2 Months & No Blogging... What's Up?!

I haven't written an entry on here since the 1st of May - nearly two months. I started thinking I'd give myself a couple of weeks to adjust, having just moved house but... weeks turned into months! I've been going through all of my photos since May and they're just not as good as they used to be. I don't know if it's the make-up (I've been lazy recently) or the lighting or what (both!). I need to sort it out. I've honestly learnt so much about make-up in the last two months, and my confidence is really growing... yet I'm not documenting that in words or doing much on my own face to show for it either. Fail!

I can't remember what I used in most of the photos which renders them kind of pointless and they're not my best work. Meh. Here are a few photos of "what-I-wore-to-work" make-up anyway (using MAC cosmetics). I hope to be back to my normal 2-3ish entries a week ASAP. 

A winged eye make-up that I can see involves Waveline fluidline and no. 3 lashes. I've not been doing my blue brows lately and this makes me miss them! As usual they're Electric Eel and Atlantic Blue.

Hey Sailor launch (which was at the beginning of May in the UK... yeah). I am not wearing either of the Hey, Sailor red lippies because I do not own them. Think I tried to get as close as possible with Lady Danger lipstick instead, and planned to put on Red Racer when I got to the counter.

Above and below - Yellow/Green/Blue gradient eyes. Above I used the purple pencil from Reel Sexy in my waterline, below I did not. Above I have my favourite no. 3 lashes on, below I don't. That's literally all I know about these! They certainly involved Golden Rod, Lucky Green, Atlantic Blue and maybe Scene eyeshadows. I think I have Blankety lipstick on below, not sure. Eep.

This is why everyone should always blog regularly. It feels like being senile. Is that my face?! (Reads in my head like this Father Ted clip - Are those my feet?! - because Father Jack rules.)

Fancied something a bit different at the start of this month and used Magenta Madness pigment with Boot Black liquid liner (I can tell because it's matte black as apposed to my usual Superslick liquid liner which looks more like PVC/shiny). I love the look of Boot Black but it flakes down my pale pale cheeks like ash from a volcano or something. It's not pretty. So I'll probably stick with Blacktrack fluidline or Superslick liners instead. Industrial pearlglide pencil is under my eyes. Copperplate eyeshadow for my eyebrows. As for everything else... I have no clue.

Thanks for sticking around if anyone has, I miss this lark I swear. Still planning a couple of giveaways too, just might take longer than originally planned because I am rubbish. I redyed my hair and it yet again needs redyeing all since last time I posted. Seriously, where is the time going? Too weird.

Ruth xx

Texture Cat Eyed FOTD

I wanted to wear something simple but dramatic to work last week, and came up with this. It feels really comfortable to wear less products sometimes...
This used Superslick Liquid Liner in On the Hunt (black), Smoulder Eye Kohl, Studio Fix Boldblack Lash, Texture and Blanc Type Eyeshadows (over Soft Ochre paint pot) and Tour De Fabulous Lipglass. Skin was Select Cover-up Concealer NW20 and Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus with Melba Powder Blush and Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Whisper of Gilt (just a little on top of my cheek bones). I wanted it to be sort of reminiscent of the colouring of the Ore-Inspired trend from MAC for this Spring/Summer.

I'm slowly in the process of moving house this week, so mightn't be posting as much as I want to. I paid my first rent for the new place TODAY. Woo. Just waiting for my room to be painted. The worst part (I am dreading) is taking apart my IKEA Alex drawers, where I keep all my precccciousssss make-up. Ha.

I also need to sort a new computer... any recommendations specifically good for blogging, anyone?

Ruth x

Schtuff (a "haul" from Update, Models Own and an SPC order)

Looksee all the stuff I got this time at update! Schweet. I'm in the process of thinking through what things to giveaway... I am particularly fond of Black Swan pearlglide eyeliner and Vivid Effect nail polish (from Reel Sexy collection). So they are certainly staying. And the Prep + Prime skin smoother, because it's delicious. Also, I really want to get some more of the products from the Hey Sailor collection (there is a red lipstick with my name on it...)

I got some new Models Own nail polishes recently. Just because. I've not used any of these yet, as I am in the process of re-growing my nails (they'd become peely and I got tired of it). I chose Red-brown (urm, this one came without the plastic wrap and smudged ink on the label... it's weird and a bit gross) and Blue-violet Beetlejuice ones, Concrete Mixer, Beach Party and Indian Ocean.
If you buy five you save some money but... why, yes, I am a nail polish hoarder. Thanks for noticing.

I ordered C1, C4 and C7 Face and Body foundations only to find out that the darkest was out of stock (upon arrival). Will pick that up soon. May also get a light, medium and dark in N undertones next time, too. I want white from the Pro store, too... Feels like it's neverending! I also got four pairs of lashes #3, 2 x #4 and #7 (for weddings and/or me, we'll see!) and some more Brush Cleanser. Fix+ turned out to also be out of stock. Grr... it wasn't when I clicked order. Sort it out!

I tried to order heavy things from the internet so I don't have to carry it home. Better luck next time!

Ruth x

Random Post of Lips & Pablo Times

When I was at Basic Training in Birmingham, I picked up Sinister lipstick from the Venomous Villains collection in the staff shop (which is like a Cosmetics Company Outlet Store for staff of Estee Lauder companies, hidden in the top of Selfridges or House of Fraser - depending on the city).  

I mainly bought it for the packaging, but it's a nice glossy wash of colour (Lustre finish). I love it actually.

I also bought Lady Danger lipstick recently (FINALLY). Here I am wearing it over Cherry lip pencil. LOVE this as much as I had expected to. We don't stock it at the counter so I'd never tried it on before...

Above/below is what I wore when Pablo R visited my counter. Impassioned lipstick over Cherry lip pencil being the focus (of course). When I was removing my eye-make-up for a demo, Pablo called Superslick liquid liner 'nail polish for the eyes' and he's so right. Maybe that's a negative for most people but I love it! I also had Omega & Blanc Type on my eyes and Blushbaby on my cheeks. My skin was Select Cover-up concealer NW15/NW20 mix and MSF Natural in Light Plus.

Below is a terrible photo (after dark, bad lighting, crazy flash) of what Pablo did with my eyes. He kept my eyebrows (yay) but tried to make my eyelid appear larger by leaving it blank. He used Mylar (lid), Copperplate and Winkle in socket/underneath eye.

Urgh. Look at my face. 

Just getting caught up with photos to post etc. Will be back on form for the next few days. Need to pack things etc as moving in with my sister in May! It's all going on...

 Ruth x

Two Work Looks...

Scandelicious Kissable Lipcolour is a product I am sad will be leaving counters soon :( It stays put so well! I wore this to work last Saturday. Brows are my usual Fling brow pencil with Vibrant Grape, Atlantic Blue and Electric Eel over the top in an ombre effect. Omega and Blanc type on the lid and crease (really soft) with Blacktrack fluidline and #3 lashes. I made a mix of Melba and Blushbaby powder blushers for a soft peachy cheek.

Adventure Time Inspired Series - Flame Princess

Flame Princess, a new-ish character in a new-ish episode Adventure Time ("Incedium"). Jake is searching for a Princess of Finn's age to help him get over Princess Bubblegum, who is now 18 once more (and too old for Finn). I loved this characters colours more than anything plus the way they animated the Fire Kingdom (and her anger) was soo pretty.

Anyway, I hadn't tried to create an Adventure Time look in a while, so maybe it's not quite as dramatic as they used to be, but here goes nothing...

Impassioned + My 200th Blog Post!

How brilliant to have made it to 200 posts! I never imagined when I started this blog that a) I'd still be blogging a year and a half later and b) I'd end up working with make-up for a living. It makes me quite happy when I realise that's the truth!

I am wearing Patina eyeshadow with Charcoal Brown through my socket and eyebrows, but... more importantly, what am I wearing on my lips? Recently on twitter, Pablo R (senior artist for MAC in Europe) suggested using Cherry lip liner with Viva Glam Nicki. Well, I don't yet own Viva Glam Nicki (and it's sold out at my counter as I type) but I fancied giving a similar combination a go and here's what I came up with...

I primed the lips with Prep+Prime lip, filled in the edges with Cherry lip liner and filled the entire lip with Impassioned amplified cream lipstick all over. It gives the lips a stronger edge, but it's not noticeably red on pink or harsh. I also highlighted my Cupid's bow with Vanilla pigment.  

What do you think?

Ruth x

PS I'm quite excited as on Wednesday and Thursday Pablo will be at my counter. Hopefully I'll get to pick his brains! I might wear this combination.