Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!

Blush, Baby: Clinique Swatch In Melon Pop Edition

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Blush, Baby: Clinique Swatch In Melon Pop Edition

Hi! Clinique is a brand that I’ve grown increasingly fond of as of late. I love their skin care, I’m obsessed with their chubby sticks, and their Pansy Pop blush was my first high end makeup product. So, I was really happy that my sister passed down her Melon Pop blush by Clinique onto me. Their Pop blush collection is such a fun array of bright and springy hues and they offer the perfect pop of color for any MOTD. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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What I love the most about Clinique products is that you know you’re getting the good stuff. It is such a reputable brand and makeup lovers young and old all seem to flock to it at some point or another. I feel pampered when I use Clinique goodies and, even though this blush is used, I know that I am still going to enjoy it as if it were brand new.

Like I mentioned earlier, I love the Clinique Pop collection and Melon Pop is a delicious summery shade fresh out of a chopped fruit salad. Melon Pop is delightfully reminiscent of a juicy cantaloupe, and it has the sweetest hints of pink underneath so that you’re not rubbing straight up orange onto your cheeks. This will be the perfect shade to bust out come springtime with a lovely floral dress or while you’re trying to catch a tan this summer. I can’t wait to use it!

Thanks a lot to my sister, Kristen, for sharing her makeup with me! We swatched a lot of great products and I am looking forward to putting all of them to the test soon! 😀

What is your favorite product that we swatched recently? What is your favorite brand of makeup or skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Ulta Beauty Liquid Illuminator Swatch In Northern Lights

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Ulta Beauty Liquid Illuminator Swatch In Northern Lights

Greetings! Today, we are going to take a look at a Liquid Illuminator product by Ulta Beauty in a shade called Northern Lights. I have never tried Ulta’s own brand of makeup and have never felt inclined to, because the reviews that I have seen have always been fairly average. But, this illuminator was handed down to me from my sister, so swatch it we shall. Here we go:

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I have never used a liquid highlighter before, so I don’t know what I was expecting. But, I will say that the texture of this product was really, really thick. Of course, for swatchings sake, I always apply the products more heavily so it can be picked up on the camera. But, regardless of how much I put on, the highlighter felt cakey even when spread across most of the back of my hand.

I actually quite like the idea of this product, and the color and its namesake are kind of fun. But, I don’t think that a liquid illuminator will ever replace a traditional powdered highlighter for me. I can see myself applying this Ulta Beauty illuminator in really small doses around the corner of my eyes, but that’s about it. Anything else would look too unnatural for me, and I don’t like combining something so loud when my favorite thing to rock is a bold lip.

I can’t say that I would recommend the liquid illuminator, but I can see something like this being fun to use in a more costume style approach, so there’s that. Otherwise, I’ll be sticking to regular highlighters!

Would you ever use a product like a liquid illuminator? Do you prefer liquid or traditional makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Blush, Baby: Seraphine Botanicals Swatch In Happy Hibiscus Edition

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Blush, Baby: Seraphine Botanicals Swatch In Happy Hibiscus Edition

Hello, hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Blush, Baby! Today, we will be discussing a Seraphine Botanicals hue in Happy Hibiscus. With all of these new shades of blush that I got from my sister, I will never be without color in my cheeks! Take a look at Happy Hibiscus and let’s get to it:

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I can easily say that this color is definitely more of a shade for my sister than for me. Kristen is a tan goddess and the browns, purples, and oranges with a more “baked” appearance all look awesome on her. Happy Hibiscus is an interesting shade, because I can see undertones of all three of those mentioned colors mixed in to create this hue. And, of course, a little shimmer never hurt anyone, either!

Despite Happy Hibiscus being a more “Kristen” blush, I can see myself wearing it during the colder months for a more dramatic look. And, it will be nice in the summertime if I ever manage to catch a tan instead of just burning and going back to pale. But, let’s all be honest, that is never going to happen! -___-

What colors look best with your complexion? How does you and your sister’s or best friend’s taste in makeup differ? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Saying Goodbye To The Things That Bring You Down

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Saying Goodbye To The Things That Bring You Down

Nobody’s perfect. For some people, this isn’t a big concern. They do what they want, and their flaws are just part of who they are. For most people, however, these flaws have a detrimental effect on their well-being. Sometimes it’s physically, at other times it’s mentally. Whatever form it takes, it robs us of our contentment and enjoyment. The good news, is that with a little bit of self-analysis, we can identify these obstacles and then remove them altogether. Below, we look at some common damaging areas of a person’s life, which you can then work on saying goodbye to:

The Negative Side of Your Mind:

Of all the things that can make a person miserable, none is quite as damaging as their own mind. Everyone – absolutely everyone – has that inner critic inside of them. It’s the voice that says you’re not good enough, that you’ll never reach your goals, and that any success you have had hasn’t really been earned – you were just lucky. There are ways to silence this voice, but it’s just as effective to identify that voice, and remind yourself that it’s not real. Try talking to yourself as you would talk to a friend and see the changes that come with it.

The Non-Stop Life:

There are a lot of benefits to living in the 21st century, but these benefits have come at a cost. There are more stressed, depressed, and all-around dissatisfied people than ever before. While there are many reasons for this, one of the main causes is that we’re always connected, always moving somewhere, always doing something. We don’t take enough time just to sit back and relax. If it feels like you’ve got no time for yourself, look at making some changes. For instance, you might be spending an hour or more on your laptop each evening. Cut that time out, and you’ll have wrestled back some time, during which you can relax.

Too Much Partying:

Everyone likes to cut loose and have fun, from time to time. But if you’re “cutting loose” every other night, then it’s possible that you might have a problem. Many people go through a phase of drinking too much on consecutive weekends, but if you’re struggling to leave that lifestyle behind, you might have to take more drastic action. Whatever substance you’re taking, be it alcohol or drugs, you’ll need to educate yourself before you try to make changes; it’s much easier to succeed if you have as much information as possible. Speak with friends, take a look at this guide to withdrawal symptoms by Amethyst Recovery Center, and try to replace your vices with more positive changes. If you’re still struggling, get in touch with the experts and get professional help. You’ll feel physically and mentally better once you’ve changed your ways.

Troubling Relationships:

Everyone needs to have people in their life. If everything’s working as it should, these friends and family members should lift you up and support you as you strive to achieve your goals. However, it won’t always work that way. There are some people who enjoy bringing others down. It’s worthwhile, from time to time, to take a look at your relationships and make sure that they’re as loving and caring as they should be. If someone’s making you feel bad, then it might be time to cut them out of your life.

Life Regrets:

Nobody gets everything right in life. No matter what path you take, there will always be that sense of “what if I had done something different?” It’s inevitable. Some people take this feeling for what it is, and move on pretty quickly. Other people dwell on the topic too long, and end up miserable. Don’t overthink your life choices; they’ve already been made, and there’s nothing you can do to change them now. Enjoy what you have. There’s every chance that you’d be having the same thoughts if you had actually made the choices that you’re now thinking better. Remember, the grass is rarely greener on the other side.

2019 is officially here and cutting out all of the negativity is the best way to live your best life this time around!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Blush, Baby: Seraphine Botanicals Swatch In Lychee + Gold Edition

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Blush, Baby: Seraphine Botanicals Swatch In Lychee + Gold Edition

Yoohooooo! In today’s new edition of Blush, Baby, we will be discussing a lovely hue by Seraphine Botanicals in Lychee + Gold. My sister gave me the hookup with a bag full of makeup hand me downs, many of which came from her Ipsy subscription. It has been a treat going through these goodies, because a lot of them are from brands that I have never heard of, and it is always fun to try something new. So, take a look at this pretty shade and let’s get to it:

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This blush actually reminds me of a toned down version of the Smoked Peach shade that we looked at yesterday and I am in loooove. The lychee pigment in my Seraphine Botanicals blush definitely still has an orange-y hue, but it has a soft rose undertone to it making it much more wearable than the harsher Smoked Peach color. I love the extra touch of gold mixed in, too, because every girl needs a little shimmer!

Of course, this blush will look gorgeous in the summertime. But, it is not as boldly orange as the one in yesterday’s edition of Blush, Baby, making it appropriate to wear even during the more grey winter months. I can see myself wearing this to add some extra brightness to my MOTD year round and I am really happy with this new blush. 🙂

How does your makeup differ depending on the season? What is your favorite season to create a makeup look for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Why Working From Home Can Be Difficult

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Why Working From Home Can Be Difficult

Did you know that there are 4.8 million self-employed people in the UK? Whether you run your own business from home or you’ve snagged a job that allows you to work remotely, there are many benefits that you can take advantage of. Being able to work from the comfort of your own home and around other commitments are usually the most popular reasons as to why people choose to do so. However, working from home isn’t as luxurious as you may think, and here are some things you should know if you’re looking to work from home rather than in an office:

You can fall out of schedule:

Having the freedom to work around other commitments such as children and your social life is an amazing bonus of being able to work from home. However, it’s easy to put tasks off while you’re having fun and this can quickly lead to falling behind on your schedule. Things happen – yourself or your kids get sick, your laptop stops working, or your internet is down and suddenly you are officially behind on all of your deadlines.

Communication isn’t as easy:

Another problem that many people face when working from home is communication with their peers or clients. Working from home means the face to face interaction pretty much goes out of the window, and this can make it much harder to secure clients or satisfy customers.

Luckily, we live in an age where communication is easier than it’s ever been, and now with a simple click of a button, you’re able to speak to someone from across the world. There are a plethora of different methods that you could use to effectively communicate with the world around you, and the same goes for your business. Working remotely no longer has to be something that secludes you off from the world, and here are 10 ways to get the most out of remote working to read so that you’re not missing out.

You’re never ‘away’ from your work station:

You could speak to pretty much anybody who works from home and they will tell you the same thing – you’re never truly away from your office! Even though you may have finished your workload for the day, you will still have lingering thoughts when you’re near or around your work station. Unlike working in a regular office or working environment, you can’t escape as easily as simply going home, because you’re already there!

It’s important to find a way of shutting yourself off from work when you’ve finished for the day. This could perhaps be by shutting the door to your office and locking it or, if you don’t have a room dedicated to an office, switching off your computer and packing your work materials away will help let it sink in that now is the time to relax.

You could be in danger:

The last thing you’d think about when working from home is that you could be in danger. After all, you’re in your safe haven! However, running a business from home will require you to list your business address for mailing purposes and this, obviously, means listing your home address for the world to see. Exposing yourself like this can be dangerous, especially if you find a disgruntled customer that wants to confront you face to face. A great way around this dilemma is by purchasing a virtual office address. Doing this means that your mail will be redirected to your home and you won’t have to worry about exposing your home address to the world. This is a very important step when it comes to working from home and should be one of the first things you do. Not only does it offer protection, but finding a Registered office Scotland (or your local area) provides peace of mind when you log into work every day.

As you can see, there are problems that come hand in hand with working at home, but when you weigh up the pros and cons, is it really worth it? Not everyone can handle feeling secluded and out of routine. But, if you get it right, it can be one of the most rewarding choices you make for your career.

Featured Image By: Bruce Mars from Pexels

Blush, Baby: Bang Beauty Swatch In Smoked Peach Edition

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Blush, Baby: Bang Beauty Swatch In Smoked Peach Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the newest edition of Blush, Baby! Today, we are going to be discussing a shade called Smoked Peach by Bang Beauty. This is another makeup goodie that I received from my sister and it is a pretty one. The color is definitely unique and it is perfect for some fun in the sun. Check it out:

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At first glance of the Smoked Peach blush, I was super ambivalent. In the package, this color is a loud, fireball red and I almost didn’t even bother taking another look at it. But, I decided to swatch it anyways and was really happy with the results. Smoked Peach is a lot more toned down on the skin and it looks like the juicy center of a ripe peach. The gold shimmer mixed in is like the sun catching the soft fruit at just the right angle and it will look so perfectly glowing on a bright summer day.

This isn’t my favorite blush by any means, but I can see myself wearing it once the weather gets warmer. It still is a bit too pigmented for my liking and would look kind of crazy during the dull, winter months. However, this Bang Beauty blush will be fun to wear during an outdoor concert or a fireworks show come July, especially with the sun kissed shimmer that Smoked Peach offers. Not the best, but certainly not the worst, either!

What is your favorite color of blush? Could you see yourself wearing Smoked Peach? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Winky Lux Holographic Highlighter Swatch In Charm

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Winky Lux Holographic Highlighter Swatch In Charm

Hi! Today, we are going to chit chat about a gorgeous highlighter given to me by my sister from the brand Winky Lux. I reckon that Kristen got this itty bitty beauty from her Ipsy subscription and I am obsessed. I have wanted a holographic highlighter for forever, but never felt like buying one so I am SO looking forward to trying out this shade in Charm! Check it out:

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It took me a while to get hip to highlighters and I’ve started to enjoy using them only within the past year. My whole reason being was because I would see different MOTD pics with highlighters that look like they slapped the model’s faces with glitter and I was like “why would anyone want that” lol. So, needless to say, I definitely prefer a more subtle look when it comes to the color of the highlighter that I’m using.

I like that this Winky Lux shade in Charm has the faintest hint of the holographic shimmer but it’s not enough to take away from the rest of your MOTD or make you look too costume-y. I love the blend of violet and pink shimmer and it will add a perfect pop against my pale skin. I also adore the cute as a button packaging – it reminds me of Polly Pocket inspired makeup, and it doesn’t get much better than that!

How do you feel about the highlighter trend? What is your favorite shade of highlighter? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick Swatch In Checkmate

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Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick Swatch In Checkmate

Howdy! Having a sister is awesome. You get a built in BFF, a wing girl at family get togethers, and someone to always receive hand me downs from. My sister, Kristen, for example, passes down all of her unwanted makeup to me. Like I said, having a sister is awesome. On Christmas, Kristen bestowed a big bag full of makeup that she was no longer using onto me and, now that we’re done swatching the Emerald Obsessions palette, we can go through this goodie bag together to see what is a hit or miss. Today, we will be talking about Jeffree Star’s Velour Liquid Lipstick in Checkmate. Check it out:

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Let me start off by saying, I love me some Jeffree Star. I used to bump his MySpace music in my teen years and enjoyed watching his transformation from scene kid super star into a makeup icon. And, this product had a lot of things that I liked about it. But, if you read my blog, then I feel like all of you should already know what I’m going to say about the color… IT’S TOO ORANGE FOR MEEEEE! There is nothing that I love better than a good red lip, but when there’s even the slightest hint of orange to the pigment, it ends up looking so clown-like against my hair and I just can’t deal.

But, this is not to say that it’s a bad lippie, it just doesn’t work for me. The product applied really smoothly and it was so smudge proof that I had to take a washcloth of micellar water and use some serious elbow grease to get it off. So, if you’re looking for a lip product that you don’t have to worry about budging all over, I would definitely recommend it!

And, finally, I love the packaging. It’s simple but still has this cool rocker edge to it and I would feel mighty cute having it sticking out of my front pocket. I also feel as though one tube of the lipstick will last you for a good long while, because there was a lot of product in it – and you guys all know that getting a lot of bang for your buck is a must for me.

I’m happy that I got to take a closer look at Jeffree Star’s lippie line, because I have been curious about it. And, in a different shade, I would probably be all about it. So, that might be a nice treat yoself purchase in the future!

What do you think about Jeffree Star’s makeup line? Who is your favorite celebrity makeup guru? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

January 2019 Funky Time Jams

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January 2019 Funky Time Jams

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Funky Time Jams post of 2019. One of the music related things that I’ve enjoyed the most for the past year is going to a vinyl record club at one of my local libraries. We play a record chosen by one of our members each meeting, talk music, and soak up each other’s company. Then, we often hit up a nearby bar after for the festivities to continue. It’s so much fun and I adore all of the new friends that I’ve made through the program. Seen below are some of the bands that I’ve had on repeat for the month and, who knows, maybe one of their albums will be featured at an upcoming record club!

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

This past month at record club, we had two very opposite artists featured during our biweekly meetings. I brought in AFI’s decemberunderground, as it was the band’s most commercially popular album and another member brought in a best of compilation of Aretha Franklin. And, that is the beauty of our little merry band of wanderers, because we get to hear such vastly different talent every time we have a get together. It’s fun to bring in an album that you enjoy so much and want to share with everyone and I was happy that decemberunderground was well received by my friends. I can’t wait to figure out an album for my next turn providing the entertainment for the evening!

What album would you bring in to a vinyl record club? Which songs have you had on repeat this month? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah