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

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


   

Men's Commercial Makeup: It's Finally Done!

     Wow, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a guy that is willing for you to patch his face up, and make minor corrections so that the close-up looks as best it can! Honestly, even after you promise them that they will not look like a drag queen, and that they can wipe it off immediately after you're done with the assignment, they're STILL reluctant.

     With that said, after all this time, I finally completed that assignment, and just like I told my model after, he did NOT look like a drag queen! This was the quickest assignment ever, only took about 10 minutes. Unfortunately, do to touchy issues with "man card" reason, I had to promise I would not publicly post pictures of the before and after project. Only my instructor is able to view those handsome pictures. I'm very sorry for the stubbornness of men, but what can you do?
     I can tell you that it went well, and that it was some of the best makeup I've ever done. :) Yes, definitely building my confidence. So, thank you to my male model who shall remain annonymous. You're assistance, was much appreciated, and needed.

I will talked to you all soon. New tutorial coming up!

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

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

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


 

From Natural to Sultry to Hello Sexy!!: Amp Up Your Natural Beauty

     Well, I did it! I finished my first project of the online makeup course. Which included a trilogy of natural looks: Natural, Evening, and Cat Eye. Beautiful neutrals, and awesome liner! I loved how all of them built up on one another, and none look as if you're caked in 50 pounds of makeup!

Natural Eye

Natural to Evening

Fashionista CatEye

Fashionista CatEye

Fashionista CatEye

     The interesting thing about the Natural to Evening part of this look for me was that it included falsh eyelashes. The only thing I have against falsh eyelashes is that they're so difficult!! But other than that, they make your lashes look fuller and darker, so if the glue and application part doesn't give you a headache, it's an all around win-win situation. But as you can see, I came, I glued, and I conquered!! Can you even tell they're not my real lashes??

    I'm really proud of my CatEye. I was actually supposed to use tape, but of course of all things to forget on my last shopping trip, what do I realize I neglected to purchase in the exact moment I need it?...tape... So, I improvised. I used two Post-it notes instead. And despite the fact that Post-it notes are not as adhesive as a brilliant piece of Scotch tape would have been, it worked!! Whoo-hoo!! Whose got two thumbs up, a smile, and a beautiful Cateye? This girl! That's right. 

     Now if only I had a sexy red dress, and a date tonight... Lame, must all my successes always be celebrated in silence? Well, you my lovely friend reading this post won't let that happen, will you? Thanks, I knew you wouldn't let me down. :)

More to come! Hopefully I will get the video up soon.

I love you all!

Loves,

   Jessica Ashley

RPM Online Academy Makeup Course: It's Here!!!!

     It's finally here!!! My makeup course is finally here! I'm so excited, and I've already started working on it! They sent me my 18-piece professional brush kit in the mail, and I'm so excited to practice!

     Now this isn't to say that I'm turning a career out of this, it's simply because not only do I love makeup, but I want to be good at doing it. If I'm going to have a large makeup collection I should be productive with it, and know how to utilize and maximize it to it's fullest. You know what I mean? Also, because I want to be able to proudly say I have a reason for having such a large collection of makeup other than, "I have a really big makeup collection, because I really like makeup." That just makes me feel like a hoarder. And that's just not healthy.
     Seriously, if you're going to have a big collection, or stash of anything whether it be makeup, or art supplies, or musical instruments, or even exercise equipment. You better put it to good use, or it's as good as junk. Be educated! Learn how to use it! Do something cool and productive with it! You love it? Show the world! You don't have to make it your career by any means, but just develop that hobby to it's fullest potential! :) Don't leave room for regrets, now is the time!

     My dad is a great example, he LOVES to cycle, and has been doing it for nearly his whole life! It's not his career, but he still does it because it makes him happy, and he enjoys the thrill of the challenge. :) Five bicycles, a few helmets, cycling shoes, matching socks, gloves, and almost seems like cycling jersies galore, but he puts it all to good use! It's not junk at all, it's a hobby that he's developed to a great and wonderful talent and ability, and I'm so proud of him! Thanks Dad! :)

     See? No regrets if you grow and develop you interests, and not just let them sit and collect dust.

     After reviewing color theory I'll be completing and uploading a video, and photos of my first project soon. I'm so excited to share it with you all!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley