April Samples & Empties

Time for the April Samples & Empties Post. Quick thoughts about each starting above left to right.

Su-man Exfoliating Facial Polish: I like this, the general concept and coffee smell is amazing. The reason I'm done using it is the exfoliating coffee grains are too large for my skin. Otherwise, it's great. I talked about it here, here and here.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum: Staple item, love it, reviewed it here.

Leif Kakadu Plum & Macadamia Nut Hand Balm: This was OK, moisturizing, thick but not too thick. Not too greasy.

eos Shave Cream Vanilla Bliss: Staple, love it, reviewed it here.

Make Up For Ever Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser: This is not bad. I talked about it here. I prefer micellar waters now as I don't wear waterproof mascara anyway.

ALTERNA Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo: This and the conditioner used to be one my favorites. I used it time and time again. It's sulfate free, moisturizing, leaves my hair super soft. No strong scent. It's just a bit too moisturizing now that I've moved to a humid climate. Next up on my list is to try the new body building version.

dr. brandt DNA Time Reversing Cream: This was OK. This was pretty heavy and greasy. Sample was small despite large size jar. As with any small sample hard to tell long term benefits. It seemed pretty average though.

Briogeo Don't Despair Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask: I love Briogeo, but this mask was just a bit too heavy for my hair. If you have dry hair and don't have to worry about it getting weighed down or greasy, then this is for you. For me it weighed it down and made me feel greasy the next morning.

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub Brazilian Nut: I used this as a staple body scrub forever because it's so cheap. I have now replaced it with Herbivore's Coco Rose Body Scrub. If I had never discovered Herbivore's Coco Rose I would still be using this. I talked about it here.

Hermes Un Jardin sur le Toit - EDT Sample: This was a Surrender to Chance sample, they decant anything for you to try, I liked it. I would get a big bottle. Light, green, refreshing.

La Mer The Regenerating Serum x2: This was OK. No negative issues with it. Samples are too small, no way to see if it really has an effect.

Giorgio Armani Crema Nera Extrema Light Cream: This was a nice lightweight cream. Had an odd smell. Weird fruity scent, I expected floral from Armani.

Sisley Paris Hydra-Flash Formule Intensive: I had a small tube to try. It's a nice hydrating cream mask. Basic, simple, not worth the cost unless you love Sisley.

Tata Harper Skincare Be Fierce Lip Treatment: Love this, I have bought over and over again. Love the slim design. More oily than waxy which makes it super hydrating. Will continue to buy over and over again.

Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum: Tried the small sample. Seemed like a basic serum. No scent, light texture. There's something about it that I would try it again.

Yes to Coconut Lip Balm: Cheap, moisturizing, slightly sweet taste and coconut scent. Yes please. Will buy again, and already have.

Shiseido Facial Cotton: Staple, cheap in comparison to Chanel, Cle de Peau. Just as good in my opinion. Will buy over and over.

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream: Love the texture, light scent. I used La Mer for years and this beats the original version-it's not as greasy but still moisturizing. It always made my skin feel great. I just had to venture into other brands for a while as it gave great moisture but I was never sure how anti-aging it was. Great moisturizer though.

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator: This is a great basic gel cream. Light not sticky, cheap. No strong scent.

Su-man Awakening Eye Uplift: I like this. It's a lighter cream or heavy gel cream. Good for day use. I have one more full size jar to go through before I review it. I sporadically used the first jar before I started really setting up my review system.

Pixi Glow Tonic: I liked this. Glycolic acid 5%, aloe vera. Moisturizing and some exfoliation. Not the cheapest toner for the size and for being sold at Target, but I would repurchase. I'll write a review coming up.

OSEA Eyes & Lips: Great moisturizing eye cream. I didn't use it for lips. Not greasy yet really moisturizing. I liked it for night. I would rebuy.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Cleanser: Eh, it was OK. The glycolic acid made it sting if I had a scrape or blemish. It was an average cleanser not worth the $50+. Plus if you think about it, the glycolic acid is barely on your skin long enough to make a difference, so stick to it in serums and toners.

Total Care Organic Soyedodam Mist: This is a bi-phase mist, shake up the oil before you spray. This has the finest mist I've ever seen from a spray. It has ginseng, aloe vera, Manuka honey which I loved about it. Moisturizing. Was a tad small for the price but I would rebuy.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream: I wanted to love this. It's a nice texture. More hydrating heavier gel cream. It has the worst scent. So powdery and like floral perfume. Very overpowering. Not like Sunday Riley's usual products. I wouldn't buy a full size of this for that reason.

Dr Brandt DNA Dream Night Cream: Heavy, yet not too greasy. Small size. No adverse effects but not something I would buy a jar of. Seemed average.

June Jacobs Brightening Moisturizer: I loved this. Lightweight. I reviewed it here.

Sisley Paris Phyto-Blanc Ultra Lightening Mask: I had a small one to try. It's a cream mask so it wasn't drying. Not really brightening that I saw. It was OK. No way it is worth the high dollar value.

Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum: I love the bottle on this and how it dispenses. The tip is silicone and you squeeze it out. You can dispense just the amount you want. It was nice, gel serum, nice slip. There was something about it and I would consider buying a full bottle.

MyChelle Fruit Fiesta Peel: This was my Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Peel knock off. Much cheaper. This is actually kind of a stronger peel, it tingles good.

MyChelle Hydrating Cactus Mask: This was OK. Seemed cool with it's light blue color. It stung around my nose on occasion and I have other moisturizing masks I like more so I wouldn't rebuy it.

Zelens Youth Concentrate: Loved it. I reviewed it here.

Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco Masque: Nice natural coconut scent. Hydrating for a mask, yet didn't weigh my hair down. Just made it hydrated and soft. I loved it. Came to realize while writing this it's been discontinued which is a shame. The conditioner from the same line is heavier and more greasy and I much preferred the mask.

Atrac-Tain Cream: I discovered this working in hospitals and I've talked about it before in these posts. It's great for really dry calloused feet. You have to get it at a pharmacy. Never over apply it, once a day will do. And only apply it to calloused areas not on normal skin as it can give a chemical burn.

NARS Bronzing Powder Laguna: I like the powder. If I didn't love and have a huge compact of Tom Ford's Terra bronzer I might consider switching to this one.

Omorovicza Blue Diamond Eye Cream: Love this. I have tried a few samples, which by the way last forever. This was one eye cream that had a quick effect on me. Some tightening and overall brighter appearance. I just recently bought a large bottle and will review once I use it all.

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty The Essential Mascara: I liked the brush but the formula was dry and flaky. Had good volume. Wouldn't buy.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara: Love this. Volume, love the brush. No flakes.

Hurraw! Pitta Lip Balm: I love Hurraw balms. Organic, cheap, great day balm. Enough oil and not waxy. Not moisturizing enough for a night balm. This one was Coconut, Mint & Lemongrass. I wasn't a fan of the mint aspect so I wouldn't rebuy this flavor but love and rebuy other Hurraw balms.

Skin Owl Neck+: This was a thin gel. It was a small jar overall so not able to determine long term effects from it. I like the eye cream so I would give the full size version a shot.

Kaplan MD Lip 20 Mask & Lip 20 Balm: The mask is odd, like a thick cream you leave for a few minutes on versus a quick scrub like I'm used to. It does seem to work. It was just weird feeling overall. The balm was an average Vaseline style balm. Both were too minty for me, I find too minty irritating, so I wouldn't buy a full size.

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