IN DRAG

Well alright, time for a little different kind of posing then.

I went to a fab drag event the other night. As there was no idea to compete with the queens when it comes to lashes and lipstick I went the other way instead; in drag. My habitus instantly changes when wearing more masculine clothes, it's not something I even think about that much or try to do. I know that well from the days of harbor work.

(I apparently only have one "man face"... And my glitter nails kind of give it away instantly but, once again: yey for pockets!)

Some makeup in strange places, combing my hair in a way I otherwise would not and in Eddi's clothes - there you have Mr.Freelancer.

The evening ended with a heart breaking proposal on stage between two dear friends of mine so I was  really happy not to wear my normal eye make up when sobbing aonf with everyone else!

SOME MAKE UP AND SKIN CARE FAVOURITES FOR WHEN IT'S COLD

A few of my favs for winter:

Most of the year I wear a powder mineral foundation, but in winter with the cold and dy air and the temperature switches that gets too dry for my skin. I use a BB cream instead, sometimes with some powder on top  (and oil up my face a lot). My absolute favourite fantastic love-it-to-dedath BB cream, which I've bought online (fromNaturisimo) before, is now finally available in Finland too (via Jolie)!

The magic cream is Iroisie's Soin Parfait Ultimate BB cream. The first time I used it I was afraid it was going to be a little too rosy-beige, it came on quite dark, but then suddenly it evens out perfectly. I've been totally amazed with it. So, I do use it other than in winter too, those days I just feel like cream instead of powder foundation. The cream is organic and natural.

For those days I want some more make up on, I brush some powder on top. I have the silk powder from Coleur Caramel which also is a natural make up line. It leaves a very silky sheer glow on the skin. I might ave to get a little puff to keep under the lid as I find it a bit hard to carry a brush around in the bag too, but ten again I don't need to refresh my make up over the day, as it stays on perfectly well very a very long time.

When it comes to skin care I mainly wash my face with coconut oil (sometimes black soap) and wipe it off with a tonic, then put some more coconut oil on over night. Or this, pure shea butter! My face becomes a little ball of grease, but that makes it so soft and smooth in the morning to deal with the freezing winds of outside. I use the shea butter for dry hands and elbows and so on too, and also on Dag's little checks (and butt cheeks too).

THE CHRISTMAS PINUP

A quick shot of my Christmas look I did for a Xmas party yesterday. I named it the 'Christmas Pin-up' or the 'I'm-dreaming-of-a-white-Christmas'-look. Because naming your looks makes everything more fun.

I've had this terrible itch to cut bangs again, but I've been there many times before and have learned that although I love that style, the transition time of growing the hair out again is quite a pain in the derrière to go trough. So I didn't reach for the scissors. Instead I dug out my old little clip-on bang. It had lost a lot of color so I let it soak in a color mask for some hours; the shade turned out rather perfect. (Today however it had taken on a slightly purple undertone and did not blend in with my own hair that well anymore. Umm, I have no idea how that is even possible).

As it is Christmas and as the party was a more-is-more kind of one I went for red and green; lining my eyes with green eyeshadow (and black liner) and, of course,  the lipstick was red. Lots of bling and some chopsticks and huge red flowers in my hair.  Then it was jingle your bells all the way for the rest of the night!

LIPSTICK

 Oh, Dag, what do you have there?

 Oh.

 OH.

The lipstick is all natural and organic, only oils and waxes and pigment, so it's totally harmless - but that doesn't make it any less red.

If given a chance the little eager rascal sticks his hands into my purse; the make up bag and wallet (all the cards! The coins! The receipts! Wonderful and forbidden!) being his favourite; he takes them out and pulls everything apart. Now he has also learned how to open my vanity table drawer... Whenever I take out and open up my make up bag he is very quick to try and snatch something from there and study it real hard. And, apparently now also try to do what I do! (Well of course he does.) He loved red things already as a little baby, tomatoes, red nails, red lips, the red Christmas envelopes, so the lipsticks and tinted balms are in the hazard zone. This is not the first lipstick that ended up in a mash on the floor, but it is the first time it went in his face! Perhaps a little future clown, hmmm? Or dragqueen!

FROM KITCHEN TO BATHROOM ; COFFEE SUGAR BODY SCRUB

When it comes to cosmetics I, which most of you know, use mainly all-natural, organic products. I'm not absolute with it, I have some lipsticks and polishes that are chemical i.e. conventional products. But when it comes to skincare I am more strict and try to keep it as simple and natural as possible. Once you go natural it's hard to go back... The skin is our biggest organ so it's worth thinking about what we rub and scrub into it, right? So, most of what you can put into your mouth and have your body digest you can also feed your skin!

Many of the simplest and best - and also, in the end, most affordable- skin care products one can use are the ones that are easily made from what you have in your kitchen. I've always tried out different home remedies, also before I was paying any thought to what my cosmetics are made of, but now it jsut makes more sense than before.

Body scrubs are very easy to make youself, you basically just need oil and sugar. You can use any oil you like; I use olive oil, but coconut or sunflower oil for example works just as well (or, a mixture of those). I make mine with coffee grounds as the caffeine sets the blood circulation going and is said to thus tighten the skin.

Mix about 50/50 of the oil and sugar with a few spoons of coffee and then add sugar until the consistence feels nice. Mix with a spoon or spatula and that's it!

You won't need to use a moisturizer after this treatment as the oil will leave your skin smooth (and well oiled in..) .

You can store your scrub with a lid on, preferably in the fridge.

For variation you can use raw cocoa powder instead of the coffee. Or, a few drops of essential oil.
You can also switch about half of your sugar for sea salt. Put in a few drops of peppermint or lavender and you get a nice foot scrub.

For my face I use milder scrubs with smaller, softer grains than sugar. But we can look into that some other time.

THE BACHELORETTE UPDO

My sister had her bachelorette party yesterday.
I made her a flowery-parrot hairdo with the colors of her dress and turquoise make up for the day.

 
(Somebody's nervous...)

Today I've mainly stayed in bed suffering, uh.

PEACHY CORAL AND MATTE WINE RED

The dress is vintage, the little hair flower made from an interior flower and the lipstick is Lime Crime's Velveten in 'Red velvet'.

HAWAIIAN SIXTIES BOND GEISHA

In certain societies there is no such thing as less is more;  it is 'more is more' all the way. And that is very much the case when it comes to burlesque. Well as you may know. So as it last weekend was time for the Helsinki Burlesque spring fest it was of course mandatory to go at least a little bit over the top as usual;  I continued the mish mash matched floral combo set I started last year  (that also made it to a painting). This year my set was supposedly inspired by bond ladies, geishas and the pacific.

 With sixties inspired make up, huge hair and of course even more huge flowers in it.

And super high but oh-so-tiny floral patterned wedges as well.

My dress is vintage, the hair flowers made from interior flowers and we'll get back to the shoes soon!

PINK FLUSH

I'm rather boring when it comes to ever doing anything more to may nails than painting them in a few different shades of red, sometimes perhaps pink or coral. A few days ago I spotted a video where someone painted her nails in five descending shades of nude and got inspired to do something similar with the polishes I had at home. Needless to say, I don't have five shades of matching beige-ish polish, so I went for a pink version. Fun.

COLOR SHOT

Deep coral red, olive green.

The lipstick is Zuui and shirt form Fast&Loud.

A SHORTER HEM, A SMOKIER EYE

I have a knitted dress with a hem shorter than the ones I am used too when it comes to dresses (with a cut) like this.  It's like one almost feels a bit different wearing a new lengt. (The buttons and label say Gucci but I have my doubts, but then again what do I know. It's from this one strange shop in Tapiola with totally random lady-like items and fluffy ball gowns.) 

I also made a somewhat smoky eye make up and had paler lips than normally. So I felt I looked all different.


But then I took some blog pics and turns I look just the same as always.

CHRISTMAS TREE AND CHRISTMAS NAILS

 Time to decorate the Christmas tree!

 Only this year we did not get one -

I decided to decorate my little palm tree instead.

I also put my nails into Christmas mode. I got to try out nail stickers in a not that nice pattern but which functionally seemed like the solution to all fading nail polish problems, ever. So I ordered some sets in nice colours and, well, there was an hour of my life and a set of euros waisted, sadly. Looks like I went a little creative with the papers and tape while giftwrapping... *

But back to the tree : Ta-da, most tacky Christmas tree ever!


*) The nail stickers just look more like stickers than polish, and when filed down they still look like stickers someone tried to use a nail file on. I put some top coat on to make them more "thick" but it didn't help that much... works pretty alright when seen form afar though.These were form Nail Rock, the ones I tried earlier that worked better were Sally Hansen, only all their patterns were too, well, not for me.

THE DAILY MAKE UP, AND A LITTLE MORE

I often get the question to do a make up post, but even thought I enjoy make up my interest in it comes and goes. Now I managed to empty my make up bag and snap some shots of what I carry around with me:

For everyday use I only wear pure mineral or natural, organic make up. After some thought it seems the only sane thing, that what you smear onto (or, into) your skin on a daily basis would be free form extra chemicals and substances, consisting of ingredients you actually can read and understand. For special events I use a mix of natural and "conventional" make up, depends on on the required look. At some point I totally freaked out about the thought of chemicals and felt my skin instantly clogged up when applying oh-so-smooting-silicone based foundation (you know -or maybe you don't-  like the feeling when you have a piece of chocolate and it's BAM 10kg per thigh immediately. In your head.) but that cooled down; I don't have any issues using products for shows and shoots as log as it smooths out and glitters up.

I have no problems leaving the house without make up if I head for a walk or go to the gym or so, but if I am going anywhere a little more than just that I do my usual set which takes about five minutes. Base, brows, something on the lashes at least.


For the base I use mineral foundation. A little darker shade in summer, a little lighter in winter. My set is from Bellapierre;  I use the shades ivory and ultra. I have both the loose powder foundation as well as the compact one. I brush it all over my face with a big soft kabuki brush. These work really well for me, just perfectly really, leaving the skin looking natural while still giving agood coverage and a nice shimmer, although now in winter my skin dries up a lot and I am on the look out for a liquid foundation.


After foundation sweep on some rouge on my cheeks and then add loose shimmer powder on my cheekbones and under my eyebrows for highlight. That's kind of the 'trick' int he trick. I use a rather nude shade- champagne- from Bellapierre. It's a small jar but the stuff if very intense and will propably last several years.


(Before I  started using minerals I had a "day time" and a fancier, "night time" foundation.  For daywear I had different Lumene foundations, but my 'fancy foundation was Lancome's Photogenic Lumessence which I still use on shoots etc, it's a great one. I used the Lumene radiance primer almost daily before, giving a beautiful pearly glow. I also have the Nvey Eco creme deluxe foundation for 'fancy' use.)


Eyeliner used to be a staple in my everyday routine until I did my first lash extensions, when the eye looked so god just like that I got lazy and started leaving the liner out. Now that I no longer have the extentions I still go pretty much without, unless I am going somewhere. Then I use a natural one by Nvey eco which I paint on with a brush and some water. But if I want a sharp deep black wing I use an eyeliner with felt tip liner. For me the Rimmel one has been great for years.

My eye socket is rather deep -or something like that- which casts shadows framing my eye, so I seldom use any eye shadow unless I am going for a more made up look or certain style, or want some colour. I might just brush on a little rouge in the outer corner of the eye, goes with the same sweep as the one on the cheeks. But I always fill in my brows with a brown pen a little to highlight their shape.


Then the lashes - is it just me or does anyone else concur that lashes are not what they used to be as age kicks in? In my teens and early twenties I got the question if I wore false lashes all the time. And any mascara was perfect. Now, I feel most mascaras are only ever so average and so are my lashes.  Especially after having had extensions... it was the best thing I've tried beauty wise (seriously, where were those when I was out all the time and used to wake up wherever? Alright, couldn't have afforded such then. But anyway. Damn! One decade too late). But having extensions for more than a couple of months is pretty damaging for your own lashes I'm afraid.

Right now I use three mascaras, which are all pretty alright, but obviously not perfect - otherwise I'd be rocking just one. I have the Terre d'Oc mascara, Lavera's double brush (both natural) and Lumene's Sensitive eyes. But I use false lashes just as much -  when used to wear those applying them takes no longer than applying two coats of mascara and with the right adhesive (I have Duo) they stay on for as long as you wish. And the lashes need to be with a thin silicone strip too to attach well and look real. I am a total lash junkie, with lots of different models and sizes. Not to mention the tranny-sized ones I use on stage.


On the lips I use one of Sante's pens; the red one or the dark pink one. It stays quite well on the whole day. I may add some red with my red stain from Vapour beauty.


I have a lot of lipstick in different shades - I love lip colour - but it's a bit like jewelry to me; I tend to wear a certain one a lot periodically (also depending on the outfit and occasion of course) but in daily wear often go without -pretty much like it is with the other items I have, coloured eye liners and different shadows. I have a lot. Not to mention that suitcase full of glitters I drag along for shows.
But that's another story.

DAY OF THE DEAD

Yesterday we went to a fabulous Day of the Dead indoor picnic and today, on the actual day, I will be driving up in the country for a show. Tomorrow I'm planning to just lie around the house eating coconut balls and reading magazines. We'll see if I can manage that.

Btw funny; I didn't want to paint my face too much because I thought Dag might freak out but he was just 'naah, whatever, gimme the boob!' In fact the seemed to like all painted faces, exaggerated and colourful. A kid a little older was totally horrified by all the skeletons though...

PS. this weekends give away at my FB page is for a four-colour set of mineral lip colour!
Here's the link to enter: http://bit.ly/PonDjs

HONEY-COCOA BALM

I have some pure cocoa butter that I use for Dag's bathing water; it gives great moisture for the skin. I love how the cocoa butter feels on my fingertips when it's about to dissolve into the water, so I started thinking about making some sort of a lip balm out of it.

I am sure google could have provided me with some ready made recipes and how-to's, but I decided to just get on with it right away with what I thought would work.


For the balm I used a few pieces of cocoa butter, some cold pressed coconut oil and some honey. I sometimes use honey as a face mask, but I can tell you right away to skip it in this form when it comes to the balm. It did not blend out properly and went all weird.



Once I was at it I also added some of the other skin care oils I had around; almond-, argan- and jojoba oil as well as some rose water and propolis extract. Propolis is some sort of bee goo and is the honey in a t least a honey chap stick I have at home, now as I afterwards checked the ingredient lists.



I melted the cocoa butter and coconut oil in a jug put in hot water and then added the rest of the ingredients, just a couple of tiny drops per oil. I stirred with a toothpick and pour the mixture in a little jar to cool.



The result turned out very nice and smooth, although the next time I attempt this I will have to use less coconut oil; my balm turned out a little softer and oilier than I had wished for.

(I also attempted to make a chap stick of the blend. Which didn't really go all that well - I put one of my old sticks that had just run out in boiling water to clean the applicator and then later poured my mixture in it to cool. But before it did it slowly leaked out of the applicator on the table. So I'll just stick to small jars instead.)