Time for the January Samples & Empties post. Quick thoughts about each starting left to right above.
Alpha-H Instant Facial: This was OK, it's a glycolic acid toner spray. I didn't like the spray aspect of it, would have been better as a bottle to use with a cotton pad. I've moved on to Pixi Glow Tonic currently and wouldn't rebuy. I talked about it here.
Zelens Micro-Refiner: This was nice, a real gentle scrub with fruit enzymes for a peel effect. It's just really expensive for the size. I can get a really similar product from Omorovicza for less money in a bigger size. So I wouldn't rebuy. I talked about it some here. You can check it out here.
Alterna Caviar Brightening Blonde Shampoo: This was nice as far as a moisturizing Alterna shampoo. The purple was a bit light so it didn't really seem to do much. It needs a deeper purple tint to be able to have an effect for me.
Leonor Greyl Lait Luminescence: This was OK, a hydrating spray that didn't weigh my hair down. It is absolutely not worth $48 in my mind. You can get something else similar for half the cost. I went through a Leonor Greyl phase a year ago and nothing seems to really impress me so far from it. It's heavily perfume scented and there are other products in a cheaper price range as good as this. You can check it out here.
Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum: This is a staple night serum, love it. I talked about it here.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum: Staple day serum for vitamin C. I talked about it here.
Rahua Amazon Body Oil: I loved this, it smells heavenly. It's hydrating. It's just really pricey for the size. I have to go with I would not rebuy it and stick with OSEA's oil. I talked about it here.
VERB Leave In Mist: I saw this on Sephora and looked like a cool new brand with natural ingredients. This is odd it's a thicker liquid, like a spray gel more. I didn't like it as a hydrating mist, I prefer a more cream style. Currently I'm trying the Briogeo Rosarco Milk Leave in Spray.
Pureology Colour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask: This was OK, too hydrating for me, weighed my hair down.
St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub: This used to be a staple for me, I used it on my arms and hips in the shower which helped with 'chicken bumps' as it has salicylic acid in it. Now I just use Paula's Choice BHA 2% lotion on the areas I need it instead.
REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial: This was OK. It turns brown on the open end too fast for me, I felt like I had to use it up really fast.
Ojon Dry Recovery Intensive Hydrating 2 Minute Mask: I love this, hydrating but not too much. Seems to be discontinued now as I don't see it online.
Alterna Bamboo Luminous Shine Shampoo & Conditioner: This was OK, like most glossing or shine shampoos. They usually make my hair greasy so I don't buy them, but I was traveling and it came in handy.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream: This was terrible. Sorry, and I love Charlotte Tilbury. It was a greasy mess. Like not cream greasy, like Vaseline greasy. My face was still sticky and greasy the next morning. I imagine if I used it all the time I would just break out, it last for two uses because I used it on my face and neck just to get rid of it. It reminded me of smearing Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Hand Cream on my face.
May Coop Raw Sauce: I liked this it was nice, hydrating. I'd have to use it long term to see if it added anything to my skincare routine.
La Prarie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream: I've tried this before, it's a nice medium cream. It's a small sample so it's impossible to tell if it gives benefits or not. But no breakouts or strong scent.
Radical Youth Infusion Serum: This was OK. I've tried it before, I never really noticed anything from it, but I only had samples to try, a full bottle may show more. You can see it here.
Phyto Phytokeratine Extreme Exceptional Mask: This was nice. Really hydrating, more than I need for my hair. If you have really dry hair it's for you. You can check it out here.
Suqqu Moisture Lotion: This was OK. Hydrating, no strong scent. I have a bigger sample bottle to move onto now.
By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Primer: This was OK. Gave a more semi matte finish. Has a creamy feel to it, doesn't feel like heavy silicone ones. It does have silicone in it though. It made my makeup last a bit longer. It was such a small sample I can't attest to it's anti-aging claims. I'm not a huge By Terry skincare fan because of the higher price and the strong rose scent. This has a ridiculous price tag and if you look at the ingredients there's hardly anything in it for skincare benefits. I've never been wowed by By Terry's skincare line, but her foundations are great formulations if you can do the price.
Chanel Le Volume Mascara: This is the first silicone style brush wand in a mascara I actually liked. It gave volume instead of long spidery lashes. Yay. I actually had bought a big one with Nordstrom's recent buy two get one free sale to try it. Glad I got this sample and that I might actually like it before I break open the big one.
Dior Diorshow Mascara: I like this mascara, great for volume. I would buy a big version when I need mascara again. You can check it out here.
Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick: I love this, it's hydrating and adds moisture. It's not waxy or oily. I would rebuy and this is my second tube. I talked about it here.
Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex: Love this, it's a staple. I just bought the bigger dropper version as I love the dropper style more than a roll on. I talked about it here. You can check it out here.
OSEA Brightening Serum: I liked this, it has a great ingredient list. I used half the bottle before getting pregnant then stopped and used the second half recently. By doing this I probably didn't get to see how effective one bottle would be. So I may have to try this one again one day. I love the OSEA brand and ingredients in general.
OSKIA Renaissance 360 Anti-Ageing & Brightening Supreme Cream: This was a preview, as it doesn't launch until February 29th, that came in a Cultbeauty gift bag recently. I Love OSKIA and was really excited to try it. "A 360 degree vitamin-rich day cream that combats the aging process on all fronts. With Swiss Cress Liposomes, Vitamins A, C, D, E & F, Galactoarabinan, Bearberry Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Opuntia Cactus Extract." It has low level SPF 8 using Zinc Oxide. I would prefer this had no SPF so you could choose to use it as a day or night cream based on your skin type. I hate sunscreen in my lotion/cream, I would like to add my own on top of what I need for my skin at the time. So that's a negative for me. It was a little to rich as a day cream for me. It was whipped in texture almost, had a faint pleasant scent. It was OK, nothing was bad about it, it just didn't wow me like other OSKIA stuff has in the past. I prefer their Nutri-Active Day Cream to this. This one felt like it sat on the skin too long, it didn't absorb in as well and it left me a little greasy. This is why I was thinking it was better as a night cream for me, but with the non removable SPF I wouldn't use it at night. First OSKIA fail for me and I wouldn't buy a big bottle.
Alpha-H Liquid Laser Concentrate: This was OK. It's pricey and was a disappointment that the alcohol content was so high. I could smell it in the product. It irritated my face so I had to use it on my neck. It's a shame it had great ingredients otherwise.
OSEA Atmosphere Protection Cream: This was OK. It was a nice lotion. A touch thick for the glass bottle as I had to store it upside down to get the last 20% out.
Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Gel: This was nice in some aspects. Felt like a silicone thicker style eye gel. I used it more during the day if my eyes were dry versus as an eye gel. I hated the package, it was large and bulky, the center you push down to get the product out. Eventually the button popped out and then it came out faster and got messy. I couldn't snap it back in. I'll stick with other eye gels that I've found just as hydrating as a pick me up. You can check it out here.
Belief The True Cream-Aqua Bomb: This is an average gel cream. I found it odd the front says 'increased hydration level 18%' as that doesn't seem like a high amount to be proud of. Maybe it's just me? I like Clinique Moisture Surge gel cream better.
Marc Anthony Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Conditioner: This smelled great, seemed nice like coconuts. It's way too heavy for my hair, it weighed it down and made it too greasy. I wouldn't rebuy for that reason.
DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge Eye Balm: This was OK. Hydrating, not greasy. Without using a full jar of it I can't tell if it was a great eye cream or not. Nothing about it made me want to try a full version, I have others I like more. You can check it out here.
Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser: Creamy cleanser and very fine scrub. I bought a large bottle recently and love it. You can check it out here.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue: This wasn't bad. Hydrating and not greasy. I would try a large jar one day.
NARS Radiance Enhancing Pro Prime: This was a hydrating shimmery primer. Nothing more special than a liquid highlighter. I'd pass on it.
Omorovicza Gold Eye Lift: I loved this. Hydrating, not greasy. My eyes felt a bit brighter. I would buy a large size once I need a night eye cream again. Use code GOLD30 for 30% off and you can check it out here.
Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer: This is nice. I prefer the Rebuilding Moisturizer to this one, very similar ingredients, just less moisturizing so I can layer it with other serums and gels I like. You can see it here.