SHOP LOCAL | The Small Town Charm of Paisley & Co.

I live in a college town in rural Pennsylvania. There isn't always a lot to do here, but there's no denying its charm, and I love the independent vendors lined up on Main Street. One store in particular that I've spent countless hours in (over time, not all at once!) is Paisley & Company. 

Paisley & Company is a fragrance bar and bath boutique (similar to LUSH) which opened in 2003*. Their products, which include skincare, fragrances, shampoo, and more, are homemade with natural ingredients and are cruelty free. What's unique about this boutique is that you can create your own scent and turn it into virtually any product they make. If this sounds intimidating, it really isn't – there's always someone there to help you create your own scent, and the employees are extremely helpful even if you're not 100% sure what you want.

Some of my favorite products from Paisley are their fragrance oils and their hand and body lotion, pictured above. These are the fragrance oils and lotions I own:

FRAGRANCE OILS

Although I primarily use Paisley's fragrance oils as perfume, they're versatile and that's why I love them. You can use them in the shower or bath, and they're also great for masking odors around your house/apartment. They're heavily scented, so a little goes a long way. If you create your own fragrance, you'll be given you a memo upon purchase with your concoction and ratio used, so you don't forget. 

VICTORIA ROSE

Victoria Rose is a sweet, bright, and floral scent. I'm taking whiffs of it as I write, and it kind of reminds me of a box or rose and lemon turkish delight. I think it was one of the first of their fragrance oils I bought. It's on the stronger side, so you really have to appreciate roses to like this scent.

NAG CHAMPA & COCONUT

Self-explanatory; I would say this scent is sweet, warm, and slightly earthy. I love anything coconut, but the blend of that with nag champa lends itself to memory more than if it were just coconut. 

SPRING ROMANCE

This fragrance, pictured below, is one that I created! I know the name is a little twee. Long story short, my creation's namesake is a looseleaf tea blend that I got a few days beforehand. I wanted to make something clean and floral balanced with a little warmth and sweetness. There are equal parts Jasmine, Sensual Amber, Bamboo, and Coconut. Seeing as its the only scent I've created at Paisley, I'm pretty proud of it. I have a few more fragrance ideas, so I need to go in there are make more sometime soon.

HAND & BODY LOTION

I have two of these and keep one in my purse at all times. The formula isn't overly rich or greasy, and keeps my hands smooth and moisturized for a long time. I've gifted their hand and body lotion to mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and they both really enjoyed them. 

SEA SALT & PEONY

This pre-made lotion has a truly a unique fragrance. It's gorgeously "cold" and mildly floral. I would almost consider it to be wintry. It smells like roaming a rocky New England beach in November with a bouquet of lush peonies on the breeze. I sound like I'm getting carried away, but it's because this scent is beautiful. 

SHEA & COCONUT

While I don't think this lotion contains shea butter, it is obviously scented as such. I love this fragrance because it doesn't feel too summery, despite the coconut. There's a muskiness to it which tones down the coconut to be more wearable year-round. 

This post is really just scratching the surface of how much Paisley & Co. offer. Even if you're not into boutiques like this, it's a cool experience because of how interactive it is, and is a place that takes itself and its clients seriously. If you ever find yourself in or near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, make it a priority to spend some time at this little shop.

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*Paisley & Co. only ships within the U.S.

DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored by Paisley & Co. I bought all products mentioned with my own money.

MORNING + NIGHT SKINCARE ROUTINE

The last time I had great skin was when I was 13. Not long before that, I remember hearing the word "acne" and not even knowing what it was. It's pretty strange to think about, seeing that acne has been a constant struggle for me for over a decade. If anything good can come out of having far-from-perfect skin, it's knowing that I need to take care of it!

I have oily/combination skin which is prone to cystic acne (those really painful zits that sit under your skin for forever). I also have a lot of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If I have anything going for my skin, it's that it's relatively smooth. My main concerns are acne and skin discoloration. 

I try to keep my skincare routine simple because skincare is expensive; it involves a lot of trial and error to find something that works for each person. Below is a list of products I currently have and how I use them:

MORNING ROUTINE

I don't actually wash my face in the morning. Until a few months ago, never in my life did I consider foregoing exfoliators and cleansers upon waking up. I'm so glad I did, though! I've found that stripping my face of its natural oils, especially when I wake up, can cause inflammation and irritation – this can also make my breakouts worse when I am dealing with an acne flare up.

What I do instead is spritz my face with rose water from Pearlessence (I got mine at TJ Maxx) and let my skin drink it up. If I wake up oilier than usual, I use a cotton makeup round with Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water and gently blot my face to get rid of some of the oil. 

I follow up with CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion and wait at least 10-15 minutes before applying makeup. This moisturizer is one that I think would work well for a variety of skin types. My husband, who has incredibly dry skin, uses it as well and really likes it. 

NIGHTLY ROUTINE

Going to bed with makeup on is one of the worst things you can do to your skin. I wear makeup pretty much every day, so it's a must for me to make sure 100% of that stuff is removed before heading to bed. 

To remove my makeup, I use the Garnier micellar water, mentioned in my morning routine. Once I've done that, I go in with my Foaming Facial Cleanser from CeraVe and massage it into my skin for a few seconds before rinsing it off. I then let my face air dry and moisturize with CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion, and spritz my face with rose water. 

#WHENEVERIWANT

For a long time, I used to think that face masks were an occasional treat for my skin. So, I just didn't use them all that often. One day when I was binge watching Lisa Eldridge videos, she revealed when she uses face masks  – whenever she wants. If Lisa can do that, I can do that as well, right? Done. The bottom line is, if your skin is in dire need of a face mask, use one. I've regularly been alternating face masks about 3 times a week, give or take a day or two. 

I have a number of face masks, but the ones I keep coming back to are Pearlessence's Turmeric & Honey Reviving Mask and their Aloe & Charcoal Detoxifying Mask (both available at TJ Maxx). I also love the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra Cleansing Mud Mask. 

WHAT I'M TRYING TO INCORPORATE

SUNSCREEN

I'm not one to spend much time in the sun, but SPF is definitely a worthwhile product to include in my regime. My skin is naturally tan, which gives me more protection from sun damage than someone with fair skin, but no one has complete immunity from the sun's rays.

SERUMS

Specifically Burt's Bee's Brightening Skin Perfecting Serum. I'm currently going through an acne flare up, and I know that once my skin has cleared, I'll be left with some really nice discoloration :(. I'm hoping that using this will speed up the fading process.

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DISCLAIMER: Skincare is something that is going to change for me over time. I don't use the same products I used a few years ago. Everyone's skin has different needs, and what may work for me, may not work for you! The list above is just what I do with my skin, which seems to be helping reduce problems for the majority of the time. This is not a sponsored post; I bought all products mentioned in this post with my own money.

REVIEW | Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

I've been on a hiatus from using the L'Oreal Lash Paradise. The formula isn't doing anything for me anymore, so I had been looking for a new mascara. Enter, Essence's Lash Princess False Lash Effect mascara. Some of the few YouTubers that I watch (JAMBeauty89 and RachhLoves) adore it. The girl at the Ulta checkout raved about it when she saw that I was buying it. It's only $4.99, and usually sold out because people love it so much. Those all seem like indicators of a great mascara to me. 

A NOTE ON MY LASHES
I have very straight, borderline downturned eyelashes. They're black and are a decent length, but they lack fullness and look sparse without mascara on. I need at least 2-3 coats of mascara if I want them to look like they're actually there. 

WHAT I LIKED
This particular Lash Princess mascara (there are two other kinds) wand is fairly small and the bristles are tightly packed. You know when you're using a mascara wand and you can feel a slight tug on your lashes? That's how this one feels. And I love that feeling because I know the wand is coating and separating my lashes really well. The formula is in the goldilocks zone – it isn't super wet and it isn't dry, either. A lot of mascaras are too heavy for my eyelashes (which, by the end of the day, turn droopy), but this one has been really good at holding my curl throughout the wear time. 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I often forget that less is more with Lash Princess. Beyond two coats, it gets clumpy really fast. If too much product is applied, the formula will also flake a little bit and leave flecks on my face. When this happens, I can definitely salvage my eyelashes with a lash comb, but I need to be quick and precise. On a less important note, I'm not fond of the packaging. Essence's aesthetic has always seemed kind of childish to me, and this mascara's packaging is no exception. 

FINAL VERDICT
Essence's Lash Princess False Lash Effect mascara delivers on its promises: with every use, my eyelashes are curled, lengthened, and voluminous the entire day. I've been using this for a few weeks now, and I haven't reached for my Lash Paradise mascara at all. The drawbacks, clumping and flaking, are preventable. When you find yourself at the two-coat mark, ignore the voice in your head that taunts, one more coat.