"Beauty and the Beach"

Happy Official-Start-of-Summer! This week's blog entry is in honor of Memorial Day weekend and all the DKBeauties who are heading "down the shore" (as we say in Jersey) for some fun in the sun.

ON-THE-BEACH
The perfect on-the-beach look is what I like to call "faux-au-natural" (which basically means it looks like you have nothing on your face but, really, a few key products are helping you look flawless—shhh, it's your little secret!). Of course, the most important beauty product to have is sunscreen! I swear by Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock for my face and Hawaiian Tropic's Sheer Touch Lotion for my body. Enhance your natural glow with a drop of lip/cheek stain (a really light one that I like is Benefit's Posietint; Tarte makes a great, full line of stains, as well!) and then a dusting of the AMAZING portable mineral skin powder and bronzer from Peter Thomas Roth that I mentioned in a previous entry (they have SPF in them!). You can also wear some waterproof mascara (I like Zoom Waterfast Lash by MAC Cosmetics) and lip gloss (but make sure to layer lip balm with SPF underneath to protect your pout).

OFF-THE-BEACH
So, your beach day got rained out and, alas, you remain un-sun-kissed. Fear not! You can look like you spent a day soaking up the rays with just a few products. For wonderfully beachy hair, try a combo of Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Moisture Mist, Dove's Whipped Cream Mousse (this stuff feels incredible!), and Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray on wet hair—lightly scrunch and go! To create beachy glowing skin, use Mario Badescu's Summer Shine Body Lotion on your arms and legs; then, on your face, try Smashbox's Photo Finish Luminizing Primer, OCC's Tint Tinted Moisturizer in 1 shade darker than you normally wear (but make sure to blend, blend, BLEND so your neck and face match), and then apply bronzer (I like Cargo's Bronzer for a more matte finish, MAC's Powder Blush in Sunbasque for a touch of shimmer, and Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick in Bronze for a full-on glow). Sweep a warm shade on your lids (you can use bronzer here too, or I also like Too Faced's Summertime Sexy Shadow Collection), add as much or as little eyeliner and mascara as you want, and finish up with a glossy, glimmery lip (I love Smashbox's Lip Enhancing Gloss in Candid or Radiant and Bare Escentual's Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Destiny).

Bottom line: Looking a little extra awesome both on and off the beach is easy. Enjoy the surf and sand safely this summer, my dears! And now, it's time to start the weekend (cue shades)…

Love-n-hugs,
Diana

Beyonce: A bonafide beach beauty (if you ask me!)
Image from http://favimages.com/image/51131/

"Prom Perfection Highlights"

Something a little different this week...a photo tutorial of small, easy tricks you can do to achieve picture perfect makeup for Prom (or really, any special occasion!). The key is "highlighting" certain features on your face for added fabulosity. It's all about the details! ;)

Enjoy and feel free to Comment below!

Tip #1: Apply a warm shadow along the bottom eyeline for added drama.

Tip #2: Highlight under the brow bone with a light, shimmery shadow.

Tip #3: Use the same shadow color used under the brow bone to highlight the inner corners of each eye.

Tip #4: White eyeliner on the bottom waterline makes eyes look bigger and brighter.

Tip #5: Light, peachy tones keep the look fresh and youthful.

Tip #6: A soft coral lip color brings the whole look together.

Tip #7: When applying eyeshadow, make sure to bring the color all the way down and out so that, in a side shot like this, it lines up with the end of your eyebrow and looks complete.

Tip #8: The best finishing touch is highlighting powder above cheekbones for a gorgeous glow.

xoxo,
Diana

“Spring Fling—Try Something New!”

As soon as the weather gets warmer and the sun starts to smile on us all again, I instantaneously have the desire to roll up my jeans, break out the flip-flops, and add bursts of bright color to my look. And what better way to do that than with some fun makeup!

I’ve recently tried out a vegan and cruelty-free line of cosmetics called Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and, pardon the pun, I’m officially “obsessed.” In particular, I love their Lip Tars—they come in a wide variety of exciting colors but, what’s better, they are COMPLETELY innovative! How, you ask? Well, they go on like a lip gloss, but are matte and have the opacity/staying power of a lipstick (without drying out your pout!). Normally, I’m a smoky-eye-and-neutral-lip kinda girl, but my spring fling with Lip Tars is turning that upside down. Now I’m thinking, the brighter the lip color, the better—and my eyeshadows are getting some well-deserved vacay time. ;)

Image from http://www.occmakeup.com/

So, what’s the best part of spring flings? You can have more than one. ;) My other makeup flirtation happened during a recent trip to Sephora. I was browsing around and stumbled up these AMAZING portable mineral skin powders and bronzers from Peter Thomas Roth...

Image from http://sephora.com/

Image from http://sephora.com/

They are super easy to throw in your purse, they control the oiliness that naturally happens to most of us once the weather gets warmer, AND, they have SPF in them (hooray for healthy skin!). I’ve been using them now for a few weeks and they have not disappointed once—may just have to turn this into a long-term relationship after all. ;) Would love to know what makeup products you’re addicted to during the warmer months, so please feel free to share in the Comments section below.

Enjoy the weekend, catch some rays, and perhaps even have a spring fling of your own.

xo always,
Diana

“Play On, Playette”

Just a fun little morsel I wanted to share with all the DKBeauties out there this Friday: my ultimate “gettin’ done up” playlist. The people closest to me know that, in addition to being passionate about makeup and writing, I LOOOVE music. These 25 tunes (in no particular order) never fail to put me in the best mood—and make me feel happy and gorgeous both inside and out! (They also create the perfect ambiance when I’m on a job, glamming someone up for a special occasion.) Happy listening! :)

1. No Diggity by Blackstreet
2. Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
3. You Gotta Be by Des’ree
4. Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
5. My Love Is Like…Wo by Mya
6. Poison by Bel Biv DeVoe
7. Out Tonight from The Original RENT Soundtrack (big theater nerd over here…haha)
8. Tik Tok by Ke$ha
9. You Rock My World by Michael Jackson
10. Buzzin’ by Mann
11. Right Here by Brandy
12. Let Me Think About It by Ida Corr/Fedde Le Grand
13. Night of Your Life by David Guetta/Jennifer Hudson (pretty much anything by David Guetta is a-okay by me!)
14. 100% Pure Love by Crystal Waters
15. Glad You Came by The Wanted
16. I’m a Slave for You by Britney Spears
17. Pretty Girl Rock by Keri Hilson
18. When I Get You Alone by The Cast of GLEE (adore those Warblers!)
19. Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce
20. She Ain’t You by Chris Brown
21. (You Drive Me) Crazy by Britney Spears (yes, she’s on here twice…what can I say, I ♥ her)
22. Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder (I could do a playlist just with Motown!)
23. Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO
24. It Girl by Jason Derulo
25. Say Aah by Trey Songz/Fabolous

xoxo,
Diana

“Beauty That Doesn’t Budge? It’s In The Bag!”

Making up your face impeccably is one thing, but keeping it that way for hours is another! See my tips below on “The Power of Prepping” and “Essential Touch-up Tools” to help ensure your makeup stays looking fresh all day/night.

THE POWER OF PREPPING

- Taking the extra step of applying primer to your face and eyelids before applying any makeup goes a looong way—it keeps your makeup from “moving” on your face. My reco’s: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light for your face and MAC Paint in Bare Canvas for your eyes

- Limit how much you need to reapply lipstick by filling in your entire top and bottom lip with lipliner before putting on your lipstick (always condition your lips first, though, to prevent chapping)

- Once your look is complete, set your makeup with a quick spritz of MAC Fix + Spray—it’ll feel weird at first (like, “Why am I wetting my face after I’ve finished this makeup masterpiece?!?”), but as it dries, it works to moisturize skin and seal your makeup in place, all while adding a subtle dewy (and gorgeous!) glow

ESSENTIAL TOUCH-UP TOOLS

Pack these in your purse to perk up your makeup every few hours…

1. FACE: Oil blotting sheets (I like the Clean and Clear ones)

NOTE (and I can’t take credit for this discovery, my best friend Randi clued me in!), the BROWN paper towels work like a charm in a pinch/if you don’t have any oil blotting sheets on you.

2. EYES: Q-tips to wipe off any unwanted under-eye smudging that naturally occurs; pencil eyeliner to touch up waterline; and a light, satiny eyeshadow (my fave is Shroom by MAC) to reapply the little bit of shimmer/glow in the inner corners of your eyes

NOTE, if you’re wearing false eyelash strips, bring your lash glue along in case the corners start to lift.

3. LIPS: Lip balm to keep lips soft; lip pencil, lipstick, and/or lip gloss to keep color bright

NOTE, wearing a bold red or coral color is a commitment and usually needs more reapplying than neutral shades.

Have a DKBeautiful weekend, everyone! :)

♥ and hugs,
Diana