Review: L'Oréal Paris Préférence Hair Dye in P28 Violet Pearl

Let's talk about my most essential cosmetic product today, shall we?

This is the state of my mane on hair-colouring day, dark brown with some reddish undertones-

 The roots are appalling, all of this in 28 days. My hair grew even quicker than usual this month.

I feel I should state a few facts about my hair type and history: I've been using permanent dye for four years now, occassionally attempting a change but always sticking with purples and pinks. My hair is very thick, comes down to about under my shoulderblades, naturally straight and medium blond (don't be fooled by the white roots). It grows very fast, is IMPOSSIBLE to brush and oily in type. 

It also doesn't seem to take dye in very well, more than once I followed the instructions on the hair dye package only to find that an hour later my hair was the same exact colour with no change whatsoever.

Thus to those of you who struggle with annoyingly healthy hair (yes this is a thing) I am hoping to suggest a dye that I could not survive withou.

 L'Oréal Paris Préférence in P28 Violet Pearl. I originally started using the shade Mystic Black, which has to my utmost horror been discontinued.

 The box promises some very vivid colour results, which the product fails to deliver. This is the reason for the high incidence of negative reviews out there; personally I would sell my soul to have true purple hair, but I am pretty pleased with what it does for me anyway.

 The package contains, besides the obvious tubes of colouring cream and developer, a big-ass conditioner and a pair of BLACK gloves. You got me there, L'Oréal. 

 And this is my hair part four days after I dyed it (I don't shampoo when rinsing out dye, so this after the first wash). I sense some roots already..? WTF, Mother Nature.

And the lengths of my hair in direct sunlight. In dimmer lights they look basically black.

Overall I highly recommend this product with about 9/10 satisfaction.

Pros: 

• an extremely unique shade among permanent dyes
• great lasting power (other dyes I've tried turned ginger on me within 20 days)
• leaves hair feeling very lush and soft
• washes out to a pleasant shade
• the enclosed conditioner is fantastic  and lasts me for a full month (also SLS-free)
• doesn't fry hair even if left on for a long time*

Cons:

• the most expensive drugstore box dye, retails for around 9 euros
• nothing will ever replace Mystic Black in my heart**
• the colour result differs significantly from the prictures on the box even on very light hair
• probably not cruelty-free

* I do this because my hair is so resistant. After about an hour the reaction is quantitatively completed and no further effects or damage to your hair occur. Do NOT prolong recommended exposure times when lightening your hair.

**Mystic Black was more of a true black with blue-based purple sheen, lasted longer and turned to a very dark brown after a month.



What is your favourite hair dye?

How to Wear Colour: A Pop of Blue on the Waterline

Before discovering waterproof liquid liner the main focus of my makeup used to be colourful eyeshadow. A terrifying concept for many, surely :)

I still like to incorporate colour in my looks but some just don't work in a monochrome smokey eye situations.

Blue lower lash liner is quite a common feature in the myriads of makeup tutorials floating around the internet but something I've never done before.

I've recently bought an unreasonable number of eyeliner pencils and to justify that purchase I decided to give it a go today.

I tightlined my upper lashline with a black kohl pencil and did a basic three-shade silver-and-black smokey eye. Then I lined my waterline with Catrice Kohl Kajal in 190 Cleopetrol and pressed some Makeup Revolution eyeshadow in Ash from the Give them Nightmares Palette, finishing off with Dermacol Precise Black Black Sensation liner pen and some mascara.

To keep the petrol blues from looking too non-human I used my contour powder (a caramel brown) as a transition shade (adds warmth) and a very blue-toned grey shadows (unifies undertones).

How do you feel about blue eyemakeup, is it a no-no or a staple for you?
Have a lovely week!

AnimeShow 2015 Day Two Outfit & Makeup

On Saturday my dopamine levels took a major plunge and, well, I spend more time getting ready than actually present at the con. Nevertheless my efforts have been documented :)

The phone camera couldn't handle the stripes, sorry about the picture.

 I wore a New Yorker skater dress, an off-brand 'Beetlejuice' jacket, a neck corset and lace gloves purchased online (probably resold eBay items) and grey tights with velour skulls which to my great disappointment ripped majorly and had to go to a better place.

I wear green eyeshadow and brown lips with all-black or b/w outfits a lot for some reason. 

Spiderweb eyeliner thingie? Check. Because I can.

How do you cope on super bad days?

AnimeShow 2015 Day One Outfit & Makeup

I am attending a con this weekend! I know extremely little about anime but there are fantasy&sci-fi sections as well, which are more my thing, and obviously all the wonderful attendees in their spectacular costumes.

Today I wore black on black: a thrifted ruffled shirt, a thrifted H&M waistcoat, a brocade patterned circle skirt I got for Christmas and some fancy tights. 

I wish I had some more extravagant winter shoes but my regular heeled boots will have to do.

I did my makeup using the Makeup Revolution Salvation Eyeshadow Palette in Give them Nightmares (since the day it arrived in the mail I haven't touched another palette, it has virtually every colour/finish combination I need and is essential to my m akeup routine, though I do wish it had one or two very light shimmers) and my lipstick is a combination of MUR Depraved in the bullet formula on top of the lip lacquer (sadly the liquid lipstick is too drying to wear on its own for extended periods of time).

Closeup eyeshadow pictures were simply not happening today, sorry about that.

Have a lovely weekend! xo

What is your most versatile beauty product?

Makeup Revolution Haul

At the beginning of this year I received my order from Makeup Revolution after hearing lots of positive feedback regarding this newly established UK-based brand. 

The package contained:

• Makeup Revolution Salvation Palette in Give Them Nightmares
• Makeup Revolution Amazing Eyeliner (Waterproof) in Black
• Makeup Revolution Salvation Velvet Lip Lacquer in Keep Lying for You and Depravity
• Makeup Revolution Amazing Lipstick in Make It Right, Make Me Magnificent and Depraved

All of this for 30 euros overall including (sort of) international shipping. 

I would like to review individual items in depth in the future, but, without giving too much away, I absolutely LOVE all the products except the liner. 

Until next time, take a peek at two looks I created mostly with the products pictured above.

Have you struck gold with a new brand recently?

Christmas Eve makeup

Hello!

I apologize for the odd shadows but I am visiting my 'proper' home for the holidays and I could not find a spot with decent light conditions.
I do love to look all fancy up for Christmas Eve dinner (I get my presents on the 24th, ha!) even if I'm wearing slippers under the table :) I've been feeling cool purples a lot lately and all my brushes are dirty with purple shadow  . The matted magenta lip was a bit out of my comfort zone but I warmed up to it.

I hope that your December has been great. I ate tons of things I shudder to think about (while binge-watching seasons 3 & 4 of Once Upon a Time) and that is absolutely fine since I had fun times and pleasantly slow days. I've also read a bit into Die Herren von Winterfell (Game of Thrones) in German and I am extremely proud of myself for that.

Have you tried something new and scary this year?

Devil costume makeup

I volunteered to play a she-devil for my department's St Nicholas Day's party. (Allegedly St Nicholas comes to children while they sleep accompanied by an angel and a devil and leaves them treats if they behaved well in that particular year. We were doing this as a goof for the first year students.)

I only have group photos where my costume is visible but it featured a very cheap red wig and a horned headband :) 

Makeup-wise I went for heavy red facial contouring, some painted-on undereye circles, a few inconspicuous pairs of facial horns and a gradient lip. I never ever wear red lipstick as I feel it should match an article of clothing and I have no red clothes (except this one blouse) becase that would clash with my hair.. oh well.

While I felt quite extravagant and out-there creating this look, most people didn't even realize I was in costume from afar ;)