Rant: Inferior Cosmetic Packaging

Morning all! Hope you're all well. Sorry to start your day with a rant. =P

Recently, as in since I've been buying some higher-end make up only in the last few years, I've been becoming increasingly frustrated with inferior packaging when it comes to cosmetics. Particularly with the brand that I actually do love, Illamasqua, well, because the only other High End brand that I buy is Kryolan, and that is so expensive I can barely afford anything.

Anyway, there have been at least three instances where the product's actual formula (the actual make up I mean) has been amazing, out of this world, phenomenal! And yet, the product container has been so rubbish the product can no longer be taken anywhere due to potential leaks.
This has happened with both my Precision Inks (I have had two so far, both have broken in the same way. A crack along the side of the lid/wand, and it is too easy to over extend the lid when closing.) and my Pure Pigments (All four of them, despite the lids being on as well as possible, product has leaked out or build up along the edges only to create a huge mess, and wastage, once opened.)

Now, I probably could forgive a manufacturer for releasing products with inferior packaging if they were a cheaper brand, but when you are paying top dollar for frankly a great brand with fantastic formulae it is so disappointing, and honestly unforgivable, to see that they continually release poor products (I figure that I haven't continually purchased duds) when good, functional packaging is not that difficult to design and still be aesthetic, just some thought needs to be put into it and proper testing.

Another gripe with this brand I have is that I have an Intense Lip gloss by Illamasqua that is actually amazing, but the brush-tip applicator that comes built into the wand has some kind of gunk, or hard plastic on it. The bristles are synthetic, so I figure it's just some build up of the brush material, but honestly it is scratchy and impossible to apply neatly. In this instance I feel it could just be my product, as I only own one of these. Now, I know that I can easily use a lip brush for this, but that's not the point! If a product is going to come supplied with an applicator then it should be idealised for the product. Not to mention that Illamasqua have a perfectly good lip gloss tube already for their Sheer Lip glosses ( different formulation) and that functions well, so I don't see why they couldn't use that or a variation. Again, this is something you see with cheaper brands; the come with those awful sponge applicators in eye shadow sets, but really now, quality (and advertising) is what differentiates the cheap cosmetics from the High End cosmetics.

Have any of you ever had similar experiences?

xxx Lilly

Extreme Make Up or Wearable Make Up?

Hi my dearies! I have just a quick post for you all. I was wondering if I could get some opinions from you? i have a few make up looks and tutorials lined up in my mind, with some trials already under way, but I was wondering if you are first interested in Extreme creative looks or more wearable, publicly acceptable looks first? Please let me know in the comment box down below!

Source: Tumblr

xxx Lilly

Spotlight on Klaire De Lys

Klaire de Lys has been one of my favourite YouTubers for quite some time now, for many reasons. Firstly, as with most of the YouTubers whom I follow, her videos are always high quality, both in content and definition, and this is important for me.
Klaire's technique and skill in make up and other fine arts is incredible. Her attention to detail is wonderful and every finished video is a work of art in itself. She posts both wearable and extreme make up videos, as well as art, DIY, giveaways and reviews. Klaire also has a second channel where she publishes videos on how she makes her props, art and other similar videos.

Here are some of my favourite videos by Klaire...










Her work with prosthetic make up is very creative and artistic, too!

Honestly, I could fill up an entire blog on how incredible this artist and YouTuber is, but instead I suggest you go and check her out yourself! Her website/blog can be found here...

xxx Lilly

Practical Make up Tips: Part One

If you're interested in taking your make up skills from newbie or beginner into an accomplished and practised person or even an artisan, there are a few things I have learnt in my experience that will help you immensely.
For the record, I'm not a professional MUA, all my skills are self taught. I think I remember telling you all about my acceptance into Swinburne University to study Special Effects Make up Artistry, but I instead chose to study at the Melbourne Conservatorium. I had my audition to the Con and my group meeting for Swinburne both on the same day, the day after I moved house and all of that was so hectic I can barely remember what it was like, but still, for a short while I was thinking of making make up artistry a part time career if I wasn't successful with my audition, but thankfully I was! No regrets as to the path I chose! So anyway, make up now is more of a hobby for me, something that I still take quite seriously.

Here are practical tips that I have learnt in my personal experiences. I could just say 'Be inspired!' but honestly, while it is true that doesn't really help anyone, so I figured that I could offer some practical advice instead.

- Invest in some brushes. Good quality brushes are preferable but there is no need to spend $90 on one Kabuki brush (I have actually seen this on sale in Myer though...! Gah it is outrageous!) , but cheap poor quality brushes are awful and a waste of money, so in general get what you can comfortably afford. Personally my brand of choice is currently EcoTools. For some reason, those little sponges are thrown into every eyeshadow quad or palette, and they're not worth using in my opinion. Don't just throw them out though, as they can be used for stippling on glitter or even nail polish, but seriously, get a set of brushes. If you one could buy say, five brushes as a start, I would suggest you start with a powder brush, an eyeshadow brush, and angled eyeliner brush, a foundation brush and blending eyeshadow brush, and then build your collection from there. Unless you mistreat your brushes or don't wash them they will last a long time before needing to be replaced, so they can be a good investment if you buy quality brushes.

Source: http://www.ecotools.com/4-piece-touch-up-set

- Put on your liquid eyeliner with *both* eyes open! Yes this is possible! I do it frequently. If you want, I could do a tutorial on how I do it if that would make things easier, but honestly, you will find that your lines are cleaner, sharper and closer to the lash line if you put your eyeliner on with your eyes open. Also, it is easier to get a tapering line (that is, thicker in the outer corner, thinnest in the inner corner) if that is a look you like. I can put on my liquid eyeliner in only a few seconds. Also, if you still haven't gotten the technique down of having eyes open, just remember to NEVER pull at your eyelids to get a straight line. the skin around your eyes is very delicate and can break easily. You could also be causing sagging and wrinkles, and while I don't have a problem with looking your age, premature wrinkles are something I like to avoid.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for this series, or if you have any questions about anything I've mentioned already! Let me know in the comment box below, or send me a message. Your feedback is always appreciated, and I try to respond to each and every comment I get on this blog! I love all my followers!

xxx Lilly

Illamasqua Paranormal Black Carpet Event

I recently went to the Illamasqua Paranormal Launch Black Carpet event in Bourke Street Myer. The event had an appropriate black carpet, professional photographer and lots of pink bubbles. XD

It was my first make up launch and it was invitation-only, so I actually felt quite special for being there! My boyfriend James bought the purple UV reactive nail colour to use for an Invader Zim jacket he is currently working on, and I purchased some Pure Pigment in Zeitgeist, which is not part of this collection.

Source: http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/collections/paranormal/

The collection, in case you haven't seen it yet, can be found here. What I'm most impressed with is the eye shadow quad. At the event, I swatched some and said aloud 'Wow, so it's a cream shadow?' and the MUA sad 'Actually no. It's a powder shadow.' And that really is amazing. It has an ultra refined texture that feels as silky as cream yet it is actually a powder, which is what I prefer. I am actually frustrated that the colours of the quad are not sold individually as $50 is still a lot of money just for eye make up.From what I've seen in photos and on models, I have not seen anyone use the green colour, Possession, at all. This would be one of the colours that I would actually love to have individually.

And here is one of Illamasqua's tutorials using this eye quad. There is no green used in this tutorial, even though anyone recreating it exactly would have the quad at their disposal.

The UV reactive nail colours are really creative and interesting and would be perfect for a Cyber look at a club. Considering however than not everyone spends their whole day under black lights  makes me think that these are not really for everyday. If you're interested, Stargazer has a dupe of the UV colour in Geist, which is a clear top coat the glows with a blue hue. 

Here is the Behind the Scenes video from their promotional shoot. It really is so beautiful, and has a Haunted House feel which is so amazing. I actually adore the shoot, but notice that there is no green to be seen on the models...


Hopefully you're just as inspired by this new collection as I am. Please comment with your inspirations!

xxx Lilly

Cruelty-Free Beauty

Hello my Freaky Darlings

Here's a secret for you all. Slowly, as I refuse to waste perfectly good products, I am trying to convert my beauty, skincare and cosmetic routines into Cruelty-Free products exclusively. I have often used products that were cruelty free, but I didn't really become aware of the impact of not using cruelty free products meant for my fellow animals until recently. Now I am trying to purchase my new products cruelty free, and even better vegetarian products. (Ethically I still have some mental work ahead of me in regards to whether I want to cut carmine from my cosmetics and other similar issues.)
Disclaimer: I am not a vegetarian as I eat fowl and shellfish currently.
It's going to take time because, as I'm sure I've mentioned on this blog in the past, I have extremely sensitive and dry skin and am often allergic to products that contain ingredients such as salts, cheap fragrance, SLS and ethanol.
So far much of my routine is comprised of Lush, Kryolan, Palmers, Illamasqua and ELF products. XD

Oh, and This delightfully dark blog is my new favourite Tumblr. Please enjoy!

http://gothic-art-style.tumblr.com/post/46547824512

xxx Lilly