Tag Archives: skin care

Jul9

Face Mask Festivities: Que Bella Professional Detoxifying Peel Off Mask Edition

Posted on July 9, 2020 by lifewithlilred

Hi! For my 26th birthday, my bestie treated me to some amazing skin care products. This past Fourth Of July weekend, I enjoyed using my Que Bella Professional peel off mask instead of being out in the mid ninety degree heat. Yuck! While Johnny had a July Fourth celebration with a few close friends, I had fun hanging out at home, watching America’s Next Top Model and getting a major skin detox. Check it out:

I originally thought that this detoxifying mask was a sheet one so I was so confused when I opened the package and a thick, black tar came oozing out. Then, I realized I was supposed to put this strange substance on my face, let it dry, and it would peel off? Lol, okay. But, in the name of a blog post I did it anyway and I am honestly so glad I did because it was FABULOUS.

It took twenty minutes for this mask to completely dry but I was ambivalent about it so called “peeling off” because I had a hard enough time removing the excess from my hands! But, to my surprise, when I began to remove the mask it came off easily and in one piece. I was totally amazed because I had never used anything like it before and I was even more amazed because I loved the results!

Infused with charcoal powder and Vitamin E, this mask by Que Bella eliminated impurities while still being insanely hydrating. After the mask was off, the black heads on my nose were gone completely and my skin felt smooth and hydrated. I couldn’t get over the moisture boost and I woke up the following morning still in awe of the baby’s bottom results, lol.

Despite not even wanting to use this product at the beginning, I would rate it with the prestigious: ten out of ten stars. The results spoke for itself, the mask removed like it was nothing, and even though the application was messy it was still kind of fun! I would love to use more peel off masks and plan on buying them from Que Bella, so keep it posted!

What is your favorite kind of face mask? What are the best peel off masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun30

June 2020 Finishes Pt. 2

Posted on June 30, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! Yesterday, we discussed a lot of the skin care that I finished up this past month of June. And, if you’re checking back in today, you’ll see we have a few more goodies to chit chat about. With the part one and two finishes combined, it would have been a long ass post. So, why not break it up into two? Let’s get on with my June 2020 Finishes… Part Two:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES
Bath & Body Works Champagne Apple & Honey shower gel: YES
Destiny Boutique Charcoal face wash: YES
Azure Lux Rose Gold serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: It doesn’t really bother me to constantly be using the micellar water by Garnier… Obviously, considering it shows up on almost every empties post! But, whenever given the opportunity at TJMaxx, I just have to grab some of the Evoluderm water if it’s there. I don’t know why it makes Garnier’s micellar water feel like plain old water but the Evoluderm brand feels like magic. I love using it as a toner and makeup remover and one bottle lasts me about a month and a half.

B&BW Shower Gel: Love the B&BW, love anything apple, and love anything champagne! Haha, this shower gel combines a lot of my favorite things and it easily makes the Champagne Apple & Honey scent one of my must haves. It’s sweet and tart and the luscious bubbles make you never want to get out of the shower! One bottle typically lasts me a little over a month.

Destiny Boutique Face Wash: I use a lot of charcoal products when it comes to my skin care and Destiny Boutique has always been one of my go to brands. Their charcoal face wash and face bar have been staples in my skin care routine for years now and I tend to order the goods on Amazon when I can’t find them at TJ’s because the products are that good. Pesky blackheads and blemishes will be a thing of the past and stay that way because one bottle took me over three months to use!

Azure Lux Serum: I was introduced to the Rose Gold serum by Azure Lux a year or so ago and have remained fairly faithful to it since. I just love how radiant the serum makes my skin look and the real flecks of 24K gold makes it feel oh so lush with each use. It takes me one month to finish one bottle and, although I wish it lasted a bit longer, I am never not going to buy it.

June has brought us a ton of empties to discuss and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but fingers crossed for a lighter finishes haul in July! Lol! 😀

Which products did you finish this month? What are your thoughts on any of my empties if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun29

June 2020 Finishes Pt. 1

Posted on June 29, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello!! I have a theory that June seriously dragged because of my family vacation to look forward to at the end of the month. It made each day feel like a lifetime… Maybe that explains why I have so many empties that I had to break my normal monthly finishes post into a part one and two!

The real reason, however, is that I haven’t been wearing makeup in quarantine. Therefore, I’m using twice as much skin care per month because I have a fresh face to apply a nighttime routine on. I can definitely notice the difference in my skin from the daily double whammies of moisturizers and serums. Now, maybe I’ll be more motivated to take my makeup off at night post quarantine. Maybe!

