L’Oreal Stylist Brow Plumper

Posted on July 23, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again “I need full and thick eyebrows”! It’s so hard to grow them out especially in the summer where covering them up with bangs isn’t really an option due to the sweltering NYC heat. A few months ago I tried the Maybelline Brow Drama, but as I stated on my post I wasn’t a huge fan of the brush and felt that it didnt distribute any color on my brows. As you know this makeup addict will continue the search for the perfect product… In comes L’Oreal!

L’Oreal stylist brow plumper is a fiber infused gel which adheres to the brow hairs creating a fuller but natural look. The mascara like wand fills in the sparse areas for an even coating throughout your brow hairs. First you start off with clean brows. Then work the wand in upward strokes following the shape of your natural hair. Comb through to blend and voilà your brows will begin to appear plumper.

I still love to fill in my eyebrows using pencils but for days when I’m in a rush and can’t take the time to sculpt and carve them out the L’Oreal stylist brow plumper is the way to go! I purchased my first one while in London and was hoping that it would be available in the U.S as well. Just my luck I found it at my local Rite Aid a few days ago. Medium/Dark was the shade I thought would suit me best.

Hope you all enjoyed this mini review. What are some of your favorite brow enhancing products?

Until next time!

xx, Gwen

Mac “Stone” Lipstick

Posted on July 21, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Having been a cult favorite for some time now, Mac cosmetics has finally come out with some of their signature lip pencils in lipstick form. The color “Stone” is a sexy matte greyish taupe brown that is so on trend right now! This color is muted on its own for everyday use or can be vamped up with some gloss on top for a sexy night transition. I personally would not wear it unless I had a full face just because it makes my skin tone look a little sickly on its own. With a nice highlight and blush, cat eye and bold lashes this lippie is sure to call everyone’s attention. Check it out on Mac’s website or try it on in store! Link down below.

Mac “Stone” Lipstick

Toodles, Ari

Out with the old, in with the new Summer Fashion!

Posted on July 15, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The unbearable summer heat has reared its ugly head and it has come at a particularly opportune time in my life. I am turning 26 this August and have been giving away or selling old gently used clothing that don’t fit my new aesthetic that I am trying to go for. No I am not giving up my crop tops for good (never gonna happen), but I am going for a more neutral palette in my wardrobe with sophisticated pieces that can transition in my different life roles easier. Some key pieces that one can invest in are a good pair of sunnies (to ward off the harmful rays), a long line loosely fitted tunic that can be paired a million ways, comfortable sandals and shorts that don’t scream twerkathon. This one is particular is hard for me seeing as my body shape does look better with tighter options. As we age I think the key is going for more tailored classic shapes that can complement our body types and shift the focus. I picked some summer items that inspired me below. What are some pieces you are looking to incorporate in your closet this summer? Comment down below!

Untitled #9 by ari-pena featuring gold flat shoes

XOXO, Ari

Coming to America

Posted on July 1, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

My flight back to New York is only 3 days away! (I’m such an emotional wreck). I have been organizing and packing over the last couple of days and as I was putting together my handbag I thought I would give you guys a glimpse at my must have flight items.

During a long flight something to read be it a book or magazine is great to keep yourself occupied.

Music- either an iPod, iPad or where ever else your music is stored, oh and you must not forget your headphones. Mine are from the brand Frends.

I like to carry a notebook in order to reflect on my journey or jot some notes down. This cute pineapple one comes from Paperchase (UK).

Flushable wipes (self explanatory, especially for us ladies)

EmergenC- this is a good vitamin C packet to take before flying as you’ll most likely be around a sick person along with all of the recycled air, which doesn’t help the cause.

Hand sanitizer- once again trying to keep germs at bay. This Soap and Glory one smells amazing!

Chewing gum– my ears pop when descending and landing, chewing gum really helps my ears from becoming filled with air. My favorite is sweet mint from Orbit.

Hand cream- keeping hands nice and moisturized is very important! Another Soap and Glory favorite! This cream is also considered a hand mask.

Hydrating Face cream or mask- your skin looses a lot of is moisture and can become really dry with such high altitude so once again it is vital to help your skin retain some of it by adding in a hydrating face cream or a mask. I’ve packed the Sephora brand Honey sheet mask and the Nuxe creme fraiche 24 hour moisturizing mask.

Eye mask– undereye areas are also delicate and can become quite dry, placing eye cooling masks can also help keep them fresh looking. I’ve got the Skyn Iceland hydro cool firming eye gels which really help de-puff the under eye area.

Hydrating spray face mist– a mist also works if you prefer a quick spritz of freshness every few hours or so. The Evian facial mist is great for a quick refresher!

Lip balm– we can’t forget the lips! The key word for this post is obviously hydration and your lips should also be nice and moist for the duration of the flight. My current favorite has been the Nuxe Reve de miel lip balm.
This might seem like a lot of products but this is a routine that I am pretty much used to. I also make sure I carry a large tote to ensure I can bring along all of these items. I am currently using my Longchamp tote. It is super comfortable to wear and ultra roomy!
There you have it guys! I hope this post was helpful for any those of you planning on taking a summer holiday (or during any season really).

Safe Travels!

xx, Gwen

Frizz Happens

Posted on June 28, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hello Lovelies!

On this Sunday I wanted to share with you another casual look sure to make any curly haired trendy girl happy. I bought this limited edition “Frizz Happens” t-shirt from the amazing Alyssa or “Forever Flawlyss” on Ig and Youtube. She is a beauty and fashion blogger gaining more recognition and rightfully so! Her curly hair tutorials as well as fashion posts on instagram are incredibly unique and fun to recreate. She came out with this “frizz happens” t shirt line for only a limited time and I jumped on the chance! Living in such a small place I sometimes want to scream this to people when they rudely stare at me and my big hair. Frizz does happen, GET OVER IT! I paired my awesome shirt with camo print jeans, a blush blazer, Kate Spade eiffel tower purse and my new favorite nude sandals purchased at TJMAXX. This shirt is no longer available but you can get pretty much any saying printed on a white t-shirt in your local malls or even etsy.com

Until Next Outfit of the Day…..XOXO- ARI

Charlotte Tilbury

Posted on June 26, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Well, Well, Well guess who finally caved and bought some Charlotte Tilbury products. Yes you guessed it, little old me (Gwen). I have been wanting to try some of her products for about a year now but as you may or may not know they are pretty pricey. I am the kind of girl who will save her pennies for a few months and prance my way into a shop excited to bring some new goodies home.

On to the Brand, or shall I say the woman behind the brand. Charlotte Tilbury has been a makeup artist working in the fashion and beauty industry for over 20 years. She attended the Glauca Rossi school of makeup in London, took all of the tips and tricks she has learned and created her own line of skincare and cosmetics. Her products are loved by many celebrities as she often creates the looks for red carpet events and photo shoots. Well then on to what I purchased right?

I picked up the setting powder, blusher, concealer and lipstick. Below you’ll find further description of each product and my final thoughts. Also isn’t the packaging to die for? Such a sucker for anything rose gold! The Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder is described as a breathable micro-fine powder with soft focus made to blur away lines and imperfections. It also has rose wax and almond oil which keep the skin hydrated. I have been testing this powder out for about two weeks now and I love the velvety texture of it. I also love how it is very lightweight and does not give that sort of caked on powdered look.

The Cheek to Chic swish and pop blusher is meant to provide a youthful flush of color on your cheeks. It has a creamy and buildable formula along with a light flex technology made to provide a luminous finish. I chose the shade Ecstacy and I feel it is a great peachy pink color, especially on sun kissed skin. It it suggested that your swirl your brush around the outer part of the blush blending it towards the temples of your cheek bones, you then pop the middle shade onto the apples of your cheeks (hence the name swish and pop).

The Retoucher Concealer is described to have ultra covering, and color correcting texture with a hydrating complex of black tea which provides moisture to the under eye area. It is also made with a lipo-siliconic compound made to create a natural veil of color blending seamlessly into the skin diminishing the look of lines and pores. I personally think it does a great job at illuminating the under eye area (if you like that Kim Kardashian sort of look as I do) but I have not noticed any of the other claims.

Matte Revolution lipstick is the last item I purchased in the shade “Red Carpet Red“. What’s really unique about this lipstick is the square shaped tip making it a bit easier for application as it mimics a lip brush. It is also infused with lipstick tree and orchard extract which keep your lips hydrated. It was also created with 3D glowing pigments which create the illusion of fuller and wider lips. As a self proclaimed lipstick lover I truly love the formulation of this lipstick. It wears well (for a good 5 hours with mild eating) it does not feel drying and the shade I chose is the perfect red!

Hope you all enjoyed this haul/review of my new found loves. If I had to choose two products out of the four as total must haves they would be the Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder and the Matte Revolution Lipstick. The Blusher and Concealer are products you could find from other inexpensive brands.

These along with her other products are available on her website Charlotte Tilbury . Although I purchased my items at Selfridges in London because you are able to book an appointment and have a makeup artist apply the products before making your final purchase.

Till my next post,

xx, Gwen

North Face Killa

Posted on June 21, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The brand North Face brings back so many great memories of my past. Growing up in New York, North Face is an iconic staple to get you through any harsh weather conditions (especially the cold). From my coat to my book bag, hat and gloves, north face was where it was at in terms of style and what was on trend. This hip/fanny pack is one way I can rock it while now residing in scorching Florida. I stole it from my sister (and co blogger) who had stolen it from her best friend back when she was in high school. I guess you can say it’s endured a lot and yet still has so much life left to it. It is extremely roomy and can fit my entire wallet, keys, some cosmetics and my phone comfortably with still some room for more. I loved being purse-less for this comfy and casual day! I paired my bum bag with a white crop top and boyfriend jeans from H&M, target studded sandals and a plaid shirt to tie around my waist and cover my belly. This brand will always have a special place in my heart

North Face Hip Pack

Boyfriend Jeans

Target Sandals

XOXO- ARI

Weekend with L’Occitane

Posted on June 19, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

L’Occitane en Provence is a French brand created by Oliver Baussan. His main goal was to create products that celebrate and preserve the traditions of his native town Provence. At only 23 years of age Oliver began making his own natural oils to sell at markets and the rest as they say is history. There are now over 2,000 L’Occitane shops all around the world!

I made an online Sephora purchase and had Ari mail me the items I bought (can we say obsession?). This “Weekend in Provence” set was one of the first items I opened because I couldn’t wait to get a whiff of the sweet almond, ah pure bliss! Prior to purchasing this kit the only other product from L’Occitane I had tried was the cult favorite Shea butter hand cream and to no surprise I loved it! So when I saw this on Sephora’s website I figured I would give it a try. Here’s what the set contains…

Almond shower oil 2.5 oz – moisturizing body cleanser, leaves a satin finish
Almond supple skin oil 0.5 oz- created with almond proteins leaving skin very supple
Almond milk concentrate 1.7 oz- nourishes smooths and tones skin
Almond delicious hands cream 0.3 oz- the almond milk and oil softens hands
Almond delicious soap 1.7 oz- almond shells gently exfoliate dead skin cells for extra smooth hands

All of these products are also paraben, sulfate and phthalates free.

This is a limited edition set and can be found on Sephoras website. (Not sure about the actual store). Overall I feel this is a pretty fabulous deal for $36. You are able to try a decent sized amount of product therefore, being able to make an informed decision on whether you would repurchase a full sized item. I’ve been using the hand cream, body lotion and shower oil for about 3 weeks now and can say that the scent is truly divine! The shower oil creates a milky texture once applied on wet skin, I then rinse and my skin is left feeling silky smooth! I seal the moisture in with the body lotion, the best part is the almond scent lasts quite a while. I am still thinking about purchasing the full sized shower oil as it comes with a hefty price tag. Otherwise money well spent in my opinion!

As the name suggests it is also perfect for a weekend getaway in Provence! Or anywhere else your heart desires!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

xx, Gwen

Nail Cuticle Tattoos

Posted on June 17, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

The little details are what make life that much more interesting. This statement could not be any truer with regards to fashion and accessories. Trends like midi rings and small dainty jewelry are spot on because they are feminine, interesting and don’t overwhelm your look. These nail cuticle tattoos do just the trick! I found them on ASOS and was immediately smitten with the idea of sprucing up my nails more than just stacking rings together. It’s a way to be ornate without having to fully commit to getting some actual permanent ink. These stick on tattoos are perfect for a concert, party or even just worn casually with a great manicure. They are applied just as any other temporary tats and come off with water in the shower. Links at the bottom!

ASOS Nail Cuticle Tattoos

XOXO, Ari

Real Techniques Sculpting Set

Posted on June 15, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Makeup brushes are the kind of item that will either make or break your look, am I right ladies? I am not one to normally splurge on brushes because I believe you can achieve flawless looks with some of the lower end brands, which brings me to speak about Real Techniques! This is by far my favorite brand of brushes! They are affordable, blend amazingly well and do not shed. I own quite a few of them as does Ari and we both absolutely adore them.

If you haven’t heard of Real techniques, it is a brand launched by two sisters (Sam and Nicole chapman). In 2008 they started a YouTube channel and then followed with the launch of their brushes in 2011. They now sell a wide array of brushes ranging from $6-$26.

Now this set I will be speaking about is the sculpting kit ($20). It comes with three brushes, one for sculpting, a fan brush and a setting one. Here’s a closer look

From left to right:

Sculpting brush is great for contouring. It’s angled shape fits perfectly into the hollows of your cheek bones and it is dense enough where it doesn’t grab too much product. Just make the fishy face blend the product and you’re good to go!

Fan Brush is exclusive to the set and it is utter perfection! It’s thin and fluffy enough where a light dusting of product is distributed. I feel this one is perfect for highlight on top on your cheek bones, tops of your brows, center of the nose and cupid’s bow.

Setting brush is another amazing brush! Setting under the eyes can be a bit tricky but with this one it fits nicely under your eyes or anywhere else you want to set (such as your t-zone for my oily girls).

All three of these brushes are super soft and blend products with ease. They can also be used on powder, cream and liquid formulas. What more could a girl ask for?
Hope you all enjoyed this review of my new favorite brushes! Do you guys have any Real Techniques favorites? If so let me know which ones in a comment! I believe this set is sold out on their website but can be found at Superdrug and Feelunique in the UK and at Ulta in the US.