The "Naked" Truth

Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup is one of the best makeup products and by far the best foundation I have ever tried. It has a luminous, demi-matte finish, with buildable coverage. This is ideal because it allows your natural skin to shine through without completely mattifying it, and also enables you to build up your desired coverage (whether it be full or lightweight). It is free of oils, parabens and fragrances, which is also an asset. Since oils can clog pores, oil-free foundation is a must for me. Having a foundation that is fragrance and paraben (a.k.a preservative) free is also something I look for, with my sensitive skin. This product is a gem because it feels virtually weightless and gives you “natural radiance”. Another advantage is that it is packed with nourishing ingredients, such as Matrixyl 3000 (which helps to maintain a youthful appearance), litchiderm (for a more radiant complexion), green tea, and vitamin E (anti-oxidants to help promote smoother skin), and sodium hyaluronate (holds water for better hydration). (Source: https://www.urbandecay.com/nakedskin) Like their advertisements claim, this foundation has, “light-diffusing spheres for an ultra-definition finish”. It also has a wide shade range, with 18 shades in total varying from pink to yellow skin undertones. This makes finding your “perfect” shade much easier.

So this product sounds amazing right? It is, but like every product, it has its cons. The first being the price. It is $45 which is definitely a more high-end product. A lot of people would not be willing to splurge on this, when they can get Cover Girl foundation for $10. However, because this product is absolutely superb, the price does not sway my decision to purchase it and I will continue to repurchase this product. Another con is the large packaging. Although the package is visually appealing, very sleek and conveniently has a pump for ease of use, it comes in a very large bottle which makes it less convenient for travelling or toting around. Thirdly, this foundation applies horribly with a brush. Ironically, I really did not like this foundation when I first bought it. I applied it with a flattop kabuki brush and the foundation appeared streaky and flaky on my skin, which is not an appealing look. When I applied this makeup with a beauty-blender sponge however, it completely changed the look of the foundation to the point where it seemed like an entirely different product. I was amazed by how natural and flawless it appeared after using it with a wet makeup sponge. In my opinion, this is the best way to apply this product because of its extreme liquidy texture. The makeup has a very runny consistency, much like paint, and when applied with a brush it can look like a streaky mess. Using your fingers or a beauty-blender will definitely give you the best finish.

I have been a part-time cosmetician for over a year now, which has allowed me to try numerous different products. Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup is without a doubt my favorite foundation and I was overjoyed when I finally found one that works with my more dry and rosacea-proned skin. This product is so lightweight, yet conceals my imperfections and redness almost flawlessly. It never looks cakey and almost never needs to be re-touched throughout the day. It appears great in photos and is also very long lasting. I have very few critical things to say about this product. It works with my dry skin and would also work for any skin type or anyone who loves that look of being “lit from within”. This product standing alone is amazing, but is even that much better when applied with a primer underneath, and set with Urban Decay’s makeup setting spray and then a setting powder over top (that gives me the best look). I highly recommend this product to anyone and everyone, and for those wondering whether or not to splurge on such an expensive foundation, I say it is 100% worth it. I give this foundation a 9 out of 10, because like me, it is almost perfect. 

 http://ba.fimgs.net/system/pics/12745/large/urban-decay-naked-skin.jpg?1344600210

My humanitarian mission - more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

Monkey Love

 Before I discuss this picture, I would just like to clarify that these monkeys are totally hugging and that is all. This is my favorite picture I have ever taken. I in no way claim to be a great photographer but feel this image could belong in National Geographic or some other type of nature magazine. I shot this photo last January in Dominican Republic while on a Hero Holiday. (For those who are unaware of what Hero Holidays are, they are humanitarian missions to help build homes for families living in extreme poverty.) It was the first day of 2014, and while on my Hero Holiday our group of volunteers went on an excursion to the “Monkey Jungle Adventure”. Being an animal lover, I was certainly in paradise and did not want to leave. The monkeys jumped all over us and we had a chance to feed and hold them. It was by far one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. I was so proud of this picture, that I set it as the background on all of my devices… No shame.

Peace from Dominican

This second photo is also from my Hero Holiday. I was amazed at how well the children were able to communicate with us considering the obvious language barrier, but also our cultural differences. All of the children in the community of Arroyo Seco, where we were helping construct houses, looked at us as though we were real heroes, and constantly wanted to get pictures with us. I feel bad for not learning this little guy’s name, but he was so cute. Even while living in a completely different environment, speaking a foreign language, and growing up in a different culture, this picture goes to show that the symbol of peace is the same all over the world. This picture means a lot to me because it signifies just that. My experience in Dominican, especially with the children, was the most incredible experience of my life. So much so, that I am embarking on another Hero Holiday this Christmas to Mexico! I can only hope I will have the opportunity to meet more cool kids like this one. He was my homie.

"It's too cold outside for angels to fly"

Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team” is without a doubt one of my favorite songs. Even though the subject matter is controversial and quite bluntly about the class “A” drug cocaine and a struggling prostitute, Sheeran manages to create a superb melodic piece and uses euphemisms to express his song so delicately. With just his acoustic guitar and soft voice, he is able to tell a very sad story in a unique and beautifully crafted way.

His lyrics are as listed:

White lips, pale face
Breathing in snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste

Light's gone, day's end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men

And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
And sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly

Ripped gloves, rain coat
Tried to swim and stay afloat
Dry house, wet clothes

Loose change, bank notes
Weary-eyed, dry throat
Call girl, no phone

And they say
She's in the class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately,
her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
And sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly

An angel will die
Covered in white
Closed eyed
And hoping for a better life
This time, we'll fade out tonight
Straight down the line

And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries

They scream
The worst things in life come to free us
And we're all under the upper hand
Go mad for a couple grams
And we don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe we fly to the Motherland
And sell love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
To fly, fly
For angels to fly, to fly, to fly
Or angels to die

Like poetry, songs have some sort of form to represent a message to the audience. In Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team”, he uses rhyme, rhythm as well as stanza organization to tell his story. We see most of his rhyme scheme in the chorus, as the last word of each phrase has a similar sound, i.e., “A Team”, “daydream, “eighteen”, “face seems”, etc. This not only stresses importance but is also pleasurable for listeners. The rhythm throughout the chorus is also noticeable as we see a stress on the last two syllables of each line. This pattern is prevalent throughout most of the song as many of his verses are broken up into two syllable words with a pause in between or staccato pattern. This also relates to the way he organizes each stanza. His verses are broken up into three lines each with the first and last line containing two syllable beats. His chorus is broken up into a similar pattern with a clear accent on the last two syllables of each line indicating he wants us to pay more attention here. The form of his song, with choppy beats and stressed syllables, help to ensure the meaning of the song but also create a rhythmic and harmonious piece, that is exquisite both poetically and musically.

Throughout this song we also see many stylistic elements. Although it is hard to tell who the speaker is, you can hypothesize it is not the subject of the song but rather a third person outsider, who knows or can relate to the prostitute being referred to. Sheeran uses a subtle tone in his song to convey a controversial, yet relatable story. His use of euphemisms throughout his song avoids much bluntness, especially in the lines: “And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland/And sells love to another man”. Here we can detect Sheeran is referring to a prostitute getting high from a crack pipe, however his subtle tone masks his literal meaning. Because of his clever subtleties, we can also relate to his song in lines such as, “we’re all under the upper hand” and “we’ll fade out tonight”. Sheeran also uses poetic language such as imagery, similes and symbolism to tell his story. His first stanza, “White lips, pale face” immediately create a visual. He uses more powerful imagery in the second verse stating, “weary-eyed, dry throat”. The images Sheeran creates help us to visualize this striking person who we soon understand is struggling to make ends meet, and resorting to drugs and selling sex for money. “Crumbling like pastries” is a strong simile the speaker uses to describe a girl who’s face is coming apart, possibly even literally. Sheeran’s use of symbolism is also prevalent throughout his song, as we see his multiple references to angels. These angels could be symbolic of cocaine for example, being stark white; Or how a good person, like we imagine an angel to be, turned into a helpless being while turning down the wrong road in life.

This song, as I mentioned, is a heavy topic that many people do not even realize because of the way Sheeran is able to craft his message - softly with many subtleties. The content although controversial, says to me that life is hard, and terrible things do happen. Drug addiction, prostitution, and surviving with almost no income are very unfortunate things that happen to everyday people. Sometimes it really is too cold outside for angels to fly. This song is sad, but it appeals to me because of its honest and heart breaking story. Sheeran wasn't trying to write a song about getting “all up in the club” like many others, but rather tell the story of a girl who made a lot of wrong choices and ended up living a hard life because of that. Aside from its vulnerable nature that appeals to me, the song is beautiful musically as well, with its more stripped down acoustic feel. If other groups or artists covered this same song I feel the message would be similar because it is so sad and honest that it would be hard to express it any other way. Ed Sheeran definitely managed to tell a disheartening story in a beautiful way.

Check out his music video:

Sheeran, Ed. “The A Team”. +. CD. Asylum/Atlantic. 2011. 

http://www.metrolyrics.com/a-team-lyrics-ed-sheeran.html

Introduction

Hello to everyone and anyone who may be reading this.

I guess I'll start by saying my name is Chantal and I am a first year MUN student. I don't believe I am "hip" enough to have a blog but let's give this a shot anyway. As I said, I am a first year student, and am pursuing an Arts degree. I am very ambitious and love music. But that just about sums up most who are pursuing Arts degrees... So let me go a little bit more in depth about me. I am hoping to obtain a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Linguistics, minoring in Psychology and then hopefully a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology. I have been told this is a competitive field, but isn't every field?

I also love music. Whether it's listening, playing or performing. I have taken voice lessons for the last six years and I also play the guitar, piano and ukulele. I have performed in six musicals as well, participating in another one this November at the St. John's Arts & Culture Centre. I have a passion for musical theatre and am in awe of those who pursue it as a career while so many believe it to be a pipe dream. I hope to continue participating in musicals and theatre projects my entire life as it is a true love of mine.

Besides music, I also enjoy getting involved in my school community. I was student council Co-President in high school and as per usual, got involved in more than I could handle. I have always been a busy teenager and each year I tell myself not to get involved in too much, but I don't think that is possible for me. I am itching to join a club or society at MUN and the opportunities to get involved here seem endless. I can't wait. But before volunteering and joining clubs, I still think school comes first. I worked extremely hard all through high school and that is the plan for university as well. I always strive to do my best in everything in life. I don't think I can be any other way. University is a big step from high school but I am ready for the change. Being the hard-working, organized, and determined person that I am, I think I will handle the adjustment well.

Yesterday was the first day of classes and I would say from my flushed cheeks, sweat-pouring forehead, and overflowing bookbag, I screamed first-year student. I think most people are concerned about the workload that awaits us, but I however, am more concerned about finding my way. My sense of direction has never been good. I managed to lose my way from the science building to the arts building yesterday, which is pretty embarrassing. Even though I have an older brother and many older friends who also attend MUN that are more than willing to help me, finding my way around  has always stressed me out. But each day will get a bit easier and fingers crossed, I will be a campus pro in no time! (But don't quote me on that).

I feel that was a bit of rambling about my mediocre life but maybe I'll add in some random things about me so this will seem more like a blog than a personal essay. I am a big coffee drinker. I have an unhealthy obsession with trail mix. I love blazers and have a collection of them (17 total). I was that annoying person who did the announcements all three years of high school. I have a French name but can't speak French for my life. I am a part-time cosmetician at Shoppers Drug Mart. I will be going to Mexico this Christmas on my second Hero Holiday to build houses for poverty stricken families. So I think I did an okay job on describing who I am. And if you read all of this I will be shocked but also grateful that you took the time out of your busy day.

Either way, thanks and take care.


Chantal L