Lol, let’s take a look at these skin care empties and discuss:

Would I Use Again?

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair moisturizer: NO
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
SkinLab Lift & Firm Eye Gel: YES
Biossance Vitamin C & Rose Hip Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Neutrogena Moisturizer: My mom gave me this moisturizer when I was running low at home and holy wow is this stuff powerful. Of course, this product was made with more mature skin in mind and at twenty-six, mine just didn’t meet that mark. After a few days of use, my skin was SO dry and red that I had to put olive oil on it just to breathe some lift back into the painful, burning dryness.

Once I realized it was way too strong for my skin, I mixed a bit of it into my normal SkinLab moisturizer and that felt much better. Waste not, want not as the saying goes. I can’t say I recommend this product for anyone in my age range but I think it would be fabulous for those with more mature skin.

SkinLab Moisturizer: My Lift & Firm moisturizer felt like absolute heaven in comparison to the Neutrogena one! So rich and insanely hydrating, my skin was drinking it up after being so dried out. It takes me one month to finish one jar and I always plan on using it again. In fact, I need a restock soon!

SkinLab Eye Gel: And, as you know, I am all about the SkinLab Eye Gel too. It takes me at least three months to finish one tiny jar and I can’t picture my skin care routine without it, either.

Biossance Serum: I received this little vial of serum as a freebie during my last Sephora haul and, if given the opportunity, I would use it again. My skin looked radiant and felt so nourished after each use. My only qualm, though, is that it never fully sank into my skin and it left a somewhat greasy residue. This is not ideal, especially in the hot summer months. It took me a week and a half of twice daily use to finish the sample.

Now you know all about my skin care empties for the month! Do tune in tomorrow to learn more about the rest of my June Finishes. 🙂

Which products have you used up this month? Have you tried out any new skin care recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun25

Face Mask Festivities: Sephora’s The Bubble Mask Edition

Posted on June 25, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Face Mask Festivities: Sephora’s The Bubble Mask Edition

Hi! There is nothing that Lil Red loves more than when I can apply a face mask during my free time in the evening. During my last Sephora haul, I purchased a bubble sheet mask to help me get over the fifty dollar free shipping threshold. The baby blue packaging and the description all looked and sounded so nice and I am happy I bought it because it WAS nice! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

Alright, let’s start off this post by saying that sheet face masks are, admittedly, extremely creepy. The creepier part? I had the intention of putting this face mask on all day and was looking forward to it at work. So, naturally, I had to apply the mask anyways while my boyfriend and I were watching Hannibal. There is something about wearing a sheet mask while watching a show about Hannibal Lector that seems so wrong and we were in stitches when I walked out of the bathroom with the mask on my face. But, hey, limited free time means pampering oneself while… one can? Lol!

Despite feeling like a total CREEPER, Sephora’s Bubble Mask was amazing! As soon as I put it on, I could feel the bubbling effect begin to take place. And, within minutes, my face was being treated with luscious, sudsy bubbles popping and fizzing away. This mask was refreshing and it was so cool to feel it actually working instead of just sitting there like a clay mask.

My only qualm with this product is that the sheet mask was SO saturated with the treatment that it would slide down my face. This was not great because the liquid would get in my eyes and it burned. In fact, I couldn’t even leave the mask on for the full fifteen minutes, as much as I would have liked to, because it hurt too bad. Had this not been a problem, I honestly would have rated this mask with a ten out of ten.

Although there was the problem with the eye irritation, I cannot even tell you how shocked I was with the results once I removed the mask. My skin looked SO fresh, it was almost as if I spent all day getting beauty sleep instead of working. It looked radiant and bright and I definitely plan on purchasing it again if I need a little extra something to get me free shipping when I shop online with Sephora. But, next time? No watching Hannibal during my relaxation time! 😀

Do you prefer sheet or traditional face masks? What is your favorite face mask? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun19

Huge Sephora Haul

Posted on June 19, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! I don’t shop in store with Sephora often, unless I plan on purchasing new makeup. Normally, I just get everything I already know I like online because they have amazing freebie deals and free shipping with a fifty dollar purchase… Which, let’s be honest, is not hard to do!

This past online order, I really needed more of my favorite hair product: IGK’s Mistress Hair Balm and I also was in the mood to order some treats. So, I decided to scour their sale section and ended up with some darling new fake eyelashes, a face mask, a butt mask (lol!), and a whole lot of freebies. Check it out:

Okay, let’s start out by addressing the elephant in the room: THE BUTT MASK. I did not go on Sephora’s website specifically to buy this! I was literally one dollar away from free shipping and didn’t want to make a huge purchase, so I bought the mask on sale for four bucks to get me over the limit. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t curious and obviously I’m looking forward to using it. Since when is there a beauty product just for the booty boo?!

Anyways, I planned out this purchase to get the maximum amount of freebies, as you can see. Not only did I get my birthday freebie by Milk Makeup but I also got eleven additional samples with a twenty-five dollar purchase and two extra ones just for online shopping. It was a great deal and I have been enjoying testing out all of the high end skin care I got samples of.

It has already been established that I’m looking forward to trying my face AND butt mask but I think I am the most excited about my new eyelashes. The Museum Of Ice Cream and Sephora collab introduced the world to the most adorable, feather adorned fake eyelashes I have ever seen. Of course, there’s nowhere to flaunt them now but once I get my hair done it’s photo shoot time so be on the lookout to see a super funky and cool MOTD!

How do you get the best deals when shopping Sephora? Which beauty products do you love to treat yourself to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May28

May 2020 Finishes

Posted on May 28, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! May is just about over, which means that it’s time for my monthly beauty finishes. Despite being stuck at home pretty much all of May, it went by surprisingly quick and before I know it, my birthday of June 7th will be here in which I am turning the big 2-6. YIKES! I am not particularly thrilled about this increase in age so I’d like to stay in May for a bit longer please and thank you.

Unfortunately, we all know that this isn’t possible so I guess I will just have to really savor these last few posts in May! *Deep breath* The savoring has officially commenced so let’s get to discussing these empties:

Would I Use Again?

Wonder Therapy Vanilla Coconut coffee cream scrub: YES
Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple shower gel: YES
Evoluderm micellar water: YES
ValJean Labs Revive day serum: NO
Clinique Moisture Surge face spray: YES

Why/Why Not?

Wonder Therapy Scrub: I got acquainted with the Wonder Therapy brand through TJMaxx and I am obsessed with their coffee scrubs! The Vanilla Coconut scent is delicious and the creamy texture is so rich that I don’t even have to put lotion on after shaving. And, speaking of shaving, I get the closest shave when I use this scrub first to prep my skin… We’re talking crazy smooth and it doesn’t get better than that. Plus, I got at least fifteen uses from one bottle, which is a great value too.

B&BW Shower Gel: Love the Bath & Body Works shower gels, love the apple scent, and love that I got it for about three bucks during their semi-annual sale. One bottle takes me over one month to finish and my skin definitely feels a lot softer and healthier from their moisturizing formula. And, did we mention the apple scent? Yum!

Evoluderm Micellar Water: I also got acquainted with the Evoluderm brand from TJMaxx and their micellar water is literally the best. It beats the Garnier micellar water by a long shot and I always have to snag a few bottles if I find it in the TJ’s beauty aisle. Not only does this micellar water take off my makeup perfectly but it also feels so good to use as a toner before I put my creams on. It took me over one month to finish the travel sized bottle.

ValJean Serum: This day serum by ValJean was a massive disappointment and one of the few times that the TJMaxx beauty aisle did me dirty. It was so strange because the consistency of the serum was thicker, which I like, but it felt like it did nothing every time I applied it. It was just kind of there and I noticed no difference in the feeling or appearance of my skin one way or the other. It took me one month to finish one bottle.

Clinique Face Spray: I received the Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray as a freebie gift from one of my Sephora online orders. For a while, it just sat there unused in my bathroom cabinet. But, then, I used a super powerful cream that my mom gave me which was definitely intended for more mature skin. It dried my face out completely and, throughout the day, I could feel it becoming more and more parched.

Then, I decided to start taking the Clinique spray with me while I was out and about and couldn’t get cream on immediately. It was such a refreshing… Moisture surge, lol. Seriously, it was like getting a drink of water for my skin every time I used it and I can see myself buying it again this winter when my sensitive skin suffers. It took me two weeks of use to finish the travel sized bottle.

Overall, May was a great month for empties. I finished a lot of the products that I was working on for a while and that is always exciting because it means I can start something new. So, who knows what I’ll have used up next month… Keep it posted! 🙂

Which products did you finish up in May? What are some of your favorite beauty brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May14

Amazon Skin Care Haul

Posted on May 14, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! If I knew the last time that I went to TJMaxx was the last time, I would have bought out their entire skin care selection. But, hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes. A few weeks ago, I ran completely out of my selection of moisturizers and serums and was running dangerously low on everything else. As the other saying goes… There’s a first time for everything.

Normally, I would go to TJMaxx’s website to order some more skin care but they are not shipping out currently. So, I turned to Amazon and bought all of my necessities in bulk so that running out never happens again. Check out my haul:

The Haul:

2 Garnier micellar waters with a free travel size bottle
3 SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizers
2 Azure Lux Rose Gold serums
1 Azure Lux 24K Gold serum
2 SkinLab Lift & Firm eye gels
1 SkinLab Hydrate & Replenish hydra eye cream

I know, I know… It’s a lot. But, now I won’t have to worry about replenishing my hoard for a good long while and I feel great about that. What I don’t feel so great about? How much more expensive these products were on Amazon than they normally are at TJs! For example, I paid about eleven dollars for each moisturizer on Amazon when I normally pay six at TJMaxx. That hurt.

You know what else hurts, though? Your skin literally aching to be moisturized after a few days of going without! That was really rough, especially since I’ve been following a strict skin care regimen since I was at least fifteen. I am so thankful that Amazon had brands that I was familiar with so that I didn’t have to spend money on products I potentially might not like. It might have cost a bit more but it was worth every penny.

I would never be a toilet paper hoarder but I have been a proud beauty care hoarder for years now and it is nice to finally have my stockpile sitting pretty again. 😀

What are some beauty products that you stockpile? Which products have you been having a hard time finding in stores? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr30

April 2020 Finishes Pt. 2

Posted on April 30, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Hello! The month of April brought me so many empties that I had to break our normally scheduled discussion into two posts. Ah yes, the stay at home order has been making me go through my products like water. So much so that I had to have a major online order with Amazon to restock, so be on the look out for that later! Now, let’s wrap up April’s finishes with the rest of my reviews:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Cactus Blossom shower gel: NO
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES
Provence Beauty Vitamin C & Ferulic Acid serum: NO
SkinLab Lift & Firm serum: MAYBE
SkinLab Lift & Firm eye cream: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Shower Gel: I received some mini B&BW products as part of a Christmas gift and I wasn’t a huge fan of the Cactus Blossom fragrance. I am not a floral scent gal in the slightest and much prefer tangy, fruity fragrances and the Cactus Blossom was just a bit too overpowering for me. I will say that I love the convenience of the B&BW travel sizes and I got at least seven full body uses from one little bottle.

SkinLab Moisturizer: I love the SkinLab products and I am sure that you all have seen this brand show up on my posts many times. At twenty-five, I figured it was time to start using skin care with more firming and lifting power and I definitely got in in the SkinLab Lift & Firm line. I have seen a noticeable difference in my skin from using it regularly for the past several months and I can’t wait to get more from Amazon soon. It took me one month to finish one jar.

Provence Beauty Serum: I purchased this serum the last fateful time that I went to TJMaxx and I was less than impressed. First of all, the dripper or whatever you call it was broken so it already wasn’t off to a good start. And, the formula of the serum was just too thin to feel effective. It was a tad thicker than the consistency of water and I like something that feels more substantial when it comes to my skin care. It took me one month to finish one bottle.

SkinLab Serum: Speaking of consistency, I like the SkinLab Lift & Firm serum but it was too thick! Where is my Goldilocks serum that is just right?! I typically finished a bottle of the SkinLab Lift & Firm serum in under a month and that didn’t seem like the best value to me. Therefore, I began playing around with brands like Provence Beauty (But was still disappointed!). I probably wouldn’t use this serum again but I am looking forward to getting more Azure Lux serums from Amazon soon!

SkinLab Eye Cream: Despite not being a huge fan of the Lift & Firm serum by SkinLab, I love the eye cream from the same line. A little bit goes a long way and it takes me at least three months to finish one tiny jar. The sensitive skin around my eyes feels much stronger and any fine lines that were starting to crop up definitely got put in their place. I also can’t get enough of the gel like consistency – love that!

Although I had a few duds during April, all in all it was a very successful month for empties. And, as Ohio continues to follow a stay at home order, I’m sure May will be just as full of finishes too!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the products above if you have used them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar26

March 2020 Finishes

Posted on March 26, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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Salutations! So, for a lack of a better word, March has been crazy. Not so much in terms of having done anything exciting. In fact, quite the opposite as the coronavirus panic spread and self-isolation was recommended. With all of the extra time at my apartment, I definitely found that I went through many of my beauty products quicker. Especially considering that I wasn’t wearing makeup when I was just at home and would apply skin care as a night time routine. HENCE, we have a lot of empties to go over:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Watermelon Lemonade hand soap: YES
Bath & Body Works Champagne Apple & Honey shower gel: YES
Garnier Micellar Water: YES
IGK Mistress hair balm: YES
The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimizer: YES
SkinLab Lift & Firm moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Hand Soap: I absolutely live for the foaming hand soaps from Bath & Body Works. They all smell friggen amazing, the formula doesn’t dry out my hands, and you can’t beat the value for the price as B&BW normally runs a special on them. The Watermelon Lemonade scent was the perfect combination of summery sweet and tart and it just felt good to use. One pump of this soap goes such a long way and it took me about two months to finish one bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: With all of this coronavirus panic buying, I am grateful to have my bath and body care hoard fully stocked from a recent B&BW haul. Their shower gels are my fave and I love anything apple scented so the Champagne Apple & Honey scent was a must. The B&BW gels are fun because of how much they lather and the crisp scent of a freshly bitten apple with sparkling champagne doesn’t hurt, either. It took me one month to finish one bottle.

Garnier Micellar Water: Lol, of course a bottle of micellar water was bound to show up eventually! I always try to purchase the bigger sized bottles if I can find them and the value is just insane. One normal sized bottle would last me about a month while the next size up lasts me three. And, for three to four bucks more, it doesn’t get much better than that!

IGK Hair Balm: I turned into an avid lover of the IGK Mistress hair balm after receiving it in one of Sephora’s Play boxes. I use it every time I straighten my hair, as it is a heat protector, and it leaves my hair perfectly sleek and frizz free with each styling. It also adds such a lustrous shine to my hair that definitely didn’t exist before I started using this product. It takes me at least five to six months to finish one bottle.

TBS Pore Minimizer: The Tea Tree Pore Minimizer by The Body Shop is one of my favorite skin care products and it is such a treat when it pops up at TJMaxx. I always end up buying the lot because I love the matte finish and how it helps shrink up some of my larger pores. If it was possible, I would use this product in my daily routine for forever! It takes me about a month and a half to finish one tube.

SkinLab Moisturizer: I love the Lift & Firm moisturizer by SkinLab and I have noticed a huge change in my skin since using it. Especially since I’ve been applying it more frequently compliments of my fresh face a la quarantine. My complexion looks a lot more radiant and hydrated and I can feel an obvious difference in the tightness of my skin. It takes me one month to finish one jar.

March was an excellent month for finishes and I highly recommend each product on my list of empties. Here’s to hoping that there’s not so many in April so I don’t have to write as much! 😉 😀

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the products above? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar25

3 Ways Editorial Makeup Is Different From Daily Wear

Posted on March 25, 2020 by lifewithlilred

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3 Ways Editorial Makeup Is Different From Daily Wear

When you have a shoot for a magazine, newspaper, or another form of press, you want to look your best. If you’re on a solo shoot, you want to be the star of the show. On the other hand, for a group shoot, you want to coordinate with others but still stand out. Whether you do your makeup or hire help for editorial makeup Chicago Il or elsewhere, you should understand how it differs from your daily routine:

1. The Focus:

Makeup for an editorial shoot should highlight your best features. Whether you have amazing cheekbones or luscious lips, you want to show that off. An editorial makeup artist will know how to highlight those parts of your face while still showing you. There’s no need to use layers of foundation when you already have glowing skin. By focusing on what you have, you will still look natural and put together for your shoot.

2. The Purpose:

Editorial makeup doesn’t always follow the same trends you see online. It sticks to the same few steps that it has used for years because it has a specific purpose. Be it a magazine or another form of press, an editorial shoot usually has one goal: to get you noticed. Odds are, your daily makeup routine is relatively basic. You probably follow the same steps, but for an editorial look, don’t be afraid to do things a little differently.

3. The Artist:

Most people can’t afford a makeup artist for their daily look, so you probably do your makeup yourself. However, for an editorial shoot, you should consider a professional makeup artist. An editorial makeup artist will know what techniques to use to enhance your natural beauty while making you stand out for the shoot. Unless you have a lot of editorial experience, consider hiring someone to help you create the perfect look.

To some people, it might seem that there are few differences between editorial makeup and daily makeup. But the two styles have important distinctions that everyone should understand.

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