Monday, August 18, 2014

How To Take A Great Selfie + HUGE Neutrogena Giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with NEUTROGENA® and Latina Bloggers Connect.

Hey Beautiful!!!!!!

Today we will be talking all about SELFIESSSSSSS!!! No, but really, let's talk about selfies! If you follow me on instagram (if you don't, you should lol @barbiebabymua) then you know I love to post selfies. Makeup selfies, facial expression selfies, silly faces with Noel selfies, standing in front of a random NYC location selfies - the selfies syndrome has definitely spiraled to an obsessive direction. I, for one, love it! I find it so much fun to scroll through other people's selfies. Some are funny, some can be inspiring, and others are just plain nice to look at.

As a girly girl and one who is deeply embedded into the beauty community I know that a good selfie takes a lot of work. :insert corny meme about taking 40 pictures in near identical poses and hating every single one of them: It can seriously be a headache. Here are some of my selfie tips and tricks.

How to take a great Selfie:

1. Arm Extension - We all know that a selfie is a solo face shot, but that doesn't mean you need to be so close that the viewer can count the veins in your eyeball. Extending the arm as far out as comfortable will help get a great head shot but also include some chest and shoulders.

2. Camera Angle - Hold the camera a bit above your head and angle it slightly downward. Full frontal photos are good for a change but if you want a more universal, surefire great angle raise your arm and glance your gorgeous eyes upward. This also helps to slim the face and avoids the dreaded double chin look.

3. Lighting - Great lighting is the key to any great photo. The best lighting can even help to blur imperfections naturally and make you look flawless. So learn to find your light before any selfie and you're on the path to happiness =0p

4. Face Angle - This one is really a trial and error tip, but know your angles. Play around with different angles and tilts of the head until you find one you prefer. Most of us also have one side we favor over the other. For me it's my left side because that's the side I have my nose ring on.

5. Location/accessory - This is a fun little extra that can give your selfie that extra oomf. Try to find interesting locations as the backdrop of your selfie or use the opportunity to show off a new accessory (ex. glasses, hair accessory, etc). You can even include a furry friend in your selfie... although that may or may not be considered an usie? Do pets count as usies?

6. Pamper your canvas - One thing that can greatly help your selfies is taking care of your skin! A pimple or unsightly blemish can ruin any great photo, especially one that shows our face so close up as a selfie does. Sometimes, especially during our teen years, we can't always avoid a blemish but with help from Neutrogena we can help prevent them.

The Neutrogena Oil Free Pink Grapefruit line is awesome to help combat against blemishes. As a Latina, I have to admit we come in a huge array of shapes, sizes and colors. Unfortunately, I'm on the extremely light skinned side of the spectrum and although I never had any serious issues with pimples growing up, I do get blackheads... alll.. the... time. I recently learned that blackheads are also a form of acne. 

The products in the pink grapefruit line are no strangers to my bathroom cabinet. I've actually been using the cleanser for about a year and a half... way long before I received the products to test out for this blog post. I especially enjoy the cleanser because it is gentle on my dry skin. Many times acne specific products tend to over-dry even the oiliest of skin types, so just imagine what it does to already dry skin. Since pimples were, thankfully, never a huge problem for me I used to just stick with regular cleansers and periodically try to pop my blackheads. I was happy when I first tried the pink grapefruit facial cleanser because now I finally had an acne treating product that I could use. I continued to use it for so long because it fulfills its claim of treating my acne. I notice my blackheads are way less numerous and also appear less frequently when I use the product regularly. Of course I still get some here and there, wearing makeup and daily environmental dirt and debris is always going to be a factor in the equation but now I have a solution.



Another part of the line is the foaming scrub which I actually just tried recently. It has the same great smell - did I mention the smell <3 - as the cleanser but acts almost as a gentle exfoliant due to the teeny tiny beads inside. It is also great for my skin type as well. If you don't have dry skin don't worry, all the products in the line are oil-free so this will work for my oily girls as well.



The final item in the line are the cleansing wipes. Please don't confuse these with makeup remover wipes. While I do LOVE the product, I've had bad experiences making that mistake in the past. Keep the wipes away from your eye area as it can (and does - personal trial and error) irritate the eyes. However, I adore this for the summer time or for after the gym. I keep them handy in my bag and use them as a refresher (when I'm not wearing makeup of course) to clean my face of any dirt and oil I've accumulated during the day, due to the heat, or because of sweating. This is also a great and simple step to help combat acne if you do have acne prone skin, especially after the gym. Enjoy your hard core workout then wipe down your face before leaving the locker room. It will help to clean out you pores of the immediate sweat until you can get home and shower.



I hope you babes enjoyed this blog post. There is a HUGE giveaway attached to this post as well (entry form below). Neutrogena is giving 3 winners individual consultations with a dermatologist and make-up artist plus a year supply of products valued at $1000. As part of this giveaway I'll be posting a daily selfie on instagram from today through Friday to share my clear skin, my selfie skills, and remind you guys to enter the giveaway. Follow me @barbiebabymua to check those out. I wish you all the best of luck and I'm very happy to be a part of this and be able to bring you another giveaway. This is the 3rd giveaway I am hosting this month and a 4th will go live on my channel this coming weekend. I love being able to find ways to give back to you for all that you do for me, thank you!

Love you always,

Rocio Laura








Sunday, August 3, 2014

Top 10 Current Asos Favorites

Hey Beauties!!

You may know, I've been mentioning lately that I will be doing more fashion related videos and posts. I was brainstorming ideas for mini series that I could create surrounding fashion and thought of today's post. I'm sharing with you my current top 10 favorite items on the Asos website. I'll be doing more of these in the future as well.

I thought this was a cute idea and a good way to share with you some items I'm pining over - as well as how you could style them. Unfortunately I'm not a millionaire -yet?! - and can't buy every single item of clothing I want. These blog posts will be kind of like my wish list and a fun way to share styling ideas with each other. I hope you enjoy this first post of it's kind and share your favorites with me as well!




1. Matching Separates

I'll admit - I'm guilty of being obsessed with this trend for quite a while now. It's just so simple, quick and seamless. Plus, crop tops are huge right now and many of these matching separate sets include the crop top with a skirt - usually a midi. This trend has my name written all over it. It takes the effort out of styling but allows you to be creative with accessories, the best of both. If you prefer to cover up your tummy area opt for a longer top that you can tuck into the bottoms for clean lines and a slimming effect.

My Asos picks:
Ginger Fizz Set - I love the pattern on this and the peplum on the skirt. It's a very sophisticated look with a little edge thrown in thanks to the cut of the crop top. Definitely a stand out piece. I would wear this to a YouTube event or dinner date.

Endless Rose Set - Again, the cut of the crop top adds a lot of visual interest to this outfit, as well as the mesh panel in the skirt. This one is overall a bit more edgy than the first and definitely more risque. I would opt for this piece for a night out with the girls. Cocktail anyone?

2. Midi Skater Skirts

This trend is a new one for me. I've loved midi pencil skirts for so long that I'm almost experiencing some anxiety as I test the waters of the midi skater world... almost. Skater skirts are great for creating a flowy, gliding through your day feel. I also find them to be slimming as they cinch you in at your smallest and then flow away from the body. Adding length via a midi will help make you look long and lean. They are also a very classy and classic piece.

My Asos picks:
Black is always a must in any wardrobe and this skirt will be able to work well with countless different outfits. For some added excitement, opt for this pleated animal print version.

3. Plaid Button Down Shirts

I'm a firm believer that a plaid, or "checkered", button down is an absolute wardrobe essential. Yes, more on the casual side, but we can't dress up everyday. I love these to wear unbottoned over a t-shirt or even tied around the waist.

My Asos Picks:
The black and red plaid combo is my favorite.

4. Fall Jumpsuits

Again, super simple and quick. I love rompers in the spring and summer especially but this year I'm actually digging the pantsuit or jumpsuit styles as well.

My Asos Picks:
This wide leg style screams casual dinner date to me. I love the blush pink color. Add some gold accessories and some cute sandals and it's a perfect piece to transition into the fall with. The neckline is sexy but not too revealing. Over all the cut is perfect for early fall. If it's breezy, adding a light sweater is all you need to be warm and cozy.

I love this floral jumpsuit as well. I see this one working more for a lunch date with friends (add some cute heels) or a shopping day (opt for embellished flats). The print and color is fun and vibrant. Definitely a piece I would gravitate more towards for a daytime activities.

5. Military Jacket

Fall = a good, stylish jacket. That is all

My Asos Picks:
I adore this military style jacket. I adore the dark brown color - still a neutral that will match well with any outfit but not so harsh as an all black jacket. The military panel is adorable and the long length is perfect for keeping warm.

6. Kimono

Kimonos are a great item to have on hand. They act almost as an accessory to add and extra something to any outfit, plus some added warmth. I'm all about being warm in the fall and winter. In my high school days I would sacrifice warmth for looking cute but as I matured I learned you can have both.

My Asos Picks:
I chose this casual fit nude kimono because it works well with any outfit. I would pair it with a sleek, fitted look underneath and add the casual kimono for contrast. The color is also a neutral and would pop nicely against a dark colored outfit.

7. Cozy Sweatshirt

Another great transition piece is a cozy sweatshirt. You can even style one with shorts in the late summer time when it begins to get breezy in the evenings. They are comfortable and cozy and make me think of cuddles and hot chocolate.

My Asos Picks:
I chose this rose print sweatshirt because I feel it's the perfect touch of color but still soft enough to pair with any bottoms. The print also has a feminine and delicate feel which I adore.

If you know me, you know I turn into a bit of a tom boy during the colder months. I love this homies sweatshirt because it fits perfectly with my tomboy sporty casual style.

8. Drop Crotch

What?! Yes!! PLUS, this trend is not only for a casual outfit. Add some heels and a crop top for a funky date night look. Try to pair it with a sleek, low ponytail and a red lip for more of a wow factor.

My Asos Picks:
If you're going to wear a bold trend like this, do it right. This Asos drop crotch pant is perfect. The gold detailing adds a fancy feel and helps to transition the pant seamlessly into a more dressed up outfit. Add gold accessories and even a killer pair of heels or purse with gold embellishments. The high waist fit is very flattering. Also, the fact that the ankle is slim fit helps to transition well into a more dressy look.

9. Dressy Top

A must have.

My Asos Picks:
I chose this satin tank top for a few reasons. I like the dropped armholes which add the faintest hint of side boob - sexy! Black is also a classic color plus the satin sheen makes the black look shiny and even more elegant. The scoop neckline is also very flattering and helps elongate the neck. This particular one still has a relaxed fit so you can be fancy but comfortable.

10. Black Jeans

Black Jeans... what else do I have to say?

My Asos Picks:
I found these inexpensive black skinny jeans for you guys. Jeans can be super expensive sometimes and I'm not really sure why. I've always opted for the more affordable side and they always fit perfectly. If it's not broke... I'll stick to my affordable jeans, anything over $100 - it better come with gold in the pockets.

Well Loves, that's all for today. I'm so excited to hear your thoughts on this blog post and this new mini series! What stores would you like to see me feature next?

Love you!
xo,
Rocio Laura
 
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