Tag Archives: hoard

May14

Bath & Body Works May Freebie

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Bath & Body Works May Freebie

Hi! Since being fully vaccinated, I have been more willing to run small errands and am, finally, able to start utilizing the Bath & Body Works freebie coupons that I get in the mail. This month’s coupons were especially good as I got to pick out a free full size bath and body care item and you know Lil Red always likes to add to her beauty hoard! The coupon would work for any product priced $14.50 or lower and I went with a shower gel in one of my favorite scents, Gingham. Check it out:

This past weekend, Johnny and I hung out with a friend in Kent and drove right by a B&BW on the way so I ran in to get my freebie. I actually chose a travel size shower gel in Gingham last month for my free item and it smells so good that I just had to get it as my full size gift too. I have been obsessed with this scent since Johnny’s mom gifted me with a shower gel of it last Christmas and it is one of my sister’s faves as well.

While Gingham has notes of peach, clementine, and freesia I think it smells just like clean laundry and crisp springtime air. It is so fresh and light and when I smell it, I immediately picture a full clothing line drying and swaying gently in the breeze. Gingham is the perfect fragrance for spring and summer and it has such a specific, lovely scent without being overpowering in any way. Highly recommend for yourself or as a gift because it is sure to please!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? Which store has the best coupons and promotions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr25

April 2021 Finishes

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April 2021 Finishes

Hi everyone! April is drawing to a close and it’s about that time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. There isn’t too much to talk about because a lot of my empties for the month you have all seen and heard before. However, I’m super happy because I finally finished the rest of the Azure Lux serums that I had in my stockpile so I can move on to exclusively using the Eclat Vitamin C serum for the foreseeable future. It’s about time! Now, let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Lotion: I have a love/hate relationship with lotion and I’m either really good about using it or don’t want to use it at all! This past winter, however, I began applying lotion every night before bed and have stuck with this routine since. I definitely notice a difference in the softness of my skin and I even think my tattoos look better and brighter than usual from being moisturized daily. My new routine also gives me the opportunity to use up the endless supply of Bath & Body Works lotion and body butter from The Body Shop!

It took me a solid two months of daily use to finish the Pink Prosecco body cream from B&BW. While I enjoyed using it, I must warn all of you that it smells a tad boozy and by a tad I mean a lot lol. You can certainly pick out the scents of the different fruits like nectarine and pomegranate but the base of sparkling pink prosecco is there in abundance. If I was a daytime lotion wearer, I would say no to this lotion because I wouldn’t want to smell like alcohol during the work day but I will say yes to night time use!

Neutrogena Moisturizer: I freaking love the Hydro Boost moisturizer by Neutrogena and I consider it well worth the fourteen dollar price tag. I have reviewed this product before in previous posts but I just wanted to share with all of you that Johnny loves it too! His forehead gets pretty dry so I apply the moisturizer for him as needed and you can tell a huge difference in just one day. Skin care for men is just as important as it is for the ladies and I plan on creating a skin care routine for Johnny during my next online shopping sesh.

Azure Lux Serums: I have been using the Azure Lux Sparkling Oil serums almost exclusively for the past two years and change and I honestly think my skin is immune to any benefits of it as this point. That’s not to say that the serums weren’t effective and I remember first using the Rose Gold one and noticing a big difference in my skin. However, after seeing immediate results with the Eclat Vitamin C serum, I knew it was time for a change. I think that the Azure Lux serums are fabulous for people in their younger twenties and would still recommend them. As for me, at almost twenty-seven, I just outgrew it!

Although I won’t be using the Azure Lux serums again, I am so pleased with my finishes from April because that means I can use new products. There is also nothing better than depleting the ol’ stockpile a little so I can get new goodies in the near future! 😀

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

Apr12

The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash Review

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The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash Review

Hi! When it comes to my beauty care hoard, I like to be well stocked at all times and am just now starting to work on using some of the products gifted to me for Christmas. My brother and his family gave me lots of products from The Body Shop so I could have at home spa treatments and I have been especially eager to try out the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash. It took me a while to get around to it because the last cleanser I used lasted me almost five months! This clay wash was definitely worth the wait, however, as I am freaking obsessed so let’s discuss:

I am a huge fan of products from The Body Shop and have never really been disappointed by anything from there so I already knew I was in for a treat with this cleanser. Their Purifying Himalayan Charcoal face mask is also one of the best that I have ever used. Needless to say, I was excited to try the cleanser out because I didn’t even know it existed and I also don’t get TBS products very often so I feel so pampered whenever I get the chance to use them.

Like the face mask from the Himalayan Charcoal line, the clay wash smells awesome. It’s really earthy but has a faint minty scent thanks to being made with tea tree oil and it is nice and invigorating to use every morning. I can’t say I have ever used a clay wash before so I didn’t know what to expect when I used it. I was actually a bit worried that it would have a clay mask texture, which would make using it as a face wash kind of difficult. But, while this clay wash is thicker in texture, it lathers and rinses so easily and my skin feels nourished and healthy after each use.

The best thing about the Himalayan Charcoal face mask was the fact that it completely eradicated my blackheads and the same goes for the clay wash. The charcoal works like a magnet to remove all of the gunk and my skin is left soft and glowing after my morning shower. A small amount of the clay wash also goes a long way and I would happily use it again. It has been a while since I have tried out a product that was brand new to me and I highly recommend the Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash!

What is a staple in your skin care routine? What is your favorite product from The Body Shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr9

Bath & Body Works Haul

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Bath & Body Works Haul

Hi! Ever since moving into my apartment, I have been all about the foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works and, clearly, still am to this day because Johnny and I just ordered twelve new bottles, lol. A week or so before Easter, I pulled up B&BW’s website as our soap supply was running low and they had so many seasonal scents marked down that it only made sense to stock up. Needless to say, we should be pretty well set for a while! Haha, check it out:

Would I Buy Again?

  • Raspberry Tangerine: YES
  • Hip Hop Hooray (Sprinkled donut): YES!!!
  • Pineapple Mango: YES
  • Sweet Apple: YES
  • Mango Mai Tai: YES
  • Let’s Get Eggcited (Sunny blue skies): NO
  • Blueberry Lemonade: YES
  • Peach Bellini: YES
  • Beautiful Day (Daisies, peonies, apple): YES
  • Be You (Sweet sugar sprinkles): NO
  • Bee Positive (Strawberry lemon): NO
  • Warm Vanilla Sugar: YES

Overall, I am super pleased with my haul and three duds out of twelve isn’t bad at all – especially considering you can’t smell the products when online shopping! My top three favorites would have to be Hip Hop Hooray, Sweet Apple, and my go to of Peach Bellini. That one never gets old! As for the ones I wouldn’t purchase again, both Be You and Bee Positive are sickeningly sweet while Let’s Get Eggcited doesn’t really smell like anything to me.

As you all know, I have a bit of a gripe with the fact that you can’t combine freebie coupons with any type of deal or markdown when online shopping with B&BW. Especially because I had a coupon during this past order! So, while running a few errands, I made my first in store visit to Bath & Body Works since January of last year. I chose a travel size shower gel in Gingham as my free item and I love its fresh laundry scent!

Although bath and body care from The Body Shop will forever be my favorite, you just can’t beat the price, special offers, and convenience of Bath & Body Works. I always enjoy trying out all of B&BW’s different scents and their products have become a staple in my stockpile. Is it bad that I’m already looking forward to when I’ll need more hand soap again, say, over a year from now?!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? What is a bath and body care staple for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Mar17

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

Hello! Pre-pandemic, I would just go to TJMaxx whenever I needed to restock my beauty supplies. For the past year, however, I’ve just been placing orders on Amazon every couple of months for my moisturizers, serums, and eye cream. Believe you me, there is nothing I miss more than browsing the aisles of TJMaxx and finding all of the things that I didn’t know I needed but limiting my exposure to COVID-19 whenever I can will always be more important.

I had come to the bottom of the barrel of my beauty stockpile so there were a lot of products that needed replacing. I also wanted to start some birthday shopping for my dad and sister! As always, Amazon came through and I have a huge skin care haul to show for it. Check it out:

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During my last Amazon haul, I tried the Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer and Eclat Vitamin C serum for the first time and enjoyed using them so much that I just had to buy more. My skin looked brighter and more radiant after only one use of the Vitamin C serum and I definitely have noticed a difference in the smoothness of my skin compliments of the moisturizer. The Hydro Boost by Neutrogena is a bit pricey so I decided to get a two pack of the Garnier Moisture Rescue gel moisturizer too to help cut the cost. Both of these moisturizers have a light gel texture making them perfect for summer.

As far as eye cream goes, I was looking for something a bit cheaper than The Body Shop’s Vitamin E cream or my usual SkinLab Lift & Firm gel. They both run for around twenty dollars on Amazon while I used to get them for around seven at TJMaxx. I purchased the Elf Holy Hydration! eye cream for under seven bucks a jar and it had great reviews on Amazon so I am hoping I will like it too… Considering I got three of them lol!

Nothing is better to me than actually going shopping but I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t love online shopping too! Whether it’s a birthday present for a loved one or just restocking my skin care hoard, it’s fun to get packages in the mail and I am looking forward to incorporating my purchases into my daily beauty routine.

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

Sep20

Face Mask Festivities: Amazon Haul Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Amazon Haul Edition

Hello! Since COVID, I have taken to ordering all of my skin care from Amazon instead of taking a trip to TJMaxx. The prices aren’t as good and it isn’t nearly as fun but it’s safer and more convenient. It also is never hard to find an extra treat or two for myself, so I decided to get some more face masks because nothing is better than a pampering party after a long day! Check it out:

After experimenting with many different face masks, I have found that the sheet and peel off kinds are the best for me. I love that there isn’t any messy clean up and it keeps my clutter of half used bottles of clay face masks to a minimum. I also kind of like that the sheet and peel off masks are single use because it gives me the option to try out something new every time.

During this Amazon haul, I ordered a Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet mask because I have always been curious about them. I also decided to go for a set of six different masks by Freeman. I thought this was a steal because I got six masks for around eight bucks while a bottle of their clay masks are around five to six dollars each. Nice. 😀

I am very much looking forward to testing out all seven of my new face masks so keep it posted on lifewithlilred for brand new Face Mask Festivities coming soon! ❤

Do you have a favorite face mask? How do you do your shopping in COVID times? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul21

Huge Bath & Body Works Online Haul

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Huge Bath & Body Works Online Haul

Hello! One thing that I have always enjoyed doing is shopping the semi annual sales at Bath & Body Works. Never would I ever buy their products full price but when they are slashing them fifty to seventy-five percent off, why wouldn’t you stock up?! Not only did I snag some early birthday gifts for my bestie but I also was able to score some shower gels for me as well as a huge supply of foaming hand soap to get myself and Johnny through another few months of quarantine. Check it out:

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If you aren’t hip to the glory of the foaming hand soaps from B&BW, then I highly suggest you hit up their sales and buy a few for yourself. They are easily the best hand soaps I have ever used. First of all, they smell fabulous. Second, a tiny pump of it goes a really long way. And, finally, they leave my hands feeling completely clean, totally moisturized, and smelling awesome.

Before, I was always okay with just buying drugstore brands for my shower gel and hand soap needs and would tut at the original expensive B&BW prices. But, when I discovered their semi annual sale, my life changed for the better. Over dramatic, yes. Lol, but it’s true. I love having a huge supply of smell goods in my apartment and my stock pile is guilt free because I paid a fraction of what the original cost would be.

Although it is the most fun to shop the sale in stores, I was still excited to fire up my laptop and check it out online. There is a potential for me to not like some of the scents because I couldn’t give it a whiff test but those products can easily be passed on to someone else or saved for a rainy day when I realize my hoard is ready for a restock!

I was happy to still shop B&BW’s sale in an nontraditional way and, now, I will patiently wait for their post winter price cuts so I can do it all over again! 😀

What is your favorite semi annual sale to shop? How do you save money on brand name shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

Hello! If I knew the last time that I went to TJMaxx was the last time, I would have bought out their entire skin care selection. But, hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes. A few weeks ago, I ran completely out of my selection of moisturizers and serums and was running dangerously low on everything else. As the other saying goes… There’s a first time for everything.

Normally, I would go to TJMaxx’s website to order some more skin care but they are not shipping out currently. So, I turned to Amazon and bought all of my necessities in bulk so that running out never happens again. Check out my haul:

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The Haul:

  • 2 Garnier micellar waters with a free travel size bottle
  • 3 SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizers
  • 2 Azure Lux Rose Gold serums
  • 1 Azure Lux 24K Gold serum
  • 2 SkinLab Lift & Firm eye gels
  • 1 SkinLab Hydrate & Replenish hydra eye cream

I know, I know… It’s a lot. But, now I won’t have to worry about replenishing my hoard for a good long while and I feel great about that. What I don’t feel so great about? How much more expensive these products were on Amazon than they normally are at TJs! For example, I paid about eleven dollars for each moisturizer on Amazon when I normally pay six at TJMaxx. That hurt.

You know what else hurts, though? Your skin literally aching to be moisturized after a few days of going without! That was really rough, especially since I’ve been following a strict skin care regimen since I was at least fifteen. I am so thankful that Amazon had brands that I was familiar with so that I didn’t have to spend money on products I potentially might not like. It might have cost a bit more but it was worth every penny.

I would never be a toilet paper hoarder but I have been a proud beauty care hoarder for years now and it is nice to finally have my stockpile sitting pretty again. 😀

What are some beauty products that you stockpile? Which products have you been having a hard time finding in stores? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar26

March 2020 Finishes

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March 2020 Finishes

Salutations! So, for a lack of a better word, March has been crazy. Not so much in terms of having done anything exciting. In fact, quite the opposite as the coronavirus panic spread and self-isolation was recommended. With all of the extra time at my apartment, I definitely found that I went through many of my beauty products quicker. Especially considering that I wasn’t wearing makeup when I was just at home and would apply skin care as a night time routine. HENCE, we have a lot of empties to go over:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Hand Soap: I absolutely live for the foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works. They all smell friggen amazing, the formula doesn’t dry out my hands, and you can’t beat the value for the price as B&BW normally runs a special on them. The Watermelon Lemonade scent was the perfect combination of summery sweet and tart and it just felt good to use. One pump of this soap goes such a long way and it took me about two months to finish one bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: With all of this coronavirus panic buying, I am grateful to have my bath and body care hoard fully stocked from a recent B&BW haul. Their shower gels are my fave and I love anything apple scented so the Champagne Apple & Honey scent was a must. The B&BW gels are fun because of how much they lather and the crisp scent of a freshly bitten apple with sparkling champagne doesn’t hurt, either. It took me one month to finish one bottle.

Garnier Micellar Water: Lol, of course a bottle of micellar water was bound to show up eventually! I always try to purchase the bigger sized bottles if I can find them and the value is just insane. One normal sized bottle would last me about a month while the next size up lasts me three. And, for three to four bucks more, it doesn’t get much better than that!

IGK Hair Balm: I turned into an avid lover of the IGK Mistress hair balm after receiving it in one of Sephora’s Play boxes. I use it every time I straighten my hair, as it is a heat protector, and it leaves my hair perfectly sleek and frizz free with each styling. It also adds such a lustrous shine to my hair that definitely didn’t exist before I started using this product. It takes me at least five to six months to finish one bottle.

TBS Pore Minimizer: The Tea Tree Pore Minimizer by The Body Shop is one of my favorite skin care products and it is such a treat when it pops up at TJMaxx. I always end up buying the lot because I love the matte finish and how it helps shrink up some of my larger pores. If it was possible, I would use this product in my daily routine for forever! It takes me about a month and a half to finish one tube.

SkinLab Moisturizer: I love the Lift & Firm moisturizer by SkinLab and I have noticed a huge change in my skin since using it. Especially since I’ve been applying it more frequently compliments of my fresh face a la quarantine. My complexion looks a lot more radiant and hydrated and I can feel an obvious difference in the tightness of my skin. It takes me one month to finish one jar.

March was an excellent month for finishes and I highly recommend each product on my list of empties. Here’s to hoping that there’s not so many in April so I don’t have to write as much! 😉 😀

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the products above? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

Bath & Body Works Haul

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Bath & Body Works Haul

Hi! When winter rolls around in Ohio, I like to take my clients to the mall to walk some laps. It’s important to continue exercise and self care even in freezing temperatures! While making our rounds when I was with a client, I noticed that Bath & Body Works was having a winter clearance sale and I knew I just had to get my hands on some goodies before everything was picked over. So, later that night, I ventured to the mall to score some super discounted treats. Check it out:

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Okay, let me start off by saying, I know that I purchased A TON of stuff. Sixteen products to be exact. BUT, I paid fifty dollars in total for all of the haul that you see above and you just can’t beat that. I only go grocery shopping once every two to two and a half months and EVERY. TIME. I end up buying body washes and lotion to replenish my dwindling supply. This haul eliminated that for at least a year while giving me scents that I love from a brand that I enjoy.

When I first moved into my apartment, I bought a ton of the foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works and it is my absolute favorite. They smell amazing and leave my hands feeling clean without being dried out. I was so happy to have purchased some delicious summery scents for half off including my A1 of the Peach Bellini. It is almost as tasty as an actual Margarita… the Margarita Time hand soap be damned!

And, of course, I had to get all things apple for my body wash as it is my go to for shower time or perfume. The Champagne Apple & Honey along with the Winter Candy Apple is a sweet tart treat that will definitely help invigorate me during my morning shower! Is six bottles between the two excessive? Yes. But, hello emergency add on gifts if I ever need. 😀

I am SO pleased with my haul from Bath & Body Works and am already chomping at the bit to finish up the bath and body products I’m using now so I can break out the good stuff. Nothing is better than buying essentials that you actually need and are going to use for a song!

Which store has the best seasonal sales? What is your favorite Bath & Body Works fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah