Saturday, May 31, 2014

Maleficent: Fairy Gone Bad...Oh Yes.

     Maleficent. Evil, cruel, and beautiful. Sounds like an unfair combination, doesn't it? I mean, really. If one is going to be so dedicated to the destruction of people's happiness, seemingly for the sole reason that they did not receive an invitation to the presentation of the baby princess, especially so, they've obviously got problems. Including horrible features when it comes to vanity, right? Not so much the case here, my friend.

 Look at her, even the Disney animation version of her is frighteningly striking.
     Though her voice is a bit non-charming, unless you know better, her beauty is definitely a mirage masking her evil character. Yet despite all that you still find yourself silently wishing that you could transform yourself into her. At least for a day. Well, maybe minus the green skin. That, my dears friends, is simply cliche. Not needed really, or at all. Since when did the color green begin to symbolize evil and viciousness? Last time I check it meant growth, and beauty. Then again, she is beautiful. There you go, she might be an exception to the stigma. Green and evil, but beautiful.

     Check out Angelina Jolie for this 2014's Maleficent, she's not green at all. The only green you see in her is in her eyes, or her makeup. Perfect.

Guess this goes to show you can be beautiful and evil with or without green skin.
     Many of you may be wondering how to do your own transformation at home. Unfortunately, I can't promise how to do the hallmark headdress, but I can show you one of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus, Nicole Guerriero who did a wonderful job herself. Check it out, you'll love it. :)



     Until next time, have fun discovering the Maleficent in you.

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

I Can Hear the Bells!: Bridal Glamour

     Ok, I can't REALLY hear the bells. I don't know how close or far off that day will be for me, but for now I can dream, can't I?

     So, while you all were wondering when on Earth I was going to get my next post up, I completed my Bridal glam look. Being that bridal makeup looks should be fairly, if not completely, natural it was quite easy. Also, despite the fact the it included individual lashes, it went by very quickly! Yay! The lashes weren't even the worst part. In fact, after searching, and searching I STILL couldn't find a case of individual lashes, so I improvised. I took the false lashes I had, and cut the equivalent of about three individual false lashes off the end of each lash. I think it worked! What do you think?

HD Glamourous Bridal Look
      I'm excited to do a practice session with my aunt! I even put together a Pinterest page of a whole bunch of stuff for her to look at so I can get a better idea of what she wants her final look to be. Secret page, sorry y'all can't look at it. I'll put up pictures later. :)

      I'm REALLY excited for my next assignment. You know why? It's Men's Commercial Makeup. Haha, now if I can just find a model willing enough to help me out...though depending on who volunteers I will or will not be posting the pictures of my project on here. I really wish the guys wouldn't freak. Come on, just think soap commercial! That kind of makeup, literally nothing!

Talk to you soon!

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

Friday, May 23, 2014

Will You Be Rockin' it Tonight?

     Behold! I have returned! I come bearing a new video tutorial for your own entertainment. Yes, I FINALLY made my next tutorial, I know. It's actually straight from the assignments I've been doing for my makeup class. I learned some new tricks with Scotch tape. Who knew it could be so beneficial in the beauty world?

     I'm very glad that this video pulled together. While I was filming it, my camera was at twenty percent battery life, and I had a feeling it might die somewhere in the middle, but I pressed through anyway. Just like I had previously suspected, after having been filming for thirty minutes (don't worry, the video's not that long) I had about a minute and a half to go, and guess what? Yup, it died... I was not pleased. I plugged it in immediately, turned it back on, and searched my camera for the video, but I couldn't find it! I thought I'd lost it all! What?? Almost completely done with a tutorial, and it all goes ka-plooy right as I'm about to make my last marks? No way!
     Fear not though, I waited another minute, and it appeared on the memory! Phew...that was a relief. So, I continued filming, and now have what is presented before you.

     I know, I probably won't film it vertical frame next time, but hey. You can see me clearly, and that's what matters, right?

   
For all those of you now wondering know how in the world are you ever supposed to successfully apply false lashes, and make them look believable, don't worry. I got your back.

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

Monday, May 19, 2014

Put it in the Bucket!: What's on Your List?

     Ok, so summer's here and I know you've got things you want to do before the first leaf falls. You want to going on that hike you've never attempted before, have a non-alcoholic all-nighter party, have a tv-show binge marathon, etc. But have you thought about things you could do to kick up the fun you have with makeup? Does anybody else get bored with the EXACT same makeup routine every, single morning? It's summer-time! Live it up a little! Now is the time to try something you've never done before! Be brave! Take chances! Make mistakes, and get messy!! (Do you like my Ms. Frizzle reference?)

50 Things to Put on Your Summer Bucket List 2014:
1. Have a No Makeup day. Just go the whole day without wearing any makeup, and give your face a break (it needs a vacation too, you know).

2. Wear a crazy color (electric blue, lime green, gold, orange, etc.) as an eyeliner.

3. Do a monotone look. Wear the same color on your eyes, lips, and cheeks.

4. Create a Statement makeup look. Makeup look that matches a theme, either of fashion era, or color scheme. Make it as crazy as you like! Think runway makeup.

5. Try-out different brands, and find your favorite tinted moisturizer.

6. Wear a dramatic cat-eye liner.

7. Wear some false eyelashes.

8. Create an dramatic smokey-eye

9. Try-out a new lipstick shade/color

10. Wear a classic red lip.

11. Do a makeup style from another era (1920s, 30s, 40s, etc.)

12. Try different foundation finishes (dewy, matte, satin, etc.)

13. Fill your eyebrows in with a different color (green, blue, purple, pink, etc.).

14. Try a colored mascara (blue, red, green, etc.).

15. Try double-winged eyeliner

16. Create and wear a glamorous, bridal look

17. Make your own lip color with a colored eyeshadow, and petroleum jelly (I'll show you how).

18. Wear an Egyptian style eyeliner

19. Line your waterline with a colorful eyeliner pencil.

20. Learn how to contour and scuplt your face!

21. Learn how to change the shape of your eyebrows, just by filling them in with a brow pencil or powder.

22. Perfect the art of lining your lips with lip liner.

23. Create a better lip pout by using a two different colors on your lips.

24. Use shimmer powder on your face (eyes, lips, etc.).

25. Try using different texture eyeshadows (cream, loose, pressed powder).

26. Line your waterline with a white or light-colored pencil to open your eyes up.

27. Replicate the makeup look of your favorite movie character.

28. Use makeup to turn yourself into your favorite animal, just for fun.

29. Imitate your favorite celebrity

30. Create an easy, breezy, summer makeup look that let's your face breath!

31. Find a favorite cream blush, wear a monotone makeup look.

32. Curl your lashes.

33. Experiment with thick and thin line for eyeliner.

34. Wear bronzer!

35. Go to your favorite makeup counter/store and get a consultation specifically for you!

36. Reorganize and clean up your makeup collection

37. Wear a color of eyeshadow you've never tried before. It just might work.

38. Buy a new makeup brush (or two, or three, or maybe more...).

39. Create a makeup look with a new color combination. Use your imagination and make it work!

40. Create a new makeup look using your favorite color.

41. Wear a new nail polish color.

42. Splurge on a wish-list makeup product.

43. Try a new gel liner.

44. Get in the habit of a deep cleanse or mask for your face at least once a week.

45. Tired of losing track of how many lipsticks you have? Melt 'em down, and make your own lipstick palette! (I will also show you how)

46. Master the art of applying liquid liner like a pro!

47. Ditch the habit of chapstick! Petroleum jelly/vaseline is your new friend.

48. Learn the undertones of your own skin and find the foundation shade that's just right for you.

49. Stop touching your face so much! Don't you know, that's a key cause of acne?

50. Take a picture of all your beauty adventures, and make a scrapbook! :)

Happy exploring!

Loves,

     Jessica Ashley

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Sulfate Free and Fabulous!

     Hello! Little update of these past few weeks that I've been treating my hair to some lovely sulfate-free therapy of RenPure Originals Shampoo & Conditioner. It works! Though I didn't completely cut heat tools from my hair routine, it works! My hair feels SO much softer, and looks shinier!! It is even a little bit thicker! :) Brilliant! It was after about two weeks that I started to notice a significant change in the way my hair felt. Less fall out, less breakage, all around better feel to it.
     My favorite thing about this whole process (besides the fact that my hair is healthier, of course)? The shampoo isn't expensive! It's quite cheap, actually. Always a plus. Always. Also, something else I noticed? My hair isn't as greasy anymore! It's awesome! So, I can be even nicer to my hair, give it a break between washings, and let it absorb the natural oils it produces to keep itself healthy. Oh lovely, lovely day.

Talk to you later!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Chapped and Cheated No More

     Hi! It's me again. So, food for thought: have you ever had trouble with outrageously chapped lips? If your lips are anywhere near as sensitive as mine, this is probably true. You use chapstick after chapstick, and probably most of those little babies, you don't even finish, because you lose them so easily! Am I right, or am I right? It seems that no matter how much of that stuff you use, it only ever feels that you need more, and so it is consumed more frequently. You know why? News flash! It doesn't really work!!!
     Why is that you may ask? I'll tell you why, it's because the companies that manufacture this little precious include an ingredient known as methanol into the product so that it actually makes your lips more chapped, and you have to continue using their so-called "chap repair" to get even some short-term relief. As a result, you keep purchasing this product that really isn't doing you any good, it's just reeling you backwards into misery. Just what those money misers want. I know, I'm guilty of it too. Why haven't I permanently stopped? Because I bought twelve of those little buggers at one time when they were on sale!! What a way to waste your money if you give up the habit now, right? Wrong.

     So what? So, chapstick doesn't really work. What else can I do? Even if I don't use it, my lips still get chapped and dried out. No, no. I am not telling you to completely give up hope of ever finding a healthy remedy for your poor, dry lips. I am telling you there is a better way to do it, however. How 'bout let's try something that, you know, DOESN'T leave your lips looking or feeling like the Sahara?

                                          

     My advice? Turn to the bare necessities in times like this. The best thing to use if you're not into any homemade remedies? Petroleum jelly or vaseline. Yup, that good old slimy stuff, right out of the jar. No weird tricks, or creepy ingredients, just an old friend that you probably haven't looked at since you were about five. Am I right? Of course, I don't recommend you carry around that hideously, inconveniently shaped, and sized jar in your pocket or purse. Of course not. Simply get a travel size container (find them at your local drugstore, dollar store, or online too), scoop some of that stuff inside, and ta-da! You have your very own, only true chap-repair product you'll ever need!

Talk to you all soon!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Monday, May 12, 2014

Whether Cream or Powder, It's Black Noir Galore! The Extremist Smokey Eye Look

     I'm soooo sorry that it's been forever, but gosh I feel like I've been so busy! But I finally got to my next assignment!
   
     This one felt a little more challenging, because I didn't just use brown and black shadows in this look, they were cream shadows. Cream shadows, I have found, don't like to blend the same way that powder shadows do. On top of that, being that the cream shadows I used were homemade (made of a mixture of powder shadow and lotion), they seemed even harder to blend.
   
Extremist Smokey Eye Look (eyes closed)

Extremist Smokey Eye Look (eyes open)

     The black shadow I felt I couldn't get as intense as I would have liked, but I think it did well, don't you think?

     I still think my blending looked better in my first assignment: From Natural to Sultry to Hello Sexy!!: Amp Up Your Natural Beauty. Or can you even tell the difference?

     Ok, I really just need to expand the textures I work with. I will admit, I don't have a big variety in my makeup kit...One of the cool things about this makeup course (though it can also be frustrating) is that they let you work with the makeup products you have; they don't require you to buy a makeup kit from them. But at the same time, it can be difficult to replicate the makeup look when you don't have the same beauty products at hand. They main brand of makeup they use is Makeup ForEver, and heaven knows I don't have the money for that right now!
     I know, it's weird that I don't have cream shadows of all sorts of colors in my own personal kit, but I've always had trouble with them creasing...so, I just don't buy them. Problem solved. Right? But I should be more flexible, and just learn how to use them like a good makeup artist should, right?

Oh guess what?? My lovely aunt is getting married, and wants to do a practice session with me for her bridal makeup! How cool is that?! I'm so excited! It's even better, because that's what my next assignment is, bridal makeup. Yay!

Talk to you all soon!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley


 

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Sugar Plum Thursday: Purple For the Win

     Hello all. So, whilst I sit here at my desk at work during this LONG week of Women's Conference here at BYU, there has not been much to do. At all. Really. I've been sitting here for the past near four and a half hours, and everybody else has something to do, except for the people at the Text Information desk...All the while hearing the same two "Christian pop" songs on constant repeat!!! Get me out of here! I'm bored, I'm cold, and I just want to go home and play with my much loved beauty products and brushes, or maybe cuddle up in my bed with a package of Oreos or Chips Ahoy and watch a good movie.
      Aside from all that, it has been a lovely day outside, and I was so blessed not to have to wear a jacket walking to work.

     On this fine day, I decided to sport my brand-new, plum-colored, long-sleeved knit shirt from H&M. Of which I went shopping to a couple days ago, with only the intention of looking for new flats...I guess I might have gotten carried away, but I got a nice pair of white lace flats! Along with a new pair of jeans (and yes, they actually fit), a white camisole, a lovely cream-colored clutch with lace flowers, and of course my gorgeously comfy, plum shirt. Don't ask me why it's plum, it was on sale, it's cute, and I'm a girl. Do the math...

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley