Sunglassspot Sunnies

Posted on June 12, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As many of you may have caught on already the hype about Sunglassspot.com is too real! This awesome website features designer inspired sunglasses as well as fun decorative sunnies for the climbing temps! At only $5.00 a pair you cannot beat the quality or design. You can change up your look every day and protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun while always staying on trend! The following picks were a combination of mine and my sisters. The plan was to each get three and now that we’ve received them, we want more! Check out how my picks look on my face below and make sure to check out the site for more stylish options.

Sharp Rimless Bottom Clear Lensed Cat Eye

Round Metal Trim High Pointed Tip Cat Eye Mod

Retro Round 50mm Pearl

Sunglassspot

XOXO, Ari

Makeup Forever-Blue Sepia Palette Review

Posted on June 3, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Today I bring to you this limited edition makeup forever eye shadow palette “Blue Sepia”. I found this lovely at my local Marshalls for the low price of $16.99 compared to its original price of $45! It is an older season item but can still be found online and or in stores like TJMAXX and Marshalls. Inspired by the 1950’s it features a petrol sparkling blue color that really makes your eye pop! I mainly was attracted to it because of the varying soft brown shades that I figured were perfect to use as a base or transitional colors for any shadow look. Two shades are completely matte and even perfect for use on your eyebrows! It also came with a mini double ended shader brush, crease and an angled eyebrow brush not pictured here as I could not find them after use. It is compact and perfect to throw in a travel bag for everyday neutral looks while having the black and blue color options to intensify it to your liking for night.

The pigmentation varies with each color (the darker matte colors show up a lot easier on my tan skin). Feel free to use a medium like fix plus or eye drops to intensify the iridescent or satin colors. Pictures below are with and without flash.

Until the next one, XOXO Ari

New product alert: Covergirl Review

Posted on May 19, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hi there lovelies! Fun news: Covergirl was gracious enough to contact us and mail out two new products that are just about to launch! Super exciting right? One of my favorites from Covergirl is the Lashblast Fusion Mascara, makes them really pop! Naturally I was elated when we were sent this package with their new mascara and eyeliner. I’ll be demonstrating some before and after photos and of course per usual give you my honest opinion on these products. Let’s begin!

The mascara is called the “super sizer” and it claims to build up to 400% more corner to corner volume. The applicator brush is made of rubber and it starts off thin and becomes fuller as you reach the top. There are also tiny little bristles in between the larger ones for an added grip on your lashes.

“Intensify Me” is a liquid liner but has the control of a pencil liner. The paddle shaped tip gives you two looks in one, lay it flat and it creates a thick and dramatic line turn it sideways creating a thin and elegant line.

Here are some before and after photos (now please be kind everyone I am not wearing any concealer and my under eye lines/ bags are insane)

Natural Lashes

Two coats of the super size mascara

Thin application of the intensify me eyeliner

My overall thoughts: I feel the mascara is great for lengthening as you can tell in the photo they practically touched my brows after applying two coats. The formula isn’t too wet or gloopy which I really like and my lashes also appeared darker, this is due to the smaller bristles I mentioned before. Does it volumize your lashes? I don’t think it does as much volumizing as I would like it to. I feel this had a more lengthening affect on me.

On to the liner: I really loved the concept of the paddle tip making super easy to use either side for whichever look you’re going for. The formula dries quickly leaving a satin finish. As I mentioned above I am awful at applying liquid liner but this consistency is really smooth and glides on beautifully!

Thank you again Covergirl. Such a pleasure working with you!

Signing off as

Easy, Breezy Beautiful Cover-Gwen

Américaine fille à Paris Part Deux

Posted on May 8, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

So knowing the beauty lover that I am you all know I had to stop and do some shopping whilst in Paris (not too much as my main focus was site seeing). I came across a pharmacy which displayed a bunch of sale items on the window, I figured I would surely find some goodies in there. Also Sephora was near by and I couldn’t resist (could you guys believe that I haven’t stepped foot in a sephora since December of 2014?!?!) Shocking I know! But trust me if there was one in London I would be in there every weekend. Well then let’s get on with this mini haul shall we?

Not having much time to browse in Sephora I grabbed a very much needed beauty blender and at the check out line I spotted the Sephora brand hydrating under eye mask. I am excited to pop that bad boy under these tired looking eyes of mine.

On to the pharmacy purchases, Nuxe is a parisian beauty brand started by Aliza Jabès in 1990. Her goal was to create feminine skincare which would be based on a pharmaceutical approach: nature, innovation, evaluation, accessibility and sensory experience. She has now expanded the line to skin, body, hands and foot care oh and we can’t forget the men’s range! Nuxe has won many awards for some of their staple products such as the Rêve de Miel Lip balm (which was one of the items I picked up). I am obsessed with this lip balm! My lips have never ever felt so soft. I was previously gifted the Rêve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream a few years ago and I fell in love with the scent! It is also really nourishing and hydrating as it is infused with honey and vitamin E. I loved it so much I had to pick up two! Right as I was about to check out I saw these cute little Bioderma bottles and a Klorane travel sized dry shampoo. The Bioderma micellar cleansing waters are a perfect size for travel! I grabbed the sensitive and combination/oily skin formula. I’ve heard great things about the Klorane oatmilk gentle dry shampoo but I had never come across the formula for medium to dark hair until that moment, this too is another product I cannot wait to try.

Lastly I was shopping for some cute souvenirs and came across this little Paris tray. I loved the print on it and thought it would make a perfect dish for placing the jewelry i wear on a daily basis.

I hope you all enjoyed my mini Paris haul. This trip shall too be one I will never ever forget!
take care lovelies,
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

LA TOUR EIFFEL- PARIS OOTD

Posted on March 22, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Sadly this is my last outfit of the day from my trip 3 weeks ago. This reminiscent journey is coming to an end but I am sure I will have many more travel fun to come this year. On this day my mom and I whisked away for a day trip to Paris without my sister Gwen. On only a couple of hours time we managed to eat lunch inside the Eiffel Tower and tour the well known Louvre Museum as well as take many pictures amongst other things. It was a bit chilly so I opted for comfort and an androgynous aesthetic to keep me warm. My feminine detail came in the form of this amazing Kate Spade Eiffel Tower purse. I purchased this at the Kate Spade outlet in Orlando and although its not roomy I couldn’t help but wear it out for my special day date in the city of Love. Experiencing this trip to three different countries with the two girls I love most (my mom and sister) is going to be one of my most treasured memories. Links to items below!

HM Jeans
Forever 21 Button Up
HM Sweater
Kate Spade Purse
Aldo Oxfords

Love – 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

Brows on Fleek

Posted on February 20, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

If you’re someone who’s all about makeup I am pretty sure having perfect eyebrows is at the top of your list. I personally would much rather have a nice full set of brows (very Cara Delevingne esque) but hey beggers can’t be choosers right? Which brings me to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. This guy is my ultimate holy grail! Whether I want to go all out “brows on fleek” mode or I want to keep them au naturale looking this tiny little pencil gets the job done! Being the makeup enthusiast that I am, I could never cease to search for other amazing products, which brings me to the Soap and Glory Archery pencil. Holy moly this is basically the same product as the Anastasia but at a more affordable price (Archery: £8/$12 vs. Brow Wiz £15.50/ $21). Here’s a side by side comparison of both.

Left: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in the shade Dark Brown/Brunette

Right: Soap and Glory Archery in the shade Hot Chocolate

Both have a twist up pencil/crayon on one end and a spoolie on the other.

Left: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Right: Soap and Glory Archery

(Please excuse my eyebrows, they are not on “fleek” at this moment but will be soon)

Left brow: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Right brow: Soap and Glory Archery

I filled them in pretty heavily in order to see if there is really a difference in shades. I would say the Soap and Glory Archery has a warmer undertone while the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a true dark brown hue.

If you were to ask me which product is best, I would honestly say they are both amazing! Archery is a bit more budget friendly, you can find it in a drugstore (Boots in the UK carries Soap and Glory’s entire makeup line), it is highly pigmented and blends in wonderfully. The Brow Wiz is one of Anastasia’s best products as its known to glide on smoothly giving your brows amazing definition. You will not be disappointed with either one of them.

Hope you all enjoyed this side by side comparison of products. I love finding dupes and affordable options for us gals looking to save a few pennies. Are there any products you have an amazing dupe for? Leave your comment/suggestion down below! Also if you can think of any makeup products you would like to find a dupe for, leave me a message as well, I would be happy to be of help!

xx -Gwen