Tag Archives: review

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Twilight Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Twilight Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! This will be the last issue of Bath Bomb Blitz for a while until I can restock my supplies from Lush. I told myself that I would try to space out my birthday bath bombs, but we all see how well that worked out, because I used up four in less than a month! The bath bomb from Lush that we’re going to discuss today is called Twilight and it was AIGHT. Take a look:

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(I like to call the second pic “Journey To The Center Of The Bath Bomb” haha)

Although I definitely liked Twilight better than the Sakura bomb, it was still a bit of a disappointment. I was looking forward to using it, because I thought that the water was going to turn fully pink. But, because the center of the bath bomb was baby blue, the water turned dish water grey, instead. Not a good look.

Twilight also fizzed out rather quickly, which didn’t help the water color situation, either. The bath bomb had completely disappeared within two minutes, so there wasn’t much of a display aspect to using Twilight – and that’s no fun! The final nail in the coffin, is that I didn’t feel moisturized at all from this product, which sucks, because I’m so used to Lush bath bombs making me feel like I just took a soak in body butter. So, even though Twilight was a step up from the Sakura bomb, I definitely wouldn’t bother with this one again.

Which body care products do you like to use during bath time? What would your perfect bath bomb be like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Sakura Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Sakura Edition

WARNING:

This post features pictures of my dirty ass bath tub. I apologize in advance. – The Management

Okay! Now that that’s out of the way… Hi everyone! Today, we are going to discuss the first product that I have not been happy with from Lush. Their Sakura bath bomb. In the words of all of my dad joke telling friends, it truly was a “dud”. *Massive eye roll* Take a look and see for yourselves:

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Like everyone else on the planet, when I use a bath bomb, I’m expecting to see some action. Fireworks, explosions, at the very least the bath water changing colors! But, unfortunately, none of the above happened with the Sakura bomb. Hell, it didn’t even smell good.

Upon first inspection of the bath bomb, you’ll notice the pale blue and pink incorporated into the color palette. So, I assumed that the water would reflect that with the soft pink and blue and a creamy white for good measure. But, to assume makes an ass of U and me, as the old saying goes! After dropping the bomb in the water, it fizzed out in less than a minute, and left the water a murky, foamy white. And, even that disappeared after being in the tub for about thirty seconds.

One of my favorite things about bath bombs from Lush is how moisturized they leave your skin feeling after using them. And, this bath bomb didn’t have that going for it, either. My skin felt dry and tight after I got out of the tub and I had to use a healthy amount of body butter afterwards to shake away that feeling. Whomp whomp.

If you’re looking for a bath bomb that does literally nothing, then the Sakura bomb is the one for you. But, if you’re looking for a bath bomb that does something, then the Sakura bomb is definitely not the one for you! 😉

Have any products disappointed you lately? What is your least favorite bath bomb that you have used? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Secret Arts Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Secret Arts Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Bath Bomb Blitz! This amazing Jelly Bomb from Lush is called Secret Arts and it was part of my birthday gift from the beautiful Kate of Ankhor You. Kate knows me all too well, because only a true best friend would gift me with a bath bomb that turns the water black! Check it out:

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When I first popped Secret Arts into the bath tub, I was so pleased to see the water turning into an inky black, because bathing in black water is one of my emo kid fantasies. And, as the bath bomb began to dissolve, it revealed a deep magenta core that spiraled out into the water. It actually looked a lot like a Golden Snitch from Harry Potter… except not golden at all, but you get the point.

As I made my way into the tub, I noticed a layer of film over the water that didn’t look like anything I’ve seen before while Bath Bomb Blitzing. Little did I know, I was using a Jelly Bomb, and it transformed the water into a rich, creamy gel. It actually felt a lot like butter and it definitely felt a lot like magic. A coincidence from my BFF who also loves Harry Potter as much as me? I think not!

After making the discovery that I had a skin treatment included in this bath bomb, I took the time to rub the body butter film all over myself and it was so delicious. It moisturized my skin so well that I didn’t even need to apply lotion upon exiting the tub but, of course I did anyways to revel in the full bath time experience.

The only negative about this product was the clean up afterwards. It left a slippery, black residue in my tub that needed serious elbow grease to remove. It literally looked like an oil spill took place in my bath tub. So, if you’re not interested in a heavy duty tub scrubbing after your bath, then Secret Arts is not for you. But, if you don’t mind it, then it will be a magical bath time, indeed.

*Cue Harry Potter theme music*

What is your favorite bath bomb from Lush? What color do you like your bath water to turn? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lovely Lingerie: Upbra Edition

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Lovely Lingerie: Upbra Edition

Everyone has those articles of clothing that they just hate shopping for. Some find dread in having to purchase a new pair of jeans, others go ballistic over bikini shopping. And, meanwhile, there’s me – who hates, hates, HATES shopping for bras. My breasts are always something that I have been self conscious about because of their size, and it has brought upon a sense of impending doom when the time comes that I need a new bra.

Will it give me proper support?

  Will the larger bras be as pretty as the smaller ones?

Will it fit properly?

Will it give me cleavage that looks appropriate?

All of these thoughts and then some swirl around in my head when a new bra needs to be purchased. But, what if I told you that there was a brand of bras on the market that eliminates literally all of the above problems?

Allow me to introduce Upbra:

Upbra, a California brand, has dedicated over half a decade to designing the technology to bring comfort, support, and perfect cleavage to breasts of every shape and size. These bras aren’t your standard Victoria’s Secret lingerie by any means, because Upbra allows you to customize the amount of cleavage that you get without bulky padding.

Six years of research and design created Active Lift technology, which is featured in every Upbra bra. And, what is Active Lift technology, you might ask? I’m so glad you did! Check it out:

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Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Active Lift technology. You might notice a few different things about the Upbra bras in comparison to your lingerie from Victoria’s Secret.

First:

My personal favorite thing about the Upbra bras are the specially formulated vinyl hearts that act as grippers from the inside of your bra. Not only do they look adorable, but they help to keep your cleavage in check all day by keeping your breasts placed inward and upward as soon as you adjust your cleavage control straps.

And, speaking of cleavage:

Perhaps the most important part of Active Lift technology are the cleavage control straps, which you can see on the bottom band of each bra. The locking system in the bra’s band are connected to platforms within the bra cups, which allow your breasts to be moved upward and inward when adjusted for perfect cleavage every time. The amount of cleavage that your bra gives is completely up to you. For a more natural look, pull and lock your straps just a little for a day on the job. But, for a night out, you can pull a lot to lock and load your girls for after work drinks!

The best part about Upbra bras, though, is that they are made with every size in mind. That’s why it was so exciting when their Miraculous Stay-Up Strapless Bra was released. I know. I initially rolled my eyes, too – because whether you have small, medium, or large breasts, it can feel nearly impossible to find a strapless bra that keeps you lifted all day. That’s why you can always see my bra straps when I’m wearing a top or dress that definitely needs a strapless bra.

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So annoying, right? But you know what’s even more annoying? Wearing a strapless bra that is falling down every second of every minute of every day!!!! That’s why Upbra created their Miraculous Stay-Up Strapless Bra with a grip around the band so that you stay lifted and supported all day. No bra straps required. Check it out and see how I went from Bra Strap Betty to Strapless Sarah thanks to Upbra:

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Upbra’s Miraculous Stay-Up Strapless Bra provided me with the confidence that I needed to go strap free for the first time in my life, and that is so special to me. Say goodbye to straps and hello to support all day and, dare I say, perfect cleavage too!!!

I know that all of my lovelies will be looking forward to getting their own gorgeous lingerie from Upbra, and I’m here to help with that. You can use this coupon code to get ten dollars off of your purchase:

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How has a good bra changed your life? Where do you do all of your lingerie shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair Lip Balm Review

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O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair Lip Balm Review

Howdy! So, normally, I’m not a huge lip balm kind of gal. I’m notorious for licking it off my lips if it tastes good, I hate the little white flecks that form on your mouth after wearing it for a while, and sometimes my lips feel even dryer after applying the LIP CHAP in the first place. But, then I tried this here O’Keeffe’s Lip Repair Lip Balm and my opinion changed drastically. Check it out:

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Weirdly enough, this lip balm was given to me FO FREE at the Cleveland Zoo when I went last week. It was so random, but I’m glad for it, because I can’t get enough of this stuff. Why, you might ask? Because…

  1. It’s unscented, so I’m not eating chapstick all day because it smells so good. There is probably so much Lip Smackers in my belly from my childhood!
  2. I’ve applied this product several times since I got it, and I haven’t had one single white fleck problem on my mouth.
  3. The texture is thick (But not too thick!), and my lips feel hydrated after using it as opposed to thirsting for another application.
  4. Because this balm is so rich, it leaves your lips with a gorgeous creamy color instead of anything too glossy or sticky.

I’m not one to gab about lip balm, but I really am gaga over this one and would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. You won’t be disappointed!

What is your favorite brand of lip balm? Have you used any O’Keeffe products before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

June 2018 Finishes

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June 2018 Finishes

Hello! In just a few short days, my birth month will be drawing to a close. And, that can only mean that it’s time to go over my beauty finishes for June! So sit back, take a look at my empties, and let’s discuss:

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Would I Use Again?

  • L’oreal Extraordinary Oil hair serum: MAYBE
  • The Body Shop Cocoa Butter: YES
  • The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter: YES

Why/Why Not?

L’oreal Hair Serum: Guys, it took me over ONE YEAR to finish this L’oreal serum and, I must say, that it did its job well. I applied two pumps to my hair after my shower every morning, and it left my locks shiny, silky, and frizz free post straightening. And, it smelled awesome! If given the opportunity, I would use this again. But, I’m not married to the product and am looking forward to trying something new.

TBS Cocoa Butter: You all know how much I love me my cocoa butter! I seriously cannot get enough of this stuff and have to buy a tub every time I see it at TJMaxx. I feel spoiled rotten whenever I use it and the rich chocolate scent never gets old. I got six full body uses out of this container.

TBS Strawberry & Satsuma Body Butter: These mini butters were from a Christmas gift, and I finally got around to using both of them up. Granted, it didn’t take long, because I only got a full body and a half use out of each container. But, that’s okay, because they were still nice to use and I love both scents – especially Satsuma!

This month, I enjoyed using lots of body butter and finally finishing my serum from L’oreal. I am really happy with all four products that I used up in June and am looking forward to reviewing more empties come July!

Is there a product that has taken you forever to use up? What is your favorite body butter scent from The Body Shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dunkin’ Donuts Disappointment

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Dunkin’ Donuts Disappointment

Hi! This week, I received my freebie cold brew packets from Dunkin’ Donuts in the mail, and it was nothing short of disappointing. Take a look at some pics, don’t mind the Loony Toons pitcher, and let’s discuss:

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As you can see, the preparation of the cold brew coffee was easy and self explanatory. It wasn’t until I was ready to drink the coffee that everything went up in flames! In the morning, I woke up and was excited to give my cold caffeine drink a try and, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste one single drop.

While attempting to get the coffee bags out of the pitcher, they ripped and I had barely even touched them. It turned all of the liquid in the pitcher into a thick, coffee ground contaminated mess. Now, I probably should have just poured the drink into another pitcher so that I could add the extra water and then dispose of the bags, but I was tired and wasn’t thinking and really REALLY just wanted my coffee and ended up having none at all. So, needless to say, this freebie was an absolute and total bust. #disappointed

How do you like to drink your coffee? Who else has had some coffee ground disasters before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Over & Over Edition

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Bath Bomb Blitz: Lush’s Over & Over Edition

Hello! This past weekend, I finally got to enjoy a nice, long soak in the tub with one of the bath bombs from Lush that I received for my birthday. I was feeling so worn out, so I decided to go with the Over & Over bath bomb, because of its bright yellow and orange color to see if it might help energize me. And, after watching it take off in different directions in my tub like a little rocket, it surely did! Take a look:

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This is so bad, but my first thought when this bath bomb hit the water was “great, it’s going to look like a tub full of pee”, because of the initial pale yellow color. But, shortly after, I was proven wrong, because the pink coloring from inside the bomb began fizzing out in full force. So much so, that it literally made the bomb whiz off in the opposite direction of the tub like a shooting star. It. Was. Awesome.

From then on, the bomb began fizzing its vivid yellows, oranges, and hot pinks for a solid ten minutes, all the while it was filling my bathroom with a scent that was like freshly squeezed pink lemonade. The swirling colors left the final shade of the water a really pretty sunset orange and it felt like laying in a bubble of sunshine once I finally got into the tub.

Not only was the bath bomb display gorgeous but, because it’s made with cocoa butter (My favorite!), it left my skin feeling so hydrated and good – especially after shaving the Woolly Mammoth legs! 10/10 would use this bomb Over & Over again!

What is your favorite bath bomb from Lush? What is your favorite non bath bomb product from there? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

NYX Lipstick Swatch In Indie Flick

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NYX Lipstick Swatch In Indie Flick

Helloooo! Today’s NYX lippie that we’re going to swatch is called Indie Flick. At first, I thought that purchasing this shade would be a good idea, because it does have hints of red in it. But, upon trying it on at home, I was gravely mistaken, because this color is straight up orange! Lol, check it out:

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I have always really liked the idea of orange lipstick, because it looks SO cute on the gals that can pull it off. But, unfortunately, Indie Flick is just too orange for me. If it were still a red color with orange undertones to it, maybe it would be a different story. But, it’s definitely an orange shade with a tiny smidgen of red thrown in for good measure.

Would a color like this look awesome with bright red hair and pasty pale skin? No, absolutely not. But, maybe – just maybe – a pale peach or something soft and sweet would look better, instead! I guess I’ll have to find a color like that and see what happens! 😀

Who here can rock an orange lip? What is your favorite brand of lipstick? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May 2018 Finishes

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May 2018 Finishes

Hello everyone and TGIF! If you can believe it, another month is almost done here on lifewithlilred! And guess what that means – IT’S ALMOST MY BIRTHDAY! I will be turning 24 on June 7th, so do be sure to mark it in your calendars! 😉 But I digress, so let’s get on to viewing this month’s finishes:

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Would I Use Again?

  • Le Petit Marseiliais White Peach & Nectarine shower gel: YES
  • Simple Micellar Cleansing Water: YES
  • The Body Shop Satsuma scrub: YES
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C moisturizer: YES
  • The Body Shop Oils Of Life serum: YES
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay blush: YES

Why/Why Not?

LPM Shower Gel: This shower gel and brand in general is awesome. The White Peach & Nectarine scent was so invigorating every morning and, although this was a gel and not a creme, I was still left feeling moisturized after my shower. I finished this body wash in about two and a half months and I am looking forward to using the two other scents that I have by Le Petit Marseiliais soon!

Simple Micellar Water: Even though I am not a huge fan of micellar water, it is way cheaper than eye makeup remover so I am okay with it! I can’t say much for the Simple brand, because I don’t really like it. BUT, I just purchased a bottle of Garnier cleansing water, so we’ll see if I like that kind better. It took me close to two months to finish this bottle.

TBS Scrub: The scrubs from The Body Shop are a must for me when I am shaving and the Satsuma scent is always amazing! I got this as part of a Christmas gift and I got about seven uses out of one of the mini sized bottles.

TBS Moisturizer: I LOVED the Vitamin C moisturizer from The Body Shop. It lasted me two months, it sat well under makeup, and my skin felt nice and hydrated after each use. I would definitely use this again and I hope that they have it back at TJMaxx soon! 😀

TBS Serum: And, of course, I loved the Oils Of Life Serum from The Body Shop, too. One bottle lasted me for five and a half months of daily use, it sat well under makeup, AND MY SKIN FELT NICE AND HYDRATED AFTER EACH USE!!!!!! I am lucky, because I have one more bottle of this and I know that it will last me for close to another half a year!

Tarte Blush: Normally, I don’t write about makeup finishes, but this Tarte blush is different. I got it for my Sephora birthday freebie last June and I JUST FINISHED IT last week. This was my most used blush for the year. The color was gorgeous and I wish that it wasn’t just a one time birthday color. 😥

May brought me a lot more finishes than normal and it was fun being able to use up all of them – especially since I enjoyed each product so much!

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