What was the last product you tried a sample of that made you purchase the full size? Share!
I can’t even remember! The only product that I can think of is NARS Smudge Proof but that was years ago.
Thanks to Donna for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
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!
Nothing. Lucky Nordstrom lets me have a sample of the face products. Too heavy fragrance for Chanel and Guerlain. Can’t sleep. The Sheisedo is a sticky mess. The new BB cream from Guerlain has such a strong violet fragrance.
Nirvana Black by Elizabeth and James!
I got a sample of this too and I reallyyyyy want it!
Dr. Jart BB creams – I tried some samples and ended up buying the gold, white, and black tubes in full sizes. I don’t wear primer or foundation anymore, just his BB creams. His BB creams give light to medium coverage, hydration, blends nicely into the skin, provides SPF protection, and lasts all day.
I got a sample packet of the Baby Leaf Green Tea Waterfull Serum at the FaceShop, and ended up liking it enough to get the full-size bottle! Though I’m not sure if it’s really doing anything as far as skincare goes. In terms of actual cosmetics, nothing yet, as the samples are always for high-end products that aren’t worth the splurge for me when I rarely wear make-up in the first place, and I have so much stuff in general that, say, mini-lipsticks last long enough for me anyway.
Maison Martin Margiela “Replica Beach Walk” perfume. I was so glad when they released a rollerball size, because the only other size is $125.
I loved this scent so much when I sampled it that I would have sprung for the full-size bottle… except that the scent was totally gone by hour three. Have you had better luck with your rollerball? I’m wondering if my sample was just a botched batch or something.
Murad Aha/bha face wash.
I haven’t but when my mini benefit watt’s up, I defs will get one
Not positive, but I’m pretty sure it was the Urban Decay Naked foundation. Best foundation I’ve ever tried, hands down.
i haven’t bought it, but i am dreaming to buy chanel’s le lift creme after using a sample! haha i wish i could have gotten like 50 samples of it.
The ladies at my local Chanel counter are v. good about giving me samples, and (sadly), they gave me a pile of these. I fell in love, but at $165, it’s just a no-go….
i know! it’s so heartbreaking!
Hi Amara! When I received samples I loved, I went onto eBay to search for more samples because they last awhile and totally cost less! Plus, some people get hoards for free and sell really cheap because of that, so give it a try! 🙂
Eve Lom Cleanser was recent for me. Prior to that, I can’t remember the last.
I tried a sample of Hourglass Primer and knew I had to have it in my life. Sold!
Origins ginzing eye cream!
Everything TATCHA! *Breathes a sigh of relief, that was an easy one* 😉
I want to try Tatcha! I’ve heard some good reviews! Do you recommend anything?
Hi Meghan! I also fell in love with both Nirvanas from Elizabeth and James, as soon as it launched, I’m familiar with notes and fragrance, so I knew I’d love it and pre-ordered the big sizes! I love seeing them get love!
I have such a wonderful advisory for you which I think you’ll be pleased with! 😀 You can sample through Tatcha by ordering a discovery kit for cheap! You get tailored for your skin type, and they send you a welcome email with your results and recommendations along with a one time code for a free deluxe sample of their eye cream, which is so fabulous, omg, and it will last you about 6 months! I’ve learned that continuing with them, one saves money by buying the sample sizes of powders, each one works uniquely, and creams, because opening a big jar for the year plus of use that full size (massively expensive) products will give you, isn’t worth it when you can reopen a small fresh one at SO CHEAP for the amazing products! I hope that helps, and I’m including a link for you that will take you directly to the discovery sets…. I can’t even tell you how luxe and enchanting it comes packaged! Truly a privilege worth trying! And at Tatcha, there moto is: We want you happy. If you aren’t, we make you happy! Hence they accept returns, customer service is amazing, super quick, and you get 3 free great samples of your choice with each purchase! Please do let me know if you decide to try it and what you picked! 🙂
Link: http://www.tatcha.com/shop/p-ritual-discovery-kit
I am SO excited for you! I know you’ll love this! <3!!!! 😀 ( Do not buy at Sephora. They can't be trusted with Tatcha and don't carry the full line or expertise. Products get ravaged. Tatcha is always free shipping and SO unbelievably compassionate! 🙂 (Fyi)
Thank you so much for the recommendation! Shipping to Canada is US$20 unfortunately, and I don’t like paying for shipping usually, haha! The Canadian dollar is also doing really badly against US$ right now, but I’m definitely bookmarking the discovery set when it goes up again!! I’m very interested – it seems great that they can be tailored to my skin type! Again – thanks very much for the excellent recommendation!! 😀
And the Nirvanas are the best aren’t they! 🙂 So lovely!
Tatcha Exfoliating Rice Enzyme Powder and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Both samples from Sephora, and I bought them together a week later!
I recently bought several Kiehls products after trying samples of them. The brand’s sample policy is really great, I wouldn’t buy such expensive skincare without testing, and now I’m completely hooked on it)
L’Erbolario Pollen day cream
Ren Skincare Evercalm Cleansing Milk!
Benefit mascara They’re real. I got a sample size for my birthday from sephora. It was the best free birthday gift ever!
Same here…I completely forgot about that. The bday gift from Sephora and ended up buying a full size. One of my favorite mascaras.
Dior Iconic Overcurl mascara! It’s amazing! 🙂
Seriously! I just recently got a mini of it and it is AMAZING. I’m totally going after it once I run out of the mascaras in my stash 😛
Probably Alterna CC cream or Bite Beauty VIB Rouge lipstick (that got me started loving and buying Bite lipsticks).
The only thing that comes to mind is a Murad cleanser that I got a deluxe sample size of. My daughter tried it and it helped to clear her skin so I bought her a full size during the last 20% off sale.
Anthrax eyeshadow made by My Pretty Zombie Cosmetics. It’s a beautiful medium purple duochrome with a green/gold shift.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!
Tarte lights camera lashes mascara: I love that this is a dryer formula and I can build it up. It doesn’t smudge on me either. I love tarte products, but never tried this before the sample.
L’occitane shea butter hand cream: I always get samples, but I finally took the plunge.
Elizabeth and James Nirvana White and See By Chloé.
Verso eye serum, Hourglass Illusion Tint, and LivingProof hair Primer.
😛 ditto to the Verso eye serum.
Fekkai Reparatives Intense Fortifying Masque. 5 minutes once a week makes my hair so soft and shiny.
Philosophy’s Purity Facial Cleanser
Shiro Lipglosses, and Silk Naturals skin care. There are also some blush samples I have I’m going to order a full size of next time I order from those companies: Shiro Gelato Beach, Darling Girl to Love a Beast, and possibly Silk Naturals Heavenly Glow.
I don’t get accese to many samples here in Canada outside of Sephore. Most sample are custom instore with products I’m not sure about. Mostly foundations shade shade matching which I’m thankful for becasue most fair shades sone match.
So I like to order smiplier kits whan I can as well!
It was a Fyrinnae free sample. I don’t remember the shade name, but I bought the full size after swatching the sample.
I got a sample of that GlamGlow for eyes in an NM beauty week and not only bought full size of that, but also original GlamGlow and the thirstymud–I love all of it!
Nirvana Black. I loooove that perfume!!
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. It smells so nice!
Hado labo night cream- the plumping one I think. It didn’t work out in the long run.
Algenist Genius Vitamin C serum. The sample totally sold me on the full-size and it’s my new HG vitamin c product. Lovely stuff.
It’s been a while, but i think it was Bobbi Brown Oil Free tinted moisturizer. I really like the coverage, compared to other tinted moisturizers, plus the formula is great for summer, when I get really oily.
perfume from Lancome La Vie Est Belle!
The Dermalogica Skinperfect primer!
Sugarpill Magentric and Estee Lauder Red Ego lipstick. I really like them. 🙂 I’m going to get Paula’s Choice Moisture Boost moisturizer when I’m out of my current night moisturizer too. It’s so amazingly rich that it’s borderline greasy but I like that in a night cream.
