Sample session: Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask

You may have noticed that my sample session posts have been lacking. Surprisingly testing samples hasn’t been as much fun as I expected.

I’ve had to stop using Liquid Gold while I’m testing out a new serum and I noticed that my skin wasn’t feeling as smooth as it normally does.

Cue Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask, which works by dissolving dry skin and is meant to keep skin looking fresh, clear and bright. There is no manual exfoliation action here, as you may spot in the ingredients list it is fruit enzymes and alpha-hydroxy acids doing the work.

Sample session: Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation

I’ve really tried hard to love this product. But I just don’t. I’ve applied it sparingly, slapped it on, buffed it in, let it settle, but whatever I do I can’t seem to achieve that flawless skin everyone else describes.

The No Foundation Foundation by Perricone MD is meant to correct skin undertones, blur lines, wrinkles and pores and offer all-day moisture with an even, dewy finish. It also contains lots of anti-ageing ingredients to help to firm skin and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles over time.

The first few times I used this my skin was at its worse, lots of spots and scars and the dewy formula just made me look greasy. The orange tint it left my skin also did nothing to tone down the look of the spots and I didn’t notice any reduction in the appearance of my pores.

So I decided to let my skin settle and try again. This time it did even out my skin tone but the orange hue remained. I did hope that by leaving it to settle product would adapt to my skin tone but I didn’t find this to be the case.

My conclusion is that if you have flawless skin the first place and need the security that comes with applying something on your face then this is for you. But if you are someone looking for more coverage, then this wouldn’t work. That being said if the colour does work for you this would be a great choice to use on holiday — although it wouldn’t provide much in the way of coverage the skin benefits would make up for that. 

At £47 for a full size bottle, this isn’t something I would repurchase right now. If I ever achieve my goal of flawless skin it may be something I revisit but only because I would want to benefit from the ingredients it contains. 

Let me know if you have tried this and what you thought, am I using it all wrong? 

Sample session: diego dalla palma lipstick orange pink

This cute lipstick sample from diego dalla palma came in Carmine beauty box last year.

When I first opened it, I immediately threw it aside thinking that the colour wasn’t really ‘me’. But I’m going through an adventurous phase and with the odd rays of sunlight shining in the UK I thought I would give it a try.

The shade is number 32, orange pink. The colour is almost peach, and a great half way option for a true orange/coral lipstick. I’m not convinced it suits my skin tone but I think it would look great on darker skins.

The lipstick has a lightweight, soft and creamy texture. The pigmentation is good and one swipe is enough for a good colour with a subtle sheen.

The lipstick feels moisturising and I barely noticed wearing it. The only thing is that it is not particularly long lasting, not that this bothers me too much when it comes to lipsticks. The description on the M&S website says that the lipstick can be made to last longer by dabbing the lips with a loose powder before application.

The ingredients list begins with caster seed oil and various waxes, which explains the moisturised feeling. It is meant to contain anti-ageing agents and is 100% fragrance-free.

The lipstick costs £15 and can be found at Marks & Spencer. The price is a little more than I am willing to pay, but I can tell the difference in quality compared to cheaper brands.

Sample session: GlamGlow tingling and exfoliating mud mask

Having tried the other mask in the GlamGlow range last week I thought I would give the star product a try. GlamGlow say that their tingling and exfoliating mud mask delivers both instant and cumulative results and leaves your complexion revived and glowing for 3 days after each application.

The benefits include:

• Skin collagen synthesis for a noticeable 3 day glow
• Brighter, radiant skin in minutes
• Leaves skin noticeably soft and smooth
• Multi-level resurfacing exfoliation
• Penetrates into the deepest layers of the skin to soften fine lines and wrinkles
• Tightens, tones and lifts the skin
• Relieves dark circles and minimises pores
• Absorbs impurities without removing natural oils
• Suitable for all skin types, ages and for both men and women
• Contains no artificial colours or fragrances

The mask is dark grey/green in colour and has a gritty texture with some larger bits also thrown in.

I applied a thin layer and the mask immediately started to dry, which made the application difficult. The texture is like sand, so rubbing it into my skin I felt a bit concerned that it might be too rough.

After a few minutes the tingling began and this lasted about 5 minutes, at which point the mask had dried completely. The tingling is intense but not uncomfortable to the point that you wonder if you should remove the product.
I left the mask on for 15 minutes in total before removing with a damp face cloth. Again the texture felt like sand but this is the exfoliation step of the treatment.

Immediately after my skin looked bright and clear and felt so smooth. My face did feel tight, but not uncomfortable and this was easily fixed with face oil.

The next day my skin still looked bright and clear and my scars lighter. On day two my skin still looked bright and clear and my pores less noticeable and the same on day three.

A big factor for me when using face masks is the luxury/treat element. I can't say that I enjoyed using this but the results after one use were so impressive that I would be tempted to purchase a full size tub.

Starting at £22.50 for 15ml of product (there is also a 50ml tub), it's not a cheap mask, but a little produces good results and based on the immediately results, I believe that over time my skin the mask would provide the cumulative effects that it promises.

GlamGlow can be found in online and in Space NK and M&S stores. You can also purchase the sample I had for £4.99 from the GlamGlow website so you can try before you buy.

Have you tried GlamGlow? I'm always on the hunt for the ultimate face mask so let me know what your favourite is.
 

Sample session: Glamglow Super-Mud

Glamglow are probably best known for their exfoliating, tingling face mask. However, another product in the range is Super-Mud, a mud clearing treatment designed to target, prevent and heal for poreless skin.

Glamglow say that the Super-Mud has been developed to help fight all common skin concerns including, visible pores, problem skin, blemishes, breakouts, black and white heads, which sounds perfect for me right now since going back to college has reverted my skin to its teenage years!

Glamglow Super-Mud can be used as a full face mask or targeted spot treatment. Glamglow suggest applying approximately 2ml of Super-Mud evenly across the skin, which is a thin layer and exactly the amount in the sample sachet.

The mask has a black/grey colour and contains ‘bits’ of product. To me the product has a scent of liquorice, which I personally really like, but the scent didn’t linger for long.

The mask can be used for shorter or longer treatments, leaving it on for between 5 and 20 minutes. After applying, the mask began to set almost immediately and felt tight on my skin. Personally I prefer masks that do not set especially when leaving it on for anything more than a few minutes, but it was easy to remove using a hot, damp face cloth and didn’t feel too uncomfortable. 

I left the mask on for the maximum time of 20 minutes. At this point the mask had completely set and had a pale grey colour but, particularly around my nose and chin, I had spots of dark grey. Glamglow say that this is because of the activation of the pore-matrix in the mask, which “reveals dots of vacuum extraction, absorption and encapsulation of problematic sebum oils, bacteria and toxins”.

Immediately after use my skin looked brighter and my pores smaller. The next morning, my skin felt smooth and I didn’t have some of the smaller red blemished areas that I have been experiencing over the past few days, but I didn’t notice any difference when it came to larger spots.

A full size tub (34g) of Glamglow Super-Mud costs £39.99 and can be purchased online at FeelUnique and Look Fantastic. One tub is meant to provide 17 full face applications, working out at about £2 a treatment or 1,000 spot treatments.

Even though I'm not wowed by this sample, I would consider purchasing it because I expect that results, if any, will only be seen when used regularly and the ingredients, which include glycolylic and salicyclic acid are things my skin usually loves.

If you've used this mask and seen results of love to hear from you. Also let me know what your favourite mask is for dealing with spots instantly!

Sample session: The Discovery Box by The Fragrance Shop

Today’s sample session is a little different, because it’s actually five samples all wrapped up in a cute box.

The Discovery Box by The Fragrance Shop is a box that allows you to try the latest fragrance launches from The Fragrance Shop.

Perfume samples are the only beauty samples that I really appreciate, they are great for your handbag and on holiday and even though perfume is generally something you know if you like straight away, I always appreciate the opportunity test something throughly before I make up my mind.

This box is the second edition and contains five fragrance samples as well as a leaflet with details of the fragrances and discount vouchers for £5 off a bottle 30ml or more. The box costs £5 every quarter, which is a very affordable price and being quarterly it means you won’t get overloaded with samples or vouchers that you won’t use.

The samples in this quarters box are:

Lacoste Eau de Lacoste Pour Femme

30ml EDP £32.50

Top notes: White pineapple, Calabrian mandarin and bergamont

Heart notes: Orange flower, jasmin sambac and pineapple flower 

Base notes: Sandalwood, vanilla, vetyver grass and Peru balsam

What I think: This scent was fresh and I could smell the top fruity notes even after it had settled on the skin for a bit. I could also pick up on the woody base note and overall I liked the scent and it is something I would consider purchasing.

Roberto Cavalli Just Cavalli

30ml EDP £29.50

Top notes: Neroli from orange blossom

Heart notes: Tahitan Tiare

Base notes: Palisander wood

What I think: This scent smelt like posh talcum powder to me, it was very flowery. After a while the scent did settle and was much more subtle and wearable but it is still not something I would choose to wear. 

Juicy Couture Couture La La 

30ml EDP £34.50

Top notes: Mandarin, green apple, red currant and water hyacinth

Heart notes: Lily, peony, violet leaves and orange flowers

Base notes: Smooth woods and liquid musk

What I think: This was a clean and fresh scent and considering the top notes this wasn’t as citrus as I expected, after it settled the musk scent came through.  

Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush 

30ml EDP £34.50

Top notes: Champagne with apricot blossom and pink pepper

Heart notes: Pink passion flower, marigold and white freesia

Base notes: Cashmere woods with sheer musk and white amber

What I think: This was my favourite scent of the lot, although it is floral, it was also light and fresh and something that I would wear on an everyday basis. 

Nina Ricci Nina Leau 

30ml EDP £24.99

Top notes: Apple, grapefruit mandarin and neroli

Heart notes: Accord wash with gardenia and a kick of cherry

Base notes: Musk

What I think: I love the look of the bottle for this scent the most, the perfume was strong and not too pleasant at first but after it settled it had a subtle musk scent.  

I’m in mixed minds about the box, I really enjoyed trying out different sets at home and having the chance to let them settle on my skin without feeling pressured in a store, but I am not sure I am someone who would get the best value from it.

However, I do think this  box would be ideal for anyone who is really into perfumes. It is a great way of trying the latest scents and making a purchase with the handy £5 discount. You are bound to like at least one of the scents and buying just one perfume would mean that you more than get your money back for the box purchase. Every bottle after that just makes it better value for money and I think in the run up to Christmas it would be a great way of picking up gifts for your girlfriends/family at a discount.

What do you think of the perfume Discovery Box, is it something you would sign up to?

I was kindly sent this box to review, but all thoughts are honest and my own.

Sample session: Davines Shampoo and Conditioner

I decided to test a Davines hair care sample this week, which I received in the #LiveBloggers goodie bag — yes I am still working my way through that!

Davines is a salon brand that I wasn’t aware of prior to the event. Founded by the Bollati family in 1983, the Davines Group started as a research laboratory producing high-end hair care products for cosmetic companies, later creating their own brand of hair care products.

I tried the Melu mellow anti-breakage lustrous shampoo and the Nounou nourishing illuminating conditioner, both from the well-being range, which address hair and scalp wellness.

The shampoo is designed for long or damaged hair, in particular for long hair with a tendency to break. Davines say that its active ingredients — polyquaternium-67, a conditioning agent, quatenium-8, a softening, conditioning agent and spinach extract, an anti-oxidant with remineralizing and strenghtening properties — respect the structure of long hair and strengthen it.

It's a bit difficult to comment on the antibreakage claim from the shampoo from just one use, but it did smell gorgeous and fruity and left my hair feeling very clean.

The Nounou conditioner is meant to be ideal for chemically treated and coloured hair to restructure, moisturise and prolonging the colour. The conditioner didn't smell as nice as the shampoo but it did leave my hair feeling soft and moisturised and gave it a healthy looking shine.

The application is slightly different to a regular conditioner in that you leave the conditioner to work for 5 to 10 minutes, comb through, then rinse. I personally spend too much time in the shower but obviously if you are in a hurry this wouldn’t be an ideal conditioner for you.

I doubt that there is any hair care set that I'll go out of my way to look for but if I did stumble across this I would pick up the full size. The only problem is that I think it is a little pricey. The shampoo costs £6.35 for 75ml and £13.35 for 250ml and the conditioner costs £6.55 for 75ml, £14.65 for 250ml and £37.50 for 1000ml. The products can be purchased online at salonskincare.co.uk.

One thing that I read on the website, which I thought was a nice touch for a brand is that Davines adopted a zero impact policy for many of their haircare and skin care lines. The carbon dioxide emissions generated by the production of the packaging are offset by the protection and reforestation of nature reserves in Italy and Costa Rica, which is actually something that would persuade me to purchase from the brand.

Sample session: Urban Decay Naked Foundation

After feeling inspired by Lisa Eldridge’s foundation video series, I decided to get my hands on a sample of Urban Decay’s Naked Skin foundation, which is the product that initially piqued my interest in trying liquid foundation again.

Urban Decay describe the Naked Skin as “weightless ultra definition liquid makeup,” which blurs imperfections to deliver a flawless finish that looks professionally retouched and feels invisible.

There are a total of 18 shades, each catering to different undertones, I was matched to shade 4, which is perfect for me. 

Aqua (Water/Eau), Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Silica, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tribehenin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol 

As you can probably tell from the picture the formulation is very watery but you only need a small amount of product to get a light to medium coverage and the foundation sets quickly. The foundation does have a very faint scent but it doesn’t linger. I applied using my fingers but have also used a brush to buff in the product.

The foundation gives a demi-matte finish and is very natural looking, so it is great for use on an everyday basis. I was told that the foundation is buildable but I didn’t find this to be the case. Although it was very good at evening out skin tone I needed to use a separate concealer for my scars.

Used alone, without primer or a setting with a powder, the wear time was between 6 to 8 hours, but using a primer I was able to wear it for over 12 hours without noticing any fading (with the exception of my scar).

I found that the foundation did highlight some of my driest patches, but overall on my dry skin I really liked the look and my skin felt smooth and hydrated throughout the day. I think that oily combination skin types will also like the finish and formulation of this and I had no problems with my skin breaking out in the week that I tested this. 

I am very tempted to purchase a full size bottle. At £27 it is expensive, but the formulation is worth it in my opinion.

If you are interested in Naked Skin I would definitely recommend getting a colour match and a sample from Urban Decay, the sample is meant to last over two weeks, which is plenty of time to get a feel for if you like the product.

Naked Skin can be purchased from Urban Decay online, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Beauty Bay and Look Fantastic.

Sample session: Smashbox light primer

I've tried the original primer from Smashbox in the past, although it was very good as a primer the formular meant that if I used it for more than 3 days in a row I would start to break out.

The light formulation is designed for those with oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin. The primer is water based and contains oil absorbers that are meant to provide a smooth and matte finish all day.

Smashbox also say that light diffusers in the primer minimise the appearance of imperfections and vitamin C and other peptides help to even skin tone and promote collagen production.

Although the main ingredient is water the primer still contains silicone but it feels, and looks, more like a cream than a gel.

The primer absorbed into my skin quickly and didn't affect my makeup application. It did work to minimise pores, although not as much as Porefessional, and left my skin looking matte.

I wore the primer for over 12 hours, applying at about 7.30 in the morning. Although my makeup was in place at lunchtime, by 6pm it had faded a lot and you could see the unevenness of my skin tone.

That being said 11 hours of wear is a good result for a primer and even though my skin is dry I would expect a similar lasting power for someone with oily skin.

I would have liked to have test this for a few more days to check that it doesn’t cause break outs, but otherwise it is a nice primer and I prefer it over the original formulation. But at £25 for a 30ml tube, I will be continuing my hunt for the perfect primer.

Sample session: Murad skin perfecting primer

The Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer (dewy finish) is meant to be a 2-in-1 primer that provides a “radiant glow” while treating the skin to even skin texture and tone. The primer contains lots of good stuff and more importantly is free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan.

Being a decent sized sample I managed to get to try of this primer over a few days before making up my mind.

As I have mentioned previously, I am a big fan of anything that crosses the makeup/skincare boundary. Murad say that the primer contains pore factor-5, which minimises the appearance of pores while balancing oil production, adaptive shade technology to create a perfect skin tone match and light enhancing minerals create a radiant glow.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Boron Nitride, Stearyl Dimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Sarcosine, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Chitosan, Propyl Gallate, Polyurethane-40, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, 77491, 77492, 77499). 

The primer is flesh toned but quite a lot darker than my natural skin tone. However, once it is applied and blended it adapts to match perfectly.

The consistency is similar to a light moisturiser. The product is unscented, feels nice on the skin and a little goes a long way.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this, I didn't notice any difference in the lifespan of my makeup and I didn’t think that my skin looked dewy either. It does reduce redness but it doesn’t provide enough coverage to replace foundation for me. Since I don’t have oily skin I’m not able to comment on the balancing oil production claim, but I didn’t find it drying at all, which is a plus for those like me with dry skin.

At £29.50 for the full size, this definitely isn't on the repurchase list for me but I would like to try out more from the brand. Is there anything from Murad that you would recommend for dry skin?

Sample session: Revlon age defying foundation

My spending ban has made me come across lots of samples and sachets that I keep meaning to use but never get round to. I intend to use them on trips away but I never do (mostly because I don’t actually go away as often as I would like to think I will!)

So I decided I should make a point of using things once a week and share my initial thoughts, after all the purpose of these samples is to tempt you into buy a full size.

First up is foundation from Revlon. As regular readers will know, I am a mineral foundation girl, but I more recently I have become tempted to try liquid foundations.

Revlon Age Defying with DNA Advantage Cream Makeup combines makeup and anti-aging skincare and is meant to help protect skin's DNA to fight the visible signs of aging. The scientist in me has a few problems with that sentence, but generally I am a fan of makeup that has skin care properties. The foundation does contains SPF 20, which is always a nice addition and something I would expect in a product that is focused on ageing.

Revlon say: “96% of women saw flawless, younger-looking skin in two weeks. Lines and wrinkles are visibly diminished while skin is refreshed, hydrated, revitalized.” Of course I can’t comment on those claims having only worn it for 12 hours, but for a first dip back into liquid foundation I was impressed.

The foundation applied well and had a medium to full coverage, which was achieved using only a small amount of product. I liked that it could be built up without looking too heavy and after applying a translucent powder to set, I was left with a natural look. My skin felt smooth and didn’t feel dry throughout the day and I didn’t notice the foundation gathering in dry patches. I also didn’t get any transfer of the product to my phone or clothes — always a good thing! The wear time was around 8 hours before I started to notice my scars and uneven skin tone.

I had the sample of the shade soft beige, which was an ok match for my skin tone but I would want to check out the other shades if I were to buy a full size.

At £13.99 for 30ml this seems to be a good value foundation, and if the skin care claims are true it would be well worth the money.

In all I am pleased that my return to liquid foundation was a positive experience, but I don’t think the sample has done enough to persuade me to go for a full size.

I have a few other liquid foundation samples I will be trying, but I really have my eye on the Naked foundation from Urban Decay, or is there another that you would recommend?