on me. It was soapy and overtly musky on me, and definitely not something I'd like to add to my perfume collection.

 

Biore Gentle Make-Up Removing Wipes

This was a lot more textured than other wipes I've used, but it wasn't a wet enough formula for me to consider picking up.



 

Missha B.B. Boomer

In essence a luminesce primer, this felt nice on the skin and I liked how the shimmers looked when swatched. I'm more of a matte finish kinda gal though so don't think I would personally buy this.

 

Mario Badescu Buttermilk Moisturiser

I had two of these little samples that I received from Kit Cosmetics, one had turned and this one was still in fine condition. I didn't like how this felt on my skin, you had to warm it up for it to apply evenly and overall it didn't impress me. This is actually the only M.B. product I've used that I didn't fall in love with!

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Four fails out of four, huh? I suppose it's safer than having new lemmings to constantly add to my list. None of these products were 'bad' just nothing I want or need - if you've had luck with any of them, be sure to let me know in the comments!

-Emma

Laid Back Sample Project - Update 1

I feel like I made the right decision with this 'laid back' type of project, and it is really working well for me so far. I'm enjoying trying out new things without the commitment of promising to finish them, and it has made me fall in love with the essence of blogging once more - honest opinions about stuff! Hurrah!

Versace Bright Crystal Absolu
I wore this to work and loved how it smelt - quite sweet but I could tell it wasn't a typical celebrity scent and that it came from a luxe brand. I've never tried anything from Versace before and now I'm tempted to check out more of the range!

Lush Yummy Mummy Body Conditioner*
I really like the Lush body conditioner formula, and adore the Ro's Argan scent which was the first from Lush. Now they've released this one which should please the non-rose/jam lovers out there - it's cocoa with a hint of floral and I really enjoyed using it.

Dior Addict Eau Delice EDT
This fragrance sample was all cranberry on me - but sadly it didn't last or make enough of an impact to make me want to buy a bottle. Kinda made me sad because I love the Dior packaging on the bottle, so sleek and elegant.

LaGaia Body Balm
The citrus scent was nice and it seems like a pretty solid brand, but the whole oil balm formula combined with a foil sachet just didn't work out. I think a mini tub of this would've been the go for a trial, but there you go.

-Emma

*Provided for consideration. Which is the nature of all of these samples now that I think about it...

The 'Project Use It Up' Face

Working on using up my older beauty products is an enjoyable process for me – it’s reminded me of how lovely some of the products are, but has also forced me to appreciate just how great some of the newer products in my stash are. It’s made me rethink that moment in the store when I used to buy ‘new’ but mediocre formulas and shades, and made it clear that that was not only a waste of money but distracted me from the quality within my drawers. Having a makeup stash full of wonderful, exciting and stellar products is my end goal I suppose, and I’m happily plodding my way through some of the beauty targets set out in my Project Use It Up in this makeup look.

A trick that I’ve found to work when I’m consciously using up something is to add a new or exciting product into the mix with it, to spice things up and keep yourself from going completely mad (if you’re like me and love to switch products all the time!) This time around I pulled out my Chanel Poesie eyeshadow palette; it’s one of the newest additions to my makeup drawers and creates such an effortless eye look. I then added in some of the ‘Project Use It Up’ contestants, the pan-tastic NYX ‘Peach’ Blush and my Clinique Chubby Stick ‘Whole Lotta Honey.’ Not yet in my project purely because I forgot to include it is my mini pan of Nars ‘Laguna’ Bronzer – let’s consider this mention his official induction into the challenge, shall we?



There has been a big change for me in the hair department – I felt like a new woman when I walked out of the hairdressers with a fringe (or bangs, as my American friends call it!) I have a post forthcoming on the hair products I’ve switched over to, but for now I’d love to hear your tips on using up products and what you think of this simple, everyday makeup look!

-Emma