Neutral Zone

Posted on February 29, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

With Spring time being just around the corner I decided to create a soft nude look on the eyes and lips. The warmer it gets the less I want to wear a full face. It’s something about light colors that suit everyone’s skin tone, especially when the suns out. Below you’ll see my creation as well as the products I’ve used.

Products used:

Ex1 foundation (shade 300)

Dr. Brandt Pores no more Primer

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer (brunette)

L.A Girl Orange Corrector (for under eye area)

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NW35 for dark spots)

Maybelline Fit Me concealer (shade 25 Medium)

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Bronzer (Dark Tan)

Charlotte Tilbury Blusher (shade Ecstacy)

Becca & Jaclyn Hill Highlighter (champagne pop)

Stila Eyes of the window eyeshadow palette (mind)

Rimmel Super Curler Mascara

Clinique Skinny Stick eyeliner

L’Oreal Super Slim felt eyeliner

NYX lip liner (shade ever)

Nars Audacious lipstick (shade Brigitte)

Gerard Cosmetics Gloss (nude)

Hope you all enjoyed this almost spring look. Till next time.

xx, Gwen

Hot new shit (drugstore edition)

Posted on January 26, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The drugstore is a bad place to be when you’re just “looking” around. During my trips to Target, CVS and Ulta, I spotted a few new products. My eyes would literally light up every time I saw the word “new”. Here are the items uI brought home with me…

From left to right: Garnier SkinActive Micellar cleansing water, Essie Gel Setter top coat, Maybelline Master Precise Skinny eyeliner, Biore Pore Penetrating Charcoal bar, Pixi Glow Tonic exfoliating toner, Maybelline Lash Sensational luscious mascara, L’Oreal Brow Stylist definer and Real Technique Miracle Complexion sponges.

So far I have only tried the Garnier Miceller water, the L’oreal brow stylist definer and the Essie gel setter. The Garnier Micellar water is gentle and removes all of my makeup without any stinging or burning, also it does not leave any residue. I don’t have a firm opinion on the L’Oreal brow stylist yet (I need to apply it with a full face of makeup. And lastly the Essie Gel Setter is a no light gel like top coat. I absolutely love it! My nail color has lasted for about 5 days without chipping!

I would be more than happy to review any of the other products as well, any one in particular you guys would like to know more about? Let me know in the comment box down below.

I’m really excited to try the rest of these products (especially the real techniques sponges) and cannot wait to report back to you all!

Find these items at Drugstore.com, Ulta.com, Walmart.com, CVS.com, Target.com along with any other drugstore in your area.

xx, Gwen

2015 Favorites

Posted on January 2, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Happy new year everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating, now let’s get ready to tackle 2016! I wanted to quickly mention some of my favorite products of 2015 before we become bombarded with all of the 2016 releases. Here goes…

From top left to bottom right

Makeup Forever Ultra HD – Foundation (shade 128) *Disclaimer I’ve only been using this foundation for a month but I already love it! It has an amazing satin/natural finish to it.

Chloe eau de parfum – This is my third bottle, need I say more? It’s a bit floral with a clean undertone. You must smell it!

Schwarzkopf Biotin Volume and Texture Powder – This bad boy works miracles on my limp hair, just sprinkle some on my roots and boom instant fullness!

Charlotte Tilbury Swish and Pop Blusher (shade ecstasy) – I will forever love this blush because one I bought it in London and two because it is such a gorgeous peachy/pink shade which is super easy to blend.

L.A Girl Pro Concealer (orange correcting shade) *disclaimer I also just purchased this about 2 months ago but it has changed my face routine dramatically! I use this to correct my under eye darkness and any other dark pigmentation around my face before applying foundation. It’s a definite must have in my opinion!

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution (shade red carpet red)- This lipstick is such a gorgeous shade of red (think Marilyn Monroe). The non drying matte formula is the selling point for this lipstick, oh and we can’t forget about the rose gold packaging!

Mario Badescu Aloe and Rosewater Facial Spray – This spray is amazing, it instantly refreshes your face during the summer time and helps hydrate your face during the winter time. Also a staple when flying!

Qtica Nail Growth Stimulator – I am a nail biter (mostly when I’m nervous or stressed) so I go through periods where my nails look that of a 8 year old boy but, this product has helped my nails growth tremendously.

Smashbox Photofinish Pore Minimizing Primer – I discovered this primer in the beginning of the year and it has replaced my Benefit Porefessional. I feel that it really smooths out my pores around my nose and cheeks and doesn’t leave a residue.

Maybelline FIT Me Concealer – I was actually surprised at how much I loved this concealer. It’s a bit more fluid than what I would normally go for so for that I like it on lighter makeup days. The coverage is great and the price is even better! ($8.99).

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion – I was in need of a new moisturizer and my roommate recommended this one to me. I really love the consistency (not too thick not too watery). It also has SPF 30, a great two in one!

Those were all of my favorites during 2015! What were some of yours?

We are looking forward to sharing more content, giveaways and interacting with you all this year. Here’s to a great 2016!

xx, Gwen

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

NYE Outfits

Posted on January 1, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

2015 is here! So many great things have happened this past year and we are so grateful to have been able to spend time together per usual for this holiday season. For our New Years celebration we decided to keep it low key this year (since Gwen is moving to London in a couple of days) and spend time at home with our loved ones. Needless to say, we still found the need to dress up of course. Get all the details down below!

Ari’s Outfit
Dress- Alberto Makali Nordstrom Rack
Shoes – Old season Forever 21
Clip in Hair Extensions –Bellami
Press on Nails- Static Nails

Gwens’ Oufit
Dress- Forever 21
Shoes- Sam & Libby Heels from Target
Press on Nails- Static Nails

Holiday Shine

Posted on December 16, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The Holidays are upon us and what better way to celebrate than to look the part with lots of glitz and glam. I posted the photo above on Instagram and decided to show you all what products I used. I am in love with the rusty copper shade I used all over the lid! Colors like this are a great way to add a bit of shine without it being too overpowering or for those who are not into chunks of glitter on your eyelid (for those that are I will have a post up for you soon). I hope to soon be able to incorporate mini video clips on other makeup looks I create. Well then, lets get started!

Base: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer great for creating a smooth canvas and filing in pores before applying foundation.
Color Corrector: Bobbi Brown in the shade Peach (I put this under my foundation to counter-act the darkness under my eyes and around my mouth)
Foundation: Ex1 Invisiwear foundation in the shades F300 & F400 mixed together (I am so pale during winter months)
Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me in the shade medium #25 under my eyes
Bronzer: NYX matte bronzer in the shade Deep-Tan to give my face some all over color and I also used it for slight contouring
Blush: MAC sheertone blush in the shade Peaches
Eyeshadows: Makeup Geek’s vanilla bean for brow bone highlight, Revlon Matte in the shade rich sable for the crease and outer corner and for the standout color I used NYX loose pearl pigment in the shade Rust ( I wet my brush a bit with MAC’s fix plus)
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills brow wiz in the shade Dark Brown
Eyelashes: One coat of Too Faced Better than Sex mascara and on top a coat of Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes.
Lips: MAC lipstick in the shade Craving ( I dabbed it with my finger) topped it off with Gerard Cosmetics lipgloss in the shade Nude.

Here’s a closer look of the shadow

How vibrant does that cooper shade look? Utterly Obsessed!
Hope you all enjoyed this quick “tutorial” so to speak. Once again I will be working on putting out Video Clips so you can actually see what I am doing.

What are some of your favorite Holiday looks? Leave comments/requests down below!
Happy Holidays everyone!
-Gwen

Wine oh wine

Posted on October 27, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

There’s something about chilly weather that gives us the desire to wear darker shades of color such as plums, wines and berries. Whether it be on your lips or a clothing piece these richer hues really compliment all skin tones. Below you will find an outfit I put together using a plum colored flared skirt, a floral patterned top (both from H&M), black booties and a wine colored lip (Maybelline’s Divine Wine).

This past weekend was once again a nice one so I was able to wear this outfit without any tights underneath, but this look could easily be transitioned into a winter outfit with some thick tights and a chunky sweater to keep warm.

Stay tuned for more outfit of the day looks.

Same/Similar items:
Skirt
Blouse
Shirt
Booties
Chain Clutch

-Gwen

First Look: New Maybelline Products

Posted on October 17, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Many makeup brands launch new items at the start of a new season and boy am I glad they do! I was of course doing my weekly browsing at my local CVS and came across a few new items from Maybelline, they are the Color Sensational Creamy Matte lipsticks, the Instant Age Rewind skin transformer and lastly the Brow Drama brow sculpting mascara.

Lets take a minute and talk about the fact that there is finally an affordable matte lipstick! (very few brands carry a matte line in the drugstore). That news alone is super exciting, but here are some other reasons why these lipsticks are great: texture is creamy and smooth, they set to a demi-matte (not drying like some of MAC’s lipsticks), they are pigmented and can last on the lips for about 4-5 hours (there will be some transfer if you’re eating, but you can easily apply another layer on top without it looking cakey). Here’s a closer look at the four shades I picked up.

Left-Right:
#660 Touch of Spice, #680 Mesmerizing Magenta, #690 Siren in Scarlet, #695 Divine Wine

Lip Swatches:

Touch of Spice: Brown nude

Mesmerizing Magenta: True magenta shade with a hint of a violet undertone

Siren in Scarlet: Cooler tone red

Divine wine: Dark Burgundy

On to the Primer and Brow mascara:

I’ve used this primer a few times and I can say that it has reduced the look of my pores. (Maybelline also claims that it will reduce the look of wrinkles, lines and imperfections but I did not notice much of that). The primer has a velvety consistency as well as a subtle pink tint in order to give skin a little radiance.

The Brow Mascara is meant for sculpting and adding a tint to your brows. In all honestly I only saw a slight difference in color on my brows and I am not a fan of the rounded tip for sculpting (My eyebrows are a bit thin and the “ball tip” wasn’t as precise as I would have liked.

Overall I am pretty happy with my new finds.
I am not sure if all of these items can be found in most drugstores but I do know Ulta carries each of them.

Maybelline at Ulta

Hasta Luego,
-Gwen