Empties #6

Holy cow - these empties posts are becoming a monthly occurrence! I have to say, I feel rather accomplished using so much stuff up! It feels good to scale back on buying and go through what I've got stored up. If you're unfamiliar with empties posts, basically I show you my trash and give you a quick review as well as comment on whether or not I'd repurchase the item. Let's go....

• CHI Farouk Royal Treatment Ultimate Control Fast Drying Volume Shaping Spray - Ugh, kill me with that long title, geez! This is my *holy grail* hairspray. It smells like an expensive perfume and holds a curl without weighing my hair down or being sticky. Love love love. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.
• Creation's Garden Shampoo w/ Argan Oil - I purchased this on a whim at TJ Maxx because it's organic and natural. This stuff was okay - it wasn't amazing. It didn't foam up much nor did it have much of a scent, but it cleaned my hair and that was good enough for me. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Pantene Ice Shine conditioner - Is it just me, or is it way easier to go through conditioner than shampoo? Anyway, this was nice. It left my hair really smooth but I didn't notice any added shine. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Suave Moroccan Infusion Weightless Dry Shampoo - I purchased this because I love the smell of the Suave Moroccan shampoo/conditioner, but I absolutely hated the scent of this. It did just an OK job of soaking up extra oil in my hair, but I definitely have tried better. Would I repurchase? No. 

• Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shave Gel - This is your run of the mill drugstore shave gel. I didn't care much for the scent, but it did the job of keeping me knick-free. I hate how the bottom always rusts on these bottles - ya feel me?! Would I repurchase? No, I'd rather try something else. 
• Yes to Blueberries Ultra Hydrating Body Wash - Remember this from my Yes To haul? I had high hopes for this, but I didn't love the smell and it definitely wasn't hydrating. Would I repurchase? No. 
• Secret Clear Gel deodorant in Cocoa Butter Kiss - All Secret deodorants smell inherently the same, IMO. This one had that same Secret smell, and not a lot of cocoa butter scent. I like these gel deodorants in the summertime when I need an antiperspirant and don't want it all over my clothes. Would I repurchase? I already have, but in a different scent. 

• Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes - Also got these in my Yes To haul. I had hoped these would be as amazing as my favorite Cucumber Yes To wipes, but I didn't care for these. The smell was blah and they weren't very wet. Would I repurchase? No, but I have one more pack of these to use up.
• Simple Eye Makeup Remover Pads - I got these in last year's Allure Beauty Box. They were just OK. They got my eye makeup mostly off, but I usually needed to use another makeup wipe to fully get the grime away. Would I repurchase? No. 

• Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Gentle Milk Cleanser - Another thing from my Yes To haul - really going through that stuff recently. I used this every morning as it's nice and gentle and moisturizing. I wouldn't use this if I needed to deep clean my skin (which I don't in the mornings because I wash my face at night) but its perfect for a gentle wash. Would I repurchase? Probably. 
• Michael Todd Honey and Oat Gentle Deep Pore Cleanser - I really liked this cleanser, which I used morning and night (until I switched to using the Gentle Milk cleanser above in the mornings). It smells like lemon and really cleans the skin without stripping it. Also, it's 70% organic which I personally like in my skincare. Would I repurchase? Yes. 

• Aquafresh Ultimate White toothpaste - Jake and I went to town on this with the tube-wringer (my favorite thing ever) and got every last drop of toothpaste out. It was pretty good, tasted fine. Did I notice a difference in the whiteness of my teeth? No, but whatever.... do you ever really see one with a whitening toothpaste? I certainly don't. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Bath & Body Works AntiBac in Stress Relief - I use these pre-makeup application to ensure I have clean hands. I don't love the smell of the Stress Relief line from B&BW, but the scent dies away rather quickly on the hands. Would I repurchase? No, I'd rather try another scent. 
• Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo - This was a nice little travel size of dry shampoo. I got quite a few uses from it, too. It smelled fresh and soaked up excess oil. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Pantene Aqua Light Conditioner - Meh, it was OK. Nothing brilliant. I get like one use out of these little mini travel sizes. Would I repurchase? No.

• Ulta Plush Drama Volume Mascara - This was surprisingly good. It was volumizing and it made my lashes look really nice. However, about a month in, once the formula had been exposed to air and bacteria or whatever, it started making my lashes really clumpy... and then it got thrown in the empties bag. Would I repurchase? Probably.
• Calvin Klein Euphoria eau de toilette - This smells really nice. I got a few uses out of this and enjoyed smelling it all day. Would I repurchase? If I found this  for a good deal, I would definitely consider buying a full-size version. 
• Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm - Carmex is a tried and true favorite of mine. I always have one somewhere and it always soothes my lips. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil in Vanilla Apricot - I got this in a gift set for Christmas. I used it every night on my hands before bed and I could tell it actually made a difference in my hands...I used less lotion throughout the day because of it. The scent of this was kind of weird - while my husband would disagree, to me it smells like butter on my hands... hence why I started using it at night before bed. Would I repurchase? Yes.

• Mainstays Candle in Wild Honeysuckle - This candle is from Walmart, and I got it on sale. It smells really nice and spring-like. The scent-throw was just OK, I felt like somedays I could smell it better than others. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Slatkin & Co Wallflowers in Cool Tropical Breeze - I really don't like to use these because they're full of bad chemicals that you probably shouldn't be breathing in, but I get them as gifts now and then and I'm not just going to throw them away. This scent smells like a coconutty beach and I enjoy it. Would I repurchase? Not myself, no.

Ooff.... there you have it. Let me know if you've tried any of these items or what you've been using up this month! I love to hear from you! :)

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?

FOTD - September 11, 2013

I was struck with a bit of inspiration today to try a different, fall-feeling combination of warm browns and thought I'd show you what I came up with. Take a look!

Here's what I used to achieve the look... 

I started off by moisturizing my face, as I always do. I've been trying to get through this Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer, so that's what I chose to use first. I then use my Sigma F80 brush to apply my favorite drugstore foundation, the Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation in Ivory (for my full review on this foundation, click here). I set this foundation using my favorite powder, the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Transparent. To warm up my face I used NYC's Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny on the hollows of my cheeks, down around my chin, and on my temples. For a pop of color on my cheeks, I used my Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in Blushing Nude. 

Under my eyes I used the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in Fair. I've really been enjoying this concealer, as it doesn't cake up in the fine lines under my eyes like many concealers do. Then I primed my eyelids using my favorite primer, theBalm's Put a Lid on It. All over my lid I used the Ulta Color Coat Cream Shadow in Shimmering Topaz. This is the bronzey pop you see in the middle of my eye in the pictures above.  In the crease, I used my Crown Brush Neutral Colors Smokey Eye Palette that I got off Hautelook not too long ago. I used a combination of the three colors you see in the collage to create a warm matte copper brown to define the crease. I used my holy grail Wet n Wild Mega Liner liquid liner in Black to create a winged out, super black liner look. For my lashes I used Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous in Brownish Black.

No lip products (other than Aquaphor) as my lips are too dry to sport anything cute despite loads of moisturizing lip gloss. Only a few more months of medication that dries my lips out - thank GOODNESS because I miss my lippies!

I liked this look and I think it's perfect for fall! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments below!

Ulta Color Coat Cream Eye Shadows

Sorry for my slight hiatus - this last week was crazy busy and I didn't have time to get a Friday blog post up! But enough excuses, because what I'm about to show you are some of my new favorite eye products. Today I'm talking about Ulta's new Color Coat cream eye shadows!

It's no secret. If you follow Glazed Over, you know I love a good cream eye shadow (specifically my Maybelline Color Tattoos). So when I saw The Muse's blog post about these, I made it my mission to get my hands on my favorite colors. I picked up just three (there are a total of eight in the collection) in the shades Rose Gold, Metallic, and Shimmering Topaz.

I didn't expect too much from these because we all know how great some "store brands" can be - but I have to say I am a huge fan. These are so much better than I expected. Dare I say I love them as much, and maybe a little bit more than my Maybelline Color Tattoos? 

The formula is super creamy and pigmented. They aren't nearly as hard as the Color Tattoos can be - they almost have a whipped consistency, but that makes them sound lighter than they really are. They glide on very easily and once they set they don't budge at all.

I've worn both Shimmering Topaz and Rose Gold and didn't have an issue with creasing, and they lasted 10+ hours.

As you can tell from these swatches, these catch the light really well. They've got just the right amount of shimmer without being obnoxious. I think as we transition in to fall, these are pigmented enough to mesh well with bold looks typical of the season. 

I would recommend these as highly as I do the Maybelline Color Tattoos, but if you're on a budget, the Color Tattoos are cheaper (retailing around $6). These Color Coat shadows retail for $8 and are available exclusively at Ulta. 

Go get you some!