Olivia Frescura

los angeles beauty & lifestyle blog

A Note On Bullying: Ditch The Label x ipsy Video

In this day and age, almost everyone is going to encounter some sort of bullying in their lives (apparently 6 out of 10 people!). It’s a topic that I, unfortunately, have a lot of experience with, both on and offline. I am excited to share this video I filmed with ipsy and Ditch The Label to encourage a community that uplifts and to remind you that there’s someone on the other side of the post that you’re commenting on.

As for myself, I can’t really remember a time where there wasn’t some form of bullying going on. From “popular girls” in middle school, my first crush, to former employers…plenty of people are out there being bullies, and hey- I’m not completely innocent in this either. Being bullied gave me somewhat of a hard shell, and, when you’re a victim of bullying, you can choose to brush it off or fight back, which of course has it’s consequences.

From being called fat since I was in the 6th grade, to being called a slut while I was still a virgin, to countless other critiques of my personality, appearance, etc…it really takes a toll. At the same time, it has made me into a much better person in the long run, complete with a great self deprecating sense of humor…and I’m humble too. 😉

On a serious note, I hope that you all will rethink the things that you say on the internet, public or private. Talking shit behind someone’s back doesn’t make you any better than those who will say it to your face, because at least they have the guts to do so. I’m taking a stand myself and trying to be more positive, but in my own way. If you follow me on instagram, you know my personality. I’m a no bullshit, sarcastic, rough around the edges kind of girl…but, that doesn’t mean I can’t spread positivity. I try to do so by leaving more comments on friends and strangers instagram posts- it’s such a simple thing that you can do to make someone’s day.

Drop Dead, Gorgeous: ipsy Halloween Collab Video

A few weeks ago I did a shoot with ipsy for their Halloween collab video Drop Dead, Gorgeous. It was cool getting the chance to collaborate on such a big production with a bunch of my friends. We shot at a supposedly haunted high school in LA…I wound up being there from 6:30pm to 6:30am! It was basically like a haunted sleepover where no one sleeps… I posted a behind the scenes video a few weeks back, but the final product just came out today!

Here’s how the final video turned out, it’s a super fast paced music video- it’s not too scary in my opinion (and I hate scary stuff), so don’t be afraid to watch!

Here’s some more behind the scenes photos for your viewing pleasure…

Can you tell who wasn’t ready for this pic? And also not meant to fit in that costume? 😂

It was such a great opportunity to get out of my shell a bit and try something new…hopefully you’ll see more of me on video soon 😘

Ipsy Generation Beauty 2014 Recap, Haul & Giveaway | Video

IPSY Generation Beauty 2014 Recap Michelle Phan YouTube Space LA
Michelle Phan speaking at YouTube Space LA

This past weekend I headed over to Generation Beauty, hosted by Ipsy and Michelle Phan. This is the 2nd Gen Beauty, and I have attended both events. I think the difference between this event is that you get your money’s worth when it comes to ticket prices. I got my ticket for $50 early bird, and they went up to $150. But, we got at least that amount back in new and exciting beauty products given during “happy hour” at the end of the day, where you get products from every single brand attending. I was pleased to see that there were a lot more brands this year, although there were a few repeat brands.  I was lucky to attend the pre-party for YouTubers at YouTube Space LA, and even got to meet Michelle Phan herself! It wasn’t anything remarkable, though, just a photo…because she had to leave!

Between the pre-party and the actual event, I scored a ton of beauty products from the Generation Beauty sponsors: bareMinerals, Benefit, China Glaze, NYX Cosmetics, Laneige, Forever 21, Crown Brush, Vincent Longo, Sexy Hair, HSI, Temptu, Soho Beauty, Pixi, Proactiv, Cargo, Oscar Blandi, Josie Maran, Purminerals, Eva NYC, Em Cosmetics, Pacifica, Lush, Dermalogica, LA Girl, and City Color. Tons of brands! Watch the video to see what products I received!:

Want to win some of my Gen Beauty haulage? Make sure to pay attention to the instructions in the video! Giveaway ends June 18th 12:00AM PST! I loved this event, but it was very different from last year. I didn’t gain as much from the panels, as they weren’t as intimate. There were a ton of lines and it was a hassle to get around (reported 3x the amount of people from last year). Regardless, it was fun and I got some great products out of it.

IPSY Generation Beauty 2014 Recap Haul Giveaway
Generation Beauty Giveaway! Details on my YouTube

Click around to see my other photos from Generation Beauty:

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature 2014 3

 

**This post contains products that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Ipsy February 2013 Glam Bag Review

Ipsy February 2013 Glam Bag
February 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag

Ipsy‘s February 2013 bag was put together to make subscribers red carpet ready. Since it’s awards season, these products are there to make you feel as glam as you would if you were walking the red carpet. All of the products were in a black vinyl bag which I thought was alright, besides being a little smelly!

Lash Card Individually Wrapped Mascara Shields: These are cards made of card-stock with a small curve and large curve on each side to prevent mascara smudges on your eyelids. I didn’t particularly care for these because I don’t have a problem with tons of smudging, but if I did, I could easily use a business card to prevent mess-ups. I wouldn’t recommend these!

Pixi Flawless & Poreless: This is a tinted primer to go under your foundation to help it last. It doesn’t have a silicone-y feel to me, it feels more moisturizing. It doesn’t smell like anything, maybe a little plastic-y. It’s a great natural primer because I find that my skin doesn’t look super-matte and fake, but natural and a little bit dewy.

POP Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow! Mascara: I love getting mascara samples in my boxes because they are the perfect size for a mascara without wasting much product. This mascara is super thickening and not very lengthening, so it’s ideal for layering!

Mica Beauty Cosmetics Gel Liner: I typically wouldn’t be too excited about a gel liner, because I don’t wear liner on my eyelids a lot. But, this was an exception because it was a black gel liner, which, surprisingly, I don’t have. I don’t have much to say besides that it does the job well and is very black.

Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Palette: I’m not a fan of these palette samples because I never get colors that I’d actually wear. This palette is a combo of a matte yellow and a shimmery yellow-gold and 2 shimmery browns. I don’t think this is a cohesive look in my eyes because matte shadows look best in the crease in my opinion. I tried them on and they were pigmented, so that’s good. Others got better colors, so it’s really just a luck of the draw! I do like the sample size because I feel like it’s pretty unique to get samples of eyeshadow.

I’m thinking of unsubscribing soon just because I don’t feel the need to have all of these extra products anymore, I’m more into splurging for the products that I need now, I suppose!

What did you think of this bag?

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature

Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel Review

Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel

I received this clear brow gel from Chella in my November Ipsy bag and have really liked it so far. I hadn’t heard of Chella  until receiving this product so I was very intrigued.  I like that it’s clear, so it works for all hair colors. I definitely prefer  to wear clear brow gels over a colored brow pencil or powder, rather than tinted brow gels! This one does feel a little “crispy,” but I don’t mind it because my brows stay in place ALL day, which I definitely want! I like this little sample size because then the gel won’t get too gross before it’s gone. I hate when I see clear brow gels in clear tubes that wind up looking brown from using it over powder or pencils! This gel is $18 online which is a good price, but I’m not sure if there are any stores where you can get it, which is a bummer…I always like to avoid buying online whenever I can because of pesky shipping prices. I definitely want to try more of this brand in the future, perhaps when I run out of brow products!

What’s your must have brow gel?

Olivia Frescura Blog Signature