Nothing… I don’t really bother with those tiny sample packets from stores such as Sephora (there’s never enough to really gage the product), and things like eyeshadow primers that come with palettes are usually something I plan to buy anyway (I prefer using the same brand of eyeshadow & primer in most cases). The only samples I ask for are foundation samples, which I have been doing quite a bit over the past few months, but nothing seems to be any better than the DS gems I’ve recently acquired… I’ve also gotten mascara samples I really liked, mainly from Lancome, but I get them sooo frequently, I never had to buy full-size, LOL!
Years ago, I did receive a GWP from Lancome that contained a lipstick in Jezebel, and I did buy a backup!
Benefit’s They’re Real Push Up liner! I know it’s got a terrible reputation, but I love it!
2 things recently. Napoleon auto pilot primer and Elizabeth and James (white) perfume
Dr Jart Cerimidin cream. Quite possibly the best cream I’ve ever bought- perfect for my winter dry skin, both face and body!
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum. Love that stuff! And I have actually really loved almost everything that I’ve tried from his line. Glad that I got introduced to this brand because it actually works. Truth Serum, as well as the Pure Truth Youth Activating Oil have dramatically evened out my skin tone and gotten rid of my dark sun spots and melasma ( ethnic, not hormonal).
Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet! So good.
A few years ago (yes, that long..lol) I remember trying a sample of Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and ended up buying it. It’s a fantastic TM.
Theraplex Barrier Balm! It’s done wonders for my dry skin this winter. I’ll probably never use another moisturizer because this one has been everything I was looking for
Anastasia Dipbrow. I just bought it today. My Sephora girl gave me a generous sample back in JUNE and it lasted until last week! So in love with this stuff, I couldn’t wait to buy it.
GlamGlow mud mask and Glam glow hydrating mask. They are my ultimate HG products now.
Prada Candy. I loved it so much I just had to have the full size. It’s my all time favorite perfume now!
OMG, I LOVE PRADA CANDY!!
Mmmmmm… So good!
Dior Star foundation. Just ordered it this morning after ekeing out my sample for as long as possible.
Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation (the cream version)! I got a sample in a massive bag of sample goodies I got from ULTA around christmastime and I loved it so much I went out and got the full size. I was never really a big foundation girl but I’m loving it!
Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple
Tom Ford Velvet Orchid perfume! First full-size perfume I have purchased in at least two years!
Haven’t bought it yet, but I asked for a sample of Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturiser at Sephora and I am HOOKED!
The Givenchy perfume Dahlia Divin. I absolutely love it! It’s my ‘going out’ perfume but sometimes I like to spray it on my pillow before I go to bed. 😛
Notoriously Morbid’s loose eyeshadow in Autumn Flower (it’s not a permanent shade, so when it came available again in December, I got two full-sized.)
I recently got a sample of MUFE HD Blush in 410 (coral), and I like it so much, I’m going to get the full-sized.
I received a sample of the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré from Birchbox and fell in love with it.
That L’Oréal lumi magique primer! And more recently Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation but I haven’t bought it yet (I will soon though, once I save up some money!)
The Living Grace shower gel, body emulsion, and spray fragrance by Philosophy.
I had ignored UD’s Perversion mascara until I got a sample from somewhere….wow it’s great & I had to have the full-sized version!
I love samples. I have bought so many things because of them. Latest purchases: Alterna 10 in 1 CC Cream and Buxom Mascara.
Becca Mattifying Primer. It’s an oily gal’s BFF 🙂
The last one was Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle. I got a sample on my Birchbox and got addicted to it.
MAC mascara – I would get up and tell you which one but I have a sleeping dog under my right arm and another close beside me : )
Aww! 🙂 That is so sweet! Dogs are beautiful loving creatures.. Enjoy! <3
I get tons of samples but usually chose either fragrance or skin products. I’ve also received some lipsticks. I received a sample of Laura Mercier foundation that I love and have continued to purchase. I don’t think I’ve purchased any fragrance but scents change on me. I try the lipsticks more for texture than color but my favorite is skin care. I know if I will have a reaction or if I find it soothing. Unfortunately, I am unable to tell if the products meets any other purchase because that occurs over weeks at the minimum.
I tried a sample of Guerlain’s orchid cream and I bought the cream
Chanel aqua vitalumiere (amazing foundation) radical exfoliating pads ( they completely changed my skin, I look like I’m 18 again!) and the la mer the concentrate ( goes on like silk and keeps my normally red skin at bay) and lastly I recieved a sample of the Laura mercier radiance primer that I immediatly bought the full size. I can’t help but buy every time they have a deluxe sample filled bag at saks, Bergoff goodman etc. they are always so much fun to experiment with and most of the samples last a long time!
Not exactly makeup, but Lush Enzymion. That stuff might just be my holy grail face cream. Maybe. Possibly.
MAKE UP FOREVER Smoky Extravagant Mascara!!!! It really rocks, makes my lashes look fuller and longer. I’ve even has people ask if I’m wearing falsies! 😉 Got the sample as a Birthday Gift from Sephora, then I went and bought a full size one!
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Eye Cream. I don’t remember where I received the sample or how large it was but I know that I saw dramatic results within a few days of bed time application.
Jessica McClintoch’s original scent. Sprayed it on my inner arm as I walked through a department store. I not only loved the unusual light floral scent but that one spray lingered on my sleeve for what seemed like forever and my closet smelled heavenly fragrant. Talk about staying power and getting your money’s worth!
Borghese Purificante Clay Cleanser. It’s made from clay and it’s a cleanser, but really it cleans like a mask, deep-cleans. The clean was great, but the smell? It is the best smelling cleanser, ever-ever. It is like walking through an Italian garden which has grown for an eternity in a bed of volcanic clay in the bright moonlight. You smell mint, but it isn’t strong, its soft and clean like rain would smell on a spearmint leaf in a garden. It is beautiful, warm and inviting, that is a scent I swear I can hear, that is how strongly it calls to me. I think I smell lavender too, but the lavender is just barely there, and tea, maybe green, which is something perfectly balanced against the mint. It smells like pure should, it’s lovely and intoxicating and you won’t just quick, sniff, you’ll smell until you run out of lung.
1 △ ▽
Borghese is another brand I really miss! I agree with you on the smell of the skincare, and even the makeup smells good.
What a lovely description!
i believe it was the shaveworks the cool fix! love that stuff.
Bliss 24-Heaven body cream. I use it for my hands and it is one of the very few creams that has smoothed my hands out and got rid of rough, flaky, cracking skin in less than 24 hours. I received a small size in one of the Sephora Favorites last summer and immediately purchased the regular size within a week of seeing the results. The smaller one is always in my purse and the regular size sits within easy reach in the bathroom!
Ben Nye Mojave Powder
Boscia gel exfoliater and Origins eye cream.
An Innoxa eye cream. I got in a sample pack with a purchase and it was so good that I went back and purchased the full tube.
Oh man…I dunno. Maybe Missha Super Aqua Snail Cream? That sample really made me question my fear of snails. And slime. For the record though, it doesn’t smell like snails or feel like slime. It feels amazeballs.
That’s funny, I JUST put it on! I remembered I had the samples and wanted to give it a try. You’re right, it feels very good (no slime) and it smells very nice too. They gave me three packets on a card with my last order.
Clinique All About Eyes eye cream that I got in a GWP.
I had a microdermabrasion service at a spa, and the technician finished with a tinted spf 45 moisturizer called Intellishade by Revision Skincare. Never heard of it before, but it was such a lovely product, I bought it, and I’m *finally* using sunscreen faithfully every day 🙂
Also, I recently received a nice-sized sample of Carven perfume in a Bloomingdale’s order….it has really grown on me, so I will prob spring for a bottle when my sample is done.
A Paula’s Choice under-makeup moisturizer with SPF 30. I think I really like this stuff. RESIST Super Light Daily Wrinkle Cream
I second this, I use it as my eye moizturizer/sunscreen for day, but I’m thinking about trying it all over my face because the Resist Mattifying Fluid SPF 50 has been making me feel oily. 🙁
I got a sample and bought the full size. I actually use it as an eye shadow primer because it soaks up and controls oil on my lids, has SPF, and makes my shadows last longer.
Eve Lom Cleanser. It is so amazing.
I’ve been on a real Paula’s Choice kick lately, so her Shine Stopper and BHA 9. Shine Stopper is amazing for helping keep my oiliness at bay! And BHA 9 is the best zit zipper I’ve used in awhile, also clears stubborn blackheads! 🙂
BareMinerals bare skin serum foundation. I didn’t need a new foundation but I loved the glowing effect this gave my skin!
Lancome Cils Booster XL – got a free sample at Ulta when I bought Lancome Hypnose mascara. It’s one of those products I never thought I needed until I tried it out.
Number 4 shampoo.
” Number 4 ” is the brand:)
Amazing shampoo…got it through a beauty box and bought the biggest size while I was visiting EU!
The last sample i tried was the eyeshadow base Sin from urban Decay and i bought the full size.
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation! I got a sample from Sephora and had to purchase. The color cool almond was a PERFECT match for me and I love the way this foundation wears. It feels so light yet the coverage is so smooth and soft focus. I don’t like the pores around my cheeks and when I wear this with the Hourglass mineral veil primer it is heaven!
Bare Minerals Serum Foundation
It Cosmetics gel liner and dual ended brush.
Better tan sex too faced i love it
Nars’s Sheer Matte foundation. I went to Sephora to choose a new foundation, but the Nars was not one I had planned to try. I hadn’t had much luck with the brand before (except for their eyeshadow base) and I didn’t like the word “sheer” in the product name. The sales assistant urged me to try it anyway, and insisted I take a sample. To my surprise, it worked well, and when I finished the sample I bought a full-sized bottle.
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden! I loved the sample I got with my Naked3 palette, it’s an amazing primer AND great for concealing blemishes 🙂 I like it better than their Original Primer Potion.
It was a perfume – The Dark Heart of Old Havana by 4160 Tuesdays. I’d purchased a sampler pack and I like a few of them, but absolutely fell in love with that one, and then happily they had a sale! So I bought a full size bottle. *g*
I love samples because it allows me to try things I normally wouldn’t buy, and many times I’ll discover something that I really like. Also, I’m not one to return products (it’s very rare), even though I tell myself when I buy it, if I really don’t like it and it’s pricy I’ll return it, but I don’t, so samples allow me to try new products “safely” that saves us (the companies I would be returning product to, and myself) all money. Granted, depending on what the product is, especially skincare like anti-aging creams, a tiny sample packet is not enough to tell if it will work for me, do what is promised, or even see if it will react on my skin. Perfume samples are one of my favorites as not only can you can easily tell within the first wearing or two if you love it, it’s nice to have an assortment around just to mix things up. They’re also nice to keep in a makeup bag.
Over the years I have found many products that I like and love and have bought full sized after trying out samples. Unfortunately I’m really tired right now and my brain isn’t working too well, so I can’t remember what the last one was. Maybe I shouldn’t have posted this comment….?
Glamour glow mud mask, I think that’s what it’s called. I also got a sample of makeup forever lash extravaganza bought the full size. I plan to buy murad facial cleanser and acne treatment also. Actually a bunch of stuff I only sample before I buy..
Other than Tatcha everything, I received two NUDE skincare eye cream, whatever it is called, and my eyes retreat on me and I didn’t want to invest and 1 sample pod lasted about 2 weeks so I went to eBay figuring others who got massive amounts of these samples from Sephora would probably be making a buck! I was able to buy 4 for $7 and that’s a lot better than $59 and allowed me to be certain this was IT. Eventually I bought the full size. Quite happy! 😀
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Eye, probably the most effective eye cream i’ve ever come across. sinks in quickly, doesn’t bother sensitive eyes, helps with dark circles and i saw minor fine lines improvement quickly.
This rarely happens so it’s surprising that just recently I purchased 2 products based on random samples that were given to me and I didn’t even request them. It’s also odd that neither of them are anything like what I usually use or expect to use. Just goes to show that some things just need to be tried:
Josie Maran Matchmaker Serum Foundation – I love the texture, and it matches my skin, which is almost scary. Most micro-bead foundations turn me gray.
M. Asam Magic Makeup (I somehow happened to come across a review of this on a Turkish blog, and the blogger and I share similar coloring). By pure coincidence a sample of it came in an HSN order and I fell in love with this makeup.
They’re Real by Benefit. Loved the sample and purchased the full size. For some reason I like the sample better.