Book Review: There's No Humility in Art

This book of modern poetry has the weight and rhythm of some of the great black poets in American literature, such as Ntozake Shange and Allen Ginsberg. It deals with issues revolving around race,appearance, gender and politics with an up to date feel. It has a variety of poetry types, from rhymes to free verse and even some haiku's.

The poetry is interspersed with pictures, that are relevant to the poem and add another layer to the artistry. One of my favourite poems from the collection is 'Webster' which is about the power words can have over a person. It is relatable and well written, as most of the poems in the collection are.

The Wind is another poem of not in this collection, it drips with the same energy as the works of Whitman. The down to earth messages are interlaced with moments of lush words and apt emoting.

This books is definitely worth a read if you like poetry, especially poetry from Shange, Walker, Angelou and Plath. It is a refreshing take on age old issues.

 I received a complimentary copy of There's No Humility in Art as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team.  Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

The book is available in paperback and ebook here: http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/thnohuinarpo.html

xx Saoirse

Update: Tranny News!

So, I have not really written much about my actual journey through transexualism. I have been attending a gender clinic for two years now, but due to social phobias and general depressiony things, I am only on my twelfth appointment. They judge your time with them through appointments attended, so I have lost almost a year due to postponing appointments. So today I was expecting my usual session. In, talk about my life, leave. But today hormones were brought up again. My counselor is all for my getting hormone therapy, but I need to quit smoking and build up some more appointments. But all in all, this is wonderful news!

It is not fully straightforward for me, due to my age. As I am under 25 there are further stipulations. I will have to go to an endocrinologist, my counselor assures me that he is wonderful, before I get the go ahead for hormone treatment. Hormone treatment opens so many windows for me in terms of my development. I will be able to get laser hair removal on my face as well as vocal training whilst on hormones, which is a huge leap forward. Hopefully this will get me out of my stagnant funk!

Whilst on hormones, I will be doing what is referred to as RLE (Real Life Experience). This is a period where I live as my gender full time. I have been living as a female for over a year now, but I am too reclusive to be able to prove how I cope as a woman. A volunteer job was suggested, so I will be doing some research into viable volunteer jobs that I will be comfortable in, but will still let me shine.

We also discussed legally changing my name today. I have thought about it, and go by a different name, but it is time to start thinking about actually doing it! I chose the name Saoirse, because it is Irish for Freedom, and that is what living as a female, and hopefully being physically female, is for me. It is freedom.

My counselor played 'devils advocate' with me today, I hate when she does it, but I get why it is important. It is a series of hard to answer questions, such as 'how are you sure you want to be female?' It is a good way of inspecting your motives and assessing your long term goals, and will help find any doubts you may have.

The final thing is, the idea of freezing sperm came up. To enable me to have a genetic child in the future. I will be declining this. I do hope to have a child in the future, but I think adoption is more my style. There are so many children in this world that need parents, it seems stupid to bring another child into the world for the sake of 'they are genetically mine'. A mothers love is more than simple genetics.

So that is all for now! I will keep you all updated (I promise this time I will!)

xx
Saoirse

More Drama Please!

Who said that black eyeshadow and big lashes were just for supermodels and goth girls? It is possible to make even the darkest colours wearable by simply choosing a complimentary shape for your eyes and adding a highlight to the inner corner so the eyes don't appear too small!

When working with a solid colour, especially a dark one, you have to work to get some dimension in there. I chose the shimmery approach. The glitter makes the black look less dead and more like a star filled sky. The lashes add the cherry on top of an already dramatic look!

Just remember to have fun with it, and if it doesn't work then wash it off! Another fun way to use black is to do a gradient from black to grey to silver! So add a bit of dark mystique and glamour to that red summer dress next time you go out, and dare to wear black!

Saoirse xx

Make-Up Tips for Beginners

If you want to make the eyes appear larger and further apart then apply the lightest colour closest to the nose and the darkest colour at the outer part of the eye. Reverse this if you want the eyes to look smaller and closer together (good for wideset eyes)

If you want to add intensity to a look then apply a dark eyeliner to the inner rim of the eyes, this is called the waterline. If you add a dark colour to the upper waterline it is called tightlining and makes the lashes appear fuller.

