Five tips on how to save money when buying beauty/fashion products

When it comes to spending money, no one wants to spend more than they have to. So something that I try and do is save as much as I can on beauty and fashion products. Now you may be thinking, but how can you do that? I have some tips that I want to share with you on how to save money when buying products, beauty or fashion.

1. Sales - I am a huge sales shopper! I mostly buy when things are on sale. I have a huge list of products I want to buy or am interested in trying and I wait till there are sales and will buy them then, saving me so much rather than paying full price. Department stores like Target, Big W, Priceline and supermarkets are always having promotions and sales so if you wait you can pick up some great bargains.

2. Gift with purchase - When it comes to high end products, as they are so expensive I usually wait for a gift with purchase offer to buy a product I want. Usually gift with purchases means you have to spend a certain amount and then you get a free gift valued at anywhere between $40 - $100. This is pretty good value as you are buying a high end product and you get to try other high end products through your gift with purchase.

3. Buy online - I am a huge online shopper. I love it because you can find so many great promotions, deals and sales online. I usually subscribe to newsletters for clothing, beauty, accessories, household and many more and when they email sales and discounts, I will then buy what I need. You can save up to 70-80% by shopping online. Of course it means you have to wait for the product to be delivered but well worth it if you are going to save heaps. (here are some sites I have used)

4. Buy gift packs - Usually around specific occassions like mother's day or christmas many stores will stock gift packs which consist of a few products for a cheaper price. If you bought those items separately it would cost you more, so definitely look out for packs. Also for clothing there are more sales around these times so look out for them.

5. Read reviews - These days you can find so many reviews on pretty much anything. If you are unsure of a product and don't want to spend the money and then find that you don't like it, look it up and read reviews. Blogs and YouTube are the two places I check the most to read reviews on products.

You can save so much by watching where you spend your money and with so much variety of places, instore and online, you will find that you can pick up great bargains. I hardly buy anything full price!

Do you have a tip for saving money on beauty products?

Difference between lipstick and lip gloss?

I love lip products and get asked quite a bit which I prefer lipstick or lipgloss? It's a hard question to answer because they both have great features. So I wanted to let you know what the difference is between a lipstick and a lipgloss.

There are many brands and many different formulas which are all great but when looking at a basic lipstick and lipgloss here are some of the differences:

LIPSTICK

Lipsticks come in a few different textures and are great at providing rich colour that can last a long time (depending on which type you choose).

You can get matt lipsticks which provide colour and are great for long lasting colour, however they can make your lips dry.

Creamy lipsticks come in really true colours and are great for those prone to get dry lips.

Frosted lipsticks are shimmery colour lipsticks and work well to create a fuller lip.

LIPGLOSS

Lipgloss can come in a tube or pot packaging. Lipgloss does wear off quicker than lipstick.

Sheer lipgloss provide a hint of colour and lots of shine.

Sparkling lipglosses are glitter or shimmer infused and are great to add something more to your lips than traditional lip products.

Shiny lipglosses are great to give you lots of shine, some can give you a really wet look.

Creamy lipgloss gives you more colour and a creamier feel to your lips (but not quite like a lipstick)


These days there are so many different varieties to choose from that you are definitely going to find something that suits you. Both lipsticks and lipglosses can be found in long lasting and moisturising formulas. You can wear both a lipstick and lipgloss together, which looks great.

And don't forget if you have dry lips - before applying lipstick or lipgloss, apply a moisturising lip balm and leave it on for a good ten minutes or so to give you smooth lips and then you can apply your lipstick or lip gloss.

Do you have a preference for lipstick or lipgloss?

Why exfoliation is good for your skin

Many people forget about exfoliation. Why should I exfoliate? you may ask. There are some really good reasons why exfoliating is good for your skin.

When you exfoliate you are removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. It removes the flaky skin you may have so when you apply your moisturiser or serum, it is absorbed better and your foundation glides on smoothly on your skin.

Exfoliation stimulates blood circulation whilst removing dead skin cells and increases the cell renewal rate. This then makes your skin look and feel softer and smoother and you will have a healthy glow.

If you get pimples and blackheads they are caused by a build up of oil, dirt and dead skin cells that are usually in your pores. Exfoliating will help to remove the buildup, as our skin is sensitive ensure you are gentle when using a exfoliator, just rub gently in circular motions on your face.

Exfoliating at least two to three times is great for the skin, but it depends on your skin type so try a few different options to see what works for you.

Body exfoliation is good as well, I usually use a exfoliating glove for the body and it works really well, leaving the skin softer and smoother.

Do you exfoliate your skin? How often is best for your skin type?

Four tips to keep your makeup fresh in Summer

It is officially Summer here in Australia. The weather will start warming up soon and it will be hot. The one thing that is really annoying is when makeup doesn't stay on, because of the heat.

There are some really great products to look out for, to help keep your makeup on in summer.

Here are my tips on how to keep your makeup fresh in Summer:

1. Wear a primer - a primer applied after you day moisturiser, will help to even out your skintone and helps your foundation 'stay put' -  great for hot weather.

2. Choose a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturiser - the lighter the makeup the better you will feel in the heat. If you find your makeup is too light, set your foundation with some loose powder foundation to give more coverage.

3. Use a makeup setting spray - once you have applied all your makeup up, spray some makeup setting spray it is designed to set your makeup, leaves you looking fresh and your makeup should stay on all day.

4. Use blotting paper - they are affordable and you can get great travel sized ones, that you just press on your shiny areas of your face and the powder coated blotting papers will absorb it.

Of course everyone is different, so what may work for some may not work for others, but they are worth a try. Also to be considered is your skin type and the makeup you are using. Try what works best for you and don't forget to wear SPF sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun - most important!

What works best for you in Summer to keep your makeup on? Do you have some great products that you like to use in Summer?

Seven Tips: How to make your nail polish last longer?

I love wearing nailpolish and change my nail colour every week. There are some nail colours that don't even last two days before they start chipping. So I have been really interested in how to make my nailpolish last longer. Here are a few things I have found about nails and nailpolish:

1. Ensure your nails have been cleaned and all oils removed properly. Using a good nail polish remover to clean everything off your nails is important to create a clean nail base.

2.  Apply a base coat first. Base coats contain nutrients to help prevent breakage, splitting, peeling etc. It helps to protect your nail, prevent staining the nails and helps keep the nail polish on longer. Base coats should dry matte, sticky and fast.

3. Apply your nailpolish thinly, not thick. It's best to apply several layers of nailpolish thinly, for better results.

4. Apply a top coat. Top coats act as a barrier, prevent nail polish from chipping and give you a long lasting shine. If you have the time you can apply a top coat everyday so that the nailpolish lasts even longer. Top coats will dry shiny and dry slowly on the nail.

5. Try not to remove your nail polish more than once or twice a week, because it will dry out your nails.

6. You can store your nail polish in the refrigerator. It will last longer and can be easier to apply.

7. Wear gloves when cleaning or doing chores that involve water. Prolonged exposure to water can cause nail damage and can dry out your skin and nails. (Tips on how to look after your hands)

What works best for you to make your nailpolish last longer?

How to avoid getting a cold in winter? Blackmores Giveaway- (CLOSED)

Winter is my favourite season, love to rug up in my scarves, boots and beanies to keep warm. I enjoy sitting in front of the heater sipping on my hot chocolate......mmmmm nice and warm.

But one thing I don't like is getting a cold or flu. I think you would all agree that no one wants to get sick - but it does happen. In our household its usually a ripple effect, the kids get a cold, then I catch it off them, then hubby and it's gone around the whole family.

I have always been diligent about taking my Blackmores Womens Vitality multivitamin everyday along with a few other vitamins that I need to take for my wellbeing.

But this winter no matter how much I tried, I got the cold. I drank a whole packet of Camomile tea with honey and lemon and I went through two packets of Soother lozenges to help get over my cold.

In winter I do try to enhance my immune system by:

1. Keeping warm - always dress warmly when going outside
2. Drink warm water/drinks - to keep my body warm
3. Wash hands - especially before eating
4. Disinfectant spray - for around the house to keep those germs away

However this winter, I needed something more to enhance my immune system. Something like Blackmores Cold & Flu Day Night or Blackmores ImmunoDefence would be excellent to help keep a cold away.

So I have started taking the Blackmores ImmunoDefence straight away to support my immune system to help keep colds and flu away. I already feel stronger physically, so hopefully no more colds for me this winter!

********************GIVEAWAY**********************

I have ONE Blackmores pack valued at over $60 to giveaway to one lovely reader.

The pack contains one packet of Blackmores Cold and Flu Day Night and one packet of Blackmores ImmunoDefence along with some markers and masks.
For your chance to win this pack, leave me a comment below and tell me do you do anything to prevent a cold/flu?


Terms and conditions:

Open to Australian residents only.

Be a follower of my blog through Google Friend Connect

This giveaway finishes 22nd of August 2011 at 10pm. (aest)

Please ensure that I can contact you by email, if you are the winner.

****Optional.........( let me know in the coments below if you have done an extra entry)

•For an extra entry, 'Like' my facebook page DanniiBeauty

•For another extra entry, tweet this on twitter - I entered @DanniiBeauty Blackmores giveaway, you should too! http://bit.ly/p6f2XS #giveaways #win #winter

Thanks to everyone that entered this giveaway! The winner is:


Melanie


Stay tuned for more great giveaways coming soon!

How to take care of your lips

Lately I have been paying extra attention to my lips. I love wearing either lip gloss or lipstick or both on my lips all the time, but of course I don't like it when my lips are dry.

Here are some tips:

1. Moisturise your lips at all times. Invest in a good lip moisturiser and apply in the morning before applying lipstick/lipgloss.

2. Before going to bed every night, apply a lip balm on your lips. Sleeping with a lip balm on means you will wake up with smoother lips.

3. Exfoliate your lips - There are a few ways to do this, I like two ways. Usually on a regular basis I have a toothbrush that I use gently to exfoliate my lips with. Once or twice a week I get one teaspoon of sugar and one teaspoon of olive oil, mix them in a bowl until it turns into a paste and then gently use your finger to exfoliate for one minute on your lips. Remove with a moist towel and then apply a lip balm.

4. During the day, use a lip product that has SPF in it to protect your skin from damage from the sun. Always carry a lip balm with you and reapply throughout the day as needed.

5. Don't pick at your lips. By biting your lips it will make your lips more dry, chapped and they can bleed. If you feel the need to pick at them, apply milk on them instead, this helps to moisturise them.

Do you use a lip balm for your lips? What do you do to take care of your lips?

Four Beauty Tips

Being a beauty enthusiast that I am, the one thing I love is learning about beauty tips. There are so many that are really good and can help make things easier when it comes to beauty.

So these four are my tried and tested beauty tips that I love and have been using for years that I wanted to share.

1. Eyebrows- To get them to stay put, I get a comb (normal or eyebrow comb) spray it with hairspray and then comb the eyebrow. The hairspray helps the eyebrows stay put all day.

2. Lips - After applying lipstick to my lips, I apply lipgloss to the centre of the lips only, top and bottom. This gives my lips a fuller look.

3. Underarms - I exfoliate my underarms once a week, with a gentle exfoliator and exfoliating glove. Makes my skin smooth and gentle. Great if you have dry skin

4. Skin - Drinking warm water with lemon in the mornings I find does make a difference to my skin overall.

So those are a few of my beauty tips, there will be more to come soon.

Do you have some beauty tips that you like?

Skincare routine tips

Our skin is the most important feature to look after. A good routine is always a start to getting clearer, softer skin. It may vary depending on your skin type, through trial and error you will find what is best for your skin.

Cleanse and moisturise your skin twice a day (morning and night)

Exfoliate your skin once a week

Use a serum to get added nutrients into deeper layers of your skin

Drink water to help keep the skin fresh and hydrated

Take omega 3 vitamins to help improve the skin

Use products that are suitable to your skin type

If your skin gets irritated easily, use non perfumed products

Do you have a skincare routine you stick to?

 

Are you using the right night cream?

Night time is when our skin is rebuilding and regenerating itself and it needs moisture to do that, so using a good night cream is essential.

There are many benefits for our skin when using a night cream such as it nourishes, revitalizes, hydrates, promotes even complexion, reduces the appearance of fine lines and many more.

Through trial and error you can find the right night cream for your skin. It is all dependant on your age and skin needs.

First work out your skin type, for example dry, oily combination, sensitive and buy products that match your skin type.

If you are in your twenties look for a moisturiser that contains ingredients that will hydrate and nourish your skin, something that is light and will leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed.

If you are in your thirties you may want to start looking for a night cream that contains anti aging active ingredients usually things like retinol, collagen, vitamins amino acids and ceramides.

If you are in your forties you may start using a night anti-wrinkle cream that treats wrinkles and deeper lines, prevents puffiness and sagging of the skin. Look for a cream that contains collagen, retinol, ceremides, peptides, soy extract, lipids panthenol, copper, essential oils and vitamins.

The difference between a day cream and a night cream is the ingredients that they contain.

Day creams are lighter in texture and should have ingredients that moisturise and protect the skin from the sun with a SPF in it.

Night creams can be richer in texture and contain anti aging active ingredients to restore skin's elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst providing hydration to the skin.

Do you use a night cream? What are you using as a night cream?

10 tips on how to be organised

Ever since I can remember I have been a organised person. In school I had everything categorised and ready to go everyday. As an adult, my diary and calendar are my best friends. I just have to write everything down so I don't forget.

There have been many times though, no matter how much I try to be organised - things can get a little out of control. I go back to my list of general tips on how to be organised here it is:

1. Shopping online for groceries saves me time and money. It takes away the stress of going out to do the shopping when sometimes I just don't have the time.

2. I buy in bulk whenever there are sales - on grocery items, household goods or kids clothing.

3. Keep a fridge notebook on the fridge and write on it things you need to remember or do - its a great reminder.

4. Cleaning a cupboard or room per week, helps to keep on top of the clutter that may accumulate.

5. I always make sure I have washed the dishes before going to bed. Its just easier to wake up to a clean sink, after breakfast the dishes pile up again, so it helps to keep dirty dishes to a minimum.

6. I have a organised filing system, where I keep all our bills, statements etc..... I also have a emergency folder where I keep birth certificates, house insurance, bank account numbers etc in case there is a emergency evacuation.

7. I have a garbage bag that I keep in my walk in wardrobe and as I find clothes that don't fit or don't want anymore I put them straight in there and take it to the second hand shop.

8. I always plan the clothes I am going to wear for the next day the night before. That way I am not spending too much time in the morning trying to work out what to wear and possibly risk being late, which has happended before!

9. I have three separate baskets in the laundry, one for whites, one for coloured and one for towels. This way I am not spending time sorting through them as they are already sorted.

10. Clean as you go - this is my motto that I have the whole family working on. If we use something we put it back where it belongs. Or if the kids have been playing and leave things  - we pack them up before going to bed.

So apart from these tips, my phone calendar is great to set alarms for certain events or things I need to do to remind myself. I think being organised is something you can never know too much about, there is always something new to learn.

Tell me what are your tips to be organised? Do you do any of these things too?

6 Hair tips to achieve healthy hair

Maintaining hair care is important if you want healthy hair. Over the last few years I have had coloured hair and as a result my hair has been dry and damaged. I have done a lot of research and tried many products to achieve healthy hair. So I've learned a few tips along the way and wanted to share them with you..

Don't wash your hair everyday - I know this might sound a bit 'dirty' but washing your hair too much will make your hair lose its natural oils and may make your hair dry. By washing your hair every second day you are giving it time to absorb the hair's natural oils. Using a dry shampoo is a great product to use on the days your don't wash your hair. I was reluctant to use dry shampoo's as I didn't think they worked but now I love them. If you feel that you have to wash your hair everyday, try using a deep conditioner (with a cap on) once a week as it locks in your hair's moisture.

Dry your hair gently- Instead of vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel, try and pat dry your hair. This prevents damage to the hair. Allowing your hair to air dry is also great for your hair.

Don't brush your hair - When your hair is wet, use a comb only. Brushing your hair can create breakage in your hair. A wide comb is best.

Drink Water - Water is also good for maintaining good hair health, as is a balanced diet and omega 3.

Limit heat appliances - Hair does get damaged over time if you use too many heat appliances. Try and limit to using a heat appliance to a few times a week. if you have to use heat appliances everyday, use a hair protectant to protect the hair.

Trim regularly - Having your hair trimmed regularly, every  6-8 weeks is really good for your hair. The bottom of our hair becomes dry and you get split ends. If you don't trim these off, the dryness and split ends can travel all the way up your hair. Maintaining this with a regular trim helps keep the hair healthy.

Do you have any hair tips or products you love to use?

Dove Foaming Makeup Remover review

I love a good makeup remover, knowing that I can get all my makeup off, a very important step to a good skin routine. When I was sent the Dove Foaming Makeup Remover I was excited to try it out.

Dove claims: Works by effectively removing even the heaviest make-up including waterproof mascara, eye make-up and foundation.

The makeup remover is a yellow see-through bottle with a pump. There is a stopper that you can attach underneath the pump if you want to travel with it.

The remover is liquid, but when pumped comes out as a foam. It has a gorgeous fruity smell that is really nice. The instructions say you can use it on wet or dry skin, by applying three pumps.

I use it in my shower, with a full face of makeup I apply three pumps and massage it around my face, even on the tops of my eyelids and it gives me the results I want. A clean makeup free face that feels soft and clean. Love it! If your not wearing a full face of makeup you can use two pumps, just depends on what will work for you. This works well on my eye makeup and does not leave a stingy feeling at all.

It really does remove the heaviest makeup and waterproof mascaras all in a few seconds. I keep this in my shower permanently and love how easy, convenient and great results I get.

I would definitely recommend this - a must have in the shower and a very easy and convenient way to remove your makeup.

The Dove Foaming Makeup Remover is a 155ml pump bottle and retails for $10.95 aud. You can buy it from supermarkets or department stores.
Do you use a makeup remover?

Fashion talk: Infinity Scarf - how to wear it

Have you ever heard of a infinity scarf ( or some people call them eternity scarf) ? They are scarves that never end. They are in the shape of a circle, as their ends have been sewn together. They are great because you don't have to worry about the scarf falling off or being uneven. The infinity scarf is a multi functional fashion accessory that can be worn in a few different ways.

Traditional  - If you want a tradition scarf look, place the scarf over your head, loop the scarf and place it over your head again. This will give you a nice loosely fitted scarf.

Turtleneck - This is when you follow on from the traditional look and make another one or two loops (depending how long the scarf is) it will give you a tighter fitted scarf look, like a turtleneck.

Shawl - If your infinity scarf is a longer one, you can wear it on your shoulders like a shawl.

Hooded - You can also wear the infinity scarf like a hood, by wrapping the scarf around your neck once, then take the back of it and bring it over the head and wear it like a hood.

The picture above is my infinity scarf that I picked up from Target for $12 aud. The picture below is me wearing it in the traditional way.

Infinity scarves come in many shapes, sizes, colours, patterns and textures. You can get lightweight scarves which allow you to wear them in many different ways and there are thicker chunkier ones which are better to be worn the traditional way as they are harder to manipulate into different shapes.

Have you tried a infinity scarf?

How to make your eyeshadow last longer?

No matter what brand eyeshadow I use, my eyeshadow creases. I have oily lids and no matter what eyeshadow I use it will crease or wear off half way through the day. So after searching for the solution to my problem I have found some great ways to keep your eyeshadow on longer.

Eye primer - Using a eye primer works the best for my eyelids. I use the Urban Decay Primer potion and love it. There are many eyeshadow primers so find the right one and you will find that your eyeshadow will stay put all day. A primer is basically a base for your eyelids and something that your eyeshadow will hold on to and stay on longer.

Face Powder - Applying a translucent face powder over your lids can create a base for your eyeshadow to stick to. The powder will absorb the oils from the lid. Then apply your eyeshadow on top.

Wet eyeshadow - Before applying your eyeshadow, take your brush and wet it and then apply your eyeshadow. Using a damp applicator can help your eyeshadow stay on longer and makes the colour more intense and brighter.

Overall I would recommend using a eye primer, I find that to be the most effective.

What do you do to make your eyeshadow last longer?