What’s in my makeup bag

Posted on August 11, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

While I am totally obsessed with makeup and would love to have a “beat” face during the week my super busy schedule does not allow me the time to get all dolled up, but I of course cannot leave the house looking sleep deprived so I wanted to show you all my weekday makeup bag.(I transform into a totally different person during the weekend, but we’ll save that for another post).

Morning Routine:
After washing my face and applying moisturizer I follow up with Revlon’s lightweight CC cream which helps even out my skin tone. Next I fill in my brows a bit with the brow wiz from Anastasia, to set them I add Benefit’s gimmie brow in the dark shade. During the summer months I don’t like to go too heavy with concealer so I apply NYX’s dark circle concealer which is creamy but more on the sheer side. My next step is Loreal’s voluminous full definition mascara, I then move on to dab a bit of Stila’s cheek and lip stain on the apples of my cheeks. Lastly I make sure my lips are hydrated by using Burt’s Bee’s chapstick.

Evening: If I happen to be going somewhere after work I will re-apply some of the blush, add a bit of Revlon’s illuminator as a cheek highlight and re-curl my eyelashes. A pop of lip color also transforms my minimal day time look for a evening out in the city. Mac’s Twig, Whitening lightening’s gloss in raspberry sherbet and Loreal’s Le Matte in the color “She’s so Matte” have been my favorites these days.

I also carry a roller ball perfume (Versace Bright Crystal), Evian facial mist for when I need to refresh my face, hand sanitizer and of course sunscreen.

Most of these products can be found in Sephora, Ulta or your local drugstore.

What are some of your weekday beauty must haves?
I would love to hear what they are, leave your comments down below!

Till next time
-Gwen

Modcloth: Day and Night

Posted on June 27, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

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 by gwendolyn-pena featuring a leather charm

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

Midi Skirts

Posted on March 5, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

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:

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.

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

V-Day Collab Part 2- Casual & Fun

Posted on February 11, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

If you are opting for a more casual feel or have a day outing with that special someone this look is perfect for you! The different rose/blush hues compliment each other and the pops of print (leopard skinny belt and … Continue reading →

Sparkle & Nude

Posted on January 18, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Feeling sexy is subjective and it cannot be made more clear by the plethora of different looks and styles that are “trending”. Both me and my sister have very different views on what looks or makes us feel sexy and I have to say a good nude shoe has got to be top five for me. This outfit is based off this old season pair of sandals/heels from forever 21. I love the way they elongate my leg (as a proper tone nude shoe is supposed to) and the sparkle detail gives it a pop that I love! This is such a special shoe in that it can be paired so many different ways and everytime I wear them I feel chic and pretty while at the same time being a little enticing. This time I played off the neutrals vibe and wore a sheer creme top with rolled up sleeves, for a nice element of surprise I chose neon yellow/green shorts from the Jennifer Lopez collection at Kohls. The body chain added another sexy touch as it defined my waist a little bit from the oversized shirt.

Check out similar tops from Forever 21 Here, Here & Here

Get the sparkly feel with these beauties from Jeffrey Campbell, Aldos and Forever 21

High Waisted Shorts- Boo Hoo

Body Chain- Ebay, Ebay, Ebay, Asos

Denim on Denim

Posted on January 15, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Hey everyone, I have another outfit of the day! I am so glad my sister was able to snap a few shots of yet another one of my favorite looks. While in Florida I was able to wear shorts and leave the house without a million layers on, how exciting right? So lets jump right in! My previous look (Green with envy) was a more of a going out kind of outfit as oppose to this one which is super casual and trendy. I paired some older pieces with newer ones creating a laid back feel.

Top: Old Navy Button down light denim
Bottoms: Forever 21 Front camo spiked denim shorts (last summer)
Shoes: Forever 21 booties (again)
accessories: Bag Phillip Lim for Target, (borrowed from Ari) Watch Marc Jacobs, Bracelet Forever 21 and lion head necklace from street vendor.

Here are links to the actual items or similar ones:

Denim Top
Studded shorts and Boho Denim
Booties
Jaguar Bracelet
Watch
Handbag
Lion head Necklace

* The Phillip Lim bag no longer exist at Target your best bet would be E bay or the full price handbag I linked above.

I have enjoyed posting outfit ideas very much and hope to be able to add some more soon,
till then my friends
– Gwen

On Sale Today!- Forever 21 Cutout Booties

Posted on January 1, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Dont miss out on these amazing Forever 21 cut out booties! Perfect dressed up or down these babies are super comfortable and can be paired with so many different looks. They are now on sale for 50% on forever 21’s website and originally priced at $39.80. Check out how I styled mine below. Target denim button up, Forever 21 mustard pencil skirt and loose waved curls for a simple casual day. At the advice of online reviews I sized down and got a 5.5 and they fit perfect! I do have to agree with those that wrote they run big, half size down did the trick for me! Links below.

Forever 21 Cutout Booties

Target Denim Tunic

Similar Mustard Skirt

Love, Ari

Tarte Maracuja Concealer

Posted on November 19, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

True life: I am addicted to concealer! Haha no but seriously guys I am obsessed with concealer, I am constantly experimenting with different brands, looking for the best one that will brighten and conceal the darkness under my eyes without looking too cakey. I currently have about 7 different brands that I use on rotation, well make that 8 because I just bought the Tarte cosmetics maracuja concealer. Drum roll please….. It was love at first sight!

Last week while attending a skincare class at Sephora (which was great by the way) I found my way over to the Tarte section. My initial thoughts were to just try on the concealer but I fell in love with it and had to bring it home with me. Upon applying it in the store my first reaction was wow this has a very thick consistency,(It’s full coverage) it also sets pretty quickly which means it should be blended into the area before it dries too much (I suggest using a beauty blender or any type of sponge to blend it evenly).

The weekend rolled around and I was so excited to put on an entire face of makeup to get the full effect of the concealer. I wore it for about 6 hours on Saturday while I ran some errands and this product DID NOT crease what so ever! My under eye circles were covered up and it really brightened my under eye area. It totally lives up to its name and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to simply brighten their face, has dark circles, or imperfections that they want to conceal.

I chose Medium Tan for my skin tone.

It appears a bit too light on my hands but it is perfect on my face.

This picture was taken on hour 4 of wearing the concealer.

Isn’t Sephora’s new tote super cute? I received a bunch of samples from the skincare class and I also bought some face cleansing sponges.

During the Skincare class we were asked what was our must have beauty product, I of course answered concealer (well for the time being, it changes every so often)
So I would love to know what are some of your favorite beauty products. Feel free to share in the comment section below!

Well that is all folks!
And always remember
“What you do, the way you think, is what makes you beautiful”- Scott Westerfeld

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer

Much Love,
-Gwen

Phillip Lim

Posted on October 15, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

One of the most anticipated collaborations with Target caused quite the stir this year, yes you guessed I am referring to the 3.1 Phillip Lim collection. I myself was one of those who arrived at the store at 8 am when they opened and it was indeed madness! All of the handbags were gone by the time I entered the store (I was towards the back of the line, people had been standing there since 6 am, I know crazy new yorkers). I almost lost my cool, until I called up my sis and asked her to purchase the yellow crossbody top handle bag (Good thing she lives in a small town and was literally the only one there at 8 am) crisis averted! I managed to pick up some clothing items in store and was able to order the large purple tote online.

Both of these bags are super versatile and can be paired with an every day casual look or in a more dressed up way.
Here are some easy looks I created…

Easy Breezy! This could easily be worn on the weekend on your down time or during the week while running errands. Using the bag as a crossbody comes in handy while running around NYC.

Casual: Phillip Lim Boom sweatshirt & top handle crossbody bag
h&m tapered sweats

This look can easily be paired with pumps for a dressed up look for the office or some booties for a night out to dinner. Wearing the bag off of one shoulder gives it a sleeker look.

Dressy: Phillip Lim Leopard silk sleeved sweater, top handle crossbody bag and Old Navy corduroy blue skirt

Another weekend winner! Large totes are great because you can literally throw everything in them! Deadline coming up? grab your tote, throw in your laptop and headphones then head to your nearest coffee shop to get some work done.

Casual: Old Navy striped sweater with blue elbow patches, Target burgundy leggings & Phillip Lim tote

This outfit could also be worn to work or out for a business meeting, (the dress is knee length). This tote is perfect for carrying paperwork to and from the office.

Dressy: Forever21 Peplum dress & Phillip Lim tote

Here are the links to the same or similar outfit pieces:
(NOTE: Phillip Lim pieces are sold out online, but your local Target might have some left)

H&M Sweats
Blue Curduroy Skirt
Old Navy striped sweater
Burgundy Bottoms
Forever 21 peplum dress

And there you have it guys, a few ways to dress up (or down) your 3.1 Phillip Lim bags.

Hasta Luego!
-Gwen

“Bad-Man” OOTD- Casual Bat Top +Timbs

Posted on October 3, 2013 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As described on the site the brand Ichiban is exclusive to ASOS. The British label meaning “number one” or “the best” in Japanese offers edgy & fun casual street-wear clothing. I fell in love with almost every piece but decided on this simple crop top because it reminded me of an inside joke I share with someone. I also loved the graphic and how I could play it up using different summer or even fall elements (can be paired with knee high boots and jeans). I chose to go with my favorite American apparel khaki zip side shorts (featured before) and my timberlands that I received as a birthday present (kids sizing). Bat graphics are very trendy right now for the Halloween holiday and this look goes right along with it. Links below for the items!