Review: Sekai Nail and Beauty Bar

I've visited Sekai a handful of times and have always had a fantastic experience, but it wasn't until I had a terrible experience elsewhere that I felt I should write a small review. Without going into too much detail about my shellac mani pedi from hell at an unnamed nail salon outside of the city, let's just say it took multiple soakings to get the shellac off my nails. It was as if it had fused to my nail. The shellac job itself was uneven, had bubbles in the polish, and under black lights (which I conveniently work under all the time) it looked like a child's paint project. Needless to say, I was unimpressed and upon complaining, was basically told there wasn't much they could do.

my first shellac mani done at Sekai

Anyways, I had gone to Sekai once before this incident and was SO happy with how my nails turned out. I had originally gone to this Queen West nail shop for a regular mani pedi and was referred to getting the shellac polish after mentioning that my nails kept chipping and that my polish wasn't lasting on my stiletto shaped nails. The whole process was perfect. Upon arrival the ladies at the desk sat me down with a cup of tea, took my jacket, made sure I was comfortable and tended to me as soon as they were able. The white decor and chic designs added to the pleasant atmosphere.

my New Years chrome shellac mani done at Sekai

Because it went so well, I've gone back to Sekai almost every time I'm back in Toronto. The shellac lasts beautifully for about 3 weeks which makes it WELL worth the upgrade from regular polish. I refuse to deal with anymore nightmare nail jobs and am confident that I'll be happy every time I leave the doors of Sekai. For anyone in the downtown core looking for a mani pedi, or interested in checking out their hair removal services, blowouts, facials, or RMT and relaxation massages, stop by and see the ladies at Sekai. They'll take care of you. I know I'll be back soon to get my nails done before Jamaica!
:)

Northbound Fashion Show 2013: ikink

I'm so excited that I've been asked to be part of this years Northbound Fashion show on October 19th, at the Polson Pier in Toronto, ON. Tickets are $45, or $55 at the door. VIP Tickets are also currently on sale and will sell fast so be sure to check it out if you're interested.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/402774309833543/?ref=22

Make-Up Review: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

For the longest time, I didn't even use a primer under my makeup. I didn't realize that my makeup would hold better throughout the day OR that I could have a smoother more awesome finish on my skin if I used it. Over the last few years though, I've been flip flopping through different primers. Overall they always help my makeup last throughout the day, but I never found one that I was super in love with, until just two days ago.

While meandering through Sephora debating which primer to try next, I was directed to Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer by a sales associate. Open to trying something new, she put some on the back of my hand and I was instantly sold. The back of my hand was suddenly incredibly smooth and soft, so I could only imagine how it'd feel on my face.

0.33 oz bottle retailed for $21CDN

So yesterday while doing my makeup I used it for the first time. Not only was my face soft and smooth, but after finishing my makeup, I felt like there was a noticeable difference in smoothness. The pore coverage was much better than previous primers I'd used, and I felt my overall makeup application looked much more finished than usual. Not only is this important for day to day affairs to feel good about how my skin looks, but as a cam girl, I try to have as flawless coverage possible so it translates nicely while I'm streaming for a cam show. This primer, in my mind, is a definite recommend to friends and fellow cam ladies!

New Shots

Since my last post, I've shot and received images from all three shoots I had written about. I've posted some on Twitter, but so we have them all in one place I wanted to do a quick write up about them.

photo credit: Craiger

Craiger from Subspace Dungeon Studios got a new medical gurney, so to showcase this awesome new piece of furniture, we had fun showing all its best angles. For more information on the studio, should you be interested in renting it out to use this or some of the other goodies he has available, check out the website for more details.

I also had the opportunity to be featured this month with two separate retail spaces. First, is Northbound Leather. I shot with them awhile back for their new catalogue being released, I believe, this fall, and can currently be seen on the background image of their website. This time around, I was asked to be one of their models of the month, a shoot they do every month to feature a new guy and girl wearing some of their awesome pieces of clothing. We got to go out on Lake Ontario and shoot on a sailboat for the afternoon to create some wicked shots. For full details on the shoot and more images, be sure to check out the full write-up on the Northbound blog.

photo credit: Jennifer Toole, makeup: Bronwen Weiderick

That same day, I also got to shoot with a small vintage shop downtown TO on Queen West. Featured as Miss August, my Vargas-inspired image can currently be seen in the window of Cabaret Vintage, and will be featured in the more 'r-rated' pin-up calendar being released by KingPin Chic.

photo credit: Jennifer Toole, makeup: Bronwen Weiderick, hair: Amber Fairlie of the Manor Salon

A HUGE shout-out goes to the amazing photographer that shot both of the last two shoots, Jennifer Toole. Not only did she ask me to be part of both projects after having shot me for Northbound a few months earlier, but she came through and created these amazing shots! Be sure to check out her blog, DailyToole, featuring both of these shoots, as well as many other incredible projects. She's a super talented babe who I look forward to working with again sometime in the future!
Also thanks to Bronwen Weiderick and Amber Fairlie for making me pretty for those two shoots as well.

More projects under way. Keep your eyes peeled lovelies!! <3

Spank Me!

So as far as blogging goes, I definitely fail at being regular. Though no one has gotten on my case about my lack of entries, despite my open invitation for spankings should I not follow through. I figured though I would post a little update with respect to upcoming and past gigs!

Torture Garden, back in May: I have one image that was taken while there for the main night. Unfortunately, I came down with something and got super sick and wasn't able to stay for the full night, but from what I got to enjoy, I loved EVERY moment of it. It's such an interesting community and I look forward to being able to enjoy next year (should I not come down with another flash sickness lol)..

By the looks of it, I MAY be shooting again with Northbound Leather coming up, as one of their models for the month!! As far as I know, the catalogue I got to shoot awhile back has not yet been released, but I'll make sure to link/post the photos as soon as I find them available. Still excited to see how they turned out :)

I might also be shooting some Alberto Vargas inspired images for Kingpin Vintage's pin-up calendar. They use a PG image for the window of Cabaret Vintage (a lovelyy little vintage store, downtown Toronto on Queen West) and then put the R-rated image for the 2014 calendar. If this goes through, I'll have more of those images to share as well.

Ooo and I'm ALSO shooting this Friday with Craiger at Subspace Dungeon Studio.. he got a new medical gurney so of course, it's time to play! Last time we shot the straightjacket images with Ordained Images (photographer) as promo for Torture Garden and those turned out amazingly, so I'm excited to see what we can come up with this time :)


That's all for now. Lots to look forward too, so keep your eyes peeled <3

Torture Garden Toronto: Promo Shoot

photo by Ordained Images at Subspace Dungeon Studio

Yesterday I had the privilege of shooting down at Subspace Dungeon Studio for a promo for the upcoming Torture Garden Toronto. As a complete newbie in the fetish community, I was excited that Craiger invited me for the opportunity and am even more excited to dive deeper into this new world!

The event is to be held over the course of a few days next weekend, May 17, 18, and 19th. It's the 5th anniversary of Toronto's biggest fetish party, with performances by Yusura, Chrisalys, and DavidTG. Not only is this my first TG Part, but my first fetish party ever. I've yet to figure out my outfits, but from what I hear, I need to pull out all the stops and come up with something incredible!

I will be sure to take photos and report my experience after the weekend. For those of you who are interested in getting tickets or learning more about the event, head over to http://torturegardentoronto.com 

I hope to see you there!!

Make-Up Review: Micabella Cosmetics

My makeup routine isn't by any means complicated, but usually involves concealer, foundation and powder as my base. This requires three different products and makes the process longer than I'd like to spend on making my face day fresh. 

Just over a week ago while I was doing some downtown shopping on Queen Street in Toronto, I was enticed into a makeup store called Divine Beauty Bar, with an offer to touch up my existing makeup with a foundation by Micabella Cosmetics. Not only did she remove the foundation I had already taken the time to do myself, but she reapplied it with one single product. Needless to say, I was impressed with the final look and decided to take one home for myself. 

The foundation is a 100% all-natural mineral foundation powder and I've been using it now for just over a week. It wears very lightly so it's perfect for day makeup, and provides amazing coverage without needing to use multiple products. Where I usually use concealer to cover up my under-eye darkness, and a liquid foundation, followed by a powder to set, this powder does all three steps in one. I find that with my skin, being much less than perfect, liquid foundation seems to provide a bit of a smoother finish. Although I'm using a primer (currently using Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer), I find that my pores are still a bit more visible than I'd like. I can't really complain though for such a light, easy foundation that let's my face breathe so nicely. And although it retails for a price higher than I'd normally pay for a foundation (CAN$99), the clerk said I should get approximately 10 months out of this one container so I figured it was WELL worth the investment. I may look into trying some of their eye shadows and bronzers if I continue to like this product as much as I do so far. If you give it a try, let me know what you think!