Last call before “Fall”

Posted on October 21, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The weather in NYC is all over the place, one day its warm next day you have to bring out your turtlenecks, but I have a feeling that this past Saturday was one of the last “warm” days we will be having. Taking that into consideration I brought out my faux leather shorts. When the temperature drops these would look great with a pair of tights underneath, but showing off a little leg one last time won’t hurt anyone right? The lion print top is such an eye catcher! Being a Leo and all I had to get it! The sweatshirt like material gives this outfit nice texture variation. I also threw on my beloved Zara studded booties, a chunky necklace and my panama hat. Get a closer look down below…

Shorts, sweatshirt and necklace are from H&M, Hat from Urban Outfitters, Booties from Zara (old)
Quick links to the same or similar items:

Leopard Top
Faux Leather Shorts
Panama Hat
Studded Booties
Bold Necklace

Hasta Luego,
-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

“Fall” into the 90’s- Sporty Look

Posted on October 15, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

For the second post of the “Fall” into the 90’s 3 part series I wanted to go for a more sportier look then the first. I found this sweatshirt dress on clearance at H&M and have been able to style it so many ways ever since! In thinking about by the 90’s I went the more urban route and paired it with my nike air max sneakers, holographic clutch and can’t forget my tribal tattoo spiral choker set complete with ring and bracelet. I used to rock these chokers in so many different colors and styles back in the day! This dress is super versatile and can also be worn belted with heels for a chilly fall night out on the town. The cute yellow socks with heart print detail are from forever 21 and are best worn on a less cold evening since they are very thin. Check out the bottom for similar items and links.

Excuse the lack of nail polish…I am trying to grow these babies out!

90’s Sporty Fashion by ari-pena featuring genuine leather handbags

-Ari Baby, “Please say the Baby”

Breakups to Makeup/Smashbox

Posted on October 13, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

This past weekend I attended an event hosted by Sephora at the Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City. Smashbox cosmetics was there doing makeovers and demonstrating new products. I of course jumped on the opportunity to get my makeup done by one of their artists. I learned some new tricks on how to create a cat eyeliner (God knows I needed the help).
The creator of “Breakups to Makeup“, Angelique Velez was also there. Angelique launched Breakups to Makeup in June of 2013 with the intent to spread this message: “makeup serves as a creative outlet to those applying and livens the spirit of those wearing it” I couldn’t agree more!. Angelique has quickly made a name for herself with a bunch of fun merchandise. She is well-known for her catchy slogans such as “loved raised me lipstick saved me”, “I would cry but my mascara is designer” and so many more! Angelique was gracious enough to let me ask her a few questions about her brand:

Gwen: What inspired you to come up with “Breakups to makeup”?
Angelique: A few years back I went through a terrible breakup, but the only thing that enabled me to get out of bed was makeup. I have been a makeup artist for many years and I found comfort in knowing that I was getting out of bed to not only make myself happy by putting on my favorite lipstick but also because what I did made others happy as well.
Gwen:How do you come up with your slogans?
Angelique: My slogans come to me through day to day life experiences, for example one day I was getting my nails done at the salon and I thought wow I am totally useless right now (my nails were of course wet) which was when I came up with the “I’m only helpless when my nails are drying” slogan. I also like to carry a journal with me to jot down whatever pops into my head.
Gwen: What advice would you give to someone who is an up and coming artist/entrepreneur?
Angelique: I would say to listen to your heart and keep going. Not everyone is going to understand your path but its ok don’t listen to them, you’ll find your way.

The lovely Angelique and I

Here are the goodies I picked up from her collection as well as some Smashbox goodies.

Angelique will be at the Orlando Makeup show next. Go check her out if you’re in the area, you know Ari will definitely be there!

Quick Links: Breakups to Makeup
About
Merchandise
Products on Etsy

-Gwen

“Fall” into the 90’s- Clueless Edition

Posted on October 9, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

What could be better then the weather cooling down? I say continuing to rock those summer 90’s trends straight into the colder months, saving time and money in your pocket! I decided to start a mini 3 part post series called “Fall into the 90’s” so I could get the most bang for my buck and wear some of my favorite pieces from the ongoing 90’s trend straight into the fall season. Here is my attempt at recreating an iconic look from the movie “Clueless” starring Alicia Silverstone as the fashionable Cher Horowitz. This classic cult film inspired me to get creative and reuse some old items I had in the back of my closet. The v-neck long-sleeved top is a basic from target, while the jumpsuit is from the brand “Max Rave” purchased ages ago. For this look the accessories say it all, the knee-high socks with frill detail, sun flower choker, combat boots, and clear clutch all give the look the 90’s aesthetic without being to gimmicky or overpowering. Links to similar items below!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Awesome video by “Worn Fashion Journal”

Similar Overall Dresses- Here, Here & Here

Sunflower Choker

Similar Socks- Here & Here

Boots- Here & Here

As if!

-Ari

eShakti custom tailored dress

Posted on October 7, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hello there lovelies! Yes, as you can already tell this is another eShakti post, except I (Gwen) will now be showing you the dress I was sent and my overall thoughts on the ordering process. First order of business, check out this paisley print swing dress which I paired with a belt to cinch my waist, some knee high flat boots and a woven cardigan.

As Ari mentioned in her post we were contacted by this online clothing shop and were thrilled because this was our first custom tailored outfit being sent to us. Jane Carter was who I directly emailed with and she was such a pleasure to work with! I was having issues placing my order for the dress and she gladly processed it for me. What’s wonderful about this site is not only do they have sizes ranging from 0-36 they also customize your clothing item, all you need to do is send them your measurements! This is so great for those of us that have trouble fitting into certain clothing items, I mean lets face it most pieces are created for one body type when in the real world women come in various shapes and sizes. When will designers finally get this through their heads? (Moving on because this could turn into an ugly rant).
All in all I am giving eShakti my stamp of approval! Customer service was on point, shipment was received in a timely manner and best part of all the dress fits me perfectly!

*The dress I received is no longer in stock but I will link similar ones down below

Till next time,
-Gwen

Tulip print dress
Floral a-line

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Ari and I always share our own personal thoughts and opinions on items we review or share with you.

Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush

Posted on October 6, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I don’t know about everyone else but I don’t have the easiest time pulling off a cat eye or any other complex liner especially when it comes to using gel. You have to have the right tools in order to get that perfect shape. Ive used bent/angled eyeliner brushes in the past and the bristles would always fray and never gave me the precision I was looking for. In comes this awesome silicone brush from Real Techniques. Featured here on the blog before, this brand is affordable and high quality. I picked this bad boy up at ULTA and immediately noticed how much easier it was to apply my gel liner. Cleaning it is a also a breeze and it eliminates any chances of fraying or shedding like a brush would. I can pick up the right amount and it glides smoothly over my skin without me tugging or stretching it taut like I used to (which by the way is no bueno, who wants premature wrinkles?!). I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to incorporate gel liner but are having trouble applying it precisely.

Quick look at my cat- eye liner! Achieved with this awesome tool!

-Ari

OOTD: Black Blazer

Posted on September 30, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Once it starts to become a bit cooler out my absolute go to piece of clothing is a blazer. A simple look like a white t-shirt and jeans can be easily transformed by adding a classic staple piece such as a black blazer. I am obsessed with hats so of course I had to throw one on to complete this look, check it out below…

Now depending on where you are going this outfit can be worn casually or somewhat dressed up. For a day time look this could be paired with flats or your choice of low heeled boots, for an evening look adding a pair of pumps or some sort of heel as I did gives the look a more polished feel.

Style set created below through Polyvore (Click on items for links on where to purchase same or similar items)

black blazer by gwendolyn-pena featuring a shoulder strap purse

What are some of your fall go to pieces? Leave your comments down below!

-Gwen

Lawrence Zarian + Mall at Millenia Fashion Week

Posted on September 28, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I was lucky enough to check out the Mall at Millenia’s Fashion Week public showcase of fall trends. The show was styled by the awesome local Melanie Pace whom I’ve featured on the blog before. Also included in the experience … Continue reading →

How to: College Football Makeup

Posted on September 26, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Graduating in 2012 from the University of Central Florida was one of the proudest moments of my life. In looking back at my college experience, I wish I had participated in more “college” activities when I had the chance. In comes football games and tail-gating! I attended my first game ever this past weekend and like most people could not wait to don my colors and rep my school (even though Im an alum now). I decided to go all out and finally break out this beautiful gold pigment from NYX I had been waiting to use for some time. It is so sparkly and intense and can easily liven up any look.The “bondage weightless makeup adhesive” from Urban Decay was the perfect choice & worked so well at holding the pigment. No heavy feeling on my lid as I yelled and cheered throughout the evening!

I first prepped my eye for all that color with NYX skin tone primer all over the eyelid, crease, & brow bone
I then used a yellow shimmer shadow from the NYX Mysterious Brown Eyes Color palette all over the eyelid (as another base to make the yellow glitter pop even more)
I then used Urban Decay Eyeshadows “Tyranny” as a transitional color in the crease & “Vengeance” in the crease up to the brow bone for more depth. Remember to blend!
I applied Urban Decay Bondage Adhesive to my eyelid (straight from the tube) and covered the entirety of the yellow.
With a clean flat shader brush, I patted the NYX glitter pigment on the entire lid. I kept adding more and building the intensity until I reached my desired effect.
Optional-Finally, I used black gel liner to create a cat eye and finished off with loads of mascara!

Make sure to clean up afterwards thoroughly seeing as I had a lot of fall out (not after once it was already dried on my eye) I am just messy during my process! These steps can be replicated with any of the variety of pigments depending on your team colors (blue or purple would look spectacular). Links below!