Author: Marina Mitrakos

My name is Marina and I was born in NYC but lived in New Jersey my entire life. I'll be entering my third year at Rutgers University as a Marketing major with a Business Analytics concentration, and I'm interested in exploring more of the fashion and beauty industry! Aside from fashion and beauty, I'm really passionate about fitness and trying new foods. I used to play field hockey, volleyball, and track & field, so I definitely try to maintain my physique in college. Being from a Greek and Vietnamese descent, I'm very ethnically cultured, but more so on the Greek side!

7 Essential Cosmetics for Any Occasion

As a makeup junkie, I’ve found myself experimenting with a variety of different types and brands of cosmetics. Lately, I realized that I often purchase a product and then rarely use it because the color would only fit for that specific season or time of day that I planned on using it for.

Although there is nothing wrong with having products for specific events, I wanted to find products that not only complement my features during the different seasons, but also could be used from day-to-night looks.

Below are seven cosmetics that I have been using for a range of occasions for several months now. Let’s get started!

essential cosmetics

1—Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette. This palette features a wide variety of warm tones that can create multiple different looks. Generally, I like to use the lighter colors on my eyelids. If I want to go for a dramatic look, I’ll use the darker, vibrant tones in my crease and outer corners instead.

modern renaissance palette

2—Tarte Rainforest of The Sea Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette. These cosmetics are so pigmented and give you the perfect amount of shine. I prefer using the shade Sunlight when my skin is lighter during the winter and spring, and Moonlight when I’m tan during the summer and fall.

tarte lighting palette

3—Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I love having long, thick, luscious lashes. And what do I use to achieve those lashes? This mascara. What’s amazing is that just one coat of this mascara will do wonders for your lashes. If I’m trying to look glamorous, I apply a few more coats along with curling my lashes.

better than sex mascara

4—Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper. Being that I have very dark features, I always wear my eyeliner in a black color. What I like about the Tattoo Liner is that the tip is very precise, allowing me to master the wing. In the past, I’ve had issues with my liquid eyeliner felt tips fraying. So far, this eyeliner hasn’t frayed on me once!

kat von d tattoo eyeliner

5—bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Powder Foundation. For years, I’ve struggled with finding a foundation that I really liked. After trying this, I concluded that pressed powder is my favorite. Particularly with BAREPRO, the product makes my skin look so smooth and blemish-free, along with lasting for several hours. Compared to the products I’ve used in the past, BAREPRO makes my skin look the most natural and it feels very light!

barepro foundation

6—L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Fairest Nude. Every girl needs a nude lipstick. What’s great about this lipstick is that it’s inexpensive, yet rich in color. It looks amazing for about any look you’re going for! This is definitely my go-to lipstick.

l'oreal lipstick and rimmel lipliner

7—Rimmel London Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Stay On Lip Liner Pencil in Nude. To finish off my nude lips, I line them with this pencil to make my lips pop! This lip liner is a great pair of the lipstick above.

What are your essential cosmetics? Let me know in the comments below!

Fashionably Fit—What to Wear When You Exercise This Summer

“Look good, feel good.” I thought of this popular saying while exercising at the gym a few months ago. I realized that similar to how I prefer to put effort into my everyday appearance so that I feel ready to take on the day, I needed to revamp my workout attire. Since then, I’ve decided to purchase pieces that make me feel comfortable and confident while I exercise, and, of course, with a touch of style!

Exercise Outfit

This outfit is one of my personal favorites to exercise in, in addition to the gray and white combo. Especially now that it’s summer, wearing solely a sports bra complements mid-rise or high-rise leggings!

1—Sports bras. Lately, I’ve seen that sports bras, fitted tops, and crop tops are in style for both exercise and leisurewear. They allow you to move with ease, whereas long sleeve, baggy T-shirts or hoodies can be somewhat restrictive, depending on what movements you’re doing. Also, wearing white will definitely highlight your sun-kissed skin!

 

2—Leggings. Regardless of the season, leggings are my preferred type of bottoms for exercise. Not only do they fit so seamlessly, but they accentuate your curves and allow you to show off your amazing legs! I really appreciate gray tones because they’re less typical than your everyday black leggings, yet still match with most colors. I’m wearing the Women’s Best Inspire Leggings in gray/white!

Women's Best Inspire Leggings

3—White Sneakers. The Nike Huarache sneakers are my go-to pair of athletic shoes. They’re unbelievably comfortable and cushioned, and look good both in the gym and on the streets! White sneakers are a great addition to an outfit.

Nike Huarache Sneakers

4—Apple Watch. To finish off this look, I’m sporting an Apple Watch so that I can keep track of my activity! I absolutely adore the rose gold finish with the light pink sports band. It’s a great touch of color!

Apple Watch

I hope you all enjoyed this athletic look! How do the rest of you Fashionistas like to dress when you exercise? Let me know in the comments below, or show us on social media! Don’t forget to tag @Cfashionista.

3 Healthy Summer Eats That Actually Taste Delicious

As much as I love munching on junk foods and sweets, I know that eating healthy is very important for obvious reasons. But who says eating healthy can’t also be tasty?

With summer around the corner, most college students are working to achieve their “beach bods” or simply improve their physique after two semesters of stress-eating and not having the time to focus on themselves. Personally, I felt that eating healthy at college was sometimes difficult due to the food offered at the school dining halls and nearby restaurants. And even though I had a kitchen in my off-campus house, I didn’t have the time to cook myself meals three times a day or go grocery shopping once I ran out of ingredients.

However, now that I’m home for the summer, I have the freedom to explore my mother’s kitchen and make some fun, yet healthy foods. So, I wanted to share three of my favorite meals that could possibly benefit you all!

1—Scrambled Eggs with Quinoa, Spinach, and Kale

Photo of Scrambled Eggs with Quinoa, Spinach, and Kale

Ingredients:

  • 2 Eggs

  • 1/2 Cup of Boiled Quinoa

  • 1 Cup of Spinach

  • 1/3 Cup of Kale

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Olive Oil or Cooking Spray

Directions:

  1. Heat a frying pan on the stove on high heat.
  2. Pour light olive oil or spray cooking spray onto the pan.
  3. After a minute, add the quinoa, spinach, and kale (Add as much quinoa, spinach, and kale that you desire!)
  4. Crack two eggs over the vegetables in the frying pan.
  5. Mix the eggs into the vegetables, occasionally flipping the food to cook both sides.
  6. Add salt and pepper. (Sometimes, I like to add onions, tomatoes, and avocados too!)

2—Healthy Chicken Salad Platter

Photo of Healthy Chicken Salad Platter

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Bake the chicken for 25 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit until it is crispy.
  2. Cut and dice the chicken, kale, tomatoes, avocado, and boiled eggs.
  3. Place all ingredients onto a plate (and mix it into a salad if you’d like).
  4. Note: If mixed into a salad, feel free to add a salad dressing! I prefer raspberry vinaigrette because it adds a sweet flavor.

3—Strawberry Banana Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 Cup of Greek Yogurt
  • 2 Bananas
  • 8 Strawberries
  • Blender

Directions:

  1. Cut the bananas and strawberries into smaller pieces.
  2. Place the Greek yogurt, bananas, and strawberries into the blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Pour the smoothie substance into a container.
  4. Place the container in the freezer for about 2 hours.
  5. Remove the container from the freezer and enjoy!
  6. Note: If you freeze the container overnight, allow time for the frozen yogurt to defrost before eating it so that it is easy to scoop.

Did you try to recreate any of these meals? Let me know in the comments below!