Category Archives: Beauty

Apr18

Beauty Scenario Tag

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Beauty Scenario Tag

Hey everyone and happy Hump Day! While browsing through my WordPress beauty feed, I noticed a Beauty Scenario Tag post by Fridoline and it looked like so much fun that I had to join in! Here we go:

You have to get rid of all your foundations and you can only keep one high end and one drugstore, which do you keep?

Much to everyone’s shock when I tell them this, I don’t wear any type of foundation or concealer products. I consider myself very lucky and my pasty pale complexion is one of my favorite things about myself.

You go for an interview and the lady interviewing you has lipstick on her teeth. Do you approach the subject or ignore it completely?

Oh wow… I have no idea how I would handle this. I actually don’t think that I would say anything. If a total stranger told me that I had lipstick or food in my teeth, I would feel so embarrassed. I think that it would be better if she found out herself or if a coworker who she knows better pointed it out. But, that’s just me.

You’re not feeling yourself and need a pick me up. Which lipstick do you put on to make yourself feel beautiful?

NYX’s Pure Red Matte Lipstick, of course. It’s my go to shade and is fifty percent of the reason why my nickname is Lil Red. (The other half being my red hair, obvs lol.)

You go back in time for a day to your teenage years, how would you do your hair and makeup differently?

When I was a teenager, I actually didn’t wear a lot of makeup. Maybe if I did, I would be better at applying it now! Ha. But, I had long hair as a teen and I wish that I dyed it red, because I think that it would have been so pretty. I’d love to see what it would have looked like, because it is so difficult for me to grow my hair out now.

You ask your hairdresser for a shoulder length Pixie Lott hair cut, but they hear wrong and give you a pixie cut.

Do you:

A) Smile, say thank you, leave and call your mom hysterical.

B) Cry in the chair and things get awkward.

C) Complain to the manager and demand a refund.

OR D) So, I had no idea who Pixie Lott is and I had to Google her. Her hair is very pretty, but it’s not me at all AND I look great in a pixie cut (#humblebrag) so I don’t think that I would have been too upset.

HOWEVER, since that’s not an option, I would probably go with C. I would be very nice about it and say “this is not what I wanted at all and I don’t think that I should have to pay for it”. At the end of the day, it’s your hair that got messed up, so paying for someone’s mistake just adds to the suckery of it.

Your friend surprises you with a 4 day city break and you have 1 hour to pack. Which ‘do it all’ palette do you pack in your makeup bag?

I don’t own any palettes aside from my Elf Nude Rose Gold one, so I guess that’s the one that I would be bringing, lol.

Your house has been robbed, don’t worry everyone is safe, but your beauty stash has been raided. What’s the product you really hope is safe?

Since 99% of my makeup is drugstore brand, besides for my Better Than Sex mascara, I wouldn’t be too disappointed about anything. But, I would be kind of pissed if the Tarte Lip Paint sample that I got for my birthday from Sephora got messed with because it’s an exclusive shade for the Beauty Insider members and I freaking love it.

Your friend borrows your makeup and returns it in awful condition.

Do you:

A) Just pretend you haven’t noticed.

B) Ask them to repurchase it.

C) Secretly do the same to something of theirs.

Can option D be “none of the above”? Lol, I’m not really keen on letting anyone but me use my makeup.

Thanks again to Fridoline for this fun tag! It was a hoot. How would you answer some of these questions? What is your holy grail beauty item? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr14

New Black & Ruby Nails

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New Black & Ruby Nails

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! It has been over a month since my last fill and I was so happy to finally get my claws prettied up on Wednesday. After what seems like a year of not being in the salon chair, my nails are now back to their normal fierce selves and I am looking forward to another month (And then some!) of wear. Check it out:

rubyyy* Featuring my minion socks!!

I am so in love with the color of my accent nail this time around. So much so that I am even considering getting all of my nails painted that color next time *gasp*. This shade is called Red Carpet and it looks like a freaking blood diamond. I love that the red is so deep that it looks like it is mixed with black. It is so glam in a dark way and I feel so badass I can’t hardly stand it.

As always, my nail tech, Steve, did an amazing job shaping and sharpening my talons and he finished in a record time of an hour and a half, which is most impressive. Steve’s thoroughness and attention to detail is so one of a kind and I always feel completely spoiled after I leave his salon!

What color of nail polish are you wearing right now? How often do you go in between getting your nails done? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr13

Tiny Little Haul

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Tiny Little Haul

Hii everyone and TGIF! When it comes to purchasing makeup, I am pretty frugal and try to stick to drugstore brands only. But, that’s a different story when it comes to mascara! I am obsessed with Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara and consider it a staple item for when I’m painting my face.

Trust and believe that if there were a drugstore dupe of Better Than Sex, I’d buy it in bulk. But, it was getting to the point that I was mixing at least three different mascaras to get the lashes that I wanted and, even then, they still weren’t as big and bold as I would like. To save myself the concocting catastrophe, I now only buy Better Than Sex and I’m not even mad about it, because my lashes always look amazing. In fact – I usually buy two at a time!

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Not only am I, for the most part, frugal about my makeup purchases, but I am kind of a cheapskate when it comes to my nails, as well. I normally wait for over a month to get my nails filled and I rhinestone them myself, because I will be a monkey’s uncle if I pay five bucks per nail for some bling!

After restocking my mascara, I had to re-up my rhinestone stash, too, especially considering that I spilled the remains of my near empty bag during my last fill. It costs me a little less than four dollars per bag, and I am able to save at least ten dollars per fill by rhinestoning my nails myself. You can’t beat that!

There is no shame in splurging for things like acrylics or a high end makeup brand. But, it sure makes me feel better about it by cutting the costs on other things with DIY bling or clipping coupons for my drugstore dupes!

What do you splurge on when it comes to beauty products? How do you save money when restocking your makeup must haves? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Nail Passion Website Shout Out

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Nail Passion Website Shout Out

Howdy! Okay, so you know how on WordPress you can see the referral links to how someone stumbled upon your blog? It’s super handy and I’m super thankful for it, because a certain special website has brought me TONS of new blog viewers. At the beginning of April, someone linked to lifewithlilred on a website called Nail Passion, which discusses all things real and fake nails.

As you all know, part of the signature Lil Red look is my long, talon acrylics that I am totally obsessed with. And, I guess other people are, too! I want to thank whomever it was that thought my nails were fierce enough to put on the Nail Passion page. It was most flattering and I am so appreciative of all of the new blog viewers that came my way because of it!!

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Who else has a love for all things nail care? Do you wear acrylics or keep your nails natural? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr7

Itty Bitty Beauty Haul

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Itty Bitty Beauty Haul

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! I was running low on a few of my beauty staples, so I decided to visit TJMaxx (Of course.) this week so that I could restock. TJ’s offers a wide variety of skin care, makeup, and bath and body care goodies, all for a fraction of the original price. I ended up with a new black eyeliner and a charcoal beauty bar for a whole eight bucks. Take a look:

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Normally, I use CoverGirl’s eyeliner that looks exactly like the one that I got by L’oreal. And normally, I pay around seven dollars for it. Being able to get essentially the same product by a different brand for over three dollars cheaper was a sweet deal. Plus, it takes me at least three or more months to finish an eye pencil in its entirety. This gives me a cost per month of a dollar and change – and I can definitely swing that.

I do have to say, I was a bit disappointed that the past two times that I was at TJ’s, they didn’t have my usual Destiny Boutique charcoal bar that I love so very, very much. So, I had to compromise with the PlantLife bar, instead. Charcoal is charcoal, and it worked the same as the Destiny Boutique bar. It was also about two dollars cheaper. Not bad for a bar that should last me around five months!

Balling on a budget means making compromises. Although it’s nice to use my favorite brands and staple items, I was able to save five bucks by switching things up a bit. Cha-ching!

How do you cut down the cost of your favorite beauty items? Where do you score the best deals on your self care staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr5

Furless Eyeshadow Swatch In Sinister

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Furless Eyeshadow Swatch In Sinister

Howdy! My sister, Kristen, has been getting the Ipsy Glam Bag for at least two years now. I have to admit, that even I’m excited when the signature metallic pink envelope arrives in the mail. It’s always fun to test out new products and sometimes, if I’m lucky, Kristen will give me some of her loot that she doesn’t like – like this new Furless eyeshadow. Take a look:

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^^^ The first heart is the eyeshadow dry and the second heart is the product when it’s wet. As you can see, they both pretty much look exactly alike – which is cool.

Of course, the best thing about the Furless brand is that it is cruelty free and vegan, which is so important to me. The second best thing about this eyeshadow is that the color is fabulous, which we will discuss in more detail shortly. And, finally, the third best thing about this eyeshadow is its name, because Sinister is a great word AND it is one of my favorite horror movies. This product was obviously meant to be in my possession.

My sister really does know me all too well, because I love literally any gold toned eyeshadow. Gold is a color that just works well with all of my features – my hazel eyes, pale skin, and red hair always manage to become enhanced when gold is featured in my makeup look and I love that. Sinister is an especially gorgeous color for us gals with hazel eyes that change from brown to yellow or green because it’s gold, but there are green undertones to the pigment that really will make your peepers pop. My eyes are constantly changing to green or yellow so it will be fun to play with Sinister to see what effect it has on them.

Sisterhood is great. It’s a built in best friend and the hand me downs are nothing to sneeze at, either! Thanks, Kristen!! ❤

How do you play up your eye color with makeup? What is your favorite cruelty free brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr2

5 Changes To Your Diet That Will Make Your Skin Glow

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5 Changes To Your Diet That Will Make Your Skin Glow

Tired of having dull, lackluster skin? Want to achieve that natural glow that makes you feel great inside and out? Of course you do! While a good skincare routine goes a long way, the key to radiant skin starts from within. Read about five simple diet changes that will help to make your skin glow:

1. Drink more water:

You might be tired of being told to drink more water, but you won’t know the difference it can make to your skin until you give it a try. Drinking more water has many beauty benefits, and it can be a great anti-ageing tool to keep your skin looking plump and wrinkle-free. Start drinking around eight glasses (more if you’re exercising) and keep yourself hydrated.

2. Ditch the caffeine:

Caffeine might make you feel more awake, but it’s not great for your skin. While caffeine alone isn’t responsible for cellulite, it can add to its appearance – so you might want to lay off caffeine as a way to reduce it. If you’re already dealing with cellulite, you can get advice on how to get rid of it from cellulite.com – it’s a great resource for finding creams and lotions to help improve that. Try caffeine-free versions of your favorite hot drinks or beverages or, better yet, go for natural juice and water, instead.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables:

Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, which are all essential for helping your skin to glow. Some of the fruits and vegetables for good skin include vitamin C rich foods like green peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes. Selenium is a mineral that will boost skin elasticity and keep it firm, and you can find it in spinach, lentils, and carrots. Fill up your plate with healthy fruits and vegetables and feed your skin the goodness that it needs.

4. Switch to healthy fats:

We all know that consuming too many fatty foods is bad for you, but that doesn’t mean that all fats are bad. There are healthy fats that can help give your skin a boost, including omega 3, which is found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel. Avocados, walnuts, and olive oil also contain beneficial fats that will help to nourish your skin. Breakfast is a good place to consume healthy fats, so start your day off right with some eggs and other good fats to help your intake.

5. Lower your soda intake:

Soda isn’t recommended for living a healthy diet, and this is particularly true when it comes to your skin. The syrups and sugars contained in soda can have different effects, including the ageing of your skin. Sodas are also very high in calories, and consuming too many calories can lead to weight gain. Opt for sugar free versions if you must drink soda, or cut them out altogether and stick to water.

Glowing skin is an amazing confidence booster that will help you radiate from within. By starting with a good diet, you can help create a glowing complexion and keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. Make some changes to your eating and drinking habits today to experience the benefits for yourself.

Featured Image By: Pxhere

Mar31

New Hot Tools Hair Straightener

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New Hot Tools Hair Straightener

Helloooo! For the past few months, I have been suffering from mild distaste for my hair. “WHAT?! But you love your red hair!” Yes, yes I do. BUT, my hair itself has just not been styling well, as of late. It just seemed like no matter what styling sprays and serums I used and how many times I flat ironed my hair, I could not get it straight for the life of me.

When I say that I want my hair straight, I’m talking pin straight, so it was infuriating to straighten my hair only to have it be frizzy and wavy shortly after. At first, I was wondering if my amazing hair stylist didn’t take enough bulk out when she was thinning through my thick locks. But, I poo pooed that thought immediately after, because she’s a genius. Then, I realized that it was my hair straightener.

I have been using my old faithful Ion One Stroke for a solid four years now, so it only makes sense that it might not be working to the best of its ability. Finally, the frizzy mess that my hair would turn into five minutes after straightening sounded about right. So, I did what I normally do…

I went to TJMaxx and got myself a Hot Tools straightener for twenty-five bucks.

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This styling tool heats up to 450 degrees, which is perfect for my thick hair. It also has a handy touch screen to turn the product on and off and to adjust the heat. Immediately after using my new Hot Tools straightener, the difference in my hair was all I needed to justify my purchase. My locks looked straight, sleek, and the style held all day.

I am so happy to have solved the mystery behind my bad hair months, because I am SO over covering up my hair with hats, beanies, headbands, and wearing it up. Now, my crimson crown can flow freely and perfectly straight. Thank gawd.

R.I.P

Ion One Stroke

2014-2018

What are your tips for achieving pin straight hair? How do you usually style your locks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar27

March 2018 Finishes

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March 2018 Finishes

Howdy! I can’t believe that another month is drawing to a close already. 2018 is flying by, and with that, brings my empties post for March! Take a look at my monthly finishes and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Suave Sweet Pea & Violet body wash: YES
  • Dickinson’s Witch Hazel: YES
  • The Body Shop Nutriganics eye cream: YES
  • Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

Suave Body Wash: I love the Suave shower gels. They lather well, they always smell great, and they are long lasting. It took me over two months to finish my Sweet Pea & Violet body wash and it was most enjoyable. It’s a floral scent, but it’s not so overpowering that you smell like a flower field all day. It’s actually quite energizing, which is great for the days that you don’t feel like waking up!

Dickinson’s Witch Hazel: I use witch hazel as a toner, a piercing cleaner, and a makeup remover when I am making little edits to my makeup look. Witch hazel is cheap, but effective and it works diligently to tighten my pores and give the areas around my piercings a deep clean. Dickinson’s is the only brand that I trust, and it took me about four months to finish this bottle.

TBS Eye Cream: We all know by now that The Body Shop’s Nutriganics eye cream is my go to for preventing fine lines and wrinkles around my peepers. It takes me a solid half a year to finish this tiny bottle of cream. You can’t beat that!

Clinique Moisturizer: I got to sample Clinique’s Moisture Surge moisturizer for free thanks to a recent Sephora purchase. If I wasn’t so gung-ho about buying moisturizers for cheap at TJMaxx, I would definitely purchase this Clinique product. It is a gel moisturizer, which is my favorite, and a little dollop went a long way in eliminating dry winter skin. Loved it.

March was definitely a successful month for finishes, and I would happily use each product that I completed again. Now, if only I could get my hands on that Clinique moisturizer for a bargain price!

Which products have you finished up this month? How do you beat dry skin during the colder months? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar25

Oh, Heyyy

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Oh, Heyyy

Happy Sunday! I realize that it has been a phat minute since I posted a picture of myself and *gasp* I’m not wearing red lipstick in it! I swapped the red during a day out for one of my favorite Tarte lip paint shades in Rosé. This picture is also featuring a Lauren Conrad top from Kohl’s that I got for a whopping five dollars. What whattttttt!

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Oh, Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

How are you spending Sunday Funday? How often do you take selfies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah