Curtain Twitcher...

Been practicing a bit of latex ageing effects today.. just coz I have to teach it to el studentes next week and I havent done it for ages meself... no pressure then!

Anyway I decided to go for a 70 year old ' curtain twitching ' pensioner theme.. she stil has a penchant for silver nail polish though...

SMASHBOXING DAY !!!

Jingle those bells! Ive found another CRUELTY FREE pro brand of make up! whoop whoop!! I was introduced to Smashbox Cosmetics this year, and knew it was a pro quality brand, but was worried it might be one of the bad ones ( for animal welfare ) such as Chanel or Estee Lauder..

Well it seems to be A - OK!!!.. it has the US version of the Cruelty Free bunny logo printed on the box, and it was developed by a photo studio in CA , it's not an offshoot of a big name brand..

Ive only got two products so far ( as its not mega cheap ) but you can buy it in Debenhams.. Ive got the High Def liquid foundation, and a lovely, very blendable eyeshadow to try out in my kit. The foundation is ACE! I even used it on my 88 yr old nan and it took years off her - a lovely finish.

This foundation was about £28 and the shadow was £12.50, so kind of mid price budget - gonna investigate Smashbox website to see if they do pro discount like Illamasqua do, coz that would be much easier on the pocket

Caro Snatch- Till yOure no LongER BliNkEReD

Oooo!!! So exciting! my first make up for album cover art..and its out now!! heres the link

http://carosnatch.bandcamp.com/

have a listen.. perchance to purchase ! Support electronic music and ladies in music in particular..( its not just men that are knob twiddlers) and generally just give your ears a mesmerising treat.

We were surrounded by bees in this derelict garden location in Whalley Range, Manchester, for the photo shoot!

lovely!

Photos by the fab Marta Julve

Video and art direction by M.A Barnes-Wynters ( Doodlebug) and make up by yours truly.

Urban Decay ...Naked and LOVIN IT!!!!!

THIS IS OFFICIALLY FAB!

I've already mentioned that Urban Decay on on my list of friendly cruelty free make up brands, and I was on the hunt for some make up that will fit in my professional kit and give me the sort of staying power and pigment coverage i need - well this ' Naked ' pallette has definitely scored top marks - the neutral shades cover all bases from 'nude' look to full on night-glamour smokey eye, and I definitely need to use these shades at work, as most makeover clients want eye make up that fits in with all their outfits. Coverage is great, the price was ACE at £27 !! that works out at just over £2 per shade ! whoop whoop

and it looks like a box of chocolates..in a velvet case..prrrr

It makes me wanna get...Naked !

Compassionate make up companies

So I got my copy of the Compassionate Shopping guide ( see image ) and I turned straight to the page about cosmetics to see which brands have been given the thumbs up... this means basically that they have a clearly stated FCOD policy( fixed cut off date ) for the testing of ingredients within their products, and the brands are not owned by dodgy multinational companies that are not endorsed by the guide because they do not have an ethical FCOD policy.

Obviously animal testing in the UK is banned for cosmetic purposes, but the testing of ingredients is not banned in the EU, so some companies.. most of the biggies eg Estee Lauder ( own MAC, Clinique etc ) are funding this research by buying ingredients that are tested abroad.

( Eg the Body Shop is no longer endorsed by the guide, as it is now, weirdly, owned by L'Oreal, and suprisingly, Barry M is no longer endorsed either, because they keep shifting their rules for their FCOD )... its all very confusing, but basically , some companies get round the rule by importing ingredients from companies that test abroad eg in Eastern Europe or the Far East, where animals are notably treated horrendously anyway, so Id hate to think what goes on in the labs )

Anyway - I was a bit gutted to find that Bourgois are owned by Chanel, so are not endorsed.. however.. here is a list of the make up brands that ARE smiley happy cruelty free!!

Not sure how many of these are pro-quality, but theres bound to be some products that could go in your kit and replace other not-so-friendly ones .

URBAN DECAY - even sell Vegan brushes and have a whole ' vegan' section on their website

LILY LOLO - mineral make up - also vegan brushes

Bare Faced Beauty

Beauty without Cruelty

Aldi's own label

Colorsport

M&S

Next

UltraGlow Cosmetics

there is a longer list of brands that sell skincare too, and Neals Yard is on this list ..mm love those blue bottles!

Im gonna check out what I can from the friendly brands above and see if any of them can replace products that I already use..obviously the staying power and pigment concentration has to be pro quality, so Ill report back if anything scores well :)

anyway.. buy the guide for yourself - its a mine of really important information!!

Caro Snatch - experimental electronic LP

So its almost here ! the CD release ( online ) of Caro Snatch's new Lp ' Till your no longer Blinkered".. on which I didst do la maquillage during the photography and video making... see here for teaser vid..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siU--3nbe8s

cant wait to hear the CD and see the live show in December!.. for which perhaps Ill suggest a Madame Deux Chats makeover for the stage ;) ^..^ ^..^

WORLD ANIMAL DAY

http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk

4TH OCTOBER IS WORLD ANIMAL DAY EVERY YEAR

You can show your support in many ways by going to the website and looking for fundraising ideas, or by simply pledging to do something positive for animals this year..for example..making sure you ONLY buy products that you know are definitely cruelty - free. Look for the BUAV bunny logo on cosmetics and toiletries, or check a compassionate shoping guide such as this one http://www.naturewatch.org/shoppingguide/CSG.asp

remember its not only the final product, but the ingredients that are tested, so its hard to be a complete angel when buying cosmetics and toiletries, but we can do our best. Cruelty free products are usually more natural and chemical free anyway, and usually organic or even fairtrade! so therefore, kinder to humans and the environment too :) its a win- win situation !