Modern Minimalist: January 2015

Monday, January 12, 2015

Favorite Lipsticks

Okay so I know what you're thinking, "how many favorite lipsticks can you possibly have?!" Well I'm a lipstick, lipgloss, and lipliner junkie so obviously I can never have enough. I could wear lip products whether I have a full face or no makeup at all. It just brings everything together.

Here are some swatches and names of each lipstick:

(Top to bottom swatches) MAC Twig, MAC Faux, MAC Kinda Sexy

Milani Pretty Natural, Milani Nude Creme, Rimmel Nude Delight

Rimmel Bordeaux, Maybelline Make Me Pink, Revlon Mauve It Over

Wet N Wild Mauve Outta Here, Wet N Wild Bare It All, Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick Lolita

I love all different textures and finishes to lipsticks. You can see some of these are matte, glossy, or pearlescent. I love this range of colors too because they are all very wearable. My little tip to women who are not used to wearing lipstick and want to give it a try, start sheer and natural. Try a tinted lip balm. Either way, you can transform your entire look with some beautiful colors on your lips.

Ciao!!

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Bright Lights

Bright Lights by valerielabarbera featuring Karen Millen

Karen Millen blazer
karenmillen.com

Mason by Michelle Mason mini skirt
intermixonline.com

Dolce&Gabbana leather pumps
$680 - shoescribe.com

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Fuller Lips

I think it's safe to say that almost every woman in this world strives for bigger, fuller lips. Who doesn't love a beautiful plump pout?? For some, they choose to opt for plastic surgery and that's fantastic but for some of us that's not an option. So instead we use little tips and tricks like over lining our lips or using a burning lip plumper.

I've tried it all and one day stumbled upon Fullips. I was just browsing YouTube and came across their video tutorials. Once I began searching their site, I was intrigued to try it out. So I bought the large round and medium oval. Amazingly enough I got my package and was shocked to find a free small oval, lipliner, and lip brush! So sweet and it really made me feel special.

Large round, medium oval, small oval

Here is my before:

Here is my after:

I basically put the large round to my puckered up mouth, created suction for 15 seconds, relaxed, and I do this a total of 3 times. My lips usually stay this way for a couple of hours. If you choose to do it longer the results will last longer. I think this is a great option if you're yearning for full lips but you're not quite ready for lip injections. Also the customer service is superb and I was really satisfied with my purchase. Go to www.fullips.com

Ciao!

Fringe

Fringe by valerielabarbera featuring black suede boots

WalG jersey dress
$40 - houseoffraser.co.uk

MANGO rocker jacket
$105 - johnlewis.com

Yves Saint Laurent black suede boots
$955 - mytheresa.com

Givenchy black handbag
$2,225 - luisaviaroma.com

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Winter Skincare Essentials

Winter....what a dreadful time of year for our skin. There are so many brutal elements that take their toll on our skin during this time. Over the years I've learned to constantly mix up my skincare routine in the winter. The harsh, cold air leaves our skin looking dull and dry so here are some ways to avoid that!

In the winter I can never use too much moisturizer on my face. I make sure to constantly keep my skin hydrated or else it will become a combination of oil in my t-zone and then excessive peeling in my dry areas. I also like to add in Ferulic acid to brighten up my complexion. I also believe our bodies and lips crave moisture in the winter months so I always opt for a thicker, more rich body lotion and soothing lip balm.

Here are the products I love to use in the winter:

- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing gel

- Pond's Luminous Clean face wipes

- Eucerin Professional Repair body lotion

- Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders

- Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic acid + Retinol brightening serum

- Nivea Milk & Honey lip balm

I always keep my face wash gentle for my sensitive skin and on occasion I will exfoliate. The great thing about the 3 Little Wonders is that the nighttime AHA complex helps get rid of dry and uneven skin the winter months can bring about. The Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic acid brightening serum is ahmazinggggg ! It soaks right into your skin and you can really start to see dark marks lighten up after a few days.

I hope you find some of these products helpful and they get you through these brutal winter months. Ciao!

Summer 2015 Inspo Board

So last summer I wrote a blog post about some of my favorite photos that I use for fashion inspiration. I personally love inspo boards because you can use them for anything! Whenever you have a goal that you want to reach or something that is important to you, make a collage of everything that is connected to it. You can use this as motivation to get to any goal you might have.

I've used inspo boards to motivate myself to become more open to new fashion styles and help me organize my list of clothes to add to my wardrobe. I've also used inspo boards to stay motivated in being positive and mentally strong. I've clipped photos that were connected to any of those thoughts and that would trigger something positive within me. That's the key and once my collage of photos and thoughts are complete, I put them in a beautiful frame and leave it somewhere in my room where I can see it everyday.

My small inspo post for today will be a collection of photos that have really caught me eye and inspired me to coordinate new styles. I hope you enjoy and try out an inspo board, you'll be surprised how powerful they can be.