DIY [Beauty Balm]

Did you know that I hate wearing full coverage? With an insane passion. I can't stand the way a filmy layer of makeup is over my face. Which is why my favorite makeup multi-task is a homemade BB cream.

I loved the idea of the BB cream and all the benefits companies praised them for having, but I just couldn't find a BB for me.

So I made one.

 I already had all the ingredients in my makeup bag, and it just seemed inevitable that I would love my own creation instead of the store bought kinds.

The biggest pitfall of pre-made BB's is that you have to try and find the right shade for your skin. Also you don't know what kind of "primer" they used and the moisturizer might not be right for your skin.

Luckily all those problems are solved right in your own makeup bag because, more than likely, you already have a favorite all-over primer, liquid foundation and moisturizer.

 Start with a small dollop of moisturizer, St. Ives Collagen Elastin is seriously my favorite… it does its thing without being heavy or sticky and absorbs quickly into your skin. This one is hard to find at actual stores so I suggest nabbing it online.

Add a pea sized amount of primer. (Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel -- I got mine at CVS for 8$, don't pay 18$ for it!) I know this does't look like primer but it is because it is 100% of the same ingredient  (Dimethicone) that is in so many primers for at least half the cost, and it doesn't contain any additional colors or fragrances. (Compare to Smashbox or Bare Minerals)

And then add a drop or two of your favorite liquid foundation (More or less based on the kind of coverage you want). I love Benefit's Hello Flawless because it has nice yellow undertones that so many other brands are missing (Yellow instead of pink for us Hapa's / Asians)

  Mix it all together and apply like you would with a tinted moisturizer or store bought BB. 

Voila! Perfect skin without wasting money on something you might hate!

What are your favorite beauty multitaskers? 

<3

Sio

TOMS: A Smelly Conundrum

After several years of popularity (and in my case several years of wear) TOMS are officially everywhere. I have not been immune to the simplicity, comfort and style of the now footwear giant and own multiple (6!) stinky pairs.

Which brings me to my point: They freakin' stink. Some of them smell so bad that I refuse to wear them now. I have tried SO many methods to keep them stink free and only two have really "cured" the stench.

So what's a girl to do with six stinky unwearable pairs of shoes? I realize now that I should have been more preventative with some of my newer pairs...but on my newest pair I have finally started taking the proper courses of action to keep them wearable. It also seems to me that if you want to get real longevity out of TOMS you absolutely must must must not get them wet, once they are wet that's when the worst smells happen.

Normally I hate wearing socks with them-- but that's just about the best way to keep them smelling as "fresh" as possible. Target has some great socks (meant for flats) that are even smaller than 'no-shows' and work great for this purpose, and don't show on the outside of your TOMS. (The ones online don't look as thick as the ones I've seen in the stores.. so I suggest hunting for them in the sock area!)


So, here's what I've learned when it comes to keeping your Tom's smell free: 
- Do not get them wet, I repeat, DO NOT get them wet! Avoid water at all costs. Toms + No Socks + Water = Stench.
- Don't attempt to de-stink them once they've gone past their prime. The washing machine, sprays, powders etc. do not help & in my experience genuinely MAKE THINGS WORSE! (Also time & money wasted attempting to try these things!).
- Buy & wear some liner socks. They help keep the smell down to a minimum like normal shoes, and I promise are worth every penny if you care about keeping your Tom's smell free!
- Keep dry old newspaper inside of them while they're off your feet. This helps absorb excess sweat, moisture and also absorbs the smells!

DIY: Lavender Body Scrub

Whenever the seasons shift from Winter to Spring I always find myself investing in expensive body scrubs to slough away dead skin. This year however, I'm trying to save some cash.

I'm not usually a very thrifty person, but I've been reading all over Pinterest how to make your own scrubs, and decided to create my own version. In addition to being cost efficient, great smelling, and  easy, making scrubs at home can double as wonderful gifts for friends and family in a pinch!

You'll need: 

 - Jar with lid or seal (I like these)

- Granulated White Cane Sugar (Or brown sugar if you prefer) 

- Olive Oil

- Lavender Essential Oil (feel free to mix it up and use other essential oil scents if you prefer) 

For one jar I suggest: 

- 1 1/2 cups sugar

- 1/4 cup olive oil (I err on the side of less is more)

- 5-10 drops Essential oil

Combine ingredients in a separate bowl and then transfer mixture to mason jar. 

In order to make my batch a little more feminine, I added dried lavender into the mixture. 

*If you want to make a face scrub substitute the olive oil for half the juice of a lemon, don't include the lavender oil and consider using a few drops of Jojoba or Argan oil (See my previous post for details on Argan oil!) for the added benefit of moisturizing.