The time has come to finally clamp down on those stacks of sample sachets and deluxe minis I seem to hoard in various drawers and pouches. I hinted in my last empties post that I was thinking of doing this project - and then I thought that it would be too much work and maybe using up samples would just happen organically - and now I'm back thinking it won't, so at least I can give this my best shot and see how it goes.
I'd contemplated a total halt on my full-sized products and focusing solely on the samples for about a month, but in the end, I don't feel comfortable doing that; I do think it would be too much of a bother, and I don't want to risk my skin freaking out on me. So instead, I've decided on a more gentle approach: I will incorporate as many samples as I can, substituting some, but not all of the products in my regular routine, and I will switch back and forth depending on how I feel, especially with regards to potentially less troublesome body and haircare.
For the sake of my sanity and enthusiasm for this project, I would like to focus more on discovering some new favorites through using my samples, or at least squashing some lemmings. If it turns out I absolutely hate a given sample - no pressure, I'll just toss it. In the end, its purpose is exactly that: to allow me to try a product out, and if I dislike it, there's the end of that. I'd prefer not to think of this project as some using up race where I need to bang out foil packets with the speed of light in order to succeed.
Since I generally use very little of any given product (maybe except for sunscreen), I'm giving myself two months to focus on this project; one-use sachets usually last me between 2 to 4 uses, so it may take a while before I make any significant progress. I will do a Project Finale towards the end of June to show you the final sample empties count, but in the meantime, if I find some outstanding products, I may do a separate favorites round-up.
What do you think? Also, if this sounds appealing to you in any way,
I'd be over the moon if you wanted to join me! You don't have to be a fellow blogger, just post on Twitter or Instagram and tag me, or use a hashtag... Why, #useupthosefreakinsamples, of course.
This is a great idea! I think I ought to try this sometime, just for the sake of cleaning up my kit.
ReplyDeleteI'd be awesome if you decided to join in! Or even if you want to do it at a later point, that'd be great too - let me know how it goes!
DeleteOh I really should do this, but I just can't seem to commit yet! I'll definitely be checking out your posts on your project though, perhaps I'll get inspired! :) Good luck! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellie! I think we all know deep down that cracking down on the samples can be a bit challlenging, so we push them to the back of our drawers - I know that's what I've been doing :)
DeleteGreat idea! I went through my bag which holds my samples and minis and pulled out a bunch I need to use up- I try and use them in non-standard ways instead, like face moisturisers on my arms or legs. And as you say hopefully find some new favourites along the way :) xx
ReplyDeleteMultitasking samples is the best! I was recently thinking of what I could do with perfume samples I wasn't enjoying, and I've come up with mixing them with a bit of argan oil for a bath oil - especially that my pure argan oil my parents brought from Morocco doesn't have the best of scents on its own. I've also heard some people use those as bathroom fresheners, lol.
DeleteThis is a great idea! After reading your post I immediately went through my box of samples and promised myself to start using some soon, perhaps I will find something new to love from my stash.. :) i will be following your progress :)
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic! If you get a chance, tweet or Instagram me a photo of your sample stash, I'd love to see it! Thank you, Shannon <3
DeleteThis is a great idea - I might rustle through my samples and pull out a few to try out this week and join you, we'll see ;) Not doing very well on my Project Use It Up, some of the items have been used consistently but I just don't see the end in sight, you know? How do you push yourself forward when you feel like that?
ReplyDeleteEven a couple samples less in the stash is a good thing in my book :) I know what you mean - I had some of those never-ending blushes in my last year's project, and this year one blush and one lipstick are also proving troublesome. I still try to use a little bit at least a couple times a week, and I've also found that sometimes if I can find a good way to track my progress, it turns out I'm using up more than I thought. For example, you could mark the current height of your lipsticks on the cap, like PrettyPistol86 does on YouTube. Or maybe try to find an exiciting layering/mixing combo with the stubborn products - I'm not loving the foundation in this year's Project, but yesterday I mixed it with a little bit of Revlon Colorstay and applied with a beautyblender, and I thought it looked much better! But if everything else fails, just give it a rest for a week or two - it's a long project anyway, it doesn't matter if you give yourself a bit of a break.
Deleteyesh! SAMPLE KHILLAH!!! lol i did this for a month and i used up... i want to say 40 samples? it was the best! yea same i didn't want to switch out my regular skincare but somethings like creams, i used samples for. i tried to use up the complete sample though but if i didn't like it, i found 'creative' ways to use it up...body lotion lol
ReplyDeleteHahah, I saw you doing it last year! It was too late for me to join though. 40 samples is pretty impressive! Hahah, everything can be used as body lotion, lol - but I have a lot of samples of actual body lotions too! I can see my body being extra moisturized this and next month :D
DeleteI totally agree to your strategy. Its hard to find out which samples are good for your skin and which not, when you use all of them at the same time. I've received and bought a lot of samples this year. I'm struggling with sunscreen and face cream. I'll join on my wordpress asap.
ReplyDeleteUh Monika, I totally forgot to write you! The blush tag was online some days ago xD
DeleteThanks for letting me know, Lila! I really enjoyed your answers :) I'm looking forward to reading your sample project post! <3
DeleteYesss, I'd like to do this! I don't have many samples, actually, but the ones I do have are just taking up space (with the exception of perfumes: I toss the ones I don't like and take the others on trips).
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how much space these little samples end up taking? I have a whole Birchbox full of minis, and another make-up bag full of sachets! I have trouble tossing even the perfume samples I don't like :/
DeleteFun! I've been doing something like this unofficially for a while, but if I post more on Instagram etc., I'll tag them.
ReplyDeletePlease do, Lyn! <3
DeleteI'd join you but I'm surprised I'm just freaking good at using up samples! Hahaha! They're the first thing I'd break out to try. However, I have backups of full sized skincare :-) I don't have much problem with skincare though. I go through them relatively fast. It's makeup that defeats me. hahaha!
ReplyDeleteAll the best in using up your samples :-)
Wow, good for you, Lily! I'm hopeless with samples, even when they're products I'm actually excited to try or curious about purchasing in the full size. I do use them most often when I'm traveling, which is how I discovered I really liked the Nude Omega Cleansing Jelly! I still have back-ups of skincare too, but I'm working on it.
DeleteI must share with you my cautionary tale: once I went through skincare samples b/c I couldn't stand the sight of them littering my place, so I tried them one by one. At the end of the week, my face was a total wreck!! Since then, I try to avoid skin care samples, except those I really want to try and fully (read: neurotically) researched :-) But yes, I keep accumulating samples, thinking I'd travel, etc. etc. but who am I kidding myself? I have a small kid, I hardly travel, so samples sit around collecting dust. So yeah, I think your strategy is a good idea!
ReplyDeleteYou know what, Claire, I think it's very rare for skincare to actually break me out - I can get an allergic reaction like a rash or redness (usually both), but I rarely get spots from trying out new products. I've actually been getting way less spots in general recently, I'm over the moon about that! Maybe that's why I wasn't too afraid to try this project. But I know what you mean, I've already decided against trying products with SLS or lots of alcohol on my face for example - I just don't want to dehydrate my face even further.
DeleteLOL I love this!!! I should get in on another sample use-it-up, but man it's so tough!!! Last time I felt overrun I ended up sending most of what I had to a FB reader. But I've been trying to use up at least a few samples a month...slow going but at least it's going I guess! I'll be rooting for you!!
ReplyDeleteAs a pure coincidence I've just collated all of my samples into a bag - up until now they've been lurking all around the place - so this sounds like a great idea! I'm a bit late to the party but I'll see what I can get through in June with you :) #useupthosefreakinsamples sounds like good fun!
ReplyDeleteyay! I've tried to do this twice in the past, because i seriously have more than a drawer of samples. They're even in organizers based on product type haha. At any rate, the first month i tried, i did an ok job. the second time, i kinda forgot to so I didn't use much lol. And i like ditching samples too hahhaa! (Which I've actually gotten a lot better at lol. i bring baggies of samples to work every once in a while!)
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