COLORFUL's Protein Color Filler in #10 Red Red

It's definitely been a while since I've done some product reviewing... but boy do I have some stuff for you! ;)

I've been completely experimenting in the world of red hair. Now for me so far... it started off with stripping out the black and by happenstance ending up with a strawberry blond tone... it wasn't enough. Pretty soon I was dying it copper and then eventually Red red.

Something I didn't realize as an avid haircolor student (remember.... not professional) is that even if you can handle bleach and dark browns/black.. red hair color can have an allergic reaction. Which,.... guess what?! I'm one of the very fortunate few. :)

So even though I grabbed a box of "Clairol Natural Instincts" (color: Spiced Tea), the color turned out great... but I became sick as a dog with flulike symptoms that in my opinion were COMPLETELY uncalledfor.

After that experience... I was hooked though! I looooove the Red. Hence, I waltzed into my local natural food store looking for a red that wouldn't kill my hair, wouldn't fry it, would give a strong tint, and not wash out after 2 washings.

Little did I know the lady who ran that department of the store used to be a beautician. Now, something that most know about me is that I'm completely addicted to beauty supply stores. She told me to go down to my local Sally's and pick up a bottle of this stuff. Add 1/2 to the hair color before applying and then use the other half as a tint a couple weeks later in the shower.

WOW. for $4 a bottle.... PLEASE PURCHASE IF DOING RED. Fade out is nearly non-existant with these bright tones that shouldn't be so incredible. The first time dying I didn't use it in order to compare. Seal of approval? Yes. :D

Lush - Colour Supplement

So, when I got my newest "Lush Times" I was quite excited for Lush's first try at ACTUAL cosmetics. Since I'm a huge lushie I waltzed to our local Lush (not lying... it's actually about an hour drive)

According to description you can use this as a "heavy duty" concealer or you can tint your moisturizer and apply it that way. Honestly?? I know heavy duty concealer, and this is actually more of a light cream concealer to take care of veins on eyelids or to cover undereye circles. If you have full on acne scarring like me, or general rosacea, this is not going to work. However, it it is incredible in the way that it blends beautifully and allows you to adjust pigmenting.

for about $13 it's worth to have in your makeup case, especially with summer coming up. If you have any scarring or need actual heavy duty concealer? Wear this product over another product.

End result?? Buy:)

Rembrandt Whitening Mouthwash with Fluoride

Okay.... so this isn't my first trip on the teeth whitening train. I have mostly tea and coffee stains, considering for me those drinks are life-sustaining.

I've been using this product (about $5 at walmart) for 2 weeks. Once in the morning after brushing and once in the evening after brushing, both times allowing 30 minutes of no eating or drinking after use. I can honestly say it's done.....nothing. The stupid crest pro white pre brush rinse did more than this product, and it was $3 for twice the size.

So end result?? Don't buy... get the toothpaste instead. :)

skin diaries - Triaz cleanser

Okie dokes. Skin. Ugh.

I've had bad skin since... well, I can't remember when it's been that long. Let's just say if there's a dermotologist in WA state, a product at the drug store, an infomercial in the past 5 yrs (and yes ProActive DIDN'T work for me), then I have tried it. And more importantly? They have failed me.

So, I finally did my walk of shame back to my dermatologist in Issaquah (yes over an hour drive for a dr) and he fixed me right up.

Now to set up the story, I have severe cystic acne. The kind you see in infomercials that they really injected with hydrocortizone to make it look decent for the after photo. This dr cleared my skin when I was 15, but after a while I went off it because of health problems and I didn't care anymore about my skin. I've tried 5 dermatologists, 1 natropath and ever cookananny suggestion out there (and btw neosporin on your face is gross).

Let's just say this cleanser hurts, and by hurts I mean it feels like a coctail of battery acid on your face and someone snapping rubberbands on your skin. Not a feel good cleanser. HOWEVER! In the first 4 days all my cysts went down. As in disappeared. I don't know where they went but they're gone.

So please please please... if you have acne like mine ask your dr for this product. Then just thank me later :)

riveting reds color depositing shampoo and conditioner

Okay.. so it's been a while but I wanted to wait after a couple weeks to review this next product.

The Quantum brand you can buy at Sally Beauty Supplies, and when I was passing through a few weeks ago this shampoo and conditioner set caught my eye. Unlike the John Freida "Radiant Red" collection of shampoos and conditioners, this line is color depositing. For those of you out there who don't know what this means, think of one of your shampoos at home that's bright pink but when you wash your hair the suds turn white and your hair doesn't change color. This is a non-color depositing shampoo or conditioner. There is no active hair dye or any coloring agents that will tint your hair.

So, after my last adventure with the bleaching process, my hair was pretty healthy, all shades of blondes and kinda oranges, but healthy nonetheless. As I was glancing down the aisle at Sally's and thinking how badly I wanted more of a strawberry blonde tint, and looking at hair color, I realized my hair was very close to being on the fritz, and more importantly- my family would simply kill me if I dyed it again. This set caught my eye. It said on the bottle for copper to strawberry blonde to mahogany. For those of you experienced in the color world you'll realize these are totally different reds! Gold undertone, Pink undertone, Blue undertone. Now to the average person they'd write this off saying "who knows what color I'll end up with, so forget it". For me? I was thinking hmmm if I don't like it I'll color oops it (see previous blog review) and waltzed (well more had a lilting step) up to the front of the store and took it home.

If you've ever had platinum or bleached hair before you're aware of this little fact. Your hair is most likely to pick the one tone in your hair color you didn't want and amplify it. So as I'm standing in the shower all sudsy and leaving on the shampoo for the suggested 4 minutes I realize not only does my shower look like a bloody crime scene but my suds are bubblegum pink. For about 30 seconds I was in a complete panic thinking I'd emerge from the tub with pink tresses, however upon my dry hair discovery I found out it did in fact turn more of a copper color I wanted. So after using every day for 8 days, then every 3 days to touch up color I must say I'm in love with this set. It turned my yellowish blonde to a full strawberry blonde.

Downside? Oh damage here we come. I did have to start using not only a protein pack (Dumb Blond Reconstructor by TiGi), I also added in a conditioner for damaged hair that has silicone. this has repaired the look of the damage, but whenever I use the set now I have to follow up with a mask of some type. However, the fact I've had no roots in 3 weeks and my color is exactly what I want somehow makes up for this. The shampoo is about $7, and so is the conditioner. So, for about the price of a box of haircolor you have the set. I've used about 1/3 of the bottles in around 15 uses. So it definitely has some bang for the buck.

In the end?: If you have healthy locks.. give it a go! Good deal, great pigments for light hair. For dark hair, I'm not sure the color wash will show up, but would definitely keep red hair in prime condition. Just stock up on deep conditioning packs! :D

Lush - Goth Juice Hair Gel

I loved this gel. For one thing? NOTHING in the world smells as good as this hair gel. The descrip on the website says: "leave your hair smelling like the deep, dark pine forest where Robert Smith goes to be alone". Truthfully? It smells clean, woody and refreshing. My 17-yr-old brother is dieing for more. I'd recommend it to anyone. So why on earth is this not a staple in my bathroom cabinet? Because it's sold at the low price of $15.65 for 3.5 oz. yup you read that right. it's INSANE. Is it worth it? mmmmmmm, perhaps if I was the only one using it, and could use only a dime size amount every day, but I have massive curly hair and my brother basically gels it so that it can withstand hurricane winds. So, while I'm COMPLETELY in love with the actual product..... sorry lush, I'll settle for what's on the hair aisle at walgreens.

In the end? Not a must have for my bathroom.

Lush - Flosty Glittler Bubble Bar

If a bath bomb from lush is bliss, then a bubble bar is a blissful gift that keeps on giving.

Personally? I can get about 3-4 baths out of one bubble bar, you only get one bath out of a bath bomb from lush. So for the same price as my lovely sex bomb or butterball, I can get 4 baths. Now THAT is a value.

The scent of flosty glitter? Well first off.... you have to be in a mood for something sweet, considering it smells just like it sounds. Vanilla, Sugar and a little Lavender. Think Cotton Candy and you're pretty close to how you'll smell for the rest of the day, or night.

What's interesting about this scent? After taking my first bath in this sugary goodness.... both of my brothers and their friends loved the scent when I walked out of the bathroom. So.... if you're looking to catch the attention of teenage boys, apparently sugar is the way to go. :-P

This would make a GREAT gift for a teenage girl or younger, but I'd go for something safer like the comforter bar or a french kiss for anyone over 21.

Bottom line? It was a very fun $6, but I'll be moving on. :)