sample stash

Delving into My Sample Stash #5

- Vicki Leave a comment
Makeup Sample Stash October

Makeup Sample Stash October

Benefit Gimme Brow in Number 5 

This came free with Glamour Magazine a couple of months ago to coincide with the huge launch of all the new Benefit brow products. I have been saving this mini one so I could take it away on holiday with me. Benefit have extended the shade selection which is fab news and I have the darkest shade – Number 5. Its a tinted brow gel with volumising microfibres which give your brows a fuller look. This is so quick and easy to use, it puts down a good amount of colour and it keeps my brows in place all day. I really like the new packaging too, its fun and very Benefit!

New Benefit Gimme Brow

Estée Lauder ANR Synchronized Recovery Complex II

I have repurchased the full size of this so many times, I adore it. Its quite a thick overnight serum and it feels so good on the skin, it instantly hydrates and soothes fatigued skin. This serum makes my skin so happy – that translates to looking radiant, fresher, brighter and all importantly well rested. I have a couple of these very cute mini bottles for travelling, its the perfect skin pick me up after a flight and I swear by it. Have you tried it?

This Works In Transit Camera Close Up

This is a moisturising Primer, it hydrates, smooths and helps skin look radiant. I wore this under my makeup everyday whilst in Amsterdam and I loved how well my makeup applied on top of this, it made a really nice primer. I had quite a few late nights whilst on holiday and I relied on this to keep my skin looking bright, which I have to say it did. This high-performance Superblend features Bio Boost – which is the This Works’ unique blend of anti-oxidant plant oils – to rebuild and protect the skin barrier, along with hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine to rebalance and revitalise. Its a must have for anyone that wants their skin to look well rested and healthy.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen

This is one of the creamiest, deepest black, long wearing pencil eyeliner I have ever used. I used this to tightline as I like to use a liquid line for my actual eyeliner but this Pixi pencil was so good on my water line and stayed put all night without wearing off. Like I said its extremely pigmented and very black, I hate it when you are expecting your liner to be black and its more on the grey side, this is a fab pencil to have in your makeup stash and I loved using it. These eyeliners are Paraben-free. Mineral oil-free. Preservative-free. Hypoallergenic & contain Vitamin E which nourishes and protects delicate skin around the eye.

Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy Sculpting Gloss

This isn’t the kind of lip product I would reach for but I am trying to use up my samples, the only thing that puts me off this is that it has quite the sparkle. I am not a fan of glitter but I do have a few nights out coming up & I am sure I can make it work. The colour is Reckless Bloom and its actually quite a pretty pink, I’m thinking of pairing it with a nice nude lipstick. We will see, I may end up having to pass this on.

Let me know if you hoard samples, I have quite a stash to get through but I have been making a big effort this year to actually use them. I love to empty them all out and pick a selection of new things to try, its a fab way to discover new brands & products and test things out before committing to purchase the full size. I get most of my samples from beauty boxes, gwp or magazines. Samples are perfect for taking away with you on holiday, I need to book more holidays so I can use up more of them, that sounds like a great plan.

Delving into my Sample Stash #5

- Vicki Leave a comment

Sample Stash Update

ESPA Purifying Shampoo & Conditioner

This is a brand new release from ESPA, I only had one sachet of each product but it was enough for me to tell I would love to use it again. Its suitable for all hair types and is jam packed full of beneficial ingredients like Coconut Oil, Honey, Jojoba, Olive Oils. They all help soften, hydrate and protect your luscious locks. The conditioner also contains a blend of plant protein which leaves hair looking rejuvenated and lustrous. This duo feels lightweight but adds volume, shine and hydration to my hair.

ESPA products are well know for their luxurious scent and their haircare doesn’t disappoint, they smell so good. They contain a blend of essential oils including Bergamot, Jasmine and Cedarwood which smell rich, relaxing and so pampering.  They are 99% natural and free from Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES) and silicones.

Merumaya Overnight Recharge Night Cream

Merumaya is one of my favourite skincare brands, they’re affordable, great quality, British and its founded by Meleka who is an advocate for #beautyhasnoage, she is positive, dedicated and ambitious. I’ve tried almost all their products & I can say I have loved, repurchased and recommended them all.

I have a few samples which I take with me on my travels and this mini Overnight Cream is a great one to help keep your skin looking plump, radiant and nourished. Its a gentle, lightweight cream and it has quite a distinctive scent.

Origins Modern Friction

This is a thick cream exfoliator with tiny rice starch particles which dissolve when massaged into your skin and they gently help remove dead skin and dirt to promote healthy skin bright skin. Its not at all abrasive or irritating, lemon oil starts the process of illumination, all while aloe soothes and prevents irritation, redness, or flaking. The exfoliator is scented with the perk-up aromas of bergamot and peppermint. It leaves my skin smooth, supple and feeling clean.

Sisley Instant Perfect 

This is a luxury skincare product and if a primer is a step you never miss out or that is vital to your makeup routine then you might consider splashing out on this, but otherwise I would say its not a necessity in your makeup bag. This gives your skin a blurring effect and smooths out fine lines and reduces the appearance of pores. What I do like about it is that it reduces shine and doesn’t have a greasy finish. It leaves my skin feeling velvety soft and yes it did act as a lovely base for my foundation but there is no way I could afford to spend £43.50 on a makeup item. I would splurge on a skincare product but I would class this as a makeup product. Its luxurious and it does work but not for my budget (sadly).

Delving In To My Sample Stash

Burberry Nude Radiance No. 01 Fresh Glow Luminous Base

Because I only had a very small sample of this I tried to make it last as long as possible and so I mixed a small pea sized amount with my foundation to add a luminous glow to my skin. It worked really well and I am a little sad to say I’ve fell in love with it. Its an essential part of my routine but I do love the dewy luminous glow it gives and it helps make my skin look healthy. The price tag I am not so in love with so sadly I think I am going to have to find a good dupe.

What is it about Burberry makeup that just makes it feel instantly luxurious and beautiful?

Amazing Cosmetics Concealer

This is one very full coverage concealer – not one to use under the eye just because its pretty heavy duty and prone to crease. This is a concealer for blemishes and any other imperfections you wish to cover. A little goes a long way and it is buildable. This is waterproof and very pigmented, I do have a shade thats slightly too dark but I am hoping come the warmer months that its a better match.

Delving into My Sample Stash #4

- Vicki 3 Comments

Beauty Product Sample Stash

This is the 4th post in this series and it has been a while since I rummaged around in my sample drawer and I have had some lovely products hidden away in there. Samples are a great way to try new products and get a feel for them before you splash out on the full size & who doesn’t love a miniature product they look so damn cute.

Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation SPF 30

I really really like this its so lightweight when you apply it and I found it so easy to blend into my skin for a flawless finish. It covers imperfections and redness without looking like you have a ton of product on. This is also one of those bases that actually looks better as the day goes on – I do have to powder because this is a dewy finish and my t zone can look quite oily but thats normal for me. I am using this sparingly because the full size does have a hefty price tag but I do think its worth the money.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil

I like to use face oils and this Blue Orchid one from Clarins is lovely and hydrating. Its so good for my skin over the colder months because it is packed full of incredible ingredients like –  extracts of Rosewood, Patchouli and Blue Orchid to tone, revitalise and restore radiance to moisture-depleted skin. Hazelnut Oil helps prevent moisture loss and the formation of fine lines. So if you have dry or dehydrated skin you might really benefit from using this. This mini bottle is just too cute & I’m taking it with me on my trip to Scotland to keep my skin nourished and combat the effects of the cold weather on my skin.

YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer

Everything about this feels luxurious, the packaging is lovely and the product itself is a clear gel with the most beautiful golden shimmer running through it. It looks gorgeous in the bottle. I have only used this a couple of times but It helped my skin feel smooth and the shimmer didn’t look OTT on my face, once applied the primer has more of a subtle glow. I like that not only is this a primer but it also adds radiance to my skin. This primer feels comfortable on the skin and not greasy or too heavy. It did help my makeup last longer and it kept everything in place all day. It is a luxurious product so I am not too sure if I would buy the full size.

Caudalie Divine Oil

This oil smells so good, its a multi purpose oil and can be used in so many ways on your body, face and hair. I love products that have more than one use – they’re great for travelling. I like to use it on my legs after shaving and I also apply it to my cuticles before bed, its such a nourishing oil and leaves my skin feeling soft and supple. Divine Oil contains a blend of grapeseed, hibiscus, sesame, and argan oils combined with patented grapeseed antioxidant polyphenols to leave skin soft, firm, and radiant. Perfect as a post-sun product, its glamorous texture is instantly absorbed, imparting a subtle, floral, and sunkissed fragrance.

Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes Mascara

This gets the award for the most weird brush, its just has a ball at the end of the wand. Its quite hard to get the hang of & I’m not 100% sold on the design. It is good for getting a really neat coating of mascara on every lash so if you like that separated lash look then you might love this. I am going to have to try it a few more times before I decide if I want to try the full size. Let me know if you have tried this mascara & what you thought of the spherical wand design.

ESPA 24 Hour Replenishing Moisturiser

This is a lovely moisturiser for sensitive skin and I have found it helps calm my skin over the colder months. I work from home so I have the heating on a lot and that dries my skin out & I get redness but this ESPA cream helps reduce the redness and replenish moisture. It feels lovely on my skin and if i’m not wearing makeup I will reapply this throughout the day. It contains Potent Myrrh, Frankincense and Neroli stimulate cell renewal, while Vitamin E-rich Peach Kernel Oil protects against environmental aggressors. Nourishing Evening Primrose and Jojoba moisturise for soft, comforted, supple skin – so many beneficial ingredients to keep your skin looking its best.

Sisley Ecological Compound Day & Night Cream

I have been using this before my moisturiser as an extra step in the colder months. Its a very lightweight and fluid product so a little goes a long way. Its so easy to massage in to the skin and it doesn’t feel tacky or greasy. It is formulated with a synergistic compound of plants (Centella Asiatica, Ginseng, Rosemary, Hops, and Horsetail) selected for their stimulating and revitalising actions, its composition:
– hydrates the epidermis, and restores comfort and radiance,
– helps skin fight environmental stress (pollution, cigarette smoke etc),
– restores the skin to a more toned, supple state enabling it to get maximum benefit from future treatments.

For the price I would say its not 100% necessary as a skincare step but if you have the budget and you like trying new skincare then go for it, I have enjoyed using this but my budget won’t stretch to the full size.

Apivita Sun Care Face Cream SPF 50

I wear a separate facial SPF all year round, not always factor 50 but this one sits so well under my makeup and for a high factor it feels lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast on my face. This Apivita one has so many skin benefits as well as being a broad spectrum SPF

  • Sea lavender, rich in sterols and vitamin E, along with panthenol help skin fight harmful radiation and irritations, while at the same time they provide moisturization.
  • Iodine-free red and brown algae extract protects from irritations and redness that might occur due to UV radiation.
  • Green tea water, lycopene and vitamin E provide antioxidant protection.
  • Patented propolis extract – an APIVITA innovation – with high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids, provides consistently enhanced antioxidant protection from photoaging and free radicals, while supporting the formulation of collagen and elastine.
  • Photostable combination of broad spectrum natural and synthetic filters ensures up to 130% greater protection and stable SPF throughout the entire life of the product.

So I know my skin is being protected from UVA & UVB rays. What facial SPF do you use? This is one of the best I have tried.