Time for the August Samples & Empties post. Quick thoughts on each starting left to right above.
Alpha-H Age Delay Hand & Cuticle Cream: One of my favorite night hand creams. It lasts long, provides deeper moisture and has glycolic acid to work on age spots.
Yes to Coconut Hand & Cuticle Cream: This was a decent, cheap day hand cream. Lighter in moisture and not greasy. I talked about it here.
eos Shave Cream Vanilla Bliss: Love it, cheap, great shave cream. Wish it came in coconut scent. I reviewed it here.
Radical Instant Revitalizing Mask: I didn't like this. It's a foamy mask, it starts off as a gel you apply then starts to foam a little. The bubbles it creates while foaming tickle my nose to the point of being annoying. I didn't notice any real great effect from it and would not rebuy.
Tata Harper Redefining Body Balm: This was empty jar number one of the two I needed for my pregnancy. Loved it and it was reviewed here and here.
Hampton Sun Continuous Mist Hydrating Aloe: Eh, felt like water mist in a can, cooling for a second then the effect was over. Wouldn't buy.
Davines Replumping Hair Filler Superactive: This was a smaller deluxe size, I didn't notice too much really from this so wouldn't buy.
Su-Man Purifying Cleansing Gel-Oil: This is maybe the third tube I've finished. Love the stuff. Gel oil cleanser texture, easy to wash off without muslin cloth. I talked about it here. Would rebuy many times over.
Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Serum: I finished off the small portion I had left. I like it, smells nice and does give a glow. Really expensive which is what has kept me from buying. I got this half full as a swap and used it sporadically originally so I never got to test a full bottle for full effects over time. Maybe one day I'll give in and try it fully.
MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base: Eh, felt OK, like a slightly moisturizing potentially silicone containing primer. No ingredients listed on their website so who knows for sure unless you can see a full size box. Overall, it was OK, I didn't finish the sample as it didn't wow me.
Illamasqua Hydra Veil: This was blah, felt like a water jelly skincare product more. I used the sample twice and was done with it. Would not buy.
Collin Paris Resultime CC Cream Natural: This was OK, the shade matched me well as a NC25-27. It's a thicker style CC cream, too thick for me. I prefer my Omorovicza BB to this and didn't finish the sample. Wouldn't buy.
Cover FX Custom Cover Drops N30: I hated this. One drop wasn't enough, two was too many. I didn't like the effect it gave. Plus I hated mixing it in my face lotion, made it too hard to layer like I prefer. I couldn't add my sunscreen over my moisturizer like I normally would. It was too much work for me and the effect wasn't awe inspiring enough for me to play with it more than a few times.
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask: I thought this gel could not be moisturizing enough to be a sleep mask, but I was wrong. I liked it, not enough to buy it as I prefer my face creams I own. I would use samples again if I had them. It didn't break me out or irritate me.
Elemental Herbology Cell Food: This wasn't bad, sample is too small to determine any effects, but it was nice on first pass.
Erborian Pate Au Ginseng Mask: I have a full jar of this I bought on a whim before I got the samples. I like it, it's refreshing and revitalizing. The main thing that I hate is the really strong powdery perfume scent, without that this would be an excellent product.
Tata Harper Smoothing Body Scrub: I finally got enough of these to be able to use all over my body for a test. It's nice, not too oily. The price is what will keep me from buying it. I just can't justify it for a body scrub. I also prefer the Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish much more.
REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial: This was OK overall, I never noticed a big wow factor after using. Mine started to turn orange towards the end so it needs to be used quickly once opened. Due to both of those factors I wouldn't buy a full size version.
Benefit They're Real Mascara!: Didn't like it, I hate the brush. Too spiky lashes for me. I've tested this multiple times and always forget when I get a new tube to try, then I remember once I use it. I hate all the silicone mascara brushes though.
Guerlain Maxi Lash So Volume! Mascara: This was better than the original Maxi Lash, less spiky and had more volume. I hate the silicone brush and it doesn't compare to Armani's mascara so I wouldn't buy.
Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Vitamin C+ Serum: This was OK, oddly for a vitamin C serum it has a vanilla food scent. Too small of a sample to notice any difference in my skin. I still prefer my Drunk Elephant C Firma.
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation 5.5: I like this. I love the Maestro foundation in 5.5 as well. This is a bit too moisturizing for summer, I'll use the rest of the packets I have this winter. I would consider buying it, but I have some other foundations I need to go through first, plus I have a dozen sample packets from a nice sales associate to use first.
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector & Ultimate Coverage Concealing Creme Macadamia: I wanted to love this, but both are too thick of a formula for my tastes, I got a bit of creasing from them as well. The brightener is too pink, I need orange more for my dark circles.
Wish Panda Eye Essence Mask: This is the third I think of these I've used, I like it, not enough to buy it. It's refreshing and cooling though.
Korres Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Sunscreen: This wasn't bad. I'm not looking to buy a new sunscreen so I wouldn't buy it, it has a nice vanilla food scent. It's light, non greasy and doesn't leave a white cast.
Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Serum: Sample packets, see above where I already talked about it.
Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence: Love it, already have a full size.
Atrac-Tain Cream: I discovered this as a nurse at my first job. We used it on patients calloused feet. This really helps soften callouses. It can be bought at a pharmacy at the counter, you sometimes have to special order it. It works well, I love it. I will however give a warning with it, it's strong. You can give yourself a chemical burn by using too much of this, using it too often(twice a day at most, I do once) or applying it on non calloused areas of the feet.