Tutorial: Color for Summer

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It's been a while since I've really done an intensely colourful makeup look, and with summer just around the corner, I thought now is a great time to bust out in a tropical, almost neon look.

BLAM!!!

I'm not sure where you could wear this. A summer cook-out? A BBQ party? Or just for the fun of it - why not? I might actually recreate this look for myself to wear out. Whenever I wear striking makeup, I get loads of compliments and people asking me if I got it done somewhere. So why not - dare yourself! You'll be surprised how much other people like it also.

Here's the tutorial:

Face & Cheek
L'Oreal Lumi foundation, MAC Beauty Powder in Play it Proper, Sleek MakeUp Blush By 3 in Lace,

Eyes
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk, MAC Chrome Yellow, MAC Vellum, Make Up Forever Nr. 92, Ben Nye Grande Lumiere eyeshadow palette (Azalea, Cosmic Violet, Chartreuse, Cosmic Blue), Lit Cosmetics eye glitters (Peacock, Material Girl, Purple Rain, Farrah), Lit Cosmetics glitter base, Catrice black gel eyeliner, L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes mascara, Amazine Shine Lashes Nr. 47, KIKO eye pencil Nr. 411 (also applied on waterline)

Lips
Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Absorb, Revlon Lipgloss in Peach Petal

Nailpolish
Models Own - Pink Punch

Watch on Youtube here

I hope you like this look and try it out! If you do, please post some pictures on my Facebook - I would love to see!

xo,
Julia

Tutorial: Cat Eyes / Katzenaugen

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I love wearing my eyeshadow like this. It looks so sultry, mysterious, and certainly feline! The cat eye elongates your eyes, and creates a beautiful almond shape, even if your eyes are naturally round. Here's my step by step tutorial how to recreate this look!

Face
Revlon Colorstay foundation mixed with L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer, MAC Fleur Powder blush

Eyes
Laura Geller Smoke Signals Kit from QVC.de (includes a baked eyeshadow duo, black eyeliner and mascara), Ben Nye Cork e/s, Catrice black gel eyeliner, Maybelline white kohl pencil, Ben Nye concealer wheel, Amazing Shine lashes Nr. 47 (from beauty supply store)

Lips
Catrice lipliner in Lost in the Rose Wood, Revlon Colorburst lipgloss in Nr. 24 Gold Dust

Nailpolish
Leighton Denny - Babydoll (available from QVC.de)

Watch the video on Youtube here

Fashion: Spring Dressy Casual Outfit

A few nights ago I got together with a few girlfriends, and this is what I wore. I wanted to go for a very chic casual look, without looking too done up - function and comfort coupled with style. I had a really great time, spending time with the girls is so important!

I show everything in detail in my Outfit of the Day video!

Here's a breakdown of this look.

Top: H&M
Jeans: American Eagle
Purse: River Island
Sunglasses: Asos.com
Watch: Asos.com
Shoes: Graceland
Nailpolish: Orly "Pixy Stix"
Earrings: Tallulah Tu
Ring: Asos.com

Makeup: Mostly Urban Decay Naked Palette on my eyes, L'Oreal Caresse Lipstick in Innocent Pink

What are your favorite spring trends? I'm loving the loose blouse trend!

Tutorial: Jessica Alba @ Met Gala

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I loved these pictures of Jessica Alba at this year's Met Gala. There were so many celebs rocking a dark burgundy lip on the Red Carpet, and Jessica pulled this look off so well.

I decided to recreate the look! Here's what I came up with...

Here's the tutorial how to recreate this look step by step!

Products used:

Face & Cheeks
Lancome Teint Idole foundation mixed with L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer, Make Up Store Cover All Mix concealer, Barry M Natural Dazzle bronzer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Global Glow

Eyes
Maybelline Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze, Urban Decay Naked Palette (Version 1), L'Oreal Infallible shadow in Hourglass Beige, Lancome Artliner in Black, L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara, Sleek MakeUp Eau La La Liner in Bullion, eyelashes Nr. 47 (bought at a beauty supply store)

Lips
MAC Cremestick Liner in Red Enriched, Sleek MakeUP Cranberry lipstick, MAC Viva Glam I

Nailpolish
Anny - Midtown Skyline

Watch the video directly on Youtube here

Review: Sleek Ultra Matte Dark palette

Sleek MakeUP has released two new eyehadow palettes, this time they contain 12 matte finish shadows. They are mineral based, but very pigmented. There are two new i-Divine palettes out, the V1 Brights, and the V2 Darks, the latter of which I have to show you today. These palettes launch today, May 9th, and are available at Superdrug in the UK, or online through their website.

Cost: 9 Euros

As you can maybe tell from the swatches, the darker colors show up very vibrantly, but the lighter ones are kind of chalky. I've noticed this before with the Sleek eyeshadow palettes. Luckily the other colors are nice and vibrant and more than make up for this. These are definitely a bargain for the price and quality. My favorite color is the teal color in the top row, far left.


In other news, I was washing my laundry today when I spotted the postman out my window. I saw he had a stack of parcels in hand, so I pretty much jumped the poor man to get my eager hands on my camera order.

EEEEEEEEEP!!! I am so excited! I can't wait to try this all out and film my next makeup tutorial with it. I might have some issues with it at the beginning, but I always jump in at the deep end when it comes to technical gadgetry. I've used an SLR before with my Canon 20D so am not a beginner anymore, but it might be tricky when filming. The pictures of the Sleek palette were shot with this camera and 2 different Canon lenses.

What do you think of the palette? Will you be picking one up?

Review: Anny Summer Collection

Spring is in full swing - summer is just around the corner, and that always puts me in the mood for some fun and bright nail polish colors! Anny has released a brand new collection: Famous Run in Central Park - Spring Time in NY. Just rolls off your tongue, doesn't it? This is actually their summer collection, a bit confusing with Spring time in the collection name. Anyway, names aside, this is a really beautiful collection, with a modern spin on some seasonal classics.

Left to Right: Sunday in Park, Outdoor Style, Ready to Go, Jogging Date, Midtown Skyline, Midnight Run

Sunday Run: A perfect lemon yellow, shimmer finish
Outdoor Style: Mid-toned warm "Barbie" pink, cream finish
Ready to Go: Tomato red-orange with a slight fuchsia shimmer, shimmer finish
Jogging Date: Crimson red with warm bronze shimmer, shimmer finish
Midtown Skyline: Mid-tone dusty blue, cream finish
Midnight Run: Mix of olive, silver and gold, frost finish

Sunday Run went on perfectly smooth and opaque in two coats, an utter rarity for yellow polishes, which often go on unevenly and streak. All but Ready to Go and Midnight Run are 2 coaters, the latter who needed a third coat to reach full opacity.

I absolutely love Anny nailpolishes. The brush is flat and wide, although not as wide as the OPI applicatiors, and the polish lasts a decent amount of time before chipping. They are available for purchase at Douglas in Germany, and now also at Marionnaud in Switzerland. Sorry, no online store yet!

Currently Anny is also running a contest where you could win the entire Anny nail polish collection. You can find an entry code at the Anny display stand at your local Douglas store, then head to their website at www.mein-anny-aufsteller.de/gewinnspiel and enter your code for your chance to win.

You can find out more about Anny nail polishes on their website here.

Which one is your favorite color? What would you wear it with? Share in the comments!

Recipe: Leafy Greens with Tofu

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I eat meat, but sometimes it's nice to eat a completely vegatarian (evan began-friendly) meal; most of us consume way too many animal products anyway, such as eggs, dairy, poultry, fish, or meat. If you're watching what you eat, the best thing you can do is increase your intake of plants! This is a great weight loss recipe as it's low in fat, carbs and cholesterol, but it's also great for those just trying to eat healthier.

In this recipe I use mangold, but you can also use bok choi, chard, or anything you like that's green! For a meat option, substitute the tofu in this recipe with chicken, pork or beef stir fry meat. If you've never tried tofu, give it a shot! It has the texture of a spongy cheese, and tastes sort of meat-like when prepared this way.

Here's the step-by-step on how to do it!

I'm really not big on exact measurements, but here is roughly what you will need:

Leafy greens (Swiss chard, spinach, bok choy) about 500-700g

Ginger

A box of mushrooms

Plain tofu (about 500g)

2 cloves of garlic

Several handfuls of cherry tomatoes

Juice of half a lemon/lime

Soy Sauce

Let me know if you try it out and what you think of it! You can serve it with brown or wild rice mix, if you're watching your carbs, there's plenty of protein in this to skip it.

Review: Sleek Blushes + Highlighter

As some of you might have noticed, I completely redesigned and overhauled my blog to give it a new look and feel. If you're reading this through a feed reader, go check out my website and let me know what you think! I wanted a more streamlined and clean look, and I think this reduces a lot of excessive scrolling and clutter. Do you like it? Please leave me a comment!

I've got some new goodies from Sleek MakeUP to show you today - joy!

First up is this gorgeous Blush By 3 in "Lace", which features 3 blushes. Cost: 13 Euros

L to R: Crochet, Guipure, Chantilly

Crochet: A warm clementine-orange shade, matte finish

Guipure: Warm coral-pink shade, shimmer finish

Chantilly: A guava reddish-pink shade, matte finish

These blushes are GORGEOUS! I love them. I've you've never tried any blushes by Sleek, I definitely recommend you check them out. They are very pigmented so would work well on darker skintones, if you have fair skin, using a light hand or a stippling / skunk brush really helps. Unless clown-face is your thing...just sayin'! I love these colours, especially for summer. This product comes in four additional color combinations.

Next up is the Glo Face & Body Highlighter in "Peach Shimmer". Cost: 10 Euros

This shimmering powder can be used for various things: a blush all over the cheeks, a highlighter, or even eyeshadows if you use a small brush. When blended together on your cheeks, this gives a golden apricot shimmer. The difference to the blushes is that the pigmentation is more buildable, so the color application is more subtle on the first stroke. This product also comes in two other color combinations.

I'm overall very pleased with the quality of these products, as they are in the affordable drugstore price range. Sleek MakeUP can be purchased at Superdrug in the UK, or online directly from their website, where they ship worldwide: http://www.sleekmakeup.com/

In other news, after months of deliberation, I ordered a new camera! The Canon 600D / Rebel T3i

I used to be really into photography as a hobby, as some of you might know from my Flickr page here, where you can see a lot of my old pictures. Back then I used my Canon 20D, which - at the time - was one of Canon's top of the line DSLRs. It's very outdated by now. Once I started Youtube, I had less and less time for photography, and I switched over to eventually using a camcorder, as I really needed an articulated screen (flip screen.) 

Back then, there were no Canon DSLRs on the market with such a feature, and it's absolutely essential if you want to film yourself putting on makeup. Also, my Canon 20D doesn't shoot video. Now a few cameras have been released by Canon with a flip screen, the 600D being one of them. Obviously when filming with a DSLR camera, you have to do a lot more manual work with focusing than with a camcorder which literally does it all for you, but the picture quality shot through a good lens is just unbeatable. Don't get me wrong, I love my camcorder, but I really don't like the pictures it takes of my makeup.

I also bought the compatible Canon RC 6 remote control, which is handy for taking self-portraits from a distance, and for starting and stopping, plus focusing video.

I'm holding off on lenses right now (I only purchased the camera body) as I own a few Canon lenses already, but I might buy a new one as needed. I can't wait for it to arrive now, and to see how the picture quality improves in my current set-up!

Here's a link to the gear on Amazon:

Canon EOS 600D camera with Kit lens http://amzn.to/JKzgMk
Canon EOS 600D (body only) http://amzn.to/Ka0HPj
Canon RC 6 Wireless Remote http://amzn.to/IOGePy


'll let you know when it arrives, and I might even do a separate video or post about camera tips, etc. Have a wonderful Saturday!

Tutorial: Katy Perry Smokey Eyes

I really loved this picture of Katy Perry's makeup at a red carpet event, so I thought I would give it my best shot. Here's what I came up with, complete with blue tresses - ah, the wonders of Photoshop! I've actually had hair this color blue when I was a rebellious teenager, I kid you not.

I think this look is actually really wearable for a night out. It's dramatic without being too much. I love the blend of the black with the dark, warm brown tones. I think this would suit so many skintones and eye colors. Give it a whirl! Check out my video tutorial for the step-by-step instructions.

Face
Lancome Teint Idole foundation, L'Oreal Magic Lumi Primer, MAC Fleur Power blush, Sleek MakeUp Face & Body Highlighter in Peach Shimmer

Eyes
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, MAC Soft Brown, MAC Mulch, Ben Nye Dark Brown, Ben Nye Toast, MAC Feline kohl pencil, Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara, Elite Lashes Nr. 18,

Lips
Rimmel Airy Fairy Lipstick

Nails
Leighton Denny - Just Perfect

Watch the video directly on Youtube - click here

If you'd like to see some more celebrity looks, please leave suggestions in the comments! I need some ideas :)

Netzwoche & St.Galler Tagblatt

As you might have seen from my previous post, I was recently invited to hold a Keynote speech at a business networking event in Switzerland.

At the event I was interviewed by 2 journalists, and I wanted to share them with you.

First up a more in-depth interview with the St. Galler Tagblatt newspaper, which you can click to see full size if you want to read it. It is in German, but I will try to translate a few excepts for you this week (too tired right now, it's midnight here and I've worked all day!)

Next I was also published in Netzwoche, which is a magazine focused on IT news, Internet, new Tech releases, etc.

This extensive article reporting on the event and on my Keynote speech can be read online on their website here: Click! 

Again, I will try to translate some excerpts into English for you this week. Thank you to Raya Badraun and Miriam Kalunder for the articles!

See more Press clippings about me here - click

My Keynote at 5 Connect

I was recently invited to hold the Keynote speech at the 5 Connect Event hosted by the Wirtschaftsfrauen Ostschweiz in St. Gallen. It is a business networking association for and by successful women from all sectors - marketing, public relations, business, journalism, law, etc. The theme of the event was "Social Media", and I was invited to share the story of my Youtube successes and blunders to an audience of about 40 members. The event took place in the historic building of the Vadian Bank, and my speech with question and answer period was about 50 minutes long.

I created an extensive Keynote slideshow on my MacBook, during which I detailed what I do on Youtube, Facebook, Blogger and Twitter, the story of my Youtube channel, how it developed and grew over time, and tips for businesses interested in broadening their online reach, what to do and what to avoid, etc.

Be prepared to see some of the most unflattering mid-speech and blinding-full-on-flash photos! Dear god. You have been forewarned.

With Iris Müller - a long-time Subscriber of my channel, business woman, and event organizer

Setting up my Keynote presentation

Hi I'm Julia, and I'm going to talk to you about social media...I iz an Exphert!! :p

Q&A time - more like Deer caught in headlights!!! O.o

Pimp my Presentation - with Apple Keynote!

Looks like I made a new friend! Hello :)

Audience members networking and getting their groove on

OMG I can haz present??? Wheeeee!!! Thanks you, Iris!

Not done yet! Giving an interview to a journalist from the press

OK that was strenuous, I'd better hit the buffet! And no, I didn't hit the dessert buffet 3 times. Nope. Not me! I would never do such a thing...

The presentation was a thorough success, and I am so honored that I had the opportunity to share my experience and tips with fellow successful women. Thank you to the Wirtschaftsfrauen Ostschweiz, and especially Iris Müller for all your support. I had some wonderful conversations, met interesting people, and got great feedback on my Keynote.

Find out more about the Business Women Switzerland network by visiting their homepage here

Berner Zeitung - Swiss newspaper

Back in February I was featured in the Berner Zeitung, the main newspaper for the canton Berne, in which I live. Here is a screenshot of the article, which can also be read online HERE: click!

Well, I don't think I can translate the whole text for you, but maybe some excerpts:

Julia originally studied Political Science in university, and also spent some time as an exchange student at the University of Berne. After graduating, she worked full time for a while, but as her Youtube videos became more successful, she began to focus more of her energy around it. (I currently work part time around my video time)

Some people might think that Julia is a shallow person, due to the nature of her videos. But this estimation is incorrect: "I only became interested in makeup when I was already in university." ... It is hard to have a clear focus in such a fast-changing environment. "Passing 100 Million views will be a big milestone for me, maybe I should have a party," says the young woman.

Thank you Claudia Salzmann for the interview!

Click here to read all previous press clippings.

German TV: Deutsche Welle interview

Back in March I was interviewed for the German TV station Deutsche Welle. Their programming is seen worldwide in many countries, catering mainly to German expats abroad, and is often available on Cable TV. My father even watches it sometimes in Canada!

The interview team flew in from Berlin and came to my humble abode to film and interview me for their piece on Youtube and the success of some Youtube Partners.

Some screenshots from the segment:

I love how they call me an "Internet Millionaire" - hah, I wish! I have no idea where they got that idea from because as a Youtube Partner, I'm never allowed to talk about my Adsense earnings. Take these news reports with a grain of salt, often they are sensationalized somewhat to make them more "wow" worthy for viewers.

The segment aired on TV in March, and is available to view online on their website HERE: Click! It is in German, but it's fun to watch all the same even if you don't speak German.

They did get a few things wrong: I produce on average 2.2 videos per week (not 1) and I do still have another source of income. Oh well...

Thank you to Axel Primavesi for the interview!

Click here to see all my Press clippings