Julep Passport To K-Beauty

August 30, 2018

This post is brought to you by Julep Beauty but all opinions are my own.

Many of you have asked about affordable skincare and especially, K-beauty since my last luxury skincare post, so I finally have something for you guys that I think you'll really love as well! Julep is the latest brand to bundle up its K-beauty essentials into one convenient place. Its brand-new Passport To K-Beauty is the ultimate Korean skin-care vault, complete with 11 of Julep's best-selling products for helping your skin become as clear and glowing as a member of any K-Pop band. Continue reading to learn more about every product in this amazing beauty box and as always, where to shop!

The products are neatly organized in a multi-tiered pink box that can be easily stored on your vanity or under your bathroom sink. The packaging itself is quite aesthetically pleasing. With ingredients straight from Jeju Island, (a popular vacation destination site below the southern tip of South Korea,) you have a complete K-beauty routine in one easy-to-navigate place. You can mix-and-match the products depending on the time of day or what your biggest skin concern may be. Again, there 11 products divided up into three different sections: Protect, Hydrate, & Cleanse. Let's take a closer look at each section:

PROTECT

NO EXCUSES INVISIBLE SUNSCREEN GEL

A completely transparent face sunscreen in an essence-gel base, Julep No Excuses Invisible Sunscreen Gel delivers broad-spectrum SPF 40 that helps protect against UVA/UVB rays. This lightweight gel goes on smoothly and dries to a satin finish, making it perfect to wear under makeup. How do I use it: Apply liberally, 15 minutes before sun exposure. Use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.

TRIPLE QUENCH DEEP HYDRATION SHEET MASK SYSTEM

Julep's Triple Quench Deep Hydration Sheet Mask System offers three steps to help reveal the appearance of softer, brighter skin. The complete three-part sheet mask system is all you need for a deeply hydrating and ultra-pampering boost to your skin-care routine. How do I use it: Use once to three times a week, depending on your skin's hydration needs. Perfect for traveling.

NIGHT SHIFT SLEEPING MASK

An overnight moisture mask that you wear while you're fast asleep, so you wake up to smoother, more hydrated skin. It's formulated with a unique peptide blend, sodium hyaluronate, and botanical extracts--including Power Cell Complex--that work to deliver moisture to the skin. How do I use it: Massage a thin, even layer onto face, avoiding eye area. Apply to clean, bare skin or layer over serum and moisturizer. Leave on overnight and rinse off in the morning. Your skin will be oh so soft!

HYDRATE

BOOST YOUR RADIANCE REPARATIVE ROSEHIP SEED FACIAL OIL

Julep's Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil is a lightweight, fast-absorbing facial oil that gives an antioxidant boost to your skincare routine. Perfect for all skin types - even oily skin. The rosehip seed oil reduces the appearance of fine lines, scars, and hyperpigmentation. Regulates oil production while moisturizing. Vitamin E protects against dehydration and free radical damage while it aids in the absorption of the rosehip seed oil. Bergamot oil brightens skin while providing a natural uplifting fragrance.

WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS RESTORATIVE FACIAL MILK

What Your Skin Needs Restorative Facial Milk is an ultra-lightweight facial moisturizer, with a high-tech blend of five skin-boosting oils that absorbs quickly into your skin to treat, nourish, and hydrate. It's formulated with squalane, as well as the skin-loving oils of jojoba oil, argan oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. How do I use it: Apply one to two drops onto face after cleansing. Can be worn alone or under moisturizer. Apply day or night.

YOU GOT THIS PRESSED SERUM DAILY MOISTURIZER

You Got This daily moisturizing routine down with this stick that streamlines your serum and moisturizer steps into one. Formulated with soothing hydration and antioxidants with ingredients like camellia japonia seed oil, jeju blossom extract, sodium hyaluronate, and ceramidesso, it's ready to help you take on the day. How do I use it: Swipe the pressed serum stick on forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Gently massage in with fingers. Follow with an SPF during the daytime.

DREAM BIG NIGHTLY RENEWAL PRESSED SERUM WITH BHA

Julep Dream Big Nightly Renewal Pressed Serum with BHA is an innovative stick that streamlines your nighttime serum and moisturizer steps into one. It deeply hydrates as it gently exfoliates to unveil smoother, more refined skin overnight. The salicylic acid (Beta Hydroxy Acid) lifts and loosens dead skin cells and purges the pores of impurities to improve skin's clarity, tone, and texture. Antioxidant-rich Jeju Blossom Extract protects against environmental damage. Sodium hyaluronate deeply hydrates to promote skin's suppleness and elasticity. Ceramides strengthen the skin's natural barrier, restore damaged lipid barrier caused by environmental damage, and prevent water loss.

SO AWAKE DEPUFFING GEL EYE CREAM

Julep So Awake Depuffing Gel Eye Cream is a lightweight, multitasking eye cream that handles all your everyday eye woes. It hydrates and depuffs the delicate eye area as it reduces the look of dark circles. Plus, illuminating micro-pearls perk up the look of tired eyes instantly. The Sodium hyaluronate deeply hydrates to promote skin's suppleness and elasticity. Turmeric root extract and banana flower extract soothe redness and irritation as they reduce the appearance of dark circles, providing long-term brightening effects. Antioxidant-rich Jeju bamboo grass & Jeju blossom extract protect against environmental damage as they soothe, nourish, and moisturize. Caffeine perks up tired-looking eyes and diminishes puffiness. Collagen improves skin's elasticity.

CLEANSE

CHARCOAL BODY KONJAC SPONGE

Julep took their cult-favorite Konjac face sponge and made it big enough to use from top to toe. Helping to gently exfoliate dead skin cells to reveal a soft, radiant, and glowing looking complexion, the special teardrop-shape helps reach every facial curve and nook, while an attached suction cup makes for easy shower storage. How do I use it: Rinse under warm water before each use. Massage in a circular motion to exfoliate dead skin cells. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze out excess water after each use. Replace every one to two months.

LOVE YOUR BARE FACE HYDRATING CLEANSING OIL

This lightweight cleanser from Julep gently and thoroughly dissolves makeup and dirt without over-drying skin, then rinses clean. This formula treats your complexion to ingredients such as grapeseed oil; olive oil; and power cell complex, a blend of ultra-hydrating ingredients that includes rosehip seed oil, malvaceae lipid extract, and green coffee bean oil. How do I use it: Pump into dry hands and massage over dry face. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

LOVE YOUR BARE FACE DETOXIFYING CLEANSING BALM STICK

An innovative stick cleanser with a blend of natural oils and fruit enzymes that removes dirt, oil, and impurities while gently exfoliating for a deep-down clean. You can finally nourish and deep cleanse your skin at the same time. Treat yourself to a luxurious blend of natural oils that dive deep to remove makeup, dirt, oil, and impurities while delivering essential nutrients to soothe, repair, and moisturize the skin. Natural pomegranate fruit enzymes work to gently exfoliate and dissolve surface debris that can cause dullness and uneven skin texture, leaving you with a noticeably softer, more radiant complexion. Key Ingredients: Rice bran oil dives deep to purge impurities grapefruit peel oil cleanses and evens skin tone camellia japonica seed oil hydrates and clarifies skin.

So what is the verdict on Julep's Passport To K-Beauty vault? A big two thumbs up! It is available for $249 on julep.com, ulta.com and nordstrom.com. At first glance the price may not be 'right' BUT... the individual products add up to $326. With the vault, you're saving $77. You're basically getting two or three products for free, which is a plus when K-beauty routines typically account for 10 to 11 steps. Plus many of the products are travel-friendly, and I'm always down for K-Beauty while traveling! What do you guys think of this pretty pink beauty box?! Would you rather buy the products separately or in a bundled collection as such? Drop your comments down below!

LOVE & XX'S,

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Cute Cerulean Print Dress

August 27, 2018

WEARING: VIPSHOP BLUE DRESS | KOIO SNEAKERS | MULBERRY & GRAND EARRINGS | THACKER NYC BAG | MVMT LIBRA WATCH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY VIP.COM, MULBERRY & GRAND, AND MVMT.

As some of you have noticed, I've been heavily into prints lately and can't seem to get enough of them! There are so many on-trend currently, such as fruit prints for summer, animal print for the fall in different unexpected colors especially, stripes and more just to name a few, but this dress on the blog today is just too cute and too appropriate for me! The minute I laid my eyes on it I knew I had to have it! It comes in two colors, but I chose a favorite deep blue in color like a clear sky. Also called cerulean, it's one of those shades in color that you cannot resist loving. Continue reading to see how I styled it with accents of pink along while keeping it on the sporty chic side. There's also a couple of discount codes that you should check out in this post!

First and foremost, let's talk about how much I adore the print of this dress! It's literally perfect for the ultimate dog woman! The print includes puppies, dog collars, and even doggy faces that says 'Free Hugs'. It's fun and light-hearted which is not the norm when it comes to my style which usually always bring forth some kind of edgy fierceness to it. But fashion is also about letting loose and being a little silly from time to time. It's like how you shouldn't take yourself too seriously all the time - the same goes here! On top of the eclectic print, I am obsessed with the color. Cerulean was the Pantone color choice of 2014/15, but I think it's still in trend. And lastly what girl doesn't like ruffles? I love it around the collar and sleeves of this dress.

Isn't this dress truly unique? I love that the sleeves can be rolled up or worn long, perfect for the upcoming season... how cute would this be with a chunky cardi or denim jacket?! This dress also comes in purple but I chose the cerulean blue for my love of the color. The original price of this dress is $165 BUT it's on SALE right now at $43.99! I also have a discount code for you guys! Use code 'Suzanne1148' to get $5 OFF on Orders Over $50 at us.vip.com. Lastly, there's free shipping on orders $49+ so don't miss out on this great deal!

I styled this dress with cute, pretty girly accessories such as this lavender-colored leather strap watch by MVMT. I love the face along with the color, and they have a variety of watches, bracelets, and sunglasses to choose from. To be honest, it was quite hard to choose! Use my discount code "suzannespiegoski15" for $15 off your purchase. The watch I'm wearing in this post is called the 'Libra' watch.

Other accessories include these really cute earrings from Mulberry & Grand. They're only $13 and they have a selection of colors such as tortoise, red, periwinkle, pink and black. I love these peach-colored ones as they remind of me of rose quartz. I even wore a very pink blotted lippie to go with the tone of the earrings and the new shade of my hair color thanks to Fourteen Jay. I think it complements well with the tan of my skin, don't you think? Shoes by KOIO, bag by Thacker NYC.

LOVE & XX'S,

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The Perfect Back-to-School Backpack

August 20, 2018

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PARKLAND & SUGARHIGH.

Happy Monday! Enjoying the last weeks of summer before September kicks into full gear. And you know what that means, kids... time to go back to school! Many of you will be needing school supplies before heading to class, and I've got the perfect back-to-school backpack for you this year! These backpacks are made out of 100% recycled water bottles. So on top of picking out a new backpack for the school year, you'll also be helping out the environment as well. How cool is that?! Continue reading to get more info on where to find these backpacks - including details from this beachy outfit!

Parkland is the name. They make bags from bottles. There are backpacks, duffles, and totes. And more. All made with 100% recycled water bottles, they come in a variety of colors and prints. I went with one with aquatic-like colors. Perhaps I'm not quite ready to let go of summer, haha! The Meadow Backpack offers versatility for work, school or travel. With enough room for your 15” laptop and your day's essentials, you'll be ready to seek out your next adventure. They even carry mini backpacks for the little ones and even adorable lunch boxes, should you be looking for a new one.

I just loved this beachy tee when I saw it. Even though "staying salty" isn't something I go running around promoting, but I love wordplay and this shirt is perfect for a day at sea! I styled it with a rich blue paisley bandana and short shorts from Forever 21. I thought the blue accents worked well with the pastels of the backpack, and the white of the shirt ties it all together. (No pun intended.) The turquoise belt is from Most Wanted USA and my sunnies are from the streets of SoHo. Literally picked them up at a flea market for $20!

You can check out the one from this shoot HERE and to see more of their collection, go HERE.

LOVE & XX'S,

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73 Questions

August 13, 2018

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SUGARHIGH & SUNGLASS WAREHOUSE.

Happy Monday! It's a rainy morning here in New York and after compiling and sorting through all the questions from this past week on Instagram, I've decided to do more regular posts answering your questions through my blog rather than social media. Reason being is for the sole purpose of having enough space to answer everything. You only get so many characters on your captions on IG! I was initially selecting and answering 10-theme questions every Sunday on my Instagram, but after some consideration, I think it'll be much more effective on here. So without further ado, let's jump into some questions! This week's theme is inspired by Vogue's 73 Questions, where I went through them myself and did one for you! Since there were a ton of similar questions within this questionnaire from you guys, I thought it was a perfect way to start the new week and also getting the chance to know me better! So come along and take a quick read! Fun and easy :)

1. What’s your favorite movie? Fried Green Tomatoes
2. Favorite movie in the past five years? The Shape of Water
3. Favorite Hitchcock film? Psycho
4. A book you plan on reading? Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
5. A book that you read in school that positively shaped you? Lord of the Flies by William Goulding
6. Favorite TV show that’s currently on? Sharp Objects
7. On a scale of one to ten how excited are you about life right now? 8
8. iPhone or Android? iPhone
9. Twitter or Instagram? Instagram
10. Who should EVERYONE be following right now? Jamie Beck from @annestreetstudio

11. What’s your favorite food? Korean
12. Least favorite food? Tripe. I. Just. Can't.
13. What do you love on your pizza? Green pepper, mushroom, onion & black olives. My fav combo.
14. Favorite drink? Cherry Coke
15. Favorite dessert? Chocolate cake
16. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Dark
17. Coffee or tea? Coffee
18. Lace or latex? Latex
19. What’s your favorite band? The Rolling Stones
20. Favorite solo artist? Al Green

21. Favorite song? Rich Girl by Hall & Oates or Sign My Name by Terence Trent D'Arby, or Tom Petty's, American Girl. Hard to choose just one!!!
22. If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be? Ha ha, Eminem!
23. If you could master one instrument, what would it be? Piano.
24. If you had a tattoo, where would it be? On my spine.
25. To be or not to be? To be.
26. Dogs or cats? Dogs.
27. Bird-watching or whale-watching? Bird-watching, but much rather prefer people watching.
28. Best gift you’ve ever received? My beautiful German shepherd, MaQ.
29. Best gift you’ve ever given? A sterling silver card holder from Tiffany.
30. Last gift you gave a friend? Lotion

31. What’s your favorite board game? Monopoly
32. What’s your favorite country to visit? Ukraine.
33. What’s the last country you visited? UK.
34. What country do you wish to visit? South Korea.
35. What’s your favorite color? Toss up between black and green.
36. Least favorite color? Pink.
37. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.
38. Heels or flats? Heels.
39. Pilates or yoga? Neither? HAHA! If I had to pick then yoga.
40. Jogging or swimming? Swimming.

41. Best way to de-stress? Read a book.
42. If you had one superpower, what would it be? Telepathy
43. What’s the weirdest word in the English language? Oeuvre.
44. What’s your favorite flower? White lily.
45. When was the last time you cried? Last week.
46. Do you like your handwriting? Sometimes.
47. Do you bake? Yes.
48. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My impatience.
49. What is your most favorite thing about yourself? My relentlessness.
50. Who do you miss most? My parents.

51. What are you listening to right now? Uptown Funk.
52. Favorite smell? Bergamot.
53. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My husband.
54. Who was the last person you sent a text to? My girlfriend.
55. A sport you wish you could play? Polo, but I can't ride horses to save my life!
56. Hair color? Originally jet black, now I'm almost blonde.
57. Eye color? Dark brown.
58. Scary film or happy endings? Scary film.
59. Favorite season? Fall.
60. Three people alive or dead that you would like to have dinner with? Lisa Ling, Michelle Kwan, and Frida Kahlo.

61. Hugs or kisses? Kisses.
62. Rolling Stones or the Beatles? RS
63. Where were you born? California.
64. What is the farthest you have been from home? Ukraine.
65. Sweet or savory? Savory.
66. Lipstick or lip gloss? Lipstick.
67. What book have you read again and again? Anything by Murakami and Bukowski.
68. Favorite bedtime story? The Princess Bride.
69. What would be the title of your autobiography? Sorry, can't fully answer this as it conflicts with what I'm currently working on! And NO, it's not an autobiography, but definitely within that realm.
70. Favorite sound? Rain.
71. Favorite animal? German shepherds, or dogs in general.
72. Who is your girl crush? Natalie Imbruglia.
73. Last photograph you took? An art mural.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Sunflowers & Polka Dots

August 9, 2018

WEARING: ZEFINKA POLKA DOT DRESS | SOUTH MOON UNDER STRAW CLUTCH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ZEFINKA.

I know, I know... another polka dot outfit. HOW ORIGINAL. BUT -- before you get your panties all up in a bunch, there are a few things about this polka-dot dress that make it more unique. There are cutouts as well as an intricate criss-cross laced back, which is why I really love this dress a lot. Come take a look at the details and the complete shoot, all the while getting the details on where you can find this beauty, along with a 10% discount code I'm offering! You can get this dress today for $45! So don't miss out, continue reading now!

Like I said, this black and white polka dot dress is retailed at $50.00 but with my code, you can shed a few bucks off. Apply 'SUZANNE10' for 10% off your purchase! Along with the details of the cutout and back, I also love the tie-around waist and give the dress more shape along with the ruffles, which brings any dress some lightness and playfulness. I had scouted a field here in New York City. YES. This shoot is in Manhattan! Goes to show you don't always have to travel to get those Instagram shots - but the bites I had gotten afterward we just as real! The day we shot this it was so humid and I had anxiety about my hair not cooperating with the weather conditions (thank God for Kérastase L'Incroyable Blowdry Heat Lotion) and while holding between frames and getting the shots, I had got bitten at least five times by pesky mosquitoes. Raise your hand if the 'skeeters' love y'all as much as they love me! ;P

I find prints to be difficult to photograph, especially if they're white because it can easily interrupt with the overall white balance of the photo (meaning the whites will look too washed out and you won't be able to see any texture) so it was important for me to use a good source of light to capture the gorgeousness of this dress! And I knew the sunflowers were perfect with this kind of print. What do you guys think? The black and white polka dot dress has definitely been a repeat offender this summer and I can assure you I'll be wearing this after Labor Day! Accessories here are minimal with a straw clutch and gold hoop earrings. Not shown are some cute black suede open-toe slides. And yes, ankles are my vulnerable spot with critters...