Sample Rundown #7

It's time for a new Sample Rundown! Guest starring, yes, an earbud to keep the mascara tube from rolling away. You're welcome.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown -- Beyond the fact that these shades are definitely too warm for me (Ash Brown is probably a better fit), this is a pretty impressive product. A little goes a long way, so I'll actually be giving the leftovers from this sample to a friend of mine. The powder is very, very pigmented and applies quite smoothly with the ABH #12 brush. This has pretty good staying power, though it isn't entirely sweatproof, so I'd save it for cooler weather. The darker shade was a little less tricky to apply, which I think is obvious in the picture below. I still find a pencil better suited to my needs, but this is good stuff; I'd recommend it for people with heavier brows who just need to fill in the gaps.

Hourglass Film Noir Mascara -- Another really good product! The formula is very creamy, and you can layer it for a minute straight without getting chunky, clumpy lashes. The mascara gives good amounts of both length and volume, and it's jet black. I wore this to work for 12 hours and experienced minimal flaking or smudging--just a few spots right around the eyes at the very end of the day. Film Noir is relatively easy to take off with an oil-based makeup remover. Unfortunately, this one carries an Hourglass price tag at $28 a tube and doesn't impress me as much as NARS Audacious. If, however, you want something gentler than the NARS, this could be a good option, because the brush is soft and the formula is smooth.

Moroccanoil Body Souffle in Fleur de Rose -- The disappointment of the bunch is this body moisturizer. It promises "intense hydration" and "immediate smoothness," which is what I've come to expect from body butters. But the formula is actually really thin and has a powdery texture. I used the entire sample packet on my legs; compare that the performance of a similar amount of Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter, which can cover my entire body. The moisturization level was very, very light, and I had to apply another lotion to my legs the next morning. The scent is decent--a powdery tea rose--but nothing special, especially for the $56 price tag.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream -- I've used samples of this eye cream before. It's never wowed me, to be honest, but no eye cream has. However, I'm trying to be more careful with my eyes as I age and to add some extra moisture to the area. And if extra moisture is your main goal, it's hard to top the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream. A tiny amount of this thick cream goes a very long way; I used this sample packet over the course of two weeks. While the cream is intensely moisturizing and insanely rich, it doesn't leave my eye area feeling heavy or filmy. I'm sure there are similar creams at a lower price point, but I can't deny that I enjoy every sample packet of this stuff I get.