Recent Beauty Favorites: Dermablend, YSL & More

May 9, 2017

RECENT BEAUTY FAVORITES: YSL BEAUTY MON PARIS EAU DE PARFUM STAR COLLECTOR | 
DERMABLEND LOOSE SETTING POWDER | DERMABLEND PRO FACE & BODY BRUSH | 
WANDER BEAUTY MICRO BROW PENCIL | LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR BB BLUR | 
CAILYN O! WOW BRUSH | 100 PERCENT PURE BRIGHT EYES CREAMY LONG LASTING EYE LINER

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YSL BEAUTY, DERMABLEND, WANDER BEAUTY, LA ROCHE-POSAY, CAILYN O!, & 100 PERCENT PURE BUT ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN.

Hey, everyone! I just wanted to start off by thanking everyone for all of their feedback from last Friday's post. It was also the first time I received a negative comment on my blog which of course at first, stung, but then I quickly realized: One - this person intentionally went out of their way to leave a ridiculous comment, which in turn proves they have too much time on their hands, and Two - one has to be way more thick-skinned than that to get through judgmental remarks, scrutiny, criticism and then some in this industry. I responded the way I wanted to respond to the person who wanted to deliberately hurt me and I will leave it at that because any more time spent on it would be sad. But to those who reached out with love, kindess, and support, thank you!! I can never tell you how much it means to me. So speaking of thick-skinned... today's post is featuring some of my most recent favorite beauty products! Come take a loooksie down below!

1. YSL BEAUTY MON PARIS EAU DE PARFUM STAR COLLECTOR

Sparkling red berries and pear mixed with a sensual peony accord combined with exotic white Datura flower and creamy musk swirled with spicy patchouli to create an unforgettable Parisian journey of love, this Star Edition brings a more rock and couture attitude with the stars that dress the bottle. A new collector to highlight the edgy style of Yves Saint Laurent. It is a bit too musky for me, but the floral scents do help with the balanced scent. Made in France.

2. DERMABLEND LOOSE SETTING POWDER

Want a complexion that stays all day? Try the legendary Dermablend Loose Setting Powder. This powder provides a shine free finish that helps keep makeup in place for up to 16 hours of wear. Simply dust all over your concealer or foundation to lock your look in place. Formulated with silky micronized powders, this product helps keep your complexion matte, even and flawless. It's my first setting powder and trust me when I say this, I don't think I'll be switching to any other setting powder anytime soon!

3. DERMABLEND PRO FACE & BODY BRUSH

Makeup coverage blends easily with Dermablend Pro Face & Body Brush. Made from high-quality hairs this large fluffy rounded head allows for application on large surfaces. This brush has a convenient short handle allowing for use on both the face and the body. I love using this brush with the loose setting powder as it gives good coverage and is light to the touch. Definitely a good investment.

4. WANDER BEAUTY MICRO BROW PENCIL

Wander Beauty's 'Micro Brow Pencil' creates natural-looking and sculpted eyebrows. It has an ultra-fine tip that mimics brow hair for sparse areas, and a brush for a soft, defined shape. This 'Taupe' hue works best for those with dark blonde to light brown hair and goes perfectly with my new lighter-colored hair (literally almost blonde, you guys, lol)

5. LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR BB BLUR CREAM MOUSSE

Blur the appearance of pores, blemishes and fine lines with La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur, a new generation skincare hybrid that absorbs oil all day long. Specifically tailored for oily skin, BB Blur will provide day-long control of shine with Aircilium, a cutting-edge ingredient that forms a supple and resistant film over the skin that smoothes its surface whilst letting it breathe. NASA-used Aircilium absorbs 3 times its weight in oil, keeping the skin matte and unified with a velvet finish. Added Perlite composed of silica is 5 times more powerful than talc and protects against humidity with its continuous blotting paper effect. Suitable for the most sensitive of skin, the skin-perfecting formula contains blurring technology that scatters light to visibly fade pores and fine lines. The cream mousse contains shade adapting pigments that work to color match the skin on application, whilst providing medium coverage that will erase imperfections and leave a radiant, flawless finish. Go and get this NOW. You will be just as obsessed as I am!

6. CAILYN O! WOW BRUSH

Cailyn O! Wow Brush - Velvety-Soft Touch, Award-Winning Finish - Thousands of micro-fine, ultra-soft bristles are densely packed for the most flawless, porcelain finish in a flash! The dome-shaped angled brush head contours to every corner of the face for smooth, airbrushed application of liquid or powder makeup, serums, and creams. You won't believe how velvety-soft this brush is! This ergonomic-styled wand, with slip-off cap, is self-standing to keep germs & dirt at bay. Perfect for makeup table or travel!

7. 100 PERCENT PURE BRIGHT EYES CREAM LONG LASTING EYELINER

This creamy long lasting formula glides on your eyelids to beautify and define your eyes while nourishing your skin with Vitamin E. An old-kept secret to brighter-looking eyes? Put white eyeliner on the bottom inner lids of your eyes to give that extra pop and attention to them! Works with every other shade you work with as well :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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YSL BEAUTY Mon Paris Eau de Parfum Star Collector

100% PURE CREAMY LONG LASTING WHITE LINER

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To Speak or Not to Speak

May 5, 2017

WEARING: TBA DUSTER JACKET | RHODA WONG ASSYMETRICAL TOP 
ONEBUYE BLACK WORK STRIPES WIDE LEG PANT | THE LUXELLE SILVER PLATED CLUTCH 
FLOWER EYEWEAR CASEY AVIATORS | GUCCI BELT | MATT BERNSON MEZZA | THE 5TH BROADWAY WATCH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RHODA WONG, THE LUXELLE & THE 5TH WATCHES.

Yes, I'm a writer. But like my father, I have a tendency to bottle up my feelings. I have a really tough time trusting people. The only family I've got left is my brother and getting to know people can sometimes be exhausting, not to say that no one is interesting or beautiful but I have had many life experiences that few people will ever have to go through. I've been through it all, really. It can be difficult to relate to others on a personal or emotional level. And though I know I'm really fucking strong, I'm still vulnerable because I'm human. Sometimes the pressure cracks and like propane, I explode. But my new career as a content creator has given me the power to share my story and along the way, has helped me connect and be inspired by others. Just extremely incredible, talented people.

These life experiences have also taught me when to speak or not to speak. When I was younger, I was wilder and more naive. I had no problem telling it like it was, shamelessly giving a big F-U to your face while at it. But when you grow up, you (hopefully) mature emotionally and realize there are times and places for speaking up and when it's just best to remain silent. Even though I still can have a 'flare-up' here and there, even perhaps losing my temper, I've really learned to always be the bigger person, but hurt me or someone I love, I will verbally slaughter you before the real damage is even done.

And call it Korean pride, but I was also raised to never express your personal problems to anyone under any circumstances. It was a big fat no-no to my mother and she had that drilled into my head by the time I was in elementary school. Of course, this might explain my difficulty in also sharing certain parts of my life with others, but with what I do now, I feel like I'm slowly but surely making my way through sharing my emotions perhaps not always verbally, but through visual storytelling... the creative input... this means more to me than anything else right now. Thanks for tuning in this Friday! I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little better. Got questions? Thoughts from this post? Comment down below or drop me a message! Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

OneBuye Black Work Stripes Wide Leg Pant

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Rosemary Peach Gin Cocktail

April 30, 2017

Sponsored Post: Message for 21+. This post is sponsored by Seagram’s, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Play it Smart. Drink Responsibly.

DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Rosemary Peach Gin Cocktail

Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski — Cocktail recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 Peach

4 Rosemary Sprigs

2 Tbsp Freshly-Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 20 oz. Ginger Ale

4 Tbsp. Rosemary Simple Syrup (1/2 Cup of Sugar, 1/2 Cup of Water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, add rosemary sprigs, stir, and let cool. Chill until ready to use.)

3 oz. Seagram's Extra Dry Gin

Directions:

Thinly slice half of peach. Make ice cubes with them by first adding the slice in each cube before adding water.
In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rosemary syrup, lemon juice, ginger ale and Seagram's extra dry gin. Shake well.
Pour over crushed ice evenly between two glasses.
Garnish with extra peach slices (optional) and rosemary sprigs. Serve immediately.

Happy Sunday, guys! I know I said I was going to post up a new cocktail recipe on Monday, but I was just too excited to wait until then! So here you have it, folks... a rosemary peach gin cocktail just in time for cocktail hour! It's always 5 'o clock somewhere, am I right? This recipe is so easy and delicious, let me tell you how to create this wonderful concoction! It'll be the perfect drink to unwind with for the rest of your weekend! Just peachy :)

I started with making ice cubes, but not any regular ice cubes, I put in some peach slices to bring a subtle flavor and fresh look to the drink. I've seen others use edible flowers, lavender, and other herbs when making ice cubes. And it's a great way to lightly infuse an adding taste while you drink it! The secret to the rosemary syrup is here: 1/2 Cup of Sugar, 1/2 Cup of Water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, add rosemary sprigs, stir, and let cool. Chill until ready to use.

When the rosemary syrup is ready to use, I added it into a cocktail shaker with regular ice, lemon juice, ginger ale and Seagram's Extra Dry Gin. Shake well (be careful when you open ha ha!) and pour over glasses with added peach cubes, (about 3 per drink). Garnish with peach slices (this is optional as I didn't do it as I felt it would've clutter the beautiful peach cubes) #foodphotography #problems #lol and rosemary twigs. Hope you guys enjoyed this recipe and will give it a try! It's the perfect spring/summer cocktail! Let me know what you think. Can't wait to start doing more cocktails in the future! Until next time, thanks for stopping by and I hope you all had a great weekend!

LOVE & XX'S,

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City Ballerina

April 28, 2017

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BLACK PLEATED SKIRT LINKED W/ SWEATSHIRT | 
RHODA WONG DUSTY ROSE SLEEVELESS TRANCH | MATT BERNSON MEZZA |
VVA IVY CALF GREEN POUCH HANDBAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SAKU NEW YORK, RHODA WONG, & MATT BERNSON.

Friday calls for a mixup on ballet-like trends and a bit more feminine chicness! Today's post features two designers from my most recent post (check it out here - major Parisian feels) who are both extremely talented in their own rights. The pleated skirt linked sweatshirt by saku New York is a great staple piece to have in your closet. The adaptability of this piece is incredible, as I can see this being worn all-year round. It's a great combo for layering or just by itself. The vest (comes separately) scalloped collar and lace work are just gorgeous! I layered it with an insanely beautiful dusty rose sleeveless trench by Rhoda Wong, with intricate pocket and collar details. What really caught my eye was what's within the pocket, a handkerchief holder! Like chivalry, it is a rarity - a dying breed if you will...

These Matt Bernson ballerina flats are my latest shoe obsession. You can wear these flats with or without the lace-up straps, whether tying them further up the legs to bring a gladiator/ballet-like feel to a look or even just around the ankles for a more definitive structured look, these versatile flats will be all the crazy this spring/summer season. And you bet I will layer these beauts with some sort of socks/tights come this fall! If you're looking to invest in a really good pair of flats, I really recommend these comfy and chic pair!

What's everyone up to this weekend? I will be working on more content for you guys - coming up on Monday will be a new cocktail recipe with one of my favorite liquors I've been drinking a lot of this year :) I can't wait to show you this spring-y, yummy and refreshing drink! Next week will also feature more sporty athleisure wear, but think more high-fashion, folks! And much more exciting projects in the works, it just keeps getting busier and busier! #forevergrateful

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

saku New York Pleated Skirt Linked with Sweatshirt Black

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An American Girl in Paris

April 26, 2017

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK BLACK LAYERED BLOUSE |
 RHODA WONG BABY BLUE STRUCTURAL JACKET | BROWN HAT KOREA NAVY BLUE LACE HAT | 
GENUINE PEOPLE BELL BOTTOM CROP JEANS | LINEA PELLE SUEDE BUCKET BAG BLUE | 
UO BLACK PATTI LOW HEEL MULE

Happy Wednesday! The weather has been rainy and awfully gloomy here in New York City, so I'm bringing you Paris today! Just kidding, this shoot did take place in New York, but I bet I'd have you fooled if I told you I was in the La Ville-Lumière. And even though we're not in Europe, today's post is definitely Parisian-chic inspired!

Brown Hat is a Seoul-based hat brand with handcrafted hats inspired from classic designs, yet with a finishing touch of wit. The collections are defined by founder and designer Ji Hyang Park’s signature design in creating flexible and sometimes experimental silhouettes, and her mixture of use of the finest fabrics. The navy blue lace hat from this look is so great because I could wear this at a resort but at the same time, I could also be wearing the heck out of it in Paris! Brown Hat aims to offer timeless hats for men and women. Some hats are also available at NYC boutique, Dreams On Air.

Another talented emerging Korean designer is Lissa Koo, for saku. The motif for saku is both the chic New York sense and the easy, breezy West Coast atmosphere. While being a unique, never-seen-before style, saku offers clothes that are ready-to-wear and easily approachable for anyone. Pursuing both sportiness and femininity simultaneously, saku showcases silhouette apparel that greatly emphasizes woman’s beauty along with comfortable fabrics that allow easy movement. The black layered with white lace blouse is by Lissa, and is only one of many more pieces I just can't wait to show you in the next coming weeks! You can find some of her designs at DOA as well.

Last but not least is this crazy gorgeous jacket by Rhoda Wong. What makes Rhoda special is not just her age (which is twenty(!)) but her deep understanding of structural pieces when it comes to fashion. Aesthetically-pleasing with good detail playing on a variety of textures and materials, Rhoda's talent is off the charts! The baby blue oversized jacket is perfect for spring, Paris and/or both, plus more. It's a wonderful color with beautiful metal buckling and subtle yellow stitching on only on side of the jacket.

Watch these women closely, guys. I guarantee you will be hearing a lot more about these emerging designers in the coming years. Lastly, while shopping the look, please note some pieces are not available online yet and need to be inquired within. Have a great rest of your Hump Day!