Bronzers: NYX Matte Bronzer in Light vs. Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light

Trying something new...

So, I'm new to this whole bronzer game, but I thought it was time to add something new to my make up routine, but I'm not going to lie, using bronzer everyday probably won't happen, especially with morning classes. 

                    

                  Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light ($4.99) and NYX Matte Bronzer in Light ($8.99)

     I bought these on a whim during a usual trip to ULTA but now I'm wishing that I would have done a little more research because these both seem to have an orange-ish tint.  More so the NYX. 

           

                  Both of these are pretty built up in these swatches so when you apply them lightly, the orange tint is not too bad. I like that they are both matte since I use them as a contour rather than an all over the face bronzer. 

                                              

                                                       Left: Rimmel, Right: NYX

              Overall, I probably won't be repurchasing the NYX (if I ever get though it) and I think the Rimmel is a much better purchase price wise and as an overall product. Its better pigmented, more natural look, and the only downside is the packaging. It doesn't feel too secure, like the NYX. 


             I'm in need of some more suggestions for bronzers, so what are your favorite brands?? Leave a comment below! 
                                                                      Xx

Review: CHI Nourish Intense Masque for Normal to Coarse Hair

    At 30 dollars a tub, I expect a lot more from a brand like CHI.

 While the formulation is quite thick, it does not de-tangle your hair much at all. After you brush through your hair, it does feel soft and nourished but since this is for normal to coarse hair, I assumed it would make brushing my hair less of a pain.

I don't even have that thick of hair and I had trouble combing through my hair. I even had to use a little of my normal Tresemme conditioner just as a de-tangler. This product is lasting me a long time, I got in in June and I use it a couple times a week but I do not think I will be repurchasing this exact product even though I am willing to give other CHI products a go!

Back to School: College Edition pt. 1

Fashion and Beauty Must Haves       

       Cue the school supplies commercials and back to school sales at the mall because, ladies and gentlemen, its that time of year again. August can be defined as the "Sunday of summer", and I completely agree. This is normally the time where you begin to realize that more than half of the summer is gone and if you're going off to college, there is a big chance that you recently realized, "wow...there is a lot of stuff I have to get before I leave..". Well, I'm here to help! I am the definition of an over packer and I personally know what it is like to live in a dorm that has too much stuff in it. I take full responsibility for that too, I was a little too over-prepared. Plus, through out the year, you accumulate a lot of stuff so pack lightly in the beginning.

     Without further ado, I've composed a list of the essentials for everything hair, fashion and beauty related. And also a few "things to avoid".(Keep in mind that I live in a place where it gets extremely cold).

FASHION

 1) Rainboots and a raincoat! There is nothing more annoying than walking to class in the rain and having to deal with wet clothes/shoes for the rest of the day.

2) Winter jacket with the works. The works being gloves, scarves and hats....if you have morning classes in the winter than you have my deepest sympathy. Bundle up! 

3) Other than scarves made for warmth, bring a few cute ones. I recommend infinity scarves. They are great for those days where you just want to wear jeans and a t shirt and you need a little extra something. 

4) Fuzzy socks and slippers. If you don't want to always slip on shoes to go do your laundry, slippers are the best thing for you. And fuzzy socks are just so comfortable.

5) Sweaters/sweatpants/sweatshirts have to stay warm! not going to lie to you, this was the majority of what I wore..

6) Some sort of jacket for the fall before it gets too cold. I recommend a leather jacket. 

7) Obviously jeans..

8) some sort of an everyday pair of boots. I have a pair of Chelsea boots from ASOS. It gets rather annoying and the cost really adds up to buy a pair or boots with fur or moccasins just to ruin them every winter. Avoid them.

9) Other shoes are; a pair of sneakers, flats, some flip flops for the shower and maybe a pair of high heels. 

10) PAJAMAS! make sure they're comfy!

11) An ID holder and lanyard. You'll most likely never carry cash around with you so you'll want something easy to just grab and take to class. 

FASHION TO AVOID

1) Leave all those heels at home. (except for a pair of nice black ones in case you have to dress up for an interview) There are a lot of misconceptions that you will be going to a lot of parties where you get all doll'd up and wear heels...at least in my experience, I have never been to a party where heels were a main thing that girls chose to wear. 

2) Fancy dresses. Once again, not worth using up space for them. A few cute casual dresses is more suitable but remember that the majority of the school year is in the fall/winter.

3) Actual snow boots...unless you do plan on playing in the snow

BEAUTY 

1) Eye shadow palettes. They are a lot more practical when it comes to traveling and going back and forth from home. 

2) Travel sized bottles for various things like lotion, perfume, and shampoo. Like I said before, they're great for those weekends that you go back home. Packing full size shampoo and conditioners is just plain annoying.

3) Face masks/body moisturizers I find that the air in the dorms, especially in the winter, is very dry so you'll need a little extra moisture to put back into your skin. Plus, who doesn't love a good face mask girly night??

4) A couple nail polishes...don't bring your whole collection..asking people if you could borrow some of theirs is a good way to start talking to people and making friends!

5) CHAPSTICK

AVOID

1) Bringing your whole lotion and perfume collection. It's honestly just a pain to pack up...bring a couple of your favorites or put them all in smaller bottles. Remember that you will accumulate more throughout the year. I brought my whole collection and then ended up buying more and it was ridiculous especially since I only wore a couple..

Obviously I did not name ALL of the beauty and fashion related stuff but I just wanted to list few things that i found essential and some that I thought I would need but I really didn't. 

Keep an eye out for my next post which will be essentials for your dorm and classes!


                      Leave a comment with some of your college essentials and ill make a post of what you guys say!
                                                      XX

Ah, college.

It's that time of year again, folks.

 Some are going headed to high school while others are about to start a big, exciting chapter in their life, also known as college. This is an extremely exciting but also a very nerve racking time in anyone's life. It's a chance to invent a new version of you, let your past go, and make an entire new group of friends (only if you want, of course). I, for one, was really excited that I was going to a school that no one from my high school was going to. A fresh start was exactly what I needed. 

      College is not just a chance make new friends, you truly do find out who you are. In high school, whether you like to admit it or not, you do mold to fit into to the people around you. Reputations are a hard thing to get rid of but moving away to college is definitely an easy way to get rid of it, and boy, does it feel good!

      One of the main contributors to finding out who you really are is being on your own and actually having the chance to put yourself out there and make new friends. There is a big chance that you went to school with the same kids from kindergarten throughout high school, well like I mentioned before, you mold to the people around you but if you have some alone time, you're forced to become you. You have to branch out and make new friends so you get to decide how you want to be perceived. No one will know who you were in high school. When I say alone time, I don't mean that you will literally be alone 24/7 but you have more time to think about what you like, what you don't like and who you want to be. 

      You're going to be around some types of people you may not have been around before, you're going to experience SO many new things. New styles, music, sports, subjects that interest you...you may think you know exactly what you want to do after college but chances are, you may change that 15 times before you graduate. That's whats amazing about college. You can become ANYTHING you want! Want to be a vet? Go for it! Teaching sounds fun to you? You go teach your little heart out. 

    Anyways, before I ramble on too much, this is just an introduction to what I'll be mainly blogging about throughout August. I call it, "Back to School: College Addition." I thought I'd branch off a little bit from makeup since I'm running a little dry with ideas and this sounds like a really fun thing to write about!

    This will include dorm room essentials, makeup/ fashion essentials, the do's/don'ts when it comes to new friends, roommates, and just overall tips and tricks to surviving your freshman year. Plus a few more that I'll randomly think of. '

                 Do you have anything you want any advice on? Any other suggestions for posts? 
                                                        Leave me a comment below!
                                                                         Xx

Have I gone a bit lip crazy?

     Every time I've done my make up, I get done and think "now, something is missing?". It finally hit me that I need to add a little pizzazz to my lips. I hear about good lip products all the time in the Youtube videos I watch but I never seem to pick some up. Until recently, that is.

    My birthday was about a week ago and I took no time in running to ULTA to spend a little bit of my birthday money. Did I say little? I meant a good majority of it. In my defense, I am stocking up to head back to school in a month. But hey, a girl doesn't need to make up an excuse to spoil herself a bit!

     Now, back to lip products. I noticed that there were some great deals happening at ULTA so all the more reason to go. One of the deals was buy one get one half off NYX products and when I read that, I knew automatically what I wanted to get. NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Beige! This is pretty much a cult beauty product. I've heard Ingrid from Missglamorazzi, Tanya Burr, and many others talk about this so I knew I had to snatch it up right away. This is such a good everyday gloss to wear. It's not too much color, it's not sticky, and it tastes like cherries! Im definitely going to be trying more NYX lip products now!

   Another product that I already knew I loved was a Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter. I already owned two of them but they both got pretty beat up and melted so they aren't used much but this time I thought I'd go with a little darker color, you know, branching out a bit. This time I bought (I actually got it for free after spending 12 dollars on other Revlon products) Berry Smoothie. Theres nothing much to say about these products other than I LOVE them. A bit of a sheer, sparkly color which is good for everyday wear. I love that fact that you don't need a mirror to apply them. The only downside I have to these products is the fact that they are easily smooshed.

    The last product I got was a bit of random purchase. I saw it and just new I had to have it because I've, once again, seen it all over the internet. It is the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey. Youtuber LeighAnne from LeighAnneSays constantly raves about this product so it was a pretty easy decision. I love the moisturizing affect and the fact that it smells like peppermint. All around good product.

Left: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey, Center: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie, Right: NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Beige

                                   
                             What are you favorite lip products? Leave a comment below!
                                                                        Xx

Is Summer Over Yet?

             I know some of you are going to think I'm crazy, but I am soooooo over summer. To be honest, I was over summer by the end of June. I don't do well in heat, I get sunburned easily, and my hair does not enjoy the humidity in any way. I am definitely an autumn girl at heart. I'm a much happier person when I get to wear big comfy sweaters and curl up next to a fire in the fireplace and order my favorite hot drinks (hot apple spice from Caribou Coffee in case anyone was wondering). There's football, Halloween, the leaves changing to pretty colors, pumpkin picking, NO BUGS, the list is never ending. A good way to put it is, autumn is my prime time.

Anyone else with me or am I alone here??

Xx

Covergirl: Not Impressed

      Ah, bad reviews are never my favorite to write, but it has to be done! I'm all about trying out new drugstore products to save money but still get some bang for my buck but I find that one of those drugstore brands that just doesn't ring my bell is Covergirl. I'm not saying that all of their products are bad, but I recently bought two lip products that just a bit lack luster.

Top: LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Blush Twist, Bottom: Lipslick Smoochies in Luv U

                                                 Right: Lipslick Smoochie Left: Jumbo Gloss Balm

        Both of these products are balms and are meant to be moisturizing so I knew not to be blown away with the color outcome, and I will admit they are moisturizing but one thing I cannot get over is the smell and taste. Remember when you were little and you got your first lipstick? Remember that taste? Get ready to take a jog down memory lane because that is EXACTLY what these taste like, more so the Smoochies. Speaking of Smoochie, I'm not a fan of the name. Seems very childish to me, maybe that's why I'm not a fan of Covergirl. It reminds me of the makeup you wear in your early teens. 

      I don't think I will continue to wear the Smoochie since the scent and taste is much stronger in that one but I will continue to wear the Jumbo Gloss Balm with a slight gloss over it to add a little more color and get rid of the taste. I do prefer the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains because they have more color pay off and they have a lovely peppermint scent and taste. 

     Is anyone else over Covergirl? Any products that you DO like and want me to try? Leave a comment below!

Review: Wet n' Wild Blushes!

     So I've never really been into blushes before, but I thought why not see what all the fuss is about. Seeing as I was new into the world of blush, I didn't want to spend a fortune on a NARS or MAC blush so I did a little research about drugstore blushes and one brand that had quite a big fan club of was Wet n' Wild. At around 4 dollars, I thought "what the hay," and took a trip over to the local Walgreens.

                                                    Mellow Wine (left) Pearlescent Pink (right)

Firstly, I apologize for the bad quality...I always have some weird lighting in my room. Anyways, these blushes are AMAZING. The pigmentation is awesome for the price tag. I would have to say that Pearlescent Pink has to be my favorite for the summer and Mellow Wine is a great autumn color.

Pearlescent Pink has been said to be a great dupe for NARS Orgasm...but at 3 to 4 dollars, I think I know which on I'm going for! The Pearlescent Pink has a slight shimmer to it and that just adds to the overall glow of summer. Mellow wine does not really have any shimmer to it which I am a fan of. 

These blushes are so pigmented that all you need is a dab on the brush and even then you need to tap it off. I then, sometimes, take my powder brush and blend it even more. 

Overall, I am definitely jumping on the blush bandwagon but you won't see me spending a lot of money on expensive blushes when these are so cheap!

Has anyone else tried them? What do you think?

Summer must haves!

      If you haven't noticed, summer is now in full swing! Days are spent at the beach, nights are spent by the bonfire, and the typical summer fashions are back on the shelves. Summer time and the hot weather also means that its time to bring out some of the essentials to survive/still look good on those extremely hot days.

      Starting off with the obvious...SUNSCREEN

      If you are one of the unlucky ones like me, you start to get sunburned the minute you step outside. So sunscreen is an essential in my summer go to's. I usually go for brands like Banana Boat or Coppertone as they are on the cheaper side and they do the trick. For everyday wear, I go for SPF 15-30 but if I know I'm going to be at the beach and some of the skin that is not normally exposed to the sun I definitely go for the 50+. And we mustn't forget to reapply through out the day!

Another thing we CAN NOT forget is to protect our lips. Have you ever had sunburned lips? Owwy mamma. I always try to look for chapstick with some SPF in it and the most recent on I found is one from the Babylips range! This gem is peppermint flavored and has an SPF of 20..but sadly I left mine at my friends house this past weekend :(...looks like I'll be taking a trip to the store soon!

      Rolling with the idea of SPF, it's very convenient to find a foundation with some SPF in it. My drugstore foundation of choice is the Rimmel Match Perfection in the shade True Ivory (or a shade darker depending on my tan). Bonus, it has SPF 18 as well! That is the perfect amount for day to day wear. Of course, if you are going to be exposed a lot longer, you should put a higher SPF on underneath.

    This foundation offers a medium coverage, it goes on rather well, its feels like (which is great for summer because who likes to feel like they have an extra layer on in 90 degree weather?) but it does offer a dewy finish so I definitely recommend powdering, especially in hot weather. If you want to completely avoid the dewy affect, another Rimmel foundation that is great is the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation. I feel that it does not feel as light on your skin but it is still a great product. That brings me to my next must have.

    My all time FAVORITE powder has to be the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. I own the powder in translucent. I can think of nothing bad about this product. I just dab it with a kabuki brush and put it all over my face, focusing on the t-zone and any place that I've put concealer. It is only 4 dollars, it does its job, and its easy to travel with. Rimmel has to be one of my favorite drugstore brands at the moment. Great products for the price!

That being said, on to hair products!

       What is more summery than beachy waves? Um, nothing. One way to achieve those "just walked off the beach" is with Not Your Mothers Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. Wow. That's a mouthful. All you have to do with this is, spray it on to your dry to damp hair, scrunch a little bit and voila! You are a beach babe. 

What are your favorite summer products? Leave a comment below and let me know! Enjoy the rest of your summer Xx

Review on: NYX Dewey Finish Setting Spray!

Well hello there everyone!

It's been awhile since I've written but I've recently gone on a little shopping spree and picked up a few products. I took a trip to my version of heaven, also known as ULTA. They were having some amazing deals that I could just not pass up.

One section that I've surprisingly never looked at was the NYX area. They were having a buy one get one half off sale, so how could I say no?? One product I picked up is something that I've never had of any brand before.

         I finally joined the make up setting spray "party".  I've heard from all over the blogisphere that NYX is a great, cheaper alternative to much more expensive sprays like Urban Decays' All Nighter Setting Spray or the De-Slick Spray as well.

        Since there were 2 options, a matte finish and a dewy finish, I didn't know which one to go for since my skin tends to be a little dramatic and change from oily to dry from day to day in the summer. One this that is certain, my skin is extremely dry in the winter. So I thought that since I tend to wear more make up during the school year, rather than in the summer (I hate the feeling of sweat mixed with makeup), that I should get the dewy finish spray. 

        So far, I am liking it! As of now, I don't have much to compare it to, but I did notice that my makeup did stay looking fresher, longer. I'm interested to know if it is the spray that is making my face dewy or if it just  the natural oils in my skin, so to answer that question, I'm going to write another review later on in the colder months! Stay tuned!

UPDATE: My skincare routine

I have been on acne medication for about a year now, and since I started it my skin has been very dramatic, if you will. Somedays (mainly depending on the weather) it is dry and irritating, or shiny and oily. I have been on the hunt for a great everyday face wash that will help calm my skin down a bit. While on the hunt for said product, I made a few other purchases and now I have a full skin care routine that has been working great! (all products prices listed below)

Firstly, I wash my face every morning and night with the Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser. Wowee that's a mouth full of words. I've been wanting to try this brand for the LONGEST time but every time I headed to the store I always seemed to forget about it..but at last I remembered. And boy am I happy that I did. 

At first I was a little hesitant to get the foaming cleanser, fearing that it wouldn't lather very well but I'm really happy with the outcome. This face wash is gentle enough for everyday use. This stuff is great for sensitive skin. It contains Vitamin B5*, Chamomile* and Geranium* (why are these helpful? listed at the bottom ). It does NOT contain any artificial perfume or dyes. Yay for natural! If you are wearing a lot of makeup, I would recommend using some sort of wipe before using this because it is a light product, it won't remove all of your foundation etc. Perhaps you could try the Simple Kind to Skin Face Wipes ;) After using this, I ALWAYS moisturize. Right now I'm using the Ponds Dry Skin Cream (reviewed a bit here X). 

About 3 nights a week, instead of the Simple Face Wash I use the St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub. I have pretty bad blackheads (TMI? hey, thats life!), but this has definitely improved the size of my pores and blackheads! It smells great and is an awesome exfoliant! Double bonus. 

 

About 2 times a week (or when I feel like my skin is looking a bit dull, I go for the Boots Power of Plants: Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask.

"This rich clay mask exhibits a negative electrical  charge to attract deep-rooted impurities from skin without drying" (taken from back of bottle). I love to use this after i use the St. Ives scrubs because I feel like the scrub gets out all the nasty stuff in the pores and then the mask cleans out the last it and then closes the poor. When you rinse this off after about 15 minutes, your skin will feel fresh, clean, and a bit tight. After I use this, I again, moisturize with the Ponds. 

I am so happy that I finally have figured out this routine because it really is working for me! Even though I'm loving this routine, I would still love to get some suggestions for my next skincare purchases! So, leave a comment below with your skincare routine!

*Vitamin b5: topical B5 combats aging and acne by improving skin hydration, maintaining skin elasticity, and increasing skin softness. B5 has anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in the treatment of skin scaling, roughness, and dryness

*Chamomile: sooths skin rashes, including eczema and acne. It can also help ease minor burns and sunburn. It can be used as a lotion or added in oil form to a cool bath; chamomile also reduces skin inflammation.

*Geranium: helps the scars and other spots on skin to fade and vanish. It facilitates blood circulation just below the surface of skin and also helps make distribution of melanin uniform.

All products purchased from Target

Simple face wash- $6.99

St. Ive's scrub- $3.04

Boots face mask- $9.99

Get to know me!!

35 Facts About Me!

I've seen this trend going around the blogisphere for that past couple of weeks so I thought I'd jump on the train and give it a go myself. Sorry if this bores you, but I've got a little bit of time to kill before my next class so, here we go!

1) My name is Dannie, I am currently a freshman in college, about 2 hours away from my home town and I'm loving being on my own and having this freedom.

2) I'm a communications major with an emphasis in public relations.

3) My dream job, if blogging doesn't take me places, would be to work for a make up brand as their public relations agent.

4) My favorite drugstore brand has to be Revlon, especially their Colorstay line.

5) My favorite high end brand would be Urban Decay...I got the Naked 2 palette for Christmas and it is TO DIE FOR.

6) My obsession with make up sprung up when I went through a faze of bad acne over the summer. I felt the need to cover it up, and now that it is cleared, my make up obsessiong is still here to stay...just less of it is needed.

7) I really would like to go to cosmetology school but my parents would not approve of it so as of now, that is my back up plan, and for now I'll stick to doing my friends make up for fun...and that's okay because I love doing it!

8) I only have one older sibling, a sister. We are really close but we are polar opposites. She never wears make up, skinny jeans etc. but she really should because she has a body shape similar to Kate Middleton and I'm always trying to get her to try new fashion choices. 

9) Speaking of Kate Middleton, I plan on studying abroad in London within the next couple of years. I absolutely love the British culture and I consider myself an Anglophile!

10) If you see me on the streets or anywhere really, you'd probably see me listening to my iPod. I listen to music anytime I can.

11) My favorite artists are Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Adele, Lewis Watson (see a British trend here...) and my guilty pleasure is the ever so attractive band, One Direction. They bring out the inner fangirl in me.

12) COFFEE. COFFEE. COFFEE. I loveee coffee. I have some form of it everyday. Iced, latte, mocha...mmmm. I'm in a coffee house drinking a dark chocolate hazelnut mocha as we speak!

13) I get really excited when someone shares the same love of make up as me so when someone brings make up/beauty/fashion up, I like to keep the conversation going as long as possible because not many people I know care that much about it. Although, I'd like to take credit for converting one of my very good friends into the make up world. ;)

14) I wish I could live in a world where it was autumn all year round. I don't like heat, or extreme cold, and spring is just too wet and the weather is too unpredictable. Autumn is just perfect.

15) If i could live in over sized sweaters, scarves, boots, and leggings all the time..I would. I don't like wearing a lack of clothes like you need to in summer, I like to keep covered for the most part. 

16) I went through a faze in high school with changing my hair a lot. Different shades of brown, reds and I even got a perm. Towards the end of last summer, I decided to chop a good 5 inches off of it to try to get it back to its natural state. Even though I do plan on getting another perm this summer after it grows a back a bit more...ahh yes I know its extremely bad for your hair...

17) I'm a social media addict.

18) None of my friends know about this blog besides one. 

19) I love to be social, go to parties and events/etc. but I absolutely need my "me" time. Most of the time, monday nights become my "me" time because my roommate works all night, so I quite look forward to those.

20) I'm very good at reading people, that's a reason I'm studying communications.

21) I'd much rather give a speech than take a written test. I have bad test anxiety.

22) My favorite store to shop at is H&M because I tend to go for the staple pieces like V-necks and sweaters and H&M is a great store for that.

23) I don't tend to wear a lot of colors. I find black/grey to be more flattering. I'll add a pop of color with a scarf of shoes. 

24) One thing I really wish I could do is pull off bright lipstick, but I can't. I don't know why, but I always end up looking like a clown. :(

25) I'm not a big drinker, but I like to have some wine every once in a while. I will never allow myself to get sloppy. I just find it extremely un-classy. 

26) I'm extremely excited to get my own apartment. I can't wait to decorate it and make it my own.

27) My own apartment/house MUST have a fireplace. I love feeling cozy. :)

28) I plan on applying for jobs in Chicago/Minneapolis/London when I get done with school. I'm from a smallish town and I can't stand it.

29) I wish I could sing/dance.

30) I want to eventually settle down and have a family but I want to travel a lot first.

31) I'm almost always cold.

32) The amount of sweatpants I own is kind of unhealthy.

33) My parents act like they are supportive me wanted to move to the UK eventually, but I can never tell if they really are or if I'm going to be able to actually leave them for that long. 

34) I enjoy writing. In the blog/journalism format, not the school essay format.

35) I'm really glad I started this blog and I hope that I eventually get to meet other people who share the same beauty interests as me. :)


Are there any other tags you'd like me to do, leave me a comment below and I'll do some!!

Winter Must Haves!

Yeah yeah yeah, I know, winters almost over...but here where I live, winter goes all the way through February and sometimes into March, and since it is snowing as I type this, I thought I'd do a post all about the stuff that gets me through this tough, cold, time. Lets start off with some beauty products...

Skin Care:

My skin becomes like the Sahara Desert in the winter because it is so dry so a good moisturizer is a must. My face, being one of the driest parts on my body, I make sure to moisturize daily. In the morning, I always put moisturizer on before my foundation. Not only does is moisturize, obviously, but it creates a nice base for your make up. If I don't moisturize, my foundation looks like it is cracking...another reason why my skin is like the Sahara. At night, after I wash my face and exfoliate  I really lather it on, and when I wake up the next morning, my skin feels so nice.

 I don't tend to splurge on moisturizes because I find that the one I've been using for the longest time, Pond's Dry Skin Cream, does the job rather nicely for its price. At about 6-8 dollars, depending on where you go, its a great value. 

I suffer from minor eczema, severe dry skin, so a good body moisturizer is a must. I have a lot of lotions but one definitely has been a stand out for me.

I've recently discovered the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream during my most recent trip to Ulta when I got this little beaut as a sample. This is like a dream in a bottle. Like the bottle says, all you need is a "dab" of it and it heals the dry skin. I like that it doesn't have a scent. I'm not a fan of lotions that when you put them on, the whole room knows you did. This doesn't leave your skin oily feeling either. This an amazing product to have in your bag or backpack to have at all times. Also, it is only around 5 dollars! What a bargain..

Another thing that tends to lose moisture during the winter is hair:

I made the horrid mistake of not bringing my deep conditioner home with me over the winter holiday and boy, did my hair pay the price. The first thing I did when I got back is deep condition with my trust Aussie 3 Minute Miracle.

There's not much to say about this product other than it does its job. 

Now on to non beauty essentials!

I'm a firm believer in that a hot drink can make any day better. Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Tea...I love it all. 

To keep warm, cozy sweaters, blankets, and fuzzy socks are an absolute must. As well as some sort of fireplace. I have a real one and an electric one in my house and they are both heaven sent. A good book, stacks of magazines and plenty of movies are a good way to get through those days where you're snowed in. If you unfortunately have to go outside, a soft scarf, hat, gloves, boots are necessary. The more layers, the better. 

With these items, I believe we can all get through these blistery cold days.

What are some of your winter essentials?? Leave a comment below!

Time For A Review!

Revlon Photoready BB Cream

I've been meaning to get my hands on a BB cream for awhile..I kept saying to myself "Dannie..you have 4 foundations...use up some of those before you get a anymore, you hoarder". Well, just like any other time, I couldn't control my urge, I did some research, and went to what I consider Heaven on Earth, Target. While I was there, I picked up the Revlon Photoready BB Cream. 

Over all, I'm a little disappointed with this. Mainly because I love all of the other products in the Photoready range, the foundation being my absolute drugstore foundation. Firstly, it only comes in three shades. Now, I have pretty fair skin, but I got the light medium shade. The darkest is medium so this really limits the amount of skin tones that can use this. 

This product seems lovely when you first put it on, but after about an hour, I felt like the coverage and the nice dewy fresh skin effect it gives you, fades away. Maybe its the fact that I have some discoloration/scarring due to past acne that I need something stronger, but this didn't even cover up the mild redness on my chin for example. On the bright side, it does have SPF 30! If have naturally "flawless" skin, this product may work for you, but overall I give this a thumbs down. :(

If you have any BB creams that worked for you, or this one did, leave a comment below, I'd love to them out! Xx

Sorry for my absence!

Sorry I haven't written much lately...I've been super busy and I've been feeling poorly as well...that's no fun. But the good new is, I have A LOT of blog posts that I will be doing soooo get readyyy!!! hope all of your new years resolutions are going splendidly!

2012 Celebrity Favorites!!

Throughout the year, I became ADDICTED to the E! Network...it was basically the only thing I watched. I personally really liked E! News and Fashion Police, aside from Joan Rivers who is just mean. Since I watched these types of show so much, I became pretty familiar with the style of celebrities so I thought I would do my "celebrity favorites" of 2012! Here we go!!

Favorite hair!

Danielle Peazer, I know she is not technically a celebrity but we've had this discussion before!

I would kill for her hair. 

A close runner up: Blake Lively!

She is just stunning. And her husbands to too bad on the eyes either!

Favorite eyes!

Megan Fox! Just look at those peepers!

 Second place: Mila Kunis!

Favorite Eye Brows!

No question on this one....Cara Delevingne.

Favorite Lips:

Okay, so shes not really a celebrity but she is in my eyes because I watch her youtube videos and I read her blog all the time! It's the lovely Tanya Burr!

Favorite Skin (that sounds a bit weird..)

I know she hasn't been on the radar for awhile but she is still super gorgeous! Her skin is flawless!

It's the one and only...Adele!

Favorite overall makeup...this one will be hard...

Emma Stone. She never over does it...just perfect.

Favorite overall style:

No doubt. Kate Middleton. Classy, elegant, timeless.

And there you have it! My 2012 celebrity favorites!!

leave a comment below with your favorites! 

"No Technology Day"

I feel like I've been a little overwhelmed with the amount of technology I have around me on a day to day basis, so I think I'll take a break for the day! I'll be back and posting tomorrow! Xx

Sparkling Ice

What I will most likely be drinking when I get tired of just plain water...

Zero calories, vitamins and antioxidants, and green tea extract! Tastes delicious and there are about ten flavors!

New Years Resolutions!

Oh yes, it's that time of the year again..lists upon lists of resolutions are being written and then the resolutions being "forgotten". I know I'm already having trouble staying true to mine and its only been 3 full days...So while I try to find some inspiration for myself, I thought I could help you guys along the way! First, I thought I'd tell you all my resolutions...they're a bit more reasonable this year than in past.

First:  

Drink. More. Water. Since going away to college, I have found myself gravitating towards the soda fountains they have in my cafeteria for close to every meal. I've already decided that I can't give up coffee (that just seems impossible), so I've decided to completely cut out fizzy drinks and substitute them with water. Water also curbs your appetite, and nothing is wrong with that! 

Secondly:

Stop expecting the worst out of people. Pretty self explanatory.

Thirdly: 

Stress less about stuff I have no control over. Now that I'm in college and working, I have A LOT on my plate. Piles of homework, having to some how pay back school, get an internship, figure out information about studying abroad...the list goes on. That being said, I can't afford to stress about anything else. I'm thinking I should take up yoga...leave a comment below if you've taken you before and it's helped you with stress, or any other ways that have helped you!

Lastly: 

Appreciate the small stuff. No matter how stressed I get, mad my family/friends/school makes me, I have to remember that I may not be rich, but I have a roof over my head, a full stomach every night when I go to sleep, and an opportunity to get a good education. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Of course, the usual "lose weight" is on the list to but my philosophy is, if I lose some, great! If I don't, it's not the end of the world. 

I also plan on taking a lot more pictures, blogging more, and just trying to enjoy everyday more. 

INSPIRATION TIME!

I believe in all of you!!! comment below with some of your resolutions and how they are going! Xx