Samples, Samples Everywhere

Hey There!

It's been quite a while since I peeked in my sample bin. I had to look though because I ordered soooo much stuff the past 2 months, I have a ton of samples. I thought you'd lovely people might be interested in seeing what I have going on!

My least favorite sample in the world has to be the hair shampoo and conditioner samples. I mean, you can't really get a good read on if a shampoo and conditioner is any good from those small, .34 oz sample packs! So, I just use them and keep it moving. I did get a Matrix Oil Wonders in something (I think Sephora or Ulta) and I'm interested in trying that out though.

Everyone wanted me to smell good because everyone included fragrance samples. Sephora did a good job with their sample cards. I got Philosophy Amazing Grace, Chloé, Vicktor & Rolf Flower Bomb, Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream, Prada Candy Florale, Tory Burch, Dior J'Adore and Burberry My Burberry. The cards have the pricing right on them. Nice touch. I also chose an Elizabeth and James Nirvana for her, sample. I feel weird though because everyone mixes it with the white one. It smells good in the bottle. I'll let you know if I like it once I spray it.

I placed 3 separate orders with Sephora (don't you judge me!!) so I also got skin care samples. I got the Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum and Sephora Instant Moisturizer. I didn't request a lot of skin care samples because I pretty much like my current routine. But, it's nice to have travel sizes and some options.

I also got some skincare with my Kiehl's order. I got the Purifying Foaming Cleanser, Ultra Facial Cleanser, Clarify-Activating Toner and 2 containers of the Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter. Those two smell delightful.

When you order makeup, you get makeup samples. Urban Decay sent me a Flushed Trio card (I'm quite excited to try that) and Sephora sent me Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Bobbie Brown Skin Foundation and Per-fékt matte body perfection gel in tan. I also scored a Sarah McNamara Skin Transformer packet (there are too many words on it). I don't remember which company this came from.

All of the samples are nice and fun but I have trouble using them. I am a total "out of sight, out of mind" kinda girl. If I don't see my perfumes, I don't use them. If I don't see these samples, I won't use them either. So my plan is to keep these goodies right where I can see them. And, I plan on keeping you sweet folks in the know if they are good or not!

Bee Nice!

(NOTE: I had to edit this post. Once I went back and read my receipt, I realized that my extremely nice sales associate's name was Heather).

Hopefully this post doesn't catch you too late. Hopefully you haven't gone shopping yet. If you haven't, great because we need to talk about your greatest asset in this makeup game, your sales associate. 

I learned very early in life that you have to be nice to everyone. You catch more bees with honey, all that jazz. It is really true though. It doesn't matter where you are going to get your make up products. It can be the corner drugstore or the high end department store -- It's all the same. Be nice and typically you get nice back (we'll talk about what happens when you don't get nice back another day). Your sales associate has the "in". She knows when product comes in, where it's placed, what folks are saying and if they are super nice, they will call you when product comes in or save it just for you!

For instance, yesterday I went it to pick up my Revlon Super Lustrous lip glosses (you may have seen the instagram post). I finally found them after being out of stock at THREE stores! I picked them up but noticed they weren't BOGO 1/2 off. I had searched high and low for Fatal Apple & Pinkissimo and now that I had them, I didn't want to let them go. I don't like paying full price for anything BUT those colors are soooo pretty. Well, Heather(a lovely sales associate that was so sweet to me!) offered to see if they had a store coupon. Low and behold she found dollar off coupons! Well that's practically a sale! You see I brought them home!

And, she was sweet enough to offer some samples from an event that they had over the weekend (that I missed just being plain lazy). She was just a really sweet lady all around. I'll make sure that I go to that drugstore now on and I'll make sure I speak with Heather. And, if I get any good stuff, I'll share with her. She is definitely someone to be nice to!

As are most of the sales associates. Most of them are happy to talk to you (if they aren't busy so try to go during slow times in the day). Always speak, maybe tell them how much you like makeup or that you write a blog or that you have a youtube channel. Be friendly! Everyone (almost) likes it when you are friendly. You do get more bees with honey.

Just don't call the sales associate honey.

They don't like that.

I know.

Don't ask.

Samples, Samples Everywhere

As you can see, I have quite the sample bin. I have samples from magazines, events that I've attended, stores, gifts with purchase, etc. It's not ridiculous but it's pretty sad that I haven't tried any of the items in the sample bin. I mean, what if there is a new holy grail product that I've overlooked? What if my next BB cream or moisturizer is just sitting there, waiting to be discovered? How terrible would that be?

So my goal for the next  60 days (I like goals) is to try as many of these items as I can. I won't put them in my normal empties bin. Instead I'll put them in a 'Sample Bin Series' (ahhh, the sweet sound of alliteration) and tell you what I thought of the sample and if I purchased the full sized product. Maybe I'll do it 2 or 3 times a year. Maybe I'll just barely get through this first one screaming and kicking and swear to never try a free sample ever again in life. It could go a few different way people. You should consider staying tuned.

And just what will I be sampling for the next 60 days, you might ask. Go ahead and ask. I'll wait.

Well, I have 5 moisturizers, 4 BB cream samples, 4 foundation samples, 3 face serums,  2 spot concealers and a partridge in a pear tree. No, seriously I have a lot. Not all of the sample would fit on the counter top. Oh, yeah -- I didn't even take a picture of the fragrance samples. I have two separate containers for them! Sighhhh. Yes, I'll be trying those too. Sweet smelling days, here I come..

Perhaps you have a drawer of samples. We can do this together! In 60 days we should all have new, beautiful skin and a new scent (or red itchy, splotches and a swarm of bugs we can't get rid of). I'll check back in then and tell you all about it. You check back in too!

(Originally posted on 1/11/2014)