Tag Archives: maxxinista

May8

Lanoline Eye Serum: Do Not Use!

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Lanoline Eye Serum: Do Not Use!

Hellooo everyone! I feel like all of you know by now that when I start using a beauty product, I stick to it and finish it off until the bitter end – even if I’m not crazy about it. But, for this particular eye serum by Lanoline that I have been using, I just had to put my foot down and stop using it. It is the literal WORST and it would behoove all of you to not even consider using it on the delicate skin around your eyes. Smdh.

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I purchased this serum from TJMaxx back in January but didn’t begin using it until mid March or so. I can recall using it for the first time and it stung so badly. However, I was in the midst of seasonal allergies at the time, so I credited that sensation to my itchy eyes. So, I continued using the serum and assumed that my eyes would feel better soon. But, once my allergies subsided, I was still experiencing such dryness after each use with the serum that I would have to take my one a day contacts out and swap them for a new pair.

Although this serum was giving me grief, I tried to continue using it like an idiot. But, once I realized how low I was running on my contacts supply that should last me six months, I gave up that ghost. There was nothing soothing about this serum, despite what its packaging says, and it left my eye area stinging and feeling tight all day.

I am currently using an eye cream by Mokita now and could notice a difference in how my eyes felt after just one use. After this disappointing run with the Lanoline serum, I would never use any of their products again and, at the very least, I would tell all of you to not buy this serum even if it was the last one on earth!

What is a beauty product that you would never recommend? What type of eye serum or cream do you use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr28

More Pictures & A Bonus OOTD

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More Pictures & A Bonus OOTD

Hiii everyone and welcome to the viewing of the rest of the pics taken for me by my dear friend, Markus! I really am in love with these photos and I feel like they captured both the essence of myself and lifewithlilred perfectly. Him and I definitely plan on taking more pictures together soon so be on the lookout for them! But, for now, check the rest of these out:

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Who? What? Wear?

For the more beauty related photos that Markus took for his school project, I went with an OOTD that was a little sweeter. And, nothing says sweet to me more than gorgeous florals like the pattern in my True Destiny top. I got this shirt from TJ’s about a half a year ago and I love it so much. The colors are bright and the structured torso against the over the top puffy sleeves create a lot of visual interest. Normally, I am not a huge flower girl, but this shirt definitely made me change my mind about that!

But, because Lil Red is an edgy gal, I had to pepper a little spice into the look with my faux leather skinnies by Blank NYC. And, for some extra sassafras, the “Blah, blah, blah” word bubble heels a la Lust For Life were a must. I am obsessed with these message heels and have three pairs but I thought the blue ones would be nice with the colorful palette on top. I topped this look off with a hat from my brother and sister in law for Christmas and I was camera ready. 😀

How do you add edginess to your OOTDs? How would you describe your style? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Life On The Edge OOTD

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Life On The Edge OOTD

Hello! Over the weekend, I had a total blast in front of the camera to assist my friend, Markus, in a photography project for school. I had to create three looks, something business casual, for a beauty shoot, and one that is more emotional. For the emotional one, I went with an edgy chic OOTD that I am obsessed with and wanted to share more with you. You already saw a sneak peek of it, but here is the outfit again:

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Who? What? Wear?

While styling this look, I wanted my moto jacket from Zara to do all of the talking. I love this jacket so much and it always reminds me of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo so that was my inspiration – but sexier, of course haha! The texture of this jacket is interesting because it is so much thicker than any of the other moto style jackets that I own, so I wanted the rest of the outfit to be tighter fitting so that the OOTD didn’t look bulky.

To achieve that, I went with a simple grey T to accent the hood and detailing on my jacket tucked into a cute little skort from TJ’s. And, to create the illusion of legs for days since I’m only 5’1, I chose a more open heel so that there was no break up from my legs to whatever shoe I wore. I adore my LFL heels with the “Who Cares?” word bubbles. And, because they are dark grey with a matte glitter finish, they complimented the rest of the OOTD palette well while still adding some fun.

My Life On The Edge OOTD made me feel so confident and I loved being photographed in it almost as much as I loved wearing it. I think that this look achieved the vibe that both Markus and myself were going for and I cannot wait to wear this outfit every chance I can get!

How do you style an edgy OOTD? What is your favorite style of jacket? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

Moving On Up: TJMaxx Haul Edition

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Moving On Up: TJMaxx Haul Edition

Hi! As you all know, Lil Red is Moving On Up! So, this means that some shopping has been in order for my new apartment. Over the weekend, I visited TJMaxx and Target to begin the task of gathering my home essentials. I have been having a blast picking out new furnishings and knick knacks but I’d be a liar if I said it wasn’t a little stressful. But, hauls full of new stuff makes it a bit more tolerable! Like the following:

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*Not pictured: A full length mirror because it’s impossible to take a good picture of a full length mirror!*

Grand Total: $95

At TJs, I picked up quite a few kitchen utensils as well as an adorable and appropriate little red toaster. I also grabbed a suction cupped caddy for my shower, which is a must to hold my charcoal face bar, scruffy, and smell goods. To continue on with keeping things clean, I chose a new hamper for twenty bucks that I love because it has a lid on it so that I can keep all of my dirty laundry in there. And, to top it off, I got myself a full length mirror to help style my OOTDs in my bedroom.

I felt like I got a solid amount of stuff for what I paid for in this haul and it took care of a lot of essentials that I will need in my apartment. Granted, I still need a ton of bigger items to furnish my place with but the little things are important, too, and I’m glad to be taking care of it! 😀

What are some apartment essentials that I am going to need? Where is your favorite place to shop for home goods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar27

March 2019 Finishes

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March 2019 Finishes

Hiiii! With yet another month of 2019 drawing to a close, it is time to discuss the beauty finishes that I had for March. This month, I finished up a lot of travel sized products, as well as a new and old favorite. Sadly, the new favorite is from TJMaxx and I don’t know if I will ever see it again. So, if any of you have some intel on where I can get it, please leave me a comment! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

IGK Leave In Conditioner: I sampled this product from a Sephora Play! box that I got over the summer and, within the week or so of using it, I realized that I couldn’t live without it. The Mistress balm by IGK leaves my hair feeling nourished and healthy while looking so shiny and I use it every single day. It sinks completely into your hair, which makes it feel touchable and easy to manage without any stickiness. And, one tube lasted me about six months, making the twenty-nine dollar price tag well worth it.

Evoluderm Micellar Water: I never understood the big deal that French people made over micellar water, until I tried French micellar water. This product by Evoluderm was simply life changing! It somehow felt thicker than the water I normally use by Garnier, if that makes any sense. But, it hydrated my skin so well and it made for such easy makeup removal without scrubbing. The month that I had with this micellar water was not long enough so if anyone knows where I can get more, then PLEASE let me know!

Essano Micellar Water: I was out of micellar water after my Evoluderm success and my dear sweet mother picked this travel sized bottle up for me at TJMaxx, as it was the only micellar water they had. It definitely wasn’t as good as the previous product but it was okay. It took me a little over two weeks to finish the bottle.

Travel Size Lotion: As per ushe, I enjoyed my B&BW lotions and the random Hempz freebie that I had, too. I got a full body and a half use out of each bottle and all of them were so nice to put on post leg shaving. I wasn’t too fond of the B&BW scents of Magic In The Air and Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte, but the Hempz Pomegranate smelled really good. 😀

Danielle LaRoche Moisturizer: This product took me over a month to finish and I liked it a lot. I am a fan of any skin care with gold in it, which made the Danielle LaRoche moisturizer an obvious choice when I was picking it out. I would use it again in a heartbeat, because it was really moisturizing without being too heavy and it sat well under my makeup. It smelled so rich and creamy, too, which I love!

March was a very successful month for all of my finishes and I would happily use all of them again. It felt good to clear out some clutter by finishing up my travel sized products and I love when I can finish up something that I’ve been using for a while, like my IGK hair balm. 10/10 would recommend all of these products.

Have you used any of the beauty care items seen above? What were your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar20

Tiny TJMaxx Haul

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Tiny TJMaxx Haul

Helloo!! Whenever I get a gift card to TJMaxx, I always try to stock up on things that I know I’m going to need in the future. So, despite always wanting new shoes, I normally will purchase my skin care essentials like moisturizer, micellar water, and serums. My neighbor who I dogsit for treated me to a leftover TJs gift card of hers to spend while I was watching her pups and I ended up with two new moisturizers that I’m really looking forward to trying. Check it out:

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^^^ First of all, peep the Cosmo and Wanda green and pink a la the Fairly Odd Parents! 😀

While browsing the beauty section, both of these Skin Lab moisturizers spoke to me. And, it was impossible to just choose one, considering they both have a really different formula but they each look equally as beneficial. I also liked how the packaging fully explained what each ingredient in the moisturizer does so that you feel like you’re taking charge of your skin care routine.

When choosing a moisturizer, texture is one of the most important things that I look for in determining if it will work for me or not. With normal skin, anything too heavy is just too much and doesn’t sit well under makeup. While anything too light leaves my skin feeling thirsty for more hydration. Both of these moisturizers have either a whipped or gel texture, which is exactly what I like. The gel one will be perfect during the warm summer days, while the whipped will be great for the spring, as it can still be chilly and windy.

Another added bonus, is that these two moisturizers together cost me about fifteen bucks, which definitely beats buying one for that price at a drugstore. I can’t wait to try both of these Skin Lab products out and all of you will be the first to know if they are worth trying out for yourself! 😀

What is your favorite store to get a gift card at? Do you have a skin care stockpile at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb25

Accessory Story: New Sunnies Edition

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Accessory Story: New Sunnies Edition

Hiiii everyone! I know that after my last post about the fifty cent sunglasses I got from the thrift store, I vowed to never purchase sunnies for over ten bucks again. But, sadly, seventy-five percent of my sunglasses collection has broke in the past year, because all of them are old AF. Seriously, I’ve had some of these pairs since high school, so it’s no wonder that the ones that are almost a decade old have been snap, crackle, and popping their way into the trash can.

So, needless to say, I really needed a reup of shades and, although the two pairs I picked out from TJMaxx were slightly over my ten dollar budget, I am so happy with them! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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As you can probably tell, I am a huge fan of huge sunglasses. Don’t get me wrong, I love the teeny tiny pairs, too. But, nine times out of ten, I opt for a pair that’s big enough to cover half of my face. To me, there’s something so glamorous about big shades and, although my life is far from luxurious, it’s nice to play pretend!

The big frames are a Lil Red must, and so is a more muted color palette when it comes to my sunnies. Huge shades in a bright color would like a little much with my bright red hair and lipstick, so I like to go for the tortoise patterns, blacks, and browns. Both the Sam Edelman and Tahari pairs that I purchased feature a tortoise hue, which makes their size chic instead of cartoon-y and I am so looking forward to wearing them once the sun finally makes an appearance in Ohio. Now, here’s to hoping that they don’t break! #fingerscrossed

Do you prefer large or small sunglasses? What does your favorite pair of shades look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb24

Accessory Story: Michael Kors Necklace Edition

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Accessory Story: Michael Kors Necklace Edition

Howdy! When it comes to jewelry, I either really like it or completely hate it. There’s no happy medium. And, when I choose to wear it, I pile it on so much that I would surely sink if I took a trip to the ocean. I rarely buy jewelry, because I have quite the collection from my beloved grandma and from when I would spend my money more frivolously. But, trust and believe that when I do find a piece that I like enough to buy, I have every intention of wearing it constantly. Like the Michael Kors necklace below, for example:

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I would never consider myself one who would obsess over labels but, I do really really like Michael Kors. Ever since religiously watching Project Runway when I was young, I fell in love with his simple but oh so chic brand. From his clothing to accessories, everything looks so sharp and crisp and that’s something that I try to emulate in all of my looks. I only own one pair of shoes from this coveted brand so, needless to say, I admire everything that TJMaxx has in stock by him from afar.

So, why would I go ahead and purchase a fifty dollar necklace if I look but never buy? Because I know a good deal when I see one! The original price of this necklace was one hundred and twenty-five bucks, so I felt like I was getting it for a steal. And, of course, I absolutely LOVE it and sometimes you’ve just gotta treat yoself!

I am a flashy girl and gold jewelry speaks to me. And, this Michael Kors lock necklace had a lot to say. I love the blingy golden yellow color and the length of the chain. The darling little lock makes it sweet, but the almost gaudy color and past my belly button length chain makes it a statement. But, like all of the pieces in Michael Kors’ collections, it makes a statement while somehow still maintaining that touch of elegant simplicity and I am living for it.

I have worn my new necklace almost daily since I bought it and the compliments have been pouring in. This is nice, but I like the fact that it reminds me of a wonderful Sunday afternoon spent shopping with my beautiful mother even more! ❤

What is a brand that you admire from afar? What is your favorite style of jewelry to wear? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

January 2019 Finishes

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January 2019 Finishes

Hiiii everyone and welcome to our first finishes post of 2019! We are one month into the new year and, since basically anything beats the month that I had in December, I’d say that I’m feeling pretty good! Because I wasn’t well enough to comply with my beloved beauty routines last month, it felt good to fall back into the swing of all of my self care and this brought me lots of empties to chat with you about today. Take a look and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Suave Almond Verbena body wash: Maybe
  • Bath & Body Works Mango Mandarin body spray: Yes
  • Lubriderm Daily Moisture lotion: Yes
  • Unknown brand Radiance Crystal Cleansing Foam: YES!
  • Garnier Micellar Water: Yes
  • AlpineSilk moisturizer: Yes
  • Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer: YES!

