I would sell my soul for L$3k right now…

Because I’ve just discovered ‘Ice Queen’ at Curio and it’s made me so happy that I have wet myself. Seriously. ( Yes, I know it came out before Christmas but I’ve just discovered it now OK, and I’m blogging about it regardless because it is sodding amazing!

I’m a very set in my ways. Once I find a formula that works, it’s rare that I stray from that. For me, skins are crucial to my look in Second Life, and I’ve been a fervent supporter of (chiefly) LAQ and Curio for a long time. I love both of them, but my pocket-book is way more inclined towards the LAQ new releases because they are always so reasonably priced. LAQ provides a first rate product, with masses of sublime detailing and make-up options so why should I shop elsewhere? Well, truth be told, as much as I adore LAQ, my truest skin love is a different brand entirely.

I used to wear only ONE brand of skins and that brand was Curio. As much as I love my LAQ, let me tell you this: NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN GALA PHOENIX. (Cue Carly Simon)
In the recent past I coveted my collection of Curio skins and kept them close to my heart. They suited my shape perfectly and the detailing upon them was, is, and always will be so damn near perfect as to make butterflies sob into their morning cornflakes. (Note: I am not entirely sure that butterflies eat cornflakes, but if they did they would garnish them with tears of joy. Perhaps that’s where the frosting on Frosties comes from, butterfly tears? Ahem..) And then I lost my entire collection in ‘Kitty’s Great Inventory Calamity’ at the end of 2009.

I lost so much in that disaster that I’ve still never recovered from it in terms of the volume of items in my inventory to this day. It’s a shadow of it’s former self still.

As for my Curio collection? It couldn’t be retrieved, sob, and with each pack costing L$3000 no chance of a replacement loomed on the horizon. ( I reckon I must have lost..gulp..at least L$16k of skins) That’s pretty much how it’s remained too. Fortunately Gala takes her time when creating her perfection, which means in the intervening months, if you are able, you can put aside a few Lindens for when her new collections strike. I’d like to say that’s something I’ve been able to do, but alas I’m not Linden heavy so it’s been beyond my reach to do that, with all my dollars spent on tier and rent. But I tell you one thing, when I win the lotto I’m buying the bloody store out three times over…

(Click to enlarge-believe it or not the hair used in this is hiding in your library!)

So, ‘Ice Queen’. This is Acorn, my fave shade of Curio skins. You’ll have to forgive the demo lines on the skins that I’m wearing for reasons explained above, but this is a seriously sensational skin set. For a start, I LOVE the make-ups included in the pack. Gala always provides quality make-ups in each release, and ‘Ice Queen’ is certainly one of her best. The lips are just nommilicious- if you have a fuller-lipped avatar then get ready for some serious Scarlett Johannsen pouting action. Zoom in and you can see the highlighting in different tones is damn near perfect, and the lips look moist and lickable:) (Ice Queen in ‘Charcoal 1’ is a great example of this) The quality is all reflected in the detail and that’s where Gala excels. For example-look at the shading *in* the nostrils, the shaping and detail *on* the earlobes (best ears in SL!) They’re just splendid. Clavicles, the nape of the neck, shoulder blades, cleavage and breasts, abdomen and belly-button all feature fantastic use of shading and highlight, as well as a skin texture that is just this side of real enough. Moles dot the skin on the back and belly adding that hint of authenticity, and the ladyparts look just the ticket ( Note: Ladyparts just aren’t important to me in SL. I don’t engage in naughtiness in-world so I just don’t pay any attention to them, but I’m pretty sure that these are more than sufficient!) Dammit, even her knees are perfect! Seriously, accuracy in places like this is really important for an avatar. Let’s say you work as a table-dancer in-world, you want your skin to look top notch from any angle and if you have a punter using mouse-look and his eyes are at knee level (or above!) let’s say he’s not going to be disappointed:) I can only fault one area really, and even that isn’t really valid when you consider it’s regarding an area that no-one has really nailed (hah!) yet in Second Life, and that’s hands and feet. The nails on the hands don’t really work, BUT it’s a minor critique all things considered.

On the whole Gala’s skins just don’t disappoint, and I just cannot help but be biased in my opinion of them. They’re glorious. So fly you fools, over to Curio castle and lavish your Lindens on this utterly fabulous skin set and revel in the swoons of the avatars who fall at your feet as you glide past. Ok, I’m over-egging the pudding a smidgen there, but you get the drift. Seriously, if you have the dosh you would be wise to throw it Gala’s way; the lass has indeed earned it! In the pack you get your base skin in two shades, dark and light, featuring six double-version make-ups   AND different coloured brows to match your hair, so this is a veritable treasure box of skin happy that will last you an age. Absolute value for money and then some!

(Note- I am totally aware that there is newness from Gala at Skin Fair but I am not a masochist so I’m not going. I know that she has released ‘POUT’ and ‘YUM 2’ because I’ve read all about it on her smashing blog,  but i figure If I don’t see it then I won’t have to sob into my pillow at night will I?)

PS The ever amazing Sasy Scarborough features ‘Ice Queen’ in her reviews at http://www.sasypants.com/you-aint-seen-the-best-of-me-yet/3372/  Go and take a peek and see what the queen of SL Blogs had to say about it!