Cassie DeNisco

Current Sephora Favorites for Skin!

April 20, 2023

I love a good skincare haul so I’m happy to share with you my current Sephora favorites! After ditching the masks last year, I found I had the worst skin. It was dull, dry, and I had frequent breakouts. I searched for products that would help but I honestly made it worse.

I started to really simplify my skincare routine and it’s done wonders for my skin. A Sephora recently opened up near me so I’ve been getting all my products from there. I’ve been loving what I’m using and wanted to share! These are affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you do decide to purchase but there’s no pressure!

Inky List Retinol

shop here

Retinol seems to be all the craze these days and I was in the market for an inexpensive one to try. This was around $24 and so far I like it. I use it one to two times per week just to make sure my skin doesn’t freak out. Retinol is good for fine lines and wrinkles so I’m really just using it now as a preventative instead of to actually treat anything.

Youth to the People Adaptogen Moisturizer

shop here

I am always switching up my moisturizers depending on the time of year but I just had to talk about this one. I love this moisturizer for winter because it’s thick and really does it’s job. I definitely will be switching this out because it’s so moisturizing but I will be switching back come next winter!

Glow Recipe Glow Drops

Shop here

I’ve definitely talked about these glow drops before! They have become my go to primer before makeup for extra glowy skin. I also just love this on it’s own as a way to just enhance my natural skin and make it glow. I have repurchased this twice now because it’s just that great! You can read my makeup routine here!

Tan Luxe Face Oil

shop here

I also recently talked about these tan luxe drops but I just repurchased them and had to shout them out. I seriously love these for my face because I get to use my own face moisturizer which ensures that my face won’t break out. You can definitely use this for your whole body too but I don’t trust myself enough to do that yet without it looking streaky!

These are in my skincare routine and I seriously love these Sephora favorites. As we’re approaching summer time, I love to wear no makeup so these products are helping my skin to stay clear and hydrated! For more beauty posts, click here!

The Eyebrow Waxing Products I love!

July 11, 2022

This post is dedicated to the at home eyebrow waxing products I can’t live without! After covid, I made the transition to doing a lot of things at home. I never thought I would wax my own eyebrows but when I had no other optioned, I turned to Amazon.

Amazon had so many products to choose from so I’ll share my favorites with affiliate links! No pressure to purchase but I do love everything I’m about to mention. I will put out the disclaimer that you should go slow & gentle the first time.

Don’t try to create a new eyebrow shape while you’re getting the hang of waxing. Focus on just cleaning up the eyebrow and you won’t make any mistakes!

Wax Kit- Shop Here

This is truly why Amazon is great. I purchased a kit just like this one and it came with everything I needed. From the wax warmer to the pre/post wax spray this has you covered. Kits like these are a great way to start out because everything comes in and you’re able to see how it works for a pretty inexpensive price.

Slanted Tweezers- Shop Here

If you’re trying to pluck your eyebrows with normal tweezers you’re doing it wrong. I love a slanted tweezer to really get those little hairs. This is a true eyebrow essential because you can even pluck mid week when you notice something.

Derma-planing Razor- Shop Here

This is a newer product to my eyebrow regime but I love that this can help to shape them without waxing. The wax makes me nervous sometimes because I can’t control it as well as this. I can use this to really shape the eyebrow with full control. As opposed to wax where you just kind of glob it on and hope for the best.

Scissors- Shop Here

I love a good slanted scissor. I have the longest eyebrow hairs at the top and use the scissors to trim them down. This is always the way I like to finish off my eyebrows because it’s essential for me to keep them all the same size.

Eyebrow Brush- Shop Here

I love to brush out my brows before I trim them and a brush like this is my go to. I like to brush up with the clear side and leave the hair in it. I just trim across that to help keep them even. Brushes like these are even great when you’re just trying to do your makeup.

As you can see, these have become my tried and true eyebrow waxing products. I like to do my eyebrows every 2-2/12 weeks because that’s how fast they grow. Having everything at home makes my life so much easier and in the long run I do end up saving money.

If you liked this post, I have more beauty posts here! Be sure to subscribe here to the blog so you never miss a post!

Summer Skincare Essentials!

June 15, 2022

I went back and forth for this bonus post about what to write but I finally decided that this was necessary. My summer skincare essentials will help you get through sunburn and just keep your skin looking healthy! I have had my fair share of burns so I know the ins and outs to get you through.

Taking care of your skin is so essential year round but I find it even more important over the summer. From SPF to moisturizers, these are my go to products for summer!

Super Goop Unseen Sunscreen- Shop Here

This is my go to face SPF year round but especially in the summer. Most other sunscreens are too oily and break me out but I really think this is my forever product. It’s light on my skin but I feel like it does such a good job protecting my skin.

Neutrogena Skin Rescue Moisturizer- Shop Here

This is a newer product but I immediately fell in love with it. I got a bad sunburn but this instantly helped to cool and moisturize it. The moisturizer is infused with green tea, aloe, and mint so it has all the ingredients you’d want. I would almost recommend it over the Hawaiian Tropic green lotion.

Method Green Tea Body Wash- Shop Here

This is my favorite summer body wash!! I love the green tea and the cooling gel seriously helps with sunburn. I love using this in the shower to get off the suntan lotions and I feel like it really cleans but doesn’t strip which is exactly what you want.

Clinique Dramatically Different Gel- Shop Here

I find myself needing a lighter moisturizer in the summer because my thicker one leaves me too greasy. This is truly my tried and true summer moisturizer because somehow it moisturizes so well even though its light. I prefer the gel but it does come in a usually moisturizer texture as well.

I hope you enjoyed these summer skincare essentials! These products will keep you going all summer long and protect your skin. It’s so important to not over do it in the summer so using these products will keep you going.

To cure your sunburn, read this post! Be sure to subscribe here to the blog so you never miss a post!

My Green Smoothie Recipe to Boost Beauty

May 16, 2022

I am so excited that the weather in NY is finally warming up. I’m sharing with you today my go to green smooth recipe that is great to boost your beauty. Smoothies are my favorite summer morning drink to get in your greens and keep you cool.

I also feel like the summer months are my favorite for fresh produce which helps to elevate these smoothies. I’ve shared my green juice recipe before but never my smoothie. This is perfectly sweet and refreshing for the warmer months!

Ingredients for Green Smoothie Recipe:

1 Frozen Banana

1/2 c frozen mango

1 c spinach

1 tsp Spirulina powder

Coconut Water

Directions:

In a powerful blender, combine frozen banana, frozen mango, and spirulina powder.
Fill to the top with spinach and then pour in about 1/2 cup of coconut water.
Blend and see consistency. If you like it thicker your might just need to add a teeny bit more coconut water where as if you want it thinner add a lot more coconut water!
Pour in a mason jar & enjoy!

As you can see this smoothie recipe is so easy to make but is oh so good. This green smoothie recipe has all the tropical vibes you’re looking for on a summer morning. Smoothies are seriously such a go to for greens in the am to start off your day.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe here to my mailing list so you never miss a post! Let me know of your favorite smoothie combinations in the comments below!

Self Tanning Tips for Winter

February 7, 2022

I always find myself reaching for my self tanner right about now in the winter. My summer glow has faded and I’m seriously reaching for anything that will get me glowing. I’ve made previous posts about self tanning tips like this one here but I’ve actually switched up my products.

I noticed with the previous brand I was using, the ingredients weren’t very clean and one of my resolutions was to make sure my beauty products are. Another thing I noticed was that they changed their formula. This brand I had been using for years and the last time I purchased, then tan had a weird tint and didn’t go on smooth.

No need to fear, I found this brand at Ulta and I seriously fell in love. The Tanologist brand is pretty affordable and it seriously works wonder. I decided to try out the tan water instead of the mouse and honestly, I don’t think I have a preference. The water is harder to use because it goes on clear to not rub off on anything but that makes it hard to know where you put it.

In addition to the water, I also purchased the drops which I soon realized I didn’t actually need. I never used to use self tanner mouse on my face because it would break me out but the water actually doesn’t. The drops are useful though because all you have to do is mix them with your favorite moisturizer. I might try them in the spring when I’m starting to lay out again but want to be tan. Here are some of my self tanning tips for Winter!

Exfoliate

I feel like people will tell you to exfoliate and literally never elaborate on what it actually means. You need to prep your skin to be able to soak in the tan, just like getting your nails done or hair. I like to shave about a day before I tan and then I like to exfoliate in the show right before I tan. This way my skin won’t be super irritated but I’ll get a smooth application.

To exfoliate, I like to use a mild and gentle body wash with a loofa or some sort of exfoliating brush and just gently work it over my skin. Do not go crazy because you don’t want to over exfoliate and throw your skin off.

To take off the tan, you can try this same process about a week later. I always like to tan on Sundays so then I’ll do it again on the next Sunday.

Moisturize

This is one I used to always over look but not anymore. Moisturizing before you tan is so essential to making sure you don’t have any pooling of the tan in places your skin is try. I used to always mess up my knees and elbows because they’d be super dry. Now that I moisturize, the tan glides on and is even.

It’s also super important to continue to moisturize your skin even as the week goes on. The moisturizer will help preserve your tan and keep your skin glowing. I like to use a lighter moisturizer that won’t be too heavy on my skin but still gets the job done. My personal favorite is actually just the mositurizer from CeraVe.

Find What Works

Not gonna lie, this one took awhile. You can try out the products I mentioned and they might not work for your skin type. It takes a bit of testing out to find a product that is affordable for you and that works well. I really like the Tan water because it’s not super sticky and so far hasn’t transferred to any of my clothing.

I do recommend trying out a mouse if you are just starting out because I can see how you might get an uneven tan the first few times you use it. My biggest tip is to find something that you are comfortable and confident using.

I hope these self tanning tips were helpful. I love being a bit tanner in the winter because it seriously just lifts my mood. The weather in New York is often cold and gloomy mid winter so I’ll do anything to make it feel like summer.

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Products Mentioned:

Tanologist Express Tan Water $16.99- Shop Here

Tanologist Face + Body Drops $19.99- Shop Here

Ulta Sunless Mitt $5.99- Shop Here

Ulta Tan Mitt for Face $5.99- Shop Here

Daily Body Moisturizer $12.99- Shop Here

Shampoo Brands I Love

October 29, 2021

I haven’t done a dedicated post to hair care in so long. I think my last post was over the summer about my June Favorites. This post today is dedicated to the shampoo brands I love and can’t live without. One huge part of my hair care journey was finding shampoo that works for me. Buying shampoo brands may seem simple but with so many on the market, it’s important to find one that does what you need.

Here are my top 3 current favorite Shampoo Brands!

Olaplex

I love to use the Olaplex shampoo, conditioner, and mask when I want a deep clean and condition for my hair. This I use almost as a reset for my hair when I’ve been using a lot of heat and just haven’t been treating it the best. Olaplex is definitely a pricy brand but I think it’s necessary to incorporate into your hair care regime. Shop Olaplex Here!

Monday Hair Care

This brand I actually found when I was searching for a clean combo that was sulfate free. I was using the OGX brand prior to them being recalled so I was ready for a brand that was more minimal ingredients and just cleaner. This shampoo and conditioner is super light so I never feel like it weighs down my hair but still gets it clean. Shop Monday Haircare Here!

Not Your Mother’s

I think Not Your Mother’s will always be a part of my hair care routine. Although I am no longer Blonde, I would highly recommend their blonde shampoo and conditioner. I also used to always use their long term relationship combo when I was trying to grow out my hair. Anything from Not Your Mother’s is pretty good for a drug store brand. Shop Not Your Mother’s Here!

I hope sharing these brands with you makes you want to try one! My hair didn’t start growing until I realized that I needed to start using products that were high quality on my hair. Once I cut out heat and used better products I’ve seen such a difference in my hair!

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty

December 11, 2020

Some of my favorite things to ask for around the holiday’s are beauty gifts. They’re often something we won’t always splurge on ourselves but are great to receive as gifts. I’ve complied here my list of products I’m loving and would love to receive as gifts this season. This holiday beauty gift guide is your go to in finding the perfect gift for the beauty lover in your life!

Truly Beauty Gift Set

I’ve see this brand and these products all over TikTok lately so I was definitely intrigued. They claim to help with firming and tightening certain areas on your body. I’ve only been using them for about 2 weeks so I can’t yet say they work, however they smell amazing!! I picked up this gift set from Ulta but unfortunately its sold out already. They have a similar set on the Truly website for $47.60 and I think its totally worth it to give these products a try. Gift sets are the best to be introduced to new products or get products you love at a great price!

Tatcha Dewy Skin Moisturizer

This moisturizer is life changing if you have really dry skin in the winter. The price tag is steep at $68 but I definitely think it’s worth it. I love how glowy my skin looks after applying and it really helps to hydrate the dry, cracked skin I often get on my face as the winter months approach. This is an awesome gift for the beauty junkie who likes luxury products but might not be willing to purchase them their self!

Olaplex Shampoo & Conditioner

Hands down my favorite thing to ask for or receive around the holiday season is Olaplex. This combo is my go to shampoo and conditioner that actually works for your hair. These work to rebuild the bonds of your hair and strengthen them. Their are so many great gift sets out right now that make these affordable and you get to try them out before committing to the full product. I linked one above for $60 that has the mini shampoo, conditioner, oil and mask.

Rare Beauty

One thing I love to give or ask for are lipsticks, highlighters, or blushes. Often they’re easy to purchase since they don’t need to be color matched the way a foundation or concealer needs to. I have been loving the Rare Beauty line by Selena Gomez. I plan on giving some goodies to friends and family for Christmas. All of these products have great messages in their names and the line is awesome. If you know that the person you’re buying for has a signature product or color, getting them it is a great reminder you pay attention to the little things.

Glam Glow Face Masks

My go to brand of face masks is Glam Glow, so I included them in this beauty gift guide. Face masks are great to give or receive because everyone can use a good face mask. They’re great for self care nights and generally help your skin at least a little. This is the Super Mud Mask and is great for pore refining. You can also use it as a spot treatment on acne.

I love beauty gift guides because they really help when you might be stuck on a present idea. I hope my beauty gift guide helped you and gave you some great ideas for all the people on your list this year. This is the first of my 2020 holiday gift guide series so I hope you enjoy and check back next week for another one!

Let me know in the comments below your favorites from this beauty gift guide or what products you plan on giving or receiving this Christmas!

Check out my gift guide for her and him from last year here!

DIY Powder Gel: Does it Work?

September 14, 2020

I have been getting my nails done religiously for years but because of COVID, it stopped me in my tracks. I love a good powder gel mani but does the DIY powder gel you can buy off of Amazon cut it? Well lucky for you I tried it out and I’m going to give you my honest review of DIY powder gel.

After doing some research, I ended up purchasing this kit on Amazon for $39.99. This kit pretty much came with everything I needed like the colors, the polishes and even a fluffy duster brush. I already had a cuticle cutter, a buffer square and also a cuticle pusher thing. I found all of those to be really helpful to have on hand and suggest you grab too!

This kit came with really nice instructions which made it easy to use. I started off filing my nails and then cleaning up the cuticles. The instructions said to make sure to buff them out so that there was no shininess and then you were good to go. I applied everything just as the directions said but I realized a huge key to doing this myself was realizing you have to go light on the powder and let it completely dry. I noticed at the end I had to do a lot of filing which I probably could have avoided knowing my tip before hand.

Overall, I think this could be game changing. One of my main issues with going into the nail salon is just how long it takes. I can be sitting there for hours and that’s something that I can’t stand. Doing it at home takes just as long, but I can multitask and get work done. Also, with COVID I think for now this is just something that I would rather do for health reasons. Not to mention, this is way cheaper as well.

Let me know in the comments below if there is anything else that you want me to try out! Be sure to subscribe to the blog so that you never miss a post. Have a great day everyone! See my last post here.

How I Curl My Hair

July 3, 2020

I have recently been receiving so many requests to film a tutorial on how to curl my hair so here is finally is! In this video I talk about my favorite hair products, hair routine and how I curl my hair. I thought incorporating a video into my blog posts would be a helpful new way to share content.

I also am so excited to announce the launch of my YouTube channel. I am hoping to post 1 blog post a week as well as 1 YouTube video a week. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you never miss a video and to my blog so you won’t miss a post. Please let me know what else you would like to see from me in addition to this how to curl my hair video!

Be sure to follow me on all my socials!

YouTube: Cassie DeNisco

Instagram: @cassiedenisco

My May Favorites

May 29, 2020

I cannot believe that the month of May is over! These May favorites have gotten me through quarantine and I know they’ll follow me into the summer. One thing I did enjoy about quarantine was that it allowed me to try out so many products without fear of reactions or what they looked like since I was just home all month.

Stars Above Sweatpants

I cannot thank these sweatpants enough for all they’ve done for me during quarantine. Every time these pants were cleaned I immediately put them on due to just how soft and light weight they were. These are the perfect summer sweats because of how thin they are. What makes them even better is they are only $19.99!

Colsie Crop Tank Top

In staying with the cozy theme, I love this $7 crop tank from Target. It cuts perfectly and goes really well with those sweatpants. I live in tops like this in the summer to sleep in and even do errands in because most of the time for me this shirts can double as a bra. I’m obsessed with the cut of this and know I need this in lots of colors!

Pantene Rescue Shots

It’s no surprise with my color treated hair that it is pretty damaged. These rescue shots though do WONDERS for my hair and make me actually want to rock my natural waves. I use this product in the shower after I condition and it leaves my hair soft and not frizzy! For how inexpensive this product is, I am always so blown away by how well it works.

Microfiber Hair Towel

If quarantine has taught me anything, it’s that I need to use less heat on my hair and this towel seriously helps! Not only does it cut down drying time but it also doesn’t make my hair frizzy. This with the Pantene shots is a dangerous combo for great hair. This towel was a little pricy at Target but I do believe it is the best one I’ve found like this.

Lululemon Yoga Mat

Don’t call me crazy once you find out how much this mat is until you’ve tried it! I absolutely thought this through and I have never looked back once I got it. At home workouts are my go to and this mat has made everything from yoga to pilates possible and easier. The thickness shows that this is definitely high quality so it should last you a lifetime.

Slip Sleep Mask

This has changed my sleeping game. I do have the matching pillow case but this makes me actually look forward to sleeping. It is so soft and so gentle on your eyes. I haven’t always slept with a sleep mask but after I received this as a gift, I use it every night and feel like it really helps me get the best sleep.

I hope my list of May favorites inspires you to try something new! These favorites seriously have helped me get through quarantine and I know these products will be come staples in my life. Let me know in the comments below if you had any May Favorites or if there are any products you are loving right now!

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