Sample Rundown #13

I tried a slew of new products while I was away this summer, so it's time for Sample Rundown! Yet again, I've kind of accidentally worked with a theme here; this post features products I ended up having a love-hate relationship with, or they were really good with a few caveats.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Volume Shampoo and Conditioner -- "Caviar" is right: a full size of either the shampoo or conditioner will set you back $34. Verb is usually as high-end as I go with hair products, but they were free and I was intrigued, so off I went! On the bright side, this stuff really made my hair voluminous; my hair looked twice as full and felt much thicker. It also maintained a lot of the softness that is the one benefit of having hair as fine as mine. Unfortunately, it seemed to amplify my frizz, even when I used anti-frizz products on top. I didn't get a lot of definition with this shampoo and conditioner combo, either. I'd go from having curly hair to...well, just big, poofy hair. The volume was nice, the frizz was not.

I haven't cut my hair in almost 5 months (there's no point, since I almost always wear it up in summer), so I've got some dry, split ends. I also like going outside in the summer; lake water, sunscreen, and heat are rough on my hair. The @livingproofinc Night Cap treatment has really helped keep my ends smooth and healthy! I wish they made a mini size, though, since the deluxe sample I got in a @sephora Play box is still going strong. (PS: Thanks to my partner for this photo!) #livingproof #hair #haircare #sephora #sephoraplay #beautyblogger #summer

A post shared by Renee (@reneesanatomy) on Jun 7, 2017 at 3:38pm PDT

Living Proof PhD Night Cap Overnight Perfector -- I got this in a Sephora Play! box before I halted my subscription to save money, and honestly, I wasn't too excited to see it. I haven't had the best luck with Living Proof's extremely expensive range. I've ended up really enjoying this particular product, though. First, I decided not to cut my hair this summer, since I usually wear it up anyway to combat the heat and oppressive humidity. Second, my partner is visiting, so I've been spending more time outside, in lakes, and covered in sunscreen, all of which can damage my hair. Night Cap has been a great deep conditioning treatment for me, providing glossiness and taming split ends. Of course, there are a few issues. This product is clearly considered an "overnight," "pillow-safe" mask because most people shower in the morning; I shower at night, so I quickly learned that leaving it in for 24 hours is overkill. 4-5 hours was totally sufficient for me. Furthermore, I didn't notice that this lasted for "five shampoos" as promised: it was one wash cycle and done for me. Despite those minor quibbles, I'd still repurchase this product if it was available in this sample size, which is more than enough for me.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil -- Let's get this out of the way: argan oil only works for me when it feels like it. It makes my skin incredibly soft and smooth, but it also tends to break me out, and I can never tell if it's going to leave me looking more hydrated or more pimply. Hence, while I love the hydration I get from just 2-3 drops of this oil, I quickly decided it wasn't worth the unpredictable breakouts. That said, I honestly think it's hard to beat Josie Maran as far as argan oil quality goes. This product feels lighter and smells less than other kinds I've tried, and while the price tag is cringe-worthy, a couple of drops of this bad boy went a long way.

Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Sandwash Pink -- I used Bobbi Brown's lipsticks almost a decade ago, and my analysis of them at the time was "sedate, aimed-at-working-ladies shade range in a solid, but not spectacular, formula that kind of smells." Testing Sandwash Pink in 2017, I'm still feeling roughly the same way. The small range of mostly my-lips-but-better shades and the same black packaging that gathers fingerprints like a mofo feels a bit dated, I have to admit. But the formula is creamy and pigmented, and while it tastes a bit waxy, at least it doesn't reek of fake fruit or dry out my mouth. I don't know if I'd drop $29 on this mauve pink shade when I could get a cheaper formula I like more, like Besame or MAC, but I'll likely finish this one up. It's...decent.

Sample Rundown #12

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I'm trying to use up as many samples as possible in 2017, and I'm using my feed to document my progress. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a dipstick, so I haven't been saving said samples for these posts. I'm trying to correct that now! Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in seven months...it's Sample Rundown!

DevaCurl No-Poo Decadence -- I've had this sample for nearly a year, but I've only just now worked up the courage to try it. I'm old-fashioned when it comes to haircare; I like a sudsy shampoo and a rich conditioner. This product is very different: it does not lather and, according to many reviews, is meant to take the place of both shampoo and conditioner. This felt like a thick lotion to me, which was fine, but it was a little difficult for me to work it in to my hair. I also felt like I couldn't completely rinse it out, as if it were leaving behind a slight film. No-Poo Decadence left my hair feeling decently soft and not-too-frizzy, but honestly, I think it's a bit much for me. The Decadence line is probably best left to those with a much tighter curl pattern. Side note: these samples are super generous. I was able to wash my hair with this about three times before this review, and there was still a bunch of product in the packet.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream -- Like many skincare junkies, I was instantly drawn to this fragrance-free, alcohol-free, ceramide-and-hyaluronic-loaded moisturizer. It seems great in theory: 72 hours of hydration with a lightweight feel! Wow! In practice, though, this is hum-drum. A lot of the Sephora reviews rave about how this cream makes your skin "feel sooooo soft instantly!," but that immediate smooth feeling is actually from the large amount of silicone. I enjoyed the lightly-hydrating, non-sticky gel texture, and it worked well under makeup. That said, I'm not about spending $52 for a moisturizer that behaves more like a primer on my skin. If you're more normal-to-oily, you might love this as a day cream.

Perfekt Beauty Lash Perfection Gel -- I have a love-hate relationship with this mascara. On the one hand, it makes my lashes look AMAZING. It provides plenty of volume, some length, and the perfect amount of inky-black color. The flaking and smearing are very minimal; I mostly experienced these problems after 6+ hours of wear. On the other hand, applying this mascara is the shit of my nightmares. The formula isn't watery, but it still manages to be as messy and slow-drying as a mascara can be. I can only use this product if I'm not wearing eyeshadow because I have to completely wipe down my eyelids after application. I'll finish the tube, but I definitely won't repurchase it.

Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet #400 (Four Hundred For All) -- Despite their cool names, sleek packaging, and generally photogenic qualities, I can never seem to find an Armani lip product I love. These liquid lipsticks are no exception. Four Hundred For All really is a lovely neutral red that will likely flatter most people. The finish is a beautiful soft matte, and while the formula is very watery, it applies smoothly and without streaking. The doe foot applicator was easy to control. This doesn't dry down completely--you'll get some lipstick on your fingers if you pat your lips--but it isn't especially prone to smearing, either. I only seemed to have an issue when my niece made a sudden grab for my mouth (and received red-lipstick-coated fingers for her efforts). But while a lightweight, not-so-apolocalypse-proof formula usually means you have a less drying liquid lipstick, I found the Lip Magnet formula as drying as a lot of other brands. Is it the worst? Of course not! A little lip balm at the end of the day fixed all ills. But it's definitely lacking the unique quality I'd need to justify $38 for a single lipstick.

Sample Rundown #11

My Sample Rundown posts seem to have unintended themes. It might be an entire post of "Holy shit, this is not for my skin type," or four or five products that were mediocre. This post's theme will be, "It's a really wonderful product, it's just not for me." We've got two makeup samples and two skincare samples to discuss, so let's move along!

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick -- I got this sample of Kimchi, a bright blue-based pink, in my first Sephora Play! box, and I've also tried Meringue a little while back. Honestly, my views on this formula haven't changed much. It's a very pigmented and smooth formula that doesn't dry out my lips, has good staying power (especially if you apply, blot, and reapply), and comes in a great range of colors. A few people have mentioned that the brighter shades bleed and smear on them, but that wasn't an issue for me, especially if I used a lipliner--Kimchi stayed flawless on my lips for a good 5 hours. I will note that they gave this product a citrus-type flavor and smell that I dislike; it's very plasticky to me. This isn't a lip formula I'm going to rush out and buy, especially since there are formulas I like just as much for a fraction of the price. But it's a solid new range.

Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream -- This is the one product that disappointed me. I've heard rave reviews of this cream that claimed it brightens up the eye area, but I didn't notice much of an impact. It does have a very light texture and it doesn't burn my eyes, so that's nice. I didn't notice any difference in my fine lines or early morning puffiness, however.

Tarte Opening Act Lash Primer -- I've been using this primer off and on for about 2 months, and so far, I'm decently impressed with it. Like most lash primers, Tarte Opening Act coats the lashes and applies as a stark white. I find that it's best to apply your mascara shortly after using the primer to prevent clumping, so work one eye at a time. I got a tiny bit of volume from this primer (with the increased risk of spider lashes), but mostly, it provided a lot of length. It didn't make my mascara flake off or smear more, either. I actually want volume more than length, so a full size of Opening Act wouldn't serve me, but it's still an effective product.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel -- I was terrified that I was going to love this product or experience a major reaction to it. Luckily (?), I found this product very gentle and effective, but just not for me. This gel-textured moisturizer contains not only vitamin B, but a whole host of beneficial ingredients, like healthy fruit extracts selected to even out skin and retain moisture. Actually, I keep referring to the ingredients list as "angelic:" no major cloggers, no fragrance, no drying alcohols, etc. The lightweight texture of B-Hydra is really beautiful; it soaked right in to my skin and didn't leave any residue. This did not provide enough hydration for me on its own, so I stopped using it, but I could see it being a go-to for people with oily skin. It's also worth trying if you have normal or combination skin and want something weightless for the warmer months.

Sample Rundown #10

It's time for another edition of Sample Rundown! And this time, I actually have a lot of positive things to say. Am I sick? Am I broken? I dunno, maybe I just got lucky this time.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado -- This product has been all the hype in the beauty community for years. Every time somebody asks for an eye cream recommendation, the Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment pops up, and it's not hard to see why. I found this product very rich, creamy, and easy to spread, but weightless on the skin. It soaked in within the hour and made my undereyes feel soft and moisturized. Also, it's a fun green color! Do I think this is going to be a must-have product, though? No, not really. It does do a great job of moisturizing and I can see it working decently under makeup if you have very dry undereyes, but it doesn't do much else. The ingredients list isn't that inspiring, either.

Verb Leave-In Mist -- First, mad props to this sample for being very generous and lasting a squillion years! (Actual time 3 weeks, ~12 washes, but you got me.) I have super fine, quite frizzy curly hair that doesn't do well with most anti-frizz products, partially because my hair gets weighed down so easily, partially because I don't use a blow dryer and lots of haircare needs heat to work. But a dime-sized amount of this mist finger-combed through my hair left me with incredibly soft, bouncy, frizz-free curls! And it kept working: I braid my hair at night to prevent tangles, which unfortunately tends to make it quite poofy in the mornings, but the Verb mist kept it sleek and wavy and work ready. I think something in this product might have given me two little pimples on my right temple, but my skin is so weird right now that it's hard to tell. I'll consider purchasing a full size of this one.

Paula's Choice Skin Revitalizing Lotion with 10% AHA -- Paula's Choice recommends that you use this in tandem with another moisturizer, which should be your first clue: this product is not hydrating. Its real purpose is to exfoliate your body overnight, and the exfoliant is suspended in a lotion base to make it less drying, not actually moisturizing. That being said, this stuff spreads easily (two sample packets covered my entire body) and has a lightweight texture. It does smell pretty rank, but the smell fades. I found that after using this product, the keratosis pilaris on my arms was reduced and my skin was softer and glowier for about 3 days. While this product is totally effective and quite nice, I don't know if I'd pay $27 for the full bottle when I get decent physical exfoliation from a $5 tub of St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

NYX lip liner in Mauve around edges. Freshly applied on left, blotted on right.

Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang -- This is the lipstick that comes in the current Sephora birthday gift, and it's just as beautiful as I expected it to be. The formula is extremely pigmented, slick, and comfortable; it's rare to find a formula this pigmented and yet still lightweight. I'm not wild about the glossiness of it, and the wear time is a "pretty good" 4-5 hours rather than "stupendous" 6+ hours, but it's such a nice formula otherwise that I don't mind just blotting it down or reapplying. The shade Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an almost universally flattering plum pink that looks great freshly applied and blotted down to a matte finish. The one thing that gets me is that this stuff is $30 a tube. Eek! Still, I might get a few more shades, because I think this is a formula that would day light pinks and beige nudes true justice.

Let me know what you've been trying!

Sample Rundown #9

The more I do these Sample Rundown posts, the more I think I'm getting unbearably picky. Does anybody agree? Am I refining my tastes as I mature, or getting bitchier as I age? I can never tell. ANYWAY!

Buxom Full & Fabulous mascara -- This is one of the mascaras from Buxom's "Mascara Bar," which lets you choose the wand that best works for you. The wand on this tube was actually nice for separation: it was rubberized and had stiff, short bristles that really combed through my lashes. But that's about where my praise ends. The Full & Fabulous variety is supposed to give you "lush volume," but I found the effect overall very "meh." Also, this flaked like crazy on me. Not a keeper.

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary mist -- I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying to try this stuff. Ever since Ruth from A Model Recommends talked it up, I've been sniffing around different sites, hoping for a sample or a cheaper mini-bottle. I finally obtained a sample, annnnd...it's nice? But nothing new or special. It had the same effect on my skin as cheaper rose water sprays, like the Heritage Rosewater and Glycerin, though it admittedly felt a little lighter and more "refined." That effect? Light hydration. That's it. I did check out the ingredients for this, and I can't find anything unique enough or wonderful enough to justify the $90-for-a-full-bottle cost.

Bite Lush Lip Wipes -- This is another product with a slightly absurd cost: $12 for a pack of 10 with a little mirror. Honestly, they should just skip the mirror (it's not even a compact) and charge a little less for a 10 pack. That aside, I have to admit that these are pretty impressive wipes: they can remove the most stubborn lipsticks, including MAC Ruby Woo, without leaving the lips feeling dry or parched. I personally don't have much use for them, but if you are a blogger who does tons of lip swatches on the same day and/or you like to switch your lip color when you transition from day to night, these could be very useful.

Supergoop Forever Young SPF40 Hand Cream -- For the most part, this is a pretty beautiful product. I find it very hard to locate a hydrating, but not too greasy, handcream with SPF in it, and the Supergoop definitely fits the bill. It's lightweight, soothing, and provides good moisturization with a high level of sun protection. It also spreads very easily; I could see a full tube of this stuff lasting quite a while. My only complaint with this product? The smell is quite strong. It's not a bad smell, but I like wearing perfume, and I don't want that covered up by a citrus sunscreen scent. If Supergoop could get rid of that smell or make a fragrance-free version, I'd be all up on that full tube.

Sample Rundown #8 + Duping a Highlighter? Maybe?

We're back for 2016, and we're back with another edition of Sample Rundown! This particular rundown is going to feature a mixture of Korean and western beauty, makeup and skincare, "this is pretty sweet shit" and "why the Hell would you pay that much for this nonsense?" Also, there will be a "is this a dupe?" swatch comparison at the end, because this is my blog and I do what I want. ONWARD!

Skinfood Royal Honey Eye Cream -- This is a creamy, smooth eye cream with a bit of a gel texture. It provides light moisture and a hint of glow, and the formula feels weightless under the eyes, so it should work well for people with normal, slightly dry, or slightly oily skin who want a basic eye cream. With that said, it's also a tad sticky, so I wouldn't recommend it for under makeup. This made me break out, unfortunately, but I really did like the texture and how a little goes a long way. Purchase directly from a reputable Korean seller, like RoseRoseShop.com, unless you want to deal with major price gouging.

Clarins Super Restorative Night Cream -- Sweet God, can you believe that this things costs over $100 retail?! This cream feels thick and rich on your fingers, but when you actually rub it in to your skin, it provides only moderate hydration. It's also lacking in the kind of active ingredients and antioxidants that would make the price seem reasonable; in fact, the formula is extremely basic. Overpriced and did little for my dry skin.

 Wearing the Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint and ELF Shimmering Facial Whip.

Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in PK001 Pink -- A soft, semi-sheer lip tint that applies smoothly and easily. Out the tube (packet?), this product looks and smells like strawberry milk. It's less pastel on the lips, however, and is very wearable. Just make sure you don't smear your lips together for a good minute, or it'll all settle in the center of your mouth. I'm torn on this one: I like how it looks on the lips and how easy it is to apply, but it's a smidge drying and it doesn't last as long as other stains. Maybe I'll grab a full tube if I can get it for the right price.

Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack -- Korean sleeping packs come in a range of formulas, but in my experience, most are like a moisturizer and a mask having a baby. The popular TCFS Pumpkin Sleeping Pack doesn't smell a thing like pumpkins--it actually has a bit of a sweet, floral fragrance--but it does have a light, smooth texture and a clear color going for it; this means it won't feel heavy or look creepy on your face. I wear a thin layer of this over most of my face (I skip my nose), let it sink in for 10 minutes, then go to sleep. The next day, I wake up and my skin is slightly more moisturized and quite soft. Makeup applies a bit better after I use this as well. The results are not dramatic, though, so I think I'll use up my sample sachets before deciding whether or not I want a full size.

