Tag Archives: beauty

Nov12

New Blue Grey & Glitter Periwinkle Nails

Posted on November 12, 2020 by lifewithlilred

Hello! If you have been following Lil Red’s saga at the nail salon, then you will know that the past three times around, I had a nail tech that caused me a lot of grief. During my last appointment, my real nail got cut into and it hurt like the dickens. After that, I said enough is enough and requested someone new for my next appointment.

I am so glad that I did because 1) My experience this fill around was fabulous and 2) Getting my nails done is really the only “outing” that I do other than grocery shopping because I work with so many high risk clients and families. When I get my nails done, I want to fully enjoy my time at the salon because, otherwise, I don’t go out. And, believe you me, enjoying yourself is hard when the tender skin around your nails is being cut multiple times per visit.

I am proud that I stuck up for myself because, usually, I am a very go with the flow kind of gal and only complain when it’s absolutely necessary in a salon situation. This fill has been the first time in three months that I truly felt pampered and I am obsessed with the results. Check it out:

Despite it being shockingly warm for November in Ohio, I wanted to do a winter wonderland inspired palette. While driving to the salon, I decided I wanted to do a light, sparkly purple along with a shade of grey. I fell in love with the shimmery periwinkle I picked out and, even though I’ve never seen Frozen, it made me think of Elsa!

Once the purple was decided, I found a stormy ocean blue grey to toughen it up. My nails turned out exactly how I wanted them to and the shape that my new tech improved on looked divine after he cut them down and sharpened them up. The best part, though? No cuts, no ouches, and absolutely NO discomfort the entire time. I am one hundred and fifty percent satisfied and I already am looking forward to my next appointment. 🙂 ❤

Have you ever had a similar situation to my previous woes in a salon? How did you handle it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov11

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatch In 9 To 5

Posted on November 11, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatch In 9 To 5

Howdy! Today, we are going to be talking about the last product from my hand me down haul from my sister. It is last but certainly not least, though, because the lipstick we’re swatching today is definitely my favorite of the bunch. In this post, we are going to be talking about Smashbox’s Be Legendary lipstick in 9 To 5 and it sure is pretty! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

First things first, can we please talk about how freaking ADORABLE this lipstick’s tube is?! I have never seen a lippie packaged like this before and it makes me wish all of my lipstick tubes featured poppy colors and fun patterns. This alone made me excited to open up the tube and check out the color and I was not disappointed!

Back when I was a full redhead without my blonde patch, I never would have dreamed of wearing a punchy pink shade. The bright pinks just didn’t look good so I stuck with my red lippie and nude hues pretty exclusively. Now, a whole new color palette has opened up to me and I am obsessed with the watermelon punch 9 To 5.

All I can think about when I see this color is spring time, floral dresses, and a swiping of 9 To 5 on my lips. The texture of this Smashbox lipstick is so creamy yet is long lasting and I am so thankful to my sister for bestowing it onto me. Working 9 To 5 has never been so sweet and sassy with this lippie and I can’t wait to rock it when I actually have an occasion to, lol!

Which makeup brand has the best packaging? Did makeup shades that normally didn’t work for you look better if you have ever changed your hair color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov10

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Swatch In Ayesha

Posted on November 10, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Swatch In Ayesha

Hello!! The swatches from my hand me down haul from my sister just keep on coming. Today, we are going to be chatting about Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Ayesha. I have never used her products before, I don’t exactly plan on it, and I am also not the biggest fan of the shade we’re swatching. However, just because it wouldn’t look flattering on me doesn’t apply to everyone and some of you might love it! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

My first impression of this lippie after opening the tube was the smell of it. At first, I thought it smelled really creamy – kind of like opening up a big tub of ice cream or a fresh gallon of milk. But, unfortunately, as I kept smelling the product while applying it, I realized it smelled faintly rotten as if the milk had gone sour. So, trust and believe I was more than happy to put a heart on my hand to see the color instead of putting it on my lips!

As far as the color goes, I don’t hate it but it would wash me out completely as it is much too purple for me. If I want to rock a shade in the mauve family, it absolutely needs to have pink undertones. Maybe next Halloween I could use it if I went as something undead but for normal use? Forget about it, lol.

My last comment on Kat Von D’s Liquid Everlasting Lipstick was that it did stay on very well! It smudged a little after it was dry but other than that the lippie didn’t budge and I had to scrub at it fairly hard with soap and water to remove it completely. So, it’s nice to know that if you do want to experiment with this product that it does have a lot of holding power. 🙂

Would I recommend this lipstick? Not necessarily. I am glad that I got to try it out from the comfort of my home, though, so big ups to my sister for giving me something new to me for all of us to learn more about!

What is your favorite shade of lipstick to wear? Which shade doesn’t look the best on you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov8

Lisa Frank X Glamour Dolls Eyeshadow Swatch In Stargazing

Posted on November 8, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Lisa Frank X Glamour Dolls Eyeshadow Swatch In Stargazing

Hi! Back when I was in grade school a million years ago, it was all about all Lisa Frank everything. From her colorful designs, lots of shimmer, and cute animals adorning school supplies and book bags, it was impossible to not get into the Lisa Frank hype. It has been forever since I have thought about that brand but memories of my favorite LF notebooks came rushing back when I found a Lisa Frank eyeshadow in the hand me downs my sister gave me.

This eyeshadow in Stargazing is a special nod to Lisa Frank’s signature style and it also happens to be one of my fave colors. So, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ The first heart is the eyeshadow applied wet and the second one is applied dry.

Everything about this eyeshadow is so fab to me. From the punchy purple and silver packaging to the glittering hue of shooting stars once you open the compact, this is Lisa Frank to the T. When I first saw this eyeshadow in my hand me down haul, I was shocked because I had no idea that a collaboration between Lisa Frank and Glamour Dolls even happened. But, now that I see it, my only question is why the heck it didn’t happen sooner!

This eyeshadow also couldn’t have come soon enough because I was running dangerously low on my go to bronze shade from The Body Shop. Out of all of the eyeshadows that I swatched these past few days, I can definitely say that I will be wearing this Stargazing hue the most. I just know I’m going to love it and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s even prettier than my old TBS fave seen here. 😀

Bring on all of the fun of early 2000’s Lisa Frank with this amazing eyeshadow!

Did you have any Lisa Frank gear back in the day? What did it look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov7

Beaute Basics Eyeshadow Swatch In Satin Taupe

Posted on November 7, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Beaute Basics Eyeshadow Swatch In Satin Taupe

Hello! Today, we are going to be taking a look at an eyeshadow by Beaute Basics thanks to a hand me down haul from my sister, Kristen. The shade that I’m swatching is called Satin Taupe and I can definitely picture myself wearing it! So, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ The top heart is the eyeshadow applied while wet and the second one is applied while dry.

As you all know, nothing pleases Lil Red more than a metallic hue from the bronze or brown family. I just think it looks so flattering with my eyes and skin tone and I never venture too far from those shades when it comes to my makeup. My sister knows this better than anyone because she constantly makes fun of me for it, lol. But, she is also my biggest supporter because when I get hand me downs from her, nine times out of ten there is some type of shimmery gold or brown eyeshadow waiting for me.

Beaute Basics was right in calling this shade Satin Taupe because it seriously applied smooth as satin. The eyeshadow felt so soft but it was still nice and compact. This was a huge bonus because I find that the softer shadows usually apply pretty flaky and you end up with more makeup around your eyes than on the lid itself.

What I liked the most about this eyeshadow is the fact that the color on my skin was true to what I saw in the compact, unlike the Elizabeth Mott shade that I swatched yesterday. My only recommendation would be applying it wet because the eyeshadow is more of a shimmer when dry as opposed to an actual, bold color. I can’t wait to add this Beaute Basics hue into my makeup arsenal!

Do you like to experiment with makeup? Or, like me, do you have a handful of shades that you stick with? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov6

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes The Shadow Swatch In Gunmetal

Posted on November 6, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes The Shadow Swatch In Gunmetal

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I’ve swatched much of anything because I haven’t been wearing a lot of makeup this past year. Due to COVID, I pretty much only go to work and that’s it besides for a monthly grocery shopping trip and getting my nails done. In fact, makeup has been one of the last things on my radar, considering more than half of my face is usually covered by a mask!

Despite not “throwing paint on the old barn” as often as I once did, I am the first to admit that testing out different shades of makeup is a lot of fun. So, I was very thankful to my sister, Kristen, for bestowing some of her makeup hand me downs on to me – some of them were brand new! 😀

Today, we are going to be swatching a very cool gunmetal eyeshadow by Elizabeth Mott. And, can we please talk about how cute the name “Pop! Goes The Shadow” is? Adorable! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

^^^ The top heart is the eyeshadow while wet and the second one is when it’s dry.

Wayyyy back in the day when I was an Assistant Manager at The Body Shop, they had a cream eye liner that I loved in silver. I wore it all the time and the compliments on the bold color never ceased. Although this gunmetal shadow is not nearly as shocking, it still reminds me of one of my makeup OGs and I was just tickled when trying it out. And, the answer is: YES. I do plan on wetting this eyeshadow and wearing it as a liner, of course.

I am a fan of this Elizabeth Mott eyeshadow but, my one complaint is that the color (On my skin, at least) has a lot of brown undertones. This definitely took away from the “wow factor” of a pure gunmetal grey and I wish that it applied more true to the color in the second picture seen above. This is not to say that I didn’t like it, though! It applied easily, washed off easily, and who doesn’t love a lil glitter?! ❤

What is your favorite brand of eyeshadow? Which makeup brand has the best packaging? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

October 2020 Finishes

Posted on October 29, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Holy COW October is just about over and I don’t know how it was for all of you but it went by so quick for me. I swear, as soon as I start all of my early Christmas preparations, the months leading up to the big day just go by in turbo speed. And, with one of my favorite months of October nearing completion, that means it’s time to chit chat about all of the beauty products I used up so let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Garnier Micellar Water: YES
Bath & Body Works Gingham body wash: YES
Azure Lux Rose Gold serum: YES
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
SkinLab Lift & Firm eye cream: YES

If you would like to read more about these products, please visit some of my old empties posts because I literally use the ones above all of the time! And, in case you missed any of my beauty posts this past month, check out some of the following:

Pampering myself with my must have products has been one of the main things keeping me sane during all of this COVID craziness. Please, everyone, keep being good to yourselves and, sometimes, feeling much better is only a face mask or a bubble bath away!

What are some of your must have products? Are there any discontinued products that you miss? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Deep Clearing Clay Mask & Cleanser Edition

Posted on October 22, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Deep Clearing Clay Mask & Cleanser Edition

Hi! At least every weekend I try to use a new face mask as a pampering treat after a long week. I am currently using up a pack of six Freeman masks I got from Amazon and, unfortunately, the first two I tried were total duds. It definitely made me ambivalent to try the other masks but I am happy to have had some success because it turns out the third try is a charm!

I loved the Deep Clearing mask I used with Manuka Honey and Tea Tree Oil so take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

I’ll be honest, I was a little wary of the honey and tea tree combination because I thought it would smell nasty. However, my first impression when I opened the packet was just how good it smelled! It was seriously like oats and honey and it made the rich and creamy texture feel that much more lush and nourishing. The mask was also really easy to apply, despite its thickness, and that is always a bonus because I hate having a struggle to even put the mask on.

I left this mask/cleanser on for about seven minutes and was curious to see how it would wash off. Like the application, the mask was a piece of cake to remove because it doubled as a cleanser too. As I washed it off, it was kind of foamy which helped take the mask off in its entirety without harsh scrubbing – it was really nice!

Yes, the mask application and removal process was the best out of the three Freeman masks I have tried… But how did it leave my skin feeling? The answer is: EXCELLENT! My skin felt so soft, my pores felt like they got a deep clean, and my skin tone looked perfectly even. I legit couldn’t stop rubbing my cheek because it was baby’s bottom smooth. 😀

I would absolutely recommend the Freeman Deep Clearing Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil Mask/Cleanser. I haven’t used a mask that left my skin feeling so nourished in a long time and I would be happy to use it again!

Which brand has the best face masks? How do you pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

New Hair Selfies

Posted on October 19, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hi! A little under two months ago, my hair stylist transformed my hair into a candy apple red and dandelion yellow delight. I am so obsessed with how it turned out and I have never gotten so many compliments on my hair before in my life. I realize that I have not uploaded some decent selfies of my new do and, while my sister and I road tripped to Pittsburgh, I was finally able to snap some because she was driving! Lol, check it out:

Now, I realize that two months is a long time to go without taking selfies but, believe you me, I have an explanation: COVID-19. Haha, Johnny and I don’t go anywhere and my clients and I rarely go out when I am working so I haven’t really had the need or desire to get full on “ready” AKA makeup, hair, and a cute outfit.

A road trip with my sister seemed like the perfect opportunity to go all out and, as luck would have it, it was kind of overcast when we were driving which is perfect selfie conditions! Kristen was laughing because she says I always take selfies in her car and it’s true, lol, I never seem to be the passenger in a car so when I am, I have to seize the opportunity!

I think that these new pics show off my hair perfectly and I also am so pleased with the adorable Cynthia Rowley sweater I got during my TJMaxx Fall Haul. Kristen and I had a great day and I can’t wait till we can go back to Pittsburgh in December for our microblading touch ups so I can go “all out” when I get ready again. 😀

Do you do your makeup less now because of COVID? How often do you take selfies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

La Marie Brow Club Update

Posted on October 18, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!!! Just about two years ago, I had my first microblading appointment at my cousin, Laura’s, studio in Pittsburgh called La Marie Brow Club. At the time, she was renting out the back of a tattoo studio to do her amazing work. Now, for the past year, she owns her own shop with multiple artists working there who specialize in permanent makeup.

Over the weekend, my sister and I went on a road trip so Laura could work her microblading magic on Kristen. Not only does my sister look fabulous but Laura’s new shop is so awesome I just had to share it with all of you! Kristen and I are both already itching to go back for our touch up appointments in December. 🙂

Check it out:

Laura’s last studio was the size of just one of her new microblading rooms in the new shop so this is a major upgrade for her and I am so proud. La Marie Brow Club is closed on Sundays and Laura opened up special for us so we could hang out and Kristen could get her brows done. We had the best time having hours on end of girl talk and pampering and it was so fun to catch up because the last time we saw Laura was on March 19th AKA when all of the bars and restaurants in Ohio closed.

After Kristen’s appointment, we all headed to Laura’s parents for a social distanced take out dinner and then we made our way home to flat Ohio from hilly Pittsburgh. As always, I can’t recommend Laura’s services enough and if you are in the area it is a must to get microbladed by the best!

My touch up appointment in December will be my third time getting microbladed and I seriously cannot wait for round three and road trip round two with Kristen. It was a great day! ❤

Do you have any permanent makeup done? Would you ever get microbladed? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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