What was the last product you purchased after trying a sample of?
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye!
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye!
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
Becca Opal
That would have to be Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate! And I’ll probably get it again, although I do wish it had more caffeine in it….it does say black tea, after all? Strange that I didn’t see caffeine listed, though!
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster (orange bottle w/ 15% Vitamin C +ferulic acid) – my friend couldn’t stop raving about this, so I finally had to try a sample. Oh my gosh, every time I use this, I wake up in the morning with super bright skin, and I’m no spring chicken (+40 yrs). I can see why it keeps selling out !
Same for me – I LOVE my Paula’s Choice. Every same I have tried of the Resist anti-aging line I have purchased.
*time
Ooh, I also have the sample version of this and really like it! Have not purchased it but definitely considering it next time I re-purchase my routine…
Locctian shea hand crem although my sample was roses and I bought lime scented
That is my HG hand cream. I have given the small size as gifts to the women I work with and a few have got hooked on it too.
Mizon Aqua Gel Cream. I love how it absorbs instantly and doesn’t leave a heavy greasy feel behind.
Amore Pacific face cream, and my wallet is still sobbing.
I’m actually going to spend this year working my way through my incredible accumulation of samples., then blogging my reviews. I mean, it’s ridiculous that I literally have drawers full of the things. I might as well get some use out of them. And maybe I’ll discover new incredibly expensive products. Yay?
The Philosophy ‘Take A Deep Breath’ Oil-free Oxygen Moisturizer with SPF 30.
Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Bang – the bright orange makes my whole face come alive!
Briogeo blossom & bloom
Ginseng + biotin volumizer
For hair – Kevin Murphy Anti Gravity, Oscar Blandi Volume and Texture spray
For makeup – I didn’t get samples but I swatched and I bought a few UD singles and the Laura Mercier Matte Highlight 01.
For skincare – Shiseido sunscreen for eyes and Erno Laszlo soaps
Algenist Genuis Ultimate Anti-aging. Not for the anti-aging but cause i makes my acne scars fade faster and it dries out active ones (i have hormonal acne btw)
Tarte Opening Act mascara primer.
YSL Touche Eclat Foundation!
Sunday Riley Good Genes, but that was more than six months ago. Since then no sample has convinced me enough.
Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Maximum Volume Mascara Black-
Yes, I know, you think EA is an ‘old lady’ brand.
But Marilyn Monroe wore it so I went to an EA outlet & bought some fragrance & I received a full size sample of this with my purchase. It is FABULOUS! A bit of a thick formula, holds the curl on my fine, thin lashes all day, really does give a lot of volume to my fine lashes, & does not budge until you take it off.
Elizabeth Arden….who knew? I’m always looking for a volumizing mascara. I’ll have to look for it (i wonder if EA is sold in Toronto, Canada….).
Shoppers 🙂
Thanks!!!
Chanel CC cream, just yesterday!
I am browsing as we speak to find this face mask I just tried a free sample of! It’s from Dizao Natural, a Spanish brand.
Getting ready to be Smashbox primer. I needed a new primer badly. I love e.l.f’s poreless primer but there’s not much product and I always have to search and get lucky to find it in my area. But, I didn’t want to buy an expensive one without getting to try it. So, my last Sephora purchase I got kat von d and smashbox primers to try them out and I fell in love! I can’t wait for it to get here!!
Bouquet de La Reine perfume from Floris London and Make up for Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Redness Correcting Primer!
The clinique acne solutions bb cream. It is very good for people with normal to combination oily skin.
KAT VON D – Ink Liner Trio led me to by the acutal full size liners.
Hi Christine,
I purchased the Ole Henriksen enzyme mask–I am not sure of the exact name and from Philosophy, one of the Miracle night time moisturizers.
I also have purchased the Nars pro primer and the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer.
I like to get a sample of lots of skin care and foundations, so that I can see how well they perform.
Isn’t Bye Bye Undereye GOOD???? For fragrance, Victor & Rolf Spice Bomb (I didn’t buy it but put it on my Xmas list); in skincare, Boscia Purifying Gel Cleanser and in makeup, I can’t even think what but I know my next sample based purchase is likely to be UD’s Naked concealer (I didn’t get a sample but did have it applied in-store and “test drove” it all day).
I think that would be the Chanel Matte Velvet foundation although I have received samples of other items I now want to pick up like Burberry Fresh Glow Luminizer and the Fresh Lip Serum Treatment.
Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask
Briogeo leave in conditioner – it also spurred more product purchases from the line – it’s great!
The Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil Light. I received a sample in my Ipsy bag and it has worked miracles on my dry flaky skin!
I also purchased the full size of the Balm’s Meet Matt(e) Hughes in Comitted after receiving that sample in an Ipsy bag as well.
It was a perfume – Paradiso by Roberto Cavalli 🙂
Etat Libre D’Orange Like This perfume. 🙂 It’s the one Tilda Swinton designed to smell like her house. It’s amazing.
Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner (volume versions). Fabulous brand and incredible product.
I usually get my samples from Sephora so I would have to say it was the BECCA Ever Matte Poreless Primer. I love the product and gifted samples to several girlfriends this past holiday season. I wish more lines would offer sample sizes. I also gifted They’re Real Mascara, Pore Professional and Kat Von D – Lolita Duos.
the diorskin nude bb cream! my holy grail now
Dermadoctor eye souffle! Lots of Vit C , but gentle and moisturizing while brightening. Also, not ridiculously expensive!
Neostrata Skin Perfecting Peel – visible results after one use and didn’t irritate my skin.
Eye cream fron Shiseido (Sp?) It actually seems to help brighten my dark circles.
YSL Touch Eclat. I already had the Dream Lumi product by Maybelline recommended as a dupe, but they’re nothing alike, and I realized that after sampling.
I’m currently agonizing over getting the Fresh Rose Mask. It was part of the birthday gift from Sephora, and after one try, my initial assessment is that it’s kind of amazing. But the price! …
It was probably clear in context, but I should have said the YSL Touche Eclat highlighter pen.
Alterna Caviar CC Cream. It was an unexpected hit for my curly hair!
Love this for traveling. So multi-purpose!
I love that stuff. A must have for us curly girls.
Shu Uemura primer mousse
Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation — the original formulation in the glass bottle. I had gone back and forth on this. Last summer, I had tried samples of Hourglass Immaculate, EL Double Wear, and EL Double Wear Light. Settled on Double Wear Light because I was traveling to Italy for vacation and I thought a squeeze tube would be more travel-friendly. Decided to revisit Double Wear again recently, got more samples in two more shades and decided that it was worth a purchase.
Eva NYC thermal hair mask. That conditioner is so amazing!
I never seem to get samples of anything since I shop mostly at the cosmetic website instead of Sephora or Ulta. I do remember getting a MAC sample of mascara and ended up ordering it later. I have ordered on the rare occasion from Sephora. Their stores are amazing.
Benefit POREfessional, I absolute love it!!!!
I bought from Sephora.com and got a bunch of samples. Bought 2 immediately – Anastasia powder duo for brows and a hair syrum from Living Proof
Me too Christine! How funny.
Jo Malone Vitamin E Body Scrub.
MUFE HD Second Skin Cream Blush in 410. Blended so well and gave me such a natural flush I was going at this tiny little sample bubble for about 2 weeks nonstop before I decided to finally purchase a full size…
Elizabeth Arden’s foundation – I had my makeup done and I got a sample of the foundation to use for a week and ended up buying it. It is lovely and really suits my skin.
Genevieve,
EA has some great, reasonably priced skin care & makeup don’t they?
I love their mascaras, powder blushes, smoke to powder pencils, Beautiful Color Brow Shaper & Eyeliner powder set, & their cream blush is just incredible!
Try their Prevage skin care line, I love it!
The KVD Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in #56. Was given a sample at Sephora, went home and tried it. Went back next day to buy it. Amazeballs!!
Estée Lauder BB Glow
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal mask, has helped me a lot with my clogged pores/whiteheads. Its awesome! The samples they give are really generous. I hate when samples are one use only on a product that takes MORE THAN ONE USE to see a change in your skin.
Definitely the body shop vitamin c microdermabrasion scrub…I love love this product
Jimmy Choo Illicit. I could drink the stuff it smells so good.
Tarte lip tint in Elite! It is my favorite color now, a beautiful melon, that mixes beautifully with classic reds for a strawberry look!
clinique “take the day off” balm! awesome product.
‘When’ sheet masks from Birchbox UK. I had a sheet mask (Travelmate) in one of my Birchboxes and it was so good I decided to buy a multipack of 5 different masks. I love sheet masks, they calm and hydrate my skin.
Cover FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation.
Technically these weren’t free sample, but as it’s been a while since I’ve bought based on one, the Sephora Black Friday $10 deals allowed me to try out a bunch of First Aid Beauty stuff and I’ve since bought several more items from their line, and in my “to by” list, I picked up a sample of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle this Fall to test out and it’s now on my list for when I have the funds to drop a chunk of change on perfume.
It would have been some kind of skincare. I try to get samples for any new skincare I want to try, as my skin is so finicky.
Non-skincare, I think it was Armani Luminous Silk foundation.
Estee Lauder Modern Muse le rouge…. One whiff of the sample and I had to purchase it as soon as it was launched… I think I bought the first bottle of the perfume at the store
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Face Base. I am not a primer person and this was perfect for me.
Jodi Marin moisture milk serum I think it’s called its still in my Sephora bag waiting to do a video lol
Josie not Jodi lol
Thierry Mugler Alien Perfume! I had a sample and my husband loved it so much he purchased it for me.
Dr. Brandt Pores No More Primer, I believe! Love that stuff 🙂
Sunday Riley Good Geens and Luna!
Mac Prep+Prime Face & Bite Agave Lip Mask.
I seriously wouldn’t use at least a third of the products I do if I hadn’t gotten a sample of them first. No joke.
Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask and MUFE Hydrating Primer (got a small sample size and bought the travel size)
Murad Renewing Eye Cream