Sephora Sample Extravaganza!

 On one of my travels, I ended up in Sephora in Manhattan  I wandered around the store with my eyes lit up just breathing in the elegance. I walked away with a bareMinerals foundation set and I was immediately hooked. It's been a couple years since I have been able to purchase anything from them, but I've gotten smarter how I shop. Recently, I had a birthday and at Sephora you receive a free birthday gift. This "coupon" lasted through Cinco de Mayo and that meant 5 free samples with any purchase. I went straight to the clearance portion of the website and found my tanner (the Sephora Moisturizing Bronzing Body Lotion reviewed on 05/12/2013). For about $10.00, including shipping, I received 11 products. That's unheard of and especially from Sephora. If my addiction wasn't already bad enough, it's about to get worse! Right now, with any fragrance purchase over $25.00, you can get 6 free samples. SIX!! Check out www.sephora.com to get yours. :) 

Here's the rundown on my Sephora goody bag:

Josie Maran | Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation

I was very skeptical when I saw this online but I figured I'd give it a shot. This "magically" turns into your shade? Yep! It came out of the bottle white and gave 100% coverage while matching my skin tone perfectly. This is seriously magic in a bottle. Of course, magic does come with a price. At Sephora, it's $42.00 for a 1 oz bottle. If you desire perfect coverage and have the funds to buy this throughout the year, then absolutely get this. For the rest of us on a regular salary, maybe this isn't the right one.

Amazing Cosmetics | Velvetmineral Liquid Custom Finish Foundation SPF 15

I like foundation, what can I say? This wasn't as great as the Josie Maran. This went on very thick and I could feel it caked on. It looked okay from a distance but up close you could see how thick it was on my skin. Because of it's consistency, of course it gave full coverage but I don't think it was worth feeling icky. Oh and it's water resistant. I guess in certain situations I can see this being a good thing, like a rainy outdoor wedding perhaps? Otherwise, water resistant translates to "you can't wash it off for a day." At Sephora, it costs $36.00 for 1.18 oz. Slightly cheaper than the above product, but in this case you get what you pay for. 

Soap & Glory | The Righteous Butter

I can honestly say that I've never used body butter before. It sounded gross to me! While I was picking my samples, I figured "hey, it's free. Why not give it a shot?" I was pleasantly surprised by how light it felt. It does come out thick (duh!) but it soaks in very quickly. It has a decent scent. It's nothing fake -  just a normal lotion smell. Hours later, I still felt like my skin was silky smooth. It contains shea butter and aloe vera making it the ultimate concoction for dry skin. Sephora's cost is $20.00 for 10.1 oz. I would absolutely say this is worth $20.00. In fact, as soon as I get an extra $20.00 for free spending, this  is what I'll be getting!

Benefit | They're Real Mascara

This was part 1 of my birthday gift. I received this in black (the only shade I use) and tried it out immediately. I'm used to drugstore mascaras so this really blew my mind. The wand is huge compared to what I'm used to but I can definitely see the benefit. My lashes looked extra long without the clumps. The best way I could describe it it is it makes my lashes "feathery". I love this except it is near impossible to take off. I used my usual makeup remover and it didn't work. So, if you are going to that rainy outside wedding and you wear the Velvetmineral foundation, wear this with it! Sephora sells this for $23.00 for a 0.3 oz. I think the 0.1 oz I got will actually last me a decent amount of time, so 0.3 actually goes a longer way than you may think. 

Benefit | Watt's Up Soft Focus Highlighter 

Part 2 of my Sephora birthday gift! This came in champagne and looks beautiful for my skin tone (which is translucent). I had never used highlighter until now but it really does make a huge difference. I like that it's a cream to powder finish and blends really well. My sample was 0.08 oz but if I'm stingy I think I can make it last a few months. If I decide to buy the full size, Sephora sells a 0.33 oz for $30.00. Pretty steep when I can use a champagne eyeshadow to do the same thing. 

Lancôme Paris | La Vie est belle

Ok, I admit it. I only got this because it says belle. I'm not much on actual perfume but this was actually a nice fragrance. It's a sophisticated blend of Iris Pallida, Jasmin, Orange blossom, and Patchouli. Lancôme had this created specially by three of France's leading perfumers. It is a bit strong at first but throughout the day I would catch a light hint of it. For $55.00 at Sephora, this 1.7 oz bottle can be your very own! 

Prada | Prada Candy

This scent contains Benjoin which is a plant resin said to "seed sensuality and ease". I think the alcohol is overpowering in this perfume. It also makes me think of an old lady. I don't feel this is the perfume for me. If you try this out and like it, at Sephora you can pick up a 1 oz bottle for $60.00.

Bond | I ♥ NY № 9 for Mothers

This is a very feminine floral with a predominant rose fragrance. I was intrigued by how fresh this scent actually was versus most rose scented perfumes. Sephora sells a 3.3 oz bottle for $175.00. Yowza!

Versace | Bright Crystal

Versace mixed Magnolia, Peony, and Lotus flower into this scent. Immediately I think of a warm Southern plantation. This is exquisite. While I would predominately wear this during Spring and Summer, I could see myself wearing this during the Winter when I am lonesome for warm weather. 1.7 oz for a whopping $69.00. This is on my shopping list!

Philosophy | Amazing Grace Eau de Toilette

You can ask Chris - as soon as I smelled this I let out an audible "ew!" What promises to be classic, to me is stale musk. I'm not a big fan of this scent. Everyone is different! If you check it out and like it, Sephora sells a 2 oz bottle for $44.00. 

Marc Jacobs | Daisy Eau So Fresh

Alas, this one didn't stimulate my sense either. Too much floral going on in this and it smells too fake. The plastic flowers coming out of the top should have been my first clue. In the chance you're going for that floral scent, Sephora has the 2.5 oz for $78.00.

Such a long list for this review but how awesome that this list only costed me $10.00! Some great finds and some not so great. That's the beauty of samples! Try before you buy!