Tag Archives: skin care

January 2024 Finishes

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January 2024 Finishes

Helloooo!!! We are FINALLY nearing the end of January and all I have to say is thank gawd lol. This past month has felt like a year and I have been ready for it to be over weeks ago. I am eagerly anticipating the start of spring, warmer weather, and getting back to my walking regimen. The past several weeks in Akron, Ohio have been bitterly cold, rainy, snowy, sleety, icy, and everything in between and it has really been putting a damper on things both literally and metaphorically! Thankfully, the month is almost out and here’s to brighter days ahead! Now, let’s get to these beauty empties. This post will be short and sweet because there wasn’t much in the “all done” department:

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Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Gingham Vibrant Shower Gel: YES

Dead Sea Collection 24K Gold + Collagen Night Cream: NO

Why/Why Not:

B&BW Shower Gel: I am a Bath & Body Works Gingham girl through and through and it is one of my favorite scent collections. I LOVED Gingham Love and flipped shit when they released more scents like Gingham Vibrant, Gorgeous, and Fresh. Gingham Vibrant mixes the classic crisp scent of the original fragrance with tart blackberries and soft notes of vanilla. It definitely lives up to the name Vibrant because it is such a lively and bright scent. Sadly, the Vibrant and Fresh lines got discontinued, but they will live on forever in my heart lol. It took me a month and a half to finish this bottle.

Dead Sea Collection Cream: I have recently started introducing skin care with retinol and collagen into my skin care routine. Unfortunately, I haven’t found one that works for me yet because the last one I used and the Dead Sea Collection cream were massive duds. I’m not saying I want a product with tightening and firming agents to feel like my face is burning off, but I would like to feel something. Just for the confirmation that it’s working. I noticed no differences in the feel or look of my skin and that was disappointing. On the bright side, now I know which brands to steer clear of and am hoping through the process of elimination that I will find the moisturizer for me. It took me about three and a half weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar.

That’s that for the January empties – I told you it would be a short post! Bring on February because I can’t wait to try out all of my new goodies from recent bath and body and skin care hauls! 😀

What is a product you loved that got discontinued? What is your favorite collagen/retinol cream? 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

Howdy!! For Christmas and my birthday, I know for a fact that I am going to receive lots of gift cards to TJMaxx. Everyone seems to know by now that it is my happy place and a gift card to TJs is truly the perfect gift for me. With my Christmas gift card hauls, I always like to do a major restock of my skin care supplies. While it would be fun to blow the lot on new clothes and shoes (And I have before!), I like to get things that I actually need and skin care is of the highest priority. I take my skin care routine very seriously and I got enough product to last for at least five months FO FREE. You just can’t beat that! Check it out:

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^^^ All of these products are Leaping Bunny Certified!

I visited TJMaxx on January second and the store was understandably pretty bare to prep for their spring shipment. Unfortunately, this meant the skin care department was nowhere near as well stocked as usual. I had to really look to find the serums, moisturizers, toners, eye creams, and cleansers that would not only work for me but were cruelty free too. This was a lot easier said than done and I spent a majority of my shopping trip scouring the shelves. While I did walk away with everything I needed, the biggest disappointment was not being able to find any of my tried and true Evoluderm Micellar Water. Normally, TJs has an entire shelf full so that was a bummer but, luckily, I have more gift cards for when they get a restock! 😀

For this haul, I walked away with two toners, one cleanser, four moisturizers, four serums, and one eye cream. I was very happy with this because of how bare the skin care section was and I was able to find some familiar brands and brand new ones to try. What I am particularly curious about is the Provence Beauty serums in the bright yellow and baby pink bottles. And, yes, I did get them specifically for what they looked like lol. What can I say, I’m a sucker for pretty packaging! I was also most excited to find another Simple eye cream because of what a fantastic value they are. I have been using a similar product by Simple for the past FIVE months and I am still not even close to being done. Highly recommend!

I am very pleased with my gift card haul from TJMaxx and planned it out to perfection. I only paid nine additional dollars for what my gift cards didn’t cover and I thought that was a great success. Nothing makes me happier than a fully restocked skin care hoard and I can’t wait to test out the new to me products!

What are your thoughts on any of these products if you have used them before? What is important for you when it comes to skin care? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Face Mask Festivities: GlamUp Nourishing Acaiberry Sheet Mask Edition

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Face Mask Festivities: GlamUp Nourishing Acaiberry Sheet Mask Edition

Howdy!! After I enjoyed a super hot bath with the amazing bath bomb you saw yesterday by Rusted Acre Soap Co, I decided to go all out and do a face mask too. After being stuffed up and sick for several days, I was very much in the mood for some pampering! Even though the relief of something so pleasurable was short lived, it was nice to be able to take my mind off of the foul mood I was in for just a little bit. It sucks being sick over the holidays! For the face mask portion of my self care, I went with a Nourishing Acaiberry Sheet Mask by GlamUp. I figured my face could use all of the nourishing it could get after blowing my nose every minute of the past few days lol. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

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^^^ I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!

I am not a huge fan of sheet masks and find them to be a bit of a chore. They never fit well and I like the convenience of continuing to go about my business while a clay face mask sits. In this case, I had no issues with having to lay down to let this sheet mask do its thing because it’s not like I was doing anything but laying in my own misery anyway. This sheet mask by GlamUp fit a lot better than other ones that I have tried, smelled delightful, and was loaded with serum to get the job done. Dare I say, too much because it was dripping everywhere!

I let this mask sit for twenty minutes and at that point it had began to dry and I was over scrolling through Facebook to see all of the Christmas fun I couldn’t participate in. I can’t say that I noticed any real difference in the way my skin looked or felt, which is pretty much par for the course of every other sheet mask I’ve used. This wasn’t surprising to me so it wasn’t disappointing. The act of having the face mask on was the most pleasing thing to me because it felt good on my feverish brow and it felt like I was taking care of myself even if it was in a simple way. I wouldn’t buy more from this brand, but the experience was soothing and you can’t ask for much more when you’re sick.

I am going to rate the GlamUp Nourishing Acaiberry Sheet Mask with a two out of ten stars. If it didn’t bring me some type of relief, I would have given it a zero lol. I still have several more GlamUp masks to use and I don’t expect any of them to be any better, but we’ll see what happens!

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

 

December 2023 Finishes

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December 2023 Finishes

Helloooo everyone and welcome to the very last beauty finishes post of 2023! Skin care and bath and body care is very important to me all year round. However, there’s just something about using go to products that hits different during the wintertime. For a majority of the time since November, I have been in a perpetual state of freezing my nads off and it makes my morning and nighttime beauty routines feel even more pampering and luxurious. I finished lots of products this past month so let’s take a look and discuss further:

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Would I Use Again?

Lubriderm Lotion: YES (but only for new tattoos)

Coconut + Niacinamide Skin Recovery Face Wash by My Beauty Spot: NO

Bath & Body Works Mango Mandarin Body Spray: YES

Bath & Body Works Among The Clouds Body Wash: MAYBE

Pearlessence Dewy Glow Serum: YES

Azure Retinol & Collagen Moisturizer: NO

Why/Why Not?

Lubriderm Lotion: This month, I was completely out of lotion aside from my bottle of Lubriderm that I use when I get new tattoos. I have never used this brand for normal bath and body care before and, I’ve got to say, I was not impressed. I am all for a nice, light lotion and prefer it. However, the Lubriderm is so light that it was less than helpful in combating my dry winter skin. I will forever use Lubriderm when I get some fresh ink (Coming soon, I hope!), but that is all. Thank goodness I got lots of new lotion for Christmas! 😀

My Beauty Spot Face Wash: I have been using this face wash since the beginning of August, making it a fantastic value. Unfortunately, that was the only thing that the Coconut + Niacinamide face wash by My Beauty Spot had going for it. The coconut scent was pleasing, but I never got the feeling that this face wash was serving a purpose other than cleansing my face. There were no noticeable differences and my skin didn’t feel any different, either – not even from a hydration perspective. I like all of the products that I use to pack multiple punches and this was just not it.

B&BW Shower Gel: I am a huge fan of Bath & Body Works products and Among The Clouds only received a “maybe” for reuse because of its scent. This was not my favorite by a long shot and I think I wasn’t feeling it because I had just used up a B&BW shower gel called Poppy and I LOVED it. While Poppy was bright and invigorating with notes of pear, Among The Clouds was more soft and subdued. This shower gel was a mix of vanilla and berry and it was nowhere near as well liked as Poppy for both me and Johnny! Having said that, the B&BW shower gels are the best and it took over a month of daily use to finish the bottle.

Azure Moisturizer: I will be turning the big 3-0 in June and decided that now was as good of a time as ever to introduce retinol and collagen products into my routine. The Azure moisturizer was the first one that I sampled and it did nothing for me. In a sense, I liked that this moisturizer wasn’t as extreme as other products and I could dip my toes in the water with it. But, not being as extreme meant not as effective and there was no difference in the way my skin looked or felt after over a month of twice daily use. I would definitely not buy or recommend this product!

This wasn’t my most successful month of beauty empties, but I’m honestly so fine with it! I was happy to be able to use all of these products up – especially the ones that I have been working on for a while. Now, I can enjoy all of the goodies I got for Christmas. Be on the lookout for posts about that soon!

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

 

 

November 2023 Finishes

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November 2023 Finishes

Howdy!! November is drawing to a close, which can only mean that it’s time to discuss my monthly beauty finishes. I can’t say that this was the most successful month of empties, but damnit if it isn’t satisfying to finish products up lol. Good or bad, I always enjoy trying something new so it’s always exciting for me to use something up and move onto the next thing! There isn’t too much to discuss today so let’s keep things short and sweet and get right to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm: YES!!!!

Bath & Body Works Mimosa & Spearmint Hand Cream: MAYBE

Peptid+ Collagen Moisturizer: NO

Why/Why Not?

IGK Hair Balm: The Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm from Sephora is an absolute must in my stockpile. I got a sample of it many moons ago in a free Sephora Play! Box and immediately bought it in full size and have been using it ever since. I use this product before straightening my hair, but also sporadically throughout the week to give my locks the moisture boost it needs. The IGK hair balm leaves my hair so soft and shiny and serves as an amazing heat protector too. With my shorter hair, I only need about a nickle sized dollop because a little goes such a long way. It takes me between five or six months to finish one bottle and is worth every penny.

B&BW Hand Cream: I am not a fan of the hand cream from Bath & Body Works in any sense of the word. In my opinion, they don’t moisturize well and the texture is very greasy. I am always disappointed when I get a freebie coupon for a hand cream in the mail, but free is free. The Mimosa & Spearmint scent left a lot to be desired and it smelled neither here nor there. I noticed no positive improvement in the dryness of my skin in the week it took me to finish the travel size tube.

Peptid+ Moisturizer: I have been dabbling more in moisturizers with collagen or retinal in it as I approach my thirties. Unfortunately, this Peptid+ Collagen Moisturizer was not it. It took me about four weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar. While I appreciated the value of it, this moisturizer is one that I wouldn’t use again or recommend. It did nothing for my skin and, therefore, did nothing for me. In fact, I am noticing more positive differences with the moisturizer I just started using as opposed to this one! It’s a no from me, dawg.

November was a bit of a dud for empties, but that’s okay! It’s nice to know what products to not spend money on again and I like to let all of you know my findings too. A penny saved is a penny earned or whatever! 😀

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

 

Embrace Green Beauty With Washable Skincare Essentials

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Embrace Green Beauty With Washable Skincare Essentials

Imagine a world where your beauty routine aligns perfectly with your values of protecting the planet. This world isn’t a distant dream; it’s a reality you can start living now. As you explore sustainable beauty, you’ll discover an array of washable skincare essentials that care for your skin and cherish our planet. This guide will unveil the secrets of transitioning to a sustainable beauty regimen, focusing on a critical element revolutionizing skincare: washable skincare essentials:

Understanding Sustainable Skincare:

As you delve into the world of sustainable beauty, you might wonder what exactly makes a beauty routine ‘sustainable.’ At its core, sustainable skincare is about choices that respect the earth and its resources. It’s a commitment to products and practices that minimize environmental impact and support ethical, responsible sourcing.

What is Sustainable Beauty?

Sustainable beauty, for you, means embracing products and practices that have a lesser environmental footprint. It’s about saying ‘no’ to single-use plastics and unnecessary waste and ‘yes’ to reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable options. When you choose a sustainable beauty path, you’re not just deciding for yourself; you’re making a statement about the kind of world you want to live in.

The Environmental Impact of Traditional Skincare Products:

Recognizing the impact traditional skincare products have on our environment is crucial. Countless disposable wipes, cotton pads, and plastic-packaged products end up in landfills and oceans, contributing to pollution and harming wildlife. You might feel that your choices are just a drop in the bucket, but remember, every drop counts. By shifting your focus to sustainable options, you’re part of a growing wave of conscious consumers driving a positive change for our planet.

Benefits of Switching to Washable Products:

Switching to washable skincare products comes with many benefits beyond just being kind to the planet. These reusable items can be more cost-effective in the long run. Think about how often you buy disposable wipes or cotton pads. With washable alternatives, you invest once and reuse many times, saving money and reducing waste. Additionally, many of these washable options are made with gentler, more natural materials, which can be kinder to your skin.

Washable Makeup Remover Pads: A Game Changer:

Among the various washable skincare products, one stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness: washable makeup remover pads. These pads are a game changer in your skincare routine. They work just like the disposable ones but without the guilt of adding to landfill waste. Soft, gentle, and practical, these pads can be used with your favorite cleanser or micellar water to remove makeup and be easily washed and reused. By incorporating washable makeup remover pads into your routine, you’re taking care of your skin and doing your part in reducing environmental waste.

Incorporating Washable Essentials into Your Routine:

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Choosing the Right Products:

First, pick washable products that suit your skin. If you have sensitive skin, look for soft materials like organic cotton. There are also options with a bit of texture for gentle exfoliation. The goal is to find eco-friendly products that meet your skincare needs.

Caring for Your Washable Skincare Products:

To keep your washable products in good shape, rinse them after use and wash them with your regular laundry. Put them in a mesh bag to keep them together. Avoid fabric softeners to maintain their absorbency. Air-drying is best to keep them soft and effective for a long time.

Embracing sustainable beauty routines is more than just a trend; it’s a commitment to a healthier planet and a more conscious lifestyle. By incorporating washable skincare essentials into your routine, you’re taking a significant step towards reducing your environmental impact. These simple changes in your daily beauty regimen can have a profound effect not only on the environment but also on your well-being and finances!

October 2023 Finishes

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October 2023 Finishes

Hello!! October is drawing to a close which means it’s time to discuss my beauty product finishes for the month. Although I wish it could be Halloween season all year round, I am pretty excited about November lol. Am I the only one who has been craving Thanksgiving food something fierce?! 😀 In October, I used up a lot of products that I have been working on for a while and most of them were A-okay in my book. Take a look and let’s get to it:

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Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Gingham Gorgeous Lotion: MAYBE

Bath & Body Works Poppy Shower Gel: YES!!!!!

Pearlessence Dewy Glow Serum: YES

Clean Beauty Deep Hydration Moisturizer: MAYBE

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

The Body Shop Shea Butter Hand Cream: MAYBE

Renew Intensive Skin Therapy Hand Cream: MAYBE

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Lotion: I love the lotions by Bath & Body Works and think that they work marvelously. However, I just could not get behind the Gingham Gorgeous scent. This lotion smelled like a flower shop on steroids and it was a bit much. While I normally never really care about a lotion’s scent because I only use it at nighttime, I was SO ready for this one to be over! Of course, I’d use it if I got it as a gift but I wouldn’t select Gingham Gorgeous for myself again. It took over one month of daily use to finish the bottle.

B&BW Shower Gel: Now, Poppy was a scent that I would definitely use again! It was fantastic and Johnny loved it too lol. Poppy was fruity and sweet but not overly so and it was so nice to use every morning. I really enjoyed the notes of pear and I was sad when I ran out. This is a scent that I think anyone would like and I would happily use it again. It took over one month of daily use to finish the bottle.

Pearlessence Serum: The Dewy Glow Serum by Pearlessence is one that I use frequently from TJMaxx and it hits just right every time. This serum is a bit thicker in texture, but absorbs really quickly and sits well under makeup. I think it definitely helps to revitalize my skin in the morning – especially when I am feeling super tired. I love how fresh my face looks with each use and will always get myself a bottle of it when it’s available at TJs. It took me about a month of twice daily use to finish the bottle.

Clean Beauty Moisturizer: I am kind of torn about the Clean Beauty Deep Hydration Moisturizer. On one hand, I am a huge fan of its value. It took me at least five and a half weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar. On the other hand, I have never noticed mind blowing results from this moisturizer. This is not the first time I have used it and I had similar sentiments every time. If there is nothing else available at TJs, I’d buy it again but otherwise I would skip on it.

Hand Creams: I have been steadily dwindling down the random hand creams I own and both The Body Shop and Renew creams were fine. However, I wouldn’t go out of my way to get them again. Neither of them exceeded my expectations in any way, but they would be nice to have handy on the go during the wintertime.

I am really pleased with my October empties overall. Although there were several “maybes” none of them were completely awful and I consider that a GREAT SUCCESS!!

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

 

 

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hello!! During my last shopping trip to TJMaxx, I went with the intention of finishing up my in store Christmas shopping and I am pleased to say that I did. The last thing that I want is to be in a crowded store, browsing through a picked over selection as the holiday season gets closer! Of course, I couldn’t say no to a few treats for myself either and I’m amazed I made it this long into my early shopping without purchasing a gift for myself too lol! While I was at TJs, I decided to restock the skin care items I needed to get me through the rest of the year. Now, I really don’t need to be in a store until 2024. 😀 Check it out:

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^^^ All of these products are cruelty free!

Thanks to previous Skin Care Hauls from TJs, my beauty care hoard was still fairly well stocked. However, it wasn’t good enough to bring me into the new year and that was the goal. The first order of business was more of my beloved micellar water by Evoluderm. I am halfway through my last bottle in the stock pile and that simply won’t do! There have been several products that I have gotten from TJs that I have loved and never seen in stock again. Thankfully, that is never the case with my micellar water and there was still plenty to spare on the shelves after picking up three bottles!

As a rule, I like to have three of each item in my beauty routine readily available. I was all set for eye cream but definitely needed to achieve my perfect balance for moisturizer and serum. For a new moisturizer, I found a Palmer’s cocoa butter night cream that I think will be fantastic. I am a fan of anything cocoa butter and I’m sure this cream will be lovely once it starts getting really cold out. I also went with a collagen serum by Provence Beauty. I wasn’t particularly thrilled with the skin care options during this shopping trip as a majority of the products weren’t cruelty free. I probably would have selected a different serum if more choices were available, but maybe this one will surprise me.

The last item on my restock list was a new face wash and I am excited to try the Hydrate Foaming Cleanser by ValJean Labs. I have never heard of this brand before, but foaming cleansers are my absolute favorite. A foaming formula always makes my skin feel squeaky clean without drying it out and I was glad to find one for the winter months. The brand name also reminds me of my niece’s name, Valerie Jane, so it was like a sign that I had to get it! 😀

With my beauty hoard fully intact again and my in store holiday shopping complete, I am thrilled to be done. Now, all that’s left to do is online shop till I drop for the remainder of my gifts and it will be smooth sailing all the way till Christmas Day! 🙂

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? What are your winter skin care staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

September 2023 Finishes

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September 2023 Finishes

Hellooooo darlings! September is drawing to a close and that means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes for the month. August empties left me less than impressed and this month was only slightly better. As always, it’s no harm no foul because trying new products is fun and I like to let my readers know which ones aren’t worth their money. Not everything can be a winner, amiright?! Let’s take a look at my September Finishes and chat some more about the oh yeahs and the oh nos: 

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^^^ Totally forgot to add the Bath & Body Works lotion to my empties shot lol WHOOPS

Would I Use Again:

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Purifect Bright Vibes Only Serum: NO

Hope Soap Vanilla & Fig Body Nectar: MAYBE

goodhabit Rescue Me Water Jelly Dew Cream: YES!!

Bath & Body Works Everlasting Magic Body Cream: YES

Why/Why Not?

Purifect Serum: I was SO excited to try the Bright Vibes Only Vitamin C Serum by Purifect. The packaging was adorable, first and foremost, and I love the bonus boost of radiance from Vitamin C products. Sadly, this one massively missed the mark. This serum was really thin in texture and it almost felt like I was splashing water onto my face when I was applying it. The bottle was quite small and a lot of serum was needed to fully cover my face and neck. Within three weeks, the bottle was empty and I never noticed any positive changes in my skin’s appearance. Even if I did, I wouldn’t buy it again because it simply wasn’t a long lasting product and a poor value for my money.

Hope Soap Lotion: I received this product as a gift and it is from a local boutique in my neck of the woods. While I always support shopping local, I am less than impressed with the Body Nectar by Hope Soap. The Vanilla & Fig scent is delightful and I love the whipped texture of the lotion. However, I never felt like my skin benefited from using it. It just didn’t seem as effective as a lotion from Bath & Body Works, for example, and I wouldn’t use it again unless it were gifted to me. A+ in scent and texture, F in effectiveness.

goodhabit Moisturizer: Now, this is a product that I LOVED. You can read more about it in the review linked above. What I will say, is that this is one of the best moisturizers that I have ever used. Yes, the Smurf blue color is slightly off putting lol, but that doesn’t take away from the excellence of this moisturizer. It was long lasting, my skin felt baby soft after each use, and I would be ecstatic if I found it again at TJMaxx – I would buy every single one available!

B&BW Body Cream: I am a huge fan of the body creams by Bath & Body Works and the Everlasting Magic scent was an absolute delight. To me, it smelled like rich plum, ripe blackberries, and the softest notes of floral. I loved being able to use it every night and it makes it even better that it was completely free! I am very impressed by the effectiveness of the B&BW body creams and my skin felt hydrated and nourished throughout the entire day from it. Highly recommend!

There were some winners and some big losers in my September Finishes and that’s A-okay. In fact, I’m thrilled to even be writing this post because October is right around the corner and that means Halloween!! Bring on the spookiest month of the year, baby! 😀

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

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

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TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hello!! On Labor Day, I had the potential to go into work but as luck would have it, I had the day off. Johnny and I made the most of our free day by visiting his parents, going grocery shopping at Aldi, and shopping at TJMaxx. I was fresh out of moisturizer and needed to do a restock of my beauty hoard. And, of course, I never say no to early holiday shopping and treats like a gorgeous new sweater you will see tomorrow! The skin care department was severely lacking during this trip, but I managed to walk away with the following:

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Normally, it doesn’t take me long to pick out skin care when I’m at TJs. I know which brands I like and are cruelty free so it’s just a matter of locating them and filling up my cart. This time around, I couldn’t find any of my go to brands! I was really hoping to find another jar of the Rescue Me moisturizer by goodhabit, but it was nowhere to be found. To add salt to the wound, the majority of the selection was from brands that weren’t cruelty free. I spent SO long going through all of the moisturizers and serums and coming up empty handed. Not that I mind the thrill of the hunt for skin care, but even I was getting annoyed!

For moisturizers, I ended up with three jars that I probably wouldn’t have bought if the pickings weren’t so slim. I’m sure they will be fine and maybe I’ll end up liking them, but I am always partial to a gel based moisturizer! These were the literal only cruelty free ones I could find and were relatively cheap at six bucks a pop so what can you do? I also found a serum that I am kind of interested in trying out with all of that shimmer. I love a touch of glitter and I’m hoping it will bring a pop of brightness during the grey months of fall and winter.

One final thing that caught my eye was some floss picks, which I also happened to be running low on. Rather than making a separate trip to Giant Eagle for them, I thought I’d give these plant based picks a go. You never know what you’ll find at TJMaxx! I have taken my oral health very seriously since my raging success at my last periodontist appointment. Floss picks have become a must have staple for me and it makes me feel good to be taking much better care of my teeth. I’m just hoping these plant based picks will be as durable as the ones that I usually use!

Am I thrilled with this TJMaxx Skin Care Haul? Not particularly and it was a very lackluster showing on TJ’s part. On the bright side, these are all new to me products and it’s always fun to test out new brands. We’ll see what happens!

What are your must have beauty products? What is your favorite cruelty free brand? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah