TARTE-CARRIED AWAY COLLECTOR'S SET

I love this time of year for shopping becuase there are so many good deals out there. I was in Sephora a while ago and I purchased the TARTE CARRIED AWAY COLLECTOR'S SET. I wanted to use the entire set before blogging about it...AND THAT TOOK A LONG WHILE! The set contains 36 eyeshadows, 8 maracuja lip glosses, 1 amazonian clay 12-hour blush in "Adventurous," 1 amazonian clay finishing powder, 1 travel size mascara and, 1 domed brush.

I ABSOLUTELY loved the eyeshadows in this set. There is a collection of both matte and shimmery shadows in a veriety of shades. The texture of the shadows is almost creamy, they are so soft and have a good color payoff. While there are other palettes ot there that have BETTER color pay off, I was no disappointed with these shadows.

I have to be honest and state that I have never tried the TARTE lip glosses before so I was a bit worried about the formula when I purchased the set. I cannot stand lip glosses that are too sticky, which is why I usually wear lipstick or lip stains. I was plesantly suprised that these lip glosses had a smooth, and VERY PIGMENTED, formula. I found that all of the colors are very wearable.

The clay finishing powder was nice to have but I dont really get much use out of it. The mascara was a nice addition to the set. I liked the formula and I love travel size mascaras as I enjoy trying new formulas before purchasing a full size product that I may not like. The TARTE mascara was really nice and did add length and volume to my lashes. I will repurchase this mascara at a full size.

AND FINALLY... THE AMAZONIAN CLAY BLUSH!!!! There is not enough that I can say about this product to do it justice. It is my FAVORITE blush today! The color is absolutely beautiful! It is always hard for me to find a rose colored blush that looks good on my olive skin tone. This shade is PERFECT! It gives the most beautiful color to my cheeks. I recommend this blush to anyone and everyone! I went back to Sephora a week after trying this product to purchase it in a full size, but I was unsuccessful in finding a full size blush in "Adventurous." :(

In all, I do recomment this set. I think that it would make a wonderful gift for yourself. It is currently at Sephora on special for $54, which is a very good price for all that you get.

November Favorites!!!

So I have discovered a new obsession this month. SLATKIN & CO CANDLE in SANDALWOOD VANILLA! This is such an amazing scent!!! I don't even know how to describe it. It is warm an cozy. It is not too sweet or smell like food, as I cannot stand those scents. Burning 1 of the 3-wick candles will fill my house with amazing fragrance, WITHOUT being too over powering in the room that it is burning.

My next favorite is the Revlon Colorstay Foundation in True Beige. This foundation has the lasting power and a medium-full coverage. This product has the staying power that  I need in my 14hr work days! The finish is flattering to any skin type. It does not get too dry and look caked on, while at the same time it does not make my T-zone look like an oil slick!

Another makeup favorite is NYX Blush in "PINCHED." I have heard of it compared to NARS "orgasm," however I like the NYX better. It is so pigmented, so you do not need to be heavy handed with this product. It gives a beautiful healthy glow to the skin. I have worn this blush almost EVERY DAY since I got it.

For clothing I am really enjoying my riding boots and long cardigan sweaters. I have been wearing wither my black or brown riding boots almost every day! I think that this look is very fall and winter looking, especially when paired together with leggings and a long shirt. REMEMBER my rule with leggings ad jeggings. Your butt must ALWAYS be covered!!!

For something that is not beauty related...this month I have been addicted to my new Kindle Fire! With the weather being so cold I have been enjoying curling up with my blanket, hot chocolate (or tea), my cat, and reading a good book! I have been spending ALL day like this on the weekends.

My favorite food of the month (and to be honest...all year long!) is PACIFIC ORGANICS SOUP. The Santa Fe Chicken is sooo good but the BEST one is the Pablano Pepper and Corn Chowder. I have literally been eating this almost everyday! I really recommend that everyone tries this sup. It warms you up on a cold day. (No that I am hungry I will probably heat up a bowl for lunch!)

A newly discovered favorite for the end of November has been STARBUCKS Hazelnut Hot Chocolate. This drink tastes just like Nutella! It is just the perfect winter treat! I HIGHLY recommend that everyone at least tries this drink. I have tried it at Moxie Java but it was disgusting! If you try it it has to be from STARBUCKS!

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation

OMG! I have found the BEST drug store foundation! On a chance I picked up the Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation the last time that I was at Walgreens. I was pleased when I looked through their range of foundation colors. I have an olive skin tone so it can sometimes be hard for me to find the proper foundation color that are not so pink. I found it was easy to select my color match. I had heard that this foundation was really good for dry skin. I thought that I would give it a try as my skin is very dry, especially this time of year. My skin is so dry that I actually use Crisco over a layer of Olive Oil as my moisturizer. However, to properly test this foundation in the way that most people would use it, I applied a light moisturizer underneath the foundation.

The packaging claims that the foundation will last 24 hours. While I find that this foundation is longer wearing that most foundations, I don't think that it will last 24 hours. I do have to use makeup remover to take it off when I get home and there is still a decent amount of coverage. I just don't recommend wearing makeup all day or to bed. You need to let your skin breathe. But back on topic...

When I first applied the foundation I was suprised by how thick the formula was. I was expecting the formula to be very thin and uneven, as it is a whipped product. This was not the case AT ALL! While the formula was thick, it was easy to blend into the skin. I was a little concerned that the foundation would feel heavy, but it actually felt amazing. I found that it was not even necessary to wear a powder over the foundation as it dried almost like a powder (WITHOUT The CAKEY look). It has a beautiful matte finish and makes my skin look smooth, soft and healthy. As I have stated before, I have very sensitive skin (ESPECIALLY on my face!) However, I did NOT have any problems.

I REALLY recommend this product...ESPECIALLY this time of year when most women are looking for a more full coverage foundation. So if you try it out, let me know what you think.

As always
Stay Beautiful :)

Flatter Yourself

As someone who loves beauty and fashion, I am always looking at what people are wearing and the style trends. While it is always desirable to be "in style," what is in style at the moment is not always going to work for my body type. I would much rather dress in a way that flatters my body as opposed to dressing in the latest trends. I am very top heavy, so I tend to gravitate towards tops that are form fitting to show off my smaller waist. The printed tee's that are in style among college students like myself are not flattering to my figure. I love to wear leggings with sweater dresses and boots or a pair of ballet flats. When wearing leggings my rule that I refuse to ignore is that my top MUST cover my butt. I find it very unattractive when a woman walks by in leggings (or jeggings) and paired them with a tee shirt or halter. It looks extremely unflattering and, to be perfectly honest, cheep.

I am going to share a rule that I picked up from my sorority in college. I shop by this rule to this day and I think that it is very simple and will save me from making some embarrassing fashion mistakes. This rule is...NO BOOBS, NO BUTT, NO BELLY! I know that is sounds basic but think about it. When you see a girl sitting in a restaurant and you can see her butt crack, what are you thinking of her? The first part was always the worst for me to follow because I have such a large chest. If I were to wear a fitted v-neck shirt, the girls will be out there for everyone to see. I argued about this with my sorority sister until I was blue in the face. Then I went to Maurice's (clothing store) to shop for some work outfits because the rules were the same. I found this beautiful coral v-neck top. My first thought was that I could not wear it at work because I would be showing cleavage. When I tried it on the the dressing room I saw that it was actually very conservative and kept me covered up. I then tried on a more weekend club top. The difference was shocking. Not only did I look about 10lbs bigger, but I looked like someone that you would find on a street corner!

For a visual reference, picture Heidi Klum...(not the Victoria Secret pics). She always looks beautiful on the red carpet or at her children's sporting events. She wears clothes that are very much in style, but she is also covered up. You will never see her in jeans that are too tight and riding half way down her butt paired with a shirt that doesn't cover much of anything. Now picture Christina Aguilera. She is younger that Heidi is but looks like an over the hill hooker...that is older than Heidi!! I was shocked the first time that I saw her on The Voice. Her top was cut down past her chest, no bra and shorts that showed off the crack below her butt cheeks paired with a blazer! Her breasts were sagging everywhere! It was awful! No shirt should ever drop BELOW your chest! She is a beautiful woman and if she were to pick out clothes that follow the, NO BOOBS, NO BUTT, NO BELLY, rule then she would look amazing. The two women have very similar builds...excluding height, so it is a prefect example of really understanding HOW to dress. If your goal is to attract a man...stop and think. Who is more desired by men all over the world? I think that the obvious answer is Heidi.

By following this rule a woman will look younger, more attractive and confident. I am not stating that all women need to wear bulky clothing or suits everyday. Just that a woman needs to recognize her body type and dress accordingly. If you don't want to listen to me on this, just experiment when you go shopping next. Test out my rule in the dressing room. I think that you will be surprised.

Loves You
Stay Beautiful

IT'S FALL!!!!!!

I am so excited that we are now entering into fall. I am originally from Southern California where there are no seasons other than summer. Once I moved to the Mid-West I have fallen in love with Fall. I have already changed up my makeup collection and my looks. I have added deeper earth tones. The products that I use in the Fall are most of my all-time favorites! The first product that I busted out was my NYC lipstick in "Sheer Red." This lipstick is the most perfect color in my opinion. It is the most wearable red for all skin colors and ages. Another favorite fall product of mine is....BOOTS!!! This is the season that you can pull out your leggings, sweater dresses and BOOTS! This is my typical everyday outfit in the fall. My #1 rule is for leggings, and it is that IF YOU WEAR LEGGINGS, PUT ON A TOP THAT WILL COVER YOUR BUTT!!! This is the most "body friendly" way to wear leggings. It is the most flattering on any body type. (I will be coming out with a blog about dressing for your body type.)

It is also important to remember that as beautiful as fall clothes and makeup are, the weather has gotten cooler. It is so important to remember to MOISTURIZE! I use a heavier moisturizer at night to let it soak into my skin. My favorite is Dermalogica "Super Rich." In the mornings a like a lighter moisturizer (like Simple) to go under my makeup. It is also important not to forget about your lips. This fall I have fallen back in love with my Revlon Lip Butters. The colors "Red Velvet" and "Sugar Plum." These colors are just beautiful, but they are also very moisturizing. My lips always feel soft a smooth when I use this product.

As for eye color, my most used eye product (that is not the mascara that I will never leave the house without) is MAC eyeshadow in "Cranberry." I will add a touch of this eyeshadow to almost all of my eye looks. I love to blend a little bit of it into the edge of the crease color so that it sits on the top of me eyelashes. Trust me that it is the most beautiful look. I encourage every girl to have this color in her collection. For those that are on a budget, I am excited to inform you that NYX eyeshadow in "Rust" is an almost perfect double and it is a fraction of the cost.

Loves You
Stay Beautiful!!!

Healthy Hair Journey

So I have started down the path to healthier hair. Ever since I was 11 I have been sacrificing healthy hair for stylish hair. As a kid I always had strong and thick hair. After years of hair dye (bleach included) and hot tools, my hair is so thin and brittle. I am now dedicating myself to having healthy hair.

The first and most obvious step to healthy hair is NOT to dye my hair anymore. Although I did not always take my deep chocolate brown hair blonde, I did take it lighter shades of brown, which did require a certain amount of bleach.

The second step to healthier hair is to reduce the amount of heat I use on my hair. I have always blow dried my hair every morning followed by either straightening or curling my hair. Almost never using a heat protection spray did not help the condition of my hair either. My goal is to cut down on how often I use heat on my hair to no more that twice a week and ONLY with a heat protectant spray.

If anyone out there has any advice or product recommendations, please share them with me! I need help!

Tinted Moisturizers

Sorry bloggers, been on a long vacation but I'm back. I have been traveling all along the west coast, in various weather situations and the 1 thing that I have not been without is my tinted moisturizer. I have come to rely on this type of product so much! I know that BB Creams are all the rage but in reality they are no more that a tinted moisturizer.

When I spend days outside and get a tan the last thing I want is for my foundation not to match. I don't like to travel with more than 2 foundations or spend forever blending them out to match my skin. I find that tinted moisturizers are the was to go. They have a light coverage but you can build it up. All tinted moisturizers that I have used have SPF in them, which is so important for the summer.

I always have 2 tinted moisturizers with me when I am traveling because they do have different tints for when I am tan and when I am not. The first is Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer in the color "Fawn" with SPF 20. This product is an absolute "must have" in my collection. It provides more coverage than any other tinted moisturizer that I have tried, and feels so nourishing on my skin.

The second tinted moisturizer that I always have with me is ELF Tinted Moisturizer in "Nude" with SPF 20. When I first purchased this product I was concerned about my skin as I have very sensitive skin. After the first day of using this product I was absolutely addicted. While I would say that the coverage is more light than medium the overall finish is very nice. The product feels wonderful on my skin and has excellent staying power. It lasts for a full day and keeps my skin hydrated and protected from the sun.

While I love both of these products I find myself using the ELF tiny end moisturizer more than the Laura Murcier. Not because Laura Murcier is not a wonderful product, but because it is $42 compared to ELF at $3. That is a huge difference. I recommend both but if Laura Murcier is out of your budget ELF is a great alternative.

Kissable Kolors

For me nothing says spring like a colorful lip. Bright pinks, peaches and corals, lip gloss, lipstick or lip stain. All can help create a beautiful lip. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Pop is one of my favorites. It can only be described as the perfect hot pink. And Bare Minerals Lip Gloss in Sangria cannot be underestimated. This is a gorgeous color that is semi-nude with undertones of pink and gold and mauve. It's is probably my all time favorite lip gloss. These are only two of hundreds of thousands of shades available.

With spring here, we are entering a world of bright, colorful fashion and picnics at the river or an outside BBQ with 20 of your closest friends. No girl should leave home without a beautiful and colorful lip. Whether you chose high end or drug store the spring lip colors have arrived!!

Wet 'n Wild Trio

This past year I have re-discovered the Wet 'n Wild brand. I find that their makeup is high quality and low cost. The eye shadows are creamy and extremely pigmented. They go on smooth with no difficulty, and blend wonderfully. They have a large color selection with lovely palette combinations. While they do come in trio's they do not have to be used that was, I often don't. My personal favorite trio is "Silent Treatment." It is my go to easy look that I have been reaching for in the morning.

Stila-dream in full color palette

This is by far one of my favorite palettes, especially for travel. This palette has 29 eye shadows both shimmery and matte, dark and light. When I travel I can create a neutral, smokey or colorful looks. On the outer boarder of the palette are 6 blushes and a bronzer. The formulas of the shadows, blushes and bronzer are wonderful. They are almost creamy with little to no fallout. I do recommend adding this palette to any makeup collection.

Simple

On my most recent trip to the drug store, I found a new skin care line. It is called Simple. They claim to be sensitive skin experts. After my first use of the day cream moisturizer I was hooked. Their products have no perfumes or dyes to irritate the skin. Their products all have sunscreen, which is so important for the long term health of your skin. The cream is rich but not to think that it will breakdown your foundation. As i have mentioned before I have very dry skin, but with this product it is easily managed without becoming too oily and my face stays moisturized all day.Since using Simple Day Cream, I can boast an even complexion and smooth, healthy skin. An an added bonus Simple products are made in America. I highly recommend at least trying a product in this line. They are very reasonably priced and well worth the money.

Ravishing Reds

I find that there is always the perfect shade of red lipstick for any occasion. The first swatch is the Kate Moss limited edition Rimmel lasting finish #01. This is a very creamy red. I wear this color when I go out at night. In jeans or a dress it is perfect! The next color is Dior Celebrity Red #999. This is your perfect "fire engine red." This is a perfectly bright, matte red that is beautiful in the spring. Next is Revlon lip butter in "Red Velvet." This is not just a beautiful deep red. It is also a moisturizing lip balm. Rimmel Lasting Finish in "Alarm" is a more affordable version of Dior "Celebrity Red." Perfect for a spring picnic. NYC "Sheer Red" is hands down my favorite red. In my opinion it is the most wearable. It is absolutely beautiful on any skin shade. It wears off just as well. Sephora lipstick in #8031A is a lovely creamy night time red. Finally, Dior "Serum De Rouge #840" is a hybrid red and pink. For someone that is cautious about wearing reds this is a beautiful mix of pink and red. I love to wear this with a bright spring outfit. This is the best time of year for red lips whether matte or shiny, bright or deep, there is a red lip shade that is perfect for everyone.

Makeup Forever HD Foundation

I generally don't like to spend $40 on a foundation. I kept hearing amazing reviews about Makeup Forever HD Foundation and decided to give it a try. The packaging boasts flawless coverage and a natural finish.

The product feels light and almost non-existent. I would say that the coverage is medium to full. (full coverage usually feels heavy...and looks like it to) though the product is build-able for more full coverage without the caky appearance. It is very easy to blend into the skin. The foundation holds its coverage for at least 12 hours. I highly recommend this product. I feel that it was very much worth the $40 it costs at Sephora.

EOS-Evolution of Smooth Review

About a month ago I had seen the EOS lip balms in Ulta and thought that they sounded interesting, so I decided to try them out. I have been using only the lip balms for the past month and I notice a difference in the way that my lips feel. Living in Boise in the dry winter leaves my lips so chapped. Using this product for the last month, my lips feel moisturized and very healthy. I like to put it on before bed and when I wake up and the change in my lips is wonderful. While some lip balms seem greasy and leave a bad taste in your mouth, these do not. They feel just as a lib balm should and taste/smell exactly like the flavor indicated. My personal favorite is the "honeysuckle honeydew." The unique shape of the product, make it so easy to locate at the bottom of my purse. I have become addicted! I keep 1 by my bed, 1 in my bathroom, 1 in my car, 1 in my purse and 2 on my desk at work. This is definitely a favorite lip product of mine.

P.S I hope you like the photo. I just got a new app on my iPhone called "Pic Collage" and just had to try it out :)

Skin Care

I have struggled with eczema all my life. Those of you that have it know that it really is a struggle. My family and I have spent thousands of dollars in dermatologist visits and various skin care products in my 24 year battle with my skin.

When I was 15 I started working in a beauty supply store where I was introduced to the Dermalogica skin care line. It was love at first use. Their "skin smoothing cream" moisturizer was light and gave instant results for severe dry skin. This product is very affordable and I recommend it for all skin types. I use this under my makeup in the morning or even alone and my skin feels soft and looks healthy.

My more drastic moisturizer is olive oil. In the winter of 2010 my skin was in a terrible state. With the stress of starting a new job and life in a new state nothing would bring my skin under control. I was breaking out with rashes and acne. It was embarrassing. At this time my parents went to visit some relatives in Oregon. They know about my struggle with my skin and how discouraged I felt. One night they called me so excited. My Aunt Goldie had been using a very interesting skin care product to manage her skin her while life...olive oil. They were raving that her skin looked amazing! My first thought was that I was going to get major zits putting such a heavy oil on my face. Finally I got desperate enough and tried it. After cleansing my face a placed a drop of oil on my fingers and worked it into my skin. I was amazed with the results! For over 20 years my family was spending so much money on high end creams and skin care products and all while I could have spent $15 on half a gallon of olive oil.

Welcome

Welcome to All Beauty Blog. My name is Ashley Terrano and I am addicted to all things beauty. I chose to start this blog to give my opinion on all kinds of beauty products such as makeup and skin care. I feel like I have spent years burning through products I had heard about through advertizements and the hype that came with it. While I found many products that I still use today, I also found many disappointments. I hope to help guide other women towards the best products out there whether they are drug store or high end.