beautysbadhabit

I haven't written anything in ages, as soon as I have free time it is sucked into the vacuum which I call college work. Remaining time goes to work, friends and making cups of tea, usually :] Though I have been doing a few videos on my youtube channel, www.youtube.com/beautysbadhabit

My FOTD pic taking camera  has broken flash and a scratched mirror (somehow) so that is getting repaired somewhere in London and HOPEFULLY will be back soon. I actually can't function without it - I never knew how dependent I am on a decent camera until now, when I don't have one and have to keep borrowing awful ones from friends and family for college pictures which will never make it into my portfolio because they're blurry masses of undetailed shapes. Fail :( On that note, I'm trying to talk myself into buying a more discreet digital camera which I can pop into my bag with ease, take to shows without having it taken off me, carry about without the fear of being mugged etc....Chunky DLSR cameras seem to scream "BREAK ME!" "PLAY WITH ME!" "ROB ME!" or something. But, despite this, my precious Pentax K100D remains glued to my heart.

Also, since I can't solve the mysery of Izzy recording a video WITH SOUND on this such camera when apparently it is impossible, a camera I can record on would also be a good idea. Maybe that Nikon something or other 10mp one, £79 from Currie right now. One of my friends swear by them. Bargain time?

I'll let you know eitherway, I can't wait to do some more videos!

What better thing to do while doing nothing else than catching up on makeup knowledge and staring at pretty pictures of models in equally alluring makeup? Apart from drinking tea and applying makeup to others, there is nothing else I prefer. Though this is only something I've started recently, since I'm quite happy to spend £6 on NOISE magazine and flick through hard copies instead. It's quite nice to be able to go back to it any time of day! Under the cut, you'll find my favourite reference sites and portfolio sites so far. They're fabulous for inspiration and giving you that, "OH MY GOSH." feeling :]

( Tap those ruby slippers! )

If ever you feel torn between wearing complete neutrals or something colourful - soft, warm colours are a great idea. Golds, yellows, coppers, oranges...Plus they tend to work for both those with warm or cool toned skin. This look is all about getting a dewy looking glow and looking fresh faced yet funky :]



( Follow the yellow brick road... )

After about two years of "Uhhm"-ing and "Aaah..."-ing about whether or not to get a mohawk, I finally got one in September. September the 9th to be precise - I remember because it was the day before college officially started and the same day I saw UnderOATH. Moving on...

Just to clarify, I'm not "PUNK AS FAWK" or the least bit "alternative" in my dress sense. I don't like the UK Subs, I don't own a leather jacket, combat trousers and I hate Doc Martens - so indeed, getting a mohawk was just getting a new hairstyle, not some sort of out of date fashion statement or a "FUCK YOU" to society. And that's all it needs to be! If you like a hairstyle, just try it.

When I sat having mine cut into and shaved, I was about 80% sure that I wanted it done. Seeing chunks of your hair landing on the floor next to you is very uncomfortable at first. And trimmers, if you're not used to them, feel clunky and aggressive. So yes, it was scary, but I don't regret it one bit. Although mohawks can be restricting, so here are the pros and cons I have so far discovered.

Click the cut for pros, cons and pics.
( Just a bit off the sides please... )

Video under the cut to save people's computers from crashing and making them cast voodoo curses on me.

( video video video 1 )

Kits are personal and individual to each makeup artist. Eventually bits and pieces get replaced, rediscovered, thrown out - kits evolve as the artist grows and learns. What is one artist's must have, holy grail brush could have been the first to make it to anothers box of tools that time forgot.

So far from my kit I've lost one brush which I allowed another student to borrow (a small angle brush which I adored - the Ruby & Millie one from Boots, I think it's £5.50) and had both a lip palette and powder stolen directly from my kit backstage at a show. Losing things and having thing stolen is really quite stressful. And can get expensive. Luckily my palette was replaced, but I still need to shell out £8 on another tub of powder and £5.50 on another brush. Considering the value of some other things in my kit (£40 aqua colours, £18 tuplast, colour wheels....) it could have been worse.