Guerlain Maxi Lash So Volume! mascara -- Most high-end mascaras strike me as "meh" for the price, and this one is no different. While it claims to be a volumizing mascara, I found that it gave me only a little volume. I definitely got a lot of length from it, though, which may be due to the rubberized wand bristles. It was easy to remove at the end of the night, which is a bonus, but it flaked a good bit throughout the day. Definitely not worth purchasing a full size, in my opinion.

Now I want to talk about a supposed dupe that's been mentioned in the rumor mill! A few people mentioned that the ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Spotlight is a dupe for the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl, and one of my acquaintances mentioned that Spotlight replaced their MAC Cream Color Base in Luna. I own all three products, so I figured I'd test them out and do some swatching.

The above swatches are Becca on the left, ELF in the middle, MAC on the right. As you can hopefully see, Luna has a more opaque white base than the other two, and Pearl has the most refined Shimmer. Spotlight will certainly give you a glow--see the full face picture above--but I would not say it's comparable to these two at all. It's heavily fragranced, a bit difficult to blend out, and nowhere near as adjustable.

Is it a bad highlighter? No, especially not for $1. But I would never consider it a dupe.

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.

Sephora in JC Penny Lash Out Kit Results

And now for a different sort of Sample Rundown: the Sephora in JC Penny (SiJCP) Lash Out Kit! This limited edition kit costs $25 and is only available at SiJCP--you will not find it at full-sized Sephoras or on the Sephora website. It comes with deluxe samples of 5 premium mascaras: Bare Minerals Lash Domination, Too Faced Better Than Sex, Tarte Lights Camera Lashes, Kat von D Immortal Lash, and Buxom Lash. Prices and product amounts for the full sizes are detailed in a chart at the end of this post.

The Lash Out is one of those "try it and buy it" deals. You test out the samples, figure out which mascara is your favorite, then take the included voucher back to the store for a "free" full-size tube. I put "free" in quotes because, technically, you've already paid $25 for that mascara. Regardless, I think this is a great deal: you're likely to find at least one tube you truly love, and if you like more than one, well, you've got several sample tubes to keep you going as well!

I will note that you should probably take the box with you to the store when you make your choice, but keep it in your purse and just hand over the voucher. Sephora associates who are not in the know may try to take the box with all of the samples back from you when you, even though they're not supposed to. It's not the end of the world, but why give up something you already paid for?

Also, the voucher only counts for the exact products in this set--you cannot get a different color or the waterproof version.

Now, on to the reviews for each of the mascaras! Each of these mini-reviews includes three pictures: my naked lashes, the mascara on one eye, and the mascara on both eyes. In all of the images, my lashes have been curled. I know it's a bit weird to include a picture of my naked lashes each time, but I have mild trichotillomania and I sleep on my side, which can change how they look on a day-to-day basis.

Bare Minerals Lash Domination

I've tried, and liked, this mascara before. The rubber bristles are twisted around the wand in a swirl pattern, and they deposit a decent amount of product to your lashes. The formula is on the thin side, though it's not as watery as, say, Maybelline Great Lash.

This mascara gives good length and some volume without too much clumping. You can layer it some for more drama without too much trouble. This mascara is also the best "dollar per ounce" value; you pay $18 for 0.37 ounces of product.

I did not experience any noticeable flaking. There was some mild smearing (and that was at the corners of my eyes when they watered heavily), but beyond that, Lash Domination stayed on pretty well. It was not difficult to remove.

My main gripe with this product is the packaging makes it uncomfortable to hold the tube. The twisted tube sure looks pretty, but it can be hard to grip the wand, and despite the texture, it still rolls all over the table. I'm funny about mascara tubes: if they're not going to be round, fine, but the design should make it easy to hold and prevent it from rolling off of my desk.  Lash Domination can also be a bit messy because it takes a little longer than usual to dry down.

Overall, this is a nice mascara, but it doesn't provide enough volume for me, personally, to go for a full size.

Too Faced Better Than Sex

This mascara has mad hype surrounding it, so I was REALLY excited to try it. The brush is supposedly designed to "mimic the curves of a woman's body," but really, it's just a traditional wand that gets thinner in the middle. The formula is incredibly thick, wet, and creamy.

It's obvious why this mascara is so popular. It provides a ton of volume and a decent amount of length, giving me a great false lash effect. If you don't mind having slightly clumped or "fake-looking" lashes, you can layer this stuff on for even more volume. As these pictures show, it really does bring the drama.

Unfortunately, Better Than Sex wears terribly on my eyes. The formula is one of the messiest I've ever used; even when I was being careful, I made a mess out of my eyelids applying this stuff. It begins flaking after 2-3 hours, and it smears like crazy. This is also the most expensive product per ounce, costing $23 for 0.27 ounces of product.

People who love done-up lashes and don't mind some flaking and smearing, or use lash primers extensively, may like this more than I did. As it stands, I was disappointed.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes

This mascara has the most interesting packaging out of the whole set: an almost flat, snake-printed, purple cardboard tube with gold lettering. It's a bit garish compared to the sleek black tubes and compacts I'm normally attracted to, but I appreciate that it's easy to hold, kinda eco-friendly, and--ding ding ding!--it won't roll off of my desk.

The brush on this one is the most basic and classic out of the entire set. It also has the driest formula out of the bunch, though it's by no means "crunchy." I'd say it's got a faint powderiness to it, if that makes sense.

Lights, Camera, Lashes is an all-rounder: it gives plenty of length and volume. You can also layer it for more drama, though I recommend doing one eye at a time as quickly as possible: the dry formula means that adding layers when your lashes are already dry will result in a super-spidery look.

This mascara did flake a little, but only a little--I found maybe 2-3 miniscule flakes under each eye at the end of the day. Also, because this is a classic brush, it doesn't do the best job of separating your lashes, so you can get a lot of clumping if you aren't careful. Overall, though, I found this to be an incredibly versatile and long-wearing product. I used my voucher to get a full tube of this one (though I was a bit sad that I couldn't get the waterproof version, since I love waterproof mascaras).

Kat von D Immortal Lash

I only used this stuff once because it was AWFUL. The brush looks like a torture device, and that was an apt design choice: it's one of the scratchiest, most painful things I've ever put near my eye.

The formula is incredibly thin and gives minimal results. I don't mind a natural mascara (as the last mini-review in this series will show), but the Kat Von D really just seemed to tint my lashes black and provide minimal length. I mean, maybe I would've gotten more volume if I'd really rubbed it in to the base of my lashes, but OW, that stupid brush! The only thing that brush was good for was getting in to the corners of my eyes.

I experienced some flaking and smearing with this product, albeit not to the level of Too Faced Better Than Sex. Just a disappointment of a product, really.

Buxom Lash

This is another mascara I've tried before. The brush has evenly dispersed rubber bristles, but thankfully, they're relatively soft and painless. The brush gets slightly thinner in the center. The formula is very standard: neither thin nor thick, neither wet nor dry, just overall well-balanced and easy to apply.

Buxom Lash is definitely best for those who like length and separation, because it provides plenty of that. I didn't have a bit of clumping with this one. You can't really layer this one for more drama, but on the bright side, that means it's difficult to overdo. Buxom Lash is also really easy to remove. I'd say it's a great choice for people who like low-maintenance makeup.

Unfortunately, this product does smear easily, particularly around the corners of my eyes where they tend to water. There's no flaking, though, and it's not as messy as Too Faced.

It's a nice day-to-day mascara, but because it doesn't add volume and smears, it doesn't suit my needs.

Last but not least, the comparison chart!

Sample Rundown #6

Can you believe it's already time for another Sample Rundown?! I can, because I'm a derp: I've mostly focused on sample packets that I've finished, but of course, deluxe sample sizes that take far longer to finish still count. I mean, you get 2 uses of something out of a sample packet and dozens out of the deluxe guys...so aren't you better able to assess the deluxe samples?

Moving right along! Here are my thoughts.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy balm --This balm is nice enough that, when I exchanged several products and ordered a few new ones in their stead, I decided to throw another tube in to my cart. (The code "FRESHLIPS" should still work for Sephora orders!) It has an incredibly slick formula that reminds me of Blistex, and it tastes a bit like lemon and honey--very pleasant. It provides decent moisturization, roughly on par with Jack Black's popular balm, but not quite as intense as pure lanolin. Also, because it applies in such thin, slippery layers, it's good under lipstick if you use a small amount. I don't think I'd pop out the money for a full size tube because the Jack Black is so much cheaper and it has sunscreen, but this is still an effective balm.

Dior DiorShow Maximizer lash primer -- I almost feel silly posting about this, since I've mentioned it a few times in the past. But it's been a while since I've had a tube of this marvelous, marvelous stuff. One layer of this lash primer under two layers of Maybelline Full n' Soft mascara gives me the thickest, fullest, most dramatic lashes you've ever seen; people actually ask me if I'm wearing false lashes when I use this stuff. Of course, it doesn't work under every mascara: because it tends to thicken the lashes, it won't work well under stuff like CoverGirl Clump Crusher (which is designed to separate), and it made Eyeko Black Magic look more spidery. But if you can find the right combo, this is a real winner for volume lovers like me.

Living Proof Instant Texture Mist -- Ignore the fact that I look a smidgen too shiny in the above picture and look at my hair instead. It's looking decent, right, with lots of texture and healthy shine? That's because I spritzed it with this texture mist. My hair is baby fine and very curly, and this spray manages to bring some life back to my second-day hair. It enhancers my curls and makes it look like I deliberately mussed myself. Weirdly enough, I don't like how this sits on freshly-washed hair: it gets really crispy and gives me that 90s scrunched look. I dislike resembling a poodle, so I save this for days when my hair is slightly dirty and I want to do more than pull it up in a ponytail. That doesn't happen too too often, especially in the summer, but I might buy a full size of this stuff anyway. Side note: this is specifically designed for layered styles, so if you only have 1 or 2 lengths in your hair, give it a pass.

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien -- I wore this in a recent FOTD and spoke about it briefly. Since then, I've worn it a few more times and have come to the conclusion that I like the formula, but don't love it. It's comfortable, pigmented, and it fades evenly...but unfortunately, it does fade quickly. That's fine for neutral shades like this, but I like a lot of brights, and I don't want them fading off of my mouth whilst I drink coffee. I'll keep this pencil because it's a great shade for work and the size makes it perfect for travel, but for now, I don't think I'm going to purchase anything else from the range.

Sample Rundown #5

Can you believe I'm still doing these freaking posts?! I guess the beauty world is good for that: slews and slews of samples, usually of stuff you'd never normally try, but it's there, so ehhhhhhh okay. I didn't have a ton of luck this round, unfortunately, but maybe some of these will appeal to you!

