Changing the Picture: A Miniature Disaster on Halloween

     You know those years when you actually decide to dress up for Halloween? You know those times when you don't pinpoint exactly what you want to be until 10 days before the actual day? And then those times when you decided to purchase everything from your costume online to make you get it on time? And then of course, that phone call you make, the day before, to the vendor that, ever so gently, tells you the heart-crushing news that your items will not be arriving on time for the festive Halloween after all? Yeah, that was my turn this year.
     It was going to be great! I had the best gypsy costume planned out! Equipt with petticoat, corset and EVERYTHING!! Alas, this was not to be. So, I quickly changed my visualization towards the more-or-less "not-so-fancy", if you will, gypsy woman, and raced to D.I. (Aka, the Utah version of a thrift store or your local Savers).

     As I browsed around looking for something, ANYTHING that would tickle my fancy, everything that would fit the picture seemed to fit everything except one thing...me. It's wonderful when you find a jewel-toned skirt, but it's so much more disappointing when you look at the tag and discover that it's about three times as big as you are. Not going to work.
     I knew I had to find something. Browsing around in the larges I found a skirt that looked like it would work. The style was nice, it was the length I was looking for, funny thing is is it wasn't large at all. I glance at the tag and find that it is a child's large. Well yes, it so happens to be that being a small, short-figured woman, I am also so small that I can perfectly fit into a child's large. As you may have guessed by now, yes I bought the skirt. I also found a gold-link chain belt to accessorize my costume.

     I had to make sure everything would work, so I tried it on immediately. I pulled my black shawl from the closet, some sandels off the floor, and my peasant blouse from the drawer. After slipping on the gold jewelry from some ever so kind donors Ta-da! I had my costume!

     It wasn't what I was originally hoping for, but it was still fun to do. Kind of proud of myself from being able to pull something together like that last-minute. :)

     Of course, the funnest thing for me to do was, you guessed it, the makeup. I really liked how my hair turned out too. Actually, I forgot to take pictures of myself Halloween night (I know, who forgets to do that, right??) so I dressed up again the next day to have my pictures to put out on facebook.

     I discovered something new. I LOVE false lashes! I really would wear them everyday, just to make my lashes look fuller, but they are still more of a special occassion accessory.
    My favorite thing about my jewelry was actually the hair comb. Isn't it awesome?! I just swoop it back into my hair and *snap*, and it stays!! All night!! It was great!

     I loved the red lipstick, that's a no brainer, and my lovely roommate was so kind as to do my nails for me. I'm still not a professional at do my own nails. Sad, huh?

     No necklace tonight. Didn't have anything gold, and I thought I had enough bling already. Gold bracelets, a gold and diamond hair comb, and a ring are more than enough, right?

     So yesterday, my items finally arrived. It's okay though, the customer service rep gave me a refund, so I basically just got all my items for free. Yay! I decided that since I didn't just want these things sitting in my closet with no use, I should try it on at least once. I'm not gonna lie, it was actually kind of fun stringing myself up in the corset, and pretty much the whole thing looked awesome.

     No, I didn't do my hair all over again, but you get the jist of it, right? Well, what about next year. I thought Cruella DeVille. No? Do I hear a yes?

See you all soon.


Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

Filling That Space In the Trophy Case: Finishing My Online Makeup Course

     You won't believe it! Or maybe you will, because if you know anything about me, you'll know that I finish everything I start, even if it comes down to "eventually...". But enough of that, guess what?!! I'm finally finished with my makeup course!! Yup, completed, made whole, finished, victouriously terminated, I've got more...So you know what that means? I'm officially certified!! Got to print it off, and order an official copy and everything. :)

     Guess what else this means? I get discounts on tons of totally cool, and awesome makeup products!! Booya! Could this get any better? Well, of course I can always improve, and whole bunch of other things: I could start up my website, create and print some really awesome business cards, get a couple more clients, you know...
     This is so exciting! I get to start doing such awesome, cool stuff now! Heck, I'm going to get that certificate framed and hang it up on my wall for everyone to see! Yay me!! Now for me to pick out my next project. Hmmm...so many choices! Sweet, extravagant fantasy makeup? Smokin' hot club makeup? Decisions, decisions...I'll figure it out. You'll see it up here soon!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

How Did Mars Get On My Face?!: Concealing and Hiding Unwanted Blemishes

     We all have those days where we wake up, look in the mirror, and then see a not-so-friendly spot on our face, that we know by the end of the day is going to be about three times bigger (or so we're going to feel), and will be about as red as Mars. Great. So now comes in our need to unleash our much needed superpowers and skills for concealing, and giving that blasted blemish a cage of invisibility.

     But how do you do that? Well first off, I'll tell you it is NOT by using the same shade of concealer that you place under your eyes. Noooo... the only thing that will do, is make it appear more noticable and obvious. Why, you may ask? Well, the reason you pat your undereye area with concealer is to cover up the blue and/or purplish hues that show beneath the thin, delicate layer of skin that makes you appear so darn tired (even if you really are).
     This being the case, your concealer is going to have orange or yellow hues mixed in, to cancel out the blue or purple. Orange is the opposite of blue, and yellow is the opposite of purple. Opposite colors will cancel each other out, and TADA!! Flawless. Naturally you will have gathered from this information and now figured out that yellow brightens things up. Trust me, the last thing you want to do to your blemish is to brighten it up and bring to it even more attention. No, not the idea here. So, as you see, using the same concealer for undereye brightening, for blemishes, is a BAD idea.

     What you want is to find a concealer that matches as close to the same hue of your foundation as possible. This way, when you apply it to that festering monster it actually is hidden, and you're not just globbing a bunch of makeup product on top of it. It has a purpose, and it shows (or rather hides, yay!).
     Yes, even in this case less is more. So please, don't cake on the concealer, it's not necessary. Take a fluffy, CLEAN eyeshadow brush or your ring finger (the finger with the lightest touch) and dab on a little bit of concealer, and remember to BLEND!! Then gently pat on a little translucent face powder, and you are done!!
     Now, remember, you cannot flatten out the texture of your blemish, but you can do something about the color. Even another reason why caking on your makeup won't do you any good. Once you have mastered this art, smoothing out your canvas to one color will be a sintch!

Happy Adventures!

Loves,
Jessica Ashley

BB Creams, Satin Finish, Matte, Who Cares?: Deciphering Between Foundation Finishes

     It's summer time, and everyone is telling you the best way to go is a lighter coverage foundation, such a BB Cream, to avoid having you face melted off by the end of the day. Because that doesn't look good on anyone. Heck, what's a BB Cream? Whose to say it's any different from a liquid foundation? Matte foundation? What are you talking about? I am here to put those questions to rest.

     To start, a BB Creams, is the second lightest coverage you can go for next to a tinted moisturizer, which honestly doesn't do much difference. BB Creams will even out you skin tone while letting your natural color shine through, without it looking like you've caked on five pounds of makeup. If you're not looking to cover up a huge breakout of acne, this is the one for you. They also usually come equipped with their own defense against UV/UB rays (SPF). It is also the best when Earth has turned up it's thermostat, and outside feels like the inside of an oven.

     After BB Creams it's on to liquid foundations. Liquid foundations come in many different finishes and offer several levels of coverage from medium to full coverage. The finish of a liquid foundation refers to the amount of, hmmm how should I say this, glow the foundation has.

     Satin finish offers the best "glow" of all foundations. It gives your skin the appearance of a healthy, natural glow and shine.
     This is the best one go for if you are looking for a medium coverage, and have dry to combination skin texture. You do NOT want this if you have oily skin as it will only add to the excess shine that will accumulate on your face throughout the day.

      Matte finish, is just the opposite, the lack of a glow. Matte finishes, even out your skin's texture, gives you a nice level of coverage, but has to shine. All you will see with this foundation is a nice even canvas.
     This is the best one for you if you are one with combination to oily skin texture. This way you have some control over the shine that natural oils your face produces, and there is not too much shine on your face when you are prepping for your close-up.
   
     Still it is always, always, always a good idea to carry a little package of blotting papers in your purse to clear up that T-zone throughout the day to clean up, and to help prevent future breakouts.

     With all these different kinds of foundations on the market it is easy to get lost and confused amongst all of them when shopping for the best match. Don't be afraid! Practice, practice, practice always makes better, and you will soon find you are the master of your canvas.

     By the way, almost, almost, almost nearly finished with my makeup course! Oh so close to printing off my certificate!!

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley


   

Makeup Artistry 101: Makeup Kit & Client Hygiene is VERY IMPORTANT!!!

     As a makeup artist, I have the skills and abilities to make you look how you wish, and how you don't wish. Whether that is glamorous and ready for the spotlight, or gruesome and ready to scare someone it is all up to you and what we discuss and plan out together. If you are also a makeup artist, you probably already know this, so that is nothing new, but there is one very essential thing you must NEVER forget when working with clients, and that is one very vital thing...HYGIENE IS CRUCIAL FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR CLIENT!!!

     I am taking the time to give you this lesson so to protect you and your future clients (paid & not paid). So please, heed this wisdom, it will be very useful to you.

     Never is it okay or in any way a valid excuse to use your own personal makeup products and brushes on a client, whether that person is paying you or not it doesn't matter, NEVER use your own makeup and/or makeup brushes. There is a very specific reason that girls do not share makeup with each other, this includes everything from makeup brushes to mascara, and why makeup artists have a separate kit for their clients apart from their own personal makeup kit, and that reason is BACTERIA.
     Yes, that's right. As gross and horrifying as it may sound, there are thousands upon thousands of little, tiny, microscopic bacteria all over your makeup products. Do you know how many mites (microscopic little "bugs") live on your eyelashes? Or how many bacteria are in your eye alone? You reapply it day after day, and why doesn't it harm you, you may ask? Because it's all bacteria from YOU! But take those same bacteria-infested products and put them on someone else and that can be very harmful; anything from rash to infection can spread out on your client's face all from just one application of your own personal makeup.

    This is one very important reason why we makeup artists disinfect and sanitize all the products in our clients' makeup kit after EVERY SINGLE use. It doesn't take long, and it is not an expensive process, but this is an extremely crucial step to keep both you and your clients safe. Now this isn't to say that you need to personalize a makeup kit for every single client, that's going overboard; that's why we sanitize everything after every session, to make it clean and safe for the next client we use it on. Also especially be careful and cautious when using mascara. NEVER double dip the same mascara wand into a tube of mascara. If you do, plan on giving it to your client at the end of the session, or throwing it out. This is why we use disposable mascara wands, and get a new one for every time we need a new pump of mascara.
     Never use you hands and fingers directly on the client's face. That is what makeup sponges, brushes, powder puffs, mascara wands, and cotton swabs are for. Just because you wash your hands before beginning a session does not mean there is no bacteria on your hands. There is still bacteria that creeps back onto your hands, and there are still the natural oils on your hands and fingers that will dirty your client's face, and effect the application of makeup if you touch their face with your bare hands.

     So, please, please, please, PLEASE practice good hygiene and sanitation habits for the betterment of your career as a makeup artist. You will thank me.

I will talk to you all again soon!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Birthday Bash Bragging Rights

     As an newly official member of the club of 22-year-old blonde ladies, I claim to the bragging rights of my birthday, it's festivities, gifts I received, and all events that took place there in.
     That being said and done, I had an awesome birthday!! I got the day off of work, I slept in, and my mom brought me baked oatmeal with home-grown raspberries in it for breakfast! How awesome is that?? Yummy. :) For most of the day, I just lounged around, chilled in bed, watched some cool videos, worked on my channel a little bit, but unfortunately, the event of my birthday does not cancel summer classes...so, I studied a bit, grabbed my books, and went to class.

     Class wasn't actually too bad, we watched movie trailers for a good part of it, haha. We watched an I Love Lucy clip, and then finished of class with a documentary of Johnny Carson, we even got out early! I loved my Communications class, my teacher is awesome. :)
     Though it had cooled down a little outside, it looked like rain, that's because it was...no! Not on my birthday! I had to walk home! I didn't want to go out to dinner looking like a dripping rag! In somewhat of a panic, I called someone dear to my heart, that was coming to dinner with me, and they speedily came to my rescue. Thank heavens, because just as soon as I had shut the car door it truly started raining. From there, it was onward to Spicy Thai!

     It is not weird being the first ones at your own dinner? I mean, when you're not the one hosting? "Yay, thanks for taking me out to dinner!...no one is here yet...", is that weird? So, not being the name on the dinner reservation, we waited in the car for the others to show up. Even after they did show up, I was surprised how long it took us to actually walk INTO the restaurant. Was I the only one that was hungry? But it was cool, because my mom pointed out and found a duck's nest under a little bush near the restaurant. It was actually really neat. Snapped a few pictures, and we finally went inside.
    Once we got into our seats and opened our menus, my eyes immediately darted for the curries. I LOVE Thai curry, especially green curry. So, naturally, that's what I ordered. Think I need to branch out a little?...Nah. I forget how much I really love Thai food. It's so good, and I love the spice, but my mouth can't take too much at once, but I kept eating too fast! My mouth was on fire! I glanced over at my significant other's plate, and I was even eating faster than them!! No way! As much as I love Thai food, I couldn't finish all of my curry, so I got a take-home bowl.

     At this point, I had to say goodbye to my dear sweetheart, being loaded with the burdens of a tough math course, they had a lot to get working on the was due the next day! Still, I thank him for the lovely flowers he sent me, and the lovely handwritten card. Mostly, thank for coming to dinner. :)

     Next of the agenda, I went back to my family's home, it's nice only living about 10 minutes away, and it was time for presents! The awesome part about it? Both me, and my sister got mostly makeup for our birthday. Haha. I got my little sample gift from Sephora, Urban Decay primer potion, zebra-print note cards, birthday money from the grandparents (at this point, they don't know what to get their 22-year-old grandkids, haha) and an amazing eyeshadow palette from Sephora! Complete with eyeshadow base, eyeliners, a brown eyeliner pencil, and a double-ended brush for eyeshadow and eyeliner. I'm having so much fun with it! :)
     After I got home, I changed into my pajamas, and had nearly gone the entire day with no one singing Happy Birthday to me, then a friend in my ward stopped by. Chatted about this and that, invited me to come along for slurpees, and then..."Happy Birthday to you..." ugh... Why is it so embarrassing to be stuck in the spotlight being serenaded with that song?? Oh well...all in all it was a great day.

As another piece to my rights of bragging, I feel like showing you my spoils, and what I purchased with my spoils (yes, I already found good use for the birthday money). Check out the video below. Enjoy!



New tutorial coming soon, thank you for joining me here in the limelight. :)

Love,
   Jessica Ashley

   

Happy Birthday to Me!: Festive Birthday Makeup

     Today is my birthday! Yay! It's not a very important number, actually no number is really, I still only stand 5' 1'', and always will. So throw some confete, and let me blow out the candles on some pretty-looking birthday cake, and call it a day. Yeah? Even still in the mist of all those short festivities (Ha, see what I did there?) shouldn't I at least take the time to get myself ready to party? Of course I should!

     Well, I definitely want to play it up, but still want to look like myself. You know, keep it realistic. No green eyebrows or anything.
     There is actually a makeup artist from MAC (unfortunately, I can't recall her name) that literally loves to look as fake as possible. Pink brows, green eyeshadow, and purple or pink lips. Now don't get me wrong, purple or pink on the lips, and green on the eyelids is lovely, but pink eyebrows? Unless you go to costume party every night or work in the circus for a living, keep your brow hairs to their natural color, please.
     So, what should I do? I natural smokey-eye with some bronze hues? Or maybe I should just go straight for a classic black, gray, and silver smokey-eye with a timeless red lip. I'm known for my glamourous and feminine looks, especially when it comes to makeup. Count on me to be the one making a statement with my makeup when I walk into a room. Oh yes.
     Or what about keeping it simple and just wearing a monotone look? Possibly, a nice pink the eyes, cheeks, and lips, and pair it with a sheer bb cream. That will certainly let my natural self through. Hardly any filters there.

     What am I saying?? It's my birthday! I must have fun!! That includes my face! Right?! That's right, I'm going for a nice classic natural smokey-eye with a red lip. Can't go wrong with that.

I'll keep you updated with the days festivities, follow me on Twitter! @makeupfanaticme

See you all soon!

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

Mermaid Eyes Surprise!

     As I was getting myself ready for the day, I thought to myself, "Why not do something fun today?". So I pulled out one of my 120 eyeshadow palettes from BH Cosmetics and started with a shimmery green half across my lid.
     Then I thought, "I can't have just ONE color!", so I chiseled on an aqua-blue on the outer corner of my eye. I added a liner to match the aqua-blue, and then before you know it a few swipes here, and a few pops of pink there I had, TA-DA!!
   
     The perfect combination for what I'm going to dub Mermaid Eyes. Hey, they're ocean-themed colors, and plus what a great way to celebrate my upcoming relaxation vacation in California! I'm so psyched for the beach!

     I really loved all these colors together, especially the bubblegum pink lipstick, and I would TOTALLY wear it to the beach, but alas, it is not waterproof. :(

     It's really easy, I'll totally show you how. Hey, that's my next tutorial. :) So you see, sometimes it really does pay off when you start your day, and you really have no idea what you're going to make of your face!

   

     It doesn't always have to be stressful, just go at it an play! See what happens!

     I can personally attest that not all combinations are great ones. Sometimes I'd come back home, and wonder why I went out looking like that (sometimes it still happens).
     But you're never going to know what works and what doesn't go together unless you try it. So, be daring and have a little fun. No one is perfect, so don't expect your face to look that way either!! Mine certain doesn't.

    Go out and find that unique thing about you that makes your style special, and be proud of it. Flaunt that personality of yours 'til it shines like a brand-new penny!

     Comment below, and tell me what you'd like to see. I'm always happy to give a helping hand. That's what I'm here for!

     Until next time, have fun discovering what you can do. You never know what you might find!

Happy Adventures!

Loves,

    Jessica Ashley