Sample Selections #1

I've decided it's about time I got round to using up all the samples that i've got. I always seem to get a couple with magazines and they never get used and are just sitting in an old perfume box. I have quite a selection so i'm going to pick 3 and do a post once a month and review them as I think it's a nice way of finding out about lots of different products. Obviously the reviews won't be really in depth and some samples aren't big enough to give the product a true test on my skin but hopefully they'll still be useful.

Neutrogena Multi-Defence Daily Moisturiser for Dry & Sensitive Skin

I got this with the March edition of Glamour and thought i'd give it a try; this sample was for dry and sensitive skin and is supposed to help defend your skin from the daily environment. I managed to get 2 uses out of this, once at night and once in the morning. I wouldn't normally say that my skin is sensitive but after using this product i've changed my mind. I loved the scent and creamy formula of this moisturiser and it seemed nice when I applied it. I woke up in the morning and found that my eyes were a bit puffy but I just thought it was because I hadn't had much sleep! I then used it in the morning and I thought it made the skin on my jawline a bit itchy but I didn't really think much of it. I then found later in the day that my skin was bright red, really hot and itchy. I took all my makeup off and it stung quite a bit so it's safe to say i'm allergic to something in it. I've only ever had an allergic reaction to one other moisturiser - the Dermalogica Welcome Matte (mentioned here). My skin is a bit better today but i'm going to try and work out what it could be that i'm allergic to as I really don't want it to happen again! At £7.95 this isn't the cheapest moisturiser in the world but I would be willing to give it a try if I was confident my skin wouldn't react badly to it.

DKNY Delicious Night Body Lotion

I've recently been using a gentle Dove body lotion so I was looking forward to comparing this one with it which is more expensive. I was expecting it to be quite heavily scented with the familiar apple scent that the perfumes have but it was a little different as it was quite strong. Overall I wasn't too impressed with this product as it was really thin and didn't moisturise well; instead I was left with really greasy skin as it didn't sink in very well. I think this product is mainly marketed around the brand and the scent rather than it's purpose of a body lotion so it doesn't have many moisturising properties. If you love the Delicious Night scent then this might be for you but I wouldn't recommend it as a body lotion at all. It retails at £24.99 for 150ml which I think is really overpriced, especially as you get so little product.

L'Oréal Elvive Full Restore Replenishing Masque

Out of the three samples I think I saved the best till last! I don't give my hair a treat very often but this worked wonders and made it so much softer and sleeker than using a normal conditioner. I still haven't completed my New Years Resolution of getting my hair cut so my hair thanked me for using the mask! I like the consistency of it as it's quite thin so a little bit goes a long way and it smells lovely and sweet too. It's also really affordable at £4.99 for a 300ml tub so i'll definitely be on the look out for it next time i'm in Boots.