JLo Glow

I am so sad that Mother nature did not give the big apple a scorching hot summer this year. We are now in the middle of August already experiencing September like temperatures, don’t get me wrong Autumn is my other favorite season but I still needed some more sun in my life! Ok, enough with the rant, if you’re like me and did not get the chance to visit the beach here is how I created a faux tan or that JLo glow as some would call it before summer officially ends.
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To achieve this glowy bronzy look I used all of these products below:
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From the Mac palette I used Brown Script (lower left) on my crease and lower lash line. I used Amber Lights (top right) on the entire lid From the Lorac palette I used Buff (top row left) for my brow highlight and Mocha (4th from the left on the bottom) to touch up the outer v and lower lash line

From the MAC palette I used Brown Script (lower left) on my crease and lower lash line. I used Amber Lights (top right) on the entire lid
From the Lorac palette I used Buff (top row left) for my brow highlight and Mocha (4th from the left on the bottom) to touch up the outer v and lower lash line

– One of the main products in making the skin appear more dewy is to add a liquid illuminizer to your foundation. I opted for the Gerard Cosmetics BB plus illumination crème, a pea sized pump is all you need to mix into your foundation and it will cover your entire face.
– Another key component in creating a bronzy effect is of course bronzer. I used my L’Oreal true match powder in the shade Cocoa to warm up my entire face. I also took a contour brush and very lightly carved under my cheek bones.
– Lastly what will give you the ultimate glowy effect is a highlighter. For this particular look I chose the Sonia Kashuk illuminating bronzer in the shade goddess. This color is really golden and gives you the perfect sunkissed glow.
* This is an extra step, but since I wanted to mimic Jennifer Lopez’s all over bronzed look I also placed a mixture of brown and bronzy shades on my eyes and finished the look with her signature peachy nude lip.

I leave you all with a photo of the woman who not only inspired this look but also inspires me to work hard.

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Here’s a detailed list of the products I used:

Benefit Porefessional face primer

Bare Minerals Bare Skin Foundation in the shade Bare Caramel

Gerard Cosmetics BB Illuminating crème

Tarte Maracuja creaseless concealer in the shade Medium Tan

NYX blotting powder in the shade Medium/Dark

Anastasia Brow Whiz in the shade Brunette

Lorac Behind the Scenes eyelid primer & Pro Palette 2 colors: Buff and Mocha

MAC Eyeshadows Brown Script and Amber lights

Too Faced “Better than Sex” mascara

L’Oreal Privee lipsticks in the Jennifer Lopez and Eva Mendes Shades

NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Cherry Cheesecake

*Products can be found in your local drugstore , Sephora or Ulta.

Hope you all enjoy what’s left of summer!

-Gwen

What’s in my makeup bag

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While I am totally obsessed with makeup and would love to have a “beat” face during the week my super busy schedule does not allow me the time to get all dolled up, but I of course cannot leave the house looking sleep deprived so I wanted to show you all my weekday makeup bag.(I transform into a totally different person during the weekend, but we’ll save that for another post).

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Morning Routine:
After washing my face and applying moisturizer I follow up with Revlon’s lightweight CC cream which helps even out my skin tone. Next I fill in my brows a bit with the brow wiz from Anastasia, to set them I add Benefit’s gimmie brow in the dark shade. During the summer months I don’t like to go too heavy with concealer so I apply NYX’s dark circle concealer which is creamy but more on the sheer side. My next step is Loreal’s voluminous full definition mascara, I then move on to dab a bit of Stila’s cheek and lip stain on the apples of my cheeks. Lastly I make sure my lips are hydrated by using Burt’s Bee’s chapstick.

Evening: If I happen to be going somewhere after work I will re-apply some of the blush, add a bit of Revlon’s illuminator as a cheek highlight and re-curl my eyelashes. A pop of lip color also transforms my minimal day time look for a evening out in the city. Mac’s Twig, Whitening lightening’s gloss in raspberry sherbet and Loreal’s Le Matte in the color “She’s so Matte” have been my favorites these days.

I also carry a roller ball perfume (Versace Bright Crystal), Evian facial mist for when I need to refresh my face, hand sanitizer and of course sunscreen.

Most of these products can be found in Sephora, Ulta or your local drugstore.

What are some of your weekday beauty must haves?
I would love to hear what they are, leave your comments down below!

Till next time
-Gwen

Designer Spotlight: Rebecca Minkoff

I felt this second designer spotlight post (check out the first here) should belong to yet another woman making waves in the industry. As of lately Ive been intrigued by the design and aesthetic that the Rebecca Minkoff brand has … Continue reading

Urban Decay “Pulp Fiction” Palette

Pulp fiction has got to be one of the top classic films that inspire trends all across the board. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, it features an eclectic cast with a mix of humor and violence that made for one entertaining ride. I love that the storyline is not in chronological order (in true Tarantino form) and Uma Thurman’s character Mia Wallace is sexy, sultry and a bit off. She dominated most of the movies promotional material and with good reason.

Nearly two decades later Urban Decay has taken inspiration from the iconic film and  put together an awesome palette to recreate Mia’s dark and edgy look for the twentieth anniversary. It features three never before seen shades and two current exclusives to the line. Pulp Fiction the palette, is sleek, dark and is emblazoned with Samuel L. Jackson’s now infamous Ezekiel passage on the back (totally badass). The “Get the look” card is also a helpful tool in following with Mia’s makeup trend along with the small red eyeshadow brush.

Pros

  • Big Mirror
  • Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion system- Shows up true to color!
  • Velvet Texture
  • Blends Amazing

Cons- NONE!

urban decay, pulp fiction, palette, makeup, review

urban decay, pulp fiction, palette, makeup, review

urban decay, pulp fiction, palette, makeup, review, swatches

urban decay, pulp fiction, palette, makeup, review, swatches

urban decay, pulp fiction, palette, makeup, review, swatches

Left- Right  "Righteous" Light cream matte "Tyranny"- Warm brown matte "Vengeance"- deep brown matte-satin "Furious" -White Satin "Anger" Black Satin with Slight tonal sparkle

Left- Right
“Righteous” Light cream matte
“Tyranny”- Warm brown matte
“Vengeance”- deep brown matte-satin
“Furious” -White Satin
“Anger” Black Satin with Slight tonal sparkle

“Be cool honey bunny”

Ari

Deborah Lippmann Summer Lacquers

One of my favorite parts of summer is being able to brighten up not only your wardrobe and makeup but also your nail polish. Bold colors are an instant pick me up when looking down at your hands and toes. You can all imagine how excited I was when I received the Deborah Lippmann 80’s rewind summer collection nail lacquers. These colors are super pigmented and the crème formula has a great consistency. There are some lacquers that are a bit runny or too thick but these are very easy to work with. I actually painted my own nails which is something I cannot do with every nail polish.

Here’s a closer look at these gorgeous colors
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Left to Right: Whip it, Walking on Sunshine, Don't stop believing, She drives me crazy, Maniac, Video killed the radio star

Left to Right: Whip it, Walking on Sunshine, Don’t stop believing, She drives me crazy, Maniac, Video killed the radio star

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I am currently wearing "Don't stop Believing" the perfect red-orange color

I am currently wearing “Don’t stop Believing” the perfect red-orange color

These Nail Lacquers are available online or at your local Sephora, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom.

Quick Links:
Deborah Lippmann
Sephora

* Special Thank you to Diana from Deborah Lippmann’s PR department for reaching out and being so kind to send samples over.

Happy weekend everyone!
-Gwen

Orange Lips

Hello lovelies today I will be talking about a fun lip color trend, and I’m sure you’ve already guessed what it is due to the title of this post. I am a girl who loves a bright lip, especially during the summer months. Whether you have a fair complexion or a deeper one there is an orange that will work for you. Below you will find product names and swatches. I have a mix of drugstore and higher end options giving everyone an idea of what would work for their budget. Lets begin!

Top four hand swatches from left to right: NYX butter gloss in  Peach Cobbler NYX lip butter in Hot Tamale Maybelline Vivids in Vibrant Mandarin Milani in Sweet Nectar Bottom hand swatches from left to right: Revlon Just Bitten balm in Rendezvous MAC amplified lipstick in Morange Limecrime lipstick in Cosmopop

Top four hand swatches from left to right:
NYX butter gloss in Peach Cobbler
NYX lip butter in Hot Tamale
Maybelline Vivids in Vibrant Mandarin
Milani in Sweet Nectar
Bottom hand swatches from left to right:
Revlon Just Bitten balm in Rendezvous
MAC amplified lipstick in Morange
Limecrime lipstick in Cosmopop

NYX Butter Lip Gloss in Peach Cobbler

NYX Butter Lip Gloss in Peach Cobbler

NYX Lip Butter in Hot Tamale

NYX Lip Butter in Hot Tamale

Maybelline Vivids in Vibrant Mandarin

Maybelline Vivids in Vibrant Mandarin

Milani lipstick in Sweet Nectar

Milani lipstick in Sweet Nectar

Revlon Just Bitten lip balm in Rendezvous

Revlon Just Bitten lip balm in Rendezvous

MAC amplified lipstick in Morange

MAC amplified lipstick in Morange

Limecrime lipstick in Cosmopop

Limecrime lipstick in Cosmopop

NYX, Maybelline, Revlon and Milani products are sold in your local drugstore as well as Ulta. MAC products are sold in MAC stores or online. Limecrime products are sold online only. Links can also be found above under the first picture!

What are some of your favorite summer lip colors? Leave your suggestions in the comments section.

-Gwen

Shea Moisture

Coconut and Hibiscus body butter, dry oil mist and hand & body scrub.

Coconut and Hibiscus body butter, dry oil mist and hand & body scrub.

For the last month or so I have been using these three Shea Moisture products and I can’t say enough good things about each of them. Shea Moisture’s products contain naturally certified organic ingredients, they also take pride in not adding any potentially harmful chemicals such as parabens, paraffin, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrance, petrolatum and lastly it is not tested on animals.
The Coconut & Hibiscus collection blends an exotic mix of fruit and floral ingredients giving this line the perfect summer island feel. I love anything coconut, so it was ultimately love at first sight. This specific line is said to help remedy some of the most common beauty woes such as dry skin and discoloration. The coconut oil penetrates into the skin leaving it deeply moisturized while the hibiscus flower brightens and tones your complexion. They also have a hair care line (I believe Ari has reviewed some of their products).
How to use:
First use the hand and body scrub all over my body while in the shower (Tip: exfoliating your legs before shaving leaves them feeling extra smooth)
Second I mix a quarter sized amount of the body butter with 2-3 spritz of the dry oil mix together and rub all over my legs, knees, arms pretty much everywhere.
* You do not have to mix the body butter and oil together it’s just my personal preference. The oil on its own leaves an amazing sheen on your body, perfect for a sexy night out. The body butter is thick an creamy leaving your body feeling silky smooth.
By using these three products my skin is left with an abundance of moisture and smelling like a delicious coconut drink.

These products are sold directly on Shea Moisture’s website or your local Target and Drugstore will carry them.

Links to Products:
Body Butter
Hand & Body Scrub
Dry Oil Mist

Happy Summer,
-Gwen

60’s Beachside Blouse

As some of you may know I was featured on Willow & Clay’s clothing site on their quirky “I spy” series. I wrote about the city of Orlando and styled some pieces from their site. They were kind and gracious enough to send me a beachside blouse and I am in love with the boho feel of it! The bell shaped sleeves and empire waist gave off a 60’s vibe perfect for the summer. I wanted to pair this feminine piece with edgier items to mix up the look. I went with my favorite faux leather shorts, and my cutout booties (both old season Forever 21). This shirt can be cinched in at the waist for a more polished look or worn as is for a boho vibe. This shirt is breezy and fun for everyday casual wear or can be spruced up for a festival look paired with the right accessories (i.e floral head crowns and boots). Thanks to Willow and Clay for their awesome opportunity to collaborate and Im in love with my new shirt! Links below for the top and similar items.

beachside blouse, boho, bohemian, booties, 60's, mod,

beachside blouse, boho, bohemian, booties, 60's, mod,

beachside blouse, boho, bohemian, booties, 60's, mod,

beachside blouse, boho, bohemian, booties, 60's, mod,

beachside blouse, boho, bohemian, booties, 60's, mod,

beachside blouse, boho, bohemian, booties, 60's, mod,

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Willow & Clay Beachside Blouse

Faux Leather Shorts- Here & Here

Cut out Booties- Here & Here

Peace & Love

Ari

Chiquita Banana

What a long over due post from me! After coming back from Puerto Rico my sister Gwen has been putting in so much work and has posted so many amazing things. Keeping with that momentum here is an outfit of … Continue reading

Summer Stash

Our vacation is officially over! Ari and I are super sad that we are no longer laying on a beautiful beach in Puerto Rico, alas reality has kicked in.
I wanted to talk more in detail about one of my recent purchases at Sephora, by the title of this post I am sure you all know I am referring to the Summer Stash makeup kit. This is the absolute perfect little set you can take along for travel or if your purse is small and you aren’t able to fit your normal sized products. Below are swatches and detailed explanations of each item’s function, lets get started!

Summer Stash $45 (worth $123)

Summer Stash $45 (worth $123)

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The makeup bag included a Urban Decay all nighter makeup setting spray, Make up forever aqua eyes waterproof eyeliner, Stila foil finish eyeshadow in Kitten, Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer in Mermaid’s dream, Josie Maran coconut watercolor cheek gelee, Nars travel size bronzing powder in the color Laguna, Buxom divine goddess luminizer in the color venus, O.C.C stained gloss in the color new wave and lastly a Marc Jacobs mini lash lifter mascara.

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From left to right: Buxom Luminizer, O.C.C lip stain, Stila foil eyeshadow, Nars laguna bronzer (which doesn't show u on my hand now that I have a tan) and Makeup forever's aqua eyeliner

From left to right: Buxom Luminizer, O.C.C lip stain, Stila foil eyeshadow, Nars laguna bronzer (which doesn’t show up on my hand now that I have a tan) and Makeup forever’s aqua eyeliner

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The products above were either hard to swatch, in liquid form or I haven’t had the chance to try them out. I will say that I was not a fan of the Josie Maran cheek gelee, not sure if my skin is too pigmented for it but there was hardly any color payoff when I tried it. Also the Marc Jacobs Mascara was a bit flaky on me, it is a gel form so I am guessing that’s what caused it not to stick to my lashes. The Urban Decay all nighter spray is a product I have used before and loved and lastly I have not tried the Deborah Lippmann polish but I am sure I will love to use it as an accent nail color.

The essentials for my trip were the Urban Decay all night setting spray which worked great for those hot and sweaty days, the Nars laguna bronzer which I only used the first few days before my tan, the Buxom luminizer for a quick cheek bone highlight and lastly the O.C.C lip stain which was a perfect bright pink.

Even though there were two products I wasn’t a huge fan of I still believe the kit was a good deal and would definitely purchase something like this again.

Hope this mini review helped any of you thinking of purchasing this kit or any of the full-sized products.

I’ll leave you with this quick shot of the beach we were able to capture, because it’s the beach and who doesn’t love the beach.

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico

Until next time,
-Gwen

Sephora Summer Stash