u/SuperKittyCat818

dropped the BF at the airport this weekend and it appear he has finally figured me out.. he asked what I was doing afterward and before I could answer he goes, “stop by Dollar Tree?”

excuse me??? call OUT. I told him maybe I was going to a bookstore and plead the fifth on what happened after that.

anyway, being on a completely different side of Atlanta, and several Dollar Trees later… this happened. I haven’t added up the damage and frankly it’s been almost a week since my last visit so this was one of my biggest hauls ever and possibly the girliest.

IONI CREAM & SUGAR
I found both the beauty/lash collection and a bunch of the nail collection, and this might be one of my favorite Ioni collections yet.

for lips, I got the Mochaccino (the fave of the two) and Caffè Latte Tinted Lip Balms, the formula behaves more like a lipstick), plus the click-stick glosses in Cinnamon & Hazelnut. Hazelnut is that cooler mauve-y color I am perpetually looking for and I’m obsessed with this formula!! I also found the liquid eyeshadows in Rose Latte and Toffee Nut, with Toffee Nut being the standout for me so far. It’s a gorgeous mauve-brownish taupe.

we need to discuss Macaron de Chocolat Cushion Blush with the class, because Ioni calls this a “brown nude” and I opened mine and she is PINK. like, decidedly rosy pink. beautiful, but a brown nude she is not. I’ve heard there may have been some shade/packaging confusion with these, so I’m curious what everyone else’s Macaron de Chocolat looks like.

I found what I was hunting for: the Ube Cool Pink Baking Powder, which may be one of the things I’m most excited to experiment with. she has talc! which I am very pleased about. I especially like it because it is a genuinely cool pink loose powder and I’m very curious about it for brightening under my eyes or help transition my brighter blushes. I have the other Ioni Ube powder to compare it too. the formula starts with aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, talc, synthetic fluorphlogopite and silica, so I’m hoping for something smoothing and oil-controlling without looking completely flat.

Cream & Sugar continued into Strawberry Croissant and Sweet Sips lashes, the little Coffee setting spray (not a fan), nail-art tweezers, Golden Latte chrome powder, Hot Cocoa Aquapop polish, Mocha Swirl press-ons, Nail Glow in Peach and the little Nail Cream. The nail cream is slightly baffling and a bit puzzling to me, especially the color.

I FINALLY found the L.A. Colors Blush Duos in Petal Kiss and Moody Mauve, which were the two cooler leaning shades I really wanted. I saw Berry too but left it behind this time. I also picked up Sweet Cheeks Powder Blush because the girlies have said she is That Gurl & Berry Pretty has been such a surprise favorite of mine.

that there is the Marie Claire Contour Stick in Medium Brown. I’ve already swatched this and it’s not super pigmented and more importantly it seems noticeably cooler leaning. I look forward to reporting back after I use it for a while.

randomly found the L.A. Colors Shimmer Loose Eyeshadow in Lollipop, which is ridiculously pretty, and randomly stumbled upon the Le Mercerie BB Cream in Fair and decided to test it because I haven’t really seen anyone discussing it. the shade is still under investigation. straight out of the tube, it looks too peachy/pink for me, but once it’s actually spread across the skin it becomes much less obvious, so I’m withholding judgment until I wear test it properly.

then came nails. So. Many. Nails.

I found the Pretty Woman almond French tips and floral press-ons, more Cream & Sugar nails, several of the newer Marie Claire polishes, including the iridescent shimmers and Nail Filter/Luminizer-type shades, plus some gorgeous muted Nicole Miller Style colors. the two matte browns especially got me. this haul has also informed me that it’s officially time to declutter my existing nail-polish collection. growth comes in many forms.

I also bought the gel nail soak-off caps because I am trying to become the kind of person who properly removes her press-ons instead of eventually deciding violence is the answer and peeling them off.

body care was equally girly & unhinged.

the Amber Glow Sugar Cookie scrub called my name even though I haven’t been completely sold on that fragrance in every other form like the body spray or lotion. the scrub smells like the best parts of Sugar Cookie, and it has that softer, creamier scrub texture that I tend to prefer sometimes. I also restocked the Creamy Coconut hand wipes and picked up the extremely cute Strawberry Matcha hair & body mist that I am now obsessed with.

I found the Spa Luxury Brazilian Flora and Brazilian Orchid lip scrubs too. I passed on Brazilian Sol because I think Dollar Tree has finally Brazilian Sol-ed me into submission. I still like the scent. my lips simply did not need to participate.

the Le Mercerie Secrets & Roses Shave Oil also came home with me. the is a very classic perfume-y rose, slightly powdery and almost vintage. I compared it with my Jo Malone Red Roses when I got home: Jo Malone is much fresher and more photorealistic, while Secrets & Roses gives me more rose with a powder finish. I mean that affectionately. the formula is water-based with glycerin, propylene glycol, betaine and conditioning ingredients for slip, followed by almond oil, jojoba, vitamin E and allantoin, so it’s more of a hydrating shave treatment than a bottle of straight oil.

Dermasil continues its impressive campaign to take over my bathroom. I found a lone PDRN Pink Milk Toner with Niacinamide + Azelaic Acid, which I am extremely excited about. I’m treating the PDRN as the trendy bonus here rather than expecting miracles; what interests is the overall milky hydrating/brightening formula. I also restocked the AHA Glycolic Acid toner because we already know I like that one.

restocks continued with the Reviver facial spray, XtraCare 10% AHA Smoothing Body Lotion, and b.pure Retinol Night Eye Cream because that products have graduated into “buy another one when you see it” status.

I was pleased to find more Spa Essentials Skin Reset/Glow Boost hydrogel masks too. despite the “overnight” name, I don’t actually sleep in these. I’ve been wearing one through roughly an episode of TV and really enjoying them. conveniently, the BF and I just started Watchmen, so one episode is now a recognized unit of hydrogel sheet-mask time.

the only mixed disappointment is Power Stick Twilight Glow Body Wash. I LOVE the Twilight Glow spray, I have debated buying this body wash for weeks now.. so I thought this would be a win, but the fragrance isn’t giving me nearly as much energy in the body wash. I’m still going to try it properly in the shower before making the final call, but Clearwater Cove remains undefeated.

TLDR: deeply unserious shopping behavior, and extremely successful research trip.

showed up about 30 minutes early for my dentist appointment, so naturally I had time to run into DT down the block :)

the first thing that got me was this OMAVE Clinical Skin Care Enzymatic Facial Exfoliant with papaya + pineapple enzymes. I only had about 10 minutes in the store and for some reason only grabbed 1 even though there were a few. kicking myself a little because the ingredient list actually looks really good, this enzyme/chemical exfoliant is a chemical exfoliation cocktail; papain (papaya enzyme) + bromelain (pineapple enzyme), followed by salicylic acid, lactic acid AND glycolic acid. so we’re getting enzyme exfoliation + a BHA + two AHAs in a rinse-off product. we love to see it!

I also grabbed the River & Rowe Vanilla Woods Shower Steamers. I originally had the bath oil in my basket, but noticed while I was in line that someone had apparently opened it and stuck their finger into it…so back on the shelf it went. the steamers are individually wrapped and the scent intrigued me, so we’ll see how strong they actually are in the shower.

the b.pure Poof Paste Drying Paste with Clay, another one I was excited to find. salicylic acid is actually pretty high on the ingredient list, with Moroccan lava clay + tea tree oil further down. definitely interested to see how this does as an overnight spot treatment.

this pink L.A. COLORS Blushlighter Liquid Shimmer Blush! I already own one of the blushes in the more purple-toned shades, Captivate, so I was curious about this cooler pink. I swatched it and it’s really pretty; definitely shimmery, with some subtle tiny individual glittery glints that could potentially emphasize texture, but nothing that has disappointed me so far.

THEN after the dentist I went to two more DTs and finally found the viral SPLASH Salmon PDRN line. and yes, I bought four Moisture Serums**.** I was the greedy girl today. I also grabbed one Salmon PDRN Repair & Anti-Wrinkle Cream. the serum was the one I was especially hunting for because beyond the PDRN, the formula has niacinamide, allantoin, glycerin and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, so it looks like a really nice lightweight hydration/barrier-support step. the cream has PDRN too, but in a richer formula with glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, fatty alcohols and dimethicone, so I grabbed one to try over the serum

I grabbed the b.pure Prickly Pear Hair Oil after comparing it to the Spa Luxury Brazilian Sol Nourishing Hair Oil. that one had mineral oil first, while this is more of a silicone-based smoothing serum. isododecane + dimethicone are right at the top, with prickly pear, argan, meadowfoam, safflower and moringa oils further down. that was much more what I wanted for smoothing my lengths/ends and adding shine.

and I finally found the viral Orchid Kojic Acid Face & Body Bar! this ingredient list is kind of wild; kojic acid, retinol, ginger root extract, vitamin E, vitamin C, collagen, shea butter, olive oil and hyaluronic acid. obviously it’s a rinse-off bar, so I’m keeping my expectations realistic, but kojic acid is the ingredient I’m really interested in for discoloration/uneven tone.

Overall winner on first impression: that OMAVE exfoliant is the sleeper find. The Salmon PDRN was the hunt accomplished find.

I debated getting the spa luxury hair oil but decided against it… feeling a little regret but I did find the prickly pear hair oil that I picked up today!

little DT empties roundup because I have reached the point in life where I need to discuss my trash before taking it out :)

Therapy Glow Concentrated Mineral Bath Soak — unfortunately I loved her. I added this to my lavender epsom salt bath and the Moroccan Melody scent made the bath feel super luxurious. warm amber + vanilla + a fruity-floral situation. afterwards, I saw Red 40 dye and had the realization I have now progressed from eating Red 40 flaming hot cheetos to now bathing in it :( I’m glad I bought two, might get more if I see them but please don’t tell my Mom lol. I could absolutely do WITHOUT the Red 40 in a bath product.

ReviveRx Naturally Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides Face & Body Spray — down BAD for this stuff. finished one, already halfway through another. bought it for my mom to try, bought for my friend & neighbor too. glycerin, allantoin, trehalose, phytoceramides, cholesterol, sodium hyaluronate, etc. I know there has been some discussion in here about the preservative system/formulation and possibly different versions floating around, so ingredient pic included. all I can say is my skin LOVES this product.

Vitavits 5 mg Melatonin Gummies — repeat purchase and I’ve gone through several bags at this point. two gummies = 5 mg. I use melatonin as-needed rather than treating it as an everyday sleep solution, but these have been a very useful little DT staple for me.

XtraCare Micellar Cleansing Water — LOVE. genuinely prefer this to several micellar waters I’ve bought for considerably more money. incredibly gentle around my eyes and does exactly what I need it to do. easy repurchase.

XtraCare Extreme Renewal Cream — a very solid unscented moisturizer. finished the entire tub today & enjoyed it. colloidal oatmeal + glycerin + allantoin, and it worked nicely as that basic first layer of unscented moisture after a shower before I start getting into scented body products. I still prefer investing in something like E-u-cerin for my everyday heavy-duty body moisturizer, but I have zero complaints and would absolutely recommend/rebuy this.

B Pure Menstrual Heat Patches — 10/10. no notes. I bought a stack of these while on my period and immediately understood the hype. they adhere to your underwear/clothing rather than directly to your skin and mine stayed warm for HOURS, like I woke up from my afternoon nap and it was still warm. genuinely made my cramps substantially more bearable. if you deal with cramps and see these, I think they’re absolutely worth trying.

wee little DT trip between errands today. my go-to store currently has an absolutely ridiculous number of boxes waiting to be unpacked in every single isle, but I have decided to stop haunting the employees and let the shipment reveal itself to me in due time.. still found a few cute things :)

restocked my Revive 5 mg melatonin gummies. I get these pretty regularly and will probably include them in an empties/review post at some point because they’ve become a repeat purchase.

the B Pure Fig Scented Hand Wipes were new to me and immediately went in the cart. love little things like this for throwing in my bag. also grabbed another pack of the Blemish Control Oil-Blotting Sheets, which are just handy to have around for an oily girl like me.

I was initially VERY intrigued by the Global Beauty Care Cactus Quench Post-Shave Serum with Prickly Pear + Aloe Vera. after reading the full ingredient list, I’m a little less dazzled than I was by the front label lol. it’s a glycerin-based hydrating formula, but the prickly pear, aloe + hyaluronic acid all appear pretty far down the list. first impression is slightly sticky, and I can definitely smell the prickly pear/aloe situation. still curious to actually test it, particularly chilled and as a soothing post-shave product.

and finally, apparently the fall hand sanitizers have arrived. I found B Pure Creamy Vanilla & Honey and Spiced Marshmallow Latte. Creamy Vanilla & Honey is my favorite of the two; it’s still sweet but smells a little fresher to me. Spiced Marshmallow Latte is VERY fall girl. warm, sweet, cozy. if that is your scent category, I think you’ll love her :)

small haul, but some cute finds. now I just have to exercise restraint while approximately 200+ unopened boxes sit at my local store taunting me.

did my usual little DT route around northwest atl / cumberland and came home with a smaller but very good haul. a few of these were completely unexpected finds, and I’m including ingredient pics for the skincare because there are some interesting formulas here.

the final picture: my go-to store because their tuesday shipment came late and they still haven’t unpacked much of anything in the store. I have been checking daily like a completely normal person…friends with the staff now :) I will absolutely be dropping by again soon to see if anything new has been freed from its cardboard clutches.

skincare
I recently picked up the Nature Love Brightening Eye Serum and found another one, so I grabbed a backup. I’ve barely tested it yet, so no performance review, but the ingredient list is what got me: squalane, green tea, ceramide, vitamin C, glycerin, banana extract, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine, hydrolyzed collagen, lavender, aloe + panthenol. definitely one I want to use for a while and report back on.

I also found the Global Beauty Care Rice Water Moisturizing Cream + 2 Rice Water Serums and I am VERY inthralled with this line. the serum has rice ferment filtrate right near the top along with glycerin, niacinamide, propanediol, sorbitol + sodium hyaluronate. the cream also has rice ferment filtrate high in the ingredient list, plus squalane, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate + sodium polyglutamate.

the display had clearly been ravaged that day and there were only two serums left, so yes, I took both. I really like seeing GBC expand these K-beauty-inspired lines between the Rice Water & Snail Mucin products, especially when the formulas themselves are actually quite authentic to the ethos of k-beauty.

makeup + lippies
random single name-brand sighting: Maybelline Tattoo Studio liner in Rose Quartz. swatched it and immediately loved the shade. very happy little random find :)

the STAR for me is the B Pure Hydrating Tinted Lip Oil in Dark Merlot. K-beauty lip girlies, LOOK FOR THIS! the color is gorgeous; a sheer dark wine red with that slightly muted, purply/desaturated quality that reminds me of the last little dregs of red wine left in a glass. the packaging feels luxe and the big curved doe foot is SOoOo good. I genuinely cannot get over this one and already want backups. I included images of swatches as well as what a light application looks like on the lips. very MLBB

I also randomly stumbled across a whole Ioni Día de los Muertos display in Marietta. old stock? coming back around for fall? no idea and I did not ask questions. after inspecting all the items, I grabbed the Lip Plumper Glosses in Midnight Merlot + Paloma Roja. both are pretty, but Midnight Merlot especially looks like it’s going to be very much my color this fall.

body + little extras
I tried the Spa Luxury Vanilla Sugar Whipped Shave Cream because I love the Coconut Vanilla, but this scent is desert sweet vibes than I was hoping. I wanted more of a warm brown-sugar/vanilla depth; this is definitely more straight-up sugary sweet. not bad, just not quite what I had pictured. I have yet to use it but it might be my vibe this fall…

also grabbed the QÜR Uplift 2-in-1 essential oil breather and a Natural Sense Sleep essential oil roll-on. Uplift is more citrus/floral, while the Sleep one is more lavender-leaning.

overall: Dark Merlot is absolutely winning this haul for me, with the GBC Rice Water line close behind. I’m VERY curious whether anyone else has found the rice water or tinted lip oil products yet and their thoughts.

I did a little tour of DT around northwest Atlanta this weekend, including a few locations completely new to me, and found a lot. some things I’ve been hunting, some restocks + quite a few new-to-me finds. including ingredient pics for some of the more interesting formulas :)

skincare: probably most excited about the Skin Nutrition Botanicals Blur & Glow Youth Eye Revive + SnowGlow Longevity Essence. both have surprisingly interesting formulas with ferments, niacinamide, peptides + hyaluronic acid. the eye serum also has caffeine + Matrixyl 3000. very curious about these.

the Revive RX Fermented Rice Facial Mask Set was unfortunately my ingredient-list disappointment. I was excited about getting 10 masks, but the rice ferment is pretty far down the list. honestly debating returning these.

also grabbed the SMASH Depuff + Nourish Eye Cream after hearing good things, another snail mucin eye roller because I love mine, Ioni Optimist Glow Ocean Dew facial mist + micellar water spray.

lippies: restocked the Global Beauty Care Raspberry Soufflé Lip Mask and found Lavender Lemonade, which I’m already obsessed with. squalane-first with lavender oil, lemon balm, shea butter + avocado oil.

my sleeper find might be the Lip Mercerie Plumping Gloss. gorgeous purple-leaning shade with this unusual medicinal/herbal scent that intrigued me immediately. almond + jojoba oils, shea butter, cooling/plumping ingredients + palmitoyl tripeptide-1. I already want more.

also found L.A. Colors Plump Gloss in Free Spirit, Tinted Lip Oil in Tomato Girl, Boba All Day gloss, Lip Mercerie Mocha Rose lip stain, GBC Pink Sugar + Shea Butter Lip Butter Balm + the adorable boba glosses in pink and purple.

makeup + nails: finally bought the L.A. Colors Nightlife quad after debating it forever. white, gray, black + the prettiest steely purple-gray. baked shadows that can be used wet or dry. it’s giving high end.

also got the Manifest Magic Solstice Sparkle press-ons in pink and already regret buying only one set :(

haircare: Keranique Volumizing Keratin Conditioner was another ingredient-list surprise. keratin + hydrolyzed keratin are #5 and #6, followed by panthenol, biotin, niacinamide, amino acids + additional proteins. definitely reporting back on this one.

body + miscellaneous: found the Velvet & Bloom Saffron + Cashmere Body Scrub and grabbed two to match my body butters. also picked up Therapy Glow Moroccan Melody bath soaks, Brazilian Sol hand mask, Dermasil rosewater + witch hazel spray + a backup of my beloved Power Stick Enchanted Cherry deodorant.

finally found the BioPure Jasmine + Dragon Fruit wipes everyone loves on DT TikTok and one of the viral lavender calming travel essential oil breathers.

overall winners on paper: Skin Nutrition serums, Keranique conditioner + that purple Lip Mercerie gloss.

biggest letdown: the fermented rice masks.

so the pink heart Orchid acne patch compact immediately went into the my little green basket :) it’s a little portable case with a mirror for storing your pimple patches, which is honestly adorable & practical for travel.

I randomly found the Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum at DT a while back, ended up loving it, so I was pleased to find another to have a backup. the ingredient list is genuinely nice: niacinamide is third, plus willow bark, zinc gluconate, sodium hyaluronate, salicylic acid, caffeine + panthenol.

the big Radiance Vitamin C Serum was a new find and the ingredient list impressed me. I’m not particularly sure about the “vitamin C” claim…. ascorbic acid is pretty far down the list, and I don’t know the concentration, pH or stability of the formula… what is interesting is the glycerin, soluble collagen, vitamin E, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol + palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, the peptide combination used in Matrixyl 3000.

obviously we don’t know the concentrations or have clinical testing on this particular formula, but that’s a pretty fun ingredient list for $1.25. I’m planning to use this as a hydrating body serum rather than relying on it as my facial vitamin C.

also I decided on trying the Smash Bi-Phase Makeup Melting Lava Oil Cleanser as a first cleanse. curious to see how it compares to the Dermasil cleansing oil I’ve been using.

the XtraCare Body Scrub Bump Eraser 10% AHA, a Nina Pool DT HOLY GRAIL and very obviously giving First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser a run for their coin. I’m excited to try this on body areas where I get texture/ingrowns. I have absolutely loved the FAB version, after being recommended by my waxer, and have influenced many of my friends to try it. I’ll be excited if this is a good doooooopanoonie :)

FINALLY found the Mary Claire Liquid Blush in Soft Pink. I’ve seen Dusty Pink a million times, but stumbled upon this Soft Pink that is a gorgeous bright pink. I kept seeing people use on TikTok and wondering what blush is that?? and I could tell that Dusty Pink was not the exact shade. apparently this was it. very excited, just swatched it and it’s gorgeous with a lovely blendable formula

also grabbed the little Ioni nail glue in Pink and the b.pure Matte Perfection Matte Top Coat. I love a matte top coat, they are usually pretty pricey as well. I am already thinking about matte black nails for October.

the Yardley London Pure Serenity Pistachio Cream bar soap smells lovely and is going next to my kitchen sink as hand soap, she is creamy & lathers quite a bit. I plan to get more, this is my first bar of Yardley soap.

and to finish on a green note, I found the MOST GORGEOUS green eyeshadow stick from L.A. Colors. it is so divine, it’s giving luxury. I cant wait to wear it this fall. if you see it, get it 👹

posting back-to-back hauls because around 8pm tonight, I decided on a late-night DT run in Cobb. and unfortunately for my attempts at restraint, I’m very glad I went.

I found the limited-edition Power Stick Purely Pistachio body wash, which smells incredible. it’s such a fresh pistachio smell with a bit of creaminess. I already loved the deodorant, so I was very happy to find this and restrained myself from picking up multiple because I already am using and loving the Clearwater Cove scented body wash from Power Stick.

also found the Velvet & Bloom Saffron + Cashmere Body Butter, and this was another immediate yes. I almost picked up the Bergamot + Amberwood one as well, but wasn’t sure because the description said “citrus.” the Saffron + Cashmere scent is beautiful; rich, warm, luxe feel, cashmere-y vibes, and I was pleasantly surprised by the formula. it is not super mineral oil/petrolatum-forward and feels much nicer than I was expecting. I picked up a couple more of the sandalwood body scrubs because I am officially a fan.

the Global Beauty Care Raspberry Seed Oil Lip Mask is also a win so far. the raspberry scent is definitely a bit artificial, but the actual lip mask feels incredibly smooth, and the container is glass & luxe.

I also grabbed the four-pack of coconut milk Gentle Exfoliating Peels with glycolic acid + vitamin C. I like that they’re individually portioned and the pack is resealable.

then things got greedy…..

I found the B Pure Hydrating Night Lip Masks, which are new to me, and picked up three! very excited to try these overnight. I have put it on and really like the feel.

and I finally found the viral 40% zinc oxide diaper cream I’ve seen Nina Pool talk about. I picked up four. gifting one to my Mom. there were plenty left, which is the defense I will be presenting to the court.

other finds: 1% hydrocortisone eczema cream, Heritage Root Touch-Up in Medium Brown and Dark Brown, and the L.A. Colors Shea Butter Lip Balms in Sheer Pink and Sheer Rose. I’ve already tried the lip balms and really like them! definitely open to grabbing more shades when I come across them.

one miss: the strawberry mouth refreshing spray. I know it’s from a kids’ line, but I was hoping for STRAWBERRY strawberry. it’s much more strawberry-mint, and I can’t really recommend it.

so yes. four diaper creams. three night lip masks. backup sandalwood scrubs.

GREEDY GIRL. I accept the charges :)

a couple Dollar Tree trips over the past few days, one to a new-to-me location and another to my regular store. some viral finds and a very cute L.A. Colors moment :)

I finally found the Modess Disposable Face Towels and picked up two packs. I don’t see myself using disposable towels on an every day basis, but I can definitely see keeping these around for certain situations and packing them for travel. glad to finally see what the hype is about and I am glad to know a product like this is accessible.

also found the Cashmere Vanilla Cream Body Butter, which has to be my favorite. I have the Sweet Coconut one as well and the Vanilla Cream scent is my favorite of the two.

I also was pleased to find the limited-edition Power Stick Purely Pistachio and the Enchanted Cherry deodorants. Purely Pistachio is a fresh, creamy pistachio and Enchanted Cherry is also really lovely, fresh with some nice depth with the sandalwood. I limited myself to one of each because I am trying to remember that I already own 4+ different types of deodorants.

and then, Revive RX. I found the Skin Barrier Support Pads with Hydrating Niacinamide and the Exfoliating + Resurfacing Pads with Retinol.

I know there’s been a lot of discussion about the formulas, so naturally I looked at the ingredients. the barrier pads look especially promising to me; niacinamide is fairly high on the list, along with glycerin, aloe, rosehip extract, allantoin and sodium hyaluronate. I picked up 3! I also grabbed one of the retinol pads. retinol is actually relatively high on the ingredient list, which I was happy to see. we don’t know the concentration, so I’m keeping my expectations reasonable, but I’m definitely interested to see how they perform.

I also found the viral B Pure Exfoliating Lip Serum with hyaluronic acid, pineapple extract and vitamin E and picked up two. and my store finally restocked the Dermasil Glycolic Acid Toning Solution, which I already really like, so I grabbed one for myself and one for my neighbor. I also found the Dermasil Witch Hazel Solution I’ve been looking for. I found some of the limited edition hand sanitizers I have never seen before, so picked up a couple of those as well.

and finally, L.A. Colors mermaid collection:
I already picked up Siren’s Call a few weeks ago, and this time I found the whole collection at my local DT! so I picked up the Mermaid Vibes quad, the Magical Mauve blush, the Ocean Mist lip gloss, and the nude auto eyeliner.

Mermaid Vibes is gorgeous! orchid/purple shimmers that pair really nicely with Siren’s Call. I’m including close-ups because I think the color stories are stunning!

Magical Mauve looks like a lovely cool-leaning blush, while it’s also the most neutral of the bunch. upon high recommendation, I also picked up the Ocean Mist lip gloss, because it is exactly my kind of gloss; smooth, cool-toned and luminous without going overly frosty. definitely recommend looking at this one if that’s your vibe.

I’ve had a very heavy week, and this little mermaid collection brought me some sparkle & joy :,)

these are four of my favorite little “extra” skincare finds from DT lately, not really the cleanser/moisturizer basics, but the eye creams, targeted treatments and mists that make a routine feel a little more luxurious. and honestly, there are some surprisingly solid ingredient lists hiding in these products.

Dermasil Multi-Vitamin Eye Serum:
this one has absolutely earned its place in my morning routine. I keep mine in the refrigerator (and my backups), so the rollerball feels amazing in the morning.

the formula has glycerin, trehalose + sodium PCA, niacinamide, caffeine, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and the peptide combination palmitoyl tripeptide-1 + palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000).

I originally found this through a creator who demonstrated its antioxidant activity, which sent me down the ingredient-list rabbit hole. I’ve been using it consistently ever since. sometimes I’ll use it underneath my eye patches too.

Global Beauty Care Blemish & Dark Spot Treatment:
the front of this really emphasizes vitamin C, but honestly, that’s not what interests me most about the formula.

it has azelaic acid surprisingly high on the ingredient list, followed by aloe, niacinamide, salicylic acid and allantoin. it’s a lightweight cream-gel, and I’ve really enjoyed incorporating a small amount into my skincare.

edit: layers very well with moisturizer during the day, after applying my vitamin c serum (TJ’s)

Global Beauty Care Smooth & Lift Collagen Eye Cream:
probably the least flashy product here and possibly one of my favorites.

I don’t expect an eye cream to perform miracles. I want something I can layer comfortably in the morning and night that keeps my under-eyes moisturized, and this does exactly that.

glycerin is the second ingredient and squalane is fifth, followed farther down by arginine, collagen, vitamin E, allantoin, hyaluronic acid and peptides.

Spa Scentials Hypochlorous Acid Recovery Facial Mist:
another one that has made its way into my routine. I especially like having a little facial mist around after things like tweezing my brows or when I just want to refresh my skin.

I do wish the packaging disclosed the actual concentration of hypochlorous acid, because HOCl appears pretty far down the ingredient list. that said, hypochlorous acid is normally used at very low concentrations anyway, so ingredient placement alone doesn’t tell us whether the concentration is appropriate.

the rest of the formula is pretty simple: water, propylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate, butylene glycol, hypochlorous acid, electrolytes and a preservative system.

overall, these are exactly the kinds of DT skincare finds I love; small, specific products that aren’t necessities, but are genuinely nice additions to a routine. especially the Dermasil roller + GBC eye cream. those two have earned permanent real estate in my skincare drawer.

a lovely little collection of press-on nails (2 boxes each usually to find the *proper fit for every finger). the Ioni nail serums and a daily nail-glow. Ioni nail glue comes either highly recommended or not so much. I decided it is worth a try. they had a lot in stock at the several locations I visited.

I picked up the blush in Very Cherry and the Ioni liquid blush in Warm Rose. I swatched it and it’s not too warm, more of a taupe rose in my opinion.

this LA Colors eyeshadow palette totally caught my eye, I live the cooler leaning shades and can’t wait to pair this with my little Cold Brew palette.

the 5 blaze razor for my travel bag and I caved and got the sweet coconut body butter. I am particularly obsessed with the Clearwater Cove body & hair mist. it’s really nice and summery but not too intense at all.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks falling down the DT beauty rabbit hole, watching reviews, reading posts here, and generally keeping a running list of products that kept coming up over and over again.

today, I finally found a bunch of them! here are

Le Mercerie Stunning Satin Lip Tint – Velvet Brown
this might be the product I’m most excited about. I’ve seen it swatched online and if you’re a cool-toned girlie or love 90s brown lip, this shade looks incredible!! the formula is light moussey, reminds me of the NYX butter mattes. looks like it can be applied without lip liner. my expectations are admittedly high. I will be trying it out soon. it’s much more of a fall color for me

Ioni Pink Cowgirl Lip Gloss – Dakota Pink
so cute. it is that perfect milky pink gloss that doesn’t try too hard. I almost think of it as a purse gloss, the one you throw in your bag for quick touch-ups throughout the day. I love love love it.

Kokie Define Matte Brow Pencils
got Deep Brunette and Mahogany Brown. retractable, waterproof, and have a built-in spoolie. from looking at them in the packaging, Mahogany Brown actually seems to lean a little cooler while Deep Brunette looks slightly warmer, but I’ll know for sure once I swatch them.

LA Colors Quad in Siren’s Call
this all shimmer color story surprised me. it is definitely a bit warmer than what I usually gravitate toward, but it’s giving expensive soft glam. Almost Tom Ford or Charlotte Tilbury vibes with the mix of ballet pinks, taupes, warm browns, and shimmer. I’m really curious to see how it performs.

LA Colors Liquid Eyeliner
brush tip? immediate yes.
I am always interested in brush-tip liners, and I’ve heard people are even using this brown eyeliner as a freckle pen.

Ioni Bouncy Blush – Peony
I now have all three shades.
Peony was the one I wasn’t sure about because online it looked warmer than I usually wear, but seeing it in person completely changed my mind. I’m hoping it’s one of those shades that ends up looking much more balanced once it’s actually on the skin.

Beauty Impressions Nourishing Lip Balm
this one completely got me with the packaging.
it is vanilla cherry scented, feels nice, and it’s super cute to throw in a purse. I do wish the ingredient list lived up to the “nourishing” name a little more, but as an everyday lip balm, I’m still happy I picked it up.

overall, I’m realizing Dollar Tree has become one of my favorite places to browse makeup. there are definitely misses, but there are also some genuinely great finds if you’re willing to dig :)

the La Dolce Vita Mattifying Setting Mist setting is what had me back in the DT today. I have been using the bottle I picked up recently and it is a GEM !

I live in the deep south, the tropical rainforest at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains if you will, so humidity is no joke this time of year. the grape matte setting spray has seriously impressed me. just today, after 5–6 hours out & about running errands, I had a little natural shine coming through, but I never crossed into “I need to blot my face” territory. my makeup just looked fresh… the skin was (and still is) giving ✨

I think this product has been flying way under the radar…. I almost don’t want to recommend it because then everyone will start buying it. I also grabbed the Ioni Dew Glow Setting Mist because I wanted to compare the two, I will report back :)

I also finally found the two lip products that have been all over my feed lately: the Peptide Lip Treatment in Lemon and the Maracuja Lip Nourishing Melt.

I get the hype. they are both really nice. the tubes aren’t filled to the very top (you’ll probably notice a little air when you first squeeze them), but the formulas themselves are excellent. they each serve a slightly different purpose, and I’m happy I picked up both. they are completely unnecessary lip products, but a wonderful little luxury if you can get your hands on them.

I left plenty behind for the next person because I know these have been hard to find, but if you see them, and it seems like your vibe, I’d definitely recommend grabbing one.

from the Cherry on Top collection I picked up both cream shadow sticks:
- Shimmering White
- Shimmering Pink

these are definitely more sparkle than pigment, which is actually exactly what I wanted. I’m planning to use them for inner corner highlights and that soft K-beauty style shimmer under the lower lash line rather than as full eyeshadow. the shimmering white makes the PERFECT bright inner corner moment.

I also grabbed the Melting Lip Balm in Shortcake, the shade is a perfect MLBB color, which just looks like an easy throw-in-your-bag everyday lip product. I actually recommend this one to those who love an effortless tinted lip balm.

for lashes, I found two styles from the La Dolce Vita collection:
- Capri
- Paradiso
I prefer lighter lashes with thinner bands, and Capri especially feels like my style. If I end up loving them, I’ll probably grab backups now that I am more familiar with which stores carry Ioni.

I also picked up the Doll’s Adventure Dolly Clear Brow Gel because recently someone here said it was their holy grail. I tried it when I got home and by looking at the brush, I can understand why people like it so much. it’s a nice little brow gel indeed. the packaging component is cute, while a little big & chunky for my taste.

another fun little find was the little Veil of Allure Glow Mist. the bottle is tiny, in the best way. it’s basically small purse-sized, so I can see myself keeping it with me for a quick refresh during the evening rather than using it as my primary setting spray obviously.

and finally… I picked up the Soft Pink Liquid Blush (not pictured). I actually found what I think is the older packaging, and I’m glad because the shade looked cooler than the newer version I saw. I’ve been looking for a softer cool pink, so I’m hoping this one works out. I have swatched it on my hand and am pretty sure it pulls cool enough and not too peachy. I’m getting inspired to do some blush and lippie swatches if fair olive folks are interested.

at this point I’m fully invested in seeing what Ioni comes out with next. they have gone from being a brand I barely noticed to one that I’m actively checking for every time I walk into DT.

has anyone else tried the La Dolce Vita setting sprays? I’m really curious how everyone feels about Ioni setting sprays, the mattifying one versus the Dew Glow, and thoughts on how it compares to the Le Mercerie HydroGlow setting spray

I so get the Ioni Butter Balm hype.

this weekend I was on a mission for Ioni. originally I was hunting for lashes, but I was also looking for more shades of the Butter Balms and the lip liners in Warm Nude and True Brown.

I found the lip liner Warm Nude while True Brown continues to evade me. I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like Warm Nude, as I wasn’t sure because I am more neural/cool leaning. Warm Nude does not lean that warm, much more of a pink nude, depending on your skin tone. I have been considering doing swatches of lippies and liners, let me know if that would be helpful :)

I think I hit 6+ Dollar Trees this weekend, maybe more. I went all the way to Mableton on Saturday, the drive was lovely . I may or may not have visited a couple DTs twice. this is a hobby that I have very much enjoyed diving into on my weekend afternoons before a walk with the cats. anyway, I ended up finding the three Butter Balm shades in Rose Taupe, Pink Ribbon & Berry Jam !

yeah… they are really good.
they feel comfortable, they have a nice amount of pigment & slip without disappearing immediately, and they leave the lips looking healthy without feeling heavy. ingredient-wise, I don’t think they’re absolute perfection, but for $1.25? (+ tax is around $1.33), I am impressed.

of course I am still on the hunt for the Ioni Peptide Lip Treatments because I haven’t seen them anywhere yet. there are few other lip products I picked up in the past few weeks that have really stood out:

Le Mercerie Perfect Hydration Lip Gloss
- really solid everyday gloss in a squeeze tube
- slight pink tint with a light cherry-vanilla scent
- nice slip to it with a slight tack
- I wouldn’t call it sticky at all
- if you like the Kokie Nourish-Tint Lip Oil, try this

Be Pure Peptide Lip Mask
- I totally understand why people love this
- feels really comfortable on the lips, top tier
- the oversized doe-foot is surprisingly luxurious
- I can definitely see myself reaching for this regularly

Be Pure Hydrating Lip Oil
- another pleasant surprise
- super moisturizing with a lovely natural gloss & slip
- the applicator isn’t huge but the formula itself is really luxurious

I will absolutely pick up more if I see them. I have this handy little pink container to hold some of my new lip products.

DT has been seriously stepping up their lip product game. I also like the Kokie Nourish-Tint Lip Oil, while these 3 lippies & the Butter Balms are my current new favorites. if you have found the Ioni True Brown lip liner or the Ioni Peptide Lip Masks, let me know. my hunt clearly isn’t over.

for the Atlanta girlsies… if you’re looking for Ioni, or lashes specifically, the DT in Mableton (across from Chick-fil-A) has one of the best selections I’ve found so far.

after such a positive experience with Ioni’s lip products the other day, I spent a good chunk of my Saturday afternoon visiting different DTs around the Atlanta area looking specifically for the Butter Balms & lashes.

I finally scored in Mableton!
I picked up five pairs:
- Doll’s Adventure: Wispy Mermaid’s Tail
- Doll’s Adventure: Wispy Natural
- Cherry on Top: Wispy Short Natural Crisscross CatEye
- Cherry on Top: Wispy Natural Cluster Baby Flare
- wispy cluster styles from the core collection ?
- Indie Lash pack of the individual clusters

obvi I haven’t actually worn any of them yet, so I can’t speak to how they perform, but first impressions are honestly excellent. they are handmade, vegan, the styles are beautiful, and the packaging is genuinely so well done. the Doll’s Adventure and Cherry on Top collections especially are just… fun & girlie. I almost have a collector’s mentality with them because I appreciate the artwork as much as the lashes.
for $1.25 each, I am very pleased.

the associate told me they’re planning on continuing to consistently stock Ioni products, he sounded pretty knowledgeable about the collections. there was a whole Cherry On Too Collection there

at this point I feel like I need to start keeping notes on which DTs carries what… let me know if those in ATL or visit ing would appreciate this information being shared. if you’re in the Atlanta area and you’ve found another DT with a really good Ioni selection, let me know. I am clearly invested now.

I also grabbed the Ioni lash glue in Clear and Black because I’ve been seeing so many people recommend it lately. the fact that it’s latex-free definitely caught my attention. I haven’t tested it yet, but it’s safely in the lash drawer waiting for its debut. if you have used it, I’d love to hear how it compares to other’s on the market or my favorite go-to; Duo.

Friday Dollar Tree haul, apparently I am an Ioni girlie now :)

I’ve been using DT as a little reward system to keep myself accountable with my apartment. basically, if the dishes are done, laundry is reasonably under control, bathroom is clean, floors are vacuumed, bed is made, etc., I can go wander around DT and see what I find. this system may have worked a little too well today.

I started at my closest DT and randomly grabbed the Ioni Shea Butter Lipstick in Deep Mauve on a whim, each beauty brands definition of mauve can be different. I tried it as more of a blotted lip, almost K-beauty style, and it looked SO beautiful, and nice blushed MLBB look on my skin tone.

the only other DT makeup I have gotten that I can think of is the L.A. Colors brow pencil (mehish so far) and the glowy setting spray (have yet to test). I have a pair of the pink Ioni pink tweezers that I have grown quite fond of. with this new found confidence in Ioni I naturally, I started wondering what else was out there…..

after my workday ended around 7, I headed toward North atl Marietta to one of the larger DTs. I then visited two neighboring ones after that. it took me until about the 3rd store to finally find one with a really good makeup selection, and I was able to properly get into the Ioni products.

Ioni Shea Butter Lipsticks — Deep Mauve + Nude:
Deep Mauve is what started this entire situation. the formula works beautifully as a blotted lip, and the color is so flattering. the shade Nude also looks extremely promising. I have a cool-neutral olive skin tone, and from the swatch I think this is going to be a really good nude on me that does not lean too warm
Ioni Lip Liner — Plum:
really pretty. I can already see myself using this with my purple & cool brown leaning lipsticks.
Ioni Butter Balm — Berry Jam:
I finally understand why everyone is looking for these. I tried mine on while going through everything tonight and immediately went, oh. Yeah. I see what the girlie pops are crazy about. I will absolutely be looking for more shades.
Koki Shade Stay Lip Stain — Serenade:
beautiful color. I will test the staying power, but I have heard excellent reviews.
Koki Nourish Tint Lip Oil — Pinky Promise:
still waiting to properly try this because my lips have been through enough shades tonight, but I’ve heard incredible things about these.
Moisturizing Lip Balm / Aqua dupe:
another one I haven’t properly tested yet, but very curious to see how it compares.
Lip Envy Lip Glosses:
texture-wise, they’re giving BUTTER GLOSS. I picked up 3 shades, including a brown nude, clear, and this really interesting ube-purple shade that I am loving
And finally, Ioni Bouncy Blushes.
I picked up Cherry, which is a rich matte shade that almost looks burgundy in the pan. I haven’t swatched it yet, so I’m really curious whether it actually pulls more red or pink.
I also got Rose Petal, a softer pink with shimmer. normally I’d be a little cautious about this particular kind of pink, but something about it kept drawing me back.

overall, I did not expect to be this impressed. Ioni’s praise is well deserved. the Shea Butter Lipstick alone has me completely sold on trying more Ioni, I am someone who loves lip products and I look forward to adding these to my rotation.

and this is only the makeup portion of the haul. I also have skincare’s/body care and some other finds to go

I have 2 of the bpure flyaway styling cream and noticed that the brush wand components are quite different in length! I personally like to have the smaller brush wand in my purse for touch ups (the 1st one I bought), but I thought this larger brush is useful as well, I haven’t used it yet so I can’t saw whether I prefer it or not. it appears to pick up more product on the larger brush wand. thought I would share since this is such a popular and sought after product, I included pictures of the lot # as well for your reference :)

here I am posting another haul less than 24hrs after my first post. today I visited 2 DTs in Decatur GA. both had quite some gems! I was able to pick up some more under eye masks and I saw the shaving oil, post shave serum, the brazilian sol deodorant, and everything balm all randomly there (without any friends) so I scooped them up quick! there was a strange man who I wasn’t sure if he was following me, so I did a few laps around the store, which made my checkout time later than I had intended.

I only had 8 minutes at the other location and it was huge! I barely brushed the surface… went down 1 isle and saw the poly-juice serum and the morning cloud body mist…. I instantly fell in love with it! it’s giving warm milk on a fluffy white couch with a siberian husky at your side vibes. it is so fresh yet cozy and there is something milky to it that is just ever so slightly off, you can’t put your finger on it, and it makes you want to smell it again: it is hypnotic. I strongly recommend this one in particular and look forward to picking up a couple more bottles for myself in the future :)

the dewey setting spray has good reviews from what I have seen. I heard the bottle size event got a little bigger?! but I needed something smaller than the milani make it last for my makeup bag. I will see how it goes in this GA summer heat.

I highly recommend these index card holders for samples and pimple patches. I picked up a couple and have been so pleased with the result. I always like to keep my pimple patches in the bathroom but want to assure they remain dry & hygienic.

the zebra gel pens are amazing, if you are into that type of thing and I was so excited to find a foldable basket in my favorite color! including gas $ I got everything today for under $30

newer frequenter of DT, though no stranger to reading skincare ingredient labels(raised by an aesthetician mother). I am so pleased with my haul today! I visited 3 different DTs in the Cobb county area GA

I literally haven’t been able to stop thinking about the jelly melon cleanser since the first time I passed it up and everyone has been raving about the dermacil serum with B5 vitamins, so I decided to pick one up as well. the caffeine eye roller and whipped facial cream are absolute staples in my routine now, so I look forward to seeing how the cleanser & serum are! also, has anyone else considered transferring the whipped face cream into those little push-to-pump bottles? I have been considering doing so for hygiene purposes, but I know the transfer process could get messy in itself so I haven’t done so yet.

the oatmilk serums seem hard to come by, so I picked up a backup (+hyaluronic backup) because I am loving mine so much already. I am excited to try the caffeine eye patches as I already have the rose and love them, they were literally flying off the shelves in front of my eyes when I was at the store. I saw the versed serum and couldn’t pass it up for when I have a breakout in the future.

some people report loving the rice water hair treatment so I thought I would try with low expectations… same with the hairspray but I like something to spray as my hair is up in rollers so we will see. I can’t wait to use my fly away styling cream!! I heard it’s a good dupe though I haven’t tried the original but have been searching the market for a product like this.

heard good things about the magnesium spray (for sleep) and the eyebrow pencil is supposed to be pretty nice as well.

I am also pleased to report that some DT locations take exchanges on sealed unused/unopened products in case you were curious for future reference.