little white truths

Well, I have one more samples post from 2018 to wrap-up and this is it, so although I'm updating it a little later than I would like, I'm glad that I'm finally getting there today.

I also want to update it because I have a sachets post that I want to do shortly - plus I want to bring in another round of larger samples - but I didn't want to do those things until I'd finally wound-up this post.

Anyhoo! Let's have a look.

La Roche-Posay Toleraine Sensitive

Full review here. This is a lightweight moisturiser that's more like a lotion or a cream/gel hybrid in texture. It applies and spreads well so you don't need much each time, although whenever I apply it, I'm left with quite a tacky finish on my face and my skin still feels rather dry underneath - so I'm not sure that all of it is absorbing and delivering moisture where I need it most.

Still, it's been an ok product for summer when my skin isn't as dry as usual, and I like that it's very gentle and fragrance free - so it should suit those with sensitive skin who need something soothing and lightweight for all year round. Nevertheless it's one of the few La Roche-Posay products that I don't love so I wouldn't buy it. 

Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 PA++

This claims to control oil and shine for a soft, matte finish, and it's suitable for oily and combination skin types. It should immediately mattify and control oil for up to eight hours, and provide powerful UVA/UVB sun protection without blocking pores. 

My issue with this was that it had a weird, sticky texture, and it wasn't a good moisturiser because it didn't hydrate and instead coated my skin. I also found it very hard to spread over my face, given the sticky texture, and in the end I had to use the remains on my body because I hated using it on my face so much. Just not for me.

This is described as a powerful night and day facial serum to rejuvenate and replenish your skin. It's boosted with five high-performance sea plants and a patented blend of Vitamin B Complex Polypeptides, and it should transform lacklustre complexions. Fine lines and wrinkles are reduced, redness is minimised, oil levels are rebalanced, and skin is left firmer, brighter and smoother.

All I noticed about this product was that it smelled unbelievably strongly of something akin to crushed multivitamins, and the smell was so pungent that I recoiled and felt like vomiting if I put it on my face. Hence I only used it on my upper chest, so I can't really tell you what it was like - all I know is that I couldn't even use it because of the smell.

Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream

I really enjoyed this and I may well buy it: it's perfect for those who need good moisture but don't want anything with bells and whistles. Full review here. 

It's a white cream with a fresh floral scent. It's lightweight and it sits beautifully under makeup, and it somehow manages to be very nourishing without being too heavy or clogging pores.

I love that it feels beautifully soothing, refreshing and cooling when applied, and although it hasn't done anything specific for me (eg, reduced the look of wrinkles), it has kept my dry skin feeling moisturised and comfortable - which is all I really need it to do. 

Goldfaden MD Vital Boost

This is apparently a supercharged daily moisturiser to correct the look of uneven skintone. It should improve skin elasticity and encourage a more youthful-looking complexion, while imparting hydration, antioxidants and radiance to the skin. The addition of hyaluronic acid retains skin's moisture levels while gooseberry extract leaves the complexion looking dewy, radiant and flawless.

I barely noticed using this and it was one of those products that didn't grab me either way: it was hydrating enough for my dry skin but not so hydrating that I loved it, and there wasn't anything in particular that I didn't like about it - though I will say that it was a bit meh for me and of course that isn't a good thing.

La Mav Firming Eye Lotion

Full review here. This eye cream is decent for the price so it's one to consider if you're in the market for a basic eye cream that doesn't cost the earth. While it's not the right product for my 38yo, dry skin, I can imagine it working well for oily skinned lasses or those who are younger than I am.

It's a lightweight cream with no unpleasant scent, and it spreads and absorbs well. I like that it's hydrating enough that my eyes felt comfortable while I was using it. I also like that it's nourishing enough for night use while still being lightweight enough for daytime, and it sits well under makeup - something I look for in my eye creams - so that's worth noting too. Still, it's not my favourite so I wouldn't use it again.

Amorepacific Vintage Single Extra Essence

This is apparently a prebiotic anti-ageing essence that's designed to smooth texture and promote a clearer, more even and toned complexion. It contains Amorepacific’s Single Extract Formula, which is made by fermenting green tea, handpicked from its very own plantation on Jeju Island. This complex essence will rejuvenate the skin’s clarity, texture and tone while helping skin to absorb serums and moisturisers more effectively.

It was fine but I've used other essences I prefer, and given that this one costs $224 for the full-size, I would never buy it anyway. Yes it added a little hydration and yes it was a little brightening, but whatever it did, it didn't do enough of it and I prefer the essences I've used from May Coop and Origins (which are both significantly cheaper). This was nice but essences need to be amazing for me to add an extra step to my skincare routine, and this one didn't make the grade.

Dr Lewinn's Private Formula Vitamin Infused Micellar Cleansing Wipes

These are described as luxuriously soft facial cleansing wipes infused with vitamins a, b, c and e to gently cleanse makeup and impurities, leaving skin feeling refreshed, nourished and soft to the touch. They're non drying and they should give skin a vital nourishment boost and help with radiance. 

As you may know, I'm not a huge fan of makeup wipes these days and I never buy them (these came in a Priceline GWP bag). What I found was that they weren't wet enough so I always had to wet them before I used them, and while they were ok at removing makeup, they weren't the best I've used and I don't like the feel of makeup wipes on my skin anyway. 

SunSense Sensitive Invisible SPF 50+

This was apparently specially designed for sensitive skin, and it should provide SPF 50+ broad spectrum protection and help defend against sunburn and premature skin ageing. It claims to have a lightweight feel and dry clear, making it ideal for the face or body. It's also suitable for babies.

I found it to be ok, but it wasn't the best facial sunscreen I've used so I wouldn't go back to it. For me, it was a little thick so it took some work to rub in (meaning it made me look white sometimes), and it also had a greasy finish so I needed to powder my face more than usual when I used it. As a sunscreen, though, it was fine - and I'm sure you could do a lot worse than this.

In sum

I'm glad I've finally finished these samples and I'm also looking forward to introducing my next round of travel-sized items so I can have some more fun new things to play with.

I'm especially looking forward to trying new things because I'm on makeup and skincare no buys at the moment, so I haven't been testing much new stuff lately and I'm missing doing so.

That's all from me. Hope all's well with you, and speak soon x