Put to the test - Round 1

Samples you guys! They are like candy to me. Like if Halloween was just trick-or-treating for skincare samples you couldn’t stop me. I’d be all over that. I’m not joking about my love for samples, I even had a dream last night that I was at a parade and they were throwing skincare samples instead of candy. Can you imagine?! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE candy too, but I love trying new products even more (ok, maybe it’s a tie). I love sample so much that I will order from companies who sell them or include them with orders over companies who don’t because that burst of enjoyment that comes with finding a suprise in a delivery box is hard to beat, especially when they are tiny in size. Due to this, I have been accumulating SO MANY samples and have just been hoarding them like little treasures. I’ve been avoiding using them for no good reason. So I decided to start a post series in order to help keep me accountable for trying them out and to share my first impressions with you. Here’s what I put to the test first:

Rahua Classic Shampoo & Conditioner
This shampoo & conditioner are made with rahua oil (among other things) which is said to help strengthen hair and nourish the scalp. The shampoo had slightly less lather than I expected so had to add a bit more shampoo than I thought I needed. It left my hair squeaky clean, literally. The conditioner is a medium consistency (not runny and not paste-like). My hair felt very moisturized when I rinsed. It made it rather easy to comb through before blow drying (and that’s without using leave-in conditioner). The scent was maybe coconut/almond/vanilla? Seems rainforest-y but sweeter. (Later I looked up and it says that the scent is actually palo santo. Was I close? No? I tried!) Overall hair feels soft and light/a bit bouncy afterwards. I have fine hair so this is key. I had no visible frizz and it tames well like it says. It says it adds shine but I’m not if I saw any extra. I wouldn’t say it’s at all dull just not overly shiney.
Would I buy? Likely
…..
100 Percent Pure: Honey Almond Nourishing Body Cream
This lotion has a light cream consistency. It applies easily and absorbs quickly. It doesn’t leave a greasy feeling. Initially it has a pretty strong almond scent which I like but it seemed to dissipate with application. Within 10 minutes I could hardly smell the almond or honey. I don’t know how I feel about the scent that does linger though, it smells like unscented lotion, kind of blah. The long term wear isn’t exceptional to me. I don’t feel overly moisturized after 10 minutes maybe even a bit dry. I love 100 Percent Pure products but I don’t really love this lotion.
Would I buy? Probably not
…..
Tata Harper: Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint in Very Sweet
I like this color for both lips and cheeks. It’s a classic posey pink coral color. I think this would look good on a lot of skin tones. I initially thought I liked it better for lips but decided I liked it on cheeks too after a couple trials. On my cheeks it was a bit too light when I applied over foundation and I felt like I needed to keep adding more to get the desired color (I like slightly bolder cheeks) But when I applied on bare skin it really seemed to pop a lot better. It has a glossy sheen to it with a slight hint of shimmer so almost has a built in highlighter function too. Glossy cheeks make me think sticky but it’s not sticky at all. It’s not think either and it feels moisturizing on both cheeks and lips. On cheeks it holds the color all day long and didn’t really fade that I noticed. For lips the color doesn’t last as long but it has a nice light gloss and neutral color with that hint of shimmer. Love multi-tasking products that actually work for both areas.
Would I buy? Yes, but maybe in the slightly darker color Very Popular
…..
Angelface Botanicals: Kissed Gentle Foaming Gel Cleanser
This is a light cleanser meant to gently lift makeup, dirt and oil off your skin while leaving moisture and not drying it out. It left my face feeling clean, almost squeaky. My face had that awake, fresh feeling afterwards. It didn’t seem to dry out skin at all. I had no sensitivities or breakouts after using, so it seems like it would be good for sensitive skin. I like this cleanser because little goes a long way so it would last forever. It has a light lather too. I like to lather it up and then let sit on my face for a couple of seconds before rinsing because it has this nice sensation of slightly cooling, not tingly or anything but like a whiff of fresh air has come across your face. V nice.
Would I buy? Likely, however I like the face wash I’m using right now so maybe in the future
…..
Flora Botanicals: Green Clay Detox Mask
Dig this mask. It has a hint of minty fresh tingle when applied, it feels cooling. It gives a cooling feeling while drying too. So this would make for a nice mask in the summer. (I can’t wait for summer!) While it’s drying it’s like you can feel the toxins being pulled out. There is a really light pulsing and tingle feeling too. It tightens on face but feels good. The smell is a little strong at first but diminishes. It’s clean smelling, maybe citrusy from the mandarin oil, with an earthy undertone. Maybe the tea tree gives it that kind of a strong smell? It’s not off-putting, just a little strong. My skin felt firmer afterwards and a bit brighter. I think it increases circulation so the glow/slight redness is from that. Overall my face felt smoother to the touch afterwards too.
Would I buy? Likely