Um…yeah, but I seem to hoard them more than I actually use them.
Whenever I find a good one, I pull it out and save it in this bag I have where I keep sample packets for trips, but I always somehow forget about the bag whenever a trip comes along and end up filling and using those little sample jars you get from Nordstrom instead.
*shakes head*
So, as I sit here looking at my bag of sample packets, I think I’m done saving them for a rainy day… I’m just gonna start using them right now, so please excuse me as I dig into this packet of Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum that I tore out of a magazine two months ago (I plan to use this tip to get every last drop out of it, by the way).
How about you? Do you ever use those free skin care and fragrance sample packets that are in some magazines?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
sara says
October 7th, 2015 at 9:56 amThat’s funny, I have used those serums for days. I use them on the back of my hands because I like my current skincare routine for my face. I figured it couldn’t hurt my hands right? Maybe they’ll look nicer too.
Jessica says
October 7th, 2015 at 10:27 amBeen a long time since I looked at the kind of magazines that have those.
But it really makes me think that art magazines really ought to have sample art supplies.
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Chelsea says
October 7th, 2015 at 10:38 amI hoard them and never use them! My skin is really sensitive, and these kind of things always have a ton of fragrance, it seems.
Brooke says
October 7th, 2015 at 10:43 amI do the same thing! i keep my samples in a wire basket I got out of the bargain bin at Target 🙂 I even save shampoo/conditioner samples even tho I know damn well enough the sample packet doesn’t have near enough product for me to use. Every now and then I’ll look at it and just start throwing stuff away, but it still seems to keep full :/
Kalli says
October 7th, 2015 at 11:23 amSometimes I use the ones in magazines, but my friend works at a fancy hotel day spa and she gives me samples of stuff all the time. I’m just finishing up a slew of samples she gave me last week of some high-end brand I’ve never heard of called Decleor (spoiler: it’s ok, not blown away but wouldn’t pay full price).
Steph says
October 7th, 2015 at 11:30 amI do! That’s how I found Chanel’s vitalumiere aqua foundation. I love it but it’s not cruelty free. Such a first world problem.
Kiss & Make-up says
October 7th, 2015 at 11:43 amI used to, yes. Used to smear ’em all over myself, lol 🙂
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Claudia says
October 7th, 2015 at 11:44 amI do the same thing Karen! I have 2 bags from Sephora filled with all sorts of samples from magazines & freebies- I’ll try them on the back of my hand first to see what they’ll feel & smell like.
Bella says
October 7th, 2015 at 12:06 pmNo, but I love to make a point of applying the foundation samples in 01 Ghostly White on my jawline :-D!!!
Kelly B. says
October 7th, 2015 at 12:57 pmWhen I was younger I pretty much hoarded these in a big box, but now, I honestly don’t even look through magazines enough to get these samples 😀 I probably have ones still that are 5+ years old-it’s definitely time for a clean out!
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Majick says
October 7th, 2015 at 1:01 pmHi Karen, I haven’t been around (surgery – gak – but all good now). I hear you have a bun in the oven? If that IS true – CONGRATULATIONS – if not, I apologize for mixing things up.
I am like you in the respect that I actually have a box FULL of smamples etc. that I’ve received. I always threaten to take them on trips but when on a trip I don’t want a reaction to something new so…
I swear everyday that I will start using them but I think the best bet would be to use the latest ones and toss the others. OR, just thought of this (since I’m allergic to most of the fragrances anyway)I could just drop the box off in the ladies locker room at the gym.
Hmmm…
Ok, love to TABS!
Karen says
October 7th, 2015 at 1:49 pmHi Majick,
Yes, I’m expecting. Tabs is going to get a new assistant — a baby girl who arrives next March! I’m 18 weeks along, and she’s getting bigger every day.
I’m glad to hear that things are OK with you, and that you’re healing!
Rachel R. says
October 7th, 2015 at 1:08 pmI save them and use them when I travel. It’s so much easier to take samples on a weekend trip than to haul bottles of skincare and perfume.
Erin says
October 7th, 2015 at 1:28 pmI don’t get mags often so if they have something I like I will!
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Tatiana says
October 7th, 2015 at 1:30 pmI don’t think I’ve ever seen samples in magazines, other than fragrance. Maybe I’m not paying enough attention. I have tons of small sample packets from Sephora, Barney’s, and other retailers that include samples with orders. Some I use while traveling and some I just use to try the product.
Holly says
October 7th, 2015 at 1:52 pmI don’t find them very often but I do use them on occasion. Sometimes there’s a little stack by the register at the drugstore which is really nice & convenient. I picked up some L’Oreal BB Cream samples for acne prone skin at Walgreen’s a few weeks ago so I should probably try it out soon…
Kwmechelle says
October 7th, 2015 at 3:40 pmIsn’t it crazy how the simplest tips are the ones you NEVER thought of? Definitely never thought of the one you showed. I don’t use the samples just cause I get irked that the packets are small & the products won’t be enough for me to use. Heavy handed much? Yeah, I’m soooo heavy handed that I need at least 20 packets (hyperbole) to get sufficient use to test the product out for awhile. That way I can tell if I really like it & if it’s worth buying. 🙂
Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com says
October 7th, 2015 at 4:33 pmThe ones in magazines are too hard to apply but I’ve used little samples that come in like subscription boxes and they’re a nice way to switch things up!
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Cory says
October 7th, 2015 at 8:54 pmOh you crack up! I totally hoard them too!!! I literally have two tall zip-bags filled with samples from magazines & Sephora & Ulta lol!
* it does come in handy when I run out of something unexpectedly, like say a serum (I just went through this lol)? Then I’ll bust em out & rummage around until I find a fill-in! Lol
Cory says
October 7th, 2015 at 8:55 pm* you crack ME up!
** my iPhone decided to extract the “me” from that sentence & make me sound like a total jerk lmao
My Beauty Dreams says
October 7th, 2015 at 10:58 pmSometimes I do! I’ll often use hair samples, but skincare and foundation samples often get thrown out because they’re either not the right color, not a good formula for my skin type, and I just don’t really see the point!
mybeautydreamss.blogspot.com
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Jennifer says
October 8th, 2015 at 7:39 amI, too, once saved all of them for trips. But I never remembered to bring them along except for once and then I didn’t anyway because I decided I didn’t want to do any experimenting with my face while away.
Then I read Marie Kondo’s book and decided I needed to use them as I get them. It’s been good. I’ve made a handful of product discoveries this way that I’m planning to purchase.
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Kim says
October 8th, 2015 at 7:57 amI do the same thing with all my sample packs and, oddly enough, just found the bag on Tuesday while I was looking for my Photo Op (regular sized, which I didn’t find because I was pressed for time). It’s sort of a nice surprise to find all those little packets. HAHA! Mine are all from Sephora, though. I never read fashion/beauty mags anymore.
LindaLibraLoca says
October 8th, 2015 at 12:35 pmI store them in a drawer and only recently took to organizing it and trying at least some of the samples for the sake of the blog. And for the sake of decluttering, if I am completely honest.
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Iris says
October 8th, 2015 at 2:02 pmI’ve happily used them. Um, my mother got me a subscription to Flare magazine years ago. I read very few of the issues but I used all the sample packets which came in them. The subscription was not renewed after a year.
Heather Longfellow says
October 8th, 2015 at 4:55 pmYes! I save packets like this that I get as “free gifts” or in subscription boxes for trips, and completely forget about them, and end up letting them sit around until they’ve probably gone bad, so I end up throwing them away by the time I think to use them! I hate this kind of sample and deluxe packaging!
Gillian Pidler says
October 9th, 2015 at 5:08 amAlso when you’ve used up all you can squeeze out, I cut off the 4 seams of the sachet and peel apart the 2 sheets, you can usually get a fair bit more out doing this.
JCarbonel says
October 9th, 2015 at 1:32 pmI tend to stop requesting samples with my online orders unless it’s something I love or have been dying to try. I’ve gone on vacation simply bringing sample packets of toiletries, and when you see a trash bin with 20 used sample packets it feels soooo satisfying lol! Also when I notice I have a stockpile of packets and I’m almost done a full sized skincare product, I’ll switch to using the sample packets until they’re all gone before I bust out a brand new skincare item! Since I’ve been focusing on using up products and working on my hoarding, I try and get my little victories in my empties haha
Cecília says
October 9th, 2015 at 7:44 pmWell, I guess it’s not commom to find samples in brazilian magazines (or I just don’t pay too much attention for that). But sometimes I receive some skin care free sample from drugstores, unfortunately I always forget to use them in time.
Alison says
October 12th, 2015 at 1:33 pmI think it has been years and years since I actually bought a magazine that’s sold with samples! Years ago, I used to buy Vogue Magazine, but they don’t tend to come with sample packets. I tend to love brands that offer them for free or for a small price, though – I have very sensitive skin, and getting to try a product beforehand in a small dose can be extremely helpful and actually lead to me being more likely to purchase something, because I get to find what actually works. I find buying a few samples makes me less likely to feel like I’m just wasting product and money by buying a full size and then having a bad reaction to it!
I also wish that more brands sold or offered foundation samples, because its such a makeup essential and it’s always important to try one a few times in different light. I always have so much trouble getting those in the country I live in, and over here, if a foundation breaks you out, gives you a rash or isn’t the right shade, you can’t return it. It’s pretty poor considering they don’t give you any samples, either!