Why/Why Not?

Suave Body Wash: This Almond Verbena body wash by Suave was just okay. It smelled fine, it lathered fine but could be better, and I finished the bottle in one month. I wouldn’t go out of my way to use it again but, if it was cheap and available, I would probably get it.

B&BW Body Spray: I loooove the Mango Mandarin body spray from B&BW and I stock up on it every year during their summer sale. It’s the perfect fragrance for a warm day, but it is also nice to use during the colder months to add some sunshiney pep to your step. Any citrus scent always goes down well with me, especially when it takes me over five months to finish one bottle!

Lubriderm Lotion: I am constantly getting new tattoos and Lubriderm has become a staple in my bath and body care hoard. It feels oh so good on fresh ink and it helps move along the healing process. My tattoo artist recommends applying it to new tattoos once in the morning, afternoon, and night and it takes me about four months to finish one bottle.

Crystal Cleansing Foam: I, sadly, have no idea what brand made the Radiance Crystal Cleansing Foam and I really wish I did, because I LOVED IT. Foam cleansers are my favorite to use, simply because it feels really good and my skin always feels so fresh after using it. This face wash removed my makeup and left my skin feeling so soft and looking really bright. I started using this product in mid October and I finished it at the end of January, so it was an amazing value, to boot!

Garnier Micellar Water: Another product that has become a staple in my beauty routine is the Garnier Micellar Water. I like to use it as a toner and a makeup remover and it always does its job well. And, as per ushe, it took me one month to finish one bottle.

AlpineSilk Moisturizer: I purchased this moisturizer from TJMaxx a while back ago and finished it up in mid January. I liked this product because a little went a long way and you didn’t need to cake it on for your skin to feel hydrated. It took me about a month and a half to finish this moisturizer up and I would definitely use it again if I found it the next time I was at TJ’s.

Clinique Moisturizer: This is my second sample of the Moisture Surge moisturizer by Clinique and I love it just as much the second time around. I can’t even describe the texture of it – it’s a lot lighter than a gel moisturizer, though, so it spreads so easily across your skin and, my god, does it hydrate. After one use, my skin felt so good and supple and it just glowed. I would LOVE to get a full sized jar of this product and am hoping to find it at TJMaxx some day. Fingers crossed!

January was a great month for empties and I loved being able to pamper myself the way I like with all of my favorite products. I missed using all of my bath and body and skin care goodies in December, so it felt so good to indulge in all of the items that have become must haves in my beauty routine. 🙂

Have you used any of the products discussed above? What were your thoughts on them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

Face Mask Festivities: Global Beauty Care Metallics Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Global Beauty Care Metallics Edition

Helloooo everyone and welcome to a new edition of Face Mask Festivities. In the words of Goldmember from Austin Powers…. I love gooooooooooooooooold. Oh yes, I sure do. Gold jewelry, gold eyeshadow, and now, most recently, gold skin care! My love for all things gold when it comes to my skin looking right began with the Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Serum that I scored from TJMaxx. It is utterly amazing and leaves my skin positively radiant. So, during a recent haul at TJ’s, I needed more – including this Global Beauty Care face mask:

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The metallic face mask seen above includes gold, Manuka honey, and royal jelly. All of which work wonders for your skin. The gold firms and tones the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The Manuka honey helps your skin lock in moisture for a dewy complexion. And the royal jelly treats dry skin while promoting new skin growth. Talk about a trifecta to combat dull and dehydrated skin – especially during these cold winter months!

I have never used a metallic face mask before and I was really looking forward to putting this Global Beauty Care mask to the test. Usually, my first impression of a product is its smell but, this one is scent free, so we will move onto its appearance and texture. This mask was a bit more runny than I would like, however, I did love the over exaggerated gold color and shimmer so that made up for the thinner texture.

One disappointing thing about this mask, is that it didn’t seem to dry – which is what I like for a face mask to do when I’m using one. It stayed very wet for the ten minute duration that I had it on for and that’s fine, but definitely not what I prefer.

My skin did feel somewhat hydrated after I washed it off but it wasn’t so remarkable that I would rave about it. I also didn’t notice the radiance in my skin that I see instantly with the serum that I’m using, which takes a matter of seconds to apply. This Global Beauty Care mask was fun to use because of the color and shimmer, but I don’t recommend purchasing it because it was overall a bit of a let down. Whomp whompppp.

What is your favorite metallic face mask? Do you prefer silver or gold? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah