It's a Giveaway

We haven't given anything away in a while, so ....

Now it's your time to share in the fun of beauty product samples. We have a great grab bag to give away that includes 20 beauty product samples, including 2 full-size Julep nail polishes and two bareMinerals eye colors (the polishes and eye colors are valued at $14 each!).

 
Entering is simple, just use the Rafflecopter below (and you can enter daily).

Thanks everyone for reading Beauty Test Dummies and remember to share this blog with your friends and join the conversation with us on Facebook and Pinterest (where we pin a lot of beauty tips as well).

Good luck!

Here's what's inside the grab bag (make sure to check out the reviews):

• Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm
• Billionaire Boyfriend fragrance
• Neutrogena Hand Cream
• Incredible by Victoria's Secret fragrance
• Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Shampoo
• Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Conditioner
• Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Body Butter
• Tom's Toothpaste
• Miss Jessie's Baby Butter Creme
• Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter
• John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioner
• Olay Pro X Skin Analyzer
• Crest 3D Whitestrips
• Stila Foundation
• Philosophy Hope in a Jar
• Sephora Smoothing and Mattifying Primer
• Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation
• 2 Full-Size Julep Nail Polishes
• 2 Full-Size bareMinerals Eyeshadows
• Plus a $5 off Urban Decay coupon and 2-year planner

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special delivery

This little bag of goodies arrived in my mailbox the other day, and I can't be more happy! (The striped bag is a definite bonus!)

Where did it come from? Target's Sample Spot. You have to check the site first thing in the morning, because the freebies available disappear quickly.

Stay tuned for reviews of all the products!

-- Tested by Shay

Travel and Samples

Any time spent away from home is a great time to test out some of those samples you have been collecting.

They are small and light, probably won't leak in your bag and you can toss the packaging when you come back home.

I have a full supply of sample products I am traveling with this weekend.

I am taking Pond's makeup remover towelettes (see previous post), two different types of shampoo and conditioner (both are brands I trust -- Head and Shoulders and John Frieda), Crest toothpaste, Curel lotion, Rare Minerals moisturizer and Spehora eye shadow.

Most of these are products I am somewhat familiar with -- I would not want to have a bad reaction away from home -- and best of all I my big will be a little lighter for the return trip!

How do you use sample-sized products? Please share your tips.

Playtex Sport Body Wipes

RATING (out of 5 stars): 1 star

COST: $3 for 20 count box

THE SKINNY: I can't figure out why I would use these. The package claims that Playtex Sport Body Wipes are “great for the entire body” and remove dirt and sweat. I don't really doubt either of these claims and they look and feel like typical wet wipes. The “fresh and clean” scented sample was just that.

But overall, the concept just grosses me out. The wipes remind me a little too much of wet wipes or dampened toilet paper. (The package even says these are flushable.)

Playtex Sport Body Wipes
are the same shape and
size as other wet wipes.

Using the Playtex wipes after a run did not make me feel clean. I actually felt a little dirtier. I could feel the cleanser from the wipe on my skin where sweat and dirt were wiped away. This is not the solution to a quick shower and is not really any faster.

I could see using them to wipe grime from your face mid-workout but honestly I am quite wary of using something on my face that is made by and reminds me of other feminine hygiene products.

The Playtex brand has a great reputation but I am not sure I expect to see this product on store shelves for very long.

KEEP OR TOSS: I don't even plan to open the other sample pack.

CHECK IT OUT: Find out where to buy Playtex Sport Body Wipes, part of the brand's sport line which includes tampons.

GIVEAWAY: I will send the other sample pack to one reader who comments on this blog post by Nov. 11, 2011. Or you can request your own sample from Playtex. Check out my coupons page for details.

-- Tested by Carrie

New Samples Galore!

I opened my mailbox today and inside was a sample pack I ordered from Target a while back. Yes, some major retailers offer samples occasionally -- but they do go fast, so you may have to check back often.

This week's samples are for all new products that I have yet to try and they all came in a great (and super-cute) reusable makeup bag.

Here's a preview of what I will be sampling the in upcoming days from the Target bag:

* Burt's Bees Radiance Day Lotion with SPF 15: I am anxious to see if I like this better than the recently-tested sensitive formula that was lacking SPF.

* John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo and Conditioner: This has always been one of my favorite brands (Brilliant Brunette, anyone?) and restoring formulas are a must for my color-treated hair. It also came with a coupon -- double yay!

* Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo and Conditioner: This promises to be a "green" formula and does not contain silicone, paraben or dye. It also claims to be 94 percent biodegradable. I had no clue that shampoos and conditioners were not biodegradable. I'll give you the skinny on that with the review.

* Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe: The Pond's product claims to remove waterproof mascara and is a 2010 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner.

* Loreal Youth Code Day/Night Cream: I have never been one to believe all of the claims of day or night creams but an all-in-one? We'll see.

* TreSemme Naturals Shampoo and Conditioner: Another reputable brand with a "greener" formula. This shampoo contains "lower sulfates" and the conditioner is silicone free.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream

RATING (out of 5 stars): 3 stars

COST: $15 for 1.8 ounces

THE SKINNY: The super creamy formula goes on super smooth and did not irritate my skin which is prone to redness, itching and some breakouts. The Burt's Bees brand is pretty reputable so I was not too afraid to test the samples I received through the BzzAgent program on my skin. I have used the cream for about two weeks now and my skin seems to look pretty good. 

Just a small dollop of the cream is enough to cover the face and neck and I expect the full-size poduct to last several months.

The downside is that the cream is seems a little heavy for daytime use and my skin seems have a not-so-glowy shine a few hours after use. It also does not contain any SPF. Each morning when I apply the product, I find myself wishing it had a nicer fragrance although the smell vanishes after application. 

Overall, though the results have been positive and the product is very much like other drugstore products of comparable price.

KEEP OR TOSS: I plan to keep using the cream in the upcoming months. The extra creamy formula should be good for dry, winter skin but I might try something lighter once warmer weather returns.

CHECK IT OUT: The Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream website has additional product information, including a list of ingredients, and you can buy this product directly from the company.

GIVEAWAY: I will share a product sample and coupon with one person who comments on this post by Oct. 31. Good luck!

-- Tested by Carrie