Monday, November 24, 2014

KISS InstaWave | The Easiest Curls EVER!!





I'll be honest - I've never been very good at curling my hair. All through high school and even the early years of college, I'd pull out a curling iron and totally botch my hair style, never understanding how girls got their hair to look so effortlessly beautiful when curled. It wasn't until I was 22 when my best friend sat me down, and curled my hair for me and showed me EXACTLY what she was doing and what products she used. Then the lightbulb went off in my head - OHHH! That's how you do it!

But if I would have had the KISS InstaWave during my confused high school years, I think I would have been A-OK. Honestly, this is the simplest hair curling tool I have ever used and it makes curling your hair a complete and total breeze. Truth be told, when I was contacted about trying this product, I was hesistant because I'm not too gung-ho about all these new curling iron fads, but I agreed regardless and I am SO glad I did! (and let me be clear: despite being sent this product, I do not guarantee positive reviews, so this is a completely honest rave review! See my disclosure policy here.)



Above you'll see the easy, 4-step instructions. I'm not sure you even need to read these... it's that simple. Literally, all you need to do is put a section of hair against the barrel, and hold the arrowed button whichever way you want your curls to lay (going away from your face, or towards it). Hold the hair on the barrel for a few seconds and pull hair off diagonally, and boom - you've got a perfect curl! That's IT! I'm serious.


The outside grabby things (technical term, obviously) grab all the hair and help spin it around the barrel, while the closer grabby thing (see top pic for better visual) holds it all there as it curls. 

At first I thought there was no way it was going to hold my hair tight enough against the barrel, but it totally does!

And then I thought - well, that first one must have been a fluke, it's totally going to tangle my hair up. But it never did! I did my entire head and not once did my hair tangle around the barrel. 

And then the skeptic in me thought there was no way it was going to make an even curl that doesn't look tangly and gross, but it made the most perfect curl! See... I can prove it! The image below is the result from the picture above.



Ta-da! It's so simple. I've been struggling with curling my hair since chopping it "short" (short for me) and I have found the answer in the InstaWave!

Here's what the final result looks like. I like to brush my curls out to make them look a bit more natural, so that's what I did to achieve this look.




Some other cool features of the InstaWave? It automatically shuts off after 90 minutes (a plus if you're forgetful like I am), and it heats up to 420 F and has a high/lo setting (I used high, just as a reference).

I can honestly tell you, if you struggle with curling your hair (because I can NOT be bothered with anything but curling wands.... the clippy thing on curling irons just does not work for me.) or you want a curling iron that's totally foolproof - this is the answer. I am honestly in love with this thing and I am excited to finally have an easy way to achieve amazing curls that last!

You can purchase the KISS InstaWave at three different locations - Target, Ulta and Amazon. It retails for $60, but it looks like it's on sale for just $49.99 at Target if you buy now! 

Let me know if you've tried this curling iron or if you plan to! I'd love to know how you like it!

Friday, November 21, 2014

November Ipsy


If this is the first time you've seen one of my Ipsy posts, here's the down and dirty details: Ipsy is a monthly subscription service that delivers bags of beauty samples to your door for just $10 per month! If you are at all interested, give it a shot by signing up here

Here's what came in my Ipsy bag this month!

Temptu S/B Highlighter: This is a sheer highlighter that is transfer-resistant and light reflecting. Use this on cheeks, nose & forehead or body.

ClariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Instant Glow Powder Exfoliant: This exfoliator is 100% natural and is formulated with almond flour, sea salt, rose powder and orange peel powder. Use this to buff away dead skin and impurities to reveal vibrant skin. 

Be a Bombshell Eye Base in Submissive: This eye base is very similar to the Maybelline Color Tattoos, especially the color "Bad to the Bronze". It's lighter and less pigmented though. It can be used alone, or underneath shadows for extra intensity.

Nicole by OPI Nail Polish in Guys & Galaxies: This color is an Ipsy exclusive! It's comprised of iridescent silver glitter pieces and ultra small silver glitter.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oill Volume Shine Hair Spray: This product has two purposes - to nourish and style. It's infused with keratin, grape seed oil, and argan oil to nourish, strengthen and condition the hair while holding your locks in place. 


Are you an Ipsy subscriber? What did you get in your bag? Let me know!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Burnin' Up #5


Despite the snow on the ground here in MN, it's still fall scent season in my house, and I've got two really great scents burning that are making my home smell simply amazing.

The scent I've been burning in my kitchen is Warm Tobacco Pipe by DW Home. I got this scent at Marshalls and immediately fell in love upon first whiff. I love tobacco notes in cologne and candles. Warm Tobacco Pipe has a smokey scent that smells warm and inviting, without smelling like someone's actually pulling out a pipe and smoking in your home. It's a really nice fall scent and it has a delicate scent throw that's just enough to give a room a cozy scent without being overwhelming.

In my bathroom, I've got one of my all time favorite candles burning - Witches Brew by Yankee Candle. This has a very strong patchouli scent (an all time favorite scent of mine) but it's a bit sweeter and less herbal than Yankee Candle's actual "Patchouli" candle. This is released for Halloween each year, and then it goes away, but it can almost always be found in their outlet stores.


What are you burning? Have you tried either of these candles? Let me know!

Monday, November 17, 2014

Empties #9

Here's my trash from the last 2 months. Shall we get right to it?



Yes to Tomatoes Volumizing Shampoo - I like most everything I've tried from the Yes To brand, this shampoo included. It had a really nice, dare I say, feminine (?) scent (my husband used it and liked it, too) but I didn't really notice it giving my hair much volume. Despite that, my hair felt clean and it was enjoyable to use. 
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Fruity & Cheeky Cherry - I'm a big fan of Batiste dry shampoos. They do a good job of allowing me "clean" hair for a couple days post-wash. The cherry scent was subtle and didn't linger in the hair.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Pantene Ice Shine Shampoo - I have had this in the closet forever and finally used it up. This is a super basic shampoo. I didn't notice my hair being shinier than normal, but that was OK by me. I prefer a bit more moisture from my shampoos, so this wasn't my favorite, but it certainly wasn't bad. 
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Kiss My Face Big Body Conditioner - This is an all natural conditioner. I've tried many natural conditioners that I've loved, but this one doesn't quite make the cut. I didn't find this to be very nourishing, and the scent was just OK. 
Would I repurchase? Probably not.



Beauty Secrets Acetone Nail Polish Remover - This is the Sally Beauty brand of acetone polish remover. Even though acetone is quite harsh for the nails and cuticles, it cuts out half the time when removing pesky polish. I prefer using it over non-acetone removers, and I liked this brand.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Honey Body Scrub in Wild Iris & Honey - This sugar scrub was really enjoyable to use. It left a nice oil on the skin and the scent lasted for a couple hours after using it. I'd never tried scrubs from B&BW before, and after trying this one I definitely want to try more!
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser - I used this cleanser in the mornings as it's very gentle. I don't think it would be something I'd use in the evening as I prefer a heavier-duty cleanser then, but for mornings it was nice. It didn't break my skin out and it didn't leave a film behind on the skin.
Would I repurchase? Yes.



B&BW Dreamy Vanilla Woods Shower Gel - Wowza, this is an old fragrance from B&BW! This guy has been sitting in my closet for way too long, practically begging to be used up. It's a very sweet autumnal scent but I admit it got a bit sickening, so because of that I wouldn't get it again if they re-release this scent.
Would I repurchase? No.

Garnier Expert Exfoliator Daily Exfoliating Gel - This is a very gently exfoliator so if you like to exfoliate every day, this is for you. It leaves the skin with a cold feeling that can burn if your skin is dry, or even hurt if you rub it around on your face too long. It was nice for the time being, but I've found other products I like better.
Would I repurchase? No.

