Tag: writerslife

Makeup Muse: Elle Fanning

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To shake things up I decided to do my first collab with the awesome Brooke (brookeclarke.com, go check her blog out, it’s seriously tops!). We both agreed to do our take on Elle Fanning’s effortless Cannes 2017 makeup look!

One thing that Elle always has is beautiful skin, so for this look you’re going to want to prep your skin with some hydrating cream and primer. Some of my favourite light day creams are The Body Shop Seaweed Oil Control Day Cream ($20) or Clinique Superdefense Daily Dense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 ($48), these creams are perfect for acne-prone or oily to combination skin types. If you’re more on the dry side, you’re better off choosing a richer cream.

For this look, the focus was on the lips whilst the eyes were almost left bare (almost meaning that they chose natural looking colours rather than something bold). And while the lips were supposed to be the main attraction, the look was softened by a rose/blush hue.

I attempted to recreate the look whilst putting my own spin on it so this is more of an inspiration than exact photocopy.

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Products* Used:

Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer

Urban Decay ABC Gum Eyeshadow (on lid)

Urban Decay Anaheim Eyeshadow (as liner)

Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Chic (in crease)

Wet N’ Wild Eyeshadow in Creme Brullee (on brow bone)

Medusa’s Makeup Brow! Wow! Wow!

Urban Decay Star Bronzer Natural Glow

Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Blanc (in waterline)

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder

Lancome Long-Lasting Undereye Concealer in Ivoire

Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Blush in Score

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Skin Frost in Peach Goddess

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Rosematter

It Superhero Mascara

This is a fairly easy makeup look that can be recreated in 20-mins! Perfect for days when you’re running late or don’t feel like having too many products on your face!

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*All products used were purchased by writer.

By: Azzurra Nox

5 Bedtime Rituals For the Best Sleep Ever!

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Are you one of those people that slips out of your clothes to pull on your jammies and crash into bed? Or are you one of those people with meticulous rituals before hitting the sack? Whichever category you fall, these six bedtime rituals will help prepare your body for a more restful and good sleep.

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Remove all your makeup.

I can’t begin to stress how helpful this is. Going to sleep with your makeup on, not only is it a minefield for gaining more acne if your skin is acne-prone or oily, but keeping dirt, grime, and chemicals into your sleep will also cause premature skin aging and dullness. For the best sleep, having clean skin is a must. And since the skin regenerates and heals during the night hours, this is when you want to use any acne topical medication or Vitamin C serum for cell turnover.

Drink Tart Cherry Juice.

I know we’ve always been told to drink Chamomile tea to best relax you and induce you to sleep, or to brew valerian root if you need something stronger. But what most people don’t know is that cherry juice is full of melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. For best results, drink a glass of this about an hour or two before you’re aiming to go to bed, and allow yourself to be lulled into a restful sleep.

Do 5-8 mins of Mild Stretching.

I usually spend about 10 minutes every morning doing stretches to help kickstart my morning and get my muscles to wake up from the night. Stretching before going to bed can also help by allowing the muscles to not get cramped while you sleep. I usually combine a mixture of yoga and ballet stretches, because they’re the most effective in getting your muscles warmed up without having to necessarily break a crazy sweat before hitting the sack.

Brush & Floss Your Teeth.

This should be a given, but you don’t know how many people skip this essential night time ritual. Not only is this helpful to deter bad breath and cavities, but it also allows you to have that clean feeling in your mouth. And having a clean mouth allows for a better sleep as you won’t have bothersome chunks of food stuck in your teeth or the lingering taste of whatever you ate before going to bed marinate the inside of your mouth. A clean mouth isn’t only good for your oral hygiene, but a must for a goodnight’s sleep.

Listening to Soothing Music Before Bed.

Now I’m not saying you have to listen to nature sounds (but if it works for you, go ahead and do it!), but you can choose from instrumentals, to songs with lyrics. Years ago (back in the day when music compilations were a thing), I had made a mix for myself with songs that would better lull me to sleep. What were some of my picks? Not what many would consider “soothing” but nonetheless did the trick for me. Natalie Imbruglia’s Pigeons & the Crumbs, Silverchair’s Across the Night, and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Appels & Oranges. Kind of like Pavlov’s dogs, my brain began associating the songs on the mix to sleep, so as soon as I’d put it on my brain would get into sleep mode. Don’t believe me? Try it.

What are some of your bedtime rituals?

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!