I am absolutely a mascara junkie. I used to wear it every single day without fail. Now there are days when I go without any makeup but I have to be honest, I feel naked without mascara.
I have tried nearly every single mascara and continue to scoop up new ones when they are out. Two of the most buzzed about mascaras that promise amazing results are Benefit's They're Real! and Too Faced's Better Than Sex. Both mascaras cost $23, so they are a definite investment. Which one is worth the $23?
They both are worth their price, but y absolute favorite hands down is Better Than Sex. Benefit's They're Real! does seriously lengthen your lashes and adds quite a bit of volume as well. The special tip really does help you coat each and every lash, however, be sure to exercise caution when using it as it will hurt if you accidentally poke yourself in the eye (trust me!). The pigmentation is amazing and the mascara truly does give you great results. Do my lashes look fake when I wear them? Not really, but they do look very dramatic.They're Real! is definitely noticeable when you wear it and I find this to be a negative point of the product. It's far from uncomfortable on your lashes, but it is a heavier feel than Better Than Sex. Also, this mascara dries to a hard feeling on the lashes and I prefer a softer, more weightless feel which I get with Better Than Sex.
Another issue with They're Real! is that it definitely requires you to do some work. This is not a mascara that you can just swipe on and run out the door. If you do put in the work though, you will see the results. For me to really see the full benefits of this mascara I need to apply two coats, which is really fine by me.
On the other hand, Better Than Sex gives you amazing lashes with half the amount of work. In addition to being easier to use, my lashes do not feel hard or crunchy during the day. I find this mascara provides more volume than They're Real and adds just as much length. I am not the type of person to shy away from putting on two or three coats of mascara to achieve my desired look, but quite honestly that is unnecessary when you use Better Than Sex. One coat gives me the most amazingly thick and long lashes.
My $23 will always go to Too Faced's Better Than Sex mascara. To me it is the superior mascara. I have never, in over 15 years of wearing makeup, found a mascara that I loved the look of with only one coat. However, I rarely put a second coat of Better Than Sex on. It can be built upon and it does not get clumpy if you want to add a second coat, but I really love the look I get with just one coat so I tend to skip putting on a second coat.
This mascara may not be better than sex, but it is a seriously amazing product that I will continue to repurchase!
My day to day my life is more suited to yoga pants and ponytails than it is a full face of makeup and professional clothes. However, even as a busy (step)mom I like to feel beautiful and I appreciate the added confidence that a more polished look gives me. I confess, I never went to one college course without a full face of makeup. If I was sick and not feeling well, either I slathered on the products or I stayed under the covers. And I'll also admit to being the girl at the gym with makeup on. Not every single day that I go, but on occasion you will find me on the treadmill with my mascara starting to smudge.
This comes as a fascination with beauty products. Since I was a young, young girl I have been excited and stimulated by potions and powders and the older I get, the more the obsession seems to grow. I am constantly experimenting with various products and love finding hidden gems that work for me.
Now, I do not think that women NEED to wear makeup daily to feel or be beautiful. But for me, the time I spend in front of my mirror buffing, blending and blotting really is an enjoyable experience. I find a sort of relaxation and satisfaction in doing my makeup and if on a given day the thought of doing my makeup is a headache, I simply skip it.
Since this is the very beginning of this blog, I'll start today with the beauty basics that I do daily. These rituals and routines lay the foundation for any makeup look that I feel like doing.
The first thing I do is drink water when I get up. I try to drink 24 ounces immediately when I wake up. It helps me feel refreshed and awake.
Next, I start my day like many other moms. When I have a moment, I shower. I do not wash my hair every day and choose to wash every other instead. I wish I could go longer in between washes, but I've always had very fine and slightly oily hair. Batiste dry shampoo has been a lifesaver for my non-shampoo days. My favorite scent is:
I'm a sucker for anything leopard print at the moment, and the scent is feminine without being overpowering.
Once I'm done in the shower, I apply lotion. My absolute favorite winter lotion is Neutrogena Moisture Wrap.
It is amazing at providing lasting moisture and softness to the skin without ANY trace of greasiness, which I cannot stand in a lotion. It dries quickly so I'm able to dress without problem.
My basic facial routine consists of three steps, like many women. I'm in the process of experimenting with products that work for me and at the moment my face routine is:
1. Cleanse - I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily skin. In the past year my skin has completely changed and what used to be normal to combination is now a virtual oil slick. This cleanser really does help my face feel clean without any irritation or residue. I was an avid fan of the Clarisonic (a gift from my mother) but in the past 2 weeks I have discovered a new love:
The Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal is AMAZING. I have used the Clarisonic for nearly two years and I was so skeptical when I read reviews that said women preferred this sponge to the Clarisonic, but, count me among those women. The texture of my face seems smoother and it is so calming, yet it truly does clean the skin. I'll keep you updated on whether or not I love this long-term as much as I do right now, but, it is truly an amazing product.
2. Toner - In addition to my skin becoming more oily, it seems more prone to breakouts as well. I use an exfoliating cotton pad and the Neutrogena Stress Control toner with salicylic acid. Through much trial and error I have learned the benzoyl peroxide is not a friend to my skin and salicylic acid seems to help my acne.
3. Moisturize and Spot Treatments - I use a Roc retinol eye cream that I swear has minimized the appearance of my crow's feet. Now, I'm only 29 so they aren't awful, but it is nice to have them appear softened so I would repurchase this product when I run out. One thing I spent nearly a year struggling with was finding a moisturizer that left my skin feeling hydrated, but that did not increase oil production or break me out. I finally found one that I am absolutely in love with. I recently recommended it to my sister, who finds her skin going through the same changes as mine and she loves it just as much as I do. The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream is truly a holy grail product for me. I am hoping that I love it just as much in the summer as I do right now, and I truly do not think that I will be disappointed. I use the "night" formulation as the SPF in the day cream tends to lead to breakouts. I highly suggest trying this moisturizer if you have oily or combination skin and still need to hydrate it.
Lastly, I apply the L'Oreal Youthcode Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher (that's a mouthful!) all over my face. I picked this up at the recommendation of one of my favorite YouTube gurus, Tati, and I love this as a primer. Even on days that I do not apply any makeup I will wear this. It helps to blur imperfections, control my oil and I find it to be beautiful under makeup as well.
That's my daily morning routine. In all it takes maybe 15 minutes.
What beauty rituals make you feel more refreshed? What other areas of your day leave you feeling confident and beautiful? Take some time to focus on what activities give you renewed energy or passion and enjoy them today!
"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
Welcome to Daily Beauty
Daily Beauty exists to provide readers with beauty related information from product reviews, tips and tricks, DIY beauty and other general information related to cosmetics, beauty and health.
What sets Daily Beauty apart from the myriad of beauty blogs already in existence?
Daily Beauty is written by an average wife and mother with no formal beauty training. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a makeup artists. I have no affiliation to the beauty industry. I am merely a self-proclaimed product junkie and a lover of all things beauty and health related.
My aim with Daily Beauty is to provide readers with information that is both entertaining and valuable. I aim to give readers practical advice for their daily lives and I hope to inspire others to find those things that make their life beautiful.
I hope you subscribe to, share and most importantly enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy writing it!
Daily Beauty Reflection:
What is your most beautiful feature? Think of what makes you feel most beautiful and do something today to enhance that!
