Paris is always a good idea

Posted on May 2, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Another bank holiday has rolled around in England causing the urge to book a quick city break. I chose Paris! the city of lights, one of those most magical and romantic cities of all time (so I’ve heard). I am insanely excited! I wanted to quickly share with you all what I packed for my long weekend getaway. Focusing on makeup and some key pieces I felt were necessary. I also got some fun tips from “Parisian Chic” a style guide by Ines de la Fressange. Let’s begin!

Choosing what makeup to bring is always so hard for me, especially lipsticks I mean how can a girl anticipate what color she’ll want to wear for the next three days? (Champagne problems). I tried to focus on my holy grail products and a variety of what I consider to be classic lip shades.

For clothes I pretty much chose basics ie; jeans, a denim button down, striped t-shirt and a little black dress for a night out. Two pieces I want to give special attention to are my faux leather jacket and side slit blouse. I purchased them both at Newlook.

A motorcycle inspired jacket can easily transform an outfit into chic and edgy. I love the contrast of pairing it with something a bit more feminine to balance out the asthetic of the look.

This side slit blouse is all the rave in London (I’m assuming it is back home as well). I love the slight sexiness it posses as you’re mostly covered up in the chest area but can show off a bit of skin without being too much.

If you haven’t already noticed I am pretty much obsessed with wearing black. Normally I am all about color but lately black pieces have taken over my wardrobe. Wearing black makes me feel like I’m in a classic piece (even if it’s only a plain black t-shirt). This was also confirmed while reading the “Parisian Chic” book.

Stay tuned for my Paris adventures!

xx Gwen

Boo Hoo Deep Plunge Skort Playsuit- Miami Ootn

Posted on April 15, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

It’s always so difficult to take pictures while on vacation, especially the type of whirlwind fast paced ones that my family and I love to take. This past weekend I decided to drive down to Miami from Orlando and enjoy some time with friends and loved ones. The sunny beaches and sexy nightlife made it nearly impossible to capture every single outfit. Here is a quick sneak peak of what I wore for a night out on the town. This Boo Hoo royal blue velvet skort play suit is honestly one of my favorite finds as of late. It is extremely comfortable and ready for wear even after being packed up in a suitcase. I just slipped it on and out the door I was! I paired it with these sexy Zara heels (quite the opposite of comfortable). They feature a leopard calf hair design and closure on the arch versus the standard outside of the heel which makes for some interesting toe cleavage and not to mention overall appeal. These sky high babies and gold metallic clutch complimented my plunging neckline appropriate for miami life. Links to items below!

boo hoo uk, romper, playsuit, velvet, ootn, sexy, blogger, midnight blue, curly hair

Grace Deep Plunge Velvet Skort Playsuit

Similar Playsuit

Similar Zara Sandals

XOXO – ARI

Maybe she’s born with it

Posted on April 13, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Spring time is finally upon us! I am so excited to bring out some bolder and brighter lip colors now that the sun has decided to come out and play. Maybelline has launched some fun new products lately including these velvet lipstick pencils. I first purchased two colors from the Maybelline Color Drama range back when I attended London Fashion Weekend. I opted for a deep plum color and a blue toned red. I have recently added some brighter shades to my collection and thought I would share them with you all…

From top to bottom
Fab Orange: A fiery orange toned red perfect for those caliente summer nights!
Fushia Desire: An amazing blue toned hot pink shade, great with a flowy sundress!
Nude Perfection: No better name to describe this peachy beige nude shade, a good option when you’re on the go but need a hint of color on your lips

These velvet lipsticks glide on your lips just as the name suggests, super velvety! The texture is incredibly creamy and pigmentation is amazing! I do have to say they aren’t as long wearing as you would want them to be but I myself don’t mind having to re-apply every few hours or so. Also, I read a blog post stating that these could possibly be a dupe for the NARS velvet lipstick pencils (I cannot give my personal opinion on this as I do not own the NARS one) but hey for the inexpensive price tag of only £4.99 I would definitely give the Maybelline ones a go!

(To all my U.S peeps I am not sure if these are being sold back home yet, I know don’t kill me for posting things that aren’t available, I’m sure they will be soon)

What are some of your favorite bright lip shades for spring? Share down below!

xx Gwen

Colour Pop LBB Lippie

Posted on April 9, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

On my recent trip to London to visit my sister Gwen, she gifted me this awesome Colour Pop lippie! This brand is all the rage now and with good reason. The products are so pigmented, affordable, a great color range for all skin tones and they don’t test on animals! I mean could it get any better? The packaging is clean and straight forward. I wanted to share a couple of lip swatches to show the great color pay off and how cool the product really is. This rich plum wine color featured is called “LBB” named after the creator and blogger LittleBlackBoots. It is a matte finish but not drying at all and glides on easily. Below I show it “as is” and with gloss over. I also love the personal touch of the post card! This seems like such a great company and Im excited to see more from them.

I added a slightly nude gloss on top and the lighting is different in this photo. It just goes to show how versatile and pretty this color is!

LBB matte Lippie

Dior Lash Plumping Serum Review

Posted on April 3, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Voluminous, plump, and feathery are all words that come to mind when you think of fabulous lashes. Although I am a huge fan of falsies and the way they open up your eye it’s not always the easiest or fastest task to accomplish. It’s always in my interest for sake of time (since I’m always in a rush) to use products that accentuate and bring out the fullness and length in my own lashes without having to wait for glue to dry or being precise with tweezers. I picked up this Dior lash plumping serum at Sephora in hopes that it would give my lashes the boost they sometimes needed. Diorshow Maximizer acts as a base for your mascara and also a deep conditioner if applied alone at night. It is said the more you use the product it can help your lashes reach their full potential in length and density. A bit on the pricey side, this was a splurge item that is not necessary but totally worth it if you are in the market for a lash product that can stimulate growth and accentuate your natural beauty. Link below!

First I apply it to my lashes in a thin coat (it can make your lashes spidery or chunky if you apply too much).
Secondly I put on my mascara in a couple of coats as normal. I do not recommend waiting until the serum dries because it makes it ten times harder to come in with regular mascara and comb through when it’s dry. Do it while the white is still prominent and wet perhaps one eye at a time like I do.
Lastly I just go about my business as they dry to a perfect shape and length (feel free to use an eyelash curler before for extra drama).

I have not used the product long enough to notice any major differences in growth but I would probably purchase this sometime again in the future once it’s done just based on the fact that it conditions and makes for less damage to my lash and easier removal of the mascara.

Light application of serum coat. One tip -It dries from white to clear super fast! Work one eye at time.

Light application of serum coat. One tip -It dries from white to clear super fast! Work one eye at a time for best results.

XOXO, Ari

Diorshow Maximizer Lash Serum– $28.50

Parc de Montjuic -Barcelona OOTD

Posted on March 21, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Barcelona was magical! This city was such a nice contrast to the gloomy city vibes of London. Although still a bit chilly, the sun was out and the vibes were friendly. We took a tour bus and made some stops along the way to explore the beautiful landscape. On this day we visited this park “Parc de Montjuic” and were able to capture some outfit of the day shots after we panicked on the cable cars up the mountain. I was wearing this knit zara black dress with gold accents and detailing. I stayed with my misguided leopard coat, aldo oxfords and tights from the day before and added some funky Pom-Pom socks from ASOS to keep my feet warm and spice up the look. Last but not least this jaw dropping huge pearl choker necklace from ASOS was the standout item. I love the way it makes a statement and can be paired with any simple silhouette. Links to items below as always.

ASOS Faux Pearl Choker

Aldo “Grummer” Oxfords

Missguided Leopard Faux Fur Coat

XOXO -Ari

Winter Skin Banished!

Posted on March 17, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hi there lovelies! So as you all know I (Gwen) have been in London for the past two and a half months and although it has been slightly warmer these days (It is a gorgeous sunny day as we speak) I still wanted to share the products that have helped calm and hydrate my skin over the winter months.

Here’s a little history on Kiehl’s : they were founded as an old world apothecary in New York City over 150 years ago! They began offering homeopathic and herbal remedies, essential oils, over-the-counter drugs, and the first Kiehl’s brand name products. Today, Kiehl’s is known for their quality skin care and hair care products and are known for mainly selecting naturally derived ingredients as well as using minimal preservatives.

The Centella Skin Calming Facial Cleanser was recommended to me due to the concerns I expressed to one of the women at the store. The issues I was having were: dry and rough patches of skin and some redness due to some problematic areas (pimples/bumps). It’s key ingredients are Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Tiger Herb which together work to soothe, comfort and heal the skin. This cleanser can be applied on wet or dry skin, using circular motions over the entire face. It is then suggested you remove product with a warm damp cloth. The Ultra Facial Cream is one of Kiehl’s iconic products loved by many and I now know why! This cream is such a light-textured moisturizer that helps to retain moisture within the skin for up to 24 hours! The key ingredients are: Antarcticine (Glycoprotein extract) and Imperata Cylindrica (Desert plant Extract) which together work to prevent dryness and create a lasting hydrating effect on skin. A little goes a long way, I apply a few pea sized dots all over my face (and neck) and again work it in circular and upward motions.

I have been using both of these products over the last two and a half months and have noticed such a difference in my skin! I no longer have dry patches and my skin feels insanely soft and hydrated. I would love to try out a few of their other products as well. Have you ever tried anything from Kiehl’s range? If so let me know which ones down below!

Till next time,

Gwen xx

Viva Barcelona OOTD- Giveaway

Posted on March 13, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

So as some of you may have been keeping up with, I Ari finally got some stamps on my passport! I visited my sister Gwen in London and we did some major country hopping in the short time we were reunited. I had the best time ever and now have the travel bug, bad! Our first day in Barcelona was filled with good food, amazing views and lovely weather. We did some site seeing and even ended up at the beach! It was about 45 degrees or so and winter gear was required (especially for my thin Florida blood). This look consisted of this thick quilted pink sweater dress from Zara’s end of season sale, black aldo oxfords, fleece lined leggings, pearl & gold collar necklace, bowler hat and lastly this show stopping leopard jacket! This misguided coat is so beautiful in person and surprisingly light weight. I ordered it a size UK 8 (US 4) but looking back probably would have gone for a 6 (US 2). It is supposed to be oversized and boxy (that is the look) so it still worked well. We are hosting a giveaway of this same exact coat in a size UK 8 from misguided on instagram! Their was a mixup with my shipping and I was sent two by accident so I thought why not share the wealth? If you like this look and would like to rock this coat check out our instagram to see how to enter. @itsapplesandorangesblog. Links to items below.

Missguided Kylie Faux Fur Leopard Coat
Win this coat in a size US 4 UK 8 on our instagram! Here

Black Bowler Hats, Here & Here

Sweater Dresses Here, Here & Here

Aldo Oxfords Here & Here

Love Ari

Glam Glow BrightMud Eye Treatment Review

Posted on March 1, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Glam Glow Brightmud eye treatment is the ultimate splurge and luxurious go to item when you want to feel fancy and give yourself a boost. It was always something both me and my sister wanted to try but strayed away from due to the hefty price at Sephora. At $69.00 this eye treatment is said to minimize puffiness, dark circles and fine lines while brightening and hydrating the area. What’s great is that it is for all ages, skin types, gender and requires only 3 minutes! I found it at my local marshalls for half the price and couldn’t resist the temptation to buy it and spilt it with my sister. Here are my impressions of the product. Links down below!

Pros
-Super Soft and Hydrating
-Amazing smell
-Thick consistency glides and smooth’s well (goes a long way)
-“Cooling effect”
-Left under eye soft to the touch but yet firm and “tight”
-You can take it off in 3 minutes!
Cons-
-Pricey (I was lucky to find it at Marshalls for half the price)
– I don’t know If it will work with wrinkles and fine lines since I split the box with my sister. I didn’t notice any major difference as far as lines with the ones I had.

I loved this product and give it a thumbs up for those that may suffer from dry skin to keep that sensitive area under your eyes smooth and firm. It is an awesome luxury product that one can splurge on for special occasions or events. Glam glow has various other masks and products that work wonders and are more affordable, all available a Sephora.

Love, Ari

London Fashion Weekend

Posted on March 1, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Based on the title of this post I am sure you can all guess I was over at London Fashion Weekend and boy did I have loads of fun! Upon arriving I located the tote pick up area (which was filled with amazing goodies as you will see below). I then proceeded to walk around the shops for a bit but not before grabbing some bubbly of course. Here’s a closer look…

I made my way to The Cambridge Satchel Company to check out a bag I’ve been lusting over for quite some time now. I am utterly delighted to say I am now a proud owner of one. I chose the 11 inch classic satchel in oxblood. So gorgeous! They were also offering complimentary engraving, which is such a nice way to add a personal touch to your new love.

I was also able to sit in on a catwalk show presented by Theoutnet.com in which they show cased this springs most popular trends. Hyper Florals, Shimmer and Shine, Make it Monochrome and That Seventies Show were the four categories demonstrated. Here are some of my favorite looks.

I have been in love with London fashion upon arriving here but being a part of this amazing weekend has taken my love to a higher level!

I leave you with a quick look at my outfit (although it isn’t too visible as I am still wearing my pea coat) Boohoo dress (Similar, the one I am wearing is velvet material), Target Booties.