the glossarie

sunkissed skinny4

POSTED ON Posted on May 20, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i adore the sun. but, let’s just say it doesn’t love me. i’ve long been looking for a great lotion that subtly self-tans without smelling like toxic waste and/or getting streaky. i’ve given up on the drugstore versions and took my search to the big leagues hoping to find the holy grail. well, god bless sephora and their never ending failure to solve my beauty dilemmas! philosophy has introduced the big skinny — a self-tanning cream that smells delightful and (wait for it) firms your flabby bits! it’s about time someone came up with this unstoppable combo.

first of all, it’s the very first formula i’ve found that gives natural, gradual color. add in those amazing smoothing and toning agents and i am two seconds from absolutely taking a bath in this stuff! it smells amazing, just like cocoa and makes you feel overall just delicious. i am literally floored by this product and can’t recommend it highly enough. it runs $28 for 4 oz but you can score 20% off all orders at philosophy today with the code happiness.

Posted in body | Tagged philosophy, self-tanner, sephora | 4 Comments

sunny summer shadows from stila0

POSTED ON Posted on May 17, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i need this eyeshadow palette. not only is it from the shadow goddesses at stila and not only does it feature my most favorite shadow of all time (kitten) sandwiched between two new gorgeous and exclusive warm metallics (chloe and lamé), but it’s ten dollars! the it girl palette brings all kinds of sparkle and shimmer for summer in one sleek compact. my mind is racing with all of the potentially beautiful combinations! now, i’m guessing this amazingness won’t be around for long so i would encourage you to click on over to stila.com to score one before they’re all gone.

Posted in eyes, lids, palettes | Tagged stila cosmetics | Leave a comment

tip-topshop0

POSTED ON Posted on May 13, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i mean, really.

does topshop do anything wrong? for starters, there’s these lovelies and this gorgeousness but what takes the cake is their latest launch: make up.

squeal!

their collection is amazing, complete with bright eyeshadow duos, creamy liners, beautiful blushes, flip top lip polishes, and – my personal favorite – literal lip sticks. there’s much much more and it’s all packaged up in the most darling hand-drawn tubes and cases that you won’t be able to help but reach for in your beauty bags.

oh, and have i mentioned the prices are better than drugstore? time to get topshopping!

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged topshop | Leave a comment

fresh as a daisy2

POSTED ON Posted on May 11, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

there are very few of us who can’t use some assistance in the undereye department. there are definitely times when my dark circles rear their ugly heads worse than others (ahem, finals) but regardless of that unpleasantness, i can always use a little something to brighten me up and treat that delicate skin beneath my lower lashes. until now, we’ve had options like ysl’s touche eclat or givenchy’s mister bright to cover the problem without correcting it. well, new from fresh is a brightening pen that covers, soothes, and heals with good-for-you ingredients like cucumber, chamomile, and lotus. it softens, brightens, and hydrates providing a complete solution for those days when your eyes need that extra illumination (or the morning after you’ve had that extra cocktail! whoopsies). you can find it in three shades at fresh.com where you can also enjoy 20% off between now and 5/21 with code instyle20.

Posted in concealer, eyes, face | 2 Comments

a new secret lash weapon0

POSTED ON Posted on May 9, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

if there’s one thing lancome knows, it’s mascara. the lash vixen strikes again with a crazy new formula that promises to regenerate the health of your lashes and improve their structure using (wait for it) stem cell technology and swiss apple extract.

it’s rich and silky with a cool new brush that treats varying lengths of mascara so it’s one size fits all. better yet it’s one of those mascaras that layers seamlessly so it takes you from work-day appropriate to nighttime drama.

and best? this new magic potion launches in august but lancome has it available for secret pre-sale right now for $29.

Posted in eyes, lashes | Leave a comment

brilliant brushes0

POSTED ON Posted on April 28, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

have you heard about the new i.t. brush collection at sephora? these things are incredible! not only are they ergonomically designed so they are easy to hold and apparently perfectly balanced from any angle, they are color coded by category, and come with their own caps to keep the bristles neat and tidy. i am especially excited about the fitted caps as someone who cringes every time she tosses her foundation brush into a grimy makeup bag.

spot on, sephora. spot on.

you can explore the entire 14-piece collection here. at $24-$35 a pop, they’re not cheap but i’m still snatching up the round powder brush. will you give these a try?

Posted in tools | Leave a comment

crystal sheer6

POSTED ON Posted on April 21, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i love a bright lip as much as the next girl but as i inch closer to 30, i realize that some of the latest shocking opaque shades are just a bit too bold. if you’re in a similar situation, try shopping for sheer glosses like this one from dior. while it looks like a super fluorescent hot pink in the tube, it’s actually much easier to wear than a creamy bright, flushing lips by slightly enhancing their tone. the gel formula of this one in particular adds a beautiful shine and even leaves behind a light stain after the glossiness fades. the color can also also be customized, building with each coat for more or less intensity. it’s truly a one gloss fits all and something that can be appropriate for a day at the office or a night on the town. available at sephora for $26.50.

Posted in lips | Tagged dior | 6 Comments

practical protection0

POSTED ON Posted on April 20, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

jouer, one of the most innovative brands on the market, proves their incredible genius once again with the creation of replenish & protect hydrating powder spf39. i mean, could you possibly pack any more benefits into one sleek compact? this tinted powder sunscreen has it all:

beach bag friendly? check!
hydrates? check!
easy to reapply? check!
sets your makeup and keeps you shine free? check and check!

to continue on with spf 39 powder’s fabulosity it’s lightweight and made from natural botanicals. it’s very easy to apply sans mirror and even lets you stick to what your mama told you to and reapply mid day without smearing your beach beauty. if you buy one beauty product this summer, let it be this one. now grab your gladiators, tunic, and oversized shades and be the beach bunny you were born to be!

Posted in natural beauty | Tagged jouer | Leave a comment

the whole kit and4

POSTED ON Posted on April 15, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

my most fave gals at kaboodle presented an awesome link love opportunity last week and, of course, yours truly jumped at the chance. for those who don’t know, kaboodle is a community of shopaholics who come together to share links and products from all over the web and beyond. it is the home of my very much alive and growing list of beauty lusts as well as collections of jewels and everything else i’m wishing for. their new hot blogger spotlight gave me the chance to compile a list of my fifteen cosmetic must-haves and why i love them. hope you will make a visit to kaboodle-land and enjoy the sneak peek inside my cosmetic goodie bag!

Posted in link roundups | Tagged kaboodle | 4 Comments

estee finds her inner animal3

POSTED ON Posted on April 8, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

estee lauder is no spring chicken. not that it’s a bad thing, she’s a brand with 60 years of incredible experience complete with iconic products and faces to represent them. that being said, i’m completely blown away by the latest product release which includes teal liquid eyeshadow and this stunning powder blush whose crowning glory is hot pink zebra stripes. it may just be the holy grail for my darling little sister who has long been on the hunt for a tall order of a cheekie that’s bronze, shimmery, and bright pink. i think this product has appeal for young’uns and the young at heart. i am so happy to see this industry leader break out of the “your mother’s makeup” mold and reveal her inner bombshell!