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 

 

 

[Titian06]

I've been using a foil sample of the Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-in Hair Treatment 1.5 oz / 45 mL, and I'm in love!  I have fine, thin wavy natural hair and can't believe how much life this product has brought back to my waves.  I will definitely be buying the full size!

The only styling product I used was the original Verb Curl Foaming Gel for Definition + Frizz-Fighting 6.7 oz / 200 ml , then I diffused to almost dry with Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer and Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser .  I finish with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong Finish 10 oz/ 330 mL .

 

[peculiarzmakeup]

Your curls are beautiful! I’m so glad to hear of your experience with this sample, and how it’s worked for you! That is exciting 🙂 @Titian06 

[CookieGirl1]

Wow, @Titian06, your hair does look really nice!  It looks like it has some body but your curls look so nicely defined.  

[curlychiquita]

Your hair looks beautiful, @Titian06! 

[Titian06]

Thanks, @curlychiquita ! 😘  There have been days when my hair has been virtually straight.  I have no idea what's going on.  This product has really been helpful! 💕

[Ispend2much6]

@Titian06  I think it’s the drier winter air from the heating systems. I’m having the same issue.

[itsfi]

There's a lot of product packed in these Rare Beauty lipstick foil samples. It probably took me three tries of this Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Kind Words Matte Lipstick Gifted sample to fall enough in love with it to convince me that a full size was in order after I used up the sample, which I did - it was my only contribution to the Foil Challenge thread last month - only one to close out the year but I went out in style? 😉 I tried to make the other shade Lively work for me but it was not meant to be. If it looked as good on me as it does @peculiarzmakeup it might also have been something I added to my wish list; for that, my wallet is grateful. 😅 

Red and brown lipsticks are not shades I often gravitate towards, but last year saw me picking up or using more lipsticks in those tones. Rare Beauty Gifted is a beautiful combination of the two - it's a neutral-to-cool toned leaning dark red-brown shade. I'm most comfortable wearing it as a stain or lightly dabbed on my lips and topped with a clear balm or gloss but from time to time, I have worn it alone. These wear comfortably, though, interestingly I've found that the deeper, darker shades from the line work best on me. Something I may dig deeper into after my current no spend / low buy ends.

[ather]

@itsfi  This shade looks amazing on you!!!! Holy!!!!! 

[Titian06]

@itsfi - Gifted is lovely on you and right up my ally!  Thanks for sharing. 💕

[peculiarzmakeup]

Aw that is so sweet 🥹 I really appreciate it!!! And I think Gifted is so beautiful on you! I know what you mean about that sample card it lasted so long it was helpful to determine from that sometimes samples aren’t like that. I’m glad you found such a stunning fit it looks amazing!! @itsfi 

[itsfi]

I've been coloring my hair for a good couple of years now, possibly more. There are times when my hair starts to feel more crunchy, dry, knotted? knotty? from the various processes. I've been happy with how the Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo for Damaged Hair and Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner for Damaged Hair has addressed all of that - my hair looks and feel less fried, and looks and feels soft, silky, smooth and shiny - it looks healthy. 

There's a mask in this collection that I've added to my list after I make my way through some other hair care products, and the Pureology Strength Cure & Color Fanatic Value Set for Damaged Hair also looks good - I like the Golden Gate Bridge in the artwork. 😉

Out of curiosity @heartsmyface, do you have any go-to hair care products for keeping your tresses happy and healthy?

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi  Hehehe the duck cameo made my day!   I was just considering this brand in a super fun and mildly irresponsible haul I just made (I made Rouge in one go but also haven’t been able to sit down and shop for fun in a while) and then reminded myself I bought backups of the Shu Uemura I love so much.  but also, now I want to try it.   Damaged hair that looks healthy? Yay!!!   

[peculiarzmakeup]

This is awesome so glad to hear it works for you the duck is so cute I love how samples are so helpful in navigating good finds! @itsfi 

[itsfi]

Thank you @peculiarzmakeup! I don't pick up as many samples as I did in the past, but I do love being able to test out products that way first. At some point, I'll try the volume line from this brand, but I have several shampoos and conditioners to work my way through first.

[heartsmyface]

@itsfi  I just did a hair product declutter/donation cause I had a whole cupboard of items I wasn’t ever going to get through and I know I’ll want to try a bunch of new products this year.  

[peculiarzmakeup]

Samples are such a great way to off fdiscovery! I don’t either as much! I actually use pureology as well I have the darker pink one I’ll have to check which one I think it’s smooth or something 🫶 such a neat experience @itsfi 

[itsfi]

@peculiarzmakeup, oh, a dark pink one? I've only recently realized how extensive their line is - I initially thought my hair would like the one in the purple bottle which is a fave of many but it's this blue one. So glad to have picked up samples of both beforehand. Do you rotate through shampoos and conditioners? If so, do you mind me asking how many you usually have in your rotation at a given time?

[peculiarzmakeup]

Yes it’s a darker pink bottle I usually use the same but sometimes I only wash with conditioner 🙂 @itsfi 

[Titian06]

I love the duck, @itsfi !  Too cute! 🦆 I may have tried a sample of this brand years ago.

[itsfi]

@Titian06, the duckie is definitely a cutie; she stands out in the sea of blue Pureology bottles.