Weekly Sample Selections #5

This post was meant for last week but my Internet connection was down and I could not upload any posts.

Bumble and bumble Surf Foam Wash & Creme Rinse Conditioner

Free sample with purchase from Sephora

The object of these two products is to work in conjunction with the Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, which I do not own, but on their own they work just fine.  Better than fine!  The Surf Foam Wash was a breeze to use as I was able to work it through my hair and rinse it out without any sticky residue feeling.  The texture is a heavy gel that smells like that common artificial "ocean breeze" scent that you find in potpourri but it was a bit fresher;  I also like how it was tinted blue.  The Creme Rinse Conditioner made my hair soft without weighing it down.  I let my hair air dry as recommended and even though I did not use the Surf Spray I ended up with some slight waves.  I can imagine that if you used these with the Surf Spray they would be the perfect prep for such a hair texturizer by leaving hair clean and lightly moisturized.

Pros:  cleanses and conditions very well; preps hair for texturizers

Cons: expensive; fragrance may be too strong for those with fragrance sensitivities

You can find out more about this product at bumbleandbumble.com.

TOCCA Crema Da Corpo Body Lotion in Cleopatra

Free sample with purchase from Sephora

I have known this brand for candles more than body products, so I was interested in how the scent would translate to the skin.  The fragrance is noticeable but not totally overpowering.  The scent is tropical-ish or in this case I suppose it would be Mediterranean.  I definitely detected the note of grapefruit while the rest of the scent was almost musky when sniffed close to the skin.  When I looked up TOCCAs description of Cleopatra, I found out that the other key fragrance note is cucumber.  This body lotion is smooth and moisturizing.

Pros: moisturizing; nice fragrance

Cons: expensive; fragrance may be too strong for those with fragrance sensitivities

You can find out more about this product at tocca.com.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Glow Moisture

Free sample with purchase from Sephora

This moisturizer is supposed to be used after the Alpha Beta Glow Pad to lock in moisture and restore radiance.  It is recommended for anyone experiencing the signs of aging such as wrinkles, dull skin, and enlarged pores.  I used this product one night after showering.  The texture is normal like most moisturizers and is tinted beige.  It has an odd smell to it, fruity at first and then it kind of morphed into a fruity chemical stink which was not pleasant.  I'm sure the smell comes from the ingredients which lets me know that there is not much fragrance added and that is a plus in my book because fragrance can irritate the skin.  The moisturizer felt light yet hydrating on my skin and I could actually feel a slight tingling sensation as it worked to cleanse my pores.  At first I was kind of worried that this was going to be a tanning product like the Alpha Beta Glow Pad but luckily it was not.  I awoke the next morning with refreshed skin;  I could actually tell that my pores looked cleaner and tighter and my skin looked more radiant.

Pros: anti-aging; tightens pores; moisturizing

Cons: stinky

You can find out more about this product at dgskincare.com.

Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Liquid Foundation

Free sample with purchase from Sephora

The sample I received came in the shade Medium Beige which came out just a tad orange looking on my skin.  I applied it using my hands because the product description says that it goes on sheer and is buildable to full coverage.  Well, this foundation was not sheer at all.  It first applied looking like medium to full coverage, which was too much, so I used my Beauty Blender to try and sheer it out.  The result was disastrous because this is a water resistant foundation so I ended up with clumpy streaky spots.  I next took my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and buffed out the uneven parts.  This foundation is supposed to be non-comedogenic but I could literally see every pore on my face after applying this;  It settled into the larger pores around my nose highlighting any blackheads.  You would definitely need to use a good primer with this foundation.  I tried to use a finishing powder over the top of this to blur the pores a little bit but it stuck to the foundation making it look worse.  I finally had to apply a blue-based pink cream blush and lipstick to try and detract from the orange tone and just wore it all day anyway to test how it wore throughout the day.  It lasted around 12 hours before it started to fade slightly.  I used blotting tissues once during the day because my face became shiny/oily by midday.  This is a luminizing foundation which is not the best choice for those with oily skin.

Pros: Oil Free; has SPF of at least 15; water resistant to help with perspiration; anti-aging ingredients; long lasting

Cons: clogs pores; not sheer as described

You can find out more about this product at amazingcosmetics.com.

Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (Aerosol)

Purchased sample size at Ulta

Klorane makes one of my favorite dry shampoos so I was excited to find a sample size of the aerosol version.  I was looking for a small dry shampoo to stick in my gym bag and this is perfect.  I love this dry shampoo because it both soaks up excess oil and volumizes hair.  Sometimes I use this on days when I just need a little extra volume, even after washing my hair.  You can use this in conjunction with other styling products as well;  I like to use it with my hair texturizers because it does not add an extra layer of sticky mess.

Pros: Soaks up excess oil (good for second day hair); Volumizing

Cons: the aerosol version is not as environmentally friendly but the can is recyclable

You can find out more about this product at kloraneusa.com.