Tag Archives: beauty

Aug29

Bath & Body Works Mini Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Bath & Body Works Mini Haul

Hello!! This past week, I had a bunch of errands to run and decided to partake in a little retail therapy. You can peep a new TJMaxx Haul soon but, today, we are going to chat about my finds at Bath & Body Works. I had two freebie coupons to cash in for a travel sized product and a hand sanitizer. I also decided that I should probably buy some more of their wallflower fragrances while I was there! Check it out:

image_50439425

Prior to my last haul at B&BW, I had never used their wallflowers before. However, I had a coupon for a free one and their Halloween plugins were too cute to pass up! Now that I have two in my apartment, one upstairs and one down, I can’t believe it took me this long to join the bandwagon. They are DELIGHTFUL! The wallflowers provide the perfect amount of fragrance without being overpowering. They are also super long lasting and after over twenty days of use I still have half a vial left.

Aside from freebie coupons, I also had a twenty-five percent off one so I bought two wallflowers with it. I went with Honeycrisp Apple and Wildberry Tea Spritzer. As you all know, I live for apple fragrances and the one I selected is so fabulous for fall. It smells like a just bitten apple and I can’t wait to use it. The Tea Spritzer fragrance is nice but it is not my favorite – I just happened to like it the most out of the available options. It actually smells exactly like the summery beverage I imagined but it is just a little too sweet for my liking. We will see what it’s like when I try it!

I am a huge fan of the B&BW hand sanitizers and was excited to be able to pick out a free one. Their PocketBacs leave my hands feeling so clean without drying them out and have become a must have when I’m on the go. I decided to keep with the squeaky clean vibes and chose Sunshine & Lemons. It’s zingy, tart, and will be a nice reminder of summer come fall.

For my free travel sized item, I got the old standby scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom. Not because I wanted to but because I was running low on lotion in my stockpile and it was the literal only option there lol (I was shopping at a pop up store because they are adding a White Barn to a nearby location). We all know the scent, we loved it in high school, and that’s all I have to say about that. But, hey, a free lotion is a free lotion!

For twelve bucks, I got four products and you just can’t beat that. I also contained myself and didn’t buy anymore Halloween goodies so it was a GREAT SUCCESS of a Mini Haul!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? What was your favorite fragrance in high school? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug21

New Violet & Punch Pink Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Violet & Punch Pink Nails

Hello! After several long and stressful weeks, I was in desperate need of some self care and had been counting down the days till my next appointment at Elysian Nails. Not only did I need a pampering session but my nails were looking JANK. As always, Elysian got me right and my nail tech did a fabulous job on my talons. Check it out:

image_67204097(1)image_67143425(1)

Normally, I have a color palette in mind before I go to the salon for a fill. This time around, however, I decided to let the polish wall speak to me and made my choice almost instantly. Directly in my line of sight was the OPI shades in Strawberry Margarita (Which I totally get) and Grandma Kissed A Gaucho (Which I don’t get at all).

Lol despite one nail polish name making no sense to me or my nail tech, I am in love with this color combo. It is such a perfect palette to wrap up summertime with before we move onto plum, oxblood, and jewel tones for fall. These nails look like a sweet candy treat or summer sunset and I catch myself looking at them constantly. So cute!

As you all know, pampering is my favorite form of self care and this trip to Elysian Nails definitely helped put some pep back in my step. It’s almost impossible not to when I leave the salon with nails looking like a billion bucks!

What color of nail polish are you wearing? What are your favorite summer nail polish colors? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Aug10

Bath Bomb Blitz: Bath & Body Works Bath Fizzy Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Bath Bomb Blitz: Bath & Body Works Bath Fizzy Edition

Hello! It has been a long while since I used a bath bomb and I decided to purchase one from Bath & Body Works during my Halloween Haul. After a long and depressing past week, I used it on Sunday for a little dose of self care. When I bought the bath fizzy from B&BW, I wasn’t expecting a Lush quality product because no one does bath bombs better. However, I definitely wasn’t expecting it to suck as badly as it did, lol. Let’s discuss:

image_67237889image_67153921image_50333953

This bath fizzy in Ghoul Friend missed all of the marks that I consider important when it comes to products like it: A change in the water color, a good fragrance, and not fizzing out quickly. I love the Ghoul Friend scent of strawberry, citrus, and peony and figured that it would have had a stronger smell than what I experienced. I honestly couldn’t smell anything once I added it to the bath water, which was disappointing.

The bath fizzy also fizzled out in about twenty seconds or less, which did nothing but leave my bath water a murky lavender. Yes, it’s a Halloween themed product but I wasn’t particularly thrilled to get into a bath that looked like a swamp. Yuck!

One thing that I love about Lush bath bombs is how nourished my skin feels after using one. I always was amazed by how my skin felt as hydrated as if I slathered myself in body butter. I’m sure you can guess that that was not the case in the slightest with the B&BW bath fizzy! It felt like I was sitting in hot water with nothing else to it. I think I would have been better off just taking a regular bubble bath. SMH.

This product is definitely one that you should skip on and was a massive waste of ten dollars. Buy yourself literally anything else from B&BW, instead!

Have you used a product that you were disappointed by recently? What is your favorite bath bomb from Lush? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Aug9

Bath & Body Works Halloween Haul

Posted on by
Standard
Bath & Body Works Halloween Haul

Hello!! A full size product freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works turned into a full blown haul because their Halloween line has launched! It was complete cuteness overload and in a perfect world I would have every single item from the line inspired by the greatest season of all. As a *somewhat* responsible adult, I, sadly, had to limit myself to just a few treats for myself and the apartment. That doesn’t mean that I’m not daydreaming about everything else I want to buy, though lol! Check it out:

image_67190273image_67209217image_50387201(2)image_50434817(3)image_50445569(4)image_50440193(1)image_67152385image_67115777

Like a woman possessed by the Halloween spirit, I was adding goodies to my shopping basket left and right. I adore the light up skeleton hand sanitizer holder, which alternates between white and green eyes. I actually don’t even plan on using it for its intended purpose because it will make a great addition to mine and Johnny’s spooky shelf. I also couldn’t say no to a bath bomb in Ghoul Friend, a scent that features strawberry, citrus, and peony. I can’t wait to use it!

Not only did I have a coupon for a free full size product but I also had one for a free wallflower too. I have never used B&BW’s wallflower plugins before and never really planned on it. As you can see, that changed drastically when I laid eyes on the wallflower holders! I received my freebie wallflower in Vampire Blood and I also bought one in Ghoul Friend for good measure so it only made sense to buy two holders, right? 😀

Like I said, I was thinking with the indulgent side of my brain and when I saw the hand holding an apple, it was an instant yes. The same goes for the adorable little ghost in the clear globe. Because I was in a frenzy, I didn’t even realize that each holder had a light up surprise until the following day when I was writing. And, yes, it did say this on the tag but that’s neither here nor there!

Both of these wallflower holders light up 24/7, making a wicked apple appear as well as orange bats on my wall. Originally, I thought that these holders were perfect as is so it’s safe to say that my mind was BLOWN. I still can’t get over how clever the idea is and how amazing they look and smell in the apartment. The scent that is released isn’t overpowering in the slightest and that was something that I was definitely worried about. Even if it was, I think I would overlook it for all of that cuteness.

If you are a fan of Halloween themed scents and decor, RUN don’t walk to Bath & Body Works – especially considering I might just mess around and buy the whole lot!

What is your favorite holiday to decorate for? What is your favorite thing about Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug8

Bath & Body Works August Freebies

Posted on by
Standard
Bath & Body Works August Freebies

Hello!! I had lots of coupons from Bath & Body Works including twenty percent off a purchase as well as a free full sized product and wallflower. I went in planning on just getting a free shower gel because I don’t use their wall plugins. However, I changed my mind about that very quickly when I saw that their Halloween line was already available! The twenty percent off definitely came in handy lol.

Today, we’ll be chatting about the freebies because they are a delight. You can also peep a sneak peek at the full haul which we’ll be discussing in detail tomorrow! Let’s get to it:

image_50448641(3)image_67235585(1)

I haven’t been in Bath & Body Works in ages as I do my hand soap shopping online and my beauty care hoard is still well stocked. I planned on using my freebie coupon for another Gingham Love shower gel because it is my current favorite. There were so many new to me scents available, though, that I decided to live a little and try something new!

For my shower gel, I went with Summer Melody and it is so lovely. With fragrance notes of golden honeydew and bronzed vanilla, it smells just like a freshly made fruit salad. Oddly enough, I hate honeydew and always pick it out of my fruit salads but that’s beside the point because apparently I love the way it smells! This is going to be a perfect shower gel to use during the dark days of winter when we could all use an extra dose of sunshine.

The wallflower that I chose is the first one I have ever owned and I can’t think of a better option than Vampire Blood from the Halloween line. I used this fragrance last year in hand sanitizer form and it is still one of my faves. Vampire Blood features strawberry, plum, and jasmine and it is such a bold, rich scent. Normally, I am not a huge fan of floral scents like jasmine but the fragrance notes of it are minimal. It is the ideal spooky scent to use with my new Halloween plugs!

I cannot wait for all of you to see the rest of my haul tomorrow because the light up plugs have a spooky surprise. See you then!

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

Aug1

Namesake Watercolor Project

Posted on by
Standard
Namesake Watercolor Project

Hello! I enjoyed the watercolor painting class that I took so much that I just had to buy some supplies to paint during my free time at home. Although my leisure time is scarce during the week, I have managed to do two projects that I am really proud of. I created a likeness of myself and Johnny and also painted a dedication to my namesake this past week:

image_67175425(3)

The Lil Red nickname originally stemmed from a coworker when I worked retail thanks to my signature red hair and lipstick. At the cash register, he would ask if Lil Red helped the customer out and they always knew who he was talking about! I have had this project in mind to feature my blog’s tagline and a red lippie tube since the class I took and I love how it turned out. 😀

Because of the constantly changing color of my hair, it has been a while since I was able to wear a pure red lipstick. I miss it terribly but I still think that it is the epitome of chic. A bold red lip screams confidence, even if you aren’t really feeling yourself that day. A quick swipe of red lipstick can completely change a simple jeans and T outfit or enhance a date night look. This never fails to amaze me and is a true testament to the power of makeup.

It sounds silly but I honestly feel like my red lipstick helped shape me into the person that I am today. It gave me a confidence boost when I had none as well as inspiration when I created my blog. During my next tap out tattoo session, I plan on getting a red lipstick tube somewhere on my arm. For now, however, a painting will just have to do. I wonder what I’ll come up with to paint next!

What do you consider a signature part of your style? What is your favorite lipstick shade? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jul30

July 2022 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
July 2022 Finishes

Hello!!! It’s about that time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month of July and it was a good month, indeed. I got to try some new to me products, used up some of the ones that took forever, and revisited some old favorites. It was a GREAT SUCCESS so let’s get to it:

image_50458625(3)

Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Spray: Omg, did this spray take forever to finish lol – at least half a year of almost daily use! This is fine by me, though, because I love anything apple scented and B&BW always delivers. The Country Apple is the perfect mix of sweet and tart and it is the perfect pick me up before leaving for work. I would definitely use it again but am fine with not using it for a while!

SkinLab Cleanser: I love SkinLab products and the Lift & Firm Daily Gel Cleanser was amazing. After about a month and a half of daily use, my skin looked more supple and felt smoother. It was invigorating to use every morning and also removed remnants of makeup really well. Although, I have to admit that it’s a bit sad to be moving onto products that Lift & Firm lol.

B&BW Shower Gel: Normally, the travel size shower gel from B&BW lasts me three weeks of daily use. However, this month I used up two of them because Johnny helped me out after he ran out of his shower gel. We both smelled awesome for the month of July and I adore the Gingham Love scent. It has all of the fresh, crisp feels of the original Gingham with juicy berries thrown in for good measure. Although I think it’s super cute that Johnny used my shower gel, I’m bummed out that I’m all out of Gingham Love!

Tatcha Moisturizer: This moisturizer was a freebie during my last Sephora Haul and it was nice but I wouldn’t use it unless I got it as a free item again. I love a water cream formula, especially during the summer and this one was delightful. It absorbed so quickly while still leaving my skin feeling ultra hydrated. It took me four days of twice daily use to finish the sample jar.

Lanocreme Moisturizer: I purchased this moisturizer during a winter haul at TJMaxx and finally got around to using it towards the end of June. Although it absorbed well, it was a bit too thick for my liking during the summertime. That’s not to say that it wouldn’t be great for fall and winter use, though! This moisturizer was rich, creamy, and left my skin looking and feeling peaches and cream perfect. It took me about five weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar.

Hope Soap Lotion: This is the second lotion that I’ve used from Hope Soap, which is a local shop in my area. I received both of them as a gift and the first one that I finished in June wasn’t my favorite because its texture was so runny. The Vanilla & Fig was the polar opposite, however, and had the consistency of a normal lotion which I liked much better. It also smelled awesome! As nice as it was, I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it for myself but it made a wonderful gift. It took me a little under two months to finish the jar.

As you can see from all of these empties, July was a month full of pampering. Whether the product was good or bad, I am glad to have used them up and am ready for lots more finishes come August!

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

Jul25

TJMaxx Haul: Skin Care Edition

Posted on by
Standard
TJMaxx Haul: Skin Care Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last of my TJMaxx Haul! Today, we are going to be discussing some brand new skin care and then it’s onto bigger and better things. Keep it posted for a new OOTD and a few watercolor paintings by yours truly. They aren’t museum worthy but I’m pretty proud of them! Now, let’s get to it:

image_67221761

The main reason for this haul in the first place was to get some skin care with my birthday gift card from my sister. Cut to two hours later and I had a cart full of goodies! As the old saying goes, you don’t go to TJMaxx for what you need… It tells you what you need lol at least that’s what I say, anyways. 😀

Although I was looking for some eye cream and cleansers, I was happy to walk away with a new serum (which I can always use) and two micellar waters by Evoluderm. I have been obsessed with this product since I tried it out over three years ago and just have to grab a bottle or two whenever its available at TJs. It is, hands down, the best micellar water I have ever used and makes everything else pale in comparison.

I am a faithful user of micellar water both morning and night and love the way the Evoluderm makes my skin feel. While the Garnier micellar water is great at removing makeup, it never made my skin feel nourished. The Evoluderm is the polar opposite and not only leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean but hydrated and well protected. I can’t recommend it enough if you are on the hunt for a micellar water or if the Garnier brand just isn’t cutting it anymore!

There you have it, a fabulous haul for the ages at TJMaxx in its completion. Is it bad that I’m already daydreaming about a fall haul?!

What is your favorite skin care brand? Where do you like to shop skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul17

New Red & Peach Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Red & Peach Nails

Hey!! After a super lame streak of bad luck, I am finally getting back into the swing of things. Of course, some retail therapy (Peep a brand new TJMaxx haul soon!) and pampering at Elysian Nails definitely helped the cause! I had a short work day this past Wednesday so I treated myself to some shopping before and a fresh fill after, which was just what the doctor ordered. Check it out:

image_50374657image_50427905(4)

Unfortunately, my favorite nail tech no longer works at Elysian Nails and I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t feel weird having someone else care for my claws. However, the staff at Elysian is simply the best and I knew that my hands would be in capable ones no matter who is doing them. This past fill was actually awesome because the tech who did my nails when I first started going to Elysian is back. It was SO nice to catch up on lost time and see how much she improved at her craft while working at different salons!

For my color combination this time around, I went with a fiery red and peach combo and I am loving it. Alone, the red is very vibrant but it popped even more against the subtle peach and I think that it is such a fun, summery palette. When the peach polish was wet, I was a bit worried because it looked darker than I anticipated but it dried into the perfect pale shade that I had in mind and was instantly sold. So cute. 😀

With new hair, nails, and gorgeous new additions to my wardrobe, I feel ready to take on the world again. Big ups to my stylists for keeping me looking my best and TJMaxx for helping me dress my best! ❤

What color of nail polish do you have on? Who else turns to the salon or retail therapy when you are feeling down? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Summer Beauty Tips

Posted on by
Standard
Summer Beauty Tips

Depending on the time of the year, your beauty regimens should fluctuate. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t use your super heavy winter moisturizer during a hot summer day! Today, we are going to discuss some beauty tips that are simply summer to have you looking your best during fun in the sun:

Hair Care:

If you have color treated hair, it is so important to protect it from sunlight and water as best as you can. This will fade that salon or box dye job in no time at all so bandanas, sun hats, and caps (ball caps or for swimming) will work wonders. Is it always the most fashionable of options to keep your mane contained? No. But, if you don’t want to be returning to the salon in a month, then it is the way to go.

If you notice that your hair is getting dried out during the summertime, deep conditioning treatments are your friend! Also, don’t forget to use heat protecting products when you are flat ironing or curling your hair. One stop shop places like TJMaxx or Target can assist in getting hair accessories and products all in one trip!

Makeup:

We have all experienced when a full face of makeup completely melts off during a hot day so keep it natural in the summertime. During the warm weather, all one needs is a lip gloss and mascara to avoid any makeup mishaps. The sun will naturally highlight your face! You can also discover the benefits of visiting a skin care clinic to further enhance a more natural look.

Skin Care:

As mentioned before, lighter skin care products are the way to go in the heat. Anything too heavy will clog your pores and this is not good – especially if you are already sweating a lot. Washing your face twice daily for squeaky clean skin as well as a gel moisturizer can really help with keeping summer breakouts at bay. Also, make sure that you are keeping yourself well hydrated in the summer because it will assist in all aspects of beauty!

And, of course, we can’t talk about skin care without mentioning the importance of sunscreen. Yes, this even applies on a cloudy day! How many times have you thought that you didn’t need sunscreen and returned home red as a lobster?! If you are a chronic forgetter of sunscreen, it helps to keep some in your purse or car. That way, you will have it on hand when you are on the go and realize that you didn’t apply any.

Look your best all summer long with the tips above!