Keep an eye on your things - an eagle eye. Mark all of your products with your name or distinctive pattern/ tape. Paint the tips of your brushes with nail polish. Wear a brush belt if you can, instead of using a brush roll which can encourage sticky fingers. Only take the makeup you need with you on jobs and hide away your kit if possible when you are not just at one work station.

Care for your kit! Sometimes there's no such thing as being over protective.

( How many fingers? 7 plus 2 thumbs... )

I've taken the pics for a missing finger SFX tutorial as requested by Sarah, but (yes - but - sorry!) I wont be able to write it up until the end of the month. Computer troubles *grumbles* so I'm writing this from work (naughty naughty) just to let you guys know i'm still alive and thinking about BBH!

Also, hopefully by March I'll be able to buy a camcorder or something and pop up some video tutorials on youtube. You can have fun trying to tell what I'm saying (sometimes I have to slow down when talking to folk who aren't from England, apparently my accent is pretty bad haha), chuckle at the lisp I occasionally have, laugh at me attempting to apply makeup when the mirror isn't 2" away from my face and hopefully learn something useful too :P

Watch this space........

For the last two days I have been rolling out of bed at 4:45am, catching a bus at 6:28am, walk up a hill and arriving at college for 6:50am. My day finished at 10:30pm. Why? Because it's that time of year again - panto!

The people on my course are doing the makeup for panto, we have a cast of 60+ members and limited space, having to resort to using the ICT suite next door too. Lucky me though, I'm always early and set up my station straight away ;] Most of us have only had a grand total of five hours sleep (including the cast) and today we're all shattered but of course, the show must go on!

Makeup for performances is totally different to practising in class - a lot more people, a lot more noise, and at first a lot more nerves. But also a lot more fun! My tutor decided to give me the hardest characters to do, which I was worried about at first. The first performer I made up was lovely though, and very relaxed, which helped - plus he even warned me about how much he flinches haha. It's bizarre how easily you can chat and laugh with people once armed with brushes and sponges; I think everyone was nervous beforehand but now we're all used to it.

It's so nice when you've finished somebody's makeup and they say thanks and ask after you to do it again in the evening show. Definately reassuring too - eveyone on my course is so good at makeup I usually feel like I'm lagging behind, even when I'm not. So it's nice to get told you're doing fine.

I've been applying prosthetic noses for rats and painting their faces, neck, arms, hands, legs....Anywhere not covered by clothing. I feel quite sorry for them when we have to take it all of though. I wonder how many baby wipes we're going to get through by time we're done.

One of the main characters is really ill and he still comes in early everyday and gives an incredible and energetic performance onstage, before coming backstage to throw up. And the only time he moaned was to say to me, "It's really hard to throw up and not get it on this fake nose." Poor guy! Plus he's in a huge fur suit and wig and is literally dripping sweat and boiling hot. To make it worse one of the scenes is just him running and leaping around, and doing sit ups and press ups.

Backstage work is...interesting. Ever been asked, "Did you see a gorilla walk through here?" as a legitimate question before? I have. Ever stuck cakes into a wig before? I have. It can be quite surreal and funny, and sometimes you wonder if you're supposed to be doing whatever you're doing because it just seems odd. Backstage work is also busy, tiring and tedious. I only say tedious because half of it is spent waiting around for a cast member to run up to you asking you to paint their lips black, stick their feathers back in, pin in their pirate hat or stick part of thier nose back down. I'm back there tonight too, otherwise I'd have to watch it for a third time, which I couldn't do....As funny as it is, I get bored easily!

It's ace eitherway, I love it. Despite being very tired and very sore. I can't wait until next years already!

(P.S) Sorry if this makes no sense/ rambles/ is badly written - I don't have the mind for it right now haha.

Ah shush, you know I like glitter. You know I like black. You know I like smokey. And so I give you...The pink glittery smokey eye!



( Pink 'n' glitzy like a disco ball...kinda. )

Isn't Autumn/ Winter ALWAYS the best time for fashion? I think it is. You know that the key colours are likely to be plum, red, black and grey and that smart tailoring will be back "in". The chunky knits adorn shop windows and shoes that you really wouldn't want to trudge through snow in line up to bully you into buying them. Welcome to Autumn, be sure to pass through Winter...

Winter fashion is like home to me, it's the one season I can relate to fashion wise. Slightly manly, convenient and always just a bit of a surprise twist - I like. It seems weird to me how people just fall into "their" style so easily when I've always had a love/ hate relationship with clothing and fashion in general. I get lost. I impulse buy and end up wearing the same things repeatedly. So many things I convince myself that I WILL wear...someday...more like never. But it looked so pretty in the shop.

I decided last month that I need a wardrobe shake up - a shake and shimmy of chiffon, satin and girly fabrics with the boyish edge I seem to love. Patent leather shoes and clean cut finishes thrown in with lace and vintage jackets. Sequins and glitter and jewellery last seen in your Gran's attic. And so the quest began....Slowly. But it has begun.

I bought a purple and yellow (this is the ONLY piece of yellow you will find in my wardrobe) top with open sides, a navy sequin hat since I love sequins and I'm so pleased that they've been in the shops for months now and a faaabulous double beaded necklace with diamonté beatles crawling up the strings. I also bought a tweed skirt off eBay. Tweed. You heard me.

Then I bought green hair dye - what?! My wardrobe seems to be maturing, but I'll always be a kid at heart :]

So I thought I'd try my hand at making a bullet wound last night, my first try, and thought if it ended up going alright I'd post up here :] Looking back, I know what could be added/ improved on, so I'll include that as I go.



( Busta cap in yo'...hand! )

that I'm sorry for being so lazy!

Usual excuses, college and now I have my job back too, which means I have one free day to do eeeeverything done before the new week starts. It's quite crazy at times, but I love having things to do (even though today college was a right waste - half our performers didn't show up so we had nobody to practise on - wasters!) I made cookies instead :D

Ok, so I'm gonna hit you kids up with how to make cuts/ big injuries using cap plastic and wax (though I might opt for latex instead...) and FINALLY have a play with more fake blood recipes and share what I deem "FABULOUS" with you. I can't promise anything though since my camera has started playing up too :/ I just need a digital camcorder thingy mibob, don't I?

I may well write up a brief thing or two about body mods or hair too....

Feel free to request things and ask general questions by replying to this entry or any of the others. I love to know what you think, so lemme know!

Lily
xox

( IT BURNS! IT BURNS! )

Hello lovelies, just letting you know I haven't forgotten about you! Life is hectic right now (in a good way!) and I've only been online to pop into a few places and see how everyone is and such.

Halloween has been and gone, but I know we all love gore makeup at heart! Next week I'll be posting a tutorial on making prosthetic bullet woulds and cuts using wax and liquid plastic, and some better instructions for making fake blood. I might just play with the idea of creating some crusty looking scabs too, for your picking pleasure.

Please do let me know if you have any questions on SFX, fashion/ beauty/ HD/ makeup, body painting etc and I'll get back to you ASAP :]

Lily
xox

Today I felt like taking a pop at doing a Halloween tutorial which wasn't all gore and grime. I know plenty of folk like to dress up as fairies, something from a kid's story, princesses and other cutesy girly things, so here's a pretty pink look which could fit any less....gruesome costumes!



( Slime and snails and puppy dog tails... )

A wee while ago, I was given the Urban Decay "Book of Shadows" eyeshadow palette (3 for two at Boots - go team!) and I must say that I am rather impressed. Sleek and sturdy packaging, a range of versatile shades, a pretty pop up, two brushes and mini UDPP....What's not to like?
If you're anything like me (which seemingly nobody is in this way) Urban Decay eyeshadows don't have much oomph or staying power on your lids. Last year I got the Urban Decay palette with the bright shades in it...Fishnet, Ransom, Graffiti, Peace etc and mainly used the more neutral shades, Honey, Underground etc because they actually stuck and didn't fade. I can happily report, fellow Urban Decay fading friends, the Book of Shadows palette is full of nothing BUT fade proof shades and formulas.
The shades themselves range from deepest black, Perversion, to an utterly glam and bright green, the aptly named, Absinthe and have a range of soft girly shades, chic neutral shades and sophisticated colourful shades between. Blendable, soft and smooth. It's always a plus when you can pull out a palette and do a full look without having to fuss with additional palettes, pots, pans etc and this is a possibility....if you exclude a highlight shade.
Two synthetic brushes are also included, one fluffy crease brush and what I'd refer to as a smudger brush. I couldn't really make a fair comment on these since I generally prefer natural fibre brushes, but they do seem a good addition to anyone's brush collection. The mini primer potion always comes in handy and is still considered the best eyeshadow primer by plenty of eyeshadow addicts, making eyeshadow crease resistant and bright.
Urban Decay wouldn't be Urban Decay without some pretty packaging - right? Right! Which is why this palette pulls up to reveal a pop up collage of birds, flowers, makeup compacts...apparently to inspire you, and I guess I can see how it would be inspiring in a way, definately reminds me of childrens books! The eyeshadows themselves pull out from a bottom drawer with a purple ribbon.
All in all, would I recommend you buy this palette? Yes! Versatile AND pretty - that's a rarity, and it's reason enough! I *think* it's £20 and can be purchased from Boots and Debenhams.



( Under here for pics/ swatches! )

A mangled/ missing eyeball look which would scare the trick or treaters for sure! Don't be put off if you think this looks difficult, it's actually quite easy once you get to grips with derma wax and only takes about 15 minutes max :] [Posted to VF]



( The horror! )

Everybody likes to play with fake blood and gore, and Halloween is just around the corner! An ideal time to take a spy at some SFX tutorials and have a play. [Posted to VF.]



( Graveyard voices calling to me... )

My current love is glitter - I know, plenty of you will be transported back to when you were twelve years old going to a school disco, but, believe it or not, glitter can still look classy and mature. Don't believe me? I don't blame you, really! Most of the glittery makeup I see in stores looks a little scary and naff, and - I'm sorry to sound harsh - but most of what I see on people's faces can look exactly the same. But I know everyone secretly loves glitter underneath it all, they just lose touch with that inner 12 year old. So how do we break this up? How do we buy glitter without the fear? How do we USE glitter without the fear? I have a few ideas....

1) Choose your products wisely - Firstly, craft glitter and cosmetic glitter are very different. Craft glitter has sharp edges and is often made with metal, which can cut your eyes and damage your skin, not a nice thought! Cosmetic glitter is usually much finer and has to be approved for use as/ in cosmetics and therefore is much safer.
   Chunky glitter isn't going to look great the majority of the time, perhaps used in very small quantities, but fine glitter can add just a flash of shimmer. Although, fine glitter can settle in the fine lines around your eyes, so set it well!

2) Keep in mind that glitter steals the show, so if you plan on wearing loud eyeshadow or lippy, a fine and fairly neutral (AKA gold/ silver/ copper) glitter is going to be your best best. Hot pink lips and orange glittery eyes is going to be hard to make look hot.

3) A lot of glitter can make you look as if you have just dived into a kid's party bag - use it sparingly! To line your eyes, add a few dots, add it to lipgloss, even along your cheekbones, it's up to you. If you feel like looking super glittery though, either -
A) Use one shade of glitter.
B) Use fine glitter.

4) Keep looking around for that glitter of your dreams! Who says you can't rock baby blue glittery eyeliner or purple glittery gloss? And even if you buy whatever that dream product is and it doesn't go to plan, at least you've tried something new and had fun with it. PLUS pot of glitter themselves aren't that expensive. My personal favourite glitter pots are by Stargazer, they're £1.99 a pot, though that might differ depending on where you're looking.

5) Youtube, Specktra and LJ are aaaaaall your friends. Don't you feel popular?! The wonderful ladies and gents who frequent them are wise on these glitzy matters and have some ace FOTDs showing you just what you can do with a little glitter.

6) Glitter is very versatile. It can be added to practically anything - blush, lipgloss, eyeshadows, finishing powder, liquid eyeliners, mascara, nail varnish and put some spark into really boring colours. If you have any browns, maybe blacks, grays, whites you never use, try adding some glitter.

7) Don't be scared! Glitter washes off, if you go "wrong", just wipe it away with cleanser and pick up the strays with some tape. It's not difficult, you'll have fun and maybe even learn something new :]



Still not convinced or want some inspiration? Click the cut for pics and links to tutorials!
( Follow the glittery road... )