New Drugstore Matte Lipstick Swatchfest!

I had recently gone on an adventure to find the newest Matte lip products in the drug store, After going to my local drug stores I ended up at Walgreen which had most of the brands I was looking for. I have a big a love for Matte Lipsticks, they are my favorite, and I amm really excited that the drug storehas stepped up its game lip product wise, So I wanted to try them out for you guys, show you what I first think as i use them. Some are good, some are eh. What do you guys think will be the best one? Check out my video and find out!






Hope you all enjoy this video! Subscribe to my youtube if you haven't already!

New Makeup haul!!

It has been awhile since I did a makeup haul! For the summer I was on a no buy so I could focus on other things and save money. So here is my tiny makeup haul of the few things I have picked up! enjoy! And don't forgot to subscribe to my youtube channel if you haven't already!

My new favorite contouring shade, Mac's Taupe blush!

Like most people I have been on the search for the best shade to use for contouring. With all these crazy pallets and new things coming out telling me "this is the best for contouring!" sometimes they can be to orange, or even too brown. I have learned over the years that even though bronzers and all of those kind of products are okay for contouring, sometimes they can make your skin look dirty, too orange, or if you are really pale like myself, you can't pull it off that well.

Now I have used bronzers for this a lot, but over the last year I have been using more shades that don't bronze my skin but can actually give that effect I look for when I contour, nothing to crazy like most people do, but still pretty natural (as you can get with doing that) so it doesn't really look like I sculpted my face to look thinner, it just sort of looks that way on its own. I have gotten a few products to work (my go to being my IT cosmetics My Sculpted face), but it wasn't until I tried Mac's Taupe that I decided, nothing else will do. And this is why. 

Unlike most shades that most people use to contour (or that "contour duos or pallets have) Mac's taupe blush is a grey/brown (duh a taupe) its not a orange brown that can make you look like a umpa lumpa or REALLY tan. When used (with a light hand this crap is PIGMENTED!) it shades the skin to make it look like what you want it to look like when contour, sunken in (when i say that it sounds dead, I don't mean dead guys!). thinner. Because its not a orange brown and more grey, it mimics the skin better and looks more real, and natural. Sure it looks like you are wearing makeup but it doesn't scream "damn she has on a ton of browner" when a very light hand this can make a big effect on the makeup you put on. It also is that natural shade that it won't clash with any blush or eye look you are doing. it just sort of "goes with your skin". 

What also makes this product great is how it blends, it is matte which at first I thought this is going to be a bitch to blend, but really it blends really well and looks seamless on the skin. I was very impressed.

So basically I never want to use anything else to contour with ever again, seriously this may be all I need, its perfect for my skin tone (and even a few shades darker) its not ashy or to orange, its perfect. I highly recommend if you haven't picked up this blush, you should, its a must have!

Favorite Lip colors for the fall!

Summer is coming to an end, and with that comes my favorite time of year, the fall! Now you may of heard me say in videos over and over, I do not wear makeup based on the time of the year, but I know some people aren't as strange as myself and do. So because I tend to wear "fall" lipstick almost all year round I figured I would share with you guys my favorite lip colors for the fall. These range from drug store to higher end, and some in between. Different textures and finishes. So here we go.

Milani Lipstick in Carbret Blend: This is a dark vampy red color that if you are new to the whole dark lip thing may be something worth trying, it is cheap, smooth and has great color pay off and is the only not plum color in this mix. 

MAC Cyber: This is the darkest out of all of them its a deep plum that can look very scary but can also be paired with other lipsticks in this mix to make a pretty ombre lip, or go full blown and do a deep dark purple lip. Its one of my favorite mac lipsticks, and favorite purple lipstick also!

Urban Decany Venom: Now I have about 5 other colors like this one, so it was hard to pick which one I wanted to share with you (macs rebel and and milani's sangria are perfect dupes) Its a lighter plum color, and a good starter if you want to dive into the plum lip trend. Its a bit pricey, but it is so smooth and lasts for a long time, I had to pick it over the others!

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain Crush: This is a shiny lipstain that will give a subtle but very nice wine color to your lips. Its affordable but really great if you are on the go, a easy look or again if you are just getting into the whole dark lip thing.

OCC Liptar LYDIA: The most neutral color out of them all, its a dust plum and perfect for every day use and can go with every look! I love this liptar, its one of my favorite and perfect for fall (or everyday if you are me)   

MAC Lipliner Current: For the perfect fall lip you need the perfect deep lip liner and thats hard to come by, MAC's Current is the PERFECT liner for that. Its amazing and really helps those dark lip colors stay longer, not to feather and just last a bit longer! And its not super drying either!

Well that is it! my favorite fall lip colors! What are yours? If you want to see more fall favorites from me let me know! I will be happy to share them!

FX Basics: Scar Wax

With Halloween season coming closer and closer, I have been working on ideas to slowly bring myself into the Halloween Makeup Season! I figured starting off with a small series on youtube showing you guys little basic tips would be great! To start this off I figured I would do something basic, scar wax! So here we go, the first part of my series! Enjoy!

MAC Sharon & Kelly Osbourne Collections

Okay so I am going to be honest with you guys, I was super excited for this collection. I never (ever) wait up all night for a mac collection, or keep track of release dates for something like I did this collection. I went as far as to doing a live chat with a Nordstroms beauty rep to find out just when this collection would launch on their website. I was dedicated. And I was upset because TWICE after waiting up all night I missed out on the lipsticks, the two things I wanted most out of this collection. Which is probally why I put off doing this post for so long. I know mac collections go fast, but I didn't expect to have the products in my cart TWO TIMES on both MAC's website AND Nordstorms just to go to check out right away and after putting in all my info being told they sold out. After waiting up ALL night and checking back every 30 minutes to see if it has launched, it was very annoying and nothing good be done about it, but I did get two of the MSF I wanted, so I guess what is okay. 

I made a video going into more depth about these, so if you want to check that out, it will be linked below but here are the pictures and swatches!

Recent Beauty Favorites (may 2014)

Hello everyone! Its the time again for my recent beauty favorites! Please check out my latest video!

MAC Sea Me, Hear Me Extra Dimension Blush Review

Being on a "no makeup buy" something really has to catch my eye to have me buy it. It has to be one of those things that i see, think about and can't stop thinking about it, so I need it. This blush from the Alluring Aquatic collection was just that. I had seen pictures of it online, on every blog post and youtuber video I drooled over this blush. But nope, I couldn't I was on a no buy! Until I went to the mall with a friend, and ended up at the Mac counter in Nordstroms, there I got to swatch it in person, and well lets just say, I needed it. 

First off the packing alone to this collection screams awesome. Look at the "water" that is on it? Seriously, that isn't me doing it, thats how it came! It is so cool, very unique for mac packing in my opinion. It just adds to the cuteness of it all.

Sea Me, Hear me is a pinkish beige color, with a satin, almost "glowy" finish. I love the extra dimension blushes because they give your skin that glow from within look, and this blush is no exception to that. It really gives you a glowly, fresh look, but what i like about it, its not super bright, you can 't really over do it with this blush, which is great for me. I am not a bright blush kind of girl, I don't go for the bam in your face blush colors, i like blushes that are subtle but pretty, and this one is one of those blushes. It really brightens up the face.

It has a soft texture and it blends amazing, seriously there is no over doing it with this blush.  It just melts into the skin perfectly leaving you with this perfect glow. Its one of those blushes you may not need to grab a highlight with because it gives the skin a nice glow on its on. 

All and all I really love this blush, I am glad I picked it up even if it is pretty to look at, it also is a great product. Worth the price and for sure something I will reach for not just for the summer, but all the time.

Thanks for reading, please remember to follow my blog, for more updates! 

-Ashley

Updated Makeup Collection video!

So after tons of questions about what can the draws i got from Michaels hold, I decided to re-do my makeup collection video.  So yay for that!

I know I have been slacking on posts, but my SD card I use in the camera for my blog (all the makeup stuff!) for whatever reason keeping showing an error whenever I plug it into the computer or even my camera! I cant access the photos I took last week of all the reviews I had planned for blog posts! I am going to use the bigger SD card I used to record and re-do the photos and get some posts and reviews up for you guys of things I mentioned in past videos! And also some OOTD's! Until then please enjoy my makeup collection video!

Mac Warm Soul mineralize blush

I will admit I have been on a peachy glow kick lately. And with that comes Mac's Warm Soul mineralize blush. This blush gives that perfect, brightened, glowly skin look with peachy color. 

Its one of those blushes people would say "is great for summer" which is sort of a shock I like it, because I am more of a "fall colors all year round" kind of gal. But I love the way it looks on my skin, I love how smooth and blend-able it is. Though there are some flecks of glitter, they don't transfer onto the skin but leave a nice glowly look to the cheek.

OCC Liptar Lydia review and swatches

If there was ever a liptar that I wanted so badly it would be Lydia. Not just because the same (lets face it I LOVE Beetlejuice ) but the color, its a very light plum, and a more wearable plum. Its one of those shades that can go with almost any look, or skintone, but it gives a little "soomething" to the look rather than just a plain nude lip color.

I am not one for nudes, and this color is one of the more tamer ones from my OCC collection, so why did I want it so bad? Well thats the thing, I HATE more nudes. And this isn't really a nude, but for me at least it is one. It doesn't make me look dead and it gives a little color but not that big amount that it takes the focus off of say a bold eye. 

Like most OCC liptars, Lydia has great color playoff, it doesn't go on patchy, and though its a bit lighter than say my other ones, it still needs very little to go on.  I love this color, its pretty much been my most used wearable lip color since I've gotten it. I am very much in love, and the name is suiting. Its something I could see Lydia Deetz wearing. 

Pravana Vivids Wild Orchid

I have been trying to find the perfect color for my hair, a good mix of red and purple thats bright and not to dark. I knew the color I wanted and after months of mixing colors and trial and error I caved and bought the Pravana color I have been dying for. 

Pravana is a pro product and you need to buy it at a pro store, or online. Now I have said this a million times, I am not a pro so I just kind of wing it. I have been dying my hair since I was 13 so I know my OWN hair, and this is the result I got!

My hair was already pre-lightened because I had  other reds in it. My hair wasn't super light, but light enough I knew the color would stick, it looked more purple in the tube and when it washed out it turned my tub a pretty purple.

But because my hair had more red tones in it, the pinkish red tone came through more than the purple, which I am happy with. I would of been happy with it having more purple tones also, but I love the final result.

this is the final result, and my hair feels soft and smooth the color is super vibrant and everything I wanted. I bought this for $10 on amazon on a friday and had it in my mailbox by monday, shipping was fast and I barely had to wait. Its surposed to be a long lasting dye now since I just did it, i have no idea if this is true, BUT i will be doing a full review on my youtube to go along with my other hair dye videos so make sure to look out for that!

thanks for reading! make sure to follow my blog!! 

MAC Fantasy of Flowers Collection Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish

I have kind of been a sucker lately for Mac's MSF's lately. Its tough when you see something in a collection and want it. I had to chose between two beautiful MSF's  I decided on Stereo Rose.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade

So if you know me, you know my brow struggle, having dark unruly brows and a star on my left brow, they have been an issue for me for years. I have found some products that work, but I think I might of found the best product yet.

MAC Nocturnals Collection Holiday 2013

These are  the MACv limited edition sets that have 5 mac pigments and glitters. These are smaller than an normal mac pigment, but a good way to get more for your money, because lets face it, who has actually finished a MAC pigment or glitter? This set is $32, and 

Jordana 12HR Made to Last Eyeshadow Pencil in Stay On Black, Tenacious Brown, and Continuous Almond.

White browsing my local Walgreen's I came across the Jordana display all filled with new products, I was curious and decided I needed to try some of these things out. What caught my eye were these chubby pencils, they looked like the Milani ones, and I had been looking for the matte nude color chubby pencils forever! And I had heard from a few other bloggers that these are a complete dupe, but half the price! I had to check them out.

The packaging is so nice, sleek and looks sort of higher end, which is different for Jordana. I love this brand but some of their packaging looks sort of cheap, but not these.

While swatching these I noticed how smooth these go on, it needed no effort at all. Which I didn't expect them being matte.

Stay on Black is a nice smooth matte black, it goes on smooth, blends amazing and when it sets, it doesn't budge. It is great for a base for a smokey eye.

Continuous Almond is the perfect lid color, it neutralizes the lid and gives a nice base for color, or can be left on the lid alone, it also goes on smooth and is easy to blend. 

Tenacious Brown is the perfect brown, it also goes on smooth, easy to blend and makes a great eye base. 

These shades are amazing as bases, they last all day and dont crease on me WITH OUT a primer, yes I said that with out a primer. I am shocked, they are just as good as the more pricey brands. I haven't used them on their own yet but when you blend them out they aren't as pigmented so I might always top them off with a shadow, accept for Continuous Almond, I wore that on my lid with just some liner and it was fine.

All and all I love these, they are cheap, work great, are so smooth I was actually shocked how great these worked. They are worth picking up and trying a few color, I may even pick up a few of the fun shades.

Hope you guys enjoyed my review, remember to follow my blog for more updates and reviews!

-ashley

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Liquid Metal Eyeliner Trio Nude Eyesd

I don't know why but the idea of nude eyeliner really is pretty to me. I had been eyeing this at the drug store for so long, and finally I picked it up.

This trio comes with three mini liners that are black with champagne, green, and blue glitter, a nude champagne color and a bronzey taupe.  Which could be used together in one look, or separate. 

i am not crazy about the brush but it works okay i guess, i use my bent liner brush to use these liners because the brush is kinda...eh

these colors look amazing on the eye, if you are using the lightest one to lighten up the inner color or to do a nude cat eye (my favorite) the black isnt the darkest black but the glitter in it is AMAZING and doesn't show up well on my camera sadly. And the hidden jem in this is the taupe, oh how i love that taupe liner, its different, but when used on a natural eye looks gorgeous. I LOVE it.

The liners have normal wear, nothing to crazy, but they last a good amount through the day, tho I did get thee on sale I think $11-$12 is a good deal for 3 liners (if you werent buying them on sale like i was).

If you have the chance to try these out, I say do it, they are super pretty and really turn a drab everyday eye look into something BEAUTIFUL.

hope you guys enjoy this review and follow my blog please for more updates and review!!

-ashley

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio for Green Eyes

Now before you say "ashley you have brown eyes why did you get this" Just because something is marketed to green eyes, doesn't mean it HAS to be used for that color eye. I bought these liners purely because I wanted to try  Physicians Formula's liners, because I love their liquid liner. Rite Aide was having a buy one get one free sale on all Physicians Formula Eyeliner and concealers so I used this as a chance to try out some new products.

     

The green eyes shimmer stripes liners come in black, green and purple. Which are supposed to enhance  and bring out green eyes. Now I bought this because the colors appealed to me most, and I for some reason don't have a green liner in my collection.

It is one of those twist up pencils, so no sharpener is needed which is nice, the formula is pretty good too, nothing that scream awesome but it doens't tug on my skin, goes on smooth and the bright colors really do pop. The purple is a pretty bright purple which is rare because most purple liners at the drug store are so deep eggplant purple it almost looks black. The green is a pretty and the black, I am not sure if my eyes wanted to see a little tint of green in the black.

All and all I am really pleased with these colors, they are green for the lower lash line, and set really well I didn't need to top them with a eye shadow.

Hope you guys enjoyed this review and remember to follow my blog for more updates!!

-ashley

Wet n Wild Fergie Fall 2013 Limited Edition On Edge Créme Eyeliners Cobalt Vault

Oh the joy of Fall collections! I have tried my best to limit myself to the things I really want and not get things that I wouldn't use, or would never wear. But I still wanted a few things to review, and try out, and lets face it, the fall collections this year are pretty! The Wet N Wild Fall collection is no exception. They have a few Fergie palettes, eye primers and these gel liners. Of course the cobalt blue one caught my eye and I needed to try it.

This liner is a matte cobalt blue and in the pot SCREAMS beautiful. Now I love wet n wilds gel liners so I had hopes for this blue one.

Now this liner is smooth and creamy, it is a bit streaky as a liner for a cat eye, I would much rather eye a liquid for that, but I will say this is an AMAZING eyeshadow base for those bright blue shadows. It is smooth and blends really nice, and sets and doesn't really budge, so  for an eyeshadow base its AMAZING, it does need a little work to get a nice bright blue  cat eye for liner, but for a drug store gel liner, its rare to be BRIGHT, most of them are deep and dark and don't have a punch like this, so I give it credit for that.

is it worth picking up? if you love blue like me and would use it as an eye base or even a liner that you know may need a second go over, then yes it is, even more so if you want to use it as an eyeshadow base! So go grab it because we all know how LE stuff goes quick!

Hope you guys enjoyed this review!

-ashley

Maybelline Limited Edition Fall 2013 Color Sensational Lipstick - Midnight Plum

Now all of the fall LE collections are starting to pop up in drug stores all over. I am in love with deep dark lips, and fall has always been my favorite season for LE collections because I tend to wear fall colors all year round. I spoted the Maybelline Fall display in my local Walgreen's and decided I needed one of the lipsticks, midnight plum appealed to me most. I haven't tried any Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks, so I was curious as to how that stacked up to other brands that I love.

Midnight Plum is what the name days, a darkened plum. I didn't swatch it on my lips because well, I hate taking pictures of my lips, but I will say it tends to apply streaky, but with a good lipliner, it works pretty well, but I wouldn't wear it alone. Wear time is average, not crazy about the formula but compared with a berry or plum lipliner it really looks dark and pretty. (though when I wore it someone said  I reminded them of Edward Scissor hands, but it could of been a good thing) It doesn't dry my lips out but it also isn't really hydrating, and the smell is just kinda..meh. But if you dig the color it could be looked past.

If you are into the dark lip thing  (or trend) you may want to check this out, but just know you may need a good lip liner, but the lipstick formula isn't something that blows me away.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review, and look for more fall collection reviews!

-Ashley