When I started Cosmetic Connection back in 1996, I had based the entire site on reviews of samples I had collected from cosmetic counters. This week, after a fruitful sample-getting trip to the mall, I thought it would be fun to do an all samples issue of The Cosmetic Report. I hope it inspires you to go sample hunting!

Clarins Energizing Morning Cream ($48.50 for 1.7 ounce jar)
You gotta love the big cosmetic companies - every time you turn around, they've got some new "must have" cream to add to their line of 50 million other creams that they say you just can't live without. Am I being to cynical? Maybe it's because all these fancy new creams are always so darned expensive!

Energizing Morning Cream is loaded with all kinds of goodies that are supposed to energize, revitalize, protect, stimulate, and so on and so forth. The label reads like a grocery list of botanical extracts like pineapple, kiwi, orange, papaya, peach, hops, brazillian cashew nut, olive, meadowsweet, sage, sesame, manganese, zinc, calcium, and magnesium, plus an "energizing" complex of horsetail, meadowsweet, jojoba, and peach, AND an anti-oxidant complex with vitamins B5, C, E, and H, AND (as if that wasn't enough), a complex of mica, silicium and titanium pigments that are "radiance boosting." Whew! This gives a whole new meaning to feeding your face.

Based on just the sample alone, it's hard to say if this cream will really do what Clarins claims. After a few days' use of the sample tube, I did like the way it made my skin look well enough to give the full size jar a try, so I plan to have a more complete review in October. For now, I can say it feels a little tingly and almost warm when you first put it on (it makes my cheeks look rosey for a few minutes), it soaks in fairly quickly, and it left my skin feeling soft and supple all day without oiliness. So far, so good as a moisturizer, but I'm not convinced that all those vitamins and things are really doing anything. I'll let you know next month.

Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Scrub ($36)
I got a sample of this in a recent eve.com order, and it's actually the first Laszlo product I've tried. The sample packet was rather small, so I could only get one use out of it, but I liked the texture and the way it made my skin feel - soft and smooth. The scrub beads are tiny, spherical and made from jojoba oil, while the base contains sea mud and plant extracts like aloe, algae, ginkgo biloba, arnica, horse chestnut, pine needle, kiwi, lemongrass, and papaya. It also has quite a few synthetic ingredients you'll find in most products these days, which is fine as long as you don't expect this product to be "all natural." I doubt I would buy the full size tube, though, because I don't think it's special enough to spend over $30.

Xpressions Minted Gel Cleanser
Although not technically samples, I found these great trial size products at a local drugstore. Although I don't tend to like products with excessive mint (too irritating), this one is fairly subtle (but still be careful around the eyes) and is a nice cleanser to have in the shower for a little morning pick-me-up. Because you only need the tiniest amount to get a decent lather, I have made the half-ounce tube last for well over a week. Don't believe all the claims about its AHA exfoliating ability, though - the fruit extracts like sugar cane, apple, and orange aren't real AHAs, and they aren't on the skin long enough to do any exfoliating.

Xpressions Skin Prep Refresher
This is basically a toner with menthol, which can be irritating to the skin. It also has aloe, rosemary, orange, sugar cane, lemon, and green tea. I probably wouldn't buy this in the full size for myself, but if you really like that "minty fresh" feeling on your skin, this toner isn't a bad choice - at least it's alcohol-free!

Xpressions Daily Energizer
I was surprised at how much I liked this lightweight gel. The blend of AHAs (lactic and glycolic acids) and BHA (salicylic acid) made a quick and noticeable improvement in the smoothness of my skin. Of the three Xpressions products I tried, this one was my favorite. I love lightweight products like this in the summer, and I could definitely see layering it under a moisturizer when it gets cooler. If you are looking for a gentle but effective exfoliating product, this one is worth a look.

For more information on Xpressions products, you can reach the main company, Skin Essentials, at 1-800-987-0908.

CosmeticConnection.com Product Review Spotlight
Check out this week's new reviews on Cosmetic Connection, Dermalogica and Darphin. You'll find them in the new Spotlight section on the Product Reviews page.

New Feature for September
I am overwhelmed with email asking for an update to my Favorite Products list, so this month I am happy to oblige! Read my list of latests and greatests from cleanser to makeup brushes.

You'll find all of our Feature articles at http://www.cosmeticconnection.com/features.html