Use Your Foil Samples Challenge 2018

[angel7594]

* 11-27-18, last update for the year! *

Hi everyone, We are almost to the last month of our challenge, time flew by fast! For December, sonnydee, scott1201, and eshoe have an idea for a sub challenge called “Deluxe December” Use up as many deluxe samples as you wish! As always, post your progress weekly, or end of the month- whenever you want- including foil samples too. Thanks to all contributors, (anyone can participate at any time). ❤️

[SurprisedLemur]

@keana1 I'll try not to judge the whole brand by one product then. Perhaps I'll dip my toes into the framboos one they have...

[keana1]

@SurprisedLemur DE products work so well for me, they don’t have any added fragrance or color and the ingredients are great except for the C-Firma . It’s the only product I don’t like, you can’t have a serum with ascorbic acid and water mixed together, it’s too unstable! 

[eshoe]

...and that’s why I just love your input, @keana1! Things I didn’t know I needed to know, I do now😊

[keana1]

You have given me and others great advice @eshoe ! This is one of the many reasons why I love the BIC!💕

[eshoe]

🤗 @keana1

[eshoe]

@SurprisedLemur, I’ve tried the CEO and it’s nothing like the C-Tango samples. It’s a very rich, creamsicle-scented cream. It’s quite nice!

[SurprisedLemur]

@eshoe Oh that sounds delightful. I'm very excited to use it now!

[eshoe]

I had the same experience with the C-Firma, @SurprisedLemur, only mine was a DS. I used it a few times before decluttering it. That was before I knew what it meant for a product to oxidize 😆. I bet it’s a great product, in the right circumstance!

[eshoe]

24/40!

Spoiler

I’ve used and loved the Kiehl’s in the past. Probably my favorite toner, though it’s been years since I’ve used it. The Omorovicza was on track to become a favorite, when after 3 nights I woke up to tiny blemishes everywhere, even dry areas like my cheeks. So disappointed as I liked the formula and it didn’t have a (too strong) scent. Really liked the SK-II but I’m not even going to bother to look at the price. My masking habit doesn’t permit distractions like expensive essence😂.

I used to use a few different La Mer skincare products, so I was looking forward to this sample as it’s been awhile since I branched out. This was nice, but not as hydrating as I need now. I miss that scent, though! 

[scott1201]

One thing this challenge has shown me is how much I enjoy Kiehl’s product. I’d never tried this brand before and each foil has really blown me away! @eshoe

[eshoe]

They made a coriander lotion that was perfect for warmer months, @scott1201- not sure if they still do, but it was very lightweight. This sample makes me think I need to start using this toner again!

[scott1201]

Sample trash of the week 🚛

Spoiler

Enjoyed:

• Benefit Gimme Brow. I’ve used this for a long time and always loved it. I’ve been working through a couple of tubes of Boy Brow, which I might like a little better (plus it’s cheaper)
• DE Marula Oil. Ohhh how I loved thee! I have never really been a face oil person but I loved this! I used it as a day moisturizer and my skin was so bouncy, healthy, and glow all day long. Will definitely be buying if there is a Nov sale
• Lancome Mon Paris. First time using a Lancome fragrance and it smelled so nice, light, and slightly floral (v bad at describing scents). It didn’t last very long on my skin though. Plus, I have a bunch of fragrances I already enjoy. So while I loved this sample, probably won’t purchase 

Nopes:

• Clinique mascara. I typically love this and have used many tubes throughout the years. However, I kept getting the WORST watery eyes when using this tube. It wasn’t old or anything, so who knows? 
• IT Cosmetics mascara. I’ve just never really vibed with this brand. The formula was very lengthening but I need volume, not length. It just took way too long to build up for me to have patience for. 
• CLEAN fragrance (I think the vanilla one). Whoever is in charge of QA for their samples needs to get their act together. I’ve had two of these are they are a nightmare to actually get product out of. Anywho, this fragrance smelled very alcoholy on my skin. Like, the smell that smells very ~perfume~ you know? So that’s a no for me. 

[keana1]

@scott1201 I love the marula oil also but I only use it in late fall, winter and early spring when my skin is very dry, I mix a few drops with the DE Protini! 

[eshoe]

Oh yes, that DE oil is so good, @scott1201! I love how it does feel greasy at all. I think I just picked up one of those benefit brow tools? Has a weird shape on the tip? Bought blind, and love it so far.  

[itsfi]

DE Marula oil is a nice one @scott1201! And, I'm with you on the Glossier Boy Brow - it's tough to top that one.

[itsfi]

The first row includes all my loves and likes; the second row are the "maybe" and "meh" items and the last ones are no's - one has to do with the price, while the other were performance based.

16 foils/samples this time
Loves

Spoiler

Carolina Herrera Good Girl – I have a full size version of this fragrance and really enjoy it.  I’m actually surprised how much I like it as I usually find white florals to be too heavy and heady for me. I guess the tonka bean and cacao help to make the white florals less big and robust.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil – This was a lovely hair mask; what stops me from a full size immediately is a combination of the price and the handful of sample and full size hair mask I still need to get through.  I’ll either pick up the full size in November if there’s a sale , or I’ll get it at the spring sale next year, if I don’t find something I like more.

Missha First Treatment Essence Intensive – I already have the full size of this first treatment essence and have gifted this essence to a few people as well; I really like it a lot and use it pretty much year round.

Likes

Spoiler

Bioderma Purifying Cleansing Micelle Solution (Combination / Oily Skin) – I use the original Bioderma micellar water on a regular or semi-regular basis and love it – I’ve lost track of how many bottles I’ve gone through. This one was really nice as well. I’ll stick with the original version as that’s the one that I’m familiar.

Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet – this is a nice cleansing balm, or sherbet – the size is really great for travel and lasted me a good while. Clinique Take The Day Off Balm is still my #1 as far as cleansing balms go but I wouldn’t hesitate to use this one.

Mizon Vita Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel – this is a nice peeling gel; at the moment, it’s probably one of the peeling gels that would vie most closely with PTR FirmX Peeling Gel as my preferred peeling gel. I did wish I had another foil of this one, to do a side-by-side comparison with the PTR FirmX.

Youth To The People Kale + Spinach Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Superfood Moisture Cream – I’ve used this cream before and like it for the spring/summer. It’s something I can see myself using in the fall, more likely early fall, so long as I layer hydrating products before and after.

Maybes

Spoiler

AmorePacific The Essential Crème Fluid – I agree with @eshoe, this is a lightweight moisturizer probably works best for those with combination or oily skin. I can see it working well for me through the spring and summer when my skin is dehydrated-combo, but I’m not sure it’s hydrating enough for me as the weather starts getting colder and my skin starts leaning towards the dehydrated-dry side. Also, the foil sample of this lotion had a plastic-like scent to it that I did not care for at all.

Cremorlab T.E.N. Cremo Essence Tonic – this falls in the same category as the AmorePacific Fluid – nice, but probably better geared for those with combo or oily skin or for those with normal to dry skin, it might work in spring/summer or as the first or second layer(s) of a 7-skin method.

Meh

Spoiler

Benton Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel – this is fine; nothing special in my mind, but a nice face gel; would work well after a sunburn or facial.

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser – It’s not that there’s anything bad about this cleanser, it’s just okay.

Ouai Volume Shampoo and Oaui Volume Conditioner – the scent is nice and the formula is not bad, but I didn't get much volume from these foils, so just okay.

No

Spoiler

The order in the photo are out of order; sorry about that.
Chanel Beaute Des Cils Nourishing Mascara Base – I really wanted to like this, but it weighted down the curl I was able to get with my eyelash curler. I tried this mascara base out for about 15 days, with a few different mascaras, including the mascara that it was paired with, and it just didn't work for me; my lashes looked better when I just skipped this base and used mascara.

GlamGlow WaterBurst Hydrated Glow Moisturizer – this one made me breakout. I couldn’t bring myself to finish the packet.

MDNA Skin The Eye Mask Restorative Eye Recovery Mask – the quality of the eye mask is fine; it’s the price that keeps it from being a “Like” or “Maybe”, particularly as there are other eye masks out there that I think are just as effective but have a better price point.

[eshoe]

I’m working through that Chanel sample as well, @itsfi, but have only tried it with 2 different mascaras. Great sampling of mascaras with yours! I don’t mind this, but now that you say it, you might be on to something with the uncurling lashes. I much prefer (and picked up after sampling) the LANCôME - CILS BOOSTER XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base. thanks for sharing your thoughts, as always;)

[Shosh85]

@eshoe @itsfi I tried this LANCOME mascara base and really liked it!! I think I may just go ahead and buy it as well! 👌

[eshoe]

I was pretty skeptical, @Shosh85. When I received the sample awhile ago, I remember thinking Masada BASE? Seriously, who has the time to prime their lashes😆? And then I tried it. I don’t use it everyday, most most days. It kinda makes applying mascara goof-proof and I rarely need my lash separator anymore. Just don’t forget the mascara;)

[itsfi]

Thanks @eshoe! I was really hoping I could find a combo to make the Chanel base work but it was not meant to be. 😞  I was so focused on trying to find a workable combo that I only realized it was uncurling my lashes the last week I used it. I've heard good things about that Lancome mascara base; I feel like Sephora may have had that base as a point perk, and that I may have redeemed it at some point.  Hmmm... 

[Shosh85]

Used up a few more samples😉

❤️ = Love 

👍 = Like 

😐 = Meh

 👍 The "likes" were good, just not wowing.

 😐 The "meh's" weren't bad, just didn't seem to do anything.