FOTD: I've got the Blooz

....Not really. Not today! I've had a really wonderful day today. I hope the same for all of you too :) I just wanted to try a vibrant Blue look for you and since I used MAC's eye kohl in Blooz, I found the title appropriate :) Just as a heads up, here is what's coming up soon!

*Requested: Tropical Eye
*Requested: A look using MAC's Russian Red 
*Product reviews & swatches
*My Holy Grail Haircare products 

~Face~

*Moisturize

*Mary Kay Full-Coverage Foundation

*Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer

*Hourglass Oxygen powder

*LORAC liquid highlighter (Cheek bones)

*LORAC Spotlight powder highlight (Cheek bones & down center of nose)

*MAC Dollymix blush

~Eyes~

*Tape off the eye (regular wrapping tape) in an angle from outer lower lash line to where tip of eyebrow ends. This will give you the really sharp and clean edged eye :)

*UDPP

*MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

*MAC Brule (brow bone)

*Any baby Blue pigment on the lid

*MAC Deep Truth (crease) 

*(optional step) Add any Black to outer corner of crease to add more depth

*MAC Blooz eye kohl to line the upper and lower lash line

*Stila Major Major Lash mascara

~Lips~

*MAC Subculture lipliner

*MAC Cream Cup lipstick

*MAC Feeling Dreamy lipgloss 

Thanks for reading! Have a BRIGHT Blue day :) 

Xoxo,

Ashley

My Skin Moisturizing Secrets

Hi Everyone! 

I had a massage a while back and my masseuse paused in the middle of it and said, "What do you use to moisturize your skin? It is so soft and moisturized!" That statement coming from the mouth of a skincare professional was such a nice compliment. I could not believe that she could even tell the hydration status of my skin just from a massage! I guess it makes sense when I think about it but I was shocked. I was flattered that of the many massages she gives to people, she asked me what I used because she wanted to use it too. I almost felt like she should be telling me what to use but I must be doing something right. So, I'm going to share my secret moisturizing potions with you! Hahaha. By the way, it only consists of 3 products that are easily accessible. 

Step 1

The first two products are used in the shower. In the past I used a shower puff with a liquid body wash and could never fathom the idea of using bar soap....ewww! Lo and behold the bar soap has advanced for us Women :) I now use the Dove Go Fresh Burst Beauty Bar (I like "beauty bar" so much better than "soap") and I LOVE it! My favorite scent is the Nectarine and White Ginger. It's very tropical and fruity smelling.  Each bar contains 1/4 hydrating lotion. It leaves my skin so soft after I shower and I don't feel like I have residue left on my skin from the soap! I really recommend trying the beauty bar but if you find you don't like it or can't get up the nerve to try a bar soap, it does come in a liquid too. (Shown below)

Step 2

Next up: My shaving cream that isn't shaving cream. It's actually Olay Quench liquid body wash. I used to use the Skintimate shaving cream but I'll never go back after using this! A little goes a long way and the bottle is huge, so you'll have it for many shaves! It's very moisturizing, creamy, lathers well and smells really good  :)

Olay States: "Cleanse skin with a body wash that provides 24-hour moisturization, helps stop the cycle of dry skin, and reveals radiant, more beautiful skin after just one shower.
• Cleanse skin of dirt, oil and impurities
• Quench dry skin with moisturization 
• Contains two times the combined cleansers and moisturizers—and 25% less water—than the top-selling body wash!"

Step 3

Last but not least, we need something to lock in all this wonderful moisture! Olay comes to the rescue once again! I have used this lotion for-ev-er and it's the Olay Quench daily body lotion plus shimmer with cocoa butter. The key is to use this right after you get out of the shower (I <3 it)! They have the same one I use without the shimmer if you're not into that but it is so subtle I hardly notice it. Olay makes a scentless lotion too which is ideal to wear with perfume or for those sensitive to fragrance. They also offer several other formulas which include:

*Ultra Moisture Lotion
 Locks in moisture for 24 hours—and now comes without the shimmer

*Advanced Healing Intensive Lotion

 Formula that's clinically proven to help heal dry skin with 24 hour moisture

*Quench Plus Age Defying Body Lotion

An ideal daily moisturizer for body skin that has begun to show signs of aging—treats dullness, dry and rough texture, uneven elasticity and uneven color

*Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion

Intense moisturizing formula plumps and lifts surface skin cells for skin that is visibly firmer in as little as three weeks

The particular lotion that I use claims the following:

1 Use: Breathable moisture that lasts all day

1 Week: Skin is noticeably supple, fresh and radiant

1 Bottle: Moisturized skin with a radiant look is one of your best beauty accessories! 

Well stated on that last line Olay :) I completely agree! 

And there you have it! Our little secret to massage stopping hydrated skin! lol

Pass it on :) 

Xoxo,

Ashley

Green Eggs and Ham

Here's a look inspired by Dr. Seuss :)

"I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am"

--Dr. Seuss

~Eyes~

*UDPP

*MAC Brule 

*Any light Green pigment (Lid & inner 1/3 of bottom lash line))

*MAC Sumptuous Olive e/s (Crease)

*Any medium Green pigment (Crease)

*Stila Stay All Day eyeliner pen 

*Stila Major Major lash mascara 

*Ardell lashes  

*Sephora Collection Jumbo Pencil #510 (Outer 1/3 of bottom lash line)

~Face~

*The norm :)

*Cheeks: LORAC Soul mixed with some MAC Dollymix :) 

~Lips~

*MAC Subculture L/L

*MAC Viva Glam Gaga L/S

*MAC Feeling Dreamy L/G

My favorite sweatshirt! Forever 21

I was pointing to Cat and the Hat! :)

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities."

-- Dr. Seuss

Xoxo,

Ashley

The Look of Love

Hi Lovely Ladies!


I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day yesterday ;) Wether it was with your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, best friend, mom, dad, sister, brother...anyone who you love <3


I had a wonderful Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. He made me feel so special...and that's all us girls want, right? ;) We actually celebrated on Sunday because he gets home from work kinda late during the week. We went and seen that new movie with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, "Just Go With It". It was a perfect romantic comedy for Valentine's Day. I would definitely recommend watching it if you want a good laugh and a light-hearted movie. Then we had dinner at this amazing Italian Bistro called, Raviolis...it's the best Italian food I've ever had! After that, we rented "The Social Network" and it was good too...interesting to see how Facebook was born. We wanted to rent, "Valentine's Day" but they were all taken :( Then yesterday after he came home from work he made us an amazing dinner that consisted of two appetizers-Mozzarella eggplant and also Artichokes with melty butter to dip them in...yummm! Then he made us chicken parmesan for our main meal. It was such a nice surprise and I definitely wasn't expecting all of that after his long day at work...I feel so lucky and very much loved :)

 Here was my "Look of Love" this Valentine's Day :)

Check out Minion in the background!!! LOL.....LOL :)

~Face~

*Clear Prep Fx Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment

*Makeup Forever HD Foundation in120

*Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer

*MAC MSF in Light Medium

*MAC MSF in Deep Dark for contour 

*MAC Dollymix blush

*Victoria's Secret all-over powder in Candygirl as highlight on cheekbones

~Eyes~

*UDPP

*MAC Painterly paint pot (base)

*MAC Brule e/s (brow bone)

*MAC Buff-De-Buff e/s (crease)

*MAC Symmetry e/s (deepen crease color)

*MAC Naked Pigment (lid)

*MAC fluidline in Blacktrack for winged liner 

*Stila Major Major Lash Mascara 

*MAC false lashes

*MAC Embark e/s (outer 1/2 of bottom lash line)

~Lips~

*MAC Subculture lipliner

*MAC Creamcup lipstick

*MAC Standing Ovation lipglass

*MAC Viva Glam Gaga lipstick last to add a little kick! :)

Me & My Valentine!

What did you girls do for Valentine's Day??

This Blog is S.W.A.K. 

(Sealed With A Kiss!)

Xoxo,

Ashley

Marilyn Revamped

I was searching through photos of the iconic Marilyn Monroe and came across this amazing photo! I feel in love with the colors in this so I had to try and recreate it :) It's a really fun and super easy look to achieve. Here's to old Hollywood beauty!

What I used

Eyes:

*UDPP

*MAC Paint Pot in Painterly 

*MAC Brule (Brow Bone)

*MAC Coppering (Crease up to outer 1/3 of brow bone)

*Urban Decay Eldorado (Lid)

*Kat Von D eyeliner pen in Trooper

*Waterline- any white pencil

*Stila Major Major Lash mascara

*Ardell Demi lashes

Lips:

*MAC Brick lipliner

*MAC Viva Glam Cyndi

*MAC Standing Ovation lipglass 

P.S. Don't forget to draw on a beauty mark! :)

Xoxo,

Ashley

Review: Smashbox Sheer Focus Tined Moisturizer

Hi Everyone!

I've really been into the idea of tinted moisturizers lately but have never went out and actively looked for one....until now! I have heard some really good things about the Smashbox tinted moisturizer so I decided to go to my local Sephora and ask for a sample to try it out. The girl working there was so sweet. When I asked her if I could have a sample of the T.M. she told me she was out of all makeup sample jars and bags, booo hoooo :( I was so sad because I was really looking forward to trying this stuff and once I set my mind to something, look out! lol. I think she felt really bad, so she offered to put my sample in a perfume atomizer that they use for fragrance samples and it worked! I was so excited and of corse thanked her for thinking up a strategic strategy in an urgent time of need, hahahaha.

Both pics with tinted moisturizer only

In the past when I was having issues with my skin, I never would have considered using a tinted moisturizer because they are sheer and really are not meant for a lot of coverage. Now that my skin is healthy again, I wanted a product that would speed up my makeup routine on days that I don't need to go all out and wear a lot of makeup or if I'm just going to the gym.

This moisturizer sells for $30 at Sephora and Ulta. I got mine in the lightest shade, Fair but they offer three other colors in Light, Medium, and Dark. They also offer a shade called, "luminous" which would be great for a highlighter or brightener in your foundation.

Added powder and blush

Overall, I am really impressed with this tinted moisturizer. I actually cannot wait to go out and purchase the full size. Sampling this product was great for me because if it happened to break me out I wouldn't be stuck with a money-waiting, full size bottle! I loved the color of this as well. I feel like it is pigmented perfectly! I use a flat foundation brush to apply this and I feel like it's the best applicator for this particular product. And you guessed it, it's super-de-duper moisturizing. My skin feels so nice and smooth after I remove my makeup at night, which was a shockingly nice surprise :) My biggest fear before using this product was that it was going to make my face look like a grease ball with in 20 mins of the application...not at all! I honestly cannot believe how matte my face stayed all day considering it is a "moisturizer". This stuff is wonderful!

Other added bonuses:

*SPF 15
*Packed with vitamins C and E
*Oil free
*Paraben free
*Fragrance free

Do you use a tinted moisturizer? Tell me what your favorite is!

Xoxo,
Ashley

Favorite, Everyday, Go~To Products

Hi Make~Up Lovers!

I am finally busting out a favorites post, yay! You may recognize of many of these products from my FOTD posts but thats because these are my favorites, my staples, my repurchase again and again, favorite products! So allow me to introduce them to you.... :)

Favorite multi-functional product 

MAC Fix+

I'm sure this is a favorite and a staple for thousands of Women and I too am one of them. Wether I am using this to make eyeshadows into eyeliner or to perk up my face before I put my foundation on, this baby gets used every day (And it's getting low!) 

Favorite Foundations

 

I have two in this category! My skin is super-duper oily and sensitive so I have to be very cautious about what foundations, powders and blush I use on my skin...such a pain! But I have found that the Mary Kay Full coverage foundation is just the right consistency and blends so nicely on my skin. Best of all, it's really nice and gentle to my skin, lol. No break outs with this product! I'm not sure how many of you have heard of Cover FX but it is so amazing! I was using this before I switched to Mary Kay. I go back and forth between the two. But, the Cover FX Cream foundation covers literally anything! Tattoos and all. I needed something like this when my skin was in horrible condition :( Nothing seemed to hide my blemishes without making them worse...and then I discovered this little miracle! lol. Love this stuff to bits. 

Favorite Concealer 

I discovered this through a makeup Guru on YouTube. I'm so glad I decided to pick it up at my local Target and try it out because I fell in love with it! It's not cakey and it's just the perfect consistency for under the eye area. I like that it's a liquid and not a cream because I have found some cream concealers to be too drying and thick for under the delicate eye area. 

Favorite Powder

I cannot say enough great things about this powder! The only draw back is the price. At $46 a pop, that's pretty outrageous, I know. However, when you have acne prone, sensitive skin there is seriously no price too high for a good quality product such as this. I desperately went into Sephora during the time my face was having serious issues looking for a powder that would not hurt my skin. The guy suggested this and applied it to my face. I didn't know right away if it was going to break me out or not but I did love the look of it! I would say it's a medium-full coverage powder and build able, which I like. A few weeks went by and I realized this stuff was amazing! It has zero Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic dyes or Phthalates. I have come to realize that Hourglass is an amazing cosmetic line. If only their products weren't so darn expensive I would own many more :) But the powder is a necessity for me!

Favorite Bronzers

Again, I have two favorites in this category. I love the MAC mineralize Skinfinish in Deep Dark for a few reasons. I love it for contouring! I also love it for when I want a bronzer with no shine or shimmer. It's also a great contour for your crease (or to use as an eyeshadow)! A lovely lady at my MAC counter shared that tip with me :) I was wearing a bronzy eye that day and she popped a little of the Deep Dark right above my crease and it added so much for doing so little! I was impressed. I use her little trick often now :) The LORAC bronzer is gorgeous you guys!!! I love it; however, it does have shimmer to it so I use it when I want more glow to my face. I guess I would say I use this one more in the summertime but definitely check it out next time you're in Sephora! It's permeant collection worthy! 

Favorite Blush

I told you guys in my Welcome post that blush is one of my favorite beauty products so you can imagine how hard it was for me to limit this to just a few! Of corse I am in love with a classic...NARS blush in Orgasm. So pretty and great for everyday really. I also really love MAC blush and surprisingly they are kind to my sensitive face! A few of my absolute favorites are Style, Sunbasque and Dollymix! 

Favorite Eye Brow Products

Eyebrows- I am obsessive when it comes to them...or mine I should say. I like them waxed every 3 weeks and I have to fill mine in 100% with all the products because mine are blonde :( These help me do a good job of it though! Eyepencils- Maybelline Expert Wear eye-pencils are my favorite. They are cheap, easily accessible at the drugstore and I've used these particular ones since I was like 15! Brow powder- Benefit Brow Zings is what I use just because It's what I have and It seriously seems like it will last FOR-EV-ER! The "wax" on the opposite side is dried out because I've had t for so long but powder doesn't go bad, so lucky me! I find the color matches my brows really nice, being blonde and all. Brow gel- I don't know that everyone uses brow gel but I like it to hold everything in place. The Target brand, Boots is a great one! Again- cheap, easily accessible and works perfect. 

Favorite Eye Primer

You know it could only be one of two...I have yet to try the Two Faced Shadow Insurance but I find this one works well for me and I like it :)

Favorite Staple Eyeshadows

MAC Nylon, MAC Brule, MAC Embark 

I use at least one of these a day. Most of the time two and you can create a whole look with all three! :)

Favorite Eyeliner

Yes, love this. It's an intense black and the felt tip style pen is so easy to use! They last a while too! These are also great for winged or cat~eye eyeliner. 

Favorite Mascara

I am SO picky about my mascaras. It's the one thing that I am so anal about when it comes to loving or hating and there is no in between. I have bought this several times now and I really do love it. It's a nice, rich Black and it really adds a lot of length and some volume to lashes. I wish it added more volume but It's good! 

Favorite Lip Products

MAC Cream De La Femme: The prettiest Pink. I have repurchased this color several times. Reminds me of a Barbie Pink with the prettiest sheen to it. 

MAC Cream Cup: Another pretty pink! Lighter than Cream De La Femme. It's more of a Peachy Pink.

MAC Viva Glam Gaga: Another Pink...I love Pink lipstick as you can see :) Pastel Pink. 

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi: The best wearable red out there!

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Feelin' Good: I like that it has SPF 15 in it and it smells really good! Gives just the right amount of color too. My only complaint about this is that I can taste the SPF in it :(

MAC Lipgloss in Feeling Dreamy: Awesome nude gloss with pink and gold shimmer 

LORAC Lipgloss in Haute: Beautiful, opaque baby pink. Smells great and tastes good! 

Favorite Go-To Palette

*LORAC Multi Platinum Palette. I love every shade in this thing. The colors are pigmented great and they blend so easy! I use this when I don't want to think about what I'm going to wear. 

Favorite Highlighters

More favorites from LORAC. It's a double ended wand which contains a highlighter on one side and a concealer on the other. I don't like the concealer as much as my Maybelline Mineral Power but I love the liquid highlighter on the opposite side. 

My favorite powder highlight is LORAC Spotlight. This company has my love! 

Xoxo,

Ashley