Let's Talk Customer Service

Customer service is one of the most important things to me, not only as an avid shopper, but as someone who is studying Marketing. Word-of-mouth is possibly the most effective form of advertisement, with negative reviews garnering more attention than positive ones. With increased attention to bloggers and vloggers who share their honest opinions on products and their individual experiences with companies, there are some who really need to step-up their game. The customer is, amazingly, not always correct, but they do need to be kept happy to ensure repeat business. There are a few places that I don't actually shop with in-store (Sephora, I'm looking at you), some employees that I try to avoid altogether (streaky blue-haired useless boy at Ulta, you know who you are), and some stores that I will no longer shop with all together (CVS) due to varying forms of poor service.
Today's focus is on the level of customer service that e.l.f. provides. As ya'll know, I placed an order with them a few weeks ago and have been pretty happy with the products I received. Unfortunately, my tube of Posh arrived damaged, so I emailed their CS department to see if there was anyway I could return it for a replacement. The next morning, I woke up to an email from them that said:

We apologize for the item(s) damaged from your order.

We are sending the item(s) to you as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.


Sincerely,
the e.l.f. team

e.l.f. Cosmetics Affordable Luxury

Okay, so pretty general and to the point, but I guess not everyone can be verbose with an amazing command of the English language. Modesty. I gots it.
Anyway, ten days later, I had a lovely little parcel in my mail box that contained an unbroken tube of my beloved Posh, and I did a gleeful dance.
e.l.f. has proven themselves to be a great company to order from, not just because of their products, but because they seem to actually care whether their customers are happy, and want to fix issues before they turn into large problems.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

Quick! You've overslept and only have fifteen minutes to become your fabulous self; what do you do?

First thing's first: If you use hot tools, plug them in immediately to let them heat up.
While you're waiting for that, wash your face, brush your teeth, then fill up your basin with warm soapy water for a duck's bath.
Use bobby pins (or a cute clip) to pull back the front of your hair. If you straighten or curl your hair, use your flat iron/curling iron to touch up any bits that went wonky while you slept.
Moisturize!
Quick swipe of liner, two-three coats of mascara to make your eyes look wide open, your favorite lipstick, and some powder.
Get dressed.
Get out the door.

Sad thing is, this is my routine about two days out of the week.


XOXO,
Ashleigh

Rescue Me!

What do you do when a lipstick gets smashed or breaks? Do you just toss it or try to salvage it? Apply it with a lipbrush or with your finger? When it happens to me, I make it into a gloss.

You'll need:

Smashed or broken lipstick
Rosebud salve, Vaseline, or lipbalm
Small container



I use approximately two parts lipstick to one part rosebud salve.



Mix, microwave for about 45-95 seconds, then mix again to make sure it's a homogenous mixture. Using the rosebud salve (or vaseline... or lip balm...) gives the gloss moisturising properties and makes it a little sheer, so application is practically goof proof.



Finally, something to do with my Bare Minerals containers ;)

XOXO,
Ashleigh

Feelin' Minty Fresh

I've had a strange desire for pastel blue or green nails for the past couple weeks. I considered ordering the Eyeko Vintage polish, but since I've never used Eyeko before and don't really want to pay s&h on one item, I've been trawling Target, wading at Walmart, unearthing at Ulta, desperate to find the perfect shade. I've seen a couple by Essie that I'm considering buying, but to tide me over, I bought Minted by Revlon. It's a gorgeous color, just like liquified spearmint gum, and so light and frothy looking. I don't even care that Fall is the wrong season to wear pastel on my nails, it just feels soooooo right.
 But of course, nothing can ever truly be perfect. While the color is amazing, application is horrible. It's streaky and prone to drag marks, takes forever to dry, and bubbles if you look at it wrong. I finally had to use four coats of color and two coats of topcoat to get it to look somewhat decent, but I think the work is worth it.



Revlon polish is $3.99 at Target.

Quick lipstick tip

The holiday season is quickly descending upon us, bringing with it parties, merrymaking, frivolity, and the occasional drink. Now, you and I know that more often than not, if we're wearing lipstick, it leaves that tell-tale mark on the rim of your glass. On one hand, at least you know for sure which glass is yours. On the other... it's a little tacky looking. So what do you do? If you (discretely) lick the edge of your glass before drinking, it won't leave a lipstick mark. Honest. You may want to practice this at home before you try it in public, else you may be known as "the rim licker," which could bring up a whole slew of issues.
If, even after practice, you can't quite get it down, use a lip stain. Revlon's Just Bitten lip stain is great, long lasting, and comes with a super conditioning balm. L'Oreal has the Infallibile gloss, which dries down to a stain-like finish, but be warned, after eating and drinking, it does fade pretty quickly. If you need to change your stain quickly, or you want to get it all off before bed, try eye make up remover.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

E.L.F Haul!

I'm so excited! I just got my order from E.L.F and there's all kinds of gorgeousness to see! Now, forewarning, this is going to be a very picture heavy post, so we're just gonna go ahead and put all of the fabulousness behind a cut.

I've Done It!

If you follow my Tumblr, then you know that I've been wearing the OPI Burlesque collection and wearing a new color almost every day. The glitters from this collection apply so much better than the Alice glitters, but it was still a bit of a pain in the ass, something that I don't really understand. China Glaze has beautiful glitters that apply and wear well, so why can't OPI? Heck, even Hard Candy has some great glitter polishes that practically have to be sandblasted off.
And then, inspiration hit. I was playing with Sparkle-icious and thought "Maybe it doesn't stick well because my nail bed is too smooth from frequent buffing...?" so I got my buffing block, and really lightly buffed the surface of my nail to take of the sheen and give the polish something to cling to. I then did three thin coats of Sparkle-icious with a layer of CND topcoat between each coat.
Using that method, I only had one casualty at work, which is pretty amazing. I'm constantly opening boxes and moving around furniture, so it's amazing if regular polish gets through the day unscathed.



I really like Sparkle-icious. It kind of reminds me of Mad As A Hatter, but it isn't nearly as blinding, and it has gold, teal, and fuchsia glitter

I bought my OPI at Ulta for $8.50

Take It All Off

It's pretty safe to say that a consistent theme of my blog are things that are quick and easy. I think beauty products should not only make our lives and our exteriors prettier, but I think they should make our lives a little easier as well, so that's why I get so excited when I find one that's not only easy, but effective. Enter Neutrogena Eye Make Up Remover Lotion. Gah, that's a bit of a mouthful, but it's okay, because it's an awesome product.



I wear quite a bit of mascara, and usually a slick of black, winged out liner on a regular basis, and I have absolutely no problem getting every trace of it off with a pea sized amount of the Neutrogena. I just squeeze a tiny dab on my fingertips, massage it in a circular motion into my eyelids and eye area, then use a cotton ball to clean it all up.



 I was expecting this to maybe leave a little bit of a greasy feel to my skin, since it's a lotion base, but once I get everything wiped up, there's no funky residue.
I love that this so easily obliterates my make up while simultaneously being gentle on my skin, since the eye area is so delicate and the constant pulling and tugging we do while removing eye make up and washing our faces can cause premature wrinkles.



As you can probably tell, I have absolutely no make up on in that picture, not even a trace of foundation left under my eye to cover that dark circle there!

You should be able to pick up a tube at most major retailers, like Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc. for around $4.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

One Big Tease-y

Tease-y Does It, part of OPI's new Burlesque Collection is a gorgeous, vampy shade.  The base color in it is a deep, plum-y shade and it has very fine, red sparkle that's evenly distributed throughout so when the light hits it the right way, it glows.



 This'll be a great shade for the dark Autumn evenings and will transition well into the Holiday season.




As usual, OPI runs about $8.50 a bottle depending on where you get it. I usually pick mine up at Ulta because they run specials fairly often.

Buxom Babe Seeking Buxom Lips

I'm normally not a very big fan of Bare Escentials. A few years ago, I got the Bare Minerals starter kit from my local Sephhora, followed the DVD instructions, and was kind of underwhelmed by the results unless I caked on about an inch of product. I don't know how I discovered the Buxom Lips Full Color lipgloss, but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the packaging. As previously stated, I'm an bonafide sucker for cool packaging, and the slim cardstock tubes have pictures of burlesque inspired women, while the tubes themselves are very sleek. There's a lot to be said for clear tubes with silver writing.



Anywho, onto the product. I bought Buxom Lips Full Color lipgloss in Temptest, a gorgeous pinky neutral shade. It's very much so a "my lips, but better," color. It has a very subtle gold shimmer that adds dimension to your lips, which works very well with the slight plumping this product offers.



Wearability is pretty awesome with this and I can normally get at least an hour wear without any fading, smudging, or feathering.



Like a lot of other lipglosses, it has a standard doe-foot applicator, but this has no sharp edges and ample cushioning.
You can pick up Bare Escentials products at Sephora and Ulta, and the lipgloss goes for about $20. It's not cheap, but it's worth the splurge.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

And visions of sugar plums danced in their head!

My inner five-year-old loves flavored lipglosses; so much so that I have a box full of them. Vanilla and mint are my end-all-beat-all favorite, but every so often, I like to get something a little outside of my comfort zone. I was delighted a few weeks ago at work (Pier 1) when I saw that we got Sugared Plum lipgloss in stock just in time for the holidays.



