Review your free samples!

[jayeme]

On the thread "what companies have you gotten samples from?," we've been sharing our sample hauls. Since a lot of us are getting the same products and might want to share our thoughts on some of them, I thought I'd create a new thread--that one is busy enough!

So! What have you loved? What have you hated? What was just unimpressive?

I really liked the samples I got from skyn iceland--I've already purchased the glacial face wash and cloud cream. I also enjoyed the Caldrea body lotion; nice but subtle scents, and my skin feels so silky when I use it! My favorite thing I've sampled so far has been the Omorovicza copper peel. My skin looks amazing after using it, but I don't know when I'll be able to spend the $160 it costs to buy the 8 pairs of tubes! I received 2 pairs of tubes as a sample, and I've used up one pair (I got 4 applications out of it). Very generous sample!

I was less impressed with some of my other samples. I haven't hated anything, but the DermOrganics samples I received just didn't wow me. I loved the generous sample sizes and good customer service, but I didn't notice any differences in my skin or hair. So it wasn't bad, but no better than what I usually use. I didn't really like the Gabriel Organics products; I disliked the smell and feel of the creams, and I didn't notice results on my skin. 

 

[Sage32]

Thanks for starting this tread! Awesome idea.

As far as what I liked and didn't, I got to say I didn't like this Skyn Iceland face wash. I know a lot of you have, but I couldn't stand the smell of it and it didn't do anything special to my face. The cloud cream has a really interesting texture, but I don't know if I like it or not cause I only used it once. I like to use the products together to get the full effect. I didn't like the liquid foundation from glo. It was way to dark and it didn't feel that nice on my face. I will mix it with lotion though and use it like that. I liked the body lotion from Caldrea too. I like light scents, so it was really nice. I liked the samples I got from Tokyo Milk. They have some very interesting scented lotions. I liked a lot of the punkin masks and scrubs; they smell so good and make my face fell really nice. The best were from glo and My Chelle. The rest of the My Chelle face care products were nice too. I liked the fruit enzyme wash and the vitamin c serum. I liked ALL the makeup from Jane Iredale! I also liked the blush from VMV and the pressed powder foundation from glo.  Malin + Goetz has a really neat detox face mask. It feels cool, but its expensive. And I really liked the hair stuff from Macadamia. Oh, and the hair oils I got from glo and Derm Organics are nice. They smell great. I think that's it for now /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  I haven't nearly tried everything, but I'll update when I try more.
 

 

[jayeme]

Originally Posted by Sage32 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Thanks for starting this tread! Awesome idea.

As far as what I liked and didn't, I got to say I didn't like this Skyn Iceland face wash. I know a lot of you have, but I couldn't stand the smell of it and it didn't do anything special to my face. The cloud cream has a really interesting texture, but I don't know if I like it or not cause I only used it once. I like to use the products together to get the full effect. I didn't like the liquid foundation from glo. It was way to dark and it didn't feel that nice on my face. I will mix it with lotion though and use it like that. I liked the body lotion from Caldrea too. I like light scents, so it was really nice. I liked the samples I got from Tokyo Milk. They have some very interesting scented lotions. I liked a lot of the punkin masks and scrubs; they smell so good and make my face fell really nice. The best were from glo and My Chelle. The rest of the My Chelle face care products were nice too. I liked the fruit enzyme wash and the vitamin c serum. I liked ALL the makeup from Jane Iredale! I also liked the blush from VMV and the pressed powder foundation from glo.  Malin + Goetz has a really neat detox face mask. It feels cool, but its expensive. And I really liked the hair stuff from Macadamia. Oh, and the hair oils I got from glo and Derm Organics are nice. They smell great. I think that's it for now /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  I haven't nearly tried everything, but I'll update when I try more.

I have seen several people mentioning they liked the Tokyo Milk samples, I wish I'd gotten a yes from them! 

Did you not have enough of the Skyn Iceland cloud cream, or did you just stop using it because you didn't want to use the cleanser? If it's the first, I understand wanting to use products together, but maybe try it again? I think it's pretty fabulous. 

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by jayeme /img/forum/go_quote.gif



I have seen several people mentioning they liked the Tokyo Milk samples, I wish I'd gotten a yes from them! 

Did you not have enough of the Skyn Iceland cloud cream, or did you just stop using it because you didn't want to use the cleanser? If it's the first, I understand wanting to use products together, but maybe try it again? I think it's pretty fabulous. 

Yeah I stopped using it cause I like to use products of the same brand together. I will try it again when I have nothing left. I like the feeling of it, I could poke it all day!!

 

[jayeme]

Originally Posted by Sage32 /img/forum/go_quote.gif


Yeah I stopped using it cause I like to use products of the same brand together. I will try it again when I have nothing left. I like the feeling of it, I could poke it all day!!

It does have a weird texture! I like it though. I find that using only products of the same brand doesn't always work for me testing the samples, though, because some don't send a full regimen, just one or two products. What do you do in that case? 

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by jayeme /img/forum/go_quote.gif


It does have a weird texture! I like it though. I find that using only products of the same brand doesn't always work for me testing the samples, though, because some don't send a full regimen, just one or two products. What do you do in that case? 

Yeah, I have a lot of samples that may only have a cleanser and serum or just lotion, etc. If they have it all, I will use it like that, and if not, then I try to match it closely to another brand that does the same thing. For example, if I have a face cleanser for dry skin then I'll try to match it with a lotion for dry skin as well. Or if there is something I really want to get the full effects of, I'll match it with something low key. It's not an exact science, but it works!

 

[Xiang]

Updates and also I really love the strawberry scrub from Mario Badescu. The scent is awesome and it really brightened up my face.

 

[Xiang]

Is it just me or does the DermOrganic products seem to separate? I was using the hair treatment oil and got to the last 1/3 of the bottle and the product down there seem much thicker and have a stronger scent than the 2/3 of the bottle that I've already used. It made me think maybe I should have shaken the bottle before each use but it's too late now. There's not a lot of product left in the bottle and what's left seems very concentrated.

 

[korsis]

Updates and also I really love the strawberry scrub from Mario Badescu. The scent is awesome and it really brightened up my face.

You got a sample of that scrub? I like to try that! I tried the new peptide serum and cream from mario badescu but the serum I did not like. It's so sticky! The peptide cream is nice and super light and fresh.

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by Xiang /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Is it just me or does the DermOrganic products seem to separate? I was using the hair treatment oil and got to the last 1/3 of the bottle and the product down there seem much thicker and have a stronger scent than the 2/3 of the bottle that I've already used. It made me think maybe I should have shaken the bottle before each use but it's too late now. There's not a lot of product left in the bottle and what's left seems very concentrated.

I haven't gotten that far into it, but I shake the bottle anyway. I think it's just an automatic thing I do! But I'll look out to see if me shaking it corrects this from happening.

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by korsis /img/forum/go_quote.gif

You got a sample of that scrub? I like to try that! I tried the new peptide serum and cream from mario badescu but the serum I did not like. It's so sticky! The peptide cream is nice and super light and fresh.

I got the scrub too. It's not my favorite scrub, but I like it. Smells nice, but I like a scrub that does a little more to get dead skin off. I feel that it is a little too gentle, but that's just me /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Xiang]

Originally Posted by Sage32 /img/forum/go_quote.gif


I got the scrub too. It's not my favorite scrub, but I like it. Smells nice, but I like a scrub that does a little more to get dead skin off. I feel that it is a little too gentle, but that's just me /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Yes that's true. You're right, it does seem more like a gentle cleanser than a scrub now that I think about it. There are some random strawberry seeds in it but not a lot to really get rid of dead skin. I like it because it seems to have some brightening ability.

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by Xiang /img/forum/go_quote.gif


Yes that's true. You're right, it does seem more like a gentle cleanser than a scrub now that I think about it. There are some random strawberry seeds in it but not a lot to really get rid of dead skin. I like it because it seems to have some brightening ability.

Good point! I guess I'm kind of literal. If it says scrub, I want it to be a scrub, lol! I forget that things can work good as something else. I have two tubs of it (my husband got some too). I should give it a try. I like brightening things.

 

[Xiang]

Originally Posted by korsis /img/forum/go_quote.gif

You got a sample of that scrub? I like to try that! I tried the new peptide serum and cream from mario badescu but the serum I did not like. It's so sticky! The peptide cream is nice and super light and fresh.

Maybe they'll send you some if you ask specifically for a sample of that product. They seem to be a nice customer service oriented company. Doesn't hurt to ask. Maybe just say that you heard great reviews about this product and if they're ok with you trying a sample of it to see if it'll react with your skin before you make a purchase decision. =)

This is its product description:

BENEFITS:
Made with real Strawberry seeds that gently buff away flaky skin while natural AHA’s break down dulling build-up to unclog pores and prevent blackheads. It improves skin's overall texture by revealing healthy, glowing skin. 


I think AHA is alpha hydroxy acid? I think that's the stuff that increases photosensitivity? So you have to make sure you wear sunblock with this product.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_hydroxy_acid

 

[korsis]

Maybe they'll send you some if you ask specifically for a sample of that product. They seem to be a nice customer service oriented company. Doesn't hurt to ask. Maybe just say that you heard great reviews about this product and if they're ok with you trying a sample of it to see if it'll react with your skin before you make a purchase decision. =) This is its product description:

[TR] BENEFITS: [/TR] [TR] Made with real Strawberry seeds  that gently buff away flaky skin while natural AHA’s break down dulling build-up to unclog pores and prevent blackheads. It improves skin's overall texture by revealing healthy, glowing skin.  [/TR]

I think AHA is alpha hydroxy acid? I think that's the stuff that increases photosensitivity? So you have to make sure you wear sunblock with this product. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_hydroxy_acid

Thx I will try that. That stuff looks yummy!!! ;-)

 

[korsis]

The Argan oil from acure smells very weird. Has anyone else noticed that? It smells like vegetable oil to cook! Lol!!!

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by korsis /img/forum/go_quote.gif
The Argan oil from acure smells very weird. Has anyone else noticed that? It smells like vegetable oil to cook! Lol!!!

I have noticed that too. But I have noticed that in a lot of the natural oils for the face and body. If they don't add perfume, then they just have their natural weird smell, haha!!

 

[korsis]

I have noticed that too. But I have noticed that in a lot of the natural oils for the face and body. If they don't add perfume, then they just have their natural weird smell, haha!!

I guess I prefer some fragrance in it. They could maybe mix it with natural oils that smell good. I mean, I washed my hair and now it smells weird. Lol!

 

[Sage32]

Originally Posted by korsis /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I guess I prefer some fragrance in it. They could maybe mix it with natural oils that smell good. I mean, I washed my hair and now it smells weird. Lol!

Yeah, I like them smelling good too! Nothing like smelling like you just got off working at a fry joint!

 

[korsis]

Yeah, I like them smelling good too! Nothing like smelling like you just got off working at a fry joint!

LOL!!!