I owe these guys a bit of an apology I have since discovered that if you use this pen to create a smokey eye: apply it like liner and then blend it out it, is the absolute tits and does stay very firmly put, its just not much good as a regular eyeliner.


So a little while ago in to combat the lockdown blues I started looking through some of my old work and putting up on instagram, a few people liked it and after a week or so I got contacted by a company called Mellow Cosmetics  a cruelty free brand from New Zealand, asking if I wanted to be a brand ambassador and advertise their products. 
I get to be an influencer How very exciting! obviously theres no such thing as a free lunch, you still have to pay for the products but theres a very nice 30% discount and I do need a new eyeliner so why the hell not, let's give this a try.  
I ordered the "Liquid precision pen eyeliner" (retail price $18+ $6 postage) It arrived a week or so later in a very stylish black and gold package and when I took it out the pen looked exactly as advertised - So far so good! 
However putting in on was different story, the pen was a little bit dry and as a result it didn't apply that smoothly, however the end result was decent enough so I decided before I gave it a write up I would wear it everyday for a week in order to give it a fair trial.
With a bit of further experimentation I discovered it blended well and could be used to create a nice smokey eye, however the fact it smudged so easily should have been a bit of red flag for my main issue with this product - It doesn't stay put!  

I first discovered this fact when I wore it on a day when it was raining heavily, so I figured maybe its just not very waterproof.  But then it also smudged on  on a day when it was beautifully sunny, another day that was kind of average and a day where I didn't leave the house, so I'm afraid its definately the eyeliner. 

Verdict: Sorry but there is no getting around the fact this is a decidedly average product, fine as a back up or if you're using it for something where it dosn't need to last that long or come under that close scrutiny, but as a day to day this just won't cut it.

Plus I know that all pen liners dry out over time but the fact this one was dry when it arrived makes me wonder how long of shelf these pens have.
​
Good luck to the guys at Mellow cosmetics and thank you for the discount, but I probably won't be returning any time soon

,A couple of months ago I got a call from old school friend, it seemed another face from our school days (Isla Mcleod)  was going to be involved in some sort of protest at the houses of parliament. Apparently she was planning to get naked (as you do) and needed some body paint, would I be able to oblige?
well certainly I replied, 'please give her my number and tell her to come over'. 
Sadly as the days went by  I heard nothing, maybe they decide that the chilly March weather wasn't ideal for getting your bits out! 
Then one evening as I made my way home I picked up a copy of the evening standard and there on the front page I saw the news that a group of 6 protesters had walked into parliament stripped naked and glued themselves to a window  I looked closely at the picture and sure enough there was Isla centre stage, boobs out for the world to see. Great way to make a statement! However as looked at the group I couldn't help but think how substandard their body painting efforts had been 'Should've come to me'.
I thought smugly.

What followed was one of those light headed sales experiences where the assistant demonstrates the product in such a way that buying it seems to be the only logical thing to do, and its only when your back on the high street clutching your super expensive new purchase that reality kicks in and you suddenly think what the hell  just happened there?
So that was me and my brand new Vanilla Chantecaille Anti Smog Tinted Moisturiser: A slim silver and purple tube that set me back a whopping £64.
Yes you read that right £64 for a tinted moisturiser, £64!!! It’s ridiculous that such a thing should exist, there are children starving in Africa for gods sake, no one needs this, and what do they even put in the Damn thing that would cost so much?? But hey I’ve brought it so I’d better bloody well use it right?

​So taking all this in consideration when the treatment was over I listened as Kate  described the various products and packages the spa was selling fully aware that she was most likely on commission and fully prepared to spend slightly over odds on a face cream or booking another facial maybe as a gift for my Aunt or Mother. However the quoted prices were EYE-WATERING, all the packages on offer were into the thousands. Sorry love but that ain't gonna happen, even with a monthly payment plan of 12 easy  instalments of £187 and free beauty case to go with it.. So at this point I’m afraid I suddenly noticed I was running late for a very important thing that I had to do and ran for the door!
Overall great treatment from Smooth You, you can find their website HERE, if you can get the free facial I would recommend taking advantage of this, just be aware that they do come on a little strong with the sales tactics,  I hope the staff are on a decent basic wage!

Recently I was having lunch with a friend and of course the topic turned to make up. ‘Whats your favourite liquid eyeliner? she asked ‘Oh Chanel’ I said ‘I have been through pretty much every brand out there and their eyeliner pen is definitely the best one I’ve found’ ‘ Nah‘ she replied ‘ I think Lancome is better’.
‘Mmmm yeah the Lancome art liner is good I’ll give you that but it ain’t no  signature du Chanel’
‘No she said they have a new one now its called Grandiose its wayyy better, it even has a handle you can bend so you can get a better angle when your applying it’
‘ok’ I said  'well i’ll test it out next time I get the chance;

Above: how it should be done. Below: portrait of the artist attempting multitask, eyeliner application + selfie = urrgh! 

Why? Well we all know that if beauty blenders have a fault it’s that they do eat rather a lot of  your precious foundation. Silicon applicators are supposed to be the next step: giving you a flawless finish without wasting too much product, and given that I am currently using the excellent but ruinously expensive ‘Just Skin’ tinted moisturiser from  Chantecaille this definitely seemed like a good idea.
After receiving my silicon Applicator courtesy of  Alibaba.com  my first thought was that it had been packaged in a plastic wrapper although on closer inspection this didn’t peel off, but appeared to be part of the applicator, this plastic wrapping gave the applicator a weird baggy texture that really didn’t help with application, even if you stretch it tight, it just smears foundation onto your face but doesn’t really blend it in and leaves a lot of streaks.
Although the it has be said the edges of the plastic are very good for removing any foundation that gets trapped in your eye brows

Does anyone else ever get it where suddenly they go from having nothing new to show for their efforts for months and then suddenly loads of things get released at once?
well thats just happened to me, so expect a few developments on the the website over the next couple of weeks!
But first of all I would just like to share with you these lovely images from a shoot I did all the way back in November.

Photography: Helen Sikk ​www.helenasikkphotography.co.uk/#0
Model: Ray Alexander @rayyalexportfolio

 After the success of the first Shibari shoot it seemed only right that there should be a sequel, but how and when where and what and why and who?? -  Oh gosh so many questions! I asked rigger Helen who of course was only to keen to grab some rope and spring into action. After a lot of asking around and putting up ads on various websites I was contacted by musician and model Jenny Maxwell who I have previously collaborated with on a few videos and shoot wanting to know if she could get involved - perfect! my long time friend and very talented hairstylist Sonya Park Howie was very intrigued by the concept and promptly volunteered to style Jenny's hair if only as a reason to be around to watch what was going on!
The search for willing photographers was tricky but whilst putting out feelers for willing participants I ended up getting two for the price of one Dario Srbic and Laura Marques  all 6 of crammed into my ridiculously tiny studio and much hilarity ensued especially when photographer alura decided she wanted to get in on the action and have a go at being a 'rope bunny' (see below right) turns out she looks pretty good on the other side of the camera as well!

Jenny and I have a long standing tradition of using a pomegranate as a prop when ever we work together and this shoot was no exception, I think it made addition to this shoot adding to the sexual undertones of shibari. The idea was to try and create some pre raphelite style imagery as this had captured my imagination following a visit to Tate Britain (painting with light exhibition may-sept 2016) And if the image below is anything to go by I would say we nailed it! Many thanks to everyone for giving up your time to get involved

All back in august 2015 I did a bit of work at a festival called Boomtown down in hampshire, while I was there I met a very talented lady by the name of Mikki Anderson, it became the start of a face painting collaboration and we since worked at various festivals and events around the country. 
Now a year and half on following a very successful new years party we have decided to formally set ourselves up as business and have launched Glitter Girls with a Facebook page and everything https://www.facebook.com/girlswhosparkle/ if you could take the time to give us a like that would be great. 
And of course it goes with out saying...
HIRE US FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT!!!  
​reasonable rates, London based, will travel.

And now we've got the business side sorted lets get back to the art....

​ As there is not a huge call for face painting at this time of year we have been trying to keep the momentum going and hone our skills by painting ourselves. (See below) I have learnt that is incredibly tricky trying paint and photgraph your own body so am on the hunt for willing victims... If think you would would be up for being painted do drop me a line!