Important Update

Hey everyone!

My blog has been so inactive lately! I'm very sorry for this and I try to come up with interesting posts for you guys as often as I can. However, I haven't had a lot of time lately because of the end of semester work that my classes have given me. Alongside the work, I haven't had enough money to put into buying new products for reviews on my blog.

At least until the end of the semester, I'm going to be on a bit of a hiatus (we'll see how that goes; every time I say that I magically come up with a billion posts to write!).

HOWEVER. I have some exciting news! Part of the reason why I haven't done well at recording and posting videos for my followers is because I've been living in my aunt and uncle's house since I got here. It's been a temporary situation and I haven't had good filming areas or equipment. But I'll be moving into a house with my brother at the beginning of April if all goes well! This means that I can finally unpack everything (all my stuff from England will be arriving soon too!) and get a little office set up, as well as a makeup area! So I can start to take my blogging more seriously.

Also keep in mind that I run several other blogs, so I'm trying to keep up with a lot of things all at once! The main other blog that I'm trying to keep up with is my film blog (I'm a film student) and that requires a hell of a lot of work.

Bare with me! By the middle or end of April I'm hoping so have a tutorial-filming area put together and my iMac to edit on instead of my laptop. I promise to have more regular posts then :)

Tutorial: Wintery Blues

Another tutorial! 

First of all, I apologize for the less-than-great quality of both my video and my photos. I film off of my MacBook because that's the only way I can see if I'm in camera or not. My point-and-shoot, though it has amazing quality in comparison to my computer, is just too hard to ensure that I stay in the screen. I've tried a couple of different set-ups, but unfortunately, this is the only way I have to film tutorials. 

When I'm filming, I'm using a mirror that stands slanted, like I picture frame. This makes me have to face down so I can see myself in the mirror. Therefore, I again apologize for any time when I may lean too far down and you can't see everything I'm doing. I'm working on fixing this and will be investing in a better mirror soon. 

Finally, I apologize for the photos. I use my point-and-shoot, which I love and it takes amazing pictures, but I'm one of those people who has a billion bad angles on camera (not so much in person necessarily). So this doesn't help me take good pictures (I broke my nose years ago and it never got fixed; crooked nose does not like to make appearances on the internet). Though that's just me being whiny! :) Mainly, it's difficult for me to get a good photo of my full-face makeup because I, again, can't see what's in the screen, and the lighting in my room (the sun) isn't very reliable. I'm also working on this. 

So! These were the only half-decent pictures I was able to get this time. Hopefully the colour isn't too washed out and you can see what it looked like for the most part! Also, I added transition effects in the editing cuts, as well as the name of my blog in the bottom right corner; should they stay or should they go? 

Products Used:

Eyes:

Two Faced Shadow Insurance

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk'

Inglot Eyeliner Gel Matte #88

Inglot Freedom System Shadow in 'Matte 367'

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Illegal Cargo'

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Warm & Smoky'

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Idol Eyes'

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Snowball'

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in 'Perversion'

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in 'Binge'

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in 'Waterproof' 

Cheeks: 

Benefit Face Powder in 'Hervana'

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Phloof!'

Lips:

MAC Frost Lipstick in 'Soft Sable'

MAC Dazzleglass in 'Pleasure Principle'

Tutorial: Neutral Purple

Products Used: 

Eyes:

Two Faced Shadow Insurance

BH Cosmetics 120 Palette: 

Inglot Freedom System Shadow in 'D.S.496'

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in 'Perversion'

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in 'Ransom'

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in 'Stray Dog' 

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk' 

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in 'Clean Definition'

Cheeks:

Benefit Face Powder in 'Hervana'

Lips:

Stila Lip Glaze in 'Grapefruit 07'

China Glaze Haunting Collection

Swatches of 'It's Alive' up in the next post!

Brown & Bronze + First Real Tutorial!

FIRST REAL VIDEO TUTORIAL IN 6 MONTHS!
If you can even call my half-assed attempt at a tutorial from 6 months ago a proper video at all haha! I don't think it even counts.

So I decided to go ahead and film a tutorial for once because, let's face it, a lot of people prefer to see videos than have to read a lot. So I'm going to be trying this out once in awhile. I can't promise that it will become a regular thing (especially since I'm never alone in the house and I would rather nobody be there to hear me talking to myself lol) but I will definitely be doing a video here and there. As long as these are well received and not completely dumped on!


So! Here's the look!

I'm very sorry the quality of the photos isn't very good, but my lighting (or lack of) wasn't cooperating. So my computer webcam is going to have to do for now.


Product List: 


Primer: 
Two Faced Shadow Insurance


Shadows:
MAC Paint Pot in 'Constructivist'
Urban Decay's shadow in 'Chase'
Inglot Matte #
Inglot D.S. #


Eyeliners:
Stila Smudgestick in 'Stingray'
Urban Decay's 24/7 Liner in 'Corrupt'


Mascara: 
L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof


Blush: 
Benefit's Face Powder in 'Dallas'


Lips (applied before video):
ChapStick (Apple flavoured!)

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics & Sleek Makeup

Some of you beauty nerds may have heard of OCC, and if you have them you most definitely will know what I'm talking about when I say "Lip Tars". 

Now, I don't have any of these, but I seriously wish I did. These are meant to be used in minuscule amounts, but provide intense colour. I wish I could buy all 30 of them (which you can...for $350!) or even just a couple, but they each cost $13 and that's a little steep for me. Considering that I would have to pay for shipping as well and would buy more than just one. 

However, seeing as how you use only a tiny bit, I think it would be worth your money and it would last you quite a long time. There is also a product by Sleek Makeup called a Pout Paint, which works under the same idea. These are far more affordable at £4.99 and more convenient for me since I live in England. They only have eleven shades though, so that's a bit of a let down in comparison with OCC, but that's something you can get past by mixing them! 

Leesha at Xsparkage.com has recently done a video comparing the two which was really helpful to me in deciding which I would purchase first. Rather than go all out and spend the money on Lip Tars, I think I'll be trying the Pout Paints first. Maybe once I move to America I'll be more inclined to try out the Lip Tars. 

They are both on my cosmetics wishlist! 

Obsessive Compusive Cosmetics:

http://www.occmakeup.com/lips.html

Sleek Makeup:

http://www.sleekmakeup.com/en/products/pout-paint-pin-up-sleek-makeup-485.aspx

Xsparkage: 

http://www.xsparkage.com/?p=3725#more-3725    (Pout Paints)

http://www.xsparkage.com/?p=3753#more-3753    (Newest Lip Tars)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLB1zNhuZCE&feature=feedu    (Comparison Video)

Great Article

http://www.beautylish.com/a/vpimy/essential-beauty-products

I recommend you all take a look at this article from Beautylish. It's fantastic and I believe it really puts things in perspective for people who aren't as experienced in how to use makeup and does so in a fun way!

I thought it was a perfect guideline for helping beginners to put together a basic makeup kit as well.

Definitely take a look, and if you haven't signed up to Beautylish, I recommend you do. It's a great place to find tips and tutorials by other makeup gurus. You can make your own profile, add pictures, videos and link to your twitter account, etc. I think it's awesome :)