Tag Archives: products

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

Jan12

Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

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Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul

Hello! As soon as I woke up on the day after Christmas, I headed straight to my laptop to shop the Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale. There is nothing better than getting the products that I always use for dirt cheap and I had a massive restock of my foaming hand soaps and wallflower plugins. It couldn’t have come at a moment too soon because I was running very low! After my shopping spree I ended up with seventeen products for sixty dollars making each item about three dollars and fifty cents. You just can’t beat that! Check it out and let’s discuss the scents that are new to me:

Would I Buy Again?

Peppermint Bark Truffle: YES!!!!!!!!!!

Cereal Milk Soft Serve: NO

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie: MAYBE

Grape Spritz: YES

Why/Why Not?

Peppermint Bark Truffle: Out of the Milk X B&BW collabs that I have tried, the Peppermint Bark Truffle is the absolute best. If you are a fan of chocolate and peppermint, then this is the scent for you because that is exactly what it smells like. I freaking love any kind of peppermint scent and this pairing with the dark chocolate is *chef’s kiss*. Peppermint Bark Truffle literally smells good enough to eat and I wish that I bought more of it. Highly recommend!

Cereal Milk Soft Serve: The fragrance notes of Cereal Milk Soft Serve include “Soft ice cream, golden cornflakes, and frosted sugar”. In theory, this sounds delightful. In practice is a whole different story. This scent smells like a bowl of cereal that has been sitting out for an hour and I just can’t. B&BW has tried their hand at cereal themed scents before and this is one of the rare occasions where they fail epically. However, if you are into smelling like old milk then go for it, I guess? Lol.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie: This scent is just okay for me and I would only buy it again as a last resort. The fragrance notes of “Toasted pretzel, cinnamon dusting, and sugared vanilla” are nice but it’s just a bit too subtle for me. I like my smell goods to pack a punch! On the bright side, the Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Cookie really does smell like the description and is still infinitely better than the milk one!

Grape Spritz: Where my grape soda fans at?! While I love an orange soda, grape reigns supreme in my world and I am all about Grape Spritz. With notes of “Bubbly white grape juice, peach nectar, and orange zest” this fizzy scent smells exactly like a freshly poured grape soda. It is bold, bright, and provides a pop of sweet summertime in the winter. After a few dud scents, this was much more like it because I am so there for it. 😀

During the winter Semi Annual Sale I like to stock up on my go to seasonal scents like Vanilla Bean Noel and Twisted Peppermint. For good or bad, it’s always fun to try a few new fragrances though!

Did you shop the Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale? How did you make out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan3

December 2025 Finishes

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December 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone and welcome to the last beauty finishes post of 2025! It is officially 2026, baby, and I am so ready for another year of lifestyle fun with all of you. I am also eagerly anticipating the great skin care haul of 2026 with my Christmas gifted TJMaxx gift cards. Before we go into the new, it’s out with the old so let’s take a look at these empties and discuss further:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Evil Queen Body Cream: MAYBE

Precision Beauty Fountain Of Youth Retinol Serum: YES

Emilianna Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer: MAYBE

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: I purchased the Evil Queen body cream when it was offered at Semi-Annual Sale prices after Halloween. It wasn’t my favorite scent but that doesn’t matter too much to me as I only wear lotion to bed. Evil Queen smelled faintly like apple but it was primarily musky which I am so not a fan of. It grew on me after a few uses but I wouldn’t buy it again unless it was dirt cheap. It took me about two weeks of daily use to finish the bottle.

Precision Beauty Serum: I have been fairly loyal to the Precision Beauty brand for serums and I am not mad about it! They are long lasting and the effects are awesome. It took me a month and a half to finish this bottle with twice daily use. These serums are thicker in texture but absorb quickly and a little of it goes a long way for full face and neck coverage. In the time of using it, I noticed an instant glow up with every application. The Precision Beauty serums are so nourishing and I highly recommend them!

Emilianna Moisturizer: This moisturizer was pretty good but it wasn’t the best one I have used in the world and I probably wouldn’t purchase it again unless it was the only option available. The light, clean scent was nice and it almost felt like a cold cream when applied which was refreshing. However, in the over one month of using it I failed to see anything special about it. Definite last resort option, for sure.

With that, 2025 on lifewithlilred is complete. Stay tuned for a massive skin care haul coming soon!

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

Nov30

November 2025 Finishes

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November 2025 Finishes

Howdy and holy WOW! Happy last day of November, everyone! Is it just me or did this month fly by? I literally feel like I blinked through spooky season and now here we are in *almost* December. I’d say I’m mad about this super speedy time warp but I’m so not. I have been DYING to give everyone their Christmas gifts for months now lol. Let’s wrap up this month here on lifewithlilred the old fashioned way… By discussing my beauty empties, of course:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Waikiki Beach Coconut Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Vanilla Romance Shower Gel: NO

Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Lotion: YES

Dirty Works Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer: YES!!!

Why/Why Not?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: You all know I am a HUGE fan of the Evoluderm micellar water and I am so sad because I haven’t been able to find it at TJMaxx for months. This was my last bottle and I can only hope for a restock soon. I just wanted to reiterate what a great value the eight dollar mega bottle is. It took me over three months to finish this baby which makes its cost per use next to nothing. Love that!

B&BW Body Cream: If you need a dose of sun, sand, and surf during these dreary days of winter then you are going to love the Waikiki Beach Coconut scent from B&BW. This is literally sunshine in a bottle and smells so exactly like the beach that you will feel like you’re there! It took about two weeks of daily use to finish this bottle and I enjoyed my mental vacation every time. 😀

B&BW Shower Gel: I am a vanilla scent girl through and through. SO not a Vanilla Romance girl though! If you live for a pure vanilla fragrance like me, definitely skip on this one. It is straight up musky with the littlest drop of vanilla added in. I grabbed this freebie for the hell of it and it was the first and last time for me!

Dirty Works Moisturizer: If you are on the market for a new moisturizer, the Vitamin C Miracle Moisturizer by Dirty Works was absolutely fabulous. It took me close to a month and a half of twice daily use to finish the bottle and I so wish I had more! A not even dime sized dollop fully hydrated my skin to silky smooth perfection and provided a huge radiance boost. This moisturizer absorbed quickly, sat like a dream under makeup, and left my skin looking and feeling amazing. Highly recommend!

Not bad, not bad at all. November was a solid month in the beauty department and I can’t wait to test out more goodies in December!

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

Nov2

October 2025 Finishes

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October 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy November! The best holiday of all has came and went and now it’s onto the next best holiday of all. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been thinking about my Thanksgiving plate since last Thanksgiving lol. I freaking love Thanksgiving food so much! 🙂 I also love a successful month of beauty empties and October was pretty darn good in that regard. I think I might have found my new favorite serum! Take a look at these empties and let’s discuss further:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Soda Shower Gel: NO

Bath & Body Works Golden Mango Lagoon Body Spray: YES

Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol Serum: YES!!!!

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: This isn’t a comment on how amazing this body cream is, just a funny story. Johnny thought that the scent Champagne Toast was Champagne & Toast and I genuinely cannot think of it differently now. In fact, that’s almost how I typed it above! Also the B&BW body cream is so nourishing and fabulous and leaves my skin smooth and hydrated as the temperatures continue to drop. It took a little over two weeks of full body use to finish the bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: I am extremely faithful to my B&BW shower gel and couldn’t imagine using anything different. I just love how foamy it gets, the scents, and how hydrating they are. However, Strawberry Soda was a scent I couldn’t get behind and I wouldn’t buy it again. This strawberry scent was just too sweet for my liking and almost had a syrupy fragrance. I like my fruity scents with a bit of tartness so it’s a no from me. It took me about a month and a half to finish the bottle.

B&BW Body Spray: If you are looking for sunshine in a bottle, Golden Mango Lagoon is just right for you! This beachy fragrance is paired with freshly cut mango and it is absolutely delicious. This was a freebie item and I thought it would be nice to test out a travel size spray without committing to a full bottle. Normally, I am not one for tropical scents but I loved this one. It invoked sweet summertime on chilly mornings and just made me happy. It took me four months to finish this bottle.

Glow Elixir Serum: So. Much. Yes. This Hyaluronic & Retinol serum by Glow Elixir was the truth. It took me over a month and a half to finish the bottle and I enjoyed every single use. This serum was shockingly thin in consistency and a few drops went a long way for full face and neck coverage. Glow Elixir is the perfect name for this brand because my skin was literally glowing. It was radiant, peaches and cream perfection and I could visibly see it with each morning and night use. I would love to use this serum again and am keeping my fingers crossed to find more at TJMaxx. I’ll buy the lot!

Vital Beauty Eye Gel: I have been loyal to the Vital Beauty eye gels for some time and will happily continue using them. I love the longevity of the product and one jar typically lasts me at least three and a half to four months with twice daily use. That’s awesome! The cooling eye gel soothes and nourishes and feels oh so nice around tired eyes at the end of the day. It also provides an invigorating boost in the morning. As far as I can tell, no new wrinkles have appeared (fingers crossed) with consistent use of this product so I’ll continue to use it as long as TJMaxx has it available!

Out with the old and in with the new! There is nothing better than finishing up long term products and I can’t wait to keep using more goodies and reporting back to all of you! ❤

Which products did you use up last 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

Oct29

Cliganic Chapstick Review

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Cliganic Chapstick Review

Hello! I am a huge chapstick gal and this love was definitely fostered by my obsession with Lip Smackers in my youth. Lol you just couldn’t beat the scent of them even though I’m pretty confident they did absolutely nothing! As a smoker, my lips get dry easily so I always like to have a chapstick on my person. Several, actually. I have one in my purse, one on my bedside table, and one on my table when I’m working on the computer. A while back ago, I purchased a set of chapsticks by Cliganic and I am most impressed by the product. With winter weather approaching and chapped lip season upon us, I thought we’d discuss this lip chap because I think you will love it:

^^^ This is a cruelty free chapstick!

One of the biggest gripes people have with chapstick is the constant reapplication and I totally get it. If I am using a product, I want it to work right off the bat and what’s the point of a chapstick if you have to keep putting it on every ten seconds? This is SO not the case with the Cliganic lip chap! These chapsticks are made with sunflower seed oil, Vitamin E, and beeswax and they really pack a punch. The formula is so nourishing and rich and you can literally feel it working as soon as you apply it and after the fact.

With just a small swipe across your lips, you are on your way to ultimate and long lasting hydration. I can’t stand when a chapstick feels like it’s just sitting on your lips and the Cliganic lip chaps really do absorb and improve. The best part? My lips still feel soft and smooth even when this product is off! I reapply mine three times a day, at most. Part of it is out of habit but it’s honestly not even necessary because of how well it works. I put some on about two hours ago and even though it has all absorbed, my lips legit feel like I used a lip mask instead of a chapstick. If you want a truly effective chapstick without having to reapply throughout the day, this is the one for you!

I cannot recommend the Cliganic chapsticks enough and plan on buying more once I am out. I couldn’t imagine using anything different since I am already using the best!

How do you soothe chapped lips? What is your favorite chapstick scent? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah