Category Archives: Beauty

Jun29

Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soap Haul

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Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soap Haul

Hi! You recently saw my Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale haul and it was a mighty fine one, indeed. I don’t know how much better it gets than nineteen products for sixty something bucks! Score! B&BW products are a staple at chez moi and it was so nice to restock all of our smell good supplies for a song by simply clicking “confirm order”. While I love my shower gels, lotions, and wall plugins, my favorite product of all time from B&BW are their foaming hand soaps. My bathroom simply wouldn’t be the same without them lol. I did purchase more of my must have soap in May but I couldn’t resist adding a few more to my cart during my Semi Annual Sale shopping. Check it out and let’s discuss these scents further:

Cotton Candy Grape: Grape scents can be hit or miss but I decided to go for Cotton Candy Grape anyways because the cotton candy aspect intrigued me. This scent was either going to be good or bad and, unfortunately, it is a no from me. Cotton Candy Grape features notes of “juicy grapes, fluffy cotton candy, and sugared citrus”. Individually, this all sounds great. Together, however, created a fragrance that smells straight up medicinal. In fact, I think it smells just like children’s cough medicine. This is definitely a fragrance line that you can skip on!

Gingham Gorgeous: I am a Gingham girl through and through and my haul included a body cream of the OG Gingham and a shower gel of Gingham Love. I snagged Gingham Gorgeous as a foaming hand soap just because and I wish I didn’t because this is, without a doubt, my least favorite from the Gingham line. Gingham Gorgeous offers notes of “pink strawberries, peach nectar, and peony blooms”. I can vaguely smell a hint of peach but, make no mistake, this is a floral scent through and through and I am so not a floral fan. So far we are striking out with these sniff tests but that’s the hazard of online shopping for fragrances so what can ya do lol.

Cucumber Melon: Thank goodness for Cucumber Melon because I knew I was going to like this one! The B&BW classic Cucumber Melon is just the best with notes of “crisp cucumber, watery honeydew, and juicy cantaloupe”. I actually hate honeydew and cantaloupe but I can’t get enough of this nostalgic scent! Cucumber Melon is summery, fresh, and brings me back to my early teens when I had a fragrance spray of this scent. It smells exactly as I remember it which is a true testament to if it’s not broken, don’t fix it!

Churro Cinnamon Bun: Mmmmmmm! “Fresh baked churros, cinnamon sugar, and a drizzle of icing”, this scent smells just as delicious as the scent description promises. Churro Cinnamon Bun is exactly what you think it is – a whiff of fresh baked, piping hot cinnamon rolls and it really smells good enough to eat. It is early morning as I write this and it seriously made me hungry when I did the sniff test lol. I would happily buy this one again and happily take a break to eat some breakfast soon. 😀

This haul was half duds and half winners but at least I know what not to get next time and so do you!

Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? How many products did you get? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun27

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Hi! In early June I am always on the lookout for mail from Bath & Body Works to alert me to the Semi Annual Sale start date. I mark the date on the calendar as soon as it arrives and count down the days until I can shop till I drop! The B&BW Semi Annual Sale is just the best and I love stocking up on products for myself and Johnny for a fraction of the price. You simply can’t beat getting an eighteen dollar shower gel for three bucks and it’s so fun to spoil myself with old favorites and new to me scents. I scored nineteen products in this haul for about sixty-five dollars and I think we will be pretty well set on smell goods for a while! Check it out:

Did I go a little product crazy? Maybe! But, honestly, no I didn’t lol. This is me fully and completely justifying this purchase because it’s just too good of a deal to pass up. And it’s not like these products are sitting on a shelf to never be used – B&BW smell goods are used daily and constantly at my apartment. Why not get them for dirt cheap?! And, before anyone asks, the answer is: YES. I am, in fact, already looking forward to the winter Semi Annual Sale. Lol, what can I say? It’s my time to shine!

Stay tuned for a review on the hand soaps as they are all new to me scents. Today, let’s take a closer look at the shower gels so we can talk about my favorite discontinued scent of all…PEARBERRY!!!! 😀

After Dark: A little something for the fellas! After Dark features fragrance notes of “spiced bergamot, amber, and smooth tonka”.
All of this is a fancy way to say that it smells like Old Spice! This scent basically smells like every scent ever made in men’s products and I’m not saying it’s not nice. After Dark actually smells really good! However, if you don’t want to pay sixteen dollars for a bottle of this shower gel, Old Spice is definitely the way to go. I wouldn’t buy this shower gel at full price which is why I got it for three bucks instead. 🙂

Gingham Love: The OG Gingham is one of my all time favorite B&BW scents and I always have the fragrance in some form at chez moi. Gingham Love comes in a very close second, though! This scent provides the breezy, freshly laundered crispness of Gingham that I love with a very berry twist. Gingham Love offers notes of “sugared red berries, blushing freesia, and rose meringue” and it is heavenly. With one whiff I am in raspberry heaven and I was so happy to score this shower gel on the cheap!

Pearberry: It wouldn’t be a Semi Annual Sale without Pearberry and I wish that B&BW would come to their senses and just bring it back for good. Until then, I have to stock up when I get the chance! This blast of throwback nostalgia has a ton of different notes like “anjou pear, wild berries, apple blossom, golden freesia, and blonde woods”. All of this is meaningless lol. Have you ever smelled a pear? Have you ever smelled berries? That is Pearberry in a nutshell! Juicy and soft pear, tart raspberries, and a hint of strawberry, this is a fruit salad scent to the T and it is absolutely delicious. I love it SO. Damn. Much!!!!! ❤

Stick around for the last of the reviews from this haul and a concert OOTD coming soon!

Which stores offer the best deals? Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer Review

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Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer Review

Howdy! I finished up one of the best moisturizers I have ever used in May and was sad to see it go but eager to try something new. As I browsed through my skin care stash, I decided to go for the jar of Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer as it has SPF 40 to help protect my skin from the summer sun. The Supergoop! brand is brand new to me and, honestly, I think I got it from TJMaxx more for the name than anything else lol. While the brand name is an absolute hoot, the moisturizer leaves a lot to be desired. So much so, that I even considered not using it altogether. However, you all know that I refuse to not finish a product I started so here I am venting in this lackluster review:

In theory, the Triple Prep moisturizer should be exactly what I like: A light product for normal skin types with the added bonus of SPF. In practice, this moisturizer is just not it and I’m not sure if the problem is the product itself or the combination of skin care that I’m using. My skin care routine is tried and true: Cleanse, tone with micellar water, serum, eye cream, moisturizer. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Every morning and night, the last step of the routine with moisturizer comes to a grinding halt because when I apply and blend with the Supergoop! it turns gritty. Like I can literally feel it flaking off as I rub it in and that can’t be normal! Interestingly, this moisturizer has gotten stellar reviews but there are a handful of people who share the same sentiment as me so we must be part of the unlucky few.

Not only does this moisturizer not apply or blend well but it also clogged my pores like a mother and that never happens. For the first five or so days of use, my skin had a lot of unsightly bumps that almost looked like whiteheads and I just had to let it run its course. Now, I use barely a dime size amount which seems to have solved the clogged pores problem but it still peels during application. I just can’t win with this moisturizer! The Supergoop! Triple Prep is going for close to fifty dollars on Ulta and I am SO glad I got it for a TJMaxx price because I would be livid if I spent that much on a dud. Use at your own discretion!

For all of the excellent reviews of the Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer, I am one of the naysayers. Just be warned that you really don’t know what you’re going to get if you give this product a try!

Have you used the Supergoop! brand before? Did you enjoy their products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun24

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hi! I had an absolutely fabulous day this past Friday! I spent my morning and afternoon getting my hair right at the Shear Shop by my amazing stylist, Anna, and then went to Blossom Music Center in the evening to see The Strokes. I have wanted to see them live for forever and it was the most wonderful post birthaversary treat. Further amplified by the fact that I simply cannot get over my new hair and was the textbook definition of “feeling myself”! Our inspo for this look was 1970s with a modern twist and, as always, Anna delivered with this hair magic:

Pulp Riot Colors Used:

Top: Shag Rug

Bottom Left: Velvet

Bottom Right: Pyro

The last picture is their instant toner in Golden Shimmer!

The process for getting my hair done doesn’t start when I’m in Anna’s chair. It starts at my last appointment when we discuss what we want to do next! The last time I got my hair done, we experimented with the orangey copper Shag Rug and I was in love with its retro vibes and knew I wanted to see more of that. Then, a week or so later the Calico hair trend came in hot and I was very intrigued by it but didn’t want to work with primarily natural colors. I sent a few pics to Anna and we decided to do Calico our way with deep purple, orange, and gold streaks.

To prepare my hair, I spent the week before my appointment washing as much of my old colors out as I could to speed up the bleaching process. By the time Friday rolled around, my hair was a swampy hodge podge of yuck and I couldn’t wait for Anna to strip it clean and start fresh! We began the day with bleach and let that sit for about twenty minutes with heat and five minutes without. Once the timer rang, my hair was ready to be washed and a perfect canvas of light blonde hair was achieved for the fun part: Painting on the colors!

After my hair was dried, Anna began mixing our pseudo Calico palette of Shag Rug, Velvet, and Pyro. She expertly placed the groovy hues in chunky highlight style strips while also leaving some areas blank. The instant toner in Golden Shimmer was only to be applied for the last fifteen minutes of processing. We had never used the Pulp Riot toners and were curious to see what would happen. It didn’t work exactly how we wanted it to but that was okay because it turned out even better! All that was left to do was play Pokopia while the timer counted down, wash the Sweet/Tart scented dye out, and check out the grand reveal.

When my hair was washed we were surprised to see no gold at all but peachy pink strips compliments of the toner. It was like Pulp Riot knew that I wanted a non-natural Calico palette and Anna and I were so not mad about it because all of the colors together were everything! That deep but vibrant purple, copper, and fairy tale pink with the slightest hint of gold screamed of decade’s past while skyrocketing into 2026. The retro hues were further enhanced by the coolest shag cut that I have been growing my hair out for. This was such an amazing makeover and, I know I say this every time, but I really do think it might be one of my favorite hair transformations yet!

Stay tuned for a brand new OOTD showing off my new hair as well as a concert review coming soon!

How often do you get your hair done? How long has your stylist been doing your hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! When I went on my TJMaxx birthday gift card shopping spree with my mom I had two goals: 1) Find a new pair of sneakers. And 2) Restock my skin care. Everything else that was purchased was just the cherry on top! For my birthday and Christmas, I am often blessed with beaucoup bucks to TJs and like doing my semi annual skin care restock with those funds. It’s so nice to get everything I need for my skin care routine without paying a dime and I always enjoy trying out new to me brands and revisiting old favorites. I think this gift card haul will definitely tide me over for a while! Check it out:

My skin care routine goes a little something like this. Step 1) Wash my face with a scrub and then use a foaming cleanser. Step 2) Apply micellar water. Step 3: Serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. This is the setup that best works for me and I have never strayed from it. All I need are the products to make it happen! When it comes to shopping for skin care, I don’t really care what brand I’m using as long as it’s cruelty free. I have a very normal skin type so I can get away with dabbling in different formulas and product outcomes. It makes visiting the skin care department in TJMaxx exciting because I truly never know what I am going to end up with!

In this haul, I walked away with more of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water which I always need as well as a few new serums, moisturizers, a cleanser, and eye cream. I am particularly looking forward to trying the ValJean Labs serum because I have never seen them at TJs before and am crazy about their cleansers. If this serum is half as nice as the foaming cleanser that I use every morning then I know I am in for a treat. I also can’t wait to try the new to me Goodness brand for the moisturizer and eye cream. Part of it is for the experience, of course, but a bigger part of it is making a review for all of you. I will be finishing up my current moisturizer in the next few days so be on the lookout for a brand new product review coming soon!

I came, I saw, I shopped and had the best afternoon on the town with my mom. There is nothing better than being in our happy place together! ❤

How often do you restock your skin care? Does your skin care routine change in the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun6

New Glitter Teal And Rose Nails

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New Glitter Teal And Rose Nails

Howdy! This past Tuesday I enjoyed a wonderful fill at Elysian Nails to get my talons right for mine and Johnny’s birthaversary party. No event is complete without getting these claws fresh to death! I was so excited for this appointment because my go to girl wasn’t available during my last fill. The tech who did it did an excellent job but it just wasn’t the same! I couldn’t wait to chat away about all of our updates and hot goss while being primped and pampered during my break at work. I got back to my shift feeling like a billion bucks! Check out these pretty little babies with an ultra unique color combo:

It is very rare that I go to the salon with a set in stone plan for my nail polish. I just like to browse my options and select whatever speaks to me. Since we had plans for a birthaversary bash, I knew I wanted glitter and that was about it lol. While perusing the nail polish book I fell in love with the gorgeous, glittery dusty rose and knew we were in business. But what to pair it with? A row or two down from the rose was a funky glitter teal and I decided to go for it to make a pseudo watermelon motif. Part fruity inspo, part mermaid this duo was everything. It was an unlikely pairing, for sure, but I love the results and I literally can’t stop looking at them!

As us gals gabbed away, I was seriously so impressed by my tech. She had improved so much and I just had to sing her praises. Her speed was legit off the charts and she wrapped up my fill in forty-five minutes flat. The stiletto shaping was also divine and extra pointy which I really appreciated! I could tell that she had been working really hard to perfect her craft and it made me proud AND inspired. It was a much needed reminder that there is always room for improvement no matter how long you have been doing something. Her gains definitely made me want to work harder, keep putting my best foot forward, and continue to learn more. ❤

This fill was absolutely fabulous and I already can’t wait to get back in my tech’s chair for my July appointment. There is nothing better than being in my salon happy place!

Do you get your nails done often? What is your preferred nail shape? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun3

ValJean Labs Deep Cleansing Foaming Cleanser Review

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ValJean Labs Deep Cleansing Foaming Cleanser Review

Howdy!! I am an avid fan of the skin care brand, ValJean Labs, and have really enjoyed their Radiant Glow Scrub and Hydrate Foaming Cleanser. Their products are so gentle but effective, super long lasting, and cruelty free. During my last skin care haul at TJMaxx, I purchased the Deep Cleansing foaming cleanser with salicylic acid and tea tree and have been using it for the past two weeks or so. It is such a refreshing pick me up every morning and I have been loving the results! Let’s discuss:

The Deep Cleansing foaming cleanser by ValJean Labs is fabulousness in a bottle. I seriously can’t even begin to describe to you how invigorating it is! It’s like an icy cool blast but not in a harsh way – more like in a “Hey! Wake up!” kind of way lol. This bubbly, sudsy cleanser leaves my skin tingling and I can still feel that little buzz hours after my morning shower. Although the key ingredients of salicylic acid and tea tree are known to dry skin out, it has not had that effect on me in the slightest. My skin still feels so well nourished and it has beat my blackheads to boot!

This cleanser also features a scrub brush which is an especially nice touch. I have never seen that offered on a face wash before whether it be high end products at Sephora or bargain shopping at TJMaxx. I got this cleanser for six dollars and it feels like such a steal! After washing my face with my hands, I like to take the time to use the scrub brush and it’s just like getting a mini facial. The bristles are quite soft and I love knowing that it’s getting to all of the nooks and crannies that you won’t get from a regular hand wash. I’ll definitely be keeping the scrub brush even after this cleanser is complete for further use. 😀

If you are on the hunt for a new cleanser, I highly recommend anything by ValJean Labs! This Deep Cleansing face wash will be perfect for washing away the grime and sweat from summer days!

What is your favorite skin care brand? Are you loyal to one brand or do you use anything? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May28

May 2026 Finishes

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May 2026 Finishes

Howdy!! It’s about to be a wrap for May which means mine and Johnny’s birthaversary season is right on the horizon! We are SO excited to celebrate both of our birthdays and fifth wedding anniversary at the beginning of June and are going to host a party at chez nous. It should be a hoot and also Gemini crew say whatttttt! Before all of the big plans for June, we have to tie the month of May up in a pretty little bow by discussing my beauty finishes. There are A LOT of good ones in this batch and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can find my new favorite moisturizer of all time again at TJMaxx. Let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Clinical Works Vitamin C + Tea Tree Foaming Facial Cleanser: YES

Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Body Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Shower Gel: YES

Vital Beauty Brightening Eye Cream: MAYBE

Glow Hub Nourish & Hydrate Gel Moisturizer: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why/Why Not?

Clinical Works Cleanser: I used up my last cleanser in mid January and finished the Clinical Works one a few days ago – making it an excellent value with daily use! This Vitamin C + Tea Tree foaming cleanser was where it’s at. It was so fresh and invigorating that it left my skin tingling as the foamy bubbles wiped away all of the grime from the day before. Two healthy pumps of this product was all that was needed for a full cleanse of the face and neck and it left my skin bright and blemish free. Although I don’t get pimples, I get blackheads around my nose and this cleanser made them a thing of the past. Highly recommend if you are looking for a new one!

Vital Beauty Eye Cream: I am especially partial to Vital Beauty’s Cooling Eye Gel and have been using it for the past several years. However, I decided to change it up when I saw the Brightening Eye Cream at TJMaxx and had been using it for the past two months and change with twice daily use. It was a nice enough eye cream but it just didn’t have that same blast of coolness that I have come to know and love with the eye gel. I also didn’t notice any major differences in radiance or fine lines so the Brightening Eye Cream didn’t exactly wow me. If it was the only available option at TJs then I would get it again but I’ll be sticking to the eye gel from now on.

Glow Hub Moisturizer: The peach scented gel moisturizer by Glow Hub was a complete and total dream product and I would more than happily use it again. It took about a month and a half of twice daily use to finish the jar and I saw fabulous results. My skin was simply glowing with each use and was left baby soft. It absorbed quickly, sat well under makeup, and a small dollop of the gel went such a long way for full face and neck coverage. Also, did I mention that it’s peach scented?! Such a delightful pick me up morning and night! This is one of the best moisturizers I have ever used and I know you will love it too. Definitely grab a jar or two (or ten) if you see it!

Despite one minor dud, this was a solid month of beauty finishes. Now, bring on the birthaversary!!!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May21

Bath & Body Works Hand Soap Haul

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Bath & Body Works Hand Soap Haul

Hi! I always say this but it’s the truth and I will repeat it until the day I die… The foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works are the best. Period. Hands down. They have been a staple in my apartment for the past seven years and change and that will never change! I am always excited when I realize that my stock pile is running low because that means a B&BW shopping trip to explore new scents. Every fragrance I picked this time around was brand new to the store or to me so let’s discuss further to see if you can find your go to summer smell goods too:

Wash, Rinse, Repeat: The fragrance notes offered in Wash, Rinse, Repeat are “breezy palm trees, fresh apple, and sunny amber” and it most definitely makes me want to wash, rinse, and repeat! This scent is a warm day on the beach with a delicious ocean breeze. I can almost hear the seagulls squawking every time I smell it! This is sun, sand, and surf to the T and is absolutely perfect for sweet summertime. This is easily one of my favorites of the bunch.

Disney Princess Collection – Mulan: I have not dabbled in the Disney Princess collection at B&BW simply because all of the scents smell like butt lol. However, I knew that a princess themed hand soap would delight my nieces and Mulan was the best of the bunch. It’s not my favorite by any means but I didn’t gag when I smelled it so into the shopping bag it went. The Mulan fragrance features notes of “magnolia blossom, fierce waters, and radiant apricot”. This scent is a dance between aquatic and floral and it’s nice but I wouldn’t buy it again.

Neapolitan Ice Cream: Have you ever had Neapolitan ice cream? Then you know exactly what this scent smells like! It is an intoxicating blend of “strawberry sauce, vanilla buttercream, and milk chocolate” and it smells good enough to eat. Fruity fragrances are my standard but I also loves me a dessert scent and Neapolitan Ice Cream has me craving a gallon of the good stuff and a chick flick movie marathon. SO yummy!

Kitchen Mandarin: Have you ever had a mandarin lol? Then you know exactly what this scent smells like! Kitchen Mandarin is a delightfully refreshing citrus scent with notes of “sparkling mandarin, fresh thyme, and cedarwood”. It is zesty and zingy and so invigorating! I am very partial to a citrus scent and I definitely prefer Kitchen Mandarin to the classic B&BW Kitchen Lemon. It’s just fun to change things up and I would happily buy this one again.

Berry Almond Drizzle: Speaking of dessert fragrances, we have Berry Almond Drizzle and oh my goodness is it fabulous. The scent notes include “homegrown berries, honeyed almonds, and vanilla bean” and it smells just like a fresh baked almond cookie. It is so rich and decadent and you really can smell the hints of honey and vanilla. If this doesn’t have you craving a sweet treat ASAP then I don’t know what will!

Minus the Mulan fragrance, the ones that remained were winners. I highly recommend all of them if you are on the hunt for new scents!

What is your go to hand soap brand? Do you enjoy fragrance shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May20

Bath & Body Works May Freebies

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Bath & Body Works May Freebies

Howdy! I was running desperately low on my beloved foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and was excited to hit the store for a reup. I had a percentage off coupon and could cash in two freebies that were burning a hole in my pocket and walked away with seven products for just twenty-two dollars. You can’t beat that! Tune in tomorrow to discuss some new hand soap fragrances but, first, let’s take a look at these fab freebies which equaled out to twenty-five bucks that I didn’t pay a dime for. Score!!

My family is going to Italy this year and it is my goal to get everyone in the party a travel size shower gel before our big vacation. I already have two for my mom and I and next on the agenda was Johnny! It is not often that I shop for men’s fragrances at B&BW so it was fun to dip my toes into their different collections. Speaking of dipping my toes in, I chose the Ocean scent for my main squeeze! Ocean features fragrance notes of “blue cypress, vetiver, and coastal air”. I’m not sure what blue cypress and vetiver are supposed to smell like but the coastal air rings true. I loves me an aquatic scent and Ocean is sun, sand, and surf to the T. It is so invigorating and fresh and I could definitely get used to Johnny using this shower gel! 😀

Thanks to my rewards points, I was also able to snag a full size freebie for myself and went with a new body lotion. It was a necessity because I only had a travel size lotion freebie left in my hoard and I’m saving that for Italy too. And, while I am a huge fan of B&BW’s body cream, it is much too heavy for the summer months ahead. I was amped to find that additional fragrance lines from Gingham were back in store and I opted for Gingham Fresh. Although nothing will ever surpass the OG Gingham, Gingham Fresh is a very close second with notes of “juicy pear, sparkling clementine, and fresh daisies”. There is no floral about this fragrance – only sweet/tart fruity delight and I just adore it! Gingham Fresh has all of the softness of a pear scent with the bite of citrus and it is perfect for summer. Highly recommend!

Next B&BW shopping plans? The summer Semi Annual Sale, of course! Bring on those sweet, sweet savings so I can rebuild my beauty care stock pile!

Do you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sales? What do you normally purchase? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah