Sample Killah Week 4 Update

Well here we are, at week four!  I will have a mini post on the 31st for the last few days of products.  I think the moving forward I will select 10 or 20 samples to use up per month to help keep my stash small.  It has been really enjoyable to discover new products hiding in my drawers disguised as single use junk packs.

By now you know the drill.  I am participating in Kalyn Lord's Sample Killah using up as many samples of any size as I can.

Let's take a look at what I managed to use up this week!

For My Hair

Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Restoring Repair Shampoo - No Buy

Nothing really to report on this shampoo.  Nothing wrong with it, but I didn't love anything either.  I can't wait to get back to my usual shampoo!

Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Restoring Repair Conditioner - No Buy

Perfectly adequate.  I don't have much to report on.  It...conditioned?

The Body Shop Olive Body Wash - No Buy

I was dreading using this because I am not exactly a fan of olives.  In any context.  However this smell was much more gentle than expected.  Still prefer their honey scent!

Ahava Mineral Botanic Body Wash - Buy When I Run Out 

Oh.  My.  Gosh.  This was amazing.  I am a huge fan of Ahava, and have been since I was in Israel visiting the Dead Sea.  Their products are so good for you!  This was no exception.  It had a beautiful, soft, gentle floral scent and lathered up like a dream.

Pantene Curly Shampoo - No Buy

It made my hair slightly more curly?  Noting exciting to report.

Pantene Curly Conditioner - No Buy

Again, this was fine.  I miss my Marc Anthony shampoo and conditioner.  I can't wait to wash my hair on August 1!

Pantene Medium-Thick Shampoo - No Buy

You guessed it!  This was fine.  It did the job.  It didn't suck.

Fekkai Reparatives Argan Oil Shampoo - Buy When I Run Out

It was SUCH a treat to use something with Argan oil in it again!  I love love love this formula but it is so expensive.  I will pick up a bottle as a hair treat one day...until then I will cherish my bottle of conditioner.

Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Shampoo - No Buy

Other than the Fekkai shampoo this was my favourite.  I would buy it if I didn't already have such a great hair product combo going for me.  It irked me that the shampoo was larger than the conditioner though.

Peter Thomas Roth Mega Rich Conditioner - No Buy

See above.  Loved it, but I love my usual even more.

Keeping Me Soft

St. Tropez Everyday Body Moisturizer Gradual Tan - No Buy

Over all this is a solid product.  However I found it made me streaky and that this was too dark for my complexion.  Guess I will be staying pale!

Nivea Skin Conditioner - Purchase

I really enjoyed this!  I loved how soft it made my body.  I would consider buying this if I saw it on sale or with a points promo.  Not a necessity, but really, really nice.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream - No Buy

Great product.  But I have enough body butter for my entire family to use daily for the next thousand years.

Random Little Goodies

Bite Whipped Cherry Scrub- No Buy

I love with the smell.  Buuuuut, there's always a but, the scrubbing part just was a huge meh.  I didn't find it exfoliated at all.  I'll stick (sadly) to my Lush scrub.  I wanted so so so badly to love this.

Flower By Kenzo- No Buy

It smelled nice, but I have 100000 other perfumes on my list that I would rather have.  And one lucky perfume will be coming home with me from the Sephora points promotion.

Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat - Re-Purchased

Great topcoat.  I love the gel look it gives my nails.  I actually have two more on stock pile. I prefer Julep's new top coat, but this one is still a rockstar!

La Petite Robe Noire - Purchased

I seriously have the best boyfriend in the world.  He picked me up the full size one last month.  It looks so pretty on my vanity, I don't want to ruin it.  The full size, of course, atomizes much better than the sample.  I wish I could bathe in this rich, spicy, sexy perfume.

Ojon Hair Oil - Purchased

Bar none, the best hair oil I have ever used.  It smells delicious, and works like a dream.  It manages to tame my stands, protect them, keep them shiny, and not weigh them down.

For My Pretty Face

Shu Umera Cleansing Oil in Brightening - No Buy

This is a fantastic product.  But so is Julep's Bare Face which retails for 2/3 the price.

Ole Henriksen Youth Activating Oil - Re-Purchased

This is a cornerstone to my night time skincare routine.  My face has never been brighter, softer, smoother, or generally happier.  I highly recommend this.

Nivea Mattifying Moisturizer - No Buy

Eh.

Nivea Mattifying Scrub - No Buy

Move along, nothing to see here.

Glam Glow Under Eye Treatment - Buy One Day

Ugh.  SUCH a fantastic product.  Such a painful price ($76).  I want it so badly.  Seriously, it actually fights bags and under eye fatigue.  To stretch out your use of the product use one half of the pod for both eyes.  I might *might* pick this up during the points promo.  Maybe if I win Sample Killah?

Clarins Super Restorative Day - No Buy

Nothing special to report.  It did the job, but there are other products I would recommend first.

