Category Archives: dc pretty

my interview with mark. brand ambassador ashley greene

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ashley greene

last wednesday, i had the pleasure of attending a congressional briefing to announce data from the “no more” study. mark. brand ambassador ashley greene joined advocates on the hill to share sobering statistics related to attitudes toward, and experience with dating abuse, partner violence, and sexual assault among teens and young adults. the results clearly underscore the need to educate young people so that they recognize the signs of abuse and how to safely intervene to help end it. ashley also announced that m.powerment by mark. will award 25 new grants totaling $125,000 to expand its healthy relationship college program which helps students recognize the warning signs and encourages them to actively step-in as bystanders to prevent and stop violence before it starts.

after the briefing, ashley and i sat down to chat about m.powerment by mark. and a few burning beauty topics. we covered everything from self confidence to our shared befuddlement over why guys always tend to get the longest lashes. i walked away completely inspired by ashley’s dedication to the m.powerment cause and with a true envy of her poise and strong sense of self.

why is it so important to spread the m.powerment message and raise awareness about dating abuse and partner violence?

for me, it was sobering to hear the statistics that 1 in 4 women between the ages of 15 and 22 have experienced dating abuse or violence or they know someone who has. it’s something that needs to be addressed and hopefully it impacts other people as much as it has me. a really big part of stopping this dating abuse and violence is allowing these young girls to understand that it is ok to speak out. there are places that they can go and people they can talk to; if you’re somebody’s friend that it’s ok for you to speak to them and be there for them. we also want it to be preventative. i think a lot of people just don’t know the warning signs that could essentially stop this in its tracks before it even happens.

you talk a lot about using your celebrity power for the greater good, which i love. can you touch on what supporting this cause means to you and how it plays into your greater role?

my job is great and it does have its ups and its downs, but one of the really big ups is that i am able to help other people. it’s important to me especially because when i was younger, i didn’t have that self-confidence and luckily i had a mother who really instilled that in me. she has always said to me that she thinks i have the power to change the world and i should use it. that was very empowering and it’s important that i pass that on. i’ve been given this wonderful gift of being able to help people. so, i’m going to – as best i can.

one of the themes running through the m.powerment campaign is the importance of self-confidence. besides your mom, is there anywhere else that you draw confidence from or people who you turn to when you need a boost?

i have worked really hard to surround myself with people who love me through my ups and my downs – because everyone has them. you need people that are going to support you when you are down. i also recently started telling myself things that i love about myself everyday along with the things that i love about the people that i’ve surrounded myself with. it’s easy to put yourself down; it’s harder to bring yourself back up.

you have had the opportunity to work with some of the best hair and makeup talent in the business. have you picked up any tips and tricks that you work into your own stuff?

i have learned a lot from sitting in the mirror and watching these people perform their magic. for me less is more. in my teenage years, i was trying to look older, and now that i’m starting to get a little older i have realized that it’s just better to play up what you’ve been given rather than try and cover it up. that’s another part of being confident – loving yourself and what you’ve been given.

what’s your favorite facial feature to play up?

i love lashes. there is something so glamorous about having really thick, full lashes! and it always seems like it’s the men who are born with them. i probably wouldn’t wear makeup if I had those natural lashes that went on for days.

if we were to peek inside your clutch, what would i find in your #lipbomb?

mark. gloss gorgeous lip click is one of my favorites. i like it because it stains a little bit and it’s not tacky. the new lip crayons are also great. they don’t dry your lips out. the color payoff is true to what you see in the stick and they’re very rich. honestly, if i’m not wearing one of those, then it’s petroleum jelly – just to keep my lips hydrated, especially with all of my travel.

what are some of your other mark. favorites?

the make it go away makeup removing wipes. when i fly, i don’t like wearing a face full of makeup so they are one of the staples in my bag. i like got the goods foundation a lot, too. i’m really picky about what i put on my face because i try and keep it pretty clear.

endless thanks to the mark. team for including me in such an important and memorable day! you can click here to learn more about m.powerment by mark. and shop products that support the cause.

FLOW blow dry & beauty bar

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FLOW reception

this here’s a post for all of my northern virginia beauties.

i had the positively delightful experience of a “flow” out at the new FLOW blow dry & beauty bar in reston. not only is the ambiance at flow comfortable, girlie, and whimsical, but the customer service is exceptional. i spent an hour with my sweet stylist katrina, darling receptionist shannon, manager anna, and make up artist extraordinaire mona. the ladies treated me like royalty and trust me when i tell you that they are a fun bunch!

FLOW

upon sitting down in katrina’s chair, she treated me to a brief consultation where we talked about the type of hair i have and what kind of flow’out i wanted. (they have a full menu of 8 styles, each $35 and each more gorgeous than the next!) katrina then explained my cocktail. she washed and conditioned my hair with kevin murphy’s angel wash and angel rinse, followed by an indulgent scalp massage. post-wash, she worked kevin murphy’s body builder (a weightless volumizer) and his young again heat protecting gloss through my hair. then, she pre-dried my roots in the opposite direction than they were going to lay in order to cut drying time. for a finishing touch, she spritzed my mane with moroccanoil gold glimmer shine and gave me some extra oomph and staying power from kevin murphy’s fresh hair, a dry shampoo-type product.

FLOW'out

(look at that flip! that shine!)

flow’s talents go far beyond blowouts and their service list includes braiding, ponies, updo’s, half updo’s, threading, organic makeup application (the salon is fully stocked in tarte cosmetics) and strip lash application. i went for the whole shebang, minus the threading. makeup artist mona gave me the ‘all glammed up’ which included a serious set of strip lashes. i was completely impressed by the whole experience and enjoyed countless compliments on both my makeup and hair at friday’s nomaterra event. i’m so grateful to the entire FLOW team for their efforts in dolling me up and i can’t wait to see them again soon!

Mona & Katrina

call (571) 375 2347 to book an appointment or learn more about FLOW blow dry & beauty bar, 11700 plaza america drive, suite 130, in reston at flowblowdrybar.com.

nomaterra dc fragrance + launch party

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nomaterra dc

created by former glamour editor and her chemist hubby in brooklyn, nomaterra is the perfect combination of beauty and wanderlust. the line currently consists of three fragrances – east hampton, miami, and washington dc – and each scent has its own distinct personality inspired by ceo aggie’s travels. i love the way that nomaterra has built a brand around the sensation of memories recalled by scent and all three handmade fragrances elegantly capture the essence of their destination.

the washington dc fragrance is assertively citrus-y with a burst of cherry blossom that’s so quintessentially our nation’s capital. it’s fresh and subtle enough to wear everyday, with an interesting combination of masculine and feminine characteristics that are unlike anything else.

created in small batches in brooklyn, nomaterra’s fragrances come in sustainable spray bottles (the glass vial of fragrance can be swapped out and refilled) and they come as a soon-to-be-launched fragrance wipe that is ingenious. each perfume wipe is single use, perfect for travel – just swipe it over your pulse points, behind the ears, and go.

Launch-Party-Invitation-DC

i am so excited to be partnering with nomaterra on their dc fragrance launch party and you’re invited! please join me and the nomaterra team along with local press and buyers as we celebrate nomaterra’s entrance on to the dc scene at tabula rasa where we’ll have food, drinks, and fragrance for all.

if you’re free on february 1st, please rsvp to admin@nomaterra.com and be sure to introduce yourself on the big night - i would love to see you there!

new year’s eve outfit ideas on wusa9

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wusa9 nye roundup

i spent my morning (after a rough 3 am wake up call!) with four fellow local bloggers and lifestyle expert, carine krawiec of carine’s bridal atelier. we got all dolled up at karma beauty lounge and headed off to cbs studios to shoot a fun segment on what to wear for new year’s eve. my outfit came from wink with accessories from dalton pratt. my hair was done by mark frazer and my makeup is by hania issa. (the two of them worked some serious magic on my sleepy eyes and pillow creased face!)

lara ramos and kara manos

me with fellow beauty queen, kara manos from politics of pretty

my look includes:
rebecca taylor sequin jacket, $550
tibi racer back silk cami, $158
7 for all mankind jacquard skinnies, $198
pelle moda hype 3 raffia platform pumps (sold out)

you can click on over to wusa9′s website to see the complete segment. it was such a fun way to start the day! after a quick nap, now it’s back to the real world…

all decked out recap

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all decked out

(photo from ashley in dc‘s seriously gorgeous instagram feed)

i had so much fun getting all decked out with the ladies of wink boutique in dc and the amazing crowd of local bloggers and friends who joined us. the wink girls sure do know how to throw a party! they offered up flowing champagne, yummy snacks, and a generous 25% discount. add an adorably pregnant, super sweet makeup artist and amazing beauty products provided by my favorite brands, there was no doubt that we were going to have a ball!

edward marc

pittsburg chocolatier, edward marc, provided milk and chocolate dark salted caramels (i was popping them in my mouth nonstop!) and gorgeous chocolate dipped peppermint sticks for our guests to take home. these sweets were such a hit! i loved the festive feel that they added to the evening.

lauren ogden miller

makeup artist, lauren ogden miller, entertained a revolving chair of girls who wanted to get touched up. she used make up for ever aqua liner in 13 (mat black) and nyx the curve liner to craft perfect cat eyes. for red lips, she chose from maybelline color sensational lipcolor in red revival, nyx matte lipstick in perfect red, and make up for ever rouge artist intense in moulin rouge. guests chose a black eyeliner and red lip set to take home, from this list of goodies, as well as tarte call of the wild amazonian clay liner and maybelline unstoppable liner in onyx.

tips from lauren on crafting your cat eye:

  • liquid or gel liner is best for precision, you want to drag the liner along your lash line – it’s ok to rest your hand somewhere for balance!
  • to get the cat effect, the line dips up up towards the edge of your brow line; lauren’s trick is to actually start from the furthest point out and draw the line in towards your eye, from there it’s easy to thicken and fill in
  • smudge a deeb brown or plum over top to set the look and don’t worry too much about symmetry. (it’s makeup!) it’s also ok to use a little concealer in areas where you need to lift and clean up.
  • accentuate the cat eye with mascara by pulling the wand at an angle, out towards the side of your face instead of straight ahead. (i love this trick!)

for the bold red lip:

  • line and feather your lips with a red or neutral liner (just don’t go with anything darker), you can also highlight above the cupid’s bow for extra shape
  • choose a true red (like fire engine or cherry) – these look great on everyone
  • use a lip brush to apply the color, it’s easier and more precise, but if you do a good job lining your lips, this isn’t necessary

the finished product is surprisingly subtle and perfect for the holidays. here are two of my favorite ladies (the glossarie’s own maggie on the left, and my bestie jamie on the right, plus one shot of jamie and yours truly) rocking their red lips and cat eyes a la lauren:

all decked out

thanks so much to everyone who came out to play! i hope to do it again in the spring.

come get ‘all decked out’ with me in dc!

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All Decked Out!

dc area beauties (and beyond – this one might be worth a fly in, just sayin’):

i have been wanting to bring the glossarie to life for the longest time. my vision had always been to host some sort of beauty school event or series of makeup lessons and i’m so excited to announce the very first installment – all decked out.

just in time for the holidays and more importantly new year’s eve, local makeup artist lauren miller is going to teach us how to perfect the art of the cat eye and how to craft the very best red lip at wink boutique. we will all soak in lauren’s expertise while shopping wink’s finest at 25% off, sipping champagne and enjoying gourmet chocolates from edward marc (is your mouth watering?).

my favorite part is that some of my favorite beauty brands have sent over their best black eye liners and red lipsticks so that you can create lauren’s looks at home.

i hope you can join us two weeks from today!

samples + the safety pin

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i am on a serious treasure hunt for my next eye cream, but that’s really a story for another day. the hero of this blog post is the simple safety pin. last night while discussing said treasure hunt with my girl evan (who happens to be the manager at the still new-ish kiehl’s store in tyson’s corner – it really pays to make friends with people in high beauty places), she generously proffered two samples of kiehl’s creamy eye treatment with avocado. as i stuffed them greedily into my silvie, she gave me the most genius tip! she told me that instead of tearing the top off of these precious packs, which almost certainly speeds up the drying out process, wasting valuable product, to pierce them with a safety pin and only squeeze out a little at a time. this way, i’m sure to get the exact right dose each evening as i give the windows to my soul their delicate massage and the samples will last that much longer. best of all, i get to use every last drop and the stuff inside stays nice and fresh while i do.

i. was. dumbfounded.

is this trick new to you? have you been keeping it from me?

kiehl’s grand opening

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kiehl’s has landed in my neighborhood and i have to say i’m pretty psyched about it.

kiehl’s was the first brand of man-products that i bought the mister (one fateful valentine’s day if memory serves), and since then, it’s the only brand that steve and i can agree on.

last night, the skincare extraordinaire threw a welcoming fete for their newest location in tyson’s corner. conveniently situated across the way from sephora, the store evokes the feel of a vintage apothecary – i love it! store manager evan (the girl) and i became fast friends. she loaded me up with samples, and i dare say it won’t be long before i’m sitting in her chair for my mini facial.

here are a few quick snaps from the event:

i immediately zeroed in on the fabulous chandelier.

i quickly found my summer staple: this oil-free lotion can be layered under makeup for a flawless application and complete sun protection. sold!

georgetown cupcakes?! don’t mind if i do. those girls have their own tlc show for a reason. (make that many, many delicious reasons.)

did a little shopping in the man section as i’m desperately trying to convince the husband that it’s time to start taking preventative aging measures. (he’s not interested.)

and, the aftermath: a perfect his’n'hers haul.

we both love the ultra facial cleanser (so co-ed shower friendly!) and i scooped up a facial fuel energizing facial wash for steve. i couldn’t resist these two tinted lip balms for me, and a classic clear one we can both share.

all in all a most successful evening!

if you’re northern virginia based, pop into the new store and tell miss evan that i sent you. while i can’t promise you that there are any cupcakes left, i know that she’ll be sure to spoil you with sample swag and your skin will love you for it.

kiehl’s, tysons corner center, 1961 chain bridge road, mclean; 703-893-9400

ps – if you love this blog, please vote for me / the glossarie in allure’s beauty blogger of the year competition! you can vote once per day, now through friday 4/27. gracias!

essie resort collection 2012: sure shot

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essie captures a sure shot of dc's cherry blossoms

essie’s new resort collection polishes are all named after camera-worthy phrases. from the iridescent lilac ‘she’s picture perfect‘ to moody violet ‘no more film‘ – the four lacquers are a home run, but the winner of the bunch for me, is sure shot. in the words of the brand, it’s an irresistible, glistening magenta and it perfectly captures the essence of dc’s cherry blossom season, peaking right now. if you’ve never seen it in person, it’s a seriously gorgeous sight to behold. the blossoms bloom in the hundreds of thousands around the tidal basin painting this kind of puffy white and pink backdrop for all of the monuments.

to tie in with essie’s photographer theme, i am sharing a photo of the blossoms snapped by my talented friend meg. if you’ve just got to have a little cherry blossom cheer in your world, you can purchase her images here. and if you’ve just got to have a little blooming magenta on your nails, you can purchase essie’s sure shot here.

a very happy 100th anniversary, cherry blossom trees!