Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup Spf15 Foundation

I picked up this sample in House of Fraser a couple of weeks ago and I'M IN LOVE!!!

I literally can't stop using it, I have quite a selection of foundations that I can choose from but this is the only one I've been wanting to use.

I can't say it's my absolute favourite just yet - my number one remains Nars Sheer Glow and the dewy look it gives - but this is a close second right now.

Man, I need to try and get another sample as I think this won't last much longer - I was matched with shade 4.

This month Magazine Freebies:

I got L'Occitane Hand Cream in Date Bouquet with Marie Claire.

I'm a big fan of L'Occitane Hand Creams... and actually anything L'Occitane really so I had to pick up a tube of these; other fragrances available are the original, Rose Petal and Mango Flower (which I may need to buy too as it's too good to miss) and remember, these are limited edition scents.

I got Cha Cha Tint and Sun Beam with InStyle.

I'm so glad I didn't buy Cha Cha when it came out and I wanted it so badly (I remember thinking I would see it as a free sample soon... and there you go!). I got the Posie Tint as a sample too and It's still going strong and lasting ages.

I also bough the Sun Beam as I can't say no to an highlighter and really wanted to see how it compares with my beloved Moon Beam.

l-r: Cha Cha, Sun Beam

Below is the comparison with Moon Beam:

I got to say I thought they would be more similar, actually. Moon Beam is more of champagne highlighter whilst Sun Beam has more bronze in it; personally, I still prefer the pearlessence of Moon Beam but they're discontinuing it, apparently.

l-r: Moon Beam, Sun Beam

Finally, I asked my sister to bring me some Kiko mascaras from Italy.

I donated 1 to the giveaway (you can enter here) and kept the other 2 to try myself:

The first one is a white base coat - I read it is comparable to the Dior one so I have high hopes for it.
I like the wand - it looks flexible and soft.

The other one is a fibre mascara, in fact you can see the filament in the photo below; I haven't tried a fibre mascara yet and I'm very intrigued to see the effect I can achieve. Also, I'm a fan of the 'ball brush' so It looks very promising in my eyes all round.

I shall let you know what I think. :)
xx

Month's collection of mag freebies/swaps/samples

Red Magazine with Ren Trio

I was really looking forward to get my hands on this! Initially, I thought you had to choose One of the three but - in actual facts - you get a mini set... even better ;)

The trio contains: Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream, Vetiver v7 Hand and Body Cream, Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel.

I've already started using these as I've been waiting for somE time to try this brand... so far so good, I haven't seen any major improvment but I'm liking how they feel on the skin.

 Talika Lipocils Expert
I swapped this with Sandra from Beauty Balm - she is the sweetest gal ever! Look how pretty wrapped was the packaging. :)
At the moment, I have no beauty boxes subscription but still want to try some products... I've been using this every day, twice a day... hopefully, I'll see an improvement to my eyelashes.

She, also, sent me a Balance Me sample as she knew I wanted to try more from this brand... I told you, she is THE sweetest!!! :)

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in light

Again, another product I'm looking forward to try as I've seen some promising reviews online.

I got this through the post from Boots, I believe...

L'Oreal Youth Code Luminize Super Serum

Free sample that you can request on the L'Oreal website.

This is quite nice but I consider it more like a primer than a serum, honestly.

It has a pearlessence to it which helps illuminate but it appears to be only a temporary effect and not a long-term benefit.

L'Oreal Revitalift 10 Repair BB Cream in medium tinted

HATED HATED HATED!

This just makes you shine... all in the wrong places! Usually, I don't have these problems on my chin but I had to powder constantly while wearing this product.

Apart that the shade was totally wrong for me - my husband actually asked me if I'd been using fake tan - it, also, broke me out pretty badly!

Another swap arranged on Beauty Box Swappers on Facebook, including Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream and Avon Anew Clinical Lift and Tuck Professional Body Shaper; both a chance to discover Clinique & Avon body products that I have never tried before.

Finally, Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser that I'm really looking forward to try as I'm a fan of AHA exfoliant... also, another opportunity for Murad to wow me (which has always failed so far!).

Glamour with Balance Me

You can choose between 4 different items with August issue - I picked up a Pure Skin Face Wash and Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve.

So far, not too sure about the lip salve - the smell is putting me off... you know, I really really want to like/love all these new brands with natural ethic but they really need to sort out the herbaly scents!

Enough with the lavender, rosemary and geranium!

Samples/Swaps/Freebies Update

St. Ives Apricot Scrub Invigorating 

I think I requested this on Facebook - it's a good size tube and I'm liking it a lot. Enjoying using it so I will probably purchase after it's finished. Great budget exfoliator!

Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste

I, actually, forgot about this - You could get it, signing in on their website.

Nothing too exciting (it's toothpaste!) but useful - again, a great size sample, also for travelling.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation & BB Cream

I, also, received this in the post few weeks ago; I haven't had the chance to try them yet but looking forward to the foundation, especially. I read great reviews!

Erno Laszlo - The Hollywod Collection

Unfortunately, due to the recent increase at the post office I'll keep the swapping to a minimum :(

I got this sent from Chloe @ Giada Beauty

This is a super super luxurious brand and there are 5 different skincare products in this set - very excited to put them to the test!! 

Rituals Wai Wang Body Scrub with Easy Living Magazine

Since receiving the shower foam in a GlossyBox few months ago, I'm adoring Rituals products!

I haven't tried this line yet and it smells amazing - there's also a choice of body lotion with the magazine.

Samples/Freebies Time

The girl at the Nars counter in House of Fraser recognises me by now... hehe... in fact, she approached me and asked me if I wanted to try the new Pure Radiance Tinted Moisturiser SPF30 (first time EVER i was offered a sample, without asking!!!) - She did mention she remembered me. :)

They just had 1 light and 1 medium shade to try so she just gave me the best suitable for me and she told me to go back and get properly matched once the product goes on sale.

I quite liked it but I still prefer their sheer foundation. Don't get me wrong, it's still a winner product but the foundation is more dewy and that's the look that I go for.

It's perfect for when you're in a hurry and I, definitely, prefer it to the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

Debenhams Facebook' page sent out an invitation to go in store and collect a sample of Bare Minerals Original SPF15 Foundation.

When I got there, the sale assistant didn't know anything about it - well, surprise surprise, it happened before - so I showed the screenshot on my phone and then she was happy to give me a sample.

The colour I got is medium beige N20 - which is a tad dark for me.

I don't think this is giving me enough coverage: my main concern is pigmentation and I still prefer liquid foundation for uniforming my skin. I do like the finish it provides so I'm gonna use it more like a finishing powder on top.

It, also, comes with a tiny kabuki brush: although it's pretty small, it's very dense and it works fairly well.

She gave me the cleanser and moisturiser but I haven't tried these yet.

Finally, I got a copy of Glamour magazine with the Percy & Reed - I went for the Totally TLC Hydrating Mask.
I used it last night and this morning my hair felt bouncy and light.
The only thing I don't really like is the smell - it smells like an aftershave to me.
It's a pre-shampoo treatment to apply on dry hair from roots to ends. Then you need to wrap hair and leave on for a minimum of 10 minutes.
I reckon, now that my hair are short, the tube will last for 4 applications.
Have you picked up one of these products? Which one?

Lancome Visionnaire LR2412 4%
I got this in the post ages ago and I, finally, got around to try it.
I used it like a serum, layered with my night cream, at night but to be honest I didn't see any improvement. It looks more like a cream than a 'runny' consistency of a serum and I felt it left my skin a bit sticky.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner

You could order this on their Facebook page. It's a big tube - more a travel size than a sample, I'd say so kudos for that but I didn't think it was anything special. 

It has to be used as a conditioner, after shampoo and then leave it for a minute and some kinda of miracle should happen... well, it didn't.

I think it's an average conditioner... but that's it.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm

I really like the masque and scrub from this line and I heard good review on youtube about this eye cream; supposedly, you can used it both day and night but I think this is more like a primer and not moisturising enough to become your only eye product. 

It feels like a balm and it takes ages to absorb... plus, it's supposed to fill in fine line and avoid creasing but I haven't noticed any difference, to be honest.

Anybody tried this product??

Estee Lauder Day Wear BB Cream

I ordered this on LatestinBeauty, as many others; it cost a couple of quid by txt - I know, paying for a sample... what was I thinking??!! ;)

The colour is 01 Light and it's perfect for me. It lasted well for 5+ hours without setting and I was never shiny. I'm not blown away and, in comparison with the Garnier one, I choose the Garnier - merely for the price point of view.  I find all these BB creams to be very similar in performance, to be honest.

Also, EL has a floral scent and - at first - it's lovely but It tends to linger on the skin all day.

Which samples have you been trying lately?
xx

More Samples

I popped in L'Occitane over the weekend to collect my 30ml hand cream. Basically, you had to apply on their Facebook' page and then at the end, they sent out a voucher to bring in store and get your free tube.

Another mascara to try - I have got like 5 on the go at the moment... yay!!
This is the Dior Diorshow New Look - just been released this month and I found an invite inside Elle Magazine to go and collect a sample at your nearest counter; wow, it was impossible to find but at the end they still had few left in Boots Buchanan Gallery.
Apparently, it has a serum which helps strengthen and repair; the brush is quite weird (and mine is also bent!)... tried a couple of days but not impressed! It really dries out my lashes super-fast and it's impossible to even do two coatings. :(

You can order your free sample of the following products on www.janiro.co.uk
They got sent really fast, I received them in 3 days with a nice wee handwritten note.
The Ginvera Green Tea Whitening Marvel Gel is supposed to be great for removing blackheads.
Unfortunately, my sample dried out after 1 application and I didn't see any improvement. Did you manage to use it for longer? Does it work?
The second is the Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream. Still to test.

You could request a sample of the Big Skincare Mystery on their Facebook page.
It can be used both as a face wash and mask cleanser... I have no idea of what product this is...
do you?
They will reveal it on the 1st of March... I'm quite curious but I wasn't wowed by it so I can positively say it's a no buy from me. I liked it more like a mask than a face wash, lovely smell and I didn't experience any tingling.

 

Finally, I got this in a magazine a couple of months ago; I didn't think much of it (ergo, the messy sample below because I didn't bother take a pic beforehand)... and then  few days ago i found it at the bottom of my makeup bag so decided to try it.

I'm so impressed! It gives a really nice healthy, natural look to the skin. Plus, it has serum in it so it's also a treatment - in fact it reminds me of a BB cream. It doesn't feel like a foundation but colour-wise, I could go a bit lighter, I reckon.

I don't think it has been realised long ago... and it's in 3for2 offer in Boots so I might pick a bottle up.

Have you tried Max Factor Ageless Elixir yet?

Recent Samples/Freebies

Everybody knows about this already... and here is my copy.
Elle Magazine (February copy) is coming with a free Soap&Glory mascara.
To be honest, I'm not big on their bath stuff and I haven't tried any of their make up yet but it was good value for money so I picked up a copy... I'm in a 'mascara-phase' currently... hehe
Inside the mag, there's also a satchel of the new Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation.

Then, I got the Chanel Perfect Lumiere foundation sample in 20 Beige.

I'm sure you all know this but this is the new foundation that just came out and it's going to re-place both Pro and Matte Lumiere that are instead being discontinued. 

I haven't tried this myself, yet but I haven't read great feedbacks really...

 I, also, got my sample of Clinique High Impact mascara in 01 Black.

Basically, you need to bring an old mascara to get one of these; I actually wanted to try the other one (the white) but they didn't have any left... oh well, still a free mascara.

I'm sure I've used this before. To be honest, I don't see any 'high impact' going on... it's an ok mascara, not the worst but not even the best I've ever used. I like the formula which is very smooth but - bottom line - I wouldn't purchase.

This wee perfume came on a postcard - Sweet! 

You could order it on the Escada website some time ago... in fact so long ago that I had forgotten about it.

I like it a lot! it's kinda of sweet & fresh.

I also received 2x 3ml L'Oreal Mythic Oil samples in the post. I already have a full size bottle from GlossyBox - and I love it! - so I'm gonna give these to my sister.

Mag Freebie

I'm sure you all know about this already... anyway, I got my copy last week in Tesco.

A few posts ago I was raving about L'Occitane Limited Edition Shea Butter Lip Balm and now Maire Claire is giving away a free hand cream with the november copy.

You can take your pick between cocoa butter, hibiscus, rose or original; I chose hibiscus!

Honest, I had no idea how this flower smells like but I'm instantly in love. <3

This is a full 30ml product which sells for £7.50, whilst the magazine is £3.60...  you do the maths, I'm tempted to get another copy. 

...

...and today my fiancé came home with another copy with the rose version. sweet, innit?! :)
This version is also lovely but I still prefer hibiscus - I can't stop smelling my hands when I use it.

Happy Hands indeed!! :)