Category Archives: Beauty

New Light Blue & Tangerine Nails

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New Light Blue & Tangerine Nails

Hello!!! This past week, my talons were in desperate need of a fill. They were grown out and one was lifting badly, which was perfectly awful. Unfortunately, my normal salon was closed for their holiday break when the lifting incident occurred so I enlisted the help of my tech for a salon she recommends. Then, she said exactly what I hoped she would: She would come to my apartment and do them for me! What. An. ANGEL. There was nothing better than getting my nails done in my own home and I seriously felt like a celebrity – it was amazing!! Check out my new and improved claws:

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My tech, admittedly, didn’t have as expansive as a nail polish selection as the salon but when she sent me my choices the light blue and tangerine orange instantly stuck out to me. I love bright blue and orange together and it makes me think of a day at the beach. However, the softer hues of these polishes make it feel appropriate to start thinking spring with and it’s a nice change of pace from the typical darker shades for winter.

I have never had any type of salon service done at my home that wasn’t something I was capable of doing by myself. It was seriously one of the best experiences to be able to relax, girl talk, and hang out without being surrounded by other salon goers. If you have the opportunity for your nails, hair, etc. to be done at your place, then I can’t recommend it enough. I always feel pampered after a trip to the salon but this took it to a whole new level. Plus, it made my apartment smell like a nail salon and it was, honestly, freaking awesome lol.

An afternoon at my apartment salon was just what I needed and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The constant applying of nail glue to my lifted nail was getting so annoying. My nails look amazing and I am so thankful to my tech for working her magic!

Do you have a good relationship with your nail tech or hair stylist? Have you ever had a salon treatment at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lush Vampire Kisses Lip Scrub Review

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Lush Vampire Kisses Lip Scrub Review

Hello!!! This winter, my skin hasn’t been too bad in terms of dryness but my lips are a completely different story. It feels like they have been chapped constantly and in the eternal words of Napoleon Dynamite, my lips hurt real bad. I am in a never ending battle of applying and reapplying chapstick and I have yet to come out victorious. However, I think I found my new secret weapon that was gifted to me by my bestie this Christmas – a lip scrub from Lush! Check it out and let’s discuss:

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My sweet Kate of Live In The Nautical hooked it up this Christmas with a care package of Halloween themed Lush goodies including the Vampire Kisses scrub. I am convinced that all Lush products have magic in them because they always seem to leave a noticeable difference after just one use, which was certainly the case with the scrub. In fact, I used it for the first time about a half hour before writing this post and it is the most soothed that my lips have felt all winter.

To start with, the Sour Grape scent smelled amazing and tasted just as good! I love the smell of artificial grape because it smells purple if that makes sense? Even if it doesn’t, just know that it was a delight and there was nothing sour about it. As I was applying it, I definitely consumed some and at first I was like “oh shit” and then I remembered it was a sugar scrub lol yum! 😀

I left the scrub on as I showered and washed it off during my cleanser routine and I could feel right away how effective it was. The Vampire Kisses scrub helped to remove all of the dead skin that was halting the healing process. It left my lips feeling so completely smooth and well hydrated thanks to shea butter being one of its ingredients. I also felt like the chapstick I applied afterwards was able to actually work because it wasn’t just sitting on top of flaky skin.

I am so eager to use the Vampire Kisses scrub by Lush again now that I know how well it works. I highly recommend it if you’re suffering from chapped lips and my only regret is that I don’t have one of their lip balms to use afterwards. I think I see an online Lush order in my future!

What is your remedy for chapped lips? What is your favorite Lush product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Make Your Makeup Last All Day With These Tips

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Make Your Makeup Last All Day With These Tips

Makeup can be a great way to express yourself and boost your confidence, but nothing is more frustrating than having all your hard work go to waste when your makeup inevitably fades halfway through the day. Whether it’s eyeshadow smudging, lipstick bleeding, or foundation caking up in patches, you’re left with a look that is far from fresh and effortlessly perfect. Whether you’re working out, running errands, or going out with friends, you want to look your best no matter what the day throws at you. Here are a few tips to help make sure your makeup looks amazing all day long:

Use primer and setting spray:

You must start with a good base before applying any makeup. Start by using a primer before applying foundation or other base products. This will help create a smooth canvas and keep everything in place throughout the day. Once your makeup is applied, use a setting spray to lock it in place for hours on end. You can also use a setting powder to help keep your makeup looking flawless. It will absorb any oils that might cause your makeup to slide off and help prevent creasing. Additionally, it will help set any cream or liquid products so your look stays put.

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Choose waterproof products:

Opt for waterproof versions of your favorite products instead of non-waterproof options. For example, an Anastasia brow pomade will last longer than a regular brow pencil. It also comes in handy when you’re out in the rain or sweating at a workout class. Plus, there are various colors and finishes to choose from, so you can still get a natural-looking finish. Similarly, waterproof mascara won’t smudge or run if you get caught in the rain or tear up during a romantic movie. Waterproof eyeliner won’t budge even if you sweat in the summer heat. And for those with oily skin, a matte liquid lipstick is more likely to last longer than one with a glossy finish.

Blot your skin throughout the day:

If you tend to get oily skin during the day, then blotting papers can be your best friend! Whenever you feel like your skin is becoming too shiny, simply dab some oil-absorbing sheets onto your T-zone to remove excess oil and keep things looking matte and fresh all day long. If your makeup is fading, try using a beauty sponge or brush to lightly pat and blend it back into place. This will help bring back the vibrancy of your look without having to start from scratch again.

Reapply powder during the day:

To keep things looking matte during the day, consider carrying around some pressed powder with you so that you can reapply it as needed. Remember not to overdo it, though – just one small dusting should do the trick. You should also use a translucent powder to set any cream or liquid products. This will help keep them in place and prevent them from sliding off your face, even during the hottest summer days.

Invest in a long-wearing lip color:

Invest in a few high-quality long-wear lipstick shades that will remain intact no matter what life throws at them. You can also use a lip liner to create a barrier between your lips and the lipstick, which will help keep it in place longer. And if you want to achieve an even longer-lasting effect, try topping your lipstick with a touch of setting powder for added staying power.

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Avoid touching your face:

One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to makeup is touching your face throughout the day. Not only will this cause oils and bacteria to transfer onto your skin, but it can also make your makeup smudge and fade away faster than usual. Try to resist the temptation and make subtle adjustments by using a beauty sponge or brush if needed.

Long-lasting makeup doesn’t have to be complicated – just follow these simple tips and tricks and watch as they transform your everyday routine!

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Bat Art Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Bat Art Edition

Hello!! After a fantastic time celebrating Christmas last weekend, it was a struggle to return to work on Tuesday the 27th even if it was a short shift. Once I got home in the afternoon, all I wanted was a cup of tea and to sink into a nice, warm bath. So, I did! I used the Bat Art bath bomb that I received from my bestie for Christmas and it was an absolute delight. Way better than the Bigfoot bomb from Lush that I used last time! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Featuring my new fuzzy socks from my gift haul. So comfy!

My blogging bestie sent me a box filled with Halloween themed Lush products and I was really looking forward to the Bat Art one. I knew that it was going to look cool once it was in the water and the show it put on was even better than I imagined. As soon as this bomb went into the tub, it began zipping around the water leaving streaks of deep purple and magenta in its wake. While the bomb continued to fizz, the water went from crystal clear to a gorgeous dark purple in a matter of minutes. And, prior to Bat Art completely dissolving, it fizzed silver glitter making the water look like a night sky filled with stars. It was so pretty!

The Bat Art was a bigger bath bomb and took about six minutes to fizz out entirely. According to Lush’s website, the featured scents were rosemary and sage but I didn’t smell that at all, I thought it was rather citrusy. The scent dissipated pretty quickly but I don’t mind that since the bath water looked as freaking awesome as it did! This can be a deal breaker to some but you have been warned that the Bat Art bath bomb left stains on my tub so it will require some additional cleanup after using it. As always, the Lush bath bombs are the best and they leave my skin feeling so hydrated. This is great whenever, but my skin especially needed some extra TLC after the negative temperatures Ohio was experiencing all Christmas weekend.

Overall, I am going to rate the Bat Art bath bomb from Lush with an eight out of ten stars. This was a really fun one to use and it spoke to my spooky soul. I would definitely recommend it for yourself or as a gift. In fact, go ahead and buy one for you too!

How do you care for your skin in the winter? How do you warm up on a cold day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

December 2022 Finishes

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December 2022 Finishes

Hello everyone!! It is the end of the month and year here on lifewithlilred so let’s close out 2022 by discussing my beauty empties for December. This year seriously flew by and thank you so much to everyone who has spent time on my page! This month, I went through lots of products and was forever on the hunt to soothe my dry winter skin. Some worked well, some not so much so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

EOS Body Cream: This was a Christmas gift from my bestie and it has helped my dry skin so much this past month. I would apply this cream every night and would see and feel a noticeable difference every morning. When my hands get dry, they get really red. The EOS Heal + Repair cream stopped the redness in its tracks every time it came cropping up and that was a huge plus. The pomegranate and raspberry scent was also nice and light, which is always preferred by me.

Vital Beauty Eye Gel: This is my second jar of the Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel that I have used and it has impressed me yet again. It took me over three months to finish it, which I thought was an excellent value. I love the gel texture, the super fast absorbancy, and the improvements it has made to the delicate skin around my eyes. There has definitely been a reduction in fine lines and designer bags and I would happily buy it again.

Clean Beauty Moisturizer: It took me close to five weeks to finish this moisturizer and it was just so so for me. The gel texture was calming and cooling and it absorbed really well. My skin also felt well hydrated after each use. However, I didn’t notice any mind blowing differences to my skin once the jar was complete. It was a good moisturizer but not great and I would use it again if it was one of my only options at TJMaxx.

B&BW Lotion: I received this lotion as a freebie during one of my Bath & Body Works trips and the Happy Birthday scent smells exactly like what you would think: A delicious cake with vanilla icing. Although the scent was pretty pungent, I still liked it because I’m a fan of anything vanilla! It took me about two weeks to finish the travel size lotion and it left my hands feeling nourished and smooth with every use.

TBS Drops Of Youth: My mom picked me up the Drops Of Youth by The Body Shop during one of her TJMaxx trips. I was excited because I had never used the serum before and expected it to be a miracle worker because I have heard nothing but good things about it. It took about one month to finish the bottle and, unfortunately, I was less than impressed with the results. For such a small bottle, the texture of the Drops Of Youth was relatively thick and you needed a decent amount to cover your face and neck. For value’s sake, this is never a good thing. I also didn’t see any major differences to my skin so I’m glad I know that I can skip on it if I ever see it at TJs!

Several successes in my December Finishes seems like the perfect way to wrap up 2022 here on lifewithlilred. See you tomorrow in 2023!! ❤

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

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Bigfoot Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Bigfoot Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz! This past Tuesday, I had an easy day and ended up getting back home early. As much as I would have liked to put Hoarders on and become one with my couch, I put on my adulting pants and completed the dreaded chore of cleaning the bathrooms. It sucked lol. After my cleaning session, I felt the urge to douse myself in hot water and decided to make use of one of the bath bombs my bestie gifted me with for Christmas. I used the Bigfoot bomb and, although I didn’t like it as much as the Black Rose bomb that I used last week, it was still pretty good. Check out some pics and let’s discuss:

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The Bigfoot bath bomb was fairly run of the mill, however, there were still a few aspects of it that surprised me. I thought it was really cool how the bomb started fizzing from the toes when I dropped it in the water. It looked like little torpedoes taking off and that was fun to see. Other than that, this bomb didn’t have much movement around the tub and stayed relatively put in one spot until it fizzed out. It was fine but it didn’t give as good of a show as other Lush bath bombs that I have used before.

I was also taken aback by how long the Bigfoot bomb took to fizz out. As you can see, it is definitely smaller than your typical Lush bomb and I thought it would be lucky if it lasted for three minutes, tops. I was completely wrong and the bomb didn’t dissolve until a solid five minutes. This additional length of time was neither here nor there because of the lack of movement from the bath bomb. If it were a more entertaining fizz out, I would be there for it but I was SO ready to get in the tub after two minutes of the lackluster performance.

In terms of scent and color, the Bigfoot bath bomb was just alright. It had a really light citrus scent that was pretty but dissipated rather quickly. The pink, blue, and lavender fizz was also nice enough but didn’t blow me away. There were times when the water was actually looking quite murky so its end result of glittery dark purple water was a welcome change of pace. I wish that it had more of that darker hue throughout the fizz!

The last surprise of the Bigfoot bath bomb wasn’t exactly a good one – it left residue! This was, perhaps, the biggest shock that the bath bomb offered because I wasn’t expecting it at all. The Black Rose bath bomb by Lush left no staining even though it turned the water jet black. So, just be warned that the Bigfoot bomb does require some additional clean up after the water has drained.

Overall, I am going to rate the Bigfoot bath bomb with a five out of ten stars. It was far from the best Lush bath bomb that I have used and I wouldn’t get it again. If you are considering it, I would highly recommend choosing something else instead with a bit more pizazz!

What is your least favorite chore? How do you relax after a cleaning session? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath & Body Works Haul

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Bath & Body Works Haul

Hello!! When I moved into my very first apartment, I thought it was the coolest thing to be able to buy Bath & Body Works hand soap for my place. We never used them at my parents’ house so it was exciting to pick out scents just for me (Clearly I lead a thrilling life). They have been a staple in my home ever since my move in date and I always look forward to the next time Johnny and I need to restock our supply. With only one hand soap left in the cupboard, it was about that time! Check out my haul:

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Would I Buy Again:

  • Peach Bellini: YES
  • The Apple Of My Eye: YES
  • Vanilla Bean Noel: YES!!!
  • Twisted Peppermint: YES
  • Winter Candy Apple: NO
  • Fresh Sparkling Snow: MAYBE
  • The full size lotion was free with my purchase!

With four scents that are a resounding rebuy and only two “mehs”, I’d say that this was a very successful haul. Even more so because I ordered these online! Granted, I did know some of the scents already but still lol. While the Peach Bellini will always be my A1 hand soap scent, the Vanilla Bean Noel was a close second this time around. I have used the vanilla before but I forgot how freaking good it smelled. Some vanilla scents can become sickly sweet with the add ins of “sugar cookie” or “frosting” and the Vanilla Bean Noel is just right. It smells purely like vanilla bean without any unnecessary additions and I cannot wait to use it!

The Apple Of My Eye and Twisted Peppermint are also scents that I would happily buy again. Sometimes, there will be a dud of a scent in my order because it smelled nothing like what I pictured in my mind. That was not the case at all with these two soaps and there were no surprises when I took a whiff. The Apple Of My Eye smells exactly like my favorite candy of caramel apple suckers and the Twisted Peppermint smelled like… Peppermint! What a shocker. 😀

The two scents that missed the mark for me was Winter Candy Apple and Fresh Sparkling Snow. I thought that I was going to love the Winter Candy Apple but in this instance, the apple scent did nothing for me. It’s very sweet with floral notes and is one of my least favorite scents from the holiday collection. Fresh Sparkling Snow was alright. Its scent was very light, which is to be expected. However, the combination of icy melon and pear was pretty lackluster. I would buy it again if it were on sale for the cheap but would skip on it otherwise.

Overall, I am really pleased with my Bath & Body Works Haul. My only regret is that the free lotion I picked out was in the only scent that I didn’t like. SMH!!!!!!!!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works holiday collection? What is your favorite B&BW scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Emerald Green & Silver Glitter Nails

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New Emerald Green & Silver Glitter Nails

Hello! This past Wednesday was a really busy work day for me and I was so happy that I got to squeeze in an appointment for a fill at Elysian Nails in between shifts. The expert pampering by my favorite nail tech rejuvenated me for the rest of the evening and I still can’t stop looking at my nails to save my own life! I decided to go glitter this time around and these blingy talons are nothing short of spectacular. Check it out:

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Christmas is fast approaching and, as you all know, I am really not one for holiday themed nails. I go about three and a half weeks between fills so I would rather have something that works for that entire length of time rather than just one day. While I was mentally choosing my colors before my appointment, I thought that an emerald green would be pretty and I could pair it with a champagne pink or navy blue to avoid a combination that was too Christmasy. However, that just didn’t end up happening lol.

As I scoured the polish wall at Elysian, I instantly fell in love with the glitter green and began to search for another color to compliment it. While there were some shades that I originally had in mind that looked good together, they just weren’t hitting the way I wanted it to. Sometimes, the best thing to pair with glitter is more glitter and I decided to go all out with the sparkly silver. I figured that this combo wouldn’t look that festive but I was dead wrong once my acrylics were painted!

Once my nail polish was on, I looked down and all I could see was a Christmas tree! In fact, my brother told me that they looked exactly like a Christmas tree with tinsel and that only further confirmed my fears lol. Then, I kept looking at them again and again and found myself slowly growing obsessed because these nails are gorgeous! They are definitely not what I would normally go for but that makes it fun. The dazzling glitter makes it look like my nails are drenched in diamonds and how can I complain about that? They are a girl’s best friend, after all. 😀

A fairly recent trip to the hair salon and a fresh fill have me perfectly OOTD ready for holiday celebrations and I can’t wait. Thanks to my beloved Elysian Nails for another year of fabulous pampering! ❤

What color of nail polish do you have on? How do you feel about holiday themed nails? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Face Mask Festivities: Elf Dope Dreams Sleeping Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Elf Dope Dreams Sleeping Mask Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Face Mask Festivities! Today, we will be discussing the Elf Dope Dreams Sleeping Mask. I purchased this product during my last skin care haul at TJMaxx and was excited to test it out. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me and I am happy that I only paid four bucks for it rather than its original ten dollar price tag. While it was an okay mask, it wasn’t great and Lil Red won’t settle for anything less! Let’s get into the details:

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I love me an overnight mask and that is the main reason why I purchased the Elf Dope Dreams one in the first place. It is a no muss no fuss solution to better skin and it doesn’t get much better than that. Before coming to my conclusions about the product, I used it twice as a sleeping mask and once as a wash off mask before my morning shower. What I liked about this mask was that it’s unscented. Not that I was expecting it to smell like straight up weed but I always prefer little to no scent when it comes to skin care. And, of course, the jojoba beads were a nice touch for a bit of exfoliation to help remove dead skin.

After my first use, I woke up in the morning and didn’t really feel one way or the other about how it worked. Before and after rinsing it off, my skin felt the same as if I had completed my normal skin care routine without anything special to it. I decided to use it again the following night and, once again, didn’t notice any mind blowing results. Since the overnight use was shaping up to be a bust, I figured I would change things up by using it as a wash off mask a few days later. I left it on for about fifteen minutes and was still unimpressed with the condition of my skin.

The purpose of the Dope Dreams mask is strictly hydration and I thought that it would make a good addition to my skin care routine during the winter. However, my skin felt better when I was just using my every day products and that essentially eliminated the need for the mask. For skin care, I like products that serve multiple purposes and if it only focuses on one thing like moisturizing or radiance, then it better be the best! The Dope Dreams mask was a far cry from ultra hydration for my skin and once I finish the bottle, I will not be purchasing it again.

Even though the Elf Dope Dreams Sleeping Mask wasn’t my favorite, it was still a treat to try something new. I will say that this mask received pretty good reviews overall so use your discretion if you are thinking of making the purchase. We are all different and what didn’t work for me could be amazing for you!

Have you ever used this sleeping mask before? What are your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hello! After reorganizing my work bag, I realized that I had a ten dollar rewards certificate from TJMaxx due to my expert spending this year lol. I couldn’t have stumbled upon this at a better time because I was running low on lots of my skin care staples and decided to take a TJs trip during a free afternoon. As always, I told myself that I was only going to look at beauty products but that was just a lie to make myself feel better because you all know I got some clothes too! Take a look at what should have been my only purchases during my shopping and keep it posted for what I treated myself with:

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Prior to the pandemic, I would say that I was going to TJMaxx at least bimonthly and would restock my beauty products as needed. This worked for me at the time but my shopping process has certainly changed since 2020. Now, when I make it to my beloved TJMaxx (It has been over three months since my last visit!), I stock up on what I need so that I don’t have to keep returning back. An all around restock was definitely what I needed this time around and all of the products seen above will last me close to four months. I consider this a blessing because it will keep me away from all of the temptations of winter clearance! 😀

My skin care routine is a fairly simple one that includes a scrub, cleanser, micellar water, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. I use most of these products twice daily and it is easy to see why I would go to TJs in shorter intervals because some of the items can get used up rather quickly. I am used to finishing a product like a serum or moisturizer every month but I had a revelation while writing my November 2022 Finishes post: Sometimes, bigger is better. This past month, I finished up a gigantic tub of moisturizer that lasted me close to a month and a half. It really blew my mind and I thought that I would incorporate my discovery into this skin care restock, as you can see by the huge bottles of serum! I was disappointed that I couldn’t find any similar sizes of moisturizer to the Pearlessence one that I used and loved but what can ya do?

There are lots of new to me products in my skin care haul that I am excited to try out like the eye cream and Neutrogena cleanser. I actually just used the SpaLife serum with the beads in it and it was pretty good. Yes, I mainly bought it because it looked cool! But I digress. I am most looking forward to trying the Dope Dreams sleeping mask by ELF. I have used a CBD moisturizer before that I wasn’t too impressed with but this mask intrigued me. Keep checking back for a new Face Mask Festivities about it soon!

I am obsessed with skin care all year round but it just hits different in the winter. When I saw my go to products running low, it was off to TJs I went and I think I should be pretty well stocked until spring! 😀

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