Companies know us women are suckers for samples. When it comes to playing makeup, we are never too old! Just about every month, I consider myself to be blessed that I am on so many “try before you buy” sample lists. Some are ones I request from advertised offers, others are new products I won, some are gifts with purchases, and others are trial offers. Doesn’t matter to me… I LOVE to play with new products. I think a good number of my favorite skin care and glamour products came to me through a trial or sample somehow. What is nice is I get to see if I like a product enough to buy it in a full size without worrying about the monetary commitment. This is especially helpful with high end makeup and skin care items as well as expensive fragrances.
January was no different. Trials and samples came rolling in, just like it was Christmas still. Every trip to the mailbox was like a trip to the mall of freebies! Here are just a few of the samples I got last month that caught my eye (and nose and skin) as well as my thoughts on if I’d consider them for a future purchase or not:
Yves-Saint-Laurent Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils Shocking – I am pretty lucky. I have good lashes. My only problem? They are pretty straight and light in color. Curling is a necessity no matter what. But if I can find a mascara to give them some extra pop with a little extra length, volume and color, I’m pretty happy. YSL’s Shocking mascara gave me just that. After two coats with its easy to control brush and then a tight curl with my lash curler, it really gave my eyes the look of wearing false lashes! The mascara wore true all day and didn’t smudge, clump or flake. Something I noticed with this mascara that I hadn’t seen in others? The black color was shiny, almost patent-leather shiny! It really gave my eyes a more dramatic look. Although I was a fan of the sample, I would have to seriously fall in love with it to pay the high end price. Still… I liked this mascara A LOT!
Available at Sephora for $30
Kate Walsh’s “Billionaire Boyfriend” Perfume – If thoughts of diamonds, yachts, and dreams of wealth and glamour consume your mind throughout the day, this might be a scent for you to try. This high-floral scent with oriental influences has notes black jasmine, velvet orchid, gardenia and patchouli flower. Even as the scent dries down, its back notes of sandalwood and golden amber keep it rich. It is a forward, bold yet pretty scent and it does last. Personally, however I have never been a high floral-scented perfume person. I lean more towards citrus-based fragrances. If you are a fan of strong-scented, sophisticated, warm scents, you might really like this. Me?.. I have to pass.
Available at Sephora for $65
Beauty From The Earth Mineral Eye Shadow in “Suede” – Last month, BFTE had a special on their sample jars for only one dollar each. It was a new year and I thought I needed to try some new colors to spice up my makeup look. I went outside my comfort zone and grabbed some colors that were going to be hot this year and that were very new to me. When my order came, I was so loving the new colors I had selected. I was also delighted to see that BFTE sent me a sample of one of their other colors. “Suede” is a high shimmer light grey with a touch of taupe that makes it a great highlighter with any color shadow. For a real wow look, wear it alone with a bold liner like a purple or bronze. Here I had ten great uber chic colors that just arrived and I couldn’t stop playing with the speck of shadow in the little plastic baggie!! We will have to see how much I like the colors I did get as the days go by, but right now it’s the freebie that has my interest for a future buy!
Available at BFTECosmetics.com for $6.50
Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner – I’ve been wearing eyeliner since I was 16. It is a must have in my makeup routine. Always black, always waterproof and always a pencil that I can sharpen to a crisp point. When I got this pencil to try, it was pretty much a fail on every thing I wanted in a liner. It >was waterproof. But that was about it. Sure, it had a high-ticket name brand, but if it wasn’t what I liked, it wasn’t going to matter. Since the pencil came in a purple-ish bronze color called “Grenat”, I thought it might be nice to try it with BFTE’s sample! Wow… what a stunning look! The liner went on very smooth with a crisp line (even with the self-sharpening pencil.) The color was bold and classy and it gave me a very unique look that was new to me. As to its wear power? All day is an understatement! The liner stayed true, did not smudge, and looked as good when I took it off as it did when I put it on even after all day wear. The good points are it is easy to use, stays put, didn’t irritate my eyes with my lenses and comes in a LARGE array of colors. Its downside? The price. Since I have been wearing liner since 16, I am guilty of saying I don’t think I have paid more than $10 for a liner. However, with the Chanel liner’s stay power, ease of application, and a variety of colors for different looks? I’d seriously consider purchasing another one in the future.
Available at Macy’s for $30
A new month is here and samples, trials and winnings are already rolling in at my house. This is going to be a fun month for testing out new things in my beauty routine. I should have lots of reviews and opinions for you next month. How about you? Did you try or sample anything new recently? Did you like it? Would you buy it in the future? Let me and my other Sass-inistas know! We always want to hear about what our friends have tried recently and what we think! Seriously… don’t we just love to give our opinions whenever possible? So share away!!
Sassy Auburn's Diary Of A Glamour Junkie... 
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