Ashley

Makeup

Brows for days

Oh brows...where do I begin?  How do I express my love for thee...  There are full websites devoted to bad brows, so I don't think I need to explain how important they really are.  Too thin brows can age you and make you look like a chola....

And I love me some thick brows, but there is a point when it becomes a little too thick, like Severo here...

 There's a happy medium, which everyone, even the one's who think they don't have, do, they just have to put the tweezers down!  There's a classic shape for everyone, it all depends on one's own face shape.  The best way to measure, which works for everyone, is here with one of my favorite brows, miss Angelina..

#1- Measure from the nook in your nose up through the corner of your eye up to your brow.  That is where your brow should start.  (I almost like starting a little closer in towards the other brow, it looks more natural).
#2- Measure from the nook of your nose through the middle of your iris (look straight ahead) that is where the arch should be.
#3- Measure from the nook of your nose, past the corner of your outer eye, that is where your brow should end.
If any of those don't measure out, you need to grow that area in.  Trust me, this will work for everyone, because it's based on your own face shape.  I always recommend seeing a professional, preferably ME, to help get your brows into the correct shape, and then only doing maintenance on your own on the strays that grow outside of the shape. Don't ever go into the shape on your own, unless you feel comfortable enough and don't mind explaining your whack brows to your Esthetician the next time you see her.  I love the fuller, thicker side of things when it comes to brows, because it's more natural and let's face it, it makes you appear younger and who doesn't want that?  I always recommend doing a tint with a shaping because it helps your brows appear fuller, which means no more having to fill in with powder or a pencil.  If you don't want to take the plunge with tinting, use a powder (brown eye shadow for dark and taupe for blondes) for finer brows and pencil or wax for thicker brows.  Any brow can benefit from a brow gel, they help keep them in place (you can even use clear mascara or spray some hairspray on a disposable mascara wand).  So ladies, put the tweezers down and head to your Esthetician, no, not your nail salon (a whole different story), to get you on the right track towards beautiful brows like these...

Scrub a dub

Start scrubbing...NOW!  Everyone, whether you have dry or oily skin, needs to incorporate EXFOLIATION into their routine stat!  Besides moisturizer, it's one of the most important steps in getting your skin into shape.  And sorry ladies, (and men) little "beads" in your cleanser isn't going to cut it.  You need a good, gritty scrub.  The one I recommend is...

Aveda Tourmaline Charged Skin Refiner

This scrub has the right amount of grit without being too abrasive.  Exfoliation is going to get rid of all that flaky skin that us dry skins experience frequently, your pores are going to appear smaller, your blackheads will run for the hills, new skin cells are produced faster, and it lets all those expensive, creamy, amazing creams and serums penetrate into the skin deeper, which means better results.  If you're more oily, I recommend scrubbing two to three times weekly, depending on how congested your skin is, and dry skin only needs one to two times weekly.  It's a must for beautiful, glowing skin.

Venice Magic

 

Venice couldn't have been a more perfect location to shoot the stunning Emily Peck.  She has a gritty yet hauntingly beautiful vibe to her pictures, which is exactly what Venice is.  Her eyes say it all, which is why I wanted to play them up and keep everything else understated.  Again, amazing time with the dream team.  

Gorgeous Getty

This was the first of many shoots with my wonderful, creative team of incredibly talented artists.  The Getty Museum was the backdrop, Nina Kairouz on hair, Alyssa Temrina on camera, Renee Andriole on jewelry, me on makeup and our fabulously beautiful model Ashley Winn....I mean look at those brows!!

Yummy Homemade Masque

Colder temps = dry skin = ouch!  I have dry skin anyways, but when winter starts rolling in, I really have to slather on the moisture and take extra care of my delicate skin.  Which is why I rummaged through my pantry and whipped up a moisture saving masque made entirely of ingredients I already had! 

1 cup oatmeal (you can use one pre-packaged regular flavor oatmeal from Quaker Oats, etc)
2 green tea bags
Half lemon
Tbsp or two of honey (add more for consistency)

• Oatmeal is soothing for dry, sensitive skin that may be cracking or peeling.  
• Green tea contains antioxidants which help fight damage caused by free radicals.  
• Lemon is a great antiseptic for breakouts 
• Honey is my favorite with its' hydrating, toning and tightening effects.

In a small blender, blend the oatmeal and green tea into a fine powder.  Add lemon and honey and stir to make up a thick almost chunky consistency masque.  Apply to cleansed face and sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes.  I like to apply a serum under my masque for added benefits.  Remove with warm water or towel.  Apply eye cream and moisturizer and voila!  Beautiful, hydrated and radiant skin from a masque good enough to eat!

Obsessed: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

I've never been one to wear much makeup, and quite honestly, have been terrified of foundation up until only a few years ago.  I love this tinted moisturizer by Laura Mercier.  It's a godsend to those, like me, who don't like to cake on the foundation, but want coverage.  It simply melts into your skin giving you a sheer, healthy glow without being sticky.  It gives enough coverage to help your skin look naturally perfect, and best of all, it comes with SPF 20 for added protection!