Sample Lovin': Chantecaille Rose De Mai Collection

Have you ever received a deluxe sample with a purchase that you were excited to try but secretly hoped you would hate? That is exactly how I feel about this Chantecaille collection.  I received a sample of the facial oil and cream with a Nordstrom order.  I've never tried Chantecaille anything, so I was thrilled.  Sadly, I love this stuff a lot. And I say sadly because it is quite pricey. 1 oz of the facial oil is $185 and the face cream is $210 for 1.7 oz. Excuse my while me, my skin, and my wallet go cry in a corner.
By the way, I got these as a gift with purchase from Nordstrom about a week and a half ago.  I checked to see if they were still doing it, but from what I can tell, they are not.

How pretty is the box?

I am not being paid or endorsed in any way for this review. I really do love this stuff this much. Lol.
From Chantecaille's website:
"Known for its unique array of benefits, Rose de Mai is rich in Vitamin C and powerful anti-aging and healing properties. Boosted by a rich bouquet of roses: RoseHip, Evening Primrose, Rose Damascena and Rose Geranium, the 100% natural elixir regenerates, nourishes and restructures skin. 

• Ultra nourishing plant oils harvested from four corners of the world, combined with a high concentration of pure and active plant ingredients work immediately to create supple, dewy skin
• Over time the formula strengthens and tightens collagen to visibly smooth the skin and boosts skin’s metabolism to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increase firmness
• Delivers immediate hydration in just a few drops
• The lightweight yet rich oil helps rejuvenate and clarify skin, creating a healthy sheer glow"

Sounds too good to be true, right? But from my experience, this is really good stuff. 
I will start with the facial oil.
 I love how quickly it absorbs into my skin. I don't have to sit around for half an hour or longer waiting for it to soak in. After about 10-15 minutes, my skin has soaked it all in. And my skin feels so smooth, and looks better.  And can we talk about the fabulous smell? It isn't too strong and I find it pleasant. It reminds me of a less intense version of Lush's Ro's Argan Body Conditioner.  My skin doesn't feel or look like a greasy mess, rather it is smooth, clearer and more bright. And a little goes a very long way. At least that 1 oz would last you some time. I am still unsure if I would dish out $185 on this. I do love it, though.  Plus the bottle, although simple, looks elegant.Now on to the Rose de Mai face cream.  I like this, too, but I don't feel quite as strongly about it.  I am just not a fan of face creams. I prefer lighter moisturizers most of the time. But this face cream is surprisingly lightweight. I always think of luxury anti aging creams as very thick and sticky That is not the case this time around.  It t has an ultra lightweight texture. In fact, it feels a lot like a gel rather than a cream. Like the oil, it also absorbs pretty quickly. It doesn't just sit on top of the skin.  Occasionally, I do notice that my skin stings for a few seconds after applying.  It goes away after a few seconds and I have never noticed any redness.  This has the same pleasant scent as the face oil. Again, it is not overpowering. 



I applied some of the cream onto the inside of my wrist and took a picture right after.  You can't even see it. Normally you would be able to see a greasy spot. This shows how lightweight this moisturizer is.
Between the two, I have noticed that my skin has a younger, brighter look. The texture has also improved a great deal. Before, my skin had a rough, uneven appearance and now that is gone.  I don't get a lot of sleep, and I have a decent amount of stress to deal with. Obviously that takes a toll on your skin, but I feel that since I have incorporated the samples into my skincare routine, my skin looks so much better. Now once I run out of them, I am screwed. If I had to pick between the two, I would buy the face oil. And I will probably break down at some point and get it.  However, I have found a possible alternative that is a whole lot cheaper.  But I don't know if the results will be the same. It is by Badger, so I may order that from Amazon next time I have to get medical supplies for my grandmother.  

This was taken this morning after I woke up and without a stitch of makeup. I applied the oil and cream prior to going to sleep. Or at least before attempting to sleep.

What are your favorite face oils? I would love to hear about them!