I have been on a journey.

Technically, the journey hasn't ended; if anything it's just begun, but that's some kind of philosophical thinking. Literally, I've been on a journey. An eighteen hour journey to the other side of the world, which I mentioned to you before. I'm in Korea!

South Korea, not North Korea. I don't know why people always ask me that when I tell them.

I hit the ground running as soon as I got here and went to work to get acquainted with my kids and everything for the past two days, and when I wasn't at work I was in full blown domestic mode, buying brooms and laundry detergent and unpacking and such. It's honestly my favorite pastime, and my list of things to get for my new home hasn't gotten any shorter.

I was so worried that I would hate it when I got here, and that I would be unhappy and stuck for at least a year in an unhappy environment. When I went to visit Seoul last year, I was in such an unfriendly environment. Rather than being treated like any other person, it really felt like people were looking through me, like I was insignificant, and I honestly hated it. I said when I tried to get a job in Korea, I definitely wouldn't try for Seoul, which is why I applied to a position in Busan; it seemed to have all of the city, without the unfriendly city mentality, and so far my assumption has been accurate. With the exception of being one of the only brown skinned foreigners within a 100 mile radius, people really treat me like any other person when I'm out on the street, and I'm eternally grateful for that small blessing. Am I still foreign? Absolutely. Am I still afraid to go to the supermarket? Definitely. Will I have to go? Probably today. All in all, so far it has been a pleasant experience. I only had two kids scream when they saw me, and one of them has already warmed up to me, a little at least. Some of them actually think I'm pretty! I've heard jinjja yeppeo (really pretty), which I actually (and surprisingly) understood, but the director took it upon herself to tell me what they said anyway. So far I've been generally received as pretty in Korea, which I must say is a boost for my self esteem, because I was just about invisible in the States lol. Anyway, here's the look that I wore on my very first day at work!

I tried to keep it as simple as I possibly could lol. I skipped out on the eyeliner just in case it was a little too much for my workplace, but on the second day I took the chance and nobody said anything!

FACE:

Primer:

• MAKE UP FOR EVER Mattifying Primer and H&M Mattifying Primer on my oily areas, set with the ELF HD Powder
• I think I forgot to prime the rest of my face!

 Concealer:

• E.L.F. Orange Concealer Stick under the Makeup Revolution Conceal + Define Concealer in C13 on my mouth and the shadows on my cheek
• Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in Tan and Caramel under my eyes.

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

• Applied with the Milani Prep + Soothe Camellia Oil, which I have been LOVING, and enhanced by the Nicka K New York Perfection Liquid Illuminator in Bronze under my eyes, and Go With The Glow on my forehead and chin.

Face Powder: Makeup Revolution Terra Cotta Baking Powder

Under Eye Setting Powder: Ben Nye Dolce Powder

 

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

 

EYES:

Primer: Makeup Revolution Conceal + Define Concealer in C13, set with the Ben Nye Dolce Powder

Shadows:

• Transition: Heir and Monarch, in the Bad Habit Royals Palette
• Crease: Smolder, in the Bad Habit Inferno Palette
• Lid: Revolution, in the Bad Habit Retro Love Palette, and Crown, in the Bad Habit Royals Palette
• Lower Lash Line: Heir and Monarch, in the Bad Habit Royals Palette

 

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara on the top lashes, Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

 

CONTOUR:

Ruby Kisses Never Touch Up Matte Finish Powder Foundation in Chestnut

 

HIGHLIGHT:

The BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz

 

BLUSH:

Yara, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan Blush Palette Vol II

LIPS:

Milani Amore Shine Lip Gloss in Tenderness

 

 

Okay, that's it for me right now! I take over the classes on Tuesday/Wednesday and I'm scared out of my wits! If I don't die of sheer terror I'll check back in.

x Ashlan

This blog is about to change

Okay, maybe not drastically change. Let me start from the beginning, and give you guys a life update of sorts.

As you guys know (I think), I moved back home to Houston after some issues with Japanese grad school and being rejected for a job in Japan, etc. Originally, I was going to wait a year, work from my hometown, and get my TEFL certificate before I tried to apply for a job in South Korea. 

Yeah, that's not how it happened.

I have a couple of friends who all of a sudden popped up with teaching jobs in Korea, and I decided "screw this, I'm going to apply without the certificate". I signed up for a recruiting agency, and within a couple of weeks, I was successfully placed in a teaching position at a private school in Busan, South Korea. As per usual with EFL jobs in South Korea, I get a decent check, a rent free apartment and healthcare, and I couldn't be more excited or grateful. I ship off on April 30th to start a new life, which is where the blog change comes in.

If you know nothing else about South Korea, then know this: there ain't no makeup for Black girls in South Korea. It's a homogeneous country, granted, so all foundations, concealers, blushes, lipsticks, etc are geared to the Korean woman. That's understandable; I'm not one of those women who will go to a homogeneous country and bitch and moan because they don't have products available in my shade; unlike the United States, they don't have a market for those things. But, with that being said, I won't be able to buy many things while I'm living there, with the exception of skin care, (some) hair products, and non-complexion based makeup (e.g. eyeliner, mascara, maybe lip gloss). I will gladly post about these things, but my blog and my YouTube channel, if I ever decided to do it consistently, will be limited on content. So, I decided for the blog at least, to incorporate my experience living in South Korea, and giving information about social and racial encounters, what "hair masks" work for natural hair, where to find plus sized clothing, etc. The other day I was googling for blogs about Black girls in South Korea, and found maybe two actual blogs; everyone else just wants to vlog about it, and I'm not a vlogger by a long shot. I figured I could use this small platform to provide information to girls like me, who need the information but don't necessarily want to watch a video about it. So! That's the update! Also, here's a look for you, just because I haven't posted in forever.

FACE:

Primer:

• NYX Angel Veil Primer on the right cheek and my nose
• H&M Mattifying Primer on the left cheek and my forehead
• Both set with the ELF HD Powder

 Concealer:

• E.L.F. Orange Concealer Stick under the Makeup Revolution Conceal + Define Concealer in C13 on my mouth and the shadows on my cheek
• Kiss New York Extreme Camouflage Cream in Rich Beige under my eyes.

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

• Applied with a fake version of the Farsali Rose Gold Elixir, and enhanced by the Wet N Wild Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter in Goddess Glow under my eyes, and Go With The Glow on my forehead and chin.

Face Powder: Makeup Revolution Terra Cotta Baking Powder

Under Eye Setting Powder: Ben Nye Dolce Powder

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

Browbone Highlight: ColourPop No Filter Concealer in Deep Golden

 

EYES:

Primer: Makeup Revolution Conceal + Define Concealer in C13, set with the Ben Nye Dolce Powder

Shadows:

• Transition: Admire and Passion, in the Bad Habit Aphrodite Palette
• Lid: Eclipse, in the Bad Habit Solstice Palette, on the inner and outer corners, with Chefchaouen, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan II Palette on the center, topped with Surreal, in the Bad Habit Dreamstate Palette
• Lower Lash Line: Passion, in the Bad Habit Aphrodite Palette
• Inner Corner: Blur and Muse, in the Bad Habit Dreamstate Palette

 

Eyeliner: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Graphic Marker Eyeliner
Mascara: Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Lashes: Kiss Lash Couture 5th Avenue Lashes in Lavish

CONTOUR:

Ruby Kisses 3D Contour Palette in Medium Dark

HIGHLIGHT:

Nude Beach and Tan Lines, in the Bad Habit Oasis Highlighting Kit

BLUSH:

Yara, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan Blush Palette Vol II

LIPS:

Milani Amore Shine Lip Gloss in Tenderness

Okay, that's enough rambling for today. I hope that something will suit you in the posts to come, and I look forward to taking you along on this new journey!

x Ashlan

I'm late for Mardi Gras too?! (starring Juvia's Place)

I could've sworn that Mardi Gras was in March sometime.

To be fair, I never really get the opportunity to celebrate Mardi Gras. The only memories I have of Mardi Gras are childhood ones, which involved eating King cake and being paranoid about accidentally swallowing the baby Jesus, and going to New Orleans with my half Cajun, half Southern family and walking down Bourbon Street (in the daytime, of course), eating beignets in the French Quarter, walking through the winter wonderland of the Fairmont Hotel, and finding the most hilariously lewd necklaces and T-Shirts in the souvenir shops. I haven't stepped foot in New Orleans in almost twenty years, so it's pretty natural for me to have no idea of when Mardi Gras is, but I might have to rectify that before I make any plans to move out of the country. Either way, I digress; don't be mad at me. Here's a look!

And some over exposed Snapchat-filtered pictures

I'm late as hell for Mardi Gras but I'm in love with this look! I was worried it would be too gaudy and I got a little intimidated around the time I started applied the first green, but it came out so much better than I could have imagined! Here's the details:

FACE:

Primer:

• Wet 'N Wild PhotoFocus Matte Face Primer on my T-Zone
• Mac Prep + Prime

 Concealer:

• E.L.F. Orange Concealer Stick under the Tarte Shape Tape in Deep on my mouth and the shadows on my cheek, and the Shape Tape paired with the Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Concealer in Medium/Deep Tan under my eyes.

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

• Applied with a fake version of the Farsali Rose Gold Elixir, and enhanced by the Wet N Wild Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter in Goddess Glow under my eyes, and Go With The Glow on my forehead and chin.

Face Powder: Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Sienna (which, I've realized, makes my face too dark yay! What am I gonna do?!)

Under Eye Setting Powder: Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Setting Powder in Deep

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

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

 

EYES:

Primer: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee

Shadows:

• Transition: Fulani, in the Juvia's Place The Masquerade Palette, topped with the purple shade in the Juvia's Place The Zulu Palette, and a little bit of Haze, in the Bad Habit Beauty Aura Palette on the very edges
• Lid: Makeda, in the Juvia's Place The Masquerade Palette
• Lower Lash Line: Mali, in the Juvia's Place The Masquerade Palette, with Ecstasy, in the Bad Habit Beauty Aura Palette on top of the outer third, and the green shimmer shade in The Zulu Palette on top of the inner third, all kind of smoked out by Egypt, in the Juvia's Place The Nubian II Palette
• Inner Corner: Nairobi, in the Juvia's Place The Nubian II Palette

 

Eyeliner: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Graphic Marker Eyeliner with the Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper to start out that dramatic ass wing
Mascara: Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Lashes: Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink Lashes in Boudoir

CONTOUR:

Ruby Kisses 3D Contour Palette in Medium Dark

HIGHLIGHT:

Casablanca, in the Juvia's Place The Masquerade palette, topped with Nairobi, in the Juvia's Place The Nubian II Palette, with a little bit of Aziza, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan II Palette on top just to be extra

BLUSH:

Yara, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan Blush Palette Vol II

LIPS:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in London

Moral of the story is, when you need a really good colorful look (and apparently a bomb ass multifaceted highlight), Juvia's Place will never steer you wrong. Honestly I don't know why I have highlighters anymore; this highlight completely blew my mind! I've also realized that I've been spoiled by Fix+. I thought that my Kiss NY spray was booty in comparison to Fix+ and my Milani spray, but after using my Milani spray on this look, I realize that, in comparison to Fix+, it's booty too. So now I've been sucked into the void of having to spend $26 on a setting spray, or $12 on the minis. I think I can work with that some kind of way. Thanks for reading!

x Ashlan

Happy belated Valentine's Day?

This is embarrassing.

I said that I was going to do a Valentine's Day post on Valentine's Day; I had done a look in advance and everything. And yet here we are, four days later, you shaking your head at me, me looking pitiful. I'm supposed to be doing better in 2018.

I think the problem is that I did the look in advance for ahem reasons (which is funny because I didn't even use the look for what I wanted to use it for anyway) so there was no urgent need to do the blog post. I should've done the blog post that same day and just saved it, but it's neither here nor there now. 

See, for your forgiveness, I was supposed to give you two looks with details, but I seem to have deleted the details for one of the looks I had done, and therefore can't post it because I haven't the slightest idea of what I used. I'm gonna deactivate this blog after this post.

 

This look still has the whole pinky Valentine's Day-esque vibe going on, so maybe that's not too bad? I don't know; this is a train wreck.

FACE:

Primer:

• Wet 'N Wild PhotoFocus Matte Face Primer on my T-Zone
• Nicka K New York Ultra Smoothing Makeup Primer

 Concealer:

• E.L.F. Orange Concealer Stick under the Tarte Shape Tape in Deep on my mouth, and the Shape Tape paired with the Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Concealer in Medium/Deep Tan under my eyes.

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

• Applied with a fake version of the Farsali Rose Gold Elixir, and enhanced by the Wet N Wild Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter in Goddess Glow under my eyes, and Go With The Glow on my forehead and chin.

Face Powder: Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Sienna

Under Eye Setting Powder: Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Setting Powder in Medium Deep

 

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

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

 

EYES:

Primer: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee

Shadows:

• Transition: Warmth, in the Bad Habit Inferno Palette
• Crease: Hot Spot and Smolder, in the Bad Habit Inferno Palette
• Lid: Burn, in the Bad Habit Inferno Palette, with Ahora, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan II Palette on top
• Lower Lash Line: Hot Spot and Smolder, in the Bad Habit Inferno Palette
• Inner Corner: Marrakesh, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan II Palette

 

Eyeliner: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Graphic Marker Eyeliner
Mascara: Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Lashes: E.L.F. Luxe Lash Kit in Winged & Polished

 

CONTOUR:

Ruby Kisses 3D Contour Palette in Medium Dark

 

HIGHLIGHT:

Tan Lines, in the Bad Habit Oasis Highlight Kit, with Marrakesh, in the Juvia's Place The Saharan II Palette on top

 

BLUSH:

Milani Baked Blush in Rose d'Oro

 
LIPS:

Nicka K New York Lip Gloss in Chocolate Cosmos to act as a liner of sorts (I couldn't find my liner), paired with the Milani Amore Shine Lip Gloss in Foxy Sexy

Honestly I'm surprised you stuck around this long to read the end of this post, but I thank you for it anyway. I promise to be more put together and ready in my next post, which will hopefully be soon!

x Ashlan

Let's talk about Bad Habit.

Hello, welcome back. Grab a s'more and a seat.

So, I'm a sucker for new releases just as bad as any other makeup obsessed person out there. It has taken some real effort me to say "no thanks, I don't really need that" to a lot of new releases that have come out over the past year or so, especially high end products. I've skipped on many a Anastasia Beverly Hills palette, many a foundation, many a highlighter, as much as it has pained me, and while I'm still broke, mind you, I am proud of myself for not cluttering my collection up with stuff too expensive for me to feel like I can play around with on a regular.

However.

This is the age of the dupe, specifically the age of the very obvious dupe. Makeup Revolution has been doing it for years, though their palettes have been a little subtler about their duplicating, but just recently I have discovered the beauty that is Bad Habit Beauty. Bad Habit is the king of the obvious dupe, I'm going to go ahead and claim it right now. They've gone after Natasha Denona, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Urban Decay, Fenty Beauty and, most recently, the little Huda Beauty mini palettes whose names escape me at the moment. But it's one thing for the palettes to just be obvious visual dupes; these palettes are damn near close in quality, as well. Granted, I haven't tried any of the Makeup Revolution Reloaded palettes (though I am dying to, and probably will in the very near future), at this moment in time, based off of the palettes that I have been able to try, I can say that Bad Habit has them and every other lower end brand of makeup beat when it comes to quality in their products. Packaging? Check. Pigmentation? Check check. Smoothness? Check three times. Every palette that I have bought from them has been amazing, and I have purchased many:

From top to bottom, left to right: Retro Love aka the Subculture palette from ABH, Inferno aka UD Naked Heat, Aura aka the Prism palette from ABH, Solstice aka the Sunset palette from ND, Artistry aka the Master Palette by Mario from ABH, the Oasis Highlight Kit aka the 3D Highlighter Palette (Gold Sand Edition) from Huda Beauty, Athena aka the Desert Dusk palette from Huda Beauty

I have yet to be failed when it comes to Bad Habit. I've heard that some people have complaints about the obvious duping of higher end palettes, but I personally find absolutely nothing wrong with it. If the higher end palettes are the best on the market, then they shouldn't be worried about sales; their product should back up their pricing, in my opinion. As for me, I'm a makeup lover on a budget, and I can't afford to drop $50 on one palette, and I'm not in the mood to save up the money for it over weeks, or charge it to a credit card, just to say that I have it. I don't get a chance to wear makeup very much, so it's nice to have cheaper alternatives.

Anyway, I digress. I got the Retro Love, Inferno and Aura palettes yesterday, and here are my swatches:

I thought I was cute today, y'all

I was super really excited with how this came out! It's a little more chocolate raspberry in the crease instead of the deep chocolate that I was going for, but it's a beautiful alternative! I ruined it with a lash mishap, but I'm still really happy with it! And am also really angry with Kiss for changing the style of my favorite lashes. Anyway, details below!

FACE:

Primer:

• HM Mattifying Primer on my T-Zone
• Trust Fund Beauty Gimme Good Face Primer

 Concealer:

• L.A. Girl HD Pro Orange Corrector, Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Concealer in Dark Cocoa on my mouth and under my eyes, Tarte Shape Tape in Deep, as well as Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Concealer in Medium/Deep Tan under my eyes.

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

• Applied with a fake version of the Farsali Rose Gold Elixir, and enhanced by the Wet N Wild Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter in Goddess Glow

Face Powder: Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Sienna

Under Eye Setting Powder: Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Setting Powder in Deep

 

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

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

 

EYES:

Primer: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee

Shadows:

• Transition: Haze, in the Bad Habit Aura Palette
• Crease: Mod and Nostalgia, in the Bad Habit Retro Love Palette
• Lid: Ecstasy, in the Bad Habit Aura Palette, with Icon from the same palette right in the center
• Lower Lash Line: Rock 'N' Roll, in the Bad Habit Retro Love Palette
• Inner Corner: Soul and Phenomenon, in the Bad Habit Aura Palette

 

Eyeliner: Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper
Mascara: Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Lashes: Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink Lashes in Boudoir

 

CONTOUR:

Ruby Kisses 3D Contour Palette in Medium Dark

 

HIGHLIGHT:

Tan Lines and Nude Beach, in the Bad Habit Oasis Highlight Kit

 

BLUSH:

Milani Baked Blush in Rose d'Oro

 
LIPS:

Nicka K New York Lip Gloss in Chocolate Cosmos

Liner: Jordana Easyliner Eyeliner in Coffee Bean

I can already tell that some of these things are going to be featured in my end of the year favorites lol. I'm really happy with these palettes! I've been getting more and more into single jewel toned colors on my lids, and these along with my Juvia's Place palettes are definitely filling in that love for me.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next one!

x Ashlan

Setting sprays are not created the same.

What is this? Another post in the same year? I'm batting a thousand.

Hi again! This post is gonna be really quick because my best friend is making watch half naked men in the pool and I can't really concentrate. I've been playing with makeup a lot these past few days, because I finally replenished my eyelashes, and I wanted to try out a couple of products, namely a foundation whose shade selection was a fail, and, finally, the infamous MAC Fix+. 

 

I've been dying to try things from MAC for the longest time, but could never bring myself to make a purchase. I want to try a foundation from them, but first I figured I would start with the setting sprays; I found the Snowball collection minis online for stupid cheap, and couldn't pass it up! Before I got Fix+ I had been using the Milani Make It Last setting spray which I absolutely love, but I was caught by the bug to try some high end stuff again. I also caught a bug to try a different setting spray, and tried the Kiss New York ProTouch setting spray. Now honestly, I hadn't been paying much attention to the finish of my looks as of late, so I was using the Kiss NY spray with no problem. It wasn't until I tried Fix+ and looked at my faces, and went back and looked at my Milani faces, that I realized something.

The Kiss NY spray is booty.

I did some makeup last night and tried to take pictures of it and my face was hideous; the texture was exaggerated, and it didn't help that I was using the wrong concealer and was practically working in the dark. The only good picture I got from it was this:

Look at how ugly my fingers are lmao

Selfie camera, no detail, all the works; everyone is lucky I didn't put a filter on it. I felt like I had failed as a makeup lover, but after I realized the problems, I was determined to make things right. Which is why, as soon as I got home today, I broke out my mirror and my tools and got to work, and made this!

There are quite a few pictures from this look because I really liked the way it came out. Details details!

FACE:

Primer:

• HM Mattifying Primer on my T-Zone
• Nicka K New York Ultra Smoothing Makeup Primer

 Concealer:

• Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Concealer in Dark Cocoa on my mouth, under my eyes and over the L.A. Girl HD Pro Orange Corrector, as well as Medium/Deep Tan under my eyes.

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

• Applied with the NYX Honey Dew Me Up primer, and enhanced by a fake version of the Iconic Liquid Highlighter in Glow (shout out to Wish)

Face Powder: Laura Mercier Medium Deep Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Under Eye Setting Powder: Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Setting Powder in Deep

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

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

 

EYES:

Primer: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee

Shadows:

• Transition: Equinox, in the Bad Habit Solstice Palette
• Crease: Dusk, in the Bad Habit Solstice Palette
• Lid: Chi, in the Juvia's Place Masquerade Palette, topped with Cleopatra, in the Juvia's Place Nubian 2 Palette
• Lower Lash Line: Casablanca and Cairo, in the Juvia's Place Masquerade Palette
• Inner Corner: Nairobi, in the Juvia's Place Nubian 2 Palette, topped with the Wvrthy Stardust Powder in Eros

 

Eyeliner: Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper
Mascara: Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

Lashes: Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink Lashes in Boudoir

CONTOUR:

Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark on the cheek, with the Stila Stay All Day Contouring Bronzer in Dark on the jaw.

HIGHLIGHT:

The Wvrthy Stardust Powder in Eros, topped with Tan Lines and Nude Beach, in the Bad Habit Oasis Highlight Kit

BLUSH:

Milani Baked Blush in Rose d'Oro

LIPS:

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in London

Liner: Jordana Easyliner Eyeliner in Coffee Bean

Alright, that's it for me tonight! I'll see you in the next one!

x Ashlan

Well, this is awkward.

So it's been almost two years since the last time I posted here, and really the only thing I can say is...my bad?

Let me catch you up to speed, though. I've finally, finally finished my Bachelor's degree in English Literature, and I'm just as broke now as I was when I was in school. I also applied to graduate school in Japan and was accepted, but because of financial issues I won't be able to go; I'm still a little upset about that. I went to entirely too many concerts last year, including one in which I met quite possibly the love of my life? But that sounds pretty delusional so ignore that part. I also went to Japan and South Korea this past summer, and had the absolute time of my life, and I'm still upset that I'm not there to this day. I tried to get a job teaching English in Japan (which you would think would be easy enough to get considering I have a degree...in English) but got rejected twice, so that's a no go for me right now. All hope isn't lost, though, I suppose; I'm going to try and shoot for a teaching job in South Korea in maybe a year or so, so we'll see what the universe has in store for me then!

At the moment I'm currently in South Florida, but I won't be here for long; unfortunately I have to go back home, again, and indefinitely this time, because my best friend was actually offered a job to teach in Japan with the company that rejected me, so she'll be out of the country, and I'll be all by my lonesome. Which, coincidentally, was what got me started with makeup the first time around, when she went to Japan to study abroad (another opportunity I missed lol). I'm pretty excited for that, if nothing else (things are pretty bad at home); I'm hoping to be able to get back into makeup like I was before I graduated, and maybe make my YouTube channel a little more active as well. But in the meantime, I have a look for you!

My best friend was feeling under the weather, and I was off from work today, so I decided to play in some makeup while she rested. Of course, I've accumulated a lot of products and methods and adopted them into my routine in the last two years, but I wanted to make this one a face of products that I don't use very often, which, of course, was a mistake.

The contour I used (which I had never before opened, funny enough), was too light and therefore looked ashy on my face in the absence of natural sunlight, and the blackened brown shadow that I tried to use in the Laura Mercier Editorial Eyes Palette was congealed or old or something, because it refused to move after I placed it in my crease, which led me to add another black in my crease, which resulted in the glob of black you see above. I was annoyed and embarrassed, and at the same time pleased with the way my overall face looked; if I could just keep my head turned a certain way, the black globs aren't as noticeable. Here come the details! Let me use this post to showcase to you the products I now use; I'll be sure to indicate which ones were the fails scarcely used stuff.

FACE:

Primer:

• HM Mattifying Primer on my T-Zone
• Nicka K New York Ultra Smoothing Makeup Primer

 Concealer:

• Tarte Shape Tape Concealer in Deep under the eyes and foundation, over L.A. Girl HD Pro Orange Corrector.
  
• Just so that we're all on the same accord, Tarte is officially cancelled, of course, but I do have a tube of $27 concealer in my possession that I can't return, and therefore will use until it's gone.
• Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Concealer in Dark Cocoa on my mouth and mustache lol, and Medium/Deep Tan on top of the Tarte under my eyes in small amounts

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey (Wow, even after two years this hasn't changed)

• *Applied with a fake version of the Farsali Rose Gold Elixir  on my sponge, and enhanced by the Wet N Wild Hello Halo Liquid Highlighter in Go With The Glow

Face Powder: Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Sienna

Under Eye Setting Powder: Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Setting Powder in Deep

BROWS:

Outline: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Filler: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Dark

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

 

EYES:

Primer: Milani Eyeshadow Primer, set with the Nicka K New York Duo Contour in NDO08

Shadows:

• Transition: Aria and Tuscany, in the Bad Habit Artistry Palette
• Crease: the blackened brown in the Laura Mercier Editorial Eyes Palette, along with Anarchy, in the Face Candy Wild Palette
• Lid:
• Overall: Frida, topped with Daphne, with just a little of Siren at the outer V, from the Artistry Palette
  
• Lower Lash Line: 
• Aria and Laurel, in the Artistry Palette

 

Eyeliner: Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper
Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

CONTOUR:

Nicka K New York Duo Contour in NDO08

HIGHLIGHT:

Tan Lines and Nude Beach, in the Bad Habit Oasis Highlight Kit

BLUSH:

IMAN Cosmetics Sheer Finish Bronzer in Afterglow

LIPS:

Nicka K New York Lip Color in Chocolate Cosmos on the very corners of my mouth, topped all over with the ColourPop Ultra Glossy Lip in Weho

Liner: Jordana Easyliner Eyeliner in Coffee Bean

Phew! It's been a while since I've done that, clearly. It's interesting to see what has and hasn't changed in the past two years. My methods and techniques have definitely come a long way, if I do say so myself. It sucks that my first post after such a long hiatus had a flub in the eyeshadow, but we all know I'm not a professional! Regardless, I'll do my absolute best to keep coming back regularly, if you were actually waiting for me to start this up again!

Thank you for coming back, and thank you for reading!

x Ashlan