Coffee With Friends~
BEAUTY AND ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL
A Coffee & Catch Up
with Danielle Savre-Actress & Director
One of my favorite friends I’ve collected on a set, a fellow beauty junkie & such a pretty face to paint~
Welcome to coffee with friends and a recent chat with Danielle COFFEE DATES ~Are you ordering coffee, tea or matcha?
Danielle: Coffee. But to be more precise, a mocha.
Denise: I am a coffee in the morning and iced Matcha in the afternoon lover. Should we tell them that this is actually over margaritas but the title was coffee so we went with it…?!
Danielle: Haha Denise! We weren't supposed to admit that! But to be specific mine is a La Posita.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
Danielle: The people and art around me. Sunsets, flowers, a song I’ve never heard or a film I’ve never watched, a self-help book, museums, history, travel, the changing seasons...I guess I find it everywhere.
Denise: My Pinterest boards, flowers and travel
CHILDHOOD ASPIRATIONS/ INSPIRATIONS ~
Danielle: I had a vivid imagination from a young age matched with a desire to hug everyone I met. I could talk anyone’s ear off who would listen and I somehow had a lot to say. When we were kids, my cousins and I would put on plays and shows all the time. From a very young age, l would disappear into the stories of film and TV. My parents had the most amazing VHS collection, including all the James Bond and Indiana Jones films. I watched these on repeat at least three times each. I just knew that I wanted be a part of the magic of storytelling, which led me to starting my career working on sets at a very young age. Once I got to set, my inspiration also came from watching the adults around me work and being in awe of it all.
Denise: Childhood influences-I've always been obsessed with color, It started at a very young age with paint swatches from the hardware store.
I would go with my dad and come home with a stack of swatches. I still do this even if I am not painting anything! I was also obsessed with crayons and I wanted to work for Crayola brainstorming crayon colors. My early years of makeup and perfume obsessions, beauty magazines (Cosmopolitan) and books (Way Bandy) all came from my mom’s collection. My mom was a hairdresser so she had all of the tools to do beauty makeovers. I would do makeup on family & friends and then document the looks with before & after photos. (the photography obsession started young as well). I watched my mom do hair for years but I was more interested in the makeup side. I do have to confess that while my mom was at the salon, I made my own salon at home and invited the boys from the neighborhood over for haircuts!
ARE YOU A SWIFTIE? I have to ask! I feel like TS fans & S19 fans have similar qualities..
Danielle: I would agree with that! I am a SWIFTIE. I finally got to see her in concert this summer and it absolutely lived up to all the hype. Since the concert I haven’t been able to get THE MAN out of my head.
Denise: I am a new Swiftie and my favorite era is Folklore. You couldn't really ignore her impact lately. I watched Miss Americana and had a newfound respect for her AND of course my niece is very impressed that I can sing along. I need to go see her, I have a little FOMO!!
Danielle: I didn’t know you could sing Denise! How did I not know this?!
Denise: I can’t…lmao!
CURRENT OBSESSIONS? As you know, I am always obsessed with a wellness hack, a blush, podcast, or a recipe but we haven’t been in the makeup chair lately so I am curious,what are your latest obsessions? (For the people reading, this is a what our daily chats looked like when we worked together and I always had a new blush to try)
Danielle:
ZEN- The Calm app for meditation.
WELLNESS- Orange Theory for a workout class. Infrared sauna sessions and steam showers. My wellness hack- taking zinc lozenges, oil of oregano and a B complex to help with immunity. I seem to get sick easier these days with all of the travel. Ooh, and the sun -sunshine can help heal anything!
HEALTHY SNACKS- I make a go-to recipe of roasted broccoli and fennel. Super simple but hits the spot every time. Hummus and cucumbers will always be a go-to snack, but I am very particular about the brand of hummus.
BEAUTY- I am loving Moon Juice, Shiseido, and Guerlain facial products right now. I also love the Moon Juice adaptogen dusts.
For sleep I have Silk pillowcases & OSEA Vagus Nerve oil
IN FLIGHT- I love Flying Delta. With all the flying for work lately, I’ve been able to binge a lot of shows. My shortlist-Lady in the Lake, The Bear, Citadel, Fire Country, Found, Slow Horses, Fallout and Silo.
My inflight skincare routine-I always have Kosas Plump and Juicy Serum spray and of course I bring my snacks and water.
Denise: Not exactly an obsession but Happy Hour is one of my favorite ways to catch up with friends! Obviously, Gracias Madre gets a shout out, it’s such a great way to escape the to-do list and pretend you’re on vacation. An afternoon margarita just feels good. The truth of the matter is, I can’t drink past 5pm or I don’t sleep well! I love hummus too and my favorite is house-made from Erewhon. I am taking you there soon!
Health & Wellness obsessions- I listen to a bunch of podcasts; my favorites include Pursuit of Wellness with Mari Llewellyn, The Well Pod with Arielle Lorre, Lipstick on the Rim and Dr. Mark Hyman-just to name a few. I end up with a lot of products I hear about on podcasts. My latest finds -Matcha protein by Truvani (I add this to my morning coconut yogurt) and I recently jumped on the Armra band wagon even though I am mostly vegan. I just started taking Just Thrive Probiotics, Fatty15 and Biosil after hearing about them on a podcast. I am usually driving with a pen and note pad in my lap!
MAKEUP & SKINCARE- I absolutely love Miracle Balm All Over Glow by Jones Road and their products have become a kit staple. I just discovered the new concealer from Westman Atelier, it’s so good. I have a bit of a blush addiction as you know, some favorites include- Merit, Iris & Romeo, Ilia and Gen See. (I’ll link the blush page below) I am obsessed with French Farmacie’s Serum and Elixir Exfoliator. I always have 8 Faces Balm on my nightstand. I’ve gone through about six tubes of Vacation Sunscreen for body so I think I am obsessed!! For face sunscreen, it rotates between Saint Jane and Bloomeffects. My hands have been on camera a lot lately working with Thrive Causemetics so I’ve been diligently using my Habelo Hand treatment and gloves (8 Faces, Habelo and French Farmacie interviews can all be found here on the blog)
Blush ~ https://shopmy.us/collections/52391
MAKEUP SHOPPING- We recently had a fun little trip to Credo Beauty. Did you find any new favorites? And what is on your shopping list for the future?
Danielle: I love everything we bought. That Ilia foundation and concealer, are my official new favs. I also really love the Westman Atelier foundation stick and the Róen blush in Pink Dusk. The MOB M6 eye shadow is my go-to natural look now. I need to go back again to find more goodies! I fell in love with the Saint Jane Lipstick and then found out they discontinued it! So I am on a hunt to find a replacement.
Denise: I fell in love with the Saint Jane lipstick too. Maybe they will bring it back. I need to go back and get that Roen blush, MOB eyeshadow and a restock on my EXA mascara. (great for sensitive eyes) We should definitely make a date to go again soon!! I can show you my latest obsessions from Ilia,Dedcool, Maya Chia, Sidia (hand cream), Westman concealer and Credo just came out with their own line and I love the scents!
It’s always fun to see what’s new in makeup. Some of my makeup recommendations are too long to list-so check out some favs here https://shopmy.us/collections/52390
ALWAYS IN YOUR BAG?
Danielle: Oh boy... I have a large bag. My must-haves in no particular order are: A notebook full of my to-do lists with Fiover pens. Multiple phone chargers because my phone is always dead! Lots of lip balms and glosses- LANEIGE Glowy Balm in Berry, Kopari and Aquaphor. The Flex hair brush and silk hair ties. A travel size of Native deodorant and Dove deodorant spray for a quick refresh.
My Hydro Flask thermos filled with water. Listerine Pocketmist and Poo-Pourri travel size toilet spray. Huggies natural flushable wipes. Life Flower headache elixir and a little travel size bottle of Le Labo ANOTHER 13.
Denise: I always have a date book in my bag, if I don’t have it written down, it's not happening! Several pairs of glasses with different strengths. Lip balms- I love a tinted balm-My OG fav is Rose by Fresh Beauty and lately. I’m loving my Kaisa from Thrive Causemetics.
I always have hand wipes (I am very OCD) and Handscreen by Supergoop. My go-to fragrance lately is Being Frenshe in Palo Santo, which is great to have in my bag for an afternoon pick-me-up. You can find it at Target.
BEAUTY RITUALS & SECRETS?
Danielle: I wash, tone, moisturize and use serum on my face and neck every morning and night. No matter what. Sick. Tired. Hungover. I will always do my facial routine to start and end the day. I alternate my products a lot and I mostly base it on how my skin looks and feels.
CLEANSER- Dermalogica special cleansing gel is the one constant for face wash. I just discovered Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser which is my go-to for a gentle cleanser. TONER- My toner options are Dermalogica Active, Laneige Cream Skin or Moon Juice Acid Potion.
SERUMS- Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing, Guerlain DoubleR or OSEA Hyaluronic Sea Serum.
MOISTURIZERS- Moon Juice Plump Jelly, OSEA Atmosphere Protection, Moon Juice Cosmic Cream or Kate Somerville Goat Milk moisturizer.
EYE CREAM- I love Kate Somerville Retinol Firming eye cream, Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine gel or Sisley Paris Black Rose Contour Fluid. MASKS- Shiseido LiftDefine Radiance and Shiseido Eye Benefiance Smoothing Eye Mask.
SUNSCREEN- It goes without saying, sunscreen is a must! I like Supergoop and Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50.
Skincare can be expensive, but I feel like it’s worth it. I am trying my best to stop the aging process of my skin, if you couldn’t tell!! There are so many great brands out there and I love experimenting with new products. My skin changes all the time due to the weather, eating habits, hydration, physical activity, cycle, lack of sleep or just aging. So, if I am not achieving the desired results then, it’s time to switch it up.
LED I have the Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite Faceware Pro
TREATMENTS- Laser Genesis at Kate Somerville
BEAUTY TONICS- I add Moon Juice Collagen Protect to my coffee. I add Sakara Beauty Water drops to my morning glass of water. I also love Mag-O for calming and Ting for energy by Moon Juice.
Denise: That is quite a list, but your face is on camera so you have to spend the money and time taking care of your skin. I’m not sure what my excuse is, I just love trying new skincare, makeup and I don’t want to look 105 ~ When you look up the definition of beauty junkie, you’ll see our faces!
I do all of my beauty routines morning and night as well. I am a serum addict so I usually have a few in rotation. Good skin comes with nutrition, hydration and sleep, All of the creams in the world won’t help if you start your morning with a Diet Coke and Skittles. I think SLEEP is the foundation of life but I am not a great sleeper so I take Mag-O as well or magnesium pills. I try to get off devices at least 1-2 hours before bed. I can usually wind down if I take a 30-minute rest in my infrared SAUNA by Higherdose. (this is my time to catch up on Emily in Paris) I try to exercise everyday and take a sunshine walk. And swimming laps is my meditation.
SECRETS- My gamechanger product is the Silcskin Decollete Pad I sleep with. I have been using it for years and I don't have chest wrinkles. My most inexpensive secrets are Biore Deep Cleaning Charocoal Pore Strips (addicted) and hydration=lots of water! I pack my smoothies with protein, Maca, flaxseed, collagen, Amla (good for hair, skin and immunity) and anything else I can find for health, energy and aging.
HAIR- I am currently using Vegamour Hair Serum for hair growth and I have seen an improvement.
ACNE- MediClear Cleansing Pads by DNA. I think these have really helped with my hormonal acne. Recommended by @heathernicoleskincare
MULTI-MASKING- I love multi-tasking with the anti-aging benefits of an overnight treatment. My go-to products are SAINT JANE Sacred Sleep and MURI LELU Rebirth Retinoid.
TONICS & SUPPLEMENTS- I drink olive oil from Furtuna Skin everyday to get my dose of Omegas and take lots of supplements like Vitamin C & Zinc (good for skin) and D3 (so important). I also take Fatty15, Biosil Collagen Generator, Cymbiotika Glutathione, Elysium Basis and Moon Juice Super Hair (this really works)
SUNSCREEN- My daily non-negotiable! At the moment, I use Saint Jane or Bloomeffects for face and Vacation or Supergoop for body. I always put sunscreen on before I start working on my devices as well or I use the Blue Light Mist from Ilia Beauty.
LED is on my list. I’ve narrowed it down to Current Body, QMS, Dr Dennis Gross or Omnilux- whoever has a sale first or wants to send me one to try!! My only other tool besides Gua Sha is the Skin Skulpt Plasma Skin Perfector for texture, acne and fine lines.
Danielle: Trust me, just go with the Dr. Dennis Gross mask! And of course we are both obsessed with all things Moon Juice!!
LINK TO PRODUCTS MENTIONED~
https://shopmy.us/collections/869899 ON THE BLOG LINKS
https://shopmy.us/collections/52393 SECRETS
https://go.shopmy.us/p-6321340 Dr. Dennis Gross LED
https://skinskulpt.com/BLUSHPAINTER10 Plasma skin-use CODE: BLUSHPAINTER10
SHARED LOVE- Best tips & advice
Danielle: You really introduced me to the best natural, organic and vegan products out there, and I am forever grateful. Your obsession with trying out new products is something I have adopted. Even though it can be an expensive hobby, I love it. We share a love for travel and well planned itineraries, which I love swapping and chatting about. Your passion for travel and just living life to the fullest and with authenticity is contagious and inspirational. You truly live life doing what you want to do. It’s beautiful to see. Oh, and your brutal honesty is something I will always admire!!
Denise: Best tip I got from you is the book you gave me, CLEAN by Alejandro Junger, I still make the healthy bars with dried mulberries on repeat.
Did I introduce you to the Sisley Primer or did you tell me about it? It became a very expensive kit staple. I love your positivity as well and I absolutely LOVE that you love my BRUTAL honesty…seriously laughing out loud! I also have to thank you for bringing my free therapy to work everyday in the form of FORD!! He was always the mood lift I needed.
I love talking obsessions with you which is why we had to change up the format of the blog a bit and do a coffee (aka happy hour) chat instead. We should have a Beauty & Wellness podcast, although we would be laughing and talking over each other, especially with a margarita!
Danielle: All true...and yes those CLEAN bars are soooo good. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like them. I can't remember about the Sisley primer but I was really obsessed with their Black Rose product line for a while there. Ford loves you so much!! Oooh a podcast! Let's do it!
BEAUTY & STYLE MUSE ~
Danielle: Zendaya. Hands down. Throughout my life I have been drawn and inspired by bold choices and a thoroughly thought out outfit. I love when every element complements the other, as if you are the art piece showcasing the jewelry, shoes, makeup and hair. Zendaya effortlessly knocks it out of the park every time.
Denise: I am trying to think..for style maybe Sienna Miller and an Influencer on Instagram, Sincerely Jules-I love her outfits. I think Alicia Vikander is so naturally beautiful with great style (and I’ve had a crush on her husband for years). I love effortless beauty-like the French do it, even though I mostly live in sweat pants and no makeup..!! Oh and I think Penelope Cruz is stunning and I always love her makeup and hair
RAPID FIRE- (pun intended) Danielle:
1. Favorite spa or spa indulgence? A massage.
2. Your zen zone? Steam room or infrared sauna.
3. Signature scent? Rose Pepper Candle by Sacred & Divine and ANOTHER 13 perfume by Le Labo.
4. Favorite flower? Ooooh...The Peace Lily.
5. Destination dreaming? I destination dream all the time but currently, at this exact moment... Brazil. Australia. Ireland and Thailand.
6. Favorite hotels? Mason Bréguet in Paris. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on Lake Como. Alila Ventana in Big Sur. The New York Edition Hotel. The Fife Arms in Braemar, Scotland. FZEEN Kefalonia in Kefalonia, Greece.
7. Bookshelf? Grit, Nonviolent Communication, Outliers and 8 Rules of Love.
8. Go-to cocktail? A Hendricks Gin gimlet.
9. Splurge? It would be food!! lol!!
10.Mantra to live by? Turn your wounds into wisdom. ~Oprah Winfrey
TRAVEL GUIDE~ ICELAND
Danielle: There are so many itineraries I could share. Which one to choose... Let’s go with Iceland in 4 days!
First stop- The Blue Lagoon. Have lunch or dinner at the Lava restaurant. Make sure to book a water massage, It’s so tranquil floating on the water, it may or may not be for you but it is quite the experience. Drive the 2.5 hours to Hotel Rangá. It’s eclectic and fun and a good stopping point to get to the Glacier. Saddle up to the bar in the coolest barstools and get a night cap. Meet up at Glacier Lagoon Cafe to take the Blue Iceland Cave Discovery tour of the Jökulsárlón. We got to hike the glacier and witness the magical ice caves. Make sure to stop by the Diamond Beach at the mouth of the glacier. Stay the night at the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon hotel. It’s convenient to the Glacier and has an amazing restaurant.
The following morning, head off to the Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara. As the name implies it’s a black sand beach and absolutely spectacular to see in person. Next we headed off to Friõheimar for lunch. It. Was. So. Good. I still dream of it. It’s a tomato greenhouse where they serve all things tomato. Soups, drinks, ice cream. You name it. I tried everything and it was all delicious and I don’t even really like tomatoes! Say hello to the horses near the parking lot on your way out. Next we basically did an accelerated version of the Golden Circle. The Gullfoss Waterfall lookout, touristy but a great photo op, same with the Geysir Geothermal Area. We then headed to Thingvellir National Park. I highly recommend this but be prepared for a long cold walk. You are walking between 2 tectonic plates, it felt like we were seeing the earth and what it is capable of doing, up close and personal. You can also swim or scuba between those tectonic plates. I plan on going back to do that in the Summer. Our last stop was the city of Reykjavík and we decided to splurge on the EDITION Hotel. Note the rooms are small but the restaurant was exquisite! The next day we booked a helicopter tour with Reykjavik Helicopters and did The Silver Circle tour, making a pit stop on the top of a mountain for a photo op. I love seeing the world from above. We also got to explore a geothermal power plant and get a complete history lesson on Iceland. This next part was unplanned but luckily we were in Iceland for The Prettándinn celebration which marks the end of the Christmas season. The folklore and traditions surrounding Christmas in Iceland are something I recommend researching and taking part in if you can be there around January 6th. The day is celebrated with bonfires, festivities and fireworks. The local fire deptartment supplies the fireworks with all proceeds going directly to the station. I thought that was a genius idea and should be implemented everywhere. You buy a box of fireworks, which you light up yourself and then stand back and wait for the box to give you a completely timed out show. I had never seen anything like it. To top off the firework experience, we did it on a frozen lake and it was spectacular.
Of course we kept a look out for the Northern Lights every night but only got a little show through the clouds on our last night.
Make note that most hotels will call your hotel room if the Northern Lights are on display. They will even wake you up in the middle of the night if you let them know at check in. This itinerary is a very quick trip but clearly it can be spread out to a week or longer. If you plan to do the quick version, just make sure your travel partner is aware of what you’re getting into. It is a lot of driving on a time crunch with only 4-6 hours of daylight in the winter. It’s fucking cold. Therefore coffee and patience is a must to make it through. But trust me, its worth it and the Icelandic people are so generous and welcoming.
Denise: Portugal is my next stop so stay tuned for those recommendations (I already have a huge list) but I love a good ROAD-TRIP too -
I recently took a beautiful road trip to Healdsburg, Guerneville and then on the way home, we stopped in Carmel. I'll give my highlights here.
You can drive if you’re in CA and/or fly to Healdsburg (closest airport is Santa Rosa) First stop is Healdsburg ~
One of my favorite hotels is The Madrona. Check in and spend as much time at the hotel as possible. It's gorgeous and the hospitality is wonderful. There’s a pool, bar, restaurant and beautiful grounds. Do venture out at some point, either in the Madrona car or grab a bike and ride into town. The square is quaint and lovely and easy to stroll around. Our favorite spot was Little Saint for plant based eats, coffee & Happy Hour. Marine Layer is a pretty wine tasting room and we enjoyed BloodRoot Wines as well.
Moliti Amici is a new Italian spot with good reviews, but basically just wander the whole charming square. Next stop is Guerneville-The drive from Healdsburg to Guerneville is lovely with a lot of wineries along the way. (Flowers is beautiful and fancy, Gracianna is bespoke with delicious wine and friendly staff)
We stayed at The Highland Resort for a small cabin resort experience- breakfast included. You can walk down to town and have dinner at Boon Eat & Drink or check out Dawn Ranch. It's a really quaint town with great restaurants and hotels. You can float on the river or grab a coffee and take a magical forest walk in Armstrong Redwoods park. Next stop-The incredibly charming Carmel. Grab a coffee and take a morning walk on Carmel Beach and then head to the village to check out the town. Hotel recommendations -there are so many cute hotels in Carmel so here are just a few suggestions-La Playa, Carmel Beach Hotel, Villa Mara (best location), L’auberge (French style), Le Petit Pali and Carmel Valley Ranch. Definitely try-La Bicyclette for lunch or dinner, grab a coffee at Stationaery, wine taste at Pelio Wines and Folktale, grab wine to go and picnic supplies at Lady and Larder, Fish & Chips at Brophy’s (at Hotel Carmel) and I’ve heard good things about Roux if you like meat and seafood.
I usually end up getting salads everywhere because so far, I haven’t found gluten free & vegan friendly places-if you know of any, let me know !
WHAT LIGHTS YOU UP?
Danielle: New experiences with the people I love.
Denise: Travel & photography and my Beauty Blog
CURRENTLY DAYDREAMING?
Danielle: Getting to direct again.
Denise: Winning the lottery
Scenes from Happy Hour, Set life, Bag spills, Ford, Iceland travels & more
FOLLOW ALONG ~ Danielle on IG
We talked about a lot of things so here’s a little reference guide for some of the highlights~Beauty & Wellness & Travel
QUICK LINKS BELOW-
https://shopmy.us/collections/869899
https://shopmy.us/collections/870996
https://amzn.to/3XZCS81
Dermalogica @dermalogica
Saint Jane-Use Code DENISE at checkout @saintjanebeauty
Sisley Paris @sisleyparisofficial
Furtuna Skin @furtunaskin https://shopmy.us/collections/675352
Moon Juice @moonjuice
Jones Road https://shopmy.us/collections/272170
Westman Atelier @westmanatelier love everything!
Thrive Causemetics @thrivecausemetics
Clean Program @cleanprogram (that book)
That mask we all need @drdennisgross
Style @sincerelyjulues @zendaya
Supergoop @supergoop Sunscreen
Kate Somerville @katesomervilleskincare
Le Labo @lelabofragrances Danielle’s favorite
OSEA @oseamalibu skincare & VagusNerve Pillow Mist + oil
8 Faces Beauty-best balm for everything @8facesbeauty
Vacation Inc-https://shopmy.us/collections/820720 (sunshine needs)
Roen -Prettiest blush & brushes @roenbeauty
Mob~Eyeshadow 06 find at @credobeauty
Skin Skulpt-https://skinskulpt.com/BLUSHPAINTER10
Colostrum- https://tryarmra.com/ I am sure you’ve heard about it by now. Good for gut & immunity and since I have gut issues, I thought I would give it a try. I also just heard about Bloom-Colostrum & Collagen @bloomsupps from a podcast @marillewellyn
Erewhon @erewhon best hummus
Dear Media- Hire us for a podcast @dearmediastudio We would be fun..right? This is where most of my favorite podcasts live
Gracias Madre- Favorite Happy Hour @graciasmadresocal
Calm App @calm Calm your mind. Change your life-
Travel- Iceland
Hotel https://www.editionhotels.com/reykjavik/
Hotel @islandshotels.is
The Blue Lagoon https://www.bluelagoon.com/
Tomato greenhouse https://fridheimar.is/en/
Hotel Ranga https://hotelranga.is/
Tour https://www.reykjavikhelicopters.com/
Road-trip ~
Find more road-trip inspiration @keeplefttravel
The Madrona- https://themadronahotel.com/
Little Saint- @littlesainthealdsburg
The Highlands Resort- https://www.highlandsresort.com/
Dawn Ranch- https://dawnranch.com/
Flowers Winery @flowerswinery
Gracianna Winery https://www.gracianna.com/
Carmel -
Villa Mara- https://villamaracarmel.com
La Playa- https://www.laplayahotel.com
Carmel Beach Hotel- https://carmelbeachhotel.com
Pelio Wines- https://www.pelioestatewines.com
Lady & Larder- @ladyandlarder
La Bicyclette -https://www.labicycletterestaurant.com
Stationaery- https://www.thestationaery.com