Casual Sexy Black Summer Outfit

August 11, 2019

WEARING: BLACK CAMI TOP | BLACK SKIRT | BLACK SANDALS | LEOPARD BAG

Happy Sunday! I’ve been quite the busy bee, running around, working and then some to get ready for fall, which is why you’ve seen less content on the blog this week. Plus it is summer after all, and it’s been really nice to have some downtime and actually relax. So in today’s post I’m sharing a very casual, but sexy outfit that is just perfect for the weekend. And each piece from this look is super affordable and comfy. Continue reading to see more of this black summer outfit!

When I think of a sexy summer top that can be worn during the day but also at the night, the first thing to come to mind is this lace cami top. It’s light, breezy and just the right amount of sexy without going overboard. Subtle is sexy. And this cami top is a definite keeper for fall, imagine the layering ideas one can do! This top is also only $10!! I styled the top with a high-slit black skirt. Again, keeping it pretty simple.

My favorite part of this look are the accessories. These studded sandals are so me! Summer sandals don't get hotter than this. The Mila in black faux leather features gold studded detail and a chunky sole to rival all chunky soles. They’d look amazing with biker shorts, shirt dresses and an all-black look as such. How would you wear these kind of sandals? The leopard bag I’m carrying is no longer in stock, but I’ve link a very similar one from Aldo that’s also super great :) Wishing you a great rest of the weekend. I’ll be enjoying it with the boys and a good book. xo

LOVE & XX’S,

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July Beauty Favorites

July 31, 2019

Last day of July calls for a monthly roundup of beauty favorites! In today’s post, I’m sharing the latest skincare and makeup products that I deem to be my favorites from this month. This includes a new fragrance brand I have never tried but fell in love with, a colorful orange palette makeup collection that’s extremely affordable, a nourishing oil for face, body and hair, shimmering dry oils, and a Korean beauty starter kit perfect for your holiday travels. Continue reading to learn more about these products along with where you can find them!

PARFUMS DE MARLY ‘CISSILI’ FRAGRANCE

A joyful fragrance with a floral fruity scent on a woody vanilla base--this new creation invites you to indulge into the fresh sweetness of its scent.

KEY NOTES:
- Top notes: red currant, Bulgarian rose, transparent white flowers
- Middle notes: plum accord, mimosa absolute, plumeria, petalia
- Base notes: sandalwood, tonka beans, vanilla pod

COLOURPOP ORANGE YOU SWEET SET

The new neutral in town, and she’s orange. Get the entire orange collection including Colourpop’s newest 9-pan palette and brand new curated sets to match! There’s four super shocks, lip glosses, makeup brushes, blush sticks, lippie sticks and lip gloss, it’s the perfect orange palette set. Here are the 9 shades of the eyeshadow palette:

Zested - matte pale apricot
Squeeze Me - metallic yellow orange with gold flip
Creamsicle - matte peachy orange
Rise N Grind - matte vivid orange
Clementine - orange glitter with a copper flip
Sunkiss’d - matte neon tangerine
Tangerine Dreams - metallic mid tone red orange
Mimosa Mami - matte bright red orange
Ya Peel Me? - matte mid tone rust

DAVINES AUTHENTIC NOURISHING OIL

For all hair and skin types. Authentic Nourishing Oil contains 100% natural origin ingredients and 30% of organically grown safflower oil. The oil is free from artificial colors, silicones and PEG, leaving hair and skin silky and glowing. I even use this oil as a cleansing balm to remove makeup from the day, but my favorite use of this oil is for my hair. Now that I’m trying to grow my hair long, it keeps the ends moisturized and softer. And the subtle smell is incredible.

111SKIN ROSE GOLD RADIANCE BOOSTER

Founded by renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, 111SKIN combines decades of expertise with the latest ingredients. Formulated with Damask Rose Extract and Gold, this serum is formulated to relieve inflamed skin and enhance natural radiance. This radiance booster is a bit expensive, retailing at $160 at.68 fl oz (!!) but it is well worth the investment. I use this serum for days when I’m utterly exhausted and my face needs an extreme pick-me-up. When that second cup of coffee won’t do, use this immediately and your skin will immediately be revived.

SOL BODY SHIMMERING DRY OIL

It’s that Friday feeling in a bottle. Delivers a shimmering, good-for-the-soul glow that nourishes skin and highlights your highlights. My favorites are a rich, glowing bronze with highlights of copper and gold pearl. The other is a more silvery tint to it called, ‘Platinum’. Comes with a lovely kabuki brush that’s oh so soft. The perfect accessory for summer. Works for all bodies and skin tones.

DR. CURE 7 STARTER KIT

See a drastic improvement to your skin's hydration and melt those fine lines away. This starter kit includes mini-sized versions of their products so you can change your skin routine with one simple kit. It’s perfect for travel. I love all of them but my favorite out of this kit are the teardrops.

Kit includes:

3 Healing Melting Masques

Trial-Sized Collagen Powder Cleanser
0.5g/0.02oz

Trial-Sized Hyaluron Intensive Serum
10ml/0.35oz

Trial-Sized Teardrop Vitamin A or E
8g/0.28oz

Trial-Sized Snow Pearl Cream Mist
30ml/1oz

LOVE & XX’S,

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Orange Summer Look

July 29, 2019

WEARING: ORANGE SPAGHETTI STRAP DRESS | RED POM POM RAFFIA BUCKET BAG | ROSE METALLIC SANDALS

Ready to start the week in a colorful number! Let’s have a party in this look, perfect for an evening out that involves dancing around in this dress. It is quite the showstopper. And right now it is on sale at an unbelievable price - with some really chic accessories to go with the it. Continue reading to see more details along with direct links to shop these pieces.

This summer I’ve been totally into raffia and pom pom. They’re just fun materials to style with and when I came across this bag that had both, I knew I had to share it with you guys. The petite bucket bag that features an adjustable shoulder strap, interior slip pocket, top handle, along with cinch top drawstring closure. Providing style and sophistication, this piece will add drama to your favorite outfit. And I think it goes perfectly with the orange fringe dress. It’s also on sale at over 50% off.

How gorgeous are these soft metallic nappa sandals? I love the details: ankle tie wrap, a medium height chunky heel with light colored wood finish and a touch of cushion to soften your step. It is the perfect chic summer sandal. They go really well with a variety of dresses, but I felt these worked best with this outfit. Orange, pink, rose gold? Sounds like a yummy dessert to me, say… a rich orange sherbert? ;)

LOVE & XX’S,

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3 Ways to Wear Tie Dye

July 22, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BLUE VANILLA BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

When it comes to elegance and ultimate sophistication in fashion, tie-dye is probably not the type of clothing you’d first consider. The term “tie-dye” first appeared in the United States during the 1960's. Hippies, who were protesting the Vietnam War and promoting peace and love, began wearing clothing with vibrant colors and psychedelic designs. If you wore tie dye you stood for something! And in today’s post, I’m standing up to show you tie-dye can be very chic and stylish. I’m sharing 3 ways to wear the comeback trend; as a top, as a bottom and as a dress! Continue reading to see full visual story.

The first look is all about sporty and feminine pieces together. I love the juxtaposition behind contrasting styles and this is a combination I often go for. The tiered, lace, pleated skirt is actually a dress, but given that I wanted the yellow tie-dye shirt to stand out, I didn’t want to cover up the piece with the dress. So I styled it by tucked the top part of the dress underneath, and resulting in creating a skirt. To pair the feminine details of the skirt, I accessorized with a pearl hair clip and cute orange and white abstract clutch, designed by a friend of mine. To contrast with the pretty details, I went for a pair of chunky trainers to go in the mix.

WEARING: BLACK BELTED BLAZER | TIE DYE JOGGERS | BLACK SANDALS | BLACK BUCKET HAT

Needless to say, getting dressed for work during the summer is not the easiest thing to do. You want to wear something that's going to keep you cool during your commute, warm in your freezing office, plus take you from your desk to al fresco drinks—all while sticking to an office dress code. This black belted blazer has clean cut lines and perfectly tailored shoulders and lapels. It is in a slightly stretchy fabric, giving you a full range of motion and a comfortable fit. This perfect piece will fulfill both the oversized boyfriend blazer trend and the tailored belted blazer trend. Can be worn without the belt as a classic blazer or with the detachable belt for a more trendy look this season. To give it a more boho style, I wore tie-die joggers and a bucket hat. I think this outfit would be best on Casual Friday. And the tie-dye joggers are so cozy, it’ll be like wearing pj’s at the office. :)

WEARING: TIE DYE DRESS | SUMMER TOTE | ROPE SANDALS

The final and third look is a casual weekend outfit. Something that can easily be worn to the beach, the farmer’s market, brunch, and city strolls. I fell in love with the blue color of this tie-dye dress. And apparently many others as well, since it is already sold out! But if you click through the link, there is a way to be notified once the dress is restocked. I styled the dress with neutral toned accessories such as a large tote and rope sandals. Handcrafted in Peru, the Braided Frida Shopper is the perfect accessory for chic summer outings. This easy to carry and relaxed style is handwoven by indigenous female artisans and shaped with an open top that reveals a spacious compartment. Intricate weaving and long twisted braids further elevate this must-have, versatile accessory that comes in a chic olive shade, a lively mustard hue, a soft pink, an ice blue and a classic beige.

LOVE & XX’S,

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7 Favorite AmorePacific Beauty Products

July 18, 2019

AMOREPACIFIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS: TREATMENT CLEANSING FOAM | TREATMENT CLEANSING OIL FACE & EYES | PACIFIC TREATMENT ENZYME PEEL | YOUTH REVOLUTION VITAMIN C RADIANCE CONCENTRATOR | THE ESSENTIAL CREME FLUID | TIME RESPONSE SKIN RESERVE CREME | YOUTH REVOLUTION RADIANCE CREME & MASQUE

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

Korean beauty’s innovative technology is upgrading our everyday regime, and being Korean, I also was blessed with a Korean mother teaching me the secret ways behind flawless Korean skin. From ‘slapping’ on toner to eight to 12 steps skincare steps repeated twice daily, the rituals may be time-consuming and a bit different, but the results are well worth the extra few minutes at the sink, along with spending a little extra buck to get what you’re looking for, in terms of your skin. Which is why I’ve rounded up 7 of my favorite products from fan-favorite brand AmorePacific to help you get started. Continue reading to learn more along with direct links to shop each product!

TREATMENT CLEANSING FOAM

Perfect for normal to oily skin, this foaming cream cleanser removes impurities and makeup without stripping the skin of vital moisture while helping to treat and prevent breakouts. Olive oil, sunflower seed oil, and mango seed butter cleanse the skin thoroughly without drying it out, while natural sugars hydrate and soften. As the cleanser is massaged onto the skin, micro-encapsulated vitamin E beads deliver a burst of antioxidant protection, leaving the complexion clean and refreshed. Sensitive to all skin types, it acts as a purifying antioxidant complex that also treats acne.

TREATMENT CLEANSING OIL FACE & EYES

This gentle cleanser for the face and eyes is a blend of botanical oils—including green tea seed, babassu palm, and coconut oil—that dissolves and lifts away impurities and makeup (even waterproof mascara) without stripping away skin’s natural moisture. Upon contact with water, the multitasking formula transforms into a silky, non-oily emulsion that also works to improve skin luminosity and moisture retention for a smooth, glowing complexion. It is further enriched with hydrating green tea leaf extract and a radiance-boosting blend of ginseng root and white birch extract.

TREATMENT ENZYME PEEL CLEANSING POWDER

Reformulated for daily use, this deep-cleansing exfoliator uses papaya- and green tea-derived enzymes to remove dulling residue without irritating healthy skin for a brighter glow. The water-activated, powder-to-foam formula leaves skin moisturized and primed to best receive ingredients to follow.

YOUTH REVOLUTION VITAMIN C RADIANCE CONCENTRATOR

This serum helps rid skin of Aging Dust™, preventing these damaging factors from accumulating on the surface causing dullness, uneven tone, and pigmentation. Its dual-chamber release combines two skin-brightening, antioxidant-rich formulas to address early signs of aging and boost radiance. Vitamin C works to even skin tone, while white peony helps with overall tone improvement and skin's firmness. Soothing green tea polysaccharides further work to brighten the complexion.

THE ESSENTIAL CREME FLUID

The Essential Crème Fluid offers the ultimate in green tea antioxidants for your skin. Each bottle contains 150 baby green tea leaves handpicked from the brand's green tea gardens. T-Essentials, a vital nutrient from green tea polysaccharides and green tea carotenoid, enhance and recover skin's moisture, texture, and flexibility. Neutra-Melting Emulsion Technology, the brand's exclusive technology, neutralizes oils from botanicals for all the nutrient-rich benefits in a silky texture. Micro Moisture Capsule Factor unlocks moisture deep within skin's layers and teaches skin to retain moisture more effectively.

TIME RESPONSE SKIN RESERVE CREME

This rich, anti-aging cream melts onto skin forming a lightweight protective layer to help improve the look of skin elasticity, hydration, and skin tone. This advanced formula contains AMOREPACIFIC’s highest-grade and most concentrated green tea to help visibly plump and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. I use this during the winter time in replace of the creme fluid, which I use during the warmer seasons.

YOUTH REVOLUTION RADIANCE CREME & MASQUE

This transformative formula suspends the aging cycle with 24-7 brightening benefits. Its versatile, sherbet-like texture absorbs effortlessly onto skin, allowing you to customize your results: one layer for morning moisture and two layers for nighttime nourishment. This multi-tasker calls upon white peony to help improve skin’s overall tone and firmness and green tea polysaccharides to brighten complexion. Truly a great creme, I love using this one as an overnight mask.