April Beauty Favorites

April 26, 2019

Hi, everyone! I am posting my beauty favorites this month a little bit earlier than normal. MaQ has not been feeling well the past few days and took him to the vet yesterday where they run numerous tests. He is in good spirits but his skin has been horrible. We’ve got him under antibiotics and has been resting comfortably, but am just really hoping it isn’t anything serious. I’ll know more in the next few days, but will definitely not be working as much this weekend to spend some time with my baby. But kick back and relax while you dive into my April beauty favorites featuring the latest in my skincare and makeup routine, such as an amazing rose-scented sleeping mask, foundation, the ultimate luxe lipstick, and tons more, you’ll definitely want to check out some of the latest trends in the beauty world. Continue reading to see and learn more! Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

FRESH ROSE DEEP HYDRATION SLEEPING MASK

This next-level sleeping mask is proven to give you the appearance of plumper, smoother skin after as little as one night of use. Start by replenishing moisture with a cooling gel essence powered by rosewater, damask rose extract, and hyaluronic acid. Then lock it in with a silky water-cream mask that uses time-release technology. What I love most about this mask is that it is long-lasting and super refreshing. Perfect for anyone who loves that dewy, glowing skin.

bAREMINERALS ENDLESS GLOW HIGHLIGHTER

The Endless Glow Highlighter from bareMinerals is a mineral-based powder highlighter that gives a naturally luminous, dew-kissed glow. Clean, mineral highlighting powder provides long-lasting, lit-from-within luminosity while blurring the appearance of pores and imperfections. Talc-free formula gives you a smooth, photo-ready finish that won't crease, cake or crack.

CLINIQUE EVEN BETTER FOUNDATION IN MERINGUE

Clinique’s Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 is a dermatologist-developed foundation that instantly perfects and actively improves with every wear. Hydrates and smoothes (hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid). The creamy formula gives skin a natural finish. Getting matched took less than 3 minutes (I'm the shade Meringue) and it's only $29! Comes in 60 shades!

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN LOUBIGRAFFITI NAIL POLISH IN JAZZY DOLL

Christian Louboutin Beauty presents LoubiGraffiti, the color-drenched limited-edition collection that celebrates spring in the city. Inspired by the extravagant graffiti looks of Maison Christian Louboutin's LoubiGraf collection, LoubiGraffiti will spice up your lips and nails with its audacious street style.
Graffiti spirit is about boundless creative freedom something which Christian Louboutin has always infused into his creations. LoubiGraffiti's four Velvet Matte lip colors and six nail colors are an open invitation to explore, create and express yourself through bold color-clashing.
Because above all else, LoubiGraffiti is about powerful colors: hues that clash and contrast with clever abandon. You can never have too much. The collection's lip and nail colors are ultra-pigmented, giving a vivid, high-impact effect playing with dramatic matte lips and ultra-glossy nails. This season is yours, live it how you want! Dare to paint your pout the luscious pink of Bengali Velvet Matte, then add a vibrant pop of blue to your nails with Baraboum. The nail color's finish is as glossy as the iconic Christian Louboutin red sole patent leather stiletto and the perfect contrast to your matte lips.
LoubiGraffiti's cheeky clashes and contrasts evoke the eclectic Maison's style. Because who else but Christian Louboutin would dare to bring together a devastatingly chic stiletto and a street style-inspired graffiti design? LoubiGraffiti's limited edition packaging is splashed with bright graffiti prints and presented in craft paper bags sealed with graffiti-inspired street art stickers. Playful and bright, chic and street, LoubiGraffiti is just the thing to spark your inspiration this spring.

DR. JART + FOCUSPOT DARK CIRCLE MICRO TIP PATCHES

The advanced Dr. Jart+ Focuspot™ Micro Tip Patches inspired by microneedling has micro tips that penetrate and melt deeply into the skin’s surface to deliver active ingredients such as 72% Hyaluronic Acid and nourishing Vitamin A that target & treat blemishes, dark spots, dark circle, and fine lines and wrinkles. Safe for sensitive skin - my fav is the dark circle patches. Available now at Sephora!

DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C. FRAMBOOS™ GLYCOLIC NIGHT SERUM

This high-tech gel resurfaces dull skin, lifting dead skin cells away by gently dissolving the glue that holds them to the surface. The results are greater clarity and a smoother, more even-looking complexion. Formulated with a dream-team AHA/BHA blend including glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and salicylic acids, and blended with raspberry extract, T.L.C. Framboos™ sinks in easily and delivers an effective level of chemical exfoliation without the harsh side effects like dryness or sensitization. Fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration, along with excess oiliness and the appearance of pores, appear dramatically diminished over time. Horse chestnut, bearberry, and white tea help to calm and soothe, while improving the appearance of broken capillaries. Go from a drab complexion to an absolutely luminous one—practically overnight.

PAT MCGRATH LABS MATTETRANCE™ LIPSTICK IN OBSESSED!

MatteTrance™ is a richly pigmented lipstick with a sensually creamy, powerful pigment that evokes screen siren glamour with every application. Each shade is presented like a jewel in a black-lacquered couture case fashioned with a sensually surrealist golden lip that’s destined to be a cult-status collectable.
Get entrancing color that satisfies with supreme hydration and opulent matte opacity. Flaunt this richly pigmented formulation, cloaking lips in a lightweight veil of rich color. It’s infused with optical diffusers that blur the appearance of imperfections, combined with a blend of polymers to provide flexibility and adherence. An advanced formulation of spherical particles ensure a creamy soft texture for the smoothest film of color. Each shade is enmeshed in a powder film combined with saturated pigment for lightweight opaque coverage. This lipstick lays down a high impact with a strong finish. My favorite shade is ‘Obsessed!’ 211, the perfect orange-red shade.

COLOURPOP COSMETICS ENTENDRE EYESHADOW PALETTE

ColourPop's Double Entendre Pressed Powder Shadow Palette is the perfect palette for everyone! Your new go-to, your ride or die, your partner in crime - this palette holds the ultimate everyday, nude neutrals. With 12 shades, ranging from cool to warm, matte to metallic, you and this palette will be inseparable. You can never have too many nudes...

Shades:

Locked & Loaded (matte pale yellow)
Uninhibited (metallic deep gold)
Hot Bod (matte chocolate brown with gold flecks)
Flasher (satin soft ivory)
Nekkid (matte pastel orange)
Extra Curricular (matte burnt orange)
Hard (matte deep terracotta)
Draft (metallic rich rose gold)
Keep it PG (metallic champagne gold)
Nip Slip (matte warm saddle brown)
Send Noodles (matte soft tan)
Teddy Bare (matte deep chocolate brown)

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 :)

LOVE & XX’S,

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How to Style A Yellow Neon Snake Print Skirt

April 19, 2019

WEARING: MEN’S BLAZER | SNAKE PRINT SKIRT | BEIGE SUEDE AND LEATHER SHOULDER BAG | WHITE STRAPPY SANDALS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LE PARMENTIER PARIS, NOBODY’S CHILD, & LINZI BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

It’s Friday! I don’t know about you folks, but it’s been one hell of a week. Everything went wrong, and no matter how hard I tried to persevere, more and more continued to fall downward. It was a disaster. First I had the eye situation (see in last post), then tried to get back to work shooting content that was delayed because of that (of course, everything I need to photograph was beauty shots! UGH) and then came the unpredictable weather. If the meteorologist said it was sunny, we’d go out to shoot and voila, out came the rain. And vice-versa! I had to skip all my events this week just to try and catch up on my workload, which is something I really hate doing. If I say I’m going to be somewhere, I’m going to be there. And no matter what I tried to style this week, whatever I did it just didn’t seem to work. I am extremely hard on myself, and never feel my best is even close to good enough. Any suggestions on how to be easier on myself without having the guilt of ‘slacking’ or not doing my ultimate best? Meanwhile, check out the latest outfit post where I style a yellow neon snake print skirt with some very fashionable accessories, including a favorite: stealing from my husband’s wardrobe! Continue reading to see complete shoot along with where you can find these pieces online!

I ‘borrowed’ this men’s jacket from my husband’s closet. By the French designer, Pierre Cardin, he prefers geometric shapes and motifs, often ignoring the female form. He advanced into unisex fashions, sometimes experimental, and not always practical. When I saw the silhouette of this jacket, I knew it’d look great as an oversized blazer on me. I think it helps create more masculinity into this look, which is also quite feminine from the waist down. I kept it simple with a black t-shirt to not overshadow this amazing blazer. What do you think of oversized pieces in women’s clothing? Yay or nay?

The Yucca Shoulder Bag crafted in smooth genuine Italian calf leather and velvety suede, pulls out all the stops with its updated take on the classic saddle silhouette that keeps you discreetly organized all day and stylist on casual fun nights. Featuring a flap top magnetic snap closure with bold hardware detail, adjustable wide shoulder strap and gold tone hardware detail, you can get your Yucca bag from Forzieri. You can use the code code name: SUZANNE15 for 15% OFF on Le Parmentier bags collection at forzieri.com valid April 19th - May 17th.

I’ve been eyeing the strappy sandals from The Row, but even someone like myself can’t always afford the splurge into higher-end goods. Which is why I love to dupe, from time to time, especially when they look and feel amazing such as these white spring/summer sandals I’m wearing by Linzi Shoes. Made with soft faux leather, with a toe post and a strappy lace up that has almost a 4” heel, but it doesn’t feel that way. They’re actually quite comfy! This particular heel also comes in black and snake skin print, so be sure to check ‘em out! Also, each pair are under $40, a great deal!

Last but not least, the snake print skirt. It’s yellow neon, has an elastic waist (my favorite) with a pleat and midi-length. I’d easily wear this skirt with a white t-shirt and some sneakers, but I wanted to vamp it up with a mixture of my usual style of juxtaposed feminine and masculine pieces. I hope you guys enjoyed this outfit post, stay tuned for a video and different look on Monday! It’s going to be a really fun post, so can’t wait to share with you guys! Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend, for those that celebrate. Much love, always. x

LOVE & XX’S,

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Yellow Floral Cami Midi Dress

April 15, 2019

WEARING: YELLOW FLORAL CAMI MIDI DRESS | LIME GREEN CARDIGAN | YELLOW O-RING BAG | WHITE SANDALS

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY EGO & NOBODY’S CHILD BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Can’t say mine was too sweet… had a terrible allergic reaction in one of my eyes where I’ve looked like Quasimodo for the past few days. It looks awful, I won’t even do stories. It’s been fun telling everyone my hubby clocked me. Ha ha! Kidding aside, it’s brought a little bit of stress on deadlines (especially beauty campaigns) but all will be well. One step at a time, and it’s okay to slow down when you are not well. Plus, GoT came back on so I’m complaining about that! I’m still on the mend - my theory is it’s either a bug bite or a very bad reaction to a questionable mascara. Other than that, you got me. So today’s post is light and simple - a beautiful airy yellow cami midi dress for spring/summer that’s a must-have in any woman’s wardrobe. Plus, it’s under $50 and you can style it in so many ways for several seasons! Continue reading to see more of the dress and how I styled it for spring.

Refresh your wardrobe with casual cool essentials by London brand Nobody's Child. Think tomboy meets girly-girl, as seasonal styles – including crop tops, jumpsuits and day dresses - are revamped in punchy prints and new shapes. This plisse midi cami dress in ditsy floral can be found at ASOS for those that are in the U.S. You can get it for less than $50 here and here. I styled it with a long green cardigan and layer with a white shirt because it was still chilly when we shot this last week.

With a chunky cleated sole and bold buckle detail, these are the hottest sandals to be seen in this coming season. Pair with denim cutoffs and a cropped cami for beachy vibes or slip on with a floaty mini dress to toughen up your look. I thought it went really well with what I had on, keeping a nice juxtaposition of hard and soft feel here. And these white platform sandals are a dream to walk in - like clouds on your feet! I think they’ll look cute in socks for chillier days too, so I’m sure you’ll see these sandals make a reappearance at some point.

The classic and original design of the seamless O ring handle, this unique clutch is the representation of designer’s idea of style. A fun, quirky design with high quality material that you can use in your everyday life. The size is perfect for all the essentials you need. It is fashionable and can still easily match any of your style and fit in any occasion. Unfortunately it’s sold out, but I found one yellow o-ring bag on Etsy for sale! Hope you enjoyed this playful spring look on the blog today! Feel free to drop your thoughts down in the comment section below! Have a wonderful week. :)

LOVE & XX’S,

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5 WAYS TO WEAR YOUR HERMÈS SCARF

April 12, 2019

Happy Friday! For my birthday this year, my husband gifted me an accessory I’ve been wanting for quite sometime: An Hermès carre scarf. Timeless, classic, utter perfection. The story behind the scarf: Artist Pierre Marie pays tribute to the "Les Amoureux de Paris" scarf, designed by Maurice Tranchant in the 1950s, on which several famous couples silhouette against a map of the City of Light. A marriage proposal on the Right Bank, a couple dancing on the Left Bank, love is alive on both sides of the Seine in Paris, the most romantic of cities. A jogging couple head for the Tuileries Garden, two cyclists embrace near the Madeleine church, a pair of skateboarders meet up in the Quai de la Gare quarter. The new interpretation is illustrated by contemporary lovers, straight out of everyday life. It holds such a beautiful message on top of such a beautiful piece. And what I love most about this scarf is its versatile abilities when it comes to styling. The possibilities are endless. Which is why in today’s post, I’m really excited to be sharing 5 different ways to wear your Hermès scarf! I could have worn it in so many other ways with this particular piece, but I chose to go with styles that I’d wear often, are practical and chic. Continue reading to see how you can achieve the looks along with where to get this beautiful scarf!

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THE CLASSIC HEADSCARF

Head scarves can be dressy and classic - think Princess Grace of Monaco or Audrey Hepburn - or sporty and casual... and an excellent solution to 'bad hair' days! I tied it in the front under my chin here but you can also try crossing the ends of the scarf under your chin, then take them round to the back (or side) of your neck and tie them. Pair it with some sunnies for the French Riviera look!

THE HEAD WRAP

A street smart update on the classic headscarf. I actually refer this the pirate/painter way as these are the types of people wearing the scarf as such, lol. Fold your scarf into a triangle and drape it over your head with the long edge of the triangle across your forehead. Take the two ends back across the sides of your head and tie at the back in a square knot.

THE BELT WRAP

Tie the silk scarf around your waist, swap ends to the opposite hand, then tie at the back to secure. It instantly adds a pop of color and pattern and is an unexpected detail that can totally make a basic outfit look so much more polished and stylish. Wrap it through your belt loops and knot it in front, or wrap it around your waist to carve out your shape in a billowy dress or top. So easy, so chic.

THE PONYTAIL WRAP

A glamorous way to accessorize a simple ponytail. A ponytail is not just a ponytail when accented with a beautiful scarf! This style can employ either an along-the-length folded oblong scarf or a square scarf in a bias-band fold.Fold your scarf on the bias, then wrap it twice around your ponytail, finishing with a square knot. For a very dressy look for evening, tie the ends in a big bow!

STANDARD SCARF WRAP

I could have shown the Lady Lavallière - silk ties for the butterfly effect. (Looks like a huge bow) but I could not see myself wearing it this way as every day use. So I went with the standard scarf wrap, except I kept the triangle end unfolded to create a little more flair to something that is quite traditional. What do you think? You can also styles scarves around handbags, wrists, tops and so much more.