Category Archives: I love these products!

NYE Looks 

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Hey there lovelies! I know it’s been a while but Ari & I are back in business! For this last post of 2016 I wanted to share 3 plus sized New Year’s Eve looks. I’ve chosen a metallic pleated midi skirt (which I styled two different ways) and a more festive burgundy off the shoulder swing dress. Let’s get started shall we?

First up is the silver/pewter skirt in the size xl from Charlotte Russe paired with a basic gray tee from Old Navy. Mixing casual and dressy pieces is always a good idea, especially if you don’t have major plans or just simply prefer a more casual look with a touch of sparkle. To add a pop of color I chose a small red bag. This outfit could also be jazzed up a bit with a low chunky heel, or kept more low key with tennis shoes or flat sandals as I the ones I wore.



Next up is the same skirt with a velvet hunter green bralette (1x) which is also from Charlotte Russe. I am obsessed with anything velvet, the material has such a luxurious look and feel to it. Once again pairing different textured fabrics creates such a lovely juxtaposition. For this look I added my trusty pointy ankle wrapped Sam Edelman shoes from Target.


Last but certainly not least is a Burgundy velvet off the shoulder dress from Forever 21 (plus). The heart shaped top is perfect for busty girls as it frames in all the right places. I also love the swing style from the waist down as it helps create the illusion of hips. I once again wore my black shoes, along with some fun new year accessories.


Want to know the best part of all? All of the clothing items are under $25! Huge steal right? Hope you all enjoyed this post.

Wishing everyone a wonderful start to a brand new year! 2017 here we come!

Metallic Skirt

Velvet Bralette

* Similar Velvet Dress

xx, Gwen

Kylie Lip Kit 

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Hey there loves! It’s been a while since I’ve come on here to talk about a new product, that is until now! I ordered one of the Kylie Lip Kits a few weeks ago, gave it a test run and am now ready to share my thoughts. Well here goes…

I purchased the shade 22 which is a gorgeous brunt orangey-red. The formula is very pigmented, has a creamy consistency and dries quickly (which doesn’t give you much room for error). The kit also includes a lip liner which helps perfect the edges of your lips and provide an adhesive base for the liquid lipstick.

The lipstick wore well for the first 4 hours but I noticed a little bit of flaking in the center of my lips towards the last hour. I then went on to eat and drink checked back on how it looked and most of the color in the center was gone. Reapplying isn’t a deal breaker for me, as long as the product doesn’t look too cakey afterward (which it didn’t).

Pros: Color pay off, creamy texture & comfortable to wear.

Cons: Flaking, Price tag ($29 for .11 oz / 3.25 mil)

Although I would recommend the liquid lipstick (if you’re willing to hash out $29 for it) I wouldn’t necessarily purchase another one.

Here’s the link to 22 which is still available for purchase: 22 Lip Kit

Till next time,

Gwen, xx

Storage Unit DIY

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I know I teased this on Instagram a long time ago but the time has finally come to reveal my awesome DIY storage project for my room. I was on a bit of a décor kick as of recent and wanted to bring my interior style game up a notch now that I’m getting older. One way to do that was introducing mixed metals to my new mirrored furniture and find ways to incorporate natural elements like wood to make it cozier. A full room tour might be necessary in the near future! For now here is how I jazzed up this ordinary shelving unit to be perfect for my aesthetic.

Things you will need- Everything can be purchased from Walmart.com

  • Storage Unit
  • Gold Spray Paint
  • Screwdriver or Drill (I only used a screwdriver)
  • Marble Contact Paper (or any pattern contact paper for that matter)
  • Pencil, Ruler and Scissors (or scrap booking knife)
  1. Prepare your work space with enough room, you will only need a screwdriver or drill (if you’re fancy)
  2. Follow the directions to screw each shelf to the columns (starting from the bottom helps)
  3. After its constructed take it to an outside open area and spray with gold paint, let dry and do a second coat
  4. Measure and cut pieces of contact paper with the pencil and ruler (make sure to write on the back portion of the paper not the visible marble part)
  5. Cut out the pieces and smooth them over the shelves with the ruler or a rag to smooth out any air bubbles
  6. Embellish shelves with books or home décor items, get creative!

I had originally planned on leaving the bottom shelf open for a hamper or larger items but later decided to add the missing shelf for a more cohesive look. I also plan on eventually getting some pull out mesh drawers from IKEA and de clutter it. For now I love the finished product and can’t wait to play around with the items and change them up for the seasons!

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XOXO- Ari

The Estee Edit Review

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Influenster has done it again! As some of you may know we are signed up to receive complimentary items from influenster in order to test and review them for our blog. For this week’s review we received goodies from the Estee Edit collection. Estee Edit is the spin off from the ever prominent brand Estee Lauder . Inspired by Estee and curated by varying guest editors this brand is trying to appeal to the younger generation and we’re not mad at it! The following items go as follows

Radiance Activator- Treat Prep Glow for Dryness and Dullness

Cons-

  • Shows up on my face glittery (not a finely milled shimmer)
  • Doesn’t provide moisture nor even out my skin tone or brighten
  • Priced at $55 I do not believe it is necessarily worth it

 Late Night Eraser Brightening Eye Balm with Pink Peony

Pros-

  • Metal tip provided instant soothing and cooling +the shape was contoured perfectly to fit under the eye

Cons-

  • Although it does brighten a lot, the micro pearls create a white cast on my dark circles. I don’t think this product is meant for darker skin. If you have pink undertones or your dark circles aren’t as severe than this may work best for you

 Metallishadow Crème + Powder

Pros-

  • The crème base is perfect to really ensure your color pops!
  • The color wild cosmos is highly pigmented and easy to blend

Inside Track Eye Kajal

Pros-

  • Super pigmented and glides on extremely smooth and silky
  • Perfect combination of colors!

 Overall I was a bit disappointed in the skin care products seeing as they are very pricey and didn’t necessarily deliver the anticipated results. The beauty/makeup products from the line seem to be a hit! Hope you guys enjoy this mini review, let us know if you would like swatches or looks done with these products in the comments below. The entire Estee Edit line is available at Sephora.

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XOXO- ARI

Neutrogena Hydro Boost 

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Hello Lovelies! It’s been a while since I’ve posted about new products but have no fear I am here to talk about a new face moisturizer and eye cream from Neutrogena! Changing up my skin care according to the season we are in is something I’ve mentioned many times on our platform. I truly stand by this based on my personal observations of my skin. For most of us our skin is usually dryer during winter months and can easily change into normal/oily when it’s warmer out, but some of us fail to understand that we still need hydration and moisture during summer as well.

I discovered the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel around the ending of May. The words “water gel” and “hyaluronic acid” really caught my attention. This formula is said to absorb quickly like a gel, but has the moisturizing power of a cream. It claims to boosts your skins hydration level by locking the moisture in all day (due to the hyaluronic acid). This is also said to be true for the eye cream.

I’ve been using these products for nearly two months now and I love the fact that the moisturizer has the gel like texture and yet your face just drinks it up so quickly not leaving a sticky or thick residue behind. I purchased mine with spf 15 which is great base to start with (of course sunscreen should be re-applied multiple times if you’ll be out in the sun for a long period of time). The eye gel/cream has a very similiar consistency to the moisturizer and also leaves my under eye area feeling hydrated.

 Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel spf 15
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel

CVS is currently having a buy one get second item half off on all Neutrogena products. They also offer 20% off coupons if you’ve signed up for their extra care card. Originally I would have paid $40 but with the coupons I only paid $30.

Hope this was helpful to anyone on the fence of buying this product, it surely has my stamp of approval.

Till next time,

xx Gwen

Forever Swim

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As some of you know from our Instagram posts Ari our mom and I went on a much needed vacation to the Dominican Republic during Memorial weekend. We had the best time celebrating our moms 50th birthday, so much eating, drinking, exploring and relaxing by the beach/pool and last but not least sneaking in a few photos for the blog. 

Before any trip I usually like to buy a couple of new things, especially swimsuits since they can begin looking worn out after only a few uses. I picked up two one piece swimming suits and a top piece from Forever 21 (plus size) and I couldn’t be happier with them. Here’s a closer look…

This black and cheetah print one piece ($32.90) has such a flattering heart shaped top, perfect for busty girls who desire some sort of structure in a suit. 

This all black and mesh swim suit ($32.90) was also a good fit for me as it sucked everything in. The mid section is mesh material which adds a nice touch of edge/sexiness.

Unfortunately this is the only shot I’ve got of the Yellow and black top ($17.90) but I’m hoping you can still get a feel of how it fits. I don’t usually wear two pieces but I couldn’t pass this one up. It lifted and supported me so amazingly well. I’m thinking of getting it in another color! 

I purchased all of these swimming suits in a 1x for those needing a size reference. 

Cheetah one-piece

Black Caged one-piece (Similar)

Yellow Top

Hope this post helped any of my plus sized ladies looking to purchase a new swimsuit this summer. 

Till next time, 

xx, Gwen 

Sale at Sephora 

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If you love Sephora you know that their twice a year sale is very much awaited by many. For about a week or so the store offers 10-15% off products (this percentage depends on your reward status). I purchased my items in store, picking up some replacements and three new products that I am very excited to try. Here’s a closer look… 

 


Top left hand corner: Beauty Blender solid cleanser I really love this for those times my brushes need some inbetween cleansing. Wet your brush, give it a swirl around the soap and boom all clean! (For a deeper cleaning I use Dr. Bronners Pure Castile soap and a little drop of coconut oil)  

Bottom left: Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with rose clay This mask is one of the new products I cannot wait to try. It’s described as a two in one purifying mask and skin refiner. It Gently deep cleans while refining skin’s texture. I’m planning on staying in this Friday night and giving it a go. 

Center: Dr. Jart+ Bright Infusion sheet mask Yet another new product, which claims to moisturize and brighten while improving complexion and skin texture. I’m all about brighter skin! Brighter equals youthful in my opinion. 

 Top right: Drunk Elephant Framboos Glycolic night serum The last new product I purchased, which is the main reason I waited for the sale (this bad boy is pricey!). This serum is a chemical exfoliator which claims to resurface your skin by gently lifting dead cells all while hydrating your skin at the same time. I am on a very clear path to having the smoothest and brightest skin as I possibly can! 

Bottom right: Smiths’s Rosebud minted rose lip balm An oldie but always a goodie. This is a multi purpose balm as you can use it for your lips, elbows, knees basically where ever you notice any dryness. I go through this super quickly as I also use it for my cuticles. 

Did any of you shop during the sale? If so what did you get? Please share down below! 

Till next time, 

xx, Gwen 

Color Correcting

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Color Corrrecting is all the rage these days as many brands have recently launched their own shades to help with problematic areas. I’ll start off by giving you a quick overview of how each color is meant to enhance your skin.

Orange: Corrects dark circles and deep discoloration

Green: Corrects redness from pimples, acne scars or widespread redness such as rosacea.

Purple: Corrects dull skin as well as yellow spots by neutralizing 

Pink/Peach/Salmon Shades help to brighten an area and mask signs of fatigue.

Yellow Corrects purple/blue veins, bruises etc. Good for evenning out skintone.

Now that we’ve got that covered I wanted to talk about the two colors I recently purchased and my thoughts on them. I purchased the Sephora Collection Bright Future Color Correctors ($14) in the Green and Melon shades, (Green once again is for redness and the Melon shade is basically a darker hue of peach helps promote brightness under the eye area). I will say that I really liked the melon shade but the green shade did nothing for the minor redness I have. They both have thin consistencies which make them great to blend, but I find that the green one is a bit too thin and it sort of looses its pigmentation once you begin to blend it. It barely covered any of my redness even while adding a second layer. The Melon shade did not eliminate all darkness under my eyes but it did cancel some of it out and really gave my under eyes the “awake” look.

 

  I like to apply the correctors with the applicator and blend them out with my fingers or either brush shown above.

Top Brush: Zoeva #110 Face Shape Brush

Middle Brush: Real Techniques deluxe crease brush

Third Brush: Zoeva #142 Concealer Buffer Brush

I hope this post was helpful for those still a bit confused about what color correcting really means. Note: Correctors aren’t necessarily a must have item for everyone, all depends on your need for it.

Till my next post,

Gwen, xx

Spring Forward 

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It is technically Spring in the North East, although it seems as if winter wants to stick around a little bit longer. For the most part I enjoy wearing which ever color I fancy on my nails, but I do tend to stick to darker hues for the winter and lighter for the summer. Which is why I went ahead and dug up some of my favorite pastel colored nail polishes in lieu of the “warmer” weather. Check them out…

From left to right:

Essie – Bikini So Teeny (Periwinkle blue shade, with a slight shimmer)

Essie – Mint Candy Apple (Minty turquoise shade)

OPI – You’re such a Budapest (Periwinkle purple shade)

Essie – A Crewed Interest (Light peach shade)

Barry M – Coconut (Milky Off white shade)

All of thee Essie and OPI shades were purchased either online through Amazon.com or at local drugstores/beauty supply stores. The Barry M nail polish might also be available on Amazon, but I purchased mine in the UK.

  

These five shades are great spring staples and are muted enough to wear even at the office (except for the minty blue). Hope you enjoyed this quick post and please share down below what some of your favorite “springy” nail polishes are.

Until next time,

xx, Gwen

L’Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil

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L’Oreal is one of the tried and true OG brands for makeup and beauty items alike. With its classic packaging and solid reputation, you know you are getting good quality anytime you pop into your local drugstore and try one of their products. When we received this extraordinary oil hair care set, the experience was no different. This advanced hair care shampoo, conditioner, leave in crème and oil serum were sent by Influenster for testing purposes. At first I was hesitant seeing as not many products work well on curly hair. After its first use I knew it was a winner! This is great for the days when you are in need of a deep cleanse rather than just co washing. The leave in conditioner defined my curls while the serum helped to seal and lock all the moisture in.

Pros

Very light weight

Nourishing

Some curl definition

Delightful scent

Deep cleanse without over-stripping

 

Cons

Light weight- (this is also a pro depending on how much hold you are going for, it would be best to follow up with a heavier item for humid days)

Mainly great for a one day hair look (doesn’t last beyond for second or third day curls)

 

I would definitely repurchase this line in the future for the days when I need to start fresh from product buildup seeing as its cleansing and light weight. Here’s to #extraordinaryhair !

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First Day Curls

 

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Second day Curls