Zoeva Brushes

I am always on the hunt for the perfect brushes, I mean aren’t we all? Brushes that have rough bristle hairs and shed are the absolute worst and I am one who truly believes that having the right tools to apply your makeup can make all of the difference. In comes Zoeva! I originally heard about these brushes through one of my favorite Youtube vloggers DulceCandy and I will admit I am one of those people that will go out and buy something if my favorite beauty guru recommends it, so I of course quickly went on Zoeva’s website. At first I was a little hesitant in buying them because I hadn’t heard much about the brand and they were being shipped from Europe but I put my fears aside and bought a few that caught my eye. Boy am I glad I did!

Here’s a quick close up of the brushes I chose:
*I apologize but I took photos of the brushes without cleaning them, hey at least you know I am being truthful because I use them ALL of the time*

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Top to Bottom:  #103 Defined Buffer: Perfect for detailed application and  buffing ie; foundation #110 Face Shape: Perfect for precise and detailed contouring #142 Concealer Buffer: perfect for gentley blending out concealer #322 Brow Line: sharp brush perfect for cream and powder brow products

Top to Bottom:
#103 Defined Buffer: Perfect for detailed application and buffing ie; foundation
#110 Face Shape: Perfect for precise and detailed contouring
#142 Concealer Buffer: perfect for gentley blending out concealer
#322 Brow Line: sharp brush perfect for cream and powder brow products

The Price point of these brushes are between $15-$27 which is equivalent of some of the Sigma and Makeup Geek brushes. What makes these brushes stand out is their quality, the bristles are made of vegan taklon which makes these brushes soft and smooth perfect when using liquid, cream or powder. They also come in these cute tight seal bags!

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All in all I am so happy with my new found brushes and hope to purchase a few more in the near future.

What are some of you favorite brushes? Leave comments and suggestions down below!

You can find Zoeva brushes here:
Zoeva

Till next time,
-Gwen

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

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

Modcloth: Day and Night

Modcloth is one of my absolute favorite websites, not only do they have a great selection of clothing, accessories and shoes they also offer a wide range of sizes making it a super easy one stop shop for just about everything you need.
I believe I have mentioned before that I absolutely love striped clothing! Modcloth’s Coach Tour Dress in navy stripes is definitely right up my alley. Check out 2 looks I’ve created down below, the left side is more day time appropriate while the right side can lead you to a fun night out on the town.

Modcloth Day & Night

 

The Coach Tour Dress has a fold-over collar along with gold buttons on the side which gives the dress a polished look. It also has a cinched waist, perfect for those of us who need a little extra help in that department.
Day look: I think this dress is super casual and perfect for some vacation fun. I added a bright yellow flat sandal and a turquoise crossbody bag to give the outfit a little pop! (who doesn’t love a little color!) I decided to keep everything else a bit more neutral by adding some all black sunglasses, a tan leather strapped watch and some small yellow flower earrings.
Night look: Although this dress has a casual feeling to it changing up a few key accessories can make a beautiful transition into an evening look. I still kept some bright colors in mind but I switched the yellow flat sandals for a yellow peep toed wedge, more evening appropriate yet, still comfortable. For the bag I went with a smaller neutral colored clutch, I feel this gives the look a very soft and feminine touch. Accessories are also key in making an outfit, I opted for a rose gold watch and super cute anchor stud earrings, making the dress appear a bit more nautical. Last but not least, a nice red lip really adds a touch of sophistication to this look.

If stripes aren’t your cup of tea Modcloth has so many other styles and patterns to offer. Check some of these out:

Polka Dot Dress
Solid Print Dress
Floral Plus Size Dress
Maxi Plus Size Dress

Xo,
-Gwen

Beautycon NYC

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Beautycon was in NYC this past weekend for the first time and boy was it fun! For those of you who aren’t familiar with what Beautycon is it is a fashion and beauty conference for the online community, such as bloggers and those who have Youtube channels and it is of course open to the public as well. Beautycon consists of interactive presentations, panel discussions and Q&A’s you are also given the chance to shop, learn about new products and most importantly be able to interact with some of the internet’s beauty icons.Ok on to the really exciting part which is meeting all of your beauty and fashion guru’s, I am thrilled to say that I was able to meet almost all of my favorites. Check out who they were down below! (Some of these photos were taken with my phone which is why they aren’t the best quality)

Amy Pham (Amypham.com)

Amy Pham (Amypham.com)

Teni Panosian from Missmavendotcom

Teni Panosian from Missmavendotcom

Carli (youtube: Carlibybel)

Carli (youtube: Carlibybel)

Brett ( youtube: Brettcap, he's also Carli's boyfriend)

Brett ( youtube: Brettcap, he’s also Carli’s boyfriend)

Raye ( youtube: itsmyrayeraye)

Raye ( youtube: itsmyrayeraye)

Chatting with Maya (youtube: Shamelessmaya)

Chatting with Maya (youtube: Shamelessmaya)

Dulce (youtube: Dulcecandy87)

Dulce (youtube: Dulcecandy87)

Nadia ( Blog: nadiaaboulhosn.com)

Nadia ( Blog: nadiaaboulhosn.com)

There was a pink carpet theme which I thought was super cute! I might have taken it a bit too far with the posing, I thought I was a celebrity for a moment.

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Here are my outfit details:
Crop top from Forever21
Striped midi skirt from Asos (curve)
Clog sandals from Maguba (If you live in the NYC area Shoe Market, Tani, DNA footwear and Soula have a small selection of Maguba shoes)

One more thing, I received a huge goodie bag from NYX cosmetics and will be doing a giveaway once we reach 150 followers. I will post the rules as soon as that happens!

Makeup Heaven!

Makeup Heaven!

My outfit pieces are no longer available but here are links to similar items.

Asos Curve Midi
Simplybe Midi skirt
Crop Top
Maguba Bologna clogs

Till next time
-Gwen

Whitening Lightning

All over the Youtube and Instagram world people have been raving about the Whitening Lightning Color Your Smile glosses, let me be one of the many to say that these glosses do not disappoint! One of my favorite beauty vloggers Carli (Youtube: Carlibybel) created a spring beauty essentials kit with Whitening Lightning which includes two glosses, a brow bar to go and another greatly raved about product called the BB plus illumination by Gerard Cosmetics I of course jumped on this amazing steal! The kit is priced at $85 but I also used a coupon code which brought it down to $65 for all four products.

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Light Pink shade: Raspberry Sherbet Rosie shade: Rose Hill

Light Pink shade: Raspberry Sherbet
Rosie shade: Rose Hill

I love the consistency of these glosses! They glide on your lips smoothly and are also full of color! What’s really unique about these glosses is that they come with a built in light and mirror, no need to run to the restroom for touch ups ladies! I am not a huge fan of how light pink looks on my already pigmented lips so I will be using Raspberry Sherbet as a top coat for a pink lipstick instead. The Rose Hill color is to die for! I will be wearing it alone or over a lipstick as well. (It was actually created by yet another one of my favorite beauty vloggers Jaclyn Hill).

Raspberry Sherbet

Raspberry Sherbet

Rose Hill

Rose Hill

The Brow bar to go is a kit comes with two shades of brown (one is a bit lighter and has red undertones while the other is a bit darker with more taupe like undertones). The colors blend really well on the brows and it gives a soft and natural look to them (when using a light hand).

Brow Bar to go in the shade: Brunette to Ebony

Brow Bar to go in the shade: Brunette to Ebony

The Gerard Cosmetics Illumination BB plus cream is like liquid gold! It can be used as an all over BB cream to give you that all around glow, you could also use a pump of it to mix into your foundation for a more dewy effect or just dab a pea sized amount onto your cheek bones for a gorgeous highlight!

Gerard Cosmetics BB plus Illumination

Gerard Cosmetics BB plus Illumination

Wearing the BB Illumination as a cheek bone highlight (No Filter)

Wearing the BB Illumination as a cheek bone highlight (No Filter)

After using these products for about 2 weeks I can honestly say that Whitening Lightning is one of my new favorite beauty brands! I will be trying one of their teeth whitening kits next!

Have you tried any products from whitening lightning? If so leave comments down below.

Direct Link to Carli’s bundle:

Carli’s spring essentials
(I googled whitening lightening coupon codes and used whichever one came up)

Until next time,
-Gwen

Duo Spring Looks

Spring is upon us and although the temperatures may vary considerably depending on your location, the following are two looks based off staple classic spring pieces and trends. I bought this crop top from TJMAXX and I instantly fell in love with the scallop detailing and fresh mint color (also available in navy, blue and coral). It also features full button closure in the back. I paired my new find first with old season taupe forever 21 pants and floral chunky heels (also forever 21). The combination of neutrals and florals with a pop of color also inspired a more flirty look featuring these old season forever 21 floral shorts and charlotte russe nude pumps. Both looks are appropriate for warmer weather and the different patterns are kept to a minimal keeping the focus on the lovely top. Links to items below! Also stay tuned for my sisters post on a fresh spring face look!

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– ❤ ARi

 

TJMAXX Scalloped Top

Similar Floral Shorts- Here, Here & Here

High Waisted Trousers

Similar Taupe Pumps

Similar Floral Pumps

Midi Skirts

Spring is right around the corner and I am already looking for my must have pieces, one of them being the midi skirt which I have become utterly obsessed with! I love the versatility of it, one minute you can be casual by pairing it with flats or sandals and the next you can have a night out on the town with a pair of booties, strappy heels or wedges. They come in a variety of colors, patterns and lengths making them wearable for all shapes and sizes. I personally prefer the more flared out style (A line) as opposed to the tapered kind. Here are a few of my favorites:
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I was able to get my hands on a black and white striped midi from Asos and I am just dying for the warmer weather to return to the big apple.
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Below are some links as to where you can find a cute midi to suit your style (both plus and regular sizes).
Asos skirts (curve) Here Here Regular: Here Here
Simplybe: Here Here
Modcloth: Here Here

Etsy also has some really cute ones just type in “midi skirt” in the search box.

Not so patiently waiting for spring…
-Gwen

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm

I was so excited when I saw Revlon’s new matte balm line! ( I mean what new lip product doesn’t make me super excited?) The original colorburst’s were my absolute favorite when they were first launched, I love the simple twist up tube because lets face it not many people have a sharpener on hand.

There are many matte lipsticks & balms that are a bit too drying for me, causing lots of cracking which I HATE! These bad boys are velvety smooth! They are made with shea, coconut and mango butters, so yes you guessed it not only do they glide on your lips smoothly (with intense color payoff might I add) they are also very nourishing. Shameless (#215) and Unapologetic (#210) were the two colors I chose and I couldn’t be happier. Check out some swatches below…

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Hope these swatches were helpful to you all

Hasta Luego,

-Gwen

Giveaway Winner Is……. Sarahlovesmakeup!!!!

Sarah from Sarahlovesmakeupblog.com is the official winner of our giveaway! We surpassed our goal of 100 followers and only hope to gain much more in this coming year. We will be doing many more giveaways and contest in the future so keep an eye out for those and continue to support us as we take on 2014! Make sure to follow our lovely winner and her blog as well as us on all social media. We love feedback and comments and the goal is to be more interactive with our fellow bloggers and followers.

Winners Info- Go check her out shes great!
Sarahlovesmakeupblog.com, @sarahlovsmakeup

Our Info: Itsapplesandorangesblog.com
Ari– Ig & Twitter Ari_Mo821
Gwen– Ig- Gwenzilla Twitter-Gwendi3
facebook.com/gwendi3
Pinterest- Gwendolyn Pena, Ariadna Pena

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Sarah Won the following items and other sample products!

ulta get ready party sample set  giveaway

ulta ready to party sample kit laura gellar butter london

Stay tuned for more of these in the future!-

Love Ari & Gwen