Roxie Reviews: Pretty Zombie Cosmetics

I have had my eye on Pretty Zombie Cosmetics for a few months now, lusting over their dark, vampy colours. I'm still very much a rockabilly gal at heart but I can't help wanting to unleash my inner teenage emo goth girl that I subdued in my mid teens.

Pretty Zombie Cosmetics, as the below video tells y'all, are a USA based make up company who sell vegan friendly, cruelty free liquid lipsticks. Each lipstick is $12 (about £7.50) and international shipping is $11 (about £7). They work out cheaper than MAC and so so so much better in my opinion. They go on wet but dry to a matte without being too drying on the lips. They are super pigmented and only need one coat (without a lip liner too!), plus they have a strong staying power!

I  bought Black Cat and Dahlia...

Roxie Reviews: MAC's Veluxe Brow Liner

As you all know I am some what of a MAC obsessive (this has not been aided by the recent addition of a second, yes second, store in Liverpool). I used to use their other eye brow pencil in 'linger', but I found, although the colour was perfect, it ran out far too quickly - not something I want for a product that retails at £12.50! I switched to using their eye shadow in 'courduroy' but it never gave me the look I wanted. So, you can only imagine my glee when I went into the MAC store to enquire about stuff in general that I was told about their new Veluxe Brow Liner that was coming out the very next day! Yippee!

The website says...

The artist's pencil of perfection. It fills, shapes and defines with a rich powdery formula that's matte and velvety smooth.

I really couldn't put it better myself. It has a glorious chalky texture that does not feel heavy on the  face but the powder sticks to the hairs all day, so you can rub away and your brows slide down your face. This light powder texture also means that it lasts forever! I have been using it every day for the past ten days and I haven't needed to sharpen it and the point is still pretty decent. It's really worth the £15 it retails for because I can see it lasting me a long time.

Unsharpened point still looking good!

As it says above the Veluxe Brow Liner is supposed to fill and shape the brow; I am currently suffering from patchy eyebrow syndrome (I don't know how, they're just atrociously wild and untameable at the moment) so this was a big plus for me. My left eyebrow is especially disobedient, veering dangerously towards looking like a tadpole, but using the pencil filled it in whilst still looking like it was hair there, rather than product.  This is also helped by the addition of a nifty little mascara wand style brush at the other end of the pencil to calm down the stray hairs into a workable shape before pencilling in your brows! Well done, MAC!

Nifty little brush - apologies for slight gunk!

I got the shade 'brunette' - apparently my natural hair colour is more brunette than blonde *shudders* - but the blonde would have suited me just as well. I chose brunette because I like that bold brow look, although I do have to be careful I don't leave the house with a so-called Scousebrow. Although the colour suited me, I can imagine this would be the main issue for other people out there. The website is cleverly deceiving in their swatches - the products themselves are actually all very similar in colour, except from the black. If you are fair haired or a red head, this product probably isn't for you as the colour might be too contrasting - that is if you are going for the natural look that is. 

Personally, I think this product is amazing - it is everything I look for in an eyebrow product, but I can see it's flaws for other people so because of that I give it...

4.5/5

Rockabilly Essentials: Hair & Make Up

With my upcoming rockabilly tea party (The Mad Hepcat's Tea Party) I'm putting together a mini series of entries of everything rockabilly: Clothes, Accessories, Hair & Make Up, and Music.

No rockabilly look is complete without a slick of red lipstick and an edgy hair cut. This entry will show you the basics of hair and make up. It might look scary, but, as with anything, practice makes perfect and soon enough you'll be looking like the perfect pin up!

Hair

There are three very simple hair styles that you can perfect and individualise to your own tastes, whether that's all out or just a subtle touch.

1) The Bettie Bangs 

So named after the Queen of Pin Ups Bettie Page, this is a short fringe cut into a 'U' shape. These, surprisingly, suit most face shapes, and if you don't like it, it grows out in a couple of weeks! If you are going to get it cut in, remember to take a photo of the lady herself so the hair dresser knows exactly what they're doing.

2) Victory Rolls

These look really scary to do, and they will be a little tricky to create at first, but once you get it, you will be on a roll (please, pardon the pun!). You can just do one at the front, two at the side of your head, or as many as you want. Curl the rest of your hair, or roll it up in a bandana for the best result!

Here's my little tutorial on how I do mine...

3) Waves & Curls

Whether you do these with curling irons, heated rollers, foam rollers or pin curls, the result will always be rockabilly. By brushing out the curls in a certain way you can get a variety of looks from page boys to poodles! Just remember to use plenty of hair spray!

Katy Perry sporting a victory roll come Bettie bang fringe

Make Up

The make up is really very simple. Matte foundation, black winged eyeliner, red lipstick. Of course you can complicate things with eyeshadows and what not, but if its simple you're after just stick with that. Mac probably do the best lipsticks, but 'drugstore' brand ones are just as good. Remember to shop around to find the best red lipstick for you; if you have a yellow skin tone orange based reds work well, and if you have a pink skin tone, stick with the blue based reds. The eye liner will take a little practice, and a steady hand, but just be patient and you'll get the hang of it!

For both hair and make up the best Youtube channels are:

LisaFreemontStreet (my personal favourite)

Cherry Dollface (she's a model, she knows what she's doing)

ClassicRetroGlamour (Great for updos and 'second day' hair)

I hope you enjoy that little walk through rockabilly hair and make up! Stay tuned for the fourth and final part: The Music!

Ein über deutsch herbstlich Tag.

Guten tag! Wilkommen!

Anyone that knows me knows that everyone that meets me tends to believe/assume that I am German. I don't know if that's because I am blonde haired, blue eyed and have that kind of squarish face 'typical' Germans have, or the fact I do, sometimes, mumble to myself in very broken German - I am looking to get back into learning German, so any willing and patient Germans/fluent German speakers in the area willing to teach me, get in touch! Anyway, this is not the point of this blog; the point of this blog is to show you my new outfit which I am very much looking forward to wearing a lot this autumn/winter.

So, the outfit...

I bought this dress on Sunday in Topshop for, what I think is, a bargain. It cost me £30 (well, £27 with student discount) and seeing as it is a thick, winter pinafore style dress I think that's quite a steal! Okay, it's not wool but what do you want for that money? Now, why the German aspect? Well, when I came out the fitting room in it, my friends couldn't believe how German I looked in it. Yes, über deutsch. It also has a slight vintage feel to it, a little more 1960s than I usually go for, but still a little difference is always welcome.

I paired it with a long sleeved top from Gap, that doesn't usually come out of the wardrobe unless I am going to site and it's particularly cold. Over the top I shall keep the slight vintage/archaeologist-at-work thing going by wearing what my mother calls my archaeologist cardigan from Primark.

It was very sunny in my room at this point, sorry!

I suppose I should show you my face too...for the make up I kept it very simple using Benefit's Eye Gotta! Annie Collection (Foiled on the lids, and Spiced in the crease)

Aufwiedersehen!

This Is Why I Don't Wear Colour.

Today I thought, Hannah do something different, wear colour. My outfit assembled and make up plastered on (which took half an hour by the way, inspired by a look I saw on youtube) I looked at myself and thought "I really can't leave the house like this.". It just reminded me why I live in white, black, red and blue, and only wear the classic winged eye liner and red lippy. Regardless of the fact I felt like a clown that had rolled around in the 1980s, I thought I should share this look with you because, I'm sure, it will suit someone, somewhere...just not me.

Tomorrow, it's back to my normal self I think.

Tag You're It!

I got 'tagged' by the lovely LisaFreemontStreet on Youtube to do this vintage tag. Now, before you get your hopes up that I've been fraternising with people who have such high-standing in the community...she tagged everyone on youtube, not just little old me individually. So, here is my tuppence worth of opinions and factoids on what I think of the vintage style and how I blend it into my everyday life.

And now I tag you! If you're interested here are the questions for you to answer in a video, or if you're camera shy just in good old fashioned writing.

1) Who's your style icon?
2) Whats your favorite way to get inspired?
3) What's your most used hair tool(s)?
4) Whats your favorite hair tool/ gadget?
5) Up-do, down, or half and half?
6) Is vintage styling something you do daily?
7) Whats your favorite blush/ lipstick?
8) Dress, skirt or trousers? Heels or flats?
9) Homemade or off the rack?
10) Do you swing dance?
11) Small subtle touches incorporated into everyday wear ( flavor of vintage, if you will) or all out extreme? 
12) Favorite perfume/ skincare?)
13) What does the rest of the family think of your "style"?
14) Favorite accessory?
15) Do you find the vintage community warm and inviting, or cliquish and snooty?
16) What drew you to this style? 
17) Your favorite place(s) to shop vintage?

Summer Outfit #1

Now I have my new swanky camera I am aiming to do more outfit posts (vintage, rockabilly, or whatever) and just general posts full of glorious photos. Like today's! Today's outfit post is not vintage or rockabilly at all as I am just having a revision day and needed something comfy and cooling to wear in the summer heat - which has finally hit Liverpool!

(Plus, I am hooked on editing photos so the look all professional by using PicMonkey)

Ahh the mirror photo - I apologise about the state of my room

My outfit today consists of:

• Mint vest top by H&M (£7.99)
• Blokes jeans customised into shorts by Primark (£4)
• Black leather belt (unseen, sorry) from the 1980s that I stole from my mum (Free!)

And I thought I'd show my face too as I bought a new lip stick yesterday in my current favourite trend ORANGE!

My hair is in it's natural-ish colour and in it's natural wavy state, although from this angle you can't really see that...

My make up is:

• Urban Defense Tinted Moisturiser in 'Halo' by Urban Decay (£20 - Yowch!)
• Shine Control Loose Powder in 'Translucent' by 17 (£4.99 - I think)
• Eye Brow Crayon in 'Lingering' by MAC (£11)
• Eye shadow in 'Rule' by MAC (£12)
• Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Eye liner in 'Black Glamour' by Rimmel (not sure on price...)
• Volume Flash Scandaleyes Mascara in 'Extreme Black' by Rimmel (£7.99 I think)
• Blush in 'Life's a Peach' by Sleek (£4.99)
• Colourburst Lip Butter in 'Tutti Frutti' by Revlon (£4.99)

So there you have it, my first outfit post of this summer! Hopefully there will be many more to come!

I Promise I Don't Buy It For The Packaging.

...But it does help.

What am I talking about? Soap & Glory of course! The shops are now full of bath and beauty smellies adorned with retro photos of bathing beauties (I even saw some in Asda the other day!), but Soap & Glory were the first. I think everyone has heard of this company since it's foundation in 2006, and most women (and men!) have owned at least one of their products. I have the slightest obsession with their products since I received Clean On Me shower gel and Righteous Butter moisturiser for Christmas in 2007, and I am now slowly working my way through their entire, ever growing collection. I've tried most of the beauty products, but I have yet to move on to their new make up range, so I won't say much on them, but from what I've heard and read the reviews have been great, and they're not too pricey either - I'd hazard a guess at them being within the same price range as L'Oreal, Maybelline and MaxFactor.

These are my present Soap & Glory products

 So where do I begin? I think the shower is the best place. Presently, I have a miniature of one of my favourite of their products, the Clean On Me shower gel. It's a really thick formula that gets you squeaky clean and leaves your skin nicely moisturised without the need for a body lotion. The full 500ml bottle lasts me around six months and seeing as I shower everyday that's not a bad deal for just over a fiver! Once or twice a week I like to exfoliate my body too, at the moment I'm using Flake Away which is fragranced with shea butter (good for moisturising!), sugar and peach; the full 300ml tub cost me £7.00 from Boots, and the mini was part of a gift set I got for Christmas - I get a lot of this stuff for Christmas! I have also given the Breakfast Scrub a whirl too, and was highly impressed, but it's a little more pricey for a little less product. I won't lie to you, I haven't used the Glad Hair Day shampoo yet, so I won't give my opinion, but once again, I have heard great reviews of their stuff. 

After my shower, I need to moisturise. My skin just goes all tight and nasty if I don't. I've been using Soap & Glory body butters since I was introduce to them way back in 2007, and I have yet to find a decent enough replacement. I get my regular supply every Christmas so have never actually needed to buy one, but the three tub collection shown below will probably last me the year. The Righteous Butter smells of their signature scent, similar to most of their products so blends well if you are also using their shower products. My personal favourite is the Butter Up body cream, which has thicker formula and more of a citrus scent, which is much more my thing. Finally the Daily Smooth body butter is the one I am making my way through at the moment as I have both a tube and tub of the stuff. It's the most flowery of the three scents, and probably my least favourite.

For a little extra moisture I do like to use their Flirtigo Moisturising Mist which is a lighter moisturiser that is great for spraying the tops of my arms, which get very dry, in the morning if I don't want to use a heavier body butter. My favourite scent is the Glam-A-Lot body mist; it's a heavier scent, more perfume-y than a body spray, and it sticks around all day. The Mist You Madly spray is the same scent as the Daily Smooth body butter and so, like that product, is my least favourite one. I got these as part of a set, I think it was £20 for all three, but don't quote me. The great thing about these sprays is the fact that they're not in an aerosol, so not only do they smell nice, are in nice bottles with catchy names, they are eco-friendly(ish) too!

Finally for the beauty stuff we have the odd and ends that I just have in my collection. Hand Food is a great hand cream that isn't too greasy and sinks into the skin pretty quickly, plus has that signature Soap & Glory scent to it. I actually use this as a face moisturiser in the summer too; I know you're not supposed to but it keeps my skin moisturised all day and it hasn't caused me any issues. I use Heel Genius after every shower because I have disgusting feel (to say the least), and it does make them soft on top, but it hasn't done much for the rough skin underneath; the smell is a little weird too, and it is slippery on your tootsies until it soaks in. I got this as part of a package, and probably won't purchase it again. Lastly is my least favourite product: Scrub Your Nose In It. I have yet to find a facial exfoliater that my skin likes, some are too heavy (Lush, I'm looking at your Salt Scrub) and some are too light. This one is certainly too light. It's supposed to clear out your pores around your nose and leave your skin silky smooth without causing damage. Well...it doesn't. My skin didn't feel any different, my pores weren't any clearer and the smell reminded me more of toothpaste than face wash.

I said before that I have yet to explore their make up range, but I was telling a little white lie. I do have their clear Sexy Mother Pucker (careful how you say that one...) which is a lip gloss that has a little chilli in it to plump your lips. It smells pleasantly of chocolate and it does give you a glossy, plump lip so it does what it does on the tin. It's just not a favourite of mine because I don't tend to wear clear gloss because I naturally have quite pale lips, and I like to wear colour on my lips instead. Maybe if they did a red tinted one it would be more up my street...

It lived in my bag for a long time...

So, there you have it, my present collection of Soap & Glory products. I promise to update you on any new purchases as I do believe in promoting the products I think are best! Plus, I just got a new camera (hence the lovely photos) so I'll be snapping lots of things with no excuse not to share them with you!

Roxie Reviews: ELF Cosmetics

Recently I purchased five products from the £1.50 range of ELF Cosmetics online. I was really impressed with the website, the delivery and the majority of the products considering their price. For £1.50 you can't really go too wrong! The delivery was was £2.95 (not £2.50 like I said in the video) so that really wasn't too bad either.

For my nails I tried the Matte Finisher nail polish; I haven't tried any matte nail finisher before so I thought I'd give it a go and I was thoroughly impressed. I've had it on my nails a couple of days now and the shine has turned from matte to satin but anything that is matte will gain a shine with wear. I would definitely try this shade again.

I had been warned away from their foundations and powders by a friend, and for £1.50 I think I'd give them a miss anyway because good foundations tend to need to be expensive anyway. I toyed between their Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder and their All Over Color Stick. In the end I went for the Color Stick in Golden Peach and truth be told, I wish I'd gone for the bronzing powder. Although the pigmentation of the Color Stick was good it just wasn't right for my skin tone at the moment, and would have suited a more olive skin tone or holiday skin. However, they do do other shades - pinks, highlights, and plums - so I might give those a go when I get more money.

Moving onto eyes I was disappointed that ELF don't do a single eyeshadow - apart from their mineral range, priced at £3.00 - and instead you have to buy a duo, trio or quad selection. I went for a quad of the Brightening Eye Color because I wanted a bit of colour in my mini-haul. 'Punk Funk' certainly didn't disappoint! I was amazed that eyeshadows at around 38p each could be so pigmented! From just swiping them on my hand without a primer I was so impressed with the colour pay off. I've yet to wear them on my eyes so I don't know how long they will last but hopefully they'll be amazing.

I bought two lip products: one lipgloss and one liquid lipstick. The Hypershine Lipgloss in Vixen has just enough tint to have an effect on your lips, it's long wearing and quite moisturising. The range of colours for this product from ELF is also really extensive so there is sure to be a colour to suit everybody. However, the Luscious Liquid Lipstick was really disappointing. Traditionally a lipstick is much more colour pigmented than a sheer lipgloss, but this one from ELF has so little colour in it, regardless of what the website advertises. The image of the colour I chose (Ruby Slipper) shows a highly colourful deep red, but when I applied it to my lips it barely made a difference! So, for the lips I would definitely get the lipgloss again in varying shades, but I will keep well away from!

In my opinion ELF is well worth a visit, but beware, it's quite a lucky dip with what you'll get! But for £1.50, you're not exactly breaking the bank if you decide you don't like it, are you?



Here's my youtube review of my products so you can actually see them!