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

Blush Me Up! Favorite MAC Blushes

Winter time is here (obviously... it is currently snowing outside my window) and nothing completes a perfect look without a hint of pretty blush. Having a paler face in winter is hard-- you can't put on too much bronzer or foundation without it looking like too much. It's always important to not make your face too tan or too dark compared to your skin tone. Always go with lighter face colors so it looks as natural as possible. When it comes to MAC cosmetics, I have found two blushes that have satisfied me for my skin tone in both summer and winter. These colors are so easy and simple. Especially on any skin tone. Lo-o-oveeee.

First, I love MAC Melba. Its a slight mix between peachy and coral with hints of pink. It is matte, so there aren't any shimmers. Love this for a pretty natural look. 

Next, I adore MAC Peaches. This is more for summer time, because it is more on the peachy side (more peachy than Melba). It has a pretty tint and gives a nice matte glow. For the winter months, go lightly with this. It still looks gorgeous on paler skin. Peach is pretty on the cheeks, but looks bad if you overdo it. So don't! 

I love the brand MAC and their face blushes/bronzers. These are my two favorites from this brand and have never disappointed. Just a little on the apples of your checks and bam! 

Love,
Daniela

Bronzer Basics... How To Naturally Get That Bronzed Babe Look

I think it's safe to say that almost everyone loves to wear bronzer. Having a nice, golden glow is super flattering on anyone. A pretty glow is the way to go. :)

For me, my makeup routine is not complete without a little touch of bronzer and blush. It highlights/contours the face and gives it color. There are different ways of applying bronzer-- I'll explain how. To begin, don't overdo it with the bronzer. Some girls get desperate for that tan and will overdo the color (sometimes not matching their neck!). Remember that less is more! If you have an all over face color, like my all time favorite Bare Minerals Faux Tan powder, then that can lightly be applied on the forehead, checks, chin, nose. If you have a stronger pigmented bronzer, like Lorac Hot Flash, then you apply the bronzer where the sun naturally falls: the forehead, cheeks, and below your cheeks towards the jaw. Let me give you a visual... Consider the bronzer to be applied in an almost "3" shape.

No matter the face shape, applying bronzer in these areas looks flattering on anyone. It really defines the face and cheek bones. Bronzer is supposed to look natural. If it looks like you are noticeably wearing bronzer, then it may be too much. Good luck. 

I will be writing a post soon about blush basics. Stay tuned.

-Daniela

Breakout No-No's

Having a breakout is one of the worst feelings in the world. I remember I used to have really bad breakouts in high school- so bad I didn't want to go to school. Even though my mom said it wasn't that bad, it was bad to me. I just wanted it to go away! After many attempts to zap away my breakout quick, I learned what worked, and what didn't. No breakout is healed overnight, it all comes with patience.

First, please promise me that you will not pick at your face! You know how I feel about that... it's very bad. You can make the breakout worse. Leave it alone and let it heal. Secondly, drink lots of water. Drinking plenty of water is always the best solution. Also, try not to stress! Whenever I get really stressed out, I breakout. Relax, take deep breaths, drink tea and get plenty of rest.

Also, don't overkill it. Don't get obsessive with the face masks, topical treatments, zip zappers, and so on. I recommend maybe doing one mask, but then leave it alone after that. One time I did like 4 masks during a breakout and it made it so much worse. Your skin needs to heal and repair itself naturally. Face washing is only necessary twice daily. 

Try to keep low on the makeup too. The more layering of makeup, the more pimples to come. 

Stay calm & breakout free,

Daniela