As the name suggests, it tastes sugary, but not so much on the plum. I do like how it wears, though, because it's slightly shimmery, yet not gritty, and my lips feel moisturized without being a sticky trap for my hair to get stuck in.
I was a little worried when I opened the tube and saw that the gloss itself is an opalescent shade of lilac. Uh, corpse lips? No, thanks! I got over that phase when I was about twelve. But I applied anyway and was pretty pleased with it. It applies sheer with just a touch of the opalescent shimmer, so if you just like your glosses to shine, this one is for you.



For just two bucks, it's a cheapy cheap way of brightening your day.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

Organic deodorant?

Are you one of the many girls (or guys!) that's unlucky enough to have a bad reaction to conventional deodorant? Yeah, me, too. For years I've gone back and forth between all different kinds, trying to find one that didn't make my underarms itch or burn or break out in nasty little bumps. I was always really self concious of wearing tanktops, even around the house, because I felt like everyone would be staring at the bumps that would seemingly multiply. I tried Ban, Dove, Secret, Mitchem... none of them really worked for me. Anytime I would buy another stick of the same product, I knew I was just resigning myself to discomfort, but here in Texas, deo is a must.
One of my girlfriends finally suggested that I try organic deoderant, so off I went to H.E.B, in search of organic deodorant that didn't smell like flowers-and-butt and wasn't going to break the bank. Enter Tom's deoderant. At less than five dollars a stick with a light lemongrass scent, I was all over this.
Since Tom's is organic, it does not contain aluminum, something that a lot of people (like me!) have reactions to in deodorant. In your typical stick of, oh, say, Dove, aluminum works to close essentially close your pores so you don't sweat and stink up the joint. In lieu of aluminum, Tom's uses hops which works to prohibit the growth of bacteria, the biggest source of underarm funk.
Tom's works pretty well as a deodorant, but I do want to point out that it's not an antipersperant, so if that's what you're looking for, you may want to keep searching.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

I'm knackered

If you and I are friends on Facebook, then you know that I just started with C25K. If you're unfamiliar with it, it's a running program to get you from Couch (C) to running a 5K in 9 weeks using progressively more intensive work outs. It's really great for people (like me) that want to get in better shape, but are unsure of where to start.
I really enjoyed doing this tonight, because you start off with a five minute walk to warm up, jog for a minute, walk for 90 seconds, and then alternate until you've been jogging/walking for 20 minutes and conclude your workout with a five minute cool down. By about the third time I was supposed to jog, I started thinking to myself "I could totally just walk now... no one would EVER know..." but then I thought "Okay, I would know! Just keep imagining more toned legs!" and that kind of helped to get me over the hump. Well, that and next time Lipglossiping posts an update about how she's doing on C25K, I don't want to feel guilty!
There's an app for it in the Droid (and stinky iPhone) market, which is actually pretty cool. It times everything for you and has a cheery little "ding!" to let you know when one section is done. I will be honest, though, after the fourth "DING!" I wanted to throw my phone, but that's just because I hate running.
I'm tentatively looking forward to Saturday when I'm going to do Week 1 Day 2... Look for sporadic updates (:
You can find a really great site for it here with some more information.

XOXO
Ashleigh

What Product Has You Buzzin'?

This week, I'm all about Burt's Bees Hand Salve. It's packed with things like sweet almond oil,  olive oil, bee's wax, and vitamin E with a healthy dose of Eucalyptus oil so it's not only super nourishing for your skin, but it also has a slight medicinal smell in a completely pleasant way.



I really like the metal tin that it comes in, partly because I'm a sucker for cool packaging, and it's also pretty handy for me to tuck into my purse and not worry about it leaking all over the place and turning everything into a gooey mess.
Since it's a salve and not a lotion, it does go on pretty thickly and takes a few minutes to sink in. Once it does, though, it makes a huge difference. My hands are much softer, visibly smoother, and are lightly scented. If you're like me and you're the kind of gal that worries about different fragrances mixing, don't fret; it doesn't last long. If you're busy doing a lot of things with your hands, I would reccomend waiting until you have a few minutes to rub it in and let it absorb completely so it doesn't get that greasy feel.
The colder the weather gets, the more I'll be using it and applying it to not only my hands, but my elbows, knees, ankles and feet to keep them pretty and supple through the Winter.

Over all, I'd give it a solid A. You can usually pick up Burt's Bees products at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and most other major retailers with most of the products under $15.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

PS: Burt's Bees does not test on animals, so that's another few points in their favor.

Purse Inventory

Yesterday I was sitting in the Starbucks on campus with one of my friends and I pawed through my purse for about five minutes looking for my lip balm. After five minutes, I gave up and just started pulling everything out, piece by piece, determined to find that darn Eos lip balm!
Scattered through my purse and in my make up bag I had:
12 red lipsticks/glosses
5 nude lipsticks/glosses
1 plum lipstick
2 lip balms
3 black liquid liners
1 purple liquid liner
1 navy liquid liner
5 eye shadow duos
1 Too Faced eye shadow palette (Naked Eye)
5 mascaras
1 lash curler
1 brow pencil (blonde)
2 eye shadow brushes (medium brush and crease brush)
1 pressed powder
1 bronzer/highlighter compact
1 face brush
1 concealer/highlighter
1 moisturizer
1 pack of make up remover wipes
2 nail polishes
2 perfumes


It took up the entire table. Seriously


Who needs this many lipsticks?


At least they're all pretty!


I have no explanation for this.

I may be a touch crazy after all. What's in your purse?

Xoxo,
Ashleigh

In Store Play

Last night the Boy and I went to Ulta after a lovely dinner. I wanted to pick up some new lipstick from Benefit, because I'm absolutely in love with the colors and how it wears, and I was woefully disappointed by their lack of lipstick. So I turned to my other standby, Too Faced, and began swatching colors on the back of my hand. I went through all of the lipsticks they had and made my way through most of the glosses. The one gloss I fell in love with was out of stock, so I went over to the Bare Escentuals display to find a dupe. I swatched all of the ones that looked close to the one I wanted and found an almost perfect match that would look great with my skin tone.
And then it hit me. I was the only person in the store that was testing out the samples as much as I was. I looked around and saw people testing maybe a lipstick or an eyeliner on their hand and it made me wonder: am I the only person who tests this many different products in store? I must have had close to thirty different lipsticks and glosses covering the back of my hand by the time I made it up to the counter to pay. The Boy doesn't bat a lash when I start swatching, he's seen it for over two years now, but some of the other ladies that were shopping regarded me with a wary eye and didn't come too close.
Please tell me I'm not crazy.

XOXO,
Ashleigh

The Melancholy Death of Solar Nails

If you're pro-solar, acrylics and tips, you may want to skip this post... I'm pretty anti-artificial nails now!
I've been wanting fake nails for as long as I can remember. My Mom had her manicurist license when I was a kid and I used to always watch her apply nails, absolutely fascinated by how short and stumpy nails could be transformed into long and elegant nails in a matter of minutes. My Mom always warned me with "don't do it, it's not worth it..." and up until a couple of weeks ago, I heeded her advice.
My bestie and I decided to go and have our nails done; she, because her nails were and bad shape from work and me, because I had quit my job and wanted to do something frivolous to celebrate. I'm a big believer in at-home manicures, so I decided that I would go ahead and get solars, since it's not something I can do for myself.  Forty dollars and half an hour later, I had my first set of solars. I was so excited by having nails that I overlooked little flaws* and was more focused on "I have nails! Look how pretty and shiny they are!" They were awful.



The first set that I had put on were way too square, too thick, had bubbling in the gel as it dried, and I had lifting after one day. By day three, several of the nails had actually cracked, my thumb nails had to be taken off since they were cracked all the way through, and  one of my nails had almost completely lifted off. Ugh! I went back to the place I had my nails done at, and they were nice enough to put on a new set. The new set went on pretty well and lasted for about a week before I caught my nail in the truck door and pulled part of it off. I will admit that while my nails were on, they looked really nice and using several coats of a base, I was able to change my polish color several times with little to no problems.
After I cracked my nail, I went to my trusty Walmart, bought a bottle of acetone, a new cuticle pusher, coarse grit file, buffing block, and Revlon post-trauma treatment.  To remove my nails I used the follow steps:

• Clipped nails short
• Used coarse grit file to get artificial nail as thin as possible
• Soaked nails in acetone
• Used cuticle pusher to gently lift and push acetone off of nail
• Buffed nails
• Used cotton pads soaked in acetone to remove any trace of solar nail left
• Buffed nails again
• Applied Post-Trauma nail treatment

After I took my nails off, my nails were so thin and brittle, with completely uneven surfaces that were visible even after applying several coats of nail polish. My nails had grown out a little since I had my solars put on and I have a VERY visible ridge that I'm trying to slowly smooth out with a buffing block.
I honestly don't think I'll ever have artificial nails put on again because to me, they weren't worth it at all.

Xoxo,
Ashleigh

*If you choose to have your nails done, SPEAK UP to your nail tech. If you think she's making the nails too square or too round, too thick or too thin, or if they just plain look weird, TELL HER. 

Quick, health related post

Okay, we all know that we NEED to drink about eight glasses of water a day. We know that we NEED to eat healthy. We know that we NEED do some sort of physical activity three to four days a week. But what do you do if you're constantly on the go and don't really have time to cook all of our meals or have time to work out all the time? You use common sense. Instead of getting pop, order water or iced tea. Instead of getting fried chicken, get grilled. Instead of smothering your salad with dressing, get it on the side. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Play an organized sport once a week with your friends. Not only will these small changes help with your over all health, but drinking lots of water and getting your blood pumping will help improve your skin, hair, and nails.

Nostalgia

When I was a kid, we lived on the East Coast and I remember Crabtree & Evelyn being a fairly big deal. The mall that we went to had a pretty good sized store that was jam-packed with every item that C&E made, as well as assorted goodies from Vera Bradley. Needless to say, my Mom and I became pretty frequent shoppers. For the seven years that we lived there, we used a lot of different C&E products, especially the Gardeners line, and mourned the lack of stores when we moved back to Texas. Sure, we could have ordered off of the website, but it wouldn't have been the same. There was something about going into the store and touching and smelling the products that made the experience so much better than navigating the well organized website. Maybe it was because I could take it home with me instantly instead of having to wait five to seven business days to get my hot little hands on it.
Over the weekend, my Mom and I finally stumbled into a locally owned florist and found out that they carry select C&E products. Elation ensued, as well as buying some talc-free body powder and room spray in the best fragrance ever: Nantucket Briar.
The talc-free body powder is a great alternative to perfume, as there is zero drying time, it won't stain or damage your clothes, and it's long lasting without being overly noticable and in your face. According to C&E.com , Nantucket Briar has notes of wild briar rose, bergamont, ambergris, spice, and vanilla. With all of those different elements fighting for attention, Nantucket Briar is a surprisingly light and clean scent that's reminescent of a really good bar of soap (without that gross soapy aftersmell) and the slip of the powder is like running your finger along a bolt of silk.


I love the delicate blue vines and flower design, especially against that creamy white background. Looks great on a vanity or dresser!


Very finely milled powder that seems to melt into the skin.

The names and packaging of the C&E products might sound like something a "New England WASP" would revel in, but there's nothing rigid about this at all; the fragrances are all light and clean while being subtly sexy and appropriate for everyone of every age.

Xoxo,
Ashleigh

p.s. Where's my Vera loving ladies?

Plum Perfect

As I mentioned in my "favorite things" post, I'm in love with plum shades of lipstick. We all know that I frequently wear the bold lip, and plum is nice alternative to red, especially as the temperature dips lower and lower here in San Antonio (thank you tropical storms and cold fronts!).
Last night I went to Walmart and picked up Plum Perfect from Maybelline's plum line, went out to the truck and applied a quick swipe, and fell in love with the creamy, deep berry shade. I test wore it around campus today and received several compliments from ladies AND gents, so I think Plum Perfect has earned itself a permanent spot in my beauty arsenal. It may not take the place of red, but it's pretty darn close.

"
Swatch on my hand


Tube, a pretty shade of grape-y purple.

Since it's Maybelline Colorsensational, the color applies true-to-product and crisply with minimal feathering and lasts without significant fading.

Xoxo,
Ashleigh

From A to Zurich

Last post I mentioned that I reccommended From A to Zurich (OPI) as a perfect shade for Fall. I bought a bottle of it, swatched it, and absolutely fell in love with it. From A to Zurich is a gorgeous berry red that reminds me of cranberry jelly and makes me want to pull out my trench coat.







Since I have solar nails* right now, I had to apply three coats of polish to completely cover the white tips.

xoxo,
Ashleigh

*post to come

First Day of Fall!

Happy first day of fall, ladies! To celebrate the start of my favorite season, I thought I'd do a quick post about some of my favorite things!
Maybelline has some lovely plum lipsticks out right now that have a perfect shade for every skin tone, with rich, full color and a long lasting formula. I know a lot of ladies look at plum as strictly a "night" shade, but there are a lot of shades of plum that are surprisingly wearable that will transition well from day to night.
Sephora has some GORGEOUS sparkly black liner that applies smoothly, lasts a long time, and adds a little bit of drama to your day-to-day make up without looking too made up. Keep in mind, though- if you're emphasising your eyes, keep your lips light, and vice versa.
And of course, dark and glittery nails are making a come back, like they do every year. Vampy shades of red, plum, navy, and even darker shades of grey will be great manicure choices.  OPI's Swiss collection will be great to draw influence from; I've got my eyes on Glitzerland, From A to Zurich, and even Cuckoo for This Color.
Make sure your pampering your hair, because as the air gets drier, your hair will get drier and no one wants lackluster hair that looks like straw. I've mentioned Ojon as a great hair mask before, but Garnier's 3-Minute Undo works almost as well, for a fraction of the cost.  Just slather it on, allow it to sit for three minutes (or longer!) and rinse to reveal beautiful, moisturized and healthy hair.

Happy Fall!
Ashleigh

DIY Dye

Confession: I have a deep, passionate love for at home hair color.
Major brands have added some amazing formulas to their arsenal of products that promise 100% coverage in beautiful shades that oh, by the way, nourish your lovely locks with relative ease and without the hefty price. of a salon.
Clairol and L'Oreal are two of my favorite brands because they offer a wide range of shades from almost pure white blondes and inky blacks to sexy reds and rich brunettes.
But as much as I love L'Oreal, I find myself turning to Miss Clairol more and more for their Perfect 10 system. With your box of Perfect 10, you get two different options for application: the classic, slightly pointed applicator for all-over color and an applicator that looks (and acts) like a comb, so it's perfect for root touch-ups. Now, while at home color is simple and relatively goof proof, there are some tips and tricks that will make things even easier for you.

*Unless you have extensive experiance with at home hair color, it's best to stay between two to three shades of your current hair color. If you can't choose between two shades, go with the lighter option.

*Wash your hair the day BEFORE you intend to color it. If that's not feasible, wash hair in the morning and apply color in the evening. The natural oils your scalp produces will help protect your scalp from the chemicals found in hair color.

*Immediately before, use a fine-toothed comb to get rid of any knots or snarls. You want smooth, tangle dree hair for better application. If you have knots, it can cause streaking or spotting.

*Divide your hair into sections using clips and apply color one section at a time, starting from the nape of your neck and working your way up to the crown.

*After the color has developed, rinse thoroughly and apply the deep conditioner.

I actually use the Perfect 10 color to do my highlights because it's so quick and easy to do.

*Apply color directly to your roots and allow to sit for about five minutes.
*Use wide-toothed comb to constantly pull color through your hair. The comb will help to evenly deposit the dye through your strands while giving it a more natural look, similar to boliage highlights.

If you leave your color on for more than the recommended time, don't panic. Modern hair dye has an agent in it that stops the color from processing after a certain amount of hair, so it's almost impossible to over-process your color.

Happy hair!

Ashleigh

Sorry sorry!

I'm not dead, I promise. My laptop finally decided that it doesn't love me anymore and that we're through. Officially this time. I don't have the money to take it to Mr. Notebook for them to rip me off on repairs again, so I'm in the market for an HP or Dell Netbook, but that's a story for a different blog.
Long story short, I've been testing a lot of different products and reviewing them (in a notebook!) and as soon as I have another laptop to work on, they'll be up.

xoxo,
Ashleigh

Best Foot Forward

This past Saturday was the first day of Spring and all my sandal wearing ladies know what that means- it's time to get your feet back in shape for some heel and toe baring. I know some of us are daring and just don't really care what our feet look like and wear sandals with a Devil-may-care attitude, but most of the ladies I know would be mortified if they had visible calluses or dry skin on their hooves feet. Sure, you could go to the salon and pay upwards of $20 for a pedicure that will last about as long as it takes for you to walk to the mailbox, or you could do it at home. I choose to do it at home.

When this blog first started, I talked about how much I despise the PedEgg because of it's awkward shape, the mess it makes, and the lack of comfort in using it. Normally, I'll soak my tired toes in a foot bath and slave over them with a pumice stone, but lately, I've been going the easy route. 

Update

I know, I know, updates have been pretty sporadic as of late, and I don't have a real reason for it, other than work and school have been crazy busy lately. I had hoped to knock out a blog entry every day of Spring Break, but alas, life got in the way. However, I have been diligently testing products- almost a new product every day! So, stay tuned my beautiful friends, and expect more updates soon!


Love and Kisses,
Ashleigh

A quickie

Just a quick note tonight, sweethearts!
I stumbled across this tutorial on the Oprah website and I'm kind of hating it.

http://www.oprah.com/style/Eye-Makeup-Tutorial-Sexy-Smoky-Eyes#slide

I don't like how it tells you to "do your make up for the day," especially since not all of us do our "day" make up and then smoke it out for our "night" look. I personally think you get better, much prettier results if you just go for the smoky eye to start with.  I don't think it's a well done tutorial :(

When I have the time, I'll be sure to do my own.

Love and Kisses,
Ashleigh

Avee-no!

This post has been a while in the making, since I wanted to make sure that I had thoroughly tested the product before I reviewed it, especially since it's a moisturizer that's allegedly "clinically proven to even out tone and texture."
I really like Aveeno's commercials, because they're well done, emphasize the fact that Aveeno does a lot of natural products and well, they're pretty. This is not the case with Aveeno's Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer. With it's "total soy complex", Aveeno is supposed to be hydrating while evening out skin tone and texture in four weeks. I've been using it for about six weeks now, and I have not noticed improved skin tone or texture and it does not moisturize as well as I was expecting it too. Even after liberal application, I still have dry spots around my hair line and nose, which is something that I just cannot abide.



About the only thing that I like about Aveeno Positively Radient is the design of the bottle (the pumps dispenses product pretty well) and it has SPF 15, so that means I can skip sunscreen on my average day.





Price: $14.99 for 4 oz
Grade: C

Liplicious? Indeed!

I've been buying the Liplicious lip glosses from Bath and Body Works for quite some time now. They have a great, long lasting formula that never feels sticky, a wide range of colours to choose from, and they all taste and smell great without breaking the bank.



Lately, I've been forgoing my usual red lips in favour of trying out more nude lipsticks and glosses in an attempt to broaden my horizons, cosmetically of course. I think I've finally found one that I really like, and knowing my dislike of nudes, that's saying something.
Whipped Vanilla is a very pretty creamy pink with gold flecks throughout- very "nude-but-better." As the name suggests, it's very lightly flavoured with vanilla, but does have a stronger vanilla scent to it, so if you don't like scented lip products, watch out. Personally, I love the fact that it's scented/flavoured because it helps me cut down on my cravings for sugary sweet things. Whenever I start thinking "Oh, hey... caramel would be good right about now," I just put on some lip gloss and in a few minutes, the craving has passed.


So much shine!

According to the Bath and Body Works website, the Liplicious products are packed with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil, which are both great moisturizers, especially for delicate skin. I find myself reaching for this more often than I do my Burt's Bees chapstick, even when I'm at home.
Bath and Body Works usually offers specials on the Liplicious line and at the time of this posting, they are generously offering a "Buy 2 get 1 FREE" special. Definitely take advantage of it if you can, I know I'm stocking up!



Cost: $7 at Bath and Body Works
Grade: Solid A

Healthy Flush

I like my blushes to be pretty, pink, and healthy looking- never clownish like some of the girls I see when I'm out and about.
I picked up some of Boots Blush Tint Creme in Blossom at Target a few weeks ago, and I really love the blush, because it's in solid, stick form which is perfect for portability. I blush to admit (no pun intended) that most of the time, my make up is done on the run and since this Blush Tint Creme is solid, I don't have to worry about spilling it all over myself or the car. It has a smooth, creamy finish that blends seamlessly into my skin. I just use two quick swipes across my cheek bones, blend with my fingertips, and I'm good to go!


Before blending


After blending

Blush Tint Creme is hypoallergenic and, according to Target's website, comes in at least three different shades, though I'm relatively certain I saw more actually in store.


Swatch on my wrist so you can see the actual colour of it.


Price: $9.99 at Target
Grade: A

Economically friendly find

The theme here lately has been soft, well maintained lips, and this post is no exception. A few days ago while standing in the check out line at Walmart, I saw a small display for Nivea creme in a tin for about $2. I snatched it up and as soon as I got to the car, liberally applied it to my hands and my lips with very soft results.
I don't particularly love the creme for daily use on my hands, because it seems to take a while to absorb completely and until it does, my hands feel a little sticky. This is probably because the creme is petroleum based with lanolin added to it.
I do really like it for my lips, because even though the cream is white, it goes in clear and leaves lips with a nice, healthy shine while intensely moisturising them.




Cost: About $2 at Walmart, though the tins do come in larger sizes
Grade: B

A slight diversion from our usual route...

I know, I know, jewelery doesn't really fall under "beauty," but I have to make a quick detour to tell you about my beautiful ring!
UntamedMenagerie is a shop on Etsy where they offer wonderful, whimsical pieces that are truly "wearable art." I bought a ring named "Perched," which is a cleverly designed stainless steel cut-out of a bird that looks as though it is perching on your finger. I've been a fan of UntamedMenagerie for quite a while and, though I don't know the ladies personally,I do know they're from my home state of TN, which coupled with the very quick delivery of my ring, means they're awesome. Wow, that was a mouthful of a sentence, but I hope you understood it!



They can be found at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/UntamedMenagerie

D.I.Y: Lip Scrub

Hello, lovelies! As we all know, having smooth lips is a beauty must have! Well hydrated lips retain lip colour better and longer than dry lips, and smooth lips make lipstick look so much prettier.
There are several lip scrubs on the market, most of them ranging upwards of $10, but why buy one if you can make it at home, using items that most people already have in their pantry? Making a lip scrub at home means that you know EXACTLY what's going into it (and on your lips), and you don't have to worry "Oh, what if I accidentally get some in my mouth?"
I'm quite fond of mixing sugar with olive oil, or almond oil, when I make my lip scrubs. Sugar is a natural exfoliant when in it's crystallized (i.e. 'regular') form and olive oil is wonderful for adding moisture, since it's full of fatty-acids.

Obviously, you will need:

• Small bowl (for mixing)
• Measuring spoons
• Olive oil ( I recommend Extra Virgin)
• Sugar
• Food colouring (optional)

Start by measuring out about a tablespoon of sugar and pour into a small bowl. Follow by adding approximately two teaspoons of olive oil over top. Using your finger (or spoon!) mix the two together until the mixture kind of "clumps" together. If you'd like your scrub to have more of a paste like consistency, add a bit more olive oil.

Since I like colourful things, I usually add a few drops of food colouring to mine. If you add food colouring, be warned: some may stain your lips for a few minutes. Be sure you spot test this!

I, of course, made mine red. :)

Once your scrub has been mixed well, dip your finger in, and lightly rub over your lips in a circular motion to slough off dead skin cells. Rinse with warm water and follow up with your favourite lip balm.

I would post an "after" picture of my lips, but they were photographing with some super glare because of the lighting! Trust me, they're soft and ready for a gorgeous shade of classic rose.

Cost: Free, since most of us already have sugar and olive oil at home

Grade: A. It's super effective, and best of all, you didn't have to spend any of your hard earned money on it.

And don't forget to bring your own Merlot!

I love mint, especially when it's added to lipglosses and lipsticks, so it's no surprise that I adore C.O. Bigelow's line of mint infused lip products.

On days that I want to wear my "signature" red lips, but don't want a bold lip, I turn to C.O. Bigelow's Vitamin Mentha Tinted Lip Balm in Merlot. Merlot is a beautiful, sheer, wine coloured red that softly defines my lips while conditioning them and freshening my breath.



According to the Bath and Body Works website, Bigelow's Tinted Lip Balm is packed with nourishing vitamins, mineral, and goji berry extract, which explains why my lips always feel so soft and supple after use.
Since I'm the kind of gal who likes to coordinate my nails and lipsticks, the Tinted Lip Balm is great, because it's sheer formula is such a no-brainer and looks wonderful with just about anything.



The only thing I don't particularly love about Tinted Lip Balm is that it's very soft and has a tendency to break on me, so my lipstick is always slightly tilted and I have to look in a mirror while applying.



Cost: $7.50 at Bath and Body Works
Grade: B+

Maaaaaarvelips!

Soap and Glory's Marvelips is so phenomenal (both in name and product) that I don't feel the need to try to be witty or clever with the blog title tonight.



I've been a big fan of Soap and Glory for quite some time now, because the products have consistently exceeded my expectations and been quite easy on my wallet.
Marvelips is a double-ended lip pencil with a rosy-pink shade on one side and an almost pearly-white highlighter on the other side. The end results give you full, kissable looking lips without being too heavy.
I start out by lining just along my lip line- however, if you want your lips to look a bit fuller, line just outside your natural lip line. Make sure you don't line too heavy handed, or else it'll look very obvious.



I then fill in my lips, both top and bottom, and use the highlighting end on my cupid's bow, right in the peaks, and I draw an upside "T" on my lower lip. This helps to softly define the centre of your mouth, drawing attention to it and giving the illusion of fullness. (Added bonus, the pearly-white highlighter makes your teeth look brighter!)



(Do, please, excuse the hoodie and Cheshire grin. I've been working all day and am running on caffeine)

As you can see, Marvelips is not a super-bold, in-your-face lipstick. It's a very subtle way to draw attention to your lips and give a bit of beautiful definition.

Cost: $9.99 at Target
Grade: A

CoverGirl Disappointing Eyelights

As you can probably surmise from the title, I wasn't a fan of CoverGirl Exact Eyelights. I think it is overly hyped, messy, clumpy, and difficult to work with, without the benefit of full, pretty lashes.
I have loved coloured/tinted mascaras for as long as I can remember, because they do such pretty things to your eyes and are a nice way to change your usual day-to-day make up without being too drastic. Navy blues are great for a morning after not much sleep, as it brightens your eye area, browns and greys are a softer alternative to black, and plum is beautiful for gals with brown/hazel eyes, because it pulls the "muddyness" out.
After a long deliberation, I bought Exact Eyelights in the shade "black sapphire," and as far as I can tell, it's just a pale black with a bit of shimmer in it. The colour itself isn't anything special, I actually think it's very "ho-hum," and out of the corner of my eye, I can see the shimmer on my eyelashes, which I find extremely distracting.



Even at close range, you don't detect the "sapphire" that's supposed to be in it.

Now, I realise that in the pictures, my eyelashes don't look too clumpy- that's because I applied a coat of mascara, combed my eyelashes, applied another coat, and combed them again. To get my eyelashes to look moderately decent whilst using Exact Eyelights is too much work and impractical for every day use.



I particularly dislike the mascara wand, because I prefer the classic wands over the rubber, nubbly ones that are supposed to be better at preventing clumps. In my experience, the rubber, nubbly mascara wands cause more clumps than they prevent, and they're a bit difficult to work with.



Cost: $7.24 at Target.com
Grade: C