TRULY ARIA - LIFESTYLE & MORE

IG Editing Series: Apps for IG Stories

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Over the past few weeks, I've been receiving a surprisingly high number of messages asking me the same question: How do you edit your Instagram stories? I'm not going to lie, at first, I was hesitant on telling my little secret on how I create such clean and beautiful looking Insta stories, but then I realized how silly I sounded. It's best to share the magic with everyone else since there's plenty of it!

Having aesthetically pleasing fonts and layouts for your IG stories not only sets you apart from others and boosts your engagement, but it helps create a sense of cohesion for your page. These past few months I've stepped up my IG stories game by taking a little bit more time out to curate my stories. I now approach my stories similarly to my feed. This way I know that I have eye-catching content on both parts of Instagram. Whether or not my audience only sees my stories or just my feed posts, they have content worth interacting with wither way.

Think about it--you probably spend more time checking IG stories more than you do scrolling through your feed. It's way quicker, and you still get an idea of what everyone is up to! That being the case, you should want your stories to reflect what your followers typically see on your feed or at least speak to your personality.

With all of that being said, I know that you're all wanting to know the secret to creating aesthetically pleasing IG stories, so let's just get right into it! Here are the apps I currently use to create beautiful IG stories.

*Disclaimer: The apps mentioned are free to download and offer a trial period. However, they offer in app purchases or subscriptions that allow you to use the app to the fullest. I have subscriptions to these.

OVER (PRO)

Best for writing in stylistic fonts and creating mood boards. Works with both images and videos.

This is the app I use 9 times out of 10 for my stories. It's easy and quick to use once you create one template. I use this to my advantage by filming or taking a photo with an Instagram story filter, saving it, and then replacing my previous video or image in the template with my new media. I pay for the subscription to have access to all of the graphics, fonts, and layout choices. Personally, I think it's worth the money. As a blogger and fashion student, I use it to give my social pages a more professional feel with its high quality graphics. I especially love all of the font choices, which has the power to make even my boring coffee stories seemingly more interesting.

UNFOLD+

Best for story layouts, backgrounds/frames, and adding stickers like tape. It also has a good font selection. Works with both images and videos.

When it comes to creating stories with more than one image or video, I typically use Unfold+. This one is pretty common and easy to use. It's quite minimal, which I like, but it also has some layouts to give your photos a film or journal like feel.

If you have any questions about how to use the apps, I'm more than happy to help! Leave me a comment on here or send me a message on Instagram, and I'll be sure to respond. X

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How to Find Your Dream Foundation

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Finding the perfect foundation can be...challenging, especially when you are trying to find one that ticks off so many boxes. It's hard enough trying to find a foundation that is reasonably priced and cruelty free, but what about finding one that's also formulated without sulfates, parabens, and pore-clogging-oils? There has to be one that also has SPF in it too? An inclusive shade range? The perfect amount of coverage and good brand values?

Honestly, finding a good foundation has been pretty tricky for me lately. My preferences have changed since I've cleared my skin up and choose not to do a full face beat every day.

Now while my list may seem a little unrealistic and a bit of a stretch, over these past four months I've been committed to testing a range of foundations that have at least 5 out of the 8 must haves on my dream foundation checklist.

So instead of making one long blog post about how I found my favorite foundations and what those foundations are, I decided to make this into two separate posts. In another post, I'll share my newest foundation obsessions, but for this one, I'm sharing what I think about when on the lookout for a new Holy Grail.

Use the checklist below when thinking about what's ultimately important to you when finding the perfect foundation.

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Inflight Skincare Routine: P.M. Edition

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Let me start off by saying that I never really cared about in flight skincare. Sure, once I'm in the comfort of my Airbnb or hotel, I'll begin my skincare regimen. I'll even add in an extra face mask or serum to help refresh and detoxify my skin. But doing an inflight skincare routine whilst inside of a plane? Yeah, no, I've never done that.

As much of a skincare enthusiast as I am, I've never felt the need to have a routine for my flights. This could be due to past insecurities about my skin, or the lack of confidence I have in myself when it comes to properly cleansing my skin without a sink.

If you ask me today how I feel about inflight skincare, it's not even a question. Those aren't concerns for me anymore, so why would I risk a major breakout? I'm going to whip out all of my micellar waters, moisturizers, and facial mists without a care in the world. Listen babes, it's 2019--I don't care if I look bougie with my facial rollers or Summer Fridays face masks. Quite frankly, my skincare is more important than what other people think about me. And that's that on that.

Here's a glimpse of my quick but effective inflight skincare routine (P.M. edition because I tend to take overnight flights into the morning)!

1. just take the day off with a makeup wipe

I find that the best way to remove my makeup in general is with an oil. I usually opt for the Camellia Oil Cleanser by Tatcha ($15-$48 USD) when I'm at home or just organic olive oil, but both of those cleansing oils require a sink. So after some research, I decided to try the makeup wipe version of the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm by Clinque ($4.50-$14.50 USD). Not even gonna lie, I hate makeup wipes because they hardly remove any makeup and most of the time leave my skin burning. These, however, are saturated with a micellar cleansing liquid to remove any face or eye makeup, and they don't leave my skin itchy or red or burning! I honestly love these so much, and they come in travel size. What more can you ask for?!

After I take off all of my makeup, I still feel like my skin isn't entirely clean, so I go in with a cotton pad and some Garnier Micellar Water ($4 USD, travel size obviously) and remove any excess makeup, oils, or dirt that's on my face, neck, or ears. This usually does the trick.

2. toner makes everything better, I swear

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This is super important because it helps your skin maintain a healthy pH balance! I use the Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner with Rose Petals ($12) to help restore the skin's hydration levels while brightening your skin and tightening your pores. It also controls oil production and locks in moisture while doing this. Not to mention, rosewater is packed with Vitamin C, which is key for collagen production, strengthening skin cells, and fading blemishes and scars! It's inexpensive and works wonders.

3. serum time, baby

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God knows I live for a good serum, but I don't rotate or buy them as frequently because their natural based ingredients cause them to have a shorter shelf life. I used to use the Farsali Unicorn Essence ($54), which I still love by the way, but this time I decided to use the Sunday Riley A+ Retinoid ($85) and the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serums ($79). Both are lovely for evening your skin tone, correcting dark spots, brightening and clearing skin, and delivering quick hydration that actually leaves your skin feeling plump and moisturized.

4. don't you dare skip that eye serum or cream

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Because of my incredibly dry and somewhat dark under eyes, I use both an eye serum and cream to correct any darkness, prevent wrinkles, and hydrate them. My serum and cream of choice are the Chanel Blue Serum Eye ($70) and the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream ($18), both are travel friendly too.

*tip: I go to my local Nordstrom and ask for a sample of the Chanel Blue Serum, so I don't have to bring mine with me, and it comes in a small travel tube!

5. finally, an actual moisturizer

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Moisturizers are my weakness. There, I said it. I could already have three brand new moisturizers at home and still buy another whilst I'm out because I just love moisturizers! Lately, I've been using two moisturizers--Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin ($9) and Peter Thomas Roth Green Releaf Therapeutic Sleep Cream ($65), which is specifically a night moisturizer. I love these two because they calm any inflammation while smoothing the look of fine lines and improving texture and uneven skin tone. It leaves my skin feeling healthy and moisturized, which is important overall!

*disclaimer/ad: the PTR has melatonin and cannabis sativa seed oil in, but they are legal and free of psychoactive THC and CBD. I felt weird about the cream at first because I'm personally not into the whole cannabis/marijuana health scene, but it was gifted to me by the brand, and I tested it out and actually don't mind it. However, it does make me a bit sleepy after applying it.

6. inflight facial, please

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To make sure all of the serums and moisturizers I use are actually seeping into my skin, I use my Skin Gym Jade Facial Roller ($32) to massage everything in. I use the large jade around my face and neck, and the smaller jade around my eyes. I do this for about five minutes before cleansing the jade roller with a hot towelette.

7. don't want jet lag? then you better mask

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Thanks to my beautiful friend, Abby, who gifted me the Summer Fridays' Jet Lag Mask ($48), my skin didn't suffer my long flight! It's all the Insta craze right now, so if you don't know about Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores' skincare child, Summer Fridays, I suggest you open a second tab and buy one or all three of their amazing masks. The Jet Lag Mask is a cream mask that is packed with antioxidants and vitamins that if you leave on overnight will deliver a renewed, radiant complexion that feels as soft as an angel.

8. you know your lips deserve better

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Doesn't hurt to go beyond putting a lip balm on, use the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($24) for dual exfoliation and moisturizing action.

And I'm judging you if you don't have your own mini skincare routine for your flights. XX #SorryForYourSkin

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IG Editing Series: How I Edit My Feed

Sunday, January 20, 2019

via my ig: @trulyaria

Lately, I've been getting DMs via Instagram about the apps I use to edit my photos on Instagram. Instead of answering every single person, I figured it would be best to share with everyone the apps I use to edit!

using @candidlychan preset

lightroom (mobile)

Lightroom is my favorite app. I just feel like it makes any photo look 10X better. You're really able to fine tune and edit your photos to a professional level if you put the time into it. At the moment, I am using a preset created by Chandler DeHart, ig: @candidlychan. However, I use this as my "base filter" because her preset is set for her complexion, her usual backgrounds, and so on. I like her preset for the strong contrasts and gray tones, but again, I usually make my own adjustments to make my photos a little brighter and softer. I recommend finding a filter or preset that you really like and then using that to create your own. You do this by playing around with different settings, making adjustments, and finding what works best for your photos/feed. Then you can save those settings and copy and paste them onto another photo to keep consistency!

photo is mine, preset used to edit this photo is mine

vsco

I don't use VSCO as much anymore, but when I do, I use it lightly and usually on top of any editing that I have already done in Lightroom. Currently my filter of choice is A4, but I have used A6, J2, and J5 in the past. They all have a very minimalistic, clean feel to them, which is how I like my feed to look. I tend to rotate between warm and cool tones and how tinted and saturated my photos are, which is the only real difference between those filters. I primarily use VSCO for it's fade and grain affect.

mine, via ig: @trulyaria

facetune

Yes, I use FaceTune, and I'm not ashamed of it! I don't think there is anything terribly wrong with using it to touch up photos. As long as you don't distort yourself entirely, you should definitely use it! It's amazing for little fixes and adding finishing touches. Personally, I use the whiten, smooth, and detail tools the most; the whitening tool to whiten whites and bring back brightness to my photos (yes, I whiten my eyes and teeth, but I use no more than half of the bar so it doesn't look super edited...though I have over edited several photos...yikes); the smoothing tool to blur backgrounds or pixelated areas (God forbid) and my skin; and the detailing tool to emphasize anything that I want to stand out.

Now, don't get it twisted--I'm no pro at editing. Truthfully, half of my skills come from trial and error, and the other half comes from watching YouTube videos or reading posts from some of my favorite influencers and bloggers on how they edit their photos. But I am thinking about making this a short series of posts on curating an IG feed, creating IG stories and highlights, and so on...What do you guys think? Do you want me to go into even more detail on how I edit my photos? Leave me a comment down below on what you want to know!

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6 Summer Essentials: Makeup Edition

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

photo not mine, all rights to the owner

It's no surprise that summer is approaching fast, which means you're either lightening up on your makeup routine or trying every product under the sun to keep the sun from ruining your freshly beat full face.

Now not all of us feel comfortable going makeup free, nor do we want or have to just because it's summer. But with the sunny season around the corner, it's nice to have just a handful of staple products that you know will have you looking amazing in just a short amount of time.

Here are my staple summer products that are quick and easy to use and will have anyone looking freshly bronzed and glowing in just under twenty minutes.

1. Brow Tint/Gel

This gives a full brow effect, perfect for that effortless bushy brow look.

Beauty Tip: use castor oil on brows to grow them and make them fuller.

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2. Tinted Moisturizer, Light-Medium Coverage Foundation with SPF.

You want your skin to shine through. Embrace those freckles, sun spots, and laugh lines. The less you put on, the less you have to worry about the sun melting your makeup off or about your pores clogging up in the heat. I always opt for a hydrating or silky medium coverage foundation that I can sheer out around my nose and eyes where my freckles are, but keep a good amount of coverage on some of my more stubborn acne scars.

Beauty Tip: Don't have clear skin or worried about imperfections? Don't stress, I have a post on how to clear your skin within one week. Read it here.

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3. Liquid Highlighter.

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with looking as shiny and glowy as possible without looking oily. The best way to achieve this is by using a liquid highlighter. It gives you that "from within" kind of glow, and depending on how you apply it, it can also give you this wet look that I'm obsessed with. This summer though, I'm aiming for that fresh face glow that is somewhere in between "from within glow" and "dripping in highlighter". What can I say? I love looking luminous.

Beauty Tip: Use a beauty sponge or your fingers to press it into your skin before your foundation, so it doesn't cake up or separate.

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4. Bronzer.

Cream bronzers are perfect for summer because they melt into your skin like a dream, but momma did not raise a fool, and I set it with a bronzer that has little reflective highlight bits in it. This keeps you looking more fresh faced than done up in my opinion. I don't have defined cheekbones, so I go in with a matte contour powder to sculpt my face out a little.

Beauty Tip: Keep in mind that bronzer is simply meant to warm up your face. You always want to go for a sun-kissed look so nothing too harsh or muddy looking, or you'll look a little too unnatural.

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5. Blush

For me, the blush is what makes a fresh face makeup look believable, especially in the summer because a lot of use have redness around our noses or cheeks and blush gives that natural effect. I do this to almost get a sunburn finish, like I've been out in the sun for too long.

Beauty Tip: Use a lighter shade of blush around your nose and blend it into your contour with a deeper version of the shade you used. I find that this technique creates a natural gradient and isn't too harsh. It also blends everything together more.

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6. Lip plumper + Lipgloss.

Everyone is going for that pout look, and I find that using a lip plumper helps to accomplish this. It's like your lips but better. You also won't have to worry about that weird separation line that your lipstick creates after eating that delicious cauliflower burger or drinking that to-die-for sangria by the beach. Too, lip gloss is super easy to reapply, and it keeps your lips feeling more hydrated than if you were to opt for a matte.

Beauty Tip: Exfoliate your lips with a lip scrub to ensure that they are super smooth. Don't have a lip scrub? No worries, I have a whole list of DIY lip scrubs recipes that you can check out here.