How many of us receive samples packets of products but never actually try them on? I'm guilty of this. I also feel like sometimes the samples that come with other orders are of products no one knows about and more indie brands. I totally get that (how else are we going to discover them?) but sometimes that also means we forget them quicker. So for the last weeks I've been making a conscious effort to use up little sample packets. Here's what I thought of the mysterious products I tried :
BIOFFICINA TOSCANA - "HAIR REPAIR CREAM" LEAVE-IN-CONDITIONER
I loved this! It had a fresh and light scent that didn't linger too long. I use leave-in conditioner quite often and was surprised by the consistency of this one. It's much more liquid than the other ones I've tried before. It has a milky consistency and applies easily to the hair. My hair felt nice the next day and actually managed to stay decent for a whole week of adventures in Venice. I've never heard of this brand before but I'm definitely interested in checking them out. The full 100ml bottle of this retails at 13,59€, which is pretty middle of the range.
BIO:VÉGANE - ORGANIC GOJI DAY CREAM
I'm a bit confused by this one. I remember not liking the smell when I first tried it but I like it now so who knows. It does smell of goji berries so I think this is just a matter of personal taste as it doesn't linger. It felt quite heavy on the skin though, so I'm not sure about using it as a day cream. I certainly think it might be better suited for use in the winter when skins are at their worst. I think this was a good standard moisturizer but I don't feel the urge to buy it. The 100ml pot retails for 21,99€ which starts to get more up there in price.
LA SAPONARIA - MELISSA CLEANSING MILK
Trying out cleansers is my new hobby, so I was happy to have one in my pile of samples. I haven't used a cleansing milk in a while, and this one was quite good! It did a good job but I wouldn't recommend it if you have sensitive eyes as it stung a little. Or maybe don't be silly like me and use it for removing eye makeup. One or the other. It left my skin feeling clean, moisturized and I didn't break out from it. The 150ml bottle retails for 13,49€ which is a pretty decent price for skincare. I'm not sure if I'd buy it though because I prefer products I can use on my eyes at the same time.
JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS - MANDARIN MAXIMUM MOISTURISER
This little sample lasted me for quite some time! It has more of a thick gel-like formula as opposed to the other creams. It still felt rich on the skin and didn't pill under makeup. It does have a strong smell I wasn't particularly fond of. It did an okay job, but 30ml of this retails for 60€ which is just too much for me.
DR. HAUSCHKA - REGENERATING DAY CREAM COMPLEXION
The product description for this says "lightly bronzing". I have to disagree. This product is orange and looks absolutely terrible on the skin. I would love to give a better review and suggestions, but the truth is I took it off right after applying it because it looked so bad. Also the smell is VERY strong. 30ml of this retails for 85$ (american) and this is just ridiculous in my opinion. Save your money and pass on this one.
HANDS ON VEGGIES- ORGANIC SENSITIVE BODY LOTION
This mousse has a lovely texture. It applied very well on the skin and didn't leave it greasy. The product itself is quite light in consistency (I'm not sure why it's called a mousse?) and pretty runny. The 150ml bottle retails at 4,74€ which is a fantastic price and I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a nice and simple body lotion. That being said, it has the worst smell I've ever smelled for a lotion. I think a few people agree with me, because the website now shows two of this product, one with a tag that says "New Smell!". They have other options than Kale & Jojoba though, so I'd try these ones instead.
ELATE - FULL TINT FOUNDATION
This sample is a little different because I bought it myself for my week of foundations. To sum up my review of it now that I've used it for a few months, it's a good light foundation. The coverage is quite light, but the product feels good on the skin. I would recommend moisturizing well before though as it clings in dry patches. I wanted to mention this one again though because my sample developed a smell after maybe one month. I wouldn't mind so much if the actual product didn't come in a pot too. I think the contact with air is the reason why and the pot is not helping. Has anyone else had this happen?
DR. BRONNER'S - ORGANIC LAVENDER AND COCONUT BODY LOTION
This is the first time I'm trying Dr. Bronner's for something other than the soaps! This lotion felt rich but applied easily without feeling thick. It absorbed into the skin very well and didn't leave it sticky by any means. The 240ml bottle retails for 14,99€ which is a decent price point. Don't trust the label though, this is not "lightly scented". It wasn't terrible or anything, but the scent of lavender was certainly there and remained for a while. If this is a scent you like though, I'd recommend this one!
DR. BRONNER'S - ORGANIC HAIR CRÈME - LAVENDER
I tried this product on the same night I tried the body lotion (lavender everywhere!), and it wasn't a big success. I usually use leave-in moisturizer to help detangle my hair when I get out of the shower. This one did nothing to help with that though. I could tell right away that something was "wrong". After my hair had dried, it was left looking somewhat greasy and just not clean. I have very dry curly hair so rich products are not usually an issue for me. 177ml of this retails for 12,90€, and I'm just going to pass on this.
ALORÉE - CC CREAM SECOND LIFE
This was probably the worst disappointment of the bunch, because I had hope. I've tried a bunch of Alorée products before and loved each one so I was excited for this. First of all, let me start by saying this : There is no such thing as a universal shade. Brands, please stop doing this. This product was orange on my skin. The thing is, it felt really nice so I hope they decide to come out with more shade. The application was a bit streaky but I'll blame it on the fact that it was orange.
