Beauty Products for Summer!

Hey all! I've shared with you my hair care, skin care, and beauty tips before, but I thought I'd give you a little update for summer! I love to change up my beauty products and routines pretty often to keep everything fresh, and new seasons are the perfect time to do so! Read on to some of my perfectly bronzed & beautiful makeup updates!

1. Revlon Photo Ready BB Cream // I'm not a regular foundation wearer/user, but lately in my old age (ha ha), I have started wanting a little more coverage, but not too heavy. I've heard wonders about all kinds of tinted moisturizers and BB creams, and have tried about 100 of 'em, but have finally found magic! I actually got a full-size bottle as a Klout perk (and it's lasted a long time!), and I couldn't be happier. The coverage is fairly sheer, but still evens out my skin tone, and I really love the finish! Plus, it has SPF 30 in it! Give this a try! (I use the "Light Medium" shade. I apply it with my fingertips after my sunscreen.)

2. Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder // I pretty much swear by this bronzer. I love it because it is matte and has no shimmer, so it's very natural for daytime! I've thought about trying a few others (such as Nars Laguna or Urban Decay's new Naked bronzer/blush duo), but I really do like this one, so I'm sticking to it! (I apply the "Medium" shade in an "E" or "3" shape on my cheekbones/sides of my face, my neck/under my chin, and the sides of my nose using a big cheap-o fluffy e.l.f. brush .)

3. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick // As I mentioned above, my typical bronzer is matte without shimmer! So, when I want to pump up the volume a bit, this is the perfect multifaceted bronzer palette for evening! I know there are some knock off versions out there, but the pigment in this collection is unmatchable! (I apply the "Bronze" bars in a "C" on my temples, around my eyes/cheeks, with another cheapo angled e.l.f. brush.)

4. Maybelline Eye Studio Master Shape Brow Pencil // If your brows are in good shape, the rest of your face just falls into place! If my eyebrows are shaped and filled in (I use a brow gel, too), I can go way lighter on my eyes, which is pretty much essential for summer in the sun! I was using a more expensive brand for awhile, but I must have a heavy hand, because I'm always breaking off the spoolies! For the less expensive price of this liner/brush two-in-one, I can afford to break 'em. Plus, the pencil is waxier and helps my brows hold their shape! (I use "Soft Brown." I recommend choosing a pencil that is the same color as the darkest natural tone in your hair - it's way more natural than trying to match a dyed hair color/highlight!)

5. Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof // When I went to Lucky FABB back in April, one of the best tips I picked up from makeup artist Bruce Grayson was to stop wearing black eyeliner all the time! Granted, I can't promise I listen to that most of the time, but for summer, it's an awesome tip! So, I've been using shimmery bronze or copper eyeliner instead! It's a great compliment to my blue eyes, plus it's really easy to layer with a tight line of black when you want a little more oomph! (I actually got a Sephora brand eyeliner sample in a beauty box awhile ago, but I ordered this full-size in "Sun Tan.")

6. NARS Blush // I have been using NARS blush for awhile, in everyone's favorite shade, "Orgasm," but I decided the shade isn't as worth the hype as everyone thinks! It's a little too purpley-pink for me. Instead, I have become fond of the shade "Deep Throat." It's peachier than pink, and I think it looks like more of a natural flush than Orgasm. Keep in mind, however, my grandma did look at me at lunch one day, and say to my mom, "Why are her cheeks to pink?" Just a warning. (I apply this with the Too Faced "Flatbuki" brush.)

7. Jane Iredale Active Light Concealer // This isn't a summer-specific product, but it's a great one! Unfortunately, the price reflects that! However, it's such an amazing concealer! It's great for covering dark circles, bringing a little highlight wherever you need it, and getting a little illuminated color-correction on a recently sunburned red nose! (I apply shade "#4" under and around the sides of my eyes, as well as a little bit down the bridge of my nose and on the cupid's bow of my upper lip.) I recently bought the Maybelline Magic Lumi to see if the cheaper alternative is comparable - I'll keep you posted!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your tried-and-true summertime favorites?

{the daily dani} Hair Care Routine

Throughout the course of my blog life, I've had a lot of questions about my hair! While I haven't worked up the courage/skills to do any kind of tutorials yet, I thought I'd share with you the hair products I've been using!

1. Arrojo color save shampoo: Recommended by my stylist (whom I've been going to for about 8.5 years now), after I got my Brazilian Blowout last year, this is easy on my hair, and works against any bleach/dye that tries to destroy my hair. Also, it smells yummy.

