Play! By Sephora | July 2017

As a sephora VIB member, I truly enjoy all of the perks associated with it. So when it popped up on my account that I was eligible for the Play by Sephora, I was actually excited and intrigued. I have never heard of this anywhere online, or from my any of my friends. Ipsy is the first and was the only monthly subscription anything I ever paid for, and most months I absolutely love what I received from them, but it started to get redundant, which gave me the perfect excuse to sign up for this.

How the Play! By Sephora works is exactly like a monthly subscription service. They charge you $10 and tax, then you create your profile and fill out the questionnaire to best suit your beauty/hair/skincare needs. The boxes ship out mid month. For me since I have the 2 day shipping it arrived immediately!

I'm a sucker for nice packaging, because to me...good packaging means that thought and care for the consumer was put into it. Not only for the products, but the appearance. My product arrived in my mailbox as shown, it was sealed with a black & white stripe tape for a seamless closure. When I opened the box up, there was a play card worth 50 beauty insider points when used at my local Sephora( no minimum purchase required).

Another great thing that I love about this monthly box is that it comes with a description pamphlet for every single product that is included. Unlike many other monthly boxes with similar price points, this is a plus that others do not include. The pamphlet includes; the brand, why it made the cut, how use it, and meet the brand. To me, especially with products that do not come in a box, it's some times difficult to know when or how to use the item you've received. This feature is great!

My July box came with 6 sample sizedproducts, the Play card, the Play pamphlet and a carrying pouch.

 Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-in Cond Spray 

         

   Tarte Rainforest of the Sea in Set Sail --> beautiful  peachy nude with a hint of rose 

     

 Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara     

Fresh Rose Face Mask --> I've used this before and my skin goes crazy over it. Extremely hydrating.

Clean Reserve Sueded Oud

Caudalie Vin(activ) Glow Activating Anti-Wrinkle Serum

Overall, this was a great first experience, and I am excited to use up all of these products. This box allows me to use thing i wouldn't normally use, and also things that at full price, cost a pretty penny.

A New Yorker's Guide to Cuba Part 2: How To Get Around

So, now that you have your finances situated and know the basics about how money works in Cuba, the first thing that I want to mention is in regards to once you exit the airport.

Taxi/transportation to you hotel/home/Airbnb. This will be your first encounter with spending money, and this will be where you will spend a big amount at once. BARGAIN, BARGAIN, BARGAIN. Spending over $25 for a taxi is a ripoff so beware. Many taxi drivers will hike up the fare simply because you are a foreigner, or do not speak Spanish...we do not have the luxury of Lyft or Uber. The typical fare is $20. You need to bargain or you'll be taken advantage of.

Some Airbnb host will offer to pick you up from the airport like mine did for $30...again he overcharged us, but I did not know this at the time.

So, once you've reached your destination, and settled in, you're probably wondering how to get around. Unless you've go to Cuba to spend money as if your parents own an oil company, than your best bet is walking.

Make sure to download offline maps and certain apps that give you a lay of the land. There is no internet in Cuba without WIFI, and in order to use wifi you have to find a wifi spot- which can be hard to come across. Then, when you find a wifi that you can connect to and isn't shady, you'll need wifi cards. Beware of being overcharged for the wifi card. The max you should spend on one is $3 but you will find them for $1. A reliable (but not always) place to find wifi is El Malecon, which is the pier. Since many people know this is where to find reliable wifi, the signal can be very weak at times when there's a high volume of users.

Don't forget, if you'd like to take those typical tourist photos in the classic cars, it's about $30 to rent a car and get a tour of Habana Viejo and Habana. I say do it. If you're staying at an Airbnb and your host has a classic car, then thats more money in your pocket(for the photos, not the tour). Or if that doesn't interest you, then you can do the hop on- hop off buses for $10.

If you know someone who lives there, theres the option of taking "dollar vans". but Old haven is small enough that you can walk everywhere. Plan accordingly.

SO, you've seen all that can be seen, eaten all that can be consumed, danced, laughed, gone to the beach, explored, taken pictures, and now you are on your way back to the airport to face the realities of life back home. Make sure to buy some rum!

A New Yorker's Guide To Cuba Part I: Finances

I never thought in my wildest dream that I would be fortunate enough, and have the opportunity to visit Cuba. This post is not about how to go and get there, because those logistics are up to you to figure out, but it's really about how to survive once you step off of the plane. So this post is more of me sharing my experience there and giving you the reader(future traveler) some tips and information that I did not have prior to my arrival, and if I did, it was not enough. I am basically sharing things that I plan on doing the next time I travel to Cuba.

I will be doing a few posts in regards to different aspects of Cuba, this is Part I. Also, I will be linking my youtube channel where I have uploaded some videos I made during my stay, sort of like a video diary.

  The first thing is finances, unlike many of the islands in the Caribbean/West Indies, our currency does not trump theirs. Their dollar is worth more than ours, you lose some at the end of the day, similar to traveling to Europe. So for any Americans it is imperative to change your dollars into Euros(I recommend this more)/GBP/Canadian dollars, because US dollars are not accepted at the 'Banco de Cambio' (there are some people in the streets willing to change dollars into Cuban peso, but beware of scamming and unfair exchange rates). If this isn't your first time reading or hearing about Cuba, then you already know they use 2 separate currencies; CUC & CUP. CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) is used for tourist & foreigners while CUP (Cuban Peso) is what the locals use.

    When I heard about this is was so confused, why cant I use CUP? This leads to my first tip. Do not be fooled or bamboozled, it is ok to convert some your foreign money to CUP. Why? Well unless you want to spend all of your money at overpriced & overrated places (not all of them are) then stick with CUC, but if you wouldn't mind getting fresh fruits from the street vendors, or eating where the locals eat, then I highly recommend converting about 5-10 CUC into CUP, you can always convert more as needed. The places you can afford to eat at, a majority of the locals cannot. So, if you truly would like a true culinary experience, than places like The Floridita isn't where you'd want to spend your money.

    When converting your foreign currency into CUC at the airport or the Banco de Cambio, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT accept pennies, unlike in the states, many to all of the places/vendors/stores/restaurants, DO NOT accept pennies. You literally will be walking around with money you cannot use. No you cannot change 5 pennies into 5 cents, 25 into 25 cents, 100 into 1 cuc. And they do deny your money if you pay with pennies.

                               Also, try to use your coins when paying versus the paper bills.

You'll be spending money on everything: Food, water, transportation, some excursions, sightseeing, sleeping, souvenir. Plan and budget accordingly. I say, pack snacks and water. Cuba sells mineral water so beware if you aren't a fan, and flat water is a bit pricey.

Essentially. If you'd like a cheaper vacation, use CUP. That is what I will be doing the next time I travel to Cuba

My Lip Gloss is ColourPop-ing

Hey Guys,

If you are like me, then you have probably heard of the brand Colourpop. I decided to go on the site and purchase a few products.

First off, the prices are amazing, all the products are under $10, which to me is amazing. Even drug store products surpass the $10 mark. Shipping was beyond fast and they provide you with tracking info. I love the envelope that it comes in. They have their glittery logo etched on it. There is also a lovely note enclosed. 

I was heavily influenced by Instagram and Youtube to buy these products (peer pressure), but never the less, I am beyond excited to have purchased what i did.

I ended up purchasing 3 lip products and 2 eye shadows. 

The first was the oh so popular StingRAYE by youtuber ITSMYRAYERAYE. This color is described as a "cool toned mauve brown" and it totally agree with it. On my darker complexion this color pops and it's such a perfect shade which complements me and the texture is smooth.

The next was Trap which is described as a "dusty greyed out beige (“greige”)" and it totally is as described, there's also a bits of baby pink/lavender undertones. Like StingRAYE the product applied very smoothly on the lips.

The last was Kapow! And can I tell you, I was so excited for this one in particular. This one is described as a "muted grey taupe" and it gives me that perfect dead girl lips. On my lips it is darker than it is in the bottle. 

All of these colors are matte and pair nicely with many other lip liners/pencil/sticks etc. 

On to the shadows. I wanted to pick up vibrate colors that fit well with my skin tone, and knowing that i have a full year ahead, I wanted to make sure I picked something up that can be used year round. Beware to tightly seal the shadow because they are a bit moist which allows more staying power and stronger pigmentation. The olive color of Hammered complements my brown eyes, yet the gold reflexive pigment draws more attention to yet. In contrast the reds in Erotic brings a sense of mystery and sexiness when mixed with other shades.

The two eye shadows I purchased are:

Erotic: candy apple red with sparkles. The texture is so velvety smooth. It is as if you are applying a cream product on your skin. this color is not very vibrant, and it also needs multiple applications in order to get an opaque finish.

Hammered: smoky olive with gold tones.  Again this is velvety smooth. compared to Erotic, Hammered is so pigmented and true to cool, one swipe and you are done. 

Since Valentine's Day is nearing, I cannot wait to wear these products for a date night. I totally recommend you all to go out and purchase these, they do not break the bank, yet you get quality items.

XX Fuschiadiva

Christian Loubou(sa)tin

High Heels. An accessory that society has created for women that tricks them into believing that they need it in order to be seen as sexy and classy. I have fallen for this trickery. I, like many women, own several pairs of heels, from high end to cheapy basics, but nothing compares to the oh-so-popular Christian Louboutin Pigalle 100MM.

These shoes are honestly the devil, although Mr. Christian Louboutin himself stated he does not make shoes for comfort but more for aesthetics, I was hoping these bad boys would at least be more comfortable than they are. I purchased mine a few years back from Saks Fifth Avenue in New York. When S.A brought out several heights and sizes, I fell in love. Knowing myself, I knew I would not be able to deal with the 120mm, because when I tried them on I started to lean forward, so I opted out for the 100( about 4in) which is the normal height for heels for me. I trotted around in the store, and loved them. The plush carpet made me feel as if I was walking on a cloud. I whipped out my card and I became an owner of my second pair of C.L (first and last pair of Pigalles).

The first few times I wore these they were manageable until the 10 min mark hit. I found myself having to bite the bullet refusing to take them off, (I really despise taking off my shoes in public). Pretty much, these shoes have barely any soles, so the ball of feet is constantly face planting on the ground. Although these are the typical 4in, they are very steep so you basically turn into a ballerina. Lastly I'm lucky enough to not have a wide foot so the pointed toe does not bother me, but what does bother me is that my foot slide further into the front of the shoe box making it feel pretty uncomfortable.

Would I discourage people from buying this? No. If you truly want these shoes...get them... it is your money. But since I'm not an avid high heel wearer (I'm more of an 3in boot wearer) I do not find these very comfortable. When I do have fancy events to attend, I still whip them out, but making sure whatever I am attending allows me ample sitting down time.

xx FuschiaDiva

M.A.C | My New Obsession

Happy 2016 All!

Unless you have lived under a rock, you probably know and or own a beauty product from M.A.C. I growing up was always fond of makeup, and when I say makeup I mean mascara and Chapstick, but being a member of the youtube community for a while now, I've been exposed to so many low and high end products.

I remember purchasing my first ever M.A.C product my freshman year, which is my trusty Ruby Woo lipstick. I felt like I was "the man", at 17 years old owning such an expensive product! Woah Baller ALERT! I later ended up giving it to my sister who fell in love with this rich matte ruby shade. Luckily enough I repurchased it a few years later, and it definitely is the same product I fell in love with. It is so velvety to look at, and also to the touch.

The next 2 M.A.C products I was able to get my hands on were Soar(pictured) and Chicory(no longer in my possession). Of course this was at the time when Kylie Jenner blossomed into the mega sex icon that she is now. So of course I wanted to have these pink nude lips that she had, I already am blessed with plump lips so I never needed to partake in the lip suctioning trend that she started. Sadly I lost Chicory whilst vacationing in Rome, Italy in summer 2015, and it's been out of stock for the longest.

Soar Lip Liner

Chicory Lip Liner

One evening I was going through a friends makeup bag just being nosy, and found M.A.C Sin, she said I could have it because she does not like the color! I was so happy because it was brand new, free, and the rich burgundy color absolutely complemented my skin tone.

I stumbled upon my third M.A.C lipstick through my favorite Youtuber/blogger Mouldyfruit, and it is M.A.C Whirl, Oh how this beautiful pink/nude/brown shade compliments my skin tone and lips. It also pairs great with every single lip liner and color I own.

The last M.A.C lipstick I own is Viva Glam Miley Cyrus gifted to me christmas 2015. I have yet to wear this one, it is a bright pink which slightly intimidates ( I refuse to go out looking like a foolish clown). But when I applied this, i went on so smoothly. The brightness is definitely due to the fact that is it an "Amplified Creme"

Lastly-for now- I recently purchased M.A.C oh so popular Nightmoth lip liner. Guys, when I tell you this is such a pigmented eggplant color, it goes on so smoothly and it stays on!

Most of the lipsticks are matte, but luckily for me they do not dry my lips out, I always make sure to keep my lips hydrated and moisturized prior to applying any lip product, and throughout the day and night.

  Which M.A.C lippies are your fave?

xx FuschiaDiva

My Summer Essentials 2K15

New York City; one of the worlds biggest fashion mecca. Everyone always aim to be the most high fashioned, trendy person that you will ever lay eyes on, but sometimes we forget about comfort and practicality. These are some of my summer favorites for the year 2015.

 There is nothing more that I hate than chapped lips so I am always reaching for my Chap Stick. The great thing about this particular one is that it has sunscreen in it so I know I will be avoiding sunburned lips and all of the unsafe rays. The second beauty item that I find essential is a clear coat polish. I love this one by Sally because I can rock it as a base/top coat with another nail polish, or by itself.

 I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!!!! Arm candy, I am the girl the that you see with hundreds of bracelets on her arm. I find that I can dress them up or down, add or remove as many as I want. Bracelets to me tells a story, they can even be a conversation starter between yourself and a complete stranger. Also they add character to an outfit not matter how basic or extravagant it may be.

 Sunglasses! Keep your eyes protected from both UVA and UVB rays, just as you would apply sunscreen to your skin, put on a pair of sunnies and know that you are protected.

 My Louis Vuitton Alma PM is my baby. During the summer I do not want to worry about lugging around a gigantic tote bag, this allows me to keep things minimal where I know I have the essentials. Another great aspect of this bag is that I can transform it from a top handle to a cross body bag by simply attaching a strap to it.

 Birkenstocks are one of my obsessions this summer, I am one of many who suffers from flat feet, so the arch support really does allow me to walk for hours without complaining about foot pain. Mine are the Arizona Blacked Oiled Leather Sandals, because black essentially goes with almost everything.