Batting a Lash

Avon Advance Techniques 5.65 Review

As you may have read on this blog over the years, I love dying my hair and have been doing so for over 20 years. Main via box colours and rarely at salons.

I usually go for reds, and the reds I feel look best on me are mahogany reds. Now these can be hard to find. Lines might only carry one shade of mahogany red and it might be awful. Which is why when I saw that Avon was finally brining their hair colours to Canada I was so excited. I was further excited to learn 5.65 (Medium Mahogany Brown) was going to be apart of the line.

I instantly did a demo order for that shade. This is what I got:

the box

Side of box with information

Inside The box

Step 1: pre-treatment to protect

Steps 2a & 2b:
developer lotion and creme colorant

Step 3: post treatment

Instructions and (REAL!!!) Gloves

I was excited to see the unique Pre-Treatment to protect the hair and help the colour absorb evenly and also to see real gloves (this is rare now a days inside box colours). Another nice part was the developer instead of having a snap lid that makes a mess it has a twist off top.

I went to the Advance Techniques Web site and watched a few video to help me apply the product the best way possible (may I note that the demo video was very helpful, I have dyed my hair all these years and never done it quite that way).

After watching the videos, I took my bare hands and applied the pre treatment to where it was needed. Then did the usual hair dye routine, gloves, mix 2a and 2b together and shook. I then applied for 30 minutes, wet, lathered, rinsed, rinsed, rinsed, conditioned, waited and rinsed again.

1.5 weeks later

I love this shade and have been searching for one just like this forever, so happy with it.

Pros:

Cheap (will start at 7.99 and go up to 10.99)
Amazing pre-treatment provides even coverage
Twist off top on developer for a smooth and not jagged top and less mess
Real gloves
Soft amazing hair
Deep and great colour

Cons:

Only a packet of conditioner
Only 25 colours available (I actually think this is a lot of shades, but others won't)
Spelt colour "colour" the American way on a product sold in Canada

Overall:

I really love this colour on me. I love that it was a good price, I love how it went on, I love how it looks, I love how my hair feels. I love this colour!

I have been on the look out for a shade like this forever (I mean it, years) and I am so happy to have found one the first time I tried the brand. I am also really happy the brand was avon and I don't have to stare at the drug store walls going insane trying to figure out what shade of what brands line I should try out this time.

As an Avon rep they also sent me this nifty swatch wheel for customers to look at, look at all those shades

One more pic of the hair

Reality Check: Polish Inventory

When I started blogging two and a half years ago I had 3 nail polishes to my name. No lie.

Then I got OPI "Jade is the new Black" and well things went a little down hill from there.

Some how my collection went from three items to this...

I rarely wear polish too, because after one day at work the get totalled. So I woul have to redo them nightly and still spend half the day with ruined nails.

Anyways, here is the inventory from what I counted.

Essie 5
Butter 2
RGB 2
Essence 7
OPI 6
Sephora OPI 4, 1 mini
Nicole OPI 1
Sally Hansen Xtreme 9
Julep 7
NYX 3
Wet n Wild 6
Kiss 3 (btw was a 3 pack from dollarama)
Avon 3
American Apparel 5
China Glaze 7 and a mini
Mac 2
Sally Hansen Salon Wear 6
Joe Fresh 10
Rimmel 1
LA Colours 2
Shu Uemura 1
H&M 5 (all minis)
Mark (Minis)[ 4 (2 x 2 packs)
Sally Girl (minis) 4
Hard Candy (minis) 2
Miss Crackles 3

So there you have it. I have no more room for new polishes, therefore I can't get any more.

Mark. All the Highlights

I love butterflies, just love them, and this is all because 3.5 years ago I got Monty, a papillon. Papillon means butterfly in French, and well therefore he is butterfly dog. I love him and have grown to love butterfly things as a result.

We have prints in our living room of butterflies, I have jewellery and note pads, pretty much I feel the need to get cute things with butterflies on them.

So when I saw Mark's All the Highlights Soft Glow Illuminator with a nice big bright butterfly in the middle of it I was excited.

I debated for a while since the price tag was $20 and a little high considering I already have more blushes than I can store.

I went a head and got it...it looked amazing...

... I debated never touching and just keeping it, but that would be silly. So, I swatched it and...what the...

...Overspray??? OVERSPRAY!!! I just spent $20 on a blush because it had a butterfly on it and it was OVERSPRAY? [Insert swearing here.]

I am sure this a fantastic highlighter, bronzer, but it is no butterfly item. I feel so let down and disappointed.

Mark, label oversprays next time, in the mean time this item is being returned.

Julep Nail Polish Swatches

left to right
Leah, Hayden, Megan, Mellisa, Charlotte, Jode and Fast Dry Top Coat

I haven't had ample time to try these out yet, but I have done some swatches for you.

Hayden is a very neon orange, I never thought I would say that. It is very bright but creamy in tone. It does not go on easily, it takes a lot of work to get it smooth. Leah on the other hand went on really nicely but then peeled off within the day. I am not sure if these were just mu first time uses of the colours but that is about all I know about how they go on at this point.

Essence Canada Launch

On March the 1st I and a few other Toronto beauty bloggers were lucky enough to be treated the launch of Essence Cosmetics in Canada.

Essence the world number 1 fashion orientated value brand. Available in 55 countries, it will soon be available in 900 Shoppers Drug Marts across the country.

They treated us to a wonderful night at the Ocho Hotel in downtown Toronto filled with yummy foods, manicures, makeovers and drinks.

Alicia from Funny Face's manicure

candy apples, butterfly gummies and candy popcorn

butterfly gummies!!!

Cake pops with the Essence logo on them
and more candy apples

My favourite item was the butterfly gummies (I love my butterflies) and the mini candy apples.

There were also lots of products to be looked at. Their regular shelf display and several of their limited edition collections.

one of the limited edition displays

The regular store shelf display

"You Rock" counter display, this one has
finishing spray, travel hair brushes, and
eye primers among other things.

Whoom! Booom!! Limited Edition counter display

The gift packs that we received in our bags

I am not sure if any of these counter display items will be in Canada, but I can only hope. The one with refresher/finishing spray and eye primer is the most exciting to me.

The company will be launching 6 limited editions a year to keep up with trends.

All items are between $1.49 - $4.99! Which is amazing for any value brand but none the less one the has such a trend focus.

I cannot wait to try out more of the items.

Ande, Enrica, Meredith and Joyce

Joyce and Meredith being stylish as always.

Here is also a video on what I think of the products and the brand

Sunday at home and Ikea

Sunday is my Satuday, and by that I mean the first of two days off. I usually try to get some things done around my place on Sundays...today was a big one.

Last Sunday it was cleaning out the closet this sunday it was setting up my new desk/vanity and putting together a sink cabinet from Ikea.

The desk/vanity went smoothly, and will look better when the full damage from the radiator leak is fixed (the floor isn't done so the bed is moved right over and everything smooched into my vanity/desk area) and my shelves are put up. Trust me when it is done it will look amazing.
Here is a sneak peek. The keyboard and track pad can be slid underneath the monitor for more table top room when needed.

As for the sink cabinet, it was a Fullen and I got it on sale for under $25. Unfortunately for me when I opened the box I saw this...

Damage. Horrible damage. Parts in tissue paper and duct tape. Ughh. Sooo, I hauled myself onto the bus and went to Ikea on a Sunday! Let me repeat, Ikea on a Sunday!!!!

I made the best of the situation and after waiting 40 minutes for the exchange I went and got myself a meatball dinner. I also went to the store and got some cookies and chocolate. The heart shaped cookies are amazing!!