Easy-Peasy-Spooky-Wooky Wednesday Addams Tutorial

Hellooooo,

So Halloween is in a couple of days and, like many of you lot, I am so flipping excited. Insanely. 

One hitch though - I'm not great at making myself look even spookier than what old Mother Nature has blessed me with. So, with that in mind, I was having a little think about what on earth I could do that was (a) easy, (b) cheap and (c) reasonably quick alongside being something that I liked.

Wednesday Addams is the poster girl for apathetic goths everywhere. She's cold, sarcastic, moody and oh so wonderful.

Luckily, I share the same hair colour, complexion (ish) and deep contempt for fun - it was only natural for me to try out a Wednesday look.

So if you too fancy looking like a moody little goth, using products you've probably already got in your kit (or just want to see me look ridiculous in an ultra cheap black wig) then read on!

Firstly

I went for Max Factor's CC cream in Fair and using a stippling brush, I applied this pale potion all over my chops (including over the eyelids and in all the contours of the eye)

I then went in with MUA's Matte Palette using a warm brown tone and drawing into the socket from just outside the tear duct, buffing to the bridge, up to just below the eyebrow and across the eyelid like so

Blending this out and repeating to achieve a sunken eye look. We gon' get creepy. I then look an unused lip brush (stop looking at me like that) and using the darkest brown from my eyeshadow palette, I lined my eyes - you don't need to be neat or tidy.

Buff these in towards the socket, you want to go up and in on the top and down and in on the bottom, to really accentuate the shadows around your eyes, you creepy thing.

And we're going to add some black kohl liner to the lid and just below and on the waterline - again it doesn't need to  be neat - and then using your ring fingers, blend it out. Then, taking a black eyeshadow, fill those brows in 

Popping on some mascara (Max Factor 2000 Calorie)...

I'm just going to preempt this by pointing out that I bought a really cheap wig and I'm crap at plaits. 

Grab your plaited wig...

Again, reach for the trusty kohl and drawing an inch long line in the centre of your hairline, use the end of the line as a little guide to form a triangle shape from the hairline down and then fill it in (mine is wonky due to mucking it up a bit)

It's up to you if you want to add some lip colour (a dap of light eyeshadow worked for me!) but a touch of balm works wonders. If you wanted to go for a Morticia look, same as above but add wings and a red lip alongside removing the little trianglely bit. 

Easy peasy. 

What're you doing for Hallowe'en?

Lots of bats,

Bitchy M. xx

Pay Day Haul (or why I'll be eating tinned pasta for the whole of November)

Hello you lot,

Just a quick 'un before a real proper post!

So I got paid early (YES.) and after a phenomenally mixed couple of weeks, I decided I needed to treat myself to lots of pretty things that I'm still too scared to swatch.

So without any further ado...

Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Espresso & MTC

These two little beauties were part of the current three for two deal on at Superdrug and as I can't get enough of matte nails when it gets a wee bit chilly, I picked up a matte black (as modelled in the following pictures!) alongside a pretty nifty mattifying top coat to pop onto any colour I choose. So excited to try this on with Essie's Wicked. Such a little goth.

Sleek i-Divine Storm Palette

I picked this up alongside the Barry M nail varnishes and I've been hankering after this since it came out - I really love the emerald, sapphire and copper colours that are perfect for nights out in the Winter and what's fab about this is that there's a couple of matte neutral tones, so I can go from the office to the bar with this palette. I'm really looking forward to trying out Firestorm which looks a bit like a dupe for a certain Cranberry shadow. So happy with this!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation & Bronzing Powder + Highlighter Duo

These two wonder products are currently on offer at Boots - any two Bourjois products for £14. I love Bourjois foundation, it gives me the perfect amount of coverage, lasts ages and smells lovely. It might just be my imagination, but I also feel that it helps even out my skin when I'm having a breakout as it's packed with vitamins, who knows. I also picked up a neat little bronzer and highlighting duo as I've been looking for a powder contour kit (I've been using two liquid foundations for an office friendly contour -- I'll be posting about that very soon!) for when I'm out and about. I've read some rave reviews about this one, so I'm eager to see if it lives up to the hype.

Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in Hazelnut & Mascara in Clear

I've really enjoyed the brown lipstick throwback this year, the grunge look is something that I particularly adore and will be teaming Hazelnut (which for some reason I forgot to include in the group photo... ) up with a pale face, slightly smuged eyes and Doc Martens. I can still at least pretend I'm an angsty teen, right? I also picked up a clear mascara to keep my brows in check - I find that brow gel that you dab on or apply with a brush to be a bit arsey to deal with and it sometimes spreads a cloudy dark brown goo to the edge of your brows, if you're not careful. I used to use this stuff years ago but somehow completely forgotten it to be a staple of my make up bag (I'm thinking Men In Black came along, to be honest) so I'm glad that this baby is back. Both part of Natural Collection at Boots' deal of two for £3.50. Lovely.

Maybelline's Master Precise liquid eyeliner in Black

I adore black eyeliner. Always have, always will. I've dabbled in kohl and gel but nothing, and I mean nothing compares to the mighty liquid eyeliner, especially in pen form. So utterly majestic, quick and easy to use, Master Precise is by far the best eyeliner I've had the privilege to use. This lil baby gives some seriously sharp wings alongside as thin or as fat a line as you'd want. I'm not a massive Maybelline fan in terms of any of their other products, but this really is a pleasure to use, alongside giving some great results. I'm just fan-girling over here, so I'll stop.

Last but not least... Mac's Ruby Woo

Last week, my friend was painting her lips with the most beautiful red I'd ever seen in my life and falling to my knees in wonderment, she looked down and asked why I haven't bought Ruby Woo yet. I already have Diva, so after a really rubbish fortnight I decided to throw caution into the wind and do myself the biggest favour of this year so far. I'm still too scared to try this on, need a perfect setting for such a perfect lipstick. As my camera hasn't quite shown, Ruby Woo is probably as true a red you can get alongside being a gorgeously velvet matte. It smells like happiness too.

And that's why I shouldn't be allowed around money.

Did you splurge on Saturday?

Lots,
Bitchy M. xx

Why I find Chloe Hamilton's out of touch and insular views on Feminism just plain rindinkodonculous

Hello y'all,

So I didn't want to have my second actual post on something negative, but an article published by The Independent has hit a nerve and I'm mouthy.

Chloe Hamilton seems to have waged a war with Zoella (for those unacquainted, a beauty vlogger popular amongst tweens and teens - spokesperson for 'Mind' charity alongside winning awards and being hailed as an 'inspiration' by her fans) for no particular reason, other than to spread the ridonculous ideology that feminism is only applicable to those who are, in the beholder's eyes, successful applicants.

The definition of a feminist:
Someone who believes in equality over the political, economic, cultural and social rights for women.

There are so many ridiculous schools of thought that men can not be feminists, that women who have multiple sexual partners can not be feminists, that women who decide to quit their jobs and raise families can not be feminists and even that women who wear make up can not be feminists.

Guess what?

Feminism isn't a club. It's a personal thing. There isn't an exam to get a 'Certified Feminist' certificate - you either agree and believe in the ideology above and practise being a good human being or you don't. If you do, you're a feminist.

Hamilton ripped Zoella to shreds (yeah, Zoella grates on me but in the same way as One Direction, pastel colour outfits and boating shoes without socks grates on me) and actually showed some pretty harsh internalised misogyny in the process. Not only did she criticise her appearance, she speculated that her success was easily attained and showed complete contempt and looked down at Zoella's audience. That is not feminism. It's cynical misogynistic bletherings of someone who has an extremely self-centred view on feminism and doesn't quite understand the current climate for women on the internet.

Feminism is about equality. Women can look, act and sound however they choose to. Zoella choses to look, act and sound like the way she does and Chloe Hamilton choses to look, act and sound like the way she does. Except one choses to use her platform to positively engage young people and the other farts out click-bait articles that completely undermine her own nonsensical point within the opening paragraph.

/rant.

BIG KISSES,
Bitchy M. x

Big Ol' Red Face

Hello beauties!

It's getting to that time of year again when the leaves are turning red - and so is my face (and oily, to boot!). The red is so prominent that I'm one step away from becoming a myth told to kids who don't exfoliate and moisturise properly - that they too will one day turn into 'Big Ol' Red Face'.

But hoorah! I've found a set of products that have banished the redness and oiliness and have restored my skin to being acceptable in decent public. Which really was a big ask. No more 'Big Ol' Red Face' and more 'Relatively Clear Skin Girl'. 

During a lunchtime trip to Boots, I was moaning to my mate about my new red sheen when all of a sudden a cheeky 3 for 2 offer popped out of nowhere. My peepers came out on stalks and my bank balance glared at me until it saw the price and then congratulated me on finding a bargain.

Boots' Botanics range has always been pretty brilliant. Using the highest quality of plant extracts and in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Botanics range is a wonder. The price tag doesn't reflect upon the products available - these are high end but without the eating spaghetti hoops for the rest of the month.

