skinDEEP

ROSY CHEEKS FOR WINTER

I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t really a huge blush girl throughout life. I think it’s because I never thought I would find a color that would really make my cheeks pop (being that I have tan skin). Once I started contouring my face, I realized the importance of blush in the process. This is when I discovered Clinique’s Blushwear Cream Stick. Here’s what I love:

• Texture: I harp on this all the time, but I have dry skin, so any creamy product works great on me. 
• Easy Applicator: The fact that it is in stick form makes it perfect to apply the perfect line across your cheek for blending
• Color: I found that 03 Rosy Blush works perfect with my skin tone. 

Winter is a great time to discover the perfect blush. Your cheeks are already looking rosy, so you might as well even out your skin by throwing on a color that goes well with your skin type. If you’re wondering where the blush should be applied on your cheeks, check out my blog post on contouring your face here. 

Do YOU use blush?  If so, what’s YOUR favorite?

VALENTINE’S DAY CRUSHES <3

Valentines day is around the corner! I have some product suggestions you’re going to love that are fun, flirty, and fit the spirit of the holiday. For those of you still on the hunt for a crush, you came to the right place. For those of you who already have crushes, what’s a few more?  Here are three products to crush on this Valentine’s Day: 

FUN: Big Sexy Hair Spray

Valentine’s Day is all about having fun/being confident and so is Big Sexy Hair Spray. It really helps boost your roots to give you lasting volume for a big date or a night out with your girls. Have some fun this Valentine’s Day, and let your hair down (literally and metaphorically speaking) with a product that add just the right pop to your hair! 

FLIRTY: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

I may have strained away from Juicy in my closet (RIP Juicy Velour Track suit-we had a good run), but it will always have a place in my bathroom as my go-to fragrance. Juicy Couture’s Viva la Juicy is a year round favorite of mine, BUT specifically for those of you on a man hunt this Valentine’s Day, get this product! There’s something about Viva la Juicy that makes guy’s go crazy. What I really love about the scent is that it’s not TOO strong but potent enough to grab someone’s attention. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. Next time you’re at Sephora or a department store, spray it on your skin and clothes. You may end up finding your next signature scent!

FIT: Benefit Benetint

There’s no other product more fit for Vday than Benefit’s Benetint. I’ve been a fan of this product for years. Not only can you use it to add a rosy glow to your cheekbones, but it has dual purpose as a lip stain. What’s so great about this? It’s water, and might I add, kiss proof (you’re welcome to all the boys out there)! One tip to note about this product is that being that it is a stain, you need to react to it quickly once applying. Dab it on the desired part of your face and blend. This product is great for those of you who want to add a small tint of color to your face without going overboard!

I hope you crush on these products as much as I do! Happy Valentine’s Day <3

What are YOUR Valentine’s Day plans?

PAINT THE TOWN PINK THIS SPRING

I know it’s still a month away, but I am so excited for bright Spring fashion! I love Spring because it’s the time when you say bye to the neutrals you’ve been wearing all winter long and hello to loud, vivid colors. I wanted to share a new lipstick I bought today that I’m so excited to wear out. I tried it on at the store and had to get it. It was so out of my comfort zone and screams Spring 2012:

MAC Girl About Town Fuchsia Amplified Creme Lipstick

I plan to pair this lip color with a floral print blouse for more of a day time look or pop green dress (green was the first color I thought of when I saw this lipstick) with chunky gold jewelry for a night on the town. You can take it a million different directions! I don’t care how much guys hate bright lipsticks, they are too fun to not wear, and might I add that they are right on trend. Get out there, experiment, and be bold this Spring!

For those of you wondering how this color looks on my complexion (tan with yellow undertones), here you go! Please excuse the extreme and WAY too up close and personal picture on the right, but hopefully it’ll help you decide whether this is a shade that’ll work with your skin…

More Spring favorites to come…

What are YOU most excited about this Spring?

HEY BIG SPENDER: AN EYE CREAM JUST FOR YOU

Everyone knows that I am a HUGE advocate for affordable products. I really do believe that there are some beauty necessities that you can get at your local grocery store that work wonders on your skin. If you read my post on Olay’s eye cream, than you know that I don’t necessarily believe that you have to go big or go home (when it comes to beauty products atleast). The Olay cream won’t even cost you 20 bucks, but at the same time, I know there are skeptics out there that have a loyalty towards luxury products. I don’t blame you because I have the same weakness at times. In my trial and error days, I’ve tried a few other night creams that have done wonders for me, and I mention one in particular in the Olay blog post. Here it is:

Shiseido Future Solutions LX

You might be asking yourself, why would anyone spend $130 on ANY product, let alone a cream? Trust me, I was a skeptic myself until I got a sample of this product and fell in love.  So, what will this product do for you?

• Adds Hydration
• Increase Firmness
• Anti-aging
• Reduce Appearance of Dark Circles
• Diminish the Appearance of Wrinkles

For me, the best part about the cream was the treatment it gave to dark circles. Also, Future Solutions LX has a dual purpose; it works as an eye and lip cream. The rare, luxurious ingredients carry the latest in Japanese skincare advancements. For anyone else (like myself) that has a darker pigmentation around their lips, I recommend this product. Go splurge on yourself and try Shiseido Future Solution LX!

What’s YOUR favorite eye cream?

GLITZ & GLAM AT THE GLOBES

Award show season has finally begun! It’s time for the stars to bring their A game for the red carpet. Honestly, who really cares about the actual award show? My favorite part is watching the pre-show and seeing what stars are wearing and who they are with. If you follow my tweets (couldn’t stop tweeting during the show!), you would know that I had some pretty strong opinions on the stars choices of the night. 

Some not so favs:

• Sarah Michelle Gellar: I’m not down for that fluffy/swirly prom dress look.
• Emma Stone: I know people loved it but eh…
• Freida Pinto: The hair, the makeup, and even the Prada (yes, I said it!) wasn’t impressive. Seriously, I really really want to root for her, but she makes it so hard sometimes. I’m waiting for the day she wow’s me on the red carpet!

Some favs:

• Paula Patton: I loved the yellow on her skin, but I think I just love HER so anything she wears is automatically perfect.
• Sofia Vergara: Vera+ Sofia= masterpiece
• Mila Kunis and Charlize Theron: J’adore Dior..enough said!

The stars above definitely impressed, but there were two show stoppers of the night that I have to highlight. They literally took my breath away. Here they are: 

ANGELINA JOLIE

Not many people can pull off that high of a slit and still look like pure class. The red accent on her Atelier Versace dress went perfectly with her crimson Christian Louboutin clutch and scarlet lip color. Her skin looked like porcelain, and I love the way she did her top eye liner. It was just the perfect amount to keep the focus on her plump lips. She went simplistic with Lorrain Schwartz jewelry, well that is, if you count 25 carat earrings and a 12 carat ring as simple…

BTW, did anyone else notice how Lorrain Schwartz was the clear celeb favorite of the night? I felt like every other person on the red carpet was wearing her jewelry this year. 

LEA MICHELE

I hate to admit this because I think this girl is so ridiculous on a red carpet with her posing. I’ve never seen a celeb scold, pucker, and swing as much as her, but I have to give credit where credit lies. Lea Michele killed it in this Marchesa dress. It’s so different and bold, but at the same time so elegant. Her hair and makeup definitely topped off the look. By putting her hair up, we were able to focus on the beauty of the dress and her stunning makeup. Love the contouring, love the smouldering eyes, and love love love the nude lips. Shout out to fab Lancome makeup artist Melanie for a job well done!

P.S I’m really annoyed that Kim Kardashian and I have the same two favorites of the night. Really Kim, couldn’t you have picked any other two people to love?! Click here to see Kim talking about her thoughts on being called out during the monologue of the award show and why Angelina and Lea Michele were also her favorites. 

Who were YOUR Golden Globe favs? Do you have the same ones as me?

I’M A CLINIQUE BEAUTY INSIDER!

A few months ago, I got asked by Clinique to be a beauty insider for them as apart of their “Clinique Insider’s Club”. Being as obsessed as I am with makeup, I was ecstatic! What was even more exciting was this huge assortment of products they sent me in my ‘Welcome Kit’! Here they are: 

The kit included:

• A flip cam to record my reviews
• Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer
• Clinique Pore Refining Solutions
• Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus 
• Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer
• Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream 
• Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector 
• Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage (excited for this one!)
• Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
• Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Balm
• Clinique Quick Liner For Eyes
• Clinique 3 Step Skin Care System
• Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator 
• Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick (my new favorite blush!)
• Clinique Eye Shadow Brush
• Clinique Lid Smoothie
• Clinique Instant Lift For Brows Crayon
• Clinique High Impact Mascara
• Clinique Almost Lipstick

If there are any products from my ‘Welcome Kit’ you want to learn more about, be sure to ‘Ask’ me by submitting your questions (on the right side of this page). Otherwise, I will be reviewing a new product that they will send me every month. I promise to keep my reviews honest and concise!

Over the course of the year, I will post the videos of my reviews on my blog, but if you ever want to check them out on Clinique’s YouTube Page, click here. Go to the Insider’s Club tab, and look for Deepica (me!). 

More updates to come soon…

Are YOU a fan of Clinique Products? 

HAIR TRENDS: OMBRE ANYONE?

Whether it be highlights, streaks, or unnatural hair period, I’m not really a fan of hair coloring (after painful trial and error throughout my teenage years ofcourse-we all go through a phase of curiosity!). With that said, I do get an itching for a change every once in awhile! Having a solid hair color can get boring. At the same time, I don’t really want to go as drastic as cutting off 10 inches to suffice my craving to try something new. Lucky for me, ombre hair is sweeping Hollywood and gives me just the fix I need. If you think you have no idea what I’m talking about, you’re probably wrong! I’m sure you’ve noticed the look on your favorite celebs but just didn’t know the hair coloring tactic had a name. Here it is: 

Ombre hair is basically a dark to light fade of color in your hair starting from your roots. What I love is that this look can either be extremely dramatic or super soft. Depending on your personality and preference, you can go either way. Personally, I’m leaning towards the gradual fading of color, but as you can see from the stars above, it works for everyone! 

WARNING: This has to be done by someone who really knows what they are doing. Otherwise, you could take the risk of just looking like you really just need to get your roots done. I’ve been seeing DIY versions of this but nothing impressive. I say stick to a professional!

What do YOU think? Are YOU a fan of ombre hair?

FOR THE FELLAS: HOLIDAY GIFT SET HE WILL LOVE FROM KIEHL’S

Christmas is just five days away and if you’re like me, you’re just now getting your holiday shopping started (don’t judge)! If you’re looking for a gift for a guy in your life, look no further. The Kiehl’s ‘Ultimate Man Collection’ has everything a guy needs. Whether it’s for a cousin, brother, dad, or boyfriend, Kiehl’s has you covered. 

Boys, if you’ve been trying to figure out what you’re going to treat yourself to this Christmas or hint to your girlfriend what you want, this is it. If you’re one of those guys who’s thinking “I don’t even know what products I should be using” (aka most men out there), this is a great kit to help you figure it out!

Best part? It’s a $72 value for 50 bucks. So, what exactly comes in this kit? My favorite Kiehl’s products for men, including their famous line of ‘Facial Fuel’ products. Here’s the list: 

• Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash 
• Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream 
• Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men 
• “Ultimate Man” Body Scrub Soap 
• Lip Balm #1 
• Ultimate Strength Hand Salve 

Get it while you can!

To read about some of my other favorite Kiehl’s products, click here. 

Have YOU done your holiday shopping?

5 FOR 5: TOP 5 PRODUCTS FOR UNDER 5 BUCKS

It’s nice to have some fancy shmancy beauty products, but when it comes to certain items that we use day to day, it’s important to find brands that are not only affordable but are trust worthy. Being that it’s the holidays and we all have a million gifts to buy, I figured now would be the best time to share my favorite five beauty products that you can get for under 5 dollars. Here they are:

1. FACIAL SKINCARE: St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub ($3.03): I LOVE the St. Ives apricot scrub. What’s great is that all the different scrubs in the product line have different levels of intensity. For those of you who want to get a gentle day to day cleanse, they have a product for you. For those of you who are looking for more coarse Apricot beads to get a deep down cleanse, they have a product for you as well! My personal favorite for my specific skin type is the Invigorating Apricot Scrub, but you may find that the Renew and Firm Apricot Scrub works best for you (my sister loves this one!). Every beauty magazine raves about this product with good reason. You will definitely get the most bang for your buck with ANY St. Ives Apricot Scrub you pick. 

2. HAIRCARE: Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping Spray Gel ($3.19): If you’re not a fan ofhairspray but are looking for a product to reduce frizz and maintain hold, this is the product for you. I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and fell in love. The product feels very light on your head and works perfect for the days that I want to leave my hair naturally wavy. I am able to control my hair’s natural frizz and increase shine with a few sprays of this affordable product. 

3. COSMETICS: Maybelline Line Express Eyeliner Soft Black 902 ($4.79): I am always on the hunt for affordable makeup. What I love about this Maybelline eyeliner is that it works great for smokey eyes, believe it or not. The sponge on the other end of the liner allows for blending in the corners of your eye so the liner doesn’t look so harsh. Sometimes I like using a pencil liner because the smudge sponge at the end makes blending really easy. If you’re not a fan of the pencil liners and are looking for an affordable stick liner, I recommend my favorite liner of all time L’Oreal Paris Pencil Perfect Ebony ($8.49). If you’re a loyal Maybelline girl, they have a great stick liner for under 5 bucks as well called Maybelline Define-A-Lash Eyeliner ($4.79).

4. BODY SKINCARE: St. Ives Body Moisturizer ($3.99): I have extremely dry skin, so it is important for me to find a moisturizer than keeps my skin hydrated. What I love about the St.Ives brand is the results it gives for the price you’re paying. This lotion in specific is great because instantly after you put it in your hands, you can feel the moisture. I know that my skin is getting a quality product and a moisturizer that lasts longer than most. If you’re okay spending a little more money, the Aveeno Natural Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($8.79) is a favorite of mine as well. The Aveeno brand carries great natural products that don’t feel harsh against skin. I recommend trying both to see which works best for your unique skin type. 

5. BODY SKINCARE: Caress Daily Silk Body Wash ($3.59): I have a million different body washes, but to be honest, the scent of the Caress body washes are unbeatable! Every time I’m in a drug store and see Caress line of body washes, I never know which one to pick, but I’ve finally narrowed it down. My two favorites are the Daily Silk and the Tahitian Renewel. The Daily Silk is nice because for someone like me with dry skin, it makes my skin feel rejuvenated. The Tahitian Renewel is great because of the beads in it. Both will make you come out of the shower feeling refreshed and smelling radiant!

To all the drug store product haters, try them before dismissing them. I truly believe that half of the stigma against drug store products are in everyone’s head. We are trained to believe that pretty packaging, higher prices, and fancy department stores carry the best of the best. Don’t get me wrong, I have to have my Sephora fix everyone once in awhile, but we are in a recession people! You can get all the products above and more at your local CVS right now on sale for the prices listed above. Click on the links above to see my top 5 for 5, and look around their website to learn about more great products you can get for under 5 bucks!

What’s YOUR top 5 for 5?