And now for my favorite samples of 2014. Every night when I’m pondering what skincare to use, I can’t help but wish I had 10 heads. More skin to try more skincare!
Thankfully, I wasn’t born with 10 heads. But too bad for these samples. I really enjoyed trying all of them. And if I had more skin or more time, I’d get the full size versions.
Of all the samples you see here, my favorite is Veneffect’s Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. When I run out of eye cream, this is the one I’m buying.
There are some samples that I tried and loved but are not shown here because I don’t have those samples anymore.
From left to right, top to bottom:
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Renewing Cream – I loved this cream for one simple reason – the smell. It’s mega ginseng. I happen to enjoy eating ginseng and drinking ginseng tea, so the smell of it does not overwhelm me. But it took a little time getting used to it. I smelled like a Chinese medicine shop 🙂 The scent of the ginseng is strong, so if you don’t like ginseng, don’t go near this.
However, the unexpected benefit was the relaxation I felt! It had a strong calming effect on me. I used this at night, and my skin looked great the next day. If I had the full size, I would use this to heal my skin when it needs help re-normalizing.
Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water – This is a hydrating toner with a syrupy texture. So this one needs to be poured into the palm, spread over the hand, and pressed into skin. I love how it feels on my skin, how it hydrates, and how it smells (it has a mild ginseng scent unlike the cream above).
NUDE ProGenius Treatment Oil – This oil has a wonderful texture. It’s not too light and not too heavy. It’s more on the light side. It absorbs well without making my skin feel greasy. I also enjoy the smell, which is a big deal for me. Most face oils smell too botanical or organic for me. I enjoy smelling plants when I’m outside, but not on myself. So if I don’t like the smell of an oil, no matter how good it is, I can’t deal with it on my face. This one has a blend of more than 10 omega-rich oils. So it’s very nourishing.
MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Creme – I love this sunscreen. It’s a silicone-based physical sunscreen that packs a ton of protection into a lightweight dry gel. The gels goes over skin with ease. So application is fast! This is a huge bonus, since most physical sunscreens require some time to apply evenly and to absorb. It’s very similar to Dermalogica’s Skin Perfect Primer, which I also love, but has a slightly more airy feel.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Hand Cream – I have tried so many hand creams but am always left wanting for more. More long-lasting moisture that is. This one is emollient without being heavy or greasy. While it smells faintly of the original Eight Hour Cream (the brown ointment), it’s nowhere near as stinky.
La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream – This cream is quite emollient without being greasy or heavy. It has a creamy texture that’s not too thick and not too fluid. I would say it has less water than average, so a tighter slip.
Darphin Intral Redness Relief Soothing Serum – A serum with chamomile and other soothing ingredients to calm skin. I never get red but occasionally I do experience some rawness. This serum provided immediate relief.
GlymedPlus Intense Peptide Complex – This is a peptide treatment in a cream. It’s nice to change up my peptide treatments by using a cream instead of a serum. I love the texture of this cream – it’s super smooth and pillowy. This is one of the nicest cream textures I have come across.
Rodial Stem Cell Super-Food Facial Oil – A super light oil that packs a huge punch of moisture. The lightness is misleading. It doesn’t feel like it will do much, but it does! And this is why I like it. All the benefits of an oil without the heaviness.
Topix Replenix Restorative Nighttime Bio-therapy – Replenix is an under-rated clinical brand. There’s some good stuff in here – resveratrol, green tea, caffeine, and ceramides. So a nice blend of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and humectant ingredients in a light, smooth cream that absorbs well.
ReVive Intensite Line Erasing Serum – This is a serum that provides a temporary filling effect. Lines are diminished right away, but the effect doesn’t last. A day at most. It’s useful if you have a special event and need every bit of help to look your best. I enjoyed seeing the before and after when I tried this on my nasolabial folds and crows feet. However, this serum is also priced at an insane $600 for 1 ounce. Yes, $600! What a shame. Great product, but I can’t in good conscience recommend it given its price.
Caudalie Anti-Wrinkle Defense Serum – I was always a fan of the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum and loved the scent of it. But it lacked one essential ingredient – Vitamin C. So as a daily serum, it was incomplete. This serum addresses that lack. It contains both the trademark grape polyphenols AND Vitamin C in a similar base. So it feels similar to the Radiance Serum, even smells similar. But now it has the Vitamin C.
GoldfadenMD Vital Boost – When I used this at night before bed, my skin looked noticeably more radiant and plumper the next morning. A good radiance booster at a reasonable price point.
Veneffect Anti-Aging Eye Treatment – A great eye cream is hard to find, and what I have observed is that we each have distinct preferences for the eye area. This one suits my preferences perfectly. I love the texture. It’s a fluffy cream that is so easy to apply. It absorbs well. And best of all, it moisturizes well. It doesn’t look all that emollient given its texture. But it is. Terrific eye cream.
Natura Bisse Diamond White Serum – I love this serum. While it’s meant to be brightening, it’s actually extremely hydrating. So it makes a great hydrating serum. It is so hydrating that in the humid summer months, my skin is almost overwhelmed by it. There’s no need for a moisturizer over it. It gives an immediate glow to skin.
Zelens Youth Concentrate – Zelens is a great line, always on the cutting edge. I love many of the products, but this is my favorite. It’s a serum that I can depend on to handle my aging concerns. Meaning, if I use this, I don’t feel the need to use any other serum. But if I want to, I can layer it with other products easily.
Aesop Parsley Seed Toner – Ordinarily, I don’t use skincare that is this botanical. I find too many plant ingredients to be problematic more often than not. And it’s the scent thing too (too smelly). But this one was interesting. I enjoyed this fresh, clean scent and found the mix of ingredients to be unusual. (First time using a toner with parsley seed.) This toner would be something I’d turn to when in the mood for something herbal.
See my Favorite Skincare Products of 2014
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