Fake it till you make it.

Let me tell you, this week has been one for the books...and it's not over yet.
I'm scheduled to work this Saturday.
And I'm already exhausted just thinking about it.

It's cool though...I've got a plan.

 I'll sleep in as long as I can, leave the house just in time for a quick run by Starbucks, show up with a smile on my face and fake it till I make it.

Sounds good, huh?

While I'm on the subject of faking it, allow me to let you in on my little secret when it comes to looking wide awake.

This concealer currently saves my life on a daily basis. The thing I love most is that it provides so much hydration to my under eye area while hiding the dark circles caused by pregnancy insomnia and total exhaustion.

Because it comes in a stick form, it's super quick to apply and perfect to throw in my purse. I especially love to wear this in summer because it's lightweight and doesn't seem to smudge when I touch my face. I don't wear a liquid foundation so I appreciate the lighter tent of color and soft feel this concealer gives without looking cakey.

I apply Fake Up under my eyes and to any problem spots, blend in for 2.5 seconds and then throw on my powder foundation, bronzer, blush and mascara, and I am good to roll out the door. A little goes a long way and stays on pretty much all day.

Now, if you are looking for a total full coverage concealer, Fake Up may not be your bestie...so check this gal out instead. She'll cover up anything!

This is not a sponsored post, just a product that I love and use every single day. I hope my secret weapon comes in handy for you.

Have a great weekend y'all!

xoxo

Can't Live Without It.

Friday, what took you soooo long to get here?
Even though I only worked 4 days this week, I'm beat.
So this post is going to be short and sweet.

I'm obsessed with this mascara.
And I never get obsessed with any type of makeup.
So for me to love it this much is really something.

To be honest with you, I've liked every single Benefit product I've tried and love love love their Brow Bar at my local Ulta. So I can't be but all surprised that I love Roller Lash mascara.

On my last lunch break at Ulta, I snagged this little gem and have been loving it ever since. Roller Lash works wonders on my lashes. I have longer lashes and this stuff gives the appearance of naturally curled lashes without the use of a lash curler. It also does a great job of spreading out my lashes and is not gloopy at all. I can wear it all day and removes so easily. If I forget to wash my face before bed, because let's be honest, it happens a lot....I don't have to worry about waking up and looking like a raccoon.
#Win

I'm clearly a fan and hope you will be too!

Of course I'm linking up with my most fave Friday mamas,
Stephanie, Cait and Laura,
for Can't Live Without It Linkup!

Have a great weekend loves!
We're finishing up some much needed yard work, Greek festing it up and cleaning out little Lucie's closet!

xoxo

Drugstore Beauty Haul

Hey y'all! Ashley here today, and I just wanted to let y'all know that I sure have missed you!! I know it has been a while since I've talked with y'all, but life has been crazy to say the least! So, I have been trying to watch my spending lately, but there are a few items I just couldn't resist from buying! These are all from the drugstore, so that definitely makes my wallet happy! I have recently picked these items up in the past few weeks, and have had a chance to try them all.

Drugstore Beauty Haul by ashleyeck featuring a l oreal paris nail polish

Milani Bella Eyeshadows

I have three of these. I have Bella Sand, Bella Cappuccino and Bella Espresso. I really enjoy using these! They are the perfect shades to create a soft smokey eye. Perfect for daytime! They are very blendable and there isn't too much fall out, which I usually find in cheap eyeshadows. They are defintely worth the $3.99 price tag. 

Physicians Formula Mascara

This is a great drugstore mascara. It doesn't make your eyelashes "crunchy," but does volumize them. I didn't notice that my eyelashes are a longer, but definitely thicker. I would probably not repurchase this again, but again, for the price, great deal! 

Pixi Eyeliner

The first time I used this, I didn't love it. I saved the box and receipt in hopes that I would actually return it to Target. However, I gave it one last try and I really loved it. Isn't that so strange how makeup can be so different from day to day? It's like good mascara. It's never great the first or second time you use it, but give it a few days and it's fab! Same thing with this. I can't put it down now, even over my Urban Decay 24/7 and my beloved Nars Larger Than Life.

L'oreal Nail Color Riche in After Hours

I was actually a little disappointed in this. I was really hoping that this would be a go-to nail polish for me this fall. I liked the color as just one coat, but two coats was almost black. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to black polish, but this wasn't what I was thinking it was going to be. I have black polishes, so I was hoping for more of a navy blue. Because I added my favorite top coat, Seche Vite, it didn't chip for almost 7 days. By day 7, I was ready for a change, so I took it off. It was very hard to remove, and I had blue/black stains around my nails for 1-2 days.

Seche Vite Top Coat

I have been using this top coat for years, and I can't stop talking about it! I recently picked up a new bottle and realized that I will NEVER use another top coat. I do my own manicures, typically every Sunday night. This top coat has made my process SO quick and easy. If I am ever in a hurry, my nail polish doesn't go on that smooth. However, this always smooths out the polish and makes it so shiny! It dries within 3-5 minutes which is amazing! Hands down, best top coat ever! 

Nail Polish Remover Dispenser

Y'all, I love this! I was able to fit about 1/2-3/4 a bottle of nail polish remover into this dispenser. It is so easy to use and makes taking my nail polish off so much easier!

Freeman's Face Mask

I'm obsessed! I think I have 4 different Freeman's masks in my drawer at the moment including Chocolate and Strawberries, Pineapple, Cucumber Peel off and one more that I can't think of at the moment. These are the bests masks that I have found that are affordable. You just can't beat $3.99 for such a large bottle! I use a mask about 3 times a week, and I can tell a noticeable difference in my skin. Definitely worth the buy! 

 Yes to Coconut Wipes

I am a huge fan of makeup wipes! I will forever love my Clarisonic, but I always use a makeup wipe prior to washing my face with my Clarisonic. I love the smell of anything coconut, so these wipes were right up my alley! They do a great job of getting all of my makeup off, especially my mascara.

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refresh Gel Cream

I bought this several weeks ago and have almost used up the entire bottle! I grab for it every day and can't imagine my skincare routine without it! It is nice and cool-like as it's a gel. Although it is oil-free, it does a great job of hydrating my skin without making it oily. 

Jergen's BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream

I bought this in the darker skin tone. Although I am losing my summer tan, I had read reviews to go up a shade. This does a great job at smoothing out my legs (hello cellulite!) and does a nice job of maintaining my summer tan. Love this! 

Loreal Colour Riche Lip Balm in Heavenly Berry

This is fabulous! It is definitely a balm as it hydrates my lips, but adds so much pigment like a lipstick. My lips have been extremely chapped lately, so this has been great to throw in my purse to apply throughout the day. I need to buy this in more colors! 

I am so glad I got to chat with y'all today. Happy Hump Day and talk with you soon! 

xoxo, 

Ashley

What's in my Suitcase?

Hey y'all! Ashley here, and I am so excited that my husband and I are leaving today to go to Charleston for a long weekend! We are going to celebrate our second wedding anniversary, and I am so excited to go to the beach for the first time this summer! As I was packing last night, I thought it would be fun to show you everything I'm taking with me! Because we aren't going for a super long time, I tried to pack as lightly as possible. I typically pack everything that is in my closet, so this was a hard task for me. I apologize for the horrible lighting!

{Work out clothes and under garments}

{Bathing Suits}

{Cover Ups}

{Dresses}

{Toiletry Bag}
Shower items were added later!

{SPF and lotions}

{Makeup}

{Makeup in Tarte traveling case}

{Toiletries and hair supplies}

{Most of my bags...there's more}

{Beach bag, cooler, Andrew's golf bag}

{Our favorite beer and wine}


I hope y'all enjoyed today's short post! I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I will talk to y'all next week! Be sure to follow our adventures this weekend on Instagram @ashleyceck

much love xoxo,
Ashley

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mail's here!

Oh hey you.

I came home to the most exciting mail parcel yesterday...
 my very first Ipsy shipment had arrived!

 I recently realized two things: I do nothing on a regular basis to update my current makeup collection (Ashley would be so ashamed of my one small bag), and I generally do not wear makeup because I am lazy/not a morning person. I basically only wear it when we are going out to dinner with friends, or I have an important meeting at work, or a special event.

Seeing that I am almost 30 and believe that I do look better with a little mascara, bronzer and blush, I decided to make a change. I needed a way to re-introduce myself to makeup again and be able to try different things before I committed to a specific product.

why hello monthly subscription program, so nice to meet you!

I looked at all the different options out there, Birchbox, Ipsy etc and after seeking the advice of my personal beauty adviser (Ashley), I decided on Ipsy. They just seem to have the best mix of products and who doesn't love those little glam bags?

My first impression of the exterior packaging was.....it's precious and pink and so girly and I love it already, no matter what is inside.
  Maybe I am easily impressed.



The bag was easy to pull apart. I love it when extra tools are not needed to get inside a mail package, don't you? Instant gratification.

Here is what I found inside!

{contents}

Pop Beauty Sunkised Bronzer, Secret Sunshine
I am pumped about this little gal. I love a good bronzer and this one looks to be so natural.

Healthy Sexy Hair, Soy Renewal Beach Spray
How did Ipsy know that I was headed to the beach in jut a few short weeks? This will be perfect!

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil
Duh! See above. Anything to help this pale girl get a tan is a.o.k in my book!

Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm, Pretty Pink
I tried it on last night and love it. It is just tinted enough and light enough for everyday wear. This one is going in the purse for sure!

Bare Minerals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Shadow, Sweet Spice
This color looks to be a little dark but the consistency of the cream shadow is perfection. I think I will enjoy using this when I am getting fancy.

Overall, I am excited about my subscription to Ipsy and plan to keep it for a couple months, then re-evaluate. The great thing about this company is that you can cancel at anytime. The only thing I found annoying is that you have to pretty much sell your soul to get off the waiting list for your first bag. I had to share on my FB page and all that jazz, but hey, everyone is trying to play this social medial game right? (insert plug for everyone reading to follow me on gfc, bloglovin, instagram and pinterest...haha)

If you are interested in joining the Ipsy club - check this link out.

Till tomorrow beauties!

xoxo,

CAD

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Trending Tuesday: Makeup Brush Collection

Hi loves! Ashley here today, and I hope y'all are having a great Tuesday so far! This week is going to be a very long week for me, so I am hoping it goes by quickly so we can get to the weekend!! I am probably stretching this trend by a long shot, but I haven't joined the lovely Trending Tuesday ladies in a few weeks so I really wanted to join the link up this week! However, Caroline has been wanting some tips and ideas for makeup brushes, so I figured...what the heck?! I will just join the two together! Today I will be talking about my favorite makeup brushes that I use on a daily basis. Like I have mentioned before, makeup brushes are the most important tool for making your makeup look flawless. If you don't use decent brushes or clean them properly, then your makeup will not look as airbrushed as it could.
What do I look for in a makeup brush?
Depending on the type of application depends on the type of brush that I look for. There are three different components that you need to look for when selecting a makeup brush.

{One}
 Hair Type
There are six different types of makeup brush hairs including Goat, Pony, Sable, Badger, Squirrel and Synthetic. Without going into too much detail, the main difference between these is going to be the density and texture. For example, if I am applying liquid foundation, concealer or cream blushes, I prefer to use synthetic brushes. If I am applying a non-cream blush, bronzer or powder, I will use a pony brush. Sable is going to be the most durable and softest hair type, so for this reason, I like to use this for packing color and blending my eyeshadow.

{Two}
 Handle
You want to make sure that your handle is very durable and that it is not made of plastic, as these might not hold up as well.

{Three}
 Ferrule
You said, what? Haha. This is the metal part that connects the handle to the bristles. The best type of ferrules are made of seamless brass, copper or aluminum because they are going to be the most durable and will hold up with time. When cleaning your brushes, it is very important not to get water down the ferrule because this could ruin the brush.

Now that you are an expert on types of brushes and when to apply each one, I want to share with you my favorite brushes! Please don't judge the cleanliness of mine (or lack thereof), as I am about to give them a good cleaning! Let me know if y'all are interested in seeing a post on easy and inexpensive ways to clean your brushes! Also, let me know in the comments below if y'all would like to see a full makeup collection post!

{How I display my brushes, on top of my acrylic Muji drawers}

{Favorite Foundation Brushes}

Sigma F80 and Real Techniques Beauty Blender

{Favorite Concealer Brushes}

Sigma, Mac and Benefit

{Favorite Powder Brushes}

Real Techniques Powder Brush and Sephora Powder Brush 

{More Face Brushes}

{Favorite Bronzer Brushes}

An assortment of Real Techniques, Sigma and Sephora

{Favorite Blush Brushes}

Real Techniques Stippling Brush and Mac 109 Small Contour Brush 

{Favorite Eyeshadow Brushes}

Assortment of Mac, Real Techniques, Urban Decay and Sigma

{Highlighting and Setting Brushes}

Sigma F86 and Real Techniques 

As you can probably already see, my favorite brands of brushes include Mac, Sigma Beauty, Sephora, Bobbi Brown and Real Techniques. As you know from this post, I enjoying watching Beauty Gurus on Youtube. Most of them are sponsored with these brands and are able to provide discount codes. You can usually get a 10% discount by going on youtube and looking for Sigma Beauty Discount Code.

I hope y'all have learned something. Again, I am NO expert by any means, and it has taken me quite some time to work on my brush collection. But I feel like if I had known these tips years back, I wouldn't have wasted so much money on buying poorly made brushes. Also, my makeup probably would have looked 10x better!

I hope y'all have a Happy Tuesday! Check out the other #trendingtuesday links! Kristina, Amanda, Katie, and Zelle

xoxo,
Ashley

** This is not a sponsored post. These brushes were purchased on my own and are my own reviews that come from personal experience**

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Easter Basket Must Haves

Hey y'all! I hope you're having a fab week so far! Thanks again to Caroline for having me back this week! Can y'all believe it is the middle of April and spring has sprung already?! It is so hard to believe that Easter is right around the corner.

 I'm here to share all of my beauty (and a few non-beauty) items that I would love to see in my basket this Sunday (hint, hint...husband). I already have a few of these items but I love them so much that I thought you would too!

I hope y'all have a Happy Easter whether you are celebrating with family and friends or just relaxing. My husband and I will be traveling to our hometown to spend the weekend on the lake with our family.

Can't wait to share more with y'all next week...I might be cooking in the kitchen, so be sure to check in!

Have a great weekend! 

xoxo

Ashley