Kate Somerville RetASphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream -- I know retinol is supposed to be an incredible anti-aging ingredient, but if it is, this cream doesn't serve it well. While it's labeled as a night cream, it's not particularly moisturizing, and I woke up feeling dry and tight the next day. It also has an unpleasant sticky texture that stays around for a few hours. Because I didn't are for this as an all-over face cream, I tested it as an eye cream. To that end, it provided some moisture and softened my skin up a bit...but that's it. Either I need a bigger sample to get more realistic results, or this cream isn't worth the price tag.

Le Couvent de Minimes Baume d'Amour -- I used this body cream on my hands for about a week and was reasonably impressed. It's lightweight and feels very smooth (almost powdery) to the touch, but it provides decent moisture.  It's also fast-absorbing, so you're never left with sticky hands. The best thing about it? It smells like new shoes! You know, that weird rubbery smell? That's probably a turn-off for most people, but I kinda liked it. I have other hand creams I like better, so I won't purchase a full bottle of this, but it's a nice enough product.

Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather -- A small amount of this stuff goes a long way! Although the name suggests that this stuff will lather up, it actually goes on almost clear and feels like an oil. It helped me get a perfect shave on my legs, and the cream was so silky that I almost skipped lotion afterwards. Weirdly enough, it didn't work as well on my underarms (where the hair is coarser), which makes me wonder how it would work on a face. Maybe I'll get another sample and ask my heavy-bearded boyfriend to try it out.

Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butters in Satyr and Plotter's Breakfast -- I've already reviewed the actual formula of the HoG PBs here; to summarize, this is my all-time favorite body butter. Fragrances tend to change when they're added to skincare, however, and I've noticed that that's especially true with Pumpkin Butters. In this formulation, Satyr is almost predominantly blood orange: tart, citrusy, and a bit sticky sweet. The Plotter's Breakfast Pumpkin Butter has stronger spice notes than the regular perfume oil; my mother actually said it smelt like "baking spices for a pie."

MAC False Lashes mascara -- I'm always delighted to get mascara samples because...well, mascara and brow pencil are the only eye makeup I wear on a regular basis. But I was especially excited for this one because, ahhhh, false lashes in a tube!...but not really. This is a decent mascara: it provides plenty of length, a bit of volume, and lots of separation. If you already have decent lashes, this will give you the look of extensions. Unfortunately, it doesn't give much "oomph," and it flakes and smears like CRAZY. Once, I put this stuff on at 6:30am and had raccoon eyes by 10:30. Perturbing.

Sample Rundown #4

It's time for another Sample Rundown! I've got plenty of skin stuff here...and unfortunately, plenty of disappointments. While some of these products just didn't suit my tastes, I honestly think that a good half of them are just crap. Let's get on to the mini-reviews!

Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector -- While my skin is 95% dry, my nose is incredibly oily. This means that products that look good on the dryer parts of my face are almost always going to melt in to nothingness on my nose. I was therefore inspired to test this cult classic primer on my nose, as I heard it was one of the most mattifying things on the market. Can I just say...wow, what a crock! First of all, you get hardly any product in the sample product: I was barely able to get 3 uses out of it, using this JUST on my nose. I also got zero oil control out of it; instead, it made my foundation pool in to my pores. And I don't even have big pores! A total fail for me.

NARS Sheer Glow in Siberia -- I received several samples of this product, plus a fabulous full bottle, from very kind people. The good news: it was a great match for my neck. The bad news: this formulation didn't work great on my skin. It melted off of my nose, and it looked a bit dry and cakey on the rest of my face. I had to do a LOT of doctoring to get this product to work on my face for more than a couple of others. I'm always upset when something people kindly gave me doesn't work for me, and I'm doubly upset that this was such a great shade for me, but otherwise unusable. :(

Armani Luminesscence CC Cream in #1 -- I labeled this post with "product: BB cream" because I refuse to make a new tag for CC creams. I'm sure you all still love me. ANYWAY! I'm on the fence about this product. On the one hand, it gave me light, slightly glowy coverage, was a good N10-15ish shade, and sat comfortably on my skin. It also photographs nicely, despite the SPF35. On the other hand, it seemed to lack staying power on most parts of my face. I found that this product transferred very easily if I didn't powder or spray it down. In the end, it's a nice CC cream, but it's not worth the huge price tag.

Urban Decay Perversion mascara -- Talk about a divisive mascara! I know some people really adore this, and I can see way. It gives some length and absolutely crazy volume. It's also one of the blackest mascaras I've ever seen. Unfortunately, it's waaaaaay too wet and messy for me. Every time I applied it, my lashline and lids were a total mess, and I had to do major clean-up. Also, if I didn't let it sit for 5 minutes before I touched my lashes, they'd clump together and get spidery. I just don't have the patience for this product.

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Eye Cream -- In all fairness, I don't think most eye creams are worth it. Next to nothing will actually get rid of undereye circles, caffeine will only reduce puffiness for a brief period of time, and I get plenty of moisture from my face cream. That said, I enjoy the indulgence from time to time; I've been nursing a sample of the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream for almost 2 years now. This particular cream just didn't impress me. It had a slightly tacky feel on my eyelids, it smelt strongly, and it made my eyes water. On the bright side, I got a week's worth of usage out of this sample packet. Very generous!

Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment (10% AHA) -- I've been using this chemical exfoliant once a week for almost 3 months now, and I'm pretty much in love with it. It's made my skin smoother, more glowing, and less red. First, let's get the bad out of the way: it smells awful, and it feels incredibly sticky and gross on my skin. I rinse it off after about 15 minutes, then apply my moisturizer, in part because my skin is sensitive and I don't like to leave an active on it for too long. But even if my hide was tougher than leather, I'd remove this AHA, because I just hate hate hate the way it feels. So grippy! So sticky! It also makes my skin look a bit worse (see above image) for a few hours, which is why I would never use it before a big event. My skin feels incredibly soft to the touch, however, after just an hour, and I wake up looking fantastic. Some people use this more than once a week, but honestly, "every Friday night" has worked just fine for me!

Sample Rundown #3

It's time for another Sample Rundown! I was again able to get a picture of me wearing all of these products at once (except for the Skinfood mask, obviously), but unfortunately, I didn't have as many wow-that's-great moments in this batch. In fact, I had zero wow moments. That being said, there were a few good products in this batch, just nothing for me.

Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Extravagant -- I like the original MUFE Smoky Lash, but I don't purchase it because it dries out quickly and I'm a drugstore mascaras kinda gal. Smoky Lash Extravagant is not that different insofar as it's a dryer, thicker formula that starts to dry up a month after opening it. It's very black mascara that didn't flake horribly on me. It also gives plenty of length and a bit of volume. But unfortunately, it clumps my lashes up in a very unattractive way and creates a spidery look. I'd definitely recommend trying the original Smoky Lash over this formula.

Skin Food Rice Mask Wash Off -- This was probably the best of the bunch for me. The English-language instructions say to apply this mask to clean skin and rub it in for 15 minutes, which would wear anybody out, but my (admittedly fading) knowledge of Korean suggests that that's a bit of a mistranslation. It looks like you could rub it on for 15 minutes, or you could just let it sit, rubbing it occasionally. There are very tiny, soft grains in this mask; they almost feel like gel. For me, this mask provides some light exfoliation and a bit of hydration/brightening without roughing up my face. It's like a gentler version of the GLAMGLOW Tingling & Exfoliating mask. I might purchase this mask again, as it's not that expensive and is readily available on eBay, but I don't consider it an absolute necessity.

Marc Jacobs Genius Gel foundation in shade #10 Ivory -- I hope the above image is demonstrating the sheer horror that was this foundation. Sephora SAs promised me a great foundation for combination-dry skin, something that wouldn't be the best on my oily nose, but could manage, and would look fabulous on my dry areas. NOPE! This highly-fragranced, light coverage, fast-drying foundation felt nice when I first applied it, but within 5 minutes it looked like a complete mess. It caked in the small folds around my nose (so I can't imagine how it'd look over wrinkles), it was dry and patchy on my cheeks, and it looked blah on the more balanced skin on my forehead. Within 2 hours, it had also faded and melted off of my nose. I tried to apply this with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, a Beauty Blender sponge, and my fingers; it looked dreadful every which way. The only positive about this foundation is its shade range.

Don't believe me? I get that; Blogger seems to "soften up" a lot of my photos, for whatever reason. Here's a macro shot of my face:

And that's WITH moisturizer and primer. Nope nope nope.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer with SPF15 -- Often referred to as "HG Veil," this is a cult favorite primer. It's not hard to see why: the texture is beautiful and weightless, but it definitely helps prevent oil breakthrough and gives makeup a smoother canvas to apply to. The thing is...I don't really need it. I prefer to use sunscreen under my makeup, and they tend to do a better job at moisturizing and prepping as is needed. I do think this would be a great primer for people with skin leaning towards combination or oily, or for people who just want a little extra SPF and help under their foundation. I actually plan on giving my tiny tube to my mother for special occasions.

Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Natural in 6N -- I had a feeling I wasn't going to be wowed by this lipstick, seeing as I'm funny about sheer products. Sure enough, I liked it, but not for me. 6N is a mid-tone plum shade, very work appropriate and wearable for many skintones. There's definitely some pigment here, but the formulation isn't as opaque or long-wearing as the Rouge Artist Intense line. I also found this lipsticks somewhat drying; my lips began to feel parched less than 10 minutes after I applied the color. I think the shade range and staying power are decent, but personally, I'll stick to the Lipstick Queen Saint line for my sheer lipsticks.

Sample Rundown #2

Another day, another stack of samples finished! And I was able to get a picture of me wearing all of these products at once except for the YSL Touche Eclat and one of the mascaras. Let's get to those first, eh?

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat in Shade #1, Luminous Radiance -- A cult favorite, a product so often tried and lauded that I'm surprised they ever handed out samples! The card actually had samples of 3 different shades; I cut them apart, gave the darker 2 away, and kept this lightest shade. This product is meant to be a luminizer and brightener, not a concealer, but I labeled this post as a "concealer"-containing post because...well, some gifted people with no undereye circles DO use Touche Eclat as their concealer. I tried it in the most-recommended places: along my jawline, down my nose, and right underneath my undereyes (over concealer). It was nice...but nothing to write home about. It just made my skin look a tiny bit shinier. I think you'd enjoy this product more if you're in to the whole "highlight and contour to reshape your face" deal, or if you wore heavier foundations than I do and needed to put radiance back in to your skin.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash mascara -- Straight off the bat, let me say that writing "Escentuals" always makes me twitch. Beyond that, this is a pretty nice product. The brush is covered in tiny rubberized bristles that comb through your lashes and prevent clumping. It's very black and provides plenty of length. There was hardly any flaking, which is as much as I can ask from a mascara (as 99% of them will, in my experience, flake at least a tad). Buxom Lash is relatively natural-looking on me. It's a very nice mascara, but I usually prefer very thickening, volumizing mascaras, and if I want something natural, there are more affordable drugstore options I prefer. Still, it's a good option for those who want a plush, lengthening formula.

Alright, now for the rest of the stuff, which is all on my face in these pictures. Expand for super-creepy-HD-macro-goodness!

