A Photo A Day For A Year - April.

Another month that's quickly run away with me before I knew it. April seemed to go exceedingly fast.

The start of April welcomed the new addition of Instagram for Android. Not only has this meant I can actually follow people who've had it for ages on iPhone, it also means I don't have to watermark every single damn photo before I upload it to Tumblr. It'll link straight back to my Instagram instead.

Do feel free to follow me @bicky_ :)

Here was the list for April:


Source.

Here is Aprils photos:

I can't believe I've kept it for so long. I usually bail on things because I get bored and lose interest but this is really fab, which I'm sure I say every month.

May:


Source.

Because Makeup IS An Art.

I'm not a fan of Maybelline as a brand but I came across these mock advertisements on Tumblr and just had to post.



I get bored of people throwing up the excuse that people only cover themselves in makeup to feel confident. Just, no.

It's an art and it should be celebrated as such.

Glossybox - April.

The natural box*.

April is 'Earth Month' and Glossybox have put together a box that supports brands that do their best to help the environment. The box has a rustic, natural feel to it and is even 100% biodegradable.

Green is the new black, no?

Figs & Rouge - Cherry & Vanilla Lip Balm

£3.29 / 8ml

This is 100% pure, natural and organic. It also boasts multi purposes uses, it can be used on the lips and on dry skin. It smells lush, reminds me of sweets or something. It has quite a slippery texture so a little bit goes a really long way.

Burt's Bees - Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion

£9.99 / 190g

This is a 99% natural based body lotion and claims to nourish up to a full 24 hours. I love milk and honey, it's a very delicate combination but one that still has a hint of sweetness so I was pretty excited when I saw this! It's a semi thick but still lightweight cream that sinks in without much work at all which leaves skin super soft.

Caudalie - Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum

£29.00 / 30ml

This is a newly launched, ultra concentrated serum which is natural and plant based. You pop a little of this on your face before you apply moisturiser, twice daily. Since this is quite natural I expected it to be unscented but it's got quite a nice scent to it. Without moisturiser my skin already feels really hydrated so this definitely seems like something I'd rate.

Monu - Moisture Rich Collagen Cream

£17.50 / 50ml
For ages now I've been trying to find a cream that isn't too oily but is still moisturising. I can't seem to find a good balance with my skin at the moment. This is target at dry, very dry and dehydrated skin. It's full of essential oils like evening primrose and blackcurrant seed with essential fatty acids to repair the skin. The collagens help to smooth fine lines. I'm hoping this will help in the long run and I will update after I've used it for a while longer.

Inika Cosmetics - Certified Organic Eyeliner - Black Caviar

£11.75

This is the first 'natural' liner I've tried and it's a rich, creamy consistency. Black Caviar is an inky charcoal black, not the blackest black I've tried but it's not too grey. I only wear pencil liner on my lower lashline and it lasts pretty well on the waterline and really sticks to the lower lashline.

What do you think of this months box and natural cosmetics?

PR sample.

Drip, Drip, Drop ...

... Little April shower.

Oh great British weather. One day it can be like this and little less than 24 hours later ...

I like rain drop formations and this was the first chance I properly got to take some snaps of them.

Of course, Tilly wanted her moment in the spotlight too. :)

Oh, Lush.

3 week old bunnies.

What a way to get people talking, eh?

You know what I'm talking about ... That animal testing campaign.

So people are complaining about how harsh it is ... If it was being done to a real live bunny, would you think that was any better? No. Just think how outraged people would be then!

Yet this is being done to thousands and thousands of animals daily. What goes on behind closed doors and all that.

You can think I'm jumping on the bandwagon or that I'm 'naive' or whatever else people are labeling the people that agree with this but it was a fantastic campaign. The idea was to shock you.

To get you out of your comfort zone and open your eyes into what is actually happening since most people are too lazy to research it.

Whether you like it or not, this and so much is worse is going on in labs.

'Oh but we don't test in the EU so why protest here?' Uh ... Products are still able to be sold here even if they've been tested on animals.

The comments I've seen over the past couple days have made me sick to my stomach. You really don't care that thousands upon millions of bunnies are being bred, having nail polish dripped in their eyes, lord knows what else and being slaughtered just so you can have pretty talons?

Cute.

I think that's naive. What you don't know, won't hurt you as they say.

To not sign the petition because you didn't agree with it, I personally find completely childish. You're basically saying you don't want to help put an end to this.

I know everyone's entitled to their own opinions but how can you not try and help with such a disgustingly unnecessary thing. I really cannot fathom it.

It's definitely made me see people in a different light, I'm not going to lie. And if you don't like that - I can't help that. You carry on rocking your nail polish or lipstick that's been tested on animals if you really don't care.

I'm not sorry for not agreeing with such a vulgar crime.

Spur Of The Moment Sun.

Just for a little bit the sun made an unexpected appearance this afternoon. It's forecast rain all week and for once, the forecast has been right. Absolutely awful.

So I took the chance to snap some photos of my boys since I'm not at home and they were frolicking in the sun.

If you don't like cats it's probably not worth looking at the rest of this post. ;)

M.A.C Russian Red Lipstick.

When I set about purchasing my first proper red lipstick, I decided to go with something classic from M.A.C. At the time I was seeing a lot about Russian Red so I picked this up a year or so ago.

M.A.C describe this as an intense bluish red. I picked this because I wanted a cool toned lipstick but that was still vibrant, I don't like wearing darker shades on my lips.

It took me such a long time to finally be able to wear this. Why? It's a matte and I have serious issues with trying to apply mattes. I don't know what it is but I can't do it. I just couldn't get a crisp outline with a lip brush and found a lot of drag.

I decided to try it again yesterday as I was feeling a red lip to last at work. So i applied lip balm like usual but instead of wiping off the excess when I get to the lips I just dabbed some of it off. This way it still left my lips moist meaning not to much dragging.

I outlined like usual (I don't own a lip liner, and?), and then filled in with the bullet.

So how did it wear? I applied this at about 8 in the morning. By lunchtime it was still hanging in there, I ate and drank with it and decided against reapplying for the afternoon.

By the time I got home at 5 it was still hanging on in there amazingly well and only started to wear in the outer corners but nothing too noticeable and it stayed put until I removed my makeup.

Here's how I wore it:

(Follow me on Instagram @bicky_)

No proper photos as I'm growing my eyebrows out. *groangroangroan*

It's a very classic red and I will definitely be trying to wear this more.

Rejoice & Love Yourself Today -

... Cause baby you were born this way.

Just a quote I stumbled across a little while ago that rang true.

This Weeks POA = Sleep & Work.

I'm working stupid hours this week so trying to sleep as much as possible.



I doubt they'll be any posts till the weekend, sorry about that.

Do follow me on Instagram though! @bicky_ :)

The Hunger Games Movie Review.

Probably the most anticipated movie of this year - The Hunger Games.

I started reading these towards the end of last year and I was super excited about the release, even more so when I got an advanced screening!

If you don't know what it's about, where have you been hiding?

In a word, kids killing kids for rich peoples entertainment. I have no idea how this is still being marketed for children. I wouldn't let them watch or read about this, especially since the second book is quite a lot more graphic.

I understand people dislike actors, I mean I hated Clove. I hated her in 'The Orphan' and I was pretty gutted when I found out she was in this but eh.

The choice of actors in this movie caused quite a stir on Twitter especially and not in a good way.

Something I find absolutely despicable was the way the portrayal of Rue was seen by some of the public, just look at a small portion of this disgusting behaviour:

For real? There was hundreds upon hundreds of tweets directing racism towards a 13 year old girl.

And if you actually read the book:

   

So what did I think of the film?

Personally I loved it. Suzanne Collins actually helped write the book to film adaptation of the script. So I think the bits that were missed out (bar the pin) she didn't feel were important.

For me, films from books have always been ruined for me but this was pretty close in it's entirety.

It had the third biggest opening of all time, falling behind Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight, both of which have previous movies behind them.

I shall be looking forward November 22 2013, when Catching Fire shall be released. Hopefully it isn't delayed because of Gary Ross choosing not to direct the second film.

Serious book and film comparisons/spoilers after the cut. Don't blame me if it ruins it for you, you've been warned.

OCC Anime Lip Tar.

For a long time now I've wanted to try the OCC Lip Tars. They come in a gigantic range of colours (currently 36!) and are made to be mixed, so you can create something each time you use them and your own custom colours.

I picked up a few from Love Makeup a while ago and thought it was about time I showed you.

 

First up I have a cult favourite for you - Anime.

OCC describe this as a 'seriously neon pink' it definitely is but it's deeper in colour and not as retina searing as M.A.C's Candy Yum-Yum lippie.

What www.occmakeup.com says:

A stunning new innovation in lip color, OCC Lip Tar combines the longevity of a lipstick, with the ease of application of a gloss. Goes on slick and moist, and dries down to a satin finish. Ultra-saturated in color, Lip Tar contains an unprecedented amount of pigment - a little goes a very, very long way! An intense yet featherweight layer of color that never looks or feels heavy. Meant to be mixed, Lip Tar comes in concise array of colors for a limitless selection of shades made by you! A simple, elegant formula that contains Hemp Oil, Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E, OCC Lip Tar feels as good on the lips as it looks!

DIRECTIONS: Apply the tiniest bead of Lip Tar with our #010 Precision Lip Brush for complete, opaque coverage, either mixed with other shades or on its own. Applying too much product can result in feathering outside the lipline, so remember: a little goes a very long way!
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Where do I start with these? Everything OCC say is spot on except 'application of a gloss'.

This was my first application so the application isn't as crisp as it will be over time. But if you buy these in the old packaging please don't mistake them as a gloss. If you apply directly from the tube you will be left with a gloopy mess. You need the tiniest amount on a lip brush so whilst they are a bit more fuss then a slick of gloss or lipstick but I find them worth it.

This colour is amazing, it last for hours even after drinking and eating and I think that's down to it being one of the darker shades so it leaves a vibrant stain to the lips but that comes away when you take your makeup off properly.

The peppermint oil in these makes them smell delicious, it's not overpowering but it definitely makes a change from sweet smelling lip products.

I would be willing to pay full price for these because the amount you get and the amount you need to use is brilliant value for money in the long run.

I used this in a look recently and will definitely be trying out more combinations.