When Favourite Brands Disappoint - Mac Cosmetics

MAC Style Black Collection 2009

The above promo visual was from one of my most anticipated collections released not only by Mac but ever. I loved everything about it. The visuals, the products, the aesthetic. Everything. For me, Mac could do no wrong, apart from the DREADFUL quality of their limited edition mini brush sets....which they have since rectified and made better, thank goodness, because I remember one brush being so hard and prickly it actually punctured my skin. I think it was from the Tartan Tale collection from 2010 when I was till buying up virtually every limited release they were doing that I could possibly afford.

Barbie Loves Mac Collection 2007

Barely a month has gone by in the last ten or so years that I haven't been ferociously checking up on when another collection was going to drop and whether it would mean I'd have trouble paying my rent because of it. They were consistently exciting, beautiful, pushing boundaries and in the case of Viva Glam Collection, which donate the entire retail price (minus VAT) of the products in the range to charities that support those suffering from HIV and AIDS and as of 2011 they've raised in excess of $200 million. See one of my FAVOURITE visuals from this range below.

MAC Viva Glam launch campaign featuring RuPaul 1985

So why, given the massive lust, love and excitement over Mac cosmetics, am I currently so disappointed? Well, it's a pretty recent thing. Mac have done the 'limited collection' thing for a long time, and I've always had complete trust in them as a brand to be forward thinking and to bring trend based products to market that i'd expect long before drugstore brands start pushing them to the masses. This had always been the case, Style Black 2009 being a prime example, given that it was pushing black lipstick in several different finishes far before any other brand dared to take that chance. Goodness, they even hooked up with fashionista hangout club BoomBox (which I confess I used to go to, god help me) to bring out a limited edition book featuring regulars there (some I know in person but didn't know till this day they're in there!). Mac have been a brand to laugh in the face of convention and playing it safe. So again...why the title of this blog?

MAC Boom Box ltd edition book, 2007

Well, it's been a build up of things really. Think of the last few BIG trends of the last two or three years. Brows, contouring, and matte lipstick. Androgyny has also been a key look, but again, not a new thing, over the past couple of years or so. Given the fact that Mac is meant to be a fashion forward brand, I was expecting, and needing some releases focusing on these products. Now i'm not saying that Mac isn't tackling these things, but there's been release after release of products, all of them pretty boring repromotes, containing safe, easy colours, or rehashes of seasonal releases. I mean, their visuals are still beautiful and captivating mostly, the below, of the 2012/13 Taste Temptation collection, is androgyny x 1000 and it's stunning, but the actual collection doesn't correlate at all really....

MAC Taste Temptation collection 2012/13

And as for brows, well, finally we got a brow focused collection called The Stylish Brow which is for spring 2013, but surely thats a bit late isn't it? Not that i've expected it from any other brand, but with Mac, they're my favourite brand and i've come to expect a comprehensive collection focused on a trend and in time to wear when it's relevant. I've been doing big brows for two years, I would have expected this collection to drop a long time before. 

As for contouring, we've had the Pro Sculpting collection late in 2012, which was great, and there was the limited sculpting powder, from the Sculpt and Shape collection in 2007, but not only was the revisiting of these contouring products really late, they were so limited in release, that they're all sold out, and now something I use as part of my routine at least four times a week, is nearly used up and I can't get any more! Stop taking things away from me Mac! Of course, Illamasqua have picked up the baton with the fashion forward products being brought quickly to market, but the basis of Illamasqua, as much as am passionate about it, is pretty different, being more theatrical in nature. Visually the below was the nearest to MAC that they've got, but the releases aren't as comprehensive, even if, dare I say it, the quality seems better much of the time in a few mediums.

Illamasqua Human Fundamentalism collection, 2011/12

So where does this leave me and MAC? Well, despite my moaning, they remain my favourite brand overall. I just hope they one day, decide to perhaps cut BACK on the millions of limited releases, and listen to their customer base regarding what they want and need. Also, to stop releasing products that could easily become essential for customers to own, for example, the recent Prep and Prime Illuminating Primer has been the BEST primer I have ever, EVER used, covering every angle of what my oily dull skin needs, but no, they let me have it once and take it off the shelves! 

 So MAC, please hear our cries. I have read several blogs feeling negative about them over the past year. Kick yourselves up the bottom and make us fall in passionate lust with you again....

MAC Hello Kitty Mild collection, 2009

Review - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Lady

Nars Dragon Lady Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

I am a lover of Nars. A big lover. However, I have never been able to get on with red lipstick. No matter how many I bought, they NEVER looked right. I had always wanted it to suit me due to my passions for Robert Smith and Courtney Love, in the early nineties this is (although I still love Robert with all my heart). 

Robert Smith. How I adore thee...

Courtney Love, back then, when I wanted to look like her 

Kat Bjelland, from Babes In Toyland

Miki Berenyi, from Lush

As an aside, before you think i'm one of those revisionist dickheads who are running around trying to look like the early nineties. I'm not, I was there at the time, at the gigs, and I used to dress like that at the time. If I did it again, I would feel slightly tragic. Not that that time wasn't AMAZING, but come on, if we don't move forward and keep relishing in the early nineties....what's the point in this generation.

Sorry....back to the review. 

So, this is what the Nars website has to say....

The application of a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design. Lips are instantly saturated with rich pigments and a velvety matte finish. The long lasting, non-drying formula is enriched with emollients for a creamy texture, while a combination of unique silicones ensures long-lasting, seamless color for hours. Use for lining, all-over lip color, or pairing with another lip product.

And the results are, it does what it says on the tin!! You get opaque, velvet matte coverage in one pass, it looks...delcious. This is the BEST red I have ever put on my face, it's amazing, AMAZING. It's almost neon it's so bright. It's the most blue red i've seen, so it makes my very very yellow teeth look less yellow (my teeth btw, are APPALLING, and my budge to visit the dentist to get some confidence currently stands at £0.50). 

So my application method is using one of my beloved Sleek Eau La La multi use pencils in Rouge - £4.99 from here to give a crisp line, because the Nars pencil is particularly thick so hard to get definition with. I then filled in with the Dragon Lady, and gave some 3D sculpture with Nars Venom around the edges. See the results below....

My lips, my sofa, and my H&M Kids jumper. 

As for long wear. Well, it dries to a powder finish, one that you can't blot and powder etc like I generally do when I want long wear. However, you CAN use Lipcote (£3.79 from Feelunique) over it and it works an absolute treat. I can eat, drink, and do whatever for about five hours and it looks great. So yes, I highly recommend Dragon Lady. It makes happy happen.

If you want to make happy happen. You can buy Nars Dragon Lady from the Nars Website here for £17.50 or from ASOS here for the same price. 

Review - Djv Beautinizer Volume Mascara

So the other day I received an promotional e mail from Cult Beauty detailing the pro's of 'the best mascara you'll ever use'. Now me, being a mascara junkie, immediately started salivating. I buy ANY mascara if I see a hint of a good review. I have had buzzing, spinning, mechanical, downright terrifying mascaras pass through my ownership. Cult Beauty have said if you, or I, don't love this mascara, we can have a full refund. Now, it's pretty pricey, for my budget, at £18, but I couldn't stop obsessing about it, so Cult Beauty got my £18, and I received my Djv Beautinizer Volume Mascara.

There she is, apparently the best mascara i'll ever own!

A little background on my lashes, they are thin, sparse, whatever you want to call it, and straight, and do NOT hold a curl. My usual routine includes Diorshow Maximiser, Shu Uemura Lash Curler, Diorshow Blackout Mascara and much combing with my Real Techniques lash and brow groomer. So, yes, rather a lot of elbow grease in getting my lashes looking acceptable.

The official website says....

Volume Lash is a lash coating plumper which seamlessly coats each lash with the thick, 3D film-coating formula. Features finer, uniformly sized particles that contain 2.4 times* the ingredients strengthening the adhesion to lashes for seamless volume with one stroke (*in-house comparison).
This quick-dry, budge-proof formula is also fragrance-free and leaves your eyes irritation-free.

So today, I tried this new mascara, without any lash primer, or lash curler, but with a lash comb. See those results.

My pathetic lashes. Look how short, thin and miserable they are!?

And here, again, straight, stubby and thin. Boo!

Lashes with two coats of DJV Beautinizer Mascara on and lash combed.

So, er, it's quite a dramatic change isn't it!? Now, this is the kind of results I like. A LOT. However, it didn't come without it's difficulties. One coat, I could see the claim of 'no clumps' wasn't quite true, as it did clump straight away. I gave my lashes a couple of combs through, and went in for a second coat, before the first dried as per the instructions, and combed again, and this was the result. Pretty impressive no?

Other downsides were that it did flake a little, and I did fall asleep for a little while due to feeling rather poorly, and I woke up and it was clump city. How often do you expect to look good after a sleep though? 

Frankly, I love the results so much, I don't care about the cons, because the pro's are so awesome. Also, taking it off was a breeze, just a warm flannel and off it came! 

If you want to jump on the mega volume train, you can join me by purchasing it from Cult Beauty here for £18, and if you hate it, you can get your money back.  I doubt you'll want to though, it's GRRREAT!!!!

MUA Pro-Base Make Up Fixing Mist Review

So I mentioned a week or so ago that I had purchased MUA Pro-Base Make Up Fixing Mist from Superdrug to add to my already pretty bustling arsenal of fixing spray products. I think i've given it enough usage and time now to give you a proper review. 

So, this is what the website claimed on this product....

‘Makeup Setting Sprays are used to create a luminous finish after you have applied your makeup. Not only do they allow your skin to remain hydrated, but they work as a moderate sealer, preventing your makeup from making a mess ‘- Karla Powell, MUA’s Head of Make-up Artistry

So no crazy over the top 'holds make up for a WEEK' claims here. I may have mentioned before, but I really like MUA as a brand. They aren't quite up there with Sleek for product quality for the price point, but they make a good quality product for a bargain price, making things such as a setting spray accesible to all budgets. But does this product perform....well, given its claims....yes!

So I use this product in two ways. Firstly after my primer and BEFORE my foundation, which means I can buff my foundation in and it'll glide over my skin and give me a longer dry down time to adjust coverage, whilst giving an extra luminosity. Secondly, after my foundation, and powder, which I roll into my skin to fill pores and fix my foundation with a powder puff from No 7, and then to stop that awful hyper matte look you get from the powder rolling, I apply the setting spray. 

The joy of this spray is it truly does give you a luminosity back, and it does help with the longevity of your foundation. What I would say is, ideally, this would suit a dry skin down to the ground, as it has hydrating properties, which, as an oily skinned lady, isn't particularly welcome. This isn't a spray I would use for a big sweaty night out, but it has become part of my daily routine, and it does do what it says it does, and it costs very little for the amount of product you get and also for how well it works. Okay, it's not up there with Skindinavia in quality, but it costs quarter of the price, so you can't complain really!

If you want to give this a go, it's now available at Superdrug or direct from MUA's website for £5. 

Sleek Make Up False Lashes...and my thoughts of falsies

So this happened a little while ago, but I only just started writing this blog guy recently so I didn't mention it. Sleek have started, in their wisdom, to add to their arsenal of low priced BRILLIANTLY performing products some false lashes, which I will be showing you below.

I have a weird relationship with false lashes. I basically only wear them when I do my own club. Never, ever anywhere else. No matter how big or special the gig, no lashes will be worn, but if I do my own night without, I feel naked and piggy eyed, and I shy from the camera, I truly become 'photosensitive' (ba doom tish).

I started with Mac side lashes, in my less expressive times, and progressed to using Girls Aloud Cheryl lashes every single week, to the point that I had piles of used ones stuff in drawers with the idea i'd reuse them. I never did. Then eyelure decided to be EVIL and discontinued the Cheryl's, replacing them with some wispy nonsense, and a nation of girls who liked cheap plasticy lashes wept together. For a while I used Sarah, and she was okay, but lacked in comparison. Then I found, with glee, that Hed Kandi, for some god forsaken reason, had moved into false lashes, and were doing a pair called Disco Heaven which were perfect for a wide eyed, Twiggy/Jean Shrimpton-esque babydoll mod look. Then, yep, eyelure decided to break my heart AGAIN. and discontinued these. Seems odd when they're happily churning out tons of really rather lame Katy Perry coloured lashes that look so unflattering!

So, to stop rambling, Sleek Make Up have decided to get in on the lashes game. Paying homage to feline beauty, which makes sense given the popularity of the 'cat eye liner' flick right now, there are eight different sets of lashes called Bengal, Burmilla, Persian, Ragdoll, Russian Blue, Savannah, Siamese and Sphynx. See image below....

Click to enlarge image

I myself invested in Bengal and Russian Blue, which are pretty similar to the Disco Heaven and Cheryl lashes I was mourning so. There's only one downside......the price. They are much more expensive than I would have ever expected from Sleek, especially as these aren't real human hair or anything approaching that. The most i'd paid before for lashes was £5, but these come in at £7 PLUS postage, as they're not available in Superdrug yet. However, the designs were spot on, so I couldn't say no! 

Bengal

Russian Blue

So i'm a big fan. If you would like to join me in the fanclub, you can purchase these direct from the wesbite here for £7 plus postage. 

Review/Update - Kerastase Intialiste

So as I mentioned here last week, I purchased Kerastase Intialiste in hopes of saving my half dead mane of pink, purple and blonde, with big chunks that have already fallen out via bad cheap dye jobs i've got done out of desperation and lack of dollars. I was told that I would pay in the end for those cheap fixes, and indeed I have, to the tune of £40. Dang.

Kerastase Intialiste, yesterday...

So, I wanted to update you on my results so far. The idea is that you're meant to put two drops from the pipette onto your scalp and work it through your hair after every wash and towel dry. I've done this for nearly two weeks of using it every time, I would like to say that I have indeed had positive results, although I am a little confused....

Two drops goes nowhere. Really nowhere, it covers nothing, so i'm going with the idea of two full squeezes of the pipette. I have very thin hair, half of which is shaved off one side, so it's not like being drunk up by galloons of lustrous hair. However, after the second application, I would say I have definitely noticed more volume to my hair. Not much more, not Dallas levels of volume by any stretch, but there is a definite fullness to it in comparison to normal.

As for the condition, well around the root area, that is smoother and feels softer and has more of a sheen, but the ends are still as terrible. I don't know why I expected a change to my whole head, down to the ends, which are shattered to within an inch of their life, but for the price, I did expect 'something' to improve. So far nothing has.....but I will keep you updated.

So in summary, I would say it's worth it for the root health and the body, but it's not going to change your life, and if, like me, you're on a budget, it'd probably be better to buy a volumising product and sleep in coconut oil which will cost you £2 from Superdrug or Boots. 

If you would like to give it a go, you can find out more from the Kerastase website HERE

Review - Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro shades 502 and 503 (swatches etc)

Hi.

When I read about these fabled Lip Maestro liquid lip products being released, I became obsessed. Every day I was checking for swatches, for evidence they were going to be 'the one' that made my pre dj make up routine quicker and more efficient, whilst lasting the night, being totes matte, and coming in awesome shades.

At £25 they're not the cheapest investment for a lip, but when I found I had two vouchers for House of Fraser at Westfield White City, it was the only thing on my mind. I had to own them! I wanted shades 500 (a beige nude), 502 (a raspberry) and 503 (a bright pink, red). I had to choose and since i've put a ban on myself buying any more beigey nudes, I went for the brights. See below.

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro(s) in shades 502 and 503

Excuse the bad lighting. I have swatched them below so you can get an idea of the intensity of these beautiful colours. 

(L-R) 502, 503

Above, my lips, and a crappy quality picture with both shades used to create a 3D lip effect.

As you can see, these shades are intense, full to bursting of pigment and they create this level of coverage with one swipe of the applicator. The finish is stunning, properly matte but with dimension, and the colours are perfection. But then.....oh.....

A downside. As I mention over and over, I want my make up to last. This is the formulas problem. It never actually dries down, so you permanently have the feeling of lip gloss on your lips, but in a VERY highly pigmented formula, and my GOODNESS does it like to travel around your lips. I had something to drink, and it was smeared around like someone had punched me in the mouth. If it could have maintained the above finish, I would have proposed to it, but alas, it shall not take me as a wife. 

So in summary, this product is partially incredible, partially made me very very sad indeed. With one hand it gaveth, and the other, it snatched away, and then smeared pink stuff all over my face. Cheers!

If you would like to give it a go, and you'll maybe have more luck than me, I bought these for £25 each at House Of Fraser HERE

Review - Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick = MY FAVOURITE NEW LIPSTICK

Ladies and gentleman, I am in love. I thought i'd been in love before, but this is the real thing, for I have met Stila Stay All Day Lipstick in the shade of Fiore. I am a creature of habit when it comes to lipsticks, for years I went for the nineties-esque nude, which involved either using Urban Decay Naked 24/7 Lip Pencil (the best nude EVER) with Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Tonkin (again, the best nude shade EVER). It basically makes your lips look massive and is universally flattering. I lacked in confidence to go for brights unless I was slim, and slim is a thing of my past, sadly, so I ignored them for a while.

However, in a brief sojourn in my life on one of those internet forums about make up when I was particularly looking for various reasons to avoid a real life (ha) I was introduced to my favourite of all time lipsticks, Cherries in the Snow by Revlon, which is the perfect balance between pink and red. However, if I want it to last all night, it takes ten straight minutes of lipliner, blot, powder, lipstick, blot, liner, powder, lipstick, blot blot blot blot, and then lipcote, and I want it to be matte not lustrous.

Who has that time!? Also, I know people say that reapplication is joyful, but when people are taking photos of you all the time, you don't always want that shot of you looking like a scruffy lush with patchy red pink lips....so I want something that'll LAST.....

However, move over guys, for my BFF for nights out FOREVER is going to be Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiore. See BELOW.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in shade Fiore

Swatched on my delightfully pale wrist

On my lips. Please don't be mean about my face! It's for info purposes only....

So as you can see, it's beautifully matte, and i've teamed it here with my most favourite lip pencil of all time, Sleek Eau La La Liner in Dragon Fruit. Those Sleek pencils are amazing, although I go through at least four a month because they ALWAYS break, they're actually so cheap it doesn't matter (that much). This picture of my big wide face was taken after two hours, plus having eaten dinner and drunk many glasses of lucozade and diet cola (it's what I do when i've got a migraine). Pretty good no??

So if you're looking for a fantastically electric pink, that will stay on for ages, be properly matte, not pretend (Models One Super Matte Brights i'm looking at YOU!) matte, BUY THIS NOW.

I bought this, with my own money, as always, from the Stila website HERE for £15

Sleek Eau La La pencil in Dragon Fruit was purchased from Superdrug for £4.99, but you can also get it from the website direct HERE.

Go forth. Enjoy some perfection. 

Insomnia = Illamasqua ltd ed rubber nailpolish review (bad manicure pics within!)

Hey ladies!!! (dingdingdingdingdingdingding!)

I can't sleep, and as well as having 'Hey Ladies!' by the Beastie Boys in my head (so good when the bass synth kicks in!),  I have decided to ward of the night time frustrations by posting my new nail polish joys. As mentioned before, I am TERRIBLE at doing my nails, I rip them off when they get too long, and I don't clean up mistakes. The reason for this is I don't really care, I just don't, it's a bonus i'm not still filling in my nails with permanent market and tippex, so frankly, y'know, whatever.

Anyway, I bought myself these beauties.

Illamasqua rubber finish nail polish in Prosperity

Illamasqua rubber finish nail polish in Nurture

I don't really go for traditional nail polish finish unless it's a silly colour, and I had a BIG love for the matt finish trend that happened a couple of years back. Rubber finish is just the next step up to AMAZE though frankly! The only downside with this stuff is you need at least three coats, otherwise there is a slight hint of opacity that you don't really want. Also, obviously you can't do a top coat, so you may be chipping by day two or three. It's pretty darn hardwearing though, and the colours are to DIE for. I couldn't afford more than two, but I would really love to get my hands on this colour too...

Illamasqua rubber finish nail polish in Serenity (bright turquoise)

Anyway, have a look at my badly done manicure below and enjoy the rubbery joys of this nailpolish.

My hand, ten minutes ago. Click to enlarge my bad photo.

I purchased this polish from the trusty Illamasqua website for £13.50 each. Click here to go to there.

BRAND FOCUS - Lazy Oaf (and rambling about weight, boozing etc)

I can talk about clothes can't I? Yes, I can, it's my blog. I'm obsessed with clothes, but due to having become a bit of a fat bastard over the past four years, I have realised that it doesn't matter what clothes I wear, i'll still not look how I want till I stop drinking ALL the wine and eating ALL the cake.

One label I can wear quite happily though, and that is the wonderful Lazy Oaf. I have loved them for many years,  and have four draws dedicated just to their products, which is pretty ridiculous I know. I also dj'd for one of their parties a few years back, which was fun. They were also incredibly sweet and donated stuff to me when I started my club four years ago which I gave away to competition winners. The thing about them that makes me love them more is how normal and down to earth they all seem, the nicest team you could hope to meet!

They are aimed at a richer customer now I think, prices have risen and the people they choose to associate the brand with are richer, but the clothes are still absolutely AMAZING so how can we be sad about anything? I made these purchases for my nearest and dearest for christmas.

All shirts from the Lazy Oaf x DC Batman collection

More Batman Collection. I couldn't get ENOUGH!!!

Lazy Oaf Kapow Leggings

Lazy Oaf Football T shirt 

Lazy Oaf Cutie Pie Sweatshirt

Lazy Oaf Green Canvas Jacket

Looking at this, it's no wonder I had to take out a major loan to pay my rent this month, what on earth was I thinking!? I love this stuff so much it feels like the most loving gift you can give! I have people in my life that are obsessed with super heroes, and people that are obsessed with, really good things, so why not share the love!? 

God I wish I still got my discount, but with fashion, it's the old adage of 'free to those who can afford it, very expensive to those who can't' (thanks Uncle Monty). Everyone was thrilled because of my Lazy Oaf splurge though, and they're the only brand that I wear over and over and over, till stuff is full of holes and dies and then I go insane trying to replace it on e bay. 

Future dream purchases would be....

Is there a better bag in existence? I'm not sure there is....

I have the matching t shirt, so this would make me a very happy lady.

So here ends my party political broadcast on behalf of the Lazy Oaf party.....

Review: Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation (swatches etc)

Hello! So some might have guessed if you've read any of my posts, that I am a foundation junkie. I buy foundation constantly. I can't afford it, but I do it, it's an illness. I am sucked into the whole media myth of glowing, even, beautiful perfection that will last all day and then some. I purchase every foundation with manic, excitable eyes, staring wildly and exclaiming 'THIS IS THE ONE!!! LOOK HOW IT SHINES!'. Picture that if you will....or don't.

Anyway, as i've said before, I desire coverage to even out my dirty looking pale skin, dimension, not full on shine but a glow, and colour match. I also want it to last on my oily skin. It IS too much to ask, I have four draws full of foundation to prove that.

So when I saw the fact that Becca, a brand that DOES cater for my paleness was bringing out a foundation of a more traditional formula, that was also water/sweatproof, I was sold. GODSPEED IT TO MY POSTBOX BECCA!!! And they did, for the not too generous price of £35 for 40ml, plus postage, because there's no local stockist now. So far, so expensive, but also hopeful.

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation. Sitting there, costing lots. 

I purchased it in shade Porcelain, which is described as a fair ivory,beige pink, which also happens to be the palest shade. This is it's claims....

"With a sophisticated formula containing sebum-absorbing properties and a soft-focus complex, the latest foundation by BECCA creates beautifully natural skin with subtle radiance.

Infused with Ejitsu Rose to promote radiance and reduce inflammation, and anti-oxidant ingredients to protect, the ultra-smooth Radiant Skin Foundation glides over skin to disguise imperfections whilst providing a medium, buildable coverage."

So it was basically all I was looking for. Satin, soft focus, buildable and smooth. Sadly I think this wasn't 'the one' for various reasons. It wasn't it's problem though, it was mine. It was pretty translucent, which, if you have good skin already it would just give you an airbrushed vaguely sheeny in a healthy way finish. It'd be awesome. However, for me this foundation did start to disintegrate off my nose within two hours, and i'd primed and used a setting spray. The amount of building I had to do to get the finish I desired, which was nice at first, meant that the product began to separate and look heavy, sadly. In comparison to the luminous skin colour, it's a hell of a lot of coverage, but not enough for an uneven lady such as I. As much as I'd like it to be! 

Here's le swatches......

Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation in Porcelain

Blended out. Note the lovely healthy sheen! 

So in conclusion, lovely as this guy is, he's not going to be the answer to my foundation prayers. As I say though, if you have skin that doesn't suffer from too much uneveness, this could be your holy grail, as it is a beautiful product, just not for my poor face.....

I purchased Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation from Becca's website here for £35

New! MUA Pro - Base make up fixing mist

If you've read any of my previous posts on foundation etc, you'll know that one thing I need is for my make up to last ALL night in the most horrendously humid conditions, through sweat, hot lights, aggressive chemically smokey atmosphere's and heat. Lots of heat.

I have bought many make up fixing sprays in my time, including Urban Decays recently repackaged (thank goodness, the old packaging was hella ugly) range of fixing sprays - All Nighter and De-Slick. I also own the Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix which I purchase from one of the few UK stockists of this brand, the make up junkies we dream Guru Make Up Emporium, as well Model In A Bottle, Model Co. Setting Spray, Collection (2000) Fix Me Up Spray, Mac Fix +, and finally Shu Uemura Deep Sea Water Mist and the original and one of the best i've used, Skindinavia Make Up Finishing Spray.

So you see, I own a lot of this stuff. I'd 'almost' call myself a bit of an expert. I shall, if anyone is interested, do a mammoth review of each if you wish!?

So today I picked up this guy above. I always love buying stuff from MUA, it's cheap as chips, and as a company, they listen to their customers and try and produce what we need. I'm going to give it a go this friday as i'm in islington at an all nighter situation. I read the blurb and it says this -

"Fixes your makeup in place all day long. Protects against heat, humidity, cold and windy conditions; whatever your day throws at you - your makeup will hold in place!"

I checked the ingredients at the back, and there's certainly a lot less in comparison to Urban Decay, but i'm willing to believe the blurb. Application is as follows - 

"Apply makeup as normal.
Shake your fixing mist and then hold at arms length and spray in a horizontal swishing motion until you have your desired cover. Avoid direct contact with eyes Moisterises and hydrates skin Micro-fine mist for easy application Up to 8 hours fixing time."

So it doesn't make any grand 16 hour promises like others, but it cost £4, as opposed to £20, so i'm okay with that. I mean, the blurb does have spelling mistakes in it so you can't really expect miracles from a budget company. 

I purchased Make Up Academy Pro Base Fixing Mist from Superdrug for £4. 

Review coming soon. 

In other news....Kerastase Intialiste

In other news, I picked up a bit of a haul today, which includes .....

Kerastase Initialiste

The reason I have bought Kerastase Initialise is due to the fact that my hair is DYING ON ITS ARSE. Absolutely DYING. For years I had orange hair, and I don't mean ginger, actual vivid orange which was achieved with L'Oreal Majicontrast in pure copper. I then dyed it bright pink, which mean from that point on i've had to bleach it, which was okay, until the day I made the biggest mistake of leaving my local hairdresser and deciding to go to east london and get an editorial hairdresser who does Vogue and ID etc do it. He OBLITERATED my hair with cheap badly mixed bleach, which fried the front and it broke off. Then he cut my razor sharp, been growing to achieve for TWO YEARS bob, into a dated, layered, floppy, droopy, unmanageable, mess. 

So yes, to try and save my thinning, breaking, vile mess of a bonce, I have spent too many pounds on this item which is apparently a miracle worker for weak, thin hair.  The idea is, you use 2 drops from the pipette for thin hair, 4 for thick, on just washed and towel dried hair. You apply it directly to the scalp, and then work it through to the ends and blow dry, and apparently you are left with thicker, stronger, more resilient hair. 

I will start using it as of friday and keep you updated on how good is it. My hair is thin, weak, breaking to buggery and I think the perfect subject to try this apparent miracle worker on. Fingers crossed for success!!

I bought this from Headmasters salon in wandsworth for £40. 

Do you want to see a shit manacure??

If that's what you're looking for, I am the woman to show you just that. I am a woman in her early mid thirties (yep, i'm at that age when I want to specify exactly where I am in that decade of my life) and I have never, ever EVER had a manicure, and pedicure, to me, is the most insane waste of money I could think of. When it comes to manicures, basically, I rip my nails off once they start annoying me when i'm dj'ing. Have a look at my dry handed (I mentioned I have OCD didn't I? I'm a handwasher par excellence) , unpainted nails below.

My nails, yesterday, looking rubbish.

So as I said the other day, I found via MUA in Superdrug these FUR EFFECT NAILS that give the texture of a syvanian family doll, or that lovely bit on the front of a cats nose. Sign me up for that! So yes, I bought them all, and they conveniently didn't arrive till after NYE, when they were released in the shops anyway, but I paid postage for that convenience. Whoop. Anyway, I painted my nails with various colours of nail polish from MeMeMe (Carefree), Revlon (Cherries in the Snow) and Barry M (np306),  and then applied MUA furry nails in Fluffy Bobbin and Boo Boo Fluff on one hand....

Yep, it's not a great job, but look at the vivid and the furry!

And the other hand was Fuzzy Fluff and Boo Boo Fluff.....

This hand is probably a bit better.

So, yes, there's my messy crappily done manicure. I told you i'm rubbish at being a girl. However, this stuff looks cool. As I said, I don't tend to buy into the whole culture of manicured perfect nails, I have too much shit to do to mess about spending money on have claws, not that I deny anyone the right to have them. If I accidentally scratched a record or accidentally paused one due to having long talons I'd feel like a total gimp, so I choose not to. 

Here's the downside of the cool nails though, the furry ones that is. They are a two day thing at most. They do get a bit mucky, and they wear thin quite quickly, and obviously you can't put a topcoat on because it'd look like misery. 

All in all tho, this stuff is great. It's vivid colour wise, and looks like a toy squirrel.