Tag Archives: skin care

October 2024 Finishes

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October 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! Just like that, October is about to draw to a close and that means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. This is going to be a short and sweet post as there really isn’t too much to chat about. I used up several long term products last month and am still working away at their replacements. I did, however, try one new thing that I fell in love with so take a look and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Collagen + Retinol Serum: NO

Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Lavender & Iris Body Butter: YES!!!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Body Cream: You already know the Calypso Clementine from Bath & Body Works is a forever use again product. Anyone who is a fan of citrus scents like me will love it! It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the bottle.

Provence Beauty Serum: It took me one month of twice daily use to finish the Collagen + Retinol serum by Provence Beauty and it was just okay for me. I have used several serums by Provence Beauty and they tend to be hit or miss so this wasn’t too much of a shock. I didn’t notice any difference to my skin one way or the other and will be skipping on it if I ever see it again at TJMaxx.

Jergens Lotion: A really cool thing about one of the Targets in my area is that there is always a basket of free travel size products at customer service. My mom snagged the Jergens lotion for me during her last visit and I was delighted because you can’t go wrong with that brand! My skin was smooth and hydrated as can be with each use and I can’t get enough of the rich, creamy scent.

B&BW Body Butter: While I enjoy lotions and creams, body butter always reigns supreme. The body butter from The Body Shop was my favorite thing to treat myself with and, unfortunately, their products are no longer available in the US. I never bothered with another brand of body butter but decided to try B&BW’s during their Semi-Annual Sale. I’m so glad I did because the Calm Haven Lavender & Iris was divine.

Normally, I am not a lavender girl whatsoever but this body butter really didn’t smell like traditional lavender. The scent was soft, light, and soothing rather than overpowering. The texture of the product was whipped, applied easily, absorbed quickly, and I woke up to puppy fur soft skin every morning. It took me two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish the jar and I would happily use it again!

Even though there wasn’t too much to my October Finishes, my skin was ultra soft from the products that I did use up and that is a huge win during cold weather. I’ll take it!

Which products did you finish up this month? What are 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

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Skin Care?

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Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Skin Care?

The use of the right skincare products is vital for the long-term health of your skin. But how do you know whether they are actually working? It’s important to be aware of how well your skin is able to absorb the things that you’re putting on it. Today, we’re going to look at some of the tips that can improve the absorptive qualities of your skin, and why it matters so much:

One of the most important steps in making sure your skincare products are effective is starting with clean skin. Cleansing your face removes dirt, oil, and impurities that can create a barrier between your skin and the products you apply. When your skin is clean, it can better absorb active ingredients like serums, moisturizers, or toners. A mild cleanser tailored to your skin type should be used both morning and night to ensure that your skin is fresh and ready for the next step in your routine. This simple step sets the stage for the rest of your skincare products to penetrate effectively and work as intended.

Exfoliating regularly is another key factor so that your skincare products can perform their best. Dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your face, blocking the absorption of serums and moisturizers. By exfoliating, whether through physical exfoliants like scrubs or chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs, you remove this layer of dead skin, allowing your products to sink in deeply and work more efficiently. It’s important to choose an exfoliant that suits your skin’s sensitivity and to use it consistently but not excessively, as over-exfoliating can cause irritation.

Improving your skin’s texture can also help maximize the benefits of your skincare products. Expert skin treatments like micro-needling, which involves creating tiny punctures in the skin can stimulate collagen production and improve the absorption of products by enhancing their penetration. This procedure not only helps with skin texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and pores, but it also ensures that serums and moisturizers can be more effective. Micro-needling is a professional treatment, but at-home tools like derma rollers can offer similar benefits when used correctly.

Remember that more product isn’t always better. Using too much of a product, such as moisturizer, can lead to an undesirable greasy film on your skin, which may prevent your other products from being absorbed properly. Following the recommended amount for each product, whether it’s a pea-sized drop of serum or a dime-sized amount of moisturizer, allows your skin to get just the right amount of hydration or treatment without being overwhelmed. Finding the right balance is key to achieving the best results.

With the tips above, you can make sure that your skin is able to effectively absorb the products that you’re putting on it!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dr. Wellness Lip Balm Review

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Dr. Wellness Lip Balm Review

Hello! My favorite brand of chapstick has got to be Pacifica. I was introduced to it a year or so ago at TJMaxx and have loyally used the brand ever since thanks to their multipack on Amazon. I am one of those people that always needs to have lip chap on them. I have one by my bed, one by my computer, and one in my purse. In the past week, I have reached the bottom of the tube on literally every chapstick I own. It feels like such an accomplishment to finish an entire chapstick, but it was terrible because I was legit jonesing for more lol. During my skin care haul at TJMaxx, there were no tubes of Pacifica to be found, but I did purchase a multipack by a brand I have never used before called Dr. Wellness:

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I was drawn to the pretty packaging on this chapstick set, the price was nice at five dollars, and it came with five tubes so I could replace my fallen friends and still have two extras. I thought it was a total steal and couldn’t wait to try them out! My first impression upon my first application was honestly that it wasn’t as good as my beloved Pacifica. That’s not to say that it wasn’t good, though, and I liked it more and more with each use. Actually, these Dr. Wellness balms are kind of amazing. In just one swipe on your lips, full coverage is achieved with a pillowy soft balm. And, even after the product has absorbed, my lips still felt smooth and hydrated without needing a reapplication. I have a hunch that these balms are going to be a total lifesaver come winter!

I always prefer a scented balm so let’s discuss the smell good factor for each of them:

Berry: If you recall the scent of the Mixed Berry Lipsmackers, then that is exactly what the Dr. Wellness Berry lip chap smells like. I can especially detect the raspberries, which is great because that is one of my favorite fragrances!

Pink Grapefruit: Grapefruit scents tend to be hit or miss for me because they can be overly pungent. I love this lip balm’s scent, though! It is bright and zingy without burning my nasal passages and is actually my favorite one of the bunch.

Mint: I am a huge fan of mint scented anything and nothing will ever be “too minty” for me. Unfortunately, the mint scent of this balm is light. Really light, as a matter of fact, and it certainly left me wishing for way more oomph.

Aloe: I was expecting the Aloe balm to be relatively scentless and, happily, that wasn’t the case. The Aloe lip chap smells a lot like cucumber melon which was a pleasant surprise. It is a close second favorite after Pink Grapefruit.

Cooling Water: Now, the Cooling Water is what I expected the Aloe balm to smell like: Not much of anything lol. It has the softest hint of a fresh rainwater scent but that is about it.

These Dr. Wellness balms might not be from my go to brand and after a few uses, that was a-okay. I would definitely recommend buying a tube or two to combat chapped lips this winter!

Do you have chapstick stations in your house? What is your favorite lip balm brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hello!!! During my Tuesday afternoons, I have an hour and a half or so in between shifts of time to kill. Usually, I will spend it posted up in a cafe working on the computer. If I don’t have much to do online, I will read a book or graphic novel OR go to TJMaxx as it is right next to the cafe. I’m sure you all can guess what my preferred option is! This past Tuesday was one of those days where I didn’t have much of anything to do and nothing to read, either. So, TJs it was to knock out some holiday shopping! I completed purchases for several people on my list and I didn’t even look at clothes – shocking, I know. I did, however, need to reup my skin care stock pile so I walked away with some goodies for me too:

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^^^ All of these products are cruelty free!!

Nothing will ever please me more than a good clothing haul. Skin care is a very close second, though! I absolutely love the skin care department of TJMaxx and it is a very rare occasion that I don’t find everything I need and then some when it’s time to replenish products. My general rule of thumb when it comes to skin care is to get three of everything – moisturizers, serums, and eye creams. Then, I don’t have to keep returning back every month for more (No matter how much I would like to!). I haven’t had a skin care haul since the end of May and according to my normal time frame, I was right on time to find what I hope will be some new favorite products and brands!

When I started perusing the skin care department, I was already a happy girl. The shelves were stocked to the brim with bottles and jars and it was like the staff knew I would be in for a visit! In no time at all, my cart was full of five dollar or less products to keep my skin care on lock beyond the new year. I ended up with three moisturizers, two serums, two eye creams, a cleanser, micellar water, and some desperately needed lip balm. I realize this doesn’t follow my rule of threes but my stock pile wasn’t completely bare before this haul. I am really looking forward to trying the Dirty Works moisturizers because I have never used that brand but have always been interested in testing it out. What I am most excited for is the lip balm, though. In this past week, I have finished almost all of the lip chap I have been painstakingly working through which was highly inconvenient albeit highly satisfying. 😀

Stay tuned for new product reviews coming soon here on lifewithlilred and we’ll find out what works and what doesn’t together!

How often do you shop for skin care? What is your favorite skin care brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

September 2024 Finishes

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September 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! Just like that, September draws to a close which means it’s time to discuss my beauty empties for the month. This was a particularly good product roundup as I used up a lot of long term skin and bath and body care, allowing me to try something new afterwards. I always look forward to browsing in my beauty department as soon as a product is complete! Let’s take a gander at my September Finishes and chat a bit more:

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Would I Use Again?

Harlowe’s Shop Goat Milk & Honey Body Cream: YES

Bath & Body Works Sun-Washed Citrus Shower Gel: YES

Ellen Tracy Toner: NO

Clinical Works Toner: NO

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Skin Assistant Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid Day Cream: YES!!!!!!!!!!

Simple Soothing Eye Balm: MAYBE

Malie Body Cream: NO

Why/Why Not?

Harlowe’s Shop Body Cream: I am a HUGE fan of the Cherry Almond lotion by Jergen’s and if you are too, then you will absolutely love the Goat Milk & Honey body cream by Harlowe’s Shop. My mom gave this to me as a hand me down so I only got one week of use out of the bottle. In that time, however, I woke up to insanely soft skin every single morning. The scent was a bit softer than Jergen’s but highly reminiscent of it and I would happily use this body cream again. It would be so perfect for combating dry skin during the wintertime!

Toners: I purchased the toners by Ellen Tracy and Clinical Works when TJMaxx had none of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water available. It took me about three weeks to finish each bottle and I was not impressed by either of them in the slightest. It really did just feel like splashing my face with water and I definitely wouldn’t spend money for that sensation again lol. These toners are something you can skip on and I promise you, you won’t be missing anything.

Skin Assistant Moisturizer: Now, this moisturizer – I loved. In fact, it is one of the best ones that I have used in recent memory. This jar took me almost THREE MONTHS to finish with day and night use, which is an amazing value. During that expansive tenure, I enjoyed every single use. This moisturizer left my skin feeling so soft and it looked and felt so much brighter and refreshed. A little went an incredibly long way, it fully absorbed within minutes, and sat well under makeup. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that TJMaxx will have it again because I plan on buying the lot. Yeah, it’s that good!

Simple Eye Balm: Like the aforementioned moisturizer, the Simple Soothing Eye Balm also took me about two and a half months to finish with twice daily use. Unlike the last Simple eye cream I used, this one was just okay for me. I did feel like under eye puffiness and bags were reduced, but the results certainly didn’t blow me away. If this was the only option available for eye cream, I suppose I would buy it again. It’s nothing to write home about, though.

Malie Body Cream: Normally, I wouldn’t take the time to do a review on a random travel size product BUT this is one I need to talk about lol. The Malie Body Cream was another hand me down from my mom and it really confused me. I, of course, think of lotion when I see body cream on packaging. But, whatever this was felt SO much like a shower gel that I genuinely don’t know what to think – it even bubbled on slightly damp skin! It did make my skin feel softer, but I just can’t get behind the texture of it!

Despite a few duds in the mix, I got to use so many new to me products and I love being able to do that. It’s also always going to be a GREAT SUCCESS when I find a moisturizer that I, without a doubt, would use again!

Which products did you use up this month? What are 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

August 2024 Finishes

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August 2024 Finishes

Howdy and holy smokes! It’s the end of August already?! This month literally flew by. In fact, the whole summer flew by but a second wind is nigh. Unfortunately, we have reached the dreaded point in Ohio better known as “second summer”. It’s been hot as all living F here and I am dying. Plz send help! I am stepping into September manifesting breezy temps and all of the cardigans. But first, it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. Let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

CleanBeauty Vitamin C Niacinamide Serum: YES

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser: MAYBE

BrightsideOrganics Magical Brew Body Butter: MAYBE

Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon Lotion: NO

Bath & Body Works Poppy Lotion: YES

Neutrogena Face Serum: NO

Why/Why Not?

CleanBeauty Serum: I absolutely LOVED this serum. It promised an “all day glow” and, I must say, CleanBeauty held good on it. This serum was an instant radiance boost every morning and I didn’t think a glow like that was achievable at 3:30 AM. It was nice and light which made it perfect for summertime use and a little bit went such a long way. It took me over one month of twice daily use to finish the bottle and I would happily purchase a few more if I see it again at TJMaxx.

Youth To The People Cleanser: I received the Kale + Green Tea Superfood Cleanser by Youth To The People as my freebie birthday gift from Sephora. I can’t say I was overly impressed with the other products included in the gift set, but I quite liked this cleanser. It lathered up so nicely and left my skin feeling fresh, clean, and nourished with every use. However, it did smell like you were rubbing your face with a handful of spinach lol. This tiny bottle packed a big punch and it took me over two weeks of daily use to finish it. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy a full size because I’m sure it’s insanely expensive. However, if it were ever on a freebie promotion again with Sephora I would be all over it!

BrightsideOrganics Body Butter: This lovely jar of body butter from BrightsideOrganics was part of a birthday gift from my blogging bestie. The Magical Brew scent was a bit too woodsy for my liking, but oh my goodness did it moisturize like a dream. I am an avid fan of the body butters by The Body Shop and this was comparable, if not better than them. My skin felt insanely soft and it was fantastic to wake up to after a nighttime application. It took me about two and a half weeks of daily use to finish the jar and I would be very interested in trying a different scent.

B&BW Lotion: Lol, the Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon lotion was actually given to Johnny by a coworker. She claimed it smelled terrible and he said he’d take it because he knows I don’t care about the scent of lotion as I only wear it at night. What a doll! I have to say, his coworker was right. The Pink Chiffon scent wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the absolute worst. It was quite musky but it was toned down the slightest bit by the red pear in the fragrance notes. I wouldn’t buy it for myself but I would happily use it for free! It took me one month of all over daily use to finish the bottle.

Neutrogena Serum: This travel sized bottle of serum was a freebie from Target. Every once in a while there will be a basket of free product at customer service and I always grab what I can get! It was lucky to have this free bottle because I accidentally broke the serum I was using when I dropped it and it shattered all over the bathroom. It sucked lol. Having said that, I still wouldn’t use this serum again. I liked that it offered a hefty dose of SPF but it was SO heavy and made my pores feel and look clogged. Free is free but this was a definite no go. It took me two weeks of twice daily use to finish the bottle.

Despite a dud or two in the mix, this was a pretty decent beauty roundup for the month of August. I can’t wait to pamper myself with more new to me skin and bath and body care in September!

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

July 2024 Finishes

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July 2024 Finishes

Howdy!! And just like that, another month has gone by and I hope it has been a wonderful one for all of you. July was actually a banner month for me – work has been going awesome and I was still able to pepper in lots of summer fun with Johnny too. This was also a highly successful month in terms of beauty empties. I got to use up lots of products that have taken FOREVER to complete and there is just something so satisfying about that lol. It’s like finishing up an entire tube of chapstick! Let’s take a look at some of these long term products and discuss further:

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Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Lotion in Butterfly: YES

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel in Tropidelic: NO

Bath & Body Works Breathe Deep Hand Cream in Eucalyptus & Lavender: YES

IZME Rosehip Lip Sleeping Mask: NO

Youth To The People Superfood Moisturizer: NO

The Face Shop Rice Water Foaming Cleanser: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Shower Gel: As you all know, I loves me a Bath & Body Works product – especially their shower gels. My morning showers would not be complete without the pretty scents and a surplus of foamy bubbles! However, I just could not get behind Tropidelic. I don’t know what I was thinking when I picked it out as a freebie because I thought it reeked when I was using it lol. It smelled like moldy mangoes, which is such a specific scent but it really does hit the nail on the head. I am just thankful it was a travel size shower gel and I was done with it in a week or so because I couldn’t stand it! Definitely skip on this one.

B&BW Lotions: In stark contrast to the shower gel, both the Butterfly and Eucalyptus & Lavender scents were divine. Butterfly smelled like whipped raspberries. It was nice and light, but had the slightest bite of tartness and I was so there for it. Raspberry is one of my favorite fragrances! It took me one month of once daily use to finish the bottle. The Breathe Deep Hand Cream in Eucalyptus & Lavender was also fantastic and I wish it came in bigger sizes because I would love to have one right now. I have a summer cold (The worst) and this hand cream seriously worked like Vicks VapoRub but smelled infinitely better!

IZME Lip Mask: I used the Rosehip Lip Sleeping Mask by IZME for two months. In that time, I noticed no real difference in my lips in terms of fullness or hydration. It was no harm no foul because I only paid four bucks for it at TJMaxx. This is a product that is not worth buying, even if you see it on the cheap. I found that my favorite chapsticks by Pacifica worked so much better and am excited to incorporate them into my nighttime routine again.

Youth To The People Moisturizer: I received this travel size Superfood Moisturizer by Youth To The People as part of my free birthday gift from Sephora. I love trying different skin care (Particularly more expensive brands) out and was really looking forward to giving this new to me brand a go. I can’t say that I was overly impressed, though. In the two weeks of twice daily use, there was nothing to write home about which just goes to show that sometimes you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg for quality skin care.

The Face Shop Cleanser: It took me close to four months to finish the Rice Water Foaming Cleanser by The Face Shop and I really liked it! I used it every day and every time I noticed how soft my skin felt and how radiant it looked. I get up super early for work and by the time my skin care routine was complete, no one would be any wiser to how tired I am! Lol you can’t beat that. This cleanser had no scent, lathered well, and a little went a very long way. One dime sized dollop was all I needed to get the job done!

Wow! We had a lot to talk about for my July Finishes. I am so happy to kiss the dud products goodbye and say hello to new skin and beauty care goodies!

Which products did you use up this month? What are 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

June 2024 Finishes

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June 2024 Finishes

Hello everyone!! Just like that, my birthday month is close to drawing to a close. It was a wonderful, celebratory time but all good things must come to an end. So, there is no better time than the present to discuss my beauty empties for the month! I was able to use up a lot of new to me products and quite liked a majority of them. In fact, I would happily use everything again minus one thing so it was a highly successful month indeed. Let’s take a look and discuss further:

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Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Wash: YES

Bath & Body Works At The Beach Body Cream: YES

Provence Beauty Vitamin C + Salicylic Acid Serum: YES

40 Carrots+ Brightening Eye Cream: NO

SOQU Moisturizing & Brightening Rice Cream: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Products: I am a huge fan of the products from Bath & Body Works and use them on a daily basis. My morning showers would not be complete without their body wash and the body creams and lotion are a nighttime staple. I absolutely LOVED the scents of the Calypso Clementine shower gel and At The Beach body cream. The shower gel was bright, fruity, and had the perfect amount of citrusy zest. And, in case you couldn’t guess, At The Beach smells exactly how you think it would – like sunscreen lol. However, it was blended with a soft coconut scent and served pure summer vibes. It took me one month of daily use to finish the shower gel and a week of daily use to finish the travel size body cream.

Provence Beauty Serum: I find serums to be very hit or miss for me. Some are great, some do nothing for me, and some are somewhere right in the middle. The Provence Beauty Vitamin C + Salicylic Acid serum definitely fell under the “great” category! After one month of twice daily use, I can absolutely say that my skin looked brighter and better than it did before. One might even say: Radiant. Provence Beauty is a brand that is very average for me, but I would buy this serum again in a heartbeat. In fact, I would buy a few bottles!!

40 Carrots+ Eye Cream: It took me three months of twice daily use to finish the 40 Carrots+ Brightening Eye Cream and I couldn’t wait for it to be over lol. This product was a total dud and is one that can be skipped on. After ninety days of use, I did not notice one difference to the skin around my eyes. This is in stark comparison to the brightening eye cream that I used prior to starting the 40 Carrots+ because I saw a real difference with it. It’s a HARD no from me, dawg.

SOQU Rice Cream: I very much enjoyed the Moisturizing & Brightening Rice Cream by SOQU and was really sad when I finished it after a month of twice daily use. The texture of this cream was nice and light, making it ideal for the summertime. It absorbed quickly, was non greasy, and sat well under makeup. My skin felt softer and more hydrated with each use and it looked a lot brighter too. Most importantly, my skin felt genuinely healthy with each application and it doesn’t get better than that!

It’s bon voyage to my beauty empties and bonjour to brand new ones. I still have lots of new to me products in my stock pile and I can’t wait to keep testing them out! 😀

Which products did you use up this month? What are 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

Face Mask Festivities: Youth To The People Hydrate & Glow Dream Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: Youth To The People Hydrate & Glow Dream Mask Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Face Mask Festivities! Today we will be discussing the Superberry Hydrate & Glow Dream Mask from Youth To The People. This mask was compliments of my free birthday gift from Sephora and I was excited to try it out. While I love all kinds of face masks, I am quite partial to sleep masks because you just have to put it on and forget about it. Although it doesn’t give you the full experience of relaxing while your mask sits, it’s always nice to think that you are being pampered even as you catch some Zs! Without further ado, let’s get to this review:

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My first impressions of the Superberry Dream Mix was not really what I expected lol. I was surprised when I opened the package and saw the banana colored product! It also smelled exactly like bananas, which is great if you love the smell of bananas. Unfortunately, I don’t so this wasn’t ideal but thankfully the scent wasn’t too strong. The texture of this mask was really thick, which is also something that I didn’t care much for – especially in the summer heat. The Superberry mask took a considerable amount of time to absorb and it still hadn’t completely sunk in after an hour and a half. At that point, I was falling asleep so I can’t say for certain the full length of time for absorption, but I definitely prefer something more fast acting.

The Superberry Dream Mask features my favorite ingredients for skin care – Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid as well as other antioxidants to hydrate and brighten. After waking up, I did feel like my skin was softer and I also thought it didn’t look as tired considering I was up at three in the morning. Having said that, this mask costs fifty-two dollars for a full size jar and that is something that I can’t justify. Had this mask been an absolute miracle worker, I might reconsider. However, I have had similar results from other cheaper products so this will be the first and only time I use the Youth To The People mask.

It’s hard to gauge a product after just one use, but I am fine with not using it again. I will say that this mask would probably be really nice in the wintertime as opposed to the summer and could be worth a shot if you want to shell out for it!

What is your favorite face mask? What is your nighttime skin care routine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sephora Birthday Haul

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Sephora Birthday Haul

Hello!! I have been in dire need of my beloved Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced for several months now. However, I refused to buy it until recently so that I could cash in my Sephora birthday gift. You all know I live for my freebies! Normally, I shop Sephora online because they run some great promotions like a freebie after spending X amount of money. This time around, though, I went in store because I needed some new lipstick too. Unfortunately, my go to lippie is no longer made so I spent some time browsing the store and swatching different shades as I went. We’ll check out a swatch from my new Too Faced lipstick tomorrow. But, for now, take a look at my birthday haul:

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The Haul:

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Too Faced Lip Injection in Filler Up

Youth To The People skin care set with a Superfood Cleanser, Superberry Dream Mask, and Superfood Moisturizer

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it time and time again: The Better Than Sex mascara is, hands down, the best I have ever used. During my time without my favorite mascara, I tried out a few different brands and nothing even came close in comparison. Needless to say, I am very happy to have a new tube and back up one again! I missed my big, bold, look at me lashes so much and consider each twenty-six dollar tube to be worth every penny. I especially find this to be true now after using cheaper brands that did nothing for me. And, hey, sometimes you have to splurge for the good stuff!

During my Sephora shopping trip, I started at the Too Faced department and ended there too during my lipstick search. Although I am not a big makeup girl, I figured it would be pretty easy to find a lippie in a similar shade to the one I used up. WRONG. There were SO. Many. Options. to choose from and it was overwhelming lol. It felt like I totally forgot the color I was even looking for and everything I swatched wasn’t quite right. I was about to give up when I realized I didn’t pay too much attention to the Too Faced Lip Injection collection. This was much more like it and I cannot wait for all of you to see Filler Up. It’s sooo pretty. 🙂

The last order of business was checking out and selecting my free birthday gift. There are several options online for what you can pick out for your prezzie – skin care, hair care, fragrance, or makeup. In the store I went to, however, the choices were limited. But, as luck would have it, the Youth To The People skin care set that I wanted was up for grabs. It’s no secret that I am skin care obsessed so it is always fun to test out higher end products. I am particularly excited about the Air-Whip moisturizer, which promises to be nice and light and perfect for the summertime!

After this trip to Sephora, I came to the conclusion that I don’t know anything about makeup lol. I was definitely jonesing to go to TJMaxx afterwards to get reacquainted with simpler things like shoes and clothes! Either way, I’m happy to have gotten what I needed and next time I need new makeup, I am bringing my sister along for help. 😀

What is your favorite makeup brand? How often do you get new makeup? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah