Model Monday : Vlada Roslyakova

Vlada Roslyakova (Born as Elena Rosenkova) is a Russian fashion model. She started her career in Russia and moved on into Tokyo, Japan. When she moved to New York City she walked for several high name designers such as: Karl Lagerfield, Moschino, Hermès, Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu and Saint Laurent. Her trademark, if you will, are her doll like features including her big bright blue eyes and her distinctive runway walk. Vlada has walked in numerous runway shows and has appeared in various high fashion magazines such as: Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and i-D. She is signed to Women Management.

In my opinion, Vlada's biggest strength is runway. I've seen some shows where she walks and she owns the runways. When you watch her on the runway, you can tell she knows what she is doing and she is not holding back. She is confident. She is bodacious. She is everything high fashion is.  
Another thing I love about her is her honesty, sense of humor and fun loving personality. If you've seen any interviews with her she is breath taking. Not only is she stunningly beautiful but her personality makes you fall in love. 

"I like to walk and feel the music and feel the clothes and feel my hips" - Vlada Roslyakova

Review : VS Beach Sexy Instant Bronzing Tinted Lotion

Instant bronze glow? Yes, please. If you're like me and you try and try to get darker in summer naturally, but it just does not happen, you'll use and do just about anything to get it. When I first saw this item in the Victoria's Secret store I was dying to try it. It took me a little while to get it as I was always hesitant if I wanted to try it or look for a different one. Eventually, it went on sale for only ten dollars (regularly fifteen) and since Victoria's Secret is one of my all time favorite stores, I could not pass it up.

For starters, the product. This is not a self tanner. It does not last for long periods of time. It is a bronzing lotion. It is suppose to increase the look of your tan and it performs just that. It is quite amazing, comparing it to the price. It makes your skin looking bronzed and glowy. The bronzer also moisturizes the skin leaving it extremely soft and replenishing. It is very lightweight and gives a dewy finish. To add to that, it has a tropical scent that smells absolutely divine.

The lotion bottle is like any other lotion bottle that squeeze out. The product is extremely decent for the regular price. The bronzer has tons of product in it and is completely worth the price.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product. I feel extra confident wearing this because it makes me feel like an actual Victoria's Secret Angel. Not only does it makes your skin look beautifully tan but also it moisturizes - it's like the best of both worlds. (Cue the Hannah Montana music)

You can purchase it in stores or online for $15.

"I think what makes someone pretty amazing is being comfortable in your own skin" -Brendan Dooling

Model Monday : Miranda Kerr

If you know me at all, you must know that my favorite model of all time would definitely have to be the breathtaking, Miranda Kerr. Ever since I started getting into models and designers and fashion, Miranda caught my eye and I've been in love with her ever since. She has this appeal on people that just makes you fall in love with her. It good be her dimples or her gorgeous blue eyes or her stunning physique. 

Miranda was founded in 1997 at the Dolly Magazine Model Search at 13 years of age. Upon her winning, it caused a huge controversy of putting young girls into the fashion and modeling industry. She is currently signed to IMG Models. She has modeled for vast major brands including but not limited to: Prada, Balenciaga, H&M, L.A.M.B., Mango, Swarvoski, Levi's, Stella McCartney, Dior, Lanvin, Chanel, Neiman Marcus, Clinique, 7 For All Mankind, and of course everybody knows she is one of the most famous Victoria's Secret models. 

She signed to Victoria's Secret back in 2007 and became the first ever Australian Victoria's Secret Angel. It was said that she replaced Gisele Bündchen. Being with Victoria's Secret skyrocketed her career. She became the face of Clinique, KORA Organics and Swarvoski. 

She began dating Orlando Bloom and married him in 2010. She also released a book Treasure Yourself.

In 2011, She gave birth to her and Orlando Blooms child, Flynn Bloom. She also got the honor to wear the Fantasy Bra and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. 

In 2013, She left Victoria's Secret. She also was named No. 2 on Forbes: Highest Paid Models. Miranda and Orlando also split this year.

Early this year, she released a single with Bobby Fox in a cover of Elvis Presley's You're The Boss. Just when we thought she couldn't get better than she already was! 

If there is one thing that I love about Miranda the most, it is her style. She honestly never fails me with her outfit choices. Every single outfit I've seen her in, I would wear. If you read my Style Inspirations post I talked about how Miranda is one of the people I take inspiration from. She always looks so put together and effortlessly gorgeous and I absolutely love it. Even after she's had Flynn, she has not stopped looking amazing. 

Not only is Miranda my favorite model and one of my numerous style inspirations but she is also one of my life inspirations as well. When she first started out people told her she was too young. Today people say she is too skinny or too scandalous. I admire how she doesn't look at what people say about her and goes on with what she loves. Miranda is the woman who encouraged me to believe I can do anything I set my mind to and also, to love myself. She is one of the greatest role models a young girl, like myself, can have.

“A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose.All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like women too. I want to encourage women to embrace their own uniqueness.”  - Miranda Kerr

Item Not Worth The Hype : Baby Lips

The oh so famous Baby Lips. These lipstick chapstick duos have been around for quite a while now. Everyone - and I mean everyone - I have talked to has heard, seen or used the product. My younger sister has purchased various different kinds and is a huge fan of the baby lips, so being her sister, of course I was just going to use hers. The product is suppose to make your lips baby soft - hence the name Baby Lips. They come in all various colors. From a transparent shade to a cherry red shade to even a dark purple shade.

When I used the product for the first time, I didn't really see a difference with other chapsticks besides it having a tinted color - which by the way many different brands also add tinted colors to their lip balms, such as: Burt's Bees, Nivea, Benefit, Revlon, and more. But overtime it actually made my lips drier and more chapped. I admit I absolutely adore some of the colors they have. My favorite one was the Cherry Me color. It really gave my lip a sort of sheer red tint which was perfect for just going out shopping or seeing friends. After a couple of uses, I noticed it really dried out my lips and honestly did nothing but add color.

Most people I know say that the baby lips works perfect for them and they have no problem with it. It may just be my lips that do not absorb the moisture from these balms like everyone else.

Compared to Carmex Lip Balms and Nivea Lip Balms, I really don't understand the hype around this product. To me, Carmex and Nivea add a lot more moisture than Baby Lips do. The things I like about Carmex and Nivea are that they really lock in the moisture and after one use it honestly makes a big difference. I can see and feel more moisturized lips in less than an hour compared to Baby Lips.

"Be sure that you speak with unfeigned lips." - Marie de France

Clueless, Chokers and Crop Tops Galore.

It's quite clear that the 90's are making a comeback. From music to fashion to shows to icons; everyone is feeling nostalgic about the 90's.In Fashion so many trends have came back. Walk into any clothing store and I can guarantee you will be able to find some form of a crop top and high-waisted anything. Music from the 90's have been played all over and I have yet to find one person to complain. Who doesn't love 90's jams? From Britney to TLC to Nirvana. And let's be honest - who isn't watching Clueless everyday?

//Shirt - One Direction TMH Concert; Overalls - Topshop;
Flannel - Hand Me Down; Backpack - Hand Me Down
Hat - Hand Me Down; Boots - Doc Martens // 

Favorite 90's Comebacks 

1. Overalls 

I absolutely love that overalls are back in style. There are endless options to which overalls you can get. You could stick to the regular denim ones or get something more fancier like the one I have in the picture to your left. It's also a great piece to just throw on when you have nothing to wear. You can find them in almost any store from Walmart to Urban Outfitters. 

2. High Waisted & Crop Tops

Anyone who knows me, knows i'm a big fan of both of these pieces. They're just so effortlessly wearable. You can dress them up or you can dress them down. Going out with friends you can wear some high waisted shorts and a cropped tee and in the office you can wear high waisted skirt and an elegant cropped blouse. Here are some pictures of Leighton Meester in both a casual and formal attire.

3. Doc Martens 

For a couple years now, Docs have been everywhere. I've just gotten my last August for my birthday. They're extremely comfortable but can put together any outfit. You can wear them with just a T-Shirt and Jeans and it still looks good. They're very versatile and honestly so fashion-forward. 

handmade tattoo choker

 4. Choker Necklaces 

I've seen so many choker necklaces all over. From beaded ones to tattoo chokers to even leather chokers. Chokers have a way of making an outfit look more edgier and give it a hardcore vibe. If you want a tattoo choker necklace, I suggest making them instead of buying them. From the prices i've seen they range anywhere from $5-$10. It's insane to pay that much for a  necklace when you can just buy some stretchy string at the craft store and make it yourself. Here is a tutorial for them. (x) 

5. Grunge

We always here about grunge. From trendsetters like Kylie Jenner to Ashton Irwin, grunge is definitely back - thanks to Kurt Cobain. I would be a liar if I said I have never worn a flannel around my waist or never wore a flannel over plain t-shirts. Just like chokers, grunge make you seem more edgier and rebellious when in reality none of us have probably done anything rebellious in our life. I love grunge because even though i've always loved leather, it means more leather/faux leather pieces are being made- which makes me beyond excited. Grunge is absolutely my favorite because all of my favorite things: flannels, black, leather, rips and tears, oversized and boots. 

6. TV

I love that MTV has full episodes of Daria online. It is actually a show that describes my friendship with my best friend. Boy Meets World has made a spin off of Topanga and Cory's daughter called Girl Meets World. And even though people thought this show would be terrible I have heard very positive comments about it. Other shows like Sister,Sister (My Favorite) and Hey Arnold are available on different networks in the early morning. 

7. Music 

So much great music from the 90's have came back. I hear them online, on the radio, in stores, everywhere. So many of today's artist have covered 90's hits. My favorite has to be Bastille's cover of No Scrubs by TLC. It's just a good feeling to hear the music that you used to listen to when you were younger and it brings back memories. Yes, I am fifteen but let me tell you I have two older siblings. My older sister was obsessed with Spice Girls and NSYNC and Britney and my older brother was obsessed with Green Day. I on the other hand had a passion for Destiny's Child. My mom told me that I would dance to Bootylicious all the time and I still do. 

"Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future." - Corrie Ten Boom 

GIRL POWER!

I am a feminist. No, I am not afraid to say that. I don't know why anyone would be afraid to say that, actually. Feminist are people who believe in the equality of all genders politically, economically, and socially. How is that bad? Contrary to the popular belief, you do not have to be a woman to be a feminist. If you support the equality of the sexes then you are in fact a feminist - even if you don't think so.

So many people have this misconception that feminist are people who hate men and want women to take over the world - so we can kill all the men in the planet. I am a female and I can assure you that I love men and would not ever want to do that. What feminist want to do is actually help the world. We want to create a society that gives equal rights to everyone.We want to be able to have a say in not only the world but ourselves. We want to make our own choices. Being a girl, it absolutely sucks being put down all the time because of my gender. Instead of saying things like "you can't do that because you are a girl" start saying "you can do that because you are a girl." It is the 21st century time to stop treating women like they are only here to cater to men's needs and let them live.

I know many may believe this is wrong because of traditions and/or religion. I believe in God and I believe her created men and women equal in his eyes. Neither are better nor stronger in any aspect to him. I am not saying that it is wrong for men to do things for women - as in, pay for her dinner or open her door - it is honestly not a bad thing it is considered quite gentlemanly and polite but it is not required at all.

Some of Pop Culture Icons who I consider feminist include: Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevigne, and of course Spice Girls' Ginger Spice. These women stand up for who they are and don't hide it. Beyoncé has numerous songs about girl power and being a woman, such as: Run The World(Girls), Best Thing I Never Had, Grown Woman and ***Flawless. No matter how much Miley Cyrus is constantly critized for being a slut she still does her thing and doesn't let anyone tell her who she is and should be. Cara Delevigne is apart of the Free The Nipples Movement which basically says look we both have the same body part except for women have more breast tissue so stop calling us sluts for exposing it. And as of Ginger Spice, well this gif speaks for itself: 

Credit: Tumblr

All I'm saying is that we don't want to steal men's spotlight of being powerful and strong - we want to share it with them.

“Feminist: A person who believes in the social, political and economical equality of the sexes. ” - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

My Steps to Soft, Smooth and Clear Skin!

Acne has been a nightmare for me since around the

No Make-Up Late Night Face

end of eighth grade. It is hell having to approach someone with a big pimple in between your forehead. It feels as though every person in the world is staring and talking to the huge white headed pimple on your face instead of you. My skin is normal to combo and also quite sensitive - which can be hard to find amazing face care products. I've been through various products and brands to get my skin clear and fresh and finally have found the right ones for me!

The brands I use include: Clean & Clear, Simple, Biore and Lush. I find that these products don't break me out and keep my skin feeling fresh and clean. Depending on the season I use two different Clean & Clear Collections. Right now since it is summer, my face tends to be a lot more oily than usual so I use the Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facials Cleanser in Oil Free followed by the Deep Cleaning Astringent -also in oil free- to help treat and prevent pimples. I found these products to help me extremely well during the summer time and help treat my breakouts before they occur. Moving on to every other season of the year - when I am not oily - I will use Clean & Clear Advantage: Acne Control Kit. The kit comes with three items: A Cleanser, Moisturizer, and A Spot Treatment. Now I use this moisturizer year round when I do not have my Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. It is an amazing moisturizer that is also extremely affordable. My favorite thing about this kit is definitely the spot treatment. The spot treatment has helped me so much with breakouts. I will put it on before bed and when I wake up my pimple is barely noticeable and I absolutely love it! It is a great product that gets the job done fast. If you're like me and you get blackheads all over your nose, I suggest Biore Deep Cleaning Pore Strips. They really dig down deep to unclog the pores. For Exfoliates I use Angels on Bare Skin by Lush and Clean & Clear's Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub. Both are absolutely amazing and leave my skin feeling soft and fresh. For my type of skin type I recommend using Lush opposed to Clean & Clear because although I love Clean & Clear's Scrub, I find that it is actually rather harsh on my skin and leaves me with pinkness on my face. On the other hand, Angels on Bare Skin is very smooth and gentle which not only leaves smoothness and freshness but actually balances out my skin tone as well taking away all the pinkness from my face which I absolutely love! It leaves my skin feeling radiant and beautiful. A bonus to this product is that it is made with lavender oil which makes my skin smell delightful.

5 Tips to keep in mind while trying to clear up your skin:

1. ALWAYS take your makeup off before you go to bed. You've probably heard this tons and tons of times but seriously I cannot stress this enough. Going to bed with a face caked with makeup will clog your pores leaving you with blackheads and pimples and things you don't even know could be on your face. Leave some makeup removing wipes next to your bed for those nights where you're insanely tired so you can just do it right there! My favorite is Simple Skin Cares Cleansing Facial Wipes. It really gets the job done great and fast. 
2. Don't over wash. I know back in middle school I thought washing my face constantly will clear my skin faster and just make my skin better. It won't. If you over wash your skin is being stripped of natural oils making it unbalanced and not very healthy. Two times a day should be the max.
3. Exfoliate - don't scrub. Exfoliating is great! It leaves your skin soft and smooth - which is an amazing feeling. Don't make the mistake - like I did for so long - to scrub. Scrubbing can cause your face to be irritated and actually hurt your skin from roughness which isn't good at all. Think of your skin like Fine China. You must be gentle to make sure you don't harm it. 
4. Don't touch your face or put anything dirty on your face. You've probably also heard this a lot too. It is just when you put your hands on your face all the bacteria on it from the day is going to travel onto your face leading to pimples. You also don't want to put any other objects on your face either - for instance - don't put your phone on your face when you talk either use speaker phone or hold the phone a couple inches away from your face so it does not touch it. 
5. DO NOT pop your pimples! We hear this time and time again but popping your pimples create more pimples and acne scars. I would be lying if I say I never pop my pimples; it is an instant instinct. But trust me, your pimple will be gone faster if you do not pop it. 

Even Though I have found my way to clear skin does not mean I never get breakouts anymore. I am a teenager, It's going to happen. Honestly, It is going to happen to all of us for the rest of our lives. It is just how life is. We need to realize that beauty is only skin deep. It doesn't matter if you have pimples all over your body or you have the clearest of skins. Who you are on the inside is going to show on the outside.

"Beauty to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." - Gwyneth Paltrow