Sample Time Part 1

True confession: I am a sample hoarder.  I love getting samples when I buy stuff.  They are cute!  And more importantly free!  But I almost never use them. *sheepish look*  I do use fragrance samples, which can be dangerous because I find so many perfumes I like, but skincare, haircare and even makeup samples are a different story.  I rarely use skincare samples because I already have a skincare regimen that I like and that works for me, and I don't want to mess it up or have my skin react poorly to something.  I am kind of lazy when I comes to my hair, so I usually just put a little leave-in conditioner in my hair, scrunch it, and go.  I blow-dry and style my hair maybe 3-4 times a year, so I really never use hairstyling product samples.  I forget to use makeup samples, because I have so much makeup to choose from already.  So when I use up some samples, it's something to write home about.  Or at least here on the blog.

I decided to break this up into 2 posts with 5 samples each.

On to the mini-reviews!

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden -- I love the original Primer Potion, so I was excited to try Eden, which has a tint and looks almost like a concealer.  This worked well to even out any discoloration on the lid, as well as make my shadows more vibrant and longer-lasting.  I do feel like it kind of changes the color of shadows, though, which I didn't like.
Buy it?  No.  (I'm planning on buying the Anit-Aging Primer Potion)

Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner -- I use leave-in conditioners are styling products, so I'm always happy to try a new one.  This stuff is lotion-y textured and easy to work with.  Ouidad is a brand that caters to curly hair, and I think this leave-in conditioner works well with my hair.  It doesn't feel weighed down or greasy, and it didn't get frizzy.  The sample was large enough to use several times, and I quite liked the results.  I just scrunched this into my hair and let it air dry.
Buy it?  Yes.

Caudalie Premiere Cru The Cream -- This moisturizer was pretty nice.  Thick and emollient, it felt very nice and left my skin soft.  However, it is rawther expensive, and the ingredients aren't special enough to warrant the price of $158 USD.
Buy it?  No.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Glow Pad -- I was hoping these easy to use self-tanning pads would be somehow different from the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Daily Peel Pads that irritate the hell out of my skin.  Unfortunately, my skin burned and stung like crazy as I used it.  All the alcohol and irritating plant extracts are terrible for the skin, and I should have known better, but I wanted to try it anyway.
Buy it?  No.  I would not recommend any of his Alpha-Beta pads.  If you want a good chemical exfoliant with both alpha and beta hydroxy acids, I would recommend the Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment.

Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster -- I actually bought the little bottle you see in the photo for a few dollars.  It lasted me for a couple weeks, and really gave me a good chance to try the product.  This has a light, watery texture that leaves the skin only slightly sticky.  I think it is best used under a serum or moisturizer.  It has a little bit of the "vitamin c serum" smell that all vitamin c products have, but not enough to make using the serum unpleasant, like some serums.  I'm not sure I saw much of a difference in my skin, but a one or two week trial of a skincare product is not enough time to really see anything.  A sample is really just to determine if you like the product and your skin can tolerate it.  Kinda pricey at $45, but paulaschoice.com often has sales.
Buy it?  Very possibly.  I would like to have a good vitamin c serum in my skincare regimen.

Are you a sample hoarder like me?

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow!