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Ster-Kinekor SubClub Update

It’s been about a month since I have subscribed to SK Club and here are my thoughts. Movies are my thang- I know some people are bookworms, others gym bunnies but what I love most about life is the cinematic experience.

Over the years my cinema trips have been sparse and I can definitely blame this on my student budget. Going to the cinema has become a treat for me, so when I heard about the SK club I was intrigued. Needless to say, I was sold and signed up, you can read all about that here: Ster-Kinekor Subscription Club at Eastgate. And after a month of using it, this is what my experience has been so far.

Firstly, I opted for the SK Fan club as opposed to Morvies. Although the Fan club offers less it checked all my boxes:

-Tickets I could use on my own or share ✔
-4 movie tickets per month ✔
-20% discount on a regular combo ✔
-2D and 3D movies included ✔

The SK Fan club allows me to take Player 2 along to the cinema with me- I kinda secretly wanted the Morvies Club (with unlimited tickets per month for the subscription member-only) but I’m learning to share and I really love sprawling out in a love nest.

With our busy schedules, P2 has a day job and I am studying while trying to juggle my new art business. Having 2 movies a month to look forward to, not only gives us that much-needed downtime but doesn’t take up a lot of time either.

We are saving! Which is the most important thing; every penny counts and we are saving around 43% on 3D movie tickets alone as well as the 20% on a regular combo which works out to R70,75 giving me a R14.15 savings.

I was actually surprised when I crunched the numbers and discovered exactly how much I was paying for the Fan Club and have decided it’s worth it for my lifestyle. Despite only Offering 2D and 3D movies, I don’t mind. I usually only watch 2D and 3D movies on a regular basis- IMAX is reserved for films I know deserve the experience.

The subscription club is only available in these locations Somerset, Garden Route Mall, and Eastgate at the moment and I’m sure it will roll out to other theaters soon. I’ve quite enjoyed my experience at East Gate SK. The staff are always willing to help, last time I visited I was a little late and still standing in the concession line when I asked one of the staff members how long the trailers ran before the film started and she was on the ball with the time!

If you would like to be one of the first like me, to sign up for an SK sub membership check it out here: Ster-Kinekor Subscription Club

What movies have you watched lately ? Let me know in the comments below so I can also check it out using my cool subscription 😊

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How to make Wolverine Claws

Logan Cosplay

A few months back I managed to score tickets to the screening of Dark Phoenix with the awesome people at Comic Con Africa. I wasn’t going to dress up but- I do enjoy the last-minute scramble and decided to make a pair of Wolverine Claws as a fun craft. What was awesome about this project is that I made do with what I had around the house and ended up with something cool in the end. 

Template



First thing I needed was a stencil, and my good friend Pinterest does not disappoint. All I did was search ‘wolverine claws’ and printed the outline on a A4 sheet of paper. I then cut this out and traced it on cardboard. 

Cutting template



I used a regular cardboard box I had laying around in my garage – this was remanence of the move I did earlier this year. After tracing my pattern onto the cardboard I used scissors and a box cutter to cut the blade pieces out. But I wasn’t satisfied with the build, I found the cardboard a little too flimsy. So I went scouring the house once again to look for some better material.

Tracing template



I found an old drawing pad that had pretty sturdy cardboard at the back so I decided to give this a try. I repeated the process of tracing and cutting, but the cutting part was a pain! Craft scissors and a box cutter are probably not the tools for this but after a lot of suffering, I managed to gather 6 freshly cut pieces for my claws. To refine my work I used a high grit nail file to file down the edges and make them smoother, sandpaper can also be used but I fond this was an easier tool. 

Testing the fit



According to my pattern, the claws had two holes at the base to accommodate a handle. In order to make the holes in the cardboard, I chose to use a soldering iron that burnt the perfect sized holes into the claws. This can also be done by poking a hole with a knife and using a skewer to make it bigger. 

Making Holes



The next step was to paint the claws, first with a base coat- I used basic acrylic paint in black for the base and topped that off with a coat of silver acrylic paint. I did not see the need to prep the cardboard I chose to use, as it wasn’t too absorbent but you can use a coat of gesso to prep most items you want to paint on. I also did not seal the claws in either but a varnish can work if you want to seal the paint job in. I let that dry overnight before getting back to work on it the next day.

Base Coat



In order to make the handles I used two bamboo skewers, that I broke in half to make four pieces. I trimmed the edges as best I could with a scissor and filed the uneven edge. I then used the soldering iron once again to burn the edges so that no one gets a splinter. I then assembled my claws by sliding one claw in at a time onto two skewer pieces. After they were put together I used hot glue to hold everything in place and painted the handles black.

Painted Claws

I absolutely loved this little art project! Player 2 got to wear them and the claws received many compliments and I am going to be making more pairs for friends but I will be upping my game and will be using some sturdier materials in the future. 

Logan Cosplay



For myself, however, I decided to do a Storm inspired makeup look:

Thank you for checking this post out. I hope you liked it, let me know what your thoughts and if you would try this out for yourself?

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Ster-Kinekor Subscription Club at Eastgate

If you’ve been here a while you will know that I love the cinema experience and it just got better. Ster-Kinekor has launched a new subscription service that could have you watching as many movies as you want!

There are currently 2 types of subscription packages available. The Fan Club at Watercrest, Ilanga and Eastgate, gets you 4 movies and 20% off popcorn and soda combo, for only R249 per month – these tickets can be used all on yourself or you can share them with the family.

MORvies Club is the second type of subscription available at Somerset, Garden Route Mall and Eastgate that gives you unlimited movies for only R349 per month, with 20% off popcorn and soda comb. That means you can watch up to 5 movies a day! With so many great titles hitting the big screen this winter the SK subscription is a brilliant way of seeing the latest flicks and saving.

I decided to sign up for the Fan Club at Eastgate so le boyfriend can take advantage of the service with me. Signing up was super easy too – I headed over to Ster-Kinekor, scrolled down to the bottom of the page and clicked on the SK subscription club tab.

The next screen explained the benefits of the Fan club and the MORvies club. After deciding which package I wanted I clicked on the “JOIN FAN CLUB NOW” button where it asked me to login into my SK account (PS if you don’t have one it will ask you to create one with a simple sign up.)

After that I just had to follow 3 easy steps before getting my hands on my subscription. First, I got to review my subscription, then I needed to confirm my personal details and finally I made an online payment for my subscription with the secure payment facility on the SK site. Then it was time to book my tickets!

Because the subscription is linked to my SK account booking my tickets were a breeze! I started my booking by selecting my cinema, Eastgate and picking the film I wanted. I decided to check out the latest Pixar movie Toy Story 4.

After selecting my seats I was able to select the SK fan club for both my tickets in the “ADD MOVIE CARDS OR VOUCHERS” box under the seating. I then proceeded to the next step and added my popcorn and soda combo with 20% off! I was set and proceeded to the checkout to pay for my snacks and received a reference number. Once at Eastgate Sterkinekor all I had to do was scan my reference number in, where I got my ticket and collected my snacks.



What loved about my entire experience was the service from Ster-Kinekor. It was simple and I didn’t have any hiccups along the way. I know signing up for new services does not always run smoothly in my experience but this went off without a hitch. I had a crazy weekend preparing for Geek Fest and all I wanted was some timeout at the cinema and it was effortless to sign up.

Ster-Kinekor Eastgate

The subscription also fits my lifestyle -with titles like Spiderman: Far From Home, The Lion King, Midsommer and many others releasing over the next few months I am bound to be at the cinema often. The subscription helps me save some cash and also enjoy a great cinematic experience at one of SKs best cinemas Eastgate. The subscription also doesn’t limit you to a particular time or day so I was able to catch Toy Story 4 at 10 pm on a Saturday night which worked with my schedule.

I am looking forward to watching more movies soon, with Far From Home releasing this week I am going to use my SK Fan Club Sub are you?

Let me know your thoughts on the SK Sub service in the comments below. If you would like to be part of the cool kids you can subscribe here: Ster-Kinekor Subscription Club

PS. It would make my day if you followed me on my socials:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter



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A Feast for Crows – How to throw a Game of Thrones Party

About a month ago we said farewell to Game of Thrones and in honor of the last episode, I decided to throw together a GOT PARTY – at last minute. With GOT coming to an end and my partner’s name day all falling on the same date, I thought it would be fun to have a little party to celebrate.

The only problem was – I decided this in the middle of exam season and as always the restraints that come with a student budget were present but this did not stop me. Oh no, once I’ve an idea planted in my head it only grows.

So let me tell you the tale of how I successfully executed a GOT party that my guests loved without having to ask the Golden Company for a loan.

First I decided on basic food that I’d usually have at a get together- Nothing too extravagant. I then decided on what I’d make and put together a rough draft of ideas. Some didn’t make the cut like Sansa’s lemon cakes due to time but I’d love to try those in the future.

My final menu looked like this:

Ned’s head potatoes:
For the potatoes, I roasted a bag of baby potatoes in olive oil and garlic. I then attached a few potatoes onto skewers. This was in reference to how Ned Starks head was display after it was chopped off.

Kings Landing:
This one was a bit of a cheat. A party at my place always has cheese puffs and around a year ago I realized frying instead of baking them adds a different flavor. I fried the cheese puffs till golden brown and placed them in a dish with a dragon next to it. This was a reference to S8E5 where Dany burnt down Kings Landing.

Little Chicken Fingers:
These were easy to accomplish. I made my own chicken fingers by cutting chicken breast’s into strips, spicing them and finally dipping them into breadcrumbs before frying.

Onion Knight Rings:
Were bought at Spar.

Army of the Unsullied:
The unsullied were done by cooking up some store-bought sausages and meatballs.

Dragon Deviled Eggs:
These required a little more effort to them. I first hard-boiled the eggs and cracked the shells but didn’t peel them off yet. I used ziplock bags to dye them with food coloring. Once dyed I peeled off the shell to reveal a cracked look which was perfect for dragon eggs. I then cut them in half, popped out the yolk and made a regular deviled eggs recipe.

Dragon Fire Pit:
This was my favorite. I decided the night before I wanted a fire pit. I thought hard about how I could achieve this and decided a flower pot would work. The flower pot was deep and I wanted the fire to be elevated so I fashioned a bowl out of a pie dish, placed it inside the pot by folding it around the rim. I then placed charcoal in the bowl purely for aesthetics and used a piece of some firelighter to create the flame. And it worked!


The decoration and finishing touches:


For all of the foods, I made labels using a font I downloaded here: GOT Font on MS word.

As for decoration. The table cloth was a maroon bed sheet which fit the colour scheme. I added some Dungeons and Dragons dice and character pieces like dragons around the table. I also bought a blowup sword for the occasion and if I had more time I would have made a throne with swords but I’ll leave that for the future.

I also printed out my favorite house banners as well as ‘happy name day’ just using A4 paper to decorate the wall.

And it was a success! My guests were blown away. And I was happy I could throw together a GOT party without needing crazy expensive items.

Have a look at the final result in the video I made:


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Please let me know if you enjoyed this post, by commenting down below.

Lately, I’ve been challenging myself to do great things despite the little means I might have. If I waited for the right time or exuberant amounts of coins to put something like this together I probably never would. I’m seizing the moment!


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Disneybounding – Princess Jasmine

Disneybounding – where I can pay homage to my favorite characters with the clothes and accessories I already have in my closet! It definitely is a dream come true.

Where it originated:

I discovered Disneybounding a little while ago while watching a Buzzfeed video. This trend originated from the Disney theme park ban where anyone above the age of 14 is not allowed to dress in costumes.

The ban makes sense though, as Disney cast members are kitted out in costumes and this eliminates any confusion that might occur. Fans, still wanting to dress up as their favorite characters without violating the park rules came up with Disneybonding.

What is Disneybounding:

Disneybounding alludes to your favorite character through clothing and accessories that use the same colours or garments related to a specific character. Items like a purple top, green leggings, and shell earrings as to reference Ariel is an example of this – I have actually been Disneyounding before I knew what it was. I wore this combo for a Disney on Ice Show back in 2016 or last year, when I went as a low budget mermaid (Trident incl.) to Comic Con Africa.



The awesome thing about Disneybounding is that you can do it on a budget. For me cosplay has been so out of reach due to my student budget and Disneybounding has allowed me to be part of that world, without needing splurge. I use what I have in my closet and it’s nice to get compliments from other fans who know which character I am trying to emulate.

Disneybounding Jasmine:

With the screening of the new Aladdin movie I knew I wanted to use the opportunity to dress up like a princess. I luckily had a blue Indian skirt my mother got me a few years ago (that I had yet to wear.) I paired this with a simple white top and a blue and white cardigan. I choose to wear a gold pair of pumps that matched the jewelry.

For the jewelry, I went with a headpiece that I bought a few years ago when it was in fashion – this is why I never throw anything out you never know when it will be useful again! I also used gold earrings and necklace. I added body jewels, the same ones I wore to CCA last year to complete the look by placing them on my chest.

Finally, if I can’t bound I make sure that my makeup hints to the character but because I was already looking like a princess I wanted to keep it simple.

I extended my eyes with Ashes from my UD Naked Heat palette, to make it look more almond shape like Jasmines. I then used Fierce (Bad Habit Athena palette – the gold shade) over my lids. Jasmines makeup seemed quite simple in the animated movie but I wanted a pop of gold to complement the rest of my outfit. I highlighted the corner of my eyes with the AB Glow palette to make it stand out, before placing Daring (Athena) over the top.

I then swiped Epic (Athena) from the corner of my eye to midway above the gold just for added sparkle. The final touch was Jasmine’s striking eyeliner, I also added some kajol under my waterline and a hint of blue under the corners of my eye for a little bit more colour.

I was quite pleased with how my outfit turned out. I received a lot of compliments on it and le boyfriend also joined in by wearing one of his kurtas.


Disneybounding has allowed me to join in on the fun without having to spend too much and I feel less left out. It has shown me I don’t need epic cosplays to be noticed or have a good time. Bounding also doesn’t have to stop there – you can pretty much bound any character out there.

Have you done any bounding? Tell me in the comments below or let me know what characters you would like to bound

Thanks for stopping by!

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Game of Thrones – Thoughts on the finale

I’ve had a little while to let this all settle in and to be honest I’m still left with an empty feeling after the finale aired two weeks ago.

In a Facebook status the morning after I watched the show I said this :

And after a lot of thought, I still stand by my sentiments. When Game of Thrones first graced our scenes with its intricate storytelling, shockingly dark themes and a lavish feast for the eyes; everyone was mesmerized by its charm. It took television to new heights back in 2011 (2012 for me when I binged it along with season 2.)

One of the things that drew me in was the shock factor from many of the scenes. How blunt and to the point, it was with its portrayal of sex, nudity, and violence. It had the ability to make you mad long after watching an episode. And when Ned Stark was beheaded in S1E10 it shook the seven kingdoms and thensome.



Storytelling like this increased the audiences emotional involvement in the narrative and subsequently closed the aesthetic distance between viewers and the show.

Eliciting strong emotions to character arcs such as Jon Snow – who never wanted anything more than to be called a Stark or Daenerys Targaryen – a girl who was once sold as a bride, but became the breaker of chains. Through use of these techniques the writers drew the audience in and decreased the aesthetic distance between the viewers and the characters.

Game of Thrones has always set itself apart from anything we’ve seen before. It also forged a narrative where no character (despite the amount of character construction) was safe from being killed off. It built itself on evoking emotions from its audience only to tear them down – but this is what made the show.

I remember so badly wanting Joffrey to meet a gruesome demise and wished Sansa would just shut the hell up. I hated Jamie for the longest time, but began to warm up to him only to roll my eyes and hate him once again when he hit it and quit it with  Brienne of Tarth.

After years and years of conditioning its audience in the world of GOT – Where could it possibly go from here? Downhill that’s where.

Just kidding, but to many fans, this is exactly what they are feeling. I, have a different opinion and a few things to point out. First, I want to talk about the ending. – what was expected and what we got were slightly two different things.

For all the horizon of expectations and some real ‘that doesn’t make any sense at all,’ moments I’m still not mad at GOT. And here’s why:

As stated earlier GOT has prided itself on the unexpected, taking fans on a ride that could keep even casual viewers up at night. With years of building up an audience perhaps GOT never wanted to be predictable.

The forerunners for the throne were definitely Dany, Jon, and Cersei. Tyrion even had a hat thrown into the dragon pit, with fans hoping if the other 3 killed off each other he might make a good king.

With fan theories spreading like wildfire it could have been easy to predict an ending that also emphasized fan service. However, what I feel D&D did was true to GOT’s narrative.

It evokes emotion. Maybe not happiness, glee or relief but it evoked something. Many, feel it wasn’t a rightful end and I can sympathize with that, but what most fans might be missing is the mere fact that it left us feeling. The final season of GOT  triggering an emotional response from its loyal fans  (as it has always done) is what makes its narrative powerful.

We may not be ecstatic about the outcome but we are still left in an emotional state. But despite this, it still didn’t make a lot of sense and its not something I can ignore.   

Every generation establishes a framework within which to understand, interpret and evaluate film and tv series. This includes a familiarity of certain conventions and expectations regarding style and genre. This is referred to as the horizon of expectations.

GOT having shattered many of those conventions and expectations still seems to have failed in its last season. The reason for this failure comes from the violation of its aesthetic distance.

