The trouble with blogging...

Maybe it's just me... but there's been a reason i haven't been doing much blogging lately. I was an avid reader of make up blogs (and have been for a longtime), always keen to read real peoples reviews of products that are open and honest.

Lately when i look at my blog list it is full of posts promoting the same brands and products where companies have quite obviously sent out freebies to tons of blogs at the same time. It just gets boring reading glowing reviews over and over for the same brands.

Beauty blogs these days seem to have been saturated by PR companies, sponsors and free samples where the reviews are always complimentary and integrity (in my eyes) seems to get lost. I much prefer to read reviews from people who have spent their own money on the products, because i know that they will be 100% honest and more objective-it just stands to reason.

I'm not accusing bloggers of being dishonest, but it stands to reason you would be more inclined to like something had you received it for free (and especially if you want to stay in their good books for more freebies). I don't feel jealous- i have been offered samples in the past which i have politely declined as i don't want to be used as a marketing tool. I only recommend products that i have spent my money on and i genuinely like. I don't blog to get free things, i blog because i enjoy it.

I think my thoughts on this have come to a head in the last few weeks. I am a paying subscriber of Glossy box and am getting increasingly annoyed with the fact that they seem to send free boxes out to bloggers BEFORE paying customers get there's so they can ruin the suprise of whats in the box.

They have just recently recruited a group of bloggers as ambassadors- who every month will recieve a free box a week before paying customers do. As far as i'm concerned this is surely not going to go down well with subscribers like myself who enjoy the suprise of opening my box and not knowing whats inside. Somuch so it has led me to decide to unsubscribe.

I feel that these days bloggers seem to be used as just another marketing ploy. And it gets tiresome...very tiresome indeed.

I would love to know if anyone has any opinions on this... do you agree or disagree?

Shell (^_^)

You're A Firework

November the 5th is one of my favourite nights of the year. I love the history of it, dressing up in gloves and scarves, fireworks, bonfires, sparklers- everything about it! Fireworks are also a great inspiration in the world of fashion and make up too... Here are some inspired pictures...

Have a great night!

(^_^)

My October favourites

• Elf Matte lip colour in coral. Beautiful colour, and lasts really well on lips.


• Wet'n'wild single eyeshadows in nutty & brulee, and trio. Smooth, incredibly pigmented and easy to blend, perfect for subtle everday looks-love them!


• Dermalogica lip complex. Since getting this in my glossybox i've used it everynight. It's so thick and moisturising.


• Harajuku Lovers 'Jingle G'. My favourite kind of scent- warm, Wintery, and rich with Vanilla.


• Boots 17 wild metallic eyes in midnight blue. Slightly moussy, and nicely pigmented this works well for a base foreyeshadow.


• Clinique lash power mascara. With such a tiny brush i was stunned at how thick this made my lashes.


• NYX round lipstick in Indian Pink. A great everyday colour that i can just chuck in my bag.


• Boots 17 magnetized nail polish in lilac. The cheaped version of the magnetic polishes around, a lovely colour, and gives an amazing almost velvet like textured effect.


• The Balm frat boy blush. A nice nude/peachy colour thats great for my pale skin tone. A little goes a very long way.
  

(^_^)

Style Icon: David Bowie

I always enjoy doing 'style icon' posts and thought it was about time i featured a man. Of course my obvious first choice was music legend David Bowie. The man who made men in make up cool. He created all sorts of stage characters, and constantly pushed the boundaries with fashion and make up.

Everyone knows the iconic Ziggy Stardust persona with the striking lightening bolt across the face, and spiky red hair. It was the iconic look that featured on the 1978 album Aladdin Sane.

I have been a fan of Bowie from an early age, thanks to my Dad who is a huge fan. I remember looking at his vinyl albums in fascination of this intriguing character, who looked like no one i'd ever seen. It was as if he was from another planet.

Taking inpiration from sci-fi, glam, and androgyny he created alter ego's and flamboyant stage looks that seemed to enhance his music even more.

"Offstage I'm a robot. Onstage I achieve emotion. It's probably why I prefer dressing up as Ziggy to being David."

Out of all his looks and alter egos my personal favourite has to be his Ashes to Ashes clown, I love the eerieness of both the song and video.

David Bowie has visible influences (style wise) in todays popular culture-not least in pop superstar Lady Gaga, who takes obvious inspiration from Bowies avante garde looks.

" I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring. "

(^_^)

A Little Review of HD Brows palette in Vamp...

This is a review of the HD Brows palette that i recieved on my September Glossybox. The RRP is £19.95.

First off, i am quite a fan of the packaging- sleek, smart, and expensive looking. The perfect size for travel with a nice big mirror inside. The product itself contains 4 powders- a highlight shade (very similar to Macs Brulee), 2 brow colours, and a dark colour that can all double up as eyeshadows. All are matte, except for the the dark 'carbon' shade which is matte with glitter.

The shadows are a nice smooth texture, which are easy to blend, and the choice of brow colours are a cool toned brown 'dark brown' -very similar to my brow colour of choice, Macs Mystery, and a warm toned brown called 'rich brown'. Most people will find due to skin tone, they will only be able to use one of these on the brows.

As eye shadows i like these a lot. Perfect for neutral, everyday looks and perfect for travel/ chucking in your make up bag as a multi tasker. The palette does come with a double ended brush which is of no use as far as im concerned :)

Overall, i do really like this product but think the £19.95 price tag is perhaps a little excessive.

4/5

(^_^)

Halloween Edition

I'm not really one for celebrating Halloween, but i am a big fan of theatrical make up, and wanted to show you some interesting/impressive/scary/fun make up i've seen recently....

(^_^)

A little Review of Soap & Glory Daily Double...

It's probably a long time coming, but the ever popular skincare brand Soap & Glory have launched a make up range in Boots. To be honest, i have never used a Soap & Glory product before- due to sensitive skin i just avoid anything with scent.
The make range on the other hand did interest me. The stand had a full range of products, in my opinion pitching itself as a more affordable Benefit. Having said that, for a 'drugstore' brand it was still on the pricey side.

So, one of the items i picked to try was the Daily Double all day colour lidshadow and linerstick pencil (bit of a mouthful!) in velvet pink/brownie. Basically a double ended jumbo pencil. From the above picture you can see the pigmentation is very good. A nice solid colour, and velvety almost powder like texture. The staying power of this product is VERY good- a swatch on my hand was still visable a day later after trying everything to remove it.

On the eyes this applies very well, and it's nicely blendable. The darker colour is supposed to be used for liner, but this is near impossible due to the hugeness of the pencil-it allows for no precision or neatness. I ended up using this as a corner and crease colour, with a different liner and it worked perfectly.

Because the product dries, there is no movement or creasing like you would get from most cream products. It's hard to explain but it dries to almost powder- so you have to blend quick!

This cost me £8 which i think is a bit steep, but overall i'm impressed and would recommend.
4/5

(^_^)

Superheroes & Villians

Seeing as Halloween is on it's way, and there are make up tutorials everywhere i thought i would do a short post picturing some great make up ooks of some of my favourite comic book heroes and villains. They serve as great 'dressing up' inspiration.

Catwoman (as played by Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992's Batman Returns)

Poison Ivy (as played by Uma Thurman in 1997's Batman and Robin) one of my all time favourite villains- i think it's the red hair...

Gail (played by Rosario Dawson in Sin City)

Mystique (as played by Rebecca Romijn in X Men) Personally my favourite from the comic and cartoons was always Rogue but brought to life this make up is pretty impressive.

And of course i couldn't leave out my all time childhood favourite: She-ra. I always loved the fact she had a double life.... and a unicorn!

(^_^)

Happy Kawaii Sunday!

Happy Kawaii Sunday! (^_^)

HUGE BLOG SALE! WOOO

I have had a huge sort through my make up and have just put up a blog sale. Why not take a look here, or by clicking the link above (under my header). There's stuff from Estee Lauder, Mac, Sleek, Illamasqua, Gosh, Clinique, NYX etc...

(^_^)

Why i love Sleek Pout Paints....

One of my favourite new products of 2011 has to be Sleek Pout Paints. With a dazzling array of different shades they are potentially the only lip products you ever need. You can make pretty much any colour you want with these, and i have had loads of fun mixing them all up and coming up with different shades.

They are nice and affordable, and you get tons of product. The are smooth and creamy, and VERY pigmented. Personally, i love mixing these with vasaline to make custom lipbalms. So, now i shall scare you with lots of pictures of my face in 'wacky' poses to show a small selection of lip shades i've got out of these pout paints!

(^_^)

New Things...

Just because it's easier to do hauls in video form, here's some new things (^_^)

Fashion Rebel

Right Now i love leopard print, wearing black, rocker boots, messy hair, vampy make up, attitude. Inspiration:

(^_^)

My September Favourites...

Here are the things i've loved this month....

• (l-r) Avon cherry blossom daily hair refresher. Smells beautiful, and fresh on tired hair, way better than Batiste and the like.


• Maybelline dream creamy foundation. Easy to apply, and looks and feels light and natural.


• Bourjois intense eyeshadow shade 3. Subtle daytime eyeshadow with sparkle, and strong pigmentation.


• Estee Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood lipgloss. Soft pink colour, and not too sticky.


• NYC Natural Matte foundation. See my review a few posts ago.


• H&M Nail polish in Come Rain. Pewter with sparkle, perfect September colour!


• Boots 17 Nail polish in Fury. The most beautiful bronze i've seen, literally like liquid metal.


• NYC Chroma Face Glow in Sunstone. Compliments my freckles and red hair perfectly. Like a Mac MSF at about a 1/20 of the price :)


• Scandalous Rock Chick Wave Spray. If you have curly hair you have to try this. Gives my hair great volume, and defined curls.
  

(^_^)