The three products I chose were from the range 'Shine Away' - Invigorating Face Scrub, Mattifying Foam Face Wash and the Mattifying Gel-Cream. These all have Willowbark extracts which, according to the back of the bottle - not my encyclopaedic knowledge of plants, is a natural source of salicylic acid and helps to clarify the skin. Exactly what I need.

With my new additions to my already crowded collection of half-full face washes I didn't really get on with, I created a new routine in order to combat the BORF (yeah, I like that acronym). Here's what my new skincare routine looks like (and a mini review for each product)

First things first (amarilis)(sorry, had to)(not sorry)

I've been using Sainsbury's own brand of Tea Tree make up wipes to clean up my mistakes. These are pretty good considering they're only a quid alongside being pretty thick, having loads of aloe vera, Pro Vitamin B5 and Vitamin B3. Since switching to these from Johnson's Make Up Be Gone wipes I can see a real difference - the Johnsnon's ones made my face even oilier after using and felt like my face needed a deeper clean afterwards. Plus they stung my eyes a few times. So if you suffer from the BORF, then I'd suggest the Tea Tree ones.

After a quick swipe and then a lengthy battle with my eyelashes, I pop my fringe back and dampen my face with warm to hot water (preferably with a bit of steam going on) to open my pores (ick) and scrub away. The scrub has a really refreshing but not over-powering smell, faintly citrus with a mix of flowers. It is a little coarse when rubbed on dry skin but when applied to damp skin it becomes far gentler and works around the face really well. It's coarseness was actually a deciding factor for me - little coloured bubbles of nothing really don't cut it for my idea of a good exfoliation. I have found that since using the scrub, my face is prone to fewer blemishes and feels both softer and smoother. It's recommended only to be used two to three times a week but I've been doing it every day for the past week or so. I'm going to cut down from now on though.

Then I do this

My skin's feeling pretty good right now so I go for the wash. One pump produces more than enough for each go. The wash is so soft and shares the same scent as the scrub. It lathers up like a dream and has a very light consistency due to the foaming aspect. It's very gentle all over, especially around the eyes and, like the scrub, does leave your skin feeling really clean and refreshed. This is perfect for everyday use and is a lovely way to wash the day's look away.

And the cherry on top...

Once I've had a good rinse with cold water and patted my chops dry with a face cloth, I'm ready for the final step to achieve clean face nirvana. Taking a finger print sized dollop of the gel and place it onto the bridge of my nose, cheeks, chin and forehead, working it into my skin. The gel is a very smooth and lightweight formula that feels moisturising but without the heaviness. Again, it smells just like the other two and once dry, makes your skin feel like how Galaxy tastes. It's the perfect finishing touch to a fantastic skincare range and always makes me feel like I've just had a crazy luxury facial.

Epilogue

The 'Shine Away' range really is something special for those who need a bit of help when it comes to oily skin. My skin feels so much cleaner and fresher and I genuinely feel a lot more confident after using this for just a week. I'm pretty astounded by the results I've had so far with my new routine and have even ventured out into the big bad world with only a primer as a base - I don't have any before shots, just imagine I had sliced beetroot over my face, but here's a selfie with just primer, mascara and my brows done.

I'm so glad I found these products and if you're wanting to get your mitts on them, they're usually in any of the bigger Boots stores and are currently on the 3 for 2 offer: Invigorating Face Scrub, £2.69, Mattifying Foam Face Wash, £3.99 and the Mattifying Gel-Cream, £4.99. Tell them Bitchy sent you.

Until next time, you gorgeous lot.
Bitchy M. x












  

I'm Bringing Bitchy Back

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Hello you gorgeous lot!

Yeah, so. I was away for just under nine months. Not what you're thinking (no Bitchy baby), just life got in the way of talking about pretty things. I'm not going to bore you with anything - all I'm going to say is the quicker 2014 is scrubbed with a big black marker and deleted from the archive of time, the better. 

But now beauties, well I'm back for good. 

I decided to get rid of my old blog and in the next few weeks, I'll be looking to revamp this place. This week I'll get started on some posts, here are a few to keep your eyes peeled for:

• My wonder product find for oily skin!

• Wednesday Addams all grown up tutorial!

• Contouring for the pale girl made easy (and cheap!)

• Autumnal red eyes!

• Matte nails!

And probably a few more soon. 

Anyway, it's good to be back. Oh how I've missed you. 

Big snogs,

Bitchy M. X