Today is my birthday, and I want to take a brief break from problem sets and feeling slightly sick from strong kombucha to share a gift with one of you.
I resolved in 2014 to curb my impulsive habits by sampling before jumping into full-size. No regrets. Lots of sampling, but no regrets. I spared myself from throwing money at things that were nice but not fantastic, and I threw my money at things I knew worked well with my skin and were gold. So I’ve compiled a set of sample and travel-size skincare products that I’ve enjoyed for you to try. If you don’t like any, well, then you know. And if you like them, you can take the plunge.
Here are the goods:
S.W. Basics Vegan Cocoa Lip Balm
I obsessively hoard lip balm and have one in every room and bag because if my lips are dry, my whole body is dry/I am dying/can’t handle. Admittedly, this is not the best lip balm in the world (that goes to Tata Harper Lip Treatments, swoon), but it’s a solid. And every now and then they have $1 sales so I get them in bulk for me and to share.
A sample sachet of Kahina Giving Beauty Eye Serum
This is something I discovered via a sample-with-order from Pemberley Jones and it is good. It’s light, it’s cooling, I bought the full-size for my mom and should’ve gotten another one for myself–cue *hearts in eyes.
YÜLI Jet Set Kit
I spent my Spirit Beauty Lounge points on you! Included is a bag made exclusively for SBL and YÜLI by fashion designer and Project Runway star Melissa Fleis, a travel size Halcyon Cleanser and sample sizes of M.E. Skin Fuel and Cocoon Elixir. First of all, the bag. Guys, it’s chic. I want to keep it. If I had to choose between Panacea and Cocoon, Cocoon is my favorite. Back when I was interning over the summer in a dehydrated office, this visibly calmed down redness and hydrated my skin for hours (full review here). While M.E. Skin Fuel couldn’t prevent my hormonal breakouts (understandable), it worked well with my skin, left my skin feeling soft with every application, and has a really delicious list of ingredients (full review here). Halcyon–oh Halcyon. I recently repurchased the full size and I don’t regret it–it’s my favorite second-step cleanser after removing makeup. Those gently foaming peptides, how soft it leaves my skin, how good my skin looks when I use it–yep. It’s a winner (full review here).
A sample tube of Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel
Every time I make an order from SBL, I always include this. It’s my go-to whenever I’m naughty and pop a pimple or need an aftershave and don’t want ingrown hairs. In the pimple case, I usually squeeze some onto a Q-tip and hold it over the broken skin until liquid stops seeping out in to make sure bacteria doesn’t spread and to encourage healing (always works). In the aftershave case, I just massage a little into where I’ve shaved and 1) it soothes any tenderness, 2) I haven’t had an ingrown hair after using this (full review here).
Two sample sachets of Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask
I love this mask. I purchased and used up the full-size version of the limited edition Resurfacing Mask with Wild Plum. After my first facial earlier this year, my esthetician informed me that the cause of some of my pimples was not enough exfoliation. With regular use (once a week), I noticed less pimples and increasingly softer skin. Bonus: it’s a clear mask, so feel free to answer the door wearing this or slap it on during a flight.
A USDA Organic lollipop
Once of these comes with every SBL order and I’ve racked up a collection. Girl can’t eat all the lollipops, so here’s one for you. And it’s USDA Organic.
This giveaway starts now and ends 12:00am October 16, 2014, Pacific time. It is open to the U.S. only–I apologize, my lovely international friends, but this is an unsponsored giveaway, shipping is my responsibility (unless you are willing to negotiate), and I am a poor undergraduate student applying to be a poor graduate student.
Go wild and good luck!
Disclaimer: As noted above, this is an unsponsored giveaway. Everything mentioned above has been either purchased with SBL points or selected as a sample-with-order with previous SBL orders. I want to keep everything mentioned above for myself. Affiliate links are included in this post.
I got a sample of Liquid Courage that I've been using for a week and…in a few words: 1) glow that lasts all day. 2) makeup goes on like it's airbrushed. It's still hot as hell in LA, so when ""winter"" does get here, I might try a thicker serum from Yuli. So far, my dry calves have been loving my sample of Vered body oil but it is a splurge.
I hope that your future videos are just as honest and original and refreshing as your blog. Would love to see more swatches of products, or interviews with founders!
What a lovely box!! good luck everyone 🙂
I love the Dr. Alkaitis soothing gel. I use it constantly for my hormonal break-outs and it's the bomb. For fall, I'm trying to use more exfoliating and enzyme-filled products to keep my skin balanced and smooth.
Happy Birthday!! The soothing gel has become a year round staple for me, and as temps get cooler might need to boost hydration a bit…thinking about trying out the Methamorphic Exlixir from Yuli….
I've really wanted to try Yuli products for a while, but won't bite the bullet for a full size unless I know it's stellar. I'd love to sample!
I'm switching to heavier balms, and body butters for my drier skin. I'm still saving May's blue cocoon for the dreaded polar vortex.
If you have any great DIYs you could share I'd love to see some of those. I know from personal experience those are hard to come by.
If you were to join YouTube and make videos, just make videos that you are comfortable with. Suggestions: hauls, reviews, empties, favorites, etc.
I'm definitely busting out my OLO Skin Savior, hydrating mists, and MLS blue cocoon! I'm very prepared for a New England winter now! 😀 Happy Birthday Jade, this is a great giveaway! I should be more like you and do sampling instead… Currently my skin is a mess, especially my chin area. I've been breaking out non-stop, it's not TOTM, and I have no idea why. I just have to stay home and hide! 🙁
Ditto about beauty DIYs, or maybe even make-up tricks? Whatever it is, I always love reading your intelligent posts! xo
Happy Birthday! A lovely selection of brands and products, spot some of my favorites and ones I've been itching to try. And I'd love to see some DIYs on your lovely blog.
If you started bringing your creatvity to the YouTube platform, I'd be interested in seeing videos that would inform others about green beauty in a fun way.
During the winter, it's all about balms and oils for me. My skin becomes troublesome and cracking, so I like to keep it as nourished and happy as possible.
Happy Birthday! I'd love to try those Tata Harper samples. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
Happy happy birthday ??
I am in Arizona and it is still quite warm but temps drop like 40 degrees at night. I would prob start doing more exfoliation and moisture masks.
This is so generous of you!! I am so excited at the YULI kit especially as they NEVER go on discount. And that bag… I want that bag…
Heavy creams and balms at night and a humidifier
Videos hmmmm, maybe something addressed to the younger girls-help them get on the right track of green beauty. I will educate my daughters but who is going to educate the others if their moms or dads don't. Make it interesting and inviting
To be honest I think you cover everything that I enjoy 🙂
Ooh the YULI products look divine!
I would like to see skincare products for different types of skin 🙂
First of all, happy birthday! And thank you for making this a totally vegan giveaway!
My skin has been breaking out worse than it has since my teens, so it looks like a total skincare overhaul is in order for me. I need to incorporate products more specifically designed to treat and prevent acne.
Types of posts I would love to see more of would be tag posts, makeup looks, and, to echo a few people below, DIYs.
Haul videos and product reviews are perfect for the video format. Swatch/photo heavy posts are definitely more suitable to a written blog, but it would be awesome if you expanded to video!
I'll be using osmia organics chamoile sun soap. I love the lather and it leaves the skin moisturized. My body oil collection (11 bottles) will get lots of use now too.
I'd love to see a post on the Tata Harper blushes. They look intriguing.
Love to see make-up how to's…esp for mono-lids
Happy birthday Jade! Wishing you the best year yet! 🙂 For the colder weather, I'm definitely layering on more balms and hydrating oils to keep my dry, irritated skin flake-free!
I think you would rock at making YouTube videos! I think product reviews and beauty routines would be fun to see 🙂
Happy Birthday beauty!!! What an incredible giveaway! 🙂 As the weather gets colder, I will definitely be incorporating La Bella Figura's Barbary Fig Seed Oil into my rountine! My skin just drinks it up!! 🙂
Happy Birthday! These products look really exciting – keep up the great posts.
I love to see videos that have product reviews with a short segment at the beginning before you try the product on expectations etc. and then an after portion talking about whether or not the product lived up to you expectations, what it did for you and all that. It takes a little more effort and planning but I always find those the most interesting.
Happy Birthday wishes with fairydust for you! So glad that the sampleness is taking over, saved me from wasting all kinds of resources incl. time! yay for samples and your generosity *wish I was half as sample-organized as you*
As the weather gets colder, I'm more disciplined about applying moisturizer to my hands, feet, elbows, and knees. As for my face, I'm starting to mix a drop of oil into my night serum.
Oh my! I forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday!
I would love to see reviews on Eminence Organics. It's a brand I rarely see reviewed.
Happy Belated Birthday!!!
I start using the oil method to moisturize more! 🙂
Happy birthday lovely! Yay, I have found a fellow Libran (Mine was on the 30th of Sept :P). I hope you had a really good day and this giveaway sounds so exciting. Stay awesome and funny! xo 🙂
PS: I agree with the samples! I am an impulsive buyer (tbh) but I have been buying off samples too just knowing how my skin is so difficult to begin with, it just makes sense. The only gripe is when sample only lasts for a couple of applications.
Happy birthday! Love your blog and i would love to negociate the shipping. I am very interested in trying what works for your skin. Bisous from Belgium
wow! i dont know if I could give this away!! I love YULI I think it is one of the best green brands ever! I would love to try the cleanser and M.E. Skin Oil, not to mention the other samples…WOW! And HAPPY Birthday…mine was on the 5th!
Also, if you do green videos I would love to see how to videos about makeup looks, and then maybe commentary about product texture, smell and color.
Happy birthday dear..I have always loved your blog and your giveaways so I am more than ready to negotiate for shipping. Last winters I suffered lots of skin problems so this time I am very much careful . i will go for olo skin saviour balm ,may Lindstrom blue cocoon though I wanna try the sample first ..also if you have any recommendations please let me know
Happy Birthday beautiful!
I'd love to hear your opinion on Marie Veronique Organics!
If you did videos, I'd love to see Empties, What's in my bag, monthly favorites! 🙂
Happy birthday! I love shea organic body butters for winter. I live in a warm climate so lucky I do to have to do too much.
Happy Belated! Thanks for turning me onto Yuli!
If you were to branch out into videos, I'd love to see you still addressing/staying true to troubleshooting problem/acneic skin. You're the only green beauty blogger (I've found) who addresses this skin type! I feel in good company 🙂
I've been wanting to try the Yuli skincare line for awhile now. The jet set kit seems like a perfect introduction. This is such an awesome giveaway! 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
So anxious for this giveaway to be over and find out who wins!
I'd like to see a wider array of products at varying price points
Wow this is amazing! I love what I've tried of Yuli and would love to sample more of their products:)
What a great stash! I'm adding coconut oil and a moisturizing mask by Nahla beauty.
What a lovely giveaway. And Happy Bday, dear Jade!
Please review FIG+YARROW, I am blows away by their product range and aesthetics
Just gotten into May Lindstrom and Yuli. Looking to incorporate more oils and serums as weather gets colder!
I've been lusting over Yuli! That kit looks awesome :). Happy Belated!!
I definitely need to add more moisturizers. My Yuli serums work great, but I need a bit more in the colder months.
I always love to see more product reviews, and interviews with brand creators.
I think any type of video would be fun!
Happy Belated Birthday Jade! Love your reviews. How nice of you to do this giveaway!!! After reading this I think I need to do more exfoliation too!!!
Here is to many more years of nephritic.us…I would love to read “Top 5…” posts and your reviews. Top 5 (or 10, or whatever number) helps us narrow down your reviews into the most worthy buys, which is very useful considering we are bombarded by new products every other day.
Happy Birthday, girl! And thank you for the generous giveaway (such an amazing choice you have).
As the weather gets colder, I'm definitely adding more balms and heavier face oils to my routine. I'm also giving my skin regular exfoliation. 🙂 We'll see how it goes!
I'd like to get some sort of balm for my face to try! Not really sure what else…
For vblogging, proper application would be great and before/after
Happy Belated Birthday!! I think I'll start wearing darker lip colors for the fall and more moisture for winter – maybe a balm? I'm also looking forward to trying the Yuli elixirs. Thanks for the giveaway!
I'd love to see more makeup reviews with pics.
Proper application techniques would be great for a video.
Happy (belated) birthday! For winter, I always use a thick body balm or raw shea butter and slater it on my hands every night to keep them in working order. I also love hurraw! Moon balm, which has an avocado oil base and really stays on all night.
For the colder months I'm adding a balm after my face oil and so far it works!
It's just starting to get chilly here in Texas. I'm not sure if I'll change up my routine or not—I've been using a variety of oils at the moment. The last couple of days I've been testing a Tata Harper serum but the scent is so strong!
Hi there sweetie!! What a lovely contest/giveaway!!
I read its not available for foreing readers but im willing to pay for shipping costs *_* so i happily participate!! ❤❤❤
HAPPY BDAY!! And i hope all your dreams come true!
I read you always and u're such an inspiration for me!!
Happy birthday! Proper cleansing of tools like brushes would be a great way to start video blogging!
I'd love to see more body products in addition to the great skincare reviews!
I'm going to simplify my routine, having breakouts at the moment, trying to get to the source of it! I'm in Florida so it's still so hot and humid here, going to keep things light and simple 🙂
I'd like to see more posts about remedies for breakouts, whether related to hormones, eating habits etc…esp for people that are prone to breakouts but have sensitive skin at the same time
I'd like weekly "what's in my handbag" or "what's on my bathroom vanity" videos!!