Nourish Organic Deodorant in Almond Vanilla - This is the best all natural deodorant I've ever tried. It is very lightly scented (so if you're someone who needs to mask BO this scent isn't the one for you) and it didn't make my armpits smell bad the way so many natural deodorants do. My one gripe (and I don't know if I just got a bad bottle) is that the texture is gritty. It actually kind of hurt to apply at times. It never irritated my armpits to the point of pain, but it was strange and not comfortable when applying. Regardless, I still loved it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.



Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry - This was a sample from a past Birchbox. I didn't care for the very fake blueberry smell, but it worked really nicely. I've never seen this in stores, but if I did I would consider purchasing it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment - This product made a past favorites post, that's how much I loved it. For the warmer summer months, this eye cream was my jam, but when the colder fall months hit it wasn't quite moisturizing enough. I still really enjoyed using it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Anti-bacs in Sweet Clementine and Ice Cream Dream - I always have these in my empties, as I use them prior to applying my makeup to ensure my hands are germ-free. Sweet Clementine had a clean citrus scent and Ice Cream Dream was sweet and heavenly.
Would I repurchase? Yes.



It's So Big Mascara by Elizabeth Mott - This mascara came in a previous Ipsy bag and it was surprisingly really good. It did make my lashes look big and voluminous without compromising length and separation. It flaked a tiny bit, but not enough for me to completely write it off as a bad mascara.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Eye Base - I'm willing to bet I got a bad sample of this, because it was hardly usable. It caked all over my eyelids and did nothing to enhance and hold my eyeshadows. 
Would I repurchase? Probably not.

Juicy Couture Perfume - I have to say, I think I'm officially over Juicy Couture perfumes. I never did care too much for the original scent, as I find it a bit too floral for my taste. I just wasn't a big fan of this.
Would I repurchase? No.

Maybelline The Colossal Volum Express Cat Eyes Mascara - In a previous post, I believe I said I enjoyed this mascara. Well, times have changed because I could not get through this tube. This is being thrown before its time because it made my lashes clumpy and it was hard to work with.
Would I repurchase? No.

TheBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen - This was a really pretty rosy lip stain that gave a perfect glow to my lips. It won't hydrate your lips, but it will stain them a beautiful color that lasts and lasts. I really enjoyed using this little sample, but unfortunately it dried up before I could use it all.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara - I use this to set my eyebrows. It works good, it's cheap. Not much more to say.
Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.



Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes - These are a tried and true makeup wipe that I come back to often. They are moist and gentle and work great to get all my makeup off of my face.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

L'Oreal Laquer Liner in Blackest Black - I didn't completely use this up but it's old and hard and I've had enough of it. It wasn't creamy and easy to work with, it was always kind of hard and tough to get enough of on your brush. 
Would I repurchase? No.

Caudelie Premier Cru Eye Cream - This little sample was really nice. It felt smooth and hydrating on my eyes, but it is definitely too far on the pricey side for me to purchase this anytime soon.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Chapsticks in Spearmint and Strawberry - These are good plain lip balms that hydrate the lips. I think anyone and everyone has tried these. They're cheap and they do the job.
Would I repurchase? Yes.



Trader Joe's Antiplaque Toothpaste with Fennel, Propolis & Myrrh - Buyer beware! If you don't like licorice, don't buy this. It tastes like black jelly beans. I happen to like licorice, so this was fine with me, but I probably won't buy it again because I prefer a minty toothpaste.
Would I repurchase? Maybe.

OPI Avojuices in Raspberry Violet and Jasmine Juicie - I really like these hand creams. They make your hands ridiculously smooth without feeling heavy or greasy. They won't penetrate the driest, cracked hands, but if you need a little boost of moisture, these will work great. The jasmine scent is my favorite from all the many I've tried of these.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Hand Cream in Magical Leaves - This had a really nice fresh scent that lasted just long enough (i.e. just long enough that it wasn't offensive). It moisturized really nicely and what can I say - it looked cute on my desk at work! I love the packaging of the L'Occitane hand creams!
Would I repurchase? Yes.



Michael Todd Wild Rose Petal Creamy Body Wash - I had high hopes for this as I love the smell of rose, but this had an old lady sickening rose scent to it. It lathered nicely, but I couldn't get past the scent.
Would I repurchase? No.

GlamGlow Supermud Treatment - It was fun to finally try this product without having to shell out the expensive dough on a full sized tub. I thought it was nice and my skin did feel great, but I do think there are other mud masks that work just as nicely and won't break the bank.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

FAB Face Cleanser - I don't know what I expected this product to be, but it wasn't this. I know people rave about how great this is, but I just didn't find it to be anything special. I had been considering buying this cleanser, but once I tried it I just wasn't very impressed.
Would I repurchase? No.

Benefit The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine Powder - I really liked using this! It set my foundation nicely without looking cakey or too powdery. 
Would I repurchase? Yes.

L'Oreal Revitalift Instensive Overnight Mask - This product claims to show results within just one use. I didn't notice a single change or difference in my skin, even after using it 3-4 times. It was heavily scented which I didn't like as well.
Would I repurchase? No.

StriVectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles - I've tried this before and I like it. It does a nice job of smoothing fine lines.
Would I repurchase? Yes.



Sonoma Lifestyle candle in Woodland Walk - This candle is from Kohl's and OH MY WORD. It smelled heavenly. It's the epitome of fall scents, leaning more towards a perfume scent than spicy. I absolutely loved it and hope it's released again.
Would I repurchase? Yes.

Diamond Candle in Pomegranate Lemonade - I did a whole review of this candle here. It was fun to burn this and find the ring inside.
Would I repurchase? Yes.


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

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Benefit Cheeky Sweet Spot Box O' Blushes


I bring to you the Benefit Box O' Blushes, AKA the reason you need to run to your local Sephora RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. NOW. Especially if you're a blush lover, like myself. I don't know if there's some sort of technical error or if the limited edition window is up, but I can't even find this on Sephora's website anymore, so listen to me when I say RUN TO YOUR LOCAL SEPHORA NOW!!! 


This limited edition holiday gift set is the first chance you have to get all of Benefit's blushes together in one amazing box, and it will only put you out $36! That's some serious savings, considering a single Benefit blush retails for $28. These blushes are a bit smaller than a full-size, but who need an entirely full size when you have 6 awesome blushes?


The Box O' Blushes comes with the following shades: Dandelion, Bellabamba, Sugarbomb, Hoola (bronzer), Coralista (a personal favorite of mine), Benefit's most recent release: Rockateur, and a mini Watt's Up highlighter. 



Here's what these beauties look like. The swatches above are top to bottom, left to right with the highlighter on the far right.

I am in love. Benefit makes some of the best blushes I've ever tried, they have a nice fragrance to them (a fun quirk of the brand!) and the shades are so flattering on literally everyone! I would highly recommend them, whether you buy them in this box or individually.


Did you splurge on this box o' blushes? What other holiday sets are on your wish list this year? Let me know!

Monday, November 10, 2014

MEMEBOX Superbox #55: Free From Oil & Trouble 4





Last week on my Instagram account, I alluded to a post that would be coming to Glazed Over shortly. I have to admit, I've been so excited about this post that I couldn't even draw out the suspense any further - today I've got for you my very first Memebox review!

What is Memebox (prononounced Mi-Mi Box), you ask? Memebox is the #1 beauty box provider in Korea - offering boxes full of awesome Korean cosmetic samples. Memebox carries 4 main types of beauty boxes: Memebox, Memebox Special Editions, Superbox and Luckybox, as well as full-sized items in their shop.

Memeboxes are not monthly subscription based, but rather selected upon release, so you never have to be disappointed! When you register at us.memebox.com, you'll get emails alerting you to new boxes being released, and you can choose whether or not the box suits you and if you'd like to purchase one. It's awesome!

Take a look through this post, and if you like what you see, I've got a coupon code to save you money! COUPON CODE:  Use code 1NQ1JQ at checkout to save $5 off your purchase of $30+! This code is good through Nov. 30, so make sure to order now to save some dough!

This month, I got the Superbox #55: Free From Oil & Trouble 4. Superboxes carry full-sized products catered to specific needs. Truth be told, I do have oily skin and am always on the look out for ways to cut down the amount of oil my skin produces. Here's what my Memebox came with:




Pro You Aroma AC Cream - This cream consists of green tea, grapefuit and other beneficial extracts that work to tighten up pores and control sebum. One thing I really like about this cream is that is contains essential oils like juniper berry, lavender and tea tree to soothe and purify irritated skin.

Benenet Herb & Bee A.C. Control Serum - This serum contains bee venom (eek!) which is supposed to repair and protect the skin. It is also formulated with herbal extracts like sophora root, eucalyptus, grapefruit, citron, and clove flower to maintain healthy skin.

The Skin House Dr. Clear Magic Toner - This is a spray toner that is said to soothe blemishes and balance the skin's moisture level. It's enriched with tea tree extracts for a healthier complexion. 



ideeB Goodbye Oil Compact - This is a translucent powder for keeping oil at bay, and is good for all skin shades. This is the perfect thing to throw in your bag for use on the go.

insobeau Acnic Blemish Spot Solution - This formula is half liquid, half pink powder, and can be used to target blemishes on the skin. This reminds me of a Korean version of the Mario Badescu drying lotion. 

Lindsay Linzy Egg Pack - HOW COOL IS THIS?! These 2 "eggs" are soaps. The white egg is made from real egg whites and witch hazel for cleansing and unclogging pores. The red egg is made with red clay and NMF complex to tighten pores.  These are meant to be used together. So fun!

BONUS - I also got sent this Halloween box (Superbox #59 Halloween Special), but since the package came after Halloween was over, it's kind of a bust, but I still wanted to show you what I got!



This Halloween Superbox came with a variety of fun things to spruce up any costumed look. 

There are three face colors: REVECEN Face Control Foundation which can be used to white out the face. It's suitable for all skin types and contains just natural preservatives like green tea extract and magnolia extract so it's nice and gentle on the skin.

REVECEN Cake Eye Liner in Black is a hard powder type formula that can be used as an eyeshadow, OR you can mix in a bit of water to make it a gel-like eyeliner. Cool that it can be used wet or dry! REVECEN Supra Lining Color in Purple is a face and body paint that can be used for a variety of looks. 

This box also includes REVECEN Eye Lashes, as well as REVECEN Liquid Lipstick in Blood. The lipstick is designed to resemble blood, and can be used on the lips or to mimic blood  elsewhere for a scary costume that includes a bloody scar or bleeding eyes, or whatever you want to bleed... ahh!

On top you'll see a couple different fake tattoos. On the left are the LALANC Real Tattoos which are easy to apply, long lasting and waterproof. On the right are Elizavecca Lip Tattoos, which I find to be a hilarious concept! These are actually made for use on your lips!



Have you ever bought a Memebox? Let me know your thoughts and whether you like these kinds of posts!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Azara Organics - Organic Seaweed Powder





I'm always down to try something new, even if it seems wacky or different. This is just the case with this Azara Organics Organic Seaweed Powder, something totally new in my beauty world. But when offered to chance to give it a whirl, I couldn't resist.

Seaweed powder has long been used to achieve soft and supple skin and to detoxify the body, according to Azara Organics. This seaweed powder comes from the North Atlantic and has been tested to ensure consistency and quality. 



This powder can be used as both a face and body mask. When testing this product, I used it solely for my face. Use is simple, just add in a teaspoon of water to 2 teaspoons of seaweed. To combat the, well, seaweed smell, drop in some essential oils if you have them on hand, and then smear the product on your face. Unfortunately, when I used it I didn't have any essential oils on hand and I had to get a whiff of seaweed for the 15 minutes it sat on my face. Highly recommend scenting this stuff with something when you use it.

As the mask dries, it starts to feel slightly tight on the skin, but it feels nice and cooling. I left it on for the recommended 15 minutes and then washed off with warm water. This does get gritty and sort of sticks to the skin so I really had to scrub to get it off. Because of that, it had a nice exfoliating quality (although I'm not sure if it's really supposed to) and it left my skin feeling soft and smooth. 

After washing the mask off, I used some toner on a cotton pad to make sure I'd gotten all remnants of the mask off. I'd recommend doing so to make sure your face is 100% clean. Afterwards I used a face oil as my face felt like it needed some extra nourishment after the mask. 



This certainly isn't the best mask I've ever tried. I think it was nice, and again - my skin did feel soft and supple as it was supposed to afterward. However, I didn't like how sticky it was on my skin. I think for some of you, this will be the answer you're looking for - especially if you are looking for a full body mask, but it just wasn't something my skin really needs in it's regimen. 

You can find this mask on Amazon, here. Normally it retails for $49.95 which I find to be a steep price, but it is on sale for $17.95 for Prime members.


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.

Monday, November 3, 2014

October Favorites


I'm sad to see October go! October is one of my all-time favorite months and I absolutely love Halloween and the beautiful autumn weather that typically graces the month of October. But it's a bittersweet end, because the end of this month means Thanksgiving and (more importantly) CHRISTMAS are on the way! So sadly and happily, I say SAYONARA to October. And the end of the month means only one thing - faves time!!

Here's what I loved this month:

  • AuraCacia Pillow Potion - This is a pillow mist made out of a blend of essential oils and water. I have to say, I'm getting more and more in to essential oils, and I REALLY like the smell of this mix. Each night before bed I spritz a few sprays of this Pillow Potion across my pillow and blanket, and I find it to be really relaxing and it helps me sleep. I purchase this off of VitaCost.com (also a favorite this month!) for a great price - all their stuff is sold cheaper than I can find it in stores. Click here to sign up for VitaCost and receive a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $30 or more!
  • Wet n Wild H20 Proof Liquid Eyeliner - I've professed my love for the Wet n Wild Mega Liner liquid eyeliner many a time on this blog, but I also love the waterproof version. I feel like I need to say that I don't love it as much as it's non-waterproof counterpart, but it is pretty darn good. It has a tiny bit of shine, which I don't love, but this stuff does not budge. It's amazing. If you're in need of a waterproof liquid eyeliner for a day you plan to get a little misty (weddings, sappy movie date, etc.) this is the one for you. It costs under $5, too - oh yeah!
  • Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne - I did a full review of this here so I'll keep it short and sweet. This is the quintessential fall perfume. It's sexy and earthy, and it could work for women or men. 
  • Bath & Body Works Comfort Pumpkin Latte & Marshmallow Triple Moisture Body Cream - You might remember this from my fall B&BW haul, and I speculated that this might be too sweet to use frequently. BOY WAS I WRONG. This stuff is amazing. The part of me that prefers to use natural skincare hates the part of me that loves B&BW's Triple Moisture Body Creams, but dayum... they're just great. This one smells really nice and spicy on the skin, and leaves my skin feeling so soft and hydrated. Highly recommend this scent if you're a fall scent lover.
  • Covergirl TruBlend Minerals in Shimmering Sands - This is a totally old product that I'm absolutely in love with. (see it in use here) This is a light shimmery pinky-gold powder that I use on my cheekbones, prior to going in with a pink blush on the apples of my cheeks. It adds that dewy look to the cheeks without looking like a disco ball, and the end result is stunning. I don't even know if this stuff is still for sale, but when I run out someday I will be running out to get this again wherever I can.


What did you love in October? Let me know!
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