Tag Archives: beauty

Nov9

New Burnt Orange & Tiffany Blue Nails

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New Burnt Orange & Tiffany Blue Nails

Howdy!! This past Tuesday I enjoyed my monthly break time fill appointment at Elysian Nails. While I absolutely loved my pink and purple nails for my Candy Queen Halloween costume, I was definitely ready to add some fall colors to the mix – especially after getting my hair darkened up for the season. I had a few ideas in my head of what I might like to have for a fall palette. Oddly enough, it was a combination that I live for in the summer… but with a twist, of course! Check it out:

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As soon as the warm weather hits, I instantly want bright blue and orange nails. There is just something about that combo that hits different and it screams fun in the sun. As I contemplated fall nails, I thought about how I wanted something that strayed from the traditional autumnal hues of gold, burgundy, and deep purple. So, I took my go to summer palette and turned it fall. My original plan was to use burnt orange and a deep teal or turquoise. However, none of the shades of blue at the nail polish wall along those parameters spoke to me. In fact, none of the orange ones were either.

When I didn’t have immediate luck, I almost pivoted to an orange and purple motif but that felt too much like Halloween. So, I kept on digging for what I really wanted and ended up finding the perfect shade of burnt orange. The blue hue I was looking for continued to evade me so I threw my hands up, selected a Tiffany blue, and made my way to my tech’s station. My nails were back to their former glory after being expertly repaired, shaped, and sharpened. I still wasn’t sure how the colors were going to turn out, but at least my stilettos were on point!

Happily, these summer inspired fall nails came out even better than I could have hoped. I was slightly worried when the burnt orange applied way darker than what was seen in the bottle. This ended up working out though because the blue was much lighter than what I planned for and added some brightness to the burnt. Now, if only I could find a sweater in that burnt orange shade because I am obsessed!

What are your nails and hair like for the holidays? What is your favorite fall color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov6

New Hair, Who Dis?

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New Hair, Who Dis?

Hello! At the end of October, I was finally able to get my hair done for fall and I couldn’t wait. I was SO ready to kick my summer colors to the curb and welcome fall with some jewel toned locks. My stylist, Anna, and I were beyond excited to play with the color palette we established beforehand because Pulp Riot came out with some glorious new hues for their fall collection. While I was eager to see our vision come to life, I was most looking forward to getting my beloved navy blue back because I missed it terribly! Check it out:

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^^^ Lol at the blooper shot last picture but you can see all the colors really well! 😀

Pulp Riot Colors Used:

Red: This was a mixture of a new color called Vintage Vegas and Pyro

Melon: Another new color called Eloped

Navy Blue: Nightfall

It can take upwards of five or so hours to get my hair done depending on what colors we are using. In this case, it was a very speedy trip to the Shear Shop indeed. This new do only took about three and a half hours… So speedy-ish lol. The major drop in time had to do with the minimal amount of bleaching that needed to happen to eliminate the remnants of yellow, pink, and red from my summer hair. After the bleach sat for around twenty minutes and was washed, all Anna needed to do was paint the color on. And, despite the relative shortness of my appointment, Anna’s attention to detail never faltered. (As always, she’s the best!)

The first order of business was to paint my roots and its regrowth with the mixture of Vintage Vegas and Pyro. This is not only flattering but highly practical. My natural hair color is medium brown and my regrown roots never look as bad when it is paired next to the deeper red. The next thing Anna did was apply Eloped directly beneath the red on my shorter layers. Eloped is, perhaps, one of our new favorite Pulp Riot colors. We were so enamored by the melon hue and our only regret is that it wasn’t available during the summertime. Finally, Anna finished up the hair dye process by painting the rest of my hair with Nightfall and we let the color sit for fifty minutes.

The cool thing about Pulp Riot colors is that what you see when the dye is on is very true to what you are going to get once it’s washed off. Of course, there is some give or take variance but you’re never going to be completely shocked by the outcome. Anna and I had a very positive inkling as to the results thanks to this preview but there is nothing better than seeing the final product once it is washed, cut, and styled. The deep navy and red were so rich and a fresh spin was put on a fall palette with the pop of melon from Eloped. Before leaving, Anna told me her grand plans for my next appointment and I wish I was back in her chair already to try out some more new colors!

I am unbelievably happy with how my hair turned out and I intend on keeping it dark for the foreseeable future. The regrowth from my summer hair was no joke and so not cute!

What is your favorite fall color? Which brand of hair dye do you use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct27

October 2024 Finishes

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October 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! Just like that, October is about to draw to a close and that means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. This is going to be a short and sweet post as there really isn’t too much to chat about. I used up several long term products last month and am still working away at their replacements. I did, however, try one new thing that I fell in love with so take a look and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Collagen + Retinol Serum: NO

Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Lavender & Iris Body Butter: YES!!!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: You already know the Calypso Clementine from Bath & Body Works is a forever use again product. Anyone who is a fan of citrus scents like me will love it! It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the bottle.

Provence Beauty Serum: It took me one month of twice daily use to finish the Collagen + Retinol serum by Provence Beauty and it was just okay for me. I have used several serums by Provence Beauty and they tend to be hit or miss so this wasn’t too much of a shock. I didn’t notice any difference to my skin one way or the other and will be skipping on it if I ever see it again at TJMaxx.

Jergens Lotion: A really cool thing about one of the Targets in my area is that there is always a basket of free travel size products at customer service. My mom snagged the Jergens lotion for me during her last visit and I was delighted because you can’t go wrong with that brand! My skin was smooth and hydrated as can be with each use and I can’t get enough of the rich, creamy scent.

B&BW Body Butter: While I enjoy lotions and creams, body butter always reigns supreme. The body butter from The Body Shop was my favorite thing to treat myself with and, unfortunately, their products are no longer available in the US. I never bothered with another brand of body butter but decided to try B&BW’s during their Semi-Annual Sale. I’m so glad I did because the Calm Haven Lavender & Iris was divine.

Normally, I am not a lavender girl whatsoever but this body butter really didn’t smell like traditional lavender. The scent was soft, light, and soothing rather than overpowering. The texture of the product was whipped, applied easily, absorbed quickly, and I woke up to puppy fur soft skin every morning. It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the jar and I would happily use it again!

Even though there wasn’t too much to my October Finishes, my skin was ultra soft from the products that I did use up and that is a huge win during cold weather. I’ll take it!

Which products did you finish up this month? 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

Oct23

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Skin Care?

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Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Skin Care?

The use of the right skincare products is vital for the long-term health of your skin. But how do you know whether they are actually working? It’s important to be aware of how well your skin is able to absorb the things that you’re putting on it. Today, we’re going to look at some of the tips that can improve the absorptive qualities of your skin, and why it matters so much:

Ensure Your Skin Is Clean:

One of the most important steps in making sure your skincare products are effective is starting with clean skin. Cleansing your face removes dirt, oil, and impurities that can create a barrier between your skin and the products you apply. When your skin is clean, it can better absorb active ingredients like serums, moisturizers, or toners. A mild cleanser tailored to your skin type should be used both morning and night to ensure that your skin is fresh and ready for the next step in your routine. This simple step sets the stage for the rest of your skincare products to penetrate effectively and work as intended.

Exfoliation Is Key:

Exfoliating regularly is another key factor so that your skincare products can perform their best. Dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your face, blocking the absorption of serums and moisturizers. By exfoliating, whether through physical exfoliants like scrubs or chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs, you remove this layer of dead skin, allowing your products to sink in deeply and work more efficiently. It’s important to choose an exfoliant that suits your skin’s sensitivity and to use it consistently but not excessively, as over-exfoliating can cause irritation.

Improve Your Skin’s Texture:

Improving your skin’s texture can also help maximize the benefits of your skincare products. Expert skin treatments like micro-needling, which involves creating tiny punctures in the skin can stimulate collagen production and improve the absorption of products by enhancing their penetration. This procedure not only helps with skin texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and pores, but it also ensures that serums and moisturizers can be more effective. Micro-needling is a professional treatment, but at-home tools like derma rollers can offer similar benefits when used correctly.

Use the Right Amount:

Remember that more product isn’t always better. Using too much of a product, such as moisturizer, can lead to an undesirable greasy film on your skin, which may prevent your other products from being absorbed properly. Following the recommended amount for each product, whether it’s a pea-sized drop of serum or a dime-sized amount of moisturizer, allows your skin to get just the right amount of hydration or treatment without being overwhelmed. Finding the right balance is key to achieving the best results.

With the tips above, you can make sure that your skin is able to effectively absorb the products that you’re putting on it!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct22

New Hair Sneak Peek

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New Hair Sneak Peek

Hello!! My preferred form of self care definitely falls under the “pampering” category. I love getting my hair and nails done, getting dressed up, and shopping for pretty little somethings to spoil myself with. Whenever I am done with any of these treats, I feel like a billion bucks and nobody can tell me NOTHING – especially after getting my hair done. This Friday, I have an appointment at the Shear Shop with my beloved stylist, Anna, to transform my hair. A few weeks before it’s time for me to come in, Anna will message me and we’ll discuss what I would like and she sends me different color options which she orders just for me. I don’t want to speak prematurely, but I think this is going to be one of my favorite hair makeovers yet! Check it out:

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^^^ The “10” shades will be more true to what my hair will look like as it is the colors after bleaching!

Anna has been my stylist for over two decades and she knows me and my personal style like the back of her hand. For example, she predicted without me even hinting at it that I wanted to go back to dark hair after my summer colors of red, pink, and yellow. She was so right. I have been itching to get back to darker hues because the regrowth of my natural dark brown hair looks hit with lighter colors. After that matter was settled, she sent me pictures of some gorgeous new Pulp Riot shades. We have been loyal to Pulp Riot ever since the first time Anna used it on my hair. The colors are vibrant, the dye smells like Sweet Tarts, and it creates hair magic without fail every time.

The one color I was particularly entranced with was Eloped, but I wasn’t sure how that would mesh with the shade I had in mind. One of my favorite Pulp Riot colors ever is Nightfall (navy) and I want it back desperately. And, of course, I need some red mixed in there too! I told Anna as such and she fired back with the most stunning color story combining Eloped, Nightfall, and a new red hue called Vintage Vegas. I literally clutched my pearls because it was absolutely perfect. With that, Anna placed the order for my dye and all I have to do is count down the minutes until I can be in her chair to make it happen!

It’s natural to be nervous when you make a drastic change to your hair, but I never am. Anna is a true master of her craft and I know I am in the best, most capable hands. I am on pins and needles to see the outcome with these divine new Pulp Riot colors!

Do you have a close relationship with your hair stylist? How long have you been going to them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct21

Dr. Wellness Lip Balm Review

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Dr. Wellness Lip Balm Review

Hello! My favorite brand of chapstick has got to be Pacifica. I was introduced to it a year or so ago at TJMaxx and have loyally used the brand ever since thanks to their multipack on Amazon. I am one of those people that always needs to have lip chap on them. I have one by my bed, one by my computer, and one in my purse. In the past week, I have reached the bottom of the tube on literally every chapstick I own. It feels like such an accomplishment to finish an entire chapstick, but it was terrible because I was legit jonesing for more lol. During my skin care haul at TJMaxx, there were no tubes of Pacifica to be found, but I did purchase a multipack by a brand I have never used before called Dr. Wellness:

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I was drawn to the pretty packaging on this chapstick set, the price was nice at five dollars, and it came with five tubes so I could replace my fallen friends and still have two extras. I thought it was a total steal and couldn’t wait to try them out! My first impression upon my first application was honestly that it wasn’t as good as my beloved Pacifica. That’s not to say that it wasn’t good, though, and I liked it more and more with each use. Actually, these Dr. Wellness balms are kind of amazing. In just one swipe on your lips, full coverage is achieved with a pillowy soft balm. And, even after the product has absorbed, my lips still felt smooth and hydrated without needing a reapplication. I have a hunch that these balms are going to be a total lifesaver come winter!

I always prefer a scented balm so let’s discuss the smell good factor for each of them:

Berry: If you recall the scent of the Mixed Berry Lipsmackers, then that is exactly what the Dr. Wellness Berry lip chap smells like. I can especially detect the raspberries, which is great because that is one of my favorite fragrances!

Pink Grapefruit: Grapefruit scents tend to be hit or miss for me because they can be overly pungent. I love this lip balm’s scent, though! It is bright and zingy without burning my nasal passages and is actually my favorite one of the bunch.

Mint: I am a huge fan of mint scented anything and nothing will ever be “too minty” for me. Unfortunately, the mint scent of this balm is light. Really light, as a matter of fact, and it certainly left me wishing for way more oomph.

Aloe: I was expecting the Aloe balm to be relatively scentless and, happily, that wasn’t the case. The Aloe lip chap smells a lot like cucumber melon which was a pleasant surprise. It is a close second favorite after Pink Grapefruit.

Cooling Water: Now, the Cooling Water is what I expected the Aloe balm to smell like: Not much of anything lol. It has the softest hint of a fresh rainwater scent but that is about it.

These Dr. Wellness balms might not be from my go to brand and after a few uses, that was a-okay. I would definitely recommend buying a tube or two to combat chapped lips this winter!

Do you have chapstick stations in your house? What is your favorite lip balm brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hello!!! During my Tuesday afternoons, I have an hour and a half or so in between shifts of time to kill. Usually, I will spend it posted up in a cafe working on the computer. If I don’t have much to do online, I will read a book or graphic novel OR go to TJMaxx as it is right next to the cafe. I’m sure you all can guess what my preferred option is! This past Tuesday was one of those days where I didn’t have much of anything to do and nothing to read, either. So, TJs it was to knock out some holiday shopping! I completed purchases for several people on my list and I didn’t even look at clothes – shocking, I know. I did, however, need to reup my skin care stock pile so I walked away with some goodies for me too:

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^^^ All of these products are cruelty free!!

Nothing will ever please me more than a good clothing haul. Skin care is a very close second, though! I absolutely love the skin care department of TJMaxx and it is a very rare occasion that I don’t find everything I need and then some when it’s time to replenish products. My general rule of thumb when it comes to skin care is to get three of everything – moisturizers, serums, and eye creams. Then, I don’t have to keep returning back every month for more (No matter how much I would like to!). I haven’t had a skin care haul since the end of May and according to my normal time frame, I was right on time to find what I hope will be some new favorite products and brands!

When I started perusing the skin care department, I was already a happy girl. The shelves were stocked to the brim with bottles and jars and it was like the staff knew I would be in for a visit! In no time at all, my cart was full of five dollar or less products to keep my skin care on lock beyond the new year. I ended up with three moisturizers, two serums, two eye creams, a cleanser, micellar water, and some desperately needed lip balm. I realize this doesn’t follow my rule of threes but my stock pile wasn’t completely bare before this haul. I am really looking forward to trying the Dirty Works moisturizers because I have never used that brand but have always been interested in testing it out. What I am most excited for is the lip balm, though. In this past week, I have finished almost all of the lip chap I have been painstakingly working through which was highly inconvenient albeit highly satisfying. 😀

Stay tuned for new product reviews coming soon here on lifewithlilred and we’ll find out what works and what doesn’t together!

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

Oct6

Bath & Body Works October Freebie

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Bath & Body Works October Freebie

Hello!! I received a freebie coupon for a hand cream at Bath & Body Works and was able to stop in after my nail appointment on Tuesday to snag it. I was on cloud nine – a fresh fill, a little treat, and I still made it to work with ample time to spare. Everything was coming up Lil Red! Better yet, I was in and out of B&BW in literally two minutes without having to explain to an employee that I was only there for the freebie lol. What can I say, I keep my bath and body care well stocked! As I had no desire to linger, I grabbed the first hand cream I saw without giving it the old sniff test. So, let’s find out what Platinum smells like together…

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The consensus? Platinum smells… fine lol. According to B&BW’s website, their description for what it smells like is “a mesmerizing vibe you can’t help but be drawn to” and offers notes of “sparkling bergamot, silver blooms, and patchouli musk”. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a mesmerizing vibe because I feel like it doesn’t smell like anything! I get a whiff of a slightly floral fragrance but that’s about it. Honestly, that’s fine too because this scent had the potential to be overly pungent which is something I can’t stand for. I will say that the packaging is cute AF and Platinum would be a safe bet if you’re purchasing for someone else as there wasn’t much to like or dislike.

PS: If you are already in holiday mode, B&BW is previewing their seasonal collections in store and online. In fact, I hardly saw any Halloween scents in store and it feels like I just had my spooky roundup yesterday. My, how time flies in the retail world!

Would I go out of my way to get Platinum again? Hard no, but free is free!

What is your favorite seasonal scent? Where do you get your bath and body care from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct5

New Light Pink & Purple Shimmer Nails

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New Light Pink & Purple Shimmer Nails

Hi! I live for my monthly break time fills at Elysian Nails and had an appointment this past Tuesday. I am also getting my hair done later this month so LOOK OUT because your girl is about to be feeling her goddamn self. During Treat Day with my niece, I asked her what colors I should get my nails and she suggested pink and purple. She read my mind because that’s exactly what I planned on doing! Check it out:

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I’m not sure if I mentioned what mine and Johnny’s Halloween costumes are so if I did, sorry for repeating myself lol. He is going to be Lord Licorice and I will be a Candy Queen inspired by Candyland. It is going to be cute as can be and I am SO excited to order my costume! As you might have guessed, what I picked out primarily features pink and purple so I needed nails to match the vibe. When I approached the nail polish wall, I found two perfect shades of shimmery pink and purple sitting side by side. It was like they were waiting just for me! 😀

As per ushe, my tech did a bang up job and exceeded her former personal best on my nails. She was done in one hour flat and that provided me with the time to actually sit and wait for my nails to dry, run an errand, and still get to work on time. It was absolutely amazing! Boy, did the hour fly by too. We spent the entire sesh gabbing about the Monsters series on Netflix as we both had recently binged the two seasons. Like everything about this appointment, it was exactly what I needed because I really wanted to talk about the show with someone. That ish was CRAZY. 😮

My nails are fully prepped for Halloween and my hair is next. I can’t wait for all of you (and myself) to see the end result!

What color of nail polish are you rocking? What are you going to be for Halloween? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

September 2024 Finishes

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September 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! Just like that, September draws to a close which means it’s time to discuss my beauty empties for the month. This was a particularly good product roundup as I used up a lot of long term skin and bath and body care, allowing me to try something new afterwards. I always look forward to browsing in my beauty department as soon as a product is complete! Let’s take a gander at my September Finishes and chat a bit more:

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Would I Use Again?

Harlowe’s Shop Goat Milk & Honey Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Sun-Washed Citrus Shower Gel: YES

Ellen Tracy Toner: NO

Clinical Works Toner: NO

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Skin Assistant Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid Day Cream: YES!!!!!!!!!!

Simple Soothing Eye Balm: MAYBE

Malie Body Cream: NO

Why/Why Not?

Harlowe’s Shop Body Cream: I am a HUGE fan of the Cherry Almond lotion by Jergen’s and if you are too, then you will absolutely love the Goat Milk & Honey body cream by Harlowe’s Shop. My mom gave this to me as a hand me down so I only got one week of use out of the bottle. In that time, however, I woke up to insanely soft skin every single morning. The scent was a bit softer than Jergen’s but highly reminiscent of it and I would happily use this body cream again. It would be so perfect for combating dry skin during the wintertime!

Toners: I purchased the toners by Ellen Tracy and Clinical Works when TJMaxx had none of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water available. It took me about three weeks to finish each bottle and I was not impressed by either of them in the slightest. It really did just feel like splashing my face with water and I definitely wouldn’t spend money for that sensation again lol. These toners are something you can skip on and I promise you, you won’t be missing anything.

Skin Assistant Moisturizer: Now, this moisturizer – I loved. In fact, it is one of the best ones that I have used in recent memory. This jar took me almost THREE MONTHS to finish with day and night use, which is an amazing value. During that expansive tenure, I enjoyed every single use. This moisturizer left my skin feeling so soft and it looked and felt so much brighter and refreshed. A little went an incredibly long way, it fully absorbed within minutes, and sat well under makeup. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that TJMaxx will have it again because I plan on buying the lot. Yeah, it’s that good!

Simple Eye Balm: Like the aforementioned moisturizer, the Simple Soothing Eye Balm also took me about two and a half months to finish with twice daily use. Unlike the last Simple eye cream I used, this one was just okay for me. I did feel like under eye puffiness and bags were reduced, but the results certainly didn’t blow me away. If this was the only option available for eye cream, I suppose I would buy it again. It’s nothing to write home about, though.

Malie Body Cream: Normally, I wouldn’t take the time to do a review on a random travel size product BUT this is one I need to talk about lol. The Malie Body Cream was another hand me down from my mom and it really confused me. I, of course, think of lotion when I see body cream on packaging. But, whatever this was felt SO much like a shower gel that I genuinely don’t know what to think – it even bubbled on slightly damp skin! It did make my skin feel softer, but I just can’t get behind the texture of it!

Despite a few duds in the mix, I got to use so many new to me products and I love being able to do that. It’s also always going to be a GREAT SUCCESS when I find a moisturizer that I, without a doubt, would use again!

Which products did you use up this month? 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