Time for the November Samples & Empties Post. Quick thoughts about each starting above.
iS Clinical Cleansing Complex: I liked this cleanser a lot. I’m surprised I actually finished a gel cleanser as I never do. I usually get bored with them before I can finish them. This one is great for problem skin. I like it, I know it’s a holy grail for many, if I loved gel cleansers I would probably be all over this one. I would buy it again in the summer maybe. Review HERE.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel: This was my second of these. It’s a nice hydrating gel. This got revamped into a serum version which I’m hoping to start soon. Review HERE.
Beverly Hills MD Repair + Reverse Daily Serum: This creamy serum was for anti-glycation. I’ll have a full review in January.
Cle de Peau Radiant Stick Foundation Ochre: Took me two summers to finish this, I’m surprised as I thought it was so tiny it would go quickly. Loved this sheer stick foundation and I will repurchase next summer. Review HERE.
de Mamiel Dewy Facial Mist: I completely adore this mist. Such a fine spray. One of my top favorites.
Adsorb Moist Essence: I loved this hydrating serum. It was my favorite to date form the line. Review HERE.
Adsorb Gel Cream: I liked this gel cream. It wasn’t my all time favorite gel cream I liked the serum better. Review HERE.
Yuri Pibu Cellum Amaid Ampoule: I actually ended up letting this expire before I could use it all. Amazingly I used it daily for a long time and only got through 1/3 the bottle. It’s 96% galactomyces ferment from sake yeast. It brightens and strengthens the skin. I loved the water-light texture as it’s so easy to add in to anything. I would buy one again.
Twelve Ideal Brightening Corrective Serum: This was such a unique creamy hydrating brightening serum. It wasn’t a powerhouse like my NIOD RE:Pigment but it gave a nice overall evening an brightening glow. I talked about it HERE.
Fresh Sugar Face Polish: I’ve gone through countless jars of this. One of my all time favorites. Been in my shower for 15 years. Review HERE.
Herbivore Coco Rose: Another all time favorite. I go through one almost every month. Review HERE.
Zym Nourish Facial Serum: I loved this vitamin C serum. It uses my favorite ascorbic acid at 20% with fermented black tea and a swoon worthy inci list. Plus it works well. I would totally buy it again. Review on Instagram.
NIOD MMHC: This is a fabulous hydrating serum. So lightweight and effective. A definite hero product for me. Review HERE.
Zelens Youth Glow Foundation Beige: I love this dewy light to medium coverage foundation. With Zelens skincare benefits. I grabbed a new bottle on sale as this one was four years old so I just swapped it out. Review HERE.
Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Conditioner: This is my favorite from this line to date. Love the volume it gives while still hydrating. I would buy again and this was my second or third bottle.
Level Naturals Vanilla + Charcoal Body Polish: I loved the idea of vanilla with charcoal and a sugar body scrub. It was very hydrating. The coconut oil was almost a touch too thick or something, it left too much of a film on me but it was almost perfect.
Rita Hazan True Color Ultimate Shine Gloss Breaking Brass: Love this. A purple glossing foam for the shower to give a quick fix to brassiness, and it actually works. Plus it gives a glossing treatment. I’m on my second. I should have put it in my best of 2018 but I forgot to pull it out of my shower for the photos.
Lixir Skin Universal Emulsion: This was OK. Nothing groundbreaking. It’s hydrating and affordable. It’s nice but I ended up using it as hand cream more than a face cream. I loved it as a hand cream.
Shara Shara Honey Bomb All in One Ampoule: I liked the idea of this. It’s got a nice hydrating jelly texture. It’s such a large jar I just couldn’t go through it all before it went bad. It’s discontinued now as well.
Nubian Heritage Abyssinian Oil & Chia Seed Hand & Body Scrub: I liked this enough. It doesn’t leave much in oils behind so it requires a lotion after use. I prefer scrubs that leave a bit more oil behind. The chia seeds are whole and made such a mess in my shower they stuck everywhere I swear.
Christophe Robin Delicate Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner: This was OK. It’s kind of like a volumizing meets glossing shampoo. It’s lightly hydrating and the rose scent was a little much for me. It’s OK but it wasn’t my favorite volumizing set.
Sahajan Nourish Face Cream: This has a nice glossy pudding cream texture. It was too rich for me but I repurposed to my arms and they loved it.
Lee Jiham Vita-Propolis Ampoule: I loved the watery light texture of this. Propolis, gotu kola and witch hazel for a soothing serum. Can’t say I noticed it was a game changer or anything.
Koh Gen Doh Cleansing Spa Water: This was OK. Bioderma Sensibo still beats it.
Seed Phytonutrients Facial Moisturizer: I loved the lightweight moisturizer/lotion. Minimal scent.
Swell Ultimate Volume Root Complex: I wanted to love this. But I can’t say it really did anything noticeable for me. I think this is more a blow dry volumizer spray so for my never blow dried hair it might not have been the best.
Okoko Sublime: I liked this orange balm enough to grab a big one. Tomato lycopene rich. It now has a whipped texture. More to come.
Buxom Big Tease Mascara: This was terrible. Dry and flaky/clumpy.
Generation Bee Key Lime Lip Balm: I liked this balm. More to come in the lip balm post.
Earthwise Beauty Ambrosia del Cerrado: I like this fluid liquid moisturizer. Reminds me of Stratia Liquid Gold.
Sisley So Intense Mascara: This is phenomenal. Easily one of my top three mascaras. It defines so well and has great detail with volume.
Zelens Lip Treatment Oil: I liked this. Lip oils just wear off so quickly on me. I have to reapply so often I find them cumbersome to use. If I have time I do like one under lip balm. I let this one expire because I just never reached for it. Review HERE.
SUQQU Framing Eyebrow Liquid Pen Camel 03: I adore this marker like calligraphy eyebrow pen. It gives the perfect amount of color and precision. I’m on my third. Review HERE.
Okoko Secret du Dragon Lip Serum: This is a blue tansy lip balm. Need I say more? Quite good.
SK-II RNA Power Moisturizing Cream: This was OK. A heavier hydrating cream. I didn’t like it enough to grab a big one.
Kypris Cerulean: Loved this. I really want a big one I just can’t justify the $200 right now for a mask as I’m in a low mask lazy phase.
Su:m37 Secret Repair Toner: This was nice. I like the whole Secret line.
Skin Ceuticals HA Intensifier: I really liked this texture. Even thought it has alcohol you can’t even tell. Layers well.
Revision Vitamin C Lotion 15%: This was a bit sticky wasn’t my favorite.
Naturallogic Nutrient Mist: I like almost anything by Naturallogic. This one is a nice mist. Its not my all time favorite but it’s good.
Thriva Luxe EGF Super Serum & Face Revive Daily Moisturizer: I love the texture of the moisturizer and the serum is a nice gel serum. Both have CBD. I used a few samples so hard to say if it does anything but I have a few more CBD things to test.
Byredo Eleventh Hour: This has a boozy rum fig kind of scent. Perfect for fall.
La Bella Figura Aria: Love this, I have a big one but I use the minis I get too. Review HERE.
Benton Shea Butter & Coconut Hand Cream: I love this hand cream. It’s thick, rich and not greasy. I would buy again.
O HUI Miracle Aqua Gel Cream: This was nice. A little too fragranced for me.
By Terry Brightening CC Serum Immaculate Light: This wasn’t the shade for me, it’s just pearly white. I love the texture of these but the rose scent is overpowering.
107 Oneoseven Snow Mask: I love the serum in this but I really only truly enjoy biocellulose sheet masks.