Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2016 | Pretty in Pink

1. S'well Water Bottle - I have one of these and they're great. I got the 24oz and thought it would be perfect, but I think it's a little too big, I'd go for the 17oz. 
2. Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour  - Chanel Polishes are some of my favorite and are a great luxury gift that wont break the bank. My favorite everyday pink shade is 167 Ballerina.
3. FujiFilm Instamix Mini - This is great for the girl who loves to document everything. Polaroid cameras have made a huge comeback in the past few years and this mini pink one is no exception.
4. Reflective Ray-Ban Aviators - My Ray-Ban aviators are my favorite sunglasses and the reflective version makes them even better. 
5. Kate Spade Card Holder - Card holders are perfect for nights out when you don't have a huge purse to carry around your stuff. The scalloped edges on this make it so feminine and beautiful.
6. Jeffrey Campbell Atsuko Flats - This style flat has been all the rage. All the designers, even Forever21 have been coming out with a version, but these are my favorite.
7. M.A.C. Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour- M.A.C. came out with liquid lipsticks and my life became complete. This berry-pink is one of my favorites, its called 'To Matte With Love.' 
8. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette - Perfect for Valentine's day, and every other day. Urban Decay shadows are some of my favorite, end of story.
9. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb - I've mentioned this fragrance before and it's because it really is the best. I love it so much and think every girl would too.
10. White + Warren Cashmere Gloves - If you live anywhere cold, you know gloves in the winter are a must. I love these because they're cashmere, which is super warm, and they're a fun pop of color on a gloomy winter day.
11. Diptyque Rosaviola Candle - Diptyque candles are the best, I've mentioned them a bunch of times before in different gift guides, and they have this really cute pink rose scent for the holiday which makes it even better. 
12. Chiara Ferragni iPhone Case - This phone case is so cute I might just get one for myself! The winking eyes make it the perfect mix between edgy and girly.

My Sephora VIB Sale Picks & Wishlist | Fall 2015

It’s back! November is here and so is the VIB Rouge Sale, VIB rouge members can get 20% off their purchase with the code ROUGE20 November 6th-9th. Before a sale like this, I think it's really helpful to know what other people recommend buying, so I thought I would share my picks for this season!

1. Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Lolita: Mauve lips have taken off since Kylie Jenner made it her signature a few months back. This color is absolutely perfect for fall and on trend - not to mention it's a liquid lipstick so it'll stay all day without budging.  ($20)
2. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit: Hourglass products are super pricey, but they're truly amazing quality. I've been wanting to try the bronzer and blushes for a while and with this kit you get 6 travel size powders, which is a great deal if you've been coveting them! ($80)
3. Peter Thomas Roth Mask-A-Holic Kit: If you're anything like me you're obsessed with skin care. I love masks, but I find it hard to go through huge tubs before they go bad. This set allows you to try 5 different masks that come in reasonably sized containers so you don't worry about waisting product. ($75)
4. Marc Jacobs O!mega Bronzer: This product is absolutely massive! Marc Jacobs is another pricey brand, but if you've been wanting to try something, I recommend splurging on this product. You get a ton of bronzer for your money and the packaging is amazing quality so you don't need to worry about it breaking before you go through it. ($49)
5. Becca x Jaclyn Hill Highlighter in Champagne Pop: Youtube phenomenon Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Becca Cosmetics to create this limited addition highlighter. As a big fan of Jaclyn's and long time subscriber I've been wanting to get my hands on this bad boy and will definitely be getting it during the sale. ($38)
6. Tarte Bling It On Blush Palette: Blush isn't something I usually buy a ton of, but I think this palette is a great way to get a variety of shades that are great quality and cost efficient. Tarte Blushes are some of the best on the market and the packaging for this palette is way cute. ($44)
7. Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Salmon: If you're looking for an everyday lipstick, I highly recommend this one. Bobbi Brown lipsticks are some of my favorite and this shade is the perfect nudey pink.  ($27)
8. Dior Eye 5-Colour Shadow Palette in Trafalgar: This has been on my wish list for a while. Dior makeup in general always makes me feel fancy, but I can never convince myself to splurge on it. If you're the kind of person who prefers to have a smaller collection of makeup that's really special, this is amazing and the colors are absolutely stunning for fall. ($62)
9. Viseart Eye Shadow Palette 01: Ever since I saw this palette I've wanted it. The colors are right up my alley and every single swatch I've seen is to die for. It seems like a lot of money for an eye shadow palette but the pans of shadow themselves are actually quite big. ($80)
10. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation: This is a cult favorite in the beauty community. If you're a fan of a dewy finish in a foundation, this is well worth the splurge. ($62)
11. Tarte Stroke of Midnight Brush Set: I'm a big believer that the tools you use when it comes to makeup are the most important. It doesn't matter if you spend $10 or $100 on foundation, if you have terrible brushes, nothing will look good. Tarte has amazing quality brushes, and you get 5 in this set for less that $10 each, plus a super cute tote.  ($44)
12. Roses De Chloe Perfume: I smelled this in store and fell in love. Fragrances are always expensive and almost never go on sale, so if you're looking to purchase a fragrance in the near future, this is a great opportunity.  ($120)
13. Guerlain Meteorites Illuminating Powder: This is another cult favorite and a collectors item. Guerlain never fails to impress me and every single meteorites I've swatched in store has been absolutely stunning. ($62)
14. Nailsinc x Victoria Beckham Polish in Bamboo White: I am OBSESSED with pink/nude/white nails and this is the epitome of perfection. I absolutely died when I saw this and have been waiting to get my hands on it. ($25)
15. Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream: I struggle with dark circles because a lot of the time my under eye area is dehydrated. Bobbi Brown skin care is really great and after having a deluxe sample of this, I've been wanting a full size. ($50)
16. NARS Audacious lipstick in Liv: Every time I'm in Sephora I swatch these lipsticks and am more impressed each time. They are extremely pigmented and creamy and the shade Liv is perfect for fall/winter. ($32)
17. Sephora Favorites Superstars:  This is great for the girl who wants to try a bunch of different products. This set in particular has a variety of full size items, including a Beauty Blender, Stila eye liner, and Nars dual intensity shadow. For those three items alone I think this set is worth it. If you've been eyeing a couple of the items in this set I definitely recommend going for it. ($75)
18. Marc Jacobs Style Eyecon No. 20 Palette: This is without a doubt a splurge, but you get an absurd amount of product for the money - 20 shadows! This could easily be the entirety of your eye shadow collection and you'd never need anything else. Marc Jacobs has great quality eye shadows and this palette has a great range of colors. ($99)
19. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil: I've been wanting to try this night oil every since I read a few of the reviews online. It's really a stretch if you're on a budget, but if you're a skincare buff and don't mind spending the money, this could be the perfect match. ($105)
20. Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist: When I heard Kim Kardashian uses this I was intrigued. I haven't tried anything from Tatcha but think I'll pick it up during the sale. Again, I have dry skin so I'm curious to see how this works to rectify that. ($48)

Beauty Favorites | August & September 2015

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - This concealer is quite literally sent from the heavens. It's super blendable and doesn't crease under my eyes. I find that even though the formula is light weight, I still get a really good amount of coverage with it. I was in love with the instant-age rewind concealer from Maybelline for so long, and this one has taken its place. A lot of people say this is a dupe for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and I have to agree (except its a third of the price) . I use the shade 10 Light.

Maybelline  Dream Pure BB Cream- Another Maybelline product has stolen my heart these past few months. I am beyond obsessed with this BB Cream and I haven't been using anything else. I mix two shades together, Light/Medium and Medium/Deep, so that when I'm really tan or really pale I have a color to match me. I trie the original formula of this BB cream and hated it. I have really dry skin and it was event oily for me, which is saying something. The BB Pure is a light to medium coverage, but sits not he skin so nicely it feels like nothing is on. It lasts all day on my skin, and I can't get enough. If you're in the market for a new BB cream, definitely check this one out.

Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask -This was one of those sneaky products they stick in the check out line at Sephora to tempt you while you're waiting - and of course it worked. I love Origins as a brand and haven't used a product from them that I haven't been impressed with. This charcoal mask really helps clear up my skin when I have blemish or breakout. I use it about twice a week, and although it does dry out my skin a little, the results are good enough for me not to mind. I got the mini size to try it out before committing to the full size, but I definitely will repurchase the full size.

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins -This night cream gives me life. I am so obsessed with it. It smells so yummy and leaves me skin feeling super hydrated and soft in the morning. I really enjoy having a moisturizer that is a little thicker for the nighttime because like I said my skin is pretty dry, especially with the weather changing and getting colder. I've noticed a huge difference in my skin since I started using it, in terms of texture and firmness.

First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy Overnight Balm - I've always had pretty dark circles under my eyes, eve when I've gotten a ton of sleep, I just seem to be prone to them. I've done a lot of research now hat causes dark circles and a lot of people say that dehydrated skin under the eyes is a major culprit. I decided to check out this overnight eye cream because I'd heard wonderful things about First Aid Beauty as a brand and it seemed to be all of the things I was wanting in an eye cream. This product definitely didn't disappoint. It's extremely thick and hydrating and when I rinse my face in the morning after sleeping I still feel it under my eyes. It has made a huge difference in my dark circles and I definitely recommend it to anyone who suffers from them.

Maybelline "The Colossal Volum' Express" Mascara - I love drugstore mascara. There are a few high end gems I'm a fan of, but I generally recommend sticking to drugstore, because you can get amazing quality for a great price. I decided to try a new one from Maybelline and was really impressed. I got the 'Colossal Volum' Express' in Classic Black and thought that it did a really good job of giving me both volume and length. It also builds really nicely without getting clumpy or flaking off my lashes.

Chanel Chance Eu Tendre - This was an anniversary present from G and I was so happy to finally get my hands on this bad boy. I had been wanting it for a while but didn't ever want to splurge, especially when I had so many other perfumes. This scent is a perfect mixture between sweet and floral and is great for day or nighttime. It's definitely a scent i can see being one of my signatures in the long run and I understand why its so popular. The packaging is gorgeous and it stays on my skin all day long (You did good babe).

Cetaphil Cleanser -I decided to try this because my mom swears by it. It's the only cleanser she uses and she thinks its the end all be all of cleansers. I'm a huge fan of the philosophy purity cleanser and couldn't see myself switching to a cleanser like Cetaphil that didn't foam up. I don't use this to take my makeup off or to cleanse ay the end of the day but I do use it in the morning, and I love it. It's super gentle and hydrating and that's really all I need in the morning. It doesn't strip my skin or leave it feeling dry, and if you have super sensitive skin, this would be perfect for you.

Pureology Precious Oil Shampoo & Conditioner - For years I've only used Pureology shampoo and conditioner. I absolutely love it and have tried almost all of their different lines. I noticed this new one at the beauty supply store a few months back and decided to give it a go because my hair was feeling a little dry. Once again Pureology blew me out of the water with this product. After using it for the past two months I've noticed my hair is softer and more hydrated. I love the scent and would consider this my new favorite line of theirs.

OPI Dont Bossa Nova Me Around - I've been on the hunt for the perfect nude polish and I finally found it. I had this color on my nails and toes for three weeks straight and dint want to take it off. It's the perfect pinky nude with a tan under tone. It's a beautiful color year round and definitely one that's become holy grail in my collection. It's also a major plus that it come in gel formula.

Milani Baked Bronzer in Soleil - Milani has done it again with this amazing bronzer. It's perfect for that super glowy, JLo bronze, and it was the only bronzer I brought with me to the Bahamas. It's really and pigmented and the shimmer isn't too chunky or glittery. While this isn't great for the winter in my opinion, it would be a gorgeous blush year round on deeper skin tones.

Beauty Blender Cleanser Solid -This will change your brush cleaning game. I used to use use dye and scent free laundry detergent and vegetable oil but had heard good things about this solid cleanser. I used this to clean a few of my brushes and could not believe my eyes. It deep cleaned my brushes so quickly without leaving them dry. I'm sure I'll switch between this cleanser and my homemade mixture to clean my brushes because I have so many, but this is seriously an amazing product.

4th of July | Quick Manicure

For holidays like the 4th of July, I prefer to do my own manicure, because I don't necessarily want to keep my nails painted that way for more than a few days. I decided to do a super quick and easy mini tutorial for all of you who feel the same way!

I went with red, white, blue and gold, and decided to add some glitter to make it fun. At first I attempted to do stars, but it became way too complicated so I opted out of them.

Step 1: Start out with freshly cleaned nails

Step 2: Use any base coat, I used Sally Hansen's 'Hard as Nails'

Step 3: Decide what color pattern you want, there is no 'right order'

Step 4: Paint each nail with one coat of your selected color

Step 5: Let your nails dry a bit before applying the second coat of color (this will prevent them from taking forever to dry at the end)

Step 6: This is of course optional, but for my white nail and one of my red nails, I decided to add some glitter for that extra pizzaz (any craft glitter will work)

Step 7: If you do add glitter, just sprinkle it on to the nail, dusting off any excess

Step 8: Follow with a clear top coat (I used Seche Vite), and you're good to go!

Products Used:

Sally Hansen 'Hard as Nails'

Seche Vite fast drying top coat

OPI 'Big Apple Red'

OPI 'Lights of Emerald City'

Essie 'Blanc'

Essie 'Strut your Stuff'

Essie 'Good as Gold'

Craft Glitter in White & Cherry

Top 10 Beauty Products Worth The Hype

In the beauty world there seem to be endless products that are hyped up, and a lot of the time it's difficult to decide whether or not their worth the purchase, or if it's all just smoke and mirrors. Here are my Top 10 picks for the beauty products that are most definitely worth the hype.

1. Beauty Blender

When I first heard about this I thought it was completely absurd to spend $20 on a sponge, but of course I had to, especially since it won the Allure Beauty Award for 2013. Let's just say it changed my life - yes, a sponge changed my life. It gives your liquid foundation and concealer the most gorgeous airbrushed finish. I would highly recommend it to anyone, regardless of if you have tons of brushes you love. Well worth every penny.

2. Benefit "They're Real!" Mascara
If my entire mascara collection disappeared and I had to choose only one to still be there, it would be this guy. Mascara is something I usually recommend saving money on and going drugstore vs. high end, but when it comes to the Benefit "They're Real" there is nothing that even compares. If you love the look of falsies without the actual falsies, this is the perfect mascara for you. It definitely isn't a volumizing mascara, so if that's the look you go for this might be something you don't like, but it lengthens and separates lashes like a champ, and because of that, it will forever have my heart.

3. MAC Eye Shadows
In general all MAC products seem to be pretty hyped up, but I think their shadows in particular. For $15 an individual eye shadow and $10 for one in the pan, its not like they're cheap. That being said, you are absolutely paying for a quality product. They are all so creamy and blendable, their pigmentation is amazing, and their color selection is like no other. I have no bad things to say about them whatsoever, and if you're just starting to build a makeup collection, don't feel like you need every color, just get a few you can really get good use out of.

4. Clarisonic Mia 2
I've been raving about this for months, and I will not stop. The Clarisonic has completely changed my skin, and I could never go back to living without it. If you have problematic skin, you've most likely spent twice as much as you would on the Clarisonic on other products that don't work. Invest in it, and see for yourself, your skin will never be the same.

5. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
The "Naked" palettes have some what of a cult following in the land of beauty, and it's for a good reason. Out of all the eye shadows that I've tried, Urban decay has some of the best. They pigmentation is out of this world, and they always give you such great color selection in all of their pallets. If I was to only have one eye shadow palette in my collection, I think it would be this one. The bronze hued nudes work so amazing with my skin tone, and I think they would for everyone. Treat yourself.

6. NARS Blush - Orgasm
This blush gives me life. I constantly find myself reaching for it over any other blush I own. It's perfect for summer and gives your skin the most amazing sun kissed glow. It has such a beautiful bronze shimmer, but nothing too aggressive that you couldn't use it on an everyday basis. It's more of a peachy-toned pink as apposed to a baby doll pink, so if you're on the super fair side, this might not be for you.

7. 'It's a 10" Miracle Leave in Spray plus Keratin
As soon as I realized I had spent $40 on this, I felt like a terrible person. But after just one use, I knew it was worth it. Drugstore haircare products are usually not the best, and it's hard if you have color treated hair to find something that isn't going to strip your hair dry. This product is AMAZING. Everyone needs it, regardless of what type of hair you have, you will notice how wonderful your hair feels after. It feels like I've repaired years of damage in a few weeks.

8. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
This is, in my opinion, the best foundation around. It's definitely not a bargain, but if you have a special occasion to go to, or you want to feel pampered, look no further. First of all, the line has a whopping 24 colors, which for a foundation, is amazing. It gives your skin such a beautiful luminous and dewy finish, it is to die for. Of course, if you're a matte foundation kind of a girl, this probably isn't for you. The coverage is medium, but buildable, so if you want to add some more to problem areas, you can, and it won't look cakey.

9. Batiste dry shampoo - Dark & Deep brown
Do I even need to say anything about this? If you know me, you know this stuff is like air to me, I can't live without it. I use it almost everyday, even on clean hair, and could never use another dry shampoo. The hint of color is amazing, and doesn't leave me with that awkward white cast in my brown hair. Seriously, you need this right now.

10. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Nail polish is one of those things I think we forget about and kind of neglect, especially top coats. I've used hundreds of different top coats, and I wasn't really on the hunt for one that was amazing, but I found this and OMG. This is like magic in a bottle. It makes your polish dry so fast and leaves your nails shiny for so long. And I know what your thinking, 'Dahlia, are you insane? I am not spending $10 on clear nail polish,' and I get that, but really, once you go Seche Vite, you will not go back.

Nail Polish Obsession | March 2014

The color I'm completely head over heels in love with this month is from the new Brazil collection by OPI, and it's called, 'Taupe Less Beach."

I can't say enough good things about it. I went to get my nails done with one of my friends about a week ago, and ever since I can't stop staring at the color. It is the absolute prefect shade of taupe and gray mixed together. It has gorgeous lilac undertones so it would compliment all skin colors. I HIGHLY recommend trying it out. I think it's the perfect transition shade from winter to spring, because it's still a neutral, but it isn't too dark. This color is everything.

And if neutrals aren't your cup of tea, I still recommend checking out the rest of the colors in the Brazil line because they are all amazing.

To Shellac or Not to Shellac, That is the Question

When it comes to nails, Shellac is probably the most debated topic in the field - So naturally, I decided to give you guys the low-down on all that is shellac.

In my opinion the most important factor in any manicure/pedicure is going to a good salon. I would much rather spend an extra 5 dollars and know I am going to get better service in a cleaner environment, than skimp and be disappointed. I go to a local salon in my area called Queen Bee Nails, which is beyond fabulous. And it is because of this that I think I am such a shellac fanatic. I'm the type of girl who never fails to mess up her nails, and shellac has changed that. Whenever I used to get a regular mani/pedi, I would always end up banging my nails on something before they were dry and would totally ruin them - it was Murphy's Law. I know a lot of people who have struggled with dry and brittle nails after Shellac, but I am not one of them. However, I do have abnormally thick nails that I got from my momma. The only time I've noticed any sort of thinning or breaking of my nails is when I've picked at them and peeled the shellac off - BAD IDEA. Peeling any sort of adhesive off of your nails is going to do your nails damaged, even when you pick regular nail polish off, you're removing a layer of nail, so NO PICKING!

Another important thing to realize is that Shellac is NOT the same as gel, they are two totally different things. Shellac involves thin coats of polish going onto your natural nails that are dried by UV lights, gel involves sculpting and filling of the nails, and that is what causes the most damage. What Shellac offers is a manicure that lasts weeks. I am not exaggerating when I say it has lasted me as long as three weeks without chipping, it is insane the wear you can get out of it. Ultimately, if you have healthy, strong nails, Shellac isn't going to change that, but if you have weak, brittle nails, Shellac isn't going to change that either. The thing I love the most about it, is the zero dry time. There is nothing better than being able to walk out of the nail salon and continue about your business without looking like a freak who won't touch anything. While it is more expensive than a regular manicure, I personally think it is well worth the cost. With regular nail polish I can get maybe 3 days with no chips if I'm really careful, with Shellac, I can do dishes, go to the gym, do whatever I need to, and it won't chip. I do however try and go somewhere between every two to two and a half weeks, just because my nails grow relatively quickly and I don't want the polish to be too far from my cuticle.

As the Shellac market has been growing, so has the color selection, and nowadays if you want a color, they probably have it in Shellac form. OPI has their own line of shellac colors, however they call them 'gel polish.' Don't get confused, it is the same formula as shellac, just a fancier name. It isn't actually the harmful gel. Some of my personal favorites from OPI are listed below;

1. Big Apple Red
2. Peace Love & OPI 
3. Suzi Says Feng Shui 
4. You Don't Know Jaques 
5. A Grape Fit 
6. Bubble Bath 
7. Thanks a WindMillion
8. Pedal Faster Suzi!

And since Valentine's day is coming up right around the corner, I decided to share some festive and cute ways you could do your nails! Treat your self to something new if you haven't tried it before - I'm sure you'll be hooked. ❤