I am at the conclusion of my Los Angeles/Anaheim business trip and realized I have 3 days left of February and 3 reviews left to do. No pressure or anything. But I’m paying $14 for internet so I can blog from the airplane. I would ask for donations from my followers for business expenses, but George Lopez is on this flight so I’m in a particularly good mood.

Here’s my Sample Society:

I have reviewed the Batiste dry shampoo before. It’s one of the very first reviews I did on this blog over a year ago. And everything I said back then still rings true right now – Batiste is the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used. They have several different scents plus colored powder for dark hair. I’ve never used the colored powder so I can’t vouch for its efficacy. I just know if I don’t see white powder residue all over my scalp, there’s been a horrific malfunction. See, the white powder means it’s working. I’m not sure if that’s the official scientific explanation, but if psychological brain trickery is indeed a real thing, then white powder = success.

Aside from all that, I don’t wanna use any other brand besides Batiste. Nothing beats it. I’ve tried so many others. I’d say Klorane is a very good equivalent, if you care to pay more than double for it. You do you, boo boos. I’d never judge someone for paying more for something that a drugstore product does just as well. I mean, have you seen my foundation collection? We all have our weaknesses.

Y’all know I have no interest in nail polish, or at best a mild one, so the only time I perk up is if I get sent a really unique color, or maybe if it’s one from France. I don’t have a love relationship for the Nails Inc brand by any means, but this blue-grey shade in Princess Place is really quite lovely. I love the colors of Spring; they bring a peaceful happiness into my life. So if that doesn’t constitute a medical necessity, I don’t know what else does. There could even be a tax deduction loophole in there somewhere. Or at least there should be.

I’m wearing the nail polish right now. I put it on 6 days ago before my trip to Los Angeles commenced. Chip status is minimal. However, I haven’t done dishes for a week so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it. In any case, I’m happy with it.

One thing I could absolutely give a ho hum pig’s bum about is perfume. I don’t care where it comes from – France, Italy, the tomb of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt – I just don’t care. Receiving this Chloe Love Story perfume just about made me take a nap. It may be the most glorious perfume that ever existed, but it just gets lost on me. But for the sake of this review, and the fact I’m in a good mood (see George Lopez, above), I will give you the notes:

Orange blossom oil, which is supposed to emulate the flush of new love. Then a little jasmine mixed in to give it heart (whatever that means). Finally it’s grounded with fresh cedar wood to give it an enduring base. The style is feminine, sophisticated and sensual. Everything you’d ever want in a perfume. Not me, mind you, but everyone else. Even after that intoxicating description, my face still looks like this:

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Received three little one-time use full-size pods of Nugg face masks. These are freaking adorable, are they not? So much better than a foil packet if you ask me. CEOs – take note! Nobody likes a foil packet. But these little tubs? Precious. Most likely contains the same quantity of a foil packet, but that is NOT. THE. POINT.

The three masks I got were Deep Cleansing, Hydrating and Revitalizing. I haven’t used them all, just the hydrating one, and it was pretty nice. It was basically a goopy, gel-like moisturizer that you slather on and leave for 5-10 minutes. Nothing over the top fancy, but if you’re like me, the cuteness will suck you in anyway. Plus, the convenience of these little pods will soothe your little obsessive cleaning disorder like a champ. How tidy is opening a pod, using the contents, then throwing the pod away? About as tidy as you can get. I’ve literally got goosebumps right now just talking about it.

Last product in the box is the StriVectin Intensive Illuminating Serum. Now if you’ll recall, Sample Society accidentally included this same sample in our January boxes as well. So I have two samples, and I actually got around to using one of them just in time for this review. I’ve been into it for about a week, and while I can’t say it’s working any illuminating miracles upon my face, the texture of this is pretty nice. It evaporates in seconds, so it speeds up my nighttime routine which is a good thing. Cuz fitting in 17 steps of skincare every evening sometimes overwhelms me. This serum doesn’t knock out a step or anything, but I don’t have to wait several minutes for it to sink in before I can move on to moisturizer. I can literally do my entire regime in like 30 minutes instead of 35. How awesome is that? (Not terribly, but you take what you can get.)

We’re at the end. Now officially on schedule, review-wise, if I can focus these next two days. I’m going to make an honest effort at the very least. Thanks for putting up with me, for not leaving even though I disappeared on you for a week. I can’t say I had a choice, what with working (and George Lopez) and all that. It’s that L.A. life. The struggle is real.

Bye, friends!