Bioderma Cleansing Water - Purchased In Bulk

I totally fell in love with this product with first use.  Now I have a whole entire stock pile.  Two normal sized bottles and a massive bottle.  Oops?  It takes of make-up like a dream.  

Ahava Clear Scrub - Buy One Day

I'm not surprised that I love this product.  I wouldn't mind picking it up to use twice a week.  It is stronger than my daily scrub.  I know its for sale at The Bay.  Maybe in the fall!

Make-up

Benefit PoreFessional- No Buy

I've reviewed this before.  Perfectly fine but I prefer my Hourglass primer.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator- No Buy

Love the colour, but I think the formula can be finicky.  I am going to buy the standard powder blush in Orgasm though.  Super flattering shade!

NARS Super Orgasm Illuminator- No Buy

Same opinions as above, however I find the gold flecks a bit much.  This would be great for a night out, but I don't go out much.  

NARS Copacabana Illuminator - Buy One Day

I own something similar by NARS called Hot Sand (limited edition colour).  This would be a great winter shade.  I love this formula for highlighting.  I will probably pick this up in the winter.

Make Up Forever HD Primer (Original)- No Buy

I like it, but I don't love it.  

Face Shop CC Cream- No Buy

This colour was way off on me!  I swatched it and promptly kept it far far away from my face.

Make Up Forever Pressed Powder - Buy One Day

I really enjoyed using this sample.  I have two of the loose powder minis from this brand to use before I can, in good faith, consider buying this product.

Dior C-Total Base - Buy One Day

One day when I have lots of money I am going to buy this.  However it is really expensive, and that day is not today.  This does a great job though.  Love the finish it creates when used as a primer.  Very...velvety? Matte but radiant? 

Dior Hydralife BB Cream- No Buy

I like this, but I prefer Dior's Nudeskin BB Cream. They Hydralife BB Cream just doesn't come in the right colour for me.

NARS Face Primer- No Buy

This product is perfectly fine, but I already have a favourite.

YSL Gloss Volpé Trio - Purchase

LOVE the unique non-doe foot applicator.  Its more so kiss shaped.  I love the pink (19) and magenta (49) shades of this lip gloss, and have them in my buying plan for when I use my 95,000 points at Murale.

Bioderma Moisturizer - No Buy

Oops.  Wrong section.  I used this on my feet and didn't notice much of a difference. 

Goal - 25

Achievement - 38

Total Samples - 140

Three days to go and I have surpassed my goal by 40 samples.  Let's see if I can use up 10 more by the 31st!  For me the gem of this week was the YSL glosses.  Seriously cannot wait to add those to my (slightly oversized) collection. 

How has sample using been going for you this week?

Sample Killah Week 3 Update

So if you have been following my blog at all you will have noticed that I have been participating in Kalyn Lord's Sample Killah!  Basically the the goal is to use up as many samples as possible during the month of July.

My goal is to use up 100 samples.  As of the end of my week two update I have used 73.  This week was a bit slower for me-- I was super busy and ended up slacking on my use of sample shampoo and conditioner!  I also made large dents into a few deluxe sized samples which I will be talking about next week during my final update!

A little less than previous weeks, but not too bad!  It is getting stressful trying to get through these minis!  But I have enjoyed falling in love with new products.

Hair

The Body Shop Moisture Shampoo x 2 - No Buy

This shampoo is probably good, but the samples were so small that two did not cover my hair!  I ended up adding some of my regular shampoo to substitute.  Smelled good!  Very tropical.  

The Body Shop Moisture Conditioner x 2 - No Buy

Same issue as the shampoo.

Alterna Moisture Shampoo x 2 - No Buy

Long hair problems!  Same issue as with the Body Shop.  This smelled strongly of Argan Oil.  Which makes sense.  I really enjoyed this sample but I can't justify such small and expensive bottles with my hair.  They have a great 500 point sample kit with the shampoo, conditioner, hair milk and hair cc cream at Sephora but I would go through the shampoo and conditioner so fast!

Alterna Moisture Conditioner x 2 - No Buy

Same comments as above.  The lady really gave me 1.5 samples which didn't even cover my ends!

LUSH Marilyn Hair Treatment - No Buy

This was nice, but I prefer the Jasmine and Henna hair treatment.  Given their price I can really only pick one.  I did find it brightened my blonde.  Maaaaybe I will just grab samples every time I buy the other one.  I just used this sample on my bangs/top of my hair.  

LUSH Jasmine and Henna Fluff Eaze - Already bought!

Love this product!  Stay tuned for a full review.

LUSH Retread Conditioner - No Buy

A find conditioner, but nothing special.

Ojon Deep Conditioner - Buy

Ugh, I love this stupidly expensive conditioner.  I only use it on my ends though!  It will be mine one day, once I get through some of my stash.

Face

Olay Wet Cleansing Cloth - No Buy

These were my go-to before eI discovered the Quo wipes which I find more gentle on my skin.

Kiehls Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream - No Buy

I prefer an all over oil for my night time skin routine.

Julep Luxe Repair - Already bought!

Wow. This blew my expectations out of the water!  I ended up adding on the Luxe Repair Serum and the Luxe Hand Repair to my August Maven Box for $14.99  Great deal, and I just can't wait to include this serum in my skin care routine.  

GlamGlow Thirsty Mud Hydrating Treatment - Buy

LOVE this.  I have reviewed it before, but I can't get over the coconut smell.  It is a bit expensive, so I want to wait until I know where I am working this fall when I go back to school.

Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask - Already own!

I bought this mask last year after trying it at Sephora.  Then I got a whole bunch of samples of it from Shoppers the other week and I rediscovered it.  Needless to say that I will be suing up the rest of my full sized version.  You simply apply a thick cream for 10 minutes and then wipe it off.  It makes my skin super soft!

Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream - No Buy

I have always wanted to love this product.  I have tried a sample this size twice, and both times as good as it smells I can't get over how heavy?  thick? it feels.  I just don't like it.  To get through it faster I ended up using it on my neck.

Other

DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel - No Buy

This really made my hair feel dry and crunchy.  Not a fan!  I would love to find the right version of a product like this though.  I would love to be able to diffuse my hair with a gel/cream.

Aveno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - No Buy

This is a perfectly fine lotion.  Its my baseline.  My mom loves the brand and this stuff is all over our house.  I literally will never have to buy it because it is always available.  Never my first choice, but never my last.

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter - No Buy

This smell was nice, but a bit strong.  I liked that it was a tube rather than a tub as I find it more hygienic.  Pacifica makes some neat products.  Not sure where to find it in store.  Just not in love!

Make Up

Smashbox Full Exposure - No Buy
Eyeshadow on a card is hard to use!  Getting it on the brush?  Applying it evenly?  Ugh.  Anyways I am not in love with this product but it may be the format I use it in.  Either way I own every Naked palette so right now I don't need another neutral palette.  I might buy this in January to start building up my Rouge status again in the new year.

Urban Decay YDK - No Buy
Frustrating to use, see above.  I like this colour, but I am 99% sure it is either in one of the Naked palettes, or I have a dupe.  Love the colour though!

Urban Decay Foxy - No Buy
Not my favourite colour, but it is useful in creating a smoky eye.  This colour can be found in the Naked Basics palette.

Dior Pore Minimizer Primer - No Buy
This primer is fine, but I prefer the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer and the Dior Radiance? Glowing? Primer.  Haha the other one.

Becca Poreless Primer - No Buy
See above.  I find this one hard to apply.

Make Up Forever HD Powder - Maybe Buy
The trick I learned with this is you apply your moisturizer/primer first, and THEN the powder, and THEN your liquid foundation.  It creates a velvet finish that really stays all day.  I am intrigued, but not sure if I need this one since I have a two mini loose powders.

Marc Jacobs Mascara - No Buy
Great mascara when it comes to length.  But it is a flaky jerk to remove.  Not worth it!  I prefer Make Up Forever Smoky Eye Mascara, Diorshow, and Benefit They're Real!

Clinique High Impact Mascara - No Buy
When I think "Clinique" I think skin care, not make up.  They have been improving their make-up game lately.  This mascara strikes me as their "standard mascara".  It lengthens, and add volume and curl with out doing too much of either.  I actually even got a compliment on my mascara wearing this!  This is a great day mascara.  However I have 4 full sized, unopened Smashbox mascaras that achieve a similar look.  I wouldn't complain if I got another sample of this though!

So there we go.  I liked that there weren't as many mini reviews to write this week.  Also, I reached 100 samples! Best product of the week?  Probably the Make Up Forever Powder.  

Goal - 25

Achievement - 29

Net Samples +4

Total Samples - 102

Mission accomplished! But I will still keep going for the last week.

While Walking Through The Mall One Day...

Earlier this spring/summer I was walking through the Toronto Eaton's Centre when I came across a pop up kiosk handing out free, that's right FREE, samples of hair care.

I chatted with the lady and she determined that the deep conditioner, shampoo, and root lifting spray would be best for me.

Root lifting spray, shampoo, deep conditioner x 2

I have really enjoyed taking the root spray along for travel.  It is suuuuuuuper tiny but I have gotten a decent amount of use out of it.  I like to put it on my roots after a shower, or even when my hair is dry to give it some lift.  I prefer using it when my hair is wet though as it isn't as good as dry shampoo when my hair is dry.

Nothing too special to note about this shampoo.  I like that it is purple!

The deep conditioner packs are a bit small, by my standards. It took the two pouches to properly cover my silly amount of hair.  Afterwards my hair felt nice.  I don't know if I would pay full price for the tube but I enjoyed my samples.

The whole line looks, smells, and feels natural.  Sort of herbal-ish scents and finishes that don't feel like chemicals.  Personally, I don't really care if something is natural or not (so long as its not full of bad things) so this sing a selling feature to me.  

All in all I enjoyed picking up a little free treat in the mall. 

Have you used this brand?  What did you think of it?