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

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

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 →

eShakti Custom Dress +Coupon Code!

Posted on September 14, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

We were contacted a couple of weeks ago from an online women’s clothing company named eShakti with regards to reviewing the site and process of clothing customization. We of course jumped at the opportunity, after all this site boast to cater to women from sizes 0-36W and besides your ready to order items it will customize anything from the site whether its size or style.The following is my impression of my process.

-First things first- Customer service is on point! They were so gracious and extremely helpful in the customizing aspect (since it was my first time ordering from the site.)

-I loved how easy it was to send your measurements and changing aspects of the garment such as length.

– The options are beautiful, well made and well suited for many occasions.

I chose this “embellished print poplin dress” because I was in need of more work place attire and thought this could merge my love for trends and being work appropriate. It is beautiful! It fits perfectly tailored to me and although it is lined it didn’t feel heavy at all and can be worn to transition throughout the seasons. I sent my personal measurements as well as opted to make it at the knee instead below knee-length (since I am only 5’3). It worked out and the olive tone looks great with my pink Nine West heels. The a-line gives me more shape and the high empire waist creates the illusion of curves. I would definitely order from them considering you get to design your own piece from start to finish!

They were gracious enough to send us a coupon code for anyone that might be interested in customizing and purchasing something from the site. Good for 10% on any purchase and will only last until September 27, 2014 so hurry and check it out!

Use the code – applesandoranges

They have such a great selection of stuff, check it out and use our code!

-Love
Ari

My personal Pick –Dress

Similar Heels

Stay Hydrated in Style- Nasty Gal Unchained Water Bottle Holder

Posted on September 9, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

WARNING: This post might alienate some readers that aren’t into “frivolous” things a.k.a AWESOME things! I was doing my usual perusing online and came across this tailor-made for me item on NastyGal.com. Not only does this water bottle holder serve its … Continue reading →

Sephora Find- Josie Maran Argan Skincare Ritual Set

Posted on September 6, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

I’ve always used the Josie Maran argan oil by itself. This product is 100% organic, chemical free and one of the best kept secrets of Moroccan women up until recent times.Loaded with Vitamin E and fatty acids it helps heal, condition and repair your skin, hair or even nails! I have been suffering from an eczema break out as of lately and decided to try this three-step line of products I found at Sephora. I loved the packaging and also the price! Typically this brand is a bit pricey but for these three convenient sizes I feel like I got a great deal at $24. Link below!

The self heating oil cleanser is applied on a dry face, then with water slowly worked up into a lather. It feels luxurious and my face was baby soft and felt like velvet when I rinsed it off (unlike other drying/stripping products). My face felt balanced and not tight.

The last product’s texture felt like a normal SPF would except its jam packed with vitamins. It protects your skin against the suns rays with SPF 47. My skin was left refreshed but I would not use it as a daily moisturizer for me in particular because my skin has extremely dry patches that need more than this light finish. Its great for when you are on the go or for a light layer of protection on top of your thicker daily face moisturizer (if you have dry patches like me).

All in all Ive noticed a huge difference in my eczema break out as well as the balance and moisture of my skin. It looks and feels healthier when I use these products as a trio.

Toodles

Ari

Josie Maran Argan Skincare Ritual Set

Zoeva Brushes

Posted on August 25, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

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*

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!

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

Designer Spotlight: Rebecca Minkoff

Posted on August 7, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

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 →

Urban Decay “Pulp Fiction” Palette

Posted on July 30, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Pulp fiction has got to be one of the top classic films that inspire trends all across the board. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, it features an eclectic cast with a mix of humor and violence that made for one entertaining ride. I love that the storyline is not in chronological order (in true Tarantino form) and Uma Thurman’s character Mia Wallace is sexy, sultry and a bit off. She dominated most of the movies promotional material and with good reason.

Nearly two decades later Urban Decay has taken inspiration from the iconic film and put together an awesome palette to recreate Mia’s dark and edgy look for the twentieth anniversary. It features three never before seen shades and two current exclusives to the line. Pulp Fiction the palette, is sleek, dark and is emblazoned with Samuel L. Jackson’s now infamous Ezekiel passage on the back (totally badass). The “Get the look” card is also a helpful tool in following with Mia’s makeup trend along with the small red eyeshadow brush.

Pros

Big Mirror
Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion system- Shows up true to color!
Velvet Texture
Blends Amazing

Cons- NONE!

Left- Right
“Righteous” Light cream matte
“Tyranny”- Warm brown matte
“Vengeance”- deep brown matte-satin
“Furious” -White Satin
“Anger” Black Satin with Slight tonal sparkle

“Be cool honey bunny”

Ari