Swatch: Sinful Colors Lush Life

Oh. My. I. Love. This. Polish. I was at Walgreens last week looking for Green Ocean (which they didn't have *sniff*) when I found this amazing teal glitter polish. Love it!!!!

Here is one layer over black creme. This polish begs for layering to make sold glitter. Soon! Must do soon! I also think I need to do this glitter over grey. And make nail polish jewelry. Yup. Many plans for this polish!

Quick Review: L'Oreal EverCreme Sulfate-Free Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner

This was a perfect sample to open after dying my hair!

 

Initial Thoughts: This is a great shampoo for the dry hair I got the last time I dyed my hair.  The conditioner is super thick, which I loved.  It really helped bring my hair back to normal after the last dye I did.  Not sure if this is something I would need normally, as it was a bit heavy for my fine hair.  But with how dry my hair was, this was great for a few days to get my hair back to normal. 

Manicure Monday

Today I did some subtle dots. I started with a base of wet n wild megalast in Disturbia. I then did dots in wet n wild megalast in Venomous Vixen. This look was hard to photograph. It is very subtle. You don't really notice the dots, but see more of a shift in color.

Review: John Frieda Precision Foam Color in Luminous Blue Black

So like what happens every few months, I get bored with my hair. It just happened that this time I got a coupon for a free box of John Frieda Precision Foam Color so tada! Excuse to do my hair other than just boredom.  This is the first time I have had black hair...ever. This has always amused me since I am  half Asian and have always wanted black hair. And now I have it! (at least until I get bored again)

Before! This was what the Deep Cherry Brown color looks like after a few months.  The red is pretty much all gone, but it leaves this lovely deep brown behind.  It is almost my natural color, just a few shades lighter.  But I was bored so dye time it was!

The box

The contents of said box

Don't I look lovely like this =P I was smart this time and put some Aquaphor along my hair line to prevent the dye from staining my skin.

After about 10 minutes you can tell the foam is getting darker and made me very glad I used Aquaphor on my skin!

The final result!

 

Initial Thoughts: This dye smelled and behaved the same way as other Precision Foam colors I have used in the past.  The color is more black than blue black.  I cannot pick up the blue it should have.  It is a very nice natural black color.

Overall Thoughts: This is the first time a dye has dried out my hair.  This is also the first time I have ever gone darker than my natural color, so not sure if the dye formula is different than when I go lighter.  Usually dye makes my hair super soft (this brand included) but this time it make my hair very dry.  It took about a week of thick conditioners and putting plenty of hair oil onto my hair to make it get back to normal.  Because of this, this may be the first and last time I go this dark with this brand.  

 

Quick Review: Aveeno Nourish+Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner

Ah Aveeno, usually we get along so well....Lets look at their Nourish+Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner.

 

Initial Thoughts: I was expecting to get along so well with this one.  First try and I thought it was a good shampoo, it made my hair clean.  I loved the conditioner since it is nice and thick. After I dried my hair it was super soft.  I was happy that once again Aveeno and my hair got along great! 

The next day and with the next two uses I noticed that my scalp started itching a lot.  My scalp is very temperamental and dries out and itches a lot.  I was sad since this is the first time an Aveeno shampoo has done this to me. Overall it is a great combo, especially if you like thick conditioners, but this one just didn't agree with me.

Quick Review: L'Oreal Youth Code Day/Night Cream

I'm always a bit iffy on moisturizers that say "day cream" as that usually means "oil slick" on my oily skin. Let's see how this one worked out.

 

Initial Thoughts: I tried this first at night. The lotion was rather thick and I was worried it would be super heavy on my skin.  It absorbs very quickly, I can feel it on my skin after, but it is not bad for a thick cream at night. The next morning my skin felt super soft.  I then tried it under makeup during the day, totally did not work with my oily skin.  It made my skin feel heavy and increased how much oil I had.  Overall this is an awesome night cream for my oily skin, but way too heavy for day use with my super oily skin.

Manicure Monday

Today I tried out a new technique. It's a variation of a tape mani, but instead of tape I used those adhesive hole reinforcers you find in the office supply store.

I did a coat of wet n wild shine in Metallica. I waited about an hour to make sure it was totally dry then used the hole reinforcer to make a half moon at the base of my nail. I then did a thick coat of wet n wild fastdry in Ebony Hates Chris.

Overall I like this! It didn't come out half bad for a first attempt and will be adding this to my list of go to manis.

Quick Review: Biore Make-Up Removing Towelettes

Here is another face wipe. Only had one sample so I only got to use it once, which is good since this one won't be a repeat for me.

 

Initial Thoughts: The wipe is a good size with a nice texture to help scrub off makup.  It did a good job removing my makeup including mascara. It made my face tingle after I used it, which didn't bother me at first.  But then it kept tingling and almost got to the point of burning.  This went on for about 5 minutes after using this towelette.  The next morning my skin felt tight and dry. I have never used a Biore cleanser before, so maybe it is my face not cooperating with their formula.  I'm a bit creeped out by the burning tingle this gives me so I won't be trying this one again. 

Swatch: Revlon Popular

Oh milky glitter goodness. I cannot get enough of this polish. This is a lovely pale pink milky jelly with silver hex and fine glitter. Oh love love love!

Quick Review: Bodycology Nourishing Body Cream in Wild Poppy

Another sample! I'm really loving all the samples I'm going through. I'm finding things I'm glad I didn't purchase, and others I never would have even thought to try.  This lotion is one of them! I usually steer clear of floral scents as they can be a bit old lady on me, but this one was a pleasant surprise.

 

Initial Thoughts: I was a bit wary of the scent before I opened this up, but its really nice! It is a nice floral scent that is not very strong and smells floral yet fresh. This doesn't smell old lady at all to me.  It is a nice lotion, absorbs well and leaves skin moisturized all day.  I was surprised at how quickly this was absorbed by my skin as shea butter seems to take a while to soak up.  The scent lingers for a bit and is very subtle, which I like since I usually wear perfume. This was a great way for me to try a brand I have never looked at and try a scent I would have passed up. 

Manicure Monday

Dots! We all know how much I love my dotting tools. I did a base in Sinful Colors in Leap Flog. This is still one of my favorite colors ever. I love how it looks with silver so I added to rows of different sized dots in wet n wild wild shine in Metallica.

Review: Clear Ultra Shea Shampoo and Conditioner

Today I bring you Clear Ultra Shea Shampoo and Conditioner.  Of all the new shampoos out there, Clear is the one I have most looked forward too as I have a dry flaky scalp.  I was so glad this was such a large sample as I was able to use it for over a week.

Initial Thoughts: The shampoo worked well for my fine oily hair and the conditioner was nice and thick like I like it.  After the first use my hair felt clean and soft. 

Overall Thoughts: After a week I am happy to say my scalp hasn't itched or flaked at all! My hair is soft and the roots are not oily.  As a shampoo and conditioner it is pretty basic, but what sells me is how my scalp feels.  There are only a handful of shampoos I can use for a whole week without my scalp acting up.  I want to try out more of the Clear line to see if a different formula works better for my hair.  

Quick Review: Gud Natural Body Lotion in Orange Petalooza

Excited to try this lotion, especially with a blood orange scent, as we all know I'm a sucker for citrus! 

 

Initial Thoughts: Smells so good! At first the scent was a nice sweet citrus, and as it dried it lost some of the sweetness and lingers as a faint citrus scent. The lotion is nice and thick, but takes a bit of rubbing to work it into the skin. Once on a skin takes a few minutes to completely dry.  Once dry it is not sticky at all and leaves my skin nice and moisturized for the whole day.  I would get this one for the scent alone, but even more so in winter as it is perfect for dry winter skin.

Swatch: Sally Hansen Fire Opal Nail Glaze in Goldspun Opal

Here is an oldie from my stash. Sally Hansen came out with these sheer duochrome topcoats years ago. This one is a very sheer orange base with multichrome shimmer. Depending on the light light you get pink, purple, or green shimmer. I did these swatches over wet n wild fastdry in Ebony Hates Chris.

Quick Review: DHC Purifying Charcoal Shower Gel

Here is another quick review of DHC

 

Initial Thoughts: Clear with black tint, it reminds me of smoked glass. Like the green tea shower gel, this one is thick like honey. Good rich lather, not many bubbles but feels nice on skin and washes clean.  Hard to describe scent, it is somewhat herbal, but I honestly cannot determine what makes up the scent. It left my skin a bit dry, but that is normal for me for clear shower gels.  It also makes sense as charcoal has clarifying properties and not moisturizing.  

Manicure Monday

So this was the mani I rocked for the Super Bowl. *SIGH* MAJOR SIGH. I'm a sad little niners fan!! At least we came to life in the second half (look at me sounding like a sports fan. For the record I watched one game this year...the Super Bowl lol)

I was in a rush and had to cook tons for our party, so a simple cling wrap mani was the result. I did the base in Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Cherry Red and did the top layer in Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer in Gilty Pleasure.

Wasn't able to get the best pics, and the mani didn't last long after doing dishes for hours lol.

Review: Pureology Precious Oil Versatile Caring Oil

I won this one from Allure (can you tell I'm addicted to always entering um...everything on that site?) and wasn't too excited when I got it.  I have hair that can get oily, so adding oil just didn't seem like a good idea. Oh man was I wrong!!

Initial Thoughts: I. LOVE. THE. SCENT. I can't even describe it! It is like nothing I have smelled before.  If this scent came in perfume I would buy it INSTANTLY. It is very light and does not weigh down my hair if I apply only to the middle to ends.  It will make my hair near the roots look oily, but my hair is already oily there so it is just adding to the grossness.

Overall Thoughts: Oh my! This stuff makes my hair sooooo very soft.  As long as I avoid my naturally oily roots, you cannot tell I have applied oil to my hair at all.  My dry ends soak it up and the result is super silky hair.  Another plus is that this oil isn't just for hair.  According to the Pureology site it has 10 uses, one of these is for skin.  I have used this on my face and on my hands at night and its awesome! It even works for my oily skin. At about $40 for the bottle, the price may seem high, but I have been using this for over a month and can barely see any missing from the bottle.  This is something I will be repurchasing when I finally use up the bottle.