Fashion Wishlist: Nasty Gal

It has been a few days since we've last spoken, hasn't it? My apologies for lack of postage this week, I haven't been in the best of moods, nor have I had much time. But, I thought I would do a fashion wishlist post today because, honestly, they're one of my favorite things to do and you all seem to like them.
Unlike my other wishlists, I intend to purchase at least one thing from this list. It may not be now, but I will. Mark my words.

On with the show!

It's getting very cold here in Massachusetts, so coats and sweaters and cardigans are a staple in my wardrobe. Paired with leggings, a cute top, and some killer shoes and you're good to go. So you'll be seeing more outwear in this post than others, just a heads up.

The first one is the Loopy Knit Coat which retails for $98

As I previously stated, cardigans and coats are necessities if you're planning on surviving in Boston, and this coat looks like a happy mix between the two. As lovely as this looks, it's sure to get dirty due to the color and, honestly, $98? But it's still gorgeous nonetheless.

Next is the Star Spangled Banner Army Jacket, which retails for $78.

This is one of the trendier pieces I'm putting on this wishlist because of the studding at the collar. Army jackets in general are, in my opinion, timeless and amazing transition pieces. The studding at the collar, while trendy, is really unique and eyecatching which is what drew me to the piece. I've been looking for a good transition jacket for a while and this one looks just right. Imagine this with a light sweater underneath and some red jeans? Perfect!

This is called the X Ray Leggings and they retail for $45

DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THESE I HAVE LOST MY ABILITY CAN. 

I've been obsessed with skulls and skeletons recently and these leggings make me drool. They look like the Black Milk leggings, but considerably cheaper. Can we just discuss how sick these are? I can see myself wearing them with my newest Jeffery Campbells (video on my YouTube Channel tomorrow), with a simple tee shirt, a black cardigan or leather jacket and my mouth is actually watering this is ridiculous. Can you tell I'm in love, or...?

This is the Skull Scarf and it retails for $20

Are you starting to see a trend yet? Anyway, I like this scarf because it's quite big, which makes it versatile. Also, it's skulled which is a check for me. Also, it's neutral enough that it can be paired with most things and not be too overwhelming. I say most. Animal prints + skulls = um no.

I don't know how lightweight this scarf is but it has the potential to warm me up just a bit now that it's cooler and, added with layers, it should be the perfect touch!

This is the two tone Anorak and it retails for $68

I'm drawn to this jacket because it reminds me a bit of an army jacket (olive, anyone?), but it's versatile enough that I can wear it in the fall and in the spring. It also isn't too "trendy" because, while the two-tone thing is very on trend, the colors are neutral enough that I can still get away with it in years to come. I also really like that it's a baggier fit, as opposed to the army jacket which seems a bit more fitting. I'm drawn to baggier things because form fitting things make me feel like I'm naked, unless paired with something baggy. See what I did there?

This is the Incognito Anorak and it retails for $58

Another Anorak jacket, similar to the previous, but in black. Like most people, black is my go-to color. I would add the pop of color in either jewelry or lipstick, so wearing all black doesn't particularly bother me. I'm drawn to this jacket because it seems it would make me feel "comfortable". The color is a comfort color of mine and the cut is baggy, some of my favorite things! Regardless, this jacket, like the previous, would be perfect for fall and spring and maybe even some cool summer nights? Who knows. All I know is that I want it because reasons. Yes.

Last but not least is the Skull Chiffon Blouse and it retails for $48

Raise your hand if you're not surprised! 

I like this shirt because skulls, duh. I also like how lightweight it looks, which would make it a really nice layering piece for fall + winter. While I'm not too particularly drawn to the almost-completely-see through aspect of it, I could get a black bustier-like-bandeau top and chuck that on. Imagine with disco pants, the black anorak jacket, and some litas. *sigh*

Hope you all enjoyed! I'll update you if I end up purchasing some of these pieces (fingers crossed!)

Until next time,

Ashley

Inside my vanity drawer

I've been on a role lately, haven't I? Anyway, today I'm going to share with you all how I store things in my vanity drawer. Most beauty gurus have these elaborate storage systems and insane amounts of makeup. 

While I do have more makeup than your average gal, my storage system is pretty simple. 

Mind you, this isn't going to be a post about my everyday makeup or how I store my entire makeup collection, as I'm planning on doing that for my 200th video on my channel. 

Let's jump right in!

If you couldn't tell by the brown boxes, I use my Birchbox boxes to store my makeup and skincare bits. They're sleek, small, and they hold a good amounts of products. Definitely an A in my book!

Anyway, my storage system goes as such.

My drawer could never hold a lot, but using this storage system I can actually fit a lot.

Let me take you through where, and what, is stored in my boxes.

From left to right:

The top and bottom boxes hold most of my everyday makeup. The top holds my bronzers and highlighters, whereas the bottom holds my bases, such as foundation/tinted moisturizer, primer, concealer, and brow stuff.

The middle box is my treatment box. I have my Elizabeth Arden 8hr cream (a definite holy grail product), a tretinoin cream from my dermatologist, Origins Brigher by Nature pads, nivea chapstick, and a facial oil that I'm still on the fence about. Above that box I keep my makeup remover wipes and tweezers.

Onto the last 2 boxes! The bottom one on the right holds all of my mascaras, eyeliners, my eyelid bases/primers, and eyelash curlers and eyebrow trimmers.

You don't necessarily have to subscribe to Birchbox to get these boxes (the service itself is amazing- but I digress), you can probably find things like these at your local Container Store or Bed Bath and Beyond.

I just wanted to share with you guys a sneak peak of a section of my storage to show that you don't have to have an elaborate storage system, a simple one is just as effective. 

Until next time,

Ashley

My Favorite Red Lipsticks

Red lipstick is something that will make you look, and feel, super sexy. Look at Marilyn Monroe and her famous crimson pout, if that doesn't scream sexy I don't know what does. However, finding shade of red that suits you is quite the difficult task. You have to take color, formula, brand, and finish all into consideration. Lucky for me, red lipstick of any shade is something that suits me quite well, so today I'm going to share with you my favorite shades of red. 

If you can't tell my the photos above, I tend to go for matte lipsticks because they last an insanely long time, look classic, and they're so easy to maintain, it's lovely. 

The photo above goes as follows:

Tarte Lip Pencil in Firey ($24)

Revlon Matte Lipstick in In the Red (007) (Under $10)

Mac Lipstick in Chili ($14.50)

Mac Lipstick in Russian Red ($14.50)

Lancome Rouge in Love #146. ($24-26)

The swatches in the photos go as follows:

#146

Russian Red

Chili

In the Red

Firey

Let me start this review off by saying that most, if not all, of these colors suit all skintones, which is definitely an added bonus.

Tarte is one of my favorite lipstick brands because they have an amazing color, and finish, selection, the lipsticks wear really well, they're extremely pigmented, and the packaging reminds me of a crayola crayon. The color is the closest thing I have to a "true red" out of all of the lipsticks shown, and it's definitely one of my favorites. Well, they're all my favorites. But still. It is a bit more expensive than the Mac or Revlon lipsticks, but the longevity of this lipstick is absolutely amazing. It truly doesn't dry out your lips, it wears all day, and you can build it up if needed. This color, and brand, has an A+ in my book.

The Revlon lipstick in In the Red is a really nice drugstore lipstick. Revlon in general makes my favorite lipsticks and this one isn't an exception the the rule. It's just as pigmented as the higher-end ones which is a plus. The only downside to this product is that it can dry out your lips after a bit, but I don't particularly mind that. It's cheap, affordable, and has good color payoff. 

