Tag Archives: tjmaxx.

Jun27

Bath Bomb Blitz

Posted on by
Standard
Bath Bomb Blitz

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday. Okay, so Lil Red Fun Fact: Before Saturday, I never have used a bath bomb. “But Sarah, how is that possible,” you might ask? Because nowhere near me sells them, that’s why!! The closest Lush to yours truly is about 45 minutes away and I’m not going to drive all the way out there for some bath products. But, believe me ladies, I see you with your bath bomb posts and I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that I was jealous AF. That’s why I was SO excited when TJMaxx had bath bombs available in their beauty section like THIS ONE:

As you all know, I am obsessed with all things charcoal. Body washes, facial cleansers, scrubs, masks, I love it all. I don’t have “problem” skin, which is what most people associate charcoal products with. BUT feeling squeaky clean is really important to me as a beauty enthusiast and a pretty hardcore germophobe, and nothing makes me feel that way quite like charcoal goodies. That’s why I was really excited when I saw this here charcoal bath bomb by Aromafields because I didn’t even know that that was a thing! But everything is a thing so I guess a charcoal infused bath bomb isn’t as crazy as it sounds!! Okay, whatever, I know I’m rambling so just look at the water, will ya?

#allblackeverything

Okay, if you’re not a long term emo kid like myself, you might be slightly disturbed by my pitch black bath water. But, rest assured, I had the time of my life. Splish splash, Lil Red was taking a bath and it was AMAZING. The water smelled minty cool and easing myself into a tub filled to the brim with black water is the stuff straight out of my emo fantasies. So, yeah, this bath bomb was totes worth the four buck price tag.

Literal tiny beads of charcoal floated in the water that you could scoop up with your hands and rub on your skin. It was seriously like having a face mask for your whole body. My skin felt tingly and cleansed. AND taking a soak in my bathtub filled with black water that looked like the perfect setting for an AFI music video was simply magical, to say the least. :*)

My ONLY complaint about this Aromafields bath bomb was that it was a real pain in my kiester to clean up once the water drained. There was a charcoal film covering the entire bath tub that I legit had to scrub to remove. It wasn’t a “let me wipe the tub really quick” affair but more like a “I need elbow grease that only a carnival strong man can provide” to remove this stain. Your girl put in work, honey. And a word to the wise is to use a towel that you aren’t fond of while cleaning your tub because mine looked like I took it to the underside of my WHIP when I was through. And something tells me that the belly of the Little Red Love Machine would STILL have given me a cleaner towel than the bath bomb residue did. SMH!!!!

This was my first bath bomb experience, so I have nothing else to base my judgements off of, but I really enjoyed myself! I’m excited to try the chocolate scented bath bomb as seen in my featured image photo next and will be sure to let all of you know how it goes! Where do you get your bath bombs from? Is Lush worth the hype? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

Monday Update: TJMaxx Haul Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Monday Update: TJMaxx Haul Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday!! I hope that everyone had a super fun and fabulous weekend! So these past few days, I was a little naughty and went way too hard at TJMaxx. As you guys know, that store is my number one fave. It seems like I never fail to find something that I love there. Whether it be new shoes, beauty products, clothes, or purses, TJ’s always treats me just right! This week, we’ll take an in depth look at my haul (Because, believe me, there’s a lot!) starting with this sassy little skirt that I got for a whole EIGHT DOLLARS. Check it out:

skirtskirt1

This fun jean skirt is Buffalo by David Bitton brand and the original price tag had it marked at seventy dollars. And once again, I GOT IT FOR EIGHT! I’ve been on the hunt for a cute jean dress or skirt for a while now but have never found anything that spoke to me on a spiritual level. This skirt is flattering, flirty, and totally fabulous and my only regret is that I didn’t find it sooner.

I love that this dark denim skirt features a zipper down the front instead of the normal buttons that have been littering the stores lately. The fit and flare shape is just right in providing a curve hugging silhouette while still offering a light touch of girly sweetness from the flared bottom. The golden stitching throughout the skirt also adds some extra pizzazz, which makes this little number feel fresh out of the 70’s. Freaking obsessed.

There is nothing better than purchasing a darling new piece to add to your wardrobe for under ten dollars. And knowing that I saved sixty-two smackers on this skirt makes the find even sweeter. I can’t wait to pair this high waisted number with crop tops, tucked in button downs, and a jean jacket for a sassy update on the Denim Tuxedo. And, of course, platform heels with this retro baby is a must!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: TJMaxx Haul Edition! Spend your week here at lifewithlilred while I talk beauty and fashion compliments of my favorite store! Who else is totally TJ’s obsessed? What is your favorite store to shop at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr30

TJMaxx Mini Haul

Posted on by
Standard
TJMaxx Mini Haul

Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a super fab weekend. So Friday was a wonderful, but boozy time, and your girl spent yesterday nursing a hangover from HELL. Seriously, I was completely miserable and spent a majority of the day in bed watching a Catfish marathon. But, despite feeling like total ass, I ponied up and went with my mom to Home Goods and TJMaxx in the evening so she could pick up a few things and make some returns. And, honestly, when have I ever said no to going to TJMaxx?!

My beloved mom and I haven’t been out shopping together in a while and even though I felt like I got ran over by stampeding elephants, we still had a lot of fun! We browsed around Home Goods, which I’ve grown increasingly more fond of with every trip and ended up with some delightful new home goods. 😉 The TJMaxx trip was awesome, though, because we were in a fancier area than our normal location so it was a nice little change of pace. Take a look at my mini haul and let’s discuss:

mini.jpeg

The Haul:

  • The Body Shop Oat & Honey mask
  • Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer
  • Olive green baseball cap (brand unknown!)

The Price: About twenty bucks total

I am always so, so happy when I can find really good skin care products at TJs on the cheap. I have been absolutely loving face masks as of late so finding a TBS one for FIVE DOLLARS was such a treat! I have used the Oat & Honey mask before and it was nice but nothing that I would ever pay full price for so it was definitely a pleasant surprise to be able to snag it for a price that you couldn’t get at TBS even if it was on sale.

Not only did I get a new mask to add to my collection but I also got a moisturizer that I freaking LOVE! My mom got me the Yes To Coconut souffle moisturizer for my birthday or Christmas, I forget which, and it was so fabulous. Normally, I’m not a huge coconut fan but this moisturizer smells so good to me. It’s definitely coconutty but it also has that rich, creamy scent and texture that I love so very much. And did I mention that it works wonderfully, to boot?! This moisturizer absorbs so quickly, sits well under makeup, and leaves your complexion looking like peaches and cream perfection. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to be able to get my Yes To Coconut moisturizer for a TJMaxx price!

And, finally, my new baseball cap!! I am such a fan of hats. I wouldn’t say that they’re my favorite accessory but they are definitely high on the list. Floppy hats, beanies, baseball caps, Panama hats, sun hats, cold weather wool hats – I love them all. I have two boxes full of hats in my closet thanks to an appreciation that stemmed from my darling grandma who had over one hundred and fifty hats!

But, one style of hat that I have been meaning to give more love to as of late is the baseball cap. I loves me a good ball cap but I always have difficulty finding ones that work in terms of color with my hair. With my bright red locks I want anything that I put on my head to compliment, rather than clash. That’s why I was so attracted to this shiny, olive green cap for ten dolla holla at TJs.

Green, no matter what shade, is a color that always looks good on me. Thanks to red hair and pasty pale skin, fifty shades of green is a color that I know that I can turn to and I will look my best. My new hat just made everything pop. My eyes looked bright, my skin glowed, and my hair (even though I really need to dye it) looked fantastic. And you KNOW that this hat was a winner if I felt that I looked good even with a hangover!! Everything about this hat worked AND it didn’t make me look like Ashton Kutcher so, obviously, this little baby was going home with me!

Even though this was a small haul, I ended up with two skin care products and a hat that I totally love and only paid a whopping twenty bucks for. Sounds like a steal to me!

So there you have it, my TJMaxx Mini Haul! Who else has a deep love for TJMaxx? What is your favorite accessory to rock? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr26

April 2017 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
April 2017 Finishes

Helloooooo everyone and happy Hump Day!! This month has brought me many wonderful finishes, which has been fun because April has been a pretty blah month for yours truly. As most of you know by now, I refuse to not finish things that I start when it comes to beauty products, so it’s always nice when the “must finish” items are pleasant to use! Take a look at this month’s empties and let’s discuss:

april

Would I Use Again?

  • Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash: MAYBE
  • Fashion Fair Santorini Getaway body butter: YES
  • Design Line Fiji Therapy styling oil: YES
  • The Body Shop Nutriganics eye cream: YES
  • Arad moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not:

Philosophy Body Wash: Okay, you guys know how I feel about Philosophy bath and body products because I’ve said it time and time again: Had I not been gifted with the products, I would never buy them for myself. My ex boyfriend got me the Vanilla Birthday Cake body wash for Christmas and it was nice and it smelled good but SO many other shower gels are nice and smell good for a fraction of the cost. Granted, I’m sure he got the gel at TJs or Marshall’s, but still. All things considered, this sixteen ounce bottle of body wash lasted me for three months, which is impressive. It lathered well and left my skin feeling hydrated, but it is not something that I plan on using again in the future unless it shows up underneath my Christmas tree!

Fashion Fair Body Butter: This body butter is actually another Christmas gift from my ex and I freaking LOVED it. For starters, the Santorini Getaway scent was so freaking delightful. It was citrus-y without being overpowering. Imagine the richest, creamiest lotion ever that smells like freshly whipped cream and add the lightest splash of citrus and you would have this Fashion Fair body butter. YUM.

Not only did it smell divine but it absorbed and moisturized SO WELL. The texture was nowhere near as thick as a body butter from, say, The Body Shop but it was definitely thicker than your average cream. Even so, this lotion absorbed into my skin instantly and without leaving any type of residue behind. All that was left after applying this lotion was the gentlest touch of summer citrus and I would one hundred and fifty percent use this product again. I completed this body butter after about six uses.

Design Line Styling Oil: I have been using the Design Line Fiji styling oil in my hair for ages. The only reason why it never appears on my Finishes posts is because my mom will always swap out my almost finished bottles with a new one without telling me! Then, by the time I think of it, she has already used and thrown away the remnants of my half used bottle.

Anyways, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. As you guys know, I don’t wash my hair. End of story. Point blank. Period. And you would think that if I’m putting styling oil in my hair almost every day, my hair would get super greasy. Right? WRONG. Not only does this oil have the perfect touch of a tropical scent but it is such a light to the touch product and it leaves my hair feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated with every use. I use it almost daily before I flat iron my hair and my locks are all the better for it. It takes me about four to five months to finish a bottle of Design Line Fiji styling oil and at thirteen bucks a pop, it is worth every penny.

TBS Eye Cream: Oh, my Nutriganics eye cream. A product that I truly could not live without. I have been using the Nutriganics eye cream from The Body Shop for literal years now and the thin and sensitive skin around my eyes thanks me for it daily. Not once since using this product have I been concerned about fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes because a strict and set in stone for ages regimen of applying this product ceases all worries for me. The areas around my eyes looks bright and youthful and I can’t ever see myself not using my Nutriganics eye cream on a daily basis. It takes me about five months to finish a bottle of this cream, which is also a fantastic value!

Arad Moisturizer: I bought this product from TJMaxx compliments of a gift card from one of my beloved Special Olympics students. I have to say that it was nothing special but I would use it again if the opportunity arises. This moisturizer smelled great because it is made with coconut extract, which made putting it on in the morning really nice. It also absorbed well and my makeup laid nicely over top of it. However, I will always be partial to my much loved and used Vitamin E moisturizer from The Body Shop, so anything else kind of pales in comparison! It took me about one month to finish this moisturizer.

Overall, April was a very successful month in terms of my product finishes. I enjoyed using all of my empties and I can definitely see myself (almost) using all of them in the future!

So there you have it, my April 2017 Finishes! Which beauty products did you use up this month? Has anyone used any of the products on my empties list before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr3

If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo/Cape Robbin Edition

Posted on by
Standard
If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo/Cape Robbin Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. As all of you know by now, your girl loves shoes. With a collection of over fifty pairs, my affection for footwear knows no ends and I am always on the hunt for unique pairs to add to my shoe museum. That’s why I freaking LOVE TJMaxx’s online shoe department. Last week, my mom and I did a little online shopping and ended up with some really cute new heels, boots, and flats. All of our purchases were so unique and fun and they were shoes that they didn’t have in any stores near us so it felt like we were getting something that no one else would have, which I love! Check out my latest shoe haul and let’s discuss:

shoes10shoes11shoes14shoes12shoes13

The Haul:

  • Bamboo patch work platforms (As seen in the picture of me with a Target dress!)
  • Cape Robbin embellished booties

My current shoe obsessed at the moment is platform heels. I love that this funky 80s and 90s style is making a hardcore comeback and am really keen on finding more unique platforms to add to my collection. I currently have two adorable pairs that I got for a song on ModCloth but two is not enough – obviously! That’s why when I saw such a darling pair of patched denim platforms for a whole twenty-five bucks, I just had to buy them.

What I love the most about my Bamboo platforms, aside from the shape, is the denim material! I have a pair of denim booties, also from TJs, that I love so I was really hyped to add another pair of shoes in that fabric to my museum. The beautiful floral patch work on the heels was just a nice added bonus because I feel like I would have bought the shoes with or without it. Although these platforms look intimidating, they are super comfortable! I was able to strut through the streets of downtown Cleveland over the weekend while sporting these babies and didn’t even break a sweat. The power of the platform!

As you can see from the pic of yours truly, I styled these shoes with a super 70s style frock and absolutely loved the look. I felt so retro and fierce and I thought that the dark denim heels complimented the mustard yellow dress perfectly. I am looking forward to pairing these platforms with more dresses, definitely, as well as with maxi skirts for a cool but chic summer time OOTD.

Another style of shoes that I love is the ankle bootie. I have had a lot of luck with TJs in expanding my bootie collection and they certainly did me right with my new powder blue Cape Robbin boots. I. Freaking. LOVE. These. Shoes. Most of my bootie collection comes in various shades of black so these powder blue powerhouses were a much welcomed change of pace.

I love everything about these babies – The shape, color, studs, stitching, and the cool as hell chain that goes under the heel. *Mwah* C’est magnifique! My only minor problem with these boots is that they don’t have a zipper to make getting them on easier so putting the shoes on with my long ass talons is a bit of a pain in the derriere but that’s a small price to pay if the shoe fits!

I just know that these Cape Robbin baby blues are going to be a wardrobe staple this summer. They are going to look so fierce with a little pair of black short shorts and a flannel for outdoor warm weather adventures. I can’t wait to add a touch of mod thanks to the power blue color to all of my looks while still keeping things very edgy compliments of the gorgeous details. The studs and stitching are completely fab, but I am so in love with the heel chain that I really just can’t even. I’ve never seen anything like it before and now I wish that all of my shoes had that!

If you haven’t hit up TJMaxx’s online store, then you need to get on that pronto. They have such fantastic finds that I don’t think I would ever see in store and I can’t wait to continue to grow my shoe collection with their fabulous selection!

So there you have it, the latest issue of If The Shoe Fits: Bamboo/Cape Robbin Edition! What is your favorite style of shoe? What is your must have footwear for spring and summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar28

March 2017 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
March 2017 Finishes

Hi everyone and happy Tuesday! With another month in 2017 behind us, it is now time for another beauty finishes post for March. I didn’t finish too many products this month, only three. Despite a lack of empties in this edition, I did really enjoy all of the products that I used up for the most part. And even if I didn’t care too much for something, it’s always exciting to get to the end of a jar or bottle with the promise of trying something new afterwards! Take a look at my empties for the month and let’s discuss:

march.jpeg

Would I Use Again?

  • Philosophy Sugary Cinnamon Icing lotion: MAYBE
  • The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost: OBVIOUSLY!
  • Lanocreme Defining Day Cream: YES

Why/Why Not?

Philosophy Lotion: My ex boyfriend’s darling mother got me this for Christmas last year and I just got around to using it this month. Honestly, I’m not really sure how to feel about Philosophy products. All I see is average lotions and shower gels for an extravagant price. Don’t get me wrong, this lotion smelled delicious and it was extremely moisturizing but so are countless other lotions and butters for a lesser cost. Also, the plastic used for the shower gel and lotion bottles make it extremely difficult to squeeze any product out, hence the pump I put on to combat that issue. I finished this lotion after about six uses and if it were given to me as a gift I would definitely use it again but I would never buy it for myself otherwise.

TBS Skin Boost: I mean, you guys already know how much I love this product considering every three months or so it shows up on my empties posts like clockwork! But as a brief reminder, the Vitamin C Skin Boost from The Body Shop is the best thing that has ever happened to my skin. It leaves my face looking radiant and bright, my skin feels well moisturized, this product also mattefies, and it sits well under makeup. Need I say more? It took me three months to finish this product.

Lanocreme Moisturizer: I purchased this day cream from TJMaxx and it was made in New Zealand, which is fun! This cream was a little thicker than the Vitamin E moisturizer from The Body Shop but it still absorbed just as well. Its scent was light and soft and it left my skin feeling hydrated and supple. My makeup sat well over it and I got a good month’s worth of use out of the product so I think it was absolutely worth purchasing. If I was at TJs and this cream was available again, I am positive that I would add it to my shopping cart!

Over all, I got to use some really nice skin and bath and body care products this month and I’m happy with everything that I used up. Although I’m not Philosophy’s number one fan, it was nice to use something that I wouldn’t have bought for myself. And, of course, my Vitamin C Skin Boost and Lanocreme moisturizer were fantastic, which makes up for any blah philosophical feelings! 😉

So there you have it, my March 2017 Finishes! Which products did you use up this month? Have you used any of the items that I have listed above? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar5

Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Hats Off: Nicole Marciano Edition

Hiii everyone and happy weekend! I hope all of you are having a wonderful and relaxing Sunday! Yesterday, a quick stop to TJMaxx got me a super cute new floppy hat by Nicole Marciano for a whopping four dollars. Thanks to a ten dollar off coupon compliments of their credit card, I was able to snag this little beauty which I am SO stoked to sport this summer. Take a look:

hats1hats2

^^^ So. Fun!

I have quite a large hat collection due to a love that I developed from my grandma who had over one hundred of them! I love, love, love floppy hats but all of mine are either felt or wool which is fine for fall, winter, and the spring but not so much for summer. I’ve wanted a big, floppy, straw style hat for a while now but never managed to find one that I liked enough to purchase. They were all either too big, too small, too blah, or the shape wasn’t to my liking. Seriously, some of the floppy hats that I’ve encountered were HUGE which would result in the hat to droop in an unflattering sad elephant ear style that was just…no.

But, I absolutely LOVE this little Nicole Marciano number. It’s big without being gigantic, the shape that the hat takes when it’s actually on is quite attractive, and the “bonjour” detailing was just too darling to pass up. And for four dollars?! Hello! This hat is going to be so charming with a little sun dress, chunky wedges, and “don’t look at me” sunglasses for a glam but fun summer time look. It will provide me with the perfect shade and a touch of Paris chic for a day of shopping at my favorite outdoor mall, a trip to the zoo, or simply reading the latest issue of Cosmo on my deck. Just thinking of it makes me more than ready for summer!

Hats Off, indeed, to this cute as can be Nicole Marciano piece! What is your must have accessory for spring or summer? Who else has a hat collection of their own? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb21

Springtime Style On A Budget

Posted on by
Standard
Springtime Style On A Budget
Hi everyone and welcome to the final post of my Think Spring guest bloggers series compliments of one of my darling friends, Carlie, from Bombshell. It has been such fun over the past year getting to know Carlie better and chatting over email, Facebook, and blog post comments. Carlie’s page is just as charming and lovely as she is, so please be sure to check it out and enjoy her post on ballin on a budget throughout the spring:

Springtime Style On A Budget

carls.JPG

If you are yearning for some new spring style items to add to your wardrobe but can’t afford or don’t want to buy new clothes or accessories, here are some ways to celebrate springtime without hurting your bank account:
1. Affordable Shops – If you are wanting some new floral clothes or just a new item in spring colors, check out shops like Ross or TJMaxx. They get new cute tops, bottoms, and even shoes for each season plus have designer items with prices that are a steal. Sometimes you have to scour the clothing racks for the perfect thing but you are guaranteed to always find something that you’ll love.
2. Accessorize – You can celebrate and update your spring fashion with cute little accessories such as hair flowers, floral head bands, scarves, jewelry, and more. Stores like Claire’s or similar places carry an enormous array of cute seasonal accessories for great deals.
3. Makeup – If you don’t want to go crazy with a new wardrobe just for spring, you can celebrate the season with your makeup. This time of the year, you can find pastel and springy colored makeup like eye shadows and lipsticks in pinks, greens, and pretty shimmery colors. You don’t need to go to department stores or even Sephora if you don’t want to or are on a budget. CVS and Walgreens drugstores always have a huge selection of great quality makeup in every color that you can imagine for amazing prices.
4. Hair – If you’re interested in trying more of a punk or rocker look for spring, you can buy clip in extensions in an array of different colors almost anywhere, including online. Or you can get hair chalk, which is temporary and can be found in drugstores and beauty supply shops. You’ll definitely have your own original look for the spring, while utilizing the “it” colors like jewel floral tones and pastels.
5. DIY- If you’re an artistic or creative person, then your spring style ideas are pretty much endless. You can use your talent to make your own items and accessories with affordable supplies from places like Jo-Ann’s or other craft and fabric shops. Some examples include chokers made with silk ribbons in floral colors with cute charms or your own flower hair pieces, brooches, and corsages.
These are just a few ideas to help you create your own original look and style for the upcoming season. Let these ideas and tips inspire you. Have fun with them and have a most wonderful spring.
Love, Carlie

^^^ Thank you so much again to the pretty as a picture Carlie for sharing her tips for a budget friendly spring wardrobe with us! And, of course, thank you to all of my amazing guest bloggers who participated in my Think Spring series. How do you style for spring on a budget? What is one of your favorite DIY spring crafts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb6

TJMaxx Gift Card Purchases

Posted on by
Standard
TJMaxx Gift Card Purchases

Hi everyone and happy Monday! This past week was the Special Olympics games and it was a fantastically fun time. All of my students were very successful in their events and I couldn’t be more proud. At the banquet following the games, one of my students and his family presented me with a late graduation present – a beautiful framed photo of myself and my student from last year’s games and a gift card to my favorite place on earth…TJMAXX!!! I was so thankful for such a thoughtful gift because they seriously hit the nail on the head. I love having my new picture of such a happy memory on my desk and I had a blast doing some shopping with my mom to spend my gift card this past weekend.

The prezzie actually couldn’t have come at a better time because I’ve been wanting to do a major skin care haul so I can have a year’s supply of all of my must have beauty items without the hassle of waiting around for deals all year. Until the price is right at The Body Shop for all of my necessities, I was able to put two new moisturizers (as I was running low on my Vitamin E TBS cream) and one of my favorite cleansers on back stock. Take a look:

image.jpeg

The Haul:

  • Destiny Boutique charcoal cleanser
  • Lanocreme day cream
  • Arad day cream

In case you guys don’t already know, I’m obsessed with Destiny Boutique and I got this cleanser from TJs not too long ago. But, I saw it in the beauty section and thought it would be a great addition to my skin care back stock so into the cart it went. After finding my favorite cleanser, it was time to look for some new moisturizers. When it comes to creams, my skin really isn’t picky at all but I had the hardest time finding them in the TJs beauty aisle. Seriously, all they seemed to have was night creams and masks so I felt lucky that I found two day creams that I think will work just fine.

I’m always excited to try products that isn’t native to the ol’ USA so when I saw that the Lanocreme moisturizer was made in New Zealand, I definitely wanted to give it a go. As far as the Arad cream goes, I have never used any of their products but I have heard good things so I decided to go with that one, too. I’m a little anxious to try both of these out considering I’ve been using The Body Shop’s Vitamin E moisturizer steadily for the past couple of months so we’ll see how it goes. Fingers crossed that I’ll have good things to say about it in an upcoming monthly beauty finishes post!

The last of my gift card was used on restocking the communal TBS body butter and lotion hoard that my mom and I share. A Raspberry body butter for me, Vanilla Chai for her, and a cocoa butter lotion – my favorite! If you love The Body Shop products as much as my mom and myself and you have a TJMaxx near you, then I can’t recommend stopping in and scoping out their beauty aisle enough. You never know what you might find!

So there you have it, my TJMaxx Gift Card Purchases! What is one of your favorite items from The Body Shop? What is one of your favorite scores from TJMaxx? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan30

January 2017 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
January 2017 Finishes

Helloooo everyone and happy Monday! I hope all of you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. With January coming to a close and the reminder of Valentine’s Day in February coming in at full force, it’s time to talk about my empties for the month. I actually had a lot of finishes in January which I was so happy about because I was working on a few of them for quite a while and it’s always fun to start something new! Take a look at the products that I bid adieu to this month and let’s discuss:

jan.jpeg

Would I Use Again?

  • The Body Shop Argon Oil body wash: YES
  • Peace, Love, & Juicy Couture lotion: NO!!!!
  • Jergens BB Protect lotion: YES
  • St. Ives Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange scrub: YES
  • Olay Total Effects moisturizer: MAYBE
  • Yes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair treatment: NO
  • The Body Shop Almond body butter: YES

Why/Why Not?

TBS Body Wash: This jumbo sized body wash was compliments of TJMaxx for a whopping EIGHT dollars. It took me well over three months to finish completely and I would definitely use it again. The Argon Oil scent is mild and soft and it left my skin feeling well moisturized after each use. It might not be my favorite scent that TBS has to offer but getting the jumbo sized shower gels from TJs is a steal so I take what I can get!

Juicy Couture Lotion: This is a product that I’ve been putting off using for a long, long time because it smells like butt! Many Christmases ago my mom gifted me with a Peace, Love, & Juicy Couture box set that came with the perfume and this lotion. I don’t think that I have ever even used the perfume and the only reason that I finally caved and used the lotion was to be rid of it! The smell…it just isn’t for me. It is so overpoweringly flowery and god knows what else and I (and my entire family, who reminded me every time I wore it) completely hated it. It took me about three weeks to finish this lotion and I could not have been happier to see it go! BYE FELICIA.

Jergens Lotion: I won this Jergens BB lotion from a giveaway last year along with the BB hand cream, which I loved. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy this body lotion again but if it were offered to me or if it were cheap enough, I would snag it. I liked how light it smelled and how quickly it absorbed but it was not an incredibly great value as I finished it after about four uses!

St. Ives Scrub: You guys already know that I love my St. Ives products and this scrub is no exception. First of all, the Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange scent is delicious. It is so invigorating and bright and I loved using it first thing in the morning. Second of all, my skin felt great after every use. It both felt and looked radiant and instantly took away the dull, tired look that sleep can bring to your skin. It took me a little over one month to finish this scrub.

Olay Moisturizer: This empty is actually compliments of my mom who handed it down to me two days before Christmas because I was all out of whatever I was using. She said there was about two uses left which was great because I knew that I would be getting more moisturizer and skin care goodies under the tree! My mom was dead wrong though, because I got about three weeks of use out of the rest of this product which shows that just a little bit of it goes a long way. This moisturizer absorbed quickly and its scent was subtle and mild which I liked, however, the texture was too thin for my liking. I like moisturizers with a little bit of heaviness to it, like The Body Shop’s Vitamin E cream, so this Olay one just didn’t pack enough of a punch for me. I won’t say that I wouldn’t use it again but it’s not something that I’m dying to buy after using it for close to a month.

Yes To Grapefruit Treatment: I like the idea of this Correct & Repair treatment but it really didn’t do much for me. The grapefruit scent did smell great but I never saw any noticeable differences in my skin after using it. I used this product about three to four times per month and it lasted me three months so the value of it was good but that’s really all I have to say for it. I think that this product was trying really hard to be a peel and it just didn’t work out that way. Rather, it was more like a scrub that sat on your face for ten minutes before washing off. -__-

TBS Body Butter: I love, love, LOVE the almond scent from TBS so when I saw this for SIX bucks at TJs, I had to grab it! The light nutty scent is so rich despite its subtleness and it just feels (and smells) so good on the skin. I love putting body butter on after a nice, long bath so it was a treat to be able to use one of my favorites for the past month which is about how long it lasted for me, too!

The month of January brought me seven finished products and some I loved and some…not so much! But that just means that I have seven new products to test in the months ahead which is something that I always look forward to. I would say that this month was still very successful as there were quite a few empties that I would definitely use again but I am so ready for the newbie products come February!

So there you have it, my January 2017 Finishes! Have any of you ever used any of the above products before? What did you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah