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Violent Violet Make-up Look!

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Nowadays, it’s far more common that I’ll be sporting a neutral smokey look when it comes to eye-makeup. But when I was just a teenager, I LOVED bold purple shadows. I think one of the reasons why I stopped doing my eyes that way wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy the purple shadows anymore, but rather because in the coming years it has been difficult to find shades of violet that I actually like and suit me.

But recently I’ve found a violet shadow that I adore, and decided to start sporting the same makeup look I had when I was sixteen to see if I’d still love it today. Well, I probably wouldn’t wear it everyday now, but I do think it’s a pretty option every now and then.

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Products*:

Notoriously Morbid Eyeshadow – Siren Song

Wet N’ Wild Eyeshadow – Creme Brullee

Urban Decay Eyeshadow – Anaheim

Urban Decay Eyeshadow – Romp

Urban Decay Eyeshadow – Blonde

L’Oreal Mascara Primer

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black

NYX Eyebrow Marker in Medium

Jeffree Star Liquid Lip Velour in Rose Matter

Urban Decay Glow Blush in Score

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Black

Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Blanc

violet

Step One:

I distributed Notoriously Morbid’s loose shadow in Siren Song all over my lid. I really packed on the colour. Be sure to use an eyeshadow primer as that truly makes the colour POP. Usually I use Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, but I decided to get Wet n’ Wild eyeshadow primer a go and it works just as well at a fraction of the price!

Step Two:

To not overwhelm the purple, it’s best to use a neutral transition colour on the crease. I opted for Urban Decay’s Anaheim shade. I dusted it with a light hand using a blending brush. I then placed Wet N’ Wild’s Creme Brullee shade all over my brow bone and lightly dusted Urban Decay’s Blonde shade on my brow bone to highlight it.

Step Three:

I then used Urban Decay’s Romp shade (a deep purple) as my liner for upper and lower lashes. It’s an eyeshadow, but I often like to use shadows as liner when I’m trying to keep the look light and not product heavy. I then used Lancome’s Le Crayon Khol in Blanc on the inside of my lower lash line.

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Step Four:

After curling my lashes with an eyelash curler, I used L’Oreal’s Primer to coat my lashes. I allowed ten seconds to dry before applying three coats of L’Oreal’s Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black and one coat of Smashbox’s Full Exposure Mascara to my lower lashes. For my brows I used NYX’s Eyebrow Marker in Medium. This is hands-down the best and most lightweight eyebrow I’ve ever used! So kudos to NYX for making such a kick-ass product that is long-lasting and smudge free!

Step Five:

To complete the look I dusted Urban Decay’s Glow blush in Score and added Jeffree Star’s Liquid Velour Lipstick in Rose Matter to my lips.

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Now slip into something edgy and go out to show off your look! Let me know what your fave purple shadows are in the comments below!

*All products used for this look were purchased by the writer.

By: Azzurra Nox

Top Ten Songs That I Love To Dance To!

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You know that song, the one that always manages to make you get up and dance, the one that makes even the dude who says he doesn’t dance, tap his foot to the rhythm. Summer time used to always be a time for me to hit the discos (yes, such things still exist in old world) when I was a teenager in Italy. My music selection is a bit eclectic, as I love many genres, so what makes want to dance may not always be the same that gets others out of their seats and on the dancefloor. So amp up the volume and as David Bowie says, put on your red shoes and dance the blues (away). Here’s ten songs that will always make me wanna dance, no matter where I’m at:

Breathe – The Prodigy

Rebel, Rebel – David Bowie

Sally in the Galaxy – The Penelopes

Hella Good – No Doubt

DARE – Gorillaz

Cosmic Dancer – T. Rex

Sweet Dreams – Marilyn Manson

Push It – Garbage

Fancy – Iggy Azalea

Charlie Big Potato – Skunk Anansie

What songs get you groovin’? Share in the comments below!

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Fragrant Jewels Bath Bombs

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fragrance

I don’t even know how I came upon this website, but somehow in my many multi-tasking ventures I did and was instantly intrigued by the concept of having an indulgent bath and getting a glamorous ring by the end of it. So I ordered Bed of Roses bath bomb (retail for $14.95) and a Valentine’s Day special bath bomb (it was a black heart, also retailing for $14.95). I know the price seems pretty steep for just a bath bomb but I reasoned that I was going to be also receiving a free ring with the purchase.

The best word to describe these fragrance bombs is opulent. There’s no better way to explain the rich experience of being submerged in the fragrant waters.

roses

Bed of Roses feels exactly how it sounds. Upon entering the pink waters, I instantly felt as though I had been enveloped by a silky embrace. I’m pretty sure that this is the closest I’ll ever get to experience feeling what a bath for Marie Antoinette was like. It’s simply indulgent.

black heart

The Valentine’s Day special bath bomb was a black heart and was scented by night flowers (predominately Jasmines). I felt utterly goth when I entered the black waters and emerged with an onyx ring. Both bath bombs came with a beautiful ring. So not only do you step out of the bath with the softest skin ever, but one also feels incredibly glamorous as well.

The whole experience was simply luxurious. And if the gorgeous scent won’t convince you, then you will be enthralled by how soft your skin will feel after using these bath bombs. It’s like touching pure silk.

Sure, these bath bombs are pricey and probably not something I could indulge in every time I decide to take a bath, but it’s something one would like to treat themselves with every now and then. Plus, once the bath is over, at least you’ll have some pretty rings to adorn your fingers with!

If you’re itching to try them out, you can order these bath bombs here: https://www.fragrantjewels.com/

*Products were bought by writer for review.

By: Azzurra Now

(Please don’t let me be) Misunderstood: Movie Review

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incompresa_poster-620

Incompresa debuted at Cannes in 2014 and it’s Asia Argento’s third directorial effort. The movie is loosely based on Argento’s own childhood, particularly the time frame when her parents, actress Daria Nicolodi and master of horror director, Dario Argento, split up after ten years of being together. In the movie, the protagonist Aria (Argento’s real name) played by a remarkable Giulia Salerno, gets shuffled between her concert pianist mother (played by a moody Charlotte Gainsbourg and styled to resemble Nicolodi) and international movie star father (played by Italy’s heartthrob Gabriel Garko).

The movie opens with an instrumental by Brian Molko as Aria writes in her diary. Fun fact: for those of us who have read Asia Argento’s book I Love You Kirk (published back in 1999 and out of print now), will readily recognize the opening sequence is an excerpt from Argento’s very own childhood diary.

One of the first scenes in the movie depicts Aria getting hit hard by her mother to the point of spilling blood. Moments later though, her mother washes her bloodied lip and tells her, “Don’t play the victim card.” The following morning, after a violent fight with her spouse, Aria’s mother is washing the blood from her hair and tells her, “Look at what your father did to me. He’s a monster,” just as Aria touches her bruised lip, reminding her of her mother’s violent act.

CannesIncompresa

The fact that Aria comes from an affluent family, would usually make the audience unsympathetic towards her. But since she’s so clearly invisible in her family, just as she is in school, the protagonist becomes very relatable and likable. Nothing in Aria’s life ever goes right. At school she is taunted, her crush doesn’t like her, her mother seems bothered by her presence readily shipping her off to her dad, while her dad is just as neglectful and ordering her to go back to her mother whenever she upsets him or his daughter Lucrezia, and the only person who seems to care about her is her best friend Angelica (who later betrays her too).

The movie is bittersweet and dark, but the colour palette used in the scenes is vibrant and hopeful. The soundtrack is superb, as are the outlandish outfits worn by Aria throughout the movie. Every scene pulls at your heartstrings, bringing the audience closer to the grand finale. And like any tragic movie, for any moment of happiness, there are four scenes of sorrow. My favourite scene in the movie is the epic party scene that soon shifts from exciting and fun, to shame and disaster. After the ultimate betrayal (that’s almost reminiscent of Carrie’s Prom scene, sans the pig’s blood, but with the same amount of embarrassment and hurt), the audience doesn’t even bat an eye when Aria ultimately does the most horrific of gestures. Because we’re kind of expecting things to go <I>that</I> bad. We can understand her motives. We actually feel sorry that a nine-year-old girl has to feel so unloved. This movie is almost a cautionary tale for parents to be more attentive to their kids before it’s too late. Because the end result could be tragic, as it was in the movie, or they could just grow up to become moody artists who’ll capture your wrongdoings in a movie for the whole world to see.

But like Aria says at the end, “I didn’t tell you this so that you could feel sorry for me. I shared this with you, so that maybe if you meet me, you’ll be nicer.” This certainly has left me wanting to give Asia a hug albeit that may be a bit too sappy so maybe just a punk salute will do, “Revolution, baby!”

asia_argento_incompresa-1

This movie is raw, intense, and just overall beautiful. It’s the spawn of Charles Baudelaire and Sylvia Plath in images. Don’t miss it. Because once you watch it, you’ll be left enthralled and disarmed.

Incompresa (Misunderstood) is currently available on Netflix, Amazon, Itunes, and Youtube.

By: Azzurra Nox

5 Best Lip Balms for Softer Lips!

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Long before I learned how to read and write, cosmetics were (and still are) one of my areas of passion and expertise. My parents gave me my first vanity at the tender age of three, and with a whole palette of eyeshadows and tubes of different coloured lipsticks, where I would create various looks, and whole thus whole new characters or alter-egos. But out of all the products out there, one of my greatest obsessions is lipbalm. Nothing could break your entire look like dry, chapped lips. And after many years of experimenting and trials, five lipbalms have stood out out of the sea of options.

Now I know that personal preference is just that, personal, but the key ingredients to what makes a lip balm absolutely amazing are, the softness (which usually means it’s a bit thicker and not on the shiny side) and the scent (an awful smelling lip balm is quite distracting, especially when one wears it 24/7 as I do!).

Here are my five favourite lip balms, in order of preference:

LABELLO – CHERRY KISS

Not only does this lip balm promises soft lips with its conditioning ingredients, but it smells amazing. The slight reddish tint is perfect when you’re on the go and don’t really want to commit to lipstick. I’ve been using this since I was ten, and no other product tops this one. Usually retails around $8 on amazon, but if you’re in Europe you can purchase it around 2 euros.

EOS – LIP BALM

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What I absolutely love about this lip balm is the pure softness. It’s very thick, which means that it doesn’t easily dry out, so less applications than your normal lip balm are required. Plus it’s made from organic ingredients, which means no harsh chemicals. Cause ya know…not all of wish to be spreading lead on our lips (looking at you L’Oreal). Retails around $4.

CAUDALIE – LIP CONDITIONER

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This lip balm smells amazing, and on top of that it is very moisturizing with a hint of honey goodness to make your lips that extra soft! It goes on colorless, making it the perfect balm to wear under lipsticks or glosses. Or at night and not leave residual hue on your pillowcases. Retails around $12.

MARGOT ELENA TOKYO MILK BON BON LIP BALM – CHERRY BOMB

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I’ll admit it right now, most of my lip balm flavours revolve around cherry. This lip balm is the best smelling cherry lip balm there is. The feel is extremely luxurious, as is the beautiful packaging. Put this on your lips and set the little case on your vanity and you’ll be feeling like a gorgeous Marie Antoinette in no time. Retails around $12.

SHISEIDO WATER IN LIP – PURE PINK (CHERRY BLOSSOM POWDER)

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When it comes to innovative and amazing beauty products, Japan is the place to go. They’ve had BB creams years before the rest of the world got wind of the craze. This is why Shiseido’s lip balm is one of my all time favourites, with Vitamin E and Gritilretin Acid blended with Italian mineral water, it provides exceptional moisture for hours. As most of the lip balms mentioned, it doesn’t have a real tint to it, but a slight pearly sheen, giving the lips a youthful look. Retails around $5.

By: Azzurra Nox

Make Tiramisu like a True Italian! Easy Recipe to Enjoy & Wow Dinner Guests!

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Tiramisu is one of Italy’s most famous desserts. The literal translation of the word, “tiramisu” is “pick me up,” which is what the cake is intended to do having both coffee and alcohol in it. This dessert originated in Northern Italy, more specifically the Veneto-Treviso area. There are various recipes floating around the internet, but nothing comes close to giving you the authentic taste than this one.

This dessert isn’t a quick one to make, despite the fact that it doesn’t require baking. So plan to make this when you have time to spare. But let me assure you, it’s worth every moment spent when you take the first taste of this mouth-watering cake.

tiramisu2

Prep time: 1 hr. 30 mins.

Refrigeration time: 3-4 hours for best results

Servings: 8-10

Calories: 500 per serving

Ingredients:

6 Large Eggs

1 ½ Cup Sugar

1 pound Mascarpone cheese – room temperature

1 ¾ heaving whipping cream

2 packages of Savoiardi (Italian Lady Fingers)

2 cups espresso

1 cup Amaretto Di Saronno Liquor

2 ounces cocoa for dusting

Directions:

Take a glass baking tray (about 9 inches in length) that’s got a rectangular shape and begin placing the Savoiardi biscuits upon the tray in a row till the whole tray is covered.

Combine the 1 cup espresso with the 1 cup Amaretto in a bowl and mix the two together using a table spoon.

Slowly take small spoonfuls and let it fall on the Savoiardi. The biscuits need to be slightly soaked, not drenched! So it’s soft but not mushy! Set this aside.

Be sure to wash eggs thoroughly before cracking them open and separating the yolk from the white. Combine the six egg yolks with one cup sugar in the top of a double boiler, over boiling water. Stir constantly for five minutes. Once you are done, remove the yolks from the heat and whip them until they become thick like a custard cream.

Add the Mascarpone to the whipped yolks. The cheese may be thick, so beat for a few minutes till it becomes seamless with the whipped yolks leaving no chunks.

Take a separate bowl and add heavy cream with half cup sugar and whip till it peaks. (You can test out if the whipped cream is good to go by placing a fork in the center. If it remains standing up, it is ready).

Add a layer of Mascarpone with the whipped yolks over the Savoiardi.

Add another layer of Savoiardi on top and soak these with the espresso and Amaretto mixture as you did before.

Fold the remaining Mascarpone with whipped yolks with the whipped cream. Add this layer on top till you use it all.

Dust cocoa powder on top.

Refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight for best results.

Enjoy!

By: Azzurra Nox

Top 5 Best Eye Creams!

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If there’s one night time routine I never skip (apart from always removing my makeup before going to bed), is eye cream. I have to admit, I wasn’t always a fan and I had never tried it till I started working as a makeup artist a few years ago and was given some samples. Not wanting the creams to go to waste, and wondering if they hype behind them was true, I decided to give it a go. From that day on, I became a convert. I know list eye cream as a must-have for my night routine (along with lip balm).

I know there are many creams out there that promise the impossible, but if you’re going to invest in any sort of face cream, I’d say splurge on the eye cream. Here’s why. The skin around your eye are is the thinnest, meaning it’s also the first place to show signs of aging. Any sun damage, free-radical damage, and sleep deprivation comes in the form of crows feet. But there’s a way to combat this.

What you need is an opulent cream that locks in moisture and helps keep those dreaded crows feet at bay.

So, where do you start? Throughout the years I’ve come across over a hundred eye creams, varying in ingredients and price. I know everyone has different needs, but when I go to purchase an eye cream I don’t necessarily grab the one that’s “anti-aging,” but rather opt for the one that’s rich in moisturizing formulas.

Below are my current Top 5 Eye Creams and what makes them stand out from the rest:

truffleeye

Skin & Co. Roma Truffle Therapy Eye Concentrate

Key Ingredient: Truffle Extract

Why I love It: This cream is thoroughly hydrating. It feels luxurious and has a fresh scent to it. It’s supposed to help diminish the the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet. Whenever I put it on my skin feels extra moisturized.

Price: $66

Where to Buy It: Skinandcoroma.com

 

olay-pro-retinol-eye-treatment

Olay Eyes Pro-Retinol Eye Cream Treatment

Key Ingredient: Retinol

Why I love It: This cream doesn’t feel as thick as my usual go-to eyecreams do, however, retinol is a key ingredient when it comes to fight the first signs of aging. This cream promises to visibly reduce crow’s feet and help cell turnover in just four weeks. I’ve found that it definitely keeps to its word.

Price: $24

Where to Buy It: Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, or CVS

origins

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Panax Ginseng, and Magnolia extract

Why I Love It: This cream is thick and refreshing. It’s focus isn’t on wrinkles, but rather it helps with de-puffing, brighten, and reduce dark circles. I usually put this on at night, but with caffeine being one of its active ingredients, it could also be used in the morning to wake up your skin. It leaves your skin feeling tingly and fresh.

