Tag Archives: haul

Sep4

Small Sephora Shopping

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Small Sephora Shopping

Hello! Literally hours before I fell ill last week, I did a spot of shopping at Sephora to get myself a new highlighter and grab a full sized item that I fell in love with after using a tester in my Play! box. If you remember from my unboxing of the goodie bag, then you will know that the product that I’m talking about is the IGK Hydrating Hair Balm in Mistress. It is absolutely divine and is what we will be talking about in this post, as I will be swatching the highlighter tomorrow. Check it out:

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Now, normally, I would never pay TWENTY-NINE DOLLARS for a tube of hair product, but, then, I remembered that it took me three weeks to finish the tester and sometimes I used it twice a day. So, a little obviously goes a long way. I suspect that I will have this product for close to a year and that makes the initial, somewhat expensive investment, well worth it.

And, the fact that this balm kicks ass makes the investment worth it, too. My hair had three weeks of feeling simply lustrous and I would be a monkey’s uncle if I gave that up! The coconut oil in IGK’s leave in conditioner gives it a rich, creamy smell without being too perfumey or overpowering. It leaves your hair with the perfect amount of sleekness and shine but it doesn’t weigh it down, so your locks will still be able to maintain body and volume. Frizzy days are definitely a thing of the past thanks to Mistress, and your hair will look and feel like you got it done at the salon after styling it with each use.

I put a dime size dollop into my hair after my shower and by the time I’m ready to straighten it, the product is locked, loaded, and ready for action. I love the shine that my hair has from using this IGK balm and it feels so silky to the touch all day. It’s like you don’t even have anything in your hair. So consider it our little secret, okay? 🙂

Tomorrow, we’ll swatch my new highlighter from Sephora’s Golden Hour collection called Dusk. But, for now, what is your favorite hair product to use? What is one of your at home remedies for perfect hair? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug24

Posh Polishes Pt. 2: Londontown Haul

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Posh Polishes Pt. 2: Londontown Haul

Hi everyone! I hope that all of you are having a great week and are looking forward to an exciting weekend ahead of you. Londontown is back with a vengeance for their Fall 2019 collection featuring hues that are so rich and vibrant that I promise you’ve never seen anything like it before. And, did I mention that all of their products are vegan and cruelty free so that you can buy their products guilt free? Yeah, I said it! Londontown’s Fall 2019 collection will make you feel so posh and downright sexy, so I better get to showing the shades off before the anticipation drives you mad! Check it out:

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Seen from top to bottom:

Vendetta: This deep scarlet shade is so fetching for fall and sticks true to its namesake, because nothing makes me think of a Vendetta more than a striking shade of dark red. Londontown keeps this color cool with blue undertones but, don’t let that fool you, because Vendetta is red hot.

Kissed By Rose Gold: The slogan for Londontown’s Fall 2019 collection is “Back with a vengeance”, and it sure does it sweetly with Kissed By Rose Gold. This gorgeous metallic shade gives you just the right amount of sparkle and edginess, emulating this past year’s “it” color to perfection.

Jane Austen: A true heroine wouldn’t be complete without a signature shade, and that’s where Jane Austen comes in. This light hued lavender gives you romance, but the smokiness to it adds drama and mystery. Long story short, I’m sure Jane Austen would approve!

Iconic: Go ahead and make a statement with Iconic, an electric blue that’s sure to shock! This shade allows you to bring some brightness to a grey fall day in a way that’s chic and fashion forward. Revel in the stares and compliments, because this shade is totally Iconic.

Can’t settle on one shade? Fear not! All of these colors compliment each other well, so feel free to give yourself an accent nail or two!

And, don’t forget your base and top coat:

Londontown’s Nail Hardener & Base Coat gives you such amazing benefits that is almost seems too good to be true. Not only does it improve the appearance of dry, brittle nails but, it also prevents staining and creates a durable surface to bond your polish for extended wear, which gives you the most bang for your buck. This product is a base coat and treatment all in one and is an absolute must when giving yourself a mani.

And, of course, it’s a necessity to finish off your spa night by applying a Protective Top Coat to your nails. Londontown’s top coat will give your manicure the power to be chip resistant, super shiny, and well protected against damaging external elements, which also gives you the most bang for your buck! Need I say more about how this product is also an absolute must?

Stand in your power and enter each room throughout the day with a vengeance, thanks to Londontown’s stunning fall collection. And, if you can’t think of a catchphrase better than “Back with a vengeance”, then it’s totally okay to let your nails do the talking!

What is your favorite color from this post? Who plans on shopping Londontown soon? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug23

Scary Movie Mini Haul

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Scary Movie Mini Haul

Howdy! One thing that I love about Target, other than EVERYTHING, is their excellent five dollar movie selection. At the Target that I frequent, they have at least two front and back full length rows dedicated to their DVDs that range from four, five, seven, or ten dollars. During my last trip, I was able to snag two five dollar scary movies that I’ve been hoping to add to my ever growing collection for a while now. Check it out:

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The Babadook and The Conjuring are two horror flicks that I deeply enjoy. And, with fall fast approaching and me getting my apartment in the near future, there is no better time to host some scary movie nights with my friends or boyfriend. Both of these movies are ones that I could watch multiple times and not get sick of, which made the ten dollar purchase totally worth it.

It’s nice to have a collection of my favorite movies readily available for a lazy day or a night in and Target has made that an easy and cheap thing to obtain. I love having tangible movies, books, and games on my person as opposed to an online entertainment cache and nothing beats being able to do that for a whopping five bucks!

Who else has a movie collection? What do you like to collect? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hey everyone and welcome to a new week here on lifewithlilred! My most recent online shopping stint with Sephora has been nothing short of wonderful and I can’t wait to share all of my new goodies with you. From awesome products to amazing customer service, this haul had it all. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ Peep that gorgeous Better Than Sex glitter packaging for Too Faced’s 20th birthday!

The Haul:

  • Too Faced Better Than Birthday Sex mascara
  • Too Faced Melted Matte lip paint in Queen B (Free!)
  • Sephora Play! box in Survival Of The Chillest
  • Givenchy Le Rouge Liquide sample (Free!)
  • Belif Hydrating Eye Bomb sample (Free!)

And, before we talk more about my haul, I have to commend Sephora’s customer service. Two of the samples that I ordered were out of stock and was replaced with the Belif eye cream sample. I called the customer service number, because I was unaware of that, and I got to talk to someone immediately. Yasmine solved my problem quickly by offering to add TWO HUNDRED Beauty Insider points to my account. It was such a generous solution to a little issue and I am so thankful for that. Thanks again, Yasmine!

And, finally, the haul. I am so pleased with everything that I received in my latest order. I LOVE the packing on Too Faced’s Better Than Birthday Sex mascara. Nothing screams ultimate girly girl like some baby pink and glitter! So cute! And, it was so nice to receive a free lip paint for purchasing something that I needed to buy, anyways. It made me feel like I got a lot of bang for my buck and I really like that since the BTS mascara is the most expensive thing in my makeup arsenal.

We will be discussing my Play! box tomorrow, but just know that I am freaking obsessed and already want another one! I am also very pleased with the Belif eye cream sample that I got. It has about three uses in one little packet and it felt so nice on the delicate skin around my eyes. I might just have to give it a try if the price is right once I finish my Nutriganics eye cream from The Body Shop.

And, can we please talk about the Givenchy lippie samples?! It came with an application wand and three single use colors. How nice is that?! I’ll be sure to do some swatches of each color, as well as the Too Faced lip paint and the lippie that came in my Play! box, so keep it posted!

I consider this haul to be money well spent. I got a lot of good stuff for about sixty dollars as well as free shipping on my order. I’m looking forward to online shopping with Sephora again once I need a reup on my products and it will be so fun to share them with all of you! 🙂

Which store offers the best freebies and rewards? Have you ever had a really successful customer service experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Amazon Makeup Haul

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Amazon Makeup Haul

Guys. I’m literally going through the worst time of my life when it comes to beauty products, because I feel like all of my signature staples are being discontinued. The most recent ones being The Body Shop’s Brush On Radiance Beads. I have literally been using those amazing, pearly wonders since high school and now they’re laying this shit on me?! Ugh, I seriously can’t even.

But, thankfully, there’s always Amazon, which allowed me to purchase three jars of my beads before they might go bye bye. It sucks, though, because The Body Shop always runs awesome promotions and I had to buy the beads for full price, which I have never done before. Was it worth it? Yes, because one jar lasts a really long time. Am I pissed at The Body Shop? HELL YES, and they better bring back my blusher beads pronto!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

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Have any of your favorite products been discontinued? What do you use now as a substitute? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Tiny TJMaxx Haul

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Tiny TJMaxx Haul

Hello everyone! Thanks to a generous birthday gift card from my big bro, I was able to ball out at TJMaxx this past week. After my first shopping trip, I had about ten dollars left on my card and it was burning a hole in my pocket, so of course I had to go back! For eight cents over the ten bucks that I was working with, I was able to get the last of the beauty supplies that I need to last me for a good long while. Check it out:

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As you guys know by now, I am an avid lover of all charcoal everything when it comes to my skin care routine. Destiny Boutique has the literal best charcoal products that I’ve ever used, so it was an absolute must to grab another one of their face bars, especially because I just finished up the one that I was using. And, did I mention that it takes me SIX MONTHS to finish one of their beauty bars?! For five dollars per bar, the cost per use is less than one penny and you definitely can’t beat that! 😀

I also treated myself to a new body scrub by Kind Natured. Using an exfoliator is a necessity for me when I am shaving, and since I finished up my Strawberry scrub from The Body Shop, it was high time for me to grab another. My new Kind Natured scrub smells freaking amazing – like oats and honey, which is one of my favorite bath and body and skin care scents. I did want to get another scrub from The Body Shop because they’re my favorite, but it will be nice to try something new and maybe it will become a favorite of mine, too.

What is one of the longest lasting products that you use? Who else is a lover of charcoal products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul6

TJMaxx Beauty Haul

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TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Hey! My gifts from my 24th birthday just keep on giving, because I was finally able to go to TJMaxx and spend some of my birthday gift card from my brother. I ended up with a gorgeous new top, which I’ll discuss tomorrow, but, for now, we will go over my little beauty haul that got me a bunch of my necessities for an amazing price! Check it out:

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The Haul:

  • ArganiCare moisturizer: $5.99
  • Castelbel Watermelon and Mango bar soap: $3.99 each
  • CoverGirl eyeliner: $2.99

Grand Total: $17

I was so happy to have been able to stock up on some products that I definitely am going to need within the next few months. I can always use a new moisturizer, so I’m looking forward to trying ArganiCare for a whole six bucks. My skin type is completely normal, so it’s nice to be able to experiment with different skin care goodies at TJ’s ON THE CHEAP!

Not only was I able to get something new, but I also got to revisit old favorites with my Castelbel soaps and CoverGirl liner. Both the Mango and Watermelon scented bar soaps smell SO. Freaking. Good. They literally smell like Lip Smackers and are super hydrating – totally perfect for my morning showers! And, you can’t go wrong with my usual black eyeliner that normally costs me OVER SEVEN DOLLARS at the drug store for a whole three bucks at TJ’s. This results in over four dollars in savings and I am all about that. #ballinonabudget

I am completely thrilled with this TJMaxx Beauty Haul, because it’s not every day that you can spend less than twenty dollars for four items in skin care, makeup, and bath and body care. I can smell the savings now! 😀

Where do you score the best deals on beauty? How do you cut the costs on your beauty routines? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Amazon Hair Dye Haul

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Amazon Hair Dye Haul

Helloooo! Is a haul really a haul if you are only buying one item in bulk, lol? Asking for a friend, and by a friend, I mean ME. I have been having the most difficult time finding my beloved Vidal Sassoon Runway Red box color from their London Luxe collection for the past half a year or so now. IT SUCKS, because this miracle in a box has probably saved me over one thousand dollars throughout the years that I’ve been using it, as it gives me the exact same color that I was paying a buttload for at the salon from home.

I have been on a frantic hunt for the past month to reup my stash of hair dye, and literally none of the stores that I’ve purchased from were carrying it anymore. So, I had to resort to the one stop shop of Amazon to provide me with the tools that I need to stay Lil Red. So, for good measure, I bought EIGHT boxes of my Vidal Sassoon hair color to last me into the new year.

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Is buying eight boxes of hair dye the most fun haul ever? No. Well, actually, YES – because it was a necessity. And, in general, I am all about buying in bulk to save time and money in the long run. I am eagerly awaiting for my package of THE GOODS to arrive and am also earnestly begging Vidal Sassoon to get Runway Red back in stores again ASAFP!! *kissy face emoji* 😀

Are there any products that you like to buy in bulk? Has a favorite item of yours ever been discontinued? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

24th Birthday Haul

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24th Birthday Haul

Hiiiii! Despite not being thrilled about turning the big 2-4, I did get to ring my birthday in with some super fun outings and beautiful presents from friends and family – like the following:

  1. Tickets to X-Fest from my parents: The best gift I’ve received in years. I got to spend an entire day in Pennsylvania with my sister enjoying the sunshine, drinks, and music of lovelytheband, Sir Sly, AWOLNATION, Cold War Kids, and Jack White. And did I mention that it was all from the view of the front row? It doesn’t get much better than that!

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2. An in theater showing of The Room and dinner with my sister: I have been trying to get Kristen to come see The Room with me at the Cedar Lee theater in Cleveland for literal years. And, for my birthday, she finally agreed to join me. We went to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Barrio, and were in hysterics the entire time at the movies. It was SO fun!

3. A boxed wine hang out and goodies from the BFF: My best friend, Lea, and I have been celebrating our birthdays together for ten years now, so we were definitely due for a hang out! I received wine, coffee grounds, a Starbucks gift card, and a new mug all while enjoying out boxed moscato together. It was all of my favorite things! And, we are going to plan a weekend trip in July to celebrate both of our summer birthdays – I can’t wait! :*)

4. Bath bombs galore from my sister and other BFF: The beautiful Kate of Ankhor You and my sister both treated me to some products from Lush, which was so incredibly kind because I normally don’t buy that type of stuff for myself. It was such a wonderful surprise to receive a package from my Gemini twin, Kate, in the mail and I was so touched by her generosity and how she knows exactly what I am going to like every time. I love you, darling! ❤

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5. Cash flow and gift cards from my brothers: My two older brothers, Peter and Andrew, played it simple and effective with some cash money and a gift card to TJMaxx. Obviously, it was just the right gift for their favorite shopaholic and it fit like a glove! 😉

6. Foley + Corinna purse from my mom: When it gets closer to my birthday, my mom will let me pick out something special for myself during one of our shopping trips together. This year, I chose a beautiful Foley + Corinna purse that I am completely in love with and have already got amazing use out of!

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Thank you so much to all of my amazing friends and family for their generosity and for making 24 start off with a bang! I love you all! ❤

What was your favorite gift that you received this year for your birthday? How do you like to celebrate your big day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

BFF Birthday Haul

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BFF Birthday Haul

Hiii everyone and TGIF! My best friend, Lea, and I have been gifting birthday and Christmas presents to each other since our Freshman year of high school in 2008. So, of course, this year was no exception! We always seem to know exactly what to get each other, so it was no surprise that I loved her birthday presents to me seen below:

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The Haul:

  • A bottle of moscato (My favorite!)
  • A bag of vanilla Starbucks coffee grounds (Also my favorite!)
  • A darling new coffee mug (My other favorite!)
  • A Starbucks gift card (My most favorite!)

The best part about Lea’s gifts, is that they are always things that I wouldn’t buy for myself. And, in my opinion, that makes for the perfect present. I have so many amazingly cute mugs and knick knacks from Lea throughout the years of our friendship and I cherish all of them and have them displayed proudly in my room. I am obsessed with the stonewear “Hello Gorgeous” mug that will be perfect to hold my morning coffee in. The bronze pineapples add an amazing touch of summer fun, which is great for my early summer birthday!

And, of course, who doesn’t love wine?! 😉

What kind of prezzies do you love to gift your BFF with? How long have you been friends with your bestie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah