Category Archives: Beauty

At Home Teeth Whitening: Does it Work? A Coffee Addict Gives it a Go + A Giveaway!

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

There are always trends in the beauty space– whether it’s face masks, new hair products or other beauty products, but one thing that will never go out of style are white teeth. I’ve seen a lot of products come up recently with various lights, strips, etc., but I think none of those are customized just for your mouth/teeth the way Smile Brilliant is.

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Being the coffee addict that I am, I was immediately excited about the idea that I would have whiter teeth.

Like I said, Smile Brilliant really knows how to customize products for you, and the customer service is superb! A few months back, they sent me the box full of everything I would need for the whitening process. I was a little overwhelmed when I opened the package, but immediately was eased by the how-to photos!

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It started with making a mold that was then sent back to smile brilliant to create my molds where I’d put the whitening gels in.

Once the customized molds came back, it took me a few days to get going because I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to drink anything cold after the whitening processes, but this unique process is great because it includes a de-sensitivity gel that can be used after the whitening process!!! I’ve used other whitening strips before, and none of them included ANYTHING like this! I was over the moon with this. I had zero sensitivity throughout this whole process. The only part of the process that wasn’t my favorite was a couple of times I had white spots on my teeth for a few hours after the process, but they disappeared and didn’t come back until the next whitening session!
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With my busy work schedule, I found it difficult to come home (sometime around 9 p.m.) and whiten after work, but I think that would be the best time to do it to minimize any re-staining. I honestly whitened on my way to work each time! That’s the beauty of Smile Brilliant– you can do it anywhere, any time! Last weekend, I whitened on my way home from a wine tasting. #Winning

 

It worked for me, but I did experience a little bit of some re-staining here and there because I would drink coffee when I got to work, but the re-staining was no where near the yellow I once had.

Here are my before pictures (also I somehow have an odd shaped mouth, and it was hard for me to smile with all of my teeth, so please don’t laugh!! haha)

 

Before wine tasting last week, I wanted to take an after picture! I noticed some great results — especially towards the tops of my teeth towards my gums.
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I love the unique experience that Smile Brilliant is able to offer their customers because of the customized molds, and they do it for a fraction of the price that you’d get at a dentists office.
Summer is the perfect time to start your whitening process. Smile Brilliant is so kind, and are working with me to gift one of YOU a free whitening kit (valued at $149!!).
If you are interested in entering for your chance to win a FREE KIT, you can enter HERE!! You can also head to their website for 15% off store-wide code using the code: definingdanie15
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Tooth Whitening Gel

This post was sponsored by Smile Brilliant but all opinions are my own. 

 

Win an $800 Nordstrom Gift Card!

Posted in Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle by

NO, YOU ARE NOT DREAMING! You read that headline correctly! Yes, YOU can win an $800 Nordstrom gift card!

To see how to win, make sure you follow all the rules down below! All of the blogger babes that I’ve teamed up with are fabulous, and I cannot wait for you to get to know their blogs.

You can enter today starting at 12 pm ET through August 28 at midnight! 

$800 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway

To kick off our last month of Summer, I’ve teamed up with a group of bloggers to give you
a chance to win an $800 Nordstrom Gift Card!

To enter: complete the steps in the rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete,
the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning!
This giveaway runs until Tuesday, August 28th at 12am PST

Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
*this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Nordstrom.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I wish you all the BEST of luck! I cannot wait to see who the winner is!

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How to get that GLOW you’ve always been wanting! Two Bronzed Babes + Defining Danie

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

We all love that after-sun glow, but for some of us, going out and laying in the sun isn’t really an option.

And, for those lucky ones who can tan naturally without the awful burn first, what can you do to have beautifully tan skin without the hassle of having to head to the Islands? We can do spray tans! No…not the orange streaky tans that you are thinking of, but ones that look natural!

I had the opportunity to work with Beth, co-owner of Two Bronzed Babes Mobile Spray Tanning! She came to my house, and gave me a fantastic spray tan. It was such an incredible experience. We did the spray tan in perfect time for the Spring Gala I attended the next day for Planned Parenthood of Maryland.

To start the 30 minute mess-free process, Beth set up her at-home spray tan tent in my living room! We then talked about the correct shade for my natural skin tone, to ensure that I would not look too tan.

