Cosplay hate

Wow. Over the last few days I've seen a lot of negativity from others when it comes to individuals cosplay. 

People posting stuff like that makes me really nervous about doing a cosplay for the first time (I've decided I'm going casual btw, lol) and how I feel others will perceive my costume. At the start of all this, I was all like "yeah fuck the haters" but now I'm just nervous. Say if someone takes my photo and turns me into some horrible meme? I know it's a risk and I shouldn't be doing a costume if I'm thinking this, but I honestly don't like backing out from ideas that I am/were 100% behind from the start.

But yeah. If I ever see a costume I see as not nice, which is rarely ever, I honestly don't ever go out of my way to critique someone. It's not nice. And even more so over the Internet. 

People. BE NICE AND DONT BE A DICK FOR FUCK SAKE IS ALL IM SAYING.

Makeup review: NYX matte lip cream

Yesterday I had a little delivery from the lovely Amazon man and it had two items from nyx. I've wanted to try nyx since seeing it on RuPauls Drag Race and what with seeing others saying good things about the brand I thought I would try a matte lip cream as I deaperately want to try matte lipstick. 

I didn't want to go with Kat Von D or Anastasia Beverly New York OR Jeffree Star because they are so hard to get and are a on the expensive side. Trust me if I had the money I would gladly get a few shades! They are gorgeous. Also I didn't want to go with Lime Crime. Fuck that. Don't even talk to me about that company, I don't want to have horrible smelly stuff to touch my lips let alone get an allergic reaction of some kind.

I managed to get the shade "Istanbul", I purely got this because I wanted to find a nice pink lipstick that I could also use for my cosplay (sorry I'm planning still and really enjoying the process!). I usually go for a nude colour with a hint of purple as that best suits my skin tone I find. I've also tried "brave" by mac, I usually nick that from my twin because why not?! xD

So, reading reviews. Some people said that it makes your lips feel dry, is difficult to apply and rubs off.

Moisture: I would say this product does make my lips feel dry but it's not a horrible overly chapped dry feeling. I think it might be the nature of matte lipstick, though my lips do tend to go dry when I'm using other lipsticks anyway. 

Application: I didn't have any issues applying the colour to my lips. It was very easy. The only thing I can see being a problem would be putting it on when your in a rush, it might not dry too quickly.

Wearability: This lasted for such a long time. I was so happy to see I still had it on. The only time it came off was when I was drinking, from a bottle in this case. I think that is a natural occurring issue with any lipstick. I haven't tried drinking through a straw yet so that might be an experience that for another day.

Overall, I am overly happy with this product. I love the colour of it. I would recommend this to anyone.

Midweek something? Sailor Moon series 1 vs Sailor Moon Crystal series 1

Honestly I didn't know what to call this post. ButYes here we go, yet another talk about Sailor Moon. But this is only because I've decided to revisit the original anime. I'm going to try and keep the asetetics out of this because let's face it they both had questionable designs, but you expected better from Crystal what with it being new. But whatevs.

Quickly touching on one of the most major differences between the original and the reboot was that the tone was completely different. With the original you had this funny charm to it that, let's be honest, is the best. It's not as serious as its newer counterpart, which is a let down. Personally speaking I missed the fun side to the anime, it's what made it enjoyable from the start. But then again maybe the reboot is being true to what the story is trying to portray? 

You have this 14 year old school girl who is clumsy and lazy who in a matter of a few minutes is thrown into being a super heroine, and she doesn't like it but she's plodding along with it because this cat is telling her to do so. Now, Crystal made me feel really angry at Usagi during most of the season. She needed so much help it seemed and that came across as a serious problem. Also what bugged me was how she handled "problems" when it came to her MIRIACRU ROMANSU Mamoru, she just seemed to sulk and get overly jealous. Even with a child involved. Which lets face it is creepy. At least in the old anime it was just like "Oh you" and it wasn't as much of an issue because it wasn't serious. You wasn't thinking "FUCKING GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER" every episode.

Filler episodes. WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?! I honestly love the filler episodes in the oldie! You actually got to know a wide range of the characters. You had lots of episodes including Harou, Usagi's best friend, who gets dropped after a while. Honestly I would love to see an episode based on how she feels when Usagi gets these four new friends because I'd be honest, I would be pissed! (I think there is an actual episode? I can't remember) There was a lot more random villains in the older one too. Crystal doesn't have the feeling of going at a steady pace. It would have been nice to have some episodes in between meeting each senshi, like in the older series.

Please. The transformation sequences SUK in crystal. NO CGI. That is all.

Lastly music. I have to admit I hate the music in the Japanese version of Sailor Moon and that I love the music in crystal. Take out the American dub music and place it into the original Japanese sub and I would be happy. Only thing I can say is that the English dub for the original series was bad and that NO ONE SHOULD HAVE CHANGED A THING. Also the opening sequence song is vile. I actually hated it as a kid. I love Moon Pride and I'm hoping they make that into an official English version with similar lyrics.

I ONLY JUST REALISED THAT ZOISITE IS A WOMAN IN THE ENGLISH DUB!!!! Yeah no matter what I'm completely against the English dub from changing same sex couples into different sex characters or the infamous cousin incest thing going on between Neptune and Uranus.

Friday faves: English Dub Anime (I know >.< )

Anyone have any Anime that they are happy to watch in Dub form? I first started watching the infamously bad, but one of my guilty pleasures, Sailor Moon English dub as I only thought it was an English cartoon as a kid. Then I joined tumblr and soon found out its Japanese, you would have thought the animation style would have given it away but I hadn't really watched any anime, apart from sailor moon, dragonball z, Chin Chan (OMFG CHIN CHAN) and the odd episodes of Digimon and Pokemon, before my early 20's.

Yes I was in my early 20's BEFORE I started getting into Anime and Manga. Please don't ask why I would just shrug. I guess I never really put much thought into it. I've always loved animation more over any live action show, I literally love Futurama, Simpsons and Family Guy to name a few (Not forgetting Disney and Cartoon Network animation films and their awesome cartoons in the 90's/early 00's), seriously if I went on to tell you how much I prefer animation this would end up being a 5,000 word essay.

Anyway, tumblr re-kindled my admiration for the whole Sailor Moon series. I soon managed to get my hands on the English dub series, only up until Sailor Moon S, anything after that was only in sub form to my dismay. Only recently I've found a whole dub series of Super s! You can imagine the horror I felt knowing I could have watched the dub. But that was a good thing I only just found that now because I wouldn't have been able to watch, maybe, 90% of the anime I watch today.

On my Anime Planet profile I've watched 50(?) different anime titles, most of which are in their original Japanese goodness. Most of the availble dubs I have watched tends to make me want to gouge my ears out because of the over the top kid sounding voice actors, I cant even watch Sailor Moon in the English dub anymore, BUT there are some exceptions for me.

Seto no Hanayome (Or what I know it for "My Bride is a Mermaid")
This was the second dub I actually sat down and watched fully thinking "This isn't so bad, why do people tell you NOT to watch dubs?". The voice acting is great and it doesn't stray away from the storyline at all, still keeping the adult humour too (added bonus).

Black Butler (Kurushitsuji)
THE ENGLISH ACCENTS ARE MY FAVOURITE. I only watched a few episodes before reverting to the sub version, I don't know why I did this! I think it might be because Greill wasn't calling Sebastian "Sebas-Chan". I did watch the specials and ova's in the english dub form and My favourite was the Ciel in Wonderland episodes. I've not giggled so much watching an anime.

Deathnote
I did honestly try watching it in the sub but I just couldn't. Plus at the time I was watching the whole thing with my then boyfriend who was against reading subtitles. Only person I wanted to kill was Misa. Her character is annoying anyway (sorry to her husbandu's).

Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish)
Again great dub. I loved the characters all being girl outcasts and weird. I secretly wanted Tsukimi and Kuranosuke to be an item.

And Finally: Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!
Cathrine (the blonde German one) was my favourite. Her accent came across better in the dub for sure. I didn't really like the storyline but the comedic value in this was excellent and SUPER ECCHIIIII~ (Probably giving of pervert vibes with all the ecchi I have watched >.< )

If I find more dubs that are worthy of watching I will post about them, but for now I will go back to watching subtitled Japanese gloriousness.

Friday faves/fails: Amazon Prime Day

Okay so I personally feel like it's my duty as a complete and utter bitch when it comes to shopping, to inform you peeps of how I felt the overly anticipated, and over hyped, "Amazon Prime Day".

This was a complete let down for me. I'm usually bumming the shit out of Amazon but Wednesday's event made me really annoyed. There was fuck all on there that I would have bought and the deals weren't even that good. Definitely not like Black Friday, even I thought Amazons Black Friday thing was a load of shit. Sorry but that's what I think. 

I also feel sorry for anyone who has used the 30 day free trial. I've used it and it's not even all that either. Just think of a more glorified version of standard Amazon but you get £79 ripped from your hands for "great deals" and "unlimited fast delivery" which by the way only works with anything in the trusty Amazon sweatshop- I mean warehouse. PLEASE GO AND CHANGE YOUR PRIME SETTINGS IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND DISAPPOINTED! You have to do this a few days before it needs to be renewed but to be safe I did mine as soon as the trial was activated. Amazon will not give you your money back and basically blame it on you for being an idiot.

All in all, I'm starting to hate both Amazon and eBay just as much as each other.

Monday madness: fake merchandise?

I recently got into buying these cute little charm gashapon, that has been selling in light of the new re-release and re-boot of sailor moon. It all started when my lovely twin sister bought me the transformation and weapon brooches set (set 1). Which made me thought "I have to collect them all!" So I did.

(Sailor moon die cast gashapon set 1, which I'm pretty sure is 100% real)

So I knew that there were fakes hovering around on eBay and (less likely) Amazon, but I didn't expect them to sell a particular item for near on the same price as the legit Japan versions. That is up until recently. 

Apparently on most of the legit merch, there should be markings of some sort and they should all have the same markings, which brings me to believe the first set I was given is real. Also the quality of these charms are very good, which is something else to watch out for. I honestly don't want to believe I've paid £19.50 for a fake set of gashapon, as these sets have questionable painting, very washed out looking, and don't have the weight or the marks. Then again the sets in question are really slim. So it brings me back to hoping that they are in fact real.

Okay so my pal told me to read the item description for "Engrish" (really bad spelling/grammar English) as that might be a fake seller. So I did this and, you know when your reading something and then in your head your like "it's good it's good" but then I read the terrible English shortly after thinking it was all good.

Again, I really don't want to admit to myself they are fake but all signs are pointing to the obvious. I mean, all of these charms have a plastic paper tag thing on them for crying out loud! This bitch needs to get a grip haha.

What have I learned? Never buy Japan merchandise from eBay and expect it to be real. To jlist I shall by me goods!

(Also I got annoyed that some stall at Hyper Japan were selling these petit chara sailor moon figures for £13 a pop, not thinking they might be real and, yet again comparing to eBay. I am a fool!)

Midweek madness: heat waves and online store faves closing down

Okay, I just read something that I found sad.

My favouite wig store Geisha Wigs is closing down. I honestly have to say, this shop closing down will mean for both myself and other wig lovers and cosplayers out there, we will have to do a lot of guess work on eBay and Amazon now. I love this store because not only was the products of a great quality, it was good value for money. You wouldn't open up a package and be met with a thin or unwearable wig that shows the wig cap peeping through. You wouldn't have to guess if your wig is heat resistant or not. You wouldn't have to worry about bad customer service or being met with broken English (most sellers online shop from countries such as China).

Not only that but the owner is genuinely a lovely person, I've not met her in person but she damn seems it and honestly it's a shame but there are reasons behind these decisions. So you go and do you girl.

R.i.p geisha wigs, you shall be missed I hope for the very best for you Maria.

In other news....

I am burnt like a motherfucker. I swear I litterally get to a certain tan colour and my skin is like "nope". The heatwave is taking its toll on my skin despite using factor 20. Already my news feed is filling up with grumbling Brits not dealing with the heat too well. And honestly I don't blame them but there are ways to deal with the heat. So go figure it out!

But what I can't understand was a few days ago people were like, "oooh we're gonna get thunderstorms this week!". I would like to know where the hell are these thunderstorms we were supposed to have?? It's gonna get muggy soon and that means more people I will have to unfollow (lol).