It's interesting and even a little scary to try samples. What if it causes a breakout? Or irritates my skin? Burns? Tickles? And one or two samples just are not enough to see if it helps my skin in any way. Yet I always hope for a miracle! At least I can smell and feel the consistency of the product. And sometimes I don't even know a certain thing exists before I get a random free sample.
I test samples only when my skin seems to be in a good condition, only one at a time and if I happen to have many of the same product I group them and use during the same day/week.
Tonymoly The White Tea Brightening Cream
Ingredients:
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (White Tea 73%), Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cyclomethicone, WAter, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract,Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Polyglyceryl-2 stearate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol,Glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer , Citrus aurantium dulcis, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PVM/ma copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
* Tried 4 samples
* Smells rather disgusting, a mix of old floral, glue, plastic
* However the smell disappears quickly, doesn't linger
* Consistency more like gel than cream, feels light
* Feels surprisingly hydrating
* Took a couple of minutes to sink into skin
* Didn't irritate
* The pores on my nose sweat through the cream, a little droplets of oil
* Didn't notice any brightening or other effects
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (White Tea 73%), Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cyclomethicone, WAter, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract,Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysilicone-11, Polyglyceryl-2 stearate, Allantoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol,Glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer , Citrus aurantium dulcis, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, PVM/ma copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA
* Tried 4 samples
* Smells rather disgusting, a mix of old floral, glue, plastic
* However the smell disappears quickly, doesn't linger
* Consistency more like gel than cream, feels light
* Feels surprisingly hydrating
* Took a couple of minutes to sink into skin
* Didn't irritate
* The pores on my nose sweat through the cream, a little droplets of oil
* Didn't notice any brightening or other effects
Tonymoly The Black Tea London Classic Cream
Ingredients:
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cyclomethicone ,Glycereth-26 ,Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Jojoba Esters, C12-16 Alcohols, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Water, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Polysilicone-11, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alky, Acrylate Crosspolymer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tromethamine, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Dextrin, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Glyceryl Caprylate
* Tried 5 samples
* Smells like White Tea Cream but not as bad, smell doesn't linger
* Thicker than White Tea Cream which was more like gel, this is cream
* Hydrates surprisingly well, used as night moisturizer and skin felt great immediately and next morning
* Feels like soothes skin and helps with redness
* Actually considering buying Black Tea Cream and Serum
Tonymoly The Black Tea London Classic Serum
Ingredients:
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyquaternium-51, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glyceryl Polymethancrylate, Hydrolzed Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acryates, Carbomer, Cocoa Extract, Dextrin, Cyclomethicone, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Capric Triglyceride, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethionol, C14-21 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Jojoba Esters, Tromethamine, Niacinamide, Adenosine, Sunflower Seed Oil, Bergamot Fruit Oil, Tea Tree Leaf oil, Citric Acid, Caprylhydroxamic acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
* Tried 3 samples
* Spreads very nicely, also on neck, I don't have to pull skin at all
* Quite liquid
* First time using it, my red skin could almost be seen turning into more normal colour!
* Didn't happen again but maybe my skin wasn't so irritated the next days
* Feels hydrating
* Actually considering buying Black Tea Cream and Serum
Tonymoly Prestige Jeju Essence
Ingredients:
Glycerin, Niacinamide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tromethamine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Acrylates/
C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Carbomer, Cetyl Ethylhexyanoate, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphensin, Vegetable oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lemon peel oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus aurantium dulcis, Citrus Aurantifolia oil, Pinus sylvestris leaf oil, Eucalyptus Globulus LEaf oil, gold, butylene glycol, camellia japonica flower extract, Citrus unshiu, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEntylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Cenetella Asiatica Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruits Extraxt, Cinnamomum Camphora Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extraxt, RH-Polypeptide-22
Glycerin, Niacinamide, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tromethamine, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Acrylates/
C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Carbomer, Cetyl Ethylhexyanoate, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphensin, Vegetable oil, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Alcohol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lemon peel oil, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus aurantium dulcis, Citrus Aurantifolia oil, Pinus sylvestris leaf oil, Eucalyptus Globulus LEaf oil, gold, butylene glycol, camellia japonica flower extract, Citrus unshiu, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEntylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Cenetella Asiatica Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Fruits Extraxt, Cinnamomum Camphora Extract, Opuntia Coccinellifera Fruit Extraxt, RH-Polypeptide-22
* Tried 1 sample
* Smells sweet, doesn't linger
* Consistency surprisingly gel-like, thicker than many essences
* Felt hydrating but I put many other products as well at the same time
* Didn't irritate
* Didn't notice any other effects
Cosrx Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence
Ingredients:
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide,Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide,Sodium Hyaluronate, Betaine, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine
* Tried 2 samples
* Doesn't smell of anything
* Consistency very liquid
* Can't say if felt hydrating or anything
* Sinks in fast
* Didn't irritate
* Didn't notice any effects
Tonymoly Tony Lab AC Control Acne Foam Cleanser
* Tried 2 sample
* Now I know what "squeaky clean" means
* Does it also mean this is too harsh cleanser?
* Cleaned very very well
* Calmed my skin down even
* Smells like basic cleanser
* Couldn't find ingredients online
Missha Super Aqua Ultra Waterful Intensive Serum
Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, PEG-8, Cyclohexasiloxane, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Pyrus Malus Fruit Water, Anastatica Hierochuntica Extract, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Juice, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Callus Culture Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Callus Culture Extract, Rhizophora Mangle Callus Culture Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Callus Culture Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract, Adenium Obesum Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance
* Tried 1 sample
* Quite thick, gel-like serum
* Had a familiar smell, like some cleanser product, not too strong
* Absorbs well
* Hydrates, but didn't notice anything else
* Didn't irritate