Neon New Years Eve Makeup

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So the last video I uploaded was a very tame New Years makeup. This time I'm pulling out all the stops and going bold for the holiday! Hope you love it as much as I do!!! Let me know if you'd like to see more bright and fun looks like this!! 

New Years Eve Makeup Tutorial

Hey! I hope you like this tutorial for New Years makeup! I decided to go in a "wearable" direction, because I know there are already going to be a lot of colorful looks out there. I don't own any glitter, (I know, what is WRONG with me!?!?!?) but if you have some feel free to go ham with it!!! Also, please ignore my eyebrows... They have been needing attention for a while now... I actually got them waxed the day after I filmed this... Womp womp...

The Body Shop Lip Butter
Wet 'n Wild Take On The Day Eye Primer
Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder
Love Sick Eye Primer
NYX Milk Jumbo Pencil
Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Palette
          Stark, Zone, Punk, Pop, 1987
Kryolan Eyeshadow in Highlight
Nivea Men After Shave Balm Sensitive
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation 115 Ivory
Hard Candy Glamoflage Foundation 930 Porcelain
Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer Fair
Hard Candy Glamoflage Concealer Ultra Light
Coty Airspun Translucent Extra Coverage
Wet 'n Wild Contour Palette Dulce De Leche
Nyx Taupe Blush
Measurable Difference Baked Blush Rose 
Rimmel Scandeleyes Black
Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Volume
Maybelline One By One Volume Express
Kiss Dreamy Lashes
Black Heart Forever Red Lip Liner
Bonita Lip Velvet Lady Va Va Voom

I hope you have a fantastic rest of the week and a BEAUTIFUL New Year!!!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette Tutorial

 Hey!! So I filmed a Holiday appropriate look using my Chocolate Bar palette! Hope you enjoy!!

Products Used

Wet N Wild Eye Primer
CoverGirl Redy Set Gorgeous Concealer
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
          -Milk Chocolate - Crease, lower lashline
          -Semi Sweet - Crease
          -Tripple Fudge - Deep crease
          -Candied Violet - Lid (wet)
          -Creme Brule - Inner lid
Acure Argan Oil Facial Wipes
Dr. Brandt Pores No More Primer- Center of face
Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer - Full face
Lip Suction OR Full Lips (Mine are from AliExpress....)
Concealer Palette
Rimmel Clean Finish Foundation
Sugar box Face Highlighter
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips
NYX Blush - Taupe
Elf Blush/Bronzer Duo
Trestique Matte Crayon - Nantucket Nude
Essence I Love Extreme Mascara

I Hope you enjoyed this look!!
Have a FANTASTIC day! And if someone hasn't told you yet, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!

4 Looks, 1 Palette Using Lorac MegaPro 2

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Heeeeeeyyyy!!

So today I'm sharing this video with you. I was brainstorming ideas of looks with the Lorac MegaPro 2 and I was having a hard time. I just wanted to stick in a little corner of the palette.. I needed to break out of the rut I was in with this palette. So I sat down and had a good long look at her. 

After about 5 minutes, I turned on my camera and let the creative juices flow, 4 times.... It's a little odd, looking at yourself in the mirror with 2 different eye looks on at the same time. It's also really cool to see exactly how each style makes your eyes look differently! 

I'm planning on doing more videos like this, are there any palettes you'd like to see something like this with?? If I own it, I'll definitely try this out!!

I hope you guys enjoy watching this as much as I enjoyed filming it!!

Have a WONDERFUL day, and if someone hasn't already told you today, You are Beautiful!!\

Orange Blowout Eyeshadow Tutorial

Hello!! I was inspired to create this look because fall is almost over (or is over, depending on who you're talking to....) and I'm not ready to say goodbye.... I wanted to get one last fall inspired look up before I dive into Holiday Makeup!! 

I am so in love with the way this look turned out!! I think this it, though bright and bold, is still rather wearable! Especially if you have BLUE eyes!! What do you think?

Hope you enjoy!! Let me know if there's anything you'd like me to write or film about!!!

Have a great day, and if someone hasn't already told you today, You are BEAUTIFUL!!!

Moody Smokey Fall Makeup

Greetings Earthlings!

I've FINALLY been able to upload a "Get Ready With Me" style video on a look that I've been wearing a lot this Fall!! I've filmed this look about 3 times now, but my camera never seems to want to play nice.... So finally all of the footage was in focus and I'm able to share this look with you!!

Products used:
Face:
Figs & Rouge Mattifying Emulsion Primer
Hard Candy Glamoflage Foundation in Porcelain and Concealer in Ultra Light
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder 110 Porcelain
Wet N Wild Reserve Your Cabana
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips
Wet N Wild Conrouring Palette in Dulce De Leche
Mai Couture Makeup Paper in Sicily
Nyx HD Blush in Taupe 

Eyes:
Colour Pop Super Shock Shadow in Central Perk
Makeup Revolution Essential Mattes Redemption Palette (For brow bone and transition)
The Balm NudeTude Palette (Colors: Sultry, Sexy and Sleek)
Essence Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner and Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Black Fever
Maybelline Pumped Up Colassal for upper lashes
L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof for lower lashes

Lips:
MAC Nightmoth Lip Liner
Milani Sangia Color Statement Lipstick

Do I Really Need To Clean My Makeup Brushes?

All the time I hear people tell me they don't think its necessary, or they don't have the time or patience to clean their brushes.

"It's just my face."

Well, your face gets dirty too... Your skin produces an oil, called sebum, and that can harbor bacteria. You touch your office keyboard, then touch your face, you talk on the phone, and sleep on the same pillow case every night. Yes, you probably wash your face every day, but your skin only stays clean for as long as you don't touch it..

When you touch your face with your makeup brushes, the bacteria and sebum on your face transfers onto your brush. Now your brush is festering with potential infectious bacteria... I know its nasty to think about, but its something that needs to be thought about.. Nobody want's acne, right? You want to do everything in your power to keep those little red demons off your face, right? Not to mention, eyeshadow brushes can really build up product, and eventually, your eye looks will start looking muddy, as the pigments mix. So, why wouldn't you wash your brushes??

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't WASH my brushes every day, I'm lucky to do it every week.. But I DO CLEAN my brushes after every use.

"How can you clean your brushes without washing them?" Great question!!!

The answer: Alcohol! Specifically 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

I use this EVERY day, usually at night before going to bed, I'll sit down and clean my brushes while watching TV and getting ready to turn in for the night. It takes less than a commercial break to clean all the brushes I'd use for a daily makeup look.

You simply need to decanter some alcohol into a good quality spray bottle with a fine mist setting. Then, all you need to do is lay your brush on a towel, spray the bristles and then wipe the brush on the towel until no more color transfers.

Yes, this can be drying to your brushes, particularly natural haired brushes. That's why I try to give my brushes a nice conditioning wash about once a week.

Whether you've invested a lot or a little into your makeup brushes, you want them to last a long time, proper cleaning and sanitation can really help to extend the life of your brushes.

I hope you found this post helpful!!

Have a fantastic day!!! <3 nbsp="" p="">

Top 5 Products For Busy Moms!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

In honor of today, I thought I would share with you my top 5 favorite products as a busy mom!
These products are all designed to speed up makeup application and/or extend the wear of your makeup so you don't have to worry about touch ups!!

1. Long Wearing Cream Shadows:

My favorite are the Maybelline Color Tattoos, but, I also really like the Rimmel Scandaleyes jumbo pencils, too. With the Maybelline, I find I do not need a primer for them to last all day, however, the Rimmel pencils usually do need to be applied on top of a primer, otherwise my oily lids will eventually cause them to crease.

2. Full coverage BB or CC Creams:

These are easy to apply, and some come with great coverage. My favorite is the Garnier BB Cream for Combination/Oily skin. It has a medium to full coverage formula that sits well on my skin. My only problem is that I can only ever find the Light/Medium shade, and the color is about 2 shades to dark for me, so I have to mix it with a lighter shade foundation.

3. Blending Sponges:

I ADORE the RealTechniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I also have one that I found at TJMaxx, which is more similar to the Beauty Blender in shape. I love to use these, because they make quick work out of blending in foundation and concealer, and you only need one tool to do both. Also, even though they make quick work of blending, you still get a beautiful finish that has no brush strokes or odd textures.

4. Lip Stains, Balm Stains, Chubby Sticks and Tinted Lip Balms:

These are so easy to chuck on in a hurry, and are convenient enough to toss in a purse or pocket for quick touch ups on the go! I really love the Revlon Kissable Balmstains, and The Rimmel Show Off's.

And last but NOT least...
5. Setting Sprays:

My number 1 favorite setting spray is the ELF Mist & Set. I have been using this for years, now, and I have found that when I set my foundation with this, I can blow my nose, and not remove any foundation with the tissue!! The best part about this product is the price!!! It's only $3!!!

These are all products I've been using for years, now, and I can honestly say, I don't know what I would do without them... They are staples in my collection and will be for years to come!!!

I hope you enjoy this post! Leave me a comment down below letting me know what your favorite products are for your "Mom Makeup Routine!"

Hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!!

My Skin Type, And Foundation Routine

 Hello, Beauties!

So today I want to talk about foundation, but it is very important for you to know about skin types. That way you know if my opinion may affect your's, or not :) So without further adieu, I have oily skin.

If we were to actually sit down and look at my skin under a magnifying lamp, it would actually, technically be "combination," due to the size and location of my pores. But the parts of my skin that are oily, consequently the "T Zone," are extremely oily.

So lets take a moment to talk about what determines your skin type. Skin type all boils down to the size and location of your pores. If you have small pores over the majority of your face, you probably have dry skin. If you have pores that are not small, but also not large, you probably have "normal" skin. Pores that are large, but only in the "T Zone" mean you have combination skin, and large pores over most of the face typically are a staple of the "oily" skin type. You can have an oily, greasy mess of a "T Zone" and dry, cracked, flaky skin everywhere else.

Contrary to what you may have been told, your pore size does not and can not change. You can temporarily shrink your pores by using masks and ice cubes, but after a few hours, your pores will return to their natural size. You are born with your skin type, and that usually doesn't change until your skin slows oil production as you age. That said, all you dry skinned beauties need to properly care for and moisturize your skin to help slow aging. Oily skin needs moisturizing too, but you definitely want to use an oil free moisturizer, though some women have had success using natural facial oils, and do not report skin break outs.

So being that my skin is oily, I definitely need to chose long wearing, mattifying products. So here are the products I use almost every time I do my makeup.

1. Primer: I am really only familiar with the Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer, but I'm on the hunt for something that may be better...

2. Foundation: My #1 favorite is the Revlon Colorstay for Combination/Oily Skin, but I also like Rimmel London BB Cream Matte 9-In-1 Skin Perfecting Super Makeup, and Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream Combination/Oily Skin. (Could they have any longer names???)

3. Setting powder: I like the Rimmel Stay Matte, and the Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder.

4. Setting spray: My favorite is the e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist and Set. I have also tried the NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray, and also trying out the Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herb and Rosewater, but I don't have an opinion yet. 

Obviously, I did not include concealers, highlighters, blushes, or bronzers, as those have less to do with the longevity of your foundation. As always, this is all a matter of preference. Play around to find products that work for you. I recommend buying foundations, or any makeup for that matter, at a place like Ulta, as they have a great return policy if you don't like something you've bought.

I hope you found this helpful, or useful!
Have a wonderful day!!

~Ashley

My Experience with BH Cosmetics

So, I'm sure most of you have heard of BH Cosmetics before, and if you haven't, now you have!  So BH Cosmetics is a California based makeup company that carries a wide range of products. Back when they first came out, they were famous for the 120 palettes. I remember Makeup Geek using her 120 palettes all the time!

My BHC Makeup Collection

Now, though, they carry all kinds of eye palettes, lip products, and face products. I feel like the line has doubled just in the last year alone! While I don't have everything, I do have quite a decent collection of BHC products, and I fully expect it to gradually expand as they add new and exciting items!

I forgot to pull these out of my stash. The concealer Palettes I own in
 Light and Medium, and the foundation I have in Light Olive.

I think it's safe to say that BHC is one of my top favorite makeup lines! (I said ONE of my favorites, I have a bunch of favorites, hehe!) Although, if I have one complaint, it's about the shipping. And before you say anything, yes, I understand shipping is not cheap, and most of the items they ship are larger, however, I believe it is my right as a consumer to gripe about it!  I'm the type of person who will do whatever it takes to get free shipping, and if that means I have to spend $50, you better believe I will find something to add to my cart to get to $50! Hahaha! 

I also own both of these brush sets.

On the plus side, though, their shipping is shockingly fast! I ordered on Thanks Giving Day, and received my order that very next Monday! I could not believe it! That's fast even for a non holiday weekend/the busiest weekend of the year!

Also, I have had to call customer service a couple times (all issues were my own fault), they were super friendly, super helpful, and super awesome! They answered after only one or two rings, and I don't think they ever put me on hold. 

Over all, I highly recommend you give BH Cosmetics a try, if you haven't already, I think you'll be very satisfied with your goodies!

P.S.

BHC is on Ebates! Aaaahhh!

P.S.S. This was NOT a sponsored post, I'm 99.999999999% positive BHC has no clue who I am (obviously this is only my 3rd post to this blog....). I am genuinely recommending this company because I think they are great and most of their products that I have tried are great. I will eventually be doing reviews of everything I have, except for anything that is discontinued. I also plan on reviewing other brands that I have had experiences with...

Back to Basics: Eye Brushes

So you want to build a table? Well, there are a few basic tools you are going to need before you can get started. You will need lumber, a saw, a hammer, a drill/driver, screws, nails, a pencil, a measure, and a square. Sure, you can walk into Lowe's, pick up some basic stock lumber, have them cut it for you, take it home and nail it together. That table won't look very nice, or be very sturdy, will it?

Lets look at makeup the same way. Yeah, you can go to Walmart, buy a $3 shadow palette, go home and slap that bad boy on, but you're makeup isn't going to blend very well using those cheap little applicators that came with your pretty shadows. No, you will need to use at least a few basic brushes to get a decent look. The most important part of applying eyeshadow is blending. I can not stress this enough. If you don't blend your shadows, even Snooki will think you look cheap. Hehe

So, here is a list of my top 5 most essential eye brushes:

1 Flat Shader Brush:
Used to lay down, or pack on, a concentration of pigmented shadow, usually used primarily on the mobile lid.

2. Fluffy Blending Brush

Used to diffuse shading and contour in the crease. Necessary for a smokey eye or a soft feminine look.

3. Stiff Domed Crease brush/ Pencil Brush:

Used to apply more concentrated color in the crease, or on the lower lash line. 

4. Angled Liner Brush:

Used to apply either eyeshadow or gel/cream liner to upper and lower lash lines, also used to fill in brows with a powder or pomade. 

5. Eyebrow Brush/Lash Comb Duo:

Used to brush the brows into place and comb through lashes either before or after applying mascara. 

So here you go, My top 5 eye brushes that I just couldn't live without! And you can refer to my previous post about how and where to get brushes that don't cost a fortune!

Makeup Brushes

Today I want to start with the most basic tool you will need to complete any makeup look: Brushes.

Some people will tell you that you don't really need brushes to do your makeup. I've had people tell me that brushes don't really do anything for you, unless you are a makeup artist you don't need them. Well, that may be true for some people. But not for me.

If you are the type of person who rarely ever wears makeup. maybe your idea of a full face is a little BB cream or tinted moisturizer, mascara and lip gloss, and that's all you need to get out the door. Well, then I would say that you absolutely do not need makeup brushes..

But, if you like to have nicely blended eyeshadow, you want a flawless finish with foundation, or you like to get that perfect crisp line when wearing a bold lip, you are going to have a very difficult time doing any of those things without at least a few basic brushes.

I know what you're thinking, "But Ashley, I just cant afford to go out and spend a ton of money on expensive makeup brushes. The eyeshadows I buy come with applicators, why can't I use those?" I have great news for you! You DON'T have to buy expensive brushes! Especially if you are just starting to experiment with makeup, you don't want to invest a lot of money into brushes you don't even know how to use..

I don't think I own a single brush that cost more than $10! I have purchased sets that run a little higher, but you can get a great set of brushes, that comes with 10-20 brushes, for $20-$30.

Starting out, you only need a few basic brushes, and you can add to your collection as you go!
For eyes, I recommend having; a small flat shader brush, a fluffy blending brush, a stiff domed crease brush, a pencil brush, an angled brush, and a small eyeliner brush. For foundation you need either; a flat top kabuki brush, a flat foundation brush, a sponge, or a buffing brush. You also will need a concealer brush and a lip brush.

Here's a list of my favorite brush lines, and the best places to get them!

1. BH Cosmetics
2. Coastal Scents
3. Crown Brush
4. Real Techniques  
5. ELF (Eyes Lips Face) 
6. Sonia Kashuk

These are a few of the brushes I use every time I do my makeup.
Left to right: BH Cosmetics 10 pc Sculpt and Blend Brush Set, Coastal Scents Pro Blending Fluf, Coastal Scents Classic Blender Pointed Natural

Side note: I also have an Ebates account. I use it EVERY TIME I make a purchase with any retailer that is registered! (Ebates has no idea who I am, I just LOVE cash back! [None of these other companies know who I am, either....])

To clean your brushes I recommend spot cleaning them between each use, and deep cleaning, once a week. To spot clean, I simply take 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle with a fine mist, spray the brush and wipe it on a clean towel until all product is off. To deep clean you can buy a variety of brush cleansers, or make them yourself, based on your budget and preferences. My current favorite is the Blender Cleanser Solid by Beauty Blender, but it is pricey... After deep cleaning, either lay the brushes out to dry on a towel, (try to prop them up so that the handle is elevated and the water runs out of the ferrule), you can also take hair ties and hang the brushes from a towel bar, or buy brush guards, and prop them upside down in a glass.


Like I said, there are no hard and fast rules to makeup, experiment with different brushes and techniques to find what works for you! Start small, so you don't get overwhelmed, then expand as you go.

Have fun, and remember to blend!!!