SAMPLE SUNDAY | Chanel Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base SPF 40 x Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Body & Hand Wash

Chanel Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base SPF 40 |
Remember that Chanel beauty event I attended back in June? (Yeah, the same one where I failed miserably and took one measly photo for the blog.) The gift bag I received included a mini sample of the Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base in 10 Rosée, which Chanel claims can immediately correct imperfections and improve radiance for up to 8 hours with light-reflecting pearl extracts derived from Akoya pearls. Oooooh. The shade Rosée has a pink tint that brightens dull skin, and has a lightweight, watery consistency that dries down surprisingly fast - I had to work quickly with a stippling brush to buff it evenly over my face - and leaves a semi-matte finish that isn't tacky or heavy. It isn't a particularly hydrating base though, as I noticed it had dried out my foundation in several areas, especially around my nose and chin, as the day went on. The shade is very light on me, which I guess in turn did brighten my complexion, but I didn't find it too noticeable after foundation was applied over top. While I do enjoy the initial finish and the SPF 40, my nose did not agree with the intensely floral scent and I observed no striking improvement in radiance and longevity to justify $55 USD for the full size.

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Body & Hand Wash |
Ever since I hauled my Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, I've been keeping an eye out for covetable body washes from other brands. I remember receiving this Body & Hand Wash sample last fall when I repurchased my second bottle of the Nectarine Blossom & Honey cologne. Out of all the perfumes I own, Jo Malone fragrances have the best longevity hands down. This Body & Hand Wash has a lightweight gel consistency that works up a gentle lather and isn't particularly drying nor moisturizing. Just like the cologne, the smell of this is seriously long-lasting and lingers on the skin for hours. When I first poured this into my hands, the scent was so potent that it felt like I was emptying out the perfume bottle instead. If you're already a fan of the Nectarine Blossom & Honey cologne and want to enhance its longevity and intensity, this would be a great addition to your routine. For me personally, the scent was just way too overpowering and I actually felt a tad nauseous after constantly getting a whiff of it as the day went on. Next time I'll ask to try a sample from a different range, but for now it's a pass and I'll be sticking to my trusty Aesop.

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Fresh Sugar Face Polish x Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector

This week's Sample Sunday is going to be all about skincare! The stifling heat and humidity in Hong Kong is really taking a toll on my skin - clogged pores, flaky skin, grossness all around - so it's the perfect time to test out two skincare products that can supposedly help combat these unsightly issues.

Fresh Sugar Face Polish |

Fresh has got to be one of my favorite skincare brands of all time - I love every single product I've tried from the brand (so far), and the clean and minimalistic packaging is right up my street. This generous sample of their best-selling face exfoliating mask is made with "pure brown sugar and real strawberries that creates the appearance of a softer, smoother, more radiant complexion" and the scent is deliciously sweet, like a mix of citrus and strawberry. You're supposed to gently massage a generous amount onto cleansed, moist skin, and leave it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing with warm water. Okay, this makes my skin feel incredible -  so soft and smooth and supple! This is everything I want in a face exfoliator - it's gentle yet effective, leaves my face feeling smooth and hydrated, and the scent is wonderfully sweet. Flaky skin, no more! I will definitely be picking up the full size once I'm done with this sample, fo sho.

Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector |
Large, visible pores are a huge insecurity for many people, myself included, and this sample from Kiehl's sounded like it could be the answer to the problem. Touted as both a makeup and skincare product, this claims to instantly minimize the appearance of pores and refine skin texture, as well as provide long-lasting pore and texture correction. Sign me up for some of that! After trying this for a week, however, I'm still torn. As a primer, I do see some improvement in terms of pore minimization and blurring, most noticeably on my nose, and it does make my face feel and look smoother. But it certainly doesn't make my pores look invisible, which I was hoping it would do. This does contain silicone, which makes the texture quite slippery but it glides nicely on the skin and feels lightweight on the face. One issue I had was that the product does separate - water kept oozing out of the packet - and I've read that the same has happened to others. I made sure to blot away the moisture before application and there were no problems. I am definitely more intrigued with this as a skincare product and its ability to improve the skin and diminish pores in the long run. You're supposed to also use this at night as the last step in your skincare routine, and I'm not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I do see slight improvement on my nose after the week! So I would be willing to give the full size a chance, which costs $35 USD. Will definitely keep you posted on whether this is worth the splurge!

Swatched | Blended out

Thanks for tuning in to the second edition of Sample Sunday! 

Let me know if you guys have tried either one of these products, and if you love it or hate it!