To be honest, it’s tough to make an appraisal of a beauty product from a small sample. But a number of samples of varying sizes have come my way recently, and there are several standouts among the bunch that warrant buying a full size IMO. I thought I’d tell you about all of them and see if any appeal to you.
Perfectly Posh
Perfectly Posh sells naturally based pampering bath and body products through a catalogue or online. The company, founded in 2011, by Ann Dalton is a direct sales model like Avon etc. You can definitely shop on the website, and I don’t think you need a sales rep though the rep who sent me the samples popped right up on the screen when I went to perfectlyposh.com.
The products are made with great ingredients, have fabulous scents, and the whimsical packaging of the full size products is adorable. The products are made in the U.S. The catalogue that I received “Rituals and Routines in pampering” is very cute and enticing. I’d say the target market is teens and young women, but I must admit I’m drawn to everything about Perfectly Posh. It’s a really fun brand.
The rep who contacted me via Twitter, Jamie McKay, seemed very nice in 140 characters or less. She sent me the catalogue and a few mostly single use samples to try out. The products are made from natural ingredients, contain no fillers, are not tested on animals/cruelty-free, and they have a lot of vegan options. On the website, there’s an extensive glossary that explains the key ingredients in the products and what they do.
Here’s what I tried out:
Dive In Chunk Bar Soap
The blue chunk of Dive In Bar Soap was the largest of the samples. I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks, and I still have a lot left. It’s an ocean scent that goes very well with an ocean scented shower gel that I have from another brand, but Dive In has fruity floral and amber notes mixed in that makes it more than a one dimensional scent. I was truly shocked to discover what a hydrating soap Dive In is. It makes the right amount of lather, not only doesn’t strip my skin but leaves it hydrated. Frankly, I use this soap instead of shaving oil/gel and it works very well. The soap cleans and moisturizes with kaolin clay, argan oil and algae extract. I like this soap a lot. Right now I have several bespoke bars of soap waiting in the wings, otherwise I would definitely buy a 7 oz. full size of this terrific, super-hydrating bar soap for $9 (7 times the size of my long-lasting sample).
Honey Honey Healing Body Creme
Unfortunately, the tiny sample of Honey Honey Healing Body Creme that I received wasn’t enough to cover more than my arms so I can’t really make an assessment of this product. It contains apricot kernel oil, sunflower seed oil, honey among other key ingredients. It had a light pleasant scent that they say is “Intensified Honey Lemon”, was greaseless, and it seemed hydrating for normal skin. Here’s how the website describes it: “Your skin needs to be healed, loved, soothed, and moisturized by absorbing apricot kernel oil like a dream, leaving only hyper-hydrated skin—no annoying, greasy residue.” $17 for 6 fl. oz.
Dawn On Me Daytime Facial Oil
I managed to get several usage occasions out of this tiny packet of facial oil, and I must admit, this was love at first use for me. I adored this facial oil.
I was surprised to find that the color of the Dawn On Me Facial Oil was a light green, and the limey scent was absolutely divine! PP describes the scent as being made up of the following: lime, rosemary, and clove essential oils; vanilla extract and ginger root. It was such a treat to apply to my face in the morning.
The key skincare ingredients of this lightweight oil are sunflower seed, grape seed, jojoba, argan, lime, rosemary, and botanical extracts like vanilla. The facial oil hydrates, soothes, brightens, and protects skin from free radicals.
Perfectly Posh says you can wear this alone or under makeup. I wore it under a lighter weight moisturizer, and it was perfect. I am planning to buy a full bottle, 1 fl. oz. for $18.
Envy This Tightening and Brightening Face Mask
Ooooh, this light green, fragrant green tea meets garden, cooling mask was a treat to use. I applied it with my fingers, left it on to dry for about 10 minutes, and washed it off with tepid water. My face felt very clean but not stripped. My skin actually did feel tightened and it looked brighter. I usually stay away from kaolin masks in my older age, but I need not have feared with this one.
Here’s how PP describes Envy This Tightening and Brightening Face Mask: “This anti-aging focused, vegan clay mask features neem flower to help clean and soothe dryness, and caffeine to help tighten. Plus we added green tea to help calm irritation and boost collagen production.” $20 for 2 oz.
Hello Sweetie Hand Cream
Although I received another tiny sample of the Hello Sweetie Hand Cream, it goes a lot further than the body cream since there’s a smaller area to cover. So I’ve gotten several usage occasions out of this, and a little goes a long way.
The scent that PP describes as “sweet and sunny sugared vanilla” is IMO more like flowers meet vanilla. Again, I am absolutely taken with the scent of this hand cream!
It is definitely hydrating (though I wouldn’t say it’s a plumping hand cream for older skin like some are) and leaves me with soft skin. The key ingredients are aloe vera, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E.
Because I adore the lasting scent of Hello Sweetie Hand Cream, I’m thinking I will pick up a tube (although I don’t need hand cream), 3 fl. oz. for $9.
Have you heard of Perfectly Posh or tried any of their products? I’m impressed and eager to pick up a couple of the full size products soon!
Good Earth Beauty
I’ve written about Good Earth Beauty twice before, here and the Mystery Box here. I like the products that I’ve tried from this natural products retailer and manufacturer. They sent me a few more samples to try out.
Flower Cart Shower Whip & Scrub
A couple of months ago, I wrote about my love for Good Earth Beauty’s Lavender Vanilla Shower Whip made with raw shea butter. I went through the 1 oz. sample quickly because I loved the scent so much. Plus it is a hydrating scrub but doesn’t leave the tub overly slippery. GEB was out of Lavender Vanilla in the sample size, so they were kind enough to send me another scent to try: Flower Cart.
Flower Cart Shower Whip & Scrub is a light, fresh, green-scented combination of floral notes. If you’re a fan of green scents, I think you’d really like this one. For me, I miss the depth of the vanilla in the other scent. So while this floral version performs just as well as Lavender Vanilla Shower Whip, I personally prefer the Lavender Vanilla scent. You may feel differently. 1 oz. jar for $4, full size is available for $18
Lumino Chaga Intensive Hydrating Illuminant
I received Lumino’s Tooth Powder in my GEB Mystery Box, and I’m a fan. So I was curious about the Chaga Intensive Hydrating Illuminant sample that I got this time. It’s a balm. Although I have a built-in humidifier in my heating system, my skin still looks and feels dry when I wake up in the morning. So I’ve been trading off between this facial balm and a liquid facial oil like rosehip oil. It makes a difference when I look in the mirror in the morning.
Lumino Chaga Illuminant contains a blend of oil: coconut, jojoba and castor bean.
Lumino Microderm Himalayan Salt Glow
First, Lumino Microderm Himalayan Salt Glow looks almost just like pink Himalayan salt! Described as a “spa quality exfoliant that is odorless, non-staining and free of synthetic chemicals”, I think it’s a great alternative to a traditional exfoliator or mask. While it doesn’t actually replace a visit to a spa, it is still pleasurable to use.
It contains Himalayan salt crystals, bicarbonate of soda, organic jojoba oil, and natural vitamin E oil. It does a good job exfoliating, and because of the oils in the formula, it leaves skin soft and smooth. Very nice exfoliator. 4 oz. jar with spatula, $19.75
Lily Organics Skincare Calming Moisture Cream for Sensitive Skin
Calming Moisture Cream for Sensitive Skin is a very soupy white, fragrance-free moisturizer that I would describe as a “lotion” rather than a “cream”. If you buy a full size, it comes in a pump. A pump bottle makes much more sense than the little jar my sample came in that was messy to use.
Described by the brand: “Designed for our those who are suffering from allergies, rashes and breakouts when they use products containing certain ingredients. Sweet Almond Oil, healing plant of Lily, and the richness of Shea Butter were blended to produce a cream that will increase the skin’s elasticity and suppleness.”
The Calming Moisture Cream for Sensitive Skin seemed like it would be perfect for delicate or sensitive skin because it was light, unscented and soothing. Full size 2 fl. oz., $25.50
Ingredients:
Purified water, prunus dulcis (almond oil), karite (shea butter), vegetable glycerin, natural grain alcohol, xanthomonas campestris (xanthan gum), soy lecithin, hectorite mineral, and citrus grandis (citrus seed extract)
So these are the product samples I tried this time from GEB. I definitely recommend the Whip & Scrub, and for me the vanilla-scented ones win the day. GEB has a huge product line of their own as well as other natural brands. Many come in sample sizes if you want to try them out first. Check out the Good Earth Beauty website if you haven’t already. Plus there’s a discount for my readers with the code: BEAUTY10.
What do you think? Do any of these natural skincare samples appeal to you?
Sounds like you had really great experience with both brands, Allison! I do wish that they sent you full sizes instead of tiny sample sizes because it would have allowed you to test properly. 🙁
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I’ve been using products from Good Earth Beauty for a while now and I especially like their own products. Perfectly Posh was new to me, but I am quite taken with 3 of the samples. I agree with you that it’s very difficult to truly test out a sample. This was more like a “first impressions” post, and I should have called it that. But with the bath and body products I don’t need a full size to figure out whether it’s worth using. Facial skincare is another story – I wish I had gotten a full size of the Dawn On Me Facial Oil but I think I will spring for that myself.
Full disclosure I am a Perfectly Posh Consultant, but I do not know Jamie.
The products received were from Jamie, and not directly from the company. I hope you grabbed some of the full sized products after you tried them! I love love love Posh, well … if I didn’t I wouldn’t sell it hehe
To sent these full sized products to someone to try would have cost well over $100. So while we, consultants, would truly really loooooove to full size products for people to try out it’s not practical for our personal small businesses in most cases.
I am SO glad you have liked these products though! Happy Poshing, and look Jamie up around August for the new Fall and Winter line. (I’m a winter fragrance gal myself!)
Yes, I know that, Nicole. I don’t usually review products based on samples, especially skincare products, because there’s not enough to know how they’ll affect your skin longer term. I test skincare for a month, and a sample only lasts a day to a few days. I did manage to get a couple of weeks out of the Charcoal Chunk, and it is definitely a terrific soap.
Dawn On Me sounds amazing! Like it’d wake me up in the morning!
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The scent is divine!
Yes, these samples most definitely appeal to me! I love how accessible green beauty has become!
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Yes, it used to be difficult to find better-for-you skincare and bath and body but no more!
I like the sound of a lot of these samples especially the Dive In bar soap. Funny,I’m not a bar soap person but lately a few are appealing to me. Thanks for the greatpost Allison. 😊
I love love love the Dive In Chunk bar soap! It is sooooooo moisturizing! It may not be quite as pretty as the handmade bar soaps I use, but I love the fresh scent and it makes my skin feel great. Take a look at their fun website sometime, their products are so darn cute! PS I am heading to the post office this afternoon 🙂
I’m always struggling to make up my mind about samples as well, particularly for skincare and bath & body. Some of these are generously sized, though!
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The main reason I like samples is to get the feel and more importantly the smell. I hate to waste products I’m sent but I hate worse to not have proper products to photograph for reviews. The samples I have from GEB are bigger than yours and have always provided me with weeks worth of use.
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Ok, wow! I have been curious about Perfectly Posh, a friend recently started selling it. I want to try that hand cream!
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Lime scented facial oil would be a hit with me. I love citrus!
Dawn On Me smells so amazing. I’m sure you’d love it
I am really loving natural beauty products right now!
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Yes, if I have a choice between two products that perform the same, I prefer natural too.
I have tried a few of Perfectly Posh products and I will say in the future that I will def get that Charcoal Bar for me and my son’s skin!
Ursula
http://www.blueridgebeautyblogger.com
Did you like the Perfectly Posh products you tried? I love the Dive In Chunk bar soap, but I don’t see charcoal in the formula.There’s a little kaolin, but it is a very very hydrating soap if that’s what you’re looking for. I use it as a body bar mostly.
Gender Bender is the charcoal Chunk, and one of my favorite products.
The Perfectly Posh packaging is adorable, I would love the Envy mask and everything I’ve tried from Good Earth has been great!
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Perfectly Posh was a big surprise to me. I’m amazed at how much a love the treats I tried. And yes, I’ve had good results with just about everything from GEB. In fact, their own skincare products are my favorites on their site.
I have heard nothing but good things about Perfectly Posh. I’m always intrigued with their body products because I hear they smell delicious – many of them. I’ll definitely use this post as inspiration for some of my purchases when I’m ready to try it out.
This was my first time hearing about or using Perfectly Posh, and I was so surprised and delighted by the samples. I’m all about fragrance and packaging, and the products really delivered on the scent, and the photos in the catalogue show such whimsical packaging. Plus the actual skincare itself really worked well. Like you, I imagine, I have so much body butter, handmade bar soap and hand cream right now, that I will wait to buy those. But I could use a new face oil, and the lime Dawn On Me Facial Oil was so delicious-smelling and worked so well, I may spring for a full size bottle.
I wash my hands a lot at work/use hand sanitizer so I’m always down for a good hand cream!
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I’m in love with the scent of this one especially!
The salt scrub looks like something I’d like.
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It’s a wonderful, very natural looking and feeling salt scrub. I wish they had sent the full size!
Great to discover another green beauty brand. The products look promising!
I agree! I need that lime-scented oil. Wish they sent the full size bottle!
I’ve never tried this brand. I also love small samples like this to try out products, especially facial washes. Usually one try is all I need to determine if I’m going to like it.
For cleansers and bath & body products, I completely agree.
I’ve noticed Perfectly Posh online (their cute packaging drew my attention!) but forgot to look into it. The products sound pretty great.
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I thought they might be too “kid-like” but not at all. I really love several of the samples I got and wish they were full size. I will have to spring for the lime face oil and maybe the soap and hand cream even though I have plenty of others to choose from at home – but they smell so freakin’ good!
Small packet samples just wow, yeah, hard to get a good feel for a product. That mask sounds really good tho!
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