Tag Archives: beauty

Mar25

Miracle Skin Care Product: Clean & Clear Persa-gel 10 Edition

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Miracle Skin Care Product: Clean & Clear Persa-gel 10 Edition

Hello! As all of you know, Lil Red takes her skin care seriously. So, I’m sure you can understand how I would be frustrated when I was dealing with a cystic pimple that literally would not go away. No joke, I have been trying to get rid of this thing since September and used every face mask and cleanser you could think of to no avail. Sometimes the swelling would go down but, for the most part, the progress in eliminating it completely was stagnant.

That’s why I am absolutely thrilled with the Clean & Clear Persa-gel 10. After looking up the best treatments for cystic acne, I realized that this product with ten percent benzoyl peroxide was the way to go and the internet definitely wasn’t lying:

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Within two weeks of at least two to three uses per day, the Clean & Clear Persa-gel 10 has made the cystic pimple that I have been struggling with nonexistent. Of course, it has dried out my skin but that is a side effect that I am willing to deal with to finally conquer the problem.

I legitimately have never gotten so much as a pimple before so having one that just wouldn’t go away was a huge blow to my self esteem and I wish that I would have discovered the Persa-gel sooner. I am so thankful to have a blemish free face and plan on using the gel until I can’t feel the bump under my skin anymore. But, for now, the noticeable portion of the problem is gone and I could not be happier.

If you have a tough blemish, then I can’t recommend the Clean & Clear Persa-gel 10 enough and will continue to keep a tube handy at all times for emergencies!

What is one of your favorite miracle beauty products? How do you keep a clear complexion? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar21

Fairy Hair Pt. 2

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Fairy Hair Pt. 2

Hello! During my family vacation to North Carolina this past summer, I noticed a boutique offering “fairy hair” AKA hair tinsel. I was so charmed by the adorable name and the variety of colors of the tinsel that I just had to get some put in. I was absolutely obsessed and they added such a sweet, girly touch of fun to my locks.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and eventually the strands fell out. I simply refused to live without them, however, and ordered a hair tinsel kit off of Amazon identical to the one that the boutique in North Carolina had. I knew my hair stylist could do the fairy hair that I so desperately craved and she worked her magic the last time I got my hair cut.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and eventually the strands fell out. SO I GOT MORE PUT BACK IN LAST WEEK! Check it out:

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As per ushe, my stylist, Anna, knocked it out of the park. In fact, this time it is even better because she worked on her tinsel knotting technique and I have only had two fatalities thus far. Anna expertly layered the different hues of tinsel that showed up the best in my choppy new do and within a half hour or so my fairy hair was complete.

I was so happy with how my hair bling turned out and the compliments literally don’t stop, which is a major ego booster! I remember when fairy hair was a thing several years ago and I loved it then and I am still just as in love now. My next goal, you may ask? Bringing back hair feathers! Hopefully there will be a kit for that on Amazon… 😀

How do you like to spice up your hair style? Do you plan on getting your hair cut for the warm weather? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar19

Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Watermelon & Aloe Cooling Gel Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Freeman Watermelon & Aloe Cooling Gel Mask Edition

Hello! Every once in a while I like to treat myself to a new face mask to indulge in during my weekly night of pampering. I never spend too much money on them and, whether I liked the mask or not, I still tried something new and I love testing out different skin care products. At Five Below, they have a wonderful selection of Freeman face masks and I believe I paid four dollars for one of them. You definitely can’t beat that and I ended up purchasing a Watermelon & Aloe Cooling Gel Mask. Read on to find out more:

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I have never been too keen on gel face masks unless they are to be applied before going to bed. But, the Watermelon & Aloe Cooling Gel Mask just seemed way too refreshing to pass up. Not only will something like that feel good after a hot summer day but it will also help soothe my dry skin, compliments of surviving another Ohio winter. So, into the cart it went and I was looking forward to giving it a try.

First of all, this mask smelled amazing. It smelled exactly like the Watermelon Lip Smackers and it instantly perked me up when I took a whiff before my morning shower. The mask also felt cool to the touch immediately once it was squeezed on my hand and, as I applied it on my face and neck I was invigorated by the tingling, cooling sensation that I felt on my skin.

After washing it off in the shower, my skin definitely felt smoother and not as tight in the patches that are experiencing dryness. I was surprised at how well this face mask worked and I daresay that I like it better than the Freeman clay masks that I have tried. This mask didn’t promise miracles on its packaging but everything that it did have was 150% accurate and I can’t wait to use it again!

What is your favorite face mask? How about your favorite Freeman face mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar18

New Magenta & Gold Nails

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New Magenta & Gold Nails

Hello! Every month, I treat myself to getting my acrylics filled at Elysian Nails. It is my happy place and my happy time and I always leave the salon feeling like a million bucks. I also leave with the hopes that someone will try me so I can give them a good scratch! Lol, because I’ve been getting my nails done for forever, I am running out of inspiration for good color combinations. So, I revisited an old favorite of magenta and gold polish this time around. Check it out:

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I am, admittedly, a pretty flashy girl. I love the bling, I love being bold, and I love things that stand out, all reasons why I love my new nails. The glittery gold against the almost metallic magenta makes for an eye popping combination and they feel perfect for welcoming the spring weather with.

Now that I have the palms of my hands tattooed, keeping my nails fresh to death is a necessity because my unique ink is definitely a conversation starter everywhere I go. Lol, I have never been asked “did that hurt?” so much about anything in my life! This is a weird thing to say, but my decorated palms and nails make me feel so confident and it feels like putting on a show with every hair flip. Love it!

What color of polish do you have on? Which colors should I get next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color Swatch In Moonstone

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Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color Swatch In Moonstone

Hi! At the bridal expo my bestie and I attended they had so many damn vendors I thought we were never going to get through them all. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a bridal expo without your friendly neighborhood Mary Kay representative breathing down your throat. But, they had freebies! In their little goody bags, there was the lip gloss sample you saw yesterday and a single use eyeshadow application that we’ll look more closely at today:

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Let me start off by saying, that I have never seen an eyeshadow sample like Mary Kay’s before. The makeup was protected by a thin sheet of plastic and, once peeled off, you could help yourself to the eyeshadow underneath. I thought this was so clever and it’s a great way to test a color out without committing to the purchase. And, god forbid you end up not liking the color you buy!

Having said that, this eyeshadow sucked lol. At first glance, it looks like this pretty pale yellow mixed with fairy dust. Then, on application, it just looked white with a ton of shimmer and I would never wear anything like that… Even when I was a teenager I didn’t wear anything like that! It also wiped off completely with one gentle swipe of a dry paper towel, so do with that info what you will.

Although I wouldn’t wear this as an eyeshadow, I thought it might make for a pretty highlighter. But, that’s what buying a highlighter is for! I give this Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Moonstone a big fat WHOMP WHOMP and I can guarantee you that you would have better luck with makeup from the dollar store.

Which brand of makeup do you find overrated? How do you rock a shimmery MOTD? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar16

Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss Swatch In Fancy Nancy

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Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss Swatch In Fancy Nancy

Hello! My best friend, Lea, will be tying the knot in October and I am so honored to be a part of her special day as one of her bridesmaids. From a DIY wine and paint night and bridesmaid dress shopping to attending a bridal expo with Lea and her family, it feels good to bond even closer to my bestie and become friends with the rest of her wedding party.

I didn’t write about the bridal expo we attended but, I’ve gotta tell you, it was really something. Lol and by something I mean it was totally overwhelming. The IX Center in Cleveland was completely packed by vendors and brides to be and it was major sensory overload for me. But, the bagful of free goodies I ended up with from visiting the different vendors made being packed in like sardines somewhat worth it!

I walked away with a reusable tote bag full of candies, chapsticks, BBQ sauce of all things, and some makeup samples including the following by Mary Kay:

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My first and only experience with Mary Kay makeup left much to be desired so I wasn’t particularly excited to try out the Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss in Fancy Nancy. However, the rose gold hue shining through the package looked pretty and I was interested in seeing it more closely.

I am not a big lip gloss girl and much prefer smooth matte lipstick over a sticky gloss any day. The Nourishine formula wasn’t “I spilled juice and forgot to clean it up” level sticky but halfway between that and a chapstick. In my opinion, it was still too much for me but it definitely applied smoother than the other glosses I’ve tried.

Despite not loving the texture, I absolutely adore the color and would be willing to try it in a lipstick, for sure. The over the top glitter gives a fresh, summery tangerine shine in the light and I think that it would look so charming for rooftop drinks with the girls come the hot weather. Would I go out of my way to order the Mary Kay brand? No. But I will definitely be keeping my eye out for something similar!

How do you feel about Mary Kay? Have you ever been part of a wedding party? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Pampering Party: My Perfect Night Off

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Pampering Party: My Perfect Night Off

Hellooo! I lead a pretty busy life. Between running two businesses, my boyfriend, and going here, there, and everywhere for work it’s important to me to still make time to take care of myself. That’s why, without fail, I always look forward to my Tuesday nights. Of course, I don’t love not seeing my MAN but I never say no to an opportunity to soak in the tub!

Tuesday is my busiest day of my already busy week. I see three out of my four clients and am normally gone for anywhere between ten to twelve hours. So, trust and believe that as soon as I come tiredly stumbling into my apartment around eight in the evening that bath water is on within thirty seconds. And, the best part?! I got a new hot water tank in my apartment so no more lukewarm baths for me. 😀

This past week, I got to enjoy my first bath in a month of Sundays that didn’t turn into ice water five minutes later. It. Was. Magnificent. During my soak, I am able to shave, decompress, and get myself relaxed enough for sleep after a long day of going nonstop. And, then, I put on some lotion, dress in my comfiest pajamas, and tuck in with a good book or Netflix show before bed.

Although this is a pretty basic way to spend an evening, there is seriously nothing better to me. I love being able to do something nice for myself after doing for others all day and it just hits the spot every time. Working in an evening just for me is one of the best things that I can do for myself and I encourage all of you to try and do the same!

What is your perfect night off like? 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

Mar4

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! Post Christmas, I had a huge skin care haul at TJMaxx, thanks to the numerous gift cards I received from my family and friends. I bought myself a three month supply of all of the skin care that I need in my daily routine and, now that March is officially upon us, my stock pile has run dry. So, I had to snag a few moisturizers and serums to maintain my regimen:

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The Haul:

  • 2 SkinLab Lift & Firm Moisturizers
  • Valjean Labs Revive Day Serum
  • Provence Beauty Ferulic Acid Day Serum

While shopping skin care this time around, I wasn’t so worried about finding moisturizers as I was with finding serums. I am obsessed with the SkinLab products and TJMaxx always has a healthy supply of their moisturizers, so I was able to grab two more of the Lift & Firm formula, which is what I have been hooked on.

Unfortunately, SkinLab’s Lift & Firm Serum was a bust because the one fluid ounce size had nowhere near the longevity that I look for in a product. I was using up one bottle in three weeks and, for seven dollars a pop, I am not okay with that. So, I went for a few new serums, instead.

Whenever I see a Vitamin C formula for a serum, I tend to gravitate towards it because radiant skin is important to me. I have used a different Provence Beauty serum before and was really pleased with it so I decided to give one of their other formulas a shot. Valjean Labs isn’t a brand I’m familiar with but, it reminded me of my niece’s name which is Valerie Jane so it can’t be all that bad, right?! 😉

Once again, TJMaxx answered all of my skin care needs and I can’t wait to work old and potentially new favorites into my routine!

What is your favorite skin care brand? What is important for you when it comes to skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar3

Hot Topic Hair Accessory Haul

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Hot Topic Hair Accessory Haul

Hi! It is no secret that I love hair accessories. From cute clips and scrunchies to barrettes and headbands, there is nothing better to add a healthy dose of adorable to your OOTDs. I, personally, am at a crossroads with my hair as I am torn between growing it out or just chopping it off, yet again. So, while I make this decision, I have been addicted to buying hair accessories to keep me in love with my hair even though I am not thrilled with it.

While shopping a sale at a Hot Topic near me that is closing, I couldn’t say no to some darling Disney inspired hair bling to spice up my do. And, hopefully, they will keep me feeling confident until I can *finally* make it to the hair salon on Friday. Check it out:

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I have loved the idea of hair chopsticks for forever but never saw any in a store until my shopping trip over the weekend. There is something so elegant but insanely trendy about hair sticks and, although I’ll be sporting bedazzled feathers, my mind always goes to a boss babe in the office throwing her hair into a bun and sticking pencils into it. Too. Cute. I have been wearing my hair up more often now that it’s getting longer and I can definitely see myself popping these babies in next time I’m too lazy to do my hair… Which is often. -___-

I have ALSO always loved the idea of hair cuffs like the Maleficent inspired raven one seen above. Once upon a time, I used to have two cuffs in blue and brown with a lovely, earthy pattern on them. Of course, I have no idea where they are now but, I have been on the hunt for something similar since delving into the hair accessory worm hole. I am so obsessed with the one I found because it is the edgy update that I’ve been waiting for since the cuffs I had in grade school. And, what’s wrong with wanting to channel your inner Angelina Jolie as Maleficent? Case in point.

The amethyst hair fork was kind of an impulse purchase. I can honestly say that I have no clue how to style my hair with it but the directions say to tuck a ponytail into it or something and that could be cute?! I’m sure I’ll figure it out but, if not, that’s what YouTube tutorials are for, amiright? 😀

There is nothing like some fun new hair accessories to shake the countdown to your hair cut blues and I think these pretty goodies from Hot Topic definitely did the trick!

Where do you like to shop for hair accessories? Does anyone know how to use a hair fork?! I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb26

February 2020 Finishes

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February 2020 Finishes

Hi! After what seemed like five months of January, we are already at the end of our second month of the new year. I blinked and February was over but so much fun stuff happened this month! I had a wonderful Valentine’s Day weekend with my boyfriend, I was in a music video (More to come later!), and enjoyed some great practices at the skating rink. I’m already looking forward to what March has in store but, first, let’s check out my February finishes:

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Would I Use Again:

Why/Why Not?

TBS Treatment: I absolutely LOVE the Tea Tree Pore Minimiser by The Body Shop. This wonder product not only helps shrinks pores but leaves my skin with the most perfect matte finish, which gives me flawless skin with no makeup. The Pore Minimiser has always been one of my favorites by TBS and I was so stoked when I found it at TJMaxx. One tube lasted me about one and a half months and I am hoping that there are more available to purchase next time I go to TJs!

SkinLab Serum: The more I use this serum, the less crazy I am about it. This probably stems from the fact that I only get about three weeks of usage from one bottle. As someone who balls on a budget, I hope for a little more longevity out of a product, especially one that’s seven bucks a pop! I don’t think that I would buy this serum again unless I had no other options and am excited to try out something new once I finish up my last bottle of Lift & Firm.

SkinLab Moisturizer: Despite not being crazy about the serum, I love the Lift & Firm moisturizer by SkinLab. It takes me at least one month to finish the jar and I am really enjoying this cream while it’s still cold out because it’s a bit heavier. Although the consistency is thicker than what I normally use, this moisturizer absorbs quickly, sits well under makeup, and I highly recommend it.

Not too many empties this month, but I just have a feeling that there will be a ton in March so get ready for it!

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