Tag Archives: bath and body care

June 2021 Finishes

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June 2021 Finishes

Hi! It’s the end of another month here on lifewithlilred, which means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for June. Tomorrow, we will continue on with a super fun clothing haul from TJMaxx and then it’s onto makeup and skin care thanks to a little Sephora shopping. Be sure to keep it posted for all of the latest and greatest! Now, let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

TBS Clay Wash: It has been a long while since I have tried out a brand new skin care product because once I find something I like, I tend to stick with it. This clay wash from The Body Shop had been sitting in my stock pile for months and I was so happy to have finally been able to use it! I love TBS products and the Himalayan Charcoal clay wash was part of a Christmas gift from my brother and his family.

TBS skin and bath and body care always makes me feel perfectly pampered and this face wash was no exception. The wash had a thinner consistency than a clay mask and it felt so gentle on my skin while still working effectively. The scent was invigorating and my skin looked bright and fresh after using it every morning. A little of the wash also went such a long way and the bottle lasted me at least a month and a half. I highly recommend this product and would really like to use it again!

Nothing pleases Lil Red more than a bunch of monthly empties and I would recommend each and every one of the products above. There are lots of skin care and Face Mask Festivities posts on the horizon so stay tuned on lifewithlilred for more! ❤

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

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Hello! The Bath & Body Works semi annual sale is like a siren call and, whether I need new bath and body care goodies or not, I always end up doing a little shopping. This past weekend, I met my friend Danielle at Summit Mall for an outing and I showed up early enough to run into B&BW beforehand to make some purchases. I got eleven items for under thirty bucks with a total savings of one hundred and two dollars. Talk about a steal! Check it out:

The Haul:

  • 2 Champagne Apple & Honey shower gels
  • 2 Pearberry shower gels
  • 2 Pretty As A Peach shower gels
  • 1 Raspberry Tangerine body spray
  • 1 Pretty As A Peach body spray
  • 1 Market Peach hand soap
  • 1 Boardwalk Vanilla Cone hand soap
  • 1 travel size Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel (Free!)

I know what you all are thinking… Sarah, did you really need all of the above? And my answer is YES, yes, a thousand times yes! When it comes to my beauty stock pile, my motto is the more the merrier and why not buy products that I know I am going to use at a fraction of the cost? I exclusively use the shower gel, hand soap, and body spray from B&BW and if I can get a great deal on it, I am going to stock up.

Not only is my bath and body care hoard good for me, it’s especially beneficial during gift giving occasions as well. If I feel like whatever I am gifting needs a little something extra, I am happy to add in a goodie or two from Bath & Body Works to sweeten the pot. After this haul, I am thinking that I will be good for bath and body care products for close to a year…

The only reason I didn’t buy more? I knew the bags were going to be so heavy while shopping with Danielle that I restrained myself and I’m glad I did. Toting around the purchases above for over two hours was a work out!!

Which store has the best sales? What do you have in your beauty stock pile? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Give Yourself An Instant Summer Makeover

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Give Yourself An Instant Summer Makeover

After over a year of being cooped up due to the pandemic, it is only understandable to want to put your best self forward now that it is possible to be out and about again. There is no better way to wow those who you haven’t seen in so long with a makeover! The options we’ll discuss will have instant results and you will be sure to stun the next time you step out. Let’s get to it:

Visit The Dentist:

It was so strange to not be able to see what anyone really looked like during the pandemic because of the face masks and it is nice to see people smiling again. Speaking of smiling, how is yours looking? Bi yearly trips to the dentist are a must and a cleaning will make your pearly whites even prettier when you flash a smile. If more extensive work needs done, your dentist could use the high quality appliances from orthodontic laboratory Toronto to completely perfect your smile. Instant makeover? I think yes!

Upgrade Your Wardrobe:

There is no need to buy a brand new wardrobe with the changing of the seasons. Rather, upgrade what you already have by purchasing a few statement and weather appropriate pieces to refresh your wardrobe. It will be such fun to go shopping again and now that fitting rooms are open, don’t be afraid to experiment with things you wouldn’t normally try on. You never know if something works unless you try it and new to you shapes and colors will be an automatic boost to your closet.

Don’t Skimp On Skin Care:

There is something to be said for bright, soft skin so don’t skimp on skin care this summer. You can’t go wrong with a gel moisturizer for lightweight hydration and don’t forget to get one with SPF in it! The same goes for a body lotion with SPF too. We see a lot more of everyone in the summer thanks to shorts and tank tops so no dry patches allowed! Make your complexion the most radiant with a Vitamin C serum and now we’re in business.

Work On You:

People just glow differently when they are happy, don’t they? Spend some time each day with yourself to meditate, journal, do yoga – whatever. As long as you are relaxing and focusing on inner peace your “me time” could be anything. The important thing is that you are working to improve your mind and body so you can smile more often and make your aura even more beautiful.

Give yourself an instant makeover this summer with the tips above and don’t be afraid to shine. We all deserve it after facing so many difficulties this past year!

27th Birthday Haul

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27th Birthday Haul

Hello! My twenty-seventh birthday was on June seventh and was also three days after I got married! Needless to say, it was an amazing few days and I thought I’d share a bit of my birthday haul today while I wait for more wedding pictures from the photographer. The anticipation is seriously killing me and I just want to see all of them!! There are still a plethora of wedding posts to come so keep it posted for the inside scoop on my big day. Now, check these prezzies out:

You can’t go wrong with gifting me gift cards for special occasions and I was so thankful to receive an astounding amount of Taco Bell and TJMaxx gift cards. Those who know me best know that those are my two favorite places in the world so I am looking forward to lots of shopping and spicy potato tacos in my future. While gift cards always go over well with me, it’s fun to have presents to open too and I love my gifts from my in laws and bestie, Kate.

Johnny’s parents gave me the bath and body care goodies, which is one of my favorite kinds of presents. There’s nothing better than adding to the ol’ stock pile and I also didn’t even know shower gel pouches existed so that’s pretty cool! The mini wine bottle and hilarious decor came from my darling BFF Kate of Live In The Nautical and, as per ushe, she knocked it out of the park.

Kate is one of my absolute favorite people in the world and her friendship means so much to me. She is also a fellow June birthday girl and blogger so be sure to check out her page and give her some belated b-day love!! And thank you again to everyone who made my birthday so special. ❤

What is in your beauty stock pile? What is one of your favorite presents that you have received? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath & Body Works May Freebie

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Bath & Body Works May Freebie

Hi! Since being fully vaccinated, I have been more willing to run small errands and am, finally, able to start utilizing the Bath & Body Works freebie coupons that I get in the mail. This month’s coupons were especially good as I got to pick out a free full size bath and body care item and you know Lil Red always likes to add to her beauty hoard! The coupon would work for any product priced $14.50 or lower and I went with a shower gel in one of my favorite scents, Gingham. Check it out:

This past weekend, Johnny and I hung out with a friend in Kent and drove right by a B&BW on the way so I ran in to get my freebie. I actually chose a travel size shower gel in Gingham last month for my free item and it smells so good that I just had to get it as my full size gift too. I have been obsessed with this scent since Johnny’s mom gifted me with a shower gel of it last Christmas and it is one of my sister’s faves as well.

While Gingham has notes of peach, clementine, and freesia I think it smells just like clean laundry and crisp springtime air. It is so fresh and light and when I smell it, I immediately picture a full clothing line drying and swaying gently in the breeze. Gingham is the perfect fragrance for spring and summer and it has such a specific, lovely scent without being overpowering in any way. Highly recommend for yourself or as a gift because it is sure to please!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? Which store has the best coupons and promotions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

April 2021 Finishes

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April 2021 Finishes

Hi everyone! April is drawing to a close and it’s about that time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. There isn’t too much to talk about because a lot of my empties for the month you have all seen and heard before. However, I’m super happy because I finally finished the rest of the Azure Lux serums that I had in my stockpile so I can move on to exclusively using the Eclat Vitamin C serum for the foreseeable future. It’s about time! Now, let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Lotion: I have a love/hate relationship with lotion and I’m either really good about using it or don’t want to use it at all! This past winter, however, I began applying lotion every night before bed and have stuck with this routine since. I definitely notice a difference in the softness of my skin and I even think my tattoos look better and brighter than usual from being moisturized daily. My new routine also gives me the opportunity to use up the endless supply of Bath & Body Works lotion and body butter from The Body Shop!

It took me a solid two months of daily use to finish the Pink Prosecco body cream from B&BW. While I enjoyed using it, I must warn all of you that it smells a tad boozy and by a tad I mean a lot lol. You can certainly pick out the scents of the different fruits like nectarine and pomegranate but the base of sparkling pink prosecco is there in abundance. If I was a daytime lotion wearer, I would say no to this lotion because I wouldn’t want to smell like alcohol during the work day but I will say yes to night time use!

Neutrogena Moisturizer: I freaking love the Hydro Boost moisturizer by Neutrogena and I consider it well worth the fourteen dollar price tag. I have reviewed this product before in previous posts but I just wanted to share with all of you that Johnny loves it too! His forehead gets pretty dry so I apply the moisturizer for him as needed and you can tell a huge difference in just one day. Skin care for men is just as important as it is for the ladies and I plan on creating a skin care routine for Johnny during my next online shopping sesh.

Azure Lux Serums: I have been using the Azure Lux Sparkling Oil serums almost exclusively for the past two years and change and I honestly think my skin is immune to any benefits of it as this point. That’s not to say that the serums weren’t effective and I remember first using the Rose Gold one and noticing a big difference in my skin. However, after seeing immediate results with the Eclat Vitamin C serum, I knew it was time for a change. I think that the Azure Lux serums are fabulous for people in their younger twenties and would still recommend them. As for me, at almost twenty-seven, I just outgrew it!

Although I won’t be using the Azure Lux serums again, I am so pleased with my finishes from April because that means I can use new products. There is also nothing better than depleting the ol’ stockpile a little so I can get new goodies in the near future! 😀

Which products did you use up this month? What is a must have in your beauty stockpile? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath & Body Works Haul

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Bath & Body Works Haul

Hi! Ever since moving into my apartment, I have been all about the foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and, clearly, still am to this day because Johnny and I just ordered twelve new bottles, lol. A week or so before Easter, I pulled up B&BW’s website as our soap supply was running low and they had so many seasonal scents marked down that it only made sense to stock up. Needless to say, we should be pretty well set for a while! Haha, check it out:

Would I Buy Again?

  • Raspberry Tangerine: YES
  • Hip Hop Hooray (Sprinkled donut): YES!!!
  • Pineapple Mango: YES
  • Sweet Apple: YES
  • Mango Mai Tai: YES
  • Let’s Get Eggcited (Sunny blue skies): NO
  • Blueberry Lemonade: YES
  • Peach Bellini: YES
  • Beautiful Day (Daisies, peonies, apple): YES
  • Be You (Sweet sugar sprinkles): NO
  • Bee Positive (Strawberry lemon): NO
  • Warm Vanilla Sugar: YES

Overall, I am super pleased with my haul and three duds out of twelve isn’t bad at all – especially considering you can’t smell the products when online shopping! My top three favorites would have to be Hip Hop Hooray, Sweet Apple, and my go to of Peach Bellini. That one never gets old! As for the ones I wouldn’t purchase again, both Be You and Bee Positive are sickeningly sweet while Let’s Get Eggcited doesn’t really smell like anything to me.

As you all know, I have a bit of a gripe with the fact that you can’t combine freebie coupons with any type of deal or markdown when online shopping with B&BW. Especially because I had a coupon during this past order! So, while running a few errands, I made my first in store visit to Bath & Body Works since January of last year. I chose a travel size shower gel in Gingham as my free item and I love its fresh laundry scent!

Although bath and body care from The Body Shop will forever be my favorite, you just can’t beat the price, special offers, and convenience of Bath & Body Works. I always enjoy trying out all of B&BW’s different scents and their products have become a staple in my stockpile. Is it bad that I’m already looking forward to when I’ll need more hand soap again, say, over a year from now?!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? What is a bath and body care staple for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

March 2021 Finishes

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March 2021 Finishes

Hi everyone! Can you believe we’re almost through with another month of 2021 already? March was such a happy and exciting time for me because I got engaged and my family got to celebrate my amazing mom and lil niece’s birthdays too. Between birthdays, house hunting, and wedding planning the days have been flying by. Hustle and bustle has never prevented me from completing my daily beauty routines, however, and March has also left me with lots of empty products to discuss so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Clean & Clear Face Wash: I absolutely LOVED the Morning Burst hydrating facial cleanser by Clean & Clear and it helped keep my skin nice and moisturized all winter long. Not to mention that the eight or so dollar bottle lasted me all winter long too – it took me close to five months of daily use to finish it. I am all about effective and budget friendly beauty products and I would definitely use this cleanser again. It smelled amazing, lathered well, was invigorating, and my skin felt so soft and hydrated after each use.

B&BW Spray: While I would never pay full price for Bath & Body Works products, I am happy to buy huge hauls during their semi-annual sales. This fragrance spray is actually from a perfume haul several years ago and I am still working on finishing them all up. It’s taking a lot longer than expected, though, considering each bottle lasts me around half a year with daily use! That’s perfectly fine by me, however, because the Country Apple spray smells so good. I love apple scented anything because of its sweet/tart fragrance and, lucky for me, I still have a few more bottles left!

Neutrogena Moisturizer: A month ago, I did some research about beauty products that people in their late twenties should be using and hyaluronic acid was an ingredient that was encouraged. I purchased the Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer for that reason and I am glad that I did because it is really nice. In fact, I have already bought a few more for myself despite it being a bit more pricey at around thirteen dollars per jar.

Although this moisturizer has a price tag that I usually wouldn’t pay, I have noticed a difference in my skin after a month’s worth of use so I thought it was well worth it. My skin looks more radiant and rested and it feels so soft too. The light gel texture is also a welcome change of pace after the heavy creams of winter.

Nothing pleases me more than finishing up products that I would happily use again because that means it was money well spent. March was a very successful month for me so I guess it only makes sense that all of the products discussed today were successful too! 🙂

Which products did you use up this month? What kind of skin care products are recommended for your age? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

February 2021 Finishes

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February 2021 Finishes

Howdy! While January literally felt like it lasted for five months, February flew by and it is already time to discuss my beauty product finishes for the month. I have always enjoyed testing out new bath, body, and skin care products but I never realized just how much until the COVID-19 pandemic. Trying new products not only keeps me looking my best but gives me something different in my routine to look forward to, is relatively cheap, and helps enhance my relaxation time after work.

Whenever I do any online shopping, I usually will buy a couple of beauty treats for myself and tested out two new serums this month. I was very impressed with one but the other? Not in the slightest. Let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Lubriderm Lotion: Pre-pandemic, I was getting tattooed regularly and always had several bottles of fragrance free Lubriderm lotion handy in my stockpile for after care. Obviously, I haven’t been to my favorite tattoo shop any time recently so my half used bottle of Lubriderm had just been sitting there on the bathroom counter taking up space. Waste not want not, so for the past four or five months I tried to use the lotion before bed or after my shower much to the relief of my dry winter skin! Other than the bonus of being fragrance free, this lotion absorbs super quickly and feels light while working effectively.

I was glad to finally finish this lotion up and will be looking forward to using the good ol’ Lubriderm again… After getting new tattoos post pandemic, that is! 😀

Azure Lux Serum: I have been using Azure Lux Sparkling Oil serums pretty regularly for the past two years, switching between the 24K and Rose Gold options. I decided that I wanted to try a different serum by them and went with the White Gold which encouraged firming, toning, and rejuvenating. For the entire month of using it twice daily, I noticed no difference in my skin whatsoever. In fact, I can recall times when I thought my skin looked dull and that was never an issue with the Rose or 24K Gold serums. I definitely won’t be buying this product again and would not recommend it.

I actually don’t plan on purchasing any more Azure Lux serums after I finish what is in my stockpile because I feel like the products are no longer benefiting my skin. Which directly leads into me trying out the last finish that we’re going to talk about:

Eclat Serum: After making the decision to wean myself off of the Azure Lux products, I began to research the best recommended skin care for people in their mid-twenties. The resounding theme was incorporating a Vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid into your routine so I ordered a serum by Eclat and a moisturizer by Neutrogena. The Eclat serum was not only very highly rated on Amazon (five stars) but also very cheap (seven bucks) so I figured why not? And I am so glad I did!

After one use of the Eclat serum, I noticed a difference in my skin which was incredibly radiant despite the fact that I was dead tired. I was simply amazed by the results and continued to be impressed morning and night because the difference it made in my skin in one use wasn’t just a fluke. My skin was glowing! I cannot wait to finish up the rest of my Azure Lux serums so I can use it again and I highly recommend it.

My only qualm with this serum is that the bottle is fairly small. If you are thinking of making a purchase, make sure you get two of them if you want a full month of usage. With twice daily use, I finished this serum in a little under three weeks.

Overall, February was a pretty good month for finishes. I have also been enjoying using up the several slabs of bar soap that I received as gifts. If you want to make an effort to reduce the use of plastic in your life, using face and body bars as opposed to shower gels and cleansers is a great first step! 🙂

What is a must have beauty product for you? What is your skin care routine like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Stepping Up Your Pampering At Home

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Stepping Up Your Pampering At Home

Howdy! I don’t know about all of you, but I freaking love pampering myself with beauty treatments at home. From face masks to body scrubs and skin care, I have always enjoyed trying new products, scents, and ingredients to enhance my pampering even more. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am sure that many of us have turned to at home beauty treatments to minimize unnecessary exposure. And, due to the pandemic approaching its one year anniversary, you might be running out of ideas for your at home spa nights!

We all deserve to feel relaxed and pampered and if you are feeling blah with your current treatments, step them up by trying the following:

Make Your Own:

If you have exhausted all of the sheet and clay face masks at your local pharmacy or are sick of your bath and body care scents, why not try making your own beauty products? There are countless how to guides and recipes out there for face masks, hair and nail treatments, and lotion and you might just find your new favorite hobby. You will also be amazed at how many products you could make with ingredients that you already have in your own home like avocado, olive oil, sugar, and eggs. You could even have a Zoom spa night with your friends where you can all make and use a spa treatment together while catching up on the latest.

If you aren’t interested in making your own products but would like to try something new, then try supporting a local or small online business that specializes in beauty care. I love testing out products from local creators and often find that their products are even better than store bought brands!

Tend To Neglected Areas:

I recently just realized that I spend so much time with products for my face that I have lightweight neglected several opportunities for pampering. To emphasize that point, at almost twenty-seven years old I just started using hand lotion before bed regularly a month ago. If this sounds like you, spend some time during your next spa night getting acquainted with neglected areas like overgrown cuticles, dry elbows, and rough heels for a complete pampering experience.

Create A Relaxing Space:

There is absolutely nothing relaxing about sitting in your bathroom waiting for your face mask to dry, lol. Enhance your spa night by creating a relaxing space. You could draw a nice hot bath or you could carve out a little space in your home where you can lounge and read as your treatments settle in. Don’t forget that scented candles, oil burners, or incense as well as nature sounds and soothing music will help make your experience even better!

Lil Red Pro Tip:

I am definitely not perfect when it comes to my skin care and my recent bout with a super huge zit can attest to that! I also just got over a case of the literal worst dandruff ever about a month ago and all I can say if you are dealing with dandruff is: Olive oil. There was no Head & Shoulders at my place and after researching online, I learned that an olive oil treatment is really effective. I soaked my scalp with olive oil for about fifteen minutes, washed my hair twice to get it all out, and was blown away to see no more white flakes. See! Awesome beauty treatments can be found right in your own home. 🙂

Give how you pamper yourself a makeover with the tips above to spruce things up during your next spa night!

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