Love At First Sample!!! 🥰

[heartsmyface]

I know you’ve tried a sample (or ten) of something and it was so magical it made you stop everything and buy a product cause it was love at first sample!  What was it and did the full sized version live up to your initial heart-melted impression? Or is it still on your shopping list to pick up at your earliest convenience?  

The first time I can recall this happening to me was when Sephora still carried Dermadoctor.  I had a sample of their KP Duty Body Scrub.  I used it just to push it through my stash and was absolutely blown away by how immediately soft and exfoliated my skin was!  Instant purchase!   It’s been six years and I have yet to find any body scrub that compares -and I’ve tried!

A more recent love-at-first-sample is the Dior Backstage Face and Body Primer!  It’s a slightly peach tinted,creamy gel consistency and is mega hydrating while blurring subtle imperfections on its own but making foundation apply so smoothly!!!  Plus it has a beautiful floral fragrance which may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s very pleasing to me. 🙂  

DIOR BACKSTAGE Face & Body Primer 1.6 oz/ 50 mL 

 

 

[itsfi]

@caitbird, wondering about the ONE/Size primer - does it feel drying on the skin? My skin is normal-to-dry and I'm wondering how it would work on my skin year round, particularly with the upcoming cooler weather.

[caitbird]

@itsfi  (so sorry for the late reply!) I haven't noticed it being drying at all - I have combo skin that isn't particularly sensitive, but tends to get dehydrated in the winter. That being said, I haven't yet tried this primer during wintertime, when my skin is at its driest; so far I've only used it this summer. So, I can't say with 100% certainty how it will perform on my skin when it is drier.

[itsfi]

@caitbird, those are some fantastic love-at-first-sample products. Oooh, I just set aside a sample pack of the UD eyeshadow primer to put to use in next week's Capsule Makeup Collection Challenge 

I was very happy to see @heartsmyface put this thread up - it says something about a product if someone picks up a full size after trying out a sample. 

[caitbird]

@itsfi  I agree, "love at first sample" is a great endorsement of the product and it is so interesting to see and hear about everyone's loves!

That reminds me, I need to look through my makeup samples to come up with a capsule for next week! I don't have that many makeup samples (I have soooooo many more skincare foils and samples omg), but should have some that I can work in. I think I have a sample of a couple of Gucci lipsticks that I haven't tried yet - that was a substitution for whatever sample I chose, so it was a nice surprise!

[itsfi]

Oh, I love Gucci lipsticks @caitbird. When they first made their way to Sephora, I would make it a tradition to purchase a Gucci lipstick during the sales. How fun to have samples of gucci lipsticks. Can't wait to see the looks you create with it.

[Mellmars1185]

Beautiful photo, @itsfi ! Ohh I had a mini sample of this but gave it away. Now I am regretting that lol. Next time I am in store I will smell it to see what I am missing. 

I have two hair samples that have turned into loves:

Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Hair Styling Balm 5 oz / 150 ml (inspired by @CynthieLu )

Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum Hydrating Treatment for Dry Hair 3.04 oz / 90 ml 

(Inspired by you)

I recently tried a sample of HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica 11 ... and I really liked the formula.

[itsfi]

We're twinsies with the Haus Labs concealer @Mellmars1185. Right now, that concealer is one of my favorites. I need to put my Natasha Denona concealer to use but have a few too many open concealers at the moment. I'm wavering over whether to just destash some that are just okay or that I know what compete with the Haus Labs concealer. 

Ohhh, both those hair products are fantastic!!! 😍 I've been enjoying the hair mask and the shampoo and conditioner from that Oribe line as well. I may have picked up *a few* foils of those Oribe items - er, just planning for my next trip?!! 😆

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Oooh you love the Haus labs? I just recently tried it and it was literally love at first sample! It sounds like you will be ready for your trip with sample! They make for easy packing ☺️

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, the Haus concealer has probably been my most often reached for concealer this year. 👍🏼 I’ve been trying to rotate through a few but the Haus is the one that gets used most often. I’ve also been enjoying the Dior backstage concealer recently.

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi That says a lot! What shade of each concealer do you use? I was thinking of getting 11 light neutral in Haus Labs.

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, I have HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica 11 ... and DIOR Backstage Concealer 2N 

Here's a pic of both concealers, in comparison with each other and to show how they look next to Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation 4 which is one of my GOAT 🐐 foundations. In the Haus Labs foundation, I wear shade 110.

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Thank you so much for sharing these! I use Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation 3.5  sounds like it might be a close match ! I was also looking at HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Triclone Skin Tech Hydrating + De-puffing Concealer with Fermented Arnica 10 ... 

[itsfi]

@Mellmars1185, here’s what Armani LSF 3.5 and Haus Labs concealer 10 (and a few other shades within the concealer range).

[Mellmars1185]

@itsfi Oh my goodness thank you for this photo. After trying the sample again of shade 11, I thought it was too light and I was debating on shade 13. This photo helps me confirm that 🙏🙏🙏

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi I also love the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68 Beija Flor™ Hair & Body Fragrance Mist 8.01 oz / 240 mL scent; I own the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’68 Beija Flor™ Hair & Body Fragrance Mist 8.01 oz / 240 mL as well as the Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor™ Collagen-Boosting Elasti-Cream with Bio-Retinol and Squalane 8.1 oz / 240... .

I ended up receiving a sample of DedCool Xtra Milk Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz / 50 ml eau de parfum spray and oddly ended up loving it.  It's very different from the typical perfumes that I enjoy but I find Xtra Milk to be so warm and cozy and comforting that I'm planning on picking up the DedCool Xtra Milk Eau de Parfum Travel Spray 0.5 oz / 15 ml eau de parfum spray during the F&F Sale.

[itsfi]

@CookieGirl1, I finished a full size of the Beija Flor mist last month. The entire range of products with the scent is great.

I'm curious to know what notes / scent you pick up from the Dedcool Xtra Milk? On its own, I don't pick up any scent from the fragrance, but when I layer it with another Dedcool scent, it intensifies or brings out the notes (some or all) in the scent I'm layering with it.

[CookieGirl1]

@itsfi DedCool Xtra Milk Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz / 50 ml eau de parfum spray almost reminds me of JHAG in a way where it's definitely a skin scent that doesn't have any major notes to it but it somehow just smells...warm?  Again, it's not a typical fragrance choice for me and I'm honestly not even sure how to properly describe it, partially because I really can't detect any specific notes.

[ragdoll4mom]

@CookieGirl1 I fell in love with #Dedcool Milk as well due to a sample.  I never would have thought I would like a fragrance with "milk" in the name, but it is heavenly IMHO.

[Cissy63]

Thanks for the tag @itsfi .  When I think about it, one sample that I really loved was 

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Visibly Firming Refillable Body Cream    I was so intoxicated by the scent.  And I bought a full size jar of it.  Oh after a shower I was so happy to apply this cream and go to bed smelling so good!  And recently I received a sample of Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Eau de Toilette .  I had never tried this before, even though it’s been out for several years.  I think it’s the sandalwood and jasmine that makes it so seductive.  

[itsfi]

@Cissy63, Cashmere Mist is a gorgeous fragrance. There was a period of time when it was my go to scent. Come to think of it, no idea why I stopped using it. I’ll sort through my fragrances to see if I have a bottle - I’m sure I do. But if not, I’m sure a sale can remedy that. 😆 I find the combo of the sandalwood and jasmine in this one to be a good blend.

[Sunnysmom]

Thanks @itsfi @heartsmyface , this is really a good idea! 💞 Recent samples that are on my wish list are the Oribe Hair Alchemy Strengthening Shampoo 33.8 oz / 1 L Oribe Hair Alchemy Strengthening Treatment Serum 2.5 oz / 75 ml Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Hair Styling Balm 5 oz / 150 ml Oribe Mini Hair Alchemy Strengthening Conditioner 1.7 oz / 50 mL . I really am enjoying all of them. Also Clarins Total Eye Lift Firming & Smoothing Anti-Aging Eye Cream 0.5 oz / 15 mL feels wonderful and I love the weight of it. The generous sample is the perfect size to really try it out too. I love when a sample works out so well and I discover something new and wonderful!