Dre Does 2015 Beauty Favorites

After careful consideration my favorite products of the year are finally here! These are makeup, skin care and hair products that have been used on a regular basis throughout the year and even repurchased multiple times so you know that I have put them to the test and love them. I chose 15 products total and have separated them into categories...So let's get started!

Let's start with hair products. If you know anything about me, it's that I am not one to fuss a lot over my hair. I've never colored it and keep styling to a minimum so for me to stand behind a hair product means that it has to be easy! These three products have been my rocks for the year and I can't imagine life without them anymore.

1. Kenra Professional Platinum Dry Texture Spray ($22): This might be my favorite hair product of all time. It smells amazing and gives my hair the perfect amount of texture without weighing my hair down. It gives me volume and revitalizes flat and boring hair. I love to use it both on curly or straight days. Click here to read a post more about it in my June favorites!

2. Redken Hot Sets ($17): This product changed my life when it comes to curling my hair. My hair has never wanted to hold a curl for more than an hour so when someone recommended this to me I was floored at how well it makes my curls stay. It's essentially a hair spray that you apply before heat styling that not only holds the style, but protects your hair from any heat damage! Go out and get some NOW if your hair is hard to curl and I promise you will love it!

3. Enjoy Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($24): I have tried more dry shampoos than I can even count and this one is by far my favorite because there is no lingering scent and my hair doesn't feel instantly dirty. It also is one of the easiest dry shampoos to blend into your hair if you are a brunette so I love that I don't have to spend much time with it. It gives me volume and I always get compliments on my hair when I use it (aka trick people into thinking I have beautifully styled and clean hair!) If you're interested in purchasing it please shoot me an email and I'd be happy to talk to you more about it because we retail it at the Spa & Wellness center I work at!

Now for the skincare! I have been experimenting with so many new products in the last year, but I've found that I have a few that I have really been loving.

4. Tarte Maracuja Oil (Reg. $48 but only $28 right now!): I feel like most of you probably know by now how much I love this stuff. It should come as no surprise that I am obsessed with Maracuja (passion fruit) oil. With a burst of Vitamin C it helps hydrate and brighten my complexion every morning and night. When my foundation feels too drying or I want a lighter coverage, I simply add a drop in. I have gone through probably 5 big bottles over the last couple of years and I can't see myself stopping anytime soon. The limited edition holiday bottle that I'm currently using is on sale on Tarte's website so if you've been wanting to try it, now's your chance!

5. Lelexo Mandelic Acid Scrub ($33): This has quickly become my holy grail cleanser. I use it on so many of my clients at the spa because it is amazing for so many skin types. Mandelic Acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid derived from almonds that gently exfoliates the skin and helps with acne, hyperpigmentation, aging and so much more! It is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, so it helps keep your skin extremely clean. Not only that, it is anti-inflammatory so it helps the skin to calm and heal quicker! I have gone through multiple bottles myself and would be happy to talk to you more about it if you're interested in trying it out!

6. The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil ($19)/ Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter ($16)/ Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($17): You're looking at my makeup removing routine. I always use either the Cleansing Oil or Cleansing Butter and the Eye Makeup Remover. All are gentle and remove my makeup so well without causing any irritation to my skin and leave it feeling smooth and hydrated! I always use my cleanser after, but as a first step to my skincare routine, I LOVE THEM!

It's time for the main course friends! My 2015 favorite makeup products. If you're new to my blog, I hope you try some of my obsessions.

7. NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation ($48): Guys this foundation changed my life. I know that sounds extreme but as my skin has been transitioning into being less oily all the time, I have needed a foundation that gives me a full coverage yet light feeling luminous look and I'm obsessed with it. I used to be a die hard Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation fan but it's too drying for me these days and this one has saved the day! I can't say enough great things about it and here is my post from last year. If you've followed me at all throughout 2015 you are probably not surprised that this one came out on top! I highly recommend getting a sample from Sephora if you are normal to oily!

8. Anastasia Beverly Hills Original Contour Kit ($40): I have to admit that at first I wasn't too impressed with this one. It was getting so much hype that I didn't think it could possibly be as amazing as everyone was saying so I probably didn't give it a fair chance. Fast forward to a busy bridal season and doing my makeup hundreds of times in 2015 and it's now easy to say that this is my favorite contour kit. The shades work so well and blend so nicely that I will be refilling it as soon as I finish up these pans. I found myself bringing other contour products to jobs but always ending up using this one.

9. Benefit Dallas Bronzer/Blush ($29): Back when I worked for Benefit this was one of the products that I talked about with clients on a regular basis. Anytime some said "I need a good every day blush that will go with everything" Dallas was the first thing that came to mind. Yes it's technically a bronzer, but let's face it, who likes following all the rules?! It gives the cheeks a beautifully natural glow without looking fake. It works on so many skin tones and blends easy as well! You must pick up a box for yourself now! (I might already have two back ups...)

10. Too Faced Original Chocolate Bar Palette ($49) & Too Faced Natural Matte Eye Palette ($36): These two palettes have been my go to palettes of the year. I've used them far more than any Naked palette and they were even picked up more than my beloved Anastasia palettes. I love warm shades and I feel like they both give me a great range of shades to do any intensity of neutral looks! If you don't have either you need to get them both ASAP!

11. Benefit They're Real Mascara ($24): SURPRISE! This made the cut another year...haha! I don't think another mascara will ever compete for me. It's a cult favorite for a reason and stays on like no other mascara for me. The wand, the formula, the intensity...it does it all!

12. Glo Minerals Brow Collection ($45.50): I'm obsessed with this brow kit. If you've ever been a client of mine regarding brows you know how much I love brow waxes instead of pencils. I think they are more customizable and you get more for your money. When I started using Glo Minerals at my job I fell in love with this kit because it is such a good value! You get two brow powder shades, a brow wax, cream highlighter, spooly brush, angled brow brush, tweezers, and stencils all in a zip up kit for only $45.50! Such a deal and the product is really great quality! If you have questions about it let me know! You can buy it through me at Remedi!

13. NYC Liquid Eyeliner ($2.99): Yes you read that right... it's onlyl $2.99 and it's amazing! If you haven't heard of how amazing this inexpensive liner is you either aren't that interested in makeup or are living under a rock. So here I am recommending it to you as well because it is Dre Does approved! You can get it at your grocery store or Target and it's extremely black, easy to use, and lasts all day!

14. Glo Minerals Suede Matte Crayon ($16): I love lip products, it's no secret. At any one time my purse can have upwards of 15 lipsticks in it so let's say I've tried quite a few. These crayons are my ideal lip product for a few reasons. First, they are matte which is my favorite lip finish because they last all day and make my lips look the best. Second, they are really pigmented. It doesn't take much product but they are easy to apply. Third, they are very smooth and don't dry out the lips. Sometimes I have to take a break between matte lipsticks because they dry my lips out too much but these never do! Lastly, they come with a built in sharpener so you can take them on the go and never have to worry about it not being ready to use!

15. Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castille Bar Soap ($4.69): If you missed THIS post, you might be wondering why bar soap is in my 2015 favorites. Read the post and you'll find out that it has become my favorite way to clean my makeup brushes. Not only is it extremely good at getting every last bit of makeup out of them quickly, but it also softens and conditions my brushes for future use! Go read the post on it and you'll learn more!


There they are friends! All 15(ish) products that I LOVED throughout the year. Let me know what your favorite products were and if you have questions about anything, as usual, let me know and I will be happy to answer them!

I hope your 2016 is off to a fabulous start! Remember to stay kind and grateful to everyone!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does an Adele Inspired Tutorial

I shared the picture above asking if you guys would like to see my Adele inspired makeup look and the response was overwhelming! Thank you always for your support! I obviously bought Adele's album the day it came out and every time I listened to it on my phone, the photo above of her makeup was looking back and me and I knew I wanted to re-create it. I realize it's not a color photo but the defined and contoured eyelook was what I was after. The look is super easy and honestly a great look with or without the liquid liner, for those of you who are still working on the perfect wing! The thing I like most about this look is that it is about layering shadows from light to dark, so you're in complete control of how light or dark you want to make it. Every shadow I used was from the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette and while you certainly don't need this palette to get this look, I highly suggest investing in it or adding it to your christmas wishlist. I don't know what I would have done without this palette for my freelance kit because everything you need to start and blend a look is in it. Without this turning into a Too Faced review....let's begin!

(On my lips is the Maybelline Color Sensational 'The Mattes' Lipstick in Daringly Nude)

1. As usual I started with a primed eyelid and then applied Heaven from lashline to brow bone using a flat shader brush. 

2. Using a very fluffy blending brush I mixed Lace Teddy and Nude together and applied them throughout the crease. As you can see this doesn't appear too much darker than the Heaven shade, but thats what I want. This look is all about slowly building the color and blending A LOT! Adding the lighter/medium shades in the crease will make blending the darker colors much easier. 

3. Next, I mixed Cashmere Bunny and Risqué on a pencil brush and applied it in my crease. Using the same fluffy blending brush from step 2, I blend the crease color out. I want the edges to be more blended on the top as you can see but the area where my crease meets my lid, I keep pretty intense and not so faded. 

4. The last shadow step is to take some more of Heaven and apply it to the lid to create that contrast between the dark crease and light lid. This is what gives Adele's look that defined and contoured eye shape. 

5. Next it's time for liquid eyeliner. In this look I used the NYC Liquid Eyeliner which is such an inexpensive and great product. It's only a couple dollars and is especially great for those who are practicing winged liner because you won't feel bad wasting expensive liner if you have to remove and re-apply. I always start my winged liner with a small line extending from the end of my lashline outwards. The angle I create is based on following my bottom lashline and extending that line out. 

6. Next, I draw from the end of the tail I've created back to my lashline, creating a little triangle. 

7. Lastly, I create the line along my lashline from the inside of my eye connecting to the tail I've just made. If this seems super confusing let me know and I can create a post completely devoted to how I do winged eyeliner!

(I unfortunately didn't get a picture after I finished my eyeliner, but I always perfect that line of liquid liner along my lid at the end to create a smooth line so please excuse any uneveness!)

8. The last step is lining your waterlines. I used Black on the top lashline and NYX's Wonder Pencil (a nude shade) on the bottom to get that bright open-eyed look like Adele has in the album cover. Two coats of your favorite mascara and you're done!

And that's it! You can get Adele inspired makeup that easily! Let me know if you have any questions or requests of makeup looks to recreate. I really enjoy recreating celebrity looks for you guys!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and please know that I am so thankful for you!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Brows for Beginners

I had a good friend reach out to me lately asking for some pro tips regarding brows and it got me thinking that I've never really covered the basics regarding filling in brows, here on Dre Does. So I decided to share some of the basics with you incase you have never filled them in before and don't quite know where to start. 

1. Start small: If you've never colored your brows in before ANYTHING is going to look more dramatic than what you're used to. Just because you notice a huge difference doesn't mean they look bad. I would recommend starting with a tinted brow gel first, working your way up to a pencil, and then moving on to a tinted wax or pomade if you're really feeling confident. Filling your brows in for the first time should be subtle and minimal to avoid going too dramatic. 

2. Small Strokes: If you are using a product to fill them in always use small hair-like strokes because after all you are trying to make your brows look like they are full of more hairs. No one has perfectl straight and opaque brows naturally, so don't make long and intense lines with your product. 

3. Get a spooly: You'd be surprised how different and much easier filling your brows in is when you have a spooly for blending. A spooly is simply a disposable mascara wand and you can find a pack of them for only a few bucks at your local beauty supply store. If you don't want to go out and buy one, simply wait to use up your current tube of mascara (if it's one with a traditional bristle brush wand) and sanitize it for use in place of a spooly! Simply apply your brow product like you normally would and then use your spooly to slowly brush through the brow hairs and blend the product. This will ensure that your filled in brows don't look so fake.

4. Start in the middle: Whenever you are filling in your brows, I recommend starting to fill the middle of the brow first for a few reasons. If you're using a product that has a wand or brush (so a tinted gel or pomade for example) you will have the most product on it initially. You don't want to put all that product right in the front of the brow because naturally we aren't the fullest right where the brows start. It's also hard to master how to start your brow, so slowly building the front with only a little bit of product will help you acheive a much more natural look. This will help you avoid the obvious, too squared off brows. 

5. Shade is key: Don't use too dark or too light of a product. Brows should always stay a little darker than your hair if you're blonde, or a little lighter than your hair if it's darker. Also unless you are a red head, your brows should stay ashy and cool-toned. No one really has warm brows except for red heads, so picking the right tone of product will help you avoid your brows looking fake!

6. Get them shaped by a professional: I tell all of my clients that they beauty of getting their brows shaped is that I give them the blueprint to fill in their brows. Simply follow the shape I've waxed them to and in no time you'll get the hang of what you should be filling in. I take the guesswork out of adding product and will even show you how to do it if you need help. If you're in the Lansing area I would love to help you in person, but if not, find someone you trust to help shape your brows and get rid of unnecessary hairs!

7. Get them tinted: If all of this seems way too difficult and intimidating, look into tinting. This is a service I personally perform at the spa and it allows me to tint the hairs and underlying skin, to look like the brows are fuller than they are and to help emphasize the shape I give by waxing. The tint lasts up to 3 weeks so it's a great option for those who don't want to fill them in with product every morning. 

If this post stirred up any questions you might have regarding brows, please feel free to leave a comment below or on my Facebook page! I hope this helps!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Beauty Secret

If there's one thing us makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts can agree upon, it's that cleaning brushes is the bane of our existence. It's the thing that we know we have to do but always dread. Well I'm here to share a tip I discovered about a year ago but didn't actually try out until very recently. I'm happy to say I'm never going back to my old ways!

So what it is? A solid brush cleanser. You may have heard of the most famous one from Beauty Blender that retails for $16 for 1 ounce of soap. The idea is that you wet your brush or sponge and swirl it around on soap, pick some up and then use that to clean the brush in your palm or whatever you normally use to clean your brushes. I have always used baby shampoo for deep cleansing my brushes because it's just how I was taught and what has always worked. Mind you this always takes forever when you have a lot of brushes and I feel like I'm always wasting shampoo because I'm pouring it into my palm.

Well I heard another makeup artist suggest trying Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castille Bar Soap as a solid cleanser and seeing as it costs a shocking $4.69 for 5 oz, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. OMG! Ladies go out and buy this completely organic soap ASAP and try it. Not only is it ridiculously cheaper than the Beauty Blender's alternative, but it's organic, conditioning for your brushes with coconut and tons of other oils, and it comes in so many different scents. Since it doesn't come with a container to store it in like the Beauty Blender one, just make a trip down the travel sized beauty section like I did and snag yourself a clear 97 cent container to store your bar of soap in.

I love how quickly I can wash everything too because I'm not picking up a shampoo bottle and pouring out and wasting extra product with every brush. It also cleans the brushes quicker than I've ever seen! I've linked the Citrus scent above which is the one I am currently using.

If you try this out and love it, let me know! Also please feel free to share any other beauty secrets you might have!


Have a beautiful week,

Dre

Dre Does an EXO Supply Review

Now that the flu is finally starting to stop occupying my body, let's get to a post I had originally planned for last week! A few month's back I was contacted by the company EXO Supply to try out two of their new products. They are a relatively new organic and natural company and since the two products involved skincare (hello!) and nails, I was excited to try them out. I love that their products are all formulated with USDA certified organic essential oils. I love me some essential oils because of not only their benefits and versatility, but most importantly their smell. I received the Natural Foaming Coconut Cleanser and samples of both the Lavendar and Citrus scented Pure Removers. 

I was excited to try the Coconut Cleanser because it is super gentle and safe for all skin types. I have oily and acne prone skin and while I normally prefer to have a really deep cleansing cleanser, I still think it's important for all skin types to have a gentle and soothing face wash in your drawers for days when you're skin is really irritated or hypersensitive. The fact of the matter is that I live in Michigan; where the weather changes drastically at a moments notice and my skin can reflect that. 

The Pure Coconut Cleanser is formulated with coconut oil obviously, but also jojoba oil and floral waters. I initially wasn't too thrilled with the cleanser because I didn't feel like I was getting a deep enough cleanse. However, once I started using it as the first step in a double cleanse, I liked the results I was getting. I now use it every night to get every last trace of makeup off before I go in and deep cleanse my skin. I know you might think this is excessive, but when you're as acne prone and sensitive as I am, this extra step helps! Plus I've liked having it on hand for those sensitive nights. The Pure Cleanser retails for $16.95 for 6 Oz. 

The next product I tried was the Pure Remover which is a completely organic and natural plant-based nail polish remover that is both alcohol and acetone FREE! I repeat, alcohol and acetone FREE! The scent is completely naturally and the product is non-toxic too! While I think this is an amazing natural option for everyone, I think this product would be amazing for use on both children AND women that are pregnant who are looking for organic and non-toxic options! The wipes are a great option if you're traveling or simply like the convinience, but they also sell bottles of the Pure Remover if you prefer. (Can we talk about how proud I am that I remembered to take a picture before I ripped the adorable packaging open and ruined it?!)  The wipes are available in packs of 10 ($12), 20 ($24), or 30 ($30) and in the scents Lavender, Mint, Orange, or Unscented. The bottles are $15.95 for 4 oz and come in the same four scents. 

You can find out more about EXO Supply and their products by visiting www.EXOsupply.com or checking out their Instagram (@exo_supply).

A huge thanks to EXO Supply for letting me try out these awesome products! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

*These products were sent to me to try out for free but all opinions are my own and I wasn't required to post about them! 

Dre Does Hair Accessories

I don't know about you but I'm really picky when it comes to the hair ties and headbands I wear when I'm working out. I hate when my hair feels like it's falling out or loose, so I'm always searching for functional yet pretty ones. I am happy to report that I have found a few hair accessories that have lived up to my expectation and I'm here to share them all with you!

First up we have hair ties. I have to always have a hairtie on my writst because when I'm at the spa, I need to be able to tie my hair back at a moment's notice. However, I'm usually dressed up and I don't like the look of classic hairties. I got a coupon for the scunci Everyday & Active 3X Braided Elastics (around $2.99) so I decided to try them out. I am obsessed! They look like a cute braided bracelet on your wrist, but have amazing stretch and really grip the hair well. I only need one of these to keep my hair in place during even the most intense workout. I got my pack of 6 black braided elastics at Target but I've seen them at other grocery stores too! They also come in a multi color pack which I will probably pick up next!

Next, I found two headbands also from scunci that I really love. Both have rubber grips sewn into the undersides so they always stay put no matter how much I'm moving when I'm working out. The first is the No-Slip Grip Braided Headwrap (around $5.99) and I can't get enough of. It not only holds my hair back, but it adds a little bit of style too! 

Lastly is the No Slip Basic Headwrap (around $6.99). I like how this one keeps all of my hair completely out of my face because it's so wide, yet it doesn't budge when I'm moving. I have both of these headbands in black and bought them at my local Ulta. 

What are your favorite hair accessories? If you have any suggestions please leave a comment below so I can try them out!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

*This post is not sponsored by scunci and everything was purchased with my own money.

Dre Does Friday Favorites

It's been too long since I've shared some Friday Favorites so I thought I'd give you a taste of what I've been really enjoying lately.

First up we have a fall themed favorite that I discovered when looking for something else! I'm a huge fan of greek yogurt and it's the only dairy I consumer besides the occasional addition of cheese when I'm cooking. I heard that Chobani had Pumpkin Spice Yogurt and even though I didn't think I would like it I set out to find some. Luckily I came across the last one while grocery shopping last week and right next to it was an abundance of the Cinnamon Pear flavor. I grabbed a few and it turns out I ended up hating the pumpkin spice one and being OBSESSED with the Cinnamon Pear flavor. It's so delicious. While they are higher in sugar than I like (15g of sugar and 12g of protein), if you're looking for a healthier option to having dessert at night, I highly recommend trying the Cinnamon Pear flavor as an evening snack!

 Even though I'm already more than halfway through the 20's I really enjoyed reading this article from Emily, one of my favorite fashion and lifestyle blogger's from Cupcakes and Cashmere. It's filled with some great reminders so take a look when you have a second.

I have been obsessed with the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in Opal (the liquid version of the Shimmering Skin Perfector family). It came in a kit of four mini's from Becca that I purchased about 6 months ago. While I fell in love with two of the four really quickly, this one kind of got thrown into a drawer and for some reason I decided to pull it out last week and start using it. Not sure what compelled me to do so but thanks to whatever intuition I should thank for my now glowing skin! It has a nice, flat applicator that makes it really easy to dab one side on one cheek, flip it over and dab the other side on the other cheek! Then I use my beauty blender to blend the product well into my skin so I have no harsh edges (I should note that I always apply it after my under eye concealer as my last liquid product. I then set my under eye concealer with powder and finish my face with my other powder products). I love how dewy and healthy it makes my skin look. The nice thing about the full size version of this product is that it comes with a pump so you can mix it in with foundation or moisturizer to give you an all over dewy illumination. It will definitely be added to my beauty wishlist.

While I haven't mentioned it for awhile here on Dre Does I reach for my Aveda Beautifying Composition often especially as the weather starts to get chillier. Recently I've been noticing some random dry patches around my nose and eye area so I pulled out my trusted friend and have been adding a drop here and there to combat these random flaky spots. I love the aroma and the versitility of this product and will never be without it. Click here to see a post I did on it more than a year and a half ago showing 11 uses for this magical product!

Cycling or spinning (depending on what you call it...haha) used to be a huge part of my life. When I was a senior in high school my mom dragged me into a class with her and I was hooked! I am super competitive by nature and loved being able to push myself every class. I started going multiple times a week and it became a huge part of my workout routine. I slowly got out of it as college and life got busier and it had been years since I have done it. A few months ago though, the gym at my apartment complex got a spin bike and I couldn't have been more excited. I dusted off my spin shoes and have been spinning at least 4 times a week since! I forgot how much I truly love the workouts. You can find great spinning workout ideas on Pinterest if you need some inspiration. If you're not the biggest fan of running and you've never tried it I highly recommend giving it a shot! I think it's really important to find a class in your area to get started so that you can learn proper form and technique from professionals before you try it on your own.