A Change of Direction

I've had this blog for nearly three years now and after a years pause I would like to begin blogging again under a different theme. Now I would like to use this blog as a platform for my art and journaling that I enjoy very much for its power to be incredibly calming and relaxing, whilst (some of the time) making something worth looking at. After being inspired by a collection of artists and the blog 'The Journal Club' on Tumblr, I bought a Moleskine and have been watercolouring, writing and gluing what I fancy to help me relax - which in the middle of my GCSEs I need a lot.

These are my first few: I haven't really found a specific style or link yet, but the more I do, the easier it becomes and the more confident I get.

Tropic Lash Extension Kit

     Tropic is a brand run by Susan Ma, who some of you may recognise from The Apprentice; although she did not win, Lord Sugar took an interest in her company resulting in a 50/50 partnership between the two in 2011. I discovered the brand at a Tropic evening held by an ambassador for Tropic who showed us all the products in their collections and I came away with this Lash Extension Kit, £25 and the Skin Revive Moisturising Cream, £20.
     This kit involves three steps with two brushes. The fixing gel acts as a normal mascara (though gooier) and the second brush is packed with black fibres which are brushed on and stick to the gel, giving a longer and more feathery lash look. The gel is then used as the third step to re-seal although I only use this on my top lashes as it is far too sticky to use on my bottom line and the hassle of each blink glueing together is not worth it.
     I've seen amazing results from this : it's like using false eyelashes but without the effort or TOWIE look. The end result is wispy lashes which are full and with the added layers remain strong and in place for day and night.

Make Up Brushes Deep Clean

      I haven't given my brushes the deep clean they deserve for a while now and I felt they needed a good wash to get them back to freshly bought quality again. I use BlenderCleanser which is designed for the BeautyBlender which I use on and off, but also make up brushes like the above. The top photos show them all fresh and cleaned and the one above shows just how bad my large stippling brush (it says it's kabuki but I tend to think of those as powder mushroom brushes) had become. I treated my four main brushes which I use most often : Ecotools flat foundation brush, Bobbi Brown foundation brush, Real Techniques stippling brush and my Ecotools Kabuki brush.
     The BlenderCleanser is a thick product which smells powerfully but I've become accustomed to it now. It is really effective to keep pouring on and gets right to the middle bristles which are hardest to reach and when combined with water shows you just how much excess foundation gets absorbed into the brush. I have vowed to deep cleanse more often as the brushes really benefit from the care and it is an incredibly satisfying feeling to line up white tipped brushes on a window sill to dry and feel as though you've just purchased a brand new set.