Art break - Magic Birthday Potion for D

I have got to the age where I can see the value in gifts that are consumable. I have enough permanent things, and unless it is a very special occasion, I don't need a permanent thing to have to store.
I would rather spend money on an experience, which while temporary, is valuable in the good memories provided.

Part of the beauty of a flower is its temporary nature.

So with that in mind, I took a can of Smirnoff Double Black (a favourite of D's and a vodka mixed drink favoured by youths) and made it a bit more of an experience:

D wants to get smashed (read: intoxicated) at his party, so this should be a great start! XD

So I painted it gold with acrylic, purple acrylic paint for the lettering, then multicoloured gems and glitter finish the piece.

This isn't his only gift, fyi, I ain't being cheap! :p
Just a little something to add to his birthday experience :D

Masquerade! - nügg Face Mask - revitalizing

This is a little pod of goop that you put on your face for ten minutes.
With flaxseed and peppermint oil, this cooling mask feels refreshing.
The only issue was a pod lid didn't open in one piece, leaving me scratching at it like an angry kitten.

Garnier - Fructis Fortifying Shampoo - Full & Luscious

This was a free sample I got from the train station (Success!).

It says it contains pomegranate but smells like FAKE APPLES! Why?! Why you do these things?!

It was a 10mL sample, but even with my now short hair, that wasn't enough to get a good lather :(

Did I feel it left my hair strands filled with fibra-cylane? Nope
It felt like a cheap marketing trick without enough dedication to even use real smoke and mirrors

Give 'em the ol' Razzle Dazzle!

As a basic shampoo, there is cheaper things that work better. So not worth it.

Price: 2/5 (rrp $5.95 for 250mL)
Scent: 0/5 
Effectiveness: 1/5

Yadah Cosmetic - Anti Trouble Bubble Cleanser

I got this through Memebox (which I want to love, but virtually everything they sell is unable to be sold in Australia).

It was gentle, smelled like lemon aspirin (think Alka-Seltzer) and came out of the bottle in a foam.
I am moving away from strong cleansers and exfoliators for le face, so this fitted in nicely with my new philosophy.

As for acne, I did notice a reduction of pimples, but not a complete stop.

Price: 2/5 (~$20 for 150mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Masquerade! - My Scheming 2 in 1 Neroli Mask

I LOVE NEROLI! 
A cirtus-floral scent? Sign me up!
This came with a serum to put on afterward, which was fun, and they do give you a generous amount.

Art break - part 8, Death

So, as you may have seen, I had done a fair bit of Death already, but I did a few touch ups:

The photos are a little blurry, but you get the idea :p

Death's robe is purple, purple being the colour of royalty, because all bow down to the rule of death. Also I felt black would be too stark.

The hand that will hold the rope is in the gesture of blessing, a symbol widely used in Christian and/or Renaissance art, directing benevolent guidance over Hades.

 I am rethinking giving this work to my (alleged) father, he is apparently thinking a lot on mortality :s

Next: Hades! (the derpy cat)

Book Review - Faust, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What I refer to here is the first part, the more widely known tale of the soul of Faust.
There is a second part, written by Goethe, but I'm going to be straight up with you, I will probably not read it.

It follows, in verse, the tale of Faust, an academic who sells his soul (to Mephistopheles, the devil) to be young again and experience life.
He falls in love Margaret and thus begins her downfall. (I don't want to tell too much of what happens, I hate spoilers).

Faust is not a creation of Goethe, but rather a legendary German figure, so if you really like this tale, you could investigate other versions of his story as well.

The only negative I have to say about this, and the fault lies with me, is don't get drunk while reading this, I ended up talking in verse.

Overall: 5/5

Book Review - The King in Yellow, Robert W. Chambers

This is a series of short stories, first published in 1895, often tied together by references to a play called 'The King in Yellow'.

The play is a supernatural, evil work that many argue should not have ever been allowed to exist.
Once you start to read it, it is near impossible to stop.
Once read, the reader's mind is left corrupted and disturbed.
The play is tied to the inhuman 'yellow sign', which upon sight, also wields a terrible power over the viewer.

The short stories reference the play in various degrees, from not at all to being obsessed with.
It is very interesting to follow these small snippets of peoples' lives and upon finishing each story (and the collection) I was left wishing there was more.

Much like the play referenced within, this collection left me unsettled and ravenous for more.

My only gripe was that the last story did not mention the play at all. I wanted to know more!

This collection went on to act as an inspiration for H. P. Lovecraft (of the Cthulhu Mythos fame).

Overall: 4/5

Bic - Soleil - Twilight Razors

The handles on these are scented! Like lavender! Completely gratuitous, but I love the novelty.

***TMI ahead***

I don't shave much nowadays, preferring my epilator or waxing (it's more violent this way), so these have been sitting in my cupboard for a while.

The three blades do give a close shave, but by Hades do they blunt quickly! I had to use a new one each 2-3 months... maybe that is normal, but it seems wasteful to me.

Despite the cute packaging, I don't see why another razor could do just as good a job... I guess I am saying that these are replaceable XD hahahahahaha! I'm so funny!

Price: 3/5 (~$6 for four)
Scent: 4/5 (This applies!)
Effectiveness: 4/5

L'Occitane - Roses et Reines - Beautifying Body Milk

Back to my favourite high-end beauty brand! 
I have already mentioned, I love the Roses et Reines scent and this body lotion smells just like the hand cream! <3

I'm really glad they called it a body milk, because it is quite thin (low viscosity). The thinness quickening the rate that it is absorbed into the skin.

In addition to the delicate scent, which lingers after applied, it is also a beautiful pink colour (Which I am living for!)

Price: 1/5 (rrp $27.00 for 250mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Lacura - Skin Science - WrinkleStop

The packaging of this is so cute! It is like a syringe XD

As you may have guessed, I picked this up at Aldi (I know how some of you love Aldi) :p

This is a SYN-AKE containing anti-wrinkle serum which you are meant to apply directly to 'problem areas'.

As far as effectiveness, I did notice a little motion restriction and a little plumping, but not much to write home about.
Hence, I probably wouldn't buy it again.

As an appeasement to the Aldi-loving crowd, check out this Aldi product packaging (that needed to be changed):

CoUNTry...

Price: 3/5 ($14, i think, for 10mL)
Scent: 2/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Brazilian Butterfly - Guava and Tangerine - Blue Crush lotion with shimmer

You know my love of shimmer, we covered this before.
And this lovely lotion delivers on the shimmer! Yasssssssssss!

In addition to the shimmer, the lotion itself has a lovely opalescent look (which does not translate on to the skin).

The scent is passable, I don't love the guava smell, so I wish the tangerine note was stronger.

As far as moisturising ability, it sinks into the skin nicely.

Price: 3/5 (rrp $18.00 for 200mL)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Brazilian Butterfly - Lavender Body Scrub with aloe and chamomile

If I never encounter chamomile again, I will die happy. I hate the smell!

That can be arranged

This scrub smells delightfully of lavender (thankfully the chamomile and aloe are used more to sooth the skin) and is one of the best exfoliators I have tried.

The only bad thing about this product is that it's ability as an exfoliator comes at the cost of the Earth... that is, it uses plastic beads which are not biodegradable.

Let's see Captain Planet stop my exfoliator extravaganza!

Because of this, I won't buy it again.

Price: 4/5 (rrp $18.00 for 200mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5 (but I don't care because it doesn't care for the Earth)

Art break - part 7, the pallid horse

It took two passes to be happy with my pallid horse, at first I had it's teeth showing through it's face, but it didn't look right.

So I have done the horse, the hour glass (notice time has run out on it), the scythe and some fires in the background.

And what is that on which my work rests upon?

Please ignore the other mess in the craft/games room I don't want to mess with my housemate's things.

I bought an easel! I'm a real artist now! :P

For the pallid horse, I had to study some horse pictures to get an idea of structure (I didn't grow up around the beasts).

For stance, I used this photo as a guide:

Also, there are bits of flesh missing (dead creatures are often careless in this fashion) and it's eyes are clouded.

I did the coat in green and purple hues, so there was no mistaking it's lack of health.

One of the inspirations for the horse's face was a painting done by my own (alleged) father:

I have since been told it may be a cow... I say horse!

Given that he has arthritis in both hands, this will probably be one of his only works.

I have started Death, but he isn't completed yet, he needs a little more definition. 
Although check out his eyes, they look... hollow...
Sometimes things just work, like his eyes...

Hollow...

Soon

Next: finishing Death!

Rexona Antiperspirant - Confidence Dry

This was ok, still doesn't last as long as the roller ball type, but it was usable.
It clams to be '48h active', but it really only lasts 24 hours if you don't do any physical activity/ get too warm.

The scent is what I would call 'soapy'... it literally smells like soap. To me 'confidence' would smell like alpha person pheromones and a lime/musk/sandalwood/parchment perfume (I don't know if said fragrance exists, but if it did, confident people would wear it).

Just use the roller ball stuff and put it on before you go to bed, so it has time to work and not just get sweated off.

Price: 2/5 ($7.92 at Coles)
Scent: 1/5
Effectiveness: 2.5/5

Palmer's - Rapid Moisture Spray Lotion

This seemed like a solution to my "getting lotion on my back" problem... it was not.

Instead of a fine mist, it came out in a line, making it look like I had silly string on my back :(
Also, after I got some on my hands, I found the can slipping out of my hands and I couldn't spray any more D:

However, the formula and scent were great, as one expects from a Palmer's product.

"I want lotion rubbed into my back" Solution:

Get a darling room mate (If you land Ryan Gosling, even better).

Price: 3/5 (rrp $9.99 for 200g)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

Pil'aten Collagen Lip Mask

I have tried a few lip masks before, so I was quite excited when I received this in my Bellabox.

Pink, covered in serum and way too big for your lips, I gladly plopped this on my face and relaxed... for five minutes, after which it began to ITCH!

I took it off immediately and it left my lips feeling a little tender

WTF!? I have never had this happen with other brands!

So honestly, I cannot recommend this to anyone. If you want to use a lip mask, pick another brand!

Price: 2/5 (rrp $4.95 for one)
Scent: 2/5
Effectiveness: 0/5

The Body Shop - Seaweed Pore Perfector

I put this on, under my moisturiser each morning and I did notice a small difference.

Did it close my cavernous face holes (which aren't my nostrils or mouth)? - No
Did it make my pores look smaller, less noticeable and resulted in less pimples? - Yes

The only reason I haven't repurchased this yet is I have a butt-tonne of other products to try and use first.

It even smells nice - marine, salty and oceanic ... I am all about that life!

Word of the Day: Oceanid

It come in a cute pump bottle, so it is easy to get the right amount each time and you don't waste product.

Love love, love this!

Price: 2/5 (rrp $24.95 for 15mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

Book Review – Naked Lunch, William S. Burroughs

This is not a lazy Sunday afternoon read.

This is a book composed of a series of vignettes pertaining to drug use (especially 'junk' - heroin), sex, sexuality, violence, authority, death, and a poor grasp on true human anatomy and medicine.

It reads like a stream of consciousness and the reader would be forgiven for getting lost along the way.

The language is crude and riddled with slang. The author’s own understanding of the human brain, body, and the nature of drug mechanisms seems childish and uneducated (now days). 

It covers some topics which are quite disturbing (paedophilia, murder, unethical medical practice), but even the less ‘confronting’ parts will leave you feeling weird and uncomfortable.

**I would like to add that I made the mistake of listening to ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears, while midway reading this, making me feel even weirder.

The song ran an upsetting current through my ectoplasm.

One of the three main works amongst the Beat generation (alongside Allen Ginsberg's Howl (1956), and Jack Kerouac's On the Road (1957)), it was involved in court battles over obscenity and lead to greater freedom in what could be published in the United States.

While I understand the importance of this work, I cannot honestly recommend it to anyone.

Overall: 1/5

Schwarzkopf - Extra Care Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin - Ultimate Colour Shampoo

I picked this up at the same time that I put the permanent red dye in my hair, to try and keep the colour intensity for longer.
It smells like pears, lathers and cleans well.
As far as retaining colour, I don't personally feel that this shampoo made much of a difference, as I had a bit of colour fade (hence the use of the Live Colour dyes).

I don't feel the 'liquid keratin' in it made any difference either, my hair didn't feel less frizzy after use.

Price: 4/5 (rrp $6.99 for 400mL)
Scent: 2/5
Effectiveness: 3/5

Yarra Valley Chocolaterie - Chocolate Therapy - Rich & Decadent Cocoa Body Butter

I picked this up in Yarra Valley and it smells divine! 
It smells like chocolate topping and is so moisturising!
It contains actual cocoa butter and soaks into the skin quickly, leaving the scent on your skin for a long time.
This body butter came with me to America and was great for taking care of my travel-weary skin.

The jar has a quote on it, mine says "You don't have to be born beautiful to be wildly attractive." - Diana Vreeland
I want you all to remember this!

Price: 4/5 (rrp $14.50 for 250mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Masquerade! - Montagne Jeunesse - Lemon Zest Peel Off - Detox & Pore Cleansing Masque

the bottom one

This is a bit different to the masks I usually review, in that it isn't a sheet mask, but a goo that dries on your face, then you peel it off.
This one has a lovely lemon scent with lemon, aloe vera, green tea, ginseng, evening primrose, ginger, seaweed and Dead Sea salt.
My only issue with this is I wish the goo was opaque (but that is hardly a big deal).
These are so much fun, like peeling dried glue off your hand! <3

Masquerade! - Etude House I Need You, Mugwort

This mask is meant to be soothing and brightening, with mugwort, honeysuckle, peach and ginkgo biloba. I really liked this one! My skin felt lovely afterwards :)