My Hair Dye Routine

I get a ton of questions about my hair during my day to day life. It's kind of funny, but I've actually been using the exact same hair dye for most of my hair dyeing days. My hair has been blue, teal, green, blond, yellow, orange, purple, burgundy, and pink over the course of my life and I've gone through various different types of dyes from Manic Panic to the dye you can get from Hot Topic to Sally Beauty Supply dyes but I always go back to red. Red was actually the first color I dyed my hair to and I just fell in love w/ how I look w/ it. I don't actually have black hair - I know it looks dark and I've actually gotten into shouting matches w/ people over this, but my hair is a very dark reddish-brown and it is QUITE obvious when you see my hair in sunlight.

Anyway, I've been using this dye from L'Oreal since I was 15...So almost a decade! I've had my hair other colors but I seriously always end up going back to the red. This stuff is super easy to use - it's specifically formulated for dark hair and it has the bleach built-in to the dye so you don't have to do multiple steps. I've always colored my own hair and I don't really have a method; it's literally just slap-dash style!

Sugarpill Pressed Shadows Review (Pt. 2.5)

Originally this post was going to go in my main review of these shadows but it was already pretty long and I didn't want to make it SO obnoxious to read so this is the pressed shadow review Pt. 2.5, which just looks at the actual shadow colors themselves. I've gone through and swatched any shadow I owned that could be considered a dupe, from high end to low end and, well, the results speak for themselves. For my initial thoughts regarding Sugarpill in general, click on the second picture of the Burning Heart quad. For the review on the shadow quads themselves, click here.

I purchased the two available quads - the Sweet Heart quad and the Burning Heart quad. There are nine total pressed shadows available, so the only one I didn't purchase is "Bulletproof", which is the matte black. I really like the NYX single shadow in "Black"; in fact, I like it so much that I purchased a backup when NYX was on sale at Ulta. That, and I have MAC's "Carbon" in both the Pro pan form and in a pot from the Venomous Villains collection, so...I really don't need another black shadow!

Sugarpill Pressed Shadow Review (Pt. 2)

Okay, we're getting into it. I apologize that everyone had to wait for this stuff. I'm vaguely neurotic about things like this. I had to try these shadows over primers, w/o primers, and various other random tests to fully do this review, hence why it took so long. For general overviews of packaging and prices and fun stuff like that, click the second picture for my Sugarpill overview. This is Part 2 of my Sugarpill reviews/ravings, but there is a bit more information at the Initial Thoughts post I did.

Basically, I am really fond of these quads. I purchased the two available quads - the Sweet Heart quad and the Burning Heart quad. There are nine total pressed shadows available, so the only one I didn't purchase is "Bulletproof", which is the matte black. I really like the NYX single shadow in "Black"; in fact, I like it so much that I purchased a backup when NYX was on sale at Ulta. That, and I have MAC's "Carbon" in both the Pro pan form and in a pot from the Venomous Villains collection, so...I really don't need another black shadow!

Anyway, let's get on w/ it, right? (For a color-by-color product breakdown, click here!)

SUGARPILL! INITIAL THOUGHTS! (Very picture-heavy, FYI.)

Okay, so I don't know why I haven't typed up this post until now. It's 11 PM and I got the package at 2 PM and I had the pictures for this post edited and uploaded by 3 PM. And then I just sat around and did other things, like play the Sims on FB and pet my cat. But, okay, let's get down w/ it. This is going to be one of those ridiculously long posts from me...which is why I've divided up my reviewing into three posts. As you can tell by the overly excited title, this is a Sugarpill related post. I know, I know. Sometimes, you see a certain product or brand hyped up sooooo much and it just makes you doubt as to why it's so popular - because it's really hyped or because it's actually good.

Well, here's the thing - this isn't hype. Sugarpill is really that good! Okay, admittedly, I can't attest to staying power as of yet...I had an problem actually making myself use and swatch these products. Why? If you've ever gotten something you REALLY wanted for a long time, you probably understand this feeling. I didn't want to actually use them, haha. I wanted to just sit there and stare at them because they are just so damn pretty! (Warning - you may read the words "pretty" and "cute" numerous times in this post. I will try to restrain myself.) This post is just an initial thoughts type post. For an actual review on the pressed shadows, click here. If you want a color-by-color breakdown of the pressed shadows, click here. My review on the loose shadows I purchased will, hopefully, be up before the end of the week!

Rimmel London Sunshimmer Maxi Bronzer Review

So here is the second bronzer review from Rimmel. I'm getting a bit smarter, haha. Instead of posting the main Product Line Overview posts and then frantically trying to get the reviews up, getting bored, and then forgetting about them (although I SWEAR I will be working on my e.l.f. reviews and my Studio M reviews!), I'm posting all the reviews up first and then I will make the big overall post! That way, no one is sitting around waiting on my lazy ass, I can post these reviews at my leisure, and they're more likely to actually see the light of day. I already talked about the two Rimmel London Natural Bronzers that I own and now it's time to talk about the Sunshimmer Maxi Bronzer!

This bronzer is available at most stores that stock Rimmel cosmetics. There are some stores that only have the smaller bronzers, so you'll have to look around. They range in price from $6 to $9, so I would wait until Rimmel products go on sale. I've also seen these bronzers have dollar off peelie coupons on them, so keep your eyes peeled. Based on sizing and pricing, it's actually a better deal to purchase the Natural Bronzers. You only get a grand total of 0.10 oz extra product in the bigger bronzers and I suspect that it's the same exact formulation...just w/ a different raised pattern and some golden shimmer that wears off.

Rimmel London Natural Bronzer (2 Out Of 3) - Review

I like how I start doing bronzer reviews AFTER summer ends. But then again, maybe it makes sense since everyone will start getting a lot paler. I don't self-tan. Or rather, I don't self-tan my face. There's this L'Oreal self-tanning lotion and Oh. My. God. It has this VERY noticeable multicolored shimmer to it and I look like a Twilight vampire that rolled around in Cheetos. After that tanning fail, I just don't use self-tanners. I get pretty bloody pale in winter, but I tan quite a lot if I'm actually in sun. I used to be obsessed w/ tanning. I'd go to the beach just to lay around. But lately I've been pretty ambivalent about tanning - if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, well...I don't look like I was slaving in a rice paddy all day, ya know?

This particular bronzer is anywhere from 3-5 dollars at any drugstore in which Rimmel is sold. If you live near a Meijer, it's currently 30% off until Saturday! If you don't, check your Halloween makeup displays at whichever grocery/super store is nearest to you - Rimmel has a Halloween makeup display, w/ mascara (do not get the mascara; if it's the same as the one near me, it's the Glam'Eyes Day2Night mascara and that stuff is not good), liner, two different (permanent) eyeshadow quads, and a couple of nail polishes...but also a dollar off coupon. Hopefully this isn't some kind of Michigan only thing!

Maybelline Fit Me™ Review - PT. 2 (Blushes & Bronzer)

So, as usual, I am tardy to the party once again. This is going to be part two out of two reviews on the Maybelline Fit Me™ range. (For the review on the foundation, concealer, and pressed powder, click here!) I've decided to divide up the review because, well, there's a lot of stuff to talk about! In this particular post, I'm going to talk about the blushes and bronzer that come in this line. For reference, you could honestly use this review as a reference to any pressed powder blush or bronzer that Maybelline releases in this type of compact because they're pretty much the same thing. There are some cream blushes and some limited edition baked products that are different, but for the most part, all of the blushes that come in this type of packaging are very similar - the only difference is, obviously, the colors.

These products can be found anywhere the full Maybelline range is sold, like Walmart, CVS, Rite-Aid, etc. It has its own display in the Maybelline line and can still be found in some random end-caps. It will be cheaper at places like Meijer and Walmart in general but when drugstores or Ulta have BOGO sales, I recommend checking those out. These products are typically about $5.50 a pop. So they're not super expensive but they aren't the cheapest out there, as far as drugstore goes.

Maybelline Fit Me™ Review - PT. 1 (Foundation, Concealer, & Pressed Powder)

So, as usual, I am tardy to the party once again. This is going to be one out of two reviews on the Maybelline Fit Me™ range. (You'll be able to find the second review here.) I've decided to divide up the review because, well, there's a lot of stuff to talk about! In this review I'm going to blather on about three products - the foundation, concealer, and the pressed powder. For a while, this foundation was HG status for me, which is crazy!

These products can be found anywhere the full Maybelline range is sold, like Walmart, CVS, Rite-Aid, etc. It has its own display in the Maybelline line and can still be found in some random end-caps. It will be cheaper at places like Meijer and Walmart in general but when drugstores or Ulta have BOGO sales, I recommend checking those out. The foundation and powder retail for around $5.50 at Walmart, and the concealer is just slightly cheaper.

I apologize in advance because this review is long and it's a lot of text. For a TL;DR version - foundation is light coverage and is good, especially for those w/ good skin to begin w/ and dry to normal skin; concealer is okay, nothing special...I would pass; powder is okay, especially for color range, but there are other powders that are better from Maybelline and other drugstore brands.

e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner Review *EDITED* to add the Black!

I must say, I really like the e.l.f. Studio line. There are only a few products I'm not fond of, but all things considered, the bulk of the line is very nice AND it's cheap. Almost everything is $3 and some things are $6, but they're usually worth it. I almost don't want to type out this review because it's going to be kind of biased. Why? I only own two colors and they're both light and shimmery. As such, I don't own the black and I don't think these shimmery liners are any good as liners. So, this review in a nutshell - these don't show up and aren't thick enough to build up much color. But I've heard that the black one is pretty damn good! So who knows, maybe I'll drag my happy ass to Target and pick it up. Mission success! I purchased the black one and I REALLY like it. I like these as bases but, yeah...

Onwards, my friends.