Sample Bin Review - Kiehls

Hey there!

I whittling my way through my samples folks. It takes a minute because when you find a sample that you like, you stick with it and give it a good try before tossing it or falling in love with it. That's exactly what I did with the Kiehl's facial products that I got in my Black Friday haul. I purchased a Kiehl's Lip Balm and got my Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution and Ultra Facial Cleanser free. I did get quite a few other samples but these are the three items I've been using religiously and now I can tell you what I think of them.  

The Kiehl's lip balm was the item that I actually purchased in order to get all of the other items free. I was excited to try it because at the beginning of December my lips decided that they needed a DEEP exfoliation process and they began to peel and shed. After three days they were so sore I wanted to rip them off. This stuff wasn't the best while they were sore (I think there mus be a menthol type ingredient in it) but once they healed, this was perfect. It is a "petrolatum skin protectant" that "temporarily protects and helps soothe dry lips". It really does that. It is a thin petroleum covering but it does soothe your lips and when used over night, your lips feel soft and supple the next morning. I always wear a lip protectant at night and this one has been great.

It's $7 for a .5 fl. oz. tube. I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm not going to pay that. I can purchase a 3.5 oz. tub of aquaphor for 7 bucks! The only reason I did it this time was because of all the freebies and no shipping and handling. $7 for one tube of lip balm? No. $7 for lip balm, 2 body butters, 2 cleansers, toner, dark spot solution and a facial cleanser? Yes please!

Mentioning facial cleanser, I used the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser each morning and I really like it! It's not anything super special but it's good at what it does and doesn't break me out or anything. That sounds like giving someone a pat on the back for doing their job BUT skin care is tricky. I have trouble with face products and when I find something that does its job and doesn't irritate my face, I definitely give it a pat on the back. A 2.5 oz tube is $10 and 5 oz tube is $19.50. My sample size was 1 oz and it has been going strong for almost 2 months. Honestly, I could see buying the 5 oz tube. I think I could get 6 months out of it and it works!

The Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution? Ahhh, that's a different situation. I used this bad boy every day and night for 4 weeks. You get good usage out of it so for the $49.50 for 1 fl. oz., wouldn't be so bad for a great serum. You see how much is left? You could make 1 fl. oz. last for several months. But, it's not a great serum. It's not a good serum. I don't think it worked at all. My dark spots are still dark. You know what works much better than this? My .99 cent tube of cocoa butter. I'm done with dark spot serums (unless they are free samples). They just don't seem to do what they say they do. I had a scar on my face and my wrist and after a few weeks of cocoa butter use, they are both gone. Now, this may only work with fresh spots but it still works better than the serums.

See, I am working my way through all of those samples that I get. It's hard work, but I'm making it! Are you finishing up all of those Black Friday samples? What has been working for you and what is going in the trash?

Quickie Review - Milani Illuminating Face Powder

Hey There!

Last year during the Black Friday sales, I tried out some products that I couldn't find in stores. Two of those items were the Illuminating Face Powders (Amber Nectar and Hermosa Rose) by Milani. I had seen them on other people's blogs and YouTube channels but I never could find them in my local stores. Then, Milani has their Black Friday sale and I seized my opportunity.

Over all, I like Milani's products. They are reasonably priced and a good quality. These two products definitely fall into that category. These illuminating powders normally cost $9.99 apiece. I of course, got them for half price so 2 of these babies for $9.99 is a great deal. I've heard other people complain about how cheap the containers are but I like them. I think they look sleek for a drugstore product. I've never been ashamed to pull them out or display them. And, you get a good bit of product in them fir the price. The containers have .35 oz of product. Laura Mercier has an illuminating powder with the same amount of product for $38 (Side bar - the Laura Mercier powder has hints of the same color spectrum as these. Is Milani a dupe? Not sure, you tell me).

I like the powders. There isn't a ton of sparkle and the colors meld together beautifully. Amber Nectar is a warm brown peach and Hermosa Rose is a brown with the slightest hint of pink. They both do have slight illuminating qualities but I wouldn't call these highlighters at all. For me, they are winter time bronzers. They give a rich, natural glow to my skin that warms me up and doesn't make me look over done. For someone lighter than me (NC42), these could be regular bronzers (with sheen). For someone darker, mehhh, not sure that they would work.

I like these and will continue to use them for a warm glow, until I get my summer tan. Then I'll have to put these away. Would I buy them again? The color is really natural and doesn't make me look all made up. At full price, probably not. For $5, maybe. I have to think about it. Do I recommend these? As highlighters, no. As warm bronzers, yes.

Black Friday Haul - Milani

Hey there!

And the Black Friday boxes keep on coming in!

I was sooooo excited to get my Milani shipment. Milani was one of those websites that had Cyber Monday 50% off with free shipping over $25. I had already picked out items that I wanted so when I saw the deal pop up, I pounced.

My local stores have some Milani items but there are always things that you can never find in stock or your store doesn't carry it. That was what I was doing on the Milani website. I wanted to pick up those things that have been on my list for months but I can never seem to find them in store.

Top - Black Cherry
Second - Berry Tempting
Third - Primrose
Bottom - Flirty Fuchsia

Milani lipsticks and glosses seem to run out of my local stores. It never fails, I'll walk into the store and the colors I want are gone. I'm pretty friendly with the cosmetic counter folks and they tell me that as soon as Milani colors come in, someone snatches them up. So, I took this opportunity to order 2 of the Color Statement Lipsticks -- Plumrose and Flirty Fuchsia. Are those colors gorgeous??? I am so ready to wear Plumrose. It took all my willpower not to try it on before I took pictures! And looking at the bottom of Flirty Fuchsia, my first thought was that it would be too bold. Then I took the lid off of that bad boy and I didn't care if it was too bold or not. How gorgeous is that color? Soooo pretty!

I kept the prettiness going with lip glosses. I ordered 3 but one was on back order so I'll have to tell you about that one later. The 2 that did show up were Black Cherry and Berry Tempting. Yes, yes, yes. Those are temptress colors that you see. I have no problem playing the part! I'm loving the colors and we all already know how easy these glosses are to wear. I put Milani lip glosses up there with my favorite high end glosses!

I own several blushes from Milani but no face powders. My color match always seems to be out of stock. All of the lighter and darker ones are always there but the mid-tone shade is never there. I decided to try the Multitasker Face Powder in Tan. It looked close to my color and if it ends up not being my color, I can use it as a touch up powder.

I added 2 Illuminating Face Powders to my package. I ordered Amber Nectar and Hermosa Rose. I've mentioned a few times that 2015 is my year to find the perfect face illuminator. I don't know if one of these will win the prize but boy are they both really pretty. I'll let you know what I think of them.

So that's the Milani haul. Not bad for right at $25 bucks, huh? Especially since it's stuff that's hard to find. Are your Black Friday hauls still coming in? Did you find some new goodies or you just replenished your stock of old faithful?

Black Friday Haul - Kiehl's

Hey there!

I love a bargain. I mean there is nothing better than a great deal. When one of my fave bloggers mentioned this Black Friday Kiehl's deal, I was all over it. I purchased a Kiehl's Lip Balm. It was $7 plus tax. Shipping was free. So were the samples.

·        .17 fl oz pkt Crème de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter

·        .10 fl oz pkt Clearly Corrective White Purifying Foaming Cleanser

·        .10 fl oz pkt Clearly Corrective White Clarity-Activating Toner

·        .14 fl oz btl Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

·        .5 fl oz tube Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment For Men (obviously I need to learn to read)

·        1 fl oz tube Ultra Facial Cleanser

·        .5 oz container Crème de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter

Can you believe that? Yes, all that for $7. Pretty impressive huh? I think so too. So this weekend and all next week, I'll be enjoying all the goodies that Kiehl's has sent me. A review is coming soon.

I'm excited, aren't you?