So today I had the pleasure of photographing the talented Paul Gittins' work. Paul uses screens, shadows, a projector, grills and a camera to create amazing pieces of work in his studio in my local town. He uses the screens to create images, but also makes his own films too alongside making clockwork instruments. Check out his work here: http://www.modernshadows.com/

Don't forget to check out Paul's website! Thanks for reading

Layla x

Hello!

So last summer, NikkieTutorials did a video on the power of makeup and the internet went crazy. I think it is an amazing idea, as makeup is essentially an art, it's just one you put on your face. It has the power to change how a person looks completely and gives many people confidence. Wearing makeup does not have to be so a girl can look nice for boys, wearing makeup should be about self expression and something to be had fun with. So without further ado, here is my Power of Makeup.

First of all, I always moisturise with Nivea Creme, and I have recently started to prime with Nivea Men Post Shave Balm in Sensitive (another genius idea from NikkieTutorials). This has the sticking power of superglue on your face, and doesn't clog you up like most silicone based primers.

I start out with eyeshadow as it is easier to clean any fall out without foundation underneath as well as being able to create a sharp wing along the eye.

Then I use a green corrector cream to cover up the masses of red on my face, particularly under my eyes.

Then I put foundation and concealer over that using a (fake) beauty blender.

Then it's time to bake. Which looks ridiculous while you're in the process of doing so.

While I'm waiting for that, I do my brows (which really need waxing).

Once I've dusted off the excess powder, I do contour/blush/highlight (although you can't see too well here, I promise it's there!)

And then it's eyeliner time!!! (my fave)

After that, I stick on mascara, falsies and lipstick and I'm done!

Before

After

(I am hugely aware of my uneven brows, I'm just too lazy to go get them done yet)

I think I look hugely different without makeup, just by covering up the redness under my eyes, which instantly makes me look more alive. Every girl, woman, boy and man should have the confidence to go out without their makeup on, everyone is beautiful/
And people who say "gonna take her swimming on the first date"? Bitch, I got that setting spray.

Thanks for reading,

Layla x

(Inspired by Duane Michals)

Layla x

Hello!

Today I was very excited to play around with a recent purchase of mine, the Urban Decay Moondust shadow in Solstice. This shade is everything you could want and more. Yesterday, I wore it with a more reddy-browny shade and it came through reddish with teal glitter, but today I really experimented and popped it ontop of black shadow, and the result is to die for. So keep reading if you want to find out more!

As per usual, I primed and set my eyelids.

Then I went in with  Depravity from the Makeup Revolution Salvation palette. Now this colour is not heavily pigmented at all and it took a lot of building and blending to get this look how I wanted, so I'd suggest finding a different purple eyeshadow for this.

I then blended a Kiko Infinity shadow in the shade 291, which is a light grey colour just  to darken the purple a little more before going in with the black.

Now the messy bit. I packed on Crave from the Naked Basics palette, and while it does look messy here...

... you can soon blend it out and add more colour if needed. The key to this look is to keep blending and blending and blending.

Taking a wet, flat brush, I took some of the Solstice shade and packed this on top of the black, and then blended it towards my crease with a crease brush.

Then I went in with my trusty eyeliner, and did my face makeup.

On the lower lashline, I put a black kohl in my water line, and then ran Crave along the lash line. After, I lightly pressed some more of Solstice to create a subtle glitter on the bottom.

For lips, I used a mix of MUA's lip liner in Brooding Plum, Collection Gothic Glam in Revenge and Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Velvet. At first I just applied them, but after I dabbed my lips on a tissue which created a perfect matte.

And that's it!

Hope you enjoyed, see you next time!

Layla x

Hello!

So yesterday I wrote about the Death By Chocolate Palette by Makeup Revolution, and I said that today I would be doing a tutorial, so here it is! I really enjoyed using this palette as all of the colours are absolutely beautiful. I hope you like what I came up with :)

First of all I primed as always, and then went in with both the shades Lick Me and Break Me Up mixed together in my crease. (excuse my eyebrows, I royally messed them up)

Then I used Devour me as a base all across my lid and blended it into the crease colours.

On top of this, I put my favourite shade of the whole palette, Don't Let Go.

In the outer corner, I put Consume Me just to deepen it a little as I decided I wasn't going to wear eyeliner today (shocking, I know).

After that, I did my face makeup and then ran a mix of Devour Me and Don't Let Go on my lower lash line before applying mascara.

Et voila!

Thank you for reading!

Layla x

Hello all!

Today's post is something a little different as it is split into two parts. This post is a general mini review about my new Death By Chocolate Palette (thank you Juliette!) just showing the different shades and picking out my favourites, and tomorrow I will be posting a look that I have created using the palette.

This palette (and all the other Makeup Revolution palettes) have been raved about as dupes to the Two Faced Chocolate Palette, and I've been eager to try one for a while, and I have not been disappointed with the quality, and chocolatey smell, of this palette.

The palette has 16 shades, all of which are gorgeous colours. Along the top row, there are 5 colours.

(I swear White Light is there, it's just so pale!)

White light is probably the creamiest of all the shades and it feels so nice to dip into! But by far the prettiest shade of the entire palette is Don't Let Go. I actually think I'm in love.

Next are 6 colours on the second row.

Love You To Death was the colour that I first loved the look of when I opened the palette. However, Devour Me was a tad crumbly upon swatching, but I'll have to see how it is when I use it with a brush.

Then the third and final row has 5 shades again.

Tease Me is an absolutely gorgeous shade, I am very excited to play around with the metallics in this palette. Bring Down The Angels is going to make the perfect shade for the inner corner as well.

Thank you for reading, and hopefully see you tomorrow!

Layla x