Tag Archives: beauty

May24

My Beauty Hoard

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My Beauty Hoard

Hey! When it comes to most of my material pleasures in life, I am lucky enough to have a lot of them. A beautiful collection of shoes, clothing, and accessories help to turn me into the fashionista by day so that I can delve into my pajama collection at night. And, when it comes to beauty products, a collector I am, as well.

I have always been a firm believer in buying in bulk and having the products on hand when I need more, rather than running to the store every month to reup. I am also a firm believer in the power of coupons, freebies, and treasuring gifts from friends, which also helps add to my collection seen below:

hoard

Now, that may look like a lot of stuff – but what if I told you that about fifty percent of the above products were free? Check it out:

  • The three cleansers in the front: FREE
  • Every single mini lotion or shower gel: FREE
  • The three shower gels from The Body Shop: FREE
  • Two mini body butters: FREE
  • Charcoal mask from The Body Shop: FREE

Meanwhile, the other products were all bought on the cheap. For example:

  • The seven perfumes from Bath & Body Works were purchased for about twenty dollars all together.
  • The body butters and skin care were all bought at TJMaxx prices
  • And the remaining shower gels were all bought with coupons.

So, where did all of the free swag come from? The three cleansers and some of the mini lotions are compliments of Walgreen’s freebie bags that I received when purchasing my hair dye. I always wait to restock my boxed color until I get an email saying that Walgreen’s is running their freebie bag promotion with a certain amount of money purchased so that I can score some free goodies while buying a necessity.

All of the Bath & Body Works minis are thanks to the free travel sized coupons that I get from B&BW. Right now I have over sixty dollars worth of free product from there in my hoard and I always have them handy for gift giving occasions. And, the rest of my free products were gifts that I use frugally so that I don’t have to buy more of my favorites until I absolutely have to!

The rest of my hoard was all purchased with the help of coupons or the amazingly low prices of TJMaxx. Very rarely do I purchase anything at full price anymore – and why would I?! With the power of apps, reward programs, coupons, and sale promotions, it’s simple to save and create a collection of your own.

Who else has a beauty care hoard at home? How do you score the best freebies and deals? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May23

7 Deadly Sins Of Beauty Tag

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7 Deadly Sins Of Beauty Tag

Hi everyone and happy Hump Day! If there’s one thing that a Lil Red loves, it’s fun beauty and fashion questionnaires. And, when I stumbled upon the 7 Deadly Sins Of Beauty Tag, I had to give it a try. I found this post on my friend Sarah’s page, Sparkle & Mine, and it was such a creative idea for a beauty tag that I had to give it a go. Check it out and see how the 7 Deadly Sins turn into the topic for each question:

1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive? My most inexpensive beauty item is my eyebrow pencil. It is by Wet n’ Wild in a shade called Taupe Of The Morning and I pay a whole one dollar for it. AND it lasts me several months! My most expensive item is definitely my Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, which runs at twenty-three or twenty-four dollars. It’s steep, but I love my lashes when I use it and I try to make it last for as long as I can.

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? Hmmm… I don’t really know if I have a real love/hate relationship with any products that I use. I rarely branch out of the brands that I like and I’m not that adventurous when it comes to buying makeup so I’ve never really used anything that’s made me feel SOME TYPE OF WAY before.

3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products? My Cocoa Butter from The Body Shop. Hands down. It smells like the richest, creamiest milk chocolate fresh from the candy store. I also love their Fresh Picked Raspberry body butter, too. It smells like Lip Smackers and I’m obsessed.

4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness? So when I’m getting ready, I always do my skin care routine no matter what. But, if I’m feeling lazy that day, I won’t do my hair or makeup all together and go au natural. Painting your face every day gets exhausting so I definitely need some makeup free days throughout the week!

5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence? A bright, beautiful red lip, of course! Specifically my signature shade in NYX’s Pure Red Matte lippie.

6. LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex? Someone who’s tall. I love tall, lanky guys. Tattoos or piercings don’t hurt, either!

7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift? Oh, it doesn’t really matter to me. As long as I’m not paying for it, I’m happy to try out new products.

This tag was SO much fun to complete and do feel free to copy and paste the questions to answer on your page, too! How would you answer some of the above questions? What other beauty tags should I complete? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May22

Bath & Body Works May Freebie

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Bath & Body Works May Freebie

Hi! So Bath & Body Works finally sent me a freebie coupon after months of not receiving anything, so I was excited to run into the store and grab a travel sized lotion or shower gel. I was in a rush when I was in the store, and their new packaging definitely didn’t help, because I couldn’t tell what the idea was for any of their scents. Take a look and you’ll see what I mean:

gel

I really did like B&BW’s old packaging, because it let you know what the product would smell like without having to flip the lid. Now, you can’t tell what their scent would be like from anything and, frankly, I think the packaging looks cheap. I selected a new scent of theirs called Happy Vibes and it smelled okay. It’s a floral/citrus scent and the only reason why I selected it was because I was in a hurry. The flowers in this gel definitely overpowered any notes of citrus that you could smell, so I am not a huge fun. But, hey, it was free! 😀

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

May15

New Black & Lavender Glitter Nails

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New Black & Lavender Glitter Nails

Hi! Last week was such a treat for me, because I got to be pampered two days in a row. I finally was able to squeeze time in for a much needed haircut AND, the following day, I got a much needed fill for my talons. Needless to say, I’m really feeling myself. I even decided to throw some glitter like confetti on my claws for something a little different. Maybe it’s the new haircut confidence?! Check it out:

glitterr

Although I will always love my plain black nails and accent nail, I have to admit, this starry night style glitter is a lot of fun. I would even go as far to say that I’m obsessed! This tiny change was so exciting for me that now I’m considering going the matte route on my next fill for something edgy and cool.

It’s amazing what a confidence boost that a good haircut can give you, and I really think that it had something to do with my decision to switch things up a bit. And, even though change is scary for me, I’m not complaining in the slightest! 😀

What color of polish do you have on your nails or toes? What color should I get my accent nail on my next fill? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May12

Tiny Target Haul

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Tiny Target Haul

Heyyyy! This past week, Target was having a wonderful promotion where you got a five dollar gift card if you bought twenty dollars in self care products including makeup, shaving, skin, hair, and oral care. My mom and I decided to split the lot since she needed to restock on tooth paste and mouth wash and I wound up with these new skin care products:

target!

Although makeup shopping is fun, I live for skin care and trying out new products. I love the St. Ives scrubs more than life itself, and when I saw their newest Coconut & Coffee scrub, I was eager to give it a try. It smells amazing and, according to the container, it offers a deep clean which is exactly what I want when I use a facial scrub. I cannot wait to use this once I finish up the cleansing products that I’m currently using – but, I’m so excited that I might have to try it now!

I also ended up with a bottle of Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water, which came with a mini foaming gel cleanser for free. I am finishing up a bottle of Simple’s cleansing water at the moment and I’m not too impressed by it, but my sister loves the Garnier Micellar Water so I decided to go for it. It definitely didn’t hurt that they offered a freebie along with it, either! Regardless of not being blown away by micellar water in general, it’s a lot cheaper than eye makeup remover, so I’m a fan in that regard, for sure.

Has anyone used either of the products above that I purchased? What are your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May9

April Showers Brought May Flowers

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April Showers Brought May Flowers

Helloooo! May is probably one of my favorite months of the year, because I love spring weather and seeing all of the flowers in bloom. The crummy cold of April with the occasional snowfall and a lot of rain definitely brought us a glorious May in Ohio. The weather has been warm, the sun has been out, and the flowers peppering the neighborhood yards are beautiful and vibrant. Like the following floral delights at chez moi:

flowersflowers1flowers4flowers2flowers3

Both the front and back yard of my home are always overflowing with small wonders once the weather gets warm. Lovely tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils seem to be everywhere you look on ground. Meanwhile, if you tilt your head to the sky, you can see the tenants in one of our many birdhouses flying to and fro.

My favorite part of the yard, though, is our weeping cherry tree that seems to get more magnificent every year. I love being able to see the paper thin, pale pink blooms every day when I make my way to work as they sway in a gentle breeze. It is definitely the crown jewel of our front yard and it makes me happy every time I see the tree standing tall in its glory or even just a tiny petal floating in the air as the flowers begin to shed.

Which kinds of flowers are growing in your yard? What is spring weather like where you are located? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May8

Beauty Tag Questions

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Beauty Tag Questions

Hi everyone! A few months ago I filled out a really fun Beauty Tag that I shared with all of you. Recently, my friend Anushka over at Vogue & Vibes tagged me in the same questionnaire to complete. The post was such a blast to do and it had some really good questions in it, so I am going to repost my original Q & A to reintroduce you guys to it and maybe you’ll want to fill it out for yourself! Here it is, and thanks again to Anushka for tagging me!

Q & A:

1. Do you remember your first makeup item?

It’s not exactly a makeup but I had hella LipSmackers chapstick in my youth.

2. Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found one that fits your specifications?

I am obsessed with Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. It’s the jam.

3. What kind of coverage do you prefer from a foundation?

I don’t wear foundation. I never have.

4. Favorite high end brand?

I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a favorite, because I don’t wear a lot of high end products.

5. What cosmetics brands have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

None that I can think of.

6. Favorite drugstore brand?

NYX!!

7. Do you wear false lashes?

No, I’ve actually never tried them, either. They seem like such a pain to get on!!

8. Is there any kind of makeup you can’t leave the house without?

Nope, I feel pretty okay about leaving the house with a fresh face.

9. What is your most cherished beauty product?

My favorite NYX red lipstick.

10. How often do you shop for makeup? Do you like to pick up an item here and there, or get lots of goodies at once?

I pick up things as I need them, so maybe once every few months.

11. Do you have a “beauty budget” or do you spend freely?

I spend freely. I don’t spend money unless I’m comfortable paying for whatever it is, though.

12. Do you utilize coupons, reward cards, and sales when you shop for cosmetics?

HELL YEAH! I’m all about saving money, so I love utilizing anything that can help me do that.

13. What type of product do you buy the most of?

I feel like I purchase skin care more regularly than makeup, so I’m going to say moisturizer.

14. Is there a brand you absolutely can’t stand?

Not that I can think of.

15. Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics, like parabens or sulfates?

As long as the product is cruelty free, then I’m good.

16. Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?

Target, lol.

17. Do you like trying new skin care products or do you keep a certain routine?

I do have my staple skin care products that I will use for all eternity, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t like experimenting if I find a good deal or something new that I’d like to try.

18. Favorite bath and body brand?

The Body Shop.

19. If you could only buy from one brand, which brand would you choose?

The Body Shop, for sure. They’re a one stop shop and I use a lot of their products, anyway.

20. What brand do you think has the best packaging?

Hmm… I really don’t know.

21. Which celebrity always has great makeup?

It’s hard to say, because I don’t really pay attention.

22. Do you belong to any online makeup communities?

No.

23. Favorite beauty gurus:

I deeply admire the makeup skills behind the local drag queens in my neck of the woods.

24. Do you like multi-functional products like lip and cheek stains?

No. I’d prefer separate items.

25. Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

I used to be, but not too much any more. Only if I’m really tired am I clumsy. Today, for example, I accidentally spilled one of my facial oils in a sleepy stupor. I was so pissed!

26. Do you use makeup base/primer for the eyes?

Nope. The less products that I use, the better.

27. How many hair products do you use on a typical day?

I only wash my hair once a month, when I’m redyeing it. I wouldn’t even call it washing, because I just condition it with the product that comes in the box kit. So I don’t own any shampoo or conditioner. However, when I’m straightening my hair I do use heat protecting spray and styling oil.

28. What do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Neither, because I don’t use them.

29. Would you ever consider taking makeup classes?

Nah.

30. What do you love about makeup?

I love that it showcases the personality behind the person wearing it.

If you think that this questionnaire looks like fun, please feel free to fill it out and let me know so that I can see your answers! Much love. -Sarah

May2

Face Mask Festivities: CVS Avocado Oatmeal Clay Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: CVS Avocado Oatmeal Clay Mask Edition

Hey everyone and happy Hump Day! If there’s one thing a Lil Red loves, it’s a clay mask. I don’t buy them too often because I don’t use them too often, but the one that we’re discussing today was a hand me down from my beauty queen sister. It wasn’t the best, but it certainly wasn’t the worst, either. So, take a look and let’s get to it:

facemaskfacemask3facemask4facemask6

Okay, so a major pro of this mask was that it smelled awesome. It had a nice and creamy texture thanks to the avocado, but it’s scent was rich and sweet from the oatmeal. I have a love/hate relationship with the overall feel of this mask, though. I liked that the consistency of it was lighter than a standard clay mask. But, at the end of the day, I love a really thick texture. It’s a matter of preference, though. I love being able to take a bath and let a thicker mask soak in. It was impossible to do that with the CVS one, because it dried so quickly!

Although this product smelled really good, I am glad that I didn’t go out of my way to purchase it for myself. When I use a face mask, I’m only genuinely concerned about one thing: Blackhead removal. And, unfortunately, my blackheads were none of the better after using this mask even though it’s supposed to be a purifying one. Don’t get me wrong, my skin felt soft after using it and it will be nice to apply every once in a while. But, don’t expect a miracle in this face mask, because you aren’t going to get it.

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

May1

Bouquet Beauty

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Bouquet Beauty

Heyyy everyone and happy Mayday! With another lovely month of spring upon us, it only seems right to plaster lifewithlilred’s walls with a floral frenzy. It’s hard not to see a huge field of flowers, a lone rose, or a freshly picked bouquet and not smile. That’s basically how I’ve been feeling for the last few days since my hopeless romantic dad gifted my mom with this here bunch of flowers:

bouquet

Seeing this bright pink delight every time I walk into the kitchen is always a treat. Seeing the blooms of daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths all over the neighborhood is always a treat. And, spending another month with my beloved readers here on lifewithlilred is the best treat of all!

Happy May! ❤

What is your favorite month of the year? Are you doing anything special in the month of May? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

April 2018 Finishes

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April 2018 Finishes

Howdy! I hate to say it, but 2018 is moving at a rapid pace. With April drawing to a close, warm summer days will be on the horizon before we know it. As much as I’d love for time to slow down dramatically, that’s just not the way things work! Lovely May is just days away and that means that it’s time to see which beauty products I am saying bye bye to this month. Check it out:

aprill

Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Country Apple body spray: YES
  • Tresemme Botanique Damage Recovery hair product: YES
  • Jones New York body cream in White Tea: MAYBE

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Spray: We all know by now how much I love anything apple scented and Country Apple by Bath & Body Works will always be one of my faves. I buy this body spray in bulk for a whole three dollars during B&BW’s summer sales and it usually lasts me close to five months. Talk about a teeny tiny cost per use!

Tresemme Hair Product: I really, really liked this spray. 1) It smelled awesome. 2) It made my hair really shiny. And 3) It provided protection from heat while leaving my hair feeling soft and fresh. It took me at least six months to finish this product and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I plan on it once I finish up the oil that I’m currently using. I would definitely recommend this!

JNY Cream: I got this as a gift from my BFF for Christmas and I ended up really liking it. At first, I wasn’t too wild about the White Tea scent, but it ended up growing on me and by the time I finished my cream, I totally loved it. I love the texture of this product. It was thicker than a normal lotion but not as hard as a body butter by any means, which made applying it so easy. Despite the pillow soft texture, my skin still felt really hydrated and supple after each use and I got as least five full body uses out of the jar. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it again, but if I was gifted with it, then I would be really happy. 😀

Even though I didn’t finish up too many goodies this month, I enjoyed using all of my empties, which makes April a definite success!

Which beauty products did you finish up this month? Have you ever used any of my empties before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah