Garnier BB cream

Hello!

I'm still enjoying my chilled out week.  I wore white to work for ballet class today and was told I looked like a bride!  I hope I'm not going to be walking down the aisle in a white leotard and cut off tights but well you never know.....
I'm not really a foundation person.  I just don't like the feel of something thick on my skin and my skin is really sensitive.  Most of the time my skin is quite clear and if I have a blemish I just use some concealer on it.  A while ago I decided that I would give a BB cream a go as they seemed like they would be lighter and I liked the idea of having a more even complexion.  I went for the Garnier version because it was a good price and I saw it was paraben free.
I liked the way this looked on my skin, however I just didn't end up wearing it that often because I still didn't like the feel of it.  It felt a bit waxy on my skin and if I wore it everyday I felt like it would break me out, so I ended up using it for my stage make-up base instead.
I bought a second box of this product when it was on offer again and decided this time to buy the sensitive skin version.  I recently decided to give this a go as my skin had been having some trouble and I fancied more coverage.

I actually much preferred this product to the original one as the formula felt a bit wetter and less waxy and the colour of it seemed a bit less orange.  This formula contains calming allantoin and mineral pigments and it really did feel calming on my skin.  I would use it under my eyes and I felt it did make the under eye circles less visible.  I swear my skin would look even better at the end of the day after I'd been wearing this than when I had first put it on in the morning.  I see there's salicylic acid listed in the ingredients so maybe that's why.

After a couple of weeks of using this I read the ingredients properly and realised that this version of the BB cream has parabens in it!  Arghhh.  I guess I had just assumed it would be paraben free because the original formula was.  It's a shame because before I read that I had really liked using this.  It has a very sheer coverage but you can definitely see a difference to your skin when it's on.  I find it makes the skin tone more even.  You still need concealer though to hide any obvious red spots.  If you're not bothered about using parabens on your skin this is really nice stuff!  Now I'm going to be on the lookout for something similar that's paraben free.  Any suggestions?

Weekend activities:An Old Church and Cakes

Hello!

I had a nice relaxed weekend.  The sun actually shone which made me decide to take my camera out with me.

I wore my floral dress from M Butterfly.

There's this awesome looking old church in town.

We stopped at a local cafe for some coffee and cake.

The cakes were yummy.  I hope the sun shines more often from now on!

Twirlybirdie :)

Make-up Factory Sensitive Mascara

Hello

I hope you are having a nice evening.  I have a chocolate marble cake in the oven.  It's the first time I've tried the recipe so I'm excited to see how it turns out!

I was given this Make-up Factory mascara in Sensitive as a Christmas present.  I've never used any products by them before.  At the moment I'm using the Clinique High Impact mascara which I really like but there's always room for a second mascara in my life. 

The brush is actually quite similar in shape to the High Impact one but the bristles are much stiffer.  I prefer the softer brush on the Clinique mascara but this one still does a fine job of lengthening and separating my lashes.  I would say I get less of a curl when I use this one than I do with the Clinique.

I still use this though and keep it in my bathroom for days when my Clinique mascara is in my handbag and I can't be bothered to fetch it because I am that lazy.

Here is a scary close up photo of me wearing this mascara.
It's nearly time to get the cake out the oven, yay!
Till next time :)

Twilrybirdie

Pearl bar necklace DIY tutorial

Hello there!

Since I made my bar necklace a few days ago I thought it would be a great DIY tutorial to do.  This is my first jewellery DIY post!
Here is the necklace I made a few a days ago.

It's made from a selection of free beads I got with my jillybeads order!

I thought it would look great with some tiny pearl beads I've had lying around for a while.  They're really small around 2-3 mm and I thought they would be perfect for a second delicate bar necklace.
To make this necklace you will need jewellery making tools: round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, and wire cutters.
You will also need some chain, for this project I used the most delicate chain I already owned.
Two jump rings and a clasp.  
A head pin with a loop on the end and what ever beads you wish to put on the necklace with holes big enough to fit on your head pin.

Measure how long you want your necklace to be.  I just put it around my neck to see the length I want it not forgetting that the bar of beads will add to the length of it.  Then I cut it to the right length using the wire cutters.  Protect your eyes when doing any cutting with the wire cutter.
Then fold your cut chain in half and cut it again.  You now have two chains of equal length which you will attach to each end of the bar.
Next thread as many beads as you want to on to the head pin, leaving enough room at the open end to make a loop.

Bend the open end over to a 90 degree angle using the flat nosed pliers and then bend the wire around the round nosed pliers to form a loop.

Cut the excess wire using the wire cutters.  Then thread on the end of one of the chains on to the loop you just made and close the loop tightly using the flat nosed pliers.

Then open up the loop on the other end of the bar and thread the other chain on that loop then close the loop tightly.

Next open up the two jumps rings.

Attach one jump ring to each end of the loose ends of the chains.

Close one jump ring and slide the clasp on to the other jump ring before you close it.

 If the chain you are using is delicate you will have to make sure all the loops and jump rings are closed really tightly so the chain doesn't slip through any gaps.

That's all there is to it!  Now I have two pretty bar necklaces to wear.

Here's a picture of me wearing my pearl bar necklace.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Twirlybirdie :)

Late night thoughts- and new boots

Hello,

How are you?  Things for me have been a bit hectic these past few days.  I've been busy performing and feeling a bit run down in the breaks.  Luckily that busy period is over and I have a calmer week coming up.  Today I was able to go to the chiropractor and have a massage which really sorted out my tired body.
I also fitted in some extra sleep and I immediately began to feel better.  The fog in my brain has started to lift and I feel more awake again.  I often read that it's meant to be bad for your health to sleep in at weekends but I feel like what ever your body is telling you it needs you should listen to it.  I always feel better when I pay attention to how I feel and sleep more if I need to.

The weather is much warmer here than usual for Winter.  It already feels like Spring on some days.  I still have winter morning sunrises through bare trees to look at though.

My winter boots literally fell apart at the seams.  I put off getting a new pair for ages because decent ones are so expensive.  A shoe store here had an amazing 70% off sale though so I finally got my replacement boots.  I have to keep my dancer's ankles safe and warm in the snow!

I really need to cull some of my clothes so I've been taking pictures of some things to get ready to sell them on ebay!

I love my white wedding planner.  It's the perfect colour!
I'm looking forwards to having time to think about things other than work over the next few days and hopefully write up a few blog posts.  The next busy period arrives soon and will then be lasting for quite a while so I better enjoy it while I can!

Nighty night!

Twirlybirdie

Garnier Simply Essentials 2 in 1 Make-up remover

Hello!

It is actually sunny today.  For the first time in about one week the sky is not covered in clouds!  I wanted to just stay outside and wonder round and round because of the sunshine but it wasn't that warm and I'd probably start to look a little weird.
I've nearly used up this make-up remover from Garnier.  I like to use paraben free products so this make-up remover from Garnier's Simply Essentials range was purchased specifically because it was affordable and paraben free.  It is also suitable for sensitive skin which is good as my skin can be quite sensitive.

I don't tend to wear waterproof make-up so I can't really comment on it's effectiveness for that but I find it does a fine job with my non waterproof make-up.  It does have a slightly oily texture to it but you will probably be washing your face after using this so any left over residue will be removed anyway.  The soothing 2 in 1 make-up remover consists of two layers, a cleansing water and a make-up removing oil.  You have to shake the bottle to mix the two layers of liquid inside it.  Then I put it on a cotton wool pad and hold it over my eye for a moment or two to give it time to work and get rid of the many layers of mascara I'm usually wearing.  I also use it on the rest of my face if I'm wearing make-up on it.

If you have sensitive skin I would recommend this.  I will probably be buying this again.

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

My current stage make-up essentials

Hello,

I hope you are having a good start to the week.  I went to the chiropractor yesterday for the first time ever.  I was a bit nervous as I was having my neck done.  It cracked LOADS, it was quite intense and I think I squealed a couple of times after some extremely loud cracks.  I think it did some good though because my neck tension seems to have dispersed quite a lot.  I have four more sessions so am looking forward to seeing how I get on with that.
I thought I'd do a post of some of the make-up products I've been wearing rather frequently for stage.  Some of these products I use for day to day activities too but less intensely.

 I also use different eye shadows and blushers depending on the role but the products here are current stage make-up staples.

The Garnier BB cream in Light would probably surprise a lot of people who perform on stage as traditionally very thick foundation is considered a necessity.  I find if I apply the BB cream with a brush I get enough coverage.  This is fine for me when my skin is quite good.  I use a concealer as well to hide any redness from blemishes and under my eyes but I prefer this to heavy thick foundation which I can't stand and makes my skin itch.
The Art Deco eyebrow powder is good for day or performance use.  I just apply it more heavily for a show than I would during the day.  It is quite a dark powder for me so it shows well on stage.  For normal day wear I just brush it lightly through my brows.  I also set it with a brown eyebrow gel.
The Lumene Rasberry Miracle lip sorbet in Full of Berries is a bright red very highly pigmented rich colour which is why I started using it for the stage.  I feel like the brightness of the colour lifts my face and my otherwise quite pale complexion.
For eye-liner I like to use the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 01 Black.  I originally bought this for normal day use but found it more suited to stage make-up.  Unlike my mornings when I'm in a rush I can take my time to apply it for a performance using the little brush.  It's quite an intense black and is a thick formula which lasts well making it good for the stage.
We can get our make-up done by great make-up artists at the theatre but I really enjoy doing it myself and using my own products.  I'm pretty sure that wearing make-up for performances is at least partly responsible for my obsession with make-up!

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Cozy dinners and a temporary engagement ring

Hello!

How are you?  My Sunday show is done and now I'm trying to relax and wind down which I often find difficult to do after the high energy and stress of a show.  Something that really helps is when my fiance cooks me something yummy for dinner.  Lucky me!
Last weekend he cooked vegetarian shepherd's pie which I love.  It's a recipe we've been using for a while and I think it's the red wine in it that makes it so appealing!

Sometimes we get given red wine as a gift after a performance which is great.  We don't drink wine a lot though so this is a delicious way to use it up!

Since I got engaged I really wanted to wear a ring on my engagement finger but until I get my ring re-sized I needed a replacement.  I had spied this pretty rose gold and cubic zircona ring a while ago but was trying to find something a bit cheaper.  In the end I couldn't find anything nice enough so I decided to just go for it as I can always wear it on my other hand once I get my real ring done.

I'm really pleased with it, and now I also know my real ring size as none of the rings I already owned would fit on that finger!
I feel a bit more relaxed now.  I hope you've had a nice relaxing weekend.  I'm off to the chiropractor tomorrow so I've got my finger's crossed that helps the neck trouble I've been having.
Till next time!

Twirlybirdie :)

Life lately: Wedding magazines and fluffy socks

Hi there!

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.  I have a show to look forward to today and tomorrow now.  The Sunday show was a last minute addition as another production was cancelled so the theatre have replaced it with a ballet show.  We're also going out to celebrate a work colleagues' 25th birthday tonight which will be nice but not as wild for me as it would have been because of the Sunday show.

My aunt sent me a wedding magazine which was exciting.  It was the first one I've looked through as they are so expensive to buy here.

I got sent some free beads with a bead order I made from Jillybeads so I made this necklace one night when I was feeling creative.

I love these type of bar necklaces and want to make one soon with real silver and some semi-precious stones or tiny pearls.

I got these fluffy socks from my coach.  Keeping your feet warm is more important than ever when you're a dancer!  These have grip on the bottom as well so I can wear them on our laminate floor with out slipping.

 My fiance had a voucher for a bookstore here so he let me use it to get this super cute washi tape!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Twirlybirdie :)

Weekend activities: coffee date

Hello!

How are you?  I had a day off from blogging yesterday and then what do I see but Joik has shared my Joik post on their facebook page and my views have shot up way higher than usual!  So that was a nice surprise.  Did you get up to anything nice last weekend?  A common treat for us is to pop out for coffee.  Last weekend we went to an English style pub as it is one of the only places round here you can also order a plate of chips to go with it.  It's also one of the last places where prices haven't shot through the roof since we joined the euro so that's a nice bonus.

My boyfriend treated himself to a latte which I can't have because I can't tolerate a lot of milk.  They look so delicious though.

I love the foam.

Salty food goes so well with sweet coffee.  Thank god for the one last place that serves a cheap plate of chips!  Everywhere else is going up market cosmopolitan but sometimes you just want something cheap and unhealthy!

I'm already looking forward to our next coffee date.  I was proud of myself for actually taking my SLR camera out with me for once.  It fits nicely in my hand bag but it makes my hand bag so heavy for my weak little arms!