Skincare: Cleansers

As you can see I love cleanser. Nothing makes me happier then washing off my makeup at the end of the day! It's the best feeling in the world! Don't get me wrong I love applying makeup as well, but nothing beats that clean feeling. It's like going to bed with clean sheets!! Anyhow.. getting off track. I always have at least two cleansers in my stash to rotate within the week. I believe in double cleansing. I usually use a balm or oil to remove my makeup and they I use a cream cleanser to wash my face. I like using cream cleanser because my skin is combination to dry and I don't want to strip my skin by using a foaming cleanser.

Soap & Glory The Fab Hot Cloth Cleanser $20. This cleanser comes with a muslin cloth and it's great for removing makeup and it helps with clogged pores. I usually use this cleanser when I am having some breakouts. You can use it as a mask as well.

FAB Face Cleanser $20. This cleanser has a whipped texture, and when mixed with water it becomes a rich cream; which I really like. This is the cleanser I gravitate towards on a daily bases. It's more of a natural cleanser with no parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes. It also claims to have a blend of antioxidants. It's great for sensitive skin and helps with redness.  I really love this cleanser and it's one that I keep repurchasing!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish $15.75. I got the smaller size to try this cleanser out since I heard so many rave reviews on it. I really love it for removing makeup. It takes everything off and bonus it's all natural ingredients! I will definitely be repurchasing. The only downfall is that you have to wait quite a while for it to be shipped because it comes from the UK.

Elemental Herbology Purify & Soothe Cleansing Balm  $46. This cleanser is quite pricey and it's a new in my stash. I wanted to try this out as I heard it great for purifying the skin. I really don't like the smell, but I really like the way it makes my skin feel. It has omega 3 and 6 and some plant oils to improve hydration. I think this would be perfect for the winter time when my skin is a little drier. It does not remove makeup as well as the Liz Earle. Which I was disappointed in because it more of a balm texture.

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser $26. I also got the smaller size in this cleanser because I wanted to try it out since I heard Sandra rave about this cleanser. It's quite expensive as well for a cleanser but it has all natural ingredients. It's a very gentle cleanser with a lotion feel to it. I use a muslin cloth to wipe it off. It does remove some makeup but not everything. I would use this more in the winter to hydrate my skin. It contains Vitamin A, and E and Omega 3. It good for the second cleanse in your cleansing routine.

Clinique  Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm $28.50. I have finally found my holy grail makeup remover! This balm takes every trace of makeup off without leaving any kind of film or residue behind. It transform from a balm into an oil when you apply it onto your skin. It feels like using coconut oil but without the oily film that coconut oil leaves on your skin. I think I will never go without this makeup remover! It has no fragrance which is great for sensitive skin. 

So there you have it some of my favorite cleanser! Have you tried any of these cleanser? Do you use one that you think I need to try?

Recent Additions: Little Haul

So I did a little shopping again after reading Sandra's blog about this gorgeous new Laura Mercier highlighter. I missed getting the Rose Rendezvous highlighter, so I had to get my hands on this gorgeousness before they ran out! This came out with their Fall 2013 Dark Spell collection. "Spellbound" Face Illuminator ($42/0.20oz.) is a finely milled rose gold highlighter that looks really natural and subtle on the cheekbones, but it can be built up as well. I also got the crease brush($29) because I love the ponytail brush so much I wanted to try more of her eye brushes. This brush is great for smoking out eyeliners and for applying color on the outer V. I really love the formula and pigmentation of Laura Mercier's eye shadows so I was curious to try Baroque($23/0.09oz.) since I've heard so many youtubers talk about it. I'm still undecided on this color. I have to work with it a little more, but I'm wearing it today with a chocolate brown on the crease. With my purchase I got a little gift which is the caviar stick in "Smoke"($24). I have "Plum" and I really like these sticks used as a base or as an eyeliner.

So I guess this means no more hauls for a while! ;) Are you interested in getting this new highlighter?

June Favorites

So I've been a little naughty recently and did some damage at Sephora and Macy's. I had a little makeover done at Macy's for the launch of Bobbi Brown's Navy & Nude Collection. I really liked the collection but I only left with some essentials that I needed.

I'm really loving the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Even Finish Compact Foundation ($46/.28oz). This foundation gives me a natural coverage and it's really long lasting. It's best suited for normal to combo/oily skin which I tend to have in the summer. Dry skinned gals should stay away from this foundation because it will highlight your dry areas. It's more of a satin finish which I prefer to a matte finish. The only con I have is that it only contains .28 oz which is very little for foundation and the price point. Since I'm only going to be using it in the summer I don't mind the amount it brings.I also bought the Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner in "Chocolate Shimmer Ink" ($23/0.1oz). Which I've heard countless beauty youtuber's rave about. Especially Prissy from PrissyandPink. I had to see what all the rave was about, and I think it's a wonderful product. I never really used gel eyeliners but this has converted, and it's paired greatly with the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush ($26). This brush makes it so easy to apply and the eyeliner stays on all day! Another brush I had to buy was the Bobbi Brown Bronzer Brush ($52). OMG this brush is heavenly!! It feels so soft and applies just the right amount of bronzer to give you a sunkissed glow! Of course I had to get it since everything Michele1218 raves about I need to get. She is my enabler!!

Some MAC products I'm loving are the MAC Paint Pot in "Eclair" which is a limited edition item, but I was lucky to get my hands on it. It's a bronzy brown color that makes a smokey eye easy to do. Lilly from What I Heart Today and Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup Raved about it! So like a good little girl I had to go on a hunt for it! They made me do it!! ;) From the All About Orange collection I had to buy Flamingo. This lipstick is a mix of orange and pink, more on the pink side. On the bullet it looks darker, when applied it's quite sheer, but with a tan this lipstick looks so good!!

My latest addition to my skincare regimen is two products from Ole Henriksen. The Truth Serum with Vitamin C and Collagen Booster ($48/1 oz.) and Pure Truth Vitamin C Youth Activating Oil ($45/1 oz). I love using Vitamin C to brighten the complexion. After reading Caroline Hiron Blog (skincare genius) for quite some time now I knew that I had to incorporate a hydrating serum and a good oil at night. I've been using the serum in the day and night and the oil as a nighttime moisturizer, and I've loved the result this has given my to skin. My skin feels so much smoother and brighter. I can't rave enough about this line especially since it's more of a natural skin care line. The oil contains Rosehip oil which is a repairing oil for acne marks and pigmentation.

So there you have it a really lone June Favorites! What were your favorites for June?

Nail of the Day

Sally Hansen "white on" with accent nail China Glaze "Lorelei's Tiara" love this combo! Very summer chic!

Summer Nail Polish Picks

I know this might be a bit late, but here are a few of my favorite Summer nail polish picks!

First we have Some China Glaze nail polishes. I really love the formula of china glaze and I like the consistency. Kendra from VlogwithKendra really got me into China Glaze. It's not runny and it's very opaque. The first nail polish is a glitter polish called "Lorelei's Tiara" that I like to pair with the next polish called "Aquadelic", it's a minty turquoise color and paired with the glitter it gives my toes an oceany look, which is amazing for the summer! The third polish is called "Bahamian Escape". This is the only blue color I think suits my skintone. It looks like a light cornblue color. Next up is "Flip Flop Fantasy". Everyone needs this nail polish in their lives! It's a bright neon pink color that looks amazing on the toes.

I don't have that many high end nail polishes because I don't think it's worth to spend that much on a nail polish that will dry up eventually. Needless to say I had to get Dior's "Bikini" because I saw Tiffany from  MakeupbyTiffanyD had this on her nails, and I fell in love with it. It a beautiful coral color that I reapply over and over again. I can't get enough of this nail polish!! I love wearing white nail polish especially when I have a tan, The best I have tried that is not streaky is the Sally Hansen Xtreme wear in "White on".  Lastly is Essie "Watermelon" I just think this screams Summer. It's a bright pink with a red undertone that looks great on your hand and footies!

Well there you have it my picks for the best summer nail polishes! What do you think of the ones I chose? Do you have any favorites that I didn't mention?

4th of July

Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans!! Enjoy your day!! God bless America!!

Diorskin Nude BB Creme Vs. Guerlain Lingerie De Peau BB Cream

I have been testing out a couple of BB cream & CC cream because I want to see what all the hype is around these magical creams. In hopes of finding a good BB or CC cream that works with my skin and skin tone I got some samples from sephora. Don't you love Sephora!! The first two I tested were the Guerlain BB cream and the highly raved about Diorskin Nude BB cream.

Photo from Nordstrom.com

First BB cream is the Diorskin Nude ($44/1oz.). This product has been raved about all over the blogger community. Especially after the all mighty Lisa Eldridge used is in one of her tutorials. I love that it has a pump, and that there is more than one shade because lets face it not all faces are created equal. I am shade 02. This BB cream is very lightweight and blends into the skin beautifully. When I wear this I feel like I'm not wearing any makeup, bonus point right there!! It does not clog my pores and I feel I can do a couple of layers with no problem of my face looking cakey. The only con I have is that it only has an SPF 10 which means you will have to use a sunscreen, and it contain Alcohol as the fourth ingredient. 

                      

Next up is the Guerlain Lingerie De Peau BB Cream ($51/1.3oz.).

Photo from Nordstrom.com

This product is pretty new to the BB Cream family. I haven't read or seen any reviews on this BB cream. My feelings about this product is split right in the middle. First off I like that it has a pump. I also like that it has an SPF of 30, which the Dior one has a lower SPF. So bonus point for Guerlain on that! Like the Dior it sinks into the skin beautifully but I feel that this is a little heavier on the skin, maybe it's because of the higher SPF. Due to the heavier texture this would probably look great mixed with something like the MAC Strobe Liquid or a radiance primer like the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector.You have to buff this into the skin more if not it will tend to look cakey. This dries to more of a matte finish. What I don't like about this products is that there are only two shades in the line, Light and Medium. Light is too light for my skintone and Medium is way too dark. For reference I am in MAC an NC/NW 25. With a hefty price tag I can't afford to buy both shades to mix them. Another con is the overpowering floral smell. It lingers on your skin for quite some time.



So overall I think I will be purchasing the Diorskin Nude Bb cream. Even though it has some cons I like the fact that it matches my skintone perfectly.
What is your favorite BB Cream?

                                                 Danessa