Tag Archives: makeup

Sep5

Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk Swatch

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Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk Swatch

Yo! Back in March, I tried out my first highlighter from Sephora. I used my Beauty Insider points to get a mini Becca highlighter in Opal during one of my orders. I’ve been using my highlighter for the past five months and am just about finished with it. And, five months isn’t bad at all for a mini product! While picking up my Mistress Hair Balm by IGK, I decided to get a new highlighter, too. I ended up with a Sephora brand one for a multitude of reasons, but price was definitely the main factor. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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^^^ The alternating pictures are with the flash off and the flash on, so you can see the illumination of the highlighter.

Originally, I had planned on getting another Becca highlighter. I really liked the shade that I was using and, if I was feeling saucy enough, maybe I would try a different one. But, then I realized that one of their highlighters costed thirty-five dollars and I said hell no. That would be the most that I’ve ever spend on a makeup product before and I just wasn’t comfortable with it.

I asked one of the workers if she could show me some of the different highlighters that the brands had and, everything but the Sephora brand, which ran for sixteen dollars, was upwards of thirty bucks. So, the Sephora brand it was. I liked that the color I went with, Dusk, was lighter than the shade that I’ve been using. Opal was nice and warm, which was perfect for summer. But, Dusk is cooler and more subdued, which is going to be lovely for the fall and winter months ahead.

I did like a lot of the more expensive highlighters that were shown to me, but I’m glad that I stuck to my guns and went with the cheapest option. I feel guilt free about my purchase and I definitely think that I would be feeling buyer’s remorse if I bought a thirty-five dollar highlighter. I’m looking forward to playing with my Sephora highlighter once I finish my Becca one in its entirety and will have to take some pictures to show you guys the makeup goods when I can! 😀

What is the most expensive beauty product you own? What about the least expensive? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug19

Givenchy Le Rouge Liquide Swatch In Rose Flanelle

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Givenchy Le Rouge Liquide Swatch In Rose Flanelle

Hello everyone! I hope that all of you are having a wonderful weekend so far! Today, we are going to talk about the absolutely awesome free sample that I got from shopping Sephora – three different colored dollops of Givenchy’s Le Rouge Liquide. It even came with its own application wand! As you can tell by its name, this collection is all about shades of red, which is right up my alley. But, we’re going to talk about a more pinky shade today. Take a look at Rose Flanelle and let’s discuss:

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The first thing that I will say about this product is that I think that the advertising for it is all wrong. The tagline is “The couture twist for soft matte lips”, but this lippie is a gloss through and through. There really is nothing matte about it. It went on shiny, it stayed shiny, it remained wet after a half hour, and it was slightly sticky to the touch. So, if you are looking for a true matte lip color, then I would not recommend Le Rouge Liquide.

BUT, if you are looking for a really pretty pink gloss, then I would definitely recommend Le Rouge Liquide in Rose Flanelle. Not only does this watermelon pink color look delicious, but it smells it, too! This product smells so sugary sweet and even though its semi sticky, it came off of my hands with one swipe of a towel with water on it, which is super sweet in itself!

Even though I am not the biggest pink or gloss girl in the world, I would be willing to try this color with a more simple eye makeup. A little bit of the color went a long way for this swatch so I will still have a lot more to play with in my sample. So fun! 😀

Are you a matte or gloss girl? Would you still buy this product even though it’s not a true matte as advertised? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug17

Giving Any Look The Wow Factor

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Giving Any Look The Wow Factor

An important event looms near. It could be a first date, a job interview, or a presentation at school. You’re mentally prepared and feeling confident, but you know that the right look will give you that extra boost you need to turn the tables of success in your favor. But how to get the look right eludes you. You’ve got a pretty good idea of what you want to wear and maybe how you’d like to arrange your hair, but for some reason your look doesn’t pop. It needs a little something extra. Something that will turn heads and get you noticed. Something that will give your look that elusive wow factor.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can do this. Don’t worry, none of them are bank breakers!

It’s all about the eyes:

The eyes are the windows into the soul and whether you’re on a date or in a job interview they play a huge part in how you are perceived. Drawing attention to your eyes and making them look bigger and sparklier communicates openness, honesty, and approachability. But the eyes also command attention and, if you want them to, they can steal a heart. Be sure to shape your brows well to create a flattering frame for the eyes, and never underestimate the power of a good mascara. Also remember to use the color of your eyeliner to your advantage and you’ll have eyes that pop in an instant.

What’s a girl’s best friend, now?

Diamonds are not just gorgeous, but they’re extremely versatile. They can dazzle, mystify, and imbue you with an air of class and sophistication. When they catch the light they can draw the eye wherever you want it to but, perhaps the most beneficial thing that a diamond brings, is the sense of prestige. Check out http://yourdiamondguru.com/reviews/james-allen/ for information about how different colored diamonds can be used in different settings to add an extra wow factor. Diamonds can either create an aura of success or an air of allure. It’s all about how you use them.

The shoes!!!

There’s a reason why one can never have too many shoes. The right pair can make you command attention as soon as you walk into a room. They can change your height, the way you walk, and the way you stand. They can make you seem formidable and imposing or sultry and seductive. Just make sure that you wear shoes that you feel comfortable in. Wincing with every step won’t wow your prospective new boss or your potential new beau!

Belt up!

The humble belt may spend a lot of time unused in your closet, but it’s the perfect way to tie any look together. Plus, it can help to lend you a more flattering shape and prevent a layered look from swallowing you whole. Find a belt that gives your outfit a pop of color and see how it transforms any look.

Now, you’re ready to dazzle with the extra wow factor in all of your looks!

Featured Image By: Good Free Photos

Aug17

Sephora Cream Lipstick Swatch In The Red

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Sephora Cream Lipstick Swatch In The Red

Hi everyone and TGIF! Today we are going to swatch the lippie that I got in my Sephora Play! box, which is by Sephora’s own brand. In this post, we’re just going to swatch the cream lipstick called The Red. But, as per request of some of my readers, there will be a future post with a review on the quality of the product when it’s actually on. I haven’t heard the best things about the Sephora brand products, so we’ll see what happens. And, we all know that I prefer a matte finish so I’ll be dragging my feet to wear it until I’m totally out of post ideas! Lol! But, for now, take a look at some swatch pics and let’s discuss:

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My first impression of this lipstick was that it had a really good application. It glided onto my hand smoothly and it washed off easily with some micellar water. My second impression, unfortunately, was that this lippie was not going to look very good on me. The Red seems to have a lot of The Blue undertones to it, which clashes really badly with my hair. My red hair has a distinctive orange undertone to it, so this lippie would look super clown like on me. Not a good look!

Will I give The Red a try solely to satisfy my readers? Of course! Will I be thrilled about it? Naw, that ain’t me, dawg. But, I love you all so much that I’ll do it anyways! ❤ ❤ ❤

What is your favorite shade of lipstick? How do you feel about Sephora brand products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug16

Too Faced Melted Matte Lip Paint Swatch In Queen B

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Too Faced Melted Matte Lip Paint Swatch In Queen B

Howdy! Today, we are going to be discussing Too Faced’s new line of lip paints called the Melted Matte collection. Melted Matte meaning, that it has an opaque finish but offers moisture via avocado and Vitamin E oil to prevent over drying your lips. I got the shade Queen B FO FREE when I restocked my Better Than Sex mascara. Although the formula doesn’t move me spiritually because it is definitely not budge free, the color is still very pretty. Take a look:

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As I said, the deep, dusty rose shade Queen B is lovely. It was also the best color to give as a freebie, because it looks good on literally everyone. However, I’ve never been truly blown away by any of the lip products by Too Faced. It’s crazy, because the mini lip paint that I got by them as my birthday gift from Sephora last year was awesome. The shade was gorgeous and it never ever budged. But, even just grazing my finger over the swatch on my hand when it dried brought significant smudging. Am I mad about it? No. But, I don’t think that I will bother with their lip paints anymore.

Even though my reviews for the Melted Matte style lippie isn’t the best, I’m not going to not use it. I like the color and I’m okay with vigilantly checking for lipstick smudges. But, at the end of the day, you guys already know that I’d take my favorite NYX matte lippies any day of the week!

Have any products disappointed you lately? Which brands do you avoid buying from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Sephora Play! Unboxing

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Sephora Play! Unboxing

Hii everyone and welcome to my very first Sephora Play! Unboxing! This subscription box was ordered simply to get me over the free shipping price during my online shopping extravaganza on Sephora. And, I enjoyed all of my goodies from the box so much that I’m definitely considering getting it for the entire year! Check it out:

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Survival Of The Chillest Play! Box:

  • Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara
  • Origins Clear Improvement Active Charoal Mask
  • IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
  • Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in The Red
  • Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence
  • Burberry perfume sample in Blush
  • 50 Beauty Insider points with a purchase at Sephora coupon

I was so completely impressed with my box of travel sized treats from Sephora and I simply adore the Me O’Clock bag that it came in. My sister has an Ipsy subscription and I always eagerly anticipate when she opens her bright pink envelope. But, I daresay, I think that this ten dollar deal from Sephora is even better than Ipsy. The high end products that I get to sample are such a treat and it’s so fun to be able to test out brands that I would never have tried before.

So far, I have used the IGK hair balm and have been loving it. In fact, I want to get it in full sized so that I can continue using it every day! I have also used the Origins face mask, which you can read about on Face Mask Festivities tomorrow and have been mixing my Caudalie essence with my micellar water to make it last. And, as I’m not a huge perfume girl, I gave my mom the Burberry sample and it smells awesome on her! It smelled very floral and powdery on me and it smelled energizing and citrusy on her. Crazy how that works out, huh?

I am looking forward to trying out the Marc Jacobs mascara and will be swatching my Sephora lippie soon, so keep it posted for that. And, definitely be on the lookout for more on the Sephora Play! boxes on lifewithlilred, because I have a feeling that it will become a monthly thing really soon!

Who else gets the Play! boxes from Sephora? Are there any other subscription boxes that I should look into? 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

Aug9

Sephora Shopping Steals

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Sephora Shopping Steals

Hi everyone! I regret saying this, because the last thing I need is another store to obsess over – BUT, I am definitely doing that over Sephora! Seriously, their online deals are FABULOUS. I recently got an email saying that if you spend over twenty-five dollars on Too Faced products, then you could get a free mini lip paint with your purchase. I needed to reup on my Better Than Sex mascara, anyways, so I figured that I might as well get it online.

After spending just five minutes on their website, I decided that I will be doing all of my shopping online from now on. You get three free samples with your order, free shipping if you spend over fifty dollars, and there is almost always a promotion to get a freebie gift with your purchase if you spend over twenty-five dollars. Shopping in store is fun, but you get nowhere near that value when you are in person. And, why not get free stuff if you have the option to?

I’m lucky, because I haven’t fallen too deeply into my Sephora shopping to be spending a small fortune on beauty products. Normally, I just get my sister’s prezzies from there for gift giving occasions and stock up on my BTS mascara. But, that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t get maximum savings when I do so. If I ever feel the urge to explore makeup more closely, I will definitely shop in store and then make the purchase online.

I ordered a Sephora Play bag to get myself over the fifty dollar free shipping mark, so maybe the day will come sooner than later where I feel like experimenting with more of the products at Sephora. And, if that ever happens, it’s nice to know that I will be getting a lot of bang for my buck by shopping with Sephora online!

Which stores offers the best freebies or rewards programs? What are some of your savings tips for when you shop Sephora? 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

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