Sample Stash, May 2017

I never did get round to posting April's sample stash post, because I felt pretty uninspired by the samples I'd pulled out of the box for that month. But May's seemed better, so here's how I got on with them..

Tarte Mascara // I've tried a Tarte mascara before and didn't love it - this one's a bit better but it doesn't seem to last very long. I love the packaging but overall ... meh. 6/10

Vichy Idealia Serum // This is soooo good - it comes out almost iridescent, smells gorgeous and makes my skin feel amazing. 8/10

  John Frieda Frizz Ease shampoo + conditioner // This has a generic salon smell and I wasn't expecting much, but it really did make my hair more manageable and less frizzy. 7/10

Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm // Can you believe I'd never tried this before? I've had this tiny sample floating around forever and not got round to it, but it's safe to say I love this. It's softer yet thicker than other balms I've tried, does the job and smells nice. If only it wasn't so pricey! 9/10

Ziaja Marine Algae deep moisturising cream // This is one of my new favourites from Ziaja, and I've never seen it in full size so fingers crossed next time I'm in Poland I'll spot it! It smells and good and it's so nourishing. 9/10

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector SPF 30 // I thought this was gonna be an eye cream but it's more of a treating concealer - the shade is a wee bit dark for me but it does a decent enough job at covering under my eyes. I wouldn't say it's improved the look of any darkness, though, and Kiehl's aint cheap. 4/10

SBC Arnica Gel // I love SBC gels, and arnica is really good at soothing the skin so this was absolutely spot on for me - it eases bruises, sore skin and dry skin. Fab fab fab. 10/10

Oribe Smooth Style Serum // For something so expensive from a brand so hyped, I was expecting wonders but this was hard to distribute through my hair and left it feeling sticky. It smells nice but other than that it's a no from me. 3/10

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer // I have no idea which shade this was in, but I've tried a few and they're all pretty similar - you can use these as a primer or a liquid highlighter, but rather than giving you a shine or glow they're just GLITTERY. Which might be your jam but it isn't mine - maybe for V Fest but not for uni. 4/10

Nivea Cleansing Cream Wash // As face washes go this does the trick but it's just so boring - if it's on offer and you're on a budget, go for it but you can definitely find nicer face washes for a similar price. 7/10

A real mixed bag this month - I wonder next month will hold!