To test foundation you should apply it on the jaw line, not the back of your hand. Look at it beneath artificial AND natural light to ensure a perfect match.

To add depth and shape to your face you should deepen the hollows of your cheeks and your temples with a bronzer or contour shade that compliments the skin tone. You can also apply it to the jawline, but only if you wish to emphasize the shape (it will draw attention to stronger jawlines) The opposite of contouring is highlighting. Adding a shimmer, complimentary shade to the length of the nose, cheekbones, cupids bow and a little on the chin and forehead. This draws out these facial features.

Try to invest in some make-up brushes. These make make-up application easier and look better. I always say to invest in a good primer (a base for your eyeshadows), foundation and brushes. That way you can afford to buy cheaper products and still have them perform well.

Brand wise: If you are just starting and want to practise then try ELF (eyes lips face) you can order online and they have a whole range of products at only a dollar (1.50 GBP) so you can get to grips with make-up without spending a fortune. When you are ready to move on to more expensive make-up then be sure to check them out online. Search for dupes and reviews so you know you are getting your money's worth. Wet n Wild do some palettes with pretty good MAC dupes, and are a fraction of the price!

Be sure to watch tutorials and videos on youtube for inspiration and technique. You can learn a lot from doing this. It will also give you inspiration for products to buy and how to use some of the more obscure make-up products.

And finally, sorry for long rambling post, make-up washes off. Have fun and be creative and if it all goes wrong then wash it off and try again! We ALL end up looking like clowns a few times in the process of learning. Make-up application is like any other skill, it needs to be developed and honed.

Saoirse. xx

New Year, New Me!

Well this year as my New Years resolution I have decided to go vegetarian!! I have just hit three weeks and I am loving it so far!

Why go vegetarian? Well first and foremost the ethics, I am against animal cruelty and it is very hard to determine how every piece of meat came to be on your plate!

And secondly, the Vegetarian diet is more healthy! You are ingesting far less fat with meat substitutes than with the real deal!

So my main goal this year is to go meat free, and maybe lose some weight! This will be a whole lifestyle change for me but it is something I feel passionate about!


Wish me Luck!
Saoirse

Cruelty Free Muppets Inspired Looks!

If any of you watch youtube guru's you may have come across Grace (http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmeticcouturier). She focuses on Vegan and Cruelty Free make-up. I am not vegan or vegetarian but I am still against testing cosmetics on animals. But I digress. On Grace's facebook she mentioned that no cruelty free make-up company has came out with a Muppets collection (MAC and OPI though called Cruelty Free are owned by Non-Cruelty Free companies) so we thought 'Why not make out own Muppets inspired looks using cruelty free products?!' And that is exactly what I did!

Animal :

For the Animal look I went for a rusty red and black smokey eye. I toned down the colours slightly to make the look more wearable but it is still dramatic and fun, just like the Muppets!

Products Used: ELF Primer, NYX Pearl Mania Pigment (Rust), ELF 6in1 Palette (Date Night (the blacks and the white colour in the tearduct), ELF Creme Eyeliner (Black) and ELF Lengthening and Defining Mascara (Black)

Kermit:

Kermit, Kermit, Kermit. How you broke my heart! I was going to go for a really bright green, but on my eyes that is not very wearable! So I made Kermit sexy! Using darker greens for an intense rocker-chick eye.

Products Used: ELF Primer, ELF 6in1 Palette (Beach Retreat (the lighter and medium green)), Sleek iDivine Palette (Storm) the dark green)), ELF Cream Eyeliner (Black), ELF Lengthening and Defining Mascara (Black)

Well that is all I have, If you want me to do some more Muppets inspired cruelty free looks then leave a comment with the Muppet you want to see done! And don't forget to check out Grace's blog (http://cosmeticcouturier.blogspot.com/)  for more cruelty free looks and tips!

XX
Saoirse

E.L.F: Battle of the Eyeliners

To kickstart my E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) reviews I am going to focus on an essential part of my make-up routine. Eyeliners! E.L.F have a variety of eyeliners in many many colours. I have five types of eyeliner in a selection of colours.

Above is a picture of the eyeliners I own. They are:
1: Studio Crème Eyeliner (Coffee)
2: Studio Crème Eyeliner (Black)
3: Liquid Eyeliner (Silver)
4: Liquid Eyeliner (From the Glitz N’ Glam Get The Look Kit)
5: Liquid Eyeliner (Coffee)
6: Waterproof Felt Tip Liner Pen (Black)
7: Mineral Eyeliner Pencil (Black)
8: Brightening Eyeliner Pencil (Black)
9: Brightening Eyeliner Pencil (Plum)

Below are the swatches of the eyeliners:

Straight away you will notice that the plum eyeliner does not come across as very purple, and this is true to the way it looks in person, it is not black, but it is not very purple, it makes a good alternative to a full on black eyeliner but not as subtle as a brown eyeliner.

The crème eyeliners are my absolute favourites of all of the eyeliner from E.L.F, mainly because of the versatility. It is easily used as a liner for both the lash line and the waterline, they are smooth and well pigmented and they have amazing lasting power when set with a powder. One downside is they can wipe off and fade if not set, but it is a common practise to set any crème eyeliner.

My next favourite is the felt tip liner, it is really dark and easy to apply. The nib does become blunt over a period of time but it is still easy to use at this point. It dries quickly and will not budge! I reach for it when I do not plan to use liner in my waterline.

The pencil are a bit of a dissapointment compared to the crème and felt tip. They are not overly pigmented and they wear off quickly. But for a smokey look they work quite well, I also use them as a base for more dramatic eyes when I want to reserve my other liners.

The liquid liners are not the best, but I have seen worse. They are best applied using an angled brush as the applicator is really hard and not easy to work with. It works best as a base instead of an actual eyeliner, but the colours I have are not traditional eyeliner colours. The clear one with sparkles is amazing for adding a bit of sparkle over any eyeliner or eyeshadow.

Finally, the retractable mineral eyeliner, I was so excited to try this as I have loved all the other mineral products I have tried from E.L.F, but it is hard to work with, it tugs on my eye as it is a bit too hard. I like my eyeliner pencils softer and a bit more smudgey, but when you get it on it lasts a fair bit. But the pigmentation is nothing compared to the felt time and crème.

So in conclusion, the crèmes and the felt tip liner are a must have for your beauty bag, the pencils are ok, but not a must have for me. And the liquids, though they have their merits are not best suited for eyeliners, but that is my opinion based on the colours I have. When I rubbed my hand the creme, liquid and mineral liners budged the least, but still budged.

Remember, E.L.F is an affordable brand, so don’t be afraid to try new things, if you don’t like them then you can swap them or give them to friends, that is how I got my sister hooked on E.L.F

Xx
Saoirse

Lush Collection!

My little Lush collection ;D If you want anything reviewed first just ask, I have used most apart from the bath products which are sitting around, may give them to my sister, me and baths do not agree (i have tried melting marshmallow moment, marzibain and vanilla fountain)

xx
Saoirse

Soaps:
Honey I Washed The Kids
Sea Vegetable
Sexy Peel
Figs and LEaves
Lust
Snow Cake
Candy Cane
Angels Delight
Miranda
Japanese Aid
Summer Pudding
Karma
Bohemian
Rockstar
The Godmother
Lady Catrina

Shower Gels:
snowshowers
Ghost
It's Raining Men
Dirty Springwash
Tramp
Flying Fox
The Olive Branch
Snow Fairy
Gloog
Fruity Beauty
Grass
Happy Hippy

Shower Jellies:
Calacas
Snowshowers
Sweetie Pie
Joy of Jelly
Iced Wine

Body Butters:
Buffy
Aqua Mirabilis

Massage Bars:
Wiccy Magic Muscles
Strawberry Feels Forever
Each Peach
Tuca Tuca
Heavenili

Hair Care:
Jasmine and Henna Fluff Ease
Dirty Styling Cream
Squeaky Green
Jungle
Curly Wurly
Coolaulin

Shaving Cream:
Dirty Shaving Cream
Prince

Lip Products:
Bubblegum Lip Scrub
Mint Julips lip Scrub
Whipstick

Moisturizers:
Vanilla Deelite
Charity Pot
Smitten
Imperialis

Toners:
Breath of Fresh Air

Deoderants:
The Greeench
Aramaco

Cleansers:
Angels on Bare Skin

Colour Supplements:
Jackie Oates

Face Masks:
Cupcake
The Sacred Truth
Mask of Magnaminty

Toothy Tabs:
Dirty

Shower Scrubs:
Shower Scrub
Sugar Babe

Shower Smoothie:
Creamed Almond and Coconut

Bath Bombs:
SpaceGirl
Vanilla Fountain
Butterball
Ickle Baby Bot

Bubble Bars:
Creamy Candy
Marzibain
Dorothy

Bath Melts:
Melting Marshmallow Moment
Dreamtime

Gifts (individual items included in list above)
My Fair Lady
Soap Box
Wild Child
Dirty Gift
Sweet Soap of Mine
Little Green Bag
Relax Take A Bath
Strawberry Picnic
Truly Scrumptious

Whats That Smell?? Perfume Collection

Anything you want reviewed first just let me know!

xx
Saoirse


Harajuku Lovers:
Jingle G
Sunshine Cuties G
Sunshine Cuties Love
Wicked Style Love

Elizabeth Arden:
Mediterranean Breeze

Antonio Banderas:
Spirit

Lush:
The Olive Branch
Vanilliary Solid
Sample Kit (Smell of Freedom, Vanilliary, Orange Blossom, Tuca Tuca, Lust, Karma, Breath of God and Imogen Rose)

Demeter:
Splash on Cologne (Cotton Candy)

Mary Greenwell:
Plum

DKNY:
DKNY Original

Make-Up Collection

 Anything you want reviewed first just let me know!

xx
Saoirse

ELF:
Liquid Eyeshadows (sexy silver, mocha madness and green machine)
Creme Eyeliner (black and coffee)
Felt-Tip Eyeliner (black and ash)
Mineral Eyeliner Pencil (black)
Plumping Lip Glaze (mauve berry and ruby kiss)
Luscious Liquid Lipsticks (strawberry, ruby slippers and
Liquid Eyeliner (silver and coffee)
Lipstick (posh and classy)
Lip Primer/Plumper
Eye Primer/Eyeliner Sealer
Get The Look(purple perfection (both) Glitz and Glam)
All Over Colour Stick (persimmon, lilac petal and golden peach)
Lip Stain (heartbreaker)
Duo Eye-Shadow Creme (olive, black liquorice and coffee and cream)
Eyelid Primer (sheer)
Beauty Book (smokey eye edition)
Lengthening and Defining Mascara (black)
48 Piece Eyeshadow Collection (Black Book)
32 Piece Eye Palette (natural)
Mineral Starter Kit (fair)
6in1 Beauty to Go
15 Piece Mini-Make-up Collection
Nail Polish (red velvet, metal madness and twinkle)
Tone Correcting Concealer (ivory)
Tinted Moisturiser (rosy beige and ivory)
Clarify Pressed Powder (ivory)
Hypershine Lip Gloss (berry cherry)
Daily Brush Cleaner

MAC:
Lustre Lipstick (Viva Glam V)
Mineral Eyeshadow (Earhtly Riches)
Paint Pot (Bare Study)
Zoom Lash Mascara (black)
Lipglass (Icescape)

Stila:
Smudge Stick (Moray)

Barry M:
Clear Gloss
Nail Paints (crackle effect black, white and purple)

Elizabeth Arden:
Color Intrigue Effects Lipstick (poppy cream)

Estee Lauder:
Eyeliner (softsmudge brown)

Maybelline:
Dream Creamy Foundation (004 Light Porcelain)
Volum' Express Mascara (black)

HD Brows:
Eyebrow Palette (Foxy)

Gallery Colours:
Loose Face Powder (translucent)

Constance Carroll UK:
Compact Refill (2 Tender Touch)

Sleek:
iDivine Palette (storm)

Sephora:


Collection 2000:
Colour Intense Solo eyeshadow (showgirl)
Volume Boost Lipstick (Red Red)
Kohl Eyeliner Precision Pencil (Aubergine)
Total Colour Mono (smoke)
Brilliant Shimmer Gloss (diamond diva)
Extreme Felt Tip Liner (black)

Urban Decay:
Smoke Out kit (Yerba)

Eyeko:
Fatbalm (raspberry)
Liptastik pencil (Loudmouth)
London Lip Gloss (Primrose Hill and Soho)

Rimmel:
Match Perfection Foundation (100 Ivory)
Lipstick (Screamer)
Prism Effects Lipstick (07)

Lavall:
Lip Liners (Red and Mink)

Bourjois:
Liquid Eyeshadow (Molecule dor)
Metallic Eyeliner (Feuille de cuivre)

Sephora:
Pro-Lesson Eye Palette (Brown Eyes)
Buildable Cover Complexion Kit (Light)

Fraulein 38:
34 piece brush set.
18 red make-up brushes

Beautify:
78 colour Eyshadow and Blush palette

Unknown Brand:
88 Matte Palette

LUSH! How it all began!

Lush, my latest and possibly greatest obsession. I started with the My Fair Lady hatbox, the Soap Box and Japanese Aid soap. I will review all three of these in this post.

My Fair Lady hatbox: The contents of this hatbox has changed as some items went retro. But mine contained Smitten Handcream (30g pump), Figs and Leaves soap (100g), Buffy Body Butter Bar (90g) , The Olive Branch Shower Gel (100g), Charity Pot lotion (95g), Creamed Almond and Coconut Smoothie (100g) and a sample of Ultrabalm. It costs £30, I don't know how much the individual products add up to, but generally Lush charge a little extra for the packaging. I LOVED this set. It was part of my first Lush haul. I had seen so much about Lush from the online beauty community and was so enchanted I had to try it. Unfortunately my nearest Lush is 2 1/2 hours away by bus and as of today I still have never been inside a Lush store! So down to the nitty gritty of each item.
Smitten Handcream: Marzipan scented goodness, the same scent as Snowcake Soap, Marzibain bubble bar and Melting Snowman bath melt. The cream is thick and luscious, and melts into your hands a treat, leaving them sweet and soft.
Figs and Leaves Soap: How to describe this scent?! I love this soap, it is one of my all time favourites, it has figs in it to exfoliate gently and it is very moisturizing, the scent on it's own is not that impressive, it is a very light earthy scent, but it is great for cocktailing.
Buffy Body Butter Bar: the cellulite slayer, I was impressed with it when I first got it, it is a very harsh exfoliator, but I assumed that is what it was meant to be like (I then tried and fell in love with Aqua Miribilis) and in my opinion it offers nothing in terms of moisturization.
The Olive Branch: A HUG IN A BOTTLE, this amazing bottle of showery goodness is possibly my favourite Lush shower gel (between it and Ghost) it is a warm, earthy smell that envelops you in the shower, the oils make it very moisturizing and it is great when used with Figs and Leaves.
Charity Pot: Lush's moisturizer that gives to charity when you buy it, even as part of the hatbox. The scent is described as chocolatey, but I personally do not smell that, it is sweet and very light, and leaves me feeling a bit greasy, but it is great for dry patches!
Creamed Almond and Coconut Smoothie: DO NOT LIKE! I don't know what it is about it, it may be the combination of the formula but I just cannot stand this product. The smell is tolerable, but when I used it I got no lather and had to use a lot of product before I felt clean!
Ultrabalm: Not to be confused with the cleanser Ultrabland. I do not like this product either, it is a vegan version of petroleum jelly, and I do not like petroleum jelly based products either. The smell, taste and texture are horrible, it moisturized my lips very well, but I can't stand it being on them!

All in all this is a great box to try the more sophisticated Lush scents, it also has some of their bestsellers and is one of the few good shower gift sets!

The Soap Box gift  was perfect for me, it is no longer available. It is five 100g chunks of soap, perfect for a beginner wanting to try a bit of everything. I can't remember how much it cost me! It contained 100g each of Miranda, Rockstar, Sea Vegetable, Honey I Washed the Kids and Sexy Peel. I always cut my soap up into about six chunks, makes it last longer and there is a shorter time between getting to change up your soaps!
Miranda: The fruity, kiwi soap. It smells amazing, but for some reason it has not been into the shower with me yet! I love it, but I don't reach for it!
Rockstar: I LOVE I LOVE!! I have used 100g of this soap and have a back up bar in my soap stash (the hatbox from my My Fair Lady gift!) It is sugary goodness! But, as it is so creamy it melts REALLY fast!
Sea Vegetable: I like the smell of it, but I wouldn't want to smell like that! It has been resigned to the hand soap dish. It is good but a bit drying, at least when I use it on my hands I have an excuse to use more Smitten ;D
Honey I Washed the Kids: One of Lush's most famous soaps, and for a good reason! It is sweet and moisturizing but doesn't melt as fast as Rockstar! I do not reach for it too much, but it is my go to soap for when i want a sweet yet grown up shower!
Sexy Peel: I have a weird relationship with citrus scents! This soap went to my sister as i couldn't stand the smell. I like citrus scents if they are lemon or lime sherberty (lemony flutter, lady catrina etc) but most citrus scents just do not agree with me! My sister loved it though!

And finally (phew) The Japanese Aid soap, it was released after the tsunami hit Japan as a way of raising funds. The soap was a white bar, uniformly shaped, with a red circle in the middle, creating the Japanese flag, it was only available in 100g chunks and cost around 5 pounds. The scent was I Should Coco (which is now in the retro section of the website for a limited time!) and is a realistic coconut scent with sweet undertones. I liked the soap, but I won't be rushing out to buy more of that scent. I use Curly Wurly in my hair and don't like to overload on one scent! But it is a good soap, fairly moisturizing, no exfoliants.

So that is it for my first Lush post, many more to come!! Do you want them split up more? I feel that this wall of text is a bit intimidating!

xx
Saoirse

NYX Cosmetics: Pearl Mania Pigments.

Nyx is a popular drug-store brand in America, it is slowly becoming more and more popular in the UK but it is still a bit difficult to get your hands on. I got a full set of 30 pearl mania pigments from Ebay. I had developed a bit of an obsession with pigments from the youtube beauty guru's. The uses of pigments are wide and varied, you can wear it as an eyeshadow wet or dry. Mix it with clear gloss, nail polish, hair gel and mascara to make new colours, pigments are a must have for fully customizable make-up. They are also great for if you want to match your eyeshadow to your nails.

This look was created using the grass pearl pigment, I used it over a primer and used it dry, i then darkened the outer v with a matte black eyeshadow. A thin line of ELF felt tip eyeliner added the final touches to this simple eyeshadow look. Greens work really well with blue and brown eyes. My lips are MAC Viva Glam V.

Nyx Pearl Mania Pigments: So my final verdict? AMAZING! I get great colour pay-off when I use them wet or dry. I have used them with gloss for more dramatic looks and have even used it as eyeliner. High quality pigments yet affordable. The texture is good, but being so fine there is a lot of fall-out if you don't use them wet. They are all shiny, not chunky glittery shiny. I usually prefer matte but if I want a bit of sparkle I always reach for my NYX Pearl Mania Pigments.

xx
Saoirse

Make-up: Where I Began

My fixation with make-up has been going on for a few years now, only recently have I started investing larger amounts of money into my make-up. I started with a palette that my sister no longer used, it was poor quality and I used my fingers instead of brushes, a no no for eyeshadow! I then invested a little in cheap, drug store make-up, again not the best quality! I then started watching make-up tutorials on youtube, Pixiwoo was the first and probably the most influential. It was through youtube that I discovered brands such as MAC and E.L.F, my make-up collection is mostly E.L.F with a minimal amount of higher end make-up, pricey make-up is pricey. I have also tried brands such as Eyeko, Elizabeth Arden, Stila, Sephora (a gift), NYX, Collection 2000 etc. Around the time i got really into make-up I started buying Lush Cosmetics and began a steep climb into the world of perfume. I was also subscribed to Glossy Box but unsubscribed, i will be resubscribing to it and Carmine box and possibly Boudoir Prive, I will keep you updated on these!

So that is how humble beginnings grew into full blown obsession. If you have any questions about the brands I have tried or want reviews on anything feel free to leave a comment!

xx
Saoirse