Tag Archives: skin care

Nov19

Face Mask Festivities: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask Edition

Hi! During a recent Sephora haul, I got a ton of free goodies including a sample size of a Water Sleeping Mask by Laneige. I was really excited about this face mask because I absolutely love the jelly style sleep masks – especially the Drops Of Youth and Vitamin E Sleep Masks by The Body Shop. I am always up for trying new skin care products and I look forward to testing different brands out from Sephora because I consider them to be a bit more “high end”.

Unfortunately, an expensive price tag doesn’t always mean a high quality product and the Water Sleeping Mask by Laneige left me feeling no type of way. Let’s discuss:

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What I love the most about the Drops Of Youth and Vitamin E masks from The Body Shop is the sensation I get when I wake up. My skin feels so nourished and hydrated and it feels like absolute peaches and cream perfection. I just didn’t get this feeling in the morning with the Laneige mask or even when I first applied it.

I enjoyed the texture of the product because I never say no to a good jelly style moisturizer or mask and the light aquatic scent was also nice. Sadly, that was about it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy I got to test this product out for many reasons. 1) I didn’t have to commit to a full size jar. 2) It was free. 3) I get to write about it here. And 4) It served as a reminder that, often times, a “lower end” brand is just as good if not better than something uber expensive.

Obviously, I wouldn’t recommend this mask but it makes me highly recommend the ones I mentioned from The Body Shop even more!

Do you have a favorite face mask? What are your thoughts on the one by Laneige if you have used it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov17

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hi!! Whenever I need to restock my Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced, I always shop Sephora online to get the best deals. With free shipping with a fifty dollar purchase (Which isn’t hard to do!), two free samples, and an option for more freebies with a coupon code, it just makes sense to do – especially if you know exactly what you want. And, if I ever did want to play around with new products in store, I would definitely go home and order the goods online to bank in on all of the great promotions! 😀

This time around, I scored an amazing goodie bag filled with trial sized products to try out and I am looking forward to testing them all and sharing my findings with you. Check it out:

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The Haul:

  • 2 Better Than Sex mascaras
  • Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
  • Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
  • Replica perfume
  • Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
  • Ouai Leave In Conditioner
  • Bite Beauty Lip Crayon in Glace
  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
  • Laura Mercier Lipstick samples
  • Atelier Vanilla Incense perfume

For fifty dollars total, I got all of the products seen above and I consider that a steal. There is nothing better than getting a lot of bang for your buck and I feel like I get that every time I shop with Sephora. I also love being able to try out beauty products without having to commit to them and, who knows, maybe I will find a new favorite in the sample sizes.

I wouldn’t be a good sister or daughter if I didn’t share the wealth and have given my mom the perfume samples because she’s a fragrance gal and the Tarte mascara and Bite lippie to my sister. I already have both of those and will not be using either up any time soon. Sharing is caring and it’s nice to be able to enjoy all of this awesome stuff together. Both of those very special ladies in my life always know how to make my day with something as simple as a text message so I take every opportunity I can to treat them, too!

How do you score the best deals at Sephora? What did you get in your most recent beauty haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct31

October 2019 Finishes

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October 2019 Finishes

Hey there! Welcome to the last day of October here on lifewithlilred and thanks for stopping by. Today, we will be discussing my monthly finishes of skin and bath and body care products. I am pretty happy about this month’s empties, mainly due to the fact that I finally finished the jar of eye cream that I have been working on using up for the past half a year! There is something so satisfying on finishing a product that you have been using for forever and needing new skin care means a shopping trip to TJMaxx for me, so it truly is a win/win all around. Lol, take a look at my empties for this month and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Coffee Scrub: For those of you who don’t know, I take shaving very seriously. I have perfected my shaving routine to a science and the Wonder Therapy coffee cream scrub will always be a part of it from now on. First of all, the coffee/lavender/coconut scent was absolutely divine. It was rich without being overpowering and the coffee aroma was invigorating.

And, most importantly, it gave me the best, closest shave of my life. The exfoliating coffee grounds mixed with the moisturizing cream provided the perfect combo for prepping my skin for a shave while protecting it from drying out. My skin has never felt smoother and my shave lasts for at least four days without prickles. Does your favorite scrub do that? One bottle of this miracle product lasted me about two months with weekly, full body use.

Rose Gold Serum: I love me my Azure Lux serum and will always purchase a bottle when it is available at TJMaxx. With pieces of twenty-four karat gold and rose hip mixed in the formula, this serum leaves my skin feeling blinged out and super hydrated with just a thin application. My only qualm with the product is that the consistency of the serum is quite thick, which makes the bottle go quickly as I finished it in under a month. It leaves my skin positively radiant, though, so I’ll deal with it!

Manuka Honey Face Cream: I quite liked this moisturizer by Lanocreme! It was so rich and creamy without feeling greasy and it sat well under my makeup. The light honey scent was delicious and I loved using it in the morning after my shower. I like a thicker moisturizer during the cooler months and I would definitely use it again. It took me a little over one month to finish this product.

Mokita Eye Cream: My mom bestowed this eye cream onto me at the beginning of May and it took me until the end of October to use up. The large jar was completely filled to the brim with product and even daily application didn’t put a dent in it. I’ve never really worried about eye wrinkles because I legit have been using an eye cream since I was fifteen and this Mokita cream helped keep them at bay for a while longer. Although I liked the product, I was very happy to use it up because I love trying new skin care goodies. But, if given the opportunity, I would for sure use it again.

As you can see, October was a very successful month for empties and I would highly recommend all of the reviewed items above. So, hit up TJMaxx and get you some, STAT!

Which products have you used up 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

Oct27

Tiny TJMaxx Beauty Haul

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Tiny TJMaxx Beauty Haul

Howdy! When it comes to beauty products, I am really not picky. I’ve never minded using bath and body care from the grocery store, drugstore makeup brands, and basic skin care. Well, that is, until I started working at The Body Shop several years ago, because that turned me into a skin care freak!

For a while, I was strictly using their products when it came to my skin care routine. I have since branched out and I have TJMaxx to thank for that, because they have such a fantastic beauty section with all kinds of fun new brands and old favorites to try. Now, whenever I run out of anything in my pampering routine, I hit up TJs to restock. Check it out:

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When it comes to styling my hair, a good heat protector and leave in conditioner are a must for me. Both help to eliminate any frizz and keep my hair silky and sleek for the perfect pin straight appearance. I had purchased my first bottle of thermal serum by RUSK way back in January and I am just now finishing up the bottle. This is astounding, because I use the product almost every day and, at ten dollars, that makes the cost per wear mere fractions of a cent!

This thermal serum works wonders. It smells awesome, it doesn’t leave my hair greasy, and my hair has never looked healthier even with daily heat styling. My ends aren’t fried and my locks are so smooth to the touch so I was very happy when TJMaxx had another bottle of it available because adding it into my cart was a no brainer.

And, of course, I would be nowhere without a good Vitamin C serum during my skin care routine. I chose a bottle of Provence Beauty’s brightening serum and am looking forward to trying it. It was six dollars for one bottle but it seems to be filled to the brim with product so I am hoping that it will last me a long time. Come cold weather, it is easy for your skin to take on a dull appearance from the lack of sunshine. Thankfully, my Vitamin C products keep me radiant all year long and I completely swear by them.

This was a tiny beauty haul but I did get everything I needed and then some… because, seriously, who goes into TJMaxx for just one thing?! 😉

Which beauty products do you swear by? How do you save money on your beauty routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep30

September 2019 Finishes

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September 2019 Finishes

Howdy! We’ve reached the end of another wonderful month here on lifewithlilred and that means it’s time to discuss my monthly empties. I used up some really good stuff this past month. Stuff that I’ve been using for forever, stuff that took me a short amount of time to finish, and just stuff in general! So take a look and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again:

  • Softsoap Citrus Splash & Berry Fusion body wash: YES
  • Yes To Cotton micellar water: NO
  • IGK Mistress leave in conditioner: YES
  • Clinicals Anti-Aging Vitamin C facial oil: YES

Why/Why Not:

Softsoap Body Wash: As you all know, I am a huge Softsoap fan. The brand is cheap as can be but all of their body washes smell amazing, they lather well, and are always so damn invigorating during my morning shower. The little moisture beads are a nice touch, too! It takes me one month to use one bottle which includes daily use and a weekly bubble bath and at three bucks and change, I can definitely swing that.

Yes To Micellar Water: My mom got this bottle of micellar water for me on sale and I was very unimpressed. I used up the bottle in a month because I wasn’t going to not finish it but I was happy to have been done! It just didn’t make my skin feel as fresh and clean as the Garnier micellar water and it was also not the best at removing all traces of makeup. I’m sure it’s significantly cheaper than the Garnier brand but I have a rule of thumb of not skimping on the good stuff when it comes to my skin care!

IGK Leave In Conditioner: I absolutely love this product by IGK! I have been using it for the past year or so and I honestly don’t think that I could live without it. The Mistress leave in conditioner smells so good, it smooths out all of my frizz, it makes my hair shiny, and it protects my locks from the heat. Does your leave in conditioner do that? Although the price is steep at twenty-nine bucks a tube, it takes me over six months to finish it up and, with all of that in mind, it is worth every penny.

Clinicals Serum: What I love about skin care products with Vitamin C in it is that I can always see noticeable results from it. My skin glows and is radiant without having to break the bank on an expensive treatment. I really enjoyed using the Vitamin C serum by Clinicals. It sat well under makeup and I loved how my skin looked and felt after each use. My only qualm with this product is that the serum was in a spray bottle, which I didn’t like because I felt like I had to use a ton of it to get full coverage on my face and neck. Despite that, it still took me one month to use up the bottle.

With a seventy-five percent success rate, I’d say I did pretty good with my empties for the month of September! I would recommend all of the products that I liked above but definitely stay clear of the Yes To Cotton micellar water!

Which products did you use up this month? What were 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

Sep19

My Mary Kay Experience

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My Mary Kay Experience

Hello, hello my darlings! The last time I was at Elysian Nails getting a fill, I entered a raffle for a free Mary Kay facial and ten dollar gift card and, surprisingly, my name was called! I legit never win anything, so I was pretty excited and had the woman who was running the contest and in the Mary Kay business come to my apartment for some pampering.

Now, this might sound rude but ninety-nine percent of the time, I find the whole self directed sales thing incredibly annoying, for lack of a better word. I can’t stand getting messages from girls I went to high school with and were probably mean to me pushing their It Works, Scentsy, or Arbonne products. So, silly me for being under the impression that this experience with Mary Kay was going to be any different.

Using the products was fine but they weren’t that great and they were way too expensive for my TJMaxx skin care taste. I just couldn’t get into the whole showmanship of it all. It turned into a forty-five minute session of why Mary Kay is the jam, why their products are the jam, and how life changing being in the company is. And, maybe that’s true for some people, but I was not interested in it let alone the pressure I was put on to purchase the products I was trying.

I worked retail for five years and there is definitely a right and a wrong way to push product and these self directed saleswomen are just plain pushy. Am I happy that this lady came to my apartment? I guess. Was it a waste of time on one of my evenings off? Most definitely. *massive eyeroll*

How do you feel about self directed sales? Are there any businesses like that that you purchase from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug31

August 2019 Finishes

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August 2019 Finishes

Yo, yo, yo! Can you believe that it’s the end of August already? Me either! I, for one, am ecstatic about it and have been waiting for summer to be over since it began. I absolutely despise hot weather and would rather experience the bitter cold than extreme heat. So, needless to say, bring on the fall baby! Although it definitely hasn’t been my favorite time of the year, August was good for using up a lot of products that I’ve been working on for a while and we all know how much I love when that happens. Check it out:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Jergens Lotion: I purchased this big bottle o’ Jergens when I first moved into my apartment in April and I finished it halfway through this month after once weekly full body uses. I like that this lotion wasn’t heavily scented and it felt rich and creamy on my skin without feeling greasy or leaving residue. I used my lotion after my weekly shaving extravaganza and I think it definitely helped my shave last longer and my skin felt really healthy and hydrated after each use.

Softsoap Body Wash: I have never been one to believe in purchasing expensive or fancy body washes. My three dollar bottles of Softsoap suits me just fine, thank you very much. The pomegranate and mango sent was delicious and invigorating in the morning, it lathered well, and it didn’t dry out my skin. One bottle lasted me for one month with daily use and a weekly bubble bath.

TBS Facial Oil: I absolutely love the Oils Of Life serum by The Body Shop. It is so rich and leaves my skin feeling well loved but it somehow manages to absorb quickly and sits perfectly beneath makeup. One bottle lasted me at least three months with daily use and I wish I could use it all of the time throughout the year. I noticed visible differences in the brightness and fine lines on my face and I highly recommend this product!

Garnier Micellar Water: I have been using the Garnier micellar water for well over a year now and have never felt the need to use anything different. I happily shelled out close to seven bucks a pop monthly for a new bottle without complaints. So, you can imagine how excited I was to find an industrial sized bottle of it at Target for ten dollars! The big mama bottle lasted me for THREE MONTHS and I can definitely get down with that! 😀

B&BW Hand Soap: When I moved into my apartment, I utilized the five for twenty three dollar deal that Bath & Body Works was having on their foaming hand soap and I am so happy with that purchase. I freaking love that stuff and the Peach Bellini soap that I just finished up smelled divine. The soap never dried my hands out and really made them feel clean with its foaming goodness.

And, the best part is, one bottle lasted me a long ass time! I have had the same bottle in my bathroom since moving in and finally finished it halfway through August. Even when I was at the final dregs of it, the remainders lasted me for several more days. Highly recommend for your kitchen and bathrooms.

Garnier Cleanser: I am usually a big fan of Garnier products and, although I didn’t hate this cleanser, I don’t plan on using it again. It really was just your standard facial cleanser with nothing special about it. It lasted me about two months and I appreciate that but, I like something really crisp and refreshing in the morning when I’m washing my face and this one didn’t do it for me.

Drunk Elephant Cleanser: The Jelly Cleanser by Drunk Elephant was part of my Sephora birthday gift this year and I wasn’t impressed. And, this just goes to show you that sometimes the more expensive brands aren’t worth the money that you’re dishing out for it. The sample bottle lasted me for a little under two weeks, which was enough time to tell that I wouldn’t be using it again. It had no scent, it didn’t lather well, and my skin felt really tight after using it. No thank you!

Despite two no go’s on my August empties, I used up a lot of products that I am really happy with and would definitely recommend. I would buy all of the finishes that I liked again and I think that all of you would enjoy them too!

Which beauty 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

Aug27

TJMaxx Fall Haul: All Of The Skin Care Edition

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TJMaxx Fall Haul: All Of The Skin Care Edition

Howdy! In case you haven’t noticed, skin care is something that is very important to me. I take my beauty routines seriously – everything from shaving to showering is well thought out by yours truly to accommodate my skin type. And, when it comes to my face, AKA: The money maker (lol!), I don’t mess around. Face masks, serums, eye creams, exfoliaters – I use it all and my skin thanks me for it by maintaining a smooth and creamy complexion.

My skin type is extremely normal, which is nice, because that means I don’t necessarily have to stick to one brand of skin care for forever. Rather, I play around and always end up purchasing a new skin care treat when I hit up TJMaxx. And, with colder weather coming in hot, it’s important to have a fully stocked supply of moisturizers and creams to keep your skin hydrated. During my TJMaxx Fall Haul, I took home the following:

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The Haul:

Each product that I purchased above are actually ones that I have used before, minus the SkinLab eye cream. I was so pleased with the performance of the moisturizers and coffee scrub that, instead of trying something new, I stuck with some old favorites. I absolutely loved using the SkinLab moisturizers – especially the gel one, which was nice during the summertime. And, I know that the cream based moisturizer will come in handy once the cold weather strikes.

Both of the moisturizers left my skin feeling hydrated without leaving any type of residue or making me feel greasy – which is really hard to do during the summer. I was happy to buy both of them again and am looking forward to trying out the eye cream. I am always on the hunt for a good one of those ever since The Body Shop discontinued my beloved Nutriganics!

The Wonder Therapy coffee scrub was also a major must because I am obsessed with it. I always exfoliate my skin before shaving and, until recently, I would use a gel scrub. I thought I was getting a close shave with the Satsuma and Strawberry scrubs from The Body Shop but, boy, was I mistaken.

The shave that I get with the cream based coffee scrub is unlike any other. It leaves my skin so smooth and hydrated that I don’t even need to apply lotion afterwards. But, of course I do anyways! The shave is so close that my skin remains smooth for at least three to four days before any stubble appears. Can your shaving cream or scrub do that?

I’m glad that TJMaxx had the products that I was eager to use again when I went shopping because sometimes it’s hit or miss. I’m definitely looking forward to using all of them in the future!

What is your skin care routine? How do you achieve a super close shave? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

Different Types Of Sunscreen: What’s The Best One For You?

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Different Types Of Sunscreen: What’s The Best One For You?

If you go out every day, you’re probably aware that you need to apply sunscreen whenever your skin is exposed to the sun. Using any kind of sunscreen is definitely better than not using any sunscreen at all. But if you can find the best sunscreen for you, make sure that it has broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and an SPF or sun protection factor of at least 30.

There is a high number of sunscreen options available in the market today. And it can be challenging to figure out which one will be compatible with your skin type and preferences. That being said, below are the different kinds of sunscreen you might come across to help you find the most suitable formula for your particular skin type.

Chemical Sunscreen vs Physical Sunscreen:

Sunscreens generally come in two main types, chemical and physical formulations. These contain different ingredients, so they behave and provide sun protection in different ways. Physical sunscreens primarily safeguard you from damaging ultraviolet rays by serving as a physical shield over the skin.

On the other hand, chemical sunscreens react with UV rays and sunlight. They then deteriorate over time so you will need to reapply them every two to three hours. This depends on how much sun exposure you’re getting. But physical sunscreens require reapplications as well.

If you can’t choose between physical and chemical sunscreens, consider hybrid sunscreens. This kind of sunscreen contains both chemical and physical ingredients and offers the same benefits. Try the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream from COSRX, one of the best-selling sunscreens in the Philippines. It’s enriched with Aloe Vera extract and has SPF 50 as well as UVA and UVB protection. It’s also lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast and greasy residue.

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Sunscreen Recommendations for Different Skin Types:

If your skin is susceptible to rosacea, acne, and dermatitis, avoid sunscreens that contain fragrances, preservatives, and those that have the ingredients oxybenzone or PABA. Opt for physical sunscreens, which have titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These are ingredients that individuals with sensitive and reactive skin can tolerate better. If rosacea or dermatitis is your primary concerns, avoid alcohol-based sunscreens as well. If your primary concern is acne, you can consider trying gel formulations. These can help regulate oil on your face and are less likely to irritate your skin.

You should also avoid heavy cream preparations since these can aggravate breakouts. On the other hand, if you’re using prescription acne topicals, these are notorious for drying out the skin. You can opt for lightweight creams or lotions instead of gels that might be too drying.

A Note on Natural Sunscreens:

“Natural” sunscreens usually have mineral bases. If you want to try one, look for a product with a coconut oil or olive oil base. These already contain natural SPF protection and can offer the most optimal protection.

Using sunscreen regularly is a vital way to counteract the adverse effects of sun exposure. For best results, choose the best formula that won’t irritate your skin so you can wear it whenever you need it.

Jul31

July 2019 Finishes

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July 2019 Finishes

Hellooo everyone! July wraps up today and that means it’s time to go over the products I finished up this month. Aside from a body wash that I’m not too crazy about, I enjoyed two new moisturizers that I would definitely recommend to all of you, so take a look at some pics and let’s get started:

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Would I Use Again?

Why/Why Not?

Solimo body wash: Solimo is Amazon’s brand of bath and body care and it works well enough, it’s just not my favorite because it’s kind of boring. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Shea Butter & Oatmeal scent as much as the next gal, but I’ve been using the same body wash for three or so months now, so I’m pretty over it. However, this product lathers well, smells good, and lasted me over a month for one bottle so it’s not like I hated it – just ready for something new!

Drunk Elephant cream: I chose a Drunk Elephant cream and cleanser as my Sephora birthday gift this year and I absolutely loved this cream. A small amount of it really went a long way and the small tester size lasted me about a week and a half. The cream was rich without being too thick and left my skin feeling so hydrated and protected. It also sat well under makeup, which is a big plus in the summer time.

SkinLab cream: When it comes to moisturizers, the gel kind is my favorite. Using this SkinLab cream was a treat and one jar lasted me well over one month. The aqua bomb like burst of moisture felt invigorating after my morning shower and it was so light, which I love in the summer, because sometimes the cream based moisturizers make my face sweat. Although I loved the Drunk Elephant cream, the SkinLab one is definitely my favorite and I highly recommend it.

July was a really good month for empties for me, because I used up a product that I was eager to finish and got to enjoy two moisturizers that were so lush and effective. Looking forward to seeing what finishes August will bring me!

Which products did you use up this month? What were your thoughts on any of the above products 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