Lady Gaga Eau De Gaga Review

Hey Guys, 

Today I am reviewing a fragrance that has got SO many people excited, it is the second release from Lady Gaga's Haus Laboratories which is titled Eau De Gaga. 

The first thing that struck me with this before I even smelt it (Yes I ordered it before sniffing it, don't judge me) is that it seems very different from her first release Fame (Black Fluid). It is packaged in a much more conservative looking box which looks very retro and understated. The only thing that does bug me a little about it as I like keeping things in their box is the fact it smudges and shows fingerprints worse than a phone screen. 

This is how Haus Laboratories officially described the concept in the press release:

"The striking EAU DE GAGA bottle mirrors the perfume by uniting masculine and feminine design aesthetics. Its stark lines and sleek black lacquered finish deliver a bold statement in simplicity."  

I do have to agree, it does somehow manage to be both masculine but feminine at the same time which I personally do like. It lacks the theatrics of Fame but that may appeal more to her casual fans or the ordinary perfume shopper. 

The actual scent is described as follows:

EAU DE GAGA, the dangerously daring new fragrance from Lady Gaga and her fragrance powerhouse, Haus Laboratories, represents the future of a scent that appeals to both men and women, where nothing is off limits.

EAU DE GAGA, is built around a beautiful heart of white violet, an intoxicating flower which fuses male and female attractions. To counterbalance this opulent woody-floral intensity, the scent opens with an invigorating burst of sparkling lime that exudes dynamic vibrancy. It evolves into a sensual trail based on leather, adding a primal quality to the scent.

EAU DE GAGA, the fragrance for the adventurous woman and the man who loves her. 

It does smell exactly as described, the second you spray it you are dazzled by lime, after a few minutes it settles into the musky and mildly floral white violet and then the warm and comforting smell of leather settles into the base. It is no where near as sweet or heady as Fame and it does have much more of a conventional feel to it. I personally feel it smells much more expensive and unisex than Fame. 

It lasts brilliantly on the skin and is not overpowering at all so I think this will be much more popular with people than the unusual sweet and heady mix that was fame. It comes in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles.

Have you tried Eau De Gaga yet? If so let me know what you think of it in the comment section below. 

R.W xx

Interview With Robert William

Hey guys, 

Today I wanted to share with you this interview I took part in, a huge thank you to the lovely Mary who interviewed me in front of her entire uni class. I hope you enjoy and I hope this give you all a better insight into my head. 

What inspired you to start your blog and what continues to inspire you?

“Well, I guess I wanted a platform to network and to share my knowledge, I am in a unique position as I started training to be a MUA when I was about 8, so I wanted to share my knowledge of products with people. I guess what continues to inspire me is change, I don’t just write about beauty but also politics, music and life in general. I am a very honest person and I wish to be transparent with my readers.”

What gave you the idea for the name Gothinista?

“I decided to brand myself a ‘Gothinista’ as I am fascinated by the effect alternate sub cultures have upon popular culture, be it the 60’s hippy, 80’s punk or 90’s goth scene. The creatives are always the ones who bring about change and I wanted the name of my blog to reflect that but at the same time for it to be a bit fun and quirky. Not sure if I pulled it off though as so many people pronounce it wrong…”

Your skincare posts often have a ‘natural is better’ vibe, how important is natural skincare to you?

“Hugely, I loathe using chemical filled products on myself or others. I am fortunate enough to have secured a job with my favourite company of all, Lush. The people are so friendly and are absolute sweethearts so I hope to stay there awhile.”

Doesn't it give you a headache working there?

“Everyone asks me that. Honestly, no. You get used to it very quick and it is just a general lovely smell. It is such a homely shop too. So I love it”

Other issues you are very vocal on are animal testing and gay rights, care to share your two cents on those subjects?

“Animal testing is a huge no for me. I hate it and am actively against it. I refuse to use products personally or professionally that have been tested on animals or that contain ingredients tested on animals. I would not say I champion gay rights, I would say I champion human rights. I campaign for us all to be equal and for people to think before they speak. I have been sent some truly hideous things by people online which I am lucky enough to find hilarious but they could be deeply upsetting to some people, so yes, I am an advocate for human rights.

Is it correct that you also have ties to the infamous LaVeyan Church Of Satan?

“I am not affiliated to them in any way shape or form. Religion and philosophy are of huge interest to me and in my teenage years I was deeply mesmerized by Anton Lavey and his writings. I would not say I am a devout follower or even a follower at all, but when I am asked if I am religious I always answer that I am a “LaVeyan Satanist” because I am curious to see how people react and how they approach the subject.

In your ‘secret diary of a male blogger’ post you jokingly compared yourself to Bridget Jones, so I wanted to ask what qualities you look for in a partner?

“Oh wow, I don’t think I look for anything in particular really. I don’t have a set type. I guess because I am very active I like athletic guys? Or at least a guy who’s in decent shape… As a general rule I like different, artistic or intelligent people. So my favourite people are usually writers, musicians, teachers etcetera. One of my best friends said on the subject of men “Have a dick, don’t be a dick”.

Would you ever consider becoming a YouTuber? 
"Loads of people want me to start doing YouTube but truth be told I do not have the time to dedicate to it currently. If I were to do it I would want to do it properly. So for the time being Gothinista is a blog only site. 

What do you expect for the future of your blog?

"Well I honestly can't believe how much it has grown in a year so I have no idea. There are a few brands I want to work with which would be awesome to try and get involved with. I want to tackle YouTube and do some colabs too. I am also going to start recruiting some guest bloggers too which will be exciting. So I hope to continue to expand when I am able to do so.

*If you are interested in guest blogging please leave a comment with a link to your blog OR contact me via the contact form*

RAIGN Don't Let Me Go Review

Hey Dolls,

Today I am reviewing the first single by independent recording artist and current X Factor 2014 contestant RAIGN.

I discovered her when I first heard her song on an episode of The Vampire Diaries and HAD to google who it was singing the song. I then saw her perform on The X Factor (liquor and saturday night TV are a perfect match). I loved her enthusiastic, ballsy, no compromise artistic attitude and howled with laughter at Cheryls reaction (she is SUCH the professional).

So I have decided to review her AMAZING single "Don't Let Me Go".

First off, the production is faultless, it is atmospheric and bluesy, absolute perfection. RAIGN's voice is deep and soulful with soaring highs and a dazzling range. Her lyrics are unique, well written and emotional. 

RAIGN strikes me as an absolute artiste, her way or the highway which I LOVE. It is also fair to say I will love anyone who manages to piss off Cheryl Cole...

You can buy Don't Let Me Go HERE  

Sugarpill Goldilux Review

Hey Guys,

Today I am reviewing a cult classic by Sugarpill cosmetics, their gorgeous Goldilux loose pigment. 

Like most Sugarpill products Goldilux is Vegan and not tested on animals. They give you an amazing 5g of product in the cutest little jar. 

Goldilux is SUPER pigmented and packed full of shimmer. Unlike most "gold" pigments it is not yellow, orange or bronze based. It is a true, vibrant gold that looks stunning with practically any colour. 

I love the packaging, the little plastic pots feel sturdy and I have a lot of faith in the lids which is a HUGE relief, I'd practically cry if I arrived at a shoot and found the bottom of my bag covered in precious pigments. 

I swatched the pigment over NYX Eyeshadow Base (white) because as this pigment is quite shimmery I feel you HAVE to use a base to prevent gold fallout. 

It would look amazing with SO many colours or as an eyeliner (simply mix a little pigment with a product like Illamasqua sealing gel or E.L.F lock & Seal). You can also mix it with products such as lip glosses or even use it on the body as a highlight. It is definitely a product to play with. 

It would look stunning on pretty much any skin tone at any time of year so if you are a make-up lover this is a product you have to purchase at some time or another. My only regret is I waited SO long before adding it to my kit. 

Motionless In White Reincarnate Album Review

Hey guys,

Today I am reviewing the long awaited new album from the band Motionless In White which is titled Reincarnate. 

Whilst the album is not officially released until tomorrow the band have unveiled the album for online streaming via their website. 

They have teased the album for quite awhile by releasing two promotional singles the first Reincarnate and Puppets 3 (the grand finale). Both of which received mixed reactions to audiences online. 

TRACK LISTING

Death March

Reincarnate

Puppets 3 (the grand finale) (feat Danni Filth)

Unstoppable

Everybody Sells Cocaine

Contemptress (feat Maria Brink)

Break The Cycle

Generation Lost

Dark Passenger

Wasp

Dead As Fuck

Final Dictvm (feat Tim Skold)

Carry The Torch

I adore the album artwork and theme running through the album itself. Lyrically it is certainly a much more "mature" album than their previous efforts of Creatures and Infamous. In fact in terms of sound it is a mixture of both their previous full lengths. There are very heavy elements of Infamous but with strong nods to creatures (Dark Passenger and WASP).

I love the fact they have merged the Mansonesque industrial style of Infamous with the synth heavy and atmospheric creatures. The result is a much more polished effort. The lyrics are much more intelligent and mature than their previous efforts but have kept the vibes of menace and personal trauma. 

If this album were to have one fault it would be the fact the vocals lean towards being over produced on the tracks Wasp and Contemptress. 

I am aware many people online will react negatively towards the new sound. And I am certainly aware many will say "it sounds like Manson" "It sounds like Rob Zombie" "it sounds like x, y or z" and while there are many borrowed elements they have created a truly unique and atmospheric sound. 

Chris's vocals have improved HUGELY since Creatures in terms of tone and range. It is lovely to hear more cleans from him as he does have a great voice. 

I certainly admire how the band has changed direction without worrying about losing fans or how critics or fans will react. And as such they have created their best album to date. 

I admit, many die hard metal fans will probably HATE this album. It is very synth heavy and is largely industrial in terms of style (don't get me wrong tracks like Dark Passenger and Break The Cycle are true metalcore) but it is a sound and direction that works perfectly for MIW. 

TOP TRACKS:

Death March 10/10 

(This is how people expect Marilyn Manson to sound. It is angry, intelligent and atmospheric) 

Dark Passenger 10/10 

(A song about Dexter was guaranteed to be a hit and I love how, if for one track only, they hark back to their old sound. It is a fantastic track in terms of production, lyrics and it delivers some of the best vocals on the album)

Everybody Sells Cocaine 9/10

(This reminds me of Manson's old hit The Dope Show. But instead of endorsing drugs it has the opposite effect. It is menacing, catchy and the epitome of industrial) 

I personally feel this is one of their best efforts to date, it is an album they have written for themselves and for no one else which they deserve nothing but respect for. 

Verdict. 

8.5/10

Functional Skills Students Made To Retake GCSE's

For those of you who are new to my blog let me start by saying that as well as being a self employed artist I am also a student and a massive politics enthusiast. 

I wish to explain clearly and rationally my disgust at the latest in a string of changes to our British Education system, specifically in relation to Functional Skills and GCSE's. 

In the past students who have failed to, or were unable to achieve a grade C or above in maths and English GCSE's were required to take a equivalent qualification called functional skills. This qualification, if completed to a Level 2 was originally equal to a grade C and was widely accepted by employers and most universities.  

This year (academic year of 2014) the current government has changed the system meaning that students who have strived to achieve their Level 2's in Maths and English now have to study GCSE maths and English. 

Some may argue that this presents an exciting opportunity for students wishing to progress to university level education as some universities were not willing to accept Functional Skills. But I ask my readers to consider the following points:

• GCSE's were designed to be completed over a two year period NOT during a one year college  course.
• Asking students to study GCSE's whilst working on a college course places them under unnecessary stress and will beyond no reasonable doubt effect their performance on their main qualification (i.e. the whole reason they are attending college)  
• It is vastly unfair on students to change the rules of education year by year. I know from personal experience it damages the morale of students. It is hugely confusing and stressful to not know where you stand year by year as the standards keep being changed. 
• It makes the Functional skills qualification many worked hard for seem worthless and a waste of time. If the government wishes for all students to achieve GCSE's then scrap the functional skills qualification and simply place everyone in GCSE classes.

Before you draw judgement or label me an "attention seeking, whiny student" please consider my case. 

I passed my functional skills Level 2 exams first time last year and secured a place on the course I have been working towards my whole life (a Level 3 NVQ). I also work (and I am dependant on my job for personal expenses including travel, food and clothing). HOW can I be reasonably be expected to complete a Level 3 Course, GCSE's and work in the space of a year. To me and many others this is an impossible workload and we are simply not being given answers from our teachers and colleges. 

Not only does this (in my humble opinion) show poor leadership from our government but also a total and blatant lack of empathy towards students. 

Please comment and share this article as I hope to garner as much publicity towards this cause as is humanly possible. 

Kryolan Ultra Fluid Foundation Review

Hey Dolls, 

When it comes to looking for make up that delivers professional results most people turn to either MAC or Illamasqua but for me the one brand that delivers extreme professional results is the original and the best...Kryolan. 

Kryolan (or Charles Fox in England) has been running since the 1920's and is the one make-up house to design and formulate its own products for professional use. 

One of the biggest make-up trends currently is the ever popular HD foundation, foundations which deliver medium coverage but that are designed to be undetectable on camera  or in person and one of my kit staples is the Ultra Fluid Foundation by Kryolan.

This is how Kryolan describes the product:

Ultra Fluid Foundation has a slightly enhanced covering quality compared to other fluids, without loss of its transparent appearance. Ultra Fluid Foundation comes in a glass bottle with applicator.

Left to right: Ivory, Alabaster and OB 2.

I have it in three colours Ivory, Alabaster and OB 2. You get 30ml of product and it is packaged in a sturdy glass bottle. There is no pump but there is an applicator wand which is handy for placing the product onto your hand or a palette prior to application. 

It is a very thin watery texture that applies beautifully to the face or body, it offers sheer to medium coverage that you can build easily. It does feel quite odd on the face, it "dries" on the skin as the foundation sets. This of course means that there is no visible layer of foundation on the skin but it doesn't make it a friend of dry skins at all. 

This is an amazing product for photographic work as there is no SPF factor and not only is the shade range fantastic but the formula makes it SO easy to mix colours to get a perfect match. 

It really is one of those products I think every MUA should have in their kits and it is a credit to the house of Kryolan. 

MADARA Daily Defence Cream Review

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

Hey dolls,

Today I am reviewing a product I was SO excited to receive as it promised to help with something I suffer with all year round; the dreaded dry, flakey skin.  This product is by one of my favourite skincare brands, the up and coming MADARA. 

This is how the product is described:

"ULTRA RICH BALM FOR SKIN PROTECTION IN DRY AND EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.

This all-over-body, hand & face balm helps skin dryness and roughness, protects skin from raw winds and cold. Vitamin-rich Northern cloudberry and sea buckhtorn oils soothe, hydrate and restore skin barrier providing softness. Helps to cure chapped lips and cracked heals, softens nail cuticles, and can be used as a soothing cream for the little ones.Gives comfort to your skin in winter as well as summer weather.

EFFECTIVENESS TESTED IN ARCTIC WEATHER To test the effectiveness of DD cream in truly extreme conditions, the MADARA team went for a challenging trip to the North and organised a photoshoot outdoors beyond the Arctic circle, in Lapland. The new DD cream protected the team’s skin, lips and hands from the cold and wind."

You get 60ml of product which seems like a fantastic amount to me as the standard size of a moisturiser is roughly 50ml. It will also last a HUGE amount of time too as it is very very concentrated. 

Like every MADARA product I have tried I adore the packaging, simple, natural but sleek and stylish. It slightly reminds me of Dermalogica in terms of packaging. 

You need the tiniest amount of product to reduce visible dryness, the amount of product on my hand was enough to coat my lips and the sides of my nose (the driest parts of my face). 

One of my absolute favourite things about this product is you can use it pretty much anywhere on the face or body, it also acts as an effective lip balm. 

After just one use of this product I saw and felt immediate improvement and after continued use I have virtually no dry skin at all. I really would recommend this product  as a miracle. It is no substitute for a good moisturiser however it is not marketed to be anything other than a skin balm and environmental shield PERFECT for autumn or winter weather.

You can buy the product HERE from www.mypure.co.uk for the bargin price of £15.  

MADARA Protecting Lip Balm Review

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

Hey guys,

Last month I discovered the amazing natural beauty brand MADARA and I reviewed one of their cleansers (review here) and a month on it is still the best cleanser I have come across. So with the autumn and winter fast approaching I have decided to review a product which I hope will solve the main problem I get every year: dry, sore, cracked lips. 

I love the box, it is made out of recycled cardboard and looks very high quality. It looks like it belongs to a product FAR more expensive than its £9 price tag. 

The product itself is packaged in a lovely green squeezy tube. You get 15ml of product which is better than average. Again it has a lovely high quality feel about it which I love. 

This is how the product is described. 

"Rich and comforting balm with healing extracts of Sea-buckthorn and Calendula. Protects and softens lips, restores moisture balance. Provides a supple and natural gloss."

And the ingredients are as follows:

"Castor Isostearate Succinate Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides Lanolin Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate/Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer Hydrogenated Castor Oil Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate Octyldodecanol Chamomilla Recutita (Camomile) Flower Extract* Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract* Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea-buckthorn) Fruit Extract* Beeswax Aroma**"

Like all MADARA products this lip balm is vegan, not tested on animals and organic. 

It leaves your lips soft and feeling conditioned and protects them from environmental damage. The only way I could fault it is that it feels sticky on the lips. Not so much lip gloss sticky...more runny honey sticky however it does add a very subtle natural gloss to the lips which I like.  It also has a subtle scent but for the life of me I can't work out what it is, I just know I like it...

You can buy the product HERE from www.mypure.co.uk for £9

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