Unrealistic dialogue, questionable character deaths, the fast pace of it all even bad lighting in S8E3 all contributed to the increase of aesthetic distance in the last season.

This created a defamiliarization with the narrative of the show and weakened the emotional involvement by fans – as a result, this left many upset and some disappointed (like me) with the culmination of GOT.

I am not mad with how my beloved series played out in the end but I do however wish they had taken more time to complete it. The season felt rushed, with little to no build up to pivotal moments – is what disappointed me.

I had no problem with major plot points such as Jon’s heritage not holding a larger stake in the grand scheme of things, I actually admired the deviation from fan service or expectations. The bottom line is that the show could have quite possibly been better, but this is what we’ve got, and it leaves a lot of us feeling empty.

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What did you think of the ending? I would love to know your feelings about the last season and how it should have ended.

My screening of the last episode fell on my significant others birthday so I decided to do a small GOT themed party with friends (including a tabletop dragon pit for roasting marshmallows of course.) Keep a lookout for my GOT Party post and how whipped all the food up in a future blog post.

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Mud Mask Review

 

 

Hey guys and girls! This post has been a very long time coming but school has kept me so busy I haven’t had the opportunity to put down in words what I thought about the Mud Mask clay masks. So let’s get right into this:

My Skin:

Here’s a little background on my skin. I have pretty decent skin, I hardly had acne growing up and even as an adult my skin was clear until I moved to Johannesburg. After moving to Jozi my skin started getting extremely dry and red around the cheeks. Not having dealt with major skin problems before this was new territory for me. I tried a couple of things but nothing seemed to stick until I tried Mud Mask.

 

 

Mud Mask first thoughts:

So my lovely friend, Sumarie the owner of Mud Mask popped over for a visit and surprised me with some masks. Firstly I thought the packaging was lovely! The masks are nicely stored in glass bottles that can be put on display, but I wasn’t sure if these masks would be like every other one I’ve tried: works for all of 10 minutes and then poof! My face is a tomato again.

All you need to do with the mask is mix it in with a few drops of water and/or an essential oil and apply it to the face. The first thing I noticed about the mask is the consistency and the velvet feeling as I applied it to my skin.

As advised by Sumarie, I kept it on my skin until I felt it starting to crack and washed it off. It felt uber nice on my skin, I could feel the mask locking in the moisture because of its velvety texture. It was also easy to remove just with some water.

 

 

After I dried my face off, I noticed an immediate difference: my skin was soft, the dry areas such as my cheeks and between my eyes were looking better. I was having a  crappy skin week so the mask definitely rejuvenated my face. I also used a touch of facial oil, which by the way is my favorite Mud Mask product, it locks in moisture and keeps my skin feeling soft and hydrated in the dry Johannesburg climate.

It was a total boost to my skin as the bumps on my face were reduced and my face felt clean. I was going out the night I tried the mask and found that when I applied my makeup I had a better foundation to work with because in all honesty if your skin isn’t in good condition makeup will never look perfect.

 

 

 

I have been using the masks every time I have an import night out or when I need a bit of pampering. I also love that I get to mix the product myself. It gets points for being interactive, but also quick and easy to use.

Why I would recommend it :

What makes these masks (and kit) so unique, is the fact that everything is 100% natural. The Essential Oils in the kit are all 100% pure and undiluted. The three essential oils (lavender, tea tree and geranium rose) were selected for their amazing benefits for the skin. These are also the three essential oils that are most suitable for any skin type. Evening primrose oil is another natural gem that you see frequently in many facial oils and moisturizers.
Obviously, these masks are completely natural. With no preservatives interfering with all the natural goodness in them! Not to even mention the additional activated charcoal and 100% raw honey that can also be mixed in with these masks!

 

 

The products are all natural which means there’s no funny stuff that you are unaware of going on your skin. The product feels luxurious on my face and the after effects are amazing, especially when it turned my face into an ideal canvas for makeup.

 

Why it’s worth it:

The Mud Mask starter kit and sample kit both come in the most rustic packaging; a wooden chest. I handled the packaging and products while taking photos for this blog and I was obsessed with the box. Keeping with the all-natural theme, Mud Masks packaging is environmentally conscious, unlike other beauty products I have used.  The wooden box can be reused as well as the cute little glass bottles which are stopped with a natural cork.  One of my favorite items in the box other than the products is the beautiful handmade terracotta mixing bowl, which is included in the starter kit.

