So my sister got a bunch of samples from Sephora last time she ordered something, and she gave me some and told me to review them. I honestly have no idea what to say about them, especially as I don't think using something once will necessarily give you noticeable results? But I said I would, so here goes.
[Edit: Okay, so apparently she didn't want me to "review" them necessarily, she just wanted me to use/try them and see if there were any I liked.]
AmorePacific - "FUTURE RESPONSE Age Defense Creme"
Pros: nice consistency
Cons: lingering scent, PRICE POINT
Comments: This is made in Korea and definitely smells like it, meaning it's got this "girly" scent that I associate with Asian cosmetic counters.
Official Product: 1.7 oz. for 195$
Final Ruling: I cannot justify a 195$ face cream for any reason, especially one that does not at the very least double as a moisturizer/sunscreen.
Boscia - "Detoxifying Black Cleanser"
Pros: a gel cleanser you're supposed to put directly on your face (as opposed to lathering in your palms first)
Cons: the smell reminds me a bit of Chinese medicine? but it doesn't linger so it's not really a con
Comments: Since I "dampened" my face with warm water, I actually didn't feel the "warming effect" that much, but I don't think that's really a functional detail anyway so. The cleanser really is black, which is interesting, although again, I'm not sure that adds to its ability to clean. I would not have described it as a "gel" but again, doesn't affect its function. Made my face squeak a bit when I rinsed it off. The sample amount was good for two uses, so the pump bottle would probably last about ~4 months if used once daily. All the claims on the package seem pretty exciting, but as you probably expect, it doesn't magically make all your pores invisible in one use.
Official Product: 5 oz. pump bottle for 28$
Final Ruling: As far as cleansers go, it seems to work, and I'll admit it didn't dry out my skin as much as my current daily acne wash. I didn't try using it as a dual face wash/make-up remover (which it claims to be able to do), but that would be an interesting feature if it worked well.
Ole Henriksen - "truth is in the eyes"
Pros: very light, virtually fragrance free, absorbs (dries?) quickly
Cons: slightly tacky even after it's no longer damp (but not enough to really bother me)
Comments: The package says "an eye peel concentrate that's a natural antidote for fatigued and wrinkled eye tissue" and I'm not sure if I qualify for that. But the official tube also says it's good for dark circles, of which I saw no visible improvement. The sample packet was 0.1 oz and lasted me about a week before I decided to just move on. Questions I had: Why is it called a peel if nothing is peeled? If it's a gel but it exfoliates, is it chemical exfoliation?
Official Product: 0.5 oz tube for 42$
Final Ruling: I actually would use a product that could "heal" dark circles, but if there's no change after using a product for a week then I might as well just use concealer.
Algenist with Alguronic Acid - "Overnight Restorative Cream"
Pros: virtually fragrance free, not oily
Cons: doesn't absorb into the skin really, so your face feels a bit sticky for a long while
Comments: Apparently this is supposed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, restore elasticity and firmness to the skin, and leave it renewed by morning. If this is true, it's probably wasted on me at this point in my life.
Official Product: 2 oz jar for 90$
Final Ruling: Geez Louise, 90$ for sticky skin and that feeling in the back of my mind that I'm going to have to wash my pillowcase more often? No thanks. -.-; Although, I only used about half the 0.05 oz sample to cover my whole face, so the jar is like, 80 uses. Still not worth it for me personally.
Lifetime