Not only are samples great for finding your new favorite fragrance, but they're also perfect for utilizing for traveling since they are travel size.

Here are ways to get free fragrance samples:

1. Social Media

By liking, following, and interacting with posts from brands that sell fragrances like Lancome, Macy's, and Givenchy (or similar brands), ads usually pop up on your timeline offering complimentary samples. This method also works for skincare and makeup samples as well.

2. Product Testing Websites & Apps

Websites and apps like Influenster, IPSY, and other sites are great for grabbing free samples. There are a few catches. Depending on the site or app, you have to leave reviews or pay a subscription fee. 

3. Buying products 

Another way to get free samples is by making purchases at stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Sephora often give free samples with purchases. You can even get free samples for your birthday too! 

Grabbing free samples often comes with some extra work or money from your end, but they’re worth getting.

What are some ways you find free samples? 

I remember seeing people rant and rave about Nolaskinsentials back on X (formerly and still known as Twitter) in 2017/2018. I’m on the late train, but I had to jump on it regardless. I don’t usually go for social media hype, but the hype is real when it comes to Nolaskinsentials. 

Nolaskinsentials is a black owned, woman owned vegan skincare company ran by Jane Ormon. It was started in 2017 due to Ormon having a hard time finding suitable products for her darker complexion. Nolaskinsentials is cruelty free and handcrafted created with real, natural ingredients, which is why I wanted to check it out. 

Here are the products I purchased from them to review:

Papaya Burst Cleanser 

Let’s Get Intimate Bikini Scrub

Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Face Exfoliant 

Passion Fruit Hyperpigmentation Soap 

Here’s my take on each product after using them all for a few months: 

Papaya Burst Cleanser 

I wanted to use the Papaya Burst Cleanser as an addition to my skincare regimen after reading a suggestion to use two cleansers for your face. I already use black soap and sometimes charcoal soap, so I chose the papaya soap for deep cleansing. 

This soap is helpful for acne prone skin and dark spots. While I don’t have dark spots anymore, as someone with acne prone skin I found this cleanser extremely helpful to my regimen. I have no issues with this cleanser, it goes a long way and keeps my skin glowing. 

Rating: 10/10 

Let’s Get Intimate Bikini Scrub

I started getting Brazilian waxes over the pandemic shut down. One thing that was stressed to sustain healthy skin was to regularly exfoliate the intimate area. This is why I purchased the Let’s Get Intimate Bikini Scrub. I used this scrub before and after waxes. It’s a Himalayan salt base and is useful for ingrown hairs and razor bumps. 

This is a pretty solid scrub. As someone who exfoliates weekly, I wish it would come in a larger container (the size is 8oz). Otherwise this was a nice scrub and it did prevent ingrowns. 

Rating: 8/10 

Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Face Exfoliant 

This scrub is $20 for a 4oz container but is some of the best exfoliant I’ve ever used, hands down. Besides the amazing vanilla scent, this scrub is amazing on my face. I exfoliate once a week, both face and body. This scrub has a sugar base and is for acne prone and textured skin. 

What I love most is the how smooth and soft it is to the skin while using. I wouldn’t expect a vanilla scented scrub to be compatible with acne prone skin, but it’s that amazing and left my skin smooth and glowing. Because it’s only used on the face, it lasts a very long time too. 

Rating: 10/10

Passion Fruit Hyperpigmentation Soap 

We all have pesky scars and hyperpigmentation we want to get rid of. I got the Passion Fruit Hyperpigmentation Soap with hope of lightening some scars on my legs although many use it for their faces as it’s recommended for acne prone skin and scarring. 

My fairest review on this is that I haven’t been using the soap long enough to really see a change on any leg scars and I may need to use a stronger cream to get rid of them instead. All in all, it’s a quality soap, but I personally would suggest it be used on the face instead of the body based off of my review for body usage after a few months. 

Rating: 8/10

That’s my take on Nolaskinsentials products. I absolutely adore the Papaya Burst Cleanser and the Vanilla & Bean Exfoliant the most. I’m super excited to try more products from this company. Highly recommended and worth a try! 

Have you ever used Nolaskinsentials? What’s your favorite product or what product would you try if you haven’t tried it before? 

I first tried press on nails back in 2019 and it was a fail. When the pandemic came in 2020, all nail shops and salons were closed so there was no other choice but to learn how to wear press on nails. I am now a believer. 

Let’s break down the pros and cons of press on nails: 

Pros:

1. Cost Efficient 

No more $80 nail appointments for a manicure and a manicure only. Some custom press on nails are costly due to decorations and being handmade, but most for everyday wear are very affordable. Kiss Nails press on nails cost on average $8. 

2. No More Broken & Weak Nails

The brief time I wore acrylic nails, I noticed my nails getting weaker. On the contrary, my nails still tend to be healthy wearing press on nails.

3. Time 

I love being pampered at nail salons, but sometimes it takes way too much time. Depending on where you’re going, walking into a nail salon means wait time, removing old nail polish, soaking off acrylic (that takes forever), adding on new acrylic, drying time, designs, etc. Wearing press on nails takes from 10-25 minutes. This is so beneficial for “on the go” quick manis too. 

4. Removal & Reusal 

When I frequented going to salons and got acrylic nails, I would have to get my nails soaked off. And that took forever. In comparison, I can easily remove my press on nails whenever I want and even reuse them. 

Cons:

1. Breaking 

While I love press on nails, the stability isn’t always there. That means your pinky nail might pop off. Getting acrylic nails or just a manicure means more stability. Press on nails can be reapplied and reused, but it can get annoying doing this every time a nail comes off. 

NOTE: When vacationing, I also find press on nails a bit more annoying especially when going on excursions, activities, and just out and about. 

2. Time Frame 

Depending on the brand, press on nails can last up to 7 days or longer based on how they’re applied. Acrylic nails and manicures last longer without the hassle of reapplying nails. 

All in all, I will still choose press on nails although I enjoy getting my nails done professionally as well. 

Would you consider wearing press on nails? 

Quarantine is still a thing, but that doesn’t mean your nails have to look wack! 

I haven’t gotten my nails done professionally in a hot minute. When the pandemic first began, a lot of beauty shops and nail salons closed down until further notice. (In my state, they opened back up around June). I noticed that a lot of people were online discussing press on nails as an alternative. Last year before I started getting acrylic nails, I tried press on nails and it was a super epic fail hence why I started going to the nail salon. 

This time, I dug into a bit more research and found some new tips (shoutout to Love Your Natural on YouTube) that not only made press on nails look as polished as possible, but it also made them last longer than ever. Press on nails have always gotten a bad rep from what I’ve heard, but this time around a lot more ladies are finding hacks on how to make them just as great as your full $50 set. 

Not only have these become super quick to apply, but they’re also cost efficient and it doesn’t take much to remove them as it does with acrylic nails. I also like the fact that my natural nails don’t get as damaged as they do when I wore my acrylic nails. Let’s get into how to apply your press on nails at home! 

1. Start with a clean surface. Grab your supplies and set them out. Make sure your nails and hands are clean. You may want to use a nail brush to get in the nooks and crannies of your nails. Dry them off. 

2. File/buff your nails down so the edges and ridges will be smoothed out in order for the press on nail to apply as easy as possible.

3. Get your cuticle pusher and begin pushing and snipping away at your cuticles.

4. I learned this step from Love Your Natural. Get your nail polish remover and cotton ball and wipe each of your natural nails. What this does is removed only oils off your nails to ensure the barrier between the nail and nail glue stays intact.

4. Begin applying your press on nails to your real nails. I tend to start with the thumb nails first. I use the Kiss Brush On Glue and apply it to the press on nail first. I then hold it down on each nail for about 30 seconds. 

5. Once I’m done, I add oil to my cuticles for the pro salon look! 

With these steps, your press on nails will be sure to stay on for 3-4 weeks! Be sure to give your nails breaks in between in order for them to stay strong. Watch the full tutorial video below: