Business Insider Article on "There's A Huge Online 'Black Market' For Beauty Sample Castoffs"

There's A Huge Online 'Black Market' For Beauty Sample Castoffs

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/online-black-market-for-beauty-samples-2013-3#ixzz2OZzbi6gP

I ran into this article and I thought all you beauty bloggers or people who subscribe to the beauty bags or boxes out there should take a look.

FREE Bath and Body Works Take Home Samples

First time ever that I've seen Bath and Body Works giving out take home samples to try.  I was so excited!  Who doesn't like free stuff right?  They had a couple of small buckets placed in front of their store.  A lot of people were taking advantage of them and taking handfuls and handfuls...and putting them in their bags.  If they had handed them out at the cashier's desk, then maybe can than monitor the process and stop people from abusing it.  Because sooner or later they might stop giving things out.

I took three samples and my husband took another three for me.  That's not being too greedy right?  hehe...The samples are all from their Fresh Picked line.  They are all fruity smells.  I actually really like all their scents from this line.  Unfortunately, on these small containers they did not list the names of the scent or what kind of items they are.  The thicker substance I I'm sure is lotions.  But the gel type I'm not sure if they are body washes or hand soaps.  I guess I'll just have to test them out and figure it out that way.

The containers are very small but cute.  They don't leak, so once you're finished with the product you can always wash and reuse them.  You can fill them with your moisturizers or face cleaners.  Maybe even use them as small pill boxes.

Once there's another big sale for sure I"ll go back and buy some hand soaps from this line.  Again, I love all their fruity scents and I love their new packaging.  They are a very classic look to them.  Anyone tried this new line yet?  And favorites I should try?  Please let me know!!

NY Asian Haul - The Face Shop and Detclear

Sorry but it's been a while since I've last posted.  I've been sick and kids have been keeping me busy as usual.  :)

This weekend I was at a wedding in New York so I was actually able to do a little shopping.  So now I have something new to show you all.  There were so many things to look at there and I was always tempted to buy more.  I was able to control myself and got these items below.

Items only purchased items from The Face Shop and from Mitsuwa, Japanese Supermarket in New Jersey.

At the time I wanted to check out the Missha store that I used to shop at.  But I guess 3 years since I've been back is a long time because now The Face Shop had taken over the shop.  I was still very excited because I have never used The Face Shop products before and now it's my face to try.

While I was there I purchased a bunch of face sheet masks.  They were $2 each and with the special they were currently having it was buying 10 and gets one free.  Of course I took advantage of that and got myself an extra one.  I brought two types of sheet masks.  I brought 4 essential masks (I don’t know how else to explain it) and 7 Real Nature masks (two I had given to my sister so I didn't include the pictures here.  I will post later once my sister tries it out and let me know how she liked it). 

#1.  Lemon
#2.  Pomegranate
#3. Soybean
#4. Aloe Vera
#5.  Rice
#6. Raspberries (not in this picture)
#7.  Olive (not in this picture)

#1.  Hyaluronic Acid
#2.  CO-Q10
#3.  Pearl (two)

And lastly from the face shop I purchased a peeling gel mask.  I've always wanted to try them.  I've heard so much about the Cure gel but of course that's $50 and I was too cheap to buy it.  So this one at the face shop, the White Jewel Peeling Gel was only $15, I pick myself a bottle.

Once I checked out they had given me a couple of samples.  I got two FLEBOTE Collagenic EX V lifting cream, two FLEBOTE White Crystal Effect Essence, and two Rice Water Bright Cleansing foam.  Anyone out there tried these items?  How do you use these and how do you guys like them?  Please share with me.

I've also sighed up to be a member.  Membership is free.  And with this purchased I earned 10% off my next purchase and 5% after that on my other purchases.  But since I don't live in New York anymore I think it will be a few years before I'm able to return and use my discount.  Oh well.

And look...Kim Hyun Joong!!  After doing a little research I found out that he's now the official international ambassador of the Face Shop brand.  I remember him from the Korean TV drama Boys Over Flowers.  Hehe...

Once I got home I found out I've over paid for my sheet masks.  Damn it!!  Sasa currently has a sale for $1.50 each.  Damn damn damn!!  Oh well...

The next day I went to the Mitsuwa Japanese market and purchase the Detclear Fruit Peeling Gel.  This one was $17.  I've heard a lot of good things on this item too.  So again, once I get the chance I'll compare two peeling gels I've purchased on this trip and let you know now I feel about them both.

So any recommendations on other The Face Shop items I should try?  Or other Asian beauty products?  Let me know.  I really want to try more.

Lush - Honey I Washed The Kids Soap Review

A while back when I made an UK Lush purchase online they had sent me a couple of samples to try.  One of them was the Honey I Washed the Kids Soap.  I've actually tired this soap in the past and loved it.  So I was excited to be able to use this soap again.  The soap was only a small piece but that doesn't matter.  It's always nice to get something for free.

This sample has been sitting in my bathroom for a while and after I opened the wrap I've noticed the soap had dried up a bit.  But after my first use the soap got looks like it's back normal again.  So don't be afraid when you lush soaps looked a bit dried up.  Sorry, I didn't take a after picture of the soap.

Lush Description: 
Honey I Washed the Kids is one of our best-selling soaps because it’s simply irresistible. People who fully intended to walk past a LUSH shop find themselves unable to resist its sweet caramel fragrance. You’ll inhale, drool, pick up a big chunk and immediately want to wash yourself all over with it. It’s so gentle, buttery and scrumptious you’ll have a hard time keeping it to yourself. The honey water and aloe are so softening and moisturizing, you can use our toffee-scented sensation on the whole family.

I love the smell of this soap.  It's has a sweet honey caramel scent to it.  It lathers up pretty well and I find it very moisturizing and it leaves a very clean feeling after using it.  And you guys all probably know this already...these specialty soaps they don't last long.  So to keep it from shrinking that fast, after use you should put it in a soap dish where it can dry up quickly and not soak in water to melt.  

Online (US site) it's $7.95 per 3.5oz.  I'm not sure why but I believe the prices at the stores cost a lot more.  I was at the store just two days ago and I think I remember it being close to $9.  I dunno...maybe I'm seeing things.  You guys correct me if I'm wrong.

So how you guys all like this soaps?  And how you guys like Lush?  Let me know!!