Ashley Riley: Lips: Makeup, Beauty and Style
Showing posts with label Lips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lips. Show all posts

November 15, 2015

DIY Beauty: Easy and Natural Lip Scrub


This easy DIY lip scrub involves only THREE simple ingredients that you are guaranteed to already have in your kitchen.

As the days grow colder, your lips will inevitably become drier.  It is more important than ever to bring moisture and hydration back into your lips through exfoliation, and this easy and natural lip scrub recipe will do just the trick.

Why Use A Lip Scrub?

Exfoliating your lips before applying lip stick or any lip product is important for many reasons.  It will allow the product to apply smoothly and the texture to coat evenly. 

Using a lip scrub to exfoliate the top layer of skin will rid it of dead cells and then infuse hydration into your lips.

Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!

Most of us do not have time to exfoliate our lips on a daily basis.  In between using a lip scrub make sure you keep those lips soft and moisturized!

During the cooler Fall and Winter months I find myself constantly reaching for any kind of hydrating lip balm.  My favorite is Aquaphor Lip Repair, which includes Shea Butter and is free of fragrances, preservatives, and dyes.  When searching for a good lip balm look for a product that is non-petroleum based, such as Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter.

DIY Lip Scrub: Ingredients

1 tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 tbsp. Honey
1 tbsp. Olive Oil

DIY Lip Scrub: Directions

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.  Apply to lips with your fingers using small circular motions.  Wipe off with a tissue or wet cloth to reveal soft, exfoliated lips.

I Want To Know...

What great DIY projects have you found that are also great as gifts?

DIY Beauty: Easy Natural Lip Scrub
 

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October 23, 2015

Smokey Gunmetal Grey Makeup Tutorial


As the weather grows colder and the days get shorter, my looks go from bright and vivid to dark and neutral.  I am in love with greys and taupes right now.  They are hands-down my go-to shades during the fall and winter.  This smokey gunmetal grey makeup look is edgy, complete with a nude lip and spiky false lashes (because who can't use a pair of spiky lashes in their life?).

Next month, in anticipation of the holiday season, I plan on featuring more warm-tone makeup looks.  Oranges, cranberries, and light browns have been calling my name!  I am ready for some red lips and sparkling eyelids, so prepare yourselves.  

In other exciting news: this was the very LAST makeup tutorial I photographed with my iPhone 6.  My amazing Uncle and Godfather was inspired to invest in my blog and business and sent me a Canon Rebel T5, complete with every accessory I could ever ask for.  I'm so excited to take my blog to the next level in terms of photography and appearance.  It was truly an exciting blessing.

Smokey Gunmetal Grey Makeup Tutorial | Ashley Elizabeth 
 The Face

Starting with the basics: I moisturize my face with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and my under eye area with ELF Eye Illuminating Cream.  I prime my skin with Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance and prime my under eye area with ELF Hydrating Under Eye Primer.  Using a Beauty Blender, I apply Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 29 to my entire face.  To highlight and conceal I use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla in a V-shape beneath my eyes, in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin, and on my eye lids.


To set everything I take the Real Techniques Setting Brush and place a mixture of the highlight shades Lucid and Lyric from the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette and place a generous amount over the areas that I highlighted with concealer.  I also add a generous amount to my jaw directly below my contour line.  I allow the extra powder to sit on my skin for a few minutes to "bake" before brushing off with a Morphe Brushes G23 Soft Fan Brush.

With the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush I take the contour shade Sombre from the Kat Von D palette and contour beneath my cheekbones, underneath my jaw bone, along the hairline on my forehead, down my temples, and alone the parallel sides of the bridge of my nose.  After blending I apply Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Blush in Score using the blush brush from the BH Cosmetics Party Girl Brush Set.  

Using the same fan brush as earlier, I then apply the first shade of pale white highlighter from the Carli Bybel by BH Cosmetics Palette to the tops of my cheekbones, my forehead just above my brows, and the bridge of my nose.

I shape my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony, fill it in with the ABH Brow Powder in Medium Brown, and set it into place with the ABH Clear Brow Gel.


Smokey Gunmetal Grey Makeup Tutorial | Ashley Elizabeth

The Eyes

 I take the color ES13 (Deep Skin) by Morphe Brushes, a soft gold peach, with a fluffy blending brush into the crease of my eye and start blending upward.  This is going to be our transition shade.


 Using the Lorac Pro palette I then apply Taupe directly into my crease with a small tapered blending brush using windshield wiper motions.  I reapply this color a couple times to build the color, making sure it blends into my transition shade but stays directly within the crease.

Using a flat shadow brush I take the color Slate from the Lorac Pro palette, a deep shimmer grey, and press it onto the center of my eye lid.  Once the color is as vibrant as I want it to be, I then go back in with a blending brush and just make sure the crease and the outer V are evenly blended into the grey and there are no harsh lines.  I then go back in to the copper and add just a touch more color to the center of my lid.  

I use the color Sable, a dark red-brown, from the Lorac Pro palette to define my outer corner.  I apply this directly to the outer third of my eye lid in the shape of a sideways "V" to smoke out the look. While I make sure to concentrate the color only to this area, I take it up into my crease and down into my lower lash line ever so slightly so as to enhance the smokey effect.

I take a small angled brush to draw on my eye liner using the NYX Gel Liner in Jet Black.  I get as close to the lash line as possible and press down on the lid to create a black line.  I wing this out when I reach the outer corner of my eye.

I then use the color Champagne, a frosted nude, from the Lorac Pro palette to highlight the inner tear duct with a fluffy blending brush, and a small flat shadow brush to highlight my brow bone just below my eyebrow.

Finally, I take the color Taupe again and glide it below my bottom lash line using a small eye defining brush, making sure to blend into the outer corner of my eye to give the entire look a rounded out smokey eye.  To add some dimension and soften any harshness I go over the bottom of this color with our original transition color.

I apply Benefit Roller Lash mascara to my lashes.  For my falsies I choose Eylure London Definition Lashes No. 126 and apply them using the Vegas Nay by Eylure Lash Glue.

Smokey Gunmetal Grey Makeup Tutorial | Ashley Elizabeth

The Lips

I wanted to keep the lips simple, nude and glossy for this heavy eye look.  I used Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Nude Eclipse to both line and fill in my lips.

Let Me Know!

Are you into the "smokey" makeup looks for fall right now?  What are your favorite colors to use when creating a smokey eye look?

Smokey Gunmetal Grey Makeup Tutorial | Ashley Elizabeth

Products Used

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream

October 20, 2015

Top 5 Favorite ColourPop Ulta Matte Lip


ColourPop has recently become one of my favorite cosmetics brands.  Their lip and eyeshadow shades are intensely pigmented, high quality, and very affordable.  I will emphasize that last point again: they are insanely affordable.  I hope to try and review their blushes, highlighters and bronzers soon as well, and of course their soon to be released creme gel liners and pencil liners.


How It Stacks Up To Others

ColourPop's Ultra Matte Lip shades are a great alternative to the higher end liquid lipstick brands, such as Kat Von D or Anastasia Beverly Hills.  The ColourPop formula can be thin, runny and is much more drying and less creamy than the KVD or ABH liquid lipsticks, but overall the color payoff is amazing and you cannot be the price at only $6.00 a pop.

Consistency and Texture

I do notice that the initial color coat can be inconsistent in texture and I have to apply two coats in order to achieve a nicely even overall color.  However, layering this on too thick will make it look cakey, so I only put a second coat overtop the areas that look streaky.   Still, it is honestly not an inconvenience at all when you see the beautiful final color result that literally POPS off your lips.
The applicator is soft and allows for the product to glide over my lips, while the end of the applicator has a tapered tip that is perfect for lining my lips.  More often that not, I usually do not line my lips beforehand with a lip liner.  Rather,  I find that the applicator tip provides the same precise and clean lines that a lip liner does.


Long Lasting

Once you've applied the product to your lips, do not expect it to go anywhere easily anytime soon.  After drying for about ten minutes the life expectancy is a good several hours.  Boyfriend-approved as it will not transfer onto anything, including lips, even if you try.  

Because this Ulta Matte formula is, in fact, ULTRA matte, make sure to exfoliate and hydrate your lips before applying.  If you don't it will seep into every unflattering crack and crevice.

If you love matte lipsticks that are hydrating, these will not be the ones for you.  If you do love a more drying formula that is completely matte on your lips then these were made for you.  Oil does tend to break down the product, which means the color will diminish when eating something oil-based or using makeup remover oil at the end of the day.


My Favorites 

Donut 

This bright peach, while perhaps slightly "too bright" for those deep autumn makeup looks, is still a beautiful pink-peach that can lend some brilliance to any type of look.  I recently wore this while attending a fundraising brunch, paired with a long sleeve empire waist navy blue maxi dress, and recieved many compliments.  The key to wearing a color like this during the colder weather is to pair it with a contrasting color, such as the way I did with the dark navy blue dress.

Kapow 

This deep grey taupe is the perfect compliment to any neutral fall makeup look.  This is often sold out on ColourPop's website and for good reason: pair this lip with any cool tone makeup look for one amazing combo. 

Investigator 

One of ColourPop's new fall colors, this peachy nude turns into a deep, cool tone peachy-pink when it dries.  This shade screams Autumn and can be paired with any warm tone or cool tone makeup look.

Limbo 

This chocolate brown is sumptuous and dark.  It takes some coordinating to pair off a dark lip like this, but do it right and it will be fierce.  I plan on using this color in several upcoming makeup looks heading into the holiday season.

Trap 

On trend, this "greige," or dusty grey beige, has purple undertones and seriously impresses.  I've worn this out on several occasions and have gotten compliments on it every time.  This is one of those shades that has all the right undertones, therefore complimenting many different skin tones.

I Want To Know...

Have you tried any of ColourPop's products?  Have you tried the Ultra Matte Lips?
 
10 Tips for How To Have Healthy Winter Skin
 

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October 18, 2015

Stone Ombre Lip and Makeup Tutorial


Greys and taupes have become incredibly popular with the change in weather (or, can we thank Kylie Jenner for that?).  In the spring and summer I was buying baby pinks, terracotta oranges, and pale warm nudes.  Now, I am all about those plummy browns, dusty mauves, and peachy nudes.  Oh, least I forget the newly crowned trending beauty term of the fall: Greige (that's grey-beige).

Ombres are a great way to mix two of your lipstick favorites into one very presumptuous look.  The ombre effect can instantly give a plumped up look to the lips, making them instantly appear larger and more voluptuous.



How I Got This Look


The Face

For the face on this look I want to keep every shade and tone I used very neutral and lightly defined. 

I moisturize my face with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and my under eye area with ELF Eye Illuminating Cream.  I prime my skin with Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance and prime my under eye area with ELF Hydrating Under Eye Primer.  Using a Beauty Blender, I apply Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 29 to my entire face.  To highlight and conceal I use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla in a V-shape beneath my eyes, in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin, and on my eye lids.

To set everything I take the Real Techniques Setting Brush and place a mixture of the highlight shades Lucid and Lyric from the Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette and place a generous amount over the areas that I highlighted with concealer.  I also add a generous amount to my jaw directly below my contour line.  I allow the extra powder to sit on my skin for a few minutes to "bake" before brushing off with a Morphe Brushes G23 Soft Fan Brush.

With the Real Techniques Sculpting Brush I take the contour shade Sombre from the Kat Von D palette and contour beneath my cheekbones, underneath my jaw bone, along the hairline on my forehead, down my temples, and alone the parallel sides of the bridge of my nose.  After blending I apply Make Up For Ever HD Blush in Cool Pink using the blush brush from the BH Cosmetics Party Girl Brush Set.  

Using the same fan brush as earlier, I then apply the first shade of pale white highlighter from the Carli Bybel by BH Cosmetics Palette to the tops of my cheekbones, my forehead just above my brows, and the bridge of my nose.

I shape my brows with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony, fill it in with the ABH Brow Powder in Medium Brown, and set it into place with the ABH Clear Brow Gel.

The Eyes

I keep the eyes simple and neutral for this makeup look to keep the main focus on the lips.

I have been using the BH Cosmetics Party Girl Brush Set for applying my eye makeup.  Using the Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics palette I take the color Frisk, a matte warm grey, with a fluffy blending brush into the crease of my eye and start blending upward.  This is going to be our transition shade.



I then apply Cover, a matte red-brown, directly into my crease with a small tapered blending brush using windshield wiper motions.  I reapply this color a couple times to build the color, making sure it blends into my transition shade but stays directly within the crease.

I use the color Primal, a matte brown, to define my outer corner.  I apply this directly to the outer third of my eye lid in the shape of a sideways "V" to smoke out the look ever so slightly.  I also add a little of the color Undone, a smokey matte brown, over top of where I placed Primal to darken the outer corner.

Using a flat shadow brush I take the color Frisk again and press it onto the center of my eye lid and bring it down into my inner corner.  Once the color is as pigmented as I want it to be, I then go back in with a crease brush and just make sure the crease and the outer V are just slightly blended enough that there are no harsh lines.

I take a small angled brush to draw on my eye liner using the NYX Gel Liner in Jet Black.  I get as close to the lash line as possible and press down on the lid to create a black line.  I wing this out just a little when I reach the outer corner of my eye.

I then use the color Skimp, a pale nude satin, to highlight the inner tear duct with a fluffy blending brush, and a small flat shadow brush to highlight my brow bone just below my eyebrow.

Finally, I take the color Cover again and glide it below my bottom lash line using a small eye defining brush, making sure to blend into the outer corner of my eye to give the entire look a rounded appearance.  To add some dimension and soften any harshness I go over this color with our original transition color, Frisk.

To finish I curl my lashes and apply mascara using Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash.  Using the Vegas Nay by Eylure Lash Glue I apply the Vegas Nay by Eylure lashes in Easy Elegance.

The Lips

I wanted to make the lips the centerpiece of this look.  First, I take NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Nude Truffle to outline and fill in the outer corners of my lips  I take this color inward about halfway to the middle of my lips on both sides.

I then take NYX Matte Lipstick in Butter and fill in the rest of my lips.  Using Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Pure Hollywood I place this onto my inner pout.  Using my ring finger I carefully blend where the two colors meet to give the lips a graduated ombre effect.

I set the entire finished look with Urban Decay's De-slick Makeup Setting Spray.


Let Me Know!

What are your favorite grey or taupe colored lip shades and brands?  What are you favorite brands in general for matte liquid lipsticks?

Products Used

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream
 ELF Illuminating Eye Cream
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance
ELF Studio Hydrating Under Eye Primer
Beauty Blender
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation Light 49
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette
Real Techniques Setting Brush
Real Techniques Sculpting Brush
Morphe Brushes G23 Soft Fan Brush
Make Up For Ever High Definition Blush in 410
Carli Bybel by BH Cosmetics Palette Highlight

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Ebony
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Medium Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
Urban Decay Naked2 Basics
BH Cosmetics Party Girl Brush Set
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara
Vegas Nay by Eylure Easy Elegance
Vegas Nay by Eylure Waterproof Lash Glue
NYX Slim Lip Pencil Nude Truffle
NYX Matte Lipstick Butter
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Pure Hollywood
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