Category Archives: Beauty

Jul16

New Glitter Bright Pink & Emerald Green Nails

Posted on July 16, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Hello! This past Friday, I enjoyed a fill at Elysian Nails and it was just what the doctor ordered. Johnny and I had Val over for a slumber party the night before and I needed some relaxation! I was able to get an appointment first thing in the morning with the wonderful Shelly and, as always, she absolutely slayed. She even pulled through with a celebrity choice for one of my nail colors and she was spot on. I love how they turned out and I am getting all of the Ariel vibes! Check it out:

Normally before a fill, I have an idea of the colors I would like to use before stepping foot in the salon. This time, however, I was feeling very uninspired and even more so once I was at the polish wall. I immediately gravitated towards a bright pink, but I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what color I wanted to go with it. I decided on a shimmer lavender shade after what felt like forever at the polish wall and sat down at Shelly’s station. I can’t say I was particularly thrilled with that choice, though.

As Shelly made quick work of making my nails perfect, I was still thinking that I didn’t like my color selection all that much. And, as I was examining the nail polish bottles, I got called out! Shelly asked if I liked the colors and I said not really and requested that she choose a new polish to replace the lavender for me. While I paid for my pampering, she hit the polish wall and came back with the glitter emerald green to go with the pink. She said it reminded her of The Little Mermaid and I was instantly there for it!

This was the first time that I had one of my nail techs select a color for me and I think I might start making a habit of it. The green was a color that I never would have chose myself and I am obsessed with it. It has been over a week since I got my nails done and I still can’t stop looking at them constantly!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? Do you pick your colors at the salon or does your nail tech? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

Sephora Birthday Haul

Posted on July 13, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!!! Before my birthday month wrapped up, I had to make sure that I did a little online shopping with Sephora to cash in my free birthday gift. If you are a Beauty Insider, you are treated to your pick from three or so travel size beauty bundles and I look forward to it every year! It was the perfect time for me to place an order because I was running dangerously low on one of my favorite hair care products – the Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm by IGK. Two bottles of the hair balm were the only things that I paid for and the rest of this haul was completely free! Check it out:

^^^ All of these products are from cruelty free brands!

The Haul:

2 bottles of IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm: $29/bottle

Farmacy Birthday Gift: FREE

Goop Glow Vita-C Eye Cream: FREE with $25 purchase

Alpyn Beauty Melt Moisturizer Sample: FREE with purchase

Glossier Cloud Paint Sample: FREE with purchase

Every time I have an amazing Sephora Haul, I always have to mention the merits of making the purchase online. There is typically free shipping for orders over fifty dollars, you get to pick two free samples with every order, and there is a HUGE selection of free product with purchases over twenty-five dollars. You get so much more bang for your buck and I feel satisfied with the money I spent rather than robbed. Hey, you can never go wrong with free!

For my Sephora birthday gift, I chose the skin care set by Farmacy. Every year, the freebie bundle selection usually follows the same formula, just with different brands. There is one for hair care, makeup, fragrance, and skin care, respectively. As I am pretty inflexible with my makeup and hair care, I pick the skin care sets nine times out of ten. Even if I were more adventurous when it comes to makeup, I would still make the same choice because I can never have enough skin care. 😀

Farmacy is a brand that I have heard of, but never tried and I am looking forward to it! This birthday set includes the Honey Potion Plus Hydrating Mask, a moisturizer, and a cleansing balm. I haven’t used a face mask in months so I am most excited to try the Honey Potion Plus. The cleansing balm is one that I could take or leave, but who knows? Maybe I’ll end up loving it! And, of course, testing new moisturizers is always fun. 🙂

For the remainder of my haul, I got a Goop Glow eye cream as my freebie for spending more than twenty-five dollars. Like Farmacy, this is a brand that I am familiar with but haven’t tried anything by. The brand definitely has a name that I wouldn’t soon forget! A moisturizer and blush were my free samples and I have already used the Alpyn Beauty one – it was lovely and would be especially nice for those with a dryer complexion.

I am so happy with my Birthday Haul from Sephora and can’t wait to use all of the new to me products. Keep it locked for a new Face Mask Festivities and swatches from the Glossier blush coming soon!

Which store offers the best promotions? Do you like to shop Sephora in store or online? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Homemade Rose Oil

Posted on July 5, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!!!! Way back in the day, I used to really enjoy making homemade bath and body care like scrubs, shower gels, and lip balms. It has been SO long since I have done that but it was always a blast! This past week, I decided to revisit one of my old hobbies by making some rose oil with petals from a gorgeous bouquet at my mom and dad’s house. It was insanely easy and, even though I wasn’t too fond of the smell, it was an amazing addition to my bubble bath. No thanks to the bath fizzy from Bath & Body Works that you all read about yesterday! Let’s get to it:

Step By Step:

I made my rose oil by following directions from a surprising source – an article posted by HGTV! Directions for making rose water were also included and I might try that next with the remaining flowers from the bouquet I used. A rose oil concoction went a little something like this:

Step One: Tear or shred your petals. For mine, I took several at a time and tore them in half.

Step Two: Pour a cup of oil into a jar with the petals. Jojoba and grapeseed oil were recommended, but I didn’t have any. However, they mentioned that olive oil would work well too so that is what I used.

Step Three: Bring a few inches of water to a raging boil and remove from heat. Place your jar of oil and petals in afterwards until the water cools.

Step Four: Place your jar in front of a sunny window and let it sit for 24 hours.

Step Five: The next day, remove your petals from the jar and squeeze out all of the oil you can from them. To do this, I started pouring the oil with the lid slightly on into another jar. Once a majority of the oil was removed, I used a spoon to press the petals and store the excess.

Easy peasy, right?! Making homemade rose oil was a quick and fun project and I was really pleased with the results. I poured some of my rose oil in the bath tub and it was so lux and lovely. Yes, it was a freaking pain to clean up the oil slick tub after my soak. BUT my skin felt fantastic and it still does several days later. I have noticed a huge difference in the softness of my skin and it feels nourished and healthy. I can’t wait to use it again during my next bath time self care sesh!

Concocting your own rose oil is a wonderful way to bring a second life to roses from your garden or a bouquet. Once again, you can view the directions that I followed here. Tune in tomorrow on lifewithlilred for more flowery vibes as we take a look at my first watercolor painting I have done in a minute!

What is your favorite flower? Do you like to make any crafts or bath and body care with flowers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul4

Bath Bomb Blitz: Bath & Body Works Confetti Cupcake Fizzy Edition

Posted on July 4, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Bath Bomb Blitz: Bath & Body Works Confetti Cupcake Fizzy Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz! Today, we are going to be discussing the Confetti Cupcake bath fizzy that I purchased from Bath & Body Works during an April haul. This was definitely an impulse buy because the last fizzy I used from B&BW was very unimpressive – I just thought the cupcake was adorable lol. Unfortunately, the Confetti Cupcake fizzy sucked on ice too and I think B&BW knows it because I haven’t seen them in store in months. Let’s get to it:

My first impression of the scent of this bath fizzy wasn’t a good one. I was expecting more of a cake batter fragrance and it just wasn’t lol. It kind of smelled like the Champagne Toast line, but definitely not as sweet. This wasn’t a huge deal, but it didn’t start the bath time experience off on the strongest note. Then, I dropped the fizzy into the water and it got worse from there!

Once the fizzy was in the water, it started dissolving at a rapid speed. Within about twenty or so seconds, it was completely fizzed out. In that time, all it did was turn my bath water a very murky pale pink, which you can see above. It looked gross! Even if I didn’t know the joys of a bath bomb from Lush, I still would have been like “wtf?”. In fact, my bath time would have been more pleasant if I didn’t use the fizzy at all because who wants to sink into water that looks contaminated?!

I shouldn’t be surprised that the Confetti Cupcake fizzy was disappointing because of my last experience. However, it was still shocking to see a ten dollar product work this poorly. If you happen to see a bath fizzy at B&BW, DON’T BOTHER! It won’t make a good gift for you or someone else and there are countless other wonderful goodies available that you could be spending your money on. Epic. Failure.

The only saving grace of this bath time experience is the fact that I recently made rose oil and put some in the water. That was lovely and you can learn more about the process tomorrow so keep it posted!

What is a disappointing product that you have used recently? What is your favorite thing to use during a bath? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun30

June 2023 Finishes

Posted on June 30, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello everyone and welcome to my beauty finishes for June!! Johnny and I had a fantastic birthaversary month with lots to celebrate. Now that the festivities are over, it is time to focus our attention on the next big thing: Halloween. It’s never too early for us to start thinking about our other favorite time of the year! This past month, I enjoyed lots of great products with only one dud that came as a surprise to me. It was a serum that I had used religiously in the past, but just didn’t hit the same this time around. Let’s discuss further:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Tree Of Life Vitamin C Serum: NO!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Sun-Ripened Raspberry Body Cream: YES

Honest Beauty Calm & Heal Melting Balm: YES

Why/Why Not?

Tree Of Life Serum: Back in 2021, I was using the Tree Of Life Vitamin C serum regularly for several months until I switched things up. I always thought that it worked well, even if it wasn’t my all time favorite. So, when I saw it available at TJMaxx during a January Haul, I instantly added it to my cart. The first time I used it after almost two years, I was taken aback by how much I didn’t like it. The texture of the serum was thick and a decent amount was needed to cover my full face and neck. It also didn’t absorb as well as I would have liked, either. After only three weeks, I completely used up the bottle and my skin had nothing to show for it in terms of a radiance boost. I was very happy to be done with it and now I know that some past used products are better to be left in the past.

B&BW Lotion: Sun-Ripened Raspberry is one of my favorite old school scents from Bath & Body Works and I always have to buy a few lotions or shower gels during their Semi Annual Sales. I don’t use the Body Creams by B&BW too often because they are more expensive than what a full size freebie coupon covers. However, I am VERY impressed with it whenever I get the chance to use it. The shea butter and Hyaluronic Acid base is so nourishing and my skin feels amazing after every use. Any slightly dry patches on my arms feel like they are gone in an instant and it leaves my skin looking and feeling healthy. It took me over three weeks of nighttime use to finish the bottle.

Honest Balm: The Calm & Heal Melting Balm by Honest Beauty was the first product from that brand I ever tried and it was a home run. You can read more about it in my review above, but it is a moisturizer that I would definitely use again. It took about three and a half weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar and I was so sad when I did – it was that good! Highly, highly recommend – especially if you have a dryer skin type.

Even though the Tree Of Life serum sucked, I got to try a new brand out and use an old favorite so this month’s empties were still a GREAT SUCCESS. I am keeping my eyes peeled for more Honest Beauty products every time I go to TJMaxx!

Have you used an old faithful product after a while and been disappointed by it? What is your favorite Honest Beauty product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun29

Bath & Body Works June Freebies

Posted on June 29, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! This past week, I received a few coupon packs from Bath & Body Works in the mail that included a free full and travel size product. I’m always happy to get a free travel size goodie, but there is nothing better than a full size freebie! I chose a bar soap and lotion with my coupons and it totaled to over twenty-seven dollars worth of free product. You just can’t beat that! Check it out:

The last time I cashed in a B&BW coupon, I decided to try their bar soap for the first time in the Coco Paradise scent. I love a good bar soap and the Bath & Body Works kind is probably the best that I have used in a long time. Their bar soap is made with a shea butter base and it is SO insanely hydrating and lathers like a dream. I have been using my soap since I got it at the end of May and I have hardly made a dent in it! Rather than opting for their shower gel, I chose a bar soap in my favorite scent of Gingham instead. If you are a bar soap fan too, then I cannot recommend trying out B&BW’s enough!

As I am pretty well stocked with shower gel and soap, I went with a lotion for my full size freebie in Gingham Gorgeous. I was thrilled when Gingham Vibrant, Gorgeous, and Fresh were released and have the shower gel of Vibrant. I was a bit disappointed that there were no lotions or shower gel in Fresh because I definitely would have gotten that instead of Gorgeous. I wasn’t really feeling any of my other options either, so I settled.

Gingham Gorgeous is pretty, but it isn’t my favorite. The fragrance notes feature Pink Strawberries, Peach Nectar, and Peony Blooms and it is very sweet. I can pick out the peach notes and I like that, but it gets lost in the muddle of overpowering peonies. If I used lotion during the day, I never would have picked it. But, I only apply lotion at night and I don’t really care one way or the other about the scent. If you are a sweet floral fan, then Gingham Gorgeous is for you. If you like something more crisp and fruity, Gingham Vibrant and Fresh are the way to go!

Even though I’m not as fond of Gingham Gorgeous as the other offshoots from Gingham, I am still beyond pleased with my freebies. It is such a treat to go into Bath & Body Works for a pick me up without paying a dime!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? Which store offers the best coupons and promotions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun28

Edom Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer Review

Posted on June 28, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Edom Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer Review

Hello!!! I had really good luck with the moisturizers that I purchased during a TJMaxx haul in April. I tried three new to me brands and they were all awesome!! Today, we are going to discuss the last moisturizer that I got by Edom. It is a Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid formula and I have been using it day and night for over two weeks. I am loving it and was so happy to find another jar during my last shopping trip. Let’s get to it:

This moisturizer has everything that I like in spades – A light fragrance, light texture, and the fact that I can feel it working instantly. Normally, I prefer a fragrance free moisturizer and the Edom one has a slight scent to it. It has a delicate hint of floral mixed in with the rich, creamy aroma and it is just right. It compliments the whipped, pillow soft texture so well and it is pleasant rather than overpowering. This moisturizer absorbs quickly despite its richness, but it still feels highly effective. Sometimes, a fast absorbing moisturizer makes you feel like you didn’t put anything on to begin with and I hate that!

As soon as the Edom moisturizer is applied, I can feel it sinking in and working its magic. It feels invigorating and kind of tingly. It also has a quick blast of coolness to it which feels refreshing after a hot shower. Within ten or so minutes, the moisturizer absorbs completely and the effects are astounding. My skin feels softer and more nourished with this formula than with any other moisturizer that I have used before. And that’s really saying something! Not only does my skin feel good, but it looks it too. I have noticed a huge difference in the evenness of my complexion and it simply glows after each use.

If you are looking for a new moisturizer, then I cannot recommend the Edom Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid one enough. It is, easily, the best moisturizer that I have ever used!

Do you like to try new skin care products or stick to a routine? What is the best skin care you have ever used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun25

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Posted on June 25, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!!! My 29th birthday was on June 7th and as per usual with every gift giving occasion, I was flooded with an abundance of TJMaxx gift cards. Everyone knows me so well! As always, the gift cards were burning a hole in my existence and I enjoyed some much needed retail therapy this past Tuesday. You can peep the new swimsuit and trapeze pants I bought soon but, for now, let’s talk skin care! Check it out:

^^^ All of these products are cruelty free!

Thanks to another skin care haul in late April, I was fairly well set with products. However, I was fresh out of moisturizer and only had one bottle of serum left so that is where I focused my attention. I was really hoping to find more of the Happy Dance and Honest Beauty moisturizers, but struck out and that was too bad because they were my faves! I was happy to find the Edom Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer, though, because I just started using the jar of it that I already had and it is great. Keep it posted for a review of that soon!

For my other two moisturizers, I selected one by goodhabit and Clean Beauty. I am looking forward to trying the goodhabit water jelly dew cream as gel is my preferred texture during the summertime. The name of it sounds so luxe too so I have a feeling it will be a good one! The Clean Beauty moisturizer was a bit of an uh oh because I forgot that I had used it before and wasn’t too impressed with it. It wasn’t the worst or the best, but I definitely would have selected something different if I remembered that at the time. WHOOPS.

Next on my agenda was shopping for serum. To start, I went with an old standby of the Dewy Glow Serum by Pearlessence. This is a brand that I like a lot and I am always very impressed with their products. I have used the Dewy Glow Serum several times before and got two of them because it’s hit or miss if TJs has the brand available or not. I also selected a Vitamin C serum by Purifect. This is a product that I have never seen before at TJs and I couldn’t say no to that super fun packaging! 😀

Finally, I restocked my supply of Pacifica Rainbow Watermelon lip balm. I am freaking obsessed with this product and it is, truly, the best lip balm that I have ever used. I have run out of the one that I keep by my computer and the one by my bedside is almost out so it was perfect that there were only two Pacificas left! If you haven’t used this lip balm before, I can’t recommend it enough and you can get a three pack for ten dollars on Amazon.

After clothes shopping, I was ready to check out. BUT, the check out aisle is where they get you! Lol, I had no intention of buying anything else until I laid eyes on the adorable claw clips by Pink Linen. They are too cute and I thought that they would be a perfect way to get my hair out of my face without putting it in a ponytail. The cloud and rainbow will compliment my rainbow hair beautifully and also taught me that I have no self restraint whatsoever!

There is nothing like a shopping trip to TJMaxx to put some pep back in your girl’s step. I can’t wait to show you all the bathing suit I got – future lounging by the pool OOTD? I think yes!

What is your favorite skin care brand? What is your favorite TJMaxx department to shop in? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun11

New Orange & Purple Glitter Nails

Posted on June 11, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello! For my 29th birthday, I got SO pampered by spending Wednesday at The Shear Shop getting my hair did and Thursday morning at Elysian Nails for a fill. I was so excited for both appointments and they were just what I needed to get Lil Red’s groove back! Both my hair and nails were in desperate need of improvement. I hadn’t gotten my hair done in SIX months and my nails were looking really jank with two broken tips. In fact, I broke one in my sleep during a night terror, which was really sucky to say the least lol.

Thankfully, my darling Mary at Elysian Nails got me right with a super speedy fill and repairs and I am obsessed with the end result! Check it out:

With a rainbow of colors in my hair, I needed fun nails to match and wanted bright, summery shades. I loved the glitter top coat that we used on a few of my nails last fill and knew that I wanted to use it again, but on what?! At the nail polish wall, I was instantly drawn to the pretty, jammy purple you see above and thought that it would look perfect with orange. So, I selected a neon hue for all of the Bird of Paradise vibes and headed off to Mary’s station so she could work her magic.

The past few times I have gotten my nails done, my schedule has been drastically different than usual. Normally, I opt for an early afternoon time to fully enjoy the pampering after work. However, I have needed first thing in the morning appointments to get to work on time and go to the Cleveland Clinic afterwards. Mary knows this, and has delivered with an under an hour fill every time and it is SO appreciated.

Despite the speed Mary works at, we still manage to catch up on everything going on with each other, girl talk, and gab about anime. During our chatter, she doesn’t miss a beat and my nails turn out amazing every single time. She knows exactly what I like and I barely pay attention to the process because I know that my hands are in the best hands. I am in love with how my talons turned out from the shape and sharpness to the adorable polish combination. As always, she turned my outgrown, broken ass nails into a work of art!

After this appointment, I will be back on my normal work schedule and will be able to have a fill without feeling rushed. I can’t wait, but even on time crunch appointments, I always leave Elysian Nails feeling like a million bucks thanks to my go to girl!

What are your favorite summer colors? What color of nail polish are you currently rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun10

New Hair Sneak Peek

Posted on June 10, 2023 by lifewithlilred

Standard

Hello!! For my 29th birthday, I spent a glorious day at The Shear Shop getting my hair done by my stylist, the amazing Anna. Normally, I go about twelve weeks in between appointments with my go to girl, but that was far from the case this time around. Due to personal reasons, it had been SIX MONTHS since getting my hair done. Needless to say, I couldn’t freaking wait to get my mop taken care of because it was looking REALLY rough. I told Anna when I first sat down at her station that she could literally do anything to my hair and it would be an improvement!

With a half a year of the same hair, I was ready for a big change with the inspiration of my favorite flavor of ice cream, Superman, in mind. Saying that Anna delivered is the understatement of the century. Other than my wedding hair, this is my favorite thing she has ever done and that is really saying something because she has been my stylist for over two decades!

Today, you can peep a sneak peek at my new do and then, keep it locked here on lifewithlilred for a brand new OOTD to show off my locks and new nails! Check it out:

How It Started:

^^^ Lol, we had some fun with this Troll Doll inspired style! I LOOK GREAT!!!

How It’s Going:

^^^ ALL smiles!!! And featuring my new fave shirt!

When I have an appointment at The Shear Shop, it is truly an all day affair. Good things take time and this look took over five hours to create. That is fine by me! Spending time with Anna and my other Shear Shop gals is such a joy and, while bleach and color sets, I can work online or read. Our day began with a whole lot of bleach to lift my roots and the red and pink that was currently residing in my hair. After the bleach sat for about twenty minutes, we washed it out but weren’t completely satisfied with the results. So, we did round two, which got my hair to a place that was ready to accept all of the new colors after fifteen more minutes.

Once the bleach was washed out, it was time for the fun part of applying Pulp Riot’s Pyro to my roots, Satire on my bangs and crown, Fireball for the remainder, and Powder to frame my face. The end result was Troll Doll Chic and, as always, we couldn’t get enough of the delicious Sweet Tart scent of the Pulp Riot dye! After Anna expertly applied the color to the desired areas, I settled in my chair to work because it had to sit for forty-five minutes.

By the time the timer rang, I was ready to jump out of my seat because I couldn’t wait to see what it looked like! And, no, I never mind those ice cold water washes – it was actually really invigorating because I was getting tired. Pampering is hard work! At first glance, everything was perfect. BUT, upon closer inspection, the blue pulled a lot of green tones and we weren’t happy with that at all. That was a quick fix, though, and Anna applied more Powder mixed with a royal blue to cover it up and had it sit for another fifteen minutes.

After the final rinse, we were thrilled with what we were seeing and we even got a surprise bonus: Purple! Because the red at the tips of my hair didn’t fully pull, it blended with the blue to create a peacock array of colors. It definitely wasn’t what we set out to do but, hey, I’m SO not mad about a free color and it turned my hair into a rainbow! 😀

The last thing to do was flat iron my hair and put the finishing touches on my cut. The end result? Perfection. I felt absolutely amazing and I still do! I feel awesome and there is nothing better than looking in the mirror and being blown away by what you see. And, yes, I have been doing that a lot! Thank you to my brilliant genius Anna for getting Lil Red’s groove back. I wouldn’t be me without you! ❤

How long have you been going to your hair stylist? What is your favorite form of self care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

	oliveunicorn on Labubu Or Lafufu?!
	lifewithlilred on Labubu Or Lafufu?!
	oliveunicorn on Labubu Or Lafufu?!
	lifewithlilred on Bath & Body Works February…
	Dear Quiet on Bath & Body Works February…