Category Archives: Beauty

Nov14

Clinique Chubby Stick In Woppin’ Watermelon Swatch

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Clinique Chubby Stick In Woppin’ Watermelon Swatch

Hi everyone! Yesterday, I got to show off my freebie haul from Sephora and, I’ve got to say, I’m still basking in the glory of that purchase. Money well spent, amiright?! The product that we are swatching today was compliments of my five hundred point Beauty Insider gift – a goodie box of Clinique products. At first, I was pretty ambivalent about their chubby stick balm in Woppin’ Watermelon. But, after swatching it and putting it on before I showered it off for good measure, I’m a fan. Check it out:

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When I first inspected this balm out of its package, I wondered why the heck whomever was in charge picked that truly watermelon pink color. Surely they know that that shade doesn’t look good on everyone (Especially me!), right? Lil Red never rocks pink lips and, mind you, it’s not because I don’t want to – it’s because pink lipstick looks like ass on me. Truth. So, I figured that I would just give this balm to my sister, because pink suits her really well.

I had every intention of giving this to Kristen, until I swatched it for this post, that is. Because, upon swatching, I realized that the chubby stick left very little of that shocking pink pigment on. Rather, it was more like a gloss with the tiniest hint of pink to it. After seeing that on my hand, I was interested to see what it would look like on my lips and, I’ll be damned, because it actually looked alright on me!

Woppin’ Watermelon left my lips with a slightly more pink color and a glossy shine that looked very sweet and simple. It might not necessarily be the best shade for winter, but it will be darling in the spring and summer time. I liked how moisturized the balm left my lips feeling, too, even if it was only on for a handful of minutes! Lil Red never thinks pink, but, I guess it’s okay just this once. 😉

What is your favorite brand of lipstick, gloss, or balms? Which type of lip product do you prefer to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov13

Sephora Freebies

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Sephora Freebies

Hi! While getting some of my holiday shopping done on Sephora’s website, I received a major freebie haul! It. Was. Awesome. I cashed in my 500 point Beauty Insider gift for a Clinique goodie bag and I also received a free travel bag filled with good stuff for spending over fifty dollars. Plus, I got free shipping! I spent just one dollar over the fifty minimum and I got a ton of amazing travel sized products to show for it. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Lancome: La Vie Est Belle perfume sample
  • Laneige: Water Sleeping Mask (Loved it!)
  • Lancome: Mascara
  • Rahua: Omega 9 Hair Mask
  • Urban Decay: All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
  • Fresh: Soy Face Cleanser
  • Briogeo: Heat Protecting Cream
  • Caudalie: Moisturizing Sorbet
  • Tarte: Lip Paint in Birthday Suit (LOVE! I was running low on my birthday gift color from last year!)
  • Clinique: Moisture Surge Face Spray
  • Clinique: Chubby Stick in Woppin’ Watermelon (See the swatch tomorrow!)
  • Clinique: Moisture Surge moisturizer sample
  • Clinique: Mascara
  • Clinique: Foundation + Concealer samples

^^^ So good, right?!

Sephora is such a wonderful company to shop with online, because the promotions that they offer are second to none. I have never not received a free product when shopping online, because they usually offer the promo when you spend over twenty-five dollars. And, let’s be honest, that’s not hard to do!

I used to shy away from Sephora, because when you shop in store there is never any type of promotion running to give you some bang for your buck. But, when I shop online, I always feel pleased with what I’m getting in free product for the amount that I’m spending. I will definitely still pop into the store to see what’s new and examine all the colors and products up close. But, I will go home and order whatever I liked online every time, and I recommend that all of you Sephora lovers do the same. Can you get that amazing haul seen above in store for absolutely free?? I think not!

Which stores offer the best online promotions? How do you shop smart when it comes to Sephora? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov11

New Black & Teal Glitter Nails

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New Black & Teal Glitter Nails

Hello! Ohhhh my god, guys. The things Lil Red will do to save money – because the people at the salon I go to now are SO. F’ING. RUDE! Ugh, why must this salon charge so much less than the one that I used to go to and why, why, WHY must the people that work there be sadists! Yes, this is strictly a complaining post because you and I both know that despite the piss poor attitudes of the employees, I’ll keep going there since the price is right. Sigh, take a look at my new nails at the hands of a meanie and let’s discuss:

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Now, believe me, I get that my nails are a lot of work because I love my length. And, this is why I always schedule an appointment way in advance, tip well, and am happy to pay any upcharge for services on long nails. On top of all of that, I am such a pleasant customer to deal with. I hate to toot my own horn, but it’s the doggone truth. I’m polite, friendly, and really easy going when it comes to my nails.

So, tell me why the person filling my acrylics basically scolded me for how long it was taking him to do them and the length of my nails? He also manhandled me when taking me to the drying table so that my nails wouldn’t smudge and tossed my bag on the vacant seat next to mine. Excuse me? Because I know that he didn’t just do that even though I tipped close to forty percent.

I get it. My nails take a while to complete and I guess I might be a bit frustrated too if their was a shop full of people waiting. But, I was the ONLY person in the salon, so you must have me fucked up. I left after my fill feeling absolutely awful, when I should exit a salon feeling my best after getting my nails done. Oooooo WEEEE mama was pissed.

And, the crazy thing is, is that I would have given glowing reviews in this post had I been treated like an actual human being, because I love how my nails turned out. But, unfortunately, that was not the case. Better luck next time, I guess?

What would you do in a situation like the above scenario? How do you politely tell someone off? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov8

A Little Touch Up Here And There

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A Little Touch Up Here And There

Sometimes our bodies just aren’t the way we want them to be. We think to ourselves, I’d love to change this or I wish I looked like that. But can we always have what we want? No, we can’t. What we can do, however, is figure out ways that we can have a couple of touch ups here and there. Something to give us a little confidence boost when we need it! So, what little touch ups are we talking about you ask? We’ll list them below just for you. Even if some of them don’t suit you, it should actively get you thinking about the things that you actually can change!

I Can See Clearly Now!

Let’s face it, you can’t, can you? If there’s one thing that affects a majority of you reading this, it is going to be your eyesight. Some people are born with poor eyesight, some start to lose it during their teenage years, or even due to injury. When your vision becomes bad and you do have to rely on glasses, it can be one of the most annoying things! One option would be to consider looking at the types of lasik treatment to see if your sight can be corrected. Most of the time, there’s nothing that a good laser can’t fix, you just need to make sure that you’ve got the funds to be able to do something like this. The correction is usually permanent, however, so you could finally see clearly and live a life without glasses! You might also find that you only need one eye corrected, so it might not cost you as much as you think.

If you are experiencing an issue with your vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor ASAP. Even if you think the problem is minor, your doctor will be able to give you a solution whether it be a  treatment for myopia or simply eye drops for dry, scratchy eyes. You will leave your appointment feeling and seeing much better!

I Want A Washboard Stomach!

Ugh, don’t we all. When you see those girls with the completely flat and toned stomach, the nice rounded bum, and legs for days, you just can’t help but be jealous of them. But they’re not born with it, so don’t think it’s in the genes. It’s all about the hard effort they put into it, both inside and out of the gym. And you could easily do the same, if you put your mind to it. If you want that washboard look and you want it quickly, you should try and get yourself a personal trainer. They’ll whip you into shape, give you something to commit to, and give you all of the diet tips that you could ever need for a rockin’ bod.

Basic Beauty Hacks

Sometimes we just have to go back to basics if we want to be a better version of ourselves, and that starts with basic beauty tips. From making sure that you have a great skincare routine, to ensuring that you don’t eat a fatty diet that could bring out impurities. As for makeup, you should definitely start watching a few YouTube tips to know what makeup looks good, and where to put it. You can completely change your look with the power of make up!

Get Some Work Done:

There are so many options for getting cosmetic work done in order to enhance the way you look and feel. From little touch ups to more drastic changes, the medical world has come a long way in recent times. More and more women are coming around to the idea of getting a bit of work done, and there is nowhere near the stigma there once was surrounding this sort of procedure.

This is why it is such a great idea to visit a med spa, where you can combine some touch ups with a relaxing and tranquil spa experience. Being able to relax and destress is a big part of feeling good about yourself, and having strong body confidence can positively affect this. For this reason, getting some work done to boost the way you look can be a good option if it’s something you’re considering. This work can encompass several different services, including botox, special facial treatments and ultherapy. If you’re interested in this or are thinking of learning more, you can browse the websites of different med spas like Original Skin to see which treatments you might be interested in.

There’s bound to be a med spa near you but please be sure to do your research. The services you receive there are meant to enhance your appearance and you will want the best results. Simply enter a search for “Med Spa Colorado Springs” (or your local area) and pay close attention to the credentials of the practitioners as well as customer testimonials and reviews. If you are feeling uncertain, continue shopping around until you find a location you are fully comfortable with. If you want to get a little touch up here and there to make sure you look and feel your best, then more power to you!

Everyone has something that they wish they could change about themselves. And, with many great options out there, swapping out your desired change for a confidence boost is easier than you think!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov7

Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Oil Serum

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Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Oil Serum

Hiiii everyone! For all of my skin care needs, I frequent the beauty aisles at TJMaxx, which shouldn’t be that surprising! I enjoy trying out new products and will always add a new serum, moisturizer, or face mask to my stock pile if it looks good and the price is right. I use a serum every day before applying my eye cream and moisturizer, and I really feel that no skin care routine is complete without it. So, when I’m scouring the beauty section at TJ’s, my eyes are always peeled for a new serum to try.

During one of my last shopping trips to Heaven On Earth, AKA TJMaxx, I ended up purchasing the serum seen below. How do you say no to rose gold?! Check it out:

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Delightfully reminiscent of the Too Faced Better Than Birthday Sex’s glitter pink packaging and advertising all of the right things for skin care, it was impossible to say no to this Azure Lux serum. Rose gold is perfectly on trend along with all of the necessities that this serum offers: toning, hydrating, and wrinkle reducing. Along with the oh so snazzy flecks of twenty-four karat gold and rose hip (Which is so hot in skin care right now!), six dollars for an entire bottle of serum felt like I was getting away with robbery.

Because I refuse to start a new product while I’m finishing up an old one, I haven’t tried this serum out yet. But, I was so curious about it, that I sampled the serum on my hands and it was AWESOME. It was fun to see the gold flecks on my skin, but it was even better to feel like my hands were one hundred and fifty percent hydrated. This serum absorbed quickly and my skin instantly got a burst of moisture that I feel like I couldn’t get from an actual hand lotion. So, just imagine using it on your face! I can’t wait! 😀

What kind of serum do you use? Which products are essential to your skin care routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct28

October 2018 Finishes

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October 2018 Finishes

Helloooo! With October drawing to a close quicker than anticipated, it’s time to discuss which beauty products I finished up this month. What was nice about this month’s empties is that half of them were totally free, which saved me at least twenty dollars. The Clean & Clear cleanser came from a Walgreen’s goodie bag, the Bath & Body Works body wash was free, and the body wash from The Body Shop was a gift. Sweet!

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Would I Use Again?

  • Lubriderm lotion: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma body butter: YES
  • The Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey shower cream: NO
  • Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel: YES
  • Clean & Clear Acne Triple Clear cleanser: MAYBE
  • ArganiCare moisturizer: YES!!

Why/Why Not?

Lubriderm Lotion: Good ol’ Lubriderm is my go to brand to use upon getting a new tattoo and, as I get new ones fairly frequently, I always keep a bottle of lotion handy. I’ve had this bottle for about six months, which is pretty good considering I use it multiple times a day for a handful of weeks when a new tattoo is healing. I will definitely continue using this lotion and, at six dollars a bottle, a dollar per month cost per use is something that I can totally get behind!

TBS Body Butter: This jumbo sized body butter is compliments of TJMaxx for ten bucks, which sure beats the in store price of thirty! Satsuma is easily one of my favorite scents from TBS and I would have hundreds of these body butters in my arsenal if I could. I got at least ten full body uses out of the jumbo sized butter and hope that I can find more at TJ’s to help with dry winter skin in the approaching months.

TBS Shower Cream: Although I love, love, love the Almond Milk & Honey scent from TBS, this shower cream was a major whomp whomp. It didn’t lather at all, making it really hard to feel clean while taking a shower. Because it didn’t lather, I tried to compensate by using more of it per use, which resulted in me finishing the bottle in three weeks. I would recommend a gel over a shower cream any day, because the gel from TBS lasts me at least five weeks, which is a money saver.

B&BW Shower Gel: On the opposite end of the body wash spectrum is the Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel from Bath & Body Works. I had this travel sized bottle for over three weeks, which should tell you everything you need to know about the one from TBS. It lathered well, smelled amazing, and I would definitely use it again.

Clean & Clear Cleanser: It took me about three weeks to finish this mini cleanser and, if given the opportunity, I would use it again. But, with a normal skin type, acne is something that I don’t really worry about so I would prefer something that is designed for normal skin. However, this cleanser made my skin feel squeaky clean and that is always a plus!

ArganiCare Moisturizer: I LOVED this moisturizer and it was absolutely the MVP of this month’s finishes. I got my ArganiCare moisturizer from TJMaxx for six dollars and it lasted me for over a month and a half. A little bit of this product sure went a long way and, although a small amount was used, my skin was always left feeling supple and hydrated. I would love to use this moisturizer again and would definitely recommend it.

Overall, it was a really successful month for finishes and I would recommend almost all of the products discussed above. And when fifty percent of them were free, it makes this month’s empties even sweeter!

Have you used any of the products above? What were your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Oct25

Vacation Shopping… At TJMaxx ;)

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Vacation Shopping… At TJMaxx ;)

Lol, I know. I’m eyerolling at myself for this post, too. BUT, there was a TJMaxx sitting pretty on our way into town from our cabin in North Carolina and I couldn’t not stop in! But don’t worry, I only got two beauty products and one was a total steal so I just couldn’t help myself! Take a look:

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  • The Body Shop Satsuma scrub: $6
  • Garnier Micellar Water + face wash: $4

For ten bucks, I got two of my necessities that would have originally costed me around twenty-five dollars had I bought them in store. How could I possibly pass that up?! At Target, my micellar water comes close to eight dollars with tax for just the bottle. But, this find at TJ’s included a mini face wash, too. Granted, I’ve used it before and it wasn’t the best, but a face wash is a face wash and using the freebie saves me money and prolongs my preferred cleansers. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled at my local TJMaxx for more of the Garnier micellar water, because that was close to four dollars in savings, which is about one and a half gallons of gas in my tank.

I was also happy to find a Satsuma scrub from The Body Shop because, sadly, the TJMaxx that I live by has not had a lot of TBS goodies as of late. The scrubs are my favorite to use before shaving and it worked just right while tackling the Woolly Mammoth legs this week! 😉

Besides for my beauty steals, I was pretty unimpressed with the TJMaxx that I shopped at in Hendersonville. It was cramped, the aisle ways were small (Which made browsing through the racks difficult.), and the selection there was average at best. Of course, TJ’s giveth and TJ’s taketh away, so I could have just been there on an off week. It was fun to be at a TJMaxx in a different state, but I’ll be happy to shop at my local one again really soon!

What is your favorite thing to do on vacation? Where did you go on your last trip? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading

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Lil Red’s Adventures In Microblading

Hello! During a recent trip to Pittsburgh, I got to spend time with my super cool cousin, Laura, exploring the city, eating hella food, and having her microblade me! Laura is one of the pioneers in bringing microblading to Pittsburgh and owns her own studio, La Marie Brow Club, where she works her magic. Admittedly nervous, although I had absolutely no reason to be after the fact, I am now a walking testament to Laura’s work and am a firm believer in the power of microblading!

My nervousness definitely stemmed from the fact that I am a low key girl when it comes to my brows. I fill them in with an eighty-nine cent pencil annnnd that’s about it. Whenever I pluck them, I always end up overdoing it so, now, I just let them do their own thang. Have I wanted better brows? Sure. But, I’ve never been keen on constant waxing and maintenance and, at first, microblading sounded lightweight terrifying! But, now that I officially have amazing brows, I can’t believe that I didn’t do this sooner. Take a look at my before and after shots and, then, we’ll discuss everything further:

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As soon as we got to the salon, Laura immediately got to work preparing the space and explaining the first steps in the microblading process to me. First, we took some before pictures, which you can see above. And, then, Laura began to map out my brows according to my preferred side, which happens to be ol’ rightie. She used an eyebrow pencil to take measurements and used her makeup artist’s eye to create an outline that enhanced my right brow and made my left brow closely mimic its partner.

After a game plan was made special for my MUG, Laura applied a topical numbing agent to my brow area and we let it sit for twenty minutes before the microblading began. For those of you who aren’t hip, microblading is the manual process of implanting pigment into the upper region of our skin’s dermis in a way to mimic the appearance of natural hair. The blade that is used is dipped in pigment and each hair stroke is manually placed into the skin.

Once my brows were comfortably numb, Laura began the microblading festivities. The best way that I can describe the feeling of being microbladed is like getting papercuts on your eyebrows. Papercuts are a pain in the butt. But they are not unbearable and, although I could definitely feel some strokes more than others, the overall level of pain was extremely tolerable.

During a brief break after Laura’s first pass with my brows, a second numbing agent was applied to help ease any discomfort after wiping them down. Then, a second go was made for Laura to add the final touches and hair strokes to complete my beautiful new brows!

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^^^ Peep those results!

Spending time with Laura in her salon has been the highlight of my last few months and I cannot wait to come back to Pittsburgh in two months for her to touch my brows up. La Marie Brow Club provided a sterile and safe environment for me to get eyebrows perfectly customized for my face. Laura made me feel so comfortable and secure with all of the choices that we made together and she walked me through every step of the way with ease.

Watching my cousin display her amazing talents and doing a damn good job of it was so inspiring to me. Laura’s artistry involves immense skill and she was able to complete a task that looks dauntingly difficult with a smile on her face and well thought out answers to all of my questions. Saying I recommend Laura highly is an understatement, because she instilled a newfound confidence in me with her craft, and nothing can ever top that.

Take an inside look at Laura’s salon, located behind Lantern Rose tattoo shop!

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More about Laura:

Laura opened her business, La Marie Brow Club, in April of 2017 and received her certification in January of 2016. Not only does she offer microblading, but she also does upper lash line enhancement, freckles, beauty marks, and tooth gems (Which are so cute!). Laura has spent over ten years in the field as a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician, but enjoys doing eyebrows the most. When she is not booked at the salon, she loves spending time with her boyfriend, Victor, and beloved pets: Randy the cat and Lucille and Igor the Boston Terriers (And they are all so cute, too!).

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Interested in getting microbladed? You can reach Laura with the following:

Social Media Platforms

Thank you so much again to my beautiful and talented cousin for finessing my brows! Laura has the Lil Red Guarantee for fantastic results and service so, if you were at all on the fence about being microbladed like I was, trust in that and schedule an appointment today!

Do you have microbladed brows? How were your results? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

New Black & Orange Nails

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New Black & Orange Nails

Hiii! One thing that I am particularly proud of, is that I went from getting my nails done every three weeks like clockwork to every month or, sometimes, a little over a month. Cutting back over one week between fills saves me money and makes getting pampered all the more sweet. With Halloween right around the corner, I had to get a fun, slightly glittery orange as the accent nail on this most recent fill. Check it out:

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Spooky chic is the name of the game for all of October… and year round. But, especially October! So incorporating some jackolantern orange amidst the black nails and red crosses was an absolute must. This fill makes me feel so witchy and cool and my nails will be perfect for diving into a cauldron full of candy for the Halloween trick or treaters!

And, did I mention that at the new salon that I go to, LT Nails, I am saving about twenty-five dollars per fill?! Although I might not be getting the most extreme pampering experience there, that’s a gas tank and Starbucks coffee’s worth of extra cash in my pocket. Not bad at all!

How do you save money when it comes to your pampering routines? Do you do themed nails for particular holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct12

Bath & Body Works October Freebie

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Bath & Body Works October Freebie

Hi there! Just when I think that Bath & Body Works has finally caught onto my tricks of only coming in to cash in my freebie coupons, they send me another freebie coupon. Lol, it has been a while, but I stopped in earlier this week to pick up my free item, which happened to be really nice. Normally, they only offer a free travel sized shower gel or lotion but, this time, they offered a free hand cream with lots of scents to pick from. Check it out:

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During past trips to B&BW, I have been less than impressed with their packaging. What used to be vibrant and sweet turned minimal and blah, so it was nice to see that they went back to their roots with the imagery on this cream bottle. Perfectly purse sized, this cream is amazing for the on the go gal, especially since cold weather and cracked hands is fast approaching. The scent is delicious, too! Fizzy champagne with the bite of tart apples makes for a delightful autumn scent and also makes me thirsty for a glass of bubbly ASAFP!

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