Sample Sundays: feat. Laneige, The Face Shop, Innisfree & more!

Hi friends,

As I wrote last week, this Sunday marks a new era for Sample Sundays (get excited). Instead of focussing on just one product from one brand, my overwhelming stash of samples has forced me to shine a light on a bunch of samples. Because I have far too many. So, today I will be writing a number of mini reviews of things I have tried over the past week – strap yourselves in because here we go!

Innisfree Green Tea Pure Cleansing Oil
I haven’t tried too many Innisfree products (the Green Tea Pure Cream was the most recent one) but I’ve always been happy when I have. I guess I got really into Nature Republic and these two companies have a similar ethos, except Nature Republic is generally cheaper and I find their products cuter. But anyway! This cleansing oil worked a treat, although I didn’t find it a particularly stand out product. Maybe my standards are higher these days (K-cosmetics snob much?), but although it didn’t leave a lasting memory or have a particularly memorable fragrance, it still did its job. And that’s what matters, right?

The Face Shop Chia Seed Fresh Cleansing Foam
This is one that I was quite excited to use, as I don’t have too many samples from The Face Shop and it’s something a bit different. However, I do have the world’s most sensitive skin and this cleanser just isn’t right for delicate flowers such as myself. I found it cleaned really well – a little too well. It left that squeaky cleanness that I really don’t like, the one where you know all the moisture has been sucked from your skin and it actually squeaks when you rub it. Not good. Perhaps those with hardier skin than mine would like it, but I would say in general – watch out for harsh products such as this one.

Laneige Water Bank Essence
I really enjoyed this product, and it feels good to write this after the two previous unimpressed mini-reviews (it’s hard being honest whilst staying positive, I’ll tell you that much!). I have always been curious about the Laneige range but haven’t really given it too much of a chance. I received a whole bunch of samples with my IOPE Air Cushion XP, and only now am I finally using them. And I’m really enjoying it! This product has a light, gel-like consistency and it glides onto my skin easily. It’s not too heavy that it weighs it down, but it also provides a lot of moisture. And I’m all about moisture these days! Two thumbs up from me.

Missha Super Aqua Ultra Water-Full Cream
This is another product that I was really happy with, and is something I could see myself using (if Missha didn’t test on animals). It is a lightweight gel-cream hybrid that is perfect for the warmer months. Again, this isn’t too heavy or too rich, so it is perfect for those with sensitive skin or perhaps with oilier skin. Coming into the colder months, I am going to need something with a bit more oomph, but for now, this is a nice final step in my Korean skincare routine.

Derma:B Daily Moisture Body Wash
This is a sample I received in a previous Memebox a while ago, but I hadn’t got round to trying until now. It sort of does what it says on the tin: it’s a simple, no-fush body wash. To be honest, I found this a teensy bit drying (because I’m currently using the rich Skinfood Quinoa Body Milk and loving it) but it does a good job at what it says it’s going to do. I wouldn’t repurchase, but it was good while it lasted.

Nature Republic Snail Solution 80 Emulsion
Oh Nature Republic, how you thrill me! As y’all probably know by now, I am a big fan of this lil ol’ Korean cosmetics company (except it’s not the least bit little, nor old!) and am quite upset about the fact that I can no longer buy their products. Also, the fact that I have been on a self-imposed spending ban means that I haven’t stepped foot into their shop for months now – although I still have a good backlog of products to use up! Anyway, I am a big fan of their Snail Solution line (and snail products in general, mmm) and I really love this emulsion. I haven’t had to use a full-sized emulsion for so long, simply because I have so may of these samples, so rest assured I know what I’m talking about here! It has a nice smooth texture, and although it’s really moisturising, it doesn’t feel sticky on the skin. It makes my skin feel like silk! Or snail mucus, whichever one you prefer.

And that’s a wrap! Unfortunately, all of these products test on animals so I won’t be repurchasing them in the future 🙁 I have a whole post coming up about this, so stay tuned! It is a bit of a downer for me, but in my quest to become more minimalist (is that an oxymoron?) I’ve started focusing on the things that matter to me, and testing chemicals on innocent animals is something that I am not okay with. However, I am going to be using up previously bought products in the meantime, and will continue to post my honest opinions. It’s a hard life being conscientious and all!

That’s it for this week’s Sample Sundays, let me know how you like the new format and I shall speak to you soon!

Steph x