A List of Freebie Tips, Another Amazing Brightener for Half the Cost and Lotions, Lotions and More Lotions!

Hello Ladies! I've had an interesting week of product samples and have also received some new ones I am very interested in trying. Before I go any further, however, I decided there are just too many of you out there who are unaware of some of the Internet's best beauty find secrets. While I continue to search for the best deals out there, some are just staring you smack in the face and must be mentioned. So, here are a few of the best freebie sample tips I can give you. Happy beautifying!

BEAUTY FREEBIE TIPS:

1. Without fail, you must order from Sephora.com whenever possible. The reason is simple. If you rack up $50 in a purchase, your shipping is free. Returns are hassle free too. However, you always select 3 free product samples which, depending on the give away, can reach as valuable as $5 each. Sure, most of the time the sample is worth anywhere from $0.50 to $2, but that is still extra money and, more importantly, extra beauty fun. In addition, there are Sephora.com-only exclusives that save you wayyyy more money. Remember my blog about the Bare Essentials BareMinerals Kit? That gave you an extra $40 in product just for purchasing online. There are many such examples. But, most importantly, is the Promo Code. I will always update you with the most recent promo codes on the right hand side of this blog. I am checking them often to confirm they still work. The only way to get these free deluxe samples is to use the promo code. It's just not as embarrassing as going into Sephora and asking for a free sample every time. The products have often been full size, valued up to $22. Even if you have to pay for shipping then (which is $5.95), it is still well worth the investment.
2. Do you love Smashbox products? I do. And they have an amazing line of "try me" kits, not to mention the fact that tons of their products are on my must-have list, including primer, O-Glow, and under eye brightener. Well, first off, shipping is totally free, no matter the spending amount. Secondly, you get to select a deluxe sample (worth the value of the 3 from Sephora) and you get another free regular-sized sample. But the BEST part is, if you "do lunch" with Smashbox, you will get, absolutely FREE, a full-sized product of their choosing that you can decide, before you buy, whether you want. Now, what "doing lunch" means is that if you make your online purchase between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. PST on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the system automatically adds your free gift. There have been items such as a full blush (valued at $30) or their eye-shadow trio, valued at $28!
3. Utilize Ulta.com and their free products-with-products offers. First off, they always give you 3 free samples, as well, but they are always different samples than what is available at Sephora, but the value is the same and, often, quite more. They also have a section of the website where you can see what deluxe samples you will get, depending on what you buy. I buy from Ulta only when these special purchases are available because, otherwise, they don't usually have great promo codes. They also want you to be happy with your purchases, so returns are easy.
   
4. If you find a brand you like, such as KMS or Caudalie, go to their website and use the "contact us" button. All you have to do is shoot them an email saying how much you like their products and how you would like to try "X, Y, or Z" based on a friend's glowing recommendation. Companies understand that you want to try before you buy sometimes and also realize that, if they believe their product is great, you really will want to buy it. I've done this with several high end and really high end companies and have been pleasantly surprised that every single one has either (1) emailed back and agreed to send product or (2) just sent the product. They also have generally sent more products than what I have asked for, which means even more new things to try!

Now that you have a few more tools under your beauty belt, let's talk glam products from this week!

First and foremost, I must discuss the amazing product from Ole Henriksen - Sheer Transformation (currently available at Sephora.com as a free sample). While I still believe Divine Illumination from Philosophy is the very best for skin illumination/brightening because it feels so silky and works so well, this is very, very similar and yet half the price! It is $45 for 1.7 ounces (remember Philosophy is $85 for 1.6 ounces) and brightens your face the very first second you use it. Oddly enough, if you read the product description of each item on Sephora's website, they sound almost identical! I think it works well for hiding discolorations and age spots. It goes on brilliantly under your moisturizer, as well. Just a fabulous, fabulous product! If nothing else, do yourself a favor and get the freebie. The package lasted me a solid week.

Smashbox Lash DNA ($19):

Pros: It's a great, strong black and gets the bottom lashes each coated phenomenally well. It does a great job lengthening the lashes, I noticed.

Cons: It has got to be the weirdest brush in the world! It's shaped like a DNA Helix strand. You know, all twisty? So you really can't figure out how to put it on your lashes. It's really the only thing "DNA"-like about the product. It also clumps and no WAY does it only take one coat.

The Verdict: It's a unique product and I think, with some proper professional coaching on how to use the brush, it could be a very useful mascara. Just a little too "weird" for me.

Next up is Bliss Naked Body Butter Lite. After experimenting with the full-strength body butter, which just didn't soak up quickly enough for my tastes, I received a free sample of the "lite" version. I didn't care for the smell at all. It wasn't any better than any other lotion from the grocery store in that department. On the other hand, it felt smooth and silky and, while it did soak into my skin, I didn't feel the need to reapply later. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to see that they now have a Lemon Sage version, which I imagine I will like very much. Interestingly, the product specifically states that it is 50% less thick than the regular Bliss Body Butter.

Now, I am the first to tell you that I really don't care for lotion. Don't get me wrong, I love the effects of lotion - the smooth, silky feeling after it all soaks in, but I hate reapplying because I find it to be so greasy and yucky, especially on my hands. Rarely do I ever put lotion on my hands that makes it past a minute before I wash it off with at least just water. Well, I have now found the answer to that problem. It's called ProMoist Hand Cream by ProStrong, Inc. It's waterproof, so it lasts longer, but it's smooth and instantly non-greasy. It's only $12.50 for 2 ounces, which is plenty for me.

On the must miss side of lotions, I tried Spa Aquatique Body Contouring All Over Control Gel. The fragrance is supposed to be the ocean. It smells like dirty wet sand on a beach. And, unlike Clarins, where I really felt I could see improvement in the cellulite, this product did absolutely nothing. It didn't even feel nice and smooth after I put it on. A definite must miss.

And for a quick update on the face, let's continue with the "fountain of youth" products I discussed in my earlier blog from Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories (DCL). This time, I tried the oil-free DCL Ultra Light Hydrator. This is an absolutely lovely moisturizer. Since I haven't officially decided on a moisturizer, though the former Chanel product is on my must have list, I have placed this one in the top three. What is amazing about this one is that, unlike the $185 anti-aging regimen I was so fond of, this is only $14! It goes on super silky smooth and looks great under your primer and makeup. It's perfect for oily or acne prone skin. If you use it after exfoliation, it's also excellent, though I would recommend Chanel Hydra-Boost in between those two steps to make sure you replenish enough moisture. I also really like this product layered over something like Anthony Logistics Self Tanner. The reason is that, while the tanner is a moisturizer, it is not the most moisturizing product. Therefore, this adds that little extra bit to help your face feel perfectly smooth and balanced.

Last product of the evening is Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment. Being that it was Kinerase and that it costs $98, I expected so much more. However, given my experience with "peptides", I am still unconvinced they do anything. I used it for one week and didn't notice much in the way of recovery or improvement. However, it did go on smoothly enough to be used under moisturizer, which means you can always try it longer and see if it does give more aged skin what it needs. It does say that you need to use it for 28 days, but I'm just not into this step yet.