Tag Archives: products

Mar27

March 2021 Finishes

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March 2021 Finishes

Hi everyone! Can you believe we’re almost through with another month of 2021 already? March was such a happy and exciting time for me because I got engaged and my family got to celebrate my amazing mom and lil niece’s birthdays too. Between birthdays, house hunting, and wedding planning the days have been flying by. Hustle and bustle has never prevented me from completing my daily beauty routines, however, and March has also left me with lots of empty products to discuss so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Clean & Clear Face Wash: I absolutely LOVED the Morning Burst hydrating facial cleanser by Clean & Clear and it helped keep my skin nice and moisturized all winter long. Not to mention that the eight or so dollar bottle lasted me all winter long too – it took me close to five months of daily use to finish it. I am all about effective and budget friendly beauty products and I would definitely use this cleanser again. It smelled amazing, lathered well, was invigorating, and my skin felt so soft and hydrated after each use.

B&BW Spray: While I would never pay full price for Bath & Body Works products, I am happy to buy huge hauls during their semi-annual sales. This fragrance spray is actually from a perfume haul several years ago and I am still working on finishing them all up. It’s taking a lot longer than expected, though, considering each bottle lasts me around half a year with daily use! That’s perfectly fine by me, however, because the Country Apple spray smells so good. I love apple scented anything because of its sweet/tart fragrance and, lucky for me, I still have a few more bottles left!

Neutrogena Moisturizer: A month ago, I did some research about beauty products that people in their late twenties should be using and hyaluronic acid was an ingredient that was encouraged. I purchased the Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer for that reason and I am glad that I did because it is really nice. In fact, I have already bought a few more for myself despite it being a bit more pricey at around thirteen dollars per jar.

Although this moisturizer has a price tag that I usually wouldn’t pay, I have noticed a difference in my skin after a month’s worth of use so I thought it was well worth it. My skin looks more radiant and rested and it feels so soft too. The light gel texture is also a welcome change of pace after the heavy creams of winter.

Nothing pleases me more than finishing up products that I would happily use again because that means it was money well spent. March was a very successful month for me so I guess it only makes sense that all of the products discussed today were successful too! 🙂

Which products did you use up this month? What kind of skin care products are recommended for your age? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar17

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mar15

Updating Your Skin Care Routine For Summer

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Updating Your Skin Care Routine For Summer

Hello! Just like your wardrobe needs updated come the warm weather, your skin care routine will need a few changes too to keep you looking your best. Heavy products for dry skin in the winter can cause oiliness and breakouts when it’s really hot out so light but effective products are the name of the game when it comes to summer skin care. Today, we are going to look at a few simple changes you can make to your routine for radiant skin all summer long:

Products With SPF:

Skin care products with SPF in it should be used all year round but it is especially important in the summer time – of course! There are plenty of moisturizers, serums, lotions, and chapsticks with SPF that will help protect your skin in the sunshine. Incorporating SPF into your skin care routine is also a great hack if, like me, you hate putting on sunscreen. While we all are excited to soak up the sun after a long winter, we must do so safely and using SPF products will better protect you from harmful UV rays that can cause burns and cancer.

Lighter Moisturizer:

As mentioned above, you will want to switch to a lighter skin care formula like this Palo Duro Moisturizer during the warm weather to prevent oiliness and clogged pores. We all know how uncomfortable it is when a product just feels greasy in the summer so you might want to opt for a gel moisturizer, instead. A gel moisturizer absorbs quickly while still being super hydrating which will keep your skin from feeling weighed down by heavy products.

Don’t forget to switch out any cream based cleansers too! Rather, go for a gel base again. I, personally, love the Clean & Clear Hydrating Facial Cleanser. It’s invigorating, smells amazing, oil free, and leaves my skin feeling so clean without the dried out sensation.

Facial Scrub:

I am sure we all plan on being outside as often as we can to enjoy the warm weather and while it will be wonderful, there is so much that can clog up your pores in the summer. Dirt, grime, and sweat can all lead to clogged pores which, in turn, can cause breakouts. During the summer, I highly recommend incorporating a facial scrub into your skin care routine to use a few times throughout the week. Not only will it help rid yourself of any remaining dry winter skin but it will also clear up the gunk that gathers in your pores. 

Another great benefit of facial scrubs is that the removal of dead and dry skin has a brightening effect. There is nothing better than sun kissed radiant skin! Another way to achieve enhanced radiance is to treat yourself to a brightening facial. You will be amazed by the results after just one trip to the spa and it will become your favorite form of self care. 

Making the above changes in your skin care routine will keep your skin clear and healthy all summer long. You can’t go wrong with lighter products that offer SPF!

How does your skin care routine change with the seasons? 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

Feb27

February 2021 Finishes

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February 2021 Finishes

Howdy! While January literally felt like it lasted for five months, February flew by and it is already time to discuss my beauty product finishes for the month. I have always enjoyed testing out new bath, body, and skin care products but I never realized just how much until the COVID-19 pandemic. Trying new products not only keeps me looking my best but gives me something different in my routine to look forward to, is relatively cheap, and helps enhance my relaxation time after work.

Whenever I do any online shopping, I usually will buy a couple of beauty treats for myself and tested out two new serums this month. I was very impressed with one but the other? Not in the slightest. Let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Lubriderm Lotion: Pre-pandemic, I was getting tattooed regularly and always had several bottles of fragrance free Lubriderm lotion handy in my stockpile for after care. Obviously, I haven’t been to my favorite tattoo shop any time recently so my half used bottle of Lubriderm had just been sitting there on the bathroom counter taking up space. Waste not want not, so for the past four or five months I tried to use the lotion before bed or after my shower much to the relief of my dry winter skin! Other than the bonus of being fragrance free, this lotion absorbs super quickly and feels light while working effectively.

I was glad to finally finish this lotion up and will be looking forward to using the good ol’ Lubriderm again… After getting new tattoos post pandemic, that is! 😀

Azure Lux Serum: I have been using Azure Lux Sparkling Oil serums pretty regularly for the past two years, switching between the 24K and Rose Gold options. I decided that I wanted to try a different serum by them and went with the White Gold which encouraged firming, toning, and rejuvenating. For the entire month of using it twice daily, I noticed no difference in my skin whatsoever. In fact, I can recall times when I thought my skin looked dull and that was never an issue with the Rose or 24K Gold serums. I definitely won’t be buying this product again and would not recommend it.

I actually don’t plan on purchasing any more Azure Lux serums after I finish what is in my stockpile because I feel like the products are no longer benefiting my skin. Which directly leads into me trying out the last finish that we’re going to talk about:

Eclat Serum: After making the decision to wean myself off of the Azure Lux products, I began to research the best recommended skin care for people in their mid-twenties. The resounding theme was incorporating a Vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid into your routine so I ordered a serum by Eclat and a moisturizer by Neutrogena. The Eclat serum was not only very highly rated on Amazon (five stars) but also very cheap (seven bucks) so I figured why not? And I am so glad I did!

After one use of the Eclat serum, I noticed a difference in my skin which was incredibly radiant despite the fact that I was dead tired. I was simply amazed by the results and continued to be impressed morning and night because the difference it made in my skin in one use wasn’t just a fluke. My skin was glowing! I cannot wait to finish up the rest of my Azure Lux serums so I can use it again and I highly recommend it.

My only qualm with this serum is that the bottle is fairly small. If you are thinking of making a purchase, make sure you get two of them if you want a full month of usage. With twice daily use, I finished this serum in a little under three weeks.

Overall, February was a pretty good month for finishes. I have also been enjoying using up the several slabs of bar soap that I received as gifts. If you want to make an effort to reduce the use of plastic in your life, using face and body bars as opposed to shower gels and cleansers is a great first step! 🙂

What is a must have beauty product for you? What is your skin care routine like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

Eclat Vitamin C Serum Review

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Eclat Vitamin C Serum Review

Hey! Before my last skin care haul, I decided to look up the best recommended products for people in their late twenties. The resounding themes of the articles I read through included adding a Vitamin C serum as well as hyaluronic acid into your skin care regimen. For the hyaluronic acid, I ended up purchasing the Hydro Boost moisturizer from Neutrogena. As for the Vitamin C serum, I went with a well rated (five stars) and very cheap (six dollars) serum by Eclat. And, I will be damned if it isn’t the best, most inexpensive serum I have ever used. Let’s discuss:

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From every aspect, this Eclat Vitamin C serum rocks. First of all, it smells divine – just like freshly squeezed oranges and being able to use it first thing in the morning is invigorating. A little of this product also goes a long way because a dropper and a half full is more than enough to completely cover your face and neck. These are both important factors to me when it comes to a skin care product because I simply cannot use something that doesn’t smell good to me and having to use a lot of it to make it feel effective is definitely not the best bang for your buck.

The best thing about the Eclat Vitamin C serum, though? I am being one hundred percent truthful when I say that I noticed a difference in my skin after just one use. I had an extremely busy week at work and I was on my period so, needless to say, I was absolutely exhausted. And, when I get that tired my skin starts to look really dull. I used this serum for the first time during one of my melt into the couch tired days last week and my skin instantly looked more radiant and bright. It was amazing to me that I looked well rested when I didn’t feel it in the slightest.

I was curious to see if this product would keep seeming effective to me once I wasn’t so worn out and I was happy to find that it still lived up to the hype I built for it in my head. My skin just has this glow to it that certainly wasn’t there before with the Azure Lux serums that I have been using regularly for the past two or so years. I am beyond thrilled with the Eclat Vitamin C serum and highly recommend it because after one use I already knew that I would buy it again! GREAT SUCCESS!

What is one of your must have skin care products? Do you use any age specific products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

December 2020 Finishes

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December 2020 Finishes

Hi everyone and welcome to the very last beauty finishes post of 2020! I, for one, am ecstatic that this dumpster fire of a year is drawing to a close and I am sure we are all looking forward to better times ahead. With all of the stress of the pandemic, I turn to self care in the beauty and skin care department to help me relax. So, with that in mind, we have quite a few empties to discuss today including a new moisturizer by Garnier that I am obsessed with. Let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Clean & Clear Cleanser: I absolutely loved using this Skin Brightening cleanser every morning. The citrusy scent was invigorating, it lathered well, and I definitely think it made my skin more radiant. Not only was my face glowing but my skin never felt tight or dehydrated after each use. Bursting Beads are always a fun addition and I am extremely impressed – especially since I paid less than six dollars for this cleanser. One of the best parts? It lasted me close to five months with daily use! Total steal.

B&BW Fragrance Spray: A few years ago, I went absolutely NUTS at a Bath & Body Works semi annual sale. Lol, I purchased so many fragrance sprays in Mango Mandarin and Country Apple and I am STILL working my way through them! Granted, this is easier said than done considering one bottle of perfume normally lasts me a good five months to a half a year with daily use.

Of course, I don’t mind at all, though, because the Mango Mandarin spray is nothing short of delightful. I love the punchy citrus scent and it helps add a touch of summer to a cold winter’s day. Maybe I should practice buying in moderation next time I need more… Said no one EVER! 😀

Garnier Moisturizer: The last time I needed more of my usual SkinLab moisturizers, I noticed that their price on Amazon was TWENTY DOLLARS. I would never spend that much for skin care so I had to opt for something different. And, I’m actually really glad I did because then I never would have ended up trying the Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue gel moisturizer.

Nothing pleases Lil Red more than a good gel moisturizer and I think this one is the best. It has the most pleasant, clean scent and absorbs super quickly. Despite it being so lightweight, my skin has never felt smoother, softer, or more moisturized. With twice daily use, one jar lasted me one month and I got it for an absolute STEAL too – seven dollars for two jars on Amazon, baby!

December was a great month for beauty finishes for me and I was happy to be done with some of the products that I’ve been working on finishing for a while. Here’s to lots more successful empties in the New Year!

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

Nov18

Amazon Skin Care Haul

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Amazon Skin Care Haul

Hello! Whenever I needed new skin care back in pre-COVID days, I would go to TJMaxx and browse the aisles for everything I needed/didn’t need. Now, when I am running low on my skin care, I order a three or so month’s supply from Amazon. Originally, I was having a lot of luck finding all of the brands that I liked from TJs on Amazon. The prices weren’t as good but I was still happy to use what was familiar to me.

This time around, it came as a HUGE shock to see that the SkinLab brand on Amazon that I love so very much had all of their prices jacked up to twenty dollars. I was normally paying seven to eight bucks at TJs and eleven or so on Amazon. Twenty dollars for moisturizer and eye cream is just ridiculous so I had to try out some new products at prices I was more comfortable with. Check it out:

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The Haul:

  • Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream for normal/combo skin
  • Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream for dry skin
  • Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating facial cleanser
  • Pacifica Kale Charcoal Foaming Facial Detox Bar
  • 3 Azure Lux Rose Gold serums
  • Garnier Micellar Water

After I discovered the high price of my SkinLab products, it took me a while to find a moisturizer at a price point I was okay with. Finally, I found a great deal on the Garnier pack of two moisturizers for SEVEN BUCKS! I thought that was a steal and I love Garnier products as well as gel cream moisturizers. Do I wish that I could have gotten my usual SkinLab Lift & Firm? Yes. But, I am excited to try something new.

Another product that I was sad to see wasn’t available on Amazon that used to be there was the Destiny Boutique charcoal face bars. I have been using their face bars for years and always like to have one or two handy at my apartment. Sadly, the brand was nowhere to be found on Amazon so I had to try my hand at the Pacifica bar, instead. I like that it is a foaming bar but I don’t like how small the bar is in comparison to the picture online. It was also packaged really poorly, which was kind of a turn off so we will see!

Along with my other usuals of Garnier micellar water and the Azure Lux serums, I bought a new Clean & Clear cleanser, as well. I am currently finishing up their Skin Brightening Morning Burst cleanser and have enjoyed it. However, it was really expensive on Amazon – over ten bucks, if I recall correctly. So, I went with the less pricey Hydrating cleanser. I am okay with this swap, though, because my skin needs all the hydrating it can get come winter.

I am looking forward to trying out all of my new products because it certainly has been a while since I went for something totally different. The almighty dollar talks every time and I don’t think I will be using my old faithfuls again until their prices go down.

Do you have a favorite product that got discontinued or really expensive? Does the substitute you picked out compare? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

October 2020 Finishes

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October 2020 Finishes

Hello!!! Holy COW October is just about over and I don’t know how it was for all of you but it went by so quick for me. I swear, as soon as I start all of my early Christmas preparations, the months leading up to the big day just go by in turbo speed. And, with one of my favorite months of October nearing completion, that means it’s time to chit chat about all of the beauty products I used up so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Garnier Micellar Water: YES
  • Bath & Body Works Gingham body wash: YES
  • Azure Lux Rose Gold serum: YES
  • SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
  • SkinLab Lift & Firm eye cream: YES

If you would like to read more about these products, please visit some of my old empties posts because I literally use the ones above all of the time! And, in case you missed any of my beauty posts this past month, check out some of the following:

Pampering myself with my must have products has been one of the main things keeping me sane during all of this COVID craziness. Please, everyone, keep being good to yourselves and, sometimes, feeling much better is only a face mask or a bubble bath away!

What are some of your must have products? Are there any discontinued products that you miss? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul30

July 2020 Finishes

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July 2020 Finishes

Hello!! July was an insanely hot and busy month and I found that, other than my normal day and night skin care routine, I let any other pampering fall by the wayside. I know what you all are thinking: “That is so not like you, Sarah!” However, Lil Red does not do well in extreme heat (I literally get sick) and it is always extremely hot in my apartment. Not to mention, most of July was in the high eighties and mid nineties in my neck of the woods. Therefore, any movement away from being directly in front of my fan was deemed unnecessary.

I only finished one product that you all haven’t heard of already so we will briefly chat about that. Then, I will provide you with some links to previous beauty themed posts this past month in case you missed them. And, finally, make sure you tune in tomorrow for a new Face Mask Festivities to close out the month. Alright! Let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again:

Why/Why Not?

SkinLab Moisturizer: As you all know, I love my SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer and it took me one month to finish one jar. You can read more about it in this post, since it pops up often enough lol. 🙂

Azure Lux Serum: During a recent Amazon haul, I needed to stock up on my skin care. Originally, I was going to stick with my usual and just order a bunch of the Azure Lux Rose Gold serums. I purchased a few but I also decided to give the 24K Gold serum a try, as well. Was it much different than its Rose Gold sister? Not really. But I love the Rose Gold sister so, obviously, I loved the 24K serum too!

My skin feels so bright and radiant whenever I use the Azure Lux serums and they are so nourishing, to boot. I definitely think my skin has become more glowy and fresh since using the Azure Lux products and it takes me one month to finish one bottle.

More To Enjoy:

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a brand new Face Mask Festivities!

Which products did you use up this month? Which products have you been impressed with lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul10

Face Mask Festivities: BAWDY X Sephora Flaunt It Butt Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: BAWDY X Sephora Flaunt It Butt Sheet Mask Edition

Hello! During my last online Sephora haul, I was ten measly dollars away from free shipping and I didn’t want to spend a ton of money to get myself over the threshold. So, I hit up the clearance section and decided on a face mask AND a butt mask. I already reviewed the sheet mask for my face and today it is all about the sheet mask for the bootay! Lol, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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A butt mask may seem silly to some but, hey, I’m willing to try a new product out to put on the blog for a whole four bucks! And, you know what? I’ve used beauty treatments that have been worse. At the end of the day, I felt pampered and my butt felt firmer so no harm no foul!

My first impression of the mask was that it was adorable, obviously! I wasn’t sure what the butt mask was going to look like but the watermelon slices with “FLAUNT IT!” written across seemed perfect to me. The application was simple and I figured the easiest way to let the mask sit was laying on a towel.

After fifteen minutes of having the mask on, it dried out. I didn’t notice any mind blowing physical changes to my derriere but it genuinely did feel firmer and much more moisturized after using it.

The real question is: Would I use a butt mask again? Probably not. I wasn’t impressed enough with this sheet mask to continue buying them or a similar product. I think I will stick with the masks for my face from now on! 🙂

Has anyone ever used a butt mask before? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah