IO Beauty

What better way to celebrate IOBeauty’s one year anniversary than to host a giveaway. So here’s a chance to win a free Rilakkuma pink tshirt AND an iphone 4 case!

To enter:
1. Become our Fan by liking our Facebook page
2. Share this page onto your facebook by posting this url to your wall:  http://www.iobeauty.com/?p=2280 and select the thumbnail to show the picture above. Be sure to set that post to “public”
3. Then leave us a comment on our facebook wall with a “Happy Anniversary!” or “Happy Birthday!”

For extra entries
Blog/tweet about this giveaway for extra entries! Simply leave us a comment on our facebook with where you shared it.

1 lucky winner will be announced on facebook on 1/31/2012.

*Note: winner must reside in the U.S.

XOXO

Happy one year anniversary to IOBeauty!! I can’t believe it has already been one year since the launch of this blog. We’ve come a long way and can’t wait to share exciting upcoming projects with you all! I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all my loyal readers.

To celebrate our one year, we will be hosting our anniversary giveaway that will start today and end on 1/31. Details about the giveaway contest will follow, so stay tuned!

Before the holidays, I got my hands on what I consider to be one of the most creative (conceptually) beauty products I have ever seen — My Beauty Diary’s Sweet Teatime Beauty Mini Set. Of course, that statement is purely subjective due to my particular fondness for tea and tea parties.

My Beauty Diary is a Taiwanese brand that specializes in skincare face masks suitable for various seasons and skin types. The brand was launched as an affordable solution to beautiful skin every day. This company made a super smart move with the marketing and packaging concepts for their products. They know that not only is it important to create a product that works, but the look and feel of the packaging must stand out and capture the female audience. I gotta say, in Asia, cuteness, is the number one drive for a girl to make a purchase. So, cuteness, sure enough, is the approach that this product took.

At first glance, the packaging makes this kit look like a box of desserts. In deed it is, a box of treats for your face. This has got to be the most charming and delicate treasure box any girly girl would dream for. (Perfect as a gift btw.) Encased in this cutesy pink box with beautiful illustrations of macarons, teacups, cupcakes, ice cream, and other chocoloatey desserts, is a bunch of skin care products based on the concept of items you would find at an afternoon tea party. Clever huh? The content includes 1x Strawberry Yogurt Amino Acid Cleanser, 1x Vanilla Souffle Face Scrub, 1x Chocolate Truffle Mask and 1x Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Mask.

Strawberry Yogurt Amino Acid Cleanser (30ml)
First off, the Strawberry Yogurt Amino Acid Cleanser is a foaming cleanser that contains amino acids that smells just like strawberry yogurt. Although the strawberry yogurt scent smells kind of artificial, it is actually derived from a combination of the strawberry extract, yogurt amino acid and soy protein content in the cleanser. The amino acid is very mild and does not contain any alkaline. The pH value of the cleanser is similar to that of our skin. On top of that, the texture of the cleanser resembles that of the strawberry yogurt. It can work up a rich and soft lather, washing away the impurities of your face, exfoliating your skin and control sebum. It effectively washes away impurities but at the same time does not dehydrate your skin. For those of you who don’t know about the benefits of amino acid, here is a crash course — Amino acids are major components of collagen and elastin, which make up the skin’s supporting network. They play an important role in the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), which helps to maintain a healthy skin barrier. A healthy skin barrier is important to help retain moisture and block the entry of foreign particles, which may damage skin. Studies have shown that amino acids help to hold moisture in the skin; their inclusion in skin care products for this reason makes sense. Some amino acids may also possess antioxidant properties. And others may help to heal wounds.

I got to say, I really liked this cleanser because it made face cleansing 10 times more enjoyable. It literally feels like you are gently caressing your face with a strawberry yogurt cloud. My face felt cleaner and more moisturized after using it. Also, a little goes a long way so even though this is not a full size product, it lasted for a long time.

Vanilla Souffle Face Scrub (50ml)
The Vanilla Souffle Face Scrub is a foaming cleanser that contains papaya yeast and plant-based moisturizers that gives you a gentle exfoliation, leaving your skin soft and smooth. Different from the usual harsh scrubs with micro beads, this cleanser uses active enzymes to get rid of dirt, makeup, and dead skin. So really, contrary to its name, its not much of a scrub but a peel. When you apply this to your face in circular motion, you will actually start to see tiny balls or flakes appearing. Those are actually dirt / dead skin cells from your skin. Once you rinse it off with water, you’ll reveal a really smooth, clean skin.

Although the name sounds really yummy, the smell didn’t really live up to my expectation. Bottled in a light, dreamy pink aerosol can, with a hair mousse / whip cream dispenser nozzle that you have to shake up before dispensing, the idea of a light, airy, fluffy texture of a souffle is brilliantly executed. However, what happened to the sweet aroma of vanilla? It is barely there. For me, the smell could have been more stronger. But for the purpose that it serves, this product is not bad.

Chocolate Truffle Mask
You are going to think I am crazy, but I am not a big fan of chocolate. However, I do enjoy the smell of chocolate. So when I saw this mask, I was actually pretty excited. The mask is made of carefully selected, quality cocoa bean extract from the southern part of the Caribbean Sea and precious truffle extract from the northern part of Italy. Cocoa beans give miraculously moisturizing and defending power while truffle provides deep nourishment and hydration. The combination makes skin feel very watery and silky. Beta-Glucan, extracted from the endosperm of oat, together with rice protein, sinks deep into dry skin and deep moisturizes. In addition, milk protein soothes and moisturizes excellently. The mask quenches the thirst of skin, leaving skin very comfortable, watery and elastic to the touch. This mask is suitable for normal skin but it is extra beneficial for skin that tends to be dehydrated and skin with poor elasticity. This product is really great for moisturizing your skin and it smells delicious. So while quenching your skin’s thirst, you can improve your mood with the scent of chocolate at the same time.

Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Mask
The idea behind this mask interestingly comes from its ingredients. It is made of the combination of black tea ferment and bergamot essential oil, which gives a miraculously brightening effect. It brightens dull and yellowish skin tone, leaving skin clear, fair and flawless. If you didn’t already know, macarons are made with almond flour, so another key ingredient of this mask is the mixture of sweet almond protein and sugar cane extract. These ingredients help leave the skin glittering and translucent, smooth and delicate. The fruit extracts of rosa canina, blueberry and acerola leave skin fair and perfectly clear, enhancing the skin’s translucency and ability to defend. Also, I want to point out how adorable the the packaging is for the masks. I am loving the pink Parisian stripes which screams chic and romance. So treat your skin to a relaxing 20 minute mask and you can imagine yourself sipping on a nice cup of tea at a cafe on the street of Paris while enjoying some macarons. Life is sweet. =)

This is a great kit to sample all of the products first before committing to the full size products, which are also available separately by themselves. Note, this mini kit is a limited time product so snatch these babies up before they are all sold out. I bought mine online for $15 at imomoko.com or you can just click here.

In a world and age where technology plays a vital role in our daily lives, we are usually faced with the challenge of finding the perfect accessories to house our precious technology. This is when fashion and technology often collides.

This has become a fixation with me lately – finding THE cell phone case wallet wristlet that I can carry my iphone 4 (and ID, cash, credit card) in, which also looks chic and fashionable. Remember, this is not something I plan to use everyday. I really needed it for attending parties, clubs, weddings – occasions where you dress up and don’t want to lug around a big ol’ purse. Staying minimalist allows your outfit to shine and leaves you baggage-free to dance the night away.

This handy accessory should be affordable, protect my phone, allow me to access the phone’s functionality easily, hold other essential stuff, and lets not forget most importantly, it has got to look cute yet simple. Oh and it should be available in neutral colors (to match any outfits easily). So, with these prerequisites in mind, my search begins.

Not all iphone case wallet wristlets are created equal, so a comparison of pros and cons of what’s currently out there is much needed. The internet allows us to become smart shoppers, so take advantage of it.

MICHAEL Michael Kors iPhone Wristlet in Python

Michael Kors Wallet Clutch is advertised to be an iPhone 4 case and a designer wallet elegantly combined. In deed, at first glance, this product did attract me at first. It highlighted the feature as being a combination of an iPhone 4 case and functional designer wallet or purse. It is made with soft leather lining for protection against scratching. It has cutouts for play-through functionality and easy device access. The exterior is hand-crafted from full-grain, premium Nappa leather. The clutch has a snap closure for added security and it has a wrist strap for carrying the wallet clutch on the wrist. It is compatible with iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 & 4S. The styles and color available includes Python, Black Patent Python-Embossed, Red, and Michael Kors Monogram in nickel or pale gold.

Some disadvantages about this product after reading the reviews are: It does not have a hole for the camera lens. Apparently the wrist attachment is placed on the bottom, meaning, if the case is hung on your wrist, your cards might fall out. Many also complained that the case makes it hard to talk or text on the phone. With that in mind, I did not end up buying this product, especially when I saw the unworthy price tag. It is available for $79.95 at the Apple store and at MichaelKors.com.

Kate Spade New York Larabee Dot Wristlet

Kate Spade New York Larabee Dot Wristlet for iPhone The reviews for this item was pretty bad. The quality of the material was mainly the complaint. My thought on the appearance of this one was not that good. In my opinion, the only color it is available in is icky and on top of that, the case did not have a hole for the camera lens. The $69.95 price tag does not reflect well on the quality and look of the item. If you don’t mind the cheapy quality and that neon teal color, by all means, purchase this at the Apple store.

Twelve South BookBook Case for iPhone 4S

BookBook for iPhone by Twelve South is a wallet and iPhone case rolled into one pocket-sized, vintage book. To me this item is more suited for a guy. So to my male readers, this might be the ideal product for you. It has a vintage, rugged look to it that is very casual and manly. It is compatible for iphone 4 and 4S. It has the functions of an iphone case and wallet but it is not a wristlet. It also was not so chic nor dress-up-attire-friendly so I crossed this one off naturally. The price range is pretty affordable at $59.99 a pop. It can be purchased at http://twelvesouth.com/products/bookbook_iphone/ or at the Apple store.

Bodhi Trifold iPhone Wristlet Wallet Pressed Pebble in Grass

Bodhi Trifold iPhone Wristlet Wallet came really close to my ideal product. It is designed to be compatible with the iPhone 3G, 4 & iPhone 4S. It has slots for all bank cards, I.D., and a separate pocket for bills. The case holds your phone snugly to keep your iphone safe from damage and broken screens. It has a camera hole cut out that allows you to snap a photo without having to remove the case. The case design also allows easy access to all buttons, controls, and ports without having to remove the case. A plus for this item (also the reason why it is more pricey) is that it is made out of reinforced Italian leather throughout, which provides complete front and back protection for both the interior and exterior. It is available in 3 styles and many bright fun colors (including burnt orange, fuchsia, red, bright pink, grass, and sunshine) as well as neutral colors for the soft leather style (black and silver).

This could have been the deal breaker for me if it wasn’t for the fact that it cost more than I budgeted for and it didn’t come in white or gold. Also I think the appearance is more for an everyday casual look and not a feminine dressy look. The pressed pebble texture also makes it look kind of bulky, not the minimalist and chic look I was looking for. If you like everything about it and prefer the bright fun colors, I would highly recommend this item. It can be purchased at http://bodhibags.net/catalog/40 for $98.

Out of all these options, the price was really what made me hesitate to make the purchase. So I decided to try my luck on Ebay. I am so glad I did because that is where I found THE one or ones (because I bought a few of them in different colors). From the ebay store (where items are brand new, not used), an ebay store carried a line of simple but elegantly designed iphone wristlet wallets. It is compatible for iphone 4, 4S, 3G, and 3GS. It has the slots on the left side for IDs and cards. It features cutouts for play-through functionality, proximity sensor opening, charge/sync port opening, and camera lens opening. The wrist attachment is positioned in the right place and the interior is lined with gold. It comes in gold, white, black, pink, purple, white python-embossed leather, python-embossed diamante light pink, and much more. The exterior design also features a metal plaque making it look sleek and elegant. What sealed the deal on top of all the features I was looking for, was the price. At $19.99 a pop, I was able to get 3! (white, gold, and a black one for my best friend) The shipping is free but it ships from Hong Kong so it does take a little bit longer. I think the wait was worth it though.

I just want to say merry Christmas and happy holidays to all my lovely readers. This year has been wonderful and I want to thank you all for reading my blog and being a fan of IOBeauty. Without your support, I wouldn’t have continued to do what I do. Let’s all have a great year to look forward to!

XOXO
IOBeauty