Lush Noir Henna Review

Hey Dolls,

So since I have begun studying what goes into products I have made a conscious effort to cut out as many chemical and synthetic ingredients as possible and so I decided to get my hair cut short to remove my poor chemical damaged hair and switch to natural henna dyes. 

I decided to go with Lush's henna brick in the shade Noir which is a blueish black shade. 

Lush's hennas come in a solid 325g block like this

Shade Noir

You chop or grate the amount of henna you need and mix it with boiling water and stir until you have the consistency of melted chocolate and then apply it to clean, dry hair.

(Please do a skin test prior to colouring as, unsurprisingly the main ingredient is HENNA which can cause severe allergic reactions. )

This particular shade contains Indigo which is what gives the colour its dark intensity so you can cover your hair to stop the indigo from oxidising if you wish for a lighter tone or leave it uncovered for a cooler, darker tone.

I leave the henna on for about six hours until it is set SOLID and rinse it out with warm water. If I can I avoid using shampoo to wash it out I will as the colour will continue to deepen and develop for over 24 hours so I wish to avoid stopping that from happening. 

This is my hair naturally. A medium brown with golden highlights and red undertones.

This is my hair after using Noir. It is MUCH darker and cooler in tone which I love. Also my poor camera was very confused by the level of shine my hair now has. It is in fantastic condition.

I am in love with henna dyes but there are a few points I need to mention before you rush out and buy one:

Henna is a commitment. Once you have used a henna dye you can not go back to a chemical dye until the henna has been cut out of your hair. Henna and permanent dyes DO NOT MIX.

Secondly henna will not offer full grey coverage. 

That really is it for the negatives for me. I personally love this coulour and am going to stick to using natural colours. The condition they leave your hair in is indescribable. 

Lush Sweetie Pie Review

Hello Beauties.

So as I mentioned in my last post I have recently started working at Lush and today I am reviewing one of my favourite smelling products. Sweetie Pie. 

One of my favourite things about Lush is the fact that they come out with some really unique products and their shower jellies have to top the list for me. 

It is such a bizarre, fun product. It smells divine. Very similar to The Comforter bubble bar. One thing I will say, the smell brings to mind blackcurrants much more than cherries.

It is a gorgeous royal purple filled with glitter and exactly like a great big plate of jelly. It can be quite hard to use as it is so slippery but you cam chop it up in to cubes and little pieces in advance (much easier than trying to tear it). 

You can use sweetie pie as a shower gel or shampoo and as one of the main ingredients is seaweed it is very softening to the skin or hair. 

I love the quirkiness of this product and feel it would be a great gift for kids as well. 

Secret Diary Of A Male Beauty Blogger (part 1)

Hello Dolls! 

Today I am writing something a little bit different. I am writing more of a personal diary post. Hence the HIGHLY original title. 

Wearing the gorgeous natural violet lenses from spookyeyes.com

Firstly I have taken it upon myself to loose some weight. I am quite slim but not particularly fit so I have since decided to develop some tone and improve my fitness. To manage this I am cutting myself down to two meals per day the latter only being soup. Whilst I am not following any particular diet I do like the fact that eating soup delivers a hit of flavour and all my main nutrients (e.g protein, carbs, fibre etc). I'm pleased to say that after about a week of my stomach thinking "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" it is now used to the change in diet and seems perfectly happy with it. I am also already seeing results in terms of my fitness. 

I am also have been offered a job with the gorgeous girls at my local Lush. Frequent readers of my blog will know Lush is my all time favourite brand. I had a trial shift which I adored. The staff are some of the nicest people I have met and the customers are sweeties. 

I am also starting my L3 NVQ in Make-Up Artistry this September. I am so excited to be able to get this qualification. I never went to secondary school and was educated outside of the traditional schooling system so this is a HUGE achievement for me. 

I am also starting to hunt for flats in the gorgeous city of Cardiff. I really can't wait to see more of Cardiff and make up my mind as to whether I wish to live there in future years. 

I currently have a M.A.C and Illamasqua post in the works and it is fair to say that once I start working at Lush you can expect one or two Lush posts. 

I also wanted to say a HUGE thank you for everyone's continued support. 

xx

My Most Played Albums

Hey Guys!

As I have had SUCH an awesome response to every music related post I have done I have decided to list my five most played albums. These albums are my personal favourites and the ones I keep going back to time and time again. It also shows what a weird contradictory taste I have in music.

5 Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster

Remember when Lady Gaga focused on writing songs with good lyrics rather than self absorbed lyrics with bad wordplay about sex and drugs? Me too, I miss it dearly. I love the gothic theme and industrial pop beats. She was by far at her vocal and lyrical best on this record. Every single track is a standout and I LOVE it. 

 Top Tracks:

Bad Romance.

Speechless.

Monster.

Check out the video for Bad Romance below.

4 Katy Perry: Teenage Dream

Look up the definition of "sugar pop" and you will find a picture of this album. Pop music doesn't get cheesier or more nauseatingly cheerful than this. In fact, dare I say it is so sweet it could rot your teeth and give you diabetes. However it is the reason I have grown to love it so much. It is just perfect to run to. In fact I defy anyone to think "Why am I putting myself through this just to stay fit" with Katy singing about having sand in her stilettos and wanting to see a guys peacock (yes really). 

Top Tracks:

Teenage Dream

E.T

Who Am I Living For?

3 Natalia Kills: Perfectionist 

This is one of my all time favourite records. I am obsessed with it. Who knew songs about murdering your ex and monarch mind control could be so damn catchy? Kills has a unique voice and an impressive range. She is an impeccable songwriter  whose lyrics angle towards the dark side...which is unusual for a pop singer. Every song is a masterpiece and let me tell you, this is one HELL of a break up album

Top Tracks:

Mirrors.

Zombie.

Wonderland.

Kill My Boyfriend. 

2 Motionless In White: Creatures

This has to be one of my all time favourite albums. I adore the album art, the lyrics, the vocals, the music. It is pretty much the perfection of a metal album. I love the Tim Burton inspired lyrics and the chaotic and atmospheric synth. It is such a well written and composed record (with the exception of the rather lackluster City Lights). Certainly one for anyone who's a fan of gothic music or culture. 

Their single Creatures also has one of the best conceptual music videos I have come across. 

Top Tracks:

Creatures.

Abigail.

Undead Ahead.

Immaculate Misconception.

1 Marilyn Manson: Holy Wood (in the shadow of the valley of death)

This has to be one of my all time favourite albums. EVER. I love how intricately the theme runs through not just the lyrics but the music and album art. It is one of the best attacks on modern culture imaginable. It is just a sad fact that all these years later it is still relevant. Every track is cinematic and epically produced and it sets the stage perfectly for Manson's macabre tale. It is certainly Manson's best album and I would wager one of the best rock albums written. 

Top Tracks:

The Nobodies.

Disposable Teens.

The Fight Song.

The Love Song.

So there we go guys, these are my top five favourite albums. Are any of these favourites of yours too? Let me know in the comments.
xx

Boy Epic Tell Me Lies Review

Hey Guys, 

As promised I am reviewing the latest film by independant artist Boy Epic. His latest project is titled Tell Me Lies which has been teased on social media the last few weeks with some frankly awesome promotional posters. 

From the posters I got a bit of a Romeo & Juliet vibe which sort of translates into the storyline. (if Romeo & Juliet challenged films like Hostel for swearing). 

The film has a different vibe and arc than his previous trilogies (Skynova and Who Is Parker Banks?) focusing more on visual imagery than music as it sadly loses the 3 songs tying in to each part of the film format.

One thing I have always loved about Epic's art is the fact he is not afraid of offending or to push boundaries. There is nothing like opening a short film with a waterboarding scene to concrete that sentiment. Again, like everything he has put out before the cinematography and direction is FLAWLESS. As are the locations and characterization.

He is also a very talented actor. I have worked with many models and actors in my career as a makeup effects artist  and few could convey "dark and sexy" as well as Epic. In fact everyone in this film plays their part to perfection. 

The one song in the film "Tell Me You Love Me" is hauntingly sung and beautifully written. Again testament to his skill as a songwriter. 

The whole film is superbly scripted. The only fault I could give is that the blood in the film is alarmingly pink in some scenes (but then I am slightly OCD when making my own fx blood). 

Please be aware the film contains scenes of violence, disturbing content, mild nudity and strong language.

You can follow Boy Epic on YouTube, Twitter (@Boyepic) and Facebook.

I really hope people get behind and support this unique and talented artist.

  

MAC Matte Review

Hey Beauties, 

Today is my first MAC Cosmetics post since I started this blog. Personally I have never been a fan of their products for personal and ethical reasons. Let me start by saying MAC is owned by Estée Lauder  which does test on animals. I am also not a fan of MAC because I believe a "professional" brand should not have to rely so heavily on celebrity endorsements. My clients do not care if Rihanna designed their lipstick or that Nicki Minaj designed their eyeshadow. I feel it cheapens the range. 

I do really like the black packaging with the white writing. It looks sleek, professional and elegant. It certainly doesn't grab your attention on the shelf but then I could say the same for all MAC packaging. 

The product itself is packaged in a clear squeezy tube with a precision tip. I do really like the packaging and I love that you can see exactly how much you have left. HUGE bonus. You get 25ml of product which considering the average size of foundation is 30ml is quite a lot. You need a TINY amount of product to cover the entire face or just selected areas that are prone to get oily (e.g the T zone). 

There are very few ingredients. Nine to be exact. Most of which are silicones. 

The main ingredients are Dimethicone (a silicone) Isodidecane (a hydrocarbon which makes products more blendable and feel lighter on the skin) and Trisiloxane (a broad spectrum UV filter.) 

You can use it under foundation as a primer, on the eyelid to prime the lid for eyeshadow OR over foundation to act as a liquid setting powder. 

This is a great product which has SO many uses. I feel like it will last me a lifetime too. 

Lovea Green Clay Mask Review

*This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at www.mypure.co.uk all opinions are my own.*

Hey Dolls,

So today I am reviewing the 2nd product I received from the gorgeous folk at MyPure. This time from a brand I have not previously heard of called Lovea. It's a green clay face mask. Which is PERFECT for oily or combination skin. 

Lovea describes the product as follows:

"Clay has been used for centuries to purify the skin and remove toxins.  Under a microscope clay looks like a giant porous sponge, it attracts toxins and then binds them deep inside the clay ready to be rinsed off the skin.

Lovea make 3 different clay masks for sensitive skin, dry skin and oily skin.  Choose:

• Green clay for oily skin 
• Yellow clay for dry skin
• Pink / Rose clay for sensitive skin

Apply in a thin layer all over the face avoiding eye area.  Leave on for 5 minutes without letting the mask dry on the skin.  Rinse with warm water and then apply your usual moisturiser or Lovea Pure Oil (Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil, Almond Oil or Borage Oil)."

Okay so that was less of a description and more of them plugging their own products but...you get the general idea. 

Ingredients: 

Green Clay: Illite, Aqua, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Betaine, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Corylus Avellane Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyepsilon-Lysine, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Usnate. Yellow Clay: Kaolin, Aqua, Illite, Glycerin, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, CI77492, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polyepsilon-Lysine Rose/Pink Clay: Kaolin, Aqua, Glycerin, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Aloe Bardanensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polyepsion-Lysine.

I have to admit I was a little bit concerned when I saw not one but FIVE different alcohols in the ingredients list. I usually avoid high alcohol content products like the plague...however I personally find it does not dry out my skin and it is marketed for oily skins after all...

It is organic, vegan and cruelty free so that is a HUGE plus for me as I only use natural cruelty free products. You get 75ml of product in a squeezy tube which looks natural and wholesome. 

It is a lovely creamy formula which feels gorgeously cool on the skin. It has a lovely earthy scent which I am quite fond of. It reminds me of the smell of a woodland walk after the rain, musty and earthy yet pleasantly so. 

One thing that does confuse me is that it instructs you to leave it on for five minutes without letting it dry on your skin. Now, where the problem lies is the fact it dries within a minute of applying it to my face. In fact I am more than a little confused as to how you don't "let it dry on your skin"....you certainly can't stop it from doing so. 

When I wash it off my skin feels fresh, tighter and clearer and it certainly helps clear pores too. I find it as, if not more effective than Lush's popular "Love Lettuce" face mask. So that is a HUGE endorsement. 

For the very reasonable price of £6.99  it is a brilliant face mask for those of us with teenage or oily skins and I have seen a dramatic reduction on breakouts since I started using it. 

You can buy this product HERE from MyPure. You can also follow +Mypure Natural Beauty  on twitter at @mypure

MADARA Purifying Foam Review

*This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at www.mypure.co.uk all opinions are my own.*

Hey Beauties,

Today I am reviewing a product from the organic, natural brand MADARA. I wish to start by saying that when it comes to skincare both personally and professionally I am a huge believer in the fact that natural is better. I am loathe to use harsh, chemical products filled with acids and alcohols on either my own or my clients skin. 

If you are not familiar with MADARA they are an organic, cruelty free brand of natural plant based cosmetics based in Europe. They made huge waves at the 2014 Natural Health & Beauty Awards and have been receiving a lot of hype lately so I was curious to see why. So I chose to review their Purifying Foam Cleanser. 

This is how they describe the product:

"Rich and soft foam with Northern Yarrow extract deeply and gently purifies the skin. Removes make-up. Regulates oily zones while soothing dry areas. Skin feels refreshed and soft. Suitable for use around the eyes." 

Ingredients:

Aqua Sodium Cocamphoacetate Rosa Damascena (Rosa) Flower Water* Alcohol Glycerin*** Lactic Acid Surcose Cocoate Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract* Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract* Chamomilla Recutita (Camomile) Flower Extract* Aroma**

First off let me start by saying I ADORE the packaging. It is sleek, hygienic and salon ready. I could certainly see it stocking the shelves of an exclusive country salon or spa. 

As a cleanser it is fantastic. It literally melts make-up off of the skin without it being stripping. It somehow manages to control oily areas whilst not drying the drier areas of my skin which is something I have NEVER found in another cleanser. I can only assume they used sorcery to accomplish this magical effect. 

It is also suitable to use around the eyes and it does remove eye make-up very effectively. Even my waterproof gel eyeliner. 

It's a very light foam texture when you pump it on to your hand. I was expecting it to be a very thick heavy foam kind of like shaving cream but it is very airy and light. It dissolves and spreads beautifully onto the skin leaving it feeling smooth, refreshed and clean.  

I would certainly recommend it for skins which are problematic or sensitive. 

You can buy the product HERE for £12 from www.mypure.co.uk

You can also follow the lovely people at MyPure on Twitter to stay up to date with new products and offers @Mypure 

Lush Ocean Salt Review

Hey Dolls,

Today is my long awaited new Lush post. I am reviewing their face and body scrub Ocean Salt in its new self preserving formula. 

I am a HUGE fan of Lush products, I love the fact that they are fresh, cruelty free and all natural. I also love that they are comparatively really cheap compared to a lot of natural cosmetics. 

I have heard a lot of people say amazing things about Ocean Salt so I decided to pick it up when I was in my local lush store. 

The main ingredient in this product is, surprisingly enough...sea salt. Which is fantastic for the skin and is renowned for its healing properties. Of course salt is VERY drying so Lush added in a load of different butters and oils to keep the skin soft and supple. 

It smells amazing. Seriously. Kind of like a cocktail you'd have on an exotic beach... It smells strongly of citrus (I personally pick up the smell of limes) coconut and the sea breeze (probably due to all the sea salt). It does work amazingly as a face scrub however due to the salt and alcohol content I only use it every other to every three days. 

I know Lush do have an Alcohol Free version online but I much prefer to see and try something in store. 

This is certainly one of my new faves from Lush. The smell is divine and it keeps your skin smooth and feeling fresh.