Category Archives: Beauty

Sep3

New Yellow & Red Violet Nails

Posted on September 3, 2020 by lifewithlilred

Hello everyone! Your girl was feeling her damn self in August! I got my hair done, new tattoos, and a gorgeous fill on my talons. It’s safe to say my self esteem is sky high because there’s nothing like some pampering (Yes, getting tattooed is pampering to me!) to make me feel at one hundred million percent. I love my “treat time” in the salons and it is always just what the doctor ordered. Because the doctor did, in fact, order these claws:

Way back in the day, my sister had an eyeshadow kit by some drugstore brand or another – it might have been CoverGirl or something of the like. Anyways, it was called “Bird Of Paradise” and the colors were very similar to the ones I picked. I have always loved the color combination of a bright red violet and poppy yellow ever since and wanted to do one more hurrah to summer hues before we transition into the fall.

Last time I got my nails done, you might remember me complaining about how rough the nail tech was on my nails. She made me bleed multiple times and I don’t think I have ever been so uncomfortable during a fill before. So, naturally, I would get this nail tech again this time around.

I am never one to complain and I understand that things aren’t always going to feel like a massage at the nail salon. However, I have just never had an experience of getting nicked and legit man handled So. Many. Times. before. After the fourth or fifth “ouch” I finally had to say something because it was just getting ridiculous at that point.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the results of my fill but I don’t want to spend an entire hour and fifteen minutes (She takes a long time.) with my fingers bleeding. Not the best look and I definitely plan on asking not to have her do my nails again the next time I come in. #SOannoying -_-

Have you ever had an unpleasant salon experience before? What happened? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug31

August 2020 Finishes

Posted on August 31, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and welcome to the last post of August 2020 here on lifewithlilred! Today, we are going to be discussing all of the products I used up this past month and there are quite a few of them. Let’s get started and, then, I will see all of ya’ll in September! Here we go:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Champagne Apple & Honey shower gel: YES
Garnier Micellar Water: YES
Garnier Waterproof Makeup Micellar Water: MAYBE
Azure Lux Rose Gold Serum: YES
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
SkinLab Hydrate & Replenish Eye Cream: NO

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Shower Gel: As per ushe, I gotta have my Bath & Body Works goodies stocked and at the ready in my apartment and their shower gels are one of my favorite things to hoard! The Champagne Apple & Honey fragrance smells so good and I must have bought at least six bottles of it at their Semi Annual Sale! It takes me over one month to finish one bottle.

Garnier Micellar Water: Garnier’s Micellar Water is another statement item in my beauty routine and I always have a bottle or two handy at home. It usually takes me at least two and a half months to finish one bottle and I use it morning and night as a toner and eye makeup remover. It is especially nice to use after a very hot day – so refreshing!

Garnier Waterproof Micellar Water: This travel sized bottle came as a freebie when I purchased my normal pink bottle of micellar water. I noticed no real difference between the waterproof and regular formula so I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it again. But I never say no to free! It took me less than three weeks to finish the mini bottle.

Azure Lux Serum: As always, I absolutely love the Azure Lux serums. The Rose Gold is my fave but I enjoy the 24K one too! It takes me one month to finish one bottle with morning and night use and my skin has never looked brighter or more radiant. Highly recommend and it can be found on Amazon or, if you’re lucky, TJMaxx. 🙂

SkinLab Moisturizer: Like a lot of these empties, I keep a healthy supply of my SkinLab moisturizer on hand at all times too. It takes me a little under one month to use one jar with morning and night use and my skin thanks me for it every day. I feel like the Lift & Firm formula has kept my skin so youthful and… firm. Lol! The SkinLab products can also be purchased on Amazon or at TJMaxx if you come across them.

SkinLab Eye Cream: I normally use SkinLab’s Lift & Firm eye cream but I decided to give the Hydrate & Replenish formula a try. I really liked the gel texture, however, I never felt like it did a whole lot. It did not absorb nicely and when I would rub my eyes, little bits of eye cream gunk would rub off with it. It took me about two or so months to use one tiny pot and I would not use it again.

August 2020 left me with a lot of finishes and I’m ready to go in September slightly cooler, hopefully, and with lots of pampering in my future!

Which products did you use up this month? Which beauty products do you recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug27

New Candy Apple Red & Dandelion Yellow Hair

Posted on August 27, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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New Candy Apple Red & Dandelion Yellow Hair

Hello! I absolutely busted a gut when I saw my featured image photo because it is the honest to god truth. My hair stylist, Anna, has been my go to gal for well over a decade and I would never trust anyone else to even look at my hair. I recently decided that I wanted a change and Anna created what we coined as “convertible hair”. AKA half blonde and half red, expertly designed to be able to move the different colors into a whole new style:

We both loved the blonde but we both knew that the colors weren’t exactly what I wanted. When I think red I think red red and when I had blonde in mind I wanted it to be a super bright pop. This first style was a great first crack and the second go at it was just as good. But was it what we had in mind? Not quite.

However, as the old saying goes, the third time was a charm. Anna ordered Pulp Riot colors special for me and I finally got the candy colored hair of my dreams. Check it out:

To achieve my light bright hair, Anna bleached it for about twenty minutes. And, I’m not going to lie, I kind of like how I looked all blonde! After washing out the bleach and drying it, she applied Pulp Riot’s Fireball for my red and Satire for the yellow and we let it sit for thirty-five minutes.

Obviously the end result is Skittle colored vibrancy but the dye in itself was the exact same color as the finished product and as soon as she put it on we had a very good feeling about it. Not to mention that the Pulp Riot dye smells like Sweet Tarts – very appropriate for hair that almost looks good enough to eat, lol!

As soon as Anna washed the dye out, we were freaking out before we even dried it because the colors were that bright soaking wet. Anna told me that she has never done color like this before and I am so thankful that I was her guinea pig. My request was, admittedly, a tall order and she did her research and her absolute best to give me the results I wanted.

The results? Hair worthy of a cartoon character and off the charts self-confidence. We both had such a blast with this quest for candy colored hair and now Anna knows how to get my locks just right every time. The next color I have in mind after I grow bored with the blonde? Hot pink, of course!

What is the craziest color of hair you ever rocked? How do you experiment with bold colors in your personal style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug20

Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Cucumber Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on August 20, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Cucumber Sheet Mask Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the final review from my set of Celavi sheet masks! In mid July, I ordered a pack of twelve sheet masks off of Amazon from the Celavi brand. I received two of the six different kinds which included Charcoal, Honey, Avocado, Pomegranate, Tea Tree, and Cucumber – which we will be discussing today.

As a reminder, the score for the masks I didn’t like is three and I only liked two of them. Will the Cucumber mask be the tie breaker? Let’s find out:

I decided to use this mask after returning home from my mom and dad’s house over the weekend. It was a hot day and that was exasperated by frolicking about the backyard with my adorable little niece. By the time I got home to my apartment, I was sweating my nads off and just wanted to put on a soothing mask to help cool me down. Cue the Cucumber sheet mask with the soothing and softening properties!

The Cucumber sheet mask was nice for multiple reasons. For starters, this mask fit my face really well so I didn’t have to deal with it slipping and sliding for twenty minutes. It also smelled great – like a freshly cut cucumber and I felt like I was at the spa! And, finally, my skin really did feel much better after using it.

When the twenty minutes of mask time was up, I had gotten my body temperature back to baseline and I was eager to see the results because I had a good feeling about it. Upon removing the mask, I was pleased to see the puffiness on my face from sweating profusely (lol) had disappeared and my skin felt clean and fresh. So soft, too!

This sheet mask is definitely one I would use again, especially on another hot day. It cooled me down completely, I loved the cucumber scent, and the grimy, sticky sensation of a scorching day had dissipated. Soothe and Soften it did and the Cucumber sheet mask was a success.

Unfortunately, this series of Celavi Face Mask Festivities ended in a 3-3 tie. The masks I liked were Charcoal, Pomegranate, and Cucumber and I found them to be quite effective. The masks I disliked were Honey, Avocado, and Tea Tree and they didn’t do squat.

So was the set of Celavi sheet masks I purchased something that I would recommend? I do. Despite not loving half of the masks, I got twelve of them for ten bucks and I think that’s a great deal! It’s nice to have masks at the ready at my apartment and, even though some were more successful than others, it makes for a cheap spa night and who doesn’t love that?!

How do you pamper yourself? How do you do an at home spa treatment? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug17

Looking Your Best Out Of Lock Down

Posted on August 17, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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The world is slowly returning a little more to normal after the global Coronavirus pandemic, we’re all looking forward to getting a more social again, safely. Whether it’s catching up with friends and family, going on socially distanced dates, or being able to meet colleagues in person again, we all have to readjust to doing things face to face. So it’s little wonder the question of how to look and feel good is at the top of our minds. How about starting with these tips?

Sort Out Your Smile:

Non-verbal communication and facial expressions are hugely important in how others feel about us. Just simple things like smiling more can change the way people perceive you. If you don’t feel confident about your smile, it’s easy to fix these days. Home teeth whitening kits are easier and safer than ever or you could try adding a charcoal toothpaste to your routine for a more natural boost. If you need a bigger change, cosmetic dentistry has some answers, such as invisalign braces to straighten out crooked or gapped teeth. Being able to smile with confidence can make a huge difference to the success of that job interview or date.

Add A Pop Of Blush:

We’re all a tad pasty from staying inside so much, so one easy trick to define your face more is adding a little extra touch of blush to your makeup. Cream or gel blush formulas tend to be the best – they blend out easier, give a fresh look, and it’s harder to be too heavy-handed with them. The vibrant color can be easily applied just by using your fingertips or a dense, fluffy synthetic brush. Hello rosy and defined cheeks! You’ll be glowing.

Fill In Those Brows:

Another important step for the ‘architecture’ of your face is well-groomed, neatly defined eyebrows. These frame your eyes, which are so important for expressing yourself, especially if you are wearing a face mask. Done correctly, a brow makeover can even make the rest of your face appear lifted and refreshed. Quickly brush them upwards with a spoolie or an old, cleaned up mascara wand, and then gently stroke through a brow pencil or a powder eyeshadow which matches the shade of your brows. If you’re blonde, consider a light taupe a shade or two darker, and if you have really dark hair, a shade or two lighter with a chocolate brown often looks softer.

Get The Lighting Right:

Hollywood actresses and Instagram influencers alike know that lighting is everything! So when getting back to socializing in person, you can feel confident by flattering yourself with the right illumination. Position yourself to be facing a window and you won’t get any harsh shadows that show up under eye bags and fine lines. Position a lamp or other light source to the other side for truly flawless results!

Everyone has their own quick fixes for looking their best and hopefully these will have you feeling it as you step back into this great big world. 🙂

Featured Image By: Pexels

Aug16

Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Tea Tree Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on August 16, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Tea Tree Sheet Mask Edition

Hello and welcome to the fifth sheet mask review from the set of six Celavi masks that I bought from Amazon! Today, we are going to be talking about the Tea Tree Calms and Refreshes sheet mask, which I definitely felt like I needed after a super hot summer day. I was always partial to the tingly cool Tea Tree products from The Body Shop so I assumed I was in for a treat, especially after a muggy day. But, as the old saying goes: Assume makes an ass out of U and ME and this face mask was less than impressive. Let’s discuss:

I was actually pretty excited when I put this sheet mask on because, like the Avocado one I tried recently, it was way smaller and fit well on my face. So, for twenty minutes I laid back, dug into my Audible book tape, and enjoyed not having to tend to a slipping off face mask. After my twenty was up, I couldn’t wait to examine the results because I had a good feeling about this mask. But, sadly, my good feeling was the only thing good about it! Whomp whomp.

After removing the sheet mask, the only difference I noticed was red, irritated patches on my face. I will say that my skin did look a bit more firm but that’s neither here nor there. I was more worried about this mask causing my skin discomfort or blemishes that wouldn’t go away ASAFP.

Luckily for me, after a half hour or so the redness dissipated. However, that’s definitely not the first thing you want to see when you take a face mask off! After the redness was gone I still didn’t notice any major changes one way or the other but, similar to the Avocado mask, it just didn’t seem worth it afterwards and I would not use it again.

Yes these masks are cheap and two of the ones I tried were actually pretty good. But, I have now disliked more masks than I liked with a score of 3-2. We only have one more Celavi sheet mask to try: A Smoothing and Softening Cucumber. Will this be the mask to even the score? Keep it posted and find out!

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

Aug14

Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Avocado Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on August 14, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Avocado Sheet Mask Edition

Hello! Today we are going to discuss the fourth out of the six Celavi face masks that I purchased from Amazon. I was most impressed with the Pomegranate mask I used earlier as well as the Charcoal one too. I was looking forward to trying the regenerating Avocado mask because I was on a bit of a roll with the success rate from this set. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end because the Avocado one was whomp whomp. Lol, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

To determine if the face mask that I have just used is worth purchasing again, I ask myself one question: Do I feel a difference in my skin? If I can feel or see a difference – no matter how minor, I consider it money well spent and would probably purchase it again. So, did I feel or see a difference in my skin after using the Avocado mask? Not in the slightest.

As I said, I was eager to try this sheet mask because it promised a lot of good stuff and sounded so nourishing. In fact, I was thrilled when I put the mask on because it was significantly smaller than the other Celavi masks I’ve tried and it fit so much better on my face. Without all of the slipping and sliding of the gigantic sheet masks I used before, I settled onto the couch and watched My 600 Pound Life until it was time to take it off twenty minutes later.

I was really hoping for awesome results after removing the mask because my skin looked SO dull and tired prior to putting it on and was definitely in need of a good moisturizing, as well. Sadly, I really don’t think this mask did anything after examining the results which is disappointing because my normal skin care routine is easily more effective and I want at least a little something something!

As of now, my Celavi sheet mask success rate is tied at a 2-2 of whether I would use them again or not. I loved the Charcoal and Pomegranate masks but the Honey and Avocado ones were so not worth it. There are only two more Celavi masks left for me to try so keep it posted as we determine if the Amazon set I purchased was a steal or nah!

Which type of face mask do you prefer? How do you keep your skin nourished? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug10

Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Pomegranate Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on August 10, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Pomegranate Sheet Mask Edition

Howdy! I am currently working through a handful of different sheet masks from a brand called Celavi, which I purchased on Amazon. During the last edition of Face Mask Festivities, we discussed Celavi’s Charcoal sheet mask and I was really encouraged after using it because I noticed the positive effect it had on my skin once I took it off. I was now tied 1-1 between masks that I liked and disliked because the Honey one was a dud.

The Pomegranate sheet mask was my tie breaker with the promises to Brighten and Enhance. And we are now *drum roll please* at 2-1 because it was a goddamn delight. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ Lol, sheet mask pictures crack me up!

I used the Pomegranate sheet mask after a real DOOZY of a day and, honestly, any brightening or enhancing would have been a noticeable change because your girl looked hit! And, I must say, the change in my skin was very noticeable after a twenty minute struggle of wearing the mask. Because, let’s keep it real, ill fitting face masks do not make for the most relaxing pampering!

When I removed the sheet mask, my skin seriously looked like I had just used a bunch of Vitamin C radiance treatments. My face was glowing bright and I looked wide awake even though I felt dead tired. So, needless to say, I was impressed and it was actually just the perk me up I needed to complete my last few tasks of the day.

The Celavi Pomegranate Sheet Mask has definitely been my favorite one out of the three that I have tried. I have three more left to test out so keep it posted for more new Face Mask Festivities soon!

How do you spend your time after work? Which products do you love for brightening and radiance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug7

Museum Of Ice Cream X Sephora Fake Eyelashes Review

Posted on August 7, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Museum Of Ice Cream X Sephora Fake Eyelashes Review

Hi! As you saw from my last OOTD on lifewithlilred, I was sporting some pretty funky fake eyelashes. In case you haven’t seen it, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

I purchased the Museum Of Ice Cream X Sephora lashes during my last online Sephora haul and considered them a steal for only seven bucks. So much so, in fact, that I ordered two sets! I have never been a fake eyelashes girl and have always preferred heavily applying my Better Than Sex mascara. However, that all changed last year when I rocked some crazy red lashes for Halloween and I realized that fake lashes were AWESOME!

Before experimenting with fake lashes, I had always assumed that I would have a difficult time putting them on. Happily, I found that wasn’t the case and when I wear fake lashes they last all day. I will say that the MOIC lashes were a bit harder to apply than your traditional fake lashes because there were tufts of feathers on the lash line, which is where your lash glue goes.

Speaking of lash glue, just know if you purchase this set for yourself that it comes without glue. SO I had to apply these huge ass heavy lashes with Dollar Tree lash glue. I had to use a lot and some of it did get in the feathers but that was just unavoidable. I had a few problems with the inner corner lifting so I would put lash glue on a Q Tip and pat the area until they decided to stick around for awhile.

After the initial application process and minor issues, the MOIC lashes stayed on until I removed them around nine thirty at night! Color me impressed. These lashes were rather heavy, which definitely took some getting used to but it’s not like they were ever uncomfortable. And, I loved how they looked!

I would not wear these lashes on the daily but they are such a fun way to spice up my same old same old makeup routine. Not only did they look fabulous in my pictures but they were a unique and cheap purchase that I am really pleased with. Highly recommend!

Where do you purchase funky fake lashes? How do you rock unique makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul31

Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Charcoal Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on July 31, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Celavi Charcoal Sheet Mask Edition

Hello! I recently ordered a pack of face masks by Celavi off of Amazon during a skin care haul. I got twelve face masks for ten dollars and I figured, successful or not, that’s a cheap way to get some blog content – especially considering I don’t do much of anything anymore! I recently tried the Charcoal sheet mask by Celavi that was supposed to purify and refine and, although it wasn’t the best, it wasn’t too bad. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

As all of you know, I love charcoal skin care products so I was eager to try this mask. After my last face mask experience with Celavi, I wasn’t expecting too much out of the Charcoal one but I figured if it could clear away just some of my blackheads, then I would be happy. And it did. All of the pesky blackheads on my nose were sent packing and my skin felt clean and fresh after removing the mask.

My main qualm with the face masks I purchased is that they are HUGE. They slip and slide on my face, as you can see in the picture above, and the serums in the mask always end up getting in my eyes. Not fun. However, once the mask begins to dry about fifteen minutes in, it holds a lot better and it makes the experience much more pleasant. I typically wear my Celavi masks for twenty minutes and sometimes a little extra if they are still damp.

This Charcoal sheet mask was by no means the best one I’ve ever used but it was a vast improvement from the Honey one by Celavi that I tried because it actually did something. I have four other Celavi masks to try and, after the minor success of the Charcoal mask, I’m kind of looking forward to the other ones. Keep it posted and find out what I think! 🙂

What is your favorite skin care trend? Who else is a charcoal skin care fan? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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