2. Arrojo moisturizing conditioner: This does the same as #2, but it provides extra moisture. This smells yummy as well!

Truth be told, I was almost out of #1 & #2, when I accidentally left it in the shower when I went to Palm Springs over the summer. I haven't restocked, but I highly recommend these products!

3. Herbal Essences Honey, I'm Strong Shampoo: I use this every once in awhile when I'm not using #5, since sulfate-free products don't always get your hair as clean as one might like. I've been using it less often lately, but I like it. My hair sheds a lot, and I like to think that a "strengthening" shampoo is beneficial in that realm!

4. L'Oreal EverPure Smooth Conditioner: I don't use this too often anymore since I got #6, but I like it, and it's affordable. It smells just like Aveda products, and I like to pretend that it will make my hair look like J.Lo's. (Can we still call her J.Lo?)

5. Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo: I bought this particular Carol's Daughter shampoo because they were out of the Monoi Repairing Shampoo. Well, I love this shampoo anyway. It smells absolutely divine, and seems to make my hair softer than ever.

6. Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner: I first discovered the Monoi Repairing products when I got it as a sample in a Sephora order. (Have I mentioned my Sephora addiction before? Yes. Yes I have.) If #5 smells divine, then this smells EXTRA divine. Yum yum yum.

7. Arrojo thermal protector: I can't find any links to buy this product online! This picture is from a site reviewing it. I also bought this at my salon (and it's lasted a year!), but I'm wondering if it's not being made anymore? Anyway, I curl and/or straighten my hair basically every day, so a thermal protector is super important! Just in case, do you have any recommendations for thermal protectors?

8. Arrojo hydro mist: I loooove this product! It definitely keeps moisture in my very dry & frizzy hair, and it smells delicious! Plus, it's great to "refresh" your style. If I've maybe gone a tad too long between washes, or your curls are falling flat, or your hair is smelling sadly just like hair, spray this mist in and you are refreshed!

9. Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm: I got this as a Sephora sample, too, and then bought the full-size! Sometimes, I don't know if a product is really working its magic, or if there's a magic combination with another product happening, or what, but I love this product! It makes my hair look super smooth, and soft, and easy to straighten the bumps and frizzies out of! My favorite part of this particular product? It has absolutely no scent - so the yumminess of my shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizing mist can all shine through!

So, that's the product mish-mosh that I pile onto my 'do! I'm always looking for new products to try - high-end or drugstore are all intriguing to me! - so please let me know your hair care routine, too! What are your favorite hair-care products?

{the daily dani} Skin Care Routine

 

I've shared my beauty routine with you guys before, but I thought it was time to share my skin care routine, too! Make-up isn't much without a base to go underneath it, and skin care is the key to that clean base!

1. Clean & Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Foaming Wash: I've been using this cleanser off & on for what feels like 10 years or something. I always end up going back to it (when I can find it!) and it just works the best for me! Stores don't always carry it, so sometimes I just go with another gentle cleanser in the meantime. My skin gets a bad reaction to Benzoyl Peroxide, so I am a strictly Salicylic Acid-only girl.

2. Pond's Luminous Clean Daily Exfoliating Cleanser: After trying a Birchbox sample, I was using a Laura Mercier exfoliator for awhile (really, I feel like the bottle I had lasted over a year) and I liked it, but I kind of figured, does it really matter what kind of sand you're scrubbing your face with? My consensus: no, it doesn't. So I went from a $30 bottle to a $5 and I'm just as content.

3. Yes to Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes: I read in some magazine that these towelettes and #4 (see below) were the perfect combination for clear skin. I must admit, it seems to be true! Something about these lovely calming towelettes and #4 have been keeping my skin relatively clear, and soft as something less gross than a baby's bottom.

4. Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Fast-Acting Salicylic Acid Acne Spot Treatment: See #5. Haha. I use this less as a spot treatment and more on my entire face. It's expensive, though, and the bottle is really small, so though I use it after every face wash, I still try to only use as much as I need to cover my little face.

5. Elf Zit Zapper: Samantha recommended this on her blog awhile ago, and I went crazy trying to find it at various targets. Now I'm kind of obsessed with it! You literally just roll it over your blemishes (10x a day, if you're obsessive like I am), and it really seems to shrink them! Plus, it's only $1! ONE DOLLAR!

6. Clinique All About Eyes: You know how every once in awhile, you will notice that every magazine you read in a month is recommending something "new" for your skin? Like, BB Creams were all the rage awhile ago, and then they started talking CC Creams and I completely lost interest? Well, one month I read about 5 magazines in a row telling me I needed to start using eye cream! Apparently, using eye cream in your 20s will prevent fine lines and wrinkles in the future. I am all for prevention of fine lines and wrinkles! Plus, this particular cream is mean to reduce dark circles and puffy eyes. What more could you ask for?

7. Philosophy Hope Oil-Free SPF: I am a crazy sunscreen advocate! I use this sunscreen every single day on my skin. I've said it before, but I'll say it again: unless you are spending the day locked inside of a room with no doors or windows, you need to apply sunscreen on your face (and neck! and the backs of your hands!) every day! I like this particular one because it isn't slimy, it doesn't stink like sunscreen, and it's natural and good for your skin! (FYI: I am super annoying to go to the beach or pool with, because I will spray your entire body with sunscreen multiple times, whether you like it or not.)

8. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF: This is a fun little dry sunscreen I got last-minute during a Sephora check-out. It's cool if you want to reapply your sunscreen but don't want to take off your makeup, or if you forgot to put your sunscreen on before your makeup. Or, it's just super easy to carry in your purse or something. (It kind of smells funky, though. FYI.)

I'm always interested in trying new products! What are your favorite skin care items? What's your skin care routine?

My *Daily* Beauty Routine - Updated!

What seems like ages ago (in reality, about 5 months), I shared my daily beauty routine with all of you. Since then, with the help of Sephora, Ulta, CVS, my now lapsed subscription to Birchbox, and Michelle Money & Laura Armstrong, I have added [way too many] products to my routine and have possibly (definitely) become makeup-obsessed! I wanted to update you all on my new (and old!) faves!

Face:

• Philosophy Hope Oil-Free SPF: I start everyday with sunscreen! I've said it before and I'll say it again, unless you're planning on locking yourself in a room with no windows and no doors, you need to wear sunscreen! Every tan and every freckle = skin damage! (If you go to the beach, pool, or desert with me, beware of my spray bottle of sunscreen - if you don't reapply, I'll reapply for you!)
• Benefit The POREfessional: I really do think primers make a big difference. My pores aren't HUGE but they aren't tiny, and this primer (though small considering the price) goes a long way and works wonders!
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude: I don't usually wear this, but on occasion if I want more coverage, I'll put this on, like one would use a foundation. I like sheer coverage, and also I'm afraid of foundation (thanks to a MAC employee recommending me a full-coverage liquid when I was 13), so this is the perfect combination. I replaced the BB Cream I was using with this, because I thought the BB Cream was too heavy, if that gives you an idea of my definition of "sheer."
• Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat: I put just 1 dot of this on each eyelid. It creates a good base for my eyeshadow and covers up any discoloration that may appear!
• Benefit Boi-ing in 01-Light: This concealer is pretty fantastic. It may need to go a shade darker in my next order, but it REALLY covers up red, blue, purple, or any unusual color emerging from a blemish or scar.
• Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Light Golden: This is my "special occasion" concealer. (I know I'm ridiculous.) It literally is amazing. I a tiny bit goes a loooong way, and it's perfect for stubborn blemishes or when you want your makeup to last for a night out dancing!
• Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder in 220-Natural Beige: I haven't tried any expensive "high-end" powders that work any better than this affordable one, so I stick with my cheaper version! It covers up shine well, is pretty compact (haha) to carry around, and at the great price, I don't mind if I go through it quickly!
• Benefit Ooh La Lift: This is for dark circles under your eyes. I can't decide if it works or not. It's almost more of an illuminator than a concealer, but I'll keep using it for now until I run out, I suppose.

 Eyes:

• Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Bone: This off-white shade is perfect! It's not shiny or silvery, and it gives great, smooth coverage! I wear this from my lash line to brow bone!
• NARS Single Eye Shadow in Galapagos: I wear this in my crease. A Michelle Money recommendation, this is a pretty dark brown with gold flecks, but sometimes I feel like it isn't as blend-able as I'd like. It's quite dark, so if I get any "dusty" residue in the wrong place, it's hard to wipe off without having to re-do the whole eye! I may need to go with another brand or a slightly lighter shade. Michelle also uses the "Lola Lola" shade, but I tend to not be too satisfied with NARS products, it seems.
• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in ink black: I can't rave enough about this eyeliner! It is the easiest liquid to apply, stays on all day (and night, and through sleep - oops!), and wears great! I just draw a simple line on my top lid. It's easy to make it as thin or thick as you want!
• Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx: I don't always wear liner on my bottom lid, but when I do I use this! It stays on well and doesn't leave me with makeup under my eyes, plus it has a mini sharpener built into the lid so you never have to worry about the precision of your line!
• Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash: I just recently started filling in my brows after watching Laura fill hers in with brow powder. I bought a brow powder, but then used my Birchbox points to buy this pencil, after watching Michelle use hers, and I like it a LOT better. It has a self-sharpening pencil on one end, and an eyebrow brush on the other. The pencil helps give a lot of control, and the brush helps to blend the pencil and brush hairs in the direction you want them to go! It's amazing how much more pulled-together filling in my eyebrows makes me look! As someone who has only gotten my eyebrows waxed 3 times in my life and is a self-tweezer, this really helps give the right shape to my eyebrows. I love it!
• Anastasia Brow Gel in Clear: Yet another Michelle & Laura tip, I actually found this in my makeup bag randomly; I think I got it as a free sample in some goody bag! I'm imagining any eyebrow gel would do, expensive or not. I don't use this all the time, mostly just when I'm going out at night and want everything to stay in place. Think of this as hairspray for your eyebrows. Now think about how weird that sounds... (Really, though, it's a good product to tame the brows!)
• Sephora Collection Outrageous Volume Mascara: I LOVE this mascara! I think eyelashes are kind of like the hair on your head, where once they get used to a product, it doesn't work as well. Well, my eyelashes must not be used to this, because it works WONDERS! I'm telling you, probably the closest you can get to false lashes without actually wearing false lashes! I hiiiighly recommend this one! I do my best to cover every single lash haha. Check out Michelle's tutorial.

 Cheeks:

• Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Light: Bronzer. You know the deal. I just brush it in the hollows of my cheekbones towards my temples! It's a great color, and not shimmery. I went through a "no shimmer" face for a while and that's when I picked this up. I really like Bobbi Brown.
• Bobbi Brown Blush in Pale Pink: I put a little bit of this on the apples of my cheeks. It's called pale pink, but it is anything but. It's literally neon. It looks really pretty on, but you have to be careful of not brushing it on in a harsh line. I used the top (end of bristles, not flat side) of my brush to apply it so it's not streaky or scary.
• Too Faced Caribbean in a Compact in Snow Bunny: I used to use this a lot. In fact, I've used it so much that I've cracked multiples of this bad boy. It's a really nice, lighter shade and not too dark or unnatural. Now I only use it to brush a little shimmer atop my cheekbones. I've returned to shimmerville.

 Lips:

• Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in 1 - Nude Beige: I'm not a major lipstick wearer, but this is the PERFECT nude lipstick. Absolutely perfect. I'll use it for a night out, sometimes under gloss, sometimes alone. I try to use it sparingly though, because it was expensive, and also because if you go to crazy with this lipstick, it can bleed outside the edges of your lips because it's soooo silky. Yum!
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Peach Petal: I heard about this gloss via Pinterest literally about 5 minutes after purchasing the YSL lipstick. (Oy. Holy splurge.) This much more affordable nude shade is awesome! It looks great over the lipstick (but too much causes a weird mix, almost a congealed oil-and-water-style separation or something? Yes, sounds disgusting. Kind of is. So I mostly use this on it's own for fear of alien lips haha.
• Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pout: I got this in a Sephora lip gloss sampler, and it's the perfect pink! I've always looked for the perfect Barbie pink lipstick (still open to recommendations!), but this lip gloss really does the trick. It's slightly sticky so it's not TOO shiny, and I really like it. (But would still love a pink lipstick recommendation!)

Tools:

• Essence of Beauty Eye Shadow Brush: My eyeshadow brush is just some cheapo I got from CVS in a little cheapo pack of brushes. Does the trick. I have a really hard time spending a lot of money on brushes! I don't know why, since I would probably use them longer and more than any other product! Any favorites out there?
• Too Faced Flatbuki: I got this in a bronzer sampler. I actaully really love it. I use the flat side for my bronzer and the short end for my blush! (Though I am tempted to try a fluffier brush for my blush!)
• e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush: Do you all use e.l.f. products? You can get them at Target. They are muy inexpensivo! This brush was $3. I use it for my shimmery bronzer. Nice light, but direct coverage.
• Tarte eyelash curler: This came in a Sephora mascara sampler, and it rocks. Honestly, any eyelash curler will do the trick! I doubt I'd splurge on an expensive one had I not gotten it in the set! I hadn't used one in a long time, but when I started to again, I couldn't believe the difference it made! Do yourself a favor - curl one eye, and then look in the mirror at the difference! Curling the lashes really opens up your eyes! (See above mascara tutorial!)

Scent:

• Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola!: Does perfume count as "makeup?" Well, either way it's been a long time since I splurged on perfume! In elementary school, I got my first perfume. Does anyone remember the brand Fetish? I had a "solid scent" from them. Weird. In middle school, I got my first real perfume. Roxy Hula. Roxy was the bees knees in middle school, and this perfume was awesome. A fresh, Hawaiian scent with a hot pink bulb atomizer that was the bomb.com. In high school, I wore a Lacoste perfume for a short while, and then moved onto Burberry Brit. Burberry Brit was the first scent I had that wasn't the same as everyone else. Then I remember some girls in my dorm coming into my room, opening my drawers, and using it and I immediately began to hate it! THEN I moved on to Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker. I really liked that; I still have it, but now when I smell it, it smells kind of old lady to me. I spent the next few years just using Victoria's Secret Pink body splash because it's light, easy, comes in a large volume, plastic bottle, and it's cheap! BUT THEN... (long story short longer...) I decided to buy a perfume sampler from Sephora. They sent me 8 little vials to try, along with a coupon for a free bottle of whichever you like best! Hence, Oh, Lola! It's hip, fresh, slightly fruity flowery, and has a really awesome bottle. I couldn't ask for more.

Wow. That was excessive, and I'm not afraid to admit it! What are your favorite products? Are you a Sephora junkie like I am?



Have you entered my 31 Bits Giveaway yet?!

My *Daily* Beauty Routine!

So, my goal for 2011 was to spend less money on clothes. This goal was successful through about May, when my addiction to shopping took over my bank account once again. However, during those 5 "dry" months, I developed somewhere else to spend my money - the Sephora website. I had never been much into "beauty products." I usually was just a mascara/chapstick kind of girl, but all of a sudden last year, with the help of way too expensive makeup and Michelle Money's YouTube channel, I went beauty product wild. I've never written any beauty-related posts on The Daily Dani, but after posting an Instagram photo of my daily beauty "routine," and Bekah asking if I robbed a Sephora, I thought I'd share my routine with you all! :)

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]

1. Sunscreen first! If I'm going to be outside at all, or basically, if it's daytime, I always put sunscreen on! Sure, you can say you won't be spending much time outside, but unless you're stuck in a locked room with no windows while the sun is out, you should be wearing sunscreen on a daily basis! Your skin will thank you in the future!

2. Lately, I've been using a primer. I got this one in a sample set, but I think the full-size would be worth it! I also have a few Benefit primers that help a lot on the pore minimizing front!

3/4. One place where I go the inexpensive route is my concealer and pressed powder. I go through face makeup too quickly to pay $30 for it every few months! Maybelline's Fit Me line is available at most drugstores, and they have compatible concealer/powder/foundations that definitely do the job!

5/6/7. I recently bought Urban Decay's Naked palette and it has some gorgeous colors!I'm dying to try Naked2 now, too! I've only heard rave reviews! I tend to alternate or mix and match between the Naked Palette, Too Faced's Natural Eye, and Sephora's Eyeshadow Palette in Cocktail on the Beach. All of these shades can easily take me from light to dark and day to night.

8/9. I use Kat Von D's Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper (black) on my top lid. Finding the "perfect" eyeliner was always kind of a struggle for me, and when my friend recommended I try this one, I was blown away! Pencil liners on my top lid tend to rub off on the crease of my eyelid, and other liquid liners tend to be messy. I've tried to gel liners, too, but this has been the easiest to control! You can make the line thick or thin or however you prefer within seconds, and it stays on all day. It's also easy to remove, which isn't always the case!
For my bottom lid, I use Smashbox eyeliner. I ordered the full-size after receiving a sample in my Birchbox. I'm not sure that it isn't as good as some other eyeliners, but it's one of the few I've tried that actually stays on all day and doesn't smudge all over.

10. Despite that it's really fragile (I've cracked mine more than once!), I really like this bronzer. It's slightly heavy on the pigment, but it's a lot less heavy than Beach Bunny. What bronzer do you use? Any recommendations?

11. For blush, I use this palette, and mix the Candy and Pink Leopard shades. It mixes well with the Snow Bunny bronzer. I fear that my blush/bronzer routine is getting a bit too sparkly, so I'm looking into getting Bobbi Brown Blush in Pale Pink, because Michelle Money recommends it!

12. I finish up my look with mascara - mascara always ties a look together! I used to swear by Cover Girl Lash Blast, but I feel like it stopped doing the trick. It was as if my lashes got used to it and stopped responding to its ingredients or something! Then I was really into Maybelline The Falsies, but kind of felt the same way. Now I tend to buy mascara samplers from Sephora. With all of the options you get, I think the price comparison to drugstore brands tends to even out, and I'm able to switch between tubes every couple weeks or so. I like to think it keeps my lashes guessing!



So that's that! How do you all feel about seeing more beauty posts here on The Daily Dani?
What beauty products do you use?