Today is a glorious day.

Why, you ask? Because King Daddy dropped his album.

I'm not going to go into all of the details about King Daddy, because honestly I just don't want to share him, but what I will say that Jonghyun Kim is the best living singer gracing this planet (aside from EXO's Chen), and you can fight me on it. I will fight you, I'm not lying. Fight me.

I literally threw my money at him, and I have been listening to this album almost nonstop since about 11 this morning; I'm playing it right now, actually, and I regret nothing. I'll probably play it again.

Because that album put me in such a good mood, I decided to do a look for you guys. Well, not a complete look, but I did some eyes for you, and it was an inspiration/recreation based off of this look right here:

 Photo and look by @colorpunch

It's pretty, right? I thought so, too. I also thought that it was one hell of a challenge, so naturally I accepted it, and here's what I came up with:

Here's a couple of comparison shots for you:

And a look like this just has to have a video to go with it, so here you go.

I didn't have that much of a challenge with this, honestly. It was relatively easy to find these colors in my collection, and it was simple enough to apply, but still fun. I had the biggest trouble with not overdoing the transition color, because it's hard to make blue eyeshadow work on Black women, so I had to do my best to keep it from looking muddy because of my base color. I feel like it looks quite similar to the inspiration, aside from the fact that we have completely different eye shapes, and lighting/and camera,s and she's using Sugarpill and I'm strictly drugstore. Well, drugstore, a little ColourPop, and the Take Me To Brazil palette.

-record scratches-

I know, right?! I kept it, and I actually used it again, and it actually wasn't as difficult! I've noticed that this palette works best when you need the colors with a fluffy brush; when you need to pack it on, that's when it starts to show out. Anyway, I've talked way too much; here's the details!

BROWS:

Filler: L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer in Dark Brunette

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: Burnt, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette, followed by Olden in the same palette, and then #6, in the BH Cosmetics Take Me To Brazil palette to start the blue
• Crease: #7, in the Wet 'N Wild Limited Edition Boardwalk Boozing Palette
• Lid:
• Overall:  #15, in the Morphe 35U Palette, with a little of the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Ibiza on top at the center of the lid
• Outer Third: the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Coconut
• Outer V: #7, in the Wet 'N Wild Limited Edition Boardwalk Boozing Palette
• Inner Corner: Ice Cloud, in the Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette, diffused a little with the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Chiffon
• Lower Lash Line:
• #4 in the BH Cosmetics Take Me To Brazil Palette, with #18 in the same palette closer to the water line
• Greenwich Village, in my Ruby Kisses Luxe Colour Customizable Palette towards the inner corner

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Butterfly Intenza Midnight Black Mascara on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

I was so pleased with the outcome! It was just enough of a challenge for me, and I'm glad that it came out well, to commemorate such an awesome album dropping today. Alright, it's time for me to find something to eat and get back to writing. Have a good night!

x Ashlan

Black eyeshadow is scary.

Hello again!

I know, I know, I've been MIA; summer laziness is kicking in, on top of the fact that I've been trying to get back into the swing of consistent writing, since I haven't been able to write for the majority of this semester. But I've been feeling bad about it (honestly, my Faves & F&#k No's are going to have to be fused into an April-May kind of situation), so I got off of my butt and decided to do a little bit of a look; I say a little bit because I only did the eyes - I wasn't feeling that proactive today. Anyway, here's the look I drew inspiration from:

Photo and look by @makeupby_ev21

And here's my rendition of it:

A comparison shot:

And a video.

Now, I say that it's a redntion, and I only drew inspiration from in and didn't try to recreate it, because I didn't exactly follow the image completly. I've been working with a lot of mauve/rose toned shadows in my looks lately, and I just didn't want to do that again for fear of redundancy. So I just did a standard brown/black smoky eye, and let me tell you, black eyeshadow is scary as hell. It is the only shadow, no matter what brand you get it from, that will come out on your eye like a damn ink blot, so if it looks a little messy, it's because I spazzed out when I applied it. Alright, details!

BROWS:

Filler: L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer in Dark Brunette

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn, with a tiny bit of Nicka K New York HD Concealer in Copper just under the brow

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: One More Bar, in the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette
• Crease: Treat, in the Makeup Revolution Chocolate Vice Palette, with All Is Lost, in the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette to further define and smoke the outer V out
• Lid:
• Overall:  Fool's Gold, in the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette, with Vice, in the Makeup Revolution Chocolate Vice Palette over top, and a little bit of Ice Cloud, in the Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette towards the center to kinda match the frostiness of the picture
• Outer Third: Treat, in the Makeup Revolution Chocolate Vice Palette
• Outer V: All Is Lost, in the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette
• Lower Lash Line:
• One More Bar, in the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette
• with a little of Treat, in the Makeup Revolution Chocolate Vice Palette towards the outer corner

Eyeliner:  

• Water Line:  Black Radiance Eye Appeal Kajal Eyeliner in Jet Black
• Wing: Hard Candy Stroke of Gorgeous Eyeliner
• Top Lid: NYC Big Bold & Precise Eyeliner 

Mascara: Wet 'N Wild Max Fanatic Mascara, enhanced with Milani Length in Seconds Lash Extension Fibers on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Woo, that's it! It's gonna be really hard for me to battle my laziness this summer, but now that I have more micellar water and everything, I should be able to keep you guys updated with some looks. Alright, I'm gonna go try to find something to eat; good night!

x Ashlan

 

I'm convinced that y'all hate me.

I really think that, really. I mean, why else would you go flipping through Instagram posts, come across something that is extraordinarily difficult, and immediately think, "Yeah, this is something I want Ashlan to do"? The only explanation is that you hate me, and you want me to stop doing makeup, so I can stop talking and sell all of my stuff on the low-low.

If you haven't guessed it, I got another request.

Well, not technically a request. She didn't ask me to do it; she simply challenged me by saying she could see me doing the look, and my dumb ass took her up on that unspoken challenge, which brings us here, to the look in question:

Photo and look by @pop_of_colour

Really, Reinna? Really? A cut crease? And not just any cut crease, a cut crease with layers and nooks and crannies and secrets and shit. Really? Do you know how hard it is to do a basic ass cut crease on lids a hooded as mine are?! She hates me. She hates me, and so do you, reader, because you're enjoying this. You enjoy my pain.

Here's my little crappy rendition:

And a video. And a comparison shot:

It looks nothing like hers. Nothing. Hers came out looking like some kind of makeup artist goddess, and I look like I'm going to war. But you asked for it, and here it is, so here are the details...if I can explain them right.

BROWS:

Filler: L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer in Dark Brunette

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: I Heart Makeup Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Browbone (?): #5 and #9, in the Morphe 12NB Palette
• Cut Crease Gradient (mapped out by the Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Coffee Bean):
• #12, in the Morphe 12NB Palette
• #7, in the Morphe 12NB Palette
• Space Between Lid and Cut Crease (lmao this is bad): #3, in the Morphe 12NB Palette
• Lid:
• #25, in the BH Cosmetics Blushed Neutrals Palette, with Vogue, in the Makeup Revolution New-trals vs Neutrals Palette over top
• Lower Lash Line: #12, in the Morphe 12NB Palette

Eyeliner:  

• Wing: MUA Professional Dual Ended Cat Eye Liner in Midnight Black
• Top Lid: NYC Big Bold & Precise Liner

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Butterfly Intenza Midnight Black

I'm tired of y'all. I'm not any of y'all's friends anymore, I hope you know that. Most importantly I'm not friends with myself for taking on this challenge in the first place. I'll see you later, though; I'll see you later.

x Ashlan

If you ever, even for a second, thought that I was a professional...

This is the post to prove otherwise.

Hello, people. This is just me, coming to you with another unplanned post. I've been on a writing spree as of late, and so my blog posts have been lacking because of it, but it was requested of me by She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named to do a look and a blog post. She had no specific requests, outside of a certain color; she just wanted something to read, and what did I do? I put my pen and notebook down, and I started smearing shit on my face.

That's just the kind of gal I am.

Plus I had been kind of itching to get my hands dirty with this bad boy right here:

Behold, the 35D.

I have never been a very lucky person, but somehow Jesus was smiling down on me and I managed to win a giveaway, the prize of which being any Morphe palette of my choosing, so long as it is in stock (because everybody and their mama knows that the damn 35O is never in stock). I had already ordered two of the 12 pan palettes, and my sights were set on the 35D palette to buy next, and I didn't have to! So thanks again to @espoirdeamour for her giveaway, and for somehow choosing me to win it! Hopefully I will not let you down.

Which brings me to the look of the day.

And a video!

So clearly I went apeshit with this palette and a slew of other colors, and in the least professional way, I think. It feels a little bit messy, but I like the color combination, and since I never went to school for this (nor do I plan to), I can't really complain! Here are some details for you.

BROWS:

Filler: L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer in Dark Brunette

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: #3, in the E.L.F. Mad For Matte Palette
• Crease: #4, in the Morphe 35D Palette, with #21 in the same palette over top
• Lid (Gradient from outer corners to the center of the lid, on both sides):
• #10, in the Morphe 35D Palette
• #9, in the Morphe 35D Palette
• #12, in the Morphe 35D Palette
• #31, in the Morphe 35D Palette
• Inner Corner: #1, in the BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes Palette, with the Wet 'N Wild ColorIcon Single Eyeshadow in Spiked over top
• Lower Lash Line (Gradient from outer corner to inner corner):
• #6, in the Morphe 35D Palette, with the Wet 'N Wild ColorIcon Single Eyeshadow in Binge over top
• #6, in the E.L.F. Sunset Prism Palette
• #1, in the Morphe 35D Palette
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Gold

Eyeliner: NYC Big Bold & Precise Liner in Black

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Millions Lashes Carbon Black

As much of a mess as I feel this is, I like this mess! It was fun to play around with the daring colors in the 35D palette, and to mix some concepts together in the same look, and I enjoyed the challenge. I hope you enjoyed reading about it! Alright now I'm gonna try to make some shrimp alfredo and write some more; wish me luck!

x Ashlan

May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor.

...I think that's how it goes.

Okay, show of hands: how many of us have read/seen the Hunger Games books/movies? I got on the bandwagon a little late (I didn't even realize that there were books until the first movie showed up), but I've read and seen everything. If you have as well (or have at least seen the movies), then you know a little something about the Capitol, and you know a little something about the Capitol's fashion sense.

The Capitol is a hot ass mess.

It's like old school Nicki Minaj, George Clinton and the Jetsons rolled into one, if you can imagine that. Everything is colorful, asymmetrical and oddly shaped, and just about nothing matches. That included the tributes for the Hunger Games; well, except for District 12, of course; Cinna wasn't going to let it go down like that, and I wouldn't either. I mean, you're already going to your death, hypothetically speaking; I'm going to need you to not look like Boo Boo the Fool whilst you do it.

Anyway, when I started playing around with makeup today, making use of the new Ruby Kisses Customizable palette I put together (Firefox keeps telling me that Customizable isn't a word, but we're just going to roll with it; y'all know what I mean), and when I finished the look, the first thing I thought of was that damn Capitol. But not, you know, the hot ass mess half; I mean the Cinna-Portia-Katniss-Peeta corner of the Capitol, where things matched and actually looked good. 

And a video, of course.

Can't you hear the anthem playing? Doesn't it give you the willies? Those people in the Capitol needed help. Anyway, here's what I used!