Price: $32

Where to Buy It: Sephora or Amazon

burtbee

Burt’s Bees Renewal Smoothing Eye Cream

Key Ingredient: White Hibiscus

Why I Love It: This cream is lightweight but at the same time feels incredibly emollient. Unlike the previous creams, this one targets both wrinkles and dark circles. Another bonus is that the ingredients are all natural, which is one of the reasons why I love Burt’s Bees products so much. The texture of this cream is wonderful, it quickly absorbs into the skin without leaving any oily residue. I also used this cream when I burned my wrist with my straightening iron and it just so happened to be on my tattoo, and this cream helped the burn heal seamlessly without causing any damage to the tattoo. It’s seriously a very nourishing cream for your skin.

Price: $12

Where to Buy It: Target, CVS, or Amazon

bareminerals-renew-hydrate-eye-cream_500x500

Bare Minerals Renew & Hydrate Eye Cream

Key Ingredient: Active Soil Complex

Why I Love It: This cream is incredibly rich. It makes my eye area very soft whenever I use it. It’s not oily and fast absorbing. This was the first eye cream I ever used and probably why I got hooked on eye creams in general. It does help tremendously with fine lines. Now, I don’t know how well this cream does on deep wrinkles, but if you’re between the ages of 25-40, then this is a good cream to use. I know that it helped prevent any lines to appear and any ones I did have, they magically disappeared after about six weeks or so. I only used the cream once a day, before going to sleep since I’m not a fan of using creams during the day.

Price: $39

Where to Buy It: Sephora, Ulta, or Amazon

By: Azzurra Nox

Mythology Mashup – A Review of Lost Gods by Brom

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lost gods

Brom was introduced to me by Plucker one cold day in Denver. A combination of the altitude, wind and my need to enter every book store I pass drove me into the large Barnes and Noble where I happened upon an illustrated book. It was an amazing story that I quickly finished. Fast forward almost a decade later and the amazing author/illustrator released a new novel.

Lost Gods tells the tale of Chet, a man who has caused more than his fair share of trouble. However, he swears to change for the better when he proposes to his young, pregnant girlfriend. They travel to a safe haven to start a new life but end up falling into the trap of an ancient evil. Chet travels through the Underworld in order to find the man who holds the key to save his love and their daughter.

When I first read the premise for this book, I was a bit apprehensive. The plot seemed eerily similar to the Greek tale of Orpheous, who ventures through the underworld in an attempt to bring back his wife Eurydice. However, I am happy I gave Lost Gods a chance. There are some familiar elements to the story, but only because Brom’s weaves a tale containing elements from various belief systems. Fallen angels, witches, “One gods” and old gods battle for unclaimed souls that have made their way to Purgatory. Yet, this is not your run of the mill Aligheri underworld. A civil war is brewing amongst the deities and in this gritty fantastical land and most of the souls have picked sides. Vendors peddle their wares of weapons and drugs while the lost amble through trying to find their wave.

This tale is engaging and although there were a few weaker moments that might have been better (the humans were underdeveloped and conveniently placed albeit unexplained characters resolved tricky situations) it is still an interesting journey of a read. Also, it would not be a Brom novel if it did not contain a few pages of his magnificent artwork. The illustrations of the gods, lords, demons and other characters does not disappoint.

Lost Gods is the type of novel that will leave you spellbound.

By: Phoebe Jane

Simple Pin-Up Eye-Makeup!

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looking down

The Pin-Up look is nothing new, as it was all the rage during the 1940’s-1950’s as it was popularized by icons such as Marilyn Monroe. In modern times, Dita Von Teese has been the one to bring the look back, and recently Lana Del Rey.

This look can be worn by anyone. It’s universally flattering for any skin type, age, or ethnicity. Not to mention that it’s quite simple once you learn the basics.

For this tutorial, I didn’t use the signature red lipstick that is best known for complimenting the Pin-Up eye-makeup. Personally, I think that any lip colour can be used with this look, as the eye-makeup isn’t too outrageous. So you can either dress the look up by using a bold red or tone it down by choosing a nude or rose hue instead.

Products*:

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Light

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen Classic in Blackest Black

Wet N’ Wild Eyeshadow in Creme Brullee (all over eye area)

Smashbox Eyeshadow in Grounded (in crease)

Smashbox Eyeshadow in Canyon (along lower lash line & brows)

Tart Blush in Paaarty

Hard Candy Eye-Def Metallic Eyeshadow in What Sandy Says Goes

L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar in Blackest Black

Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Blanc

Step One:

Use Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer to prep your under-eye area before you use the concealer of your choice (currently I’m in love with Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser in Light, as it covers up my dark circles in one easy swoop!). To set the concealer, I patted some of Soap & Glory’s translucent powder under my eyes and over the rest of my face.

Step Two:

Use a dime size of Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion (or any primer of your choice, to really keep your eye-makeup going for hours without any smudges!). Once you’ve done that, pack a bit of Wet N’ Wild’s eye-shadow in Creme Brullee with a brush and pat all over your lid and up to your brow bone.

Step Three:

Using a blending brush, place Smashbox’s Eyeshadow in Grounded in the crease, and blend till the shadow is seamless. Take a liner brush, and place a small amount on it and line your lower lashes using Smashbox’s Eyeshadow in Canyon.

Step Four:

Line your eyes using a liquid liner (I use Revlon’s Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black). I did a classic cat-eye. You can either make your cat-eye simple as I did, or more dramatic by extending it further up.

Step Five:

To add a bit of a glam edge, I dusted a bit of Hard Candy’s Eye-Def Metallic Eyeshadow in what Sandy Says Goes, only on the lids. You can use any metallic or frosty gold shade.

Step Six:

Using a spooley brush out your eyebrows, and with a liner brush you can make your brows a bit bolder by using a shadow that’s slightly darker than your hair colour. I used Smashbox’s eyeshadow in Canyon. But depending on your hair color, you may choose another colour that best suits you.

Step Seven:

To make your eyes really pop, line the inside of your eyes with a white eyeliner (I used Lancome’s Le Crayon in Blanc). This trick makes your eyes appear bigger. Finish off the look my curling your lashes with an eyelash curler, and coat your lashes with primer. Wait ten seconds and then use two coats of black mascara. I used L’Oreal’s Voluminous Superstar in Blackest Black mascara, because it comes with a primer on one end, and mascara on the other end. Basically for about $9 you get two products in one! Win-win!

Step Eight:

Add a little colour to your cheeks with the blush of your choice (either a peach or pink hue). I went with Tart’s Blush in Paaarty. It’s simple but not too overwhelming.

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glam eye left open

Now go out and show off your look! This can be worn for any occasion or time of day. Simply change your lip shade and you can either turn this look into a day-time look or amp it up for an evening date night look!

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*Products used for this tutorial were purchased by the writer.

By: Azzurra Nox

Chris Cornell: Black Hole Sun – When the Darkness Swallows You

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Many people were surprised this morning to wake up to the news of the death of Chris Cornell, frontman of rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. He was also known for being a member of Temple of Dog, a tribute band dedicated to his late friend Andrew Wood who died of Heroin overdose.

Like, Nirvana, Soundgarden were one of the most popular bands to come out of Seattle in the late 90’s, carrying the torch for the grunge movement. But apart from having the staple grunge growl, Chris was known for his near four octave vocal range and being a prolific songwriter.

His love for music began during his teenage years, when he found a box of Beatles records during a time he was really depressed. He rose to prominence with his band Soundgarden, and gained international recognition with their sophomore album Superunknown, that featured singles Black Hole Sun and Spoonman, which both won Grammy Awards. Superunknown is listed #336 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 500 Greatest Albums of all time, while VH1 listed Black Hole Sun as #25 on the Top 100 Greatest Songs of the 90’s.

When Zack de La Rocha left Rage Against the Machine, Chris Cornell was asked to join the band, which soon became Audioslave. Apart from being the frontman for two bands, he was also known for his solo work, especially the song You Know My Name, the song written for the Bond film Casino Royale. His most recent songwriting endeavor was the charity single The Promise written for the ending credits for the movie of the same name about the Armenian genocide.

Chris was touring with his original band, Soundgarden when he committed suicide by hanging himself in his hotel room after a show in Detroit. Although this may have come as a shock to many, perhaps the darkness the singer experienced as a teen may have resurfaced again. Or maybe, like the ancient Greeks, he wished to have a most glorious death, meaning to die right after experiencing one of his best days because who wouldn’t want to end it on a high? The truth is, in these circumstances, we never know why someone decides to take their own life. But one thing is certain, too often the music world is plagued by the darkness that consumes their artists.

But after all that is said and done, at least we’re left with the music to remember these tortured artists by. And I like to believe that maybe they have found some peace in an after world that burns a little brighter than the one they left behind.

If you or anyone you know are feeling suicidal you can seek help at American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or Suicide Prevention Lifelife. You are not alone.

By: Azzurra Nox