A sample review is more useful when you know which purchasing decisions it should resolve. Start with the requested product configuration, then compare the sample against it. Keep visible product observations separate from claims that require another kind of evidence.
Identify the product and the purpose of the sample
Label the sample with its product name and the specification supplied with it. Record whether it represents an existing stock product or a proposed custom order. That distinction matters when the final order will use a different mix, branded packaging or tray arrangement.
List the decisions you need to make: choosing between styles, agreeing on a mixed tray, checking the appearance, or confirming a packaging design. A stock sample does not by itself approve artwork that has not yet been prepared.
Compare the sample with the requested configuration
Compare the identified product style, requested lengths, curl and tray arrangement with the accompanying specification. For a mixed tray, check the section labels and their positions so the intended mix is easy to follow.
Use comparable photographs when discussing differences. A side view helps communicate a curl question, while an overall tray photograph helps show row positions or a mixed layout. Identify the exact part of the sample that your question concerns.
Inspect the lash arrangement and packaging
Look at the lash arrangement, the position of the card or tray and the overall presentation inside the box. Note any area that looks different from the agreed reference and photograph it clearly for discussion.
Use photographs to check lash arrangement and presentation. If your market requires testing or certification, ask for the relevant reports separately; product photographs cannot establish those results.
Check the packaging against the approved version
For a branded sample, compare the brand spelling, product wording, artwork placement and included packaging items with the approved design. Note which version you reviewed, particularly if several artwork revisions have been discussed.
Check the way the selected product is presented in its box. If you need a different insert, labeling arrangement or package configuration, make that request explicit before approving the final order.
List the accepted details and requested changes
Summarize the sample review in a short record. Identify what is accepted, what needs adjustment and what remains unanswered. Attach the relevant photographs instead of describing the entire sample as simply good or bad.
Keep the accepted reference with the confirmed order specification. If the sample and the final order differ, record those differences clearly so the sample approval is not mistaken for approval of an unreviewed configuration.
- Sample name and the specification reviewed.
- Accepted product and packaging details.
- Requested changes, with photographs where useful.
- Open questions to resolve before ordering.
Copy this checklist: sample inspection notes
Complete this record for each sample you review. It is a purchasing record for the discussion, not a laboratory test report.
- Sample reference and review date: [product code, label and date].
- Specification and artwork version compared: [reference or file names].
- Visible details accepted: [specific product or packaging observations].
- Changes requested: [each change with a labeled photograph where useful].
- Questions still open: [information needed before an order decision].
- Decision and scope: [accepted details, changes requested, or review still open].
Your next step
Agree on the questions a sample needs to answer, compare it with the specified order and return a precise review. This creates a useful reference for the next production discussion.
