Tag Archives: skin care

Feb5

Eclat Vitamin C Serum Review

Posted on February 5, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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:

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

Jan29

January 2021 Finishes

Posted on January 29, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! We almost have the first month of 2021 down in the books so that means it is time to discuss my finishes for January! This was a good month for empties, if I do say so myself, because I was able to finish up a few products that I’ve been using for forever as well as revisit some old favorites compliments of Christmas. Take a look at my finishes and let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works French Lavender & Honey body wash: YES
Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue moisturizer: YES
Azure Lux Rose Gold Sparkling Oil Serum: YES
Tree Hut Lemon Blueberry Tart Shea Sugar Scrub: YES!!
SkinLab Lift & Firm eye gel: YES
The Body Shop Vitamin E moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Wash: I have never used a Bath & Body Wash shower gel that I didn’t enjoy and the French Lavender & Honey is no exception. I am normally not a lavender girl in any sense of the word, however, this scent is so much more than floral. There is a delicious kiss of nectarine and rich honey mixed in making for a fragrance fresh from the most lush fields of flowers. The French Lavender & Honey is sweet without being overpowering and the nectarine gives it a fruity pop – I just love it and would gladly use it again! It took me over one month to finish the bottle.

Tree Hut Scrub: I have been working on finishing my Lemon Blueberry Tart Shea Sugar Scrub by Tree Hut for literally the past year and was so happy to finally finish it! Not because I didn’t like the product but because I have another Tree Hut scrub that I would like to use eventually, lol. This scrub rocked and I would use it every time I shaved for the closest, smoothest results. Not only did the sweet tart scent smell good enough to eat but it left my skin so soft and hydrated after shaving that I didn’t even have to use lotion after. A little went such a long way too, which is why I had been using it for so long!

TBS Moisturizer: This travel sized Vitamin E moisturizer came in one of my Christmas prezzies from my brother and I was so happy to use one of my Body Shop favorites again. The Vitamin E moisturizer is so rich and creamy and it always leaves my skin looking and feeling peaches and cream soft after each use. It also really is the perfect travel size as I got exactly one week of twice daily applications from the tiny jar.

And, finally, in case you were wondering why there is no lid on my SkinLab Lift & Firm eye gel, it’s because I dropped it while I was putting it back on and it bounced right into the toilet. I was so mad, lol, it was just one of those mornings, I guess! -_-

Which products did you use up this month? Do you have a favorite scent from Bath & Body Works or The Body Shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan22

Amazon Skin Care Haul

Posted on January 22, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Pre-COVID, whenever I needed new skin care, I would go on a shopping trip to TJMaxx with my mom for serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and all of the other goodies that I didn’t know I needed. Now, for the past ten months, I have had to resort to shopping with Amazon when I am running low on my products. Believe you me, I don’t love this because their prices seem exorbitant since I am still so used to TJMaxx prices but, thankfully, I had a thirty dollar Amazon gift card from InboxDollars to soften the blow. Check out my haul:

Before I began my shopping, I decided to look up skin care that is good for people in their mid twenties and a Vitamin C serum as well as hyaluronic acid both showed up on almost every article I browsed through. I decided to go with the Vitamin C serum by Eclat because it got great reviews and was only six dollars! It has been a while since I used a Vitamin C serum, so I purchased two back up bottles of the Azure Lux Sparkling Oil Serum just in case I didn’t like the new one by Eclat.

Hyaluronic acid’s job is to keep your skin tissue well hydrated and the best way to get more of it is through a serum or moisturizer. To work this ingredient into my skin care routine, I ordered myself the Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturizer by Neutrogena. The back of the box boasts that hyaluronic acid will moisturize with “up to 1,000 times its weight in water, resulting in more supple and smooth skin”. I am excited to try this moisturizer out and I thought the price of fourteen dollars was pretty good – especially since my usual SkinLab products are now twenty dollars on Amazon. -_-

The last thing I needed was some eye cream and, since I had been mindful of the prices of my other purchases, I decided to treat myself with a Vitamin E eye cream from The Body Shop. It has been years since I used this eye cream but I still remember it as one of my favorites because it was so moisturizing and effective on my under eye circles. I have also been obsessed with TBS products again since my Holiday Haul from my brother and his family! Despite its almost twenty dollar price, this eye cream will last me several months and I can’t wait to use it again.

Thanks to my gift card from InboxDollars, I cut my total in half and only ended up spending thirty dollars altogether for my necessities. I haven’t had a skin care haul that cheap since my TJMaxx days so I feel like I made out like a bandit. Great success!

Where do you purchase your skin care from? What are the essential ingredients in your skin care routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan12

Face Mask Festivities: Formula 10.0.6 Get Your Glow On Edition

Posted on January 12, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Formula 10.0.6 Get Your Glow On Edition

Hello! After testing out the Turn Up The Heat self-warming face mask by Formula 10.0.6, I was less than impressed. It’s safe to say that I was expecting another disappointment when I tried their Get Your Glow On skin brightening peel mask but I was dead wrong. Despite one issue, this mask rocked and I am very excited to use it again! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Similar to the last mask I used by Formula 10.0.6, the Get Your Glow On mask was incredibly difficult to get out of the squeeze bottle. It wasn’t so much the mask as it was the bottle itself, which was stiff and rigid. I have nerve damage in my hands from a car accident and I had a tough go of squeezing enough of the mask to cover my face into my hands. In fact, I had almost given up on using it completely so if you struggle with any type of nerve damage or arthritis in your hands, this mask might be more trouble than its worth even though it worked well.

After finally getting enough product into my hands to apply to my face, it was smooth sailing and the mask smelled great – just like Lip Smackers chapstick! I left the mask on while I took a bath and it was ready to peel off by the time I finished my soak. It took about twenty to twenty-five minutes for the mask to dry, which is quite a bit more time than the directions recommend so be aware of that if you do decide to give the Get Your Glow On mask a try.

The mask peeled off perfectly and I felt like a snake shedding its skin, lol. I just love peel off masks in general and they are fun when they actually work because I’ve used a few in the past that just never dried or peeled. After removing the mask, I really felt like my skin looked brighter. I used this mask first thing in the morning and my skin no longer looked tired but radiant, even, and clear. It also didn’t dry my skin out at all, which is a huge plus because the Turn Up The Heat mask left my skin feeling so tight.

The Get Your Glow On mask was a huge improvement in comparison to my previous experience with Formula 10.0.6 and I would recommend it as long as you’re okay with struggling with the bottle each time you use it. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

What is your favorite type of face mask? 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

Jan11

Face Mask Festivities: Formula 10.0.6 Turn Up The Heat Edition

Posted on January 11, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Formula 10.0.6 Turn Up The Heat Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Face Mask Festivities. Today, we are going to be talking about one of the masks that I received in my Holiday Haul by Formula 10.0.6 and, I have to say, I am very glad that this is a mask that I didn’t buy on my own because it was a massive dud. But, hey, they can’t all be winners and it’s still always nice to try something new. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

My first qualm with the Turn Up The Heat face mask was the pump bottle that it came in. If you held it with the pump on top, nothing came out and if you held it with the pump on the bottom, it was still really difficult to get anything out. Also, the amount of face mask that pumped out was minuscule so it took some time to get enough to cover my face and, even then, it was a thin coating at best. A squeeze bottle would have worked so much better!

Despite the issues with simply getting the product out of the bottle, I was still excited to try it because I love a good self-warming mask. But, unfortunately, the mask never heated up on my face. Rather, it got warm in my hands and by the time I applied it to my face, the effect was already gone and that was definitely a disappointment since the self-warming was the whole point of the mask.

Up until I finished washing the mask off, I was still holding on to a slight benefit of the doubt but that quickly dissipated once I realized how tight my skin was afterwards. It felt so dehydrated and I couldn’t get my moisturizer on fast enough. I also noticed no positive changes in my complexion, either. WHOMP WHOMP.

I would not recommend this mask at all as it was lackluster on all fronts. The highly inconvenient packaging was one thing but the Turn Up The Heat mask did not work as described and did nothing for my skin. Don’t bother with this one!

Is there a self-warming mask that you recommend? Have you used any products that were duds lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan5

Holiday Haul: Sister & Family Edition

Posted on January 5, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! My sister, Kristen, her SO, Ramon, and sweet daughter, Valerie, are my best friends and I love being their fourth wheel more than anything. Being able to share so many holidays with Kristen and Ramon and now their daughter is always going to be special to me and this past Christmas was no exception. Miss Val made out like an adorable little bandit this Christmas and she was even able to unwrap some of her own gifts this year! Her “TT” had quite the haul herself, though, and I am so excited about the gifts I received from Val and her amazing parents. Check it out:

Kristen texted me earlier in December asking me what I would like for Christmas and I told her that some new face masks to try out would be much appreciated. She took this idea and ran with it, gifting me two face masks by Formula 10.0.6. I am eager to test both masks out – particularly the self-warming clay mask. I used to get a self-warming mask from The Body Shop back in the day and it was one of my favorites. Speaking of favorites, I also got an awesome GUDETAMA lip balm and he is my favorite, lazy egg in the whole world. Don’t believe me? Check out my Facebook posts where I am constantly replying to people with Gudetama themed stickers! 😀

When my sister texted me, I didn’t tell her that I would really like a new pair of Express leggings too but she knows me well enough to have gotten me a pair, anyways. Kristen gifted me with leggings from Express last year and they are simply the best. I am so happy to have another pair because I wear my old ones literally all the time and, although they are still in great condition, it will be nice to have the option to alternate.

Pre-COVID, going to my favorite bars with Johnny and Kristen was always a treat and nine times out of ten, you could catch me drinking a Moscow Mule. I love them! And, with new copper mugs from Kristen and her fam, I’ll be able to make them at home with my go to recipe and not have to put them in coffee mugs like usual, lol. Great success!

Now, you might be wondering why in the heck Kristen gave the game of Guess Who? to me and Johnny and I’ll tell you why. A few months ago, we were all at chez parents and Kristen happened to bring her copy of the game over. We had many rousing rounds with my brother, Andrew, and it was a hoot. I also love the much more culturally diverse update of Guess Who? too! I think Johnny and I will get a kick out of playing it when we are stuck in the doldrums of feeling like there is “nothing” to do. 🙂

Kristen and her family were so generous this Christmas and I really am touched because these gifts are absolutely perfect for me. My sister knows me like the back of her hand and knew that the majority of what she gave me were things that I would like but never buy for myself and that, in itself, is the best gift of all. ❤

Which store has the best leggings? How do you make drinks from the bar at home? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan4

Holiday Haul: Big Brother & Family Edition

Posted on January 4, 2021 by lifewithlilred

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Holiday Haul: Big Brother & Family Edition

Helloooo! This past Christmas was awesome, but it would have been perfect if my brother, Peter, and his wife, Megan, and their little boy could have been with us too, as they live out of state. Peter, Megan, and their adorable son sent me and my family the most lovely gifts and I am always so happy when we can FaceTime with each other or chat via phone call and text. I can’t wait to be able to see them in person again but opening their gifts felt like a special hug from each of them and I am so in love with all of my prezzies for spa treatments right in my apartment. Check it out:

I absolutely love the timeless fashion of Ralph Lauren clothing and I feel so spoiled to now have a RL robe that is just as (If not more!) comfortable than it looks. Complete with the RLL monogram and oozing all of the cozy vibes, I want to wrap myself in it whenever I even think about it! My new robe will be great during cold nights in my apartment but it will be even better when I am pampering myself with all of my new goodies from The Body Shop.

I live for products from The Body Shop and being gifted with all of these sets is such a treat because they are something that I wouldn’t buy for myself. Their body butters are so luxurious and each one smells amazing. I am looking forward to kissing my dry winter skin goodbye with my set of five mini butters – I’m particularly excited about the Almond Milk & Honey one because it’s my favorite. 😀

I also received a super cute makeup bag filled with mini sizes of TBS top sellers and am so glad that a Vitamin E moisturizer was included because it is simply the best. Finally, I will be able to take my spa treatments over the top with the Himalayan Charcoal Skin Purifying Kit. I have never used the Purifying Clay Wash so that will be fun to try and scrub in with the charcoal infused buffer. Their Himalayan Charcoal face mask is also, hands down, one of my favorites and I can always count on it to not only remove nasty blackheads but make my skin glow.

An evening in my robe with a face mask on and a steaming cup of tea is the epitome of a pampering party to me and I am beyond happy with these beautiful gifts. Thanks again! ❤

How do you do spa treatments at home? What is luxurious to you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

December 2020 Finishes

Posted on December 27, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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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:

Would I Use Again?

Garnier Micellar Water: YES
Clean & Clear Morning Burst cleanser: YES!
Bath & Body Works Mango Mandarin fragrance spray: YES
Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue gel moisturizer: YES!
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
Azure Lux Rose Gold serum: YES

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

Dec24

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

Posted on December 24, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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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:

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

Nov29

Face Mask Festivities: Julep Triple Quench Sheet Mask Edition

Posted on November 29, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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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:

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

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