Mac lipsticks are definitely one of my favorite lipsticks overall. The color and finish selection is so intensive and selective and wowza I literally have no words. There's something for everyone at the Mac counter, to say the least. Chili and Russian Red are actually very similar colors. Russian Red is described on the mac website as an "intense bluish-red", which is pretty accurate. It's not disgustingly bluish, but enough so that it makes your teeth appear whiter. I've had this lipstick for years and it's definitely one of my holy grail lipsticks overall. Chili is described as a "brownish orange-red" which is, again, very accurate. This lipstick, as I said in my giveaway video, is the perfect fall lipstick. It's red enough to classify as a red lipstick, but it has that brownish undertone that reminds me of the fallen leaves here in Massachusetts. I don't know if I'll wear this lipstick in the spring, but I've never been one to follow such rules so I probably will.

Last but not least is the Lancome Rouge in Love lipstick in #146. The Rouge in Love line is a really interesting line. In the bullets, the colors look matte, but when you swatch them they come out glossy. They're still really pigmented though, which is what makes those lipsticks my favorite everyday lipsticks. Anyway, this lipstick isn't exactly a red, per-say, it's more of a pinky-red. This "red" is a good color to pick up if you're experimenting with reds, but you're a bit too afraid to go all full-out like the others I've shown. I still get a lot of wear out of this one, though. It's a nice pick me up! 

That's it, that's the overview of my favorite red lipsticks. I'm not going to tell you which one is my #1, but I hope I gave you some good options!

What is your favorite red lipstick?

xxx,

Ashley

Face Masks of the Moment

 Lately, I haven't been that into buying makeup. I'm very satisfied with my collection and I'm, slowly but surely, trying to use it up. Yes, I may be a beauty blogger + youtuber, but that doesn't justify the crazy amounts of makeup that some people have! 

I am, however, very into skincare at the moment. I try to keep my day-to-day skincare routine very simple, just cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and spot treating when necessary. A video on the products I've been using will be coming up soon! But using, and splurging on, face masks and treatments is something that I've loved for a really long time. My skin hasn't been the best lately due to stress from school, and these face masks definitely have my seal of approval.  These masks range from drugstore to "higher end", so let's get on with it!

First up is the Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals Mask. This mask claims to purify and clear pores and I can honestly say that it does not do that. It does, however, cleanse the skin and leaves it feeling very clean and refreshed, which is why I use it. There's a funny story behind this mask, actually! Last year my friend Sophie and I used this mask, tugged our t-shirts over our knees, and walked around pretending to be Smurfs the entire night. It's one of those "had to be there" moments, but a moment I treasure nonetheless. So yes, this mask does make you look like a Smurf but it feels very nice on the skin and doesn't break me out. If you're looking for a simple mask to throw on occasionally, this one's great! You can get this for $4 at CVS.

Next is one of my favorite masks, the Freeman Facial Cucumber Peel-Off Mask. This mask comes out and goes on clear, then you dry and peel it off. Very simple, very effective. It definitely does clarify and renew skin, leaving the skin feeling clean and fresh. I personally use it when my skin is dry and peeling because it gets off all of the dead skin and is a lot gentler than an exfoliant. It doesn't work as well on blackheads nor on acne spots, but it doesn't claim to clear either of those. My friends and I used to use this mask a lot back in January/February. A nice thing about this mask is that the cucumber scent isn't super overwhelming, it fades as the mask dries which is definitely a plus. You can get this mask for $4 at CVS.

Onto the Origins masks! 

This mask is the Out of Trouble Mask by Origins. It's a new purchase and would have been seen in this post, but I have used a sample before and I really enjoyed it. The mask claims that it's a "10 minute mask to rescue problem skin". However, it won't clear your skin overnight and you shouldn't expect it to. It does definitely calm them down and reduce some of the redness, but my spots are still there the next day (pair this with the Super Spot Remover and you're golden!). This is a really nice mask because it can also double up as an overnight spot treatment. I have yet to try it as that, but when I'll do you'll either hear about it in a video or in a post. Anyway, you can get this product for $23 at Origins. 

This bad boy is the Clear Improvement mask from Origins. I used up the travel size of this product at a pretty good pace and absolutely loved it. This mask claims to clear pores and, while it doesn't do it in one use, it definitely does overtime. My nose had a lot of blackheads at the beginning of the summer so I used this mask religiously and they definitely cleared up by the end. That's only for surface blackheads, I don't think that it gets the deeper rooted ones easily. This mask is targeted and marketed towards people who struggle with blackheads more than acne. I think this is an absolutely lovely mask and it really does the job overtime. You can get this for $23 at Origins.

Last but not least is a sample of the Acne Ceuticals Acne Gel Masque. My mum got me a sample kit of the Acne Ceuticals products and I absolutely despised everything but this. The smell, texture, and results were horrific and I haven't touched that kit in months. While the smell and the texture of this mask isn't the greatest, it still works decently. Using this mask doesn't clear my acne immediately, but it does really cleanse the skin, give it a gentle exfoliation, and help to calm redness. It doesn't calm it completely, but there's a slight difference if you look closely enough. I actually call this mask my shrek mask because the color is a pea green color, but whatever. Out of all of the masks I've shown you today, this is the only one I'm not going to repurchase because I love my other masks a lot more. However, if you have oily, acne prone skin, definitely give this one a shot.  You can purchase this mask for $28 here.

Hope you enjoyed + have an amazing week!

xxx,

Ashley

So I went shopping... #2

Hello! I feel like I haven't blogged in a while and that's very upsetting.
Well, my best friend is in town this weekend and today we, along with my sister and her best friend, went shopping.
Let me preface this by saying that no, I did not buy any makeup. I bought some skincare bits that I've been wanting to repurchase for ages, and some amazing clothing pieces that I'm thrilled about owning!

I'll start with the clothing. My best friend Amanda was telling me how amazing Zara was, and I had never been before so we decided to go. Our first trip there we didn't buy anything, but I got a really good feel for the store. If you've never been to Zara, basically what it is is it's a fashionable and trendy store that, honestly, isn't that expensive.  It isn't obnoxiously trendy like Forever 21, a store I really can't stand but occasionally shop in. Zara sells very "classic" pieces. If the "trends" went out of style, you'd be able to wear them and wear them well. The price range is from $9- somewhere around $500. The outerwear is the most expensive thing they sell, everything else is really affordable and amazing quality.  After this amazing experience, Zara is definitely one of my favorite stores to shop at! Anyway, on with the things I got.

First is this shirt that says "Stand Firm Defend Your Style". I've been in need of some casual tee shirts because I have far too many collared shirts and sweaters. I'm really pleased with the quality of this shirt and the fit is really nice. I'd normally go for a large because I have quite broad shoulders and prefer a baggier fit because I don't have the slimmest stomach, but the Medium fit really nicely. It's very comfortable on my shoulders, but baggy enough that I feel comfortable wearing it out. I purchased this shirt for $19.90. 

The next tee shirt I got has a skull on it (duh) and some really cool flower details. This shirt is very similar to the previous shirt in fit and cut, which made it really easy to pick out a size. However, in the photo I'm pulling it down a bit so you can really see the skull. No complaints about it, I feel the exact same way about this shirt as I did the previous. I purchased this for $14.90

*for some reason this photo looks awkward to me, sorry!*

The next thing I bought were these leggings that were on sale for $35.90. I've been wearing leggings a lot more than actual pants recently and these are a very good piece to add to my collection. It gets really cold this year in New England, and these leggings are thick enough to keep me warm (with a sweater on top, of course) but thin enough that I can wear them in the spring or summer with a tee shirt or tank top and be totally fine. I also really like the elastic detailing on the side of the leggings, it adds a nice "flare". These leggings really "tuck" you in and keep everything in place, which is really nice! I'm only 5'3 so there's a bit of extra material on the bottom, but it's nothing that can't be fixed. Overall, I'm really really pleased with them!

 I then went into Origins because I was in desperate need of some face masks and the Super Spot Remover, which is my favorite spot treatment in the entire universe. Back in July, I picked up the Drink Up Overnight Intensive Mask and the Clear Improvement Mask in the travel size and finished the Clear Improvement one. I'm still chugging along with the Drink Up Intensive Mask, but when that runs out I'll definitely repurchase it. I also picked up the Out of Trouble mask, which I've used before in a sample and really enjoyed. The Clear Improvement mask is more geared towards blackheads, while the Out of Trouble mask is more towards break outs. They both retail for $23 and I'm so thrilled to have the full size! 

Next is the Super Spot Remover, which retails for $14.50. I'm not going to go into detail about this product because I'm planning on doing a skincare routine video, so I'll talk about it there. Like I said earlier, the Super Spot Remover is my favorite spot remover ever. 

They were giving away 3 free samples, so I chose the VitaZing moisturizer that Vivianna always raves about. I also got a sample of the Peace of Mind, which is apparently good for migraines.  I'll let you know how I get on with those!

That's all! Hope you enjoyed!

xxx,

Ashley

Ways to destress

I'm insanely stressed out at the moment, if I'm being honest. School is so much work, my family is being extremely overwhelming, and I feel like I'm drowning in expectations that are set by people who aren't me.

So yesterday I took the entire day to attempt to destress and treat myself for a bit. And, since I'm stressing out again today, I thought I would come on here and share with you what I do to destress!

I'll separate everything into "categories" and "subcategories"

1. Environment
Your environment makes a huge impact on your mental wellbeing. If you're life is cluttered, your head will be cluttered, and you'll feel overwhelmed and stressed out and it doesn't help.

The first thing I do to fix my environment is clean my room. My room is generally clean but lately it's been a mess, so I got some trash bags and cleaned everything. Including the drawers that I've been avoiding since last year. After hours of shlepping and a full trashbin later, my room was clean and organized and I felt a huge weight off of my shoulders. So yes, cleaning your room helps.

Next is "setting the mood". I usually "set the mood" by lighting a candle or playing my favorite music. My favorite candle is either my Eucalyptus Mint or Flower Shop candles by Bath and Body Works.
Music wise, my favorite band has been Mayday Parade since 7th grade, my favorite singer is Ed Sheeran and has been for a while now. I've also recently discovered Birdy, who is absolutely flawless and perfect and her voice is stunning and I don't know how I didn't learn about her earlier. Open a new tab and search Skinny Love by Birdy on YouTube right now. Now.

2. Pamper!
This is one of my favorite things to do, but then again isn't it one of everyones?
The first thing I did was throw my hair up in a bun, grab my Glamour magazine, ran a bath and chilled with bubbles for around an hour. Warm water always calms me down, even in the dead of summer. Bubble Baths are just amazing. My favorite bath products come from Lush. They're cheap/affordable, and they work amazingly.

Next I smothered on some thick, good smelling lotion and an acne mask. The one I used was a sample of the Origins 10 minute miracle, or something along those lines, which made me look like a mime. While that was sitting on my face, I painted my nails. This isn't so out of the ordinary as I paint my nails at least 3 times a week anyway, but it still calmed me down.

Nails done, face done, I then put on some boxers and a worn in shirt and climbed into bed.

3. Relaxing.
This may seem pretty obvious, but relaxing calms me down a lot. My favorite ways to "relax" are going on my tumblr + reading. I spent hours and hours and hours blogging and reading and it was a lovely way to spend my day.
If you're looking for a new read, I recommend reading Looking For Alaska by John Green, or Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green + David Levithan. Looking for Alaska is a bit more serious than Will Grayson Will Grayson, which puts me into a fit of never ending laughter whenever I read it.


So this post was on the longer side, but I hope it helped!


xxx,
Ashley

So I went shopping...

So, I went to my local mall and spent some money. Whoops! I picked up some things that I've wanted for a while and obviously I had to make a post about it. After this little escapade, I'm not going to be splurging until holiday season! Anyway, on with the show!
P.s: The mall I went to is 5 minutes away from me and they're getting a LUSH and a J.Crew, and it already has a Sephora, Bloomingdales, Kiehl's, and Kate Spade! And a bunch of other stores that are more expensive but fun to look in. I'll be spending way too much time there, let me just say!

I'll start with the stuff I got at Bloomingdales and end with Sephora.

A while back Sam from Pixiwoo said that MAC was coming out with some creme contours and that instantly caught my attention. I've been debating on whether or not I wanted to get the Chanel creme bronzer (I decided against it) and MAC is much cheaper than Chanel, so I made a mental note to go check them out. I went to the counter and saw a selection of contours and highlighters that were, surprisingly, really reasonably priced at $20 a pop (plus tax). Each product is 5g or .17oz.

As you can see in the photos, I picked up the color "Pure Sculpture" which reminds me a lot of my Bobbi Brown bronzer in "Golden Light". The woman at the counter said that this was a really good match for light-medium skintones, which is exactly what I have. The consistency is creme-powder finish, but I have yet to wear it on. If I like it, I'll feature it in a video! 

I then went to the Clarins counter and picked up a sample of their Natural Lip Perfecter in the peachy-pink color.  

It looks a lot more pigmented in the "pan" than it actually is, which really disappointed me. The little pigment it has wears off after a few minutes leaving a really nice balm. I, however, do not think that this is worth the $20+ pricetag and won't be picking up the "full size". I'll use this sample up on a "no makeup makeup" day, but that's about it.

Now onto what I got from Sephora!

I'm basically out of my Benefit Brow Pencil so I went in looking for a new one. I was stuck between the Laura Mercier one and the Anastasia one, so I asked one of the women there. She said that she has combination-oily skin and the Laura Mercier one tends to wear off after a while because it's too waxy. Her brows looked really nice and she said that she uses the Anastasia one every single day and it lasts ages. So, I picked up the Brow Wiz in Brunette.

It swatches really nicely and it gives you the option of drawing a thicker line or thinner, more hair like lines. I haven't used it yet but I'm really pleased with how it swatched and am anxious to start using it! The product is .085g/.003oz and retails for $20. 

The next thing I got was something you guys have actually seen in my latest wishlist post, which you can read here.  And it is the Stila In The Know Pallet. Words cannot describe how thrilled I am to own this!

I surprisingly don't own any of the colors that are in the pallet, which justified my purchase more! All of these colors are matte, which is amazing! They're extremely pigmented (as you can see), buttery smooth, blend like a dream, and are amazingly neutral. It's also nice because every single color in the pallet can be worn together. That may sound weird but I actually have a few pallets where some of the colors you can't actually wear together. Hmm. Either way, this is stunning and I'm thrilled to own this and look for a tutorial soon on my Youtube channel!  You get 10 colors + 1 eyeliner for $39. The eyeshadows are 14g/.49oz and the eyeliner is .28g/.01oz 

The last thing I got today was actually mentioned in my last blog post, and is very similar to the color that was actually featured too! And that is the Nails Inc Nail Polish in "Baker Street"! 

Viviannadoesmakeup has been raving about this polish recently and she's one of my favorite people ever, so this polish was mentally noted. When I received the Color Club version I was pumped, but the Nails Inc color is a bit different, so it was justified in my nail polish addict mind. I have yet to use this, I'm actually going to put it on right after I finish writing this, but when I do I'll do a review/compare post about the two polishes. This polish retails at $9.50 and you get 10ml.

That's it! That's my stuff that I've picked up recently! My wallet is crying but I'm very, very happy.

I'll keep you updated on what I think of these as I get to using them!

xxx,

Ashley