Category Archives: Beauty

Unlock Increased Beauty This Winter With These Tips

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Unlock Increased Beauty This Winter With These Tips

The colder months can bring several beauty challenges like dry, chapped skin and building a defined strategy is vital. The great news is that you don’t need to implement huge changes to see big results. Focus on the five ideas below to look and feel your best in winter and beyond:

Professional treatments are the ideal solution to relax and pamper. Selecting top luxury spa experiences can address some of the problems you’ve been facing and restore your natural beauty. Both the physical and emotional rewards are huge. Repeat experiences will elevate the benefits to another level. Make this a commitment to yourself and you will not regret it.

Professional beauty treatments build a strong foundation. For the best results, though, you must look to maintain your success through improved daily habits. Learning to use retinol for skin repair purposes and better overall health will serve you well. Organic makeup materials are far kinder to your face too, which is why they should be added to your cause. However, it is equally crucial to remove makeup before bed and give your skin a chance to breathe overnight. Otherwise, the benefits of strong daily routines will be compromised.

You already know that your appearance is partly a reflection of your health. So, an investment into wellness is sure to have a positive impact. Overhauling your entire life isn’t realistic, but you can increase your daily hydration with ease. When you do, your skin will gain a far better glow and be less prone to acne. Sleep is the other key focal point. Most people need 7-9 hours per night, but going to bed at around the same time each night is vital. A better circadian rhythm aids looks as well as health.

When thinking about beauty, fashion is a natural extension. Throughout the winter months, color coordination can elevate your outfits. Lipsticks and eye shadows that complement a cozy jacket or stylish dress takes your look to new heights. Similarly, a new hair color can be supported by nail art. Color coordination makes a look feel more considered, thus creating a far more powerful impact. It is one of the simplest ways to truly stand out.

Finally, you need to protect your skin from the damage caused by harsh weather. This could mean protecting it from extreme cold and high winds. It’s equally important to wear SPF sun protection in the winter sun. As well as protecting your cheeks, you must pay attention to the lips and eyes. After all, they are central to all human interactions.

Avoid the blemishes and signs of poor skin protection to maintain your best look all winter long!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

6 Signs You’re Ready For Rejuvenation Therapies

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6 Signs You’re Ready For Rejuvenation Therapies

Rejuvenation therapies might sound futuristic, but they’re actually becoming more common over time. As technology advances, more possibilities are emerging. But what are the signs you’re ready for one of these treatments? How do you know if you should go ahead? That’s what we’ll look at in this post:

If your biological age test came back higher than expected, then that could be a sign you’re ready for some sort of rejuvenating therapy. If you’re older than your chronological age, it suggests that something’s gone wrong with your lifestyle and you need to intervene. Pay special attention if the gap between the test and your real age is more than five years. Acting quickly can help prevent health issues from developing and creeping up on you in the future.

Another sign you’re ready for rejuvenation is when you flinch every time you encounter bright, white light. You worry about how the shadows cast on your face will actually look to other people. This feeling is even worse if you have “Gen Z face.” You’re not even that old! If lighting is an issue for you, look at ways to improve your skin tone. Eating more yellow vegetables is usually the best and most effective option.

The older you get, the more your hair is prone to falling out, wreaking havoc on your self confidence. Fortunately, hair restoration is commonplace these days, and the techniques are far more advanced than ever before. Surgeons simply transplant hair from one part of your scalp to the other, giving you a fuller look.

If you already started budgeting for supplements, you’re preparing yourself to spend a lot of money on pills you hope will keep you looking and feeling young and fresh. Some of the best supplements are things like NAD boosters and fucoidan. However, there are plenty of others worth exploring that you should consider investigating if you have the time.

^^^ Unsplash Image

You might also be ready for rejuvenation therapy if you fear missing out every time someone on Twitter drops a rejuvenation thread. If you’re reading it and wishing it was you in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber, you’re not alone!

Lastly, you might seriously want to look into various rejuvenation therapies if your joints are creaking and aching. These can make them far less likely to hurt in the future and help keep you fit and active.

The best therapies are things like peptides and plasma infusions. These get right to the source of the problem and help to rebuild any damage. You could also just look at improving your diet and still get good results!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

New Grape & Deep Purple Nails

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New Grape & Deep Purple Nails

Hello! I treated myself to a fabulous fill this past Tuesday and it was so nice to spend an hour getting pampered while I was on break. I have to admit that I was a bit sad to say goodbye to my Halloween nails to compliment my pirate costume but I was excited to explore new colors for fall. Come fall time, I feel like I see endless shades of brown and nude nail polishes and that is not me in the slightest. I adore the gem tones when it comes to fall hues and wanted to go that route for a fresh take on a fall fill. One of the colors was actually not what I had in mind but I loved how it turned out anyways. Talk about a happy accident! Check it out:

As I browsed through the nail polish book, I immediately was drawn to the grape color and moved onto my next shade. Nearby was a deep indigo (Or so I thought!) and that was the winner. When I requested the colors to my tech, she came back verifying that I chose two purples and in my head I was like “huh” lol. What I took as indigo was a really deep purple! I didn’t want to bother with swapping it out and just decided to go for it and I’m so glad I did. My tech and I were swooning over this color combo once all was said and done and she thought it looked “Victorian”. I couldn’t agree more and it was just the Lil Red take on fall colors I was hoping for despite the mix up!

My time spent at Elysian Nails can’t be beat and I recommend the salon to any and everyone. This includes my mom, mother in law, friends, and anyone looking for recommendations on Talk Of The Town pages on Facebook. Earlier in the day, I scheduled my next fill for myself in December as well as a manicure for my mom. Literally thirty seconds after I scheduled my mom’s mani, I got a text from the salon owner asking who it was for lol. He knew darn well I will never be without my acrylics and when I arrived at the salon, we shared a laugh and he said “It could never be you”! That just shows the level of service Elysian Nails provides. Everyone from the owner to the techs knows the clients and I really appreciated that he went out of his way to double check. ❤

I am already chomping at the bit for my next fill and can’t wait to take my mom to her mani appointment – not mine!!!

How do you like to treat yourself? What color of nail polish are you rocking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

October 2025 Finishes

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October 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy November! The best holiday of all has came and went and now it’s onto the next best holiday of all. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been thinking about my Thanksgiving plate since last Thanksgiving lol. I freaking love Thanksgiving food so much! 🙂 I also love a successful month of beauty empties and October was pretty darn good in that regard. I think I might have found my new favorite serum! Take a look at these empties and let’s discuss further:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Soda Shower Gel: NO

Bath & Body Works Golden Mango Lagoon Body Spray: YES

Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol Serum: YES!!!!

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: This isn’t a comment on how amazing this body cream is, just a funny story. Johnny thought that the scent Champagne Toast was Champagne & Toast and I genuinely cannot think of it differently now. In fact, that’s almost how I typed it above! Also the B&BW body cream is so nourishing and fabulous and leaves my skin smooth and hydrated as the temperatures continue to drop. It took a little over two weeks of full body use to finish the bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: I am extremely faithful to my B&BW shower gel and couldn’t imagine using anything different. I just love how foamy it gets, the scents, and how hydrating they are. However, Strawberry Soda was a scent I couldn’t get behind and I wouldn’t buy it again. This strawberry scent was just too sweet for my liking and almost had a syrupy fragrance. I like my fruity scents with a bit of tartness so it’s a no from me. It took me about a month and a half to finish the bottle.

B&BW Body Spray: If you are looking for sunshine in a bottle, Golden Mango Lagoon is just right for you! This beachy fragrance is paired with freshly cut mango and it is absolutely delicious. This was a freebie item and I thought it would be nice to test out a travel size spray without committing to a full bottle. Normally, I am not one for tropical scents but I loved this one. It invoked sweet summertime on chilly mornings and just made me happy. It took me four months to finish this bottle.

Glow Elixir Serum: So. Much. Yes. This Hyaluronic & Retinol serum by Glow Elixir was the truth. It took me over a month and a half to finish the bottle and I enjoyed every single use. This serum was shockingly thin in consistency and a few drops went a long way for full face and neck coverage. Glow Elixir is the perfect name for this brand because my skin was literally glowing. It was radiant, peaches and cream perfection and I could visibly see it with each morning and night use. I would love to use this serum again and am keeping my fingers crossed to find more at TJMaxx. I’ll buy the lot!

Vital Beauty Eye Gel: I have been loyal to the Vital Beauty eye gels for some time and will happily continue using them. I love the longevity of the product and one jar typically lasts me at least three and a half to four months with twice daily use. That’s awesome! The cooling eye gel soothes and nourishes and feels oh so nice around tired eyes at the end of the day. It also provides an invigorating boost in the morning. As far as I can tell, no new wrinkles have appeared (fingers crossed) with consistent use of this product so I’ll continue to use it as long as TJMaxx has it available!

Out with the old and in with the new! There is nothing better than finishing up long term products and I can’t wait to keep using more goodies and reporting back to all of you! ❤

Which products did you use up last 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

Cliganic Chapstick Review

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Cliganic Chapstick Review

Hello! I am a huge chapstick gal and this love was definitely fostered by my obsession with Lip Smackers in my youth. Lol you just couldn’t beat the scent of them even though I’m pretty confident they did absolutely nothing! As a smoker, my lips get dry easily so I always like to have a chapstick on my person. Several, actually. I have one in my purse, one on my bedside table, and one on my table when I’m working on the computer. A while back ago, I purchased a set of chapsticks by Cliganic and I am most impressed by the product. With winter weather approaching and chapped lip season upon us, I thought we’d discuss this lip chap because I think you will love it:

^^^ This is a cruelty free chapstick!

One of the biggest gripes people have with chapstick is the constant reapplication and I totally get it. If I am using a product, I want it to work right off the bat and what’s the point of a chapstick if you have to keep putting it on every ten seconds? This is SO not the case with the Cliganic lip chap! These chapsticks are made with sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E, and beeswax and they really pack a punch. The formula is so nourishing and rich and you can literally feel it working as soon as you apply it and after the fact.

With just a small swipe across your lips, you are on your way to ultimate and long lasting hydration. I can’t stand when a chapstick feels like it’s just sitting on your lips and the Cliganic lip chaps really do absorb and improve. The best part? My lips still feel soft and smooth even when this product is off! I reapply mine three times a day, at most. Part of it is out of habit but it’s honestly not even necessary because of how well it works. I put some on about two hours ago and even though it has all absorbed, my lips legit feel like I used a lip mask instead of a chapstick. If you want a truly effective chapstick without having to reapply throughout the day, this is the one for you!

I cannot recommend the Cliganic chapsticks enough and plan on buying more once I am out. I couldn’t imagine using anything different since I am already using the best!

How do you soothe chapped lips? What is your favorite chapstick scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer Review

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Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer Review

Yoohoo! I absolutely love trying out new skin care products and have been obsessed with the new to me moisturizer I have been using. I finally got around to testing the Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer by Dirty Works and the name is so fitting. This moisturizer is a little miracle in a bottle! This is the first Dirty Works product that I have used that genuinely impressed me and I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed to find it again at TJMaxx. If you try it, you are going to be all about it too so let’s discuss:

When it comes to skin care, I really don’t care if it’s scented or not. All I want is for it to be effective. However, it’s always nice when a product smells nice and the Miracle Works Moisturizer is a delight. It smells like summer and sunscreen and is a lovely little pick me up when I apply it in the morning. Especially because it finally feels like breezy and brisk fall in good ol’ Akron, Ohio. I use a little more than a dime sized dollop for full face and neck coverage and it feels like I’m getting ready for a day at the beach with each use.

While the sunny scent is a welcome addition, the best part about this moisturizer is the way it feels once it’s on. I have never used one quite like this! After its application, this moisturizer makes my skin feel like pure velvet. It offers a matte finish that just feels so soft to the touch and I cannot recall ever using a moisturizer that has provided that crushed velvet sensation. It is heavenly! This moisturizer absorbs super quickly and gives my skin a radiant glow with the Vitamin C and a hydrating snap compliments of the hyaluronic acid. I can’t get enough of it and I know it’s bad but I also can’t stop touching my face as soon as it’s on morning and night. Yeah, it’s that good!

If you are on the market for a new moisturizer, I truly cannot recommend this one enough. You are going to love it!

What is your favorite Dirty Works product? What is the best moisturizer you have ever used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Amazing Bath & Body Works Haul

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Amazing Bath & Body Works Haul

Hello! I was due for a reup of my beloved foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and made a shopping trip this past Tuesday. I was armed with a free travel size product and twenty percent off coupon and was ready to save money AND smell all the things! I walked in knowing exactly what I needed but Bath & Body Works told me what I needed… And that was seventy-five percent off their Halloween fragrances! It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time because I was running dangerously low on lotion. Between the $3.50 hand soap promotion the store was running, Semi-Annual Sale pricing on Halloween goodies, and my coupons I ended up making out like a bandit. I got the fifteen products you see below for thirty-seven dollars even! How amazing is that?! Let’s discuss some of these scents:

Pearberry: Pearberry is one of my all time favorite throwback scents and I couldn’t believe it was available in hand soap form. Normally I have to wait for a Semi-Annual Sale to score this fragrance! For those of you who don’t recall, Pearberry offers notes of “anjou pear, wild berries, and golden freesia”. It is a primarily pear fragrance with the slightest tartness from the berries and a hint of freesia floral. I love a good fruity fragrance with no floral notes but Pearberry has always been the exception!

Frosted Cranberry: With Halloween scents out the door, holiday fragrances were in full swing at B&BW and Frosted Cranberry is one of my faves. This is a sweet/tart scent with notes of “frosted cranberry, red delicious apple, and blonde wood”. I can’t speak for the blonde wood lol but this is a perfect holiday fragrance. It invokes freshly baked cranberry scones, falling snow, and a crackling fire. I can’t get enough of it and it seriously smells good enough to eat.

Whipped White Cocoa: This scent is exactly what the fragrance notes describe with “white chocolate, frothy milk, and whipped cream” and it is absolutely delicious! It’s such a true match to the real drink that one smell will have you feeling like you are holding a warm cup of cocoa between your hands. I am a huge fan of this one!

Milk Bar Birthday Cake: Mmmmm… “Layered vanilla cake, creamy frosting, and rainbow sprinkles”? Yes, please! The Milk Bar Birthday Cake in its delightful pink packaging is such a treat and smells like it too. If you’re like me and love a cakey, vanilla scent then you cannot skip on this one. It smells just like cake batter!

Vampire Blood: This is a scent we have discussed a few times before on lifewithlilred so peep the review here. Other than I Scream Float, this is my favorite Halloween fragrance hands down. 😀

I Scream Float: This is also a scent that you can read a review for but I do need to repeat one thing: I Scream Float smells EXACTLY like Diet Coke and if you are as fond of the most delightful beverage in the world as I am, it is a complete must!! ❤

Cookie Butter Truffle: Can you tell that I live for dessert fragrances?! With notes of “cookie butter (As the name implies lol), whipped cream, and vanilla extract you are going to be craving a homemade cookie with each use. This is my least favorite one of the bunch because I actually smell a lot of cinnamon in it, which I despise. Definitely will skip on this one in the future.

As well as my hand soaps, I purchased a couple of wallflowers, body cream, a fragrance spray, and shower gel. Evil Queen is the only one from that batch we haven’t talked about previously so let’s get to it:

Evil Queen: The Disney Villains line was also part of the seventy-five percent off promo and whatever came in the green bottle STANK. I think it was the Maleficent fragrance? I wouldn’t say Evil Queen is my favorite scent in the world but I needed lotion and it was infinitely better than my other option! This scent features notes of “dark red apple, vanilla suede, and wicked pear”. This is a really light fragrance and I wish it had more oomph because I love everything in the fragrance notes. Great in a pinch but I wouldn’t purchase it again.

Thanks to this fabulous haul, I am going to be well set with my bath and body care until the winter Semi-Annual Sale rolls around. I still can’t get over the price for so many goodies and ended up saving a total of one hundred twenty dollars!!!!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works throwback scent? Where do you like to shop for bath and body care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

New Black & Red Glitter Nails

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New Black & Red Glitter Nails

Hello! This past Tuesday I was treated to a fabulous break time fill at Elysian Nails. It is always the best little midday pick me up and I was excited to get colors that would match my Halloween costume’s aesthetic. This year, Johnny and I are going to be pirates and recently purchased our costumes. Mine features a heaping dose of sexiness and a red, black, white, and gold motif. I had a general idea in my head for my nails but these colors are FIRE and completely exceeded my expectations! Check it out:

As red and black are my two favorite colors, it’s no surprise that that was the color combo I gravitated towards! The garnet glitter polish for my red selection was everything and reminds me of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. They shimmer and shine like nobody’s business and I seriously can’t stop looking at them! I wanted to compliment the red with some black glitter polish but there was none to be had. So, my nail tech created her own with a gorgeous sparkle top coat. The shine provided was so intense it made me think of crushed diamonds and this combination is going to be absolutely perfect for my pirate costume!

I got a full set during my last appointment so my acrylics were in really good condition. They just needed shaped, sharpened, and a tiny repair or two and my pampering session was complete in forty-five minutes. It was a new record and it gave me time for my nails to fully dry before heading back to work! During my appointments, my tech and I catch up on all of the latest and greatest and love discussing documentaries, books, and anime. I recently started watching Death Note (It is AMAZING!) and was delighted to learn she did too. What are the odds of that?! I can’t wait to come back next month so we can delve further into the series, which will basically be us just fan girling about how good it is. 😀

Stay tuned for a sneak peek of my pirate costume coming soon. You will definitely agree that these fierce acrylics are the perfect match!

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

The Everyday Mistakes That Are Damaging Your Skin

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The Everyday Mistakes That Are Damaging Your Skin

Everyone wants radiant, healthy skin. But sometimes there are barriers in the way of achieving the glow you want or are working towards, and no matter what you do, your efforts aren’t rewarded with the results you want. Chances are, you’re making mistakes that are hampering your progress, stopping you from achieving that fresh-faced look. Let’s look at a few of the most common mistakes so you can step up your skin care game even more:

Nothing beats that fresh, clean skin feel, but cleansing too often or using too harsh a cleanser for your skin can strip it of its oils and can upset the protective barrier. The result? Redness, irritation, and more breakouts and dry patches than you started with. The trick is to cleanse gently using an appropriate cleanser for your skin type once or twice per day.

Or not using it at all. And those UV rays that damage your skin? They’re present even on cloudy days, too, and in the winter. The damage can be done all year round, not just in the height of summer. Skipping sunscreen speeds up visible aging and increases your risk of skin cancer, too. Try adding a lightweight SPF 30 to your skincare routine for maximum protection benefits.

There is no quick fix for good skin. Good skin is the culmination of religious skincare routines that are consistent every single day. While those hydrating and glowing face masks can give you the moisture boost and healthy look you need before a night out, the effects will only be temporary. The same principles apply to co-harmonizing and harmonizing products. You need to find the right products for your skin and use them consistently to get the benefits and glowing skin you want.

The importance of using ingredients that will directly benefit your skin type cannot be understated. For example, a teenager using retinol products will experience dryness and irritation. A thirty something will benefit from enhanced elasticity. When you shop for skin care products on www.skindeepprofessional.com (or your favorite skin care brand), pay close attention to the ingredients listed and take note of the changes you see as you use it. If your skin has never looked better, you’re on the right path. If you notice irritation, discontinue use immediately.

Sidestepping visiting a dermatologist for skin concerns can end up making matters worse than they were. A dermatologist can enlighten you as to the health of your skin and what you need to do and products or ingredients you need to use to achieve the skin of your dreams. From here, you can implement the perfect skincare routine, choose appropriate products, and even discover skincare treatments that can boost your skin health, such as laser skin resurfacing or acne laser treatment.

Yes, what you put on your skin matters, but also how you live your life matters too. Dehydration, a poor diet, increased stress levels, and a lack of sleep all impact your skin. And before you know it, you’re showing the signs of your lifestyle habits in your skin. Drink plenty of water, eat a nutritious, balanced diet, prioritize sleep, and work on reducing stress levels to help you work on your skin from the inside out. If you’re not addressing the fundamentals of good health, even the best skincare products and routine in the world won’t have any impact.

Healthy skin isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about avoiding the habits that damage your skin and hold you back. By focusing on the points above and removing everyday skincare mistakes in your life, you can start to reap the benefits of great skin!

Featured Image By: Pexels

September 2025 Finishes

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September 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! Holy cow, we are into October which means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes from this past month. This was a particularly good month because I would happily use all of the empties again that we are about to see. GREAT SUCCESS! I don’t know about all of you, but October is the best time ever for me. It’s spooky season, baby, and I can’t wait to do ALL of the fall things. It’s also fabulous from a beauty standpoint too because you know your girl loves an apple fragrance – my favorite! Now, let’s do this thing because we have a lot of skin care inspo to expand on:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Starfruit Sangria Body Cream: YES

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub: YES!!!!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Pound Cake Body Cream: YES

Elf Holy Hydration Moisturizer: YES

Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Scrub: I started using this scrub at the beginning of May and it took me until September 30th to finish it. I so wish I had more because this Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid scrub was the truth. Obviously, it was an amazing value as I got five months of use out of it and I enjoyed it every day. This scrub was very gentle but effective despite its lack of grit. Sometimes scrubs just feel like you’re shredding your skin and I loved that this one had a cream based formula. My skin looked radiant, was smooth as can be, and the cost per use for a five dollar bottle can’t be beat. A dime sized dollop went a very long way. Highly recommend!

Elf Moisturizer: Holy wow was this Holy Hydration moisturizer a delight. My mom gave me this sample jar and, like the scrub, a little went a long way. It took me over a week of twice daily use to finish it and that’s awesome for such a small size. I love Elf products and the Holy Hydration moisturizer is easily one of their best and most popular. Try it for yourself and you can see why! This moisturizer is seriously as light as air on the skin but provides such rich hydration. It also absorbs really quickly so you can feel its effects immediately with a rush so noticeable it’s like splashing water on your face. I need to get me a bigger jar!

Dr. Wellness Moisturizer: The Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer was a REALLY good one and I was so sad when I completed the jar after a month and a half of twice daily use. It was an excellent value, smelled like freshly falling rain, and I definitely noticed a positive effect on my skin. I sometimes find that collagen products make my skin feel dry but this one both tightened and hydrated in a major way. My skin felt firm and was insanely soft to boot. I hope I find it again at TJMaxx because I would end up buying the lot – it was that good. 😀

Although I’m bummed to not have more of these wonderful skin care products, it’s always exciting to test out new ones. I am loving the cleanser and moisturizer I have started so check back in for the reviews!

Which products did you use up last 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