Tag Archives: b&bw

Feb22

Bath & Body Works February Freebie

Posted on February 22, 2025 by lifewithlilred

Hello! Tuesdays are one of my favorite days of the work week. It is the only day of the week that I have an actual break for about an hour and a half. That is my catch all time to run errands, get lifewithlilred posts scheduled, work online, read, or squeeze in a quick coffee or lunch date with a friend. This past Tuesday, I made a break time stop at Bath & Body Works to snag a travel size freebie and chose a total throwback scent. Check it out:

Blast from the past fragrances can truly be hit or miss. What you thought smelled amazing way back when might be the worst thing you have ever smelled in present day. As I was browsing through my freebie selection at B&BW, I was SO surprised to see a Sweet Pea shower gel. Back in my junior high days, this scent was my JAM. I vividly remember spritzing a Sweet Pea fragrance spray in the locker room after every single gym class. Just seeing the bottle of shower gel alone without even smelling the scent instantly took me back to a memory that I still had but hadn’t thought about in decades.

I was very curious to see how I would feel about this scent as a thirty year old and, honestly, it still HITS! Sweet Pea offers notes of “sweet pea, watery pear, sheer freesia, luscious raspberry and soft musk”. Usually, I am not one for floral fragrances in the slightest. However, I can really pick up on the pear scent and that’s why I like it so much. I am a fruity fragrance gal through and through! I don’t think I would seek out Sweet Pea during every B&BW shopping trip, but it was fun to go down scent memory lane with one of my childhood staples. 🙂

If B&BW is bringing back throwback scents to stay, I am keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that Pearberry is on their roster. One of my all time favorites!

Have you had any scent memories recently? What is your favorite classic B&BW fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

January 2025 Finishes

Posted on January 30, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! January felt like the longest year ever, didn’t it? I, for one, am so happy that this month is drawing to a close because it is one step closer to spring! Honestly, the winter in Ohio wasn’t too bad. Then, it got really bad out of nowhere and it sucked eggs. After moderate weather, it felt cruel and unusual to face zero degree days, white out level drives, and biting gusts of wind! So, smell ya later, January. But, before it’s official, let’s discuss my beauty finishes to wrap this month up in a bow:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Poppy & Calypso Clementine Body Cream: YES

Clinical Works Vitamin C Cleanser: YES!!!

Dove Whole Body Deo Cream: NO

Dirty Works Miracle Cream: MAYBE

Why/Why Not?

Clinical Works Cleanser: I have been using this Vitamin C Cleanser by Clinical Works for what feels like an eternity. In all actuality, it was more like five months but you get the point. Normally, I am very excited to try out a new product after using up a long term one. In this case, I am so sad! I absolutely LOVED this cleanser. With a nickle sized dollop during each morning shower, I felt pleased with the results every time I looked in the mirror. My skin looked brighter and more radiant and was smooth as can be. This cleanser was incredibly light and would be great to use during any time of the year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will see it again at TJMaxx because my showers don’t feel the same without it lol. Highly recommend!

Dove Deo Cream: I received the Dove Coconut & Vanilla Deo Cream from Target as a freebie and it took me a month of daily use to complete the travel size bottle. This is not the first deo cream I used and my sentiments from this review remain. I love the bang for the buck with deo cream because you only need a tiny amount for full coverage. The sensation of this product was a turn off for me, though, because it was so much heavier than my normal roll on. If you need protection on areas other than armpits, this would be an amazing product and I would recommend it. It just doesn’t suit my preferences.

Dirty Works Moisturizer: I have always been curious about the Dirty Works brand and was eager to try out their Miracle Cream. It took me a month of twice daily use to finish the jar and it was pretty good, but not the best. I think I put this brand on a pedestal because I have wanted to try it so anything less than amazing didn’t satisfy me. That’s not to say that it wasn’t a nice moisturizer, but there wasn’t anything that stood out to me enough to warrant buying it again. If I saw it on clearance or as a last resort, I would go for it. I don’t plan on seeking it out, though!

That is all for my January 2025 Finishes! Here’s to another year of keeping you all in the know on what products to score and skip on!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan15

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel Haul

Posted on January 15, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy! I had a most successful Semi Annual Sale shopping experience with Bath & Body Works. I was able to stock up on our tried and true favorites as well as a few new shower gels for myself and Johnny. For Johnny’s shower gel, literally every single one had some type of alcohol in the name lol. Mine, on the other hand, all had fruit! What can I say, I just love a fruity fragrance. By the time I was ready to place my order, a few of the shower gels that were in my cart had sold out. That was a bit of a bummer because the remaining selection were all scents I haven’t used before. Are they a hit or miss? Let’s find out together:

Costa Rica Pink Pineapple Surprise: We already have a winner!! Pink Pineapple Surprise is an extremely straight forward fragrance – it literally just smells like pineapple and I am SO there for it. This scent is bright, tangy, and will be perfect to wake up with during my morning shower. If you are a pineapple fan, this one is for you!

Fruity Sherbet Scoop: This scent is just okay for me and is fairly muted. With a name like Fruity Sherbet Scoop, I was expecting something with a little more oomph. This fragrance offers notes of “rainbow sherbet, zesty orange, and sun kissed strawberry”. It’s fine, but it reminds me of how a bowl of Fruity Pebbles smells after it has been sitting for a while. I wouldn’t get it again.

Strawberry Soda: Finally, we have Strawberry Soda and it definitely lives up to its name! With notes of “fresh strawberries, bubbly seltzer, and crushed ice” it really does smell like a Waterloo sparkling water. It’s sweet without being overpowering and this might sound weird, but I can smell the fizz! I wouldn’t say this is my favorite scent or even that I would buy it again, but I certainly won’t mind using it.

The Pink Pineapple Surprise was the obvious winner from this batch so I’m glad I got two of them. And, even if the other two aren’t great, it’s always fun to try some new scents!

What is your favorite fragrance? Do you have a signature scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

Bath & Body Works Men’s Line Haul

Posted on January 13, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! During my holiday break, I treated myself to some online shopping. As my Christmas gift, I ordered the completed set of the graphic novel series, Preacher, as well as shopped the Semi Annual Sale at Bath & Body Works. I scored big at B&BW and spent seventy dollars for twenty-one full size products. Talk about a steal! During the Semi Annual Sale, I always like to get some shower gel from the men’s line for Johnny. While he doesn’t mind using my fruity fragrances, he still appreciates some variety! Like most men’s bath and body care, all of these shower gels feature “whiskey” or “bourbon” in the title lol. So let’s review and see if these shower gels will leave you smelling amazing or like you just left the bar:

Gingham Legend: Gingham is one of my all time favorite scent collections from B&BW and I had no idea that Gingham Legend for men even existed. So, into the cart it went! Gingham Legend offers notes of “bergamot, rich oak, and sandalwood reserve” and I really, really like it. It’s kind of foresty and fresh and I can tell that it was definitely inspired by Old Spice. This is one that would go over well if you are gifting it because it’s such a classic men’s fragrance – almost anyone will like it!

Single Barrel Bourbon: Okay, onto the boozy stuff! Single Barrel Bourbon features notes of “spiced citrus, smooth tonka, and aged oak”. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, I think it smells exactly like Gingham Legend. This is a classic B&BW move to slightly change up previous scents and the only real difference is the spiced citrus. Single Barrel Bourbon is very rich and the most pungent one of the bunch so just be wary of that because it might be overpowering to sensitive noses.

Whiskey Reserve: To continue with our booze crawl, we have Whiskey Reserve. With notes of “crisp apple, single malt whiskey, and white oak”, Whiskey Reserve is my favorite because I love all things apple. This scent is nice and light and has all of the vibes of a brisk fall day. While I can pick up on the hints of whiskey, it is not the main focal point of the fragrance. Whiskey Reserve is, easily, the most dimensional of the four and is a refreshing take on a men’s product.

Sweet Whiskey: Finally, before last call, let’s discuss Sweet Whiskey. The name is spot on because this fragrance is incredibly sweet and quite feminine. No fragrance notes were listed on the bottle, but it smells like straight up vanilla with a dollop of caramel to me. I like it, of course, because I am a fan of anything vanilla. However, if you are purchasing for a real “man’s man” this probably isn’t the best way to go. I would actually be happy to use this shower gel and would consider it to be more gender neutral.

Johnny was most excited about his shower gel surprise and I was too! We really don’t have a lot of “men’s line” products in our home so it was fun to do an ol’ sniff test and review. 😀

What is your favorite men’s scent? What is your signature fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan11

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Posted on January 11, 2025 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! Every summer and winter, I look forward to the Semi Annual Sale at Bath & Body Works. I simply refuse to pay full price for anything from there, so it is my time of the year to stock up on my favorite products for a song. Rather than visit the store over my holiday break, I shopped online and was adding items to my cart like a mad woman. And why not? I got twenty-one products for seventy dollars!! I think Johnny and I will be A-okay in the bath and body care department for a long while with this haul:

When shopping the Semi Annual Sale at B&BW, I like to get a little bit of everything. This includes shower gels, lotion, hand soap, and hand sanitizers. Even if it seems like a lot, these are products that I know will be used and I’d rather buy them on the cheap now than on the expensive later lol. Typically, a shower gel at B&BW runs for close to sixteen dollars (Ridiculous!) and my cost per item ended up being three dollars and thirty-three cents. When you run the numbers like that, it makes sense to load up the shopping cart like your life depends on it!

Every Semi Annual Sale, I make a point to get several different shower gels for Johnny from the men’s line. He happily uses my fruity fragrances but is never opposed to switching things up with a scent that almost certainly as “bourbon” or “whiskey” in the title! The rest of the haul is, honestly, whatever struck my fancy. It can be tricky to shop for something like bath and body care online because, obviously, you can’t smell it lol. So, I went with tried and true favorites as well as a few new to me fragrances too. Whether they are a hit or miss, we’ll find out together in my upcoming reviews so keep it posted. 😀

There is nothing better to me than a full bath and body care stockpile. I can’t wait to replenish my skin care at TJMaxx next with my Christmas gift cards!!

Which stores run the best sales? Did you shop the B&BW Semi Annual Sale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec28

December 2024 Finishes

Posted on December 28, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy and holy WOW!! I am here today to discuss the last batch of Beauty Finishes for 2024. It seems hard to believe but I know it to be fact every time I look at the calendar in a state of shock lol. I used up a few new to me products and some old favorites this past month and, as you can imagine, I am SO excited to do my annual post-holiday skin care restock with my TJMaxx gift cards from Christmas. So out with the old in this post and in with the new! Let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel Lotion: YES

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

SheaMoisture Deo Cream: NO

Purifect CEO Of H20 Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Vital Beauty Eye Gel: The Cooling Eye Gel by Vital Beauty is one of my go to products. It is one of those things that check all of my boxes when it comes to skin care – longevity and effectiveness. It took me two and a half months of twice daily use to finish the jar and I always notice a nice difference in my skin when using this product. My designer bags significantly reduce in color and puffiness for the wide awake look on a permanently sleepy girl!

SheaMoisture Deo Cream: I got the whole body deo cream by SheaMoisture as a freebie from Target. For my personal preference, I would not use this product again and was eager to go back to my tried and true Ban deodorant. That’s not to say that I don’t see the good in it, though, and I think it would be great for those who need full body coverage. I was very surprised that this travel size bottle took me over a month of once daily use to finish it so you will be getting a bang for your buck.

Purifect Serum: I really, REALLY liked the CEO Of H20 serum by Purifect and its namesake delivered. With every use, my skin felt so hydrated and soft and looked radiant. You can read my full review in the link above, but my one qualm with the serum was that I did use it up quickly. By three weeks of twice daily use, I had to hit up my stockpile for a new serum. I would definitely still use it again, though, and now I know to buy a few extra if I see it again at TJMaxx!

And, with that, the 2024 Finishes are complete and ended on a strong note. Now, get me to TJMaxx to go skin care crazy ASAP!

Nov30

November 2024 Finishes

Posted on November 30, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello everyone!!! November is wrapping up and, goodness me, did it go by quick!! Another month is officially in the books, which means that it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes. Were there many? Not really. Are they worth blogging about? Absolutely! There has been a game changer to one of my least favorite Bath & Body Works products and I am SO there for it!! Take a look and let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Poppy Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Hyaluronic Acid Serum: NO

Bath & Body Works Hand Creams: YES!

Why/Why Not?

Provence Beauty Serum: The Hyaluronic Acid Serum by Provence Beauty was nothing to write home about. In fact, I like it even less now after falling in love with another hyaluronic acid serum (Which you read about in yesterday’s post). After twice daily use of the Provence Beauty serum for a month any improvements were unnoticeable. This is in stark comparison to the results I saw in one use of the CEO Of H20 serum! The Provence Beauty one is definitely a product you can skip on.

B&BW Hand Cream: I often get coupons for a free hand cream from Bath & Body Works and, although they aren’t my favorite, free is free! I wouldn’t say the hand creams by B&BW are bad, but they’re just not as good as the traditional lotion or body cream. However, after using my most recent freebies of Platinum and Vanilla Romance, I feel much differently. B&BW must have changed the formula because the hand cream was WAY better than it was before. It was rich, creamy, thicker in texture and my hands/upper body were smooth as silk after each use. I finished both tubes within a week and even if they don’t last very long, I will be happy when I get another freebie coupon in the mail. This was a stellar improvement and they would make great stocking stuffers!

Was this the best month for Beauty Empties? Nope! But Bath & Body Works made my freebie treats even better and that is a GREAT SUCCESS!

Nov17

Bath & Body Works Holiday Hand Soap Haul

Posted on November 17, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Bath & Body Works Holiday Hand Soap Haul

Hello!! This past week was nice because I had a little extra wiggle room to run errands and get housework done. One thing that was a must was stopping into Bath & Body Works because we needed a restock of our beloved foaming hand soaps. Armed with coupons in hand, I went to check out the new winter holiday fragrances and walked away with a great haul. Thanks to a twenty-five percent off and FREE full size product coupon, it was only twenty bucks for all of this. Score! Let’s discuss these scents:

Cookie Butter Truffle: I live for fruity fragrances in the spring and summer. When it gets colder, however, my tastes turn more decadent. I LOVE holiday dessert scents and if you do too, then Cookie Butter Truffle is a must. With fragrance notes of “cookie butter, whipped cream, and vanilla extract” your hands are going to smell good enough to eat! Please don’t, but you get the point. This scent smells exactly like fresh baked cookies with an ooey gooey caramel center. Yum!

Pomegranate Citrus Fizz: Of course, a fruity scent during the winter is okay too! Pomegranate Citrus Fizz is a bubbly delight. Offering notes of “fresh pomegranate, juicy orange, and topped with bubbles” this scent is bright, crisp and one of my favorites from the haul. As I write this, I literally can’t stop smelling it and it gives all the vibes of cracking open a bottle of sparkling cider during a holiday get together.

To All A Goodnight: I am not a fan whatsoever of winter fragrances like pine, balsam, cinnamon, etc. I wasn’t really sure what To All A Goodnight was going to smell like and I was expecting it to be a no go. I ended up liking it a lot, though! This scent’s notes include “a cool winter breeze, sweet lavender dreams, and nestled in a cozy blanket”. I honestly can’t speak for any of that lol but To All A Goodnight smells clean and sweet like freshly laundered clothes. It’s not the most holiday scent, but is neutral enough that I think anyone would like it.

Iced Cinnamon Rolls: If you have ever smelled cinnamon rolls, then you will know what this scent smells like! And I know I just said I don’t like cinnamon, but it’s different in roll form!! 😀

Crushed Candy Cane: If you have ever smelled a peppermint, then you will know what this scent smells like! Lol, I love me a mint scented anything and there are no surprises with Crushed Candy Cane. Just brisk, refreshing minty goodness.

Vanilla Bean Noel: I chose a lotion in Vanilla Bean Noel as my free product because it is one of my all time favorite holiday scents. Like mint, I love anything vanilla scented. Vanilla Bean Noel is such a soft and creamy fragrance and it smells just like opening up a new carton of French Vanilla ice cream. Whether it was in hand soap, lotion, or shower gel form, I just had to snag it!

All of the scents from my haul were extremely straight forward and safe bets for gifting options. My Halloween home decor doesn’t reflect the season at all, but I’ll be damned if my hand soap doesn’t!

What is your favorite B&BW fragrance? What is your favorite holiday scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

October 2024 Finishes

Posted on October 27, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Howdy!! Just like that, October is about to draw to a close and that means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. This is going to be a short and sweet post as there really isn’t too much to chat about. I used up several long term products last month and am still working away at their replacements. I did, however, try one new thing that I fell in love with so take a look and let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Collagen + Retinol Serum: NO

Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Lavender & Iris Body Butter: YES!!!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: You already know the Calypso Clementine from Bath & Body Works is a forever use again product. Anyone who is a fan of citrus scents like me will love it! It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the bottle.

Provence Beauty Serum: It took me one month of twice daily use to finish the Collagen + Retinol serum by Provence Beauty and it was just okay for me. I have used several serums by Provence Beauty and they tend to be hit or miss so this wasn’t too much of a shock. I didn’t notice any difference to my skin one way or the other and will be skipping on it if I ever see it again at TJMaxx.

Jergens Lotion: A really cool thing about one of the Targets in my area is that there is always a basket of free travel size products at customer service. My mom snagged the Jergens lotion for me during her last visit and I was delighted because you can’t go wrong with that brand! My skin was smooth and hydrated as can be with each use and I can’t get enough of the rich, creamy scent.

B&BW Body Butter: While I enjoy lotions and creams, body butter always reigns supreme. The body butter from The Body Shop was my favorite thing to treat myself with and, unfortunately, their products are no longer available in the US. I never bothered with another brand of body butter but decided to try B&BW’s during their Semi-Annual Sale. I’m so glad I did because the Calm Haven Lavender & Iris was divine.

Normally, I am not a lavender girl whatsoever but this body butter really didn’t smell like traditional lavender. The scent was soft, light, and soothing rather than overpowering. The texture of the product was whipped, applied easily, absorbed quickly, and I woke up to puppy fur soft skin every morning. It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the jar and I would happily use it again!

Even though there wasn’t too much to my October Finishes, my skin was ultra soft from the products that I did use up and that is a huge win during cold weather. I’ll take it!

Which products did you finish up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct6

Bath & Body Works October Freebie

Posted on October 6, 2024 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I received a freebie coupon for a hand cream at Bath & Body Works and was able to stop in after my nail appointment on Tuesday to snag it. I was on cloud nine – a fresh fill, a little treat, and I still made it to work with ample time to spare. Everything was coming up Lil Red! Better yet, I was in and out of B&BW in literally two minutes without having to explain to an employee that I was only there for the freebie lol. What can I say, I keep my bath and body care well stocked! As I had no desire to linger, I grabbed the first hand cream I saw without giving it the old sniff test. So, let’s find out what Platinum smells like together…

The consensus? Platinum smells… fine lol. According to B&BW’s website, their description for what it smells like is “a mesmerizing vibe you can’t help but be drawn to” and offers notes of “sparkling bergamot, silver blooms, and patchouli musk”. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a mesmerizing vibe because I feel like it doesn’t smell like anything! I get a whiff of a slightly floral fragrance but that’s about it. Honestly, that’s fine too because this scent had the potential to be overly pungent which is something I can’t stand for. I will say that the packaging is cute AF and Platinum would be a safe bet if you’re purchasing for someone else as there wasn’t much to like or dislike.

PS: If you are already in holiday mode, B&BW is previewing their seasonal collections in store and online. In fact, I hardly saw any Halloween scents in store and it feels like I just had my spooky roundup yesterday. My, how time flies in the retail world!

Would I go out of my way to get Platinum again? Hard no, but free is free!

What is your favorite seasonal scent? Where do you get your bath and body care from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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