samples made me buy it

Sometimes shoppers complain about the 100 point perks at Sephora.  If you are part of their rewards program you rarely get discounts but you do earn free deluxe size samples or "perks" as they call them.   This may sound stingy to some but I have ended up buying quite a few full size products of the samples that I got from Sephora.  Obviously it works out well for them but I am always excited to discover new loves.

Also at Sephora they are happy to make a free sample of whatever product you request.  Or they just hand you random stuff they want to promote.  But for the purposes of this blog post I am only going to talk about unsolicited samples ie. stuff I did not ask for.  Oh with one caveat, a couple of these samples came in my Sephora Play! Box which I guess means I indirectly asked for them, but then again not, because I don't get to choose what's in my box.  So yeah, these are all going to be products I didn't specifically request, wasn't even looking for, and in some cases didn't even think I'd like.  But like them I did, in fact LOVED them, and so ended up spending my own money buying them.

Here is what I am excited about, my wonderful inadvertent discoveries:

My latest and greatest is the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer.  I got a little sachet of this with an online order and assumed I wouldn't like it because I thought it would be thick and cakey and drying.  Something got into me one day though and I just put it on and was delightfully surprised at how flawless it made me look.  It had a nice satin finish, not dry at all, and a full coverage effect that didn't look cakey in the least.  It instantly became my most favorite foundation (and I am a foundation hoarder).

I don't remember exactly how I got a sample of Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, I think maybe it was in a Play! box, but it ended up making my Must Have Mascaras list.  It gave super great, moist, volume for an irresistible come-hither look.  A couple coats of this and I would say it is one of the most volumizing but clump-free mascaras I have ever tried.

One day at the cash register a Sephora Sales Associate tossed a handmade sample of Herbivore Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask in my bag.  When I got home I was just going to throw it out because I thought it would be too harshly clarifying; more for someone with oily skin.  But I decided to try it on my T-zone and it turned out not to be too harsh at all.  In fact it gave me no redness whatsoever, but it did eliminate every last blackhead.  Amazing!  Now it's my favorite way to exfoliate (I only leave it on for 5 mins. because of my sensitive skin).

I got a travel size Ouai Wave Spray in one of my Play! boxes.  It was pretty cool but what I really fell in love with was the brand itself.  The spray enhanced a gentle wave and texture in my hair without being sticky or too dry.  Nice, but it also meant there wasn't as much hold as some other wave sprays.  However it was evident that the quality of the product was exquisite, healthy, and luscious.  Needless to say I am dying to try more from Ouai!

In another Play! box was a small size of the Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Flirting Game-Taupe.  I tried it in a what-the-hell moment and it ended up lasting all day.  And let me tell you, that is a feat because I have very watery eyes. There are a scant few eyeliners that I can wear.  The color was a lovely neutral shade (actually a bit darker than what I consider taupe to be) which went with many eye looks, and I liked how the soft creamy texture gave me a sultry expression.  

I adored the deluxe sample of Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment mask against all odds.   I never would have chosen it because it was supposedly for normal to oily skin and my skin was dry and sensitive.   Who knows why I decided to try it, but it made my face look glorious.   I was all glowy!  My skin was actually hydrated and thoroughly cleaned out while all redness was reduced.  I don't know how others' dry sensitive skin would like it, but mine loved it.

I got a little card of Pinrose Merry Maker Eau de Parfum with an online order and after wearing it for only a day went and ordered a full bottle of it (partially because it turned out to be fairly inexpensive).  It even made it into my November Favorites post.  It was a sexy nectarine scent that for some reason reminded me of popular unisex fragrances of the 90s. Very nostalgic, and I became addicted to its uplifting vibe!

What samples, from Sephora or elsewhere, have caused you to buy a full size?

all products reviewed were either bought, researched, or sampled by me. And product pictures were stolen from the link's websites. I am not financially compensated for my reviews