And then there were 3....

This post is a bit different from what I normally write about on Glazed Over, but I just had to share because it's just too good to keep to myself! My husband and I had quite the weekend this weekend. On Friday, we picked up the newest member of our family, a 7-week-old Golden Retriever that we named Winnie!

This little fur baby kept us up at all hours on her first night in her new home. Of course, she was scared and sad to leave her mom and siblings, but by Sunday afternoon she's learning quickly and settling in. It's been so much fun to see her exploring and acquainting herself with her new world! I'm a self-professed dog lover, so getting Winnie has been a joy! Here are some pictures of our new little pup, and I'm sure there will be many more of her on Glazed Over in the future. :)

Puppy love at it's finest. 

Elite Therapeutics: Elite Platinum Creme | Anti-Aging Eye & Facial Creme Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
 

I first heard of Elite Therapeutics when I received one of their hand creams in a Birchbox. I instantly took a liking to the hand cream, as it reminded me of Aveda's Hand Repair lotion. When I was given the opportunity to review the Elite Therapeutics Elite Platinum Creme, I was super excited because of my positive experience in the past. 

First off, this creme piqued my interest because it is:

• Cruelty-Free

• Paraben-Free                               

• Fragrance-Free

• Physician-Formulated

• Safe for All Skin Types

Why does it work? This creme is formulated with the following - 

Apple Stem Cell Technology: This nature-plus-science elixir is clinically proven to reduce the size, depth and intensity of wrinkles. Helps protect the longevity of skin stem cells and combat the visible signs of chronological aging.

Hyaluronate Acid Cross-Polymer: With five times the water binding capacity of regular hyaluronic acid, this advanced ingredient has a youthful plumping effect that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  

Protein-Peptide Blend: This potent youth-boosting cocktail is specifically formulated to help improve dermal hydration, elastin proliferation and DNA protection, all of which are essential for healthy, radiant skin.

Vitamin E (Tocopherols and Tocotrienols): All eight forms of natural Vitamin E are used to neutralize free radicals and protect cell membranes for glowing skin that can maintain a healthy moisture balance. 

I can say right off the bat, while it may be free of any added fragrance, this cream certainly isn't unscented. It smells very citrusy. If you received the hand cream in a Birchbox, it smells nearly identical... maybe even a tad stronger. If you don't like the smell of citrus on your face, steer clear of this.

Here's what Elite Therapeutics has to say about this product:

True, visible results—need we say more? This luxurious, eye and facial crème is designed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while boosting skin’s natural elasticity and youthful radiance. Advanced Apple Stem Cell Technology and our patented peptide blend work at the cellular level to deliver deep hydration while encouraging the synthesis of collagen and elastin: naturally occurring proteins that are responsible for restoring the skin to the smoother, softer radiance of youth. 

The Elite Platinum Creme is extremely rich and super silky soft. It feels very nice on the skin. I've used this for a couple weeks now, nightly before bed after washing my face. A little goes a long way. At first, the scent sticks around and your face will smell like an orange, but the scent disappears shortly after and you're left with plump, mega- hydrated skin. 

When I wake up in the morning, the cream has sunk in to my skin. My forehead is slightly oily, as is my nose, but those are oily spots for me anyway. Despite the richness of this creme, it has not broken me out. This is a big deal as my skin is very sensitive, especially to many anti-aging products. 

I haven't noticed any major reduction in wrinkles, but at my age, I am more concerned with prevention than trying to battle major deep wrinkles. Perhaps with prolonged use I will see something, but I'm not holding out for any miracle to happen.

The Elite Platinum Creme is really nice. It's super rich, and feels like a dream on the skin. The only negative thing I have to say is the smell can be a bit much, but if you love the smell of citrus, you'll find this creme to die for! This is a PRICEY tub of wonder, retailing at $195 (available at the Elite Therapeutics website). If you can afford to splurge, I'd recommend it. 

Have you tried anything from Elite Therapeutics? What's your favorite anti-aging cream? 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Birthday Haul!

I mentioned in Friday's post that my husband and I celebrated my birthday shopping all over the place. We had a blast - I'm lucky to have a husband who enjoys shopping as much as I do. I found some goodies, and I allowed myself to splurge on myself as a birthday treat. I thought I'd share with you all what I picked up. The above shows some purchases I made, as well as some gifts!

• Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation - I've heard lots about this foundation, and as an avid lover of the Stay Matte Powder, I had to give this a go. I've tried it a couple times so far, and you'll hear more from me about this in a future post.

• Dior Creme De Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm - Ya'll know I was lusting after this in February, and my sweet husband gifted this to me for my birthday. It's everything I thought it would be and more! I'm in love.  

• It's a 10 Miracle Leave In plus Keratin - I got this sample for free for spending over $20 at Ulta. I've never used anything from It's a 10 so I'm excited to try it!

• Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - I get the occasional zit, and I've heard this little bottle is all you need to zap any unfortunate spot. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm glad to have it in my army of acne-fighting products.

• The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter - I've never tried any cleansing balms before, and this gem was half off so had to throw it in the bag.

• China Glaze: It's a Trap-Eze - It's not like me to grab a nail polish that isn't in the clearance aisle, but this one spoke to me! It has a milky base with multicolored glitter and it just looks awesome.

• RoC Daily Resurfacing Disks - I don't know what possessed me to grab these off the shelf, but I did and I'm excited to use them.

• Calvin Klein ck one mascara - This was my free Ulta birthday gift. This normally retails for $18, which is a pretty generous giveaway!

• Freeman Pineapple Facial Enzyme Mask - I'm a sucker for anything pineapple scented, and this mask smells SO good. I love facial masks, and I love pineapple... win win!

• Lush Prince shaving cream - I think this is actually geared toward men, but I wanted to try it out on my legs. It smells really earthy and nice.

• Lush Yuzu and Cocoa Bubble Bar - This smells divine. I take baths regularly so I treated myself to a new bubble bar.

I also got some lippies, too! My favorite!!! Lipsticks are listed left to right.

• Revlon Jungle Peach lipstick - This is one of the limited edition Legacy lipsticks, and unfortunately it doesn't look very good on me. It looks much more orange when on my lips. :(

• NYX Butter Gloss in Sugar Cookie - I am obsessed with these butter glosses. They're really hydrating and have great color pay off. Sugar Cookie is a really pretty hot pink shade, and I believe it's one of the new shades recently released.

• Revlon Snow Peach lipstick - Another Legacy lipstick and I absolutely LOVE this color. It's going to be great for summer. Swatches to come!

• NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake - This is another one of the new butter gloss shades. This is a my lips but better color, perfect for a neutral lip.

• NYX Butter Lipstick in Sweet Tart - I can't escape reviews of these everywhere. I finally picked one up and I really like it! 

• essence Stay With Me Long Lasting lipgloss in My Favorite Milkshake - I picked this up on a whim, and it's excellent!

• NYX Matte Lipstick in Street Cred - Another bright pink lipstick. I love a good matte lipstick, and this is completely shine-free. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Final battle: Birchbox vs. Ipsy (March Edition)

In February, I made the decision that March would be the last month I receive a Birchbox. The inconsistency of the boxes, and the lack of value compared to Ipsy finally made me decide that it's just not worth it for me to spend even $10 a month on it anymore. So today, I bring you the final battle: Birchbox vs. Ipsy.

MARCH BIRCHBOX

• Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment + Hair Treatment Plus - Grrrr... this foil packet convinced me further that it's time to cancel Birchbox. I'm pretty sure I could get this for free at any department store or on the Ojon website. So annoying! I don't like to use these because the packaging is so inconvenient. 

• Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion - This looks like a lotion bottle you get at a hotel. It actually has that same smell that most of them do, too. It's a nice throw in your purse size, but it's just not anything special, and I definitely wouldn't spend $16 on a full-size of this.
• DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew - I'm intrigued by this facial moisturizer, and hey - you get a whole ounce which is a pretty decent sample (considering full-size is 1.7 oz)! It's pricey for a full-size, retailing at $42, so I highly doubt I'd ever buy this again, but I'll be glad to use it.

• COOLA Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face - Ugh, I'm so sick of getting samples from COOLA. This is the third or fourth sample size I have of various SPFs from COOLA. In the summer, I'll probably use this, but I just really don't care to have another tinted moisturizer.

• English Laundry No. 7 For Her - This smells REALLY good, and of course the full-size retails for $90! Oof. That's a pricey perfume. 

• Ghirardelli Intense Dark Cherry Tango Square - I really don't want a chocolate square in my beauty box. Period. I signed up for beauty samples.... 

MARCH IPSY

• Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer - This is a really nice sample size, and the product inside seems nice, too! It has very fine golden shimmer and feels nice and smooth. I think this will be great for summer.

• bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready - This is a great everyday color, perfect for work or daytime wear. Love it!

• NYX Love in Rio trio in Amazonian Babes - This trio of eyeshadows is made up of shimmering browns that are awesome for every day wear.

• Chella Indigo Blue eyeliner - This is a really great eyeliner pen, it's just a shame I don't wear blue eyeliner! I might just have to for fun one of these days to get some use out of this. This is full-sized, and a full-size costs $24!! That's quite the value, considering Ipsy costs just $10/month!

If you'd like to subscribe to Birchbox or Ipsy, click any of the hyperlinked "Birchbox" or "Ipsy" links in this post. Each subscription service costs just $10 per month for awesome beauty samples. As you can tell, I would highly recommend Ipsy over Birchbox, as I think the value is consistently good and you often get full-sized products. 

Another Year Older.

Today Glazed Over is taking a break from normal posting as I celebrate my birthday! My husband and I were lucky enough to be able to take Thursday and Friday off of work and have a nice long weekend. We got out of dodge and spent the night in a fancy hotel and did lots of shopping. (Just my kind of birthday weekend!) This evening I'm celebrating at my favorite Greek restaurant with both my family and my husband's family. 

A blessed birthday, indeed. I couldn't be happier. 

Glazed Over resumes normal posting Monday. See ya later, friends!

2 Years.

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I never made much of a fuss about my one year blogaversary. I wasn't blogging super regularly, and I didn't interact much with other bloggers. It just sort of came and went and even I hardly noticed it. But today, on my blog's second birthday, I feel it's worthy of celebrating. 

Glazed Over has come a long way since the very start. I've come to "know" so many bloggers through my own blog, and have stumbled upon so many new products thanks to reviews and recommendations from readers and bloggers alike. I've been exposed to cool new opportunities (like this!), and I've really come to love my little space in this big wide internet world. 

I truly look forward to blogging each and every time I sit down to write a post for Glazed Over, and as long as that passion is there, I'll keep on writing for you every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Who knows what the future will bring... maybe soon I'll blog 4 days of the week! (I want to, just trying to see if it's realistic for me! Stay tuned!)

Thank you so much for reading my posts and supporting my love of all things beautiful. You guys make this hobby of mine so much fun, and it wouldn't be the same without you.

Cheers to 2 years! 

Egyptian Magic | Review

Egyptian Magic has long been touted as the secret skin cream of celebrities. The first time I remember seeing this product was in People Magazine, and it caught my attention as something to try. I snapped a picture of it on my phone, and would remember it now and then as I flipped through my pictures, making a mental note to try it out sometime and then promptly forget about it once again. 

A couple weeks ago I was walking through the aisles of Costco, and a double-pack of Egyptian Magic caught my eye. It was retailing for just $40 for 2, whereas one tub usually sells for about ~$30-35 on it's own. Knowing I could easily return it to Costco if I hated it, I decided to give it a go!

While many reviews I've read think the packaging is crazy, I think it's kind of fun! It reminds me of Dr. Bronner's soap, which actually I think is a little intense, but I do like Egyptian Magic's. The consistency is something like a cleansing balm, or a comparable non-beauty alternative would be butter. While it's solid in the tub, it quickly turns in to an oil when rubbed between the fingers. When applied to the skin, it rubs in well, but it does take time to soak in fully. 

Egyptian Magic has just five ingredients: Olive Oil, Beeswax, Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis extract. It can be used in a number of ways, according to the Egyptian Magic website,"Egyptian Magic is one jar that contains a face cream, an eye gel, a hair masque, burn and wound relief, a baby cream, a shaving balm and anything else you can think of! We’ve even heard from veterinarians who use it on horses after surgery."

As I tested this skin cream, I used it solely as an eye cream and night time facial moisturizer. I liked it as an eye cream, as it hydrated my super dry under eyes. I'm prone to dehydration lines under my eyes, and this, partnered with my Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment in the morning, worked wonders! I really didn't like it as an all-over face moisturizer. Even though it's naturally antibacterial (although it does not claim to be entirely non-comodogenic), I think it broke my skin out slightly so I discontinued using it all over my face.

I do like Egpytian Magic, but once it started to break my skin out, I quit using the product altogether. I think it's just a bit much for my combination skin. I've been toying with the idea of returning it, but after discovering that it could be used as a shaving balm, I think I'll try that out first before trucking it back to Costco. I've read that Medicine Mama's Sweet Bee Magic Balm is a cheaper alternative that is actually certified organic, which Egyptian Magic is not. I think if I purchase anything like this again, I'll go with Medicine Mama's version over Egyptian Magic. Because it has so many uses, I'd recommend it. It's handy to have around. 

What do you think? I'd love to know what you thought if you've tried Egyptian Magic!

Glazed Over in Radish Magazine!

I've got some exciting news to share today! I was recently approached to put my writing skills to the test for Radish Magazine, a local healthy living magazine! It's been quite some time since I've done any writing for something other than Glazed Over, or work, so I had some fun putting together my top natural products for healthy, nourished skin for Radish. If you're in to healthy living, you'll find lots to read on Radish's website. They have tons of great articles with topics like selecting seeds for your garden, juicing at home, shopping green and much more!

I had so much fun putting together some of my favorite natural products to share with all of Radish's readers, and now you! You can read the full article online, here. 

What are your favorite organic and natural products? 

Empties | #5

Wowza, I just did one of these posts a month ago but my bag of empties filled up quite quickly in that time so here we are again! Are you ready for this? Here we go...

• Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask - I love this stuff. Seriously, holy grail status. It's an expensive little mask, retailing for $30, but it's worth every penny. I'll definitely buy it again. 

• Aveda Invati Shampoo & Conditioner - I bought this stuff because I had been on some medication which totally dried my hair out, and made it feel thin and disgusting. My hair wasn't actually thinning, but I wanted to bulk it up and add some life to it. I didn't really notice any difference, and while this smelled really nice, I wouldn't buy it again.

• John Frieda Luxurious Volume Volume Refresher (dry shampoo) - This made my February favorites because it rocks. If it wasn't discontinued, I'd totally repurchase it again. See my review here. 

• Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer - I bought this on a whim quite a while ago and finally used it up. This had a very strong smell that didn't linger on the skin, but certainly is enough that it may turn some off. I didn't notice any major wrinkle reducing properties, but it did a decent job moisturizing. I dont' think I'd buy this again, however.

• Simple Soothing Facial Toner - This was really nice. It never made my face sting or burn, but it removed any excess makeup that lingered on my face post-cleaning. I'd buy this again.

• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser - I got this in last summer's Allure Beauty Box. It's been marketed as a better alternative to Cetaphil, which I've also used before, and I have to say I did like this better. It didn't break me out and did a good job of washing my makeup off. I'd repurchase this.

• Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover - This wasn't anything special, but it did remove my eye makeup easily and efficiently. It was fairly cheap, too. I would buy this again.

• OPI Avojuice in Jasmine - Avojuice's are one of my favorite lotions, and I especially love the jasmine scented version.This lotion was really hydrating, but it never left my skin feeling greasy. I've got plenty of other lotions to use first, but I'd repurchase this in the future.

• Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in P.S. I Love You - This isn't completely gone, but it just doesn't smell the same anymore... a tell-tale sign that a product is expired. This was one of my favorite B&BW scents, but sadly it's discontinued. These triple body moisture creams are awesome and really hydrating. If it ever gets brought back, I'd buy this again.

• Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - You may recall seeing this in my recent Lush haul. This is a cult favorite body wash that comes out at Christmas, and this was my first time trying it. To be quite honest, I didn't like the scent much at all. It's super sickly sweet and just not my taste. I have one more bottle of it (I got sent another because this bottle leaked during shipping) which I'll use, but I wouldn't buy it again.

• Hello Anticavity Toothpaste in Supermint - This is a fairly new brand as far as I know, and I picked this up just out of curiosity. I do like natural toothpastes quite a bit, and this was really nice. My only complaint was the packaging made it quite difficult to get anything out once it started to run out. Because of the packaging, I wouldn't buy it again.

• Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer - I got this in a past Birchbox, and this deluxe sample size lasted me over a month! I really liked this, but the full-size is a bit spendy and I've got comparable drugstore alternatives I'd use instead of spending the money. If I did find it for a good deal, I would buy it.

• Wet n Wild Mega Liner in Black - Ya'll know I love this. I've bought it time and time again, and will continue to. 

• Benefit They're Real Mascara - I got this little sample in my Sephora birthday pack from last year. I know everyone raves about this mascara, but I really didn't enjoy using this sample. The brush was sharp and it tended to clump on me. I've heard that these little samples aren't the best way to judge this mascara, but I can't say I'd buy the full size any time soon.

• ChapStick Overnight Lip Treatment - This was nice. I used it every night before bed, and it left my lips feeling really soft and hydrated. I'd buy this again.

• Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Wildberry Freesia - You already know, I use these every time before I do my makeup. I liked it, this was a nice scent, but I'd probably try a new scent before buying this one again.

• ChapStick in Strawberry - Everyone knows these are just fine. I kept it in my desk at work and it did the trick of moisturizing my lips when I needed it. I've got plenty more of these, so I won't need to repurchase this any time soon. 

• Givenchy Very Irresistable Perfume sample - This smelled nice, but I don't think I like it enough to get a full-size. I'm not the greatest at describing scents, but it was floral and fresh. Not bad, but just not anything I absolutely need.

• The Country Corn Crib Soy Candle in Pomegranate Spice - These candles are made in Minnesota, and can often be found at craft shows in this area. This scent smelled SO good and had really great scent-throw. You can find them online here. 

• Soy Candle in Exotic Woods - You can read more about this candle in my February Favorites. I really liked it, and would purchase it again if it gets re-released. 

• Bath & Body Works Candle in Black Pepper Bergamot - I really love this scent, but these little candles are just silly. They don't burn very long, and don't put off much scent at all. I'd buy this in a bigger size, but not in this teeny tiny version again.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Burnin' Up! (New Series!)

I guess I fit the beauty blogger stereotype pretty well; not only do I love all things related to beauty, but I'm also a candle fanatic. (If you don't read many beauty blogs, these two loves tend to go hand in hand for many of us bloggers) However, even before Glazed Over was an idea in my head, I loved candles. That love comes from my mom, who has faithfully burned candles every night for as long as I can remember. There's just something so cozy and comforting about a candle burning in the background, and I (of course) love the subtle scent that they bring to my home. 

If you've read Glazed Over for a while, you've probably already had a hunch that I'm a candle lover... especially if you've seen my empties posts (like this one, or this one). But today I'm making some space for this love of mine on this blog with a new series called "Burnin' Up!" Here you'll see what candles I'm currently burning and loving! 

The two candles above are currently being burned in my home as we speak. The first is Green Tea by Yankee Candle. It appears this was a limited edition candle, but I actually got it at an outlet store so perhaps this is super old, but it's fairly new to me! When the last candle I was burning in my living room was finished, I pulled this one out to fit in theme with a tea-party wedding shower I'm throwing for my best friend this weekend! It smells great, and just like you're smelling a warm cup of green tea. I love it! Yankee Candle is my favorite candle brand, and this Green Tea candle does not disappoint!

The Sugar Blossom candle I received as a gift, but I do know you can get it at Target. I really love the scent of this, but unfortunately it doesn't throw off much scent once lit. I started burning it in my bathroom, hoping for the nice pleasant scent to drift in to my bedroom... but this one just doesn't quite cut it. I'll use it up, of course, but I can't say I'd buy it again. The majority (if not all) of Target's candles are manufactured by Illume (a Minnesota company - represent!), who also makes candles branded under that name that are a bit higher end. Their Target line is rather hit or miss, but the Illume brand itself seems wonderful and I like to browse their website now and then. 

Are you a candle lover, too? Let me know if you've tried either of these in the comments below!

Whiplash Eyelash Curler by Crave Naturals | Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I have long looked for an eyelash curler I like. I've tried many, and truth be told, I didn't spend much on my quest for the perfect eyelash curler as I continually tried new ones just to be let down yet again. What's the point investing in disappointment? When I was given the opportunity to try the Whiplash Eyelash Curler, I have to admit I was skeptical. Once I had it in my hands, I knew it was different. I mean - look at that packaging! The comic theme is so unique and fun and the product itself feels sturdy and high quality.

Just so you know where I'm coming from - I do have a natural curl to my lashes, but sometimes a girl wants a little oomph! Know what I mean? My lashes are nowhere near stick straight, but they can sometimes use a little help from a lash curler. 

This eyelash curler boasts some big claims: pinch-free, pain-free design (something I certainly look for!), 80% curlier lashes, a fit for every eye, and an ergonomic handle that allows every lash to fit in the top bar. 

As you can see, this curler has a little snap along the bottom and stylish pink grips. It has a really cool, unique design. I can attest that you can easily fit all lashes in the curler and there is no pinching. One of my biggest complaints with most curlers is the pinching, and it is nearly impossible to uncomfortably curl your lashes with the Whip Lash curler. 

I can't speak to the actual percentage of extra curl my lashes have when using this curler, but I do get a nice curl that is pain-free and even. 

This is easily my new favorite eyelash curler. I've never used a eyelash curler that could fit all of my eyelashes in the top bar, and doesn't pinch my eyelids until I tried the Whiplash curler. This was such a pleasant surprise and I'm thrilled to have been able to try it out! I mean it when I say this curler rocks. I only recommend products that I believe are good for my readers and rock my own world! 

You can purchase the Whiplash Eyelash Curler on Amazon here. It normally retails for $29, but it on sale now for just $15.88! If you are in the market for a great eyelash curler, give this a shot! You won't regret it. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

FOTD | Brunch

This past Sunday, a friend of mine invited a couple girls over for a brunch at her house. It was a really fun morning full of delicious food and great company. We dined on a pepper and artichoke frittata, apple cinnamon muffins and breakfast cookies. And of course, mimosas. What brunch would be complete without mimosas? 

I wanted a really fresh, simple look for this brunch and I thought I'd share with you what I used to achieve just that. 

• Face: I moisturized with Neutrogena Oil-Free moisturizer (not pictured) and followed up with Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch primer on areas of my face where my pores are larger than other areas. I then used Revlon's Nearly Naked foundation in shade 110 Ivory and applied it all over the face using my Sigma F80 flat-top kabuki brush. For blush, I used a Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Plum Wine, which adds a really natural flush to the cheeks. To set my foundation, and even over-top of my blush, I used the NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder in Transluscent. This isn't my favorite powder, but it's been in my collection for too long so I'm trying to use it up. 

• Eyes: I primed my eyelids first using Urban Decay's eye primer in Eden (not pictured - I have an icky sample packet I'm using). I then used the matte taupe color in the picture above called Like a Virgin (from the Too Faced Naked Eye Palette) to define my crease. On the rest of my eyelid, I used an Ulta eyeshadow in Seashell. This is the pinky gold color you see catching the light in the images above. For eyeliner, I use my tried and true favorite liquid eyeliner, Wet n Wild's Mega Liner in Black. For mascara, I applied one coat of Ulta Plush Drama mascara in Jet Black, followed by a coat of Pixi's Large Lash Mascara in Best Brown. 

• Eyebrows: To fill in my eyebrows, I used the NYX eyeshadow single in True Taupe. I love using this shadow for my brows because of the natural, full look it gives. To set them, I used Maybelline Great Lash clear gel. 

• Lips: With all the cold, dreary weather we've been having, I was craving a bright bold pink lip. I used a lipstick by Besame Cosmetics in the shade Exotic Pink (remember that lipstick?). Is that packaging amazing or what?!

What is your go-to brunch look?

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers

I'm a bit late to the game with this post, as the internet has been buzzing about these lip lacquers since they made their appearance in the UK as the Apocolips lacquers. (Which I still call them on accident all the time! Why they changed a good thing, I have no idea!) I don't know what took me so long, but as I perused the aisles of Shopko about a month ago, these lip lacquers caught my eye and I couldn't resist temptation any longer. 

These definitely live up to the hype. These lippies are creamy, mega-pigmented and absolutely beautiful on the lips. 

One of the coolest things about the Show Off Lip Lacquers is the unique doe-foot applicator. As you can see, there's a little divet where gloss pools. This makes it easy to get complete coverage with just a once-over.

The staying power isn't the greatest;I get about 2-3 hours before experiencing some fading and caking on the lips. They're hydrating for the first hour or so, for the time that they still feel glossy on the lip. Once you hit hours 2 and on, my lips do start to feel a bit dry - but I'm known for being reliant on chapstick. You may find these keep your lips thoroughly hydrated.

The only thing that peeves me slightly about these is the smell. It has the classic old lady lipstick smell, which is just a bummer. These would be so much more delightful if they smelled of vanilla, or basically anything but old lady lipstick smell. 

Here are the shades I have:

Product: 5/5

Pigmentation: 5/5

Texture: 5/5

Packaging:  5/5

These are a hit! I can look past the shorter wear time and old lady smell because of how comfortable these are on the lips, and the sheer beauty of the pigmentation and colors. I love these. I want to own every color in the line because they are that fantastic. I would highly recommend you try these out for yourself! Love love love!