Jun8

Summer Makeup: Application Tips For Extreme Heat

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Summer Makeup: Application Tips For Extreme Heat

Hello everyone and welcome to a very special guest post from my friend, Kiki, over at From Vanity To Sanity. Today, Kiki is going to share with us some makeup tips for the hot hot heat, which she knows all about as she lives in Cyprus. But, we can certainly all benefit from it with summer weather officially upon us! And, when you’re done, please make sure to give Kiki’s page some love – I’m sure you’ll all adore it as much as I do. Enjoy!

Summer Makeup: Application Tips For Extreme Heat

Ever since returning to my country, Cyprus, from rainy Manchester in the UK in the peak of summer (end of July) in 2017, I’ve been thinking of writing a blog post about the difficulties of applying makeup in hot weather as this is a daily struggle for me. I never had such issues when I lived in the UK or even when I lived in Greece.

For those not familiar with Cyprus, the small European country in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, summers here are hot and humid with temperatures rising well above 44 degrees Celsius usually in July and August. But, with climate change, recent years are seeing a bigger and bigger extension of these heatwaves in Cyprus with summer weather lasting from the beginning of May to the end of October. Just this year we had a 42+ degrees Celsius day in May! I don’t even dare think what the rest of the summer will be like.

So, when Sarah of lifewithlilred gave a shout out for a collaboration with anyone wanting to write about a summer topic as a guest on her blog, I thought this is it, I HAVE to finally write this post because who likes dripping makeup, right?

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Wearing makeup for me is very important. Unless I’m going swimming (And, even when I go to the beach, I usually put on an under-eye concealer and tinted sunscreen for minimum coverage.) I like to look good wherever I go. No longer a spring chicken, this unfortunately for me means not just wearing a nice lipstick to brighten up my face. (Oh! To be young again, able to get away with bare skin and just a bright colored lipstick!). I now need the full works: foundation, concealer, mascara, lipstick, and blusher. But, if you’re a makeup addict like me, then you know those products make the bare minimum of a made-up look.

“But heat and humidity are makeup’s enemies. So, what are makeup’s friends in hot weather then? In my case, it’s tissues, sunscreen, face powder, setting spray, blotting paper, and the coolness from a powerful air-conditioner. Without them, applying makeup in extreme hot weather would just be impossible”

First things first, to be able to even start the process of applying makeup in a hot and humid environment, I personally need to be in a cool place. So, I make sure to have the aircon on full blast before I sit in front of my vanity mirror. Then, I dry my face to avoid any wetness from the humid climate using tissue paper and I’m set to go with the following products in step order:

  • Under-eye concealer: As I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes this is an absolute must for me and it’s always my first step.
  • Sunscreen: If I’m not going for a heavy made-up look, I’ll use a 50+ SPF tinted one and skip the foundation. Two good tinted options of mine are LA ROCHE-POSAY’s ANTHELIOS XL and SUN SENSE. I make sure to cover my face well with the sunscreen, especially the bridge of my nose and cheeks which are my features that get the most sun exposure and are prone to sun damage.
  • Foundation: If I’m going for full coverage, then I’ll use a non-tinted sunscreen in the previous step followed by a good foundation. An all-time favorite of mine is the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation but I recently discovered a good alternative from SHISEIDO, the UV Protective Stick Foundation with 30 SPF. As it’s in stick form it’s very easy to apply and doesn’t need particular blending.
  • Powder: Preferably in loose form, face powder is essential in setting the creamy products applied to the face before potentially adding any others such as blusher, eyeshadow, brow liner, mascara, and lipstick.
  • Setting spray: This is the last step in ensuring the look stays intact. By spraying the face from a distance of about 25 cms you help everything stay put and not melt away when the temperature rises.
  • Blotting paper: Essential to blot out sweat throughout the day and/or night, this product is handy to be kept in your handbag to avoid looking oily when the temperature and, more importantly, the humidity levels rise.

Today, following the above steps but also adding mascara, bronzer, and lip-gloss I created this everyday, natural look (the frizzy stray hairs are testament to the humidity):

Here’s a snapshot of the products I used:

I’d be interested to hear of any other tips for applying and maintaining makeup in extremely hot weather as, frankly, I am finding it a challenge!

Thank you so much again to Kiki for treating us to a guest post here on lifewithlilred! What are your summer time makeup tips? How do you stay cool in the warm weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun7

Happy 25th Birthday To Me!

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Happy 25th Birthday To Me!

Hello everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! Today, I turn the ripe old age of twenty-five and can you say hello midlife crisis?! Lol, nah, crisis mode won’t kick in until twenty-six so I have one more year of turning up to do. In all seriousness, it is an exciting time to be a Lil Red. I got my first apartment less than two months ago, my businesses are booming, and lifewithlilred will have been a thing for FIVE YEARS come September. Wow!

Although twenty-four had a lot of moments that were about a bitch from two of the dumbest relationships that I’ve ever been in to a month and a half of misery from a surgery gone wrong, it ended strong. And, for that, I am definitely grateful. I am looking forward to what twenty-five has in store for me but, I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t wishing that time would slow down just a little bit! We all know that that isn’t going to happen, though, so here’s to enjoying another year here on planet Earth. 😀

Happy Birthday To Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! ❤

Jun6

New Black & Emerald Nails

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New Black & Emerald Nails

Helloooooooo! Last weekend, I spend a wonderful Saturday morning getting pampered at Elysian Nails for a much needed fill and cut down. My work week was long and stressful so it was so nice to sink into a chair and relax for an hour and a half while my talons got loved on. And, I know I said that I was going to stray away from black nails, but I just couldn’t help resorting back to Old Faithful this time around. Take a look:

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While looking through Elysian Nails’ extensive polish collection, the emerald glitter and black combination just spoke to me. It screamed Slytherin from Harry Potter and I was feeling like a badass and couldn’t say no! The daggers also needed shortened as they were getting much too long, even for me, and the lovely young lady named Mary who pampered me did a bang up job.

When it comes to getting my nails done, I could go either way when it comes to chatting with the nail tech. But, Mary was so bubbly and delightful that it was impossible to not chit chat with her for most of the time. She also worked right next to her sister and their little sibling rivalry and quips was so adorable! It made for an insanely pleasant morning and it left me feeling so much better after a difficult week. 🙂

What color of nail polish do you have on? Do you chat or keep it quiet with your nail tech? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun5

Liebster Award #19

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Liebster Award #19

Hiii! This past week, lifewithlilred was nominated for its nineteenth Liebster Award by my darling friend, Carlie, over at Carlie’s Art World. Carlie is an absolute doll and one of my dearest blogging friends and I cannot recommend her page enough. Her artwork and OOTDs are amazing and I know all of you will love it just as much as I do! Now, let’s get on to the rules for this award:

The Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you.
  •  Display your award.
  •  Answer the questions you were asked by the blogger who nominated you.
  •  Nominate 5 other bloggers.
  •  Ask 6 new questions for your nominees to answer.
  •  Let your nominees know they were nominated and give them a link to your post.

Q & A:

What made you want to start a blog?

I honestly didn’t even want to start a blog but so many people told me that they loved my style and that I’m funny and if I started a blog that they would read it. So, when I began college, I started my page and I was hooked! And, I still am almost five years later.

What is your favorite horror movie? 

The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I love the French film Ils.

Do you have any pets?

I, sadly, do not have any pets at my apartment. But, I have two beloved rescue pups at my family home, Gem and Ollie. Both of them are actually quite sick right now so please send some love their way!

Do you collect anything? If so, what do you collect?

Shoes, shoes, shoes, purses, jewelry, clothing, shoes.

What’s your favorite place to vacation?

Asheville, North Carolina.

If you could live anywhere, where would you be?

Paris! I speak French, so hopefully I would fit right in!

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
  2. Are you going on any summer vacations?
  3. How do you stay cool in the warm weather?
  4. What is your favorite Popsicle flavor?
  5. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
  6. What is one of your goals for the rest of 2019?

How would you answer some of Carlie’s questions for her nominees? How about some of my questions for mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun4

Lil Red Loves: Ma Edition

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Lil Red Loves: Ma Edition

Helloo! This past week, I took one of my clients to see Ma. She is my scary movie girl and we always go to the latest showings together at the theaters. It’s a blast! Ever since seeing the trailer for Ma for the past few months, we have been looking forward to going. And, it definitely didn’t disappoint. We both left the theater speechless aside from agreeing that we both loved it.

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to this video.

Boasting an all star cast of Octavia Spencer, Juliette Lewis, Allison Janney, and Missi Pyle along with the main young actors who all did a bang up job, Ma was filled with shockers from start to finish. Ma tells the story of a lonely middle aged woman with a traumatic past who finds her niche with a group of teens after buying them booze at a convenience store. But, what originally seems innocent enough takes a dark turn into obsession really quickly.

Is Ma just on the hunt for friends or on the trail for revenge? Full of jaw dropping horror gags and a shocking, heartbreaking grand reveal, Ma is definitely worth the watch. It wasn’t so much blood and guts horror as it was stomach churning unfortunate-ness and suspense. So, if you’re up for a night at the movies seeing a flick that was outrageously cringe worthy but a whole lot of fun with the dark humor peppered in, then get your tickets for Ma ASAP!

What is the last movie you saw in theaters? What were your thoughts on Ma? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Ma Movie

Jun3

June 2019 Funky Time Jams

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June 2019 Funky Time Jams

Hellooo everyone and welcome to a new month here on lifewithlilred. Summer weather is officially here in Ohio and it has been hot as hell. Now, I don’t know if this is just a Midwestern thing, but we are all about driving with our air conditioning on and the windows down. Which means that you obvi have to be bumping the best tunes for everyone else to hear! Like some of the following:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to the songs or videos above!

I have a very short drive to get to one of my clients three times a week, so I play the radio on the way there because there’s no point in plugging in my iPod for a five minute excursion. Normally, I never have anything nice to say about whatever is on the radio but the stations in my neck of the woods, specifically Akron U’s Z88 is playing the JAMS. They always have Throwback Thursday which is a lot of fun and 98.1 WKDD has 90’s weekends which is the best.

There is nothing better than having the oldies but goodies that we all know the words to even if you don’t particularly like the song playing. And, I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t get down with some of the newer stuff, too. Don’t hate, but I’m obsessed with “Old Town Road”, “Sweet But Psycho”, and “Hey Julie”. So much so, that every time I get in my car with the intention of playing the radio I am always saying a silent prayer to hear one of those three songs. It’s whatever! 😀

What are your summer time jams? What is your favorite radio station? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun2

It’s In The Bag: Antik Kraft Edition

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It’s In The Bag: Antik Kraft Edition

Yo yo yo. A trend that I absolutely ADORE come summer time is the bamboo or straw purses. Coming in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and patterns, I love the look of these bags and they complete any summer time outfit perfectly. I have spent many a months searching for just the right bag to tack onto my OOTDs and I think I found it with this little Antik Kraft number. Check it out:

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FIRST THINGS FIRST: Don’t mind the big ass box fan in the background because it’s hot as hell in my apartment and I didn’t feel like moving it. SUE ME FOR IT!

ANYWAYS, I love this purse. Lol. I love that it doesn’t look like a picnic basket or a friggen Thanksgiving cornucopia but it still definitely has that woven texture and look that I was going for. The colorful mandala pattern on the front side is to die for and it works so well against the blonde straw base. I also like that the strap is long enough to wear across your chest while still laying nicely against your body. And, the button clasp is a bonus to ensure that the purse isn’t constantly coming open.

Despite mad love for this bag, it isn’t perfect and I’m the first to admit it. It is absolutely too small for my liking and all of my necessities won’t be fitting in it, that’s for sure. But, do I plan on arranging all of them like Tetris in there because I have to try anyways? Abso-freaking-lutely. And, if we’re being honest, I’m not thrilled that this bag will only be used during late spring and summer. Because, come on, no one would use this during the fall and winter!

Lil Red is a woman of practicality, if nothing else, and I know that it might not seem like that to some. However, almost everything that I buy is something that I feel like can be utilized during at least three, if not four seasons. I’d be a liar if I said that it didn’t pain me while I was buying this knowing that it would sit dormant in my wardrobe for over half a year. BUT, it is gorgeous and is basically exactly what I wanted so beggars can’t be choosers and blah, blah, blah.

Do you buy your clothes for seasonal or year round use? What is your ideal summer purse? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun1

If The Shoe Fits: Free People Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Free People Edition

Hellooo everyone and welcome to the last issue of If The Shoe Fits from my most recent TJMaxx haul. One brand that I always admire from afar is Free People. 1) The brand is expensive. 2) The clothing truly doesn’t look that good on me. But, I love the idea of the brand and I LOVE their shoes. So, whenever I see a FP pair that I like when browsing on TJ’s website, I almost always jump at the opportunity to make a purchase. And, these candy cane red wrap up clogs with a wooden heel were impossible to say no to. Take a looksee:

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After the last two black pairs of wedges that I purchased, adding a pop of color into the haul was a must and these were just the right pair to do that with. The blonde wooden heel matched with such a vibrant red makes for a perfect cherries and cream vibe while the distressed studs add that Lil Red touch of edge that I need in my wardrobe. The shape of the shoe is totally sweet but the color combo and embellishment give it some sassafras for an ideal summer staple.

Normally, I don’t care for shoes that wrap, but the lengthy strap is made to go just around your ankles, which I like. Because it’s not going all the way up my calf, I can still wear shorts, skirts, and dresses without feeling like I have snakes coiling up my legs! These Free People clogs are going to be so darling with a floral sundress, straw hat, and oversized tote. A slammin OOTD for walks on the boardwalk or just around your local TJMaxx during a hot summer day! 😉

Which brand name do you admire from afar? What is your favorite color to wear during the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May31

If The Shoe Fits: Charles By Charles David Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Charles By Charles David Edition

Helloooo! A style of shoe that became very popular within the past two years or so as well as very well loved by me is the mule. From totally flat to a tiny or stiletto heel, there is a style of mule for everyone. Cute, practical, comfy, and I am always trying to add new ones to my shoe collection. During a recent TJMaxx haul, I chose a pair of wedge mules from the Charles collection by Charles David and I am in love. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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I like these mules a lot because they are unexpected. The combination of the woven and cork wedge with the edgy pleather makes for a style that I have never seen before and I really like that. And, of course, these wedges are oh so comfortable and I can definitely see myself slipping these on constantly during the summer for visits to the zoo or farmers market.

My new mules are totally unique but they are also completely neutral so I could wear them with anything and get away with it. But, I am most looking forward to pairing these with a cute pair of denim short shorts and a crop top and calling it a day for a laid back look on a hot day. Throw on a floppy hat and huge shades and you have a perfect summer OOTD!

What is your favorite style of shoe? Do you prefer flats or heels? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May30

Are You Ready To Get A Dog?

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Are You Ready To Get A Dog?

If you are thinking about getting a dog, then you need to think about how it is going to affect your family. You also need to think about whether you have the time to devote to looking after it and even the expense that comes with having a dog, too. If you want to help yourself make that big decision, then here are a few tips that will get you started:

You’ve Got Time:

When you get a dog, you will need to take them out on walks and you will also need to take them to the vets on a regular basis, too. This is the case when it is raining or when you aren’t feeling well. If you are concerned about the amount of time you have to commit to a dog, then it helps to do some research. Some dogs require less walking when compared to others, so if you don’t have a lot of free time, then it may be worth investing in a breed that doesn’t require as much exercise.

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What an angel!

You’re Happy to Get Up Early:

If you choose to get a puppy, then there is a high chance that they will need to go out every four hours. Puppies tend to have weak bladders and it might be quite some time until they are fully house-trained. For this reason, you need to be willing to get up during the early hours of the morning and late at night. You probably won’t sleep well for the first few weeks but, if you are willing to push through this, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t adopt a furry friend of your very own.

Puppy-Proofing your Home:

Before you get a dog, you have to make sure that your entire home is puppy-proofed from top to bottom. This needs to be done before you bring your dog home. Any valuables need to be put away and exposed wires need to be covered up. Garbage needs to be inaccessible and you also need to keep an eye on any food that might find its way onto the floor after cooking a meal. If you are concerned about your dog going into rooms they shouldn’t be, then baby gates can be a great investment.

You’re Willing to Pay for Expenses:

A dog can bring about a lot of unexpected expense. This can include dog food, toys, and vet bills. If you want to get your dog spayed or neutered, then this will also be an additional expense, so you have to make sure that you are ready to cover this. If you want to lower the amount of vet bills that you are going to have, then feeding your dog a high-quality pet food is a good starting point. Check out these Freshpet reviews if you want to know more about that.

Those expenses can involve ensuring that your dog is taken care of when you’re not around, as well. If you have to take a trip, if you’re moving home, or if you’re otherwise going to be busy or absent, you still need to make sure that your dog is cared for. Sourcing services like a doggie day care and paying for their good treatment is vital. As such, any time you’re planning a big change, you have to be able to fit your dog into the budget, too.

A dog is a part of your family, follow the tips above to make sure that you treat them as such!

Featured Image By: Pexels