Category Archives: Beauty

May16

New Alien Green & Black Nails

Posted on May 16, 2017 by lifewithlilred

Hiii everyone and happy Tuesday! Yesterday, I participated in Mani Monday and got my beloved talons filled. I prolonged my length between fills from three to three and a half weeks and was actually quite surprised at how un-janky they looked. In fact, I probably could have waited a little bit longer but I had nothing to do yesterday so I figured that I would get them done. So, this time I will probably see if I can stand going four weeks until my next fill because ballin on a budget. But, enough about that, let’s see these bad boys!

^^^ Pretty! :*)

When my dad asked me what I was doing yesterday and I told him that I was going to get my nails done, he asked if I was going to get them taken off. LOL, I don’t think that that’s ever going to happen. My claws make me so unbelievably happy and it’s really the one “treat yoself” thing that I do, considering I dye my hair at home now. I can’t picture myself without them and, damnit, I don’t want to!

Unfortunately for this fill, I ended up picking the worst shade of green because in the bottle it looked super neon but on the nail it just looks kind of thin and dull. But that’s okay, because the overall effect is still really nice! I got the sparkle hearts top coat on my accent nails last time and I loved it so much that I had to get it again. Without them, I would have been super disappointed in the green and asked to pick out a different color but I’m not that picky and still like the finished product well enough just the same.

Regardless of how I feel about the blah green, I have already gotten a ton of compliments on them in just one day thanks to my nail tech, Steve’s, nail wizardry. So, I guess the wait out for my next fill won’t be all that bad! What color of nail polish do you have on right now? How about on your toes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May12

First Sephora Purchase!!

Posted on May 12, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and TGIF! Yesterday my sister and I went to the mall and I *gasp* bought something from Sephora! I really wasn’t expecting to or planning on it. Really. But it happened and I can’t say that I’m too upset about it! It only seems fitting that my First Sephora Purchase would be a red lipstick (yes, I’m obsessed), so take a look and let’s discuss:

Urban Decay Metallized lipstick in Wrath

So, yeah. Like I said, I really wasn’t planning on buying anything – let alone a seventeen dollar lipstick. But, damnit, I just couldn’t help myself. IT’S SO PRETTY! As you guys know, I just bought myself a new lipstick with glitter in it but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t still in love with metallic shades, either. This Urban Decay shade spoke to me on a spiritual level and I desperately needed it in my life.

The purchase of this lipstick was a bit of an emotional rollarcoaster, because there were no tubes of Wrath to buy behind the tester. Just my luck. Frankly, I wouldn’t have been all that disappointed if they were all out, but still – I really liked it. I asked one of the employees if they might have any more and she legit searched for five minutes and with every passing second I could feel my heart sink lower and lower.

BUT MY LUCK TURNED AROUND because she finally found my new lipstick and at that point, I couldn’t not buy it! Guys. This shade is SO. Freaking. Gorgeous. It’s great because when you think metallic for shades of red, you think of colors with a more rusty, orange tint to it (and any shade of orange lippie looks horrendous on me). But not Wrath. This Urban Decay lipstick has the purest of red pigments with a chrome finish and I am so madly in love with it.

I asked one of the employees if she could put it on for me just so I could be sure and I got the stamp of approval from both her and my sister. And also me, too! Because that would have kind of sucked if I ended up hating this color! As soon as I wear this lipstick out, I will be sure to take a shameless selfie so that all of you can see it, too!

So there you have it, my First Sephora Purchase! What was the first thing that you bought at Sephora? What is your favorite Urban Decay lipstick shade? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May10

Mini Makeup Haul

Posted on May 10, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! To conclude my Target Haul appreciation posts, I am here to talk to you about two gorgeous new makeups that I purchased this past weekend. I’ll be honest with you guys, I am not a big makeup girl. I stick with what I know and I legit paint my face the same way every day – which my sister LOVES to dog on me about. So I thought that I would take a step out of my comfort zone with a beautiful emerald green eyeliner by Maybelline. But I am a creature of habit, so back into my comfort zone I went with a lovely new red lipstick by L’oreal, which I am so obsessed with! Take a look and let’s discuss:

My Purchases:

Maybelline Glossy Emerald eyeliner #608
L’oreal Ruby Flame lipstick #317

As I’ve mentioned about a million times on lifewithlilred, fifty shades of green is my color. With pasty pale skin, bright red hair, and hazel eyes that frequently change color to green or golden yellow, green is one of the colors that always looks good on me. When I worked at The Body Shop, I was definitely more adventurous with my makeup and I can remember using deep green eyeshadows as eyeliner and loving the way that it looked. So I thought that I would revisit that and attempt something different than my normal gold eyeshadow with a bright emerald liner…

The only problem is, is that I freaking suck at applying eyeliner to my top lids so this is definitely going to be a trial and error type of thing! But hey, we’ll see what happens and maybe then my sister will get off of my back for wearing the exact same makeup every day of my life, lol smh.

Now, as for my new L’oreal lipstick – I LOVE it. I have been on the hunt for a red lipstick with glitter in it for the past month and am so happy with this shade in Ruby Flame. When I took my sister shopping at Sephora for her birthday at the beginning of April, I tried my luck there for a lipstick shade that I liked but nothing spoke to me on a spiritual level. Not only did I hate everything that I tried there, but I wasn’t too keen on spending over twenty dollars for a lipstick, anyways.

I wasn’t expecting to find a glitter red that I loved for a whole seven bucks at Target! I had originally seen this L’oreal shade at the drugstore when I was killing time in between meetings for work and I really liked it but didn’t buy it. But, I made note of it for future purchasing purposes and I am really glad that I did! Ruby Flame is exactly what I’ve been searching for. A gorgeous shade of red, a light overlay of fairy dust, and a reputable brand that wasn’t going to break my bank. I am SO pleased with this find and cannot wait to use it on my next night out!

My Mini Makeup Haul at Target left me with a revamped version of a tried and true favorite in L’oreal’s Ruby Flame lipstick and a *gasp* not gold eyeshadow with Maybelline’s Glossy Emerald eyeliner. I’m looking forward to giving both of these new makeups a try and we’ll see what happens! How do you step outside of your makeup comfort zone? What is your go to shade for eyeshadows and liners? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May5

Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

Posted on May 5, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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FYI!! 🙂

lifewithlilred

Hiiii everyone and TGIF! With summer somewhat on the horizon (although, let’s be real – it’s still a healthy distance away!), I thought that it would be the perfect time to get the ball rolling on lifewithlilred’s upcoming Salute To Summer guest bloggers series. I’ll be the first to admit that I am so not a summer fan. I hate being hot. I hate wearing shorts (which is why a majority of my summer is spent in my signature black skinnies!). I hate water related activities. And, did I mention that I HATE being hot?!

Obviously, I’m a spring and fall kind of gal. But, that doesn’t mean that summer should be put on the back burner on the ol’ blog! Especially considering that a majority of my friends are huge summer fans – the most important one being my big sister. And, if nothing else, I have a summer…

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Apr30

TJMaxx Mini Haul

Posted on April 30, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a super fab weekend. So Friday was a wonderful, but boozy time, and your girl spent yesterday nursing a hangover from HELL. Seriously, I was completely miserable and spent a majority of the day in bed watching a Catfish marathon. But, despite feeling like total ass, I ponied up and went with my mom to Home Goods and TJMaxx in the evening so she could pick up a few things and make some returns. And, honestly, when have I ever said no to going to TJMaxx?!

My beloved mom and I haven’t been out shopping together in a while and even though I felt like I got ran over by stampeding elephants, we still had a lot of fun! We browsed around Home Goods, which I’ve grown increasingly more fond of with every trip and ended up with some delightful new home goods. 😉 The TJMaxx trip was awesome, though, because we were in a fancier area than our normal location so it was a nice little change of pace. Take a look at my mini haul and let’s discuss:

The Haul:

The Body Shop Oat & Honey mask
Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer
Olive green baseball cap (brand unknown!)

The Price: About twenty bucks total

I am always so, so happy when I can find really good skin care products at TJs on the cheap. I have been absolutely loving face masks as of late so finding a TBS one for FIVE DOLLARS was such a treat! I have used the Oat & Honey mask before and it was nice but nothing that I would ever pay full price for so it was definitely a pleasant surprise to be able to snag it for a price that you couldn’t get at TBS even if it was on sale.

Not only did I get a new mask to add to my collection but I also got a moisturizer that I freaking LOVE! My mom got me the Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer for my birthday or Christmas, I forget which, and it was so fabulous. Normally, I’m not a huge coconut fan but this moisturizer smells so good to me. It’s definitely coconutty but it also has that rich, creamy scent and texture that I love so very much. And did I mention that it works wonderfully, to boot?! This moisturizer absorbs so quickly, sits well under makeup, and leaves your complexion looking like peaches and cream perfection. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to be able to get my Yes To Coconut moisturizer for a TJMaxx price!

And, finally, my new baseball cap!! I am such a fan of hats. I wouldn’t say that they’re my favorite accessory but they are definitely high on the list. Floppy hats, beanies, baseball caps, Panama hats, sun hats, cold weather wool hats – I love them all. I have two boxes full of hats in my closet thanks to an appreciation that stemmed from my darling grandma who had over one hundred and fifty hats!

But, one style of hat that I have been meaning to give more love to as of late is the baseball cap. I loves me a good ball cap but I always have difficulty finding ones that work in terms of color with my hair. With my bright red locks I want anything that I put on my head to compliment, rather than clash. That’s why I was so attracted to this shiny, olive green cap for ten dolla holla at TJs.

Green, no matter what shade, is a color that always looks good on me. Thanks to red hair and pasty pale skin, fifty shades of green is a color that I know that I can turn to and I will look my best. My new hat just made everything pop. My eyes looked bright, my skin glowed, and my hair (even though I really need to dye it) looked fantastic. And you KNOW that this hat was a winner if I felt that I looked good even with a hangover!! Everything about this hat worked AND it didn’t make me look like Ashton Kutcher so, obviously, this little baby was going home with me!

Even though this was a small haul, I ended up with two skin care products and a hat that I totally love and only paid a whopping twenty bucks for. Sounds like a steal to me!

So there you have it, my TJMaxx Mini Haul! Who else has a deep love for TJMaxx? What is your favorite accessory to rock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr28

Wanted: Salute To Summer Guest Bloggers

Posted on April 28, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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I want the Salute To Summer guest bloggers series to showcase all of the fun that this obnoxiously hot, upcoming season has to offer. And, who knows, maybe my guest bloggers might just end up changing my mind on being a summer hater! For this series, we are talking summer vacas, lazy afternoons day drinking by the pool, and the best warm weather hangouts in your area. And, of course, I won’t say no to summer themed OOTDs and MOTDs, either!

If you are interested in participating in lifewithlilred’s Salute To Summer guest bloggers series, shoot me an email with your ideas at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com !!!

Have a fabulous weekend! ❤

Apr27

April 2017 Finishes Pt. 2

Posted on April 27, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Thursday! You might be scratching your head and wondering why there’s a Part 2 to my April 2017 Finishes post from yesterday. Well, here’s why! Back in October of 2016, I began using the Destiny Boutique Charcoal Face Bar and am literally just now finishing it. This beauty bar has lasted me well over HALF A YEAR and I paid a whopping SIX DOLLARS for it. And, the best thing is, is that my skin is simply obsessed with it. Take a looksee and let’s discuss:

^^^ As you can see from the picture above, this charcoal bar is freaking HUGE, so it’s no wonder why it has lasted me as long as it did. And we’re talking daily (sometimes twice a day) use of this product here!

I am lucky to say that I have been blessed with skin that has never really suffered from any skin care woes. But, one thing that I do struggle with are some really tough blackheads. I have five nose piercings (two on each nostril and my septum is pierced), and blackheads are drawn to this area like moths to a flame. It doesn’t surprise me, considering that I am constantly touching and adjusting my piercings with my super long talons.

“So you have some blackheads. Big deal.” And, you’re right. It really isn’t a big deal because they’re barely noticeable. But am I thrilled about having them? Absolutely not. The blackheads around my piercings are something that I want to keep on lock because when people look at them, I want them to see the artistry and jewelry – not tiny little black needle points every which way.

Around the time that I purchased this Destiny Boutique bar from TJMaxx, I had been itching to try some type of charcoal based product. I had read about how well it deep cleans the pores and I really wanted to give it a go. So when I found this six dollar bar at TJs, I simply had to buy it. And, I have to say, this is one product that I can’t picture myself ever not using because I am now a dedicated Destiny Boutique super fan.

The Charcoal Face Bar draws my pesky pierced nose blackheads out like a magnet. Even after a couple of days of use, I noticed a significant difference in the amount of blackheads on my nose. And, let me tell you, that’s a really good feeling. This beauty bar has not only decreased my blackheads, but it seems to keep as many from popping up on my poor problemed nose.

I paid SIX DOLLARS for a product that has lasted me OVER HALF A YEAR and it has infinitely helped my blackhead battle. Not only that, but it provides my skin with an overall healthy glow and I can’t get enough. So much so that I have another bar on back stock, am currently using Destiny Boutique’s Charcoal Cleanser, and have another one of those on back stock, as well. Like I said, I’m a super fan.

I legitimately cannot recommend Destiny Boutique’s Charcoal Face Bar enough and urge all of you to give their products a try. I am so glad that I did, and I have a hunch that you will be, too.

So there you have it, my April 2017 Finishes Pt. 2! Have any of you ever used Destiny Boutique products before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

April 2017 Finishes

Posted on April 26, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Helloooooo everyone and happy Hump Day!! This month has brought me many wonderful finishes, which has been fun because April has been a pretty blah month for yours truly. As most of you know by now, I refuse to not finish things that I start when it comes to beauty products, so it’s always nice when the “must finish” items are pleasant to use! Take a look at this month’s empties and let’s discuss:

Would I Use Again?

Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash: MAYBE
Fashion Fair Santorini Getaway body butter: YES
Design Line Fiji Therapy styling oil: YES
The Body Shop Nutriganics eye cream: YES
Arad moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not:

Philosophy Body Wash: Okay, you guys know how I feel about Philosophy bath and body products because I’ve said it time and time again: Had I not been gifted with the products, I would never buy them for myself. My ex boyfriend got me the Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash for Christmas and it was nice and it smelled good but SO many other shower gels are nice and smell good for a fraction of the cost. Granted, I’m sure he got the gel at TJs or Marshall’s, but still. All things considered, this sixteen ounce bottle of body wash lasted me for three months, which is impressive. It lathered well and left my skin feeling hydrated, but it is not something that I plan on using again in the future unless it shows up underneath my Christmas tree!

Fashion Fair Body Butter: This body butter is actually another Christmas gift from my ex and I freaking LOVED it. For starters, the Santorini Getaway scent was so freaking delightful. It was citrus-y without being overpowering. Imagine the richest, creamiest lotion ever that smells like freshly whipped cream and add the lightest splash of citrus and you would have this Fashion Fair body butter. YUM.

Not only did it smell divine but it absorbed and moisturized SO WELL. The texture was nowhere near as thick as a body butter from, say, The Body Shop but it was definitely thicker than your average cream. Even so, this lotion absorbed into my skin instantly and without leaving any type of residue behind. All that was left after applying this lotion was the gentlest touch of summer citrus and I would one hundred and fifty percent use this product again. I completed this body butter after about six uses.

Design Line Styling Oil: I have been using the Design Line Fiji styling oil in my hair for ages. The only reason why it never appears on my Finishes posts is because my mom will always swap out my almost finished bottles with a new one without telling me! Then, by the time I think of it, she has already used and thrown away the remnants of my half used bottle.

Anyways, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. As you guys know, I don’t wash my hair. End of story. Point blank. Period. And you would think that if I’m putting styling oil in my hair almost every day, my hair would get super greasy. Right? WRONG. Not only does this oil have the perfect touch of a tropical scent but it is such a light to the touch product and it leaves my hair feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated with every use. I use it almost daily before I flat iron my hair and my locks are all the better for it. It takes me about four to five months to finish a bottle of Design Line Fiji styling oil and at thirteen bucks a pop, it is worth every penny.

TBS Eye Cream: Oh, my Nutriganics eye cream. A product that I truly could not live without. I have been using the Nutriganics eye cream from The Body Shop for literal years now and the thin and sensitive skin around my eyes thanks me for it daily. Not once since using this product have I been concerned about fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes because a strict and set in stone for ages regimen of applying this product ceases all worries for me. The areas around my eyes looks bright and youthful and I can’t ever see myself not using my Nutriganics eye cream on a daily basis. It takes me about five months to finish a bottle of this cream, which is also a fantastic value!

Arad Moisturizer: I bought this product from TJMaxx compliments of a gift card from one of my beloved Special Olympics students. I have to say that it was nothing special but I would use it again if the opportunity arises. This moisturizer smelled great because it is made with coconut extract, which made putting it on in the morning really nice. It also absorbed well and my makeup laid nicely over top of it. However, I will always be partial to my much loved and used Vitamin E moisturizer from The Body Shop, so anything else kind of pales in comparison! It took me about one month to finish this moisturizer.

Overall, April was a very successful month in terms of my product finishes. I enjoyed using all of my empties and I can definitely see myself (almost) using all of them in the future!

So there you have it, my April 2017 Finishes! Which beauty products did you use up this month? Has anyone used any of the products on my empties list before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr23

Bath & Body Works April Freebie

Posted on April 23, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing weekend. This Friday, I ran into Bath & Body Works to collect my April Freebie and I am not very jazzed about it. I originally had a Sweet Pea shower gel picked out but apparently you could only use the coupon for lotion. Beggars can’t be choosers and I wasn’t in the mood to hunt down a good scent so I just grabbed something and ended up with Hello Beautiful. I thought the name was cute and the packaging was pretty so I thought “why not”. But, unfortunately, I think I should have taken the .3 seconds it takes to smell a product because I discovered that I hated it upon my arrival home! Take a look:

A Lil Red Fun Fact is that I just don’t do floral fragrances. Like, ever. And I really should have examined the packaging closer to put two and two together that something with a flower on it is going to be floral scented, lol SMH! Hello Beautiful is just too heavy for my liking since I am all about fruity, flirty, fun fragrances. Bath & Body Work’s website describes Hello Beautiful as a: “perfect blend of white gardenia, jasmine petals, and magnolia blossom”. And guess what? I hate all three of these things!

Thank gawd this is just a travel size and I can probs pawn it off to someone or another for a gift giving occasion! And next time I grab a freebie, I will be much more attentive to what I’m picking out! #SHAMEFUL

What is one scent that you simply can’t stand? Are you a floral or fruity fan? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr22

New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails!

Posted on April 22, 2017 by lifewithlilred

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Helloooooooo everyone and happy weekend! This Thursday I got my nails done and holy moley am I obsessed. Seriously, this just might be my favorite fill of all time. Because I always opt for black on all of my talons but two accent nails, I try to make those two nails extra fun. Errr… I pick out the polish and my nail tech, Steve, does a brilliant job of making them look extra fun. Like my previous nail tech, Vinny, Steve spoils me rotten. I’ve been going to Steve’s salon (he is the owner) for the better part of two years so he always makes sure to spend lots of time making my nails look fierce. Take a look at his latest creation:

^^^ LOVE!!

For my accent nail this time around, I knew that I wanted it to be red but I also didn’t want it to be plain. After spending some time at the polish rack while Steve was at lunch, I found this super great top coat that has glitter and confetti hearts and stars in it and I was sold. It was admittedly kind of a pain in the butt for it to be applied because if it wasn’t done right, the confetti would just clump together. But Steve made sure that I had an accent nail with expertly placed hearts all over it. What a guy!!

Every three weeks I go to Empress Nails to get my talons fixed up and I am never disappointed. I have no problem shelling out about twenty-five bucks a month to get my nails looking right, all while having an hour or two to myself to relax. My acrylics are my ultimate TREAT YOSELF accessory, but they make me happy and their gorgeous appearance is always well worth the price!

So there you have it, my New, Fabulous, Super Cute Nails! How do you treat yoself when it comes to getting pampered? What color of nail polish do you have on right now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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