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! 

Quick Look: Essie - Jamaica Me Crazy

Here is a polish I've been lusting over for quite some time. It's nothing new or unseen, but it's just something I've had my eyes on. This is two coats of Essie's Jamaica Me Crazy. Don't you just love that name? This color is a beautiful, bright magenta filled with shimmer. I feel like the pictures I've seen make the shimmer look so much more pronounced than it actually looks on my own nails. It has a shimmery quality to it, but it doesn't take away from the color or catch the light intensely. I want to see how great this would look on my toes next.

Overall this is a great formula. It applied easily and smoothly, and didn't chip for 3 or 4 days. I couldn't ask for much more. 

What do you think?

Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigments Review & Swatches - Buff & Tuff and Barely Brazen

Maybelline has some fun brand new products in their Color Tattoo line for fall 2013! Say hello to Maybelline Pure Pigments, something different in the drugstore cosmetics selection. Pigments have come and gone in popularity throughout the years, but these are pretty unique considering the current selection. These come in 0.05 oz pots for $5.99 each - I found mine at Target.

There are a multitude of colors, ranging from bright, pigmented purples, pinks, yellows - you name it, to gorgeous neutrals. And if you're a fan of everyday neutrals (like myself), you're in luck. And the two I'm about to show you are must-haves for the neutral fanatic.

#60 Buff & Tuff

Buff & Tuff is a really pretty bronze-brown with golden glitter that pops. This is a decently pigmented shade, however I did experience lots of fallout from the glitter, even using a primer and applying the pigment with a wet brush. I did wear it over Tease from the Naked 2 palette, so I'm not sure if it was due to that, or if the glitter was bound to fall regardless. While  this applied really fresh and bold, it did show signs of wear and fading within 4-5 hours. With enough playing around, I think the perfect balance can be found to negate the fading and fallout.  

#55 Barely Brazen

Barely Brazen is my favorite of these two colors. In the pot it appears to be more peachy gold than it does in the swatches. It shows up on the skin as an ultra-shimmery peachy nude pink that really catches the light. This color makes for an excellent sheer highlight, or inner corner pop on the eyes. You have to be careful about fallout with this color as well, however the entire color is shimmery unlike Buff & Tuff which has extra glitter that is prone to major fallout. Barely Brazen is a fast favorite.

The other neutral I didn't grab is called Breaking Bronze, and from the images I've seen, it's equally as gorgeous as these two colors. I'd give these two colors a thumbs up, and recommend giving them a try if you're in the market for some awesome eye colors.

What are your thoughts? Will you give them a try? Let me know in the comments. 

OPI - Big Hair... Big Nails

Today I've got an oldie but a goodie, and one I've never tried. It's called Big Hair...Big Nails (LOVE that name) and it's from OPI's Texas Collection which came out in spring of 2011. 

To me, this color screams SUMMER not spring, but that's really beside the point. This is a gorgeous pinkish orange jelly. The application was very smooth and easy to work with. As with most jellies, one coat would not be enough, unless you like the streaky nail look. I used three coats and as you can see, I still have some visible nail line (jellies like Big Hair...Big Nails finish kind of see through).

If you like this color, you might also like Kate by Zoya or Coraline which is also a Zoya polish. I think the plain old jelly fad has kind of passed (now on to jelly sandwiches - layering glitters with jellies) but I still think they're really fun, and this color is certainly really pretty. What do you think?

June Favorites!

June favorites are here and I have some truly awesome things to share with you this month. If you missed my May Favorites and aren't quite sure what this is all about, my "favorites" posts are a selection of products I have reached for over and over again over the past month, and I usually include a mini review as well. Here goes nothing...

 

Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in 215 Watermelon Twist

First up is a lip "balm" (I say that in quotations only because it is far more pigmented than most "balms") that I am absolutely in love with. As you can see, it provides a really good coverage, it's a gorgeous bright pink, and let me tell you - it is perfect for summer. These are hydrating and shiny, and I would highly recommend them. You can find these at most drugstores for about $7-8 each, and they come in 14 different shades. 

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in 008 Candy Pink

If Barbie had a favorite lipstick, I imagine this would be it. I hate to share this because I think this might be a discontinued product line, replaced by the relatively new Revlon Lip Butters, BUT I HAD TO. It is seriously so awesome. It is a sheer pink color that is buildable to a good pink coverage. The nice thing about this product is you don't need a mirror to apply it - it's a good one to keep in the purse for apply-and-go lip color.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in Ivory

It's been a while since I've changed up my foundation routine, but after hearing nothing but good things about this foundation from some YouTube "beauty gurus" that I watch, I finally caved and picked it up. What the HECK was I waiting for? This stuff is an instant favorite. The 3-in-1 means this foundation functions as a primer, concealer and foundation. The things I love most about it are that it has full coverage without having to apply a ton of product (total necessity with hot summer weather), it lasts all day long, and the pump bottle applicator rocks. I'm in love. You can find this at most drugstores for around $10.

L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in Blackest Black

Perhaps you've heard others praise the amazingness of the Telescopic mascara line, and if so - you can add me right in to this group of lovers. I'm not sure if you can still pick up the Clean Definition version of this product (I believe Shocking Extensions is the latest version of this mascara) but you can find it at times at stores like Big Lots. This mascara draws out your lashes, separates them, and makes them look so long and full without looking clumpy. The skinny brush makes it easy to apply in all sections of your eye, whether its the inner corner of your lashes or the long outer corner lashes. A must have mascara, for sure.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in 25 Bad to the Bronze

Helllooooo awesome cream eyeshadows! This line rocks my freaking socks off. I own a handful of these colors, but my favorites from this line include this one, Bad to the Bronze, because it is an easy everyday color. (Mix this with Barely Branded and you're set for the day!) These cream shadows are super pigmented, easy to use, and they really do last alllll day long without creasing. These are a great, and much cheaper, alternative to MAC's paint pots. You can find these at drugstores for around $6.

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in Blushing Nude

Since I bought this blush earlier in June, I have not been able to put it away. This is a seriously great product. The multi-colored aspect of it allows for easy blending and it adds a very natural looking definition to the cheeks. This is a great product to use when you're doing an all-over natural face look. You can find this product at most drugstores for around $10.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil 

When I first heard of this product I was like "put pure oil.... ON MY FACE?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" And then I did my research and found that this oil won't clog your pores, and is actually filled with antioxidants that help soothe blemishes or acne. This is one oil that your face will absorb nicely, so it won't sit on your skin and feel oily and gross. Maracuja oil is also supposed to help with fine lines and wrinkles. I use this nightly, primarily around my eyes to mega-moisturize that area and fight off any future wrinkles and fine lines. Now and then I use it on my whole face which feels divine. This stuff is kind of pricey (I got it in a gift set, which was basically the price of one of these bottles alone), running about $45. If this is too much for your budget, you can get maracuja oil MUCH cheaper if you buy it without a brand name attached.

Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips

Lippies are my weakness, and nothing is worse than putting on lipstick with gross peely dry lips. That problem is solved completely thanks to this awesome product by Lush (a favorite brand of mine). Essentially, this is a sugar scrub for your lips. You take a tiny bit out, scrub it all around, and then lick it off (it's all natural, baby!). It tastes just like you would imagine it would, and it works a freakin' miracle on my lips. You can get Lush's lip scrubs at any Lush store, or online at their website. They run around $9 each. 

What products have you been loving this month? And do you love any of these same products? Let me know in the comments below. :) 

June Birchbox - Wanderlust

It's here, it's here! My June Birchbox is here, and it comes with an updated logo and branding. This month's box is all about wanderlust, or traveling - it includes samples to serve one well on any summer adventure. Let's dive in...

Color Club Nail Polish in Mod in Manhattan | Full-size: $8

This color is part of an exclusive collection created by Birchbox and Color Club called the Wanderlust Collection which was inspired by four of Birchbox's favorite cities. Mod in Manhattan is a milky off-white that appears to have the slightest tint of pink in it. I have to say I'm not the least bit excited about this color. I don't like my nails being all white - to me that looks like pure white-out, and is a bit sophomoric.  I like Color Club polishes a lot, but I'm not sure I'll be wearing this any time soon.

--What I love: The brand - Color Club polishes are a favorite of mine. 

--What I can live without: The color!

Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo | Full-size: $24

My first thought upon seeing this sample was how pleased I was by the size. I mean, when you get shampoo or conditioner samples in the little rip off packages, there's never enough product to truly tell how well you like it. But THIS is a good size! This shampoo has a really fresh natural scent that I love. This product claims to soften and nourish hair, especially dry and frizzy hair. I will definitely take this little sample with me while traveling, but I can guarantee you I wouldn't spend $24 on a full size bottle of this - outrageous. 

--What I love: The branding. I'm in love with this packaging - simple and modern.

--What I can live without: The price of a full-size bottle. 

Oscar de la Renta Perfume in Something Blue | Full-size: $85-115

Marked by a blend of mandarin and linden blossoms, Something Blue by Oscar de la Renta has summer scent written all over it! It seems most of the beauty world hates getting perfume samples, but I'm part of the minority that loves getting them! Unfortunately, this scent reminds me of a perfume from the Gap that I had in middle school. Considering I'm in my mid-20s, I'd like to think my scents have matured a bit since then.  

--What I love: Nothing, really. Boo.

--What I can live without: The aggravating sample packaging - I prefer spray samples, but this is the pop off top container. I can live without the scent, too. 

suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser | Full-size: $32.95

This product from suki is a two-in-one cleanser and exfoliater that lathers and smells like lemons. I like the scent a lot and I'm betting I can get a couple uses out of this sample - awesome! This is a brand I've never heard of before, but I'm looking forward to trying it out. 

--What I love: The scent and the two-in-one awesomeness.

--What I can live without: The price of the full-sized item - crazy talk. 

Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner | Full-size: $27.50

Another product from Davines, but am I missing something? Why in the world did I get a massive shampoo sample but my conditioner sample surely won't be enough to cover even a fourth of my hair?!?! This is one of my biggest pet peeves regarding samples - this little bit of conditioner will never give me an impression of your product, so why would I waste my time? Not sure I'll even bother trying this one out. If it were as big as the shampoo sample, it would be perfect.

What I love: I like that I got both the shampoo and conditioner to try out.

What I can live without: The sample size and packaging - total fail.

Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion | Full-size: $40

Yet another Davines product - and this one I'm really looking forward to trying. This oil claims to instantly tame frizz and strengthen hair over time. I'm prone to frizzy hair, so I will certainly get some use out of this. Considering how little oil you need to use in one application, I should get a good amount of use from this sample. 

--What I love: I love hair oils, hoping to love this once I try it, too.

--What I can live without: The packaging. A tube would have been much more convenient for multiple uses.

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Overall, I expected more from this Birchbox. After the announcement of their rebranding, which came about a week or two before I received this box, I expected they'd kick off their first newly branded box with some stellar products. The variety of brands and the tiny product samples were disappointing, and I'm not so sure it was worth my $10. 

On another related note, I signed up for Ipsy - a subscription service similar to Birchbox, but it appears you get much more value from the $10 a month price point. I'll get my first "glam bag" (as they call it) in July, and I can't wait to share it with you. A battle of the subscription services will have to happen... stay tuned...

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** This post contains my referral link. If you click on the link and sign up, I will earn credit towards Birchbox products.

Zoya - Jancyn

Have I got a color for you - not for the faint of heart! This is a true, bold tangerine orange. Meet Zoya's Jancyn.

Orange is my favorite color, so I have no problem sporting this bright summer color with pride. For those of you who don't fancy a bright pop of orange, you might want to stay away. This is two coats of Jancyn, a cream finish polish. I've never had a bad word to say about Zoya, and this is no exception. Pure perfection; this is my ideal polish. 

Jancyn is a very opaque color. One coat got good coverage, but two coats is flawless. This orange is not quite neon, but it reminds me of bright hunting orange. It's loud and in your face. It doesn't have much place in a conservative office setting, if that's something you have to worry about. Luckily, no one said a peep about this color at my office! :) 

This color is the perfect way to ring in the summer weather we're finally getting here in MN! 

OPI - DS Reserve

This beauty is from my favorite OPI collection of all time, the Designer Series collection. This gorgeous pink is called DS Reserve, and it's been a long time favorite polish of mine. It's a very feminine looking pink that's jam packed with holographic glitter. This is a great color for those who work in more conservative offices, but it's much more fun than your standard work-appropriate pink. 

The formula is very smooth and thin and goes on easily. I used two coats and topped it off with a coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat, and unfortunately it has chipped on the nail line a little bit within only two days. 

While the Designer Series OPI polishes are a bit pricey compared to other OPIs, they're well worth it. They're absolutely gorgeous in the summer, and you'll be staring at your fingers any time the light hits them! I'd highly recommend them if you don't have any in your collection.

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May Favorites!

Now that May is officially over and we've welcomed in June (a chilly and rainy June here in MN so far), I wanted to share with you the products I've been coming back to again and again over the last month. I love reading blogs about people's monthly favorites and watching these videos on Youtube, so I thought I'd give it a go myself! Let's get right to it...

e.l.f. Powder Brush

First up is a brush from Eyes Lips Face, which I think cost me all of $3. While this is technically a powder brush, I use it for blush and it works wonderfully! Of all the blush brushes I have (many more expensive than $3), this is one of my all time favorites. It's super soft but dense enough to really grip blush and apply it evenly and easily. I'd highly recommend it. 

 

NYX Blush in Peach

I'm pretty sure I grabbed this blush every single day this month - you can tell by the dent I've put in to it. Being as fair skinned as I am, not all peachy blush tones complement my skin, but this is the perfect pinky peach to give my cheeks a healthy glow. I own a couple of these NYX blushes, and the formula is just perfect; they're not too powdery and they blend in nice with the skin. This is a great shade for spring.

NYX Butter Gloss in Merengue 

As many of you know, I've got endless amounts of lip products. I could use a different one every day for days on end, so you know it's high praise when I say I grabbed this over and over again in May. These butter glosses from NYX are one of my favorite lip products ever; they're super soft, moisturizing, they smell amazing and they add the perfect amount of color to the lips. Merengue is a really pretty pink with a hint of purple. This tone works really great with my natural lip color, creating a soft pinkish nude lip. I'm going to do a review on these butter glosses, so keep an eye out for that coming soon!

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Fair

I have tried every concealer you can think of in an attempt to find my holy grail go-to product, and my search has ended here with this concealer by Tarte. I've already purchased a back up because I don't want to be without it for even a day! I use this to conceal blemishes and hyper-pigmentation, and although I haven't used it as an under-eye concealer I can tell it would be really great for dark circles. This is a very hydrating (hence the maracuja oil in the name) natural concealer that has become a staple in my makeup bag this past month.

Wet n Wild Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Another go-to long time favorite that has made it's way back in to my makeup bag is this liquid eyeliner by Wet n Wild. I have used this eyeliner for ages (although I did stray from it to try other things during the larger portion of last year) because the price can't be beat - it's no more than $4 max. I love this eyeliner because it is a very opaque black, and has a flexible brush applicator. It lasts all day, but be warned - it does run or smudge easily if you have watery eyes.

Maybelline Colorsensational High Shine Gloss in Punch of Pink

I hate to show you a limited edition product that I don't believe can be found anymore, but it really was a May favorite so I had to throw it in! Let me say this, it is too bad this is a limited edition product because this gloss rocks. It's a gorgeous true pink that looks really fun on the lips. Even better, it's moisturizing and long lasting. The only thing I don't like is the unnaturally long doefoot applicator, which is much longer than any other I've seen. It makes for an awkward application, but other than that, I give this an A+. 

OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener

Believe it or not, I had not used this product ever until this past month. I'd heard good things about it all over the place, so when my Barielle ridge filler base coat started getting low, I picked this up and I'm so glad I did. I can really tell a difference in my nail strength when wearing this, which is awesome as I typically have weak nails that are prone to breaking. It's a bit pricey, but it's definitely worth every penny.

What were your May favorites? 

Quick Look: China Glaze - Creative Fantasy

This was one heck of a polish to photograph. My camera insisted on making it look blue, and even in this picture which is ALMOST the right color, it still looks bluer than in reality. Creative Fantasy is part of China Glaze's Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away collection which had a lot of fun colors, but of which I own only one.  This polish is described as neon purple, and has a jelly finish (which I love). I'm wearing three coats, and topped it off with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat. Just one coat is horribly streaky, and two is almost right. Three is the magic number. 

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(Funny side note - my husband took it upon himself to see if he could get the polish to photograph correctly... future nail blogger in the works?)

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May Birchbox

It's already that time again! I feel like I just wrote my April Birchbox blog, but alas - the time is just flying by! Forewarning - I have to say I wasn't impressed with this month's box. In fact, one of the items listed on the description card isn't even in my box! Note to self: contact Birchbox about that. Here's what May's box looks like:

Inside my Birchbox are the following items:

Amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask | Full Size: $12-40

This lush conditioning mask is supposed to boost shine and help repair split ends. I'm definitely down to try this. I actually have a sample of this laying around somewhere that I haven't used. I have tried Amika's hair oil before and I'm obsessed with the smell of it. If this mask smells anything like it, I just might have to get a full size. 

Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste | Full Size: $6-10.50

An Italian toothpaste - MEH. I've seen this product circulating around the Birchbox circuit forever now - a.k.a. since I started following birchbox unboxing blogs over a year ago now. Nothing too exciting, but I'm sure it will eventually get thrown in a travel bag.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner | Full Size: set of 4 mini pencils for $21

This eyeliner is inspired by traditional Indian formulas and lasts for hours, according to the description card. It's hard to tell from the picture (and nearly impossible for me to capture on camera) but the color is a deep eggplant purple. With my pasty-white skin, I'm not sure if this will look good on me, but I'll give it a shot.

Runa Guayusa Tea | Full Size: $7

This is the "lifestyle extra" portion of this box. This tea boasts more antioxidants than green tea and is bursting with caffeine. I'm a tea drinker, myself, so I was pretty excited about this product probably more than anything else in my box this month. 

That's it! If you're interested in signing up to receive a Birchbox monthly, click this link to join: www.birchbox.com?raf=owwcv

** This post contains my referral link. If you click on the link and sign up, I will earn credit towards Birchbox products.

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