the glossarie

embrace the drama of illamasqua0

POSTED ON Posted on January 27, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

there’s a new brand among the shopping shelves at sephora. it’s a bit bold, a bit daring, and a bit difficult to say. illamasqua (pronounced illa-mas-ka) is actually a made up word according to the company’s official blog. their game is professional “nighttime” makeup thanks to dramatic shades, rich pigments, and an overall intensity. it’s a bit mac meets make up forever but that being said, it’s really all about interpretation. i for one am typically turned off by brands of this nature gravitating more towards the bobbis, benefits, and smashboxes of the world. although i do find myself totally lusting after the lip glosses and considering working the katie blush into my workday beauty routine i might save this look for a more special occasion.

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged bobbi brown, illamasqua, mac, sephora, smashbox | Leave a comment

eyes and ears and mouth and nose3

POSTED ON Posted on January 26, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes!

lush continues to impress with their latest release: a limited edition, customizable kit to get you through the harshness of winter. packed within that brown box are nine products guaranteed to add moisture and help you combat dry skin and hair that result from jack frost nipping at your nose. here’s what’s inside:

head: pick from ten (!!) fresh face masks, four moisturizers based on your skin’s specific needs and seven solid shampoo bars; also enjoy one vitamin c toner tab
shoulders, knees & whatnot: lemony flutter cuticle butter (do you just love the name? i could die.), handy gurugu hand cream, each peach massage bar and sugar scrub — all minis
toes: fair trade foot lotion mini

this is as close to a new year, new you as you can get without a full-out trip to the spa. at the insane price of $25 (i don’t know about you, but that’s what i pay for a pedicure) you can polish up literally from head to toe. happy scrubbing!

Posted in body, natural beauty | Tagged lush, shampoo | 3 Comments

wild flowers by paul & joe0

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

paul & joe has me shouting for spring with their latest limited edition collection. sweetly sparkly and decorated with bright blooms and butterflies, wild flowers is about being free and uninhibited. would you look at those lip balms? they are too adorable for words! leave it our favorite parisian pair to perfectly capture the sweetness of spring in shadows and glosses. i love each product’s two complemented tones and charming designs. i can already tell you that lady slipper will be welcomed into my spring look and i might have to snag snapdragon and primrose for my darling junior bridesmaids (who are 8 & 10). i can’t get enough of these six little pots! have any of them caught your eye? (or lip?)

Posted in eyes, lids, lips | Tagged paul & joe | Leave a comment

bringing sanity back to my skin2

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

alright, people. let’s get real.

as much as i would like to claim perfection, i suffer from rare but aggressive cystic acne. a few times a year, these single planet-sized spots appear in the chin area and wreak havoc in my life. if you’ve ever had a cystic pimple, you feel my pain. they are harsh and painful, buried way deep down in your skin so they never really come to a head and therefore can’t be popped. i have even debated going to the dermatologist to get a cortisone shot because over the counter options just don’t work.

well, now that i’ve totally grossed you out, how about a happy ending to my misery? my search for a cure is over! master esthetician, renee rouleau, has created an anti cyst treatment that works. it’s very reasonably priced and highly concentrated so just a drop twice a day begins the healing process that brings sweet relief to my skin. i’ve seen my pesky pimples disappear before my very eyes and all with no scarring. hallelujah!

so fellow sufferers, rejoice! renee rouleau’s anti-cyst treatment is sold exclusively through her website for $38.

Posted in skin | Tagged renee rouleau | 2 Comments

pretty innovative0

POSTED ON Posted on January 19, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m not a big fan of foundation, but i’ve decided to feature a newbie to the beauty market that may have just changed my mind: stila’s one step makeup. one step is an impressive primer, foundation, concealer, and powder all in one. it’s also made 100% of minerals yet it’s medium coverage (note: if you like a sheerer look, it won’t be a fit). overall, i think it’s a great little product that’s very high performance – it’s smooth, almost whipped, easy to blend, finishes nicely, and hydrates while also controlling shine. for $44 it’s definitely worth the buy for beauties currently using a primer/foundation/powder system. the only thing missing is spf and the kitchen sink!

Posted in face, foundation | Tagged stila cosmetics | Leave a comment

on a roll3

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

i continue to be a makeup artist’s nightmare in that i only apply eyeshadow with my fingertips. what can i say? they’re very “handy” little tools! that being said, it’s obviously difficult to get technical and design-y which is a slight drawback. i’ve been looking for shadows that are easy to apply and i have found a favorite in sue devitt’s e-z eye roller ball shadow. (yes, i know i’m on a rollerball kick. but don’t put this one on your lips!) you can roll ’em right over the lid and then blend as necessary. foolproof! the nine gorgeous shades are subtly shimmery and my favorite, hydra, is a pearl shade that’s perfect for dotting on the inner lid or sweeping on the brow bone. each one gives such a soft, glowing look. so if you’re a lazy lady – and i’m not judging! – you will want to give these a whirl.

Posted in eyes, lids | Tagged sue devitt | 3 Comments

impulse buy: laura mercier radiant creme cheek colour0

POSTED ON Posted on January 12, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

laura mercier is really tempting me with her new polished collection. i am loving the different textures of powdered shadows, whipped lip shines, and this multicolored blendable cream blush. it’s got three shades – a soft highlighter that would look great on brows and cheekbones, a stripe of bronze, and then that yummy pop of pink at the bottom. the soft pearl finish is stunning and you can combine the shades any number of ways to create a look that’s fresh yet natural for spring. i seriously haven’t found a better blush that instantly warms up my face and will give a natural flush to a range of skin tones. of course it’s a limited edition at $35 so hurry, hurry if you just gotta have it!

Posted in blush, cheeks | Tagged laura mercier | Leave a comment

eye & lip candy: nars spring collection0

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

i have gone ga ga over nars spring collection which is super soft and sexy. three products in particular have me smitten:

lip gloss in easy lover – apparