Sunday Sampler: FACE
I love Sephora. I love that they will make countless samples of any product you want in their store, no questions asked, and usually with minimal eye rolling. I love that I can use my reward points toward hefty, pre-packaged, expensive product samples. Sephora does it right. My philosophy is: you got to try it before you buy it. My new "Sunday Sampler" space is going to be a quick and scrupulous review of the samples I appraise each week. Hopefully, it will cut down on beauty-related guesswork, and motivate a movement toward trying new things... when it's worth it..
THIS WEEK'S LINEUP:
Sunday Riley's U.F.O- I have to tell you, I was so so excited when I saw this serum by Sunday Riley, being offered as a reward product at Sephora. I am a huge fan of SR's Luna Oil, so I thought this ultra-clarifying face oil would automatically be an ideal fit. I cashed in a few hundred rewards points and snagged three bottles of U.F.O and immediately packed them away for my upcoming vacation. U.F.O promises to treat and prevent acne and blackheads by using salicylic acid, tea tree oil and other potent ingredients. It seemed we'd be a match-made-in-heaven. However, by the fourth day of using this serum, my skin was even more congested, inflamed and imbalanced. Maybe my skin was too sensitive for U.F.O's formula. Maybe my hormones were off. Maybe my skin was out of whack because I was on "vacation" with my husband and kids and at any given moment one of us could be in the throes of a complete and utter melt down. Whatever the cause, this stuff wasn't for me. BUT I still say ALL HAIL SUNDAY RILEY!!!
REN Instant Firming Beauty Shot- I didn't know what to expect with this one. I am genuinely not someone who buys into gimmicks (Wait, or is this what someone who buys into gimmicks would say?) but this stuff actually delivered on it's pledge. This daily gel-serum comes packed with hyaluronans which retains moisture, firms and plumps skin. It can be applied throughout the day whenever your skin feels like it needs an extra boost. I thought REN's beauty shot concept may be too good to be true but it actually worked. It created an optimal canvas for my make-up to be applied and instantly firmed my face. However, being a busy mom of three, I'm not sure I could commit to applying anything ELSE to my daily skin routine, aside from goldfish crumbs and pirate booty remnants. Survey says: great product to buy for a big event, but skip it if it's not in your budget.
Tatcha Water Cream- there is so much hype surrounding this stuff, I'm kind of terrified to write my review. Tatcha's packaging is simply adorable. I whole-heartedly believed this cream was the answer to all my skin woes when I read that it was: oil-free, anti-aging, clarifying and ultra hydrating. This sounds like a killer combo but it just wasn't a WOW for me. I didn't love the feel of the cream once it was absorbed into my skin. And my foundation didn't adhere well on top. I'm not a huge fan of gel-like moisturizers to begin with so maybe that's it, but I also felt like it clogged my pores. I HAVE found that Tatcha's WC works well as a mask under my eyes at bedtime... and it's now a staple in my husband's gym bag!
So, that's it for this week's Sunday Sampler. We all have such different skin types and preferences so taking your own needs into consideration while reading these reviews is crucial. But as always, my goal is not to define your opinions but rather help you navigate through the overwhelming amounts of beauty products being advertised today. It's a tireless job being a pro-bono beauty blogger... but someone's gotta do it. So, I'll soldier on my compadres.
