Monthly Archives

July 2013

Make-up

Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner

July 11, 2013

Eyeko skinny mini eyelinger

I had long ago given up on liquid eye-liner, instead relying on the lasting power of  gel pots to keep my favourite look from sliding down my face, but that has all changed….

I’m pretty easily swayed when it comes to magazine freebies. There’s no way I would usually pick up a copy of Marie Claire (do I care what Kate Moss is wearing at Glastonbury, or how I can keep a man interested in 10 easy steps? NO!) but something made me pick up this month’s, and I can assure you that something was a little blue box.

I’d heard high praise of Eyeko‘s mascaras on a few other beauty blogs and thought I’d give it a go. Seeing as the eyeliner usually retails at £10 and the magazine was only £2.50 it was hardly a major investment, but now I’m so glad I decided to give it a try!

 

Eyeko skinny mini eyelinger face

Here on the left I’m just about ready to leave for work, it was about 26 degrees outside, clammy, sticky and all around uncomfortable. I’ve just applied my face which explains why it isn’t running down my neck yet!

But what’s this! On the right, seven hours later after a manic night of rehearsals in a stuffy school my eyeliner has not budged one bit.

The tiny pen tip made it almost too easy to apply, and it was dry within seconds! The packaging is lovely (and metal ;) ) and I know 100% that my Skinny Mini will be joining me on the road and throughout festival season for a long time to come.

I literally cannot encourage you to go out and buy this enough, especially if you can track down a copy of Marie Claire.

You can buy Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner here.

Totally hellbent for falling in love with liquid liner all over again!

– Gem

 

 

 

Beauty Boxes, Make-up

Me, Myself and my boxes …

July 11, 2013

latestinbeauty

I blame Gemma.

For a long time, I have tried to resist the temptation of beauty boxes.

A few months ago, Gemma gave in and purchased her first. Unfortunately, she gave me a demonstration of how she opened her box when it came. She had even resealed the package with the bow so I could satisfyingly pull the ribbon apart to reveal a selection of surprise beauty products. Not only was the ribbon pulled, but so were my makeup and obsessive compulsive brain cells being pulled – and tugged – and shook – and prodded, until eventually the sensible part of my brain gave in with that ever familiar, parent style, eye rolling look, that say’s “*sigh* go on then.”

Alas, completely unsatisfied at having to wait for my next Glossybox I was sucked into purchasing the Glamour beauty edit edition of the Latest in Beauty Box.

I’m not sure what did it for me, it could have been the adorable pink vintage style tweezers, or the excitement of adding yet -more- dry shampoo spray to my “miniature festival collection”, or most likely the miniature Benefit The POREfessional. What I do know, is that it was delivered to my house and now it’s mine!

Totally hellbent for “oops did I just purchase that?”

– Pants

 

Festivals, Make-up

Gig + Field x Stage Face = Big bag

July 11, 2013

gigessentials

 

 

Dakesis recently played for the 16th birthday of an amazing girl called Alice. Since she is already so metal, she had a mini festival with her own band playing and asked us to do a set.

So, I thought this would be a good example to show you one of my more “basic” gig sets. Obviously this gig was a little more low key and since I was planning on spending a great deal of time drinking in a field, I wasn’t overly bothered about how I would end up looking. Despite this, I do like to ensure I have all the essentials to remove my panda eyes before bed!!

In order, here are some of my lovely essentials:

1 Makeup Case

2 Old duster for cleaning my brushes whilst out and about

3 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Day and Night Cream

4 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisturising Serum

5 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E mini cleanser and toner

6 Dainty Doll Foundation

7 Kindle

8 Elf Studio Eyebrow Kit

9 17 Miracle Matte Pressed Powder

10 The Body Shop’s Vitamin E BB cream (I mix this in with my foundation)

11 Nivea Visage Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes 

12 Nivea Hydra Moisturising Cream

13 Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara (my new love, from my Glossy Box)

14 Christina Aguilera Secret Potion Perfume

15 Nivea Roll On Deodrant (Keeps me fresh all day long)

16 Elf Brush Cleaner

17 Elf Makeup Lock and Seal (an absolute requirement for stage makeup)

18 Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner

19 The Body Shop’s Shimmer Cube Palette Eyeshadow Blue/Grey

20 Elf Brightening Eye Colour in Drama

21 The Body Shop All in One Blusher

 

22 Ecotools Kabuki (From Boots, bought this on a whim after I desperately needed one, and this was the only one I could almost guarantee would be cruelty free)

23 Various brushes – The Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush, Bobby Brown brushes, Elf angled foundation brush (studio range).

 

There is a lot more to my essentials list that this, but you get the idea! Look out for reviews of some of these products in the near future too!!

I will leave you with a thoroughly amusing picture of camping chair makeup application & the sight of hair in much need of dying!

gigessentialmakeup

 

Totally hellbent for “glamping” Dakesis style

– Pants

 

 

Nails, NOTD

NOTD – Avon Opalesce

July 11, 2013
Avon opal Nails

Photographed in natural sunlight

 

I’ve been wanting to try out a flake-glitter topcoat for a while, and when I saw this blue tinted one from Avon I simply had to try it.

There’s two coats of Avon Speed Dry in Fast Time Teal as the base (one of my favourites as you can see from how much I’ve already used! I love fast dry nails, as I really can’t stand waiting for them to dry!

The Avon Top Coat in Opalesce didn’t seem to have much pay-off by way of glitter at first but when I pressed the brush down a little firmer I got way more flakes off the brush and onto my nails!

I used two coats of the top coat to get a half jelly look!

Avon nails varnishes are available online or from a local Avon representative.

.

Totally hellbent for blue and glitter ALWAYS

– Gem

Clothing and Fashion, Festivals

The tardis festival bag.

July 11, 2013

I do enjoy hand bags of all varieties – although mostly ones that are red and full of pockets for me to store all sorts of things in. Years ago, however, my sole reliance was on my backpack which is sadly dying the death of overused, overfilled and overworn.

At festivals, you need something that you can have on your back or over your shoudler, that is going to remain attached to you even when intoxicated. The sort of bag that does not require effort to carry or hold – like your average woman’s “shoulder handbag”.

My first year at Wacken in 2006 was where I invested in my new, universal, festival/all rounder metal bag which has served me well and keeps on giving the gift of practicality, space and the ability to fill with patches!!

Unlike my backpack, if I want to indulge in some headbanging wherever I am, I don’t have to take my bag off and put it on the floor, it remains attached to me over my head and resting on my shoulder.

Despite it’s size, I can fit a lot of stuff in there too!

  • Purse
  • Phone
  • Handwash
  • Keys
  • Separate purse for euros
  • A t-shirt (for new purchases)
  • A drink
  • (as well as tobacco, filters, life time supply of rizzla and lighters when I was a smoker)

I can also attach shopping bags to it as the handle “clips on” so in times of heavy intoxication, I always arrive at the tent with all new shinies, and the entire contents of my bag. I’ve noticed over the years that other people have jumped on the wagon with these and they seem to be a popular choice for the avid female festival goer.

Alas, here is mine … and an example of just some of the things I can get into it!

 

tardisbag

 

Above, with more than ample room for keys/passport/plastic cups etc, I comfortably fit my very large purse, a bottle of water, hand wipes, alcohol gel, sun cream and a t-shirt! Some of the essentials for festival life.

So there you have it –
Completely hellbent for practical bag space!

– Pants

 

 

Festivals, Music, News

Fanciful Frontwoman

July 11, 2013

It’s been about seven years since I last fronted a band, and now circumstances call me to centre stage again. Now this is only planned as a temporary measure – we recently decided it was in the best interests of the band to move forwards without our ex-frontman and as we search the metalsphere for a new set of iron lungs I am taking over vocal duties.

 

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Knee-slide-alicious! © Stagedive Photography

 

For those not in the know – singing is actually my first “instrument”. I’m a vocal coach and singing teacher by profession so taking on the vocals themselves won’t be too taxing. Hell – I wrote the lyrics and vocal melodies to most of the songs too so that’s handy. It’s the physical part that is drawing the nerves.

 

©.Stagedive Photography

©.Stagedive Photography

For the past four years in Dakesis I have stood behind two behemoth keyboards for 90% of the time, and though it will be wonderful to have the freedom of the stage again, I wonder if I have the stage presence and physical stamina to lead the band through an hour of high energy power metal.

Starting this week I’ve been training my ass off (literally) with my lovely boyfriend, I’d love to drop some weight as well obviously, but my main objective is to be able to tear around the stage and give the people a good show for their money! Vocal practice twice a day including a warm up and general technique followed by song rehearsal is something I’m really enjoying and of course practice with the band too.

Our first gig* as a four piece is only a matter of weeks away, and two of those weeks Amie and I will be at Wacken and Bloodstock festivals so time is really of the essence!

Once we’ve got the music down I only have one more concern…what the bloody hell am I going to wear!

Totally hellbent for being front and centre 

– Gem

 

* Upcoming Dakesis dates with me on lead vocals!

16-18 Aug – Sunkfest
12th September – The RoadHouse, Birmingham
19th October – The Library, Leeds 
29th Nov – 1st Dec – Valkyrian Festival, Hull 

 

 

Beauty Boxes, Make-up, Skincare

Pants’ June 2013 Spoils

July 11, 2013

I thought I would share some of my favorite spoils with you for this month.

june13spoils

From left to right:

MUA blushers in “Bubble Gum”, “Candyfloss” and “Marshmallow” (check out Gem’s review of these)

Glossybox: Sarah Chapman Skin Tone Perfecting Booster

Beauty UK lipsticks in “naughty” and “vampire”

NYPM lipstick

Glossybox: Me Me Me Long Lasting Gloss in “Indulgent”

Glossybox: Helen E Eyeliner Pencil in “Electric Blue”

Model Co Black Eyeliner and Nude Lip Liner

Model Co Fibre Lashextend Mascara

Collection 2000 Skylash Mascara (a lovely Gem spoil after I helped her in her quest of “operation dressing table” look out for more about that in her blog)

Glossybox: Figs & Rouge Lip balm in Coco-rose

Glossybox: Boss “Jour pour femme” tester

 

I am most definitely looking forward to trying all of these out!

Totally hellbent for gifts and spoils

-Pants