I was nervous at first because you do have to undress in front of someone you’ve just met, but Beth made sure that I felt comfortable in my own skin and was very professional! She has seen so many people, so I’m sure my body was not any different from anyone else.

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As soon as we were done, I took this picture so that I could compare it to the next day to see how well the color developed!

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The color developed really well- and if it’s your first time getting a spray tan do NOT worry because you are going to be dark but once you shower, you are going to GLOW! I have white sheets, and when I woke up, there was nothing on my sheets.

Here is a picture from the next evening after I showered! This tan came just in time for the gala I attended. This tan helped me feel so confident that evening!

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The tan has also lasted on me so well. This weekend, I went to Philly and walked around for hours, and unlike other spray tans I have received, it did not bleed on to any of my clothing. The only place where the tan has not lasted well is my face. But, that is because I wash my face two times a day, and use cleansing wipes to remove my makeup!

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Beth and her sister, Rachel, created this mobile spray tanning company after her sister got skin cancer. They both love the way they feel when they are tan, but knew they were going to need a healthier way of acquiring a tan rather than a tanning bed or laying out for hours in the sun!

Two Bronzed Babes can also help you achieve that summertime glow that you’ve been missing. Beth works in the Annapolis area and her sister is in the Pikesville area, but because they’re mobile, they will make the process so simple, and come to you!

They don’t only do one-on-ones, you can also book them for your next girl’s night! Think about how fun your next wine night can be!

Pro-tips: 

  • No sweaty activities for at least 6 hours so the color develops well
  • Do a quick rinse off if you have work the next morning, but don’t do a full shower for 12 hours
  • Get yourself a foundation that will work for your new glow!

I cannot wait to book my next session with Beth! To book your first session, you can contact her at (301) 538-7184. To see pictures of others who have gotten sprayed by her, check her out on Instagram @bronzedbabebeth.

 

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This post is sponsored by Two Bronzed Babes South. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Defining Danie possible!

 

My 7 Must-have Beauty and Skin Care Products of the Moment!

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

Happy weekend! I hope your Saturday is off to a great start. I love the weekend because it’s the best time for running errands and self care! Does anyone else LOVE running errands or is it just me?

While running errands, I always end up finding some great products that I have to try out! Recently, I’ve picked up six products that I know you also NEED!

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Hair hacks to keep your hair beautiful year-round!

Posted in Beauty, DIY, Lifestyle by

Hi! I hope everyone is having a great start to their new year so far. I really feel like 2018 is going to be a great year for all of us, I can just feel it!

For it to be a great year, it has to include having great hair. So, today, I am going to share some advice with you on how to have great hair, even during these dry winter months!

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My experience with a Clarisonic and why you NEED a one in your life!

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

Let me start by saying, hello all! I have missed you all so much. My blogging hiatus is OVER. This school year has been crazy busy, but I have so many exciting posts coming up soon starting with this post about my new obsession, the Clarisonic Deep Pore Mia 2. 

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I started using this 60 second gentle face massager two weeks ago, and my skin already feels so much more smooth. I’ve been joking with people that I have been using an electronic toothbrush for my face, haha!

I haven’t struggled a ton with skin issues while in college, *knock on wood I don’t start now,* but I do have larger pores on my cheeks and I can already notice a difference after using this product for two weeks, I cannot wait to see what my skin looks like after a month of using this product. It really cleanses deep into your pores.

 

Before using the brush on my face, I make sure to use a makeup wipe for my eyes and then use the brush as it explains in the user guide. I was honestly a little worried when I first received the brush because I have sensitive skin and was worried about breaking out because the brush would be harsh, but it is so nice because the brush has two speeds and I make sure I am using the gentle, low speed!

Look how not cute the face I make when I use this is :

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I usually wash my face in the morning and then use a cleansing makeup wipe at night to take off my makeup, but the brush is gentle enough to use twice a day, so I decided to try it one night to see if my skin could handle it. So, I used the makeup wipe and I felt like all of my makeup was off, but I continued to use the Clarisonic after and oh my goodness, you have no idea how much makeup was still on my face!

The picture above was taken after going out for Halloween on Saturday in Kent.

I went as the butterfly Snapchat filter, which gives you that perfect glow to your face on Snapchat, so of course I covered my face in highlighter. When I got home at the end of the night it felt amazing to know that I was getting deep into my pores to clean it all out to ensure my skin could breathe.

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If you’re thinking about how this could be something you want for yourself, or know someone else who would love this, I have great news for you! From now until Nov. 20, if you use the code: HERCAMPUS, you can receive 15% off your purchase if you visit: Here!

A Clarisonic would make an amazing holiday gift, yes I know Halloween just passed but the holiday season is coming up!

I cannot wait to see how much my skin continues to better itself by using the Clarisonic Deep Pore Mia 2! 

Have you ever used one? I would love to hear about your experience!

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter at @Danieminor13 <3

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This post is sponsored by Clarisonic and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Defining Danie possible!

 

BYOB- Build Your Own Birchbox! + A Giveaway!

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

Birchbox is the queen of all monthly boxes! We all know how popular these monthly boxes have become over the past year, and there is no stopping them.

I am fascinated how Birchbox continuously revolutionizes the monthly boxes and how customers try new products. I know so many who subscribe to their boxes, and now I am one of those people after visiting their store in Soho. In the last week, I have visited the store THREE times…you could say I am addicted.

This past time, I went with my two new friends, Morgan  of Mostlymorgan.com and Lara of Seafoananddiamonds.com! We went and created our own, customized Birchboxes.

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Me, Morgan (Middle) and Lara (Right)! 

Let me just start off by saying how adorable the Birchbox store is! Take a look at these pictures:

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Can you see all of the yellow? You all know I am in LOVE with the interior of the store, I mean how could I not be? It is YELLOW and MAKEUP!

After Morgan, Lara and I wondered around the store for a little bit, we decided to get to cracking and build our own boxes. Let’s take a look at the process~

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First, you choose one of the extremely cute box to put all of your items in, I chose the one in the middle!

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Second, look through all of the products and choose one from each other their sections: makeup, hair, fragrance, skincare and body.

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If you ever get the experience to go to the store, you will need at least 30 minutes to build a box because they have so many great products, it’s insane.

Here is a preview of the boxes that are full of sample size products for you to choose from!

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Birchbox has so many amazing options to choose from, especially things that you would be too nervous to buy a large bottle of, like a bee venom face mask.

We had a blast making each of our boxes. It was difficult to choose from each area of products. The only area that was not difficult for me was the hair section, because as most of you know, I get my hair washed once a week, so I do not need my own shampoo and conditioner etc., but I got this amazing hair tie made by L. Erickson.

At the end of a really fun hour and a half in the store, we had three amazing completed boxes! Lara’s boyfriend joined us and even made his own customized box in the Birchbox Men section of the store!

My box included: a Banana Hand Milk cream, a Stila liquid lipstick in the shade Fiore, a Ceramidin liquid skin moisturizer, which I used this morning and it is AMAZING, my L. Erickson hair tie and a Sud Pacifique Vanille Abricot perfume.

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We love our boxes so much that we have decided to gift one to our amazing followers because we love you all so much! <3

We are gifting one of the Radiant Finish Kits. The picture below describes all of the products inside of the box. The summer is the perfect time to have that dewy, luminous skin that we all want! It even has a full-size beauty blender!

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To enter to win the Radiant Finish Kit all you have to do is enter down below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will start today at 6 p.m. and go until July 13 until 6 p.m.!

We are so excited about this giveaway and we hope you all are as well. I will announce the winner on July 13 on my Instagram: @Danieminor13.

After our trip to Birchbox, we had an amazing afternoon full of yummy food and photoshoots! I am so glad that this summer I met these two amazing women! I cannot see where the future takes our friendship.

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Cannot wait to announce the winner of our giveaway!

XODanieSparkle

Beautycon Monthly Subscription Box Unveiling!

Posted in Beauty by

So, I have written about Beautycon before, but to refresh your memory it is a convention that combines social media and beauty into one! There is a panel of social media influencers who speak about various topics throughout the entire day and you can also buy products with brands who attend and have a booth.

It is always a GREAT day. I have been to one in London and one in NYC! Well…They created a monthly subscription box that is curated each month by famous social media influencers with some of their favorite products and I wanted to share my box that I received with you. 🙂

Let me know what you think of this video! If you want to see more like this, please comment below. I had a lot of fun making this video. I hope you have a great week ahead of you.

 

XODanieSparkle

Quit Tanning Before You Even Begin!

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

As we are gearing up for the last few weeks of the semester, we are getting ready for some summer fun! During the past few weeks of school, I had so many friends talking about a very common topic that comes about during this time of the year…tanning. I know I have talked about this before, but I really felt the need to again.

When my friends talk about tanning multiple times per week (or even at all) it honestly terrifies me because I know that my friends and so many young adults know the harm that tanning can cause them, but they continue to do it every week.

I wanted to share some facts with you all:

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Other than skin cancer, tanning leads to so many other harmful side effects. If you look at many people who have tanned for a long time, you can usually tell that they have been effected by it based off how their skin appears. They have spots and more wrinkles at their age than they probably wouldn’t have had if they did not always strive to be tanner than the rest.

If you are currently someone who tans, do NOT think that skin cancer and melanoma are something that cannot affect you now. On my last post about skin cancer, I talked about how I have never tanned before but I had surgery on my back because I had a mole that was “pre-melanoma,” also known as an atypical nevi.

During my surgery I was not put asleep and they just numbed my back. When I asked how many stitches I had, my doctor estimated somewhere around 250, so it was not just as simple as removing the mole and then I was done.

While skin cancer is the most treatable of all of the cancers, it is also one that spreads very fast if not caught early enough. I am so grateful for the doctor who saw the mole on my back and realized that it was not a healthy mole.

I know that for a lot of people they “don’t care” what happens to them as long as they are tan, but I just wanted to point out some facts for you incase you did not actually know some of the harmful side effects!

Also, one last thing…in my opinion fake tanning does not look good, people are either orange or they look burned.

I would love to hear your opinions of tanning in a tanning bed!

XODanieSparkle

 

My Guilty Pleasure… Getting my hair washed and blow dried each week

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

Want to know my guilty pleasure?

It’s most definitely getting my hair washed and blow dried once a week. I really hate washing my own hair for it just look awful after I attempt to blow dry it and then straighten it.

Before you think I am a diva (well TOO much of a diva), it is not as costly as you might be thinking it is! I have found Rush salon in Kent, Ohio that is honestly just PERFECT.

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I used to go and get my hair washed and blow dried before a big event, but this school year I started doing this on the first day of the school year. I called two weeks before school started and told them I needed their first appointment that day because I didn’t want to stress about my hair the first day of school, plus I wanted to look great after coming back from the summer!

HOW DO THEY MAKE MY HAIR FEEL SO SOFT AND LUSCIOUS? 

So now you may be asking yourself…”Does Danie only wash her hair once a week?” and to answer this question, yes I do only wash it once a week unless there is a reason that I MUST wash it. I have truly “trained” my hair to not get oily.

I started only washing it once a week when I had red in my hair because each time I would wash it, the red dye would come out and I was getting more annoyed each time I washed my hair. After researching what I would do to slow down the red washing out of my hair, I found out how awful washing your hair too often is actually for you. So even before getting it washed, I only washed it once a week. If learning how to get down to washing your hair once-twice a week, check out my previous post: here.

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But to get back to my guilty pleasure… I know it sounds ridiculous, but I honestly crave that hour on Tuesdays (the day I get my hair done!). That time I take for myself and I don’t check my phone or think about anything else that I have going on during that time. I focus on myself, which I do not do a lot. It is a stress reliever for me.

I get a lot of criticism from people who do not agree with my choices about me getting my hair done once a week- and what I want to say to those people is: How I spend my money is my choice, and I appreciate you looking out for my budget, but I will continue to get my hair washed each week.

Trust me…if I could make my hair the way that my favorite stylists, Skye and Allison, make it look, I would do it myself! 

To maintain my hair looking good the rest of the week, I wear a shower cap while I shower and I do not put any extra products in my hair the rest of the week.
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The only time I really touch my hair is when I straighten a few pieces that may have gotten curly throughout the week and when I pull my hair in my favorite hairstyle, the half up half down style!

 

I know all of you divas out there will feel my pain out there! I know that not everyone’s budget each week can fit $18 for you to get your hair washed, but definitely think about cutting down on how many times a week you wash your hair!

Let me know what you think of this idea!

XODanieSparkle