June Favourites!

Wow, can't believe that I am already posting my June favourites! Summer is flying by too fast!!

A lot of things have changed in my routines due to the warmer weather so I have a few new things to talk about this month in makeup, skincare and hair care.





















This past month I have been testing out and loving this Tarte Maraucja Oil in my nighttime routine. I got this as part of my last Sephora haul (to read that post, click here) as a Beauty Insider reward. It's a deluxe sized sample, plenty of product to really test it out before buying the full sized bottle. I've been using this for a month and I absolutely love it! A future review is in the works, but for a sneak peek - it has calmed my skin, changed and evened out my skin tone and I have not had an acne flare up all month! More information to come, as well as application tips on the blog soon!

Another change I have made in my skin care routine is bringing back my Avene Thermal Spring Water mist. After feeling like I might need more moisturization during the summer months and because it makes applying the Maracuja Oil so easy, I brought it back. I use this day and night, to give my skin a little more moisture and its been really helping. It's so refreshing!











In terms of makeup changes and favourites this past month, I have found the ultimate summer (and maybe forever!) foundation, I have been loving the bright bold colours of MAC's "All About Orange" Collection and using my Temperature Rising items to create a bronzed, everyday makeup look.

Lets start with my favourite foundation for June- Dior's Airflash Spray Foundation. (For the full review, click here). I couldn't say more good things about this foundation in my most recent review post - this stuff is AMAZING! I use it for all my make up looks, it's so quick and easy - not to mention it gives great coverage and lasts all day! I wanted something light and simple for summer and was pleasantly surprised with all the amazing benefits of this product. I have also been using it on some of my clients and they love how flawless it makes their skin look even after 8 hours of wear! This is not just a June favourite, its becoming an all-time favourite!

If you have been reading my blog for sometime, you know how much I have been loving my MAC Temperature Rising Collection items. This past month I created a look using my MAC Temperature Rising Collection for an interview that I had at MAC Cosmetics Yorkdale. I am happy to say that I was successful at landing the job and I have to think that this look helped a little ;). For the full instructional tutorial with all the products I used, please click here. This has been a favourite look for me lately, I do modify it a bit and use a different shadow here and there, but its mostly the same. I love it! What about you?

The best part of this look, that I like most, is the lip recipe. I love combining  "Altered Beige" and layering "Soft Serenede" on top. I've always loved a nude lip (especially with a tan) and the sparkle in the lip gloss heats things up just a bit!






















Of course I used my favourite brushes this month from Simga, the Duo-Fibre Powder/Blush Brush (F15) for my blush and the Large Angled Contour Brush (F40) for my bronzing and contouring. I have been using these brushes the most lately for all my looks and on my clients. The F40 brush makes contouring so easy and the F15 brush helps soften and blend blush so beautifully. Loving these brushes for my flawless skin look!

With the release of MAC's "All About Orange" Collection in early June, I have been given a lot of time to really get aquatinted with my items. As mentioned in my original haul blogpost (click here for the complete haul and review) I thought it was really smart for MAC to spotlight such a great colour for summer and make it wearable for all. There were 7 shades of lipsticks to chose from, a colour for every skin type and tone. I picked up 4 lipsticks, but I have been using some more than others - a clear indication of favoritism. The lipsticks that I have been using most from this collection are:

Sushi Kiss - I love the almost "black light" effect that this lipstick gives me, especially against my tan. I did initially think that it would be more Orange on me, but was pleasantly surprised that it was much softer on. I love to use this lipstick with neutral looks or with a heavy winged liner. A must have colour for summer!

Razzledazzler - What I love most about this lipstick is the intense colour payoff, but its so easy and comfortable to wear! As some of you know, Lustre formula lipsticks are my favourite to wear, so naturally I would love this lipstick! The colour is so dreamy, I love to pair this with with a pop of green or blue eye makeup or a bronzed smokey eye. It makes everything seem effortless!

Along with the lipsticks, I have been loving the Nail Laquer "Ke Ai" from this collection, and put it to work with a summer manicure as soon as I got it! It's such a pretty, feminine pink that made me feel like a school girl and I almost shrieked with joy while painting it on! Soft pink with a bit of shimmer, great for summer manicures or even all year round!

Along with my "Ke Ai" manicure, I also introduced my Julep monthly manicures and my moon manicure this past month. Heres a little summery of this months manicures.

I have to say I am very impressed with my Julep Nail Polishes, they are a great product and pretty reasonable in price. (To see my June Julep Manicure, click here). The nail polish lasted days before I saw a single chip and I love the colour variety they offer! The glitter polish "Paris" was super sparkley and reflective the the dark cobalt blue "Millie" really complimented the glitter. I loved it! If you sign up for their monthly subscription, it gives you the opportunity to try different colours and even body products for a bundled price (which means you save big $$). If you would like to start your subscription, click on the link below, and be sure to use code FREEBOX at checkout to get your first Maven box free!
http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/230456/

I managed to squeeze in one more manicure, My Superhero Moon Manicure that I did for my Godson's Superman party. I used my Nail Laquers from MAC's "Wonder Woman" Limited Edition Collection - "Wonder Woman" (red) & "Obey Me" (blue). I know it's a Superman Party, not a Wonder Woman party, but the colours work just the same. For a complete tutorial on this manicure, please click here.) Super fun and easy manicure to do at home with materials from home. I got a lot of compliments on this manicure, I will definitely try it again with more colour combinations!

Well there you have it dolls, all my favourites for the lovely month of June, its been a great month for beauty and a great way to welcome the summer! What were your favourites for June? Be sure to let me know what you loved in the comments box below, or tag me #makeupmasochist on Instagram or Twitter!

For more beauty related posted, please be sure to subscribe to my blog (top right corner of the page), you can also follow my blog on Bloglovin' (Makeupmasochist)! For more daily photos and videos, follow me on Instagram (@fernonje) and if you have any questions or suggestions, email me at makeupmasochist@gmail.com

Let's hope next month won't creep up on me as fast.

xoxo
Ashley

Rave or Rant? - Dior Airflash Spray Foundation

This is going to be an absolute RAVE, let's just get that out there right now...

I was looking for a better and darker foundation for my summer make up routine and had gone into Sephora to find a BB or CC cream. I had heard a lot of good things about BB & CC creams and how lightweight they are, so I thought that it would be perfect for summer. Something light and easy and won't melt off with the summer heat.

I tried a few of the BB creams that I had heard and read reviews about, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed. I thought that the BB creams would feel like I'm not wearing foundation and moisturize my skin without leaving it looking oily. I was totally wrong, and to be frank - I don't even understand the huge BB craze. Everything I tried felt heavy and looked as if I was wearing foundation, which was the complete opposite of what I thought a BB cream should do. Feeling completely defeated, I was reminded about airbrush foundations and how they feel lightweight and have better coverage than a BB.

I kept browsing a bit and was drawn to the Dior display (as per usual! It's one of my favourite displays!) and saw that they had a line of airbrush foundations. Perfect! The associate at Sephora described Dior Airflash as a "fresh, spray foundation that stays put and applies excellent coverage" and I had to test it out to be sure. I sprayed some on myself and just used my fingers to blend and it was as if the God's were shining a light on me with the angels and harp singing in the background - I fell head over heels in love instantly! If it worked this well with me using my fingers and in store, imagine how it will look if I apply at home with my Beauty Blender or Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush!??!

I was so excited that I had to try it as soon as I got home! I like to try products at home, in different lighting and really test out the product to make sure it's as good as I thought at the store. It was better than when I tried it in store! The Beauty Blender smoothed it out beautifully without loosing the coverage, and it was so quick! I've literally cut my foundation application time in half with this product! Just spray, blend and go!

Considering that its Dior, the price is pretty fair at $52 CAD, I have spent much more than that on mediocre foundations that don't do half of what this one does. For a spray foundation, the coverage really is incredible. It's also really great for my skin, doesn't dry it out and I have not had one breakout (or even 1 bad pimple!) since I have been using it. It's funny, because I think its actually helping the condition of my skin and doesn't cause my acne to flare up like other foundations. And you need minimal product to get your face fully covered! I've been using this for over a month and I still have a ton of product left, I haven't even used 1/4 of the bottle yet! It's a total score, especially for my wallet!

This will definitely become a staple in my make up routine, I don't even want to know or hear about other foundations, because I feel like I have found "the One". I am head over heels about this foundation and cannot say enough good things about it. I have been promoting this product to everyone I know and anyone who has asked me foundation advice. My clients love it too! They always tell me how they feel like they're not wearing any foundation and love how much it covers the imperfections making their skin look flawless in photos. It's so light and not cake-y, like some foundations, people will think that your skin is just naturally perfect!

Product Grade: A+

10/10 across the board for this one! Application, pigmentation, product, longevity, price, everything is outstanding! I recommend this product to anyone and everyone! Any skin type would really benefit from this formula and its safe for sensitive skin, as I am living proof. It doesn't make my T-zone oily and actually keeps it from looking oily all day! And the best part- no breakouts or flare ups! It's the best part because I don't have to worry about using more and more foundation to cover up the acne flare ups that was caused by my foundation like some other products!

Let me know if you have tried this foundation and your experience with it in the comments box below! This is just my opinion and experience with this foundation, I  would love to hear yours! If there's a product that you would like me to try and do a review on, please let me know in the comments box or email me (makeupmasochist@gmail.com).

If you enjoy reading about makeup or skincare reviews, please be sure to subscribe to my blog to get notified of when I post! As Google Reader is now obsolete, you can follow my blog on Bloglovin' (Makeupmasochist), its a great platform to keep up with all the blogs you follow in one place! For more daily posts, photos and videos, follow me on Instagram (@fernonje)!

Hi, I'm Ashley and I'm a Dior Addict...

xoxo
Ashley

Nails of the Week: Superhero Moon Manicure

Hello beauties!

This past weekend was a a holiday weekend for us as it was Canada Day (Canada's 146th Birthday) on July 1st. Along with Canada a very special boy turned 4 - my nephew and Godson! He is such a special little guy and since we were having a Superman theme party for him, I felt that it would be fitting to give myself a superhero manicure for the special occasion!

As Wonder Woman is my favourite superhero and her colours matched those of Superman, I immediately thought of using Nail Laquers from the MAC Wonder Woman Collection that they released back in 2011. The red is called "Wonder Woman" and the blue is "Obey Me"- both cream formulas. (Great 4th of July Colours as well!) I wanted to do a design, but because it was a little late night manicure, I decided to not be so ambitious and do something simpler. Originally I was thinking French manicure, but chose to do a moon manicure instead.

I got started by prepping my nails and making sure that they were clean and free of debris. I filed them down and shaped them before putting petroleum jelly (Vaseline) around my nail beds for easy clean up. I decided to have the moons be red instead of blue, as the red would be easier to cover than the blue. (The blue is too dark and opaque, so it's harder to cover than the red.) I wanted a transition nail, so I decided to try and do the reverse for my ring fingers.

I started by only painting half the way up the nail bed with the moon colours, I don't paint the whole nail bed because I don't want the polish to be too thick and start to bubble with all the layers. I painted on 2 layers of the moon colour and made sure that they completely dried before continuing painting the rest of the nail.

I am a big believer of using materials you have at home, so I used the stickers that are on produce to make the moon manicure. I've used the whole punch protector stickers before, happy face stickers, even tape to make the perfect manicure! Be resourceful! It will save you time and money!

I placed the stickers over the moon colour and painted the blue on the other half of he nail bed. I don't let the polish dry too much as it makes removing the sticker more difficult and the polish to come off with it. I let it dry for about 3 seconds before removing the sticker, this way it keeps a clean rounded line.

Once it was all completely dry, I put a layer of clear top coat to even out the texture and make it smooth on the nail bed. Once I was finished putting on the top coat, ilet it all dry for 15-20 mins to make sure I wouldn't mess it up!





















And Voila!





















Hope you dolls like this manicure and try it out for yourself, let me know in the comments box how your manicure turned out! This is a great way to incorporate a pair of complimenting colours without having to do the typical French manicure. I really like this style of nail art and I can't wait to try more combinations of colours! Let me know in the comments box below if you like this nail art and if you will try it for yourself! Tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #makeupmasochist so I can see all of your lovely manicures!

For more nail art and manicure posts, please be sure to subscribe to my blog to get notified every time I post! Follow me on Instagram (@fernonje) for more daily posts, photos and videos and you can also follow my blog on Bloglovin' (Makeupmasochist). I would love to read your suggestions or recommendations for manicure ideas, please email me at makeupmasochist@gmail.com !

Have a Super Day! ;)

xoxo
Ashley