 

 

The starter kit includes 21 items in total, 3 x each clay mask. Each vial contains enough clay for two facial masks which works out to R27.70 a mask. I have paid around R30 – R40 a mask in the past so R27.70 is good price for someone like myself who is on a budget. Money wise, Mud Mask is worth it and because you get to mix your own mask you control how much you want to use, this way I have managed to get not 2 but 3 masks out of 1 vile. Besides this, you are getting also the chest itself, and it comes packed with facial oil, facial soap and a wooden spoon.

To wrap this up, Mud Mask is a proudly South African brand. The products and packing are natural which means it is not only good on your skin but for the environment too. If you would like to purchase one of the products,  go to www.mudmask.co.za or visit this direct link https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/mud-mask to get your kit. With Christmas fast approaching these kits are great to find under the tree!

 

 

Hey ya’ll thank you for checking out this review. Let me know what you think in the comments below. In other news, I started a new Instagram account Cassricornart   to showcase my art as well as take commissions for my series “You’re a Beauty Guru Now.” Here’s one of Sumarie from Mud Mask, inbox me if you would also like to be immortalized as a beauty Guru.

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International Beauty Products: Resellers + Tips & a List of trusted sellers

 

 

This is an extremely important topic that I would like to discuss. The beauty industry in South Africa from sellers, buyers, beauty gurus, and your average Jane has really skyrocketed in recent years. With access to international brands from resellers to the basic consumer buying from the comfort of their own home, directly from overseas-based makeup sites, things have drastically changed in the way we buy our beauty products. Resellers make it easier for us to get our hands on brands we won’t find in our regular stores. Most of these resellers advertise on social media and have a website.

But with the good also comes the bad. There has been a rise in fake beauty products being sold at the corner shop down the street to so-called online resellers, duping people into buying counterfeit products while assuring people their goods are real. This is a very serious and scary thing that many South African consumers get trapped in.

 

 

 

via GIPHY

 

This post was inspired by recent events that occurred on a trusted beauty news Instagram account beautynewssa. Beauty News SA is “a source for the tea on all things makeup in SA, new releases, sales and giveaways” (taken from their Instagram bio.)

I was following their Insta story and to my horror, they were scammed into believing that a certain reseller was legit (after doing all the right checks of course) and shared this seller with their followers. Being a trusted brand themselves, their follows too, unfortunately fell into this trap. This is truly an awful experience for everyone involved and Beauty News SA was quick to admit their faults as seen in their Instagram story. I do not believe their intentions were bad, it’s just a really tough position they were placed in after trying to help the seller.

The conversation continued in a post where they asked these questions:

“So how did you all feel about today’s Story, and the whole fake makeup issue in general?? 🙊 Are resellers who deceive customers thief’s? Have you tried fake/replica makeup?”

 

 

I jumped into the thread and added some of my views on authentic resellers I trusted. As I read through the comments one thing jumped out at me. Some commenters admitted to using fake products, expressing that in some cases they were aware that the products were not original and simply, real products were financially unattainable and that buying fakes were more budget friendly. Others said that they have not had a bad reaction to fake products. This sent me into panic mode and I posted some of my thoughts on the matter which I would like to elaborate on here.

 

 

Let’s first establish what fake or counterfeit make up is for the purpose of this post:

 

Counterfeit makeup is anything that a fake or forgery of a well-known beauty brand. Knock-off products that copy the labeling and sell inferior products that elude the buyer to believe it is genuine. Not only does this tick off many illegal boxes,  counterfeiting is a form of trademark infringement and can be punishable by law. I’ve often come across counterfeit products of brands such as Kylie Cosmetics, Huda Beauty, Urban Decay and Anastasia Beverly Hills to name a few.

 

 

 

Why it is a bad decision to  knowingly buy fake products:

 

I understand the reasoning that high-end brands may be out of reach for those on a budget. The real deal can cost you over an R1000 an item also when you consider shipping costs from overseas, tariffs and customs, as well as the profit authentic sellers, need to make for all their work (remember when you buy from a legit reseller this cuts out the drama of dealing with customs and shipping amongst other things.) Also if you have used fake products and not had a reaction this does not mean the products are safe:

 

 

via GIPHY
1. Endorsing counterfeit makeup creates the market allowing bad sellers to sell more.

2. As mentioned above, this is illegal on a lot of levels such as trademark.

3. Buying counterfeit makeup creates a false sense of security for other unsuspecting customers to be scammed and even worse. They could be exposed to a bad reaction that will damage their skin and cost more money than one would have imagined paying for the real deal. If you don’t know this by now, fakes are known to be replicated in uncontrolled environments. You can never know for sure what is in the counterfeit you are buying as with the label they also copy the ingredients of the real product. So essentially you are getting an exact copy of the packaging but an inferior product that could have chemicals and even rat feces in it.

4. This can also taint the original brand’s reputation. If you don’t know you are buying a fake, your idea of the real brand could potentially create negative connotations to it.

 

An alternative to buying high-end products:

 

 

We are fortunate to have some really great budget-friendly makeup available to us, that even rival high-end products. Drugstore brands, as well as some locally produced makeup, is a better option for many reasons. You definitely know what is going into the products and there is very little risk factor when using these products. Brands like Essence, Catrice, Wet and Wild as well as Makeup Revolution can be found at your local Clicks or Dischem at a fraction of the cost.

 

What if you must have the high-end stuff?

 

I hear you, I pined over my AB Glow Palette for months before being able to afford it. And when it finally went on sale at an authentic re-seller and I had the cash,  I knew this was my moment. I try not to buy into the hype of makeup products and the need to have it now because so and so has it. Peer pressure can lead you to wanting products now, and I know people have bought fakes just because of the label. We all start somewhere, and for most of us on a budget it is a slow grow. Here are some tips on how I grew my makeup inventory:

1. I have a makeup fund I put spare cash into and save for the products I want most. It takes time but it is worth the wait.

2. Make a list of what you need in your makeup kit, this way if you see something on sale you don’t go out and buy it on a whim. Stick to this list and set goals with your savings.

3. It’s pretty difficult to suss out resellers to know if their products are authentic but here’s what I have done. Check the price if it’s too good to be true it probably is. This isn’t a foolproof plan but it is an indicator.

4. I am on South African based Facebook makeup groups and they usually don’t allow sellers that are fake. One of the common practices on these groups is that a seller provides proof of authenticity in the means of proof of purchase. I also look at the comments on sellers posts and check out the more experienced buyers to judge sellers.

5. I attend makeup expos and pop-ups. Fake sellers are usually unwelcome here so I know I am in a safe place. Buying at expos and pop-ups mean prices are cheaper as you cut out shipping costs and they usually have sales.

 

Some authentic resellers I have purchased from:

 

Beauty Gifts by Melanie

Fashion Police

Kiss and Makeup SA

 

 

Thank you for reading. I hope that this post will help makeup lovers like myself save money and unnecessary pain. Let me know in the comments below if this helped you. Have you had a bad experience with a seller? Tell me about that too. If you would like to know more don’t hesitate to ask me any questions and I will try to assist.

 

 

 

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4 Binge Worthy Animated shows on Netflix

 

If you’re anything like me and love a good animated show, that you can get sucked into, the streaming gods have blessed us with some of the best Animated shows for not only kids but adults as well.

 

Netflix has changed the way I consume content and has exceeded my expectations when it comes to the shows I  can watch and easily binge on. Here are my top 4 animated series which is a mix of shows for younger ages to more PG.

 

1. Disenchantment

 

If you’re already a fan of the Simpsons you might recognize the animation style of this show. Matt Groening brings us Princess Tiabeanie, an out of control princess like you’ve never seen before. Along with her unusual sidekicks a demon and an elf she gets into all sorts of trouble. This show is definitely for adults as a boozed-up princess is far from the Disney standard but is a fresh take on the prim and proper princess we all know.

 

Why I like this show:

Princess Bean is a direct opposite of everything I’ve ever known about Princesses. While watching her antics as she gets into trouble, intoxicated out of her mind there is an underlying storyline which I’ll be interested to see play out in season two.

 

2.The Dragon Prince

 

 

Co-created by Aaron Ehasz, the head writer for Avatar: The last air bender. The story follows two kingdoms who are on the verge of war. Two human princes and an Elvin assassin, take on an epic journey in order to save their world.

 

Why I like the show:

Dragons, Assasin Elves, Magic? What more can I say? Technically directed at children, This show is everything I want and more. The animation is impeccable and the characters have so much substance. Spoiler: one character, in particular, is a female knight, She’s also deaf and commuticates in sign language.

 

3. Final Space:

 

A sci-fi comedy for adults about an astronaut named Gary, who’s serving his last days on a prison ship. He then meets his new adorable friend Mooncake, a planet destroyer who’s wanted by the evil Lord Commander. Gary along with Mooncake and other characters try to stop the Lord Commander from destroying the universe.

 

Why I like the show:

This is a new and fresh storyline for space themed animation. I enjoyed the characters and interaction between them. Gary especially is flawed and unsure of himself which makes him relatable and there’s cute little moon cake, who destroys planets.

 

4. Hilda:

 

 

A beautiful show for kids and children at heart. Hilda is about a fearless girl who transitions from her home in the wilderness to the big city. The show has elves, giants and all sorts of quirky magical creatures.

 

Why I like the show:

I binge watched the hell out of this show and it drove right into my heart. The animation and music ties in well with this show about a world that coexists with magical beings. I loved the lore of the show and how every creature has a back story. It’s nicely put together to give you a pure feeling of mystic and wonder.

 

 

 

Another show I just started watching is the new She-ra series. I am quite enjoying it and think its worth your while to check it out. What are you watching on Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.
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Beauty Expo and Make up Haul

Another year another expo! Last Saturday I attended a beauty expo hosted by Beauty Swop and Sale. Attending an event 2 days before my final year-end exam was not my best moment but I sure needed a break from the books. The highlight of my day was truly the vendors and hanging out with my friend a fellow blogger Cherice from Glam Hipster Diaries.
This was the second beauty expo I have attended and I came prepared. The night before the event I stalked the vendors on Instagram so I could go in with a game plan:

 

1. Buy a new palette: more specifically Athena by Bad Habit
2. Check out some Korean skincare: what is it even?
3. Buy Glitter: Important
4. Face masks

 

I’d been saving my birthday money for this event so I had a budget but le boyfriend gave me his card just in case. I’m lucky, aren’t I? Though in all seriousness planning before you go to an event helps your wallet. Listing what you want to buy as well as your expectations puts your spending in perspective and helps you, to eat for the next month!

 

The day had finally arrived and I got up super early to be there on time so I wouldn’t miss out on anything. The first vendor I saw was Kiss and Makeup and within moments of walking in, I had my first buy. I’ve purchased from them before and they are my go to when I need an international brand at a good price. Athena was ticked off my list along with an additional purchase, a Color Pop lip gift set for only R50. I also returned a few hours later to grab a Morphe primer and sponge, seeing as my current sponge looks like the bottom of a lake – I thought this was a good buy.

 

Next, I stopped off at the lovely ladies from Glow Theory who recognized me from last year. Cherice and I both jumped at the Korean Skincare starter kit to help us get into Korean Skincare. I also came back later to get a 7 pack face mask which I’m dying to try out.

 

 

EllaGance Makeup, a South African based beauty brand was also there and I met the owner Ella Champion. It was lovely talking to her and she happily covered me in the Nova Glow Illuminator. Her products are amazingly pigmented and I just fell in love with her brand. I ordered the Nova Glow in Gold Digger which isready for me to pick up. I’d love to buy some more products especially the blush and the lipsticks which pack so much power.

 

 

A few other things I picked up was body glitter from Glamore Cosmetics, a silk pillowcase from Kikkaboo and makeup remover from My Abby. Shout out to Robin from My Abby for stopping us before we left to tell us about the My Abby range. The makeup remover is the one thing I’ve been using since the expo and oh my gosh it’s been amazing!

 

 

 

It was lovely talking to Zaza from Luxeloft who provided us with samples on some of her products after I explained my concerns about not knowing what works on my face! The vendors were awesome and they truly made the event.

 

 

 

Cherice and I purchased an intermediate makeup class along with our ticket. It was said to begin at 11am when we arrived at the door but to my utter annoyance (and if you know me, I am drama queen #1) it was moved to 10:30. We had no clue about the time change, because who listens to announcements when you’re too busy drooling over all the awesome products on display? We were fortunately fitted into the next class which was for professionals at 1 pm. Having an exam the next Monday with a tight schedule, the time change did throw my day off. I know students out there will relate! Despite being uncomfortable and put out of my comfort zone, Kirsty Cochuis from Smudge Makeup Academy did her best and I picked up a few new tricks – And as someone wise told me, taking oneself out of your comfort zone is what defines true beauty which was quite apt for my experience.

 

 

 

All in all, it was a good day. I spent time with my sunshiny pineapple-banana-lemon Cherice (I adore the dress she wore) I met some awesome people at the event and I came home happy with the goods I bought.

 

Next year I plan to check out other beauty expos, do you know of any other expos happening around Joburg? Let me know in the comments below 😊

Ps Thanks to Cherice for the silver Ofra lippy!