Lips are stained AND hydrated? Yes!!!

BEAUTY MONDAY!

Having fallen in love with Josie Maran's products & brand, I LOVE their new Coconut Watercolor Lip Stain & Shine. I had briefly posted about it on my Facebook & Instagram.

I had barely had to touch my lips the whole day, just some extra gloss if anything. At one side of the stick you have a pen (stain) and at the other gloss. Lips were stained AND hydrated all day! You can find it in 6 different colours from nude to red. Perfect vibrant pigment for November.

Wool Jacket...something to keep warm with!

I love that Stradivarious has come out with a REAL wool jacket! Now. I know it's just 40% wool, but seriously this stuff keep you nice & toasty! 

I love this jacket because it's perfect for everyday wear & wraps around you like a blanket with a big hood to protect you from the windy city. Going out later? No problem! Throw on a pair of booties & lipstick you're good to go! You'll be kept warm on your way home.

Perfect for November weather, a good medium between your fall and winter jacket. And too be honest if you layer up, you can probably sport this jacket during some of the warmer winter days. 

This jacket is perfect for that on-the-go girl.

Check them out at http://www.stradivarius.com/es/en/

Nomadic Beauty

Benefits of eye cream, the difference between eye cream & face cream.

Regardless of how old you are, skin care is extremely important. Cleansing (especially at night), exfoliating (ONCE a week if you're under the age of 30), and of course moisturizing.

We all know about face creams and more or less why we should use them. But what about eye creams? What's the difference? Until I started using an eye cream I struggled with dark circles under my eyes. Now, along with proper sleep and hydration, I don't need to use concealer anymore!

The skin around our eyes is much thinner than the rest of our skin, which makes it more delicate and prone to show signs of ageing. When the area underneath the eyes gets dark circles or puffy, it is a sign from our body that tells us we are dehydrated or not getting enough sleep. As a result, this area begins to age more quickly. Since it's the only place on the skin that doesn't contain oil glands, they need extra hydration, not only from drinking water, but topically as well. This is where the eye creams come in.

Eye creams contain more emollient than regular face cream (emollients help hydrate the skin and help keep moisture in). They also contain collagen, and antioxidants such as Vitamin C & peptides that aid in retaining collagen. You may also want to use an eye cream instead of your face cream under your eyes because some facial creams can contain ingredients that are too powerful for the delicate eye area. 

Tip: Apply your eye cream a few minutes before your makeup so that it can properly absorb into the skin .

I always recommend that you do research on your skin care products and make sure that they are safe for you. But here are two of my favourite products that I switch between:

I love the RE Corrective Eye Cream! Even though it's anti-aging it's still ok to use it under 30

It's a bit thicker & super moisturizing which I LOVE for the dryer/colder seasons.

I like this one for the warmer/humid months. It's not as thick but still packed with all the good stuff

& meant for the younger generations. 

Nomadic Beauty

Your femininity, use it & embrace it!

“...women were inspired by a mannish way of dressing, but today liberated women realize they can wear skirts and use them as a weapon.” - Oscar de la Renta

This is one of my favourite quotes by the late De la Renta. Why?   For centuries women have been oppressed & men ruled the world. Today, at least in the western world there's more "equality"...This is my favourite quote Because in today's day there seems to be confusion between what feminism means.  For me, feminism as a liberated and radiant woman!  The word feminism seems to have a negative connotation, often tending to an extremist point of view. However, everyone who believes in the equality of genders, is in fact a feminist.

"I think of feminism as a liberated and radiant woman!" - Natalia Solar, Founder of Nomadic Beauty Blog

About a decade or more ago women dressed in more box like clothing (shoulder pads, straight suits, loose clothing) to have more shape of a man as they entered the work force, mostly to get respect from their co-workers (men).

Now that women have a place in the work force & are respected (for the most part) we've relaxed and now it feels like there is an new age coming upon us that is encouraging women to embrace their femininity. This is something that I feel that Oscar de la Renta represented in his designs.

After his death, I spent an afternoon researching about him. The quotes and images that I found are very heart-warming.  His philosophy in his designs were for his designs to let the woman shine and not over power her. He understood the woman body and clearly understood & respected women.

His designs are classic, elaborate & detailed. The elegance is incomprehensible! As a creative consultant and professional makeup artist, my respect comes from knowing the sheer talent and skill level that is necessary to exude the kind of work Oscar de la Renta exuded.

I think a woman embracing her body is one of the most beautiful things to see, and obviously Oscar agreed with me too as he draped women in beautiful gowns that let them shine, which is my exact philosophy about makeup. Let the makeup make you shine, because the focus is YOU, not the makeup itself.  

Feminist or not, it is time for women to stop looking for ways to hide yourself. Instead, find ways to help yourself shine, things and ways to enhance you! You're a woman and you are powerful! Use it!

Deep down, no one wants to see a front, people just want to see the real you. Expression is everything.   So...WHO are you? Do you RADIATE who you truly are?

Most sought-after fashion designer passes. Quick read on Oscar de la Renta

"Mr. de la Renta loved women and you saw it in every design that he did. He honoured women's features, he honoured our bodies. He wasn't afraid to pull back and let the woman be the star of the look."-

Jennifer Garner

At the age of 82, Oscar de la Renta, one of the most sought-after fashion designers, had passed away Monday October 20 in his family home in Connecticut. 

To be honest, until now I didn't quite know anything about him other than many celebrities have sported his beautiful dresses on the red carpet. I spotted this photo on Instagram this yesterday morning and was  totally drawn to it. Not just from the charming photo of him, but mostly from the caption. Two very important & beautiful qualities for a woman to posses.

Reading a few of his quotes  has inspired me to dedicate the rest of the week to this classic designer. So here a bit about him and his life.

Oscar, was born and raised in the Dominican Republic to Spanish & Puerto Rican parents. As a young man of 18, he traveled to Madrid to study art. During that time he quickly became interested in fashion and started sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses and then started working along side Cristobal Balenciaga.

• In the 1960's he dressed first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy & many more after that
• In 1965 he started his company in 1965

Oscar de la Renta was known for his intricate, elegant evening wear & a fashion designer that was conscious of quality.

Here are a few of his wonderfully classic designs:

Good Girl vs. Bad Girl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22OAQtEFOQ&index=31&list=UU7mg-R8sonGRbOtLYEsy4EA

What I like in this video is their take on "good girl vs. bad girl" because in truth all of us has a bit of both, ying & yang.

Love that Stradivarious gave the conservative look a bit of edge by mixing textures like knit & leather (my favourite!) and pumping up the makeup to give it an editorial edge.
The texture of the hair was also played around with keeping it in the same style (big waves) but giving them a bit more texture for certain looks.

While wearing something conservative, your makeup & hair can be bad ass and vice virsa. Try it out! Play around with your wardrobe, play with your makeup & play with your hair. What's life without a bit of plaisir???

Travel? Europe? Coffee? Yes, please!

Are you traveling through Europe soon? Love checking out new cool places to hang out? I do! Especially cozy coffee shops where I can get my work done answering emails, writing and designing.

Stradivarius has made a cool video on a few cool takes of coffee shops like; you can go get your laundry done and meet up for brunch with friends. Check out this beautifully shot video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLlD7pCANmo&list=UU7mg-R8sonGRbOtLYEsy4EA