Tag Archives: valjean labs

Sep30

ValJean Labs Morning Glow Facial Oil Review

Posted on by
Standard
ValJean Labs Morning Glow Facial Oil Review

Howdy! I am a huge fan of ValJean Labs products and they have become a staple in my beauty routine. I am always on the lookout for more of their goodies when I am at TJMaxx and found a new to me serum by my go to brand… Or so I thought lol. It turns out that I didn’t purchase a ValJean Labs serum at all but a facial oil and that came as quite the surprise when I tried it for the first time. I absolutely detest the sensation and texture of facial oils so I felt like a major dunce when I realized what it actually was. Word to the wise: Always read the label! Despite my facial oil qualms, I refused to waste it and decided that it couldn’t hurt to put it on at night so I don’t have to be awake to feel it on. And you know what? It didn’t hurt at all and helped a lot! Let’s discuss:

This facial oil has a muted earthy scent that is very pleasant upon application during my nighttime beauty routine. I use it along with my normal moisturizer and eye cream and then hit the hay so as not to feel the greasiness that I despise. Whenever I use a product for the first time, I never expect immediate results. Rather, a gradual change. That was so not the case when I woke up the morning after my trial run! I looked in the mirror and it seriously looked like I slept for ten hours. My skin was glowing to the point of being dewy and that was such a drastic change to the dullness that I usually wake up to. It literally made me do a double take!

I have always shied away from facial oils and I now realize that I have done myself a disservice by not applying them to my pre-bed routine. Maybe it’s just the one I’m using from my favorite skin care brand but I have been using it nightly for two weeks and have noticed such positive results. The radiance it provides is, of course, a blessing but I have also noticed one more amazing difference: My under eye bags have been nonexistent. It has been years since I have woken up without a purplish tinge in the under eye region and it enhances the well rested vibes even further. Especially because I often feel anything but!

If you are on the market for a new facial oil then I truly can’t recommend the Morning Glow by ValJean Labs enough. It has turned the biggest anti facial oil gal into a number one fan and I will gladly use it again if I can find it!

What is a texture that you hate? What is your favorite facial oil? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep28

September 2026 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
September 2026 Finishes

Hello! September is drawing to a close and all I have to say is: Bring on October! Of course, I am eager for Halloween but I am also going to Italy and holy WOW am I excited. I didn’t think it was possible for my favorite time of the year to get any better but here we are and my mind is officially blown. Haunted houses, spooky decor, sexy costumes, and a whole lot of pasta are in my future and I am chomping at the bit to get the party started! I still have a couple of weeks to go but, until then, let’s say arrivederci to these beauty finishes. They were all winners in this batch and I would highly recommend them all. Check it out:

Would I Use Again?

ValJean Labs Deep Cleansing Foaming Cleanser: YES

Precision Beauty Pore Perfect Serum: YES

Vital Beauty Cooling Eye Gel: YES

Goodness Every Morning Moisturizer: YES!!!!!!!!!!!

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Cleanser: I loves me a ValJean Labs product and have been using the Deep Cleansing Foaming Cleanser every day for the past four months. This cleanser was especially nice during the stifling months of summer when my apartment turns into my own personal sauna. It is nonstop sweating and every morning this cleanser would take away the grime and leave my skin feeling so fresh and clean. Despite the constant sweat, my skin has looked radiant this summer thanks to my ValJean Labs cleanser with no random pimples and minimal blackheads. I was very impressed! As an extra bonus, this cleanser also comes with a scrub brush to really target problem areas and it was fun to use as I completed my cleansing routine. I would definitely buy this again if I saw it at TJMaxx!

Precision Beauty Serum: I am very partial to the Precision Beauty serums and, surprisingly, had not tried their Pore Perfect one until now. I suppose it’s better late than never because I really enjoyed it! The Pore Perfect serum was thicker in texture but absorbed quickly and sat perfectly under makeup. While some serums leave a shiny finish, the Pore Perfect was matte and I really appreciated that. I so did not need any additional shine as I sweat my way through summer. It took me one month of twice daily use to finish this bottle and will, without a doubt, be added to my skin care arsenal if I find it again.

Goodness Moisturizer: Oh my goodness did I freaking LOVE this moisturizer! The Every Morning Moisturizer was the first product I have used by the Goodness brand and I am so on board. In fact, I am currently using their eye cream and another jar of this moisturizer and hold them in the highest regards. The Every Morning Moisturizer was super long lasting and took one and a half months of twice daily use to finish the jar. This is a moisturizer with no bells and whistles and does exactly what it is meant to: Hydrate the skin. With every use, my skin was soft as can be and looked so bright and supple. The texture of this moisturizer was also incredibly light which was a blessing in the heat. I can’t wait to use more of their products because each one I have tried has been a winner!

This was a very successful month for finishes, indeed, and I think I might have found my new favorite skin care brand. Give me ALL the Goodness!

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

Sep1

August 2026 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
August 2026 Finishes

Howdy y’all and happy September!! Even though it’s ninety degrees here (Yuck!) it is officially fall in my head because every day that passes is another day closer to Halloween. I am SO beyond excited to start shopping for mine and Johnny’s Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett costumes and can’t wait to share them with all of you. This is a couples costume that I have always wanted to do and I am thrilled that it’s finally coming to fruition! Before I get too ahead of myself with spooky season plans, let’s take a step back to yesterday and discuss my beauty finishes for August. There were only two but they are definitely worth chatting about! Take a look:

Would I Use Again?

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Scrub: I am an avid fan of ValJean Labs products and have yet to find one that I haven’t enjoyed. My favorite, however, has to be the Radiant Glow Scrub! This is easily the most gentle but effective scrub I have ever used and even Johnny uses it from time to time and loves it. The Radiant Glow scrub is cream based and hydrates deeply while the grit removes dry skin and imperfections like blackheads. Some scrubs leave your skin feeling scraped bare after using it and that is so not the case with the Radiant Glow. I used it every day for about two and a half months and exited the shower with skin that looked bright and felt soft as can be. Highly recommend and I will always purchase it if it’s available at TJMaxx!

Supergoop! Moisturizer: I bought the Supergoop! Triple Prep Moisturizer for a TJMaxx price and am so glad for it because it is in the forty to fifty dollar range at Ulta or Sephora. I couldn’t imagine how mad I would be if I spent the full fifty bucks on the most lackluster moisturizer ever! The only thing the Supergoop! had going for it is that it was incredibly long lasting and it took me two months of twice daily use to finish the jar.

In that two months, there was nothing about this moisturizer that I liked and I was so happy to be done with it. The Triple Prep Moisturizer did not sit well on my skin whatsoever and it basically peeled off. It was miserable to be actually sweating and sweating moisturizer all at once during the hot summer months and it drove me insane. Of course, I had to see it through but I would NEVER get this product again even at a marked down price. This is one that can totally be skipped on!

My August Empties were 50/50 with one dud and one star and all I have to say is – it is SO nice to be using a moisturizer I actually like now! 😀

Which products did you use up in August? 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

Aug11

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Posted on by
Standard
TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! This past Tuesday I went to TJMaxx on my break as I needed a skin care restock and wanted to browse for upcoming birthday gifts for a couple of my bestie girls. I had great success on both counts and actually ran into one of my bestie girls! While I was perusing the skin care, I sensed a presence beside me who seemed to follow me in step. I felt like I was blocking whomever from their shopping and felt SO awkward and it kept happening. Finally, I turned to the person to apologize and it ended up being my BFF of eighteen years, Lea!! Omg did we have a laugh and after we parted ways I texted her with “you scare me :(” lol because she really did! It made my TJs trip even more magical and I walked away with the following skin care goodies:

For my skin care I was on the market for a new moisturizer, serums, an eye cream, and a scrub. And, of course, I never say no to my go to micellar water if it is available! Selecting a moisturizer was an incredibly easy choice because I actually purchased the same Goodness moisturizer a few months ago, am using it now, and am absolutely LOVING it. The Goodness Every Morning Moisturizer is really rich despite its thinner texture and feels like clouds when I apply it. It is ultra hydrating and leaves my skin feeling soft as can be and looking refreshed. The last moisturizer I used was a total dud and the Goodness brand was a total breath of fresh air the first time I used it. I will happily continue buying it as long as it’s available!

As far as my preferred serums go, TJMaxx always seems to have Glow Elixir and Precision Beauty in stock and I am a fan of them both. Like the Goodness moisturizer, it was a no brainer decision to pick up a few in my tried and true Collagen + Vitamin C formula for a dose of radiance in my beauty routine. A scrub was also needed as I had just finished up one of my favorites by ValJean Labs. In fact, I used it up this very morning. I really enjoy their products and was hoping to find the same scrub to use again. The shelves were bare in that regard but I did find a ValJean Labs eye serum that I am looking forward to trying! I opted for a Vitamin C & Turmeric scrub by Skin 2.0 which is a brand I have never used before. I’ll get my introduction tomorrow so stay tuned for a review coming soon. 😀

Prezzies, skin care, and a bestie sighting – oh my! This TJMaxx trip had it all and I can’t wait to use the new to me products and gift my beloveds with what I found for them! ❤

Do you like to shop alone or with someone? What are your go to skin care brands? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Posted on by
Standard
TJMaxx Skin Care Haul

Hi! When I went on my TJMaxx birthday gift card shopping spree with my mom I had two goals: 1) Find a new pair of sneakers. And 2) Restock my skin care. Everything else that was purchased was just the cherry on top! For my birthday and Christmas, I am often blessed with beaucoup bucks to TJs and like doing my semi annual skin care restock with those funds. It’s so nice to get everything I need for my skin care routine without paying a dime and I always enjoy trying out new to me brands and revisiting old favorites. I think this gift card haul will definitely tide me over for a while! Check it out:

My skin care routine goes a little something like this. Step 1) Wash my face with a scrub and then use a foaming cleanser. Step 2) Apply micellar water. Step 3: Serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. This is the setup that best works for me and I have never strayed from it. All I need are the products to make it happen! When it comes to shopping for skin care, I don’t really care what brand I’m using as long as it’s cruelty free. I have a very normal skin type so I can get away with dabbling in different formulas and product outcomes. It makes visiting the skin care department in TJMaxx exciting because I truly never know what I am going to end up with!

In this haul, I walked away with more of my beloved Evoluderm micellar water which I always need as well as a few new serums, moisturizers, a cleanser, and eye cream. I am particularly looking forward to trying the ValJean Labs serum because I have never seen them at TJs before and am crazy about their cleansers. If this serum is half as nice as the foaming cleanser that I use every morning then I know I am in for a treat. I also can’t wait to try the new to me Goodness brand for the moisturizer and eye cream. Part of it is for the experience, of course, but a bigger part of it is making a review for all of you. I will be finishing up my current moisturizer in the next few days so be on the lookout for a brand new product review coming soon!

I came, I saw, I shopped and had the best afternoon on the town with my mom. There is nothing better than being in our happy place together! ❤

How often do you restock your skin care? Does your skin care routine change in the summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun3

ValJean Labs Deep Cleansing Foaming Cleanser Review

Posted on by
Standard
ValJean Labs Deep Cleansing Foaming Cleanser Review

Howdy!! I am an avid fan of the skin care brand, ValJean Labs, and have really enjoyed their Radiant Glow Scrub and Hydrate Foaming Cleanser. Their products are so gentle but effective, super long lasting, and cruelty free. During my last skin care haul at TJMaxx, I purchased the Deep Cleansing foaming cleanser with salicylic acid and tea tree and have been using it for the past two weeks or so. It is such a refreshing pick me up every morning and I have been loving the results! Let’s discuss:

The Deep Cleansing foaming cleanser by ValJean Labs is fabulousness in a bottle. I seriously can’t even begin to describe to you how invigorating it is! It’s like an icy cool blast but not in a harsh way – more like in a “Hey! Wake up!” kind of way lol. This bubbly, sudsy cleanser leaves my skin tingling and I can still feel that little buzz hours after my morning shower. Although the key ingredients of salicylic acid and tea tree are known to dry skin out, it has not had that effect on me in the slightest. My skin still feels so well nourished and it has beat my blackheads to boot!

This cleanser also features a scrub brush which is an especially nice touch. I have never seen that offered on a face wash before whether it be high end products at Sephora or bargain shopping at TJMaxx. I got this cleanser for six dollars and it feels like such a steal! After washing my face with my hands, I like to take the time to use the scrub brush and it’s just like getting a mini facial. The bristles are quite soft and I love knowing that it’s getting to all of the nooks and crannies that you won’t get from a regular hand wash. I’ll definitely be keeping the scrub brush even after this cleanser is complete for further use. 😀

If you are on the hunt for a new cleanser, I highly recommend anything by ValJean Labs! This Deep Cleansing face wash will be perfect for washing away the grime and sweat from summer days!

What is your favorite skin care brand? Are you loyal to one brand or do you use anything? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan25

TJMaxx Haul

Posted on by
Standard
TJMaxx Haul

Hello! Nothing pleases me more than a good TJMaxx haul and the one I had with my Christmas gift cards was one of the best ones in recent memory. Normally when I am shopping at TJs, I let the store tell me what I need because you never know what you are going to get. This time around, however, I had a shopping list of what I would like to find and was able to completely check it off. A new Valentine’s Day piece of clothing? Check! New purse? Check. Black skinnies? Checkeroo. Skin care restock? Check, check, double check! Take a look at the rest of my haul:

As you all know, basically all I wear is black skinny jeans lol. They are just the perfect pantaloons and my Johnny concurs as that’s all he wears too! We are a match made in heaven. While black skinnies are perfect in every way, they fade and that is not okay with me. I need jet black, baby, and usually purchase one new pair per year. The past few times I have needed new jeans at TJs, I was lucky because I found some pairs of 1822 Denim which is the brand I normally wear. I couldn’t find any pairs of this brand during my shopping and ended up with a pair from Gap, instead. It was actually a nice change of pace! They fit like a glove and were less than half the original price. I have had one pair of Gap jeans in the past and I liked them a lot so it’s cool to revisit an old fave at the right price!

While it was great to find some new clothes and a purse, the most important thing on my shopping list was skin care. I like to follow the rule of threes when I purchase my beauty products. That way, I don’t have to go to the store monthly for more. I was so happy to find a huge bottle of my go to micellar water as well as a few moisturizers and a serum. I have never tried the Supergoop! brand and I’m looking forward to it! The best find, though, was the ValJean Labs cleanser – there was only one and it was tucked away. Their hydrating foaming cleanser was one of my most favorite products and I can’t wait to try the deep cleansing version. If you are on the hunt for a new cleanser, I truly can’t recommend this brand enough. Their scrubs are fabulous too. 😀

Thanks to this haul, I am good to go for the rest of winter. Although, let’s be real, you know I already can’t wait for a spring refresh shopping trip! 🙂

Do you update your wardrobe seasonally? What are some of your springtime staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct6

September 2025 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
September 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! Holy cow, we are into October which means it’s time to discuss my beauty finishes from this past month. This was a particularly good month because I would happily use all of the empties again that we are about to see. GREAT SUCCESS! I don’t know about all of you, but October is the best time ever for me. It’s spooky season, baby, and I can’t wait to do ALL of the fall things. It’s also fabulous from a beauty standpoint too because you know your girl loves an apple fragrance – my favorite! Now, let’s do this thing because we have a lot of skin care inspo to expand on:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Starfruit Sangria Body Cream: YES

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub: YES!!!!!!!!

Bath & Body Works Strawberry Pound Cake Body Cream: YES

Elf Holy Hydration Moisturizer: YES

Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer: YES

Why/Why Not?

ValJean Labs Scrub: I started using this scrub at the beginning of May and it took me until September 30th to finish it. I so wish I had more because this Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid scrub was the truth. Obviously, it was an amazing value as I got five months of use out of it and I enjoyed it every day. This scrub was very gentle but effective despite its lack of grit. Sometimes scrubs just feel like you’re shredding your skin and I loved that this one had a cream based formula. My skin looked radiant, was smooth as can be, and the cost per use for a five dollar bottle can’t be beat. A dime sized dollop went a very long way. Highly recommend!

Elf Moisturizer: Holy wow was this Holy Hydration moisturizer a delight. My mom gave me this sample jar and, like the scrub, a little went a long way. It took me over a week of twice daily use to finish it and that’s awesome for such a small size. I love Elf products and the Holy Hydration moisturizer is easily one of their best and most popular. Try it for yourself and you can see why! This moisturizer is seriously as light as air on the skin but provides such rich hydration. It also absorbs really quickly so you can feel its effects immediately with a rush so noticeable it’s like splashing water on your face. I need to get me a bigger jar!

Dr. Wellness Moisturizer: The Dr. Wellness Collagen Moisturizer was a REALLY good one and I was so sad when I completed the jar after a month and a half of twice daily use. It was an excellent value, smelled like freshly falling rain, and I definitely noticed a positive effect on my skin. I sometimes find that collagen products make my skin feel dry but this one both tightened and hydrated in a major way. My skin felt firm and was insanely soft to boot. I hope I find it again at TJMaxx because I would end up buying the lot – it was that good. 😀

Although I’m bummed to not have more of these wonderful skin care products, it’s always exciting to test out new ones. I am loving the cleanser and moisturizer I have started so check back in for the reviews!

Which products did you use up last 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

Jun2

May 2025 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
May 2025 Finishes

Hello everyone! Holy moly! We’re in June already and haven’t discussed my beauty finishes for May so let’s get right on that today. The entirety of May was dreary and cold but the products that I used up were red hot and highly successful. I loved using several new to me goodies and cannot wait to visit TJMaxx soon for a skin and bath and body care restock. I don’t want to speak too soon, but I have a feeling I will be getting beaucoup gift cards for my upcoming thirty-first (Ahhh!) birthday! Rather than ruminate on another year older, let’s talk products instead:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES

Bath & Body Works Gingham Fragrance Spray: YES

ValJean Labs Hyaluronic Acid + Micellar Water Foaming Cleanser: YES!!!!

Bath & Body Works Pretty As A Peach Lotion: YES

Precision Beauty Glow Up Vitamin C Serum: YES!

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Fragrance Spray: Gingham is one of my all time favorite scents by Bath & Body Works. It is crisp, clean, and just smells fresh. It’s the perfect mixture of fruity and floral and I have used my body spray religiously until the last drop. I couldn’t even tell you how long it took me to finish this bottle because I feel like I have been using it for forever lol. While I am sad to be done with it, I am excited to try a new scent considering it has probably been close to a year of going Gingham! Is the scent from B&BW fragrance sprays long lasting? Hard no. Will I continue to use them? Absolutely.

ValJean Labs Cleanser: This Hyaluronic Acid + Micellar Water Foaming Cleanser by ValJean Labs is, easily, one of the best ones I have used in recent memory. It took well over three months to finish the bottle and I am hoping to find more at TJMaxx because I will be buying the lot. This cleanser is so delightfully reminiscent of the Aloe Foaming Cleanser by The Body Shop and a little of it went such a long way. With every use, my skin felt so clean, soft, and refreshed. It is a phenomenal any time cleanser and I think it would be so great during the hot summer months. If you have a normal or sensitive skin type, I cannot recommend this cleanser enough!!

B&BW Lotion: When it comes to fruity scents, I am ALL about apple and peach. Apple will always reign supreme but peach is a close second and I just love my Pretty As A Peach from B&BW. This scent is just pure, peachy goodness with no bells and whistles. If you, too, are a fan – then go for this fragrance because you will be just as obsessed as I am! It took me one month of daily use to finish the bottle.

Precision Beauty Serum: I had been striking out with serums recently and this Vitamin C gem by Precision Beauty was a game changer. I needed a serum win and this one delivered in a big way! While it was a tad thicker in consistency than what I prefer, it made a big difference in the radiance and glow department. My skin looked so bright, refreshed, and alert even though I am always half asleep lol. Because this serum was fairly thick, half of the dropper was all I needed for full coverage and it took me one month of twice daily use to complete it. I would definitely buy it again!

This month introduced me to two new favorite products and no duds. You can’t beat that!! Stay tuned for more product reviews so we can decide what’s a hit and miss together!

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

May15

ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub Review

Posted on by
Standard
ValJean Labs Radiant Glow Face Scrub Review

Howdy!! I love shopping skin care at TJMaxx because it is such a fun and inexpensive way to try new brands and revisit old favorites. While I do have a few tried and true products that I get whenever they’re available, I will just wing it for the rest and go for whatever sounds good and is cruelty free. A new brand I discovered was ValJean Labs and I have been obsessed with their foaming cleanser. It’s easily one of the best face washes I have used in recent memory! I was so excited to have found a Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Scrub of the same brand at TJs and have been using it daily for the past several weeks. Like the cleanser, this scrub is one of the best I have used in a while:

I don’t use scrubs very often but when I do, I need something that’s extremely gentle. While I enjoy a gritty scrub, my skin type is very normal and the harsher exfoliants can be too much. This ValJean Labs scrub is exactly what I need! It is so rich and creamy in texture and the grit factor is minimal but it still feels like I am getting a deep clean. It is gentle enough to use every day and I follow up by washing my face with the foaming cleanser afterwards. It’s the perfect combination and my skin feels smooth and looks soft and fresh.

Not only is this scrub gentle and effective to the T, but it smells great too! It has the lightest citrus scent which is one of my favorites and always perks me up during my morning shower. A little of this scrub also goes a long way, making it an awesome value because a nickle sized dollop will do just fine. I will say that this scrub is a bit of a pain in the butt to wash off fully. I wouldn’t call it “sticky” but it does cling to the skin and takes longer than you would expect for it to gone completely. I learned this after the first few uses when my micellar water cloth was coming back with the remnants! This is no harm no foul, though, just something to be aware of if you try it too. 🙂

The ValJean Labs Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Scrub is a must if you are on the hunt for a new one. It is an excellent year round product and I will definitely be buying it again if it graces TJMaxx’s skin care department!

Do you use facial scrubs? Which one is your favorite? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah