Time for the May samples and empties post, brief thoughts about each item. I cut off the top of some tube products just to get all the product out. Starting with above photo left to right:
Zelens Daily Defense Sunscreen: I love this sunscreen. I talked about it some when I did a chemical vs physical sunscreen post here. This is a chemical sunscreen, but it's different than usual, the chemical filters are micro encapsulated so they don't absorb fully into your skin. It goes on clear no white cast, seems white at first as it's thick in the tube, but it rubs in clear. It has other things in it like antioxidants for day free radical protection, check it out here. It does feel like a cream, so it can be a bit heavy at first, it does need to sink in like a cream for 10 minutes before applying makeup, so essentially it feels greasy for 10 minutes at first. I have another tube of this I already bought as a backup that I will probably open in the winter.
Omorovicza Nourishing Hand Treatment: Love this, finally finished the full size bottle. I like this more than La Mer's, it's not as greasy, feels luxurious like La Mer, and it absorbs faster. I have two bottles waiting for me to open them as soon as I finish another hand cream. Would buy over and over again. Check out my initial thoughts here.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum: This has been my #1 day vitamin C antioxidant serum since discovering it last year. I talked about it here. This is the 2nd full size bottle I have finished. It lasted about 4 months with daily morning use on my face and neck. It's like Skinceuticals CE Ferulic but is better and cheaper. I'm on bottle #3 and plan on repurchasing again. I'm not a huge fan of the plastic pump, it's a little bulky and doesn't travel well.
Archipelago Botanicals Coconut Lotion: Finally finished this as well. I talked about it here. The only thing I don't like about this one is it's really hard to get the last 15% or so out of the metal bottle. I had to keep it tipped upside down for two weeks and open the bottle every time to get the rest out. Once it stopped pumping there was quite a bit left in the bottle. I got at least 5 more full body applications after tipping it over.
Juara Clove Flower & Tumeric Anti-Aging Serum: I received this from my BeautyDNA subscription box and just finished it. I used it at night on my neck, I didn't really notice too much from it. It's a light gel serum. No irritation or anything from it, but nothing really too noticeable either. I wouldn't buy this again.
Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream: I love this as well. I'm a huge Omorovicza fan. I bought this last summer and with once daily use it took me a year to finish. It's a thinner eye cream so dry eyed people won't get relief from it, I layered this under more like a serum, then added extra moisture if I needed it. It smells like cucumbers and is soothing. I'm just starting to go without it as I had a sample after this bottle to finish. Once I go without it for a few weeks I'll see what negatives come back into my eye area then I can review this properly. It's the only eye cream I have right now that has vitamin K for dark circles, so I have a second bottle I already purchased for that reason.
Left to right:
L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold: I had a travel size lying around, I talked about this hairspray here. I already have more in my closet and will continue to buy until they discontinue it, or I stop using hair spray. Or maybe if something really good comes along to replace it in the future.
Philip B Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo: Eh, free sample I got. Smells like mint. It was OK, a little drying. Wouldn't buy full size, I like too many other things more.
Klorane Shampoo with Desert Date: It's OK, not drying. Wouldn't buy full size as I have too many other things I like more. Strong almost powdery floral scent I wasn't a huge fan of.
Ojon Rare Blend Deep Conditioner: I Love this, it's a staple. I had a small sample, but I have gone through a full size as well and am on the second full size. Talked about it here.
Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel: Got this from a Birchbox when I subscribed. It was OK. Nothing really special, I prefer many other masks more.
3LAB Perfect Cream: This was better than the last 3LAB WWW Cream I tried. That one was too greasy. This one was a nice medium texture. Not too greasy, but not too light. I don't need any cream right now, but I could consider trying this further. It has a $190 price tag. It worked on my neck some as far as wrinkles, texture and overall brightness, but none are ever miracles in my opinion. Plus a two week trial is hardly what's needed to decide, a full month to 6 weeks of using it, or a full jar then I could decide yes or no to ever buying it again. Maybe one day.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: I've used full sizes of this, and minis, I used this for two years. It's great, I do have a new primer I like better so I won't be repurchasing this anymore. This can be a touch oily at first, then is more matte. It's silky. I talked about it here but my view of it has changed since then due to finding the new Zelens Velvet primer I like more.
Glam Glow Bright Mud Eye Treatment: Eh, I've tried this many times, it never seems to impress me. It almost itches a little on, I only need one bubble for both eyes, I can't see using one on each eye it has quite a bit in it.
L'Occitane Hand Cream: This used to be my staple night hand cream, but it's so greasy and takes forever to absorb. I like the Alpha H Age Delay Hand Cream much better.
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant: This was almost too harsh for me, the beads weren't too big, there was just too many of them.
Archipelago Botanicals Coconut Sugar Scrub: I liked this, it had a nice natural coconut smell, it was thick and didn't leave a huge amount of oils behind, so I did have to apply lotion after using in the shower, so it's less oil than Bath and Body Works, and it exfoliated well. I wish I could find this with a touch more oil, and cheaper.
Rituals Yogi Flow Foaming Shower Gel: I got this in a freebie bag, it had a little too strong of a smell, but wasn't bad. I have used this product in other scents in the past, it foams after pumping out in a gel form, it's not drying as a body wash. You can use it as a shave gel as well. I used my hands to apply it, not a shower poof.
Sachajuan Hair Repair: I got this as well in a freebie bag, it does add a glossy shine and make my hair sleek, I almost don't really need conditioner after using it. It can weigh down my hair a bit and I hate the bottle it comes in. The top and bottom are hard and I have to squeeze the center hard to get anything out, it made the bottle crimp in the center from the squeezing every time.
Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Foundation in Natural: This is Guerlain's give yourself a tan like Chanel Les Beiges, except this is a medium to full coverage matte foundation, not a tinted moisturizer. It was too matte and full coverage for me. The shade was perfect for a NC25-27.
Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer: Eh, too shimmery, did nothing really except add moisture. Was just like using a radiance fluid like Armani Fluid Sheers or something, except more shimmery, I'll stick to my regular radiance fluids.