SMOONSTYLE

4.4.15 10 comments

Spring, oh spring. Where art thou? In one day I witnessed snow, hailstorm, rain and sunshine. All seasons packed in one day. 'April doet wat hij wil'.

Today I was in desperate need of summer. With a little bit make up we can bring summer to us and turn a rainy mood into golden sunshine.

Bronzer is something I normally stay far away from. In my make up collection bronzing powders are the underdog. Charlotte Tilbury did lure me to buy her 'Filmstart Bronze and Glow' Face sculpt and highlight. In her videos she shows how easy it is to work this look, why not try it? Trust me, with this palette you won't look like you just visited Charlie's Chocolate Factory.

In this article I show you how I played with the sculpt and highlight palette. It was super fun and totally brightened up my day.

Have a lovely day, evening, morning!

In love with the rose gold packaging. She really nailed the packaging of her line. So gorgeous!

It has a great big mirror, perfect for make up application.

On the back of the palette there are tips on how to use the sculpt and highlight. Super easy!

Pale little me. Normal face make up without bronzer and highlighter. On my lips I am wearing MAC 'Jubilee'.

Apply bronzer to the temples, under the jaw, in the hollows of your cheeks and even the sides of the nose.
My brush is from the new ZOEVA bamboo collection. It is the cream cheek brush. I loved the shape and it is so soft!

Highlight the top of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the bow of the lips, inner eye corner and underneath the brow bone.
The highlighter brush is also from the ZOEVA Bamboo collection, it is highlighter brush. For the inner corners of the eye, I used wing liner brush.

Finished! Bronze and glow by Charlotte Tilbury make me look like I just came back from a holiday at the beach. I love that it looks so natural. Oliver even complimented me and told me I looked 'healthy' haha! Normally I have a bit of the vampire look ;) Nothing wrong with being pale, though.

♡ SIMONE

2.4.15 10 comments

30.3.15 11 comments

Does your skincare routine include face mask application? Face masks are an essential step to create beautiful skin and today I’d like to share three of my favorites that purify, brighten and hydrate.

PURIFY

Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask | SEPHORA

This is my go-to mask when my skin is misbehaving. I love the Origins product line because they’re free of parabens and harsh chemicals and are also made with natural and certified organic ingredients.

The main ingredient that helps draw out and absorb impurities, such as bacteria and oil, is Activated Charcoal, which has a high-absorption capacity. Once removed, these impurities attach to the charcoal’s surface and are rinsed away.

After this mask is applied, wait for 10 minutes or until it has dried on your face and then gently remove with warm water. You’ll look like a monster initially, but once this product works it’s magic it will reveal beautiful skin that looks and feels more balanced and clear.

I apply this charcoal mask two times per week, but it can be used as needed and works for all skin types; definitely one of the best masks I’ve ever used.

BRIGHTEN

Alba Botanica – Even Advanced™ Deep Sea Facial Mask | Alba Botanica

Alba has become another brand favorite of mine because not only are their ingredients 100% vegetarian but cruelty-free as well, which means no animal testing (look for the bunny icon!). When my skin looks dull, this is the mask I use to brighten my complexion and create a more even tone.

Kaolin Clay plus Alba’s Marine Complex promotes uniform tone and equalizes pigment to make skin look more radiant. In five minutes any dulling impurities are removed and it gives my skin a gentle restart. I find this mask especially helpful after I’ve been out all day (or night) and environmental or personal stress begins to show.

This product is so luxurious – whipped texture, clean smell and smooth application – plus, it breathes life back into my skin. To make the experience more luxurious, I apply it slowly with a clean face brush.

HYDRATE

Origins Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask | SEPHORA

Overnight masks are new territory for me but the current winter weather has made my skin feel dry so I decided to try this product and it’s a miracle worker! This mask uses Avocado and Apricot Kernel Oil to provide powerful hydration and moisture replacement without upsetting skin – perfect for those on the sensitive side.

Because this mask is applied before bed, I didn’t place any other product on my face (except under eye cream) so as not to skew the results. Fortunately, this mask also contains Japanese Seaweed, which helps repair skin and prevent premature aging, so I went to sleep a happy girl.

In the morning, my skin was glowing, baby smooth and rebalanced. I would highly recommend this to anyone experiencing dry skin issues, whether temporary or consistent – the formula is gentle and can be applied generously or sparsely depending on your situation.

FACE MASK TIPS & TRICKS

Always apply masks to fresh, clean skin and be sure your face isn't wet.
Keep hair tied back so it doesn’t interfere during application. The feeling of hair dried to your face is not pleasant!
For best results, make sure your pores are open prior to application – the easiest way is to soak a towel in hot water, wring it out and place over your face for five minutes.
If applying mask with your hands, make sure they’re clean – hand hygiene prevents contamination and potential breakouts.
Avoid contact with eyes and lips.
Keep the mask on as long as directed.
Make sure you relax! Face masks are a way to pamper yourself so take this time to unwind and clear your head.
Wash away your mask with warm water, then splash cold water on your face to close pores.

In my next post I’ll show how to make these masks at home, DIY-style! If you use the products featured in this post, let me know in the comments below. If not, what’s your favorite face mask and why? Even better, if you have more tips and tricks, share with us!

♡ REBECCA

Rebecca Brayman is a graphic designer and digital consultant with clientele ranging from renowned heavy metal bands (EPICA, Kamelot) to well-known female entrepreneurs and professionals. She is also passionate about skin care and believes that revealing and celebrating one's natural beauty inspires self-confidence and empowerment.

Website | Instagram | Twitter

19.3.15 14 comments

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Never ever did we dream that this would be one of the most successful tours we've ever done! Together with a great team, we've accomplished 8 sold out shows, had the best time ever and are truly happy Epicans. We made new friends and saw new and familiar faces.

Dragonforce and Diablo Blvd are awesome bands to tour with, very relaxed and very professional.

The guys from Dragonforce spoiled me on my birthday and got me some lovely flowers, booze, a heart shaped pillow and a birthday card, which was very endearing. My boys got me a cake, the people at the venue baked me a chocolate cake, a friend from Berlin made me a apple cake. You are all so sweet! I was spoiled so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

From the beginning of the tour I had a nasty cold that was sitting on my vocal cords. In Berlin (on my birthday), I woke up without a voice. A doctor had to come and gave my an IV with several liquids.

Right before the show, my voice was almost gone. I had to sing some weird variations of the songs that we played that night and drank tea instead of beer ;) Some tunes were absent and I tried my best to just ignore that. It was my birthday and I didn't want to let it get the best of me. Always think positive, it is the best natural medicine :)

The cold accompanied me the whole tour and was like an annoying 7th band member. I was fighting it 'till the end. I was so happy that no shows were cancelled and that my voice pulled through. Thanks to many teas and smoothies, work outs with Isaac, Mark and Coen, I managed to kick ass, even with a bloody cold.

I would like to thank our wonderful, hardworking crew, our crazy cute colleagues from Dragon Force and Diablo Blvd, our bus (that didn't break down) and got us safe to all our destinations, and (save the best for last), our loyal fans that came to see us play live and have a good time with us.

Dankjewel allemaal!

I've added some funny out take pictures of our VIP sessions and live shows to this post. Enjoy!

Our upcoming tour will be in South America, starting on February 26th. Kicking ass on stage together with our South American Epicans!