'I'm Daria Burkova [@dariaburkova]. I'm a beauty editor at Russian fashion online magazine Trendspace.ru. On the side, I manage my own beauty channel on YouTube called DearDaria. Since childhood, the beauty world was everything to me. I started using anti-aging products at 13. Around the same time, I started to wear black mascara, try on bold lipstick, and experiment with bright eyeshadow—all in the daytime. Like most girls I know, I'm now into more natural makeup and the focus is definitely more on skincare.
I have three essentials in my life—I swear by Japanese cleansers, hyaluronic acid, and sunscreen all year round. My beauty routine starts with a cleansing oil. We'll get to the Japanese stuff in a bit, but Bobbi Brown's Soothing Cleansing Oil is pretty great, too. I apply it on a dry face, massage it in, and rinse off with water. It removes all my makeup—even waterproof mascara—in one easy step, and it doesn't dry out my skin. Some time ago, I tried to get into micellar water, but I quickly went back to using cleansing oils. It's my thing. I double cleanse with a foam cleanser next. For that I use my beloved, one-and-only Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser. The right cleanser can change your skin for the better. It's a lot of trial and error, but after years of testing and switching, I've finally found one I'm 100 percent satisfied with. I use it with my Foreo Luna Mini, which is great for people with hyper-sensitive skin who can't use a Clarisonic. At first, I wasn't really sure it was working, but after a month, I noticed my skin become brighter, tighter, and the look of my pores kind of disappeared.
Because of my job, I'm always trying products. Whenever a hyaluronic acid serum comes by my desk, I pick it up. I still haven't found the one yet. My summer go-to so far has been the Hydro Boost Oil-Free Moisturising Gel by Nubo. It's gentle enough for my sensitive skin and does a good job moisturizing, even if it is oil-free.
Being that kid who got into anti-aging certainly before it was needed, I also got an early education on sun damage and how harmful free radicals are to your skin. I don't wan't my skin to look older than my present age, so yes, I even wear sunscreen at night. I'm only 22, but I can definitely see a different between my skin and that of my friends who never use sunscreen. I'm lucky to have found one I love and know I'll use for a long time. It's Coola's Face SPF 30 in Cucumber Matte Finish. It applies easily, dries fast, keeps my skin matte all day long, and protects with SPF.
Natural makeup, for me, is about making myself feel good. I like foundation, and I'm in love with the new MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation. It's full coverage, sweat-proof, long-lasting, and can also be used as a concealer when I just need light spot coverage and don't want to go for a full face of foundation. I set my makeup with Dolce & Gabbana's The Illuminator in 4 Luna. It's more of a powder than a traditional highlighter, and it looks so beautiful on skin that I use it all over my face.
For bronzer, I use MAC's Bronzing Powder in Bronze. This shade looks natural even on fair skin. My favorite brush to apply it with is the Ecotools Face & Body Sculpting Brush. Believe me, this brush will do it all for you. Don't even bother with another one if you're on the hunt for a good sculpting brush.
Not many people know this, but Nars has only recently made its appearance in Russian stores. I'm so glad, though, because I went far too long without knowing the wonders of Nars Blush in Oasis. When I went to check out the products, I stood at the blush stand for more than an hour. I didn't want to come out with with Orgasm or Sin, so I looked for something in-between the two colors. And once I saw this one, I knew it was the right shade for me. It's a classic, pink blush with a slightly dark-violet undertone and a dose of shimmer that's not too much for daytime.
In choosing to accent my lip or eyes, I almost always pick lips. I love bold, bright colors, and my favorite as of late is Gucci's Audacious Color-Intense Lipstick in Orchid Overdose. I was amazed by the quality of this lipstick. It's honestly so close to ideal, and the color is to die for. It's special because, while it's dark burgundy, it has this beautiful, bright violet undertone that I'm convinced looks amazing on everyone. When I'm wearing a strong lip, the most I'll do on my eyes is fill in my eyebrows a little bit with Bobbi Brown's Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil. Its consistency is more dry than creamy, which I love because it doesn't deposit color too loosely, so you can draw in the little hairs more accurately.
Really, I'm lucky to have my job. I get to try a lot of products, but my favorite thing is trying out new procedures. I recently tried Plasmolifting, and I'd gladly do it again on my own. And yeah, I'm already thinking about Botox—but maybe in few years...”
—as told to ITG
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