TJMaxx Skincare Haul: Shiseido + Plantlife

One of my favorite things is going on Friday night shopping excursions to TJMaxx. Who doesn't love a little retail therapy? There is always something you can find in the store, whether it be a great pair of jeans, or a few skincare gems. But the best thing about TJMaxx, is that they often have high end clothing and skincare for a fraction of the usual cost.

A slew of Shiseido products were stocked on the shelves, which was a rare and exciting treat. I love Shiseido skincare, so I could not resist picking up a few items.

The first thing I acquired was the Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion for Face/Body. Shiseido sunscreens are famous in the beauty community for providing fast-absorbing, effective sun protection. I've been wanting to try this product out for ages, but I simply could not justify the steep price of thirty-four dollars. When I saw this for nineteen dollars, I had to get it. Expect a review to come.

The next product was a sort of impulse buy. I absolutely love the Shiseido Pureness Cleansing Fluid, so   I was immediately drawn to this product. The Shiseido Pureness Pore Minimizing Gel advertises...well exactly what it says in the title. It is intended to be applied as primer of sorts, smoothing over your pores  to create a nice base for makeup. I tried this on the back of my hand and I must say, I am very impressed. There is an immediate difference to the texture of the skin when applied, making the surface silky smooth. So far, seems to be a good buy.

The last product is the Plantlife 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil. Pure tea tree oil is known as the jack-of-all trades, helping with anything from preventing lice to treating acne. I've been searching for a reasonably priced bottle of pure tea tree oil, and this seems to be it. While five dollars can seem a steep price for such a tiny bottle, it is actually quite cheap in comparison to other brands. I plan to use this to naturally treat the occasional hormonal zit that pops up from time to time.

That concludes this skincare haul, and if you would like to see reviews for any of the products mentioned, simply request one in the comments below.

love,

      io.

Makeup Messing: Dolly Goth + Ramblings

I remember when I used to play with my mother's makeup as a child, thinking what fun it was to paint faces with pretty shades of blue and pink. As I got older and my love for all things makeup and beauty blossomed, I began to discover ways in that makeup could accentuate one's face. I loved shimmering eyeshadows and things that sparkled. Then, I grew older still and grew into who I am today. I found my sense of style, discovered my preferences and views. All of this essentially formed the crux of my current "beauty standing" (Yes, I absolutely did just make that saying up). But after I found what I wanted for myself, I began to look at makeup in a different way. Not just as a way to bring out beauty but as an art form. A makeup look could be a looking glass into the past, an abstract representation, anything. Upon realizing this, I began to experiment, forcing myself to push the boundaries of everyday makeup and turn it into art. So if you made it this far, you are most likely wondering what any of this has to do with the picture below. Well, here is one of my efforts at expressionism, art through makeup. I love messing around like this, trying out new techniques I would never use otherwise. 

What I've done here is created an exaggerated false lash effect by quick strokes of black liner on a fine liner brush. I also added some iridescent teal to give it an interesting twist. I had a lot of fun with this look, and I felt like it really channeled my style, edgy with a bit of grunge messiness. The wispy lower "lashes" focused on the outer edge of my eye really gave it a pretty "doll" look too, hence the title.

This post has been quite rambly, but I guess I'm just saying that sometimes it's easy to fall into a pattern of conformity with makeup. But having a good "messing" with makeup, while sometimes ending up ridiculous, can also help you push out of your comfort zone. You might find something better than what you have been doing before. I wish you all the best messings!

love,

      io.

Unhealthy Obsession: Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette

I might as well admit it now. I have an unhealthy obbsession with Urban Decay. There is just something about the design, products, and marketing that draws me in time and time again, especially since they've remodeled they've products. Nevertheless, Urban Decay is one of those brands that I know I love. The quality of their eyeshadows beats the likes of Mac, and are essentially the only brand I use to create my eye looks. I may stretch a bit out of my comfort zone once in a while and look into other lines, but for now, Urban Decay has my heart. I already have a quite a few single eyeshadows from them, so when I saw the new Urban Decay Build Your Own Palette, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Is that not the prettiest thing you've ever seen? The design is absolutely impeccable from the sleek silver UD logo to the edgy multicolored floral print that encompasses the palette. The palette itself consists of a sturdy metal casing with black plastic on the inside. When you open it up, it has spaces for four single UD eyeshadows and a large mirror (in which you can see me in at the moment).

If you are unfamiliar with the new Urban Decay single eyeshadow system, it's ingenious. Each single eyeshadow you purchase can be easily popped out of its casing and put into palettes. Also, you can always take out each shade and put it back into its original casing. This simple design takes away all the fuss of  "depotting" and makes switching out colors in your palette effortlessly easy. 

Unlike its predecessors, this version of the Build Your Own Palette doesn't come with an eyeshadow, making it cheaper ($10 vs. $18) and more convenient if buying more than one so you dont have to deal with having multiples of the same shade. Overall, I am in love with this palette. It ticks off all the boxes-sturdiness, ease of use, attractive design, high quality, reasonable price, etc. It seems Urban Decay is on fire, releasing drool-worthy after drool-worthy product. In fact, I loved this palette so much, that I ran out to Ulta and got another one three days later out of irrational fear that they would suddenly go out of stock. It does say on the Sephora website that it is limited edition though, so I highly recommend getting it before it's gone forever. 

love,

    io.

The Miracle Worker: Tiger Balm

After reaching for this beloved product for the millionth time, it finally dawned on me that I should share just how amazing this obscure balm is. I remember visiting my grandparents in the unbelievably muggy chaos that is Indonesia and promptly getting bitten by multitudes of mosquitos. After scratching myself raw from all the bites I had gotten, my aunt gave me a balm to use that would help keep the itchiness away. And thus started my love affair with Tiger Balm.

With only six ingredients, Tiger Balm epitomizes all natural. The product comes in a lovely glass jar with subtle oriental influences in the packaging. But most importantly, is the practical uses for the it. The product itself is a clear emollient balm that absorbs into the skin within minutes. When rubbed on mosquito bites, it neutralizes itch, leaving you with a lovely cooling sensation. It can also be used to soothe aching joints, or even help headaches when a bit is rubbed on the temples. The camphor and methanol oil in the balm not only cools, but plumps. I've found that a tiny bit rubbed on the lips makes them noticeably plumper.

At first I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to find this in the United States, but after a quick search on the web, I found that it is available at Walmart, or on Amazon, for a ridiculously cheap prices ranging from two to five dollars. Though sadly, the packaging isn't as pretty as the one I purchased from Indonesia of course it still has the same ingredients. I definitely recommend purchasing this as it has a multitude of uses and is also very affordable. 

love,

   io.

Hello! Welcome to my blog. I love all things beauty, skincare, and fashion. I believe in taking the different approach to beauty. So many women/teens today feel the need to cover up their natural skin and change the color of their hair in order to feel beautiful. I believe that beauty is the exact opposite. To me, beauty is enhancing, not hiding. I hope people out there enjoy my fresher take on makeup.

love,

    io.