Tag Archives: review

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

Dec26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Sleeping Nymph By Ilaria Tuti Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Sleeping Nymph By Ilaria Tuti Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Without giving any spoilers away, we are going to be discussing the sequel to Flowers Over The Inferno by Ilaria Tuti called The Sleeping Nymph. Ever since finishing Flowers Over The Inferno in August, I was eagerly awaiting to get my hands on the sequel to see what happens next to Italian police superintendent, Teresa Battaglia, and her team. Despite The Sleeping Nymph not being as good as its predecessor, I still enjoyed it well enough so let’s get to the review:

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In Flowers Over The Inferno, we learned that aging Teresa Battaglia has began suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s and the disease has done nothing but progress. Teresa wears a bracelet reminding her of her name, religiously writes notes in her diary so she doesn’t forget, and has a hard time recognizing people as well as coming up with the names of common objects. Somehow, she still manages to get up every day to help crack cases that are twisted, dark, and to some “unsolvable”. And, in the case of The Sleeping Nymph, Teresa is going to need all of her wits about her more so than ever before.

Our story begins with the discovery of a “missing” portrait in an art gallery painted by Alessio Andrian seventy years ago. The painting it called The Sleeping Nymph and it showcases the great beauty of a young woman – enchanting all who merely glimpse at it. Despite the portrait being so beautiful, it holds a dark secret because, upon testing the red paint that was used, we learn that it is actually blood. What’s more, the tests showed traces of cardiac tissue, meaning it came straight from the heart.

Since painting The Sleeping Nymph, Alessio Andrian never spoke a single word again. He is still alive but, clearly, will be of no help to the case so it is up to Teresa and her partner, Massimo Marini, to find out about the origins of the painting on their own. Through their diligent work, they wind up in the Resian Valley where The Sleeping Nymph originated. However, they get a lot more than they bargained for in the Valley when a human heart is found nailed to a tree, thus fast forwarding their case into the present.

Could the killer of the Nymph still be alive and has come back to tie up loose ends? Or is there foul play going on in the Valley? There is even an inkling that these murders might be tied to occult practices. Who murdered The Sleeping Nymph and who is killing now? Read the book to find out!

Now, I didn’t love The Sleeping Nymph but I also didn’t hate it, either. Despite the portrait painted in blood being an “oh my gosh” discovery, it also happened seventy years ago making the immediate sense of urgency you feel about the present day crimes in Flowers Over The Inferno nonexistent. The Sleeping Nymph kind of dragged on while the focus was in the past but promptly picked up about halfway through when they discovered the heart on the tree in modern time.

My other qualm with this book is just how wordy it is. Flowers Over The Inferno was like that too but I suppose I didn’t notice because it was one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. Because The Sleeping Nymph didn’t immediately captivate me, the vivid and highly detailed descriptions came off as boring and I felt ready for the book to be done about fifty pages in. I have never not finished a book that I started, though, and the four hundred and forty page read felt more like a chore than something I really wanted to do.

The Teresa Battaglia novels are meant to be a trilogy and my only hope is that the third book will be better than the second. I genuinely have no idea how Teresa will be able to solve another case with the progression of her Alzheimer’s but I am very ready to find out!

Overall, I am going to rate The Sleeping Nymph with six out of ten stars. I think it paled in comparison to Flowers Over The Inferno but I still enjoyed portions of the story line as well as the grand reveal. I would still recommend reading the Teresa Battaglia novels and I can’t wait to see how the trilogy ends.

What is the last book that you read? What do you recommend for me to read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec24

Face Mask Festivities: Dr. Jart Cryo Rubber Brightening Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Dr. Jart Cryo Rubber Brightening Mask Edition

Hi! Whenever I order online with TJMaxx, I like to purchase a new face mask to try out. They’re fun, relaxing, and inexpensive. I consider ten dollars or under well worth it for a half hour or so of pampering at home! The last time I ordered with TJMaxx, literally all they had in the face mask department were Cryo Rubber masks by Dr. Jart. The packaging is, admittedly, extremely disturbing but the mask in itself was one of the best ones I’ve used as of late. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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The first step to applying this face mask was the pre-treatment as seen in pictures three and four. I loved the texture of it because it was a thick gel but it didn’t make my skin feel sticky at all. Once the pre-treatment was rubbed on, the actual mask could be applied. I wasn’t sure what the mask was going to be so I was surprised to see it was a sheet mask. I originally thought it would be a peel off style mask that dried with a rubber texture. However, those can be kind of a pain to apply and remove so I was happy that I was just dealing with a sheet mask.

Other than the results which we will get to, the best part about this mask was the fact that the sheet was divided into two pieces – one for the top half of your face and one for the bottom. This was SO much better than the one piece sheet masks (That are usually gigantic on me) because you could apply individual pieces in a way that would fit your face best. Other than some slipping and sliding in the beginning, once this mask dried a little it stayed put perfectly for the forty minute duration that it had to sit.

While the mask was on, my skin felt cool and tingly and it actually felt that way the entire evening once it was removed. My skin was so soft after taking the mask off and it still felt just as good the following day. I think it does look a little brighter too – especially around the designer bags under my eyes!

Although the packaging for the Dr. Jart Cryo Rubber Mask was super weird, you can’t judge a book by its cover because I really enjoyed it! There were a couple more of these masks with different focuses like Calming and Moisturizing and if they are still there, then I will definitely order them the next time I shop with TJMaxx. Great success!

What is your favorite kind of face mask to use? How do you pamper yourself at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec11

Have A Drink With Me!

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Have A Drink With Me!

Hello!!! While I was filling up the Little Red Love Machine at the gas station, I figured I would run in and grab some White Claws for me and Johnny. We are fond of the hard seltzer water and it’s nice to “crack a cold one” every now and then after work. While I was at the cash register, I noticed a display of alcohol infused cherries and I thought that it would make a nice addition for weekend drinks so I purchased a jar of those too. I’m glad I did because they are friggen delicious! Check it out:

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For those of you who don’t know, I am a self diagnosed Diet Coke fiend and I thought that these cherries would be great in a glass of Diet. I was one hundred and fifty percent right because it tasted just like cherry Coke after the drink sat for awhile. And, the drink wasn’t over once the pop was gone because, of course, you’re going to eat the cherries after. In the words of Pam from The Office, it was like “bonus drink”.

Normally, I don’t care to post about alcohol unless it’s something super different like the Martini Popsicles that I tried this summer. These cherries definitely qualify under “different” and I wanted to inform the masses as they would make a unique addition to your at home bar. Not only were the cherries a hit in a glass of Diet Coke but I could imagine that they would work well in drinks like juice or fruit punch. Or, how about a boozy topping to an ice cream sundae? Yum!

I think that a jar of alcohol infused cherries would make a perfect stocking stuffer and would be such a treat for parties and girls night once it’s safe to do so. Cheers to all of you!

What is your favorite kind of hard seltzer? What kind of drink would you garnish with these cherries? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec9

Bath & Body Works Haul Review

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Bath & Body Works Haul Review

Hellooo everyone! When I first got my hand soaps a couple of weeks ago from Bath & Body Works, they were impossible to open and smell because of a shipping mishap. One of the bottles was already open and it leaked, causing a sticky mess all over my order. Now that they are all wiped down, I was finally able to open them and decide for myself if I liked all of the Christmas themed scents that I purchased. Here’s the breakdown:

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Would I Buy Again?

  • Winter Candy Apple: NO
  • Frosted Cranberry: NO
  • Vanilla Bean Noel: YES!!!
  • Fresh Sparkling Snow: NO
  • Let’s Chill: YES
  • Snowy Peach Berry: YES

First things first, can we please talk about how cute the packaging is for these hand soaps?! I absolutely love the ice skating penguin on the Let’s Chill bottle! Overall, I am really pleased with the soaps I purchased. I am particularly fond of Vanilla Bean Noel. It has a classic vanilla scent with no bells or whistles to it and that is perfect for me because pure vanilla is one of my favorite fragrances.

I also really like the Snowy Peach Berry scent because it has the crispness of Fresh Sparkling Snow with a little extra pop to it thanks to the berry and peach. The Winter Candy Apple was okay but it was a lot more pungent than the body wash in the same scent and, although I like it, it is too overpowering for me to consider buying again. That was a bit disappointing because I was really excited to get the hand soap because I love the Winter Candy Apple body wash.

Now, onto the duds. I got my parents and my sister Frosted Cranberry candles from Bath & Body Works last year and they smelled SO good. However, the hand soap has an almost acidic smell to it as opposed to the tangy, spicy scent that I remember. Fresh Sparkling Snow is also one that I wouldn’t purchase again. It smells clean and light but I would have liked a little something more to it because it paled in comparison to the bolder scents.

At the end of the day, Johnny and I are far from picky when it comes to our soaps and will happily use up all of the ones in our latest haul. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say I was already eager to buy more, though!

What is your favorite holiday scent? Which hand soap from B&BW should I get next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec1

Dancing With The Stars Finale

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Dancing With The Stars Finale

Hellooo everyone! I got roped back into Dancing With The Stars this season because one of my favorite figure skaters and personalities, Johnny Weir, was competing. I was looking forward to him taking the Mirror Ball trophy the entire season to redeem himself from his not so hot competitive skating circuit – especially his lackluster Olympic efforts.

Unfortunately, Johnny and my other favorite – the adorable Disney channel star, Skai Jackson, both got eliminated in the semi-finals which left Nelly, Nev Schulman, Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Justina Machado competing to take the cake. To be honest, I would have been fine with anyone BUT Kaitlyn Bristowe winning so, naturally, she won. -_-

Due to a lack of cable TV in my apartment, I have been watching DWTS once it airs on Hulu, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday night. However, when I showed up to work at my family home Tuesday morning, I couldn’t stand the anticipation and had my parents tell me the winner. Y’all know I hate surprises!

After finding out that Kaitlyn had won, I didn’t have much of a desire to even watch the finale but I knew that Derek Hough was dancing and I really wanted to see that. I also watched the freestyle dances of Nev, Nelly, and Justina. In my opinion, Nev’s Broadway-esque dance to “Singing In The Rain” stole the show and it was exciting to behold because I have never seen anything like it on DWTS before.

Of course, no one beats Derek Hough and his performance was the major highlight of my finale viewing. That and the fact that my Johnny watched all of the dances with me and that was really nice because I had a rough week and it was fun to see him have his mind blown by Derek’s moves!

The entirety of the season, I didn’t care for the champion, Kaitlyn Bristowe, at all. I thought that she lacked the personality of a lot of the other competitors and it showed in her performances. There is no denying that she’s a great dancer but she just didn’t move me (ba dum chh) in any way shape or form.

I don’t plan on watching DWTS again unless there’s someone I really like competing. I did have a lot of fun watching this season, though, and it was nice to have something both creative and lighthearted to tune in to. Also, call me when Tyra Banks is no longer the hostess THANKS!

How did you feel about the DWTS finale? Who was your favorite couple this season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov29

Face Mask Festivities: Julep Triple Quench Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Julep Triple Quench Sheet Mask Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a new edition of Face Mask Festivities! During my last little TJMaxx haul, I ordered an intriguing looking mask by Julep that was not only a sheet mask but also offered a pre and post treatment. I have never used a mask that had multiple treatments in one package so I figured it had to be good. I figured wrong, though, because this mask was definitely nothing to sneeze at. Lol, take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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  • Pic 3: Pre-treatment gel
  • Pic 4: Lol, you know I love sheet mask pictures!
  • Pic 5: Post-treatment cream

Step one of this Julep mask was to apply a pre-treatment gel for maximum absorption before putting on the sheet mask. The “gel” didn’t have the traditional, sticky texture which was nice and it was easy to put on.

Next, it was time for the sheet mask. I love sheet masks but, sadly, I don’t think they love me because they’re all too damn big! Lol, this sheet mask was huge and it was not the most comfortable to have on for a full fifteen minutes. Despite it slipping and sliding, I powered through by distracting myself with an episode of Trailer Park Boys with Johnny.

Before I knew it, the sheet mask was ready to come off and the post treatment cream came on to help seal in all of the nutrients and hydration. I can’t say that I was impressed with the results once I completed all three steps. My skin didn’t feel super hydrated, either. In fact, it actually felt rather tight and my cheeks were a rosy pink for the entire evening.

I thought that I might see a better outcome the following morning once all of the treatments could soak in but that wasn’t the case. My skin felt a bit softer, yes. However, I feel like I get those results just from my normal nighttime skin care routine of a serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. This is also a three step process but at least I know it to be effective.

I can’t say that I would recommend this mask because it really didn’t do much. I thought that the three step process the Julep sheet mask offered was an inspired idea but the results left a lot to be desired. I haven’t had a lot of luck with sheet masks recently and I’m thinking it might be time to go back to the traditional clay masks, which I think work a little bit better. We’ll see what happens!

Do you recommend any great sheet or clay masks? Have you used any products that were a dud lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov28

November 2020 Finishes

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November 2020 Finishes

Howdy! Can you believe we’re already coming to the end of November? 2020 has, admittedly, sucked on ice but at least we’ve been flying through these past few months! November drawing to a close means it’s time to discuss all of the beauty products that I finished up so let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast shower gel: YES
  • Garnier water proof micellar water: YES
  • Azure Lux 24K Gold serum: YES
  • SkinLab Revitalize & Hydrate eye gel: NO
  • SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Shower Gel: The Champagne Toast scent from Bath & Body Works rocks! Originally, Johnny thought that this shower gel was called Champagne & Toast, which is what we call it now but no matter what name you give it – the fragrance is divine.

I ordered this body wash online without ever smelling it and I was worried that it would have an alcohol like scent. Thankfully, that was not the case at all! Rather, Champagne Toast has all the allure of fizzy bubbles mixed with sweet berries and tangerine making it oh so sweet and totally luxurious. Speaking of bubbles, this shower gel lathered like a dream and it took me one month to finish the bottle.

SkinLab Eye Gel: I have never tried the Revitalize & Hydrate eye gel by SkinLab before and I would definitely not use it again. While working through this little jar, which took me over two months, I did not notice a single difference to the delicate skin around my eyes. It also would flake clean off if you happened to rub your eyes within a half hour of applying it. Not a good look. I will be sticking to the Lift & Firm eye gel from now on!

For More On The Other Products:

Which products did you use up this month? Are there any products that you would not recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov27

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes By Suzanne Collins Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes By Suzanne Collins Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! This post has been a long time coming because The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes by Suzanne Collins was five hundred and fifteen pages. It took me a while to finish this prequel to The Hunger Games series but it was worth every single page and then some. As always, without giving any spoilers away, let’s discuss:

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For those of you who don’t know, I am a HUGE fan of The Hunger Games. From the books to the movies, I love it all and Katniss is one of my heroes. I am also #teampeta till the day I die, in case you were wondering! ANYWHO, The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes was pre-Katniss times and focuses solely on the future president of Panem, Coriolanus Snow, and his ultimate rise to power.

Young eighteen year old Coriolanus (Coryo to his loved ones) is a Capitol sweetheart despite secretly barely having a penny to his name. He covers his lack of cash with the gift of gab and excels at school. In fact, he excels so much that for the first time in Hunger Games history, students at the Academy are going to be mentors to the tributes and he is chosen to coach none other than Lucy Grey of District 12.

Originally, Coryo was disgusted by his fate because surely a scrawny girl from 12 couldn’t be the victor amid her extremely tough competition. What’s more, sadistic Dr. Gaul who is one of the head scientists of the games is watching his every move and she has plenty of surprises up her sleeves with her genetically mutated animals and love of war.

Despite Coryo’s obvious setbacks for the games, he lives by the motto “Snow lands on top” and he will do anything to win. And, as Lucy Grey proves herself to be a formidable opponent and a huge prize for the winning coach is announced – a full ride to the University, Coryo becomes even more intent on reigning victorious.

The Hunger Games are just the beginning of this wild ride and, sadly, I really can’t give any more away without spoiling a MAJOR plot twist that left me with my chin touching the floor. So, I will say this, The Hunger Games fans will absolutely love this book because it was easily one of my favorite ones of the series.

It was so interesting to read The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes because it tied in beautifully to the other three books. From beloved songs like “The Hanging Tree” and characters like the introduction of Lucky Flickerman, this prequel answers a lot of unanswered questions and it paints a very clear picture of how The Hunger Games began and why they are still happening decades later once Katniss volunteers as tribute.

Jam packed with action, twists, and turns on every page, it was impossible to put this book down. It also leaves you feeling conflicted about Coriolanus Snow who can almost be viewed as a tragic hero in his younger years. Don’t let this fool you, though, because if you have read the series or watched the movies, you will know that he ends up as a president who runs things more like a dictatorship.

Yes, Snow lands on top. But at what cost? Read The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes and find out!

Who else is a fan of The Hunger Games? Are you #teampeta or #teamgale? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov11

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatch In 9 To 5

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Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Swatch In 9 To 5

Howdy! Today, we are going to be talking about the last product from my hand me down haul from my sister. It is last but certainly not least, though, because the lipstick we’re swatching today is definitely my favorite of the bunch. In this post, we are going to be talking about Smashbox’s Be Legendary lipstick in 9 To 5 and it sure is pretty! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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First things first, can we please talk about how freaking ADORABLE this lipstick’s tube is?! I have never seen a lippie packaged like this before and it makes me wish all of my lipstick tubes featured poppy colors and fun patterns. This alone made me excited to open up the tube and check out the color and I was not disappointed!

Back when I was a full redhead without my blonde patch, I never would have dreamed of wearing a punchy pink shade. The bright pinks just didn’t look good so I stuck with my red lippie and nude hues pretty exclusively. Now, a whole new color palette has opened up to me and I am obsessed with the watermelon punch 9 To 5.

All I can think about when I see this color is spring time, floral dresses, and a swiping of 9 To 5 on my lips. The texture of this Smashbox lipstick is so creamy yet is long lasting and I am so thankful to my sister for bestowing it onto me. Working 9 To 5 has never been so sweet and sassy with this lippie and I can’t wait to rock it when I actually have an occasion to, lol!

Which makeup brand has the best packaging? Did makeup shades that normally didn’t work for you look better if you have ever changed your hair color? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah