Wednesday, August 30, 2017

hot child in the city







There are a few things I’m really guilty of once the temps (and humidity) just become too much: my hair is often in a messy bun, I’ll reach for a lot of the same pieces over and over if I have to leave my AC blasted apartment, I consume what is probably an unhealthy amount of iced lattes and, more often than not, I’ll opt to go pretty barefaced.


That said, if you can throw a pretty kimono over everything, it sort of negates a lot of the aforementioned frumpiness, right? I just love how kimonos (and pajamas for that matter) are having a moment right now. I picked up this particular kimono while in Australia after my good friend Angie convinced me, then and there, that I needed it in my life. Bonus? It’s reversible — the pink side is oh so millennial, but the blue side will be refreshing come fall — perhaps belted with my new Gucci men’s belt? And some ankle boots?


Wait, is it 65 degrees yet? Pretty, please?


In case you’re in the market for a kimono as well, I’ve rounded up my favorites down below!



OUTFIT DETAILS: Spell & the Gypsy kimono (sold out, but I love this romper version here) // Citizens of Humanity jeans // Adore Me bodysuit (similar style here)// Chanel heels (tempted by this pair here!) // Cult Gaia bag // Celine sunglasses






Photos by Nora Varcho


 




 


Post from: This Time Tomorrow


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Monday, August 28, 2017

FRUDIA VITAMIN MONTH: THE POMEGRANATE LINE





You might be surprised to know, but one of the best antioxidants for your skin, pomegranate, is not actually a fruit… It’s a multi-seed berry that just features an outside layer to protect the seeds from birds and other traitors. Regardless of what we call it, it’s undeniable that pomegranate (which happened to be a lucky fruit in China and a traditional fruit in Greek weddings) can work wonders for your skin. Today I collaborate with Frudia, a newly launched high-tech Korean skin care brand (it’s available at CVS, Peach and Lily, and FrudiaUSA.com) to talk about the benefits of using pomegranate internally and externally to improve the texture and appearance of your skin.



POMEGRANATE AND YOUR SKIN


Let’s start on a geeky side. Pomegranates are rich in something called punicic acidwhich is an ingredient known for its moisturizing properties. Punicic acid hydrates skin and prevents moisture loss. Why pomegranate is so incredibly effective when it comes to skincare is because it features small molecular structure which enables all the good stuff from this multi-seed berry to penetrate deeply into the skin, creating an ideal scenario for treating dry skin. It’s important to mention though is that pomegranate is not only good for dehydrated skin. A combination and oily skin types could benefit from this berry too as its active ingredients help to balance any skin type.


One of my favorite skincare lines featuring pomegranate is Frudia Nutri-Moisturizing Antioxidant Power. I like it because all of the four products in the line are featuring a high percentage of natural pomegranate extract. Think about it this way: most of the skincare lines you could find in the stores contains water or glycerin as number one ingredient, while Frudia is known for having natural fruit extract as the most active ingredient listed. In means that all of the good stuff pomegranate contains is delivered in the highest concentration possible — to ensure that your skin receives all the nutrients and antioxidants needed.



I use products from Frudia’s Pomegranate line when I feel that my skin is super dry and dehydrated, which usually happens after swimming and being in the sun all day long. While it’s hard to stick to just one skin care routine when you are a beauty blogger, I have Frudia Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Toner in my beauty room at all times as this uniquely thick toner provides immediate hydration and makes my skin feel so soft. I have a combination skin with periodical breakouts, so this toner helps to hydrate my skin without clogging my pores. You probably know that you have to moisturize your skin even if your skin type is a combination, and this toner is the exact solution my skin needs as it’s super hydrating, but doesn’t feel heavy or uncomfortable on my skin.


I recently wrote about Frudia’s Blueberry Line and I feel that the cream and serum from that line provide a similar effect, with the difference that the pomegranate line is also providing anti-aging benefits. I’m in my 30th and I can’t resist testing products that feature anti-aging ingredients and I loved how my skin felt after testing products from Frudia’s Pomegranate Line.



Frudia Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Serum features a lightweight formula that is so easy and pleasant to work with. It momentarily absorbs into skin and immediately makes it feel more hydrated and plump. I especially love applying this product on my decollete as it’s one of the areas that I tend to forget. With the help of Pomegranate Serum, I’m able to quickly restore the hydration level of my skin even if I neglected applying moisturizer on this area for a few days.



Frudia Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Cream finishes the deep hydration regimen as it literally locks all the good ingredients in your skin to ensure proper absorption. I especially love using this cream during the day when I’m planning on creating a dewy foundation look. I personally noticed that super hydrating cream immediately makes skin look better so these days I often times moisturize my skin twice. First, after I wash my skin in the morning and then right before applying makeup. This trick really works for my skin — I wonder if you are using the same skin nourishing tactic?



Frudia Pomegranate Nutri-Moisturizing Mask is my absolute favorite. You know how diligent I am when it comes to applying face masks and this nourishing mask did pass the test! It’s so gentle and so hydrating — I couldn’t believe such results are possible for such affordable price. I already used the mask twice and I’m saving my last one for a special occasion when my skin needs to look particularly good.


In other words, the Pomegranate Line is getting thumbs up from me as it’s a great affordable line to check out if you have aging and dryness concerns.


POMEGRANATE AND YOUR HEALTH


Pomegranate contains 15 different antioxidants which make it one of the healthiest fruits (I mean, multi-seed berries) out there. People in Russia, for instance, believe that pomegranate is the most valuable for detoxing your body from toxins. Especially, if you drink organic pomegranate juice regularly. Such type of juice is also known to help to prevent heart disease and other illnesses. It doesn’t mean that you should stop using the benefits of pomegranates if you have no problems with your health at all as pomegranate juice is believed to improve the immune system which means less cold and flu incidents during the cold season.



Pomegranate SPA Water Recipe


Granted: not many people love the taste of pomegranate juice, so if you are interested in learning how to incorporate pomegranate in your everyday diet, here comes my favorite flavored water recipe that contains pomegranate seeds. To create this recipe, you will need:



  • 1/2 pomegranate

  • 1/2 lime

  • Mint leaves

  • Ice cubes

  • Sparkling water


Direction: This SPA water recipe is super easy to repeat. First, you need to seed the pomegranate and put the seeds into a jug. Then, slice and add the lime (it’s up to you, whether you want to keep or get rid of the skin). Finally, add mint leaves and loads of ice. Top everything with water and enjoy!



A few words on how to choose a perfect pomegranate. The most important thing is that pomegranate should feel heavy. If it weighs heavier than it looks like, it means that the seeds inside of pomegranate are ripened. The skin should look dry and do not contain any stains or holes in it. The golden rule of picking a great pomegranate is when you could feel the seeds through the skin.


That was it with my thought on the benefits of pomegranates for your beauty and health. I hope you enjoyed it! If so, please let me know if you ever tried a beauty product that contains the pomegranate extract. What was the product and how did you like it?




 


Post From: Style Sprinters


Instagram Photo




JEWELRY THAT BRINGS LUCK






Plum Pretty Sugar Soren Flowy Back Dress 7



I am not a superstitious person at all, but when it comes to jewelry I love when my gems have extra meaning in them. Whether it’s a sentimental jewelry that brings back memories of family traditions or special events, or just generally symbolic jewels, every piece of jewelry that I own has some added meaning to it. One of the recent gems in my collection is this hollow clover necklace by the UK-based brand LÁTELITA. Maybe it’s just a superstition, but I feel that this necklace brings me luck.


I noticed a long time ago that in some cultures certain symbols have a different meaning to them. For instance, a white dress in Western cultures means purity and elegance (that’s why it’s the typical color for a wedding dress), while in Eastern cultures white represents death, mourning, and bad luck. Same goes for iconographic symbols like stars, moon, sun, etc. We all bring special meanings to these symbols and wear symbol-reach pieces as a way to emphasize that special message that you are trying to send to the world with such symbols.


Latelita Necklace Long Hollow Clover Rosegold 1


Referring to the headline of this post, I believe that my LÁTELITA clover necklace brings me luck because it incorporates the symbol which in Eastern culture is associated with prosperity, good fortune, and success. In Russian tradition, for instance, finding a four-leaf clover is believed to be associated with good luck as it’s something that very rarely happens in nature. Keeping it in mind, you must be a super lucky person to start with if you found a four-leaf clover!


Superstitions aside, there are other reasons why I believe that the necklace is lucky. It just makes me feel so happy to look at it’s a beautifully designed piece of jewelry that matches so many of my outfits. If you read my recent post on how to style jewelry, you know that I’m someone who is taking a minimalistic approach towards picking jewelry. Less is more is my favorite jewelry motto, not only in respect to a number of pieces that I’m wearing at any given moment, but also when it comes to jewelry design. I love luxury-looking materials like rose gold and white gold and I appreciate that this necklace features such sleek and chic design.


I’ve been having a great experience with the creations by London-based jewelry designers lately. My rose gold bracelet from JewelStreet that I talked about last year continues being a staple of my jewelry collection and this clover necklace is a great addition as it matches the bracelet too.


I wonder what is the most symbolic piece of jewelry that you have in your collection? What type of feelings does it bring? How often do you wear it and on which occasions?


OUTFIT DETAILS:LÁTELITA Long Hollow Close Rosegold Necklace
Plum Pretty Sugar Soren Dress (15% off with the code HAPPY SHIPPING; ends 9/15)

(find more of my favorite dresses here)

Madewell Lace-Up Sandals // Valley Sunglasses


LÁTELITA Long Hollow Close Rosegold Necklace



 


Post from: Style Sprinters


 


Instagram Photo





5 JEWELRY STYLING RULES TO LIVE BY






This post is brought to you by Michael Hill Jewelry.


Being a Russian girl, I often encounter how cultural differences influence people’s tastes in fashion and the three-piece jewelry rule is one of such examples. Growing up abroad, I always heard that overdoing jewelry is a major fashion faux pas for women, while here in America this rule seems to be obsolete. American fashionistas are all about layering jewelry to the point where you no longer can count how many pieces a girl is actually wearing. Perhaps, I’m too Americanized now too as from a jewelry ascetic I termed into a jewelry hoarder so I actually do feel the need for getting my jewelry habits under control. Today I’m collaborating with Michael Hill to share with you some of the tips on how to style your jewelry pieces like a pro so you don’t over-bling your bling.


Michael Hill Cuff Bangle with Cubic Zirconia in Sterling Silver 1


RULE #1: MIND YOUR METALS


Your jewelry collection will be so much more versatile if you have at least a few pieces designed in the same finish. For instance, it’s much easier to mix and match a few rings at once if all of them are silver. Same goes for the stones: diamonds match beautifully with other diamond pieces, while it might be challenging to try combining gemstones of different colors in one look. For instance, my collection for jewelry mostly consists of rose gold and silver pieces so these are easy to match with each other.


RULE #2: KNOW WHEN TO STOP


Keep in mind that jewelry is just an accessory which goal is to emphasize the outfit and not switch attention from the look. I know, there is a common practice of wearing so-called “conversation starters,” a piece of statement jewelry that people could comment on to start a small talk. But don’t be fooled by this rule: statement pieces are great only when they are styled with the otherwise plain outfit. For instance, a statement necklacewill work great accompanied by a business casual style dress. However, it would be too much to style the same necklace with a slogan print T-shirt and colorful pants, especially in a professional setting. In other words, know your boundaries and try not overdoing with bold accessories. Oftentimes less is more, especially when it comes to jewelry.


Michael Hill Stud Earrings with Cubic Zirconia in Sterling Silver


RULE #3: WATCH AND CO


When it comes to styling jewelry, consider a watch you are wearing as a part of the equation. Keeping in mind the above-mentioned Mind Your Metals rules, it’s important to ensure that your watch matches other jewelry pieces you are wearing. For instance, the silver bracelet by Michael Hill that I styled in this look perfectly matches the design of my watch as both accessories are made out of silver metal.


RULE #4: MINIMALISM FOR ANY OCCASION


I was always thinking that wearing jewelry is only appropriate for certain business and leisure occasions, but there is no such thing as beach day jewels. After experimenting with a few pieces from the Michael Hill collection, I figured that an elegant necklace with a charm is one of those “perfect for every occasion” piece that works even with a swimsuit. In fact, I love this silver cubic zirconia pendant so much that often times I don’t take it off for the entire day as it’s a truly versatile piece that is appropriate for any occasion.


Michael Hill Pendant with Cubic Zirconias in Sterling Silver


RULE #5: FRAME YOUR MAKEUP


Another tip that I discovered is that jewelry helps to emphasize makeup you are wearing — which is crucial for beauty bloggers like myself. Since the majority of jewelry pieces are sparkly and reflect light, they actually help to emphasize the sparkle in your eyes and highlight your best features. My favorite piece of jewelry to match my makeup with is stud earrings: such accessories will match any outfit and help to emphasize your eyes, regardless the color theme you picked for your eye makeup.


* * * * *


These were my tips on how to style jewelry pieces in a way that you always look stylish and not overdo with accessories. I wonder if you are following any of these? What are some of the accessory theories that you’ve heard of before? Are there any principles that you follow yourself? Please share your thoughts in the comments area below!


OUTFIT DETAILS:For Love & Lemons Dress // Kelsi Dagger Metro Sandal

Michael Hill Cuff Bangle // Michael Hill Stud Earrings // Michael Hill Pendant

Aldo Aquilano Silver Clutch (also in gold and copper) // Ted Baker Watch


For Love & Lemons Sweet Disposition Dress For Love & Lemons Sweet Disposition Dress StyleSprinter x Michael HillMichael Hill Pendant with Cubic Zirconias in Sterling Silver 2StyleSprinter x Michael Hill



 


 


Post from: Style Sprinters


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JUMP START ON FALL PICKS





JUMP START ON FALL PICKS




TOP  |  JEANS  |  PURSE  |  SHOES  |  BELT  |  SUNGLASSES  |  NECKLACE  |  LIPS  |  HAIR 




Guys… I’m so guilty of being over the summer & ready to fall! I know, it seems a little early but we have had such a hot summer and the thoughts of cozy sweaters + warm apple spice! So I teamed up with Nordstrom and want to share some fresh fall finds with you guys to start this week off! Right now is actually the prime time to buy fall pieces because they are typically sold out or sold out of the main sizes come fall time. Nordstrom always has a vast variety & best selection to choose from when it comes to women’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. They are also one of the first stores to jump on the change of season which is why they are always my first stop!


I ease into fall I like to start wear light sweaters, thermals, and long sleeves. This outfit I am loving this lightweight thermal with the flare of the bell sleeves! Bell sleeves aren’t going away this season ladies! They are just getting stronger so bring on the fun trend! I paired it with some of my favorite jeans at the moment, these AG Jeans. I have to be honest, this is my first pair of AG jeans and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long! They are so cute but oh so comfortable! I feel like I am wearing sweatpants!


I like to stick with basic outfits and dress it up with accessories! I went with these fun heels I just got with the pearl details + studs! They are so cute! I also added a belt and this lariat necklace from Gorjana! Last but the cherry on top this Rebecca Minkoff bag! I am a huge Rebecca Minkoff fan and even more so in the cooler months! I love the hues they come out with and I love the cross body bags the most! This stone grey bag instantly caught my eye and I know it will be a huge staple in my fall wardrobe.


I have linked my outfit details below and am also linking a couple more of my Nordstrom Fall Favorites & brands! I hope you guys are off to a great week and I’m super excited for some fun projects I have coming up to share with you! As always, please message or email me for sizing or more information! XO


FALL FAVORITES + BRANDS


TOPS









 


SHOES









JEANS









ACCESSORIES









TORY BURCH PICKS









Post from: Brittany Maddux

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