Samples Review: Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream, Viktor and Rolf FlowerBomb Tiger Lily, YSL Black Opium Glitter

I'm not an eye cream person- unless I have a sample to try. They are just way too pricey..so whatever I use on my face generally goes around my eye area.  This was a very generous sample so I feel like I used it for a few weeks. Usually an eye cream sample is about 1-2 uses. This is nice though. Goes on smoothly and hydrates without making the area appear greasy. And no reaction from my skin either...I tend to get small bumps and lots of texture with certain products.  Nor did I have issues with my eyes. Maybe through the weeks it helped with dark circles....and a slight reduction in fine lines. It was OK. I can't see myself actually putting down $85 on it. It's Made In France. The actual product has a metal applicator which I'm sure is nice and cooling and further helps to de-puff. It's fine.

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Tigerlily

I love little perfume samples and with my latest order, I got two samples to give a whirl. They are always newer scents so that's fun too. I did buy a bottle of the OG FlowerBomb a couple years back but I wasn't a fan. On me it was a Patchouli bomb and I like Patchouli...but something about it just didn't wear well on me. This doesn't smell anything like the original. In fact, it's so unrelated I don't know why it's a part of the Flowerbomb line. It's very tropical. If you like a tropical vibe, this would be nice. Then there is something that's a bit floral. I like that bit. I just don't think based on the sample the tropical vibe fits for me. Not on my radar to purchase- but you never know! 

YSL Black Opium Glitter 

They went from Opium to Black Opium...and now Black Opium has a "spinoff" in Glitter. I'm a fan of the original Black Opium. It reminds me of my vacation to Las Vegas because it's all I wore there. This smells like the original but with a more floral feel. I don't know what flower. But just floral. And slightly soapy. I like it...but not more than the original which you also get a sample of. I just used the sample of the original and something about it smells a bit off. So I think this type of sample might not capture the fragrance as it's supposed to. It's something I may purchase though...just to experience the full bottle. 

Samples Review: Miss Dior Eau De Parfum, Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, Plant Therapy Tea Tree Peppermint Body Wash

I woke up really early this AM and don’t really know what to do with myself. So figured I would do a super quick post before I go and make some chicken, work out etc. 

 Miss Dior Parfum

I plan on buying the full size at some point. This is not the original Miss Dior which came out in the 1930's. This is a new, young, fresh, floral perfume that smells like a few other things I can't quite put my finger on. It's nice though. Feminine, I really remember notes of Rose. I can't remember the other notes but I like it. It seems like a good, easy, everyday perfume. 

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

I don't use Eye Cream. I just think they are too expensive for what they are. But I don't mind a good sample. I don't mind this, but I don't think I would buy it. I've noticed with some moisturizer I use on my face, they can migrate to my eye area and irritate my eyes. This eye cream won't do that. It's formulated to stay put, and it stay's put! It feels hydrating and it a little greasy when you first put it on, but it does absorb. I didn't look at all the ingredients but I was happy to see the 2nd ingredient was Shea Butter. It's cheaper to use a great quality Shea Butter which is probably what I'll do instead of buying this cream. But it wasn't bad...

Plant Therapy Tea Tree Peppermint Body Wash

 I havent had the best luck with Plant Therapy samples. This was no different. The sample is so small I could really only wash my hands. The scent was a strange peppermint smell, mostly due to it being mixed with Tea Tree. The sample did not make me want to buy the full size at all. It just wasn't enough to really get a feel for the product.

Samples Review: Glam Glow Moisture Trip Moisturizer, Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum with Green Tea, Trish McEvoy Triangle of Light Eye Mask

 Another batch of samples. I feel like it's been forever since I've done one of these posts..but I got my hands on a few samples...and it's not likely I will buy any of these so may as well review. 

Glam Glow Moisture Trip Omega Rich Moisturizer

Lasting Hydration-Anti Redness- Anti-Oxidants- Blue Light Protection

I had another sample from Glam Glow years back and don't recall being very impressed with it. This I liked a little better until I noticed extra texture on my skin. The sample lasted a couple days. It went on hydrating, and my skin looked glowy...but I woke up looking greasy. Initially I thought I would like it ..but not so. The third ingredient is hemp seed oil. It has Shea Butter, Ginger Extract, and Vitamin E further down but the majority of the ingredients aren't that impressive. It seems it has been discontinued from what I could find and it won't be missed by me. It was probably over-priced anyway. The blue light protection is an interesting concept though.

Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum with Green Tea

I'm fascinated by the fact that is contains green tea extract. Especially the green tea extract from Jeju. Back in the day when Teavana was still open I actually had a tea from there which is cool. I had two sample packets. I used them a few weeks apart. First thing I noticed was the the scent. It's a little on the stronger side and reminds me of mens cologne. It's very thin and goes on nicely. Makes your skin look immediately healthy and glowy. The price isn't great but not horrible either at $27 for 2.7 ounces. But I'm not into most of the other ingredients. It also has alcohol high in the ingredient list. I know alcohol is supposed to help ingredients penetrate skin deeper but..I just don't really like so much of it. I wouldn't buy a full size but it was fun to try! 

Trish McEvoy Triangle of light Eye Mask 

I've had this in my drawer forever. I guess I was saving it for a special occasion or just when my eyes are really struggling. Usually my dark circles really aren't that bad. I found it nice. It felt cooling going on and just refreshing. I let is sit while I got dressed. And I feel like it really did something. My under eye area was subtly brighter and just looked better. The ingredients are alright. But still overall, I don't think it's a necessity. I should have tried a slice of cucumber on the other side to compare. I probably wouldn't rebuy because it's $69 for 8 and I really don't have anywhere to go that it would make a difference. 

And that's all! 

Lancome Advanced Genefique Yeaux Eye Cream Review

I just came back from doing my Thanksgiving shopping (well some of it). I still need to pick up a few things for some sides. I figured I would write a quick post before I start cooking. I always like to make something nice on Sundays and also I like to cook whatever it is I'm gonna take with me for the week to work. But before I get into the kitchen, figured I would write a quick post.

Anyway...eye cream. 

Lancome claims:

What it is:
A fresh, gel-like eye cream, powered by Advanced Genifique's Bifidus extract, to improve dark circles, hydrate, and smooth the eye area.

What it does: 
Advanced Genifique's eye cream features a new lightweight gel-like texture that blends into the eye area with a soft, velvety finish. The formula, featuring Advanced Genifique's signature Bifidus extract, helps to strengthen and protect skin's moisture barrier around the delicate eye area. Immediately, the eye area is softer and more hydrated. Over time, the appearance of dark circles are reduced and the eye area is smoother.

I think eye creams are a money grab and not something I would spend my money on. But if I come across a sample, I'll test it out. Why not? I might change my mind when I get older but for now that's where I'm at.

This particular eye cream will cost you $67.00 for a half ounce. Ridiculously expensive! Especially for something you can only use around your eyes. I just use whatever I'm using on the rest of my face around my eyes. Saves money. And time.

First thing I noticed is the smell. It smells like alcohol.  Alcohol is not a great ingredient when it comes to skincare. I know there are "moisturizing" alcohols. But I tend to try to avoid it altogether because some alcohols can be really damaging and drying to the skin. Why put your skin through that if you don't have to?

Despite the alcohol,  I figured I would test it anyway. It was hydrating. And any make-up I applied over it went on super smoothly. And I really like the gel-cream texture. It didn't go on greasy and absorbed really well.

It does claim to help with dark circles. I don't have very bad circles and can't say I noticed a particular difference. 

It doesn't sound too bad...until I noticed every time I used it I had the worst eye irritation. My eyes would feel dry and irritated. And hurt a bit too. It took me a minute to realize it was this cream in particular. I thought at first my contacts were just acting up.

I did basically apply it over my whole eye area, so I thought that was the problem at first. But even applying how they direct on the website irritated my eyes. 

After a couple of days, I really looked in the mirror at my under eye area and noticed directly under my eye area looked wrinkled. And it didn't before. I think all the alcohol in it was really drying up my skin although it appeared to hydrate a first.

I have a lot of it left..since it was a deluxe sample at .02 ounces. But I won't use it on my eyes anymore. I think I'll just rub the rest of the cream into my neck when I take off my makeup tonight. 

Also...all those ingredients. I dom't know had of what this stuff is, but most of it is jumping out as stuff I usually avoid putting on my skin.

Ingredients:

INGREDIENTS, AQUA / WATER, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, BIFIDA FERMENT LYSATE, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, 

ALCOHOL DENAT, POLYSILICONE-11, DIMETHICONE, POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE,DI-C12-13 ALKYL 

MALATE, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ASCORBYL 

GLUCOSIDE, MICA, LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, SODIUM HYALURONATE 

, SODIUM BENZOATE, HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN, SODIUM, DEHYDROACETATE, SODIUM SUCCINATE, 

PHENOXYETHANOL, ADENOSINE, FAEX EXTRACT / YEAST EXTRACT, PTFE, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, 

ARGININE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, CHLORPHENESIN, CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE, P

OLYGONUM FAGOPYRUM SEED EXTRACT / BUCKWHEAT SEED EXTRACT, SILICA, SALICYLOYL

 PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, CHLORELLA VULGARIS EXTRACT, DIMETHICONOL, LIMONENE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, 

SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, LINALOOL, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL

 HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CARBOMER,

 BORON NITRIDE, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, GERANIOL, BIS-PEG/PPG-16/16

 PEG/PPG-16/16 DIMETHICONE, DISODIUM EDTA, CETEARETH-20, POTASSIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE, 

CITRONELLOL, METHIONINE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, GLYCINE, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE

Overall....I pretty much hated this stuff. Wouldn't recommend it. and would never buy it. 

Samples Review Whish Flawless Swipe Serum, MAC Falsies Mascara, and Strivectin Eye Concentrate

It's that time again, I've got another batch of samples to post a mini review on. Mostly samples of stuff I would never buy because of price, and overall they just aren't that impressive.

1. Whish Flawless Swipe Post Wax & Shave Serum- I had a sample of their shave cream before, and they don't do anything a drug store shaving cream doesn't do. But this product is on a whole new level of pointlessness. The price is $22 for 30 wipes. Which is very costly for a useless product. I shaved, wiped it on, and couldn't see the point. Stick with coconut oil, moisturizer, etc. The wipe barely had any serum on it, it smelled like cucumber melon but the scent didn't stick around. No recommendation and I would even pass on another sample. 

2. MAC Falsies Lashed Extreme Black Mascara- This mascara isn't terrible and wears ok, except when I wear it to work. Then it wilts and disappears by the time I get home. But when I don't do much it seems to last OK. I would be OK with that is it were a cheap drugstore mascara, but it isn't. So...not impressed with it enough to buy or even recommend. It did give decent curl, length and volume. It won't blow you away. But it was there. 

3. Strivectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles- I'm not an eye cream girl, I've tried many samples and have just determined them to be a waste of time for me. Whatever I'm using on my face goes under my eyes. This particular eye cream will run you $70. I didn't notice a difference in my wrinkles (don't have many at this point) but I did notice it clogged my skin all around my eyes and I had the bumpiest skin while using it. Not sure what's in it that my skin is reacting too, but not anything I would pay even $3 for. Just didn't do anything for me. But they are very generous with the sample. It will last you quite a while. And it's non-scented. As all eye cream should be. 

Another round of disappointing samples for sure. Better luck next time I guess.

Have you tried any of these? Like them? Love? Hated? Let me know in the comments!

Samples Review: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue, Miss Jessie's Coily Custard, Prada Candy Parfum

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue

I first heard of Charlotte Tilbury when a vlogger made a video 

reviewing the products. There seems to be a bunch of vids on the line and each video sort of praised Charlotte Tilbury's work. It came across very fake though because I haven't heard anything from most of those vlogger's about her work since. That was my first impression of the line. Eventually I stumbled on her youtube channel but I was not really a fan. You can tell she only started the channel to sell her products and it doesn't really come across as genuine to me. Somewhere along the way I heard about her magic cream- a $100 moisturizer. Supposedly she mixed it up for her clients- which i doubt because when you read the ingredients it doesn't sound like anything she just whipped up. Basically I don't really have the best impressions of her line. But I'm always up to try out a sample! This particular product is $60 which pretty much guarantees it's not something I would purchase. Luckily the sample is decent and I got a couple days to really test it out. It helped with dark circles. But not fine lines. I haven't had much of a problem with fine lines, but I noticed when I used this I had strange folds happening in my eye area. I don't know what was happening but it was not cute. Now that I finished up the sample, it's not happening anymore. Not a product for me!

Edited to add: I almost forgot to talk about the scent. I don't think it's scented but it smells kind of funny. Almost chemical. I didn't really like that but it didn't linger.

Miss Jessie's Coily Custard

I feel like I've done a mini review on this..but apparently I haven't. This just reminds me of the Jelly soft curls that I thought it was the same product! It even has the same laundry detergent scent. I'm not a fan of the scent but luckily it doesn't stick around long. The texture almost reminds me of Kinky Curly. It's kind of thick and sticky and a little bit crunchy. But it really does give nice curl definition, especially on day 2. And a little bit of shine. I think this particular product is better than the Jelly Soft Curls. The ingredients aren't the best but it isn't as bad as some of the other products in their line. Overall, it's probably my favorite of the MissJessie's products I have tried. I just wish they would change the scent!

Prada Candy

I think this is one of the most popular scents at Sephora, which is why I wanted to try it. I actually really like it. It reminds me of an old Oscar De La Renta perfume I had with a little swedish fish candy scent and vanilla thrown in. It smells better than it sounds. It is strong (I learned that the hard way after spraying too much and ending up with a headache!). And it lasts forever! Most perfumes these days don't last past 2-3 hours so that was a pleasant surprise. It's a perfume I wouldn't mind having the full bottle of. 

Those are the three samples I have for today! Hopefully I have another post up soon- I actually really like reviewing samples more than I thought I would.