44 Comments
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Joy Nicholas's avatar

Okay, but we need pics of the Avril Lavigne/ Jack Sparrow era. 🤣 You’re gorgeous!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

Even *I* have limits to what I am willing to share with the internet 🤣

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Kendra Kruckenberg's avatar

I was coming here to say the same thing!! 😆

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Megan Hogg's avatar

You are beautiful, Ashlee! This post greeted me right as I started a no-shopping contentment challenge (let's just say Amazon Prime Day hit me hard) but I'm excited to check out these products once my challenge is up. I am definitely a less-is-more gal with makeup too. Also very interested in this glass prism you speak of?!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

I bought them to bring more “play” to my photography practice … still experimenting but they’re fun! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0834QHZ2V/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_92A52QB3GS2G8QXEVESJ?linkCode=ml2&tag=ashleegadd-20

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Claire the Catholic Feminist's avatar

I'm sorry I'm still recovering from the holding-eyeliner-up-to-a-flame story

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

Put that in your next YA novel.

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Kendra Kruckenberg's avatar

Gorgeous! I am intrigued by several of these, but the beautiful confidence in your pictures is my favorite part.

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

I did not feel confident taking them or sharing them but I will receive this 🫣😅💞

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Katie Archer's avatar

I am wanting to know what tinted SPF you use!? Such pretty pics! Making me want to care about makeup & skincare more than I currently do… I am a #tomboy in this area. 😅

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

I use colorscience glow and I am OBSESSED with it. I buy mine through the HSA store but you can find it on Amazon. Occasionally Walmart.com will have it for $5-$6 less.

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Erin Mount's avatar

I have NEVER heard of holding eyeliner up to a flame and am fascinated! (But also, I don't think I even knew what eyeliner was in high school. I barely wore any makeup back then.)

I got a blush stick not too long ago, but I think I was too heavy-handed with it because it looked comical.

I've been using a Wet n Wild tinted hydrator that I really love because it's very lightweight but does a good job of evening out my skin tone. If it had SPF, it would be perfect but I guess I can't expect much for $5. :)

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Sarah Anne Hayes's avatar

gorgeous! definitely tempted to try them out, but also happy with my current set up, so reminding myself “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” 🤣

definitely in a “less is more” phase of makeup (also hair) after waking up stupid early every day during my first post-grad job to shower, dry and do my hair, and do full makeup. my go to for pretty much everything these days is kosas, whose tagline is “makeup for skincare freaks.” most days i do their revealer concealer, air brow tinted brow gel, and mascara. if i’m wanting something a little extra, i’ll add a swipe of 10-second eye shadow.

mascara is the one thing i’m not over the moon about (mostly because of smudging), so may have to try out this tubal stuff!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

Oooih I’ve never heard of that brand but as a fellow skincare freak I should look them up 😉

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Sarah Anne Hayes's avatar

i first discovered them way back in 2017 when there was a NY style magazine article about them titled “a makeup brand for minimalists.” their lipstick is legit the best i’ve ever tried.

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Vanessa  Leaver's avatar

Gorgeous

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Crystal Carpenter's avatar

This makeup looks and sounds amazing! I use Vapour makeup but they recently closed up shop, so as soon as mine runs out, I will be on the hunt. Thank you for the honest review and the pictures are lovely. I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way, but Ashlee, you have for sure influenced me plenty of times during the past ten years!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

I hope in good ways more than bad 😜 thanks for reading!!!

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Laura Jean Bazal's avatar

1. This is a cool line! Never heard of it!

2. I like how this looks on you! How did you know to pick the colors?

3. We're you wearing it during the Exhale book club zoom chat earlier this week? I noticed your make-up, actually, and thought it was nice!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

I was! Sweet of you to notice 😅 I looked at ALL the pictures of various colors and just guessed based on the skin tones that looked closest to mine.

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Laura Jean Bazal's avatar

Cool!! Also, good job!!

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Camden Morgante's avatar

I like a bit more coverage to even out my skin. These days I’m loving Thrive Causemetics CC cream. And my under eye dark circles have always been A Situation but Il Makiage’s concealer (an IG ad that got me) is life-changing!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

I’ve seen that ad 40 times and happy to hear a real review!

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Erin Mount's avatar

I have seen several ads for Il Makiage and have been so tempted! I'm glad to know you like it.

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Camden Morgante's avatar

I wasn’t as impressed with the foundation but I love the concealer! It does not crease and gives the best coverage of my dark circles of any other brand I’ve tried!

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Emily Thomas's avatar

Love my Merit bronzer stick! Going to try the flush balm after my BeautyCounter blush runs out!

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Catherine Joy's avatar

I love the flush balm in cheeky! perfect as blush and on the lips, and after a year of daily use I still have some left! I really liked the minimalist too, but it ran out very quickly for me and is sadly not cost-effective for my budget. :'(

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

Yeah I could see that, especially if you were using it as foundation too. I am constantly weighing how much something costs vs how long it lasts.

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Rebecca Giantonio Moran's avatar

Great review! I recently discovered Merit and LOVE it. The makeup is not only gorgeous but has staying power, which is tough to find. I, too, was an eyeliner worshipper for a long time, but realized in my late 30s how old it made me look. Less truly is more as we get older, which is fine with me because I have a solid five minutes for makeup every morning!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

Same!

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Stacy Bronec's avatar

Okay, now I want all of it. But I never know what shades to get. Haha. Gorgeous pics, btw. Your skin looks amazing! I stopped using foundation years ago, and only use tinted moisturizer. I started using the NARS brand just a few weeks ago for the first time and am really liking it. I spend too much money on skincare, but I think it's worth it. ;)

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

You have GREAT skin. Tell me your secrets 😜

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Stacy Bronec's avatar

Genetics… and Rodan & Fields. 😆🙈 I don’t sell it! Let me just say that. I hate paying for it, but love it. 🤣

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Naomi Barcroft's avatar

I loved reading this, and I am very tempted by this kind of makeup! Also, holy smokes, your photos with the prism are amazing - I’ve never seen that done before!

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Ashlee Gadd's avatar

Thank you! I got them a while back and I’m still figuring out how to use them 🤪 Had fun experimenting!

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