Tag Archives: products

Mar1

Bath & Body Works February 2026 Freebie

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Bath & Body Works February 2026 Freebie

Hello! This past Tuesday I had to make a quick stop at Bath & Body Works to cash in a freebie coupon and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I am a huge fan of their wallflower plugins and the Halloween bulb I had in my bedroom decided to stop working over the weekend. I was missing my sugar cookie scent desperately after mere days of being apart and it needed rectifying immediately! With an additional twenty-five percent off coupon, I was able to snag a new bulb on the cheap and scored a free travel size body cream too. That was also perfect timing because I have some travel coming up in March (More on that soon!)! Check it out:

Not only do the wallflowers provide divine fragrance throughout my apartment but they are so practical too. Their light up options make for an excellent nightlight and my nieces really appreciate that when we have slumber parties. Bath & Body Works had plenty of ultra cute bulbs to pick from and I was enamored with what one of the salespeople showed me after she said I was giving “snake vibes” lol. It was the prettiest emerald green snake with gemstones all over it! I absolutely loved it but I knew my nieces would say otherwise so I opted for the pink butterfly or should I say bowterfly instead. This ballet slipper pink butterfly is just so darling and a friendly reminder that spring is almost here! It looks great on its own but the light up function adds a touch of fairy magic. I knew my nieces would be all about my selection but after seeing it in its glory at home, I think I might be about it more. 😀

For my freebie, I went with a travel size body cream in Waikiki Beach Coconut. When I score a free item, I like to throw caution to the wind and pick out scents that are not my usual go tos. Sometimes it works out, other times not so much. But, even if I don’t like the fragrance it’s not like I will be using it for forever! The past few times I had a freebie coupon I was unimpressed with the travel size selection and my sentiments were the same this time around. I had tried everything available already! Out of the handful of options displayed, Waikiki Beach Coconut was my fave. In my opinion, no coconut scent will ever be better than that of The Body Shop’s. While Waikiki Beach Coconut is nice, it also has some floral mixed into a very pure coconut fragrance which I could definitely do without. However, you can’t beat free!

I am so happy to have another wallflower back in its rightful place with an extra treat for good measure. Great success!

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works scent? Do you use a plugin at your house? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb27

February 2026 Finishes

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February 2026 Finishes

Howdy everyone and holy WOW! We are just about done with another month of 2026 and is it just me or did February fly by? January dragged like nobody’s business, February was in warp speed, and I hope that March meets somewhere in the middle because where did the time go? Also, fingers crossed that we get Real Spring sometime in March because Fake Spring in good ol’ Akron, Ohio has come and passed and we’re back to snow. Bring on those spring flowers and sixty degree days, baby! Before we spring forward into spring, let’s take a look at the beauty products I finished up this month. There are some really good ones in there:

Would I Use Again?

SOQU Rice Cleansing Foam: YES!!!

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Lotion: YES

Precision Beauty Vitamin C + Collagen Serum: YES

EOS Ultra Derm Hand Cream: YES

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

Why/Why Not?

SOQU Cleansing Foam: I absolutely LOVED the Rice Cleansing Foam by SOQU and I am so sad that it is all gone because I have been using it since May of 2025. Crazy, right?! For a little shy of a year, I have been using this cleanser every morning and that is an amazing value. A nickle sized dollop was all I needed for big, foaming bubbles to wash my face with. This cleanser removed makeup well and left my skin looking so bright and hydrated. I have used this product through spring, summer, fall, and winter and it is an excellent year round cleanser. Highly recommend if you can find a bottle and I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed to find more at TJMaxx!

Precision Beauty Serum: I am a huge fan of the Precision Beauty serums and have been using them almost exclusively for the past half a year or so. What I like the most about these serums is their effectiveness because I feel like they actually do exactly as it says on the packaging. The serum I finished up offered Vitamin C + Collagen and delivered on that promise. With a month of twice daily use, my skin was radiant and I really think it looked tighter too. It especially packed an extra punch with the Vitamin C moisturizer I am currently working through for an additional dose of a brightening boost. I have plenty more of the Precision Beauty serums in my stockpile and will absolutely continue to buy them. 😀

EOS Hand Cream: The Ultra Derm Hand Cream by EOS was a Sweet Surprise from my mom to pack in my new Antik Kraft purse. Although I don’t use lotion during the day as I hate the texture, I certainly enjoyed this hand cream at night! The Vanilla Cashmere scent was oh so nice and light and the perfect relaxing fragrance to put on before bed. It was extremely helpful for my dry winter skin and my hands definitely benefited from it. When I woke up it was always a treat to feel smooth hands over scaly! It took me about two weeks of once daily use to finish the bottle.

Vital Beauty Eye Gel: Like Precision Beauty for my serums, I am very loyal to Vital Beauty for my eye creams and the Cooling Eye Gel has been a staple in my skin care routine for a long time. These little jars take four months of twice daily use to finish up and you just can’t beat that value. The cooling gel is invigorating in the morning and soothing on tired eyes at the end of the day. The best thing, though? My designer eye bags are virtually nonexistent so I am always looking my well rested best even when I don’t feel like it!

February was a GREAT SUCCESS for beauty finishes and all of the products above are ones that I would recommend and happily use again. Enjoy!!

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

Feb24

Trader Joe’s Ultra Rich Body Butter Review

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Trader Joe’s Ultra Rich Body Butter Review

Hi! My parents were so sweet to treat me to a few goodies from Trader Joe’s for Valentine’s Day. My prezzies included a yummy new salsa, a frozen dish, and a tub of their Ultra Rich Body Butter. Back in the day, I lived for the body butter from The Body Shop that used to always be available for a song at TJMaxx. Then, they closed down for a while and it was bye bye, body butter. Since I could no longer have the good stuff from The Body Shop, I became fiercely loyal to Bath & Body Works and can’t recall the last time I enjoyed a body butter. I couldn’t wait to dive into the Ultra Rich Body Butter from Trader Joe’s because if it was anything like their amazing lip mask, I knew I was in for bath and body care delight. Spoiler alert: It was fabulous! Check it out:

^^^ I had to take a product picture after using it because is it just me or does that second picture look like a nipple lol

The Ultra Rich Body Butter features a warm vanilla and orchid scent and it is oh so nice. I love all things vanilla and this body butter has a true vanilla fragrance with the slightest hint of floral thrown into the mix. The scent is incredibly light and just right for slathering on before bed. Speaking of incredibly light, the Ultra Rich Body Butter offers a pillowy soft texture verging on being whipped. I don’t mind a harder body butter but this is definitely the texture that I prefer and it was so easy to apply. A couple of quarter sized dollops slicked on with ease for full upper body coverage.

This past winter, I have noticed that my hands were still red and quite dry in the mornings as I only wear lotion at night. Some parts near my wrists were even bordering on scaly. After using this body butter was the first time I have woke up with my normal skin tone on my hands in months! There was no bright red to be found and my hands are the softest they have been since winter began. In fact, my skin still felt really hydrated after my morning shower too. My only regret? That the closest Trader Joe’s is almost an hour away because I think I just found my new favorite body butter!

If you are suffering from dry skin or simply need a treat, I cannot recommend the Trader Joe’s Ultra Rich Body Butter enough. You will notice an amazing difference with just one use!

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

Feb11

Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter In Exhilarate Review

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Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter In Exhilarate Review

Hi! A few weeks ago I needed to make a trip to Sephora as I was out of three of my go to makeup products. My shopping list included more Better Than Sex mascara, a new highlighter, and a dupe for my beloved radiance beads. Thanks to the help of a wonderful employee, I was able to check off everything on my list and ended up with two new to me products. The Face Bond Luminizer by Urban Decay and the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter by Rare Beauty. They are both phenomenal and it has been fun to try new makeup as this is an area where I like to stay in my comfort zone. I was happy when the Rare Beauty highlighter was recommended because I love my eyeshadow palette from that brand and knew the quality would be excellent. It sure is! Check it out:

*** Note: These pictures were taken prior to putting on the Face Bond Luminizer to soften and blend!

Prior to the Rare Beauty highlighter, I was using a pink shade by Sephora that I liked a lot. My plan was to just buy that again but it had been discontinued so I was out of luck in that department. This ended up being a good thing because my helper at Sephora pointed me towards Rare Beauty next. We took a look at some of the pink highlighters and she also showed me the gold Exhilarate as she said it would look really nice with my complexion. I have rosy undertones and was afraid that the gold would just be too much. What it looked like, however, was sunshine slapping me across the face and I was so not mad about it! I never even would have thought of going for the gold if I didn’t have assistance and it was exciting to see a re-imagined version of my standard MOTD. Even if it wasn’t a major change. 🙂

The Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter is so aptly named. My old highlighter felt like more of a powder and the Rare Beauty has an almost creamy texture that is oh so soft and applies perfectly with one swipe. While I love the angular looks that can be achieved with a highlighter, I prefer a more natural approach and was able to achieve that by pairing this highlighter with the Face Bond Luminizer. When I apply highlighter, I use it going down my nose, on my chin, the apples of my cheeks to my hairline, and my jawline. After my first use of Exhilarate, I was a bit worried because it looked like a lot. After blending with my radiance beads dupe, it definitely toned down the appearance of the highlighter to an overall glow which is exactly what I like. I have always been curious about other Rare Beauty products since purchasing one of their palettes and I am glad I got the chance to try more. I know it will be the first section I go to next time I visit Sephora!

Although I will never be a huge makeup gal, this Sephora shopping trip was a nice way of dipping my toes into the water. I highly recommend the Rare Beauty highlighters!

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

Feb4

January 2026 Finishes

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January 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and TGIF! And by that I mean thank god it’s February!!! Is it just me or did January feel like it lasted five months? Lol it was cold, grey, and the days dragged on with no end in sight. Prior to this insane temperature drop, I was feeling a-okay about winter but all I have to say is: Is it spring yet? I need sixty and sunny like yesterday! Before January can be kissed goodbye or more like kicked out until next year, let’s discuss my beauty finishes for the month:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood Body Cream: YES

Avon Cucumber Melon Body Wash: NO

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Blue Raspberry Burst Body Wash: YES

Garnier Micellar Water: MAYBE

Precision Beauty Vitamin C + Collagen Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Products: I am a Bath & Body Works gal through and through and I had a delightful medley of empties from there in January. I had my favorite Halloween scent of Vampire Blood, enjoyed a burst of summertime citrus with Calypso Clementine, and was LOVING the Blue Raspberry Burst body wash. In my humble opinion, blue flavors are the best but Blue Raspberry reigns supreme. Blue Raspberry Burst smells exactly like an Icee from the movie theater and it is definitely one of my new favorites. It’s different while still smelling delicious and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more when the B&BW summer lines drop!

Avon Body Wash: In case you haven’t noticed, I am extremely loyal to my B&BW products and use them *almost* exclusively. Minus this Cucumber Melon body wash from Avon! This was gifted to me and I thought I would give it a try. It was okay and basically a smell alike to B&BW’s Cucumber Melon scent. However, I wish that I used this product when the weather gets warmer because it really dried my skin out and the frigid temperatures made it even worse. My skin never feels dry after using B&BW shower gel, rather super nourished and hydrated and I couldn’t wait to use them again after finishing this bottle. It took me one month of daily use to do so.

Garnier Micellar Water: Like my B&BW goodies, I am fiercely loyal to my Evoluderm micellar water. It is simply the best at removing makeup and hydrating my skin and it is a staple in my morning and nighttime beauty routine. Unfortunately, TJMaxx doesn’t carry it all of the time and I had to settle for a bottle of Garnier micellar water, instead. It will continue to be my runner up brand when I can’t get my hands on Evoluderm but it’s not like I love it. The Garnier micellar water just lacks the oomph of Evoluderm. I noticed I had to scrub hard to remove makeup and it still wasn’t completely gone and it pales in comparison to the hydration of my go to brand. Fine in a bind but not my fave!

Precision Beauty Serum: I cannot say enough good things about the Precision Beauty serums and have been using them for the past several months. Each bottle lasts me close to five weeks with twice daily use and I have had nothing but positive results. The Vitamin C + Collagen was especially nice during the dreary days as it provided such a big radiance boost. And, despite collagen being a primary ingredient, it didn’t dry my skin out. In fact, it has never felt better! I have used several different versions of their serums and all of them are great so I highly recommend trying one for yourself. 🙂

And, with that, smell ya later January. Let’s move on to brighter days ahead!

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

Jan29

Sweet Surprises: Eos Hand Cream Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Eos Hand Cream Edition

Hello! I am so lucky because my family freaking rocks. I have the coolest siblings, the coolest nieces and nephew, and the coolest parents. Johnny and I live not even five minutes away from chez parents and I swear it’s not close enough. I just love spending time with all of them so much and trust and believe we’re texting nonstop when I’m not at their place. While any time with any of my family members is my favorite, I am especially partial to shopping trips with my mom. This has been a staple in our relationship since I was little. What can I say, I’ve always loved fashion! During our last TJs trip together, my mom helped me pick out a gorgeous new purse. The following day, she surprised me with a little treat to keep handy as I tote around my Antik Kraft saddlebag:

If I had to estimate the amount of times I have heard my mom say “Open your hands and close your eyes and I’ll give you a big surprise” since my youth, I would say it’s in the hundreds lol. No matter how old we get, she still repeats that sentiment when she picks one of us up a little something and it is still so exciting. This time around, my surprise was a perfect purse sized Eos hand cream in Vanilla Cashmere. I am a vanilla fragrance gal just like my mom and I always associate that scent with her. (As well as her beloved discontinued perfume from The Body Shop called Leap!) This travel size bottle of hand cream was such a lovely nod to our shopping adventure and it makes me smile whenever I am rummaging through my purse.

All of you know that TJMaxx is my happy place. Yes, I love the fashion but I also love the memories that flood over me whenever I walk into the store. I have the fondest recollections of shopping there with my grandma (My mom’s mom) and my mom too. Three generations of us gals shopping till we drop and having fun exploring our own personal styles. Whenever I have a hankering to go to the Maxx, I always ask my mom if she wants to join me because it’s so special to walk the aisles with her. From a little girl to a grown woman, TJMaxx is our sanctuary. Hallowed grounds to let the store tell us what we need. Simply having the hand cream that my mom got me in the bag that I got with her brightens my day because it brings back so many happy days we had together doing my favorite thing… Shopping! ❤

My mom is the queen of Sweet Surprises and the queen of Best Mom Ever. I am the luckiest girl in the whole world! 🙂

What do you keep in your purse? Where is your favorite place to shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan28

Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer In Silver Lake Review

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Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer In Silver Lake Review

Hello! Isn’t it the worst when you run out of a bunch of expensive things at the same time? That was very much the case for me this past weekend and I needed to make a trip to Sephora to rectify it. After fixing my face with an MOTD, I was completely out of my beloved Better Than Sex mascara as well as my favorite highlighter. I was also on the hunt for a replacement for one of my makeup staples – the radiance beads from The Body Shop that I loved so very much but are no longer available. Thanks to the help of an excellent employee, I found everything I needed and am so amped to use two new to me products. You can peep a review of the Rare Beauty highlighter soon but today we are going to chat about the fabulous Face Bond Luminizer in Swan Lake by Urban Decay:

^^^ I also got a few samples of luminizers by Fenty too. We’ll review those soon!

Visit my TikTok for the full video!

I am not a makeup girl whatsoever. I like what I like, I get it on repeat, and that’s that. At Sephora, I was really hoping to find an exact match to the radiance beads I have used for forever. Unfortunately, they didn’t have anything remotely similar so I had to venture into the world of liquid makeup for the very first time. I don’t use concealer or foundation and even just a liquid luminizer was outside of my comfort zone. However, after trying the Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer more extensively at home, I am pleased to report that it really is the perfect dupe to my favorite fallen product.

The Silver Lake luminizer is oh so pretty and provided exactly what my radiance beads did. It gave an overall glitter and glow. The only difference is that I applied it with my hands rather than a blush brush! A dime sized dollop allowed for full face and neck coverage and it was so lightweight that I genuinely forgot it was even on. That was a huge plus as I never want my makeup to look heavy and that can sometimes be the case with liquid makeup. This luminizer can be worn on its own or to complete the rest of your MOTD. It was a bit pricey at thirty-four dollars so I don’t think I will be wearing it as a stand alone often. Although I wouldn’t say no to it when I am looking (And feeling!) extra tired in the morning for a little radiance pick me up. Highly recommend!

This may not seem like a big purchase but it was very exciting for me. It’s always fun to try something new and I am beyond happy to have found the best possible replacement to my radiance beads!

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

Jan25

TJMaxx Haul

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TJMaxx Haul

Hello! Nothing pleases me more than a good TJMaxx haul and the one I had with my Christmas gift cards was one of the best ones in recent memory. Normally when I am shopping at TJs, I let the store tell me what I need because you never know what you are going to get. This time around, however, I had a shopping list of what I would like to find and was able to completely check it off. A new Valentine’s Day piece of clothing? Check! New purse? Check. Black skinnies? Checkeroo. Skin care restock? Check, check, double check! Take a look at the rest of my haul:

As you all know, basically all I wear is black skinny jeans lol. They are just the perfect pantaloons and my Johnny concurs as that’s all he wears too! We are a match made in heaven. While black skinnies are perfect in every way, they fade and that is not okay with me. I need jet black, baby, and usually purchase one new pair per year. The past few times I have needed new jeans at TJs, I was lucky because I found some pairs of 1822 Denim which is the brand I normally wear. I couldn’t find any pairs of this brand during my shopping and ended up with a pair from Gap, instead. It was actually a nice change of pace! They fit like a glove and were less than half the original price. I have had one pair of Gap jeans in the past and I liked them a lot so it’s cool to revisit an old fave at the right price!

While it was great to find some new clothes and a purse, the most important thing on my shopping list was skin care. I like to follow the rule of threes when I purchase my beauty products. That way, I don’t have to go to the store monthly for more. I was so happy to find a huge bottle of my go to micellar water as well as a few moisturizers and a serum. I have never tried the Supergoop! brand and I’m looking forward to it! The best find, though, was the ValJean Labs cleanser – there was only one and it was tucked away. Their hydrating foaming cleanser was one of my most favorite products and I can’t wait to try the deep cleansing version. If you are on the hunt for a new cleanser, I truly can’t recommend this brand enough. Their scrubs are fabulous too. 😀

Thanks to this haul, I am good to go for the rest of winter. Although, let’s be real, you know I already can’t wait for a spring refresh shopping trip! 🙂

Do you update your wardrobe seasonally? What are some of your springtime staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan21

Bath & Body Works January Freebie

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Bath & Body Works January Freebie

Hello! My mom joined me during my afternoon break last Tuesday for a shopping trip and we had the best time! I had gift cards to spend, supplies for the bunnies to get, and a freebie coupon from Bath & Body Works to cash in. At B&BW it was out with the old post Semi Annual Sale and in with all kinds of new fragrances. Normally I like to get a travel size lotion or body wash as my free item but I could not resist a fragrance spray in a new scent called Zesty Peach. Check it out:

Outside of my deep love for all things vanilla, I am a fruity fragrance girl through and through. I like deep berry scents but my all time favorites have got to be apple and peach. It is rare for me to find an apple scent that misses the mark. However, peach is a different story. I want my fruit fragrances to be a mix of sweet and tart and sometimes peach scents can be overly sweet. Zesty Peach is a complete game changer and it reminds me so much of The Body Shop’s Vineyard Peach line. In fact, if you read this old review on my page, I even say that it’s a peach scent that’s not overpoweringly sweet. Some things never change!

Zesty Peach offers fragrance notes of “peach nectar, sugar crystals, and luminous musk”. Also, after typing that sentence I did a resmell of the perfume and accidentally inhaled most of it. All the better to describe it with, my dear! I cannot speak for the sugar crystals or luminous musk and feel that B&BW should have left the description as “peach” lol. You know that scent that comes immediately after biting into a peach? Zesty Peach is that to the T! It errs on the side of tart over sweet and I just can’t get enough of it. If you are a peachy person, you are going to adore this scent. 😀

It may be grey and snowy here in Akron, Ohio but Zesty Peach is summertime in a bottle. A perfect pick me up!

What is your favorite kind of fragrance? Have you tried any of B&BW’s new scents? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan18

Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer Review

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Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer Review

Howdy! I started using a new Vitamin C moisturizer by Dr. Wellness at the beginning of December. I was excited to give it a shot because I have used that brand’s lip balm in the past and loved it. I honestly had no idea that Dr. Wellness had skin care staples too and got to test it out for a song. A huge tub was only five dollars and I am nowhere near done. That’s great for me because this Vitamin C moisturizer is the bomb.com. Fingers crossed that TJs has it again when I do my annual Christmas gift card skin care restock. I’ll buy the lot! 😀

Completing my morning and night skin care routine is something that brings me peace. Those extra five minutes to pamper yourself and get started for the day or wind down at night. No matter what products I am using, I enjoy this time. However, it’s even better when I’m using one as nice as the Dr. Wellness moisturizer! Its texture is almost whipped and cloud like, it smells faintly like oranges, and a nickle sized dollop allows for full face and neck coverage. That’s what I’m talking about!

This moisturizer’s consistency is a bit thicker but it absorbs quickly and sits like a dream under makeup. It has been especially soothing and hydrating in the winter but could be used any time during the year and it would still be a pleasant experience. I have been using this moisturizer twice daily for over six weeks with wonderful results. My skin is so soft and I have noticed a huge radiance boost. That extra dose of brightness definitely perks me up during these grey January days! Highly recommend. 🙂

If you have a normal to dry skin type, you are going to love the Dr. Wellness Vitamin C moisturizer. A new year is the perfect time to freshen up your skin care routine!

What is your skin care routine like? 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