What's everyones favorite thing to post on Instagram?

SELFIES!

Call it narcissistic if you want but Instagram is selfie central and one thing's for sure, you cant have a poppin ass selfie if your skin ain't on point (trust me...I know).

You all love to compliment me on how clear my skin is in my selfies and me spilling the beans on how I keep my skin so clear is one of my most requested blog post/video. 

So...after much delay YALL GETTIN THIS WORK TODAY.

 I'm letting yall in on my skin care routine complete with 7 skin care secrets and products to keep your skin poppin and keep you from having to pop them zits.

Hey ladies...and maybe some gents (no worries I'm not here to judge lol) 

About a week ago I found myself singing Beyonces "Flawless" as I was driving to coupon (yes I'm still couponing) *sings* "I woke up like this....Flawless....I woke up like this.....Flawless..." as I pulled into the parking lot of the first store I flipped down my sun visor to check myself out before I go out of my car. 

And there I was face full of make up singing "I woke up like this" *insert side eye here*

LIES I TELL!

I woke up like this? Really, I'm going to the grocery store in a full face of make up, granted this would not be my only stop for the day but still all I would be doing was shopping yet I had enough blush, foundation, mascara, concealer and shadow painted on my face for me and the chick in the next car over.

And I couldn't help but to ask myself why?

Why when I was just going out shopping was it so necessary to apply make up. I was sitting there moments ago professing I woke up like this when truth be told most days I set aside at least an hour alone to do my make up and very rarely do I feel anything close to flawless.

-____-

Most women if they are anything like me don't feel pretty until the makeup is put on and even with make up flawless is still a stretch because once we are out and about in the world we see face after face of women who seem to have it more together than we do and who's makeup is 10 times better than ours.

But have you ever wondered if that girl that you see as "perfect" and "amazing" feels just like you?

I only ask because I feel like that happens sometimes with you guys and me on Instagram. I have noticed recently when I post pictures many of you comment and compliment me on how perfect my makeup is or how "flawless" my skin looks. Some of you even tell me that you hate your own skin and wish you had "perfect" skin like mine. Which breaks my heart.

The truth of the matter is everything is not as perfect as it seems.

And I wanted to make sure that you guys knew that, what you see on Instagram (with me, other beauty/fashion bloggers, MUA and models) are very carefully selected pictures. The cream of the crop if you will lol. These pictures are taken after we are done up, in just the right lighting with just the right angle and just the right smile. Then we slap a few filters on it and post it for your Instagram viewing pleasure. 

If I sat here and actually counted all the pictures I have in my phone that didn't make it to Instagram because one of my eyes looked bigger than the other or the lighting was off or a filter couldn't even save it....well...that would explain why I have no space in my 16gb iPhone *side eye*

As much as I would love to take credit for the glamor shots you guys see on IG, or the "perfect skin" you have come to love, I can't and I don't. All that was brought to you by filters and the letters M.A.C. 

Honestly, I'm just like every one of you. I struggle with breaks out, dark under eye circles and un-even skin tone. 

 I don't always feel pretty and very rarely enjoy my morning face, but I wanted to embrace it.

 So yesterday on Instagram I posted this collage of myself after just waking up. I had no wig, no makeup....not even any lip balm *gasp* luckily my lips were not crusty LMAO

I wanted to show that under all the make up and filters and angles....NO ONE IS PERFECT.

But you shouldn't be ashamed of your imperfections, they don't make you any less of an amazingly beautiful person.  No matter if you have dark circles under your eyes that makes it seem like you have not slept in years or a huge noes (like me lol) 

Everyone should be able to feel confident in the skin that they are in. You have to love yourself first...because if you don't no amount of make up or compliments will make you feel better...feeling better starts from within.

So each day I challenge you to love the way you woke up, and to feel flawless with your naked skin and if any of you are brave enough (which I hope you all are) post a picture of yourself on Instagram with no make up and tag it  #barefacebeauty & #prettygirlsguide I would love to see all my beauties out there being proud of the skin they are in!

Never be afraid to say "I woke up like this"

Side bar ladies: By no means am I trying to hate on make up or those who wear it. If you want to wear some make up to cover up what you don't like so be it. No matter if its pimples or freckles. Or even if you want to wear it just because you like it. Who cares!? Find what works best for you and do it! Trust me I won't stop wearing make up either lol. 

Just remember the most important thing is that you love yourself, flaws and all.

(Hmmm thats another Beyonce song huh?)

Until Next Time,

XO Deanna 

Happy Wednesday Ladies !

As all my pretty girls know I' have been pretty much obsessed with skincare lately. I have been trying out a lot of different natural remedies and natural-ish products lol. 

Recently I stumbled upon 3 products that a absolutely fell in love with and earlier today on Instagram I posted a pic stitch showing them off. Unfortunately Instagram has posting limits so I couldn't go into detail about why I love the products but luckily my blog doesn't ☺️

So let's get into my little skin care show & tell/review shall we?

First up Simple Skincare Products

I came across Simple about a month ago when I clipped a bogo coupon for it (of course lol), saw their products at my local Target and decided to give it a chance. Now I'm not normally one to pick up a product on the whim because I have extremely sensitive skin and tho I love coupons just because something's cheap does not mean it needs to be on my face. However I was attracted to their cute green packaging an their tag "the sensitive skin experts" so I decided to give them a try.

1) Simple Exfoliating Facial Wipes 

These wipes are AMAZING dare I even say AMAZEBALLS (I hate that word). Each wipe has what seems to be little ridged holes in it that help lift off dead skin cells. These wipes feel different than any other exfoliating wipes I have ever tried. They are not overly moist or soapy once your done rubbing your face down you have this completely clean feeling. I defiantly prefer these over the Ponds exfoliating wipes that I tried a while back. I like to use my Simple wipes with coconut oil, in the mornings I'll massage my face with coconut oil and then go over that with the wipes. The coconut oil helps break down any left over makeup particles and gives a deeper clean along with the exfoliation.  

25 wipes come in a pack for about 4.99-6.99 depending on the store you shop in. I suggest you go to Target or Walmart you tend to get the best bang for your buck there.

2) Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub

You know, I really appreciate things that do what they say and this scrub really makes your face feel all types of smooth 😍.  Aside from that it helps your skin look brighter! The consistency is completely different than most scrubs, I'm used to super thick scrubs with large exfoliating beads. Simples scrub is of a thinner consistency and the exfoliating so beads are tiny...like itty bitty micro crystals which I love. I hate the big beads.. Not sure why I have just never been a fan.  I'm still hot and cold on the consistence of the scrub itself, I'm just super used to thicker scrubs but it's consistency doesn't take away from the job that it does sooooo I'm good lol. The ONE downside to this scrub is that to me it almost smells like a typical house cleaner. It's not a super strong smell or overwhelming but because Simple does not use any dyes or perfumes it just smells like a cleaner (exactly what it is lol) I'm just used to things being more fragrant and pretty smelling lol.

The scrub comes in a 5 fl oz bottle  it cost around 5.99-6.99 again try to pick it up at your local Target or Walmart.

THIS STUFF! 

THISSSSSSSSS STUFFFF IS AMAZING! Bottom line flat out if I never use another lip balm in life it will be too soon. I was already addicted to Nivea lotion, then I became addicted to Nivea body wash and now they have won over my lips. I'm just Nivea'd out. Their lip care line consist of butters, balms and glosses which are all equally amazing, but my hear belongs to the balms. This lip bam makes my lips so damn smooth without being sticky, greasy or creating that awful white line on your lips. In every situation this stuff is my go to lip option it leave my lips soft with a hint of color. Perfect! You can bet without a doubt this will be my best friend forever. The Berry Swirl is my favorite but they have a lot of different flavors that are vitamin enriched, smoothing, hydrating, SPF enriched, medicated ect. So there are plenty of options for you to choose from but I DEFINATLY recommend you go grab one....like now.

The Nivea lip balms retail anywhere from 1.99 -3.00 but always go on sale so try to catch them when they are marked down at a store near you.

If your in the market for a new facial wipe, scrub or lip balm I highly recommend these three products for everyone, no matter if your skin/lips are sensitive, normal, dry or oily Simple and Nivea have you covered.

The after effects of using these dope ass products you ask? LOL

In the comments let me know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought. Or if your thinking about trying them let me know😊

Until next time 

XO, Deanna