Beach Beauty Done Right

     Before I forget to bring it to y'all's attention, I'm going to California next week!! Whoo-hoo!!! That's right, me plus beach plus sunshine equals happy me. :)

     As I will be at the beach enjoying the waves, this requires a few adjustments to my regular daily beauty routine. Wearing the same amount of foundation, eyeshadow, and my favorite mascara at the beach is really a recipe for disaster. If I were to do so, by the end of the day this would result in my foundation melted off my face, my eyeshadow horribly creased and wrinkled, and my mascara crying black rivers down my cheeks. Making it look as if I'd just had the worst day of my life. Not a good way to end the day, is it?

     So, that being said, how do I fix this dilemma. Firstly, I'll be needing to decrease the number of products I slap on my face, and/or lighten things up a bit (or a LOT). How do you do that? Well, what does a classy lady need when she is at the beach?:

1. Sun protection (SPF)
2. Moisturizing lip balm
3. Waterproof EVERYTHING

Ok, and maybe a few other essentials like her bathing suit, a cute beach towel, lovely sunhat, sunglasses, etc. You know...

     Alright, so sun protection. When it comes to makeup, what you'll be looking for is anything that says "SPF" on it. You're also trying to keep things light, so switch from a medium to full coverage foundation, to a tinted moisturizer or BB cream with SPF. Your goal with be at least SPF 30, but it's possible the best you'll find is SPF 15. As long as you see SPF, you are good to go.

     Next up is a moisturizing lip balm which also comes with SPF. Trust me, you want SPF in this, sunburnt lips are the WORST! Make sure you do it right though, don't make your lips worse, even if it's unintentional. If you need any tips, check out Chapped and Cheated No More. You can especially have fun with this one, look for a fun color pink or peach tinted lip balm. Sport those lips, make them look pretty while at the same time giving them some TLC. :)

     With your last item, waterproof is a MUST. Find a black or brown mascara, and swipe on a couple coats. This way, you'll add life to your lashes, but you won't look like a raccoon after a nice cool dip in the water.

   

     Don't worry about curling your lashes, or concealer. A day at the beach is about relaxing, and giving yourself a break. You don't need to be trying too hard to impress anybody, let the real you come out! :)

   
If you're worried about that pop of color to your cheeks, the sun will do that for you. You'll be having so much fun, that flush with be there in no time. :)

See you all soon!

Loves,

   Jessica Ashley

Smack It On, Pop It On. Summer Lips Here I Come!

     How many lip colors in a collection does it take until you have too many? I mean really. Ten? Twelve? Twenty? Or is lip color the exception to obsession? That is my hope, because I LOVE lipstick. Pink, red, coral, purple; you name it, I've probably got it. I might be sick, and I'm afraid this lipstickness might be contagious. So, that being said, beauty lovers beware.

Think it's a problem yet (this isn't all of them)?

     Of course, my favorite is a classic. I consider myself a classy kind of woman, so why not fall in love with a timeless red?

     Now that we are approaching, or rather, actually in the steaming hot season of summer, it's time to brighten up that color scheme. Honestly, if I, for example, see you wearing a dark plum lipstick in the middle of a warm, sunny day I might be tempted to think any of the following: a) you are strangely depressed on this lovely day, b) you don't know how to plan lipcolor accordingly to time of day, or c) you don't know how to have fun!!

     Seriously, it's not just that amount and intensity of light outside that changes with the warmer season. As the season warms up, so do we. Why not swap that dark plum for a soft bubblegum pink, or a peachy coral? In fact, why not just make your lipstick your statement piece of the day? Let those lips speak for themselves! If you must wear a dark shade of lipstick, save it for that hot date night. That way your attire matches the intensity of light outside, which is basically none at that point of the night.

     Still, as a general rule of thumb for lip color in the summer time, keep it light and bright. The brighter the colors are that you place of your face, in this case the location of concern being your lips, the healthier and happier you will look!

    Maybe you aren't one for lipsticks, maybe you prefer sheer colors on your precious puckers, and just like something that either smells or tastes yummy. Then lipgloss is your go to. Of course, you can find colors just as lovely in this category. Ultimately, when in doubt, go for a nice nude whether you are a lipstick lover or a lipgloss guru. Whatever your preference, smack it on, smile, and let your lips do the talking.

Happy Adventures!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

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