A Slice of Summer Glow with These 6 Korean Beauty Products

May 21, 2019

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY GLOW RECIPE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

With our first official hot day here in New York City yesterday, I got inspired to write up a post on how to achieve that radiant summer glow when it comes to our skin. But sans makeup. Makeup can help achieve the ultimate sun-kissed bronzy luminosity - but for some makeup is a no-no during the warmer seasons. Especially heavier coverage such as foundation. I love to have my skin breathe during this time of year to keep it healthy and fresh, so in today’s post I’m sharing 6 amazing Korean skincare products, all from the same brand, that will definitely give you a slice of that summer glow we all want.

WATERMELON GLOW ULTRA-FINE MIST

This ultra-fine, hydrating, fog-like mist is designed for ultimate skin radiance and makeup enhancement. It’s uniquely formulated with hibiscus flower which naturally contains AHAs to smooth the look of skin, apple cider vinegar (ACV) which naturally helps balance oil production, and rice germ oil which helps protect against free radicals. I have used it before applying makeup and it’s great, but I literally spray this on my face all day long even without makeup on. It smells like watermelon, so good in fact, my husband secretly loves it too! Refreshing, travel-friendly with very cute packaging, it’s my new favorite mist spray for summertime.

BLUEBERRY BOUNCE GENTLE CLEANSER

This hydrating, bouncy cleanser delivers all the antioxidant-rich benefits of blueberries while refining pores with hyaluronic acid and AHAs. The ultra-gentle formula is packed with nourishing oils to remove makeup with minimal rubbing. Skin is clear, radiant, and glowing without feeling stripped. During the warmer months, I prefer a gentle cleanser as I don’t want to use something too harsh for my sensitive skin. This cleanser is really my jam, and I love using it while traveling too when skin can wreck havoc even during the simplest of trips.

PINEAPPLE-C BRIGHT SERUM

Brighten up with pure pineapple juice, a potent, natural source of vitamin C, AHA, and bromelain enzymes. Blended with soothing chamomile, the serum retexturizes skin and evens tone. Glass Skin is the ideal skin look inspired by K-Beauty—so smooth and reflective that it looks like glass. Or that dewy glow effect. It’s the ultimate summer brightening serum - your face will literally look like a mannequin! But in a good way, ha ha! I also love how to chamomile is a red reducer - especially when it comes to breaking out. And how adorable is that bottle?!

WATERMELON GLOW PINK JUICE MOISTURIZER

This oil-free moisturizer calms, brightens, and perfectly preps skin for makeup, while antioxidants protect against environmental stressors to ward off fine lines and dark spots. Use day and night as a moisturizer for oily/combo skin or as a serum for dry skin. Its bouncy, gel-emulsion texture feels cool on contact and absorbs instantly. Perfect for the summer heat. It works best with the pineapple serum for that ultra glowing skin. Plus, the smell is intoxicating. It’s like your face guzzled down a glass of fresh watermelon juice!

AVOCADO MELT SLEEPING MASK

Intensely moisturize, firm, and brighten overnight. Oleic acid and linoleic acid-rich avocado helps to restore moisture and collagen in the skin, while the antioxidants and antibacterial properties of manuka honey refresh stressed out skin. PHAs provide a gentle exfoliation while you sleep. This avocado sleeping mask contains Kaolin Clay: This clay pulls impurities from the skin without causing redness or irritation; and absorbs excess oils, decongests pores, and diminishes shine. Skin is extremely smooth. Would recommend using only a little bit per use - in this case, less is more.

WATERMELON GLOW SLEEPING MASK

My favorite product out of the 6: It’s the first product I ever tried by Glow Recipe and I use it all-year round. This luxuriously bouncy, breathable sleeping mask refreshingly hydrates, smooths, and perfects skin overnight with a revolutionary pillow-proof, transfer-proof formula. The oil-free, lightweight, glow-boosting hybrid is formulated with ultra-soothing watermelon extract, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and gentle AHAs that work while you sleep to tone and clarify roughened, dull complexions. AHAs smooth the surface of the skin by banishing dead, rough surface cells, clearing the path for ultra-effective, lasting hydration, while hyaluronic acid binds moisture to the skin for an incredibly nourished complexion. Skin is baby-soft and bright in the morning, effortlessly.

LOVE & XX’S,

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How to Style Rainbow Pom Pom Sandals

May 20, 2019

WEARING: WHITE MAXI DRESS | RAINBOW POM POM SANDALS | YELLOW O-RING BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CHICWISH AND AVEC MODERATION BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Avec Modération is a Florence-based footwear brand that focuses on fusing fine Italian luxury with the utmost comfort. Each pair is entirely handmade from opulent fabrics and designed with the fashion-forward cosmopolitan woman in mind. The label’s aesthetic is elegant yet whimsical, presenting wearers with a unique take on the current season’s key footwear trends. The founders have a penchant for decadence, so you can expect a range of slides with bursts of bright colors and bouts of fur, tied together in an ultra-wearable silhouette. Case in point: These peony rainbow calf leather pom pom slippers. They are the ultimate pair of sandals for summer! Continue reading to see how to style these types of colorful, lively sandals and where to shop these beauties as well.

I wanted to style these bold rainbow slides in a simple, chic manner. Nothing too over the top, as it can easily turn from stylish to Bozo the clown. This beautiful sheer white maxi dress with 3D cotton embellished definitely complements with the pom-pom material from the sandals. With a self-tied string around the waist, it is a very flattering dress for many body types. Originally $100 it’s on sale with 40% off right now! I love the elegance of the dress - definitely has some character don’t you think? They also have a cream-colored dress as well here.

I think if you stuck to one solid color, such as yellow or red would also look great with these beautiful rainbow pom-pom sandals. Definitely beach appropriate so long as you don’t take a dip in the water with them. Definitely would look cute with jeans and a cami of some kind, or a beach wrap. There’s many ways to style these sandals for the warmer season. I found them for $235 on Far Fetch. Again, they’re luxury footwear so the price is right. I definitely wouldn’t recommend walking for miles in them around the city, for example. This is not the type of shoes for that.

To keep with the happy colors, I went with a yellow o-ring bag from Iridescence New York and a pair of purple leather covered hoop earrings from Shop Small Things. I think the two variated colors keep with the rest of the color scheme without having the palette become too noisy/busy. I always loved yellow and purple together as I’m a die hard Lakers fan, lol. Just a random tidbit for you guys :) I’ve also linked a couple other similar bags with different price points and locations.

If you’re still not convinced of these rainbow pom-pom sandals, Avec Modération also makes them in a variety of colors as well such as this pink one and also a white and cream one. I’ve listed them all down here for easy viewing. How would you have styled these fun rainbow pompom sandals? There’s so many ways, let’s hear from you guys! Thanks for stopping by and wishing everyone a wonderful start to a new week. Cheers, my loves. x

LOVE & XX’S,

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Chic Rainy Day Outfit

May 13, 2019

WEARING: COTTON-BLEND TRENCH COAT | NAVY BLUE LACE TRIM DRESS | RED PATENT MEDIUM CROSSBODY BAG | BLACK CHELSEA RAIN BOOTS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ALLISON NEW YORK, ARCADIA BAGS & LEMON JELLY BOOTS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I thought the expression went, “April showers bring May flowers” but the month of May has been quite wet in terms of weather. Since it’s the last May showers before summer weather arrives, I wanted to share a rainy day outfit that’s not too casual - because even on the rainiest of days we’ve got places to be and people to meet! And given it’s wedding season, I’m also sharing a two-for-one look with a lace trim dress that’s perfect to wear as a guest to a wedding and other occasions such as bridal and baby showers, this dress is also great for everyday wear. I’ve also found the most gorgeous Italian red patent crossbody bag that won’t have you breaking the bank. So continue reading to see the complete look and also where to shop these specific items, for dry and/or rainy days.

This cute, A-line dress features covered front buttons, lovely crochet lace trim, and a ruffled, flared skirt for a charming feminine look. I think one shade of blue that works well all year round is in fact, navy blue. I think it’s a modest but regal color that’s perfect to wear while attending a wedding or shower of some kind. But I love to be able to wear items on more than one occasion. Which is why this dress is great for that. I styled it for everyday wear to show you its versatility. Fits true to size, it’s the ultimate romantic dress for this season. It runs at originally $185, but I found this dress on Nordstrom marked down half its price at $90! Check out this gorgeous navy blue dress here or down below.

An on trend white sole meets a classic Chelsea boot for an innovative, fresh appearance. The majority of rain boots I see are not very chic, but I really loved these black pair of rain boots. These ankle boot are in PVC, compliant with REACH European health and environmental standards against the effects of noxious substances. With a glossy finish and lemon-scented (literally not joking - I was pleasantly surprised when I first opened the package upon receiving it) these boots do run a little small so I recommend ordering a size up. If you’re a 1/2 size of any kind, I’d choose the next size up as well. These run for $150 but they’re also on sale at Nordstrom for only $80.

Arcadia Laila belongs to the famous “patent print” collection. It’s perfect for an elegant look, but at the same time it’s also fashionable thanks to the double adjustment gold chain. It’s made with a patent print calf skin and it has a customized lock on the front and a comfortable inner zip pocket. I love the bold pop of color from this bag when it comes to this rainy day look. But I’d also style it with an all white outfit or even a black pantsuit. Red always brings life to an outfit, in my opinion. If you shop on Arcadia, use my discount code, ‘suzanne10’ to receive 10% off!

I hope you enjoyed this chic rainy day outfit! Those rain boots can especially be worn during warmer weather, as the material is not as clunky/heavy. It is quite suitable for New York weather, as it’s going to be wet up until Wednesday. One day it is 70 and sunny and the following it’s rainy and 48 - seriously can’t seem to make up its mind, Mother Nature! Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a wonderful week and a dry Monday ;)

LOVE & XX’S,

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How I Feel About Blogging Lately

May 1, 2019

WEARING: OVERSIZED BLACK BLAZER | SKINNY JEANS | BLACK BAG | BLACK & GREEN WATCH | BLACK MARY JANES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LOWER OFFICIAL BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I’ve been wanting to write this post all week but alas I’ve been quite the mess. My dog, MaQ, even though seems to be his good cherry self, has had some kind of skin infection (or so it seemed) but after a vet visit and the blood work came back, his albumin levels were lower than they should be. So tomorrow we will be going in to have an abdominal ultrasound to further investigate the problem. I PRAY that there’s nothing serious, but given the fact this is the first time my baby is not well (internally) I want to be safe rather than sorry. And in doing so, I’ve been super anxious all week, to the point where I canceled all my meetings, events… everything. I know a lot will disagree, that the world keeps on ticking, but he’s more than just a dog to me. He’s my child and without him I’m not sure what’s left of me. Most have been incredibly supportive (and THANK you for the uplifting msgs/comments/etc;) but what’s been going on with MaQ lately has me thinking a lot about the future, and what that entails of in the blogging world and which direction I would like to take. Continue reading for more on my thoughts on this rather difficult subject and my fears for what lies ahead.

On a daily basis I receive approximately 10-15 invitations to press previews, launch events, and then some where in the start to my career in blogging, I accepted almost every invitation to network and expand my business. But now coming up on four years in August, I am highly selective with my time. Many of these events are to fill the room, as in to make it look like the event is lively and engaging, I get that, and in turn we, as bloggers show up for support and networking abilities but how many times do we really connect with others (business-wise) at an event where nearly everyone is drinking alcohol, bringing their +1’s because they need a hand to hold and gossip with, only to never really be as proactive as one can be during such a place and time. I rarely see strangers starting up conversations, and more so the cliquey groups I detested in high school. Don’t get me wrong, you can connect while boozing, I’m sure, but in all likelihood, it’s not going to happen. Especially when there’s hundreds of people in the room. I’m more about intimate gatherings, or one-on-one meetings where you have a better chance in what I’m talking about. I’m not the type of person who likes to see and be seen. Frankly, I don’t give a shit and would rather be in the comfort of my own home in my pj’s snuggled up with my dog.

It’s also the experience that comes with. I actually hate being called an influencer, because I don’t consider to be one. When you see others talking in selfie form on stories and load after load of unboxings, gifts, press trips, and always THE SAME OLE’ THING, it’s gets old relatively fast. I don’t even like to tell others I’m a blogger because of first impressions. Many have given the blogging label a bad rep, and I hate to have fallen in to that category because I’m far from it. I’m first and foremost a writer. I tend to forget at times due to the very difficult career path and yes, it’s not easy at all. But after being a writer, I consider myself a creative director and stylist who wants to further concentrate my energy into creation - such as fashion editorials, photo essays and more. It’s been a while since I wrote my last body of work, and to be quite honest, I haven’t jumped back on the wagon quite yet because of fear and the pressures of what comes next after writing your first book. It’s terrifying. I do have a number of ideas, but in recent years have lost a lot of confidence, therefore feeling very uncertain about the future. All I know is I definitely don’t see myself posting OOTD’S for the rest of my life, lol. So where do I go from here?

But after the past week with what’s going on with MaQ, it has put many things in perspective. My family comes first, because without them I’m nothing. They mean everything to me, and if anyone doesn’t seem to quite understand that, they can stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. I’m serious. “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.” My favorite Game of Thrones quote, it’s the epitome of what family means to me. We are better together rather than alone. I would love to add to our family, but that’s a long story and a whole other blog post alone. And even though it’s my '“job” to share a lot of my life to you all, I couldn’t disagree more. I’m like the Keanu Reeves of blogging. I relish in my privacy. And will keep it that way. Never hurts to leave a little mystery behind.

I’m sure you have heard by now but if you haven’t, Instagram is considering hiding the amount of likes on everyone’s account. And I think this is wonderful. Talk about healthy engagement. Because it never should be about the numbers, but the CONTENT. Is it good quality? Does it tell a story? Does it transport me to somewhere? And I think this idea would be greatly beneficial to the younger generation, where studies have shown the toxicity within social media and how validation plays such a terrible role. I mean, how many times have you felt bad when a post bombed? I know I have. I would like to focus on slow-creation as I term it, where back in the Avedon/Penn days, photographs/content would take a lot of time. Nothing was digital and the appreciation after waiting for the final product was always worth it. Nowadays, we can’t seem to go fast enough. And it’s exhausting, fully saturated with so many doing the exact same concept (YAWN) or even worse, just ripping off one another’s ideas. And yes, everything comes from somewhere but the way we interpret it is key. So I’m focusing on advancing in videography (something I’m good at but hate doing lol) where we can start to evolve our content into something fresh and new again. I will also be taking more focus on my writing,

I used to have trepidations of not staying consistent on the gram. Meaning, if I didn’t post everyday, I was in serious trouble! OMG, how ridiculous does that sound?! I would rather have my audience wait and appreciate the work rather than nonstop photos of outfits, events, etc; where it just gets to be too much and no one can really concentrate on the work, which is most important to me. That’s another reason I don’t post as much on stories either anymore because I find it creepy sharing your every move. And who really cares what you’re having for dinner? Unless you’re a major public figure like Angelina Jolie, you got me. I will keep my presence online, but will definitely not be posting everyday of the week anymore, which I have been doing for several months now.

So, while I have some projects I am really going to concentrate on for the remainder of the year, I would love to know from my readers on what you’d like to see me cover more on my social media platforms. Don’t worry - I will still post, go to (some) events and live my life, but what would you want to see more of? Fashion? Writing on more serious topics? Beauty? Travel? Pet lifestyle? Maybe some crime? Or still maybe a little bit of everything? I would love to have some feedback from you guys to better assess our future content. Thanks for stopping by and reading! Don’t forget to drop your comments down below and chime in on what you’d like to see more of on MaQ + Suz! Until next time, wish us luck tomorrow at MaQ’s sonogram and keep sending those positive vibes! Nothing but Love & Light to you all. xx

LOVE & XX’S,

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Was It gu_de For You?

April 24, 2019

WEARING: GREEN DRESS | NEON BLAZER | IVORY BAG | SNAKE PRINT SANDALS | VEDA SLATE HOOPS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY VIONIC SHOES & GU_DE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Korean fashion caters to a woman's needs for versatile styles, from romantic and girly to urban and cute-tomboyish. Thanks to the refined materials, sophisticated workmanship and fashion-forward designs, Korean fashion is on heavy rotation in my wardrobe as of late and I couldn’t be happier about it. (For those who are new to our site, I’m 50% Korean) One brand in particular, focusing on handbags, is the new wave in purse talent and I’ve been madly in love with their pieces for several years. I can now say I’m a proud owner to one of their handbags, and in today’s post, the beautiful ivory bag is the star feature! Continue reading to learn more about one of my favorite accessory brands and to see more photos!

Pronounced ‘good’, this ’70s-inspired label creates understated bags in timeless, minimal shapes. Produced in South Korea, founder Ji Hye Koo has cited her customers’ thirst for newness as the inspiration for her intriguing designs. It takes about two months to design a bag from scratch - making sure every detail is just right requires time and patience. This croc-effect leather 'Milky' tote is inspired by structured styles from the '70s and has internal card slots, so you can go without a wallet. When you're not carrying it by the top handle, attach either the leather or chain strap. Their eternal philosophy of timeless beauty brings the best quality at a reasonable price. gu_de is the "new classic” to those who love signature luxury items. Along with interesting variations in their product line for every season, gu_de is definitely a brand to watch in the coming years.

I love finding comfortable shoes that don’t look comfortable. These snake print sandals from Vionic shoes have just the right look to bring that extra edge to an outfit! They are not clunky at all, with a little over of a 3” heel, it fits true to size and also come in an all black color. But I just love the snake print - definitely can see myself wearing it into fall with a sock and sandal look too! They retail at around $140 on Zappos, but they’re a great investment piece to have in you shoe closet as I think they’re wearable for more than just one season.

Hope you guys enjoyed this neon retro look with some of my latest favorite accessories - was it gu_de for you? ;) Stay tuned at the end of the week for my monthly roundup of beauty favorites, where I’ll be sharing everything I’ve been trying out the past month and reviewing roughly ten items that are my ultimate faves. Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you a fab hump day :)