December Samples & Empties

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

Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish: This is a staple, my favorite scrub. I've lost count how many I've used now. Review here.

Tony Moly Pure Eco Snail Moisture Gel: This was OK, average light gel. Has way too strong of a scent for me. Too powdery. I couldn't finish it for that reason. It's a HUGE tube for $8 so great deal. The $8 was on Memebox and it's sold out, $14 on Urban Outfitters.

Sonya Dakar Eye Wash: I wanted to love this. I figured the oil would remove eye makeup well. But it didn't take off my mascara at all. I had to use a second cleanser after. Nice sweet grape oil scent.

Zelens Radiance Luminous Facial Cleanser: This is nice. Light creamy gentle cleanser. I haven't seen it on any sites lately so I think it's been discontinued.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel: This is a nice AHA glycolic acid serum. For all skin types. It's cheap and simple. Large size for the price. It stings a bit that's my only complaint. I talked about it here.

Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion Cocoa Butter: I've been using this a lot lately. It's not as helpful in the winter as it is in the summer. It's not enough moisture because my skin is dried out now. I need an extra lotion on top. Ultimately, this is good for the summer more. Review here.


Sisley Cleansing Milk with Sage: This was OK. Thick creamy cleanser, won't dry your skin out. I hated the powdery scent.

Drybar Mai Tai Spritzer: I like this, I've used multiple minis. It's not too drying and it works.

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo: This was terrible. It worked well but was terrible because of the strong white residue.

NIP + FAB No Needle Fix Serum: I liked this a lot at first. It seems to have lost it's luster for me. It's decent for the price. Review here.

Paula's Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA: This is a more elaborate formula than the AHA gel. For normal/dry skin. This formula has antioxidants and extra ingredients beyond the glycolic acid. It doesn't sting. Review to come.

OSEA Ocean Cleanser: A light creamy cleanser with a bit of clay for clarifying. It's a large size that's cheap. Great ingredients. I find the cleanser a bit irritating at times, I think it's the citrus oils. Too bad.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion: I love this stuff. It's light, moisturizing, as non irritating as it gets.

Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Essence: This is a thin liquid essence with a citrus smell. I liked it but it was too small a sample to really see full results. I would try a full size as most Tata Harper products are good.

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser: I have a full size of this. Love it. Review to come.

Rejuvenating Night Cream: This is a nice thick moisturizing night cream. Has a sweet almond oil scent.

Caudalie Vinosource Creme Sorbet: This was thinner than I thought it would be, I thought it was a cream. More like a thick serum. Lightweight.

Sisley Hydra-Flash Formule Intensive: This is nice. A creamy thick moisturizing mask. I talked about it here. It's a little overpriced for what it is.

Huxley Secret of Sahara Oil Essence: This was thick and hard to get out of sample bottle. It is a nice light oil gel though. Maybe a non sample jar will be easier to use.

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Lotion: I'm working on a big bottle of this. More to come.

Kat Burki Complete B Bio-Correcting Face Cream: I've recently become obsessed over Kat Burki. I wanted to really love this considering it's really expensive and sounded great. However, it was just way too rich for me. It broke me out a little. It has that natural ingredient texture, that slightly waxy almost whipped texture that takes longer to absorb. Great for dry skin.

Kat Burki Hand Therapy: This is amazing. The scent is killer. It's hydrating. Full size in my stash to work on. More to come.

Natasha Denona Blackest Black Mascarade Mascara: Read the review coming up.

MAC Strobe Cream: The original is thicker than the new ones. I prefer the new ones. Review here.


Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots: Love these. Review here.

Sjal Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask: The pearl particles in this are way too harsh. They're larger and rough. The pearl particles are in a liquid acid base that was OK. I would not buy this because of the harsh feel.

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream: I love this one so much more than the original cream. It's lighter and less heavy and greasy.

Neo Gen Bio-Peel+ Lemon: This was nice. All these single use pouch style products are always overpriced. But it's a nice citrus scented peel. No irritation.

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Hydra-Gel Eye Patches: These were cooling and nice. Hydra-gels are always refreshing. All eye masks like this are overpriced in my opinion. I use them, but never buy them.

Patchology Flashpatch Lip Renewal: Eh, see review here.

Sisley Eau du Soir Moisturizing Perfumed Body Cream: I liked this one. I figured it would be too much and too strongly scented. But it was lighter than I anticipated. The cream is rich and hydrating enough, yet thin and not greasy. It's just too scented and way overpriced at $130.

Tarte Skincare Pack Your Bags 911 Undereye Rescue Patches: These are nice. Same feelings as the Peter Thomas Roth ones above.

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist: I love this. I use it time and time again. Something about the thermal waters is great for my skin. I talked about it some here.

Alterna Caviar Daily Detoxifying Shampoo: I like this, I've used a couple. It's clarifying without being too stripping. No sulfates.

R+Co Sunset Blvd Blonde Conditioner: I like R+Co, and I wanted to like this. It has way too strong of a powdery scent. It has a light lavender shimmery tint that didn't do that much in color correcting for me.

John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Shampoo: This was nice, I love their hair products. Great ingredients. This one is a little priced for the size.

Farmacy Rise 'N Shine: This seemed like it had great ingredients and a nice moisturizing texture. I found this cream pilled too much. I didn't like it at all.

Kat Burki Complete B Bio-Correcting Face Cream: See above.

Urban Decay One & Done Light Medium: I love this. My favorite product of 2016. See review here.

Sisley Mascara So Intense: Very odd wand. It's small and dense. It's also only on one row-like a row of corn on the cob. It took a bit to get used to how to use it. You can get every lash with it as it's small and precise. Voluminous. I liked it, it just took a while to get used to and be able to use it properly.

eos Sweet Mint Lip Balm: This was OK. The mint was a bit too strong for me, though it's not that strong in general. Hydrating. I'd try a different scent next time. I find mint balms more irritating lately. It's cheap.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara: This is a good voluminous formula. I like the brush.

ISUN Antioxidant Lip Balm: This was OK. Not as hydrating as I wanted despite all the oils.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Hand Therapy: This is hydrating, not greasy, had a light scent.

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser: This is a light milky style cleanser. Almost has a milky gel feel. Very non-irritating.

La Mer The Lifting and Firming Mask: This is OK. Gel cream feel, hydrating. It's pricey. That's the only reason I probably wouldn't try a big size.

Sisley Phytobuste+ Decollete: This was a light gel cream. Not as hydrating as I wanted. Too small of a sample to be able to notice a big difference.

Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting Candlelight: I was surprised by this. A golden nude, but it's not nearly as shimmery as it looks. It goes on more natural and sheer.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm: This is good stuff. I talked about it here.

Omorovicza Blue Diamond Eye Cream: Love this. Working on a full size now. More to come.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moisture Boost Vit+C Cream: I liked this. Hydrating. Citrus scent. Not greasy. Heavier cream but not greasy.

Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm: This is nice. Blurring, hydrating, not greasy and feels like a silicone primer without the silicone. Almost too hydrating and too much for me in this weather here.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream: This is nice. Light cream. Great texture. Hydrating.

Olay Tone Perfecting Cream: This was OK. Pearly color. Average cream feel. Only got two uses out of it so can't say much on it's effectiveness.

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches: These were OK. Instead of hydro-gel they're coated paper style patches. They were cooling and had a positive effect.

Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots: See above.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser: I like this. See discussion on it here. I would buy again.

The Estee Edit Beam Team Hydrate + Glow: This was OK. I liked the hydrating gel part. The cream was just OK. Peachy Bronze color.

La Mer The Soft Fluid Foundation Neutral: Love this foundation. More to come.

Fresh Vitamin Nectar Face Mask: Like rubbing a mashed up orange on your face. Review here.

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