Fire Eater

Another carnival

look based off

the fire eater.

This look was sort

of a test using different

materials to create

textures on my face, and

I wanted to see how glue and

toilet paper stood up to

the challange :P

Scratches and cuts I've

done all before, but I

wanted to try and see how

I could do a burn.

Not my greatest, but

I learned a lot from it :)

Snake Tamer

Another one of my carnival looks

based off of snake tamers

and snake charmers.

I had sooooo

much fun with this look!

Ringleader

"Somebody referred to me

as a ringleader, which I wouldn't have

classed myself as, but anyway, there you go."

--Miranda Richardson

Another look in

my carnival series, based off

the ringleader :)

Mindless Zombie Rant/Hollywood Zombie Observation

So far, my biggest problem with 28 Days and 28 Weeks later is the fact that the rage virus psyically manifests itself so quickly. You honeslty expect me to believe that a virus that's suppose to kill you, then reanimate your corpse can do that in a matter of seconds? I understand the struggle might cause it to progress quicker then if you were clam and still, but I don't think it'd happen in seconds! And the other thing is, is that the person who gets bitten or has become infected though bodily fluids exchange, they never really die.


It's like "Diease > Infected > Auto-Zombie"

There's never really any "death" that would lead to a ...re-animated corpse (i.e. zombie).



If this is how the zombiepocalypse is gonna happen, then there's no hope.

Let Your Life Be Your Dream

A look inspired by

the very beautiful Sarah

Brightman and her character

Blind Mag from the simply amazing

film REPO! The Genetic Opera.

(If you haven't already seen it, go out

and buy it. I promise you won't

be disappointed!)

Products used:

CS 88 Shimmer Palette

Hot Topic liquid eyeliner

Revlon cream liner

Revlon ColorStay

NYC Cover Stick

HardCandy Welcome Matte powder

Jordana Black eyeliner

Hot Topic red eyeliner

Wet N Wild 911D

Mary Kay black mascara

LashGrip

2 sets of false lashes

(I don't know the names, but one was

from the $1 store and the other from

MAC) 

"Blind Mag"

Some sort of gray area? Just a thought...

I recently read something on a fourm that really caught my attention. Someone had said that because a girl wore so much makeup, they were suddenly "fake" looking and it was disgusting and that she didn't need so much makeup. I always find comments that like so, so fascinating because we don't call celebrities who wear tons of cosmetics fake and yet we seem to be pulled into the illusion that makeup is suppose to create and forget (even if it's just for a few moments) that they don't actually look like that.


But then I hear people giving suggestions about makeup to people who decide not to wear it (who show their more natural beauty and opt not to wear ANY sort of makeup).



I wonder...is there a place between a face full of makeup and a bare one?

A place that we choose to ignore, depending on the person and situation?



I'm just always so fansinated by that (love makeup and psychology lol go figure!)...
 
 
My biggest insperation, Kevyn Aucoin, once said this: "First of all, let me say that I believe there are no rules when it comes to makeup besides the obvious: "Don't curl your eyelashes in a speeding wehicle," or "Don't up lipstick in your eye," etc...(but those aren't really "rules," they're more common sense). Experts seem to be popping up everywhere with strict dictates and "philosophies" that frighten people into thinking there is only one way to wear (and do) makeup that is "acceptable" and "normal" (two words I hate!). "Never wear black lipstick," "Makeup should never take more then five minutes" and "Never touch up your makeup in public: are just a few of the oppressive and, frankly, ridiculous "words of wisdom" frequently handed down by these self appointed cosmetic police. In a world of constant change, with ethnicities blending together, I feel the goal should be to expand our definition of what we consider "acceptable," "normal" and "beautiful." The future will belong to those with open minds and open hearts, who can appreciate beauty in all its forms."

Gypsy

Part of my carnival series.

The colours are mainly inspired by

The King of Gypsies, Clopin.

"Gypsy"

"Gypsy"

"Gypsy"

"Old Hollywood"

Inspired by the the black and white

silver screen starlets

and pretty pin-up girls.

Products used:

88 Coastal Scents Matte Palette

88 Coastal Scents Shimmer Palette

Mary Kay mascara in black

FabuLiner

"Acid Candy"

Another look of mine, and it's

a personal favorite (both of mine and

lot of other people). Some call it a watermelon

look, others call it a "Jolly Rancher" look (a guy

once told me he wanted to eat my eye lol), but I've always

thought of acid and candy when I saw it.

The green just reminds me of bright, bubbly acid, while the

hot pink reminds me of bubblegum! :D

Products used:

Ben Nye creame foudnation

Coastal Scents 88 Matte Palette

MaryKay Mascara in Black

"Ocean Sun"

In a way, I think orange and blue

look wicked together.

This is my look called "Ocean Sunrise".

This whole look came about when I need a

look for an outfit that had an orange

skirt. I didn't wanna go too plain with my

eye, so after lookin' at my colour wheel

and browsing around, I came up with this :)

Products used:

Ben Nye creame foundation

Jordana eyeshadow (04 yellow)

Coastal Scents 88 Ultra Shimmer Palette

L.A. Girl Fineline

MaryKay Mascara in black

Burts Bees Blemish Stick And Acne Solutions Spot Treatment Review

A few weeks ago, stress started taking its toll and I started having breakouts. After deciding that what I was currently doing to try to get rid of the spots, I decided to do something I hadn't done in years: BUY a skincare product. After a nasty chemical burn from an acne face wash, I was a little nervous, but decided to just got for it anways!
I decided to try out Burts Bees. Their products are all natural (there 2 are 100% natural), have a good reputation, and don't test on animals (a HUGE thumbs up for me).
And, as with all BB products, they're both paraben, sulfate/SLS, petrochemical, and phthalate free.


This review is on my experiences and my own opinions. I do not represent Burts Bees.

Because my acne was located near my forehead, I decided to try 2 produts: The Blemish Stick and the Acne Solutions Spot Treatment. I've noticed similar results with both of them (I did NOT use them together), though the Acne Solutions seems to be a bit stronger and works just a little faster. But just a little. Either way, both products shouldn't be used as an overnight solution (lets face it, nothing will get rid of acne overnight!).

With both products, there's a scent that some people aren't crazy about. It smells like eucalyptus, to me (both products contain it and when I'm all stuffed up because of allergies or being sick, I use eucalyptus products).

Wait until the product completely dried before applying makeup over it.


PACKAGING:
Both are spot treatments, and don't have too much product in them. Only 0.26 fl. oz.
Though if you don't over-use it (applying way more then necessary) then it should last a fine amount of time.
Both products come in thick bottles, both made of glass, I believe.

With the Acne Solutions, I'm a little iffy on the packaging. I'd highly suggest using a q-tip or small cotton ball to apply it to the skin. The liquid comes of a small hole at the top of the bottle, and can be prone to over-pouring and wasting product.

I'm in love with the Blemish Sticks packaging! It reminds me of those lip glosses with the ball applicator that you just roll on (though that'd be quite a fancy little lip gloss if it was made of glass!). It's very easy to just apply -- just roll it over the spot and you're done!

EFFECTS ON (MY) SKIN:
With both of them, I noticed generally the same thing: While the product dries, my skin feels a tad dry (which I assume is the alcohol in it. In the Blemish Stick, the alcohol comes from yellow corn) and the area turns a bit pink. Though it doesn't take too terribly long for that to all go away. My skin doesn't remain dry and the pinkness just disappears (and I've noticed that the redness of my spots go away too!). If you're a face picker (like me), it might sting a bit, but it's nothing too painful and also goes away a few moments after applying.  As I mentioned before, a lot of the redness disappears. I've been using these products for a couple of weeks, and have noticed my acne either disappeared or greatly gone down. While, for me, it's a bit slow working, my acne is much less noticeable because of it takes away the redness. I didn't noticed any sort of reducting on blackheads though.



INGRIDENTS:
Acne Solutions:
Active Ingredient: Salicylic Acid (0.75%) Inactive Ingredients: alcohol denat., citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, water, calendula officinalis flower extract, achillea millefolium (yarrow) extract, borago officinalis (borage) extract, carum petroselinum (parsley) extract, foeniculum vulgare (fennel) fruit oil, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, juniperus communis fruit oil

Blemish Stick
alcohol denat., calendula officinalis flower oil, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil, carum petroselinum (parsley) seed oil, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, foeniculum vulgare (fennel) oil, water, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, juniperus communis (juniper) fruit oil, eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) leaf oil




PRICES:  Some people think the Acne Solutions is a tad over-priced. I don't think it is at all (unless you're using it over a large area, it should last a good while). On the BB website, it's $10.00.
The Blemish Stick is $8.50


Overall, for a spot treatment, I'm quite happy with it, and it's something that I'm going to buy again :)

http://www.burtsbees.com/

3 Evils

"Three Evils"
One of my more darker looks.
It's based around the Three Wise Monkyes and
the proverb "See No Evil, Hear No Evil,
Speak No Evil".
It was inspired by both Romancing
SaGa (by the magicans) and by
2 Silent Hill characters, Colin
and Lisa.
All that was used for this look was
Mehron Stage blood, placed
on the bandages where the eyes
were and on the cheek area (representing
being blind),
around the ear and neck
area (representing the ear drums being destoryed)
 and on and inbetween my
fingers (my first idea what to
use a needle and thread and fake flesh and
sew that area, but with what I have now, it didn't
work out o^_^o).
Just a much darker
take on the very well-known
proverb.

Just to get started...

So after a bit of encouraging, I've finally decided to start a blog :)
It'll probably be more beauty/makeup realted (product reviews, pictures, tips and tricks), but also have stuff about me (everyday life, my rants about nothing and everything),  music, and my first love: the silver screen.

So, just a tad bit about me: My name's Erica. I'm starting my last year of high school. My hopes are to go to school and get a degree in cosmotology, then go on to speical fx makeup. I've only been playing around with makeup for about half a year. I'm always open to new ideas and ready and willing to learn (and help, if I can).

Hopefully I'll be able to post more soon (still getting a hang of this blog thing).

Much love
xoxo♥