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Do You Ever Use Those Free Skin Care and Fragrance Sample Packets That Are in Some Magazines?

October 7th, 2015 by Karen 30 Comments

sample-packets-magazines

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

Do You Ever Use Those Free Skin Care and Fragrance Sample Packets That Are in Some Magazines? / Originally published October 7th, 2015

There are 30 comments on this post. Leave yours.

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Comments

  1. sara says

    October 7th, 2015 at 9:56 am

    That’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.

    Reply
  2. Jessica says

    October 7th, 2015 at 10:27 am

    Been 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.
    Jessica recently posted … Holey Yoga

    Reply
  3. Chelsea says

    October 7th, 2015 at 10:38 am

    I hoard them and never use them! My skin is really sensitive, and these kind of things always have a ton of fragrance, it seems.

    Reply
  4. Brooke says

    October 7th, 2015 at 10:43 am

    I 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 :/

    Reply
  5. Kalli says

    October 7th, 2015 at 11:23 am

    Sometimes 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).

    Reply
  6. Steph says

    October 7th, 2015 at 11:30 am

    I 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.

    Reply
  7. Kiss & Make-up says

    October 7th, 2015 at 11:43 am

    I used to, yes. Used to smear ’em all over myself, lol 🙂
    Kiss & Make-up recently posted … USA haul | Hawaii make-up and skincare reviews

    Reply
  8. Claudia says

    October 7th, 2015 at 11:44 am

    I 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.

    Reply
  9. Bella says

    October 7th, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    No, but I love to make a point of applying the foundation samples in 01 Ghostly White on my jawline :-D!!!

    Reply
  10. Kelly B. says

    October 7th, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    When 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!
    Kelly B. recently posted … Let’s Chat about the Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick Line

    Reply
  11. Majick says

    October 7th, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    Hi 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!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 7th, 2015 at 1:49 pm

      Hi 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!

      Reply
  12. Rachel R. says

    October 7th, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    I 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.

    Reply
  13. Erin says

    October 7th, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    I don’t get mags often so if they have something I like I will!
    Erin recently posted … Les Portes De Bordeaux 2014 Rosé

    Reply
  14. Tatiana says

    October 7th, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    I 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.

    Reply
  15. Holly says

    October 7th, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    I 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…

    Reply
  16. Kwmechelle says

    October 7th, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Isn’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. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com says

    October 7th, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    The 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!
    Miranda | SlashedBeauty.com recently posted … 5 Best Drugstore Eyeliners for Tightlining

    Reply
  18. Cory says

    October 7th, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    Oh 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

    Reply
    • 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

      Reply
  19. My Beauty Dreams says

    October 7th, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    Sometimes 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
    My Beauty Dreams recently posted … Empties #2 | Empty Products & Mini Reviews

    Reply
  20. Jennifer says

    October 8th, 2015 at 7:39 am

    I, 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.
    Jennifer recently posted … Crush Costs: Buy Groceries at Drugstores

    Reply
  21. Kim says

    October 8th, 2015 at 7:57 am

    I 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.

    Reply
  22. LindaLibraLoca says

    October 8th, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    I 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.
    LindaLibraLoca recently posted … Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser

    Reply
  23. Iris says

    October 8th, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    I’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.

    Reply
  24. Heather Longfellow says

    October 8th, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Yes! 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!

    Reply
  25. Gillian Pidler says

    October 9th, 2015 at 5:08 am

    Also 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.

    Reply
  26. JCarbonel says

    October 9th, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    I 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

    Reply
  27. Cecília says

    October 9th, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    Well, 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.

    Reply
  28. Alison says

    October 12th, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    I 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!

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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