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Month : July 2016

Skin Care Routine |When To Apply What|In Depth Tutorial

by Deüx Bella

 Skin Care Routine & In Depth Tutorial

When do you apply what? So many choices…

Okay guys, we have had many questions on the blog and on the YouTube channel about when to apply your skin care products. Today I’m here to answer all your questions.

Here is a tutorial of my current routine of what I have done to take care of my skin. I just want to say up front that I am a skin care junkie and I use multiple products and am always trying something new. So just know that you don’t have to do all the steps to get good skin.

With that being said the bare MINIMUM that everyone should be doing MORNING AND NIGHT is a Cleanser, Eye Cream and Face Cream. These are my non negotiable! Watch the tutorial and I will explain when to use each product and what everything is for.

 

Soothing Cleansing Oil// Lathering Tube Soap//Rose Floral Toner//Extra Treatment Lotion//Intensive Skin Supplement//Extra Face Oil//Flora Oil//Luna Sleeping Oil//Hydrating Eye Cream//Extra Eye Repair Cream//Hydrating Face Cream//Extra Moisturizing Crème// Alpha Beta Peel Pads// All Of these Products can be purchases on Sephora.com

Skin Care Routine | When To Apply What |Deux Bella

**SKIN CARE TIP**

When applying your skin care layer the thinnest to thickest textures on your skin. Starting with the thinnest will always be able to go deeper into the skin and help to prep the skin for the next step in your routine.

This is the order that I apply my products:

  1. Cleanser
  2. Toner/Tonic/Essence
  3. Serum
  4. Face Oil
  5. Eye Cream
  6. Face Cream

Every other day I have used the Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads and on the days I do use them I have used them at night, after cleansing, and before my tonic.

 

Have You Used A Face Oil??? Are You Afraid Of Face Oil??? DON’T BE!

Face Oil is my absolute favorite skin care product and let me tell you my Top 3 Favorites.

#1 Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil - This concentrated facial oil provides a boost of intensive moisture. Perfect for all skin types because this lightweight formula absorbs easily to immediately moisturize, soften, and condition skin. Its blend of oils, including sesame, sweet almond, olive, and jojoba, leave a light layer of glistening moisture. Vitamin E protects the skin from environmental damage, especially with continued use. Its blend of natural essential oils provides the soothing scent of neroli, patchouli, lavender, and sandalwood.

#2 Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil - Luna works throughout the night to deliver more visibly youthful and luminous skin. Trans-retinoic acid complex reduces the appearance of pores and wrinkles, while visibly improving the signs of premature aging. This Oil helps fight fine lines, uneven texture, age spots, dryness, and dullness. Balanced with blue tansy and German chamomile essential oils which are both rich in soothing, blue azulene to help combat visible redness and uneven complexion. It is clinically proven to improve fine lines, radiance, and skin smoothness in as little as four weeks.

#3 Sunday Riley Flora Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil - This luxurious oil has nourishing Russian, Turkish, and Bulgarian red roses in a rich base of hydrating botanicals. This Oil is high in antioxidants and helps to protect against environmental damage and visible signs of premature aging. The hydrating formula improves skin elasticity and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while a cold-pressed blend of seed oils allows for maximum potency of actives for optimal results. As a dry oil, Flora penetrates deeply into the skin rather than sitting on the skin’s surface. Blend or layer with other skin care products to amplify their effects or apply under makeup for a dewy, beautiful glow.

 

What are your favorite products in your skin care routine??? Let us know!

XOXO

D&M

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My Summer Beauty Secrets: Get Glowing Skin Now!

by Deüx Bella

A few weeks ago I was in Manhattan for work and of course we hit the beauty stores in Times Square for a little crash course in my favorite (and least favorite) beauty products, what ingredients to look for, what tools to splurge on, etc.

If you follow us on SnapChat you know we had a great time and we were there until the wee hours of the morning!

One of the items I swear by kind of gave some of our group sticker shock because it’s pretty expensive. Fast forward just a few days later and I was stocking up on my DIY Deep Conditioning products at Sally Beauty when I found THE TOOL. But waaaaaaay less expensive.

Like $150 less.

 

I picked it up because I had to try it out. For that price I figure even if it were a bust no harm done. It wasn’t a bust, in fact it worked EXACTLY the same. That’s right ladies. It’s basically the same thing!

It’s part of the Beyond Belief line, a skin care line Sally Beauty carries, that I already really liked. I have used the mask and it is awesome! So pairing it with the tool and the rest of the line has definitely won me over.

 

Get Glowing Skin In These Easy Steps:

I am loving the Alpha Beta Hydroxy Pore Refining line. It has been featured in several major magazines as a secret weapon as well!

 

I used the Alpha Hydroxy Pore Refining Foam Cleanser! Placing it directly on the cleansing tool.

Push the button and use the tool to work the cleanser into your skin! So easy and it feels great!

 

Rinse it off with cool water!

 

 

Next use the Alpha Beta Hydroxy Pore Perfection Face Mask

 

 

 

Let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse off with cool water!

Apply the ABH Facial Serum

Apply moisturizer of your choice. I used the Vita C+ Facial Moisturizer because it has SPF!

Pro Tip: During the 15 minutes you are waiting for the mask, clean off your cleansing tool. After you rinse the mask use it to work the ABH Facial Serum and moisturizer into your skin gently.

I wanted to share this secret weapon with you all first! Run, don’t walk, or better yet buy it online before it gets sold out because I am betting once people find out about this it will!

 

As many of you know, I have been on a quest for the past 6 months to find a good budget friendly skin care line that I can use and also recommend so I am happy to say that the Beyond Belief line at Sally Beauty has taken me by pleasant surprise! I have been seeing great results and I would recommend checking it out. If nothing else though- grab the cleansing tool!

 

What’s your favorite glowing skin secret?? Have you tried this tool or the Beyond Belief line??

 

XOXO~ M&D

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How To Create The Perfect Charcuterie Tray For Easy Summer Entertaining

by Deüx Bella

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VinoBlockParty #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.


I absolutely love Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi and all of the Robert Mondavi wines. So this spring while I was in California with one of my best friends we HAD to take a tour. It was sooo beautiful and such a great getaway!

We had such an awesome time experiencing his amazing wines and learning more about the wines and the brands under the Mondavi label.

For example, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi was created with sharing in mind. Over thirty years ago, Robert Mondavi embarked on a mission to create a wine culture in America by putting great California wine on every table.

“I was trying to plant deep into the soil of our young country the same values, traditions, and daily pleasures that my mother and father had brought with them from the hills and valleys of central Italy: good food, good wine, and love of family.”
– Robert Mondavi

They have even created a Simple Entertaining Social Hub that gives great tips for party planning and entertaining

I picked up these stemless wine glasses and marble wine stopper to make sure I remember to share. 😉

Here are some pictures from my experience at the Robert Mondavi Winery and my SnapChats!

As you all know we recently bought our new home and have been so welcomed by our new neighbors. Since I travel a lot I thought what better way to get to know each other better than by throwing a block party at our home? I love the whole atmosphere of the winery and really wanted to incorporate it into theme of the party.

So when I had the opportunity to collaborate with Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi on my party I was thrilled. Actually thrilled is an understatement. Since Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is so perfect for sharing and creating my favorite summer drink recipes I was set.

I wanted to keep it classic and simple so I chose to do a fresh seasonal strawberry as my theme flavor. I used that flavor to create my menu around, which included a charcuterie tray and fresh strawberry basil sangria.

 

If you haven’t heard of a charcuterie (shar-coo-tur-ee) tray, it simply means meat. It can be as complicated or as simple as you like. If you choose to do dry-cured meats, putting together a charcuterie board doesn’t even require any actual cooking. You just need some know-how in the meat section at the grocery store and an eye for pretty arrangements.

 

Charcuterie Tray in 3 Easy Steps

Step 1: Choose your meats

Finding charcuterie doesn’t require a specialty butcher. A trip to your local neighborhood grocery will suffice. I’ve found that most grocery stores usually have a small but sufficient specialty meat and cheese section.

 

Once you have the meats chosen, assembly is quick and easy, but the final result looks like you spent hours preparing for your guests. Which, of course, you did! Right? Wink wink!

For my board, I chose four meats: prosciutto, capocollo, smoked turkey and calabrese. You will want to get these meats very thinly sliced so that they can be used to top crackers and bread. You can usually buy the meats pre-sliced in the package, so you don’t have a flag down a butcher at the store.

Step 2: Choosing your cheese

I think that deciding what cheeses to use is one of the funnest parts! I love me some cheese.

If you’re stumped on what cheese to select, pick one each mild, medium and sharp. It’s always great to mix different flavor combinations. Who knows, you might find your next favorite! Some solid go-to’s are Gruyere, Gouda, and mozzarella.

 

Step 3: Choosing your spreads

For spreads I love a berry preserve and a truffle mustard.  Try to think of items that have deep gorgeous colors not- just yummy flavors! Honey makes a great addition and you can usually get it locally which makes it even more fun!

Step 4: Choosing your desserts

Okay, I said choosing the cheese was my favorite part but maybe that’s tied with choosing the dessert(s). Some people don’t add desserts to their charcuterie trays but I do!

A small dessert can really tie all of the flavors and culinary theme together. As well as pair with your Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi wine very well. For my party I served these beautiful and extra delicious strawberry and cream cheese cupcakes. They matched the color and flavor scheme of my soiree perfectly!

 

On my tray I took a block of mozzarella and sliced into half inch square sticks. I then wrapped them in  slices of prosciutto and stacked them in small pyramid patterns. This helped create depth and variation on my tray.

And there you have it. A gorgeous serving board piled high with meats, cheeses, crackers, and bread not only looks amazing on a table, it creates a natural gathering spot for guests to gab and eat.

Now on to the best part- THE DRINKS!

For my party I chose to continue the strawberry theme and used the basil to tie in my caprese skewers.

Strawberry Basil Sangria

 
Ingredients
  • 750 ml sweet riesling
  • 1/4 cup basil simple syrup (You’ll need 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup fresh basil leaves)
  • 8 oz strawberries
  • 1/4 cup white rum

Instructions

  1. Make the basil simple syrup by bringing the sugar and the water to a boil over low heat, stirring regularly. Once the sugar is completely combined, add the basil leaves, and allow to cool completely.
  2. Combine the riesling, basil simple syrup (with leaves removed for a clearer color), strawberries, and rum. Refrigerate about 8 hours before serving.

 

Our party was a success and even though it rained forcing us to move it indoors, it was such a perfect evening! We can’t wait to throw another one!

 

 

You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to do a charcuterie board or break open the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi. You can whip up your own charcuterie board anytime and for any occasion. Create a relaxed yet sophisticated block party or take a date night in to the next level.

What do you put on your charcuterie trays? Have you ever thrown a block party? I’d love to hear your favorite party throwing tips and flavors!

XOXO~ D&M

You can follow Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi on these social media platforms:

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Woodbridge_Wine

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/WoodbridgeByRobertMondavi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WoodbridgeWines

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/woodbridgewines/

Store Locator: http://www.walmart.com/store/finder

Connect with the Simple Entertaining Social Hub for more amazing party planning tips and resources!

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10 Easy Summer Beauty Tips and Tutorials

by Deüx Bella

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySmooth #CollectiveBias

Hello darlings! We are in the full swing of summer and we have had a lot of requests for our favorite summer beauty tips so we are here to deliver! We are going to share some of our favorite summer beauty hacks plus TWO fun tutorials! Hello, Christmas in July. 😉

10 Summer Beauty Tips

No matter what color is in season, chapped lips are not! Thankfully, there are super effective ways to battle chapped lips easily! Which leads us to…

Summer Beauty Tip #1

 

 

One beauty tip I can NOT stress enough is to

WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN! But in case you spend a little too much time in the sun unprotected, Tip #2…

 

Just because we are always wearing our sunscreen, doesn’t mean we don’t love a good tan! A good tan from a bottle that is! The only downside? Getting off unwanted areas, such as palms and feet.

Never fear, Tip #3 is here!

 

Have you ever had dark eye makeup on and gone swimming? The resulting look reminiscent of some comic book villain or a snapchat filter?

Summer Beauty Tip #4 is a natural summer smokey eye…

Supplies You Will Need

  • Primer
  • A natural beige eyeshadow – this will be the natural base that will highlight your eyes
  • A soft beige/brown eyeshadow
  • A darker brown eyeshadow
  • A black eyeshadow
  • A soft eyeshadow brush
  • A soft blending brush
  • A small eyeshadow brush
  • A brown/black kohl eyeliner
  • False eyelashes or mascara

Step 1.

First, you will want to prime your lid by patting on a small amount. This will act as a base for your make-up to stick to. Using a soft eyeshadow brush, sweep the natural coloured eyeshadow over your eye, which will brighten the appearance of your eyes and even out the eyelid so it’s all the same color.

* Why do we do this? Examine your eyelid, you most likely have different colors present on your eyelids, possibly small veins, skin tone variations, etc. this evens out the lid so that you are working with a blank canvas.

Step 2.

With a soft kohl pencil (make sure it’s not too blunt) carefully line your lower lid above your eyelash line. A better quality pencil will glide on to your eye much easier. This pencil will line your upper lids and help create that smokey effect.

 

Step 3.

Taking a light-medium brown powder, apply a stroke of colour to the crease of the outer part of your eyelid – this will create that smoky effect when your eye is open. Make sure to apply it gently and not apply too much; you want it to blend as much as possible. If necessary, take the first natural eyeshadow colour you used and blend the two together. Then using a slightly darker brown eyeshadow, sweep a tiny bit of shadow over the corners of your lower lid. Use a soft blending brush to ensure the colours look natural and blend together nicely with the rest of your eyelid.

Step 4.

Using a slightly smaller eyeshadow brush and a black eyeshadow, gently sweep across the line you have just created. Don’t build up too much shadow on your brush – you want a small amount which will create a subtle smokey eye effect on your lash line.

 

Step 5.

Apply a coat of mascara to define your lashes and open your eyes.

*If you will be near the water and need something that lasts, use a waterproof mascara OVER your regular mascara to seal it. 🙂

Summer Beauty Tip #5.

It works like a charm- but do you know what’s even better? NOT cutting yourself in the first place! Lol. Which leads us to our next tip…

Summer Beauty Tip #6.

 

Imagine… It’s 8:30 am and you are heading to the beach/pool for a fun day in the sun. You put on your swimsuit and…. HAIR.

Unless it’s on your head- that’s a 4-letter word, especially during the summer! That leads us to one of our FAVORITE Summer beauty tips- keep Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit on hand for long lasting (mine lasts about 8 weeks) results. It’s no mess, no microwave, no stress.

I went ahead and made a video tutorial to show you how EASY this is to use. I’m just putting it all out there with my unwanted hair and no-makeup look so I hope you enjoy and you realize what a beauty essential these strips are!

 

You can find them in the shaving and personal care aisle. I grabbed mine at Target while I was picking up other summer essentials including this new swimsuit for our trip to San Diego, California to visit family.

 

A wax, your swimsuit, a hair wrap and some sunglasses…all you need for vacation right?

 

While I am a master esthetician and have done hundreds, if not thousands of waxes, you do not have to be a professional to use this kit. The Sally Hansen Wax Kit is extremely user-friendly! It is a great kit to try out if you are even contemplating at-home waxing!

It’s honestly easy enough I recommended it to my mom for my teenage sister to try out. So if you have got any tween or teenage daughters that are dying to get rid of a little unwanted hair this summer you will definitely want to get this kit.

Then watch my tutorial for my easy waxing tips and you can find more how-to videos and information on the Sally Hansen Wax Kits here!

Anyone using an at-home wax or hair removal system should check this page out for a lot of great resources.

Once you are nice and smooth it’s time to head to the beach. But the beach brings sand and while sand is GREAT for exfoliation we would like to leave it at the beach and not bring it home with us.

Summer Beauty Tip #7

 

Whoever said beauty is pain hadn’t tried Sally Hansen Ouch-Relief Numbing Wipes. Which leads us to…

Summer Beauty Tip# 8

 

One of my secrets to a professional wax is using a skin numbing solution before waxing my clients. Lucky for DIY beauty lovers everywhere, Sally Hansen also released Ouch-Relief Numbing Wipes, that use a pain-relief technology with benzocaine to make the whole waxing process “ouches”.

Once again I found these wipes in the shaving and personal care aisle at Target! 🙂

Drinking more water is a commandment of beauty and not just a tip. You should be drinking it year round! As you know, we LOVE fruit-infused water around here and shared our 5 Favorite Fruit-Infused water recipes with you all.

Which is why our Summer Beauty Tip #9 is so bomb diggity!

This seriously makes staying hydrated such a breeze!

 

While you are in the kitchen you’ll want to hop on

Summer Beauty Tip #10

 

 

That wraps up our 10 Summer Beauty tips! I’m off to the beach in the morning with my hair free bod, baby powder in hand and my frozen lemon slices in my water! Join me on Snapchat: mkhunt1028, to check out what’s in my beach bag and see all the over snaps of my kiddos! 😉

What are your favorite Summer Beauty Tips? Have you tried an at-home wax? I would love to hear your experience, and if you are having any issues with it let me know and I can help you trouble shoot the process!

XOXO- M & D

 

 

 

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Mia Fit | Clarisonic |Review & Tutorial|Skin Care Series

by Deüx Bella

Mia Fit #FaceByClarisonic

Hey Guys!

Today we continue our Skin Care Series with a review and tutorial of the Clarisonic Mia Fit. Clarisonic actually sent me this to try and I decided I would let you guys know what I think! I have never used the Mia Fit but I have had my Original Clarisonic for almost 9 years now. I love it! THE BEST PART ? It is ON SALE until August!

It is usually $219 and right now its $153 30% off until August!

GET YOUR CLARISONIC MIA FIT while the sale lasts!!!

Mia Fit Vs Original Clarisonic- What I love best about the Mia Fit is the portability and how small it is.

As someone who travels weekly the charger of my original isn’t very travel friendly where as the Mia Fit charger is very small. I love that it has an extended setting.

Setting 1= 60 Seconds Total - 20 Seconds Forehead - 20 Seconds Chin and Nose - 10 Seconds each Cheek.

Setting 2 = Exact same as setting 1 but an extra 20 seconds for Neck and Décolleté ( This is the setting I use in the shower)

Watch my Mia Fit Tutorial & Review on YouTube

Today I used the Bobbi Brown Lathering Tube Soap with my Clarisonic an also talked about how to use a Cleansing Oil when using a Clarisonic. Watch my Winter Skin Care Routine to hear event more about the Soothing Cleansing Oil & Lathering Tube Soap and you can read the Winter Skin Care Routine | Dry Skin blog post for all my favorites for cool climates!

Let’s Get To Know More About Clarisonic….

Founded in Seattle in 2001 by a team of scientists and engineers, CLARISONIC began by combining proprietary technology with a vision to transform skin—three years later the CLARISONIC Classic Cleansing System was launched. Since then, the brand continues to grow and innovate, bringing new products to life that enrich your skin and deliver unsurpassed results.

Get cleaner, smoother skin on the go with the Mia Fit Skin Cleansing System. The compact, lightweight and waterproof design features two-speed settings and cleanses six times better than hands alone to remove impurities, sunscreen and makeup. Its brush head transforms the appearance of dull skin for a more radiant complexion.

System includes:

- Mia Fit Skin Cleansing Device in Pink

- Skin Illuminating Cleanser (1 oz.)

- Mia Fit Radiance Brush Head
- USB-enabled Universal Voltage Charger

GET YOUR MIA FIT 30% OFF, $153 VS $219 UNTIL AUGUST 2016!!!

How to use: Charge for 18 hours before first use. Wet your skin and brush head with warm water. Apply cleanser. Choose a setting (setting 1 provides 60 seconds of cleansing for delicate, everyday cleansing and setting 2 provides 80 seconds of power cleansing post-workout or to remove long-wearing makeup). The pulsing T-Timer® guides you for optimal cleansing results. Spend 20 seconds on your forehead, 20 seconds on your nose and chin, 10 seconds on each cheek and 20 seconds on your neck (when using setting 2 only). Finish by rinsing your brush head with water and return to the charger.

 

Hope you guys enjoyed my little demo haha, I looked a bit silly with all that cleanser on my face but I do it for you guys! Love you all and thanks for supporting us!!

 

XOXO~ D&M

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