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Review: Mangiacotti Hand Repair

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What It Is: Intense hand cream

What It Does: Softens even the driest of skins

Active Ingredients: Anti-oxidant Pomegranate and Papaya and shea butter

Verdict: I’ve got a confession to make. I’m handcream addict. I’m always on the lookout for the next best handcream on the market as I love to discover new brands. One thing that I look for in a handcream is that it’s non-greasy, fast-absorbing, and that the cream itself is thick and not thin (meaning that the thin feeling creams tend to be more water-based and don’t truly soften the skin in the same way as the thicker creams tend to). Now, I kind of took a risky bet with this handcream when I saw it in the store as it was a bit on the pricey side, but I took a whiff of the scent (I got the Pomegranate fragrance) and it was simply too decadent not to give it a shot. And I’m so glad that I did because this handcream is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It truly hydrates your skin for hours and even after you wash your hands, the hydrating effects don’t easily wash away. I tend to put this cream on at night and go to sleep with it and wake up to the softest hands e-v-e-r. Honestly, this product is simply tops, and you don’t even have to use a ton of it to get the awesome benefits from it!

Price: 12.50

Where To Buy It: http://www.mangiacotti.com (I actually bought mine at a local Hobby Lobby but I don’t know if they’re actually sold at Hobby Lobby nationwide so your best bet is to order it directly from their website).

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Milk Makeup Cooling Water

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What It Is: A hydrating gel stick

What It Does: Refreshes and soothes skin for a quick boost of moisture on the go!

Active Ingredients: Caffeine and seawater

Verdict: Advertised as “sleep in a stick” I decided to give it a go since I’m always sleep deprived and could benefit from looking more refreshed and ready to conquer the world in the early a.m. Since it’s been on the humid/hot side lately, I decided to pop this beauty in the fridge overnight before using it the following morning. Usually I tend to avoid anything that claims to be uber hydrating because my skin is hydrated and oily enough that extra moisture usually means we’re getting close to acne territory, but the seawater convinced me that it would keep the pimples away since salt tends to absorb oil. I don’t have puffy eyes in the mornings, so I can’t say how well this stick works for that, but I can say that this stick does give you that extra boost that you may need to kickstart your morning. Using this is like drinking a double-shot espresso whilst getting a blast of cold water splashed on your face. If that doesn’t wake you up, I don’t know what will.

Bonus: Vegan and Cruelty-free

Price: $24

Where To Buy It: https://milkmakeup.com/products/cooling-water/

By: Azzurra Nox

 

 

 

Goodbye, Genius – A Farewell to George A. Romero

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Today, the horror genre lost one of the most influential people in its world, director George A. Romero, best known for being the “godfather” of zombies. Unlike any other horror movies in the genre, he often used his zombie movies to confront major political themes such as racism in Night of the Living Dead and capitalism in Dawn of the Dead. In his movies the zombies weren’t always perceived as the villains, while he’d often prefer to depict humans as such instead. You can see his affection towards the zombies in this quote, “My zombies will never take over the world because I need the humans. The humans are the ones I dislike the most, and they’re where the trouble lies.” Or when he stated, “I sympathize with the zombies and I’m not even sure they are villains. To me they are this earth-changing thing. God or the devil changed the rules, and the dead people aren’t staying dead.”

He not only heavily influenced the zombie genre, but even the horror anthology stories in works like Creepshow and Tales from the Darkside, which helped open the doors for shows like Tales from the Crypt and Freddy’s Nightmares.

I remember watching his movies and shows when I was six years old. Even at that young age I knew that there was something different about his movies than the other horror movies that I was watching at the time. His movies had intellect and a message. His movies made us see that the true evil in the world wasn’t coming from elsewhere, but rather from ourselves. We are the monsters. And as Romero himself said, “I always thought of the zombies as being about revolution, one generation consuming the next.” A statement that is very telling for our times, and one that will probably always ring true.

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Goodbye, Mr. Romero, your zombies and your legacy will never die.

By: Azzurra Nox

Coming Soon! My American Nightmare: Women in Horror Anthology

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As a reader, I’ve always been an avid fan of horror anthologies and short story collections, because it has always allowed me to discover new authors without committing to a full-length novel. As a writer, I’ve always wanted to put together an anthology and seeing that I prefer the darker side of life I thought that going with horror short stories would be my best option.

Female representation in the horror genre is still very scarce. The horror literary market is filled with male authors. So with my anthology I decided to showcase the talent of female authors. This is how the concept for MY AMERICAN NIGHTMARE: Women in Horror Anthology was conceived.

The anthology will be available TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017.

Fans of Joe Hill, American Horror Story, and Stephen King will love these dark and twisted stories!

Excerpt from “The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper”

The faces in the flowers were more pronounced than usual that night. Big eyes, gaping and expectant, seemed to blink back at her. Lizzie dismissed the idea immediately. Paper did not blink. Nothing could move in the room, except her. But the yellow faces had a more human quality the more she looked. They were women’s faces. Lizzie found something feminine in the shape, warped as it may be. The heads in the wallpaper appeared to tilt to the side, violently, like their necks had been snapped.

*

Excerpt from “Perle”

A muscle flickered in that clean-shaven jaw. “Step out of the vehicle.”

I hesitated. Another bang.

“I said step out of the vehicle.” Singer popped the snap on his holster. “I’m not gonna ask you again.” Dog whimpers urged me to comply.

My shoulders slumped. I released the latch and fought open the stiff door. It protested with a loud, long squeal.

“Now what is in the back of this truck?”

Still I hesitated, puckering my lips in a coy attempt at innocence.

“My stepdad.”

*

Excerpt from “Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?”

“Jesus,” she whispered, not sure if anyone could hear her. The dolls made her feel unsettled as they stared back at her with vacant eyes. Peering down, a scream escaped her throat when she realized that their plucked eyes were scattered on the bed. She pushed the comforter off of her. The eyes fell down, making a sound similar to marbles crashing to the floor as she ran for the door.

Frantic, she opened the door and stood upon the landing. She looked to and fro, not knowing what direction to run to next.

Don’t panic! She told herself. And yet, her hands were shaking.

*

My American Nightmare 2

The author lineup is the following:

Angela Sylvaine – “Ballad of Sorrow and Lily”
Amelia Kibbie – “We Kill The Skull Man”
Roberta Goli – “Mr. Buttons’ Tea Party”
Jamie Kahn – “The Poison & The Ivy”
Rachel Bolton – “The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper”
Hillary Lyon – “Boys’ Night Out”
Nicky Peacock – “She Looked Like Krystal Sparkle”
Spinster Eskie- “Angie’s Change”
Sheri Kreitner – “The Pickman Sisters of Salem”
Sierra Ryan – “Volunteer”
Kara Nelson – “The Eye”
E.F. Schraeder – “Night Moves”
Andrea Teare – “39 Days”
Heather Miller – “The Stars”
Marnie Azzarelli – “When Evacuating Pennsylvania”
Erica Ruhe – “Perle”
Phoebe Jane Johnson – “Ruby”
Azzurra Nox – “Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?”
Kara Dennison – “Billson”

If anyone would be interested in receiving an ARC of the anthology for review purposes, please get in touch with me at: azzurranox[@]yahoo.com or leave a comment below!

Summer Trend: Glitter Pop!

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With the summer months cranking up the heat factor, sometimes wearing layers of makeup may feel downright gross. Not to mention that it’s best to allow our skin to breathe when the temperature rises (meaning not to clog our pores with too much powder or foundation). So how does a gal still manage to look a little glam even when the day is scorching?

One of my fun go-to makeup to amp the colour without having to worry about caking it up and still looking fresh and fun is glitter liner! The key to keeping this look summery is to choose a liner that’s bright in colour, such as teal, cyan, violet, or even magenta! I chose a cyan hue from Nicka K that not only brightens the eye but also gives it a playful look without looking too Vegas showgirl.

You can either make the line thick or thin, I personally chose to keep the line as thin as possible. Another trick is to keep the rest of the eyemakeup simple. I used a neutral gold based eyeshadow (Urban Decay’s Maui Wowie), but you can use any neutral that best suits your skintone.

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What do you think about glitter liners? Do you have a favourite?

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Invisible Spray

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What It Is: A dry shampoo for all hair colours and types

What It Does: It absorbs scalp oils allowing you to skip washing your hair for a day or two or could be used to add texture to fine hair for updos.

What Sets It Apart From Others: It’s clear, meaning no gunky white powder-like residue when yo spray, it’s got Vitamin E for shine, and a slight scent of verbena making you feel like you’ve got clean, washed hair when you’re just faking it.

Verdict: I’ve had this product for awhile but hadn’t had a chance to use it because I’ve been using Nexxus Dry Shampoo (another favourite of mine). But when going on vacation I had to opt for a smaller bottle so I decided to give this a try seeing that I had a small travel size of it on hand. Sometimes when you’re on vacation (especially if you were like me, visiting five cities in five days with crazy wakeup calls at 4:30a.m. trying to wash your hair isn’t your priority when that means you can snooze for another half hour), so dry shampoos come in handy. I used this on the fourth day of no washing and instantly it dried up any oil-build up and truly gave my thick strands a must-needed lift. My hair didn’t look nor feel dirty after using it and the slight scent could’ve fooled anyone that I had just shampooed it. If you’ve got fine hair, you’ll probably have to use it by your third day and may have to wash it the following day. Thicker hair as myself can manage for a couple more days after using it.

How To Use It: I sprayed this on the roots and lifted my hair and continued to spray till I had covered the majority of my head. I then used my fingertips to massage the dry shampoo in, combed it, and put it up in a bun for the night. The following morning I let my hair down, finger combed it and was good to go!

Price: $25

Where To Buy It: Amazon.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

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What It Is: An all-natural exfoliating mask

What It Does: This mask exfoliates, removes oil, and evens skin tone.

Verdict: When I initially applied this mask I was a bit confused as I was expecting something with a thicker substance akin to a clay mask. Instead, this mask is very thin, almost water based gel that reminds me more of a peel than a mask. However, I decided to try it and kept it on for 30 mins. (the recommended time). I honestly wasn’t expecting much, cause like I said I usually prefer clay based masks because those are the most effective for my oily skin. After 30 mins. I washed off the mask and I don’t know if it did much for removing oil or exfoliating, but it did help with softening my skin and making it look more glowy (probably because in reality it’s more of a peel). But unlike a true peel, it didn’t burn my skin nor leave it feeling like it had been soaked in gasoline for half an hour. If you’re having issues with uneven skintone due to dullness or because of acne scars, than I totally recommend this product to you. It may just be your saving grace.

Price: $58

Where To Buy It: Tataharperskincare.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Primer

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What It Is: A gold-flecked primer

What It Does: It instantly creates a smooth skintone

Verdict: Being someone who loves primers, I was absolutely ecstatic at the thought of getting to try this one. This product goes on extremely smooth. Your skin will look ten times better than it initially did. It’s the sort of skin you’d give yourself with an instagram filter. The shimmer is subtle, and catches the light in a very flattering way. So it’s more like inner glow than say, raver-girl circa 1999. This product is perfect to use as a base before foundation or concealer (I personally used it as a base for my undereyes concealer). It’s an extremely light formula and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without feeling cakey or heavy. I don’t have words to explain how amazing this product is, but it’s hands down one of my absolute fave of the year. I absolutely recommend giving this product a try!

Price: $52

Where To Buy It: Yslbeautyus.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Empire State Building Visit

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During my one week vacation where I visited four cities, one of the stops was New York City. Being someone who loves seeing the skylines of cities from high buildings, one of the places I had to go to was the Empire State Building. This building was the tallest building in the world from 1930-1970. It’s a 102-story skyscraper that is situated on Fifth Avenue.

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The visitors wishing to visit the building may do so by purchasing a ticket for $31. There’s only two places that the visitors are allowed to go to. The 80th floor to see the city from behind the windows, and then 86th floor where there’s Observatory Deck that you can go outside and see the city from there. The view from up there is absolutely breath-taking and very much worth the visit. It’s probably the tallest building I’ve ever been up to, and in a way being up that high kinda felt the same way when you’re up on a high mountain.

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Apart for having a penchant for tall buildings, another reason why I wished to visit the Empire State Building is because one of my favorite photos depicts a suicide where a young woman (Evelyn McHale) lept to her death from the 86th floor to land upon a limousine parked directly below. Since the opening the Observatory there’s been about thirty suicides, and actually a few that didn’t result in death.

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So if you’re planning to visit New York City, I absolutely recommend visiting the Empire State Building. You won’t regret it!

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For more info visit: https://www.esbnyc.com/

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Clinique Pep-Start HydroBlur Moisturizer

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What It Is: A lightweight, 24/7 hydrating cream that provides a matte finish, and prepares the skin for makeup.

What It Does: Instantly blurs imperfections.

Verdict: I’m still unsure whether this is meant to be a full-fledged moisturizer or more of a face primer. And I have a feeling that when they were making this cream, they were trying to combine both of those elements together. However, the problem is that it doesn’t deliver on either accounts. It’s not so soft as a face primer should be (or maybe I’m just used to using Smashbox’s Photofinish Perfecting Primer so much that I prefer that consistency over any others). I’m not crazy about moisturizers because I have oily skin and it often means that any cream is going to add to the oiliness. Maybe this product is best suited for those that have dry skin or are in need of blurring fine lines. I wasn’t able to thoroughly judge that as I have neither. I found this product in one of the Allure Monthly boxes, but probably wouldn’t have tried it otherwise. It’s not that I hated product. It was alright, but I wasn’t crazy about it either. When I put it on the cream felt wet, which maybe is the point of it. The only problem is that it continued to remain wet and since I don’t use foundation, trying to place powder on top of it didn’t make for the best application. Overall, I don’t think this product was right for me. Maybe this product is best for anyone who’s in need of extra hydration.

Price: $34

Where To Buy It: Amazon, Ulta, or Sephora.

By: Azzurra Nox