EMPTIES!!!! Wins!!

I have been wanting to do this for a long time, but haven't been able to find the time (or the motivation) to do so for the last few months.  I filled up the Sephora bag in the picture below (a medium small one....) to overflowing, so I knew I just couldn't avoid it anymore.  Because there are so many products in this, I am doing it in a series of 3 blogs.  One for my Wins! One for my Meh....  And one for my Fails!

So, with that said, welcome to my WINS!  I'm here to share the goodness that all these products are!

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (far left) - This dry shampoo smells SO good, and doesn't come out and leave a white residue in your hair (for all my dark haired beauties out there.)  It leaves my hair looking and feeling fresh.  Not oily at all.  I currently have two other brands (full size) to go through before I can justify purchasing this.  It is kind of expensive, but I think it is worth it because it nourishes your hair too.

Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry (top left) - I love the formula of this shave cream.  It doesn't work into a lather, it just sits on top of the skin and gives you an extremely close shave, without drying out your skin.  In fact my skin always feels softer and moisturized after I use this.  I didn't care for this scent too much, but I have already purchased the full size of this in Lavender. Hands down my favorite shaving product of all time.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray (top right) - I'm not usually a fan of hairspray.  I don't typically use much product in my hair at all, but I will make an exception for this.  It has a light hold, gives your hair a natural, healthy shine, and smells good.  The different oils included in this also help to nourish your hair. 

L'Occitane Amande Cleansing and Softening Shower Oil (far right) - This stuff, guys.  It smells heavenly.  Not that cheap amaretto scent they usually try to pass off as almond, but a true, natural almond scent.  I use it as a bath oil/bubble bath because it does foam up both in the bath and in the shower.  It is extremely moisturizing, and leaves your skin lightly scented after you get out of the bath or shower.

Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Rehydrating Mist (bottom left) - I use this to help refresh my makeup throughout the day, as an extra step during my skincare regimen and just in general for a refreshing mist for my parched face.  I have already bought the full size of this, and LOVE it.  It does have a light cucumber scent to it, but coming from someone that doesn't care for cucumber scented things, I barely notice it. 

Black Opium perfume sample ampule (bottom right) - This scent is heavy, warm, spicy and has a hint of vanilla caramel to it.  Sephora.com lists the notes of this perfume as:  Coffee Accord, Orange Blossom, Cedar Wood Essence, Patchouli Essense.  These scents all blend to create a unique scent that would be perfect for the fall and winter.  Sadly, the only way to open this sample is to break open the ampule at the neck, leaving it to either evaporate or.... in my case....  be spilled on my vanity.  It is moderately expensive, and if I didn't already have so MANY perfumes (let me know if you would like a perfume collection blog!) I would likely run out and buy this one right away.  It is a Sephora exlusive, just so you are aware, and wanting to buy it.

Bite Beauty Lush Lip Wipes (top) - Goodbye lipsticks and lip stains!  No matter how dark, or how semi-permanent a lip color is, these wipes will remove anything with just a couple of swipes.  It has a somewhat fruity scent and taste, removes lip color like a champ, has a textured surface that also exfoliates your lips in the process of removing those stubborn lip colors.  It does see a bit drying to me, and it leaves behind a weird sort of numbness on my lips.  It isn't uncomfortable, just strange.  I use these only when I wear stubborn lip colors or lip stain. 

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying Oil Free foundation (bottom left) - This foundation was nice.  Considering I don't like foundations much, the fact that this foundation didn't settle in my lines and wrinkles, and didn't accentuate my  pores or my peach fuzz, it melted into my skin, and dried to a powder finish, which I really like.  I'm not sure the color was a match for me, but I definitely would consider getting this foundation in the future.  Though I'm not sure I would consider it "perfect" for me. 

Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint (bottom right) - I really liked this foundation too.  It is lighter than most, and melts into my skin seamlessly, leaving barely any trace on my skin that would indicate that I am wearing a foundation.  I think I actually like this one better than the Hourglass Immaculate.  Also with the addition of their Hyaluron complex, it also supports firming sagging skin and diminishing fine lines, which is always a plus for those of us with those issues.  I think I would buy this one over the other one, just because I prefer lightweight tinted moisturizer like products. 

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream (left) - Gahhhh this night cream is SO amazing.  It smells citrusy, bright and fresh, and I love how it makes my skin feel.  My skin has never been as soft as it was while I was using this cream.  At the first chance, I will be buying this to use in conjunction with my daily moisturizer. 

Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths (top right) - I really liked these, they were moisturizing and soothing.  They also smelled nice, and they were thicker cloths, which I really liked.  I am currently using another brand right now (that I also really like) so I'm not sure if I will purchase a full size of these right now, but possibly in the future. 

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream (bottom) - FAB has some of the best skin care products I have used, so I can see why they have a cult following.  I am still working my way through the skin cleanser, but this night cream is very nice too.  It is not scented (from what I could tell) but it also made my skin super soft.  I would very highly recommend this.  I think the Origins wins out only because of the bright citrusy scent.

NeoStrata Glycolic Acid Perfecting Peel (left) - This is a two step peel.  The first step is using a textured pad soaked in their peel formula.  You spread that all over your face and neck, and let it sit for 10 minutes (or until you feeling tingling or experience any redness.)  After the time has passed, you use the second pad to deactivate the peel formula.  I admit I was scared to try this, but finally I jumped feet first.  I did notice an immediate improvement in my skin.  It was softer and brighter after one use.  I can only imagine what it would look like after multiple treatments. 

Caldrea Black Coriander Lime Hand Soap (top center) - Oh my gosh, this stuff smells amazing.  It has a light peppery scent to it.  It softens my skin nicely, gets my hands clean and leaves a gorgeous scent behind.  I squeezed out every last drop out of this packet, and yes, I have already bought the full size of this. 

Roloxin Lift Revitalizing Facial Treatment (top right) - This cream dries to a powder on the face, and claims to smooth, clarify and brighten your skin.  I did notice a difference after using this the two times I used it.  My skin was definitely softer, but I can't say if my skin was really brighter.  I would try this again, but it is EXTREMELY expensive, so I can't really justify spending that kind of money on myself, just for softer skin.

Algenist Pore Corrector Gel Moisturizer (bottom right) - I love the gel consistency of this moisturizer, even though I don't really need the pore corrector aspect of it.  It moisturizes and softens my skin noticeably.  I have already bought the full size of this.

More info on the Roloxin Lift.

The front of the packet that contained the samples of the Roloxin Lift.

Le Couvent des Minimes Baume D'Amour Loving Care Body Balm (left) - I got a sample of this lotion from Ulta, and decided to use it on my youngest son, who has eczema.  His skin is extremely dry, with tiny cracks, and chicken skin (small bumps all over.)  After a couple of applications of this lotion, his chicken bumps started going away, and his skin was so much softer.  I went and bought the full size of this as soon as I could, because I much prefer the consistency of this over the Cetaphil cream we had been using.  I highly recommend this to anyone that has extremely dry skin.

BioRepublic Green Tea Detox Purifying Fiber Mask (right) - I've never used a fiber mask until I received this in my ipsy bag.  I was intrigued, and tried it out on one of the warmest days last week.  It was so cool and refreshing, and smelled so good, I was immediately won over.  When you take the mask over, you just press whatever serum is left, into your skin, and let it dry.  I have two more masks similar to this (different formulas) that I can't wait to use, and I will likely be ordering more of these when those are gone. 

Dr Brandt Needles No More (bottom) - I was skeptical when I received this sample, but let me tell you, I am a believer now.  The first couple of times I used this, I didn't notice a difference really but with consistent use, both morning and evening over the course of a couple of weeks, I DID notice a difference in my fine lines, and crows feet.  I have noticed since I ran out of this, that I can see them coming back (even though I am using a different wrinkle reducer product.)  This stuff is expensive though.  $89 for half an ounce.  YIKES.  Is it worth it?  I'm thinking so..... and one day.... I will buy the full size of this!

Last but not least.....

Ellen Tracy Cleansing Cloths (top) - the top on this went missing after I ran out of them, so I can't really give you much in the way of product information, but they were nice enough that I would like to get more (even though I also really like the brand I'm using now.)  The cloths were nice and thick, and didn't dry out too quickly.

up&up Cotton Ovals (bottom) - These were the large facial pads.  I use them for my toner application.  I haven't yet found a cotton pad that doesn't shed cotton all over my face.  :\  These have been the best so far, with minimal shedding, but I'm looking for any better.  Any recommendations?

What do you all think about these products? Have you used them before? Which products have you been wanting to try?