You're Invited! Beauty and Style Pinterest Group Board

One of my goals for 2016 is to interact and collaborate more with my fellow bloggers.  I also love finding and exploring new blogs every day for all the amazing creative content that is posted out there!  Then I thought, why not combine the two?

I enjoy reading new beauty and style blogs that not only have great advice, including makeup tutorials and product reviews, but are also incredibly inspiring and encourage me to do bigger and better things with my own blog.

This is why I created a Beauty and Style Group Board on Pinterest!

This board was made to feature posts from beauty and style blogs that are relevant and exciting.  If you come across great posts all the time, share the wealth with others by pinning them to the group board!  Easy as cake, I know.

Ready to get pinning?  I'm excited to have you!

If you would like to join the group board you must first follow me on Pinterest (it won't allow me to add you otherwise, I promise), and then comment below with the email address associated with your Pinterest account.  If you prefer to keep your email confidential, please email me the deets at contact@ashleyelizabethbeauty.com

 

 

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8 Beauty and Style Holiday Favorites

These 8 beauty and style holiday favorites are the perfect essentials for parties, events, dinners, and gift exchanges!  Every one of these items will bring a gleaming sparkle or sense of sophistication to your holiday festivities.

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

This beautiful palette is made up of a mix of 15 matte and jewel tones, each one designed by Gwen Stefani herself and guaranteed to spice up any holiday makeup look.  The texture and pigmentation is stunning and so long lasting you will not have to worry about creasing or fallout during your holiday blitz of food and gifts.  My absolutely favorite shades has to be Pop, a pale coral with iridescent sparkle, which I will be applying to my lid this Christmas Eve as part of a shimmery pink and mauve cut crease.

Huda Beauty Classic Fall Lashes

   Huda Beauty lashes are stunning.  They are lightweight, reusable, vegan, and cruelty-free, and come in a variety of styles guaranteed to fit and makeup look or occasion.  My favorites are Giselle, Samantha and Sasha, which are all low-to-medium volume and more natural than dramatic.  I will be wearing Giselle this holiday season to create a natural look that is subtle while still remaining beautiful.  I have been a Huda Beauty fan for a long time, and these lashes remain a staple in my makeup routine!

Kate Spade Lily Avenue Wallet

  Have a holiday party or even to go to, but don't want to lug around your heavy everyday tote?  Kate Spade's Lily Avenue Wallet is the perfect accessory for all the essentials.  I can fit my iPhone, lipstick, ID, and cards easily, with room to spare for a few tampons if the time calls for it.  This wallet comes in the colors Ballet Slipper, Black and Cherry.  Ballet Slipper, a soft pink, is my favorite, and the scalloped snap-flip closure is elegant and sophisticated, while still remaining girly and cute.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita

The reason this is one of my go-to lipsticks for parties or events is because of its great coverage and ability to last.  The texture is rich and feels like satin upon the lips.  My favorite shade, Anita, is a gorgeous petal pink, which gives my lips a subtle tone without being too dramatic.

Deborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Polish in Ruby Red Slippers

When I found this perfect shade of shimmery Christmas red, I had to stop in Sephora for a moment of silence and appreciation.  Honestly, you cannot get more festive than this.  These are long lasting, glittery, and comes in a show-stopping red.  If this is too much glitter for you (but honestly how could there be such a thing?) use this as an accent color on either your ring or index fingers, and paint the rest a bright red.

Kate Spade Small Square Stud Earrings in Rose Gold Glitter

In addition to purses and wallets, Kate Spades makes the most beautiful jewelry that is affordable, sophisticated, elegant, and effortlessly girly.  At only $38 these bazel-set faceted stones feel like a steal.  The glitter is subtle but always catches the light just right.

Kate Spade Metro Scallopped Leather Watch

 I know what you're thinking: Kate Spade, again?  Hell yes, Kate Spade.  This watch gives me life.  It is scalloped (to match the wallet), stylish and comfortable.  The face and color combination is stunning and classicly elegant.

Diorshow Mascara

This is my favorite mascara for wearing beneath a full set of false lashes.  It is voluminous, lengthening, and comes in a very deep jet black.  The brush is thick and lashes turn out lush and full.  This is also my go-to mascara when I want a dark eye look without false lashes.

 

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12 Makeup Mistakes To Stop Making Today And Why

I have been guilty of every one of these crimes of beauty at some point or another in my lifetime.   You live and you learn.  Makeup is supposed to be fun and it's 100% ok to have trial and error.  Here are 12 steps to make sure you have got the healthy makeup basics down!

Mistake #1: Skimping On Skin Care

I put this as the very first mistake not to make for a good reason.  You cannot have good makeup without good skin care.  After washing your face apply a hydrating moisturizer and eye cream.  My most trusted favorites have been Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream for my face and Clinique Moisture Surge for my under eye area.

Mistake #2: Curling Lashes With Mascara

Just don't do it.  It may seem like a great way to get the most volume out of your mascara, but you will damage your lashes in no time.  Curl your clean and dry lashes and then apply mascara.  If you are looking for extra volume and length try a set of falsies.  My go-to false lashes for daily use are the #307 quarter length lashes from Morphe Brushes.  They are easy to apply and so light weight that I always forget I am wearing them.

Mistake #3: Not Investing In Good Brushes

Great makeup often requires great brushes.  Use professional makeup brushes, compare them with drugstore brushes, and you will see an amazing difference in how your makeup turns out.  However, there is no need to break the bank!  My favorite makeup brushes are from Real Techniques and can be found at Ulta.  They are reasonably priced and will allow you to apply makeup like a pro!

Mistake #4: Apply Too Much Bronzer Or Contour

More makeup is not necessarily always better.  Sure, Malificent's cheek bones were to die for, but it's not a great every day look.  Contouring has the ability to make your face look thinner, but you are going to want to create soft shadows with a cool tone shade for your daytime look.  Check out my latest tutorial, Classic Holiday Vintage Makeup Tutorial, for an example on how to achieve soft, blended contours.

Mistake #5: Sleeping In Your Makeup

Every woman has been faced with this dilemma.  You are exhausted by the end of the day, the struggle is real, and just want to fall face first onto your pillow.  Or, you've just started dating someone new, and are still self conscious about them seeing your bare makeup-free face.  However, falling asleep with makeup on is never a good idea.  Your pores need to breathe, and failure to allow for this will cause you more skin problems than you really need.  If possible, make taking off your makeup one of the first things you do when you get home.  Throw on some sweats, tie your hair back, and take it all off!  Making it feel like a treat instead of a chore is the key.  Splurge on your favorite makeup removing wipes (mine are from Pond's) and a gentle facial cleanser, like Soy Fresh Face Cleaner, that leaves your skin feeling amazing and refreshed.

Mistake #6: Not Setting Your Makeup

Setting your makeup will not only make it last longer throughout the day, but it will also prevent creasing and sliding, and help with any oily skin issues.  It is best practice to set concealer wherever you are placing it on your face.  During the work week I love to use NYX HD Finishing Powder in Banana.  It is velvety soft, a great yellow neutral tone, and your makeup will not budge.

Mistake #7: Applying Concealer Incorrectly

Applying your concealer wrong will drag down your face, make you look more tired, and actually emphasize the things you are trying to conceal.  If you are applying concealer beneath your eyes, do so in a sideways "V" shape, starting larger at the eye, taking it down to the edge of the nose, and then back up at a ninety degree angle to your temple.  This will make your face appear slimmer and your makeup more streamlined.  You can also apply concealer in the middle of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, and on your chin.

Mistake #8: Applying The Wrong Shade Of Concealer

Rule of thumb is to use a concealer that is two shades lighter than your foundation.  Your face naturally has lighter and darker areas due to shadows, and trying to make everything one color will look unnatural.  No matter what make sure you apply a concealer and foundation with the same undertone, such as yellow, golden, pink, or neutral.  This will help them to blend and match.

Mistake #9: Not Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes can be breeding grounds for bacteria if they are not cleaned properly or often.  Have you noticed your face breaking out recently for no apparent reason?  It could be that you've waited too long in between cleanings.  At a maximum clean your brushes after every use, and at a minimum clean them once per week.  Shampoos, sprays and balms are available for what best suits your needs, but I usually just use Johnson's Baby Shampoo.  If your brushes are extremely dirty and well beyond cleaning, throw them out and get a new set.

Mistake #10: Not Applying A Primer

Apply a good base after your skincare routine and before you apply foundation to have makeup that will truly last all day.  Also, primer will help erase fine lines and pores and make your makeup look and feel smoother.  My favorite drugstore primer is NYX Angel Veil Skin Perfecting Primer, but you should find a primer that fits your skin type the best.

Mistake #11: Matching Foundation To Your General Skin Tone

I once heard a quote from Sonia Kashuk that went something like "Foundation is like Spanx; no one should know you're wearing it!"  Your foundation should look natural and not like there is a mask on your face.  Match your foundation to the front of your wrist for the most accurate shade.  I have been self-tanning my body for years (never my face) and this has been my foolproof method for choosing foundation to match my body's self-tan shade to my non-tan face.

Mistake #12: Overspending On High End Products 

Price does not necessarily determine quality.  Trust me, I have learned the hard way on this.  Don't think that you have to spend a lot of money in order to purchase a good product.  Some of my most loved brands are low cost because they have better quality than their high-end comparables, including Morphe Brushes, ColourPop, BH Cosmetics, and Makeup Geek.

 

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November Loves and Favorites

Starbucks Red Holiday Cup

Starbucks: your winter specialty drinks have stolen my heart once again.  The Skinny Peppermint Mocha is my absolute favorite, but I have been changing it up every now and then with the Holiday Spice Flat White.  The Peppermint Mocha is perfect for when I am craving something super sweet and chocolate, and the Flat White for when I am in need of something soothing.  The Holiday Spice Flat White is basically Christmas in a cup.  I have yet to try the Gingerbread or Chestnut Praline, but it is only a matter of time.

BH Cosmetics Long Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick

When I received an email a few weeks ago that BH Cosmetics had just released these, I knew I had to try them.  I purchased Muse, a nude pink grey-beige, and Endora, a bright pink.  The formula isn't over-drying on my lips, but I always make sure to exfoliate and moisturize before applying any kind of liquid lipstick.  The texture is similar to Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick and the colors are similar to Stila's Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick.  I plan on ordering many more when colors come back in stock.

Honeywell Console Humidifier

You may be thinking: what the hell is a humidifier doing on a beauty favorites list?  I have been waking up every morning this fall and winter struggling to breathe through a stuffy nose, and when my nose is stuffy is stays that way all day long, which means I am constantly using tissues and ruining my makeup.  No bueno.  At first I was stunned by the size of this particular humidifier, as don't have a lot of space to work with at the moment.  But the performance and efficiency of this humidifier quickly outweighed this slight inconvenience.  I actually like the size of it now because it holds a lot of water and I do not have to worry about refilling it for a few days at a time.  My bedroom air is more comfortable at night, allowing me to breathe easier, and the makeup I put on my nose in the morning will continue to stay on my face **double thumbs up.***

 

The Time Chamber by Daria Song

The sequel to The Time Garden, a beautifully designed magical story and adult coloring book, The Time Chamber is another outstanding work of ink art by Daria Song. 

The red haired fairy returns again in this book, but this time it is the fairy that is visiting the little girl's land.  Feeling restless, the fairy desires to explore outside her beautiful time garden inside the clock.  The fairy packs beautiful treasures to bring the little girl each time she visits her.  As she explores, the entire world feels enormous in size to the tiny fair, and everything is new and beautiful.

The designs that fill this book illustrate the magical and charming objects the tiny fairy finds so beautiful: tea kettles, dining ware, silver ware, powder boxes, spools of yarn, and more.  The intricate details featured on each page will leave you mesmerized and captivated with the story and it's beauty.

Luxe Beauty Brows Eyebrow Growth Serum*

My brows have consistently remained sparse, thin, and difficult to grow for years now.  A constant reminder of the over-plucking and torture I put them through during middle school and high school.  I was really excited to try out this eyebrow growth serum when Luxe Beauty sent it to me for review because I have never used any type of hair growth serum before (although I have always wanted to try an eyelash serum).  I apply this to my brows every morning before makeup and again every night after I remove my makeup.  After a few weeks I actually have seen a great difference in the growth of my eyebrows.  While they haven't grown in any thicker, they are actually growing, which is an awesome improvement!

 

Where's Karl by Stacey Caldwell

This book illustrates in beautiful detail a "fashion-forward parody" from cover to cover.  Cleverly designed and gorgeously illustrated, the artwork brings to life some of the best known names in the fashion industry.  We follow quirky and interesting characters around the world, to cities like Dubai and New York, and to fashion week in all of the most fabulous locales.

In your search for Karl you will also find a sea of different celebrity, lifestyle and fashion personalities.  Despite the book's title and main character (Karl), the real hilarity lies within the overall portrayal of the fashion industry.  You see Grace Coddington, Naiomi Campbell, Giselle Bunchen, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Anna Wintour, Alexa Chung, Bill Cunningham; the character legend is intense and wonderfully amusing.

This book makes an excellent gift to any style lover in your life or a great addition to your coffee table books.  A must buy for anyone who follows the fashion industry.

 

Micro Pedi Electric Callus Remover*

I had been debating about getting one of these electric pedi devices for months (because what woman doesn't need smoother feet?) when I was sent this from Care Me to review.  This thing works miracles on my feet, no lie.  The pumice roller is gentle but powerful, and much more effective than the Ped Egg that I have been using for years.  I like the fact that is is not battery powered and actually comes with a charger.  You can detach the roller head and hand wash it to clean.  Honestly, I've never seen or felt my feet so smooth and soft before.  This will definitely save me some money from getting pedicures at the spa.

 

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