Caroline Burke | Burkatron

holy macaroni.

I had the best news ever this week! burkatron has made the shortlist for best craft blog in the cosmo blog awards eeeeek! I wanted to say a HUGE MASSIVE THANK YOU for voting for my little blog, I'm still pinching myself, I can't actually believe it!

I'm so incredibly happy and can't thank you enough, every comment, like and retweet means the world and I'd never dreamt of actually making it to the shortlist. blogging has been such a wonderful experience so far; I'm utterly obsessed with thinking up posts when I should be asleep and scribbling away ideas in my geeky little notebooks in the hope that someone will enjoy them.

you've all been so kind, funny and pretty damn awesome I couldn't begin to tell you all how much you've encouraged me and keep me smiling.

if you enjoy reading burkatron and have a few minutes to vote I'd be forever grateful!

I'm shortlisted for best craft blog and you can vote here!!! you can find the submit button after the last category to cast your vote! it doesn't take long I promise and you can vote for all the other wonderful blogs shortlisted too hurrah!

congratulations to everyone, there's so many blogs that I love reading involved it just underlines how crazy it is that I'm in there, oh gawd..

thank you again for all your support you lovely bunch (I'm doing a runner before I get all emotional on you!)

big love 

caroline xx

wow wee! exciting news gang, illamasqua's latest collection is about the hit the shelves!

I was lucky enough to go to the paranormal launch this week (I even got to chat with the awesome alex box the beauty and the brains behind the creative process eeeeek!) so today I can show you some of the new range before it lands april 30th.. HURRAH!

the launch was a true illamasqua event! tarot cards and smoke machines with a haunted house vibe (luckily there's nothing scary about the make up) it's actually pretty damn cool.

illamasqua are quite rightly a huge cult brand; always at the front of innovation (remember the speckled nails from their imperfection range?) and known for their fantastic pigments this collection is a little more punk meets 90's which would always be a winner for me.

cue a photo of my other half getting his nails 'illamasqued' sorry james I couldn't resist aha!

so here's a few of the new additions... 

first up there's a few new lipsticks. both mauve/violet the lighter shade is posture (swatched here) which is a soft mauve matt and my favourite! the other shade ESP is a bright violet/purple for braver folk!

next up the nails! yep always the one I'm looking out for as I love their formulas!

paranormal brings us UV polish; no ordinary nail varnish they're a rave in a bottle! unrestrained fun and the perfect accessory if you're been sporting the 90's trend this spring.

in the day they look like a regular glitter polish, get them anywhere near UV and POW they'll knock your socks off! there's several colours-shown here is the bright pink ouija shade but there's a green (omen) and violet (seance) to choose from. 

my favourite is actually the clear topcoat called geist, you can wear it over any nail colour and it glows bright blue under UV! it's really versatile... in fact so versatile my other half is currently wearing it aha!

next is the latest gleam shade!

this is a lovely golden cream highlighter. smooth and easy to apply; it'll be perfect for topping up a tan or for darker skinned gals. if you're very fair I'd avoid this and recommend the other gleam highlighter aurora.

last but not least the product I was MOST excited about the hydra veil..

whoooosk where to start!

this is such a cool little operator, hydra veil is their new innovation.. a rehydration gel. 

pah that sounds pretty boring but it's so not! its waaaay cooler folks I was lucky enough to speak to genius behind the product davis horne who gave me the low down. 

firstly it's a lightweight gel texture with anti oxidant marine algae and it feels awesome; a similar texture to jelly but it instantly melts on touch and absorbs quickly. it works to re hydrate the skin and smooth the surface before you reach for your primer or foundation. 

I'm not a big fan of primers, I feel that the extra layer in my routine makes my face feel heavy so I guess this is why this product really excites me; finally something on the market to give my face a boost pre foundation that isnt a sticky moisturiser or a heavy primer! 

 it's also self levelling (see the difference in the two pictures) it'll be doing this on your face too!  

the part I love most is that illamasqua took this concept to the same chemists who create their famous skin base foundation; in doing this they ensure that at its very core the formula will work hand in hand with skin base to give you the best results! 

as a skin base user I'm sold. yep cover me in the stuff! I can't wait to test it over the next week I'll let you know via instagram how I get on with it.

wowza that was quite a lot if make up for one post but I hope you've enjoyed seeing these newbies! there is more to the collection; the paranormal eyeshadow quad which andy warhol would be proud of! bright and water resistant to boot with the most crazy texture! I can only describe as a mix between a powder and cream with a spongy feel from the silicone particles. 

the other stand out item is the precision gel liner called infinity which is blacker than black, waterproof and applies like a liquid liner even though it's more of a gel texture.. lovely shizz!)

so what do you guys think, will you be getting your paranormal on at the end of the month? whats your favourite items??

back soon

caroline x