Tag Archives: b&bw

Bath & Body Works Halloween Scents Pt. 3

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Bath & Body Works Halloween Scents Pt. 3

Hello!! Other than purchasing hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and shopping the occasional Semi-Annual Sale, I really don’t buy anything from there. The remainder of my B&BW stash comes from freebie coupons that get sent out monthly or bimonthly. Because of rarely spending money when I visit the store, it has taken a long time to rack up points for their rewards program. After my Halloween hand soap haul, I finally got a free full size product reward and stopped by to cash it in.

I thought I bought all of the Halloween scents in hand soap form, but I was mistaken. There are actually two other fragrances that I missed – Everlasting Magic and Midnight Spell. Midnight Spell was a massive dud, but I LOVED Everlasting Magic, so I used my rewards points for a body cream:

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Everlasting Magic is one of my favorite Halloween scents from B&BW. It’s not as good as Purrfect Pumpkin, but I actually think I might like it more than Vampire Blood. That’s really saying something! Everlasting Magic offers notes of “bejeweled berries, phantom petals, and magic musk”. Normally, I am not a fan of musky fragrances – this one, however, was fine because I really couldn’t smell it! To me, it smelled like rich plum and blackberries with the softest touch of floral. Also, can we talk about how pretty the packaging is?!

As always, I am a huge fan of the Body Cream from B&BW so I was really happy to snag it for free. While I will forever be partial to The Body Shop products, this cream is a close second. With a shea butter base and hyaluronic acid, it is so hydrating and nourishing. My skin feels and looks soft after every use and I think it is one of the best products that B&BW carries. I would definitely recommend getting a bottle for yourself the next time you go shopping! In Everlasting Magic, perhaps? 😀

There were several Halloween scents from B&BW that I didn’t care for at all and I feel like Everlasting Magic was a redemption in that regard. Here’s to waiting another year plus for my next free product reward lol!

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

 

Bath & Body Works Halloween Scents Pt. 2

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Bath & Body Works Halloween Scents Pt. 2

Hello!! Yesterday we took a look at my Bath & Body Works hand soap haul featuring the Halloween collection. As you recall, I was loving Purrfect Pumpkin and Spellbinding Sweets. Moonlit Graveyard did nothing for me, however, which is strange because the name really speaks to my spooky soul. Let’s see how our next batch of scents fairs:

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The Haul:

Purrfect Pumpkin

Moonlit Graveyard

Spellbinding Sweets

Ghoul Friend

Wicked Vanilla Woods

Vampire Blood

Afternoon Apple Picking

Ghoul Friend: Ghoul Friend and Vampire Blood are scents that I’m familiar with as they were available last year too. Despite purchasing Ghoul Friend for the sake of Halloween, I am not a huge fan. This scent offers notes of “dark strawberries, ghostly peony, and spine-chilling citrus”. It’s nice if you are into super sweet florals but, alas, I am not. The peony paired with strawberries is almost sickly sweet and actually might be my least favorite of the bunch, moving Moonlit Graveyard up a notch.

Wicked Vanilla Woods: Hmmm… close but not quite. I was expecting to love this fragrance because I love vanilla when it’s done right. This one just kind of missed the mark for me. The fragrance notes feature “magical vanilla, glowing amberwood, and enchanted pink pepper”. While I do get a nice whiff of vanilla, the amberwood and pink pepper turn it into something really musky. Dare I say, old lady-ish? Not good.

*Note that I am smelling these soaps in real time and yesterday’s batch is definitely doing better so far!

Vampire Blood: Okay! Now we’re talking! I was very fond of Vampire Blood last year and my sentiments remain the same. Vampire Blood’s description is “red berries, night-blooming jasmine, and petrifying plum”. This is a berry/floral fragrance done right. While Ghoul Friend felt like the strawberries and peony were competing with each other, the berries, plum, and jasmine of Vampire Blood complimented each other perfectly. There is a reason this scent was brought back and it delivers every time.

Afternoon Apple Picking: Lol, this just might be my favorite one from the post and it’s not a Halloween fragrance. Is that bad? I am an apple gal and Afternoon Apple Picking is a delight. With notes of “crisp apple, succulent pear, and cinnamon” this one gave me ALL the fall feels! Imagine strolling through an apple orchard on a crisp fall day and taking a deep, refreshing breath. That’s this scent! 20/10 would recommend!

This post was a bit of a bummer because I was expecting a lot better from Bath & Body Works’ Halloween line. My ranking is as follows:

Purrfect Pumpkin

Vampire Blood

Spellbinding Sweets

Moonlit Graveyard

Ghoul Friend

Wicked Vanilla Woods

My advice? If you are craving the Halloween collection as much as I was – do a smell test before buying. Some of these scents were massive duds!

How do you feel about the B&BW Halloween scents? What is your favorite fall fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Bath & Body Works Halloween Scents Pt. 1

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Bath & Body Works Halloween Scents Pt. 1

Hello! My reserves of hand soap from Bath & Body Works was running dangerously low and it couldn’t have happened at a better time – Halloween fragrances are in! This trip into B&BW was a quick one because, for once, I truly didn’t care about the way the soaps smelled. I was so ready for all things Halloween that I took one of each scent and hit the road. I wasn’t going to not because the packaging for this year’s spooky collection is fantastic!

Today, we’re going to talk about three of the scents and move onto the remaining four tomorrow. Let’s get started:

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The Haul:

Purrfect Pumpkin

Moonlit Graveyard

Spellbinding Sweets

Ghoul Friend

Wicked Vanilla Woods

Vampire Blood

Afternoon Apple Picking – Granted not a Halloween scent, but I love all things apple! 😀

Purrfect Pumpkin: I am not a huge fan of pumpkin and if you haven’t already guessed, apple is my go to fall fragrance and flavor. However, I am LOVING Purrfect Pumpkin and it is just right for those who can’t get into pumpkin spice and everything nice. This scent features notes of “carved pumpkin, spiced cinnamon, and moonlit vanilla”. To me, it smells more like a glass of warm apple cider. It’s spicy and a little bit sweet and this is a fragrance that perfectly embodies the fall season. I wish I had it as a candle to light during scary movie nights!

Moonlit Graveyard: The Moonlit Graveyard scent is just okay for me. This was one of the ones I was ambivalent about when I read the description of “tombstone moss, cold foggy air, and eerie incense”. Even though that does sound awesome! While it does sort of remind me of a crisp fall night, my weird nose picked up an almost powdery aroma and I really don’t like that. This is one that I would have skipped on if I did a sniff test, but my potion… I mean hand soap set wouldn’t have been complete without it.

Spellbinding Sweets: Now this one, is much more like it! This scent offers notes of “haunted lollipop, sweet bubblegum, and bewitched berries” and I am so there for it. I didn’t pick up any of the featured notes but bubblegum and that is fine by me. It smells exactly like Double Bubble and brings me back to the excitement of Trick-or-Treat night. It is such a nostalgic scent and anyone with or without a sweet tooth will enjoy it. I also love the wicked green apple color. ❤

Other than Moonlit Graveyard, I am most impressed with Purrfect Pumpkin and Spellbinding Sweets. The fun colors of the soap and the amazing stained glass artwork make all three even better, though! Tune in tomorrow for the rest of the Halloween scents!

What is your favorite holiday collection from B&BW? Have you gotten any of the Halloween scents yet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Bath & Body Works July Freebie

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Bath & Body Works July Freebie

Hello! I have been busy, busy, busy these past few weeks and completely forgot about my July Bath & Body Works Freebie. This was a quick pop in because I really didn’t need anything, but I sure felt like I did. B&BW’s Halloween collection is already out and it is absolutely fabulous! The self constraint that I showed was admirable, but I can’t speak for the purchases that will probably happen when I get my hand soaps soon. 😉 So, I put my blinders on, cashed in my coupon, and got out of dodge lol. Check it out:

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I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of B&BW’s hand cream. It’s okay, but I have mentioned in previous posts that I would only use it if I got it for a freebie and I stand by that. Coincidentally, the coupon I had was for a free hand cream specifically so here we are. Told ya I stood by it! Not only was I trying to avoid blowing my paycheck during this trip to B&BW, but I was on a time crunch too. Rather than smell all of my different options, I simply grabbed one and checked out.

I went with the Breathe Deep Eucalyptus & Lavender from the Aroma care line. Not because I like lavender because I don’t, but because the Aroma line hasn’t been available in travel sizes until recently. When I smelled it after the fact, I was surprised that I didn’t completely hate it! It definitely is more eucalyptus than it is lavender. The lavender is almost an afterthought and it’s quite pleasant. And, knock on wood that I don’t get a fall or winter cold, but I could imagine that this would be so nice to slather on when you’re stuffed up.

Although the hand creams from Bath & Body Works aren’t the best, you can’t beat free! Keep it posted for my hand soap haul soon with ALL of the fall scents! 😀

What is your least favorite fragrance? Are you stocking up on fall goodies already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

July 2023 Finishes

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July 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to a slightly late beauty finishes post for July! I used up a ton of new to me products this past month so we have a lot of ground to cover. Even more so because I would happily use all of them again and that rarely happens! Let’s get started:

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Would I Use Again?

Clinical Works Brightening Vitamin C Facial Cleanser: YES

Bath & Body Works Body Cream: YES

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Pearlessence Brightening Facial Serum: YES

Pacifica Rainbow Watermelon Lip Balm: YES

Farmacy Honey Halo Moisturizer: YES

Lanoline Manuka Honey Eye Cream: YES

Why/Why Not?

Clinical Works Cleanser: I absolutely loved this cleanser!! It had a great citrus scent that was so invigorating in the morning and it was super long lasting. A little dollop went such a long way that I was using it for months. I found my skin to look brighter and healthier after consistent once daily use. Highly recommend!

B&BW Body Cream: The Shea Butter + Hyaluronic Acid Body Cream from Bath & Body Works is the best. It is so much better than their regular lotion and I am always impressed by how soft and hydrated it leaves my skin. The only problem? It’s never enough! Every night before bed, I apply lotion to my arms, chest, and stretch mark areas so I go through the bottle quickly. The travel size ones were used up after about five days and the full size was empty within two weeks. Thankfully, I usually get them for free with coupons or close to free when shopping the semi-annual sale so it’s all good. 😀

Pearlessence Serum: The Brightening serum by Pearlessence was a good one and I wish I had more of it. Although it was quite thin in texture, I still felt like it was highly effective in giving my skin that extra boost of radiance. Sometimes a thin serum makes me feel like it isn’t doing anything at all and that wasn’t the case in the slightest. Three pumps was enough to cover my entire face and neck and it took me close to two months to finish the bottle. Combined with my additional brightening products, my skin has never looked better.

Pacifica Lip Balm: The lip balms by Pacifica are, hands down, the best I have ever used and I will never use anything different. I always have to have one by my bedside, by my computer, and in my purse! What this lip balm does in one application couldn’t be accomplished by a standard balm in ten. The Pacifica balms leave my lips hydrated and supple and I have completely kissed chapped lips goodbye since I started using them regularly.

Farmacy Moisturizer: The Honey Halo moisturizer was part of my birthday gift from Sephora and it was really nice! It smelled exactly like honey and a little of it went a long way – it took almost two weeks of twice daily application to finish the travel size jar. My skin felt so hydrated with each use and looked like peaches and cream perfection. It was my favorite part of the Farmacy gift set I received!

Lanoline Eye Cream: Holy WOW was this eye cream long lasting. It took me FOUR MONTHS of twice daily use to finish the jar! This was just a nice eye cream to use and I noticed big improvements. My under eye designer bags cleared up so much, which was a huge win. The delicate skin around my eyes felt stronger and looked more supple and this was, easily, one of the best eye creams that I have ever used.

Talk about a GREAT SUCCESS for beauty empties, amiright?! If you happen to find any of these products when out and about, they all received the Lil Red Stamp of Approval and I just know you will love them too! 😀

Which products did you use up recently? 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

Bath Bomb Blitz: Bath & Body Works Confetti Cupcake Fizzy Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Bath & Body Works Confetti Cupcake Fizzy Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz! Today, we are going to be discussing the Confetti Cupcake bath fizzy that I purchased from Bath & Body Works during an April haul. This was definitely an impulse buy because the last fizzy I used from B&BW was very unimpressive – I just thought the cupcake was adorable lol. Unfortunately, the Confetti Cupcake fizzy sucked on ice too and I think B&BW knows it because I haven’t seen them in store in months. Let’s get to it:

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My first impression of the scent of this bath fizzy wasn’t a good one. I was expecting more of a cake batter fragrance and it just wasn’t lol. It kind of smelled like the Champagne Toast line, but definitely not as sweet. This wasn’t a huge deal, but it didn’t start the bath time experience off on the strongest note. Then, I dropped the fizzy into the water and it got worse from there!

Once the fizzy was in the water, it started dissolving at a rapid speed. Within about twenty or so seconds, it was completely fizzed out. In that time, all it did was turn my bath water a very murky pale pink, which you can see above. It looked gross! Even if I didn’t know the joys of a bath bomb from Lush, I still would have been like “wtf?”. In fact, my bath time would have been more pleasant if I didn’t use the fizzy at all because who wants to sink into water that looks contaminated?!

I shouldn’t be surprised that the Confetti Cupcake fizzy was disappointing because of my last experience. However, it was still shocking to see a ten dollar product work this poorly. If you happen to see a bath fizzy at B&BW, DON’T BOTHER! It won’t make a good gift for you or someone else and there are countless other wonderful goodies available that you could be spending your money on. Epic. Failure.

The only saving grace of this bath time experience is the fact that I recently made rose oil and put some in the water. That was lovely and you can learn more about the process tomorrow so keep it posted!

What is a disappointing product that you have used recently? What is your favorite thing to use during a bath? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

June 2023 Finishes

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June 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to my beauty finishes for June!! Johnny and I had a fantastic birthaversary month with lots to celebrate. Now that the festivities are over, it is time to focus our attention on the next big thing: Halloween. It’s never too early for us to start thinking about our other favorite time of the year! This past month, I enjoyed lots of great products with only one dud that came as a surprise to me. It was a serum that I had used religiously in the past, but just didn’t hit the same this time around. Let’s discuss further:

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Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Tree Of Life Vitamin C Serum: NO!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Sun-Ripened Raspberry Body Cream: YES

Honest Beauty Calm & Heal Melting Balm: YES

Why/Why Not?

Tree Of Life Serum: Back in 2021, I was using the Tree Of Life Vitamin C serum regularly for several months until I switched things up. I always thought that it worked well, even if it wasn’t my all time favorite. So, when I saw it available at TJMaxx during a January Haul, I instantly added it to my cart. The first time I used it after almost two years, I was taken aback by how much I didn’t like it. The texture of the serum was thick and a decent amount was needed to cover my full face and neck. It also didn’t absorb as well as I would have liked, either. After only three weeks, I completely used up the bottle and my skin had nothing to show for it in terms of a radiance boost. I was very happy to be done with it and now I know that some past used products are better to be left in the past.

B&BW Lotion: Sun-Ripened Raspberry is one of my favorite old school scents from Bath & Body Works and I always have to buy a few lotions or shower gels during their Semi Annual Sales. I don’t use the Body Creams by B&BW too often because they are more expensive than what a full size freebie coupon covers. However, I am VERY impressed with it whenever I get the chance to use it. The shea butter and Hyaluronic Acid base is so nourishing and my skin feels amazing after every use. Any slightly dry patches on my arms feel like they are gone in an instant and it leaves my skin looking and feeling healthy. It took me over three weeks of nighttime use to finish the bottle.

Honest Balm: The Calm & Heal Melting Balm by Honest Beauty was the first product from that brand I ever tried and it was a home run. You can read more about it in my review above, but it is a moisturizer that I would definitely use again. It took about three and a half weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar and I was so sad when I did – it was that good! Highly, highly recommend – especially if you have a dryer skin type.

Even though the Tree Of Life serum sucked, I got to try a new brand out and use an old favorite so this month’s empties were still a GREAT SUCCESS. I am keeping my eyes peeled for more Honest Beauty products every time I go to TJMaxx!

Have you used an old faithful product after a while and been disappointed by it? What is your favorite Honest Beauty product? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath & Body Works June Freebies

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Bath & Body Works June Freebies

Hello!! This past week, I received a few coupon packs from Bath & Body Works in the mail that included a free full and travel size product. I’m always happy to get a free travel size goodie, but there is nothing better than a full size freebie! I chose a bar soap and lotion with my coupons and it totaled to over twenty-seven dollars worth of free product. You just can’t beat that! Check it out:

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The last time I cashed in a B&BW coupon, I decided to try their bar soap for the first time in the Coco Paradise scent. I love a good bar soap and the Bath & Body Works kind is probably the best that I have used in a long time. Their bar soap is made with a shea butter base and it is SO insanely hydrating and lathers like a dream. I have been using my soap since I got it at the end of May and I have hardly made a dent in it! Rather than opting for their shower gel, I chose a bar soap in my favorite scent of Gingham instead. If you are a bar soap fan too, then I cannot recommend trying out B&BW’s enough!

As I am pretty well stocked with shower gel and soap, I went with a lotion for my full size freebie in Gingham Gorgeous. I was thrilled when Gingham Vibrant, Gorgeous, and Fresh were released and have the shower gel of Vibrant. I was a bit disappointed that there were no lotions or shower gel in Fresh because I definitely would have gotten that instead of Gorgeous. I wasn’t really feeling any of my other options either, so I settled.

Gingham Gorgeous is pretty, but it isn’t my favorite. The fragrance notes feature Pink Strawberries, Peach Nectar, and Peony Blooms and it is very sweet. I can pick out the peach notes and I like that, but it gets lost in the muddle of overpowering peonies. If I used lotion during the day, I never would have picked it. But, I only apply lotion at night and I don’t really care one way or the other about the scent. If you are a sweet floral fan, then Gingham Gorgeous is for you. If you like something more crisp and fruity, Gingham Vibrant and Fresh are the way to go!

Even though I’m not as fond of Gingham Gorgeous as the other offshoots from Gingham, I am still beyond pleased with my freebies. It is such a treat to go into Bath & Body Works for a pick me up without paying a dime!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? Which store offers 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

Mini Mall Haul

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Mini Mall Haul

Hello!! After a very long tenure of working retail in the mall, I tend to avoid it like the plague now lol. I can probably count on ten fingers the amount of times I have been to the mall since being employed there and that is fine by me! You know your girl is a TJMaxx frequent flyer at heart. This past week, however, I crossed the threshold into Summit Mall because my brother had some birthday gift cards. I told myself that I wasn’t going to buy anything for myself, but that changed when I saw the most perfect T-shirt I have ever seen at Hot Topic. I also had a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in! Check it out:

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Bath & Body Works has recently switched up their freebie options and it has been most exciting! For the longest time, a free travel size product coupon left you limited to shower gel and lotion. Then, they upped their game to mini fragrance sprays, bar soap, and hand cream and they are all fair game for the free coupon. It is awesome and turns every time I get a B&BW coupon in the mail into an “I need to go there right now” event!

Johnny’s mom gifted me with some bar soap this past Easter and I forgot how much I enjoy a good ol’ bar of soap every now and again. With plenty of B&BW shower gel and lotion in my stockpile, I decided that trying out their bar soap for the first time would be the move. There wasn’t a huge selection of bar soap scents to pick from and I went with Coco Paradise to welcome summer with. Coco Paradise is a combo of coconut (obviously lol) and the softest hint of tropical flowers and it is lovely. It also is a shea butter based bar so I’m sure it will be ultra lush and hydrating. I can’t wait to try it out!

After browsing at other stores, my brother and I ended our rounds at Hot Topic. As a reminder, I truly had no intention of buying a single thing… Until I saw the AFI T-shirt that I just had to have. AFI’s album, Sing The Sorrow, was the first album I ever bought with my own money. It was and will always be in my top three favorite albums and seeing them live was one of the best moments of my life. I was so lucky because they only had one size small in this shirt among a sea of XLs and believe me when I say, I literally snatched it from the shelf!

The last T-shirt I bought from Hot Topic was from a few years ago and now I understand why almost all of Johnny’s T’s come from there. When I sported my AFI T the following day, I was blown away by how soft it was! It felt like a hug when I was wearing it and I honestly regretted not buying a few more! The fit was also perfect – not too loose and not too tight but just right. I am freaking obsessed with my new favorite T featuring my forever favorite band. 😀

After this trip to the mall, I don’t think I will go again for another handful of years lol. But, I was able to treat myself with an awesome pick me up purchase and for that I am grateful!

What was the first album that you ever bought? What is your favorite band? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May 2023 Finishes

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May 2023 Finishes

Hello everyone!! May is just about over, which means that it’s time to discuss my beauty product finishes for the month! I have finished up a few new to me products in the past few weeks, most of which I would happily use again aside from one major dud. So, all in all, it was a pretty successful month! Take a look and let’s chat more in depth about the following:

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Would I Use Again?

Clinical Works Soothing Body Lotion: YES

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Pearberry Shower Gel: YES

Happy Dance Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD: YES!!!!!!!!!!

SkinLab Lift & Firm Serum: NO

Why/Why Not?

Clinical Works Lotion: I really liked the Lavender + Chamomile lotion by Clinical Works, despite the fact that the pump on the bottle didn’t work – which is probably why it ended up at TJMaxx lol. Even with that slight annoyance, this lotion was SO nice to use before bed. It was really light, absorbed quickly, and had the softest scent to it which helped to soothe and relax. The skin on my hands, arms, and chest looked a lot healthier and felt significantly softer after over two months of working through the big bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: Pearberry is one of my favorite scents from Bath & Body Works and I wish that they carried this old school fragrance all of the time! It also happened to be one of Johnny’s new favorites too lol the first time he used it, he was raving about it – and for good reason. The juicy pear and berry scent is the ultimate in sweet/tart and I love it so very much. It took a month to finish one bottle with two people using it daily.

Happy Dance Moisturizer: You can read more about the Look Alive Moisturizer + CBD by Happy Dance in the review linked above. I will say, though, that this is easily the best moisturizer that I have used in a month of Sundays. This moisturizer was so nourishing and I loved the way my skin looked and felt after each use. The CBD was calming at night and invigorating in the morning, making it a fantastic product for twice daily use. It took me one month to finish the jar and I wish that I had more of it!

SkinLab Serum: I like the SkinLab brand, but the Lift & Firm Serum was an epic failure. I am a huge fan of products that you only need to use a small amount of and that was not the case with this serum at all. I needed a decent amount of this serum for full coverage on my face and neck, which made the small bottle only last for three weeks. It also didn’t mesh well with the other skin care I was using, making it incredibly difficult to rub in my eye cream and moisturizer. I definitely wouldn’t use this serum again.

Although there were some products from this list that I was sad to finish up, I still have lots of new to me skin care to try out from TJMaxx hauls and I am excited to use them. Keep it locked for a review on the Honest moisturizer that I have started using for the past week and change because it is a very unique one!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above 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