Tried & Tested | Summer Samples

I've seen a few people write posts like this and thought that it would be a great way of using up samples from magazines and subscription boxes etc that I have sitting at home. I even had a couple of sachets for each product so I was able to test out everything (apart from the Viper Venom) more than once.  

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser

This product came in a Glossybox a while ago and I am so impressed with it. A 200ml bottle is £29 which is pretty pricey but this stuff works miracles so I would spend that much on it any day. I don't have acne but I use this whenever I break out and it clears any spots up so quickly. 

Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream 
This moisturiser came in a six piece skincare set. I thought this would be a great way to try out each product from the range and this is the one which stood out the most. I love the smell, it's really clean and fresh. The consistency of this moisturiser is quite thick which is great because it absorbs quickly without being greasy at all. It's incredibly hydrating...in fact I don't have a bad word to say about this moisturiser and I would definitely purchase the full sized product. The glass packaging is also beautiful and this can be said for the whole range.

Mary Kay Nourishine Lip Gloss  
I don't think Mary Kay products are available in the UK, so when my cousin came to visit from America she brought a sample of their latest lip gloss for me to try. I absolutely love it and the bright shade is so pretty for summer. I don't usually wear lip glosses but like this one because it's more of a tint and is very pigmented. The staying power is pretty good but not amazing as it doesn't cope too well with drinks and food but that's not too much of a problem because it does seem to last longer than a standard lip gloss. It is sticky to begin with but the stickiness seems to disappear after a couple of minutes and it becomes smooth and moisturising. I wish that Mary Kay was available in the UK because i'd love to try this product in more shades. After using this product I read that Mary Kay claim that it adds shine to your lips and softens them, making them look younger. I can see what they mean because this is the most moisturising lip gloss i've come across!

Nivea Express Hydration Primer

This product smells lovely, but that's the only thing I liked about it. I appiled it underneath foundation but instead of acting like a primer and creating a nice base it seemed to almost repel the foundation. I really didn't like using this primer so will not ever be purchasing it, which is such a shame because I really like Nivea's facial moisturisers and liked the idea of a 2 in 1 product.

Nip & Fab Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix

I don't use products for wrinkles but decided to give this a try anyway to see if it 'blurs imperfections' and what the product is like to apply. The things I didn't like about it were the smell and the fact that it has an odd texture which is very sticky when you take it out of the packet. However, it did apply onto my skin nicely and absorbed straight away, which meant it lost the horrible sticky texture. It also made my skin feel smooth when I had applied it so i'm sure that after using in morning and night (which is what it says to do on the product) you will be left with lovely soft skin.  I'm not entirely sure that it would 'fix wrinkles' though, but it probably does help to even out your skin in some way. 

Max Factor Face Finity Foundation

This product claims to be a primer concealer and foundation in one. This may be the reason that I found it horrible and awkward to apply. I really disliked this foundation as it is way too thick and just seemed to sit on my skin. I guess if you like using a foundation with a lot of coverage then you might enjoy this product.

Rimmel 9 in 1 BB Cream 
I've seen mixed reviews about this BB cream and apart from Bourjois bronzing one it was the first BB cream that I have tried. I'm really skeptical about these types of products. But after trying this one I am really tempted to get a full sized bottle. I don't really understand how a BB cream can be 'skin perfecting' when it doesn't give any coverage! But, after I applied this, my face did look different and I couldn't really explain why. I think it would be a great product to use over the summer though instead of foundation and I really like the fact that the consistency of it is like a moisturiser and I love the natural glow that it gives to your skin. I'm still undecided, but it's definitely made me want to give BB creams a chance.

Quite a mix of products there with a mix of opinions. But, that's the beauty of samples and being able to try something before you splash out on it, especially if it's higher end product.
Let me know if you have tried any good beauty products recently, or if there are any you think I should steer clear of. 

Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.

All Used Up #1

Is it just me or do you find that you start to run out of all your essential beauty products at once? Even if you didn't buy them all at the same time. That happened to me this week so I decided to share them with you because they are all products that I would definitely repurchase...more than once. 

 Nivea Stress Protect Anti-Perspirant

 I'm so bad at using up all of a product because I always pick up new ones without even making a dent in the ones I already have. This means that I always have about three deodorants on the go. However, since trying Nivea's Stress Protect I have used it every single day. It's just a great deodorant all round. It smells fresh and drys pretty quickly after application. I seem to be one of those people that gets all flustered when i'm in a 'stressful situation' which is why I wanted to try this deodorant in the first place and it actually seems to do the job as well as working all day long.

 VO5 Miracle Concentrate

The Miracle Concentrate is my most used hair product. This was my third bottle and i'm sure there will be many more to come. Each one has lasted me about six months which is amazing because it's £5.19 for a bottle and I apply it to my hair almost every day. It has a pipette which makes it super easy to use and you only need a tiny amount of product each time. It also smells amazing! I use it on my hair wet or dry and it leaves it feeling shiny and healthy.

La Roche- Posay Effaclar Mat 

This is a lovely moisturiser and because of it's consistency glides amazingly onto the skin. It makes a great base underneath make up as well as nourishing your skin and getting rid of any shine. After using this every day I really could feel a difference and my face feels so soft and healthy and the moisturiser does give a more matte look underneath foundation. 

Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Detangling Spray

I only started using detangling spray recently and it really does make such a difference. This is also something that I now use on my hair every day, or every time I wash it. I don't brush my hair enough so when I try and run a comb through it when it's wet it's a nightmare. Well, it isn't if I use a detangling spray. My hair is in awful condition because I use heat on it every day so this stops it from the ends breaking off as much as they used to. 

These beauty products have become part of my every day routine and I will definitely be repurchasing them! What are your daily essentials?

Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.