Unlike the previous few Sample Sundays, this week’s haul is a tad measly. Yep, I said it! Only five samples here for review, but by golly, were they (mostly) good ones! If you’d like to read my thoughts on these babies, just keep on scrolling…
Holika Holika Naked Face Covering BB SPF25++ in #21.5 Naked Beige
I never realised until recently, but I actually really like Holika Holika as a brand. I loved their Soft Gonyak Cleansing Balm (which I never properly reviewed but thoroughly enjoyed) and have a number of their lip products on the go/waiting in the wings. This sample was, I think, provided to me by Alice of W2Beauty (as well as a bunch of other samples), and I was really excited to use it.
Although it may be a tad too light for me (most Korean base products, in their lightest shades, can err on the ‘white and glowy’ side a bit too much), I liked its coverage and the scent is AMAZING. It’s subtly sweet and perhaps a bit floral — yum. I have a million BB/CC base products to use up right now, but otherwise this would be a repurchase contender fo sho.
Nature Republic The First Fermented Bubble Cleanser
So, bubble cleansers are a bit of a novel Korean beauty product…. and I definitely don’t know how to use them properly. They are supposed to bubble up and be really fun and cute and exciting, but somehow I just can’t get the bubbles up! I think I’m a bit too impatient with them or something. Where my bubbles at!?!
So while I’m not in the best position to review this bubble cleanser, I can tell you a few other things. Such as the fact that you apply it as a gel at first, and late it will (supposedly) bubble up on your face. Also, it smells divine and it left my skin really cleansed, but not too much so. There is definitely a fine line with this, but I found this to leave enough moisture so my skin didn’t feel dry and squeaky (like it did with Skinfood’s Egg White Pore Foam). Whether I ever learn how to use this properly, on the other hand, remains to be seen…
Nature Republic The First Fermented Bubble Cleanser
Now this one I was not a fan of. In all fairness, I think I held onto this sample a little too long, so by the time I got round to using it, it just wasn’t at its peak. That’s fine. But the colour was completely wrong for me, and it was quite an orangey brown at that (the #1 Light version might be a better shade match). But THEN the formula was sticky and heavy and felt really yuck on my skin. Not good! I usually love L’Occitane stuff, but I’ve tried a few things recently that have been a bit weird. Perhaps it’s a sign I should just stick to my K-beauty!
Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer
I am a little bit in love with Malin + Goetz as a brand, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I think they’re really great quality products, without the fuss. Just good stuff. This one was a really calming, relaxing moisturiser (as to be expected from the Vitamin E count), and I loved that it did not irritate my skin in the slightest. It had a subtle scent but nothing too heavy, and quite a rich, creamy consistency but somehow it didn’t weigh down my skin. I was using this as a night cream and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I finish my monstrous stash, I would be very happy to have more Malin + Goetz in my life (they can be an exception to my aforementioned “all K-beauty” rule!).
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment For Men
I must admit that this one wasn’t for me. Full disclosure! Instead, this men’s product was appropriately used by my man. We seem to have a bit of a moisturiser addiction in our household, and we go through the stuff super quickly… which often leaves us without anything to use. So, Gav cleverly resorted to this sample which he was gifted with (along with a full-sized present) at our Korean hagwon. I didn’t get to much out of him about it, except that it was good, and it actually got used (which says a lot coming from this discerning lot). I’m actually keen to try more Kiehl’s stuff myself, one day — perhaps watch this space…
What samples have you used and loved this week? I always love to hear about other people’s beauty addictions, so fill me in. I hope you all had a good weekend, see you tomorrow!
Steph x