Smashbox Full Exposure mascara -- Talk about a disappointment. This run-of-the-mill mascara tinted my lashes and did little else, even after applying coat after coat of the product. I've scanned a few other reviews, and some people are apparently blaming it on the brush, which is Ye Olde Fashioned Mascara Wand. I have to disagree: Prestige My Biggest Lashes and Jordana Best Lash Extreme have pretty much the same wand, and they are incredibly dramatic. No, the formula of this is just kinda...crap. Pass.

Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets All-In-One BB Cream in Shade #1, Clear -- Here's a tricky one. I've been so on the fence with this product that I've actually posted the above pictures on Makeup Alley to crowd source opinions on how it looked, and I'm still not 100% on whether or not I'd continue using this product. The actual product is a creamy, smooth liquid with a gag-inducing scent, and it looks simultaneously Pepto-Bismal Pink and Gray when first applied. It has light coverage and looks fine on my normal and oily areas, kinda dry on my dryer areas, and a bit too dark/pink. But after 15-20 minutes and a light dusting of powder through the t-zone, it looks...pretty much fine. Not too dark or too pink, not oily on my nose, smooth and lovely on my dry skin...hum. I don't think it's quite as fantastic as MAC F&B on my skin, but let's be honest: what is? I'm not buying a full-size for now because the price is ridiculous, there's no SPF (this is a BB cream, guys, WTF), and I'm not sure how I feel about it, but maybe I'll swap for a tube and give it further tests. Any thoughts, guys? Again, I'm wearing it in the pictures above with a bit of the Suqqu powder (described below), but no concealer.

Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Ocelot -- I knew this color was too pastel and porn-ish as soon as I put it on (the natural+flash picture is the best representation of what it looks like IRL), but I gave it a test to see how I liked the formula. These lip lustres are essentially cream lipsticks: they aren't shiny like a lipgloss or transfer-proof like a long-wear lipstick, but they're opaque on the first swipe and have decent color payoff. You can kind of feel this on your lips, which doesn't bother me in the slightest, but those of you who are in to weightless lippies may want to pass. My biggest complaint with this product is that it accentuated dryness and fine lip lines, although applying a second coat softened that up a bit. I might try this formulation in a few more colors, but for now, I'm not impressed enough to rush out and order more.

Mai Couture Highlighter Paper -- I knew this was a gimmick when I added it to my Nordies cart months ago, but I figured it'd be fun. This sample pack contains 2 pieces of highlighting paper. One side is coated in shimmer, the other side is bare/matte...I'm probably stating the obvious here, but you're meant to hold the bare side and dab the shimmer side on to your face. I was afraid this would spit glitter everywhere when I opened it, but actually, the highlighter sticks to the paper like glue. Which, um, makes it kind of awkward to get it on your face. You kind of have to rub this piece of paper all over your cheeks, and because it IS paper, it gets crumpled and things apply unevenly. The shimmer is also...well, pretty obvious shimmer. I can't see too many people having a use for this product when there are much better highlighters on the market.

Suqqu Loose Powder in Natural -- Crap. Crap crap crap crap crap, I think I love this stuff. I avoid loose powders like the plague because they're messy and hard to travel with; when I dumped this tiny sample pot o' Suqque powder a kind MUAer had given me in to an empty MAC compact, powder fluffed up on to my desk. But holy squid on a stick, this powder is gooooorgeous! It's so finely-milled, a little goes a long way, and it feels beautiful on my skin. The oil control properties aren't the best, but I tend to think of this as more of a setting-and-bettering powder. It makes my skin look flawless. Everybody, start telling me that Suqqu is an evil company that promotes baby eating so I don't feel the need to get a full size of this! >_X

Sample Rundown #1

I've been working my way through some samples, both to try out new things and to clean out my stash. And unfortunately, I haven't been impressed with most of them. Here were my impressions of these products (many of them cult favorites).

GLAMGLOW Youthmud -- I took this photo just before I used this sample, but we all know how much I love this product. Still, it's quite potent and potentially dangerous for super-sensitive skin, so make sure you get one of these sample packets first before you plonk down your paycheck for the full-size tub.

Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer in shade #2 -- I've been using this super-duper-pink highlighter for quite a while, actually, as I was kindly sent a number of samples. You can supposedly use it under your foundation or mix the two together--actually, I think it's designed to be mixed with Etude House BB creams--but it's quite frosty. I preferred to use it as a highlighter. I won't purchase a full size because of the strong fragrance and the deep pink undertones, but if you're looking for a very pink, brilliant highlighter? Consider the Etude House Volumer!

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask -- Clear improvement? More like a worthless mess. My skin felt ever-so-slightly smoother after this, but that was about it. My pores weren't tighter, my zits weren't reduced, my skintone wasn't evened out...I tested this little tube out twice, once with a thin layer of product (seen above) and once with a much thicker layer of product, and wasn't impressed either time. Also, it was pretty gross trying to remove it all.

First Aid Beauty 5-in-1 Eye Cream -- This product wasn't bad. It looked and smelt like yogurt, which was a little odd, but I wasn't horribly offended by the smell because I do yogurt masks on the regular. It definitely hydrated the area and, as a result, made it look a bit more radiant. But that was about it. Looking at the ingredients, I'm not too impressed. And while it does hydrate, it isn't as potent as, say, the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream. I'm not a huge believer in eye creams to begin with, and this wasn't wowing enough to change my mind.

Living Proof Full Shampoo -- Talk about an overrated, overpriced product. It was $10 for this 2 oz sample, and while it did give me a bit of a volume boost, it wasn't anything to write home about. Organix, a drugstore line, has given me far more impressive results. The worst thing about this shampoo was that, despite the fact that it's sulfate-free, it still managed to dry my hair out and make it look like a giant puff ball. If you have fine, curly hair like mine, that's a product death knell.