Gift Guide 2015

 Fashion Lover

Beauty Lover

Tech Lover

For Him

Its that time of the year when we should start checking our Christmas list and checking off gifts! Every year there are a few people on my list who seem impossible to shop for. If you are finding yourself in the same dilemma or just need a bit of inspiration as to what you want to ask for, I have got you covered! I put together guides for any beauty, fashion, and tech lover in your life!

xxAshley

New In//Beauty

With all the holiday specials that have been rolling out, I found myself at Sephora lusting over new products. For the most part I looked from a distance hoping everything would somehow magically make its way home with me, but I pulled together a little self control and only picked up a few goodies! I got a few limited edition sets, which I am over the moon about, as well a good group of samples, and a few other bits!All of these I think would make the perfect gift for any beauty lover!

If you made a purchase of $25 or more Sephora was giving away one of three different sample sets. Each set came in a good sized make-up bag and came with products varying from Origins skin care, Chloe fragrances, to Burberry make-up. The products in all three sets were great, and they are all a good size for being samples!

Sephora//Airbrush Songe

I picked up Sephora's version of the Beauty Blender. I personally don't wear foundation, but I do use concealer in some areas, especially under my eyes. What I love about Sephora's airbrush sponge is the different size ends. The bigger end would be great for foundation, but the smaller size is perfect for smaller areas like around the nose and under the eyes! Also its about half the price of a beauty blender and gets the job done just as well!

Bite//best bite rewind

The Bite set of four lip crayons was something that as soon as I walked into the store went straight into my basket. I absolutely love Bite products, so when I saw this holiday set I knew I needed it! It has the perfect variety of colors from a very wearable nude and pink, to a more bold pink and berry! Even though these are in a set, they are give a good amount of product that will last a while!
(Top to bottom: Cafe/Aubergine/Coulis/Torte)

Hourglass//ambient lighting edit

This last one was a bit of a splurge, but has been worth every penny! I had been eyeing the Hourglass ambient lighting edit since it was released, but wasn't sure if I could bring myself to pay the big price for it. What made me get it was going in store and swatching all the products, and seeing how amazing they looked in person. Hourglass has very luxurious products, and for the price it makes sense. In this limited edition set you are getting six products that flawlessly go together. I am able to look past the price for the quality of the product, knowing it will last for  along time! I've had a few days to use this and I have not been disappointed. Definitely my favorite purchase. 

Beauty Must Have's//Summer Skincare

With all the wonderfulness of summer comes so not great changes to my skin. So as the weather changes so does my general everyday body/skin products. The most important part of skin care for for me is moisturizer. It makes all the difference in how my skin looks and feels, so that is always my main focus, especially in the summer!

Aveeno Positively Radiant

For my face there is one product that is a holy grail for me, and that is Aveeno positively radiant daily moisturizer. I use this product twice a day, once when I first wake up and again after I shower in the evening. It is the perfect thing to put on your face in the morning because it has spf in it, which is perfect to protect you skin from the harsh summer sun! Its not heavy on the skin at all, and sinks in perfectly to the skin so you can't even feel it.  This also comes in a tinted moisturizer version if you want a little coverage. I personally have only ever used the original, but from what I have seen it is the same product just with a tint!

suave cocoa butter

Surprisingly, my hands and feet get really dried out in the summer. My feet get rough from walking around barefoot so they crave something to soften and bring some life back into them!The product that I have been loving for all over the body use to moisturize is the Suave Cocoa butter and Shea smoothing moisturizer. This was a random purchase I made a few months back because I had needed a travel sized lotion, but now that I have it, not a day goes by that I don't use it! It absorbs into the skin quickly and doesn't leave me feeling sticky. Its everything I want in a moisturizer, plus its really cheap for an added bonus!

True Blue Look Ma, New Hands

The last gem I have been loving on my skin this summer is specifically for your hands. Its the Bath and Body Works' True Blue Look Ma, New Hands lotion. It is a super thick, creamy moisturizer that leaves your hands feeling brand new and baby soft. It has a very light scent that goes away quickly, which is great because I'm not a fan of being stuck with super strong smelling locations. This product is magical and will rejuvenate your skin. 

So if your skin is needing a little summer pick me up these products are some great go to's. They will leave your skin refreshed and glowing, and need to be in your beauty arsenal for your skin to survive the summer!

Top 5// Spring Lip Colors

Spring is upon us (despite the snow that is currently falling outside my window) which means its time to switch up my go to lip colors.  For spring I tend to gravitate towards two types of colors bold pinks or nudes. There is a wide range of these shades out there, which can make it hard to choose from the seamless endless possibilities, so to help narrow down the choice I've chosen just five.

                                             Here are my top 5 spring go-to-lip colors 

First up is the Maybelline Color Whisper in Petal Rebel. This is the lightest shade of the 5, but possibly my favorite. In the tube the color looks kind of scary bright, but it applies sheer so it is not as intense. Its very easy to swipe one coat on and have a little added color to your lips to liven them up, or you can apply a few layers for a more intense color. 

The formula of the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick is absolute perfection. Even though this is a matte lipstick it is very moisturizing! The color of this lipstick is the perfect nude for spring time. It is more on the darker side of the nude spectrum, but it looks fresh on the lips. 

Mac's plumful is what I consider a bright berry color. Its a good transition color from the darker lip shades more common in winter to the brighter hues we see during the spring. When I want a good mix between a bold and an easy to wear color I grab for plumful!

If the amazing smell of this lipgloss isn't enough to get me to grab for it then the color pay off is! All around this lip gloss is one of the best I have, and even better its from the drugstore. The formula of the butter gloss is every lip gloss lover's dream, not too sticky and color that stays!

Lastly is another product from NYX. Their soft matte lip creams are the perfect combination of lip gloss to lip stain. This product applies as a cream gloss and dries to a matte finish. Unlike most matte lip stains NYX's soft mattes do not dry out my lips at all! And to top it all off the color lasts all day with only maybe one touch up needed!

               Petal Rebel,14,Plumful,Peaches and Cream, Ibiza