Laid Back Sample Project - Update 3

Back for another project update - I've squirreled away some of the samples that I know and love for my upcoming weekends away, but apart from that I feel like the stash is getting lower and it's making me feel very positive! After a few fails in my last project update, I seem to have jinxed myself as I've had marvellous luck and created some possible lemmings this time around...

Benefit Hello Flawless Custom Powder Cover-Up
For some reason I wasn't prepared to like this one, but it turns out I was wrong! Not only was the coverage and feel of this powder quite nice, I was very impressed with the sample packaging, which came complete with sponge for easy application.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Correcting Day Moisturiser
This was a little magazine freebie that I'm pretty sure I've fallen in love with on first (and second) application...it reminds me of my beloved Lancôme Dreamtone and I'm definitely going to pick up a full size of this sometime down the line.

L'Occitane Sun Verbena Eau de Toilette
I mentioned this in my recent Week in Perfume post; I quite liked the scent but have to admit that it wore quite close to my skin and was a lighter fragrance than I'd be happy to personally purchase. The fact that it is a discontinued scent means any possible lemming would have been squashed anyway!

Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correction Foundation Primer in Adjust
This is yet another product that impressed me, it was the first sample I received from Sephora on our honeymoon and the green tint in the primer was a nice way of counteracting redness around my nose and cheek area. This tiny yet long-lasting sample pot turned me into a silicone-primer lover, so you can take that as a ringing endorsement!

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One definite and two possible purchases in my future, only after I finish off some full size products within my collection of course. The L'Oreal moisturiser has me all heart eye emoji'd, and I don't even feel bad about the new lemming as it's relatively affordable and has the prettiest packaging! I've been on the hunt for a new staple moisturiser and I'm so happy to have found one I enjoy using.

 

Here are the links for my previous updates -
Original Project Post
Update 1
Update 2
I hope you are all enjoying reading about my snails-pace project, because it makes me very happy to write about it!
-Emma

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

2015 Empties - Second Quarter

Another lacklustre quarter on the empties front unfortunately (see 2015 first quarter here) but I am making headway with a few samples thanks to my #LaidBackSampleProject and I'm making dents in a few makeup pieces too. Hopefully the third quarter will see even more skincare, a few makeup bits and a whole lotta samples via the aforementioned project...I'm currently rounding up a stack of beauty products to give away as I've become even more overwhelmed by my collection in recent weeks, so hopefully the extra breathing space will allow me to focus on half-used products to burn through.

I found the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation basically empty in a drawer, goodness only knows why it hadn't been tossed but it's in the trash now, and I completely used up the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Foundation despite having intentions of finishing up Illamasqua Skin Base first. I think of the three I'd repurchase the Revlon as I like the high coverage, but disappointingly the lid cracked for no reason (it never left my desk!) and it was a pain in that regard. Other highlights include using up my bottle of Benefit So Hooked on Carmella which was sweet and strong, and the Garnier skincare which was fun to try out. I'm glad to see the back of the Hollister Laguna Beach mist which I ended up using as a room spray to get through it!



As always, Original Source is well represented in my empties - I actually accidently tossed a few other bottles of the shower gel that didn't make it to this photo! The British Strawberry Shower Gel was a hit with Mister and the Lime is a household favourite that we always repurchase, but the most surprising hit out of this lot was the Pantene Colour Therapy Conditioner*. I wasn't totally keen on this one as Pantene can be hit and miss for me, but I loved how light but hydrated this kept my long hair and it lasted a really long time, too!

 

How are you going in regards to using up product?

Any tips for using up makeup and not getting tempted by shiny new/different things?!

-Emma

 

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

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 Laid Back Sample Project

I've been feeling quite restless when it comes to beauty and skincare lately - I've been yearning to try new products but the thought of dishing out the dosh has me feeling hesitant! My thoughts turned to my overflowing stash of samples, sadly spread haphazardly across my bathroom and beauty room...This sample project post (brilliantly titled "Use Up Those Freakin' Samples!") on Rocaille Writes spurred me to think of these sachets and tubes as an opportunity rather than a nuisance.

a gorgeous bunch of samples

An opportunity to review some fresh beauty products is always welcome, and so my plan is to begin my very own sample challenge of sorts. I'm going to pop up Insta-reviews as I use up samples (using Monika's hashtag!) and also compile some review posts for each bunch of products, as a way of recording my feelings about all of the new things I'm trying. For now I'm not setting myself any real targets and will be happy to bid adieu to the various bits and bobs I have lying around, but I want this to be an enjoyable process and so I won't be strict about not accumulating more sample products - hey, if Chanel are happy to throw in samples with purchase who am I to refuse!?

Just a small selection of my fragrance samples, including Bleu de Chanel for Mister that we received last weekend while out window shopping!

primer packets and tubes, oh my!

The main idea is to stop hoarding these little packets away as I am prone to do - I'm looking forward to trying out some new perfumes, pitting the many primer samples against each other and generally having some fun playing around with new-to-me products without any commitment!

 

Have you got a shed load of sample products squirreled away?
What tips do you have for using and enjoying them all?
-Emma