Pool/Beach Bag MUST Haves For Face & Body

Hello loves! It's finally summertime and I am oooh-so happy. I love everything about summer- the beach, warm sun, cute bathing suits, and beach wavy hair. I spend a lot of time at the pool catching rays, so I have developed the must haves to carry with you for the pool/beach that you most likely have at home! So convenient...

A peek inside my pool bag must haves:

1. Water spritzer. I fill a water spritzer up with cold water with ice cubes when I lay out at the pool or even in my backyard. Whenever I find myself getting too sweaty, I easily spritz myself with the water to cool down. You can also use green tea as well. Green tea has soothing properties that can actually help your skin! Just diffuse tea into hot water, chill it, and put it into the spritz bottle. This is especially good for the face. (Even when you are not laying out, green tea works as a great face refresher throughout the day... especially when it's hot out.)

2. SPF 30+ sunblock for face & body. Non-comedogenic and oil-free, of course! (Acne-prone readers...)

3. Cucumber water. I love to drink cucumber water because it is so refreshing, especially on a hot day! It's so important to remain hydrated while in the sun. The cucumber in the water also helps your skin because of its skin loving vitamins and minerals. The best part is-- when you have finished the water, take the cucumber slices out and lay them on your face. The cucumber can soothe the sunburn on your face and refresh it as well. It's almost rejuvenating.

Here are just a few of my must haves when in the sun. Remember to protect your skin while laying out! Your skin will be happy. :)

Hope you all are having a fabulous summer and have fun! Will post soon...

Relax and enjoy,
Daniela

C'mon Honey, Put Some Honey on Your Face!

I love honey. Honey is a great sweetener to put on anything- oatmeal, english muffins, cereal... and the list goes on. Now here's something new you can put honey on: your face! 

Honey is fabulous for skin, especially for acne and wrinkles. Honey is a natural antibacterial, so it's great for treating and preventing acne. Honey opens up pores and cleans whatever gunk is in there. It is full of antioxidants so it is great for your skin's complexion making it glow and plump. The antioxidants also help prevent wrinkles and slow down aging. Convinced yet? Honey is also super moisturizing! Super sweet. (No pun intended)

Honey is probably already in your kitchen, so no need to go out and buy it. If for any reason you do not have it, go make a trip to the grocery store and buy some. Pure honey (like the picture below) should do the trick. You won't regret it.

Facial instructions: Apply a thin layer to the face. I leave it on for a good amount of time, maybe around 45 minutes. I apply this mask for all three reasons I listed above: to moisturize, help my acne, and for anti-aging. The benefits are endless.

We can all thank the bees.

Thank you bees,
Daniela

New Toner! My Review

Hello my skin care and beauty loves! I know I've been M.I.A for a while, but now I am officially back. Like you all know, I am a college student and the school work is a little stressful. I finally have some down time and have so many new things to share with you all. Can't wait!

Recently, I ran out of my Simple Soothing toner which I ADORED. I've written posts about it in the past and raved about my love for this natural toner and thought I would never find another one like it. Well, sadly, I was forced to find another one recently since I could not find the Simple toner ANYWHERE. I went to two different Targets and it was no where to be found. You could say I had a mini panic attack. I started to look around for other toners, reading the ingredients, seeing if it was natural, and so forth. As I was looking around, I came across a colorful, floral bottle that caught my eye. I started to look into it and see what was in it, and you could say I was impressed. I smelled the toner and it smelled so good! I was hooked. I though to myself, "Why not try it out?" I had nothing to lose. Except a breakout. 

This toner is by Alba Botanica and it's called Hawaiian Facial toner with complexion balancing hibiscus. I immediately brought it home and tried it out. First thoughts: "Ooh this smells so good. And feels good too!" It was light and refreshing on my skin, and did not leave a greasy-like "film" on top of my face. It seemed to really clean my skin and get the excess dirt from my face that my face wash failed to remove. I did not find it drying (make sure to follow with face lotion, of course). After about a week of daily usage, I noticed my facial complexion to be better and my skin was balanced. Even though switching from my beloved Simple toner was a drastic change, this new Hawaiian toner really impressed me. I give it a thumbs up!

Like it says on the back of the bottle, "Calm, cool-as-a-cucumber witch hazel and aloe vera purify and minimize pores. Extracts of hibiscus, honeysuckle, passion flower and guava further refine and refresh so skin finishes with a smooth, balanced tone. Even complexion without the shine? How pure-fect! Hypo-allergenic."

Why not give it a try? It was a little on the pricey side ($13). You can buy this at any Target. I would love to hear what you guys think!

Tone away to a Hawaiian escape,

Daniela

In Love With My Tea Tree Shampoo!

I feel like my hair changes with the seasons. In the winter, my scalp feels dry and tight, and in the summer, my hair feels dry. I feel like I can never keep a steady shampoo that I can use year round throughout the weather changes. It all came to a halt when I was looking around Trader Joes with my mom a few months ago. I would have never thought Trader Joes had a beauty section. Knowing me... a beauty section at any store is just something I refuse to pass up. That's where I saw it- Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle shampoo. Before you think "Shampoo? From Trader Joes?!" let me give you some background. Since Trader Joes is known for selling natural and organic foods, I thought the shampoo from there would be the same way. I looked at the bottle, and I was right. It contains all organic botanicals and no sulfates. Sulfates are bad for your hair! Sulfates strip your hair of its natural oils and can actually make your hair look dull and dry. Sulfates are just not beneficial to your hair whatsoever, so avoid please! (Shoot for sulfate free conditioner as well.) Sulfate free is the way to go. 

Tea tree is amazing for your hair. It naturally cleanses your hair of dandruff and promotes beautiful hair, so it's a must. It leaves your scalp feeling tingly and refreshed after you use it... it feels like it's really working. Ever since I started using Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle shampoo, my hair has felt noticeably softer and my scalp is less prone to being dry and having dandruff. Most tea tree shampoos on the market are pretty pricey, that's why I fell in love with this shampoo. It was only $4! Straight from Trader Joes, "All of these refreshing products are made for us with organic botanicals, including tea tree oil, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and thyme. Their scent is energizing, and their effect on your hair and skin is rejuvenating." 

Make the change for your hair and switch to all natural, sulfate-free products. Your hair will look healthier and so much more beautiful! 

Tea tree & happy hair,

Daniela

Protect Your Face From Pimples With The Right Sunblock

Since the warmer days are coming up (at least for me) preparing my summer's worth of sunblock is super important. I was just in Puerto Rico last week for my spring break, and I definitely got some sun. I love, love, love the sun. Loving the sun comes with consequences, though, because it comes with premature aging, skin cancer, and also pimples! Even though having a pretty, bronzed face looks good, it doesn't look so good when you have pimples along with it. The sun can actually cause pimples, ESPECIALLY when you use the wrong sunblock for your face that can clog your pores. If you are acne-prone or have sensitive skin... this post is for you. Read on.

When it comes to facial sunblocks, always use one that is meant for the face. If you are acne-prone, you want a facial sunblock that is non-comedogenic, oil-free, and hypoallergenic. If you can't find one that says non-comedogenic, it usually just says "doesn't clog pores" on the bottle. That works too, but not 100% of the time. Stick to the reliable "non-comedogenic" word. It is always your best bet. Making sure your sunblock is oil-free is essential too, because the oils in the lotion can make your skin greasy. When your face gets greasy, it can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Hypoallergenic helps your skin from getting irritated and getting a reaction from the ingredients in the sunblock.

I always like to have a SPF 15 and 30 facial sunblock in the summer. I use 30 in the beginning when my face is just starting to get color, and then 15 when I want to just deepen my tan. If you are very prone to getting sunburn, go up to 40 or even 70. Whatever you prefer.

I really like Coppertone's facial sunblocks. They are usually oil-free and the bottle says that it won't clog your pores. Stayed tuned for posts about my favorite sunblocks for my skin, and my not so favorites. 

Enjoy the sun and stay pimple free!

Daniela

Crazy for Baby Lips

Nothing is more sexy in a girl when she has pretty, soft, kissable lips. In my earlier posts, I did a short post on Lip Care 101 talking about exfoliating your lips and how to moisturize them. Now it's time to talk about a pretty lip balm that moisturizes your lips and makes them look good. Let me also mention it is cheap! Cheap always sounds good to me.

I'm talking Baby Lips in the color Peach Kiss. This makes my lips look shimmery and glossy, yet so smooth. It also smells delicious... I wouldn't say it quite smells like peaches though, but that's just me. The color comes off almost like nude with a peachy golden shimmer finish. This is my go-to when I need a quick touch of color and a little shimmer, but not thick and shiny like a gloss. I've tried other Baby Lips colors, but this is by far my favorite. The other colors are nice, but this one takes the prize. It looks just like something you would buy from MAC or another high end brand. Daniela's beauty rating: A+

Here's what the color looks like on white paper and on my hand. You can see the shimmer better on my hand.

Make your lips baby soft and plump. Perfect for the upcoming warmer days :) It will be a beach bag essential.
-Daniela

New Hair Product Overload!

Look at all these fabulous items I just got from KMS California! Can't wait to try these all out and do some hair posts about them... switch things up a bit.

Coming soon... 

-Daniela

Clean Out Your Candle Jars for Smart Organizing!

I don't know about you guys, but usually all my beauty stuff is unorganized. I have 3 bottles of face wash, cotton pads, and lotion bottles everywhere. I try to organize my bathroom every once in a while, but I never know where to put my stuff! Recently, my sister told me she cleaned out her candle jars to use as bathroom storage. I fell in love with the idea. If you are a candle lover (like me) and have unused candles that you want to throw away, think twice! Those pretty glass jars can be used for so much more...

How to clean out your candle jar the right way:
1. First, put your candles in the freezer overnight. (The longer you can keep it in there, the better.)
2. After they have been in the freezer overnight, take a knife and get the wax out. It usually just pops out of the jar. (TIP: DO NOT put the wax into the sink! That can clog it. Throw away in the trash instead.) 
3. Get a cooking pot (big enough for your candle jar) and put about an inch of water in there. Make sure the water is not above the candle rim. It has to be below. Get the water to a boil. 
2. Once the water is at a boil, place the candle in there. After about a minute or so, take the candle out. TIP: Don't reach your hand in the pot over the heat. Remove the pot from the heat, get a kitchen glove, and carefully remove the candle.
3. Boiling the water is used to help remove the candle wicks from the bottom. With a fork, remove the wick. It may take a few times to get it out since it's usually stuck on the bottom pretty good. Clean the inside with hot water and soap. Also, make sure to remove the candle sticker. 
4. After all that cleaning, there's usually more extra residue in the candle jar. I recommend using Goo Gone to help get it off.

Simple as that! Not all candle jars need to be used for bathroom storage, though. You can use cleaned candle jars for growing plants, putting ingredients in there for the kitchen, or just using them as decoration. It's a smart way of recycling and can save you money too. For a beauty guru like me, I can use as much storage as I can for my beauty products. Good luck!

Recycle my loves,
Daniela

My Current Acne Mask Obsession!

I have mentioned this mask in my previous posts, and I still can not get enough of it. It is my go-to mask whenever a breakout happens, or just when I want to cleanse my pores and refresh my skin. Before I purchased this mask, I went to see the reviews online, and all of them were positive. I thought to myself, "Why not?" and try it out.

This fab mask is by Peter Thomas Roth called Sulfur Cooling Masque. This mask contains kaolin (oil absorbing clay), eucalyptus (cleans pores and soothes skin), 10% sulfur (acne fighter), and aloe vera (skin hydrator and soother). In my Steaming 101 post, I stated that this mask is perfect for a post-steamed face. This cleans deep and really helps dry out those pimples. If you are an acne-sufferer and struggle with excess oil, this mask is a MUST have. Only downfall: it is on the pricey side. I bought mine for $40 at Ulta. I am on the quest to find cheaper alternatives. Stay tuned.

Mask those pimples away. Xo,

Daniela

Cystic Pimples... Do's & Don'ts

Cystic pimples: the most painful pimple on the planet. These things hurt. Most people mistake them for normal pimples that can be easily popped. Newsflash: it's harder than you think.

Cystic pimples are "underground" pimples that are beneath the skin and are very sore. If you try to pop the underground pimple, it will actually make it worse and more sore. I remember when I had these, I would try and pop them and that was the worst mistake I could have made. It actually throbs in pain. Ugh.

You can tell if its a cystic pimple if it is hard to the touch, very painful, and no sign of whitehead. The best thing you can do is DO NOT try and pop it. Just don't touch it. My friend had one recently and thought she would try to squeeze it as hard as she could to see if she could pop it. Long story short, she quickly regretted it.

Whenever I have a cystic pimple, I really like to do warm compresses. I put a towel under hot water, and place it on my pimple until the towel gets cold again. Then I reapply the hot water and do it again. It helps bring the pimple to a head. Also, ice cubes on the pimple bring the redness and size down. Both hot & cold remedies work best for cystic pimples. Also, put good pimple medicine on it. I really like Neutrogena Rapid Clear Sore Pimple Gel. It really does the trick for me.

Take that pain away,
Daniela