BROWS:

Filler: Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Lavish Brown

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: #3, in the L'Oreal La Palette Nude 1, followed by #5, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette
• Crease: #6, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette
• Lid (Gradient from outer corners to the center of the lid, on both sides):
• Midnight Howling, in my Ruby Kisses Luxe Colour Customizable Palette
• #13, in the Makeup Revolution Mermaids Forever Palette
• Tropical Paradise, in my Ruby Kisses Luxe Colour Customizable Palette, with a little bit of Ice Cloud, in the Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette over top
• Inner Corner: the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Chiffon, with a little it of Ice Cloud, in the Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette over top
• Lower Lash Line (Gradient from darkest [outer corner] to lightest [inner corner]):
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Copper
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Gold
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Chiffon

Eyeliner:  

• Water Line:  Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Blue Devine

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Butterfly Intenza Midnight Black on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

 

Alright, there you have it! The first original look that I've done in about a week or so, I think. I'm really feeling these RK eyeshadows, and considering the price (FIFTY NINE CENTS EACH) I think they're phenomenal. Okay, that's it! It's pretty early in the evening, so I'm going to make the most of it and write my butt off! Later!

x Ashlan

The ColourPop Challenge

Hello!

There's nothing really going on for me to report today. Went to class, took my grandmother to the grocery store (groceries for me woot woot), wrote a little bit (I need to be writing now, actually), and fried some chicken. But I didn't want the day to go by without some makeup done! I was scrolling through my makeup folder, looking for a recreation, and I found this:

Picture and look by @thaeyeballqueen

 Here's my rendition of it:

And a comparison shot:

Le video.

They honestly look nothing alike, but that's okay! I was pleased with the color combination; you would think that there's only so many ways that you can do a damn rainbow look, but you always end up finding one that's different!

As I was picking out palettes and things to use for this look, I found myself going...okay, this ColourPop color...and this one...ooh, and this one...and then I realized that I could probably do this entire look with almost nothing but ColourPop shadows, and that's exactly what I attempted to do, and if any of you know anything about ColourPop, you know that, as beautifully and uniquely textured as those shadows are, they are a pain in the ass to work with. This is why this is called the ColourPop Challenge! Details!

BROWS:

Filler: Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Lavish Brown

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: #29, in the Morphe 35P Palette, followed by #11, in the same palette
• Crease: #33, in the Morphe 35P Palette
• Lid: 
• Inner Third: the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Get Lucky
• Transition Between Inner and Outer Thirds: the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Game Face
• Outer Third: the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Porter
• Outer V: #5, in the Morphe 35P Palette
• Inner Corner: the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Puppy Love
• Lower Lash Line (Gradient from darkest [outer corner] to lightest [inner corner]):
• the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Coconut
• the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Ibiza
• the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Empire
• Greenwich Village, in my Ruby Kisses Luxe Colour Customizable Palette
• the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Get Lucky
• the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Puppy Love

Eyeliner:  

• Wing: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Graphic Marker Eyeliner
• Top Lid: NYC Big Bold & Precise Felt Tip Liner
• Water Line: L.A. Girl Gel Glide Liner in Very Black

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Butterfly Intenza Midnight Black on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Mission accomplished! It took some brushes, some sponge applicators and my fingers, but I managed to do a look with a majority of ColourPop eyeshadows! Alright, time for me to go write some more; later!

x Ashlan

The Recreation From Hell

To be quite honest with you, when I started this whole look, the only thing that I thought was going to be notable about it was the fact that I actually used an eyeliner as my brow product.

So apparently I'm taking requests now. It all started with one of my IG besties Emily, who requested some pink and some yellow from me the other day, and just yesterday I got a request from one of my coworkers, to do this shit.

Look and video by @elena_sinyak

When I first saw it, all I though twas ooh, how pretty! And the excitement was real...until I actually sat down at my vanity to do it. I spent a good five minutes just staring at the picture, and staring at myself, and wondering how the hell I was going to pull it off, because not only is this a lot of color, this is a lot of blue, and the model on which the look was done has a completely different eye shape from me; as you can see, her eyes aren't hooded, and the tops of my eyelids rarely ever see the light of day. I told myself that I couldn't exactly recreate it, but I could finesse it, and that's what I did, and here we go:

Here's a comparison shot for you:

Le video.

 

Can you see the difference in eye shape? This would have been just about impossible to actually duplicate, but I think I got a similar vibe going on. Honestly, doing the makeup was probably the easy part; the hard part is how I'm going to try to explain what I used and where. Buckle up!

BROWS:

Filler: Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Lavish Brown

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows (Jesus here we go):

• Transition
• Base Transition: #3, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette, with Earth, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette closer to the crease (though you can't see it)
• Inner Transition: the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Rouge, with a layer of the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Purple, and a layer of Expert, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless 2 Palette over top
• Outer Transition: a mix of the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Purple, and the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Lace

• That Funky Eyeshadow "Wing": New Rules, in the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2 Palette as a base, with the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Etiquette over top, and a little of #21, in the Makeup Revolution Mermaids Forever Palette over top to make it interesting (like this wasn't interesting enough, I need to sit down) 

• Crease: 
• Inner Crease: #6, in the Wet 'N Wild QuartzCenter Studio Eyeshadow Palette
• Outer Crease: New Rules, in the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2 Palette

• Lid (Gradient from lightest [inner corner] to darkest [outer corner]): 
•  Earth, in the BH Cosmetics Galaxy Chic Palette, with Only, in the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2 Palette over top, because it was too damn blue
• the KIKO Water Eyeshadow in #208
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Rouge
• #5, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette
• #6, in the Wet 'N Wild QuartzCenter Studio Eyeshadow Palette

•  Inner Corner: Ice Cloud, in the Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette
•  Lower Lash Line (Gradient from lightest [inner corner] to darkest [outer corner]): 
• the KIKO Water Eyeshadow in #208
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Copper
• a blend of New Rules, in the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2 Palette, and the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Etiquette

Eyeliner:  

• Water Line: Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Sterling Blue

Mascara: L'Oreal Butterfly Intenza Midnight Black on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

I'M TIRED! I'M SO TIRED MY SHOULDERS HURT AND I JUST WANT TO EAT A SANDWICH AND DRINK JUICE THIS WORE ME OUT! HAVE A GOOD DAMN NIGHT!

X ASHLAN

Overdrafts and Broken iPod Screens

Today should've been a sucky day. For all intents and purposes, I should be highly upset. I dropped my iPod at work today and turned it into a shattered mess, and my credit card decided to take my payment late as hell, which resulted in me overdrafting (like I said before, this was not my big check lol I'm a poor college student). But I have a warranty on the iPod, and I can only blame myself for the overdrafting (if I hadn't have gone apeshit at the drugstore and beauty supply on Friday, I wouldn't have overdrafted in the first place!), so I'm really not all that upset! There are more important things to be concerned with, like...makeup!

I was just going to do a recreation today; just pick something out of my folder and do an eyes only post, because I'm kinda used to blogging by now (which is really shocking to me, because I've never been able to keep up with a journal, let alone a blog) and I wanted to post something, that's until I went on Instagram today and saw this, by another of my IG besties:

Look and post by the fabulous @louloulovesbeauty, who is eternally serving looks, honey.

Look at that! Look at that shit! Is that not the most amazing blending you've ever seen in your life?? It literally looks like the ocean! And she had the nerve to say it didn't look tropical; I almost cussed her out!

Anyway, her attempt at color, and tropical vibes, and the fact that she called my ass out as inspiration on the Instagram post, drove me to the conclusion that I couldn't let this day go by without attempting to show people exactly why she gave me a shout out in the first place. She said she had some yellow/green/blue in mind when she started (and clearly Ms. Purple had some feelings about that), so I thought that I would attempt to salvage some of the idea that she had, and put a little BSB spin on it; at least, I think it's a spin - I had no idea of what she really had in mind in the first place. Anyway, I digress; here's my look:

Ta-damn-da!

This was a challenge and a half, honey! But it was so much fun to do! And, of course, it took a few products to execute, which always makes it that much better! Okay, okay, details! 

Oh, shit, the video. Okay, now the details!

BROWS:

Filler: L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Pencil in Dark Brunette

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: Rust, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette, with #4, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette closer to the crease
• (Crease: #5, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette
• Lid (Gradient from lightest [inner corner] to darkest [outer corner]): 
•  #19, in the BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes Palette
• Golden Radiance, in my Ruby Kisses Luxe Colour Customizable Palette
• Greenwich Village, in my Ruby Kisses Luxe Colour Customizable Palette
• the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Ibiza
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Teal
• the ColourPop SuperShock Eyeshadow in Etiquette

Eyeliner:  

• Top Lid/Wing: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Graphic Marker Eyeliner
• Water Line: Jordana Cosmetics Easyliner Eyeliner in Tantalizing Teal, and then Blue Devine at the outer corners
   

This was an eyes only look, because I'm lazy! Anyway, like I said, this was such a fun look to do, and so ridiculously affordable that I want to slap somebody; the RK shadows weren't even a dollar, you guys. No palette that I used today was even $15, so hopefully you get a chance to recreate it yourself, if you're interested! Anyway, thanks again to my IG bestie Louloulovesbeauty, and I'll see y'all later; it's time to make some Hamburger Helper. Later!

xAshlan

I was supposed to do a One Palette Wonder look today.

That's what I had decided to do when I did the Aubergine Peacock yesterday, but when I sat down to start playing in some makeup, I decided to scroll through my makeup folder instead, and any time I scroll through that folder, there is a 175% guarantee that I will use at least four palettes to get a look done, and today was no different. Let's start with the look that I was trying to recreate:

Look by @georgiarosex; Picture screenshot from @espacio.chic

And here's my rendition of it:

A closeup on the eyes:

And le comparison shot:

 In case you haven't noticed, I don't like doing full eyeliner; I like to cheat it.

It didn't come out exactly like the image that I was recreating, but I love it regardless, and I feel a little happy that I was able to put some originality into it as well; I knew it wasn't going to be the same when I saw that this look has glitter, and I ain't go no glitter. Oh, here's a video. I liked it so much that I took a bunch of full face shots, and the remembered that I didn't do my entire face lmao. But anyway, it was fun, and it took about six palettes and a couple of singles, so let's do some details!

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: #4, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette
• Crease: #12, in the Makeup Revolution Affirmation Palette, with Unclad, in the Ruby Kisses Better NAKED Palette to deepen and define the crease a little
• Lid (okay, this is where shit gets complicated):  
• Overall: 
• Primed again with the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
• Then a layer of #4, in the Wet 'N Wild Comfort Zone Palette
• with #12, in the BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes Palette over top to warm that green up a little
• Outer Half: #2, in the BH Cosmetics Missy Lynn Palette, with #8, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette over top to make it a little more rich
• Outer V: #28, in the Makeup Revolution Affirmation Palette
• Inner Corner: the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Chiffon, with Bella Gold as a small transition between the lid color and the inner corner highlight
• Lower Lash Line (Gradient from darkest [outer corner] to lightest [inner corner]:
• #12, in the Makeup Revolution Affirmation Palette, with a little of Unclad, in the Ruby Kisses Better NAKED Palette right at the lash line
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Gold
• the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Chiffon, with a little of the ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Fringe over top to take the place of the missing glitter

Liner:  

• Wing sketched first with #32, in the Makeup Revolution Affirmation Palette (but any black eyeshadow will work)
• Wing: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Felt Tip Liner in Black
• Water Line: Maybelline Master Kajal Liner in Onyx Rush

Mascara: Base coat of Wet 'N Wild PhotoFocus Lash Primer, with L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes, enhanced by Milani Length in Seconds Lash Extension Fibers, and topped off with a littel L'Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes just to be extra as hell.

Again, this was really fun, and I felt super uber sexy when it was finished, and if you try this one out (just do like I do and work with what colors you have; you don't have to have these), then I hope you feel sexy too! Okay, first day of my "flexible dieting" down, and nothing was bought! Have a good night!

x Ashlan

No Makeup March: Day 9

Hey! It's early as hell for me!

I usually don't come to you guys until well into the evening with a blog post because I put it off until then, not gonna lie, but I got bored very early this morning (around 1 a.m.) and since that technically still counts as March 9th, I'm coming to you with what I did today! I had originally thought that I wasn't going to touch a morsel of makeup yesterday because of how hectic yesterday was for me, but I ended up getting a second wind in the middle of the night and decided, hey, I'm going to play around with some palettes that I have yet to use. Which resulted in this!

 Sigh...my eyebrows, you guys. I'm going to have to invest in a brow gel real soon. 

I don't know what I was doing when I sat down at my vanity area (do I ever?) but I was in the mood for some purple, and some affordable, beauty supply stuff, and this is what I got! The video I posted of it on Instagram last night better documents the fanciful beauty of this look, that my regular camera can never seem to capture, so check that out. Alright, you know what's next!

PRIMER: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

BROWBONE: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

BASE: the Sculpt powder from the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

SHADOWS:

• Transition: #16, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette
• Crease: Rocky, in the Sephora Overcast Filter Eyeshadow Palette, with #8, in the L.A. Girl Ultra Beauty Brick over top , and #9 in the L.A. Girl Ultra Beauty Brick in the definitive line of the crease
• Lid:
• Overall: #11, in the L.A. Girl Ultra Beauty Brick
• Outer V: #11, in the L.A. Girl Nudes Beauty Brick
• Inner Corner: #2, in the L.A. Girl Ultra Beauty Brick
• Definer and "Liner": #7, in the Wet 'N Wild QuartzCenter Studio Eyeshadow Palette
• Lower Lash Line:  
• Outer: #16 in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette, with #11 in the L.A. Girl Nudes Beauty Brick over top
• Inner: #2, in the L.A. Girl Ultra Beauty Brick

LINER:

Milani Supreme Kohl Kajal liner in Blackest Black

Water Line: Black Radiance Eye Appeal Retractable Pencil in Beautiful

MASCARA: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Midnight Black

I don't know about y'all but I was getting my Arabian Nights life with this look and I loved it, loved it, loved it. I think purple is such a regal color for us beautifully brown honeys and I wish that I had somewhere to go to show off that queenly look! I've also noticed that I do eyeshadow eyeliner wings sooo much better than regular eyeliner, so I might have to do that more often. Anyway, let me stop rambling and let you get on with your lives for the day. Thanks for stopping by!

x Ashlan

 

No Makeup March: Day 7

Yes, that's right, I've failed you. I bought makeup. Barely a week has gone by of March, and I've bought makeup.

But I didn't buy it just for the hell of it, mind you. I needed another lightning cable for my iPod (and was not in the market to pay $10-$15 for one), and the only place that I can find a charging cable for a good, cheap price that actually works at my local beauty supply. Now, before I went to the beauty supply, I searched high and low for a cable that was affordable for me this week, that was not in the vicinity of makeup; I tried my job, Big Lots and the dollar store before I gave up and drove myself to the beauty supply. "You still didn't have to buy any makeup," you say? This is true, if I would've had cash. But I didn't; I almost never have cash on me, and this time was no different, and the store had a $10 minimum charge for card payments. "Why didn't you just get another cord or something," you say now? I did! I actually got a lightning cable and a USB cable as a backup for my phone, and still wasn't at the minimum, so I did the only thing that I could do; I bought makeup. "You could've gotten a hair product"; that's true, if the hair products that I actually use weren't all at least $10 in the expensive ass beauty supply store; I thought about all of this, my friends, and it had to be this. Makeup is cheap in the beauty supply, and I just needed something to tip me over, so very briefly perused the makeup aisles and grabbed the first thing I didn't feel silly buying: a $6 eyeshadow palette.

the KleanColor Warm Neutrals palette

There was a Classic Neutrals or Classic Nudes palette there too, but I have so many nude eyeshadows, and this one reminded me very vaguely of the color range of the Morphe 350 palette that everyone won't shut up about, so I grabbed it, got my cables, and proceed to feel like a failure. I bought something I barely wanted, and I failed my no buy month for nothing! That's how I felt, until I opened it...and swatched it.

Keep in mind that this is a $6 palette from the beauty supply store, where there are several diamonds in the rough, but, when it comes to eyeshadow, there are more misses than hits. Almost all of the shadows were shimmery, but I love shimmer eyeshadow, and the matte shadows were still pigmented and soft to apply when I swatched it. So, I decided that maybe it wasn't a complete failure, and told myself that, if I had the damn thing, I might as well try it out, right? Here we go:

Peep them lashes.

I wanted to try out a summery, sun kissed goddess from El Dorado or something, and this is what I came up with; the flash on the camera washes out the color a little bit, but if you check out this video, I think you'll get a better idea of the actual color payoff, which was pretty damn good.

DETAILS!

PRIMER: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

BROWBONE: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

BASE: the Sculpt powder from the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

SHADOWS:

• Transition:#2, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette
• Crease:  #6, in the Makeup Revolution Mattes Palette
• Lid:
• Center: #18, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette, with #13 from the same palette over top
• Inner and Outer Thirds: #6, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette, with #5 from the same palette over top
• Very Very Outer V: #7, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette
• Inner Corner: #17, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette
• Lower Lash Line:  
• Outer: #6 in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette, with just a little of #6 in the Makeup Revolution Mattes Palette to smoke it out a bit
• Inner: #18, in the Kleancolor Warm Neutrals Palette

  Since I only used the MUR palette for a little touch of matte, I'm still counting this as a One Palette Wonder

MASCARA: L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes

Though I'm bummed that I broke my no buy vow, I'm pleased with this palette for the price, and look forward to using it in the future. Also, the challenge is still on! I'd like to think that one day out of 31 isn't a complete and total failure. 

Later!

x Ashlan

No Makeup March: Day 2

March is really trying me, y'all.

Today was just a stressful day in general; between work and school, and getting a B on a paper (I've been trained not to see B's as a good thing), and just living life while Black in general, I just wanted to brood, so I turned off the lights, actually blew out my candle, and laid in bed for an unknown amount of time. And then it hit me: I should treat myself to some makeup.

Not buying makeup, of course (though it was hard as hell to walk past the makeup aisles at Walmart without stopping to look), but playing in it. I've already said that this was going to be the best way for me to get through this fast of mine, so why not channel my general moodiness into it? Which brings me to this look:

Image and look by @giuliannaa

 And here is my affordable version of it:

And a comparison shot for you:

I mean, I look like a sleepy cow, but you get the idea.

This was a serious challenge for me (again), because I've never truly done a smoky eye before, and I was a little afraid of the black eyeshadow, I'm not even going to lie to you. And of course, on my skin color, a lot of the smokiness of the look gets muted, and I didn't want to add too much because I didn't want to look like somebody had punched me in the eye. But the blue I love, and it made me feel better, so let's get into these details!

PRIMER: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

BASE: the Sculpt powder from the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

SHADOWS:

• Browbone: a blend of Flower Child and Smarty Pants in the Tarte Tartelette 2 In Bloom palette
• Smoky Transition (gradient from light to dark):
•  Unconditional, in the LORAC Unzipped Palette
• #6, in the L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude 2
• Unclad, in the Ruby Kisses Better NAKED Palette
• #10, in the Wet 'N Wild Au Naturel Nude Awakening Palette
• Lid:
• ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Coconut as the base
• with #7, in the Makeup Revolution Unicorns Unite Palette
• Lower Lash Line: *the same gradient for the smoky transition*

LINER: 

• Top lid: Rimmel London ScandalEyes Gel Liner in Black
• Water line: Milani Supreme Kohl Kajal Liner

MASCARA: L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Midnight Black, enhanced with Milani Length in Seconds Lash Extension Fibers

Considering how lazy I am, I think I like doing these eyes-only types of looks for you guys (I literally only did half of my face). You'll probably be seeing mor elooks like this in the future, especially if I'm going to be using makeup as a tool to keep me from buying makeup. I hope you like it!

x Ashlan