Kate Spade Agenda “Quick & Curious”

Posted on September 23, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

As you may or may not have guessed already, Kate Spade is my number one favorite contemporary women’s designer. Featured countless times here before, I love the way the brand merges modern feminine style with quirky and youthful pieces. The range of items is always classic yet with a fun twist. I knew for the start of Grad school I needed something to help keep me on track of my life and assignments and knew I could count on my favorite brand to deliver. I didn’t want just any old planner, but a distinctive one that would bring me some happiness on my many upcoming joyless nights I would be spent studying. I purchased the 2015-2016 planner with the quote “she is quick and curious and playful and strong”. I absolutely loved the color (although now I am worried about the wear on tear on this beautiful baby blue) and the quote really resonated with me and made me feel special. I printed out some pinterest art work based off of things I love and inspired by YouTube guru Summer Kellsey (New York, pin up girls, Paris, food etc) and proceeded to create a “theme” for each month. You can print your items on shipping labels to make for easier sticking or on regular paper as I did and just use glue to cut and paste the homemade stickers. I also incorporated some fun scrap booking elements that I always have stored from my scrap booking days (things like magazine cut-outs, glitter, and stickers). Have fun with this! You don’t have to decorate, it’s just as beautiful plain but I love the excitement it brings me to look at my “to do” list now that it’s all pretty. Links to the items can be found down below including our pinterest page where you can find some of the same graphics. Enjoy!

You will need:

Avery Shipping Labels- (only if you don’t wish to glue with regular glue)
Printer Paper
Scissors/ Glue
Odds and Ends that you find appealing to add (scrap book materials, photos etc.)

My birthday month needed to be extra special! LEOS RULE!

“New York Minimalist”

Each dividing month has an inspirational quote I love.

Use anything you’d like and get to decorating!

Kate Spade “Quick & Curious” Agenda
Avery Labels
Our Pinterest Page
Summer Kellsey Pinterest page

Toodles, Ari

YSL Vox Box Review

Posted on July 27, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Luxury cosmetic brands are typically out of my reach seeing as I can’t justify spending the same amount on one thing versus being able to obtain more items (more is more people). In comes influenster! They have graciously sent over the YSL vox box including two brand new YSL cosmetic products to test out for our readers. Disclaimer* Although these items were sent for review, my opinions and thoughts are mine. To start off, the touche eclat blur primer serves many purposes. It can be used as a luxurious base for any foundation or alone to even out the skin tone on a makeup-less day.

Touche Eclat Blur Primer

               Pro’s                                                                                                              Cons
-Super velvety and smooth                                                         -Shimmer/Glitter is very visible worn alone
-Non-comedogenic                                                                    -Slight residue feeling
-Blurs imperfections and minimizes large pores

The second product sent over was the Touche Eclat Blur Perfector. This compact is meant to transform from a balm to a powder to soften the skinds imperfections, mattify and set makeup.

Touche Eclat Blur Pefector

Pro’s Cons
-Beautiful Packaging -Not great to initially set makeup with (I prefer a setting spray
-Universal for all skin-tones
-Minimizes pores
-Can be used for touch ups throughout the day
(not to initially set makeup)

If I were to repurchase one item it would definitely be the perfector seeing as it doubles as a compact and works great for so many purposes.

Toodles, 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

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.

Till next time lovelies,

xx, Gwen

Diced Pineapples

Posted on June 5, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Pineapples are currently all the rage! They can be found on clothing, home decor items, shoes, accessories and of course your local supermarket. I love how every so often a new trendy “iconic piece” pops up into the scene, for a while it was foxes, cats, owls and now we are moving on to fruits! For whatever reason I am totally loving anything pineapple these days. Here are a few products I have recently picked up.

Whilst browsing at Topshop (it all begins with just a casual browse, next thing you know you find an item you just can’t bare to continue living without). I came across this pineapple phone case by Skinny Dip (£12). I saw it, grabbed it immediately, bought it, love it and that is all! Funny enough I sent a photo of it to my sister and she was totally jealous because she too has been wanting this case.

“Joy the store” is a shop I have literally walked by a million times and never seemed to notice them until I went over to Greenwich one weekend. This glistening rose gold pineapple from the window display was calling my name. I just went in to see if they were selling it and to no surprise I am now a proud owner of a gorgeous rose gold pineapple money bank. Is this a total necessity? No but, what is life if you can’t indulge in all of its pleasures am I right? (This was discounted because it has a minor chip on the stem, I paid £15)

And lastly I don’t even have to tell you guys that I was once again in Primark (I just can’t stop) and spotted this pineapple tote. I am a huge sucker for totes they are just the easiest way to carry extra stuff around. At only £1.50 you can never have too many! (This will be gifted to Ari, yay now you’ll own something pineapple-y as well!).

Here are some other cool pineapple themed items/clothing.

pineapple by gwendolyn-pena featuring yellow candles

Are you guys into this trend as well? Let me know down below if this is a hit or miss for you.

(The title of this post was inspired by Rick Ross’s “Diced Pineapples” in case you were wondering)

Same or similar items can be found Here Here Here

xx Gwen

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

Time for another Giveaway!!!

Posted on May 27, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Here we are with yet again another milestone! We now have 300 followers and counting! Super exciting! To those who are new to our blog we host mini giveaways every so often to show our appreciation to you all who support us.

On with the fun part (the actual prize). One lucky winner will receive some of Gwen’s current favorites at the moment. A deluxe sample of Liz Earlie’s cleanse and polish hot cloth face cleanser along with a mini sized Soap and Glory hand lotion and body scrub. I have been absolutely loving these three items and I am hoping you will too!

Now here’s how to enter:

Comment on the photo posted on our Instagram (@itsapplesandorangesblog) stating where you live, your must have skin/body care item and why you would like to win this prize. This will ensure entry in the giveaway, which will be open for 5 days. We will then choose the winner through a raffle generator which will be announced on Instagram Monday June 1st!

Our giveaways have normally been held in the U.S, but since I (Gwen) am in the U.K we figured we would open it up to anyone living in Europe this time. (Sorry to my American babes we need to give other countries a turn)

What are you waiting for? Get to commenting!

xx Gwen

Fresca Vox Box Review

Posted on May 17, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

All I can say is WOW! I received this influentster fresca vox box complimentary in the mail and was amazed at the amount and quality of the products. Each item was sent for testing purposes and I couldn’t be more excited to share with you guys my honest opinion on the products. Lets get started!

First things first lets talk about the fact that I was actually in need of shaving cream, bonus! This shaving cream from the brand Pure Silk has a cool spray nozzle and luxurious feel and smell. It lathers well and leaves my skin feeling super smooth. The coolest feature is that the can itself is rust proof aluminum which leaves no room for that unsightly gross brown residue anywhere near your shower.
The neutrogena healthy skin boosters facial cleanser is compared to other neutrogena products. It smells great, minimal lather and not too over drying (although I always use a moisturizer after regardless).
I am obviously already tanned skin but my legs are always a shade lighter then some other parts of my body since they don’t see the light as much. This Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs product goes on smooth, its easy to blend in and a little goes a long way. It just provides a slight wash of color to even out your skin tone (it will not cover any bruises or imperfections as I was hoping). It works well If I was ever in a bind and needed to even out tan lines or my pale legs.
The NYC expert last lip lacquer is definitely top 2 items received in this box. The color pigmentation is outstanding and its not sticky at all. With a pleasant candy smell, high shine and only priced at 3.99 you really can’t lose. I would have never purchased this product and now am obsessed and want to buy all of the colors!
Lastly one of the most surprising and cool items were the Jafra Blends of various mix and match scents. These remind of of essential oils and last a lot longer than some traditional perfumes. The scents vary from Blackberry Juniper Magnolia, Sea Salt Rose Petals and Violet Pomegranate. All of the scents smell spectacular (my favorite being Sea Salt Rose Petals). They are fresh, clean and I love the fact that you can mix and match. Everyones phermones are different and the combinations are endless on different people! You can basically customize your scent and tailor it depending on your mood. Such a cool concept and product and I definitely would purchase the larger bottle in Sea Salt Rose Petals.
I did not try the Not Your Mothers Shampoo and Conditioner seeing as I prefer using curly hair friendlier products (all natural) but Im sure they would go great with my sister Gwen’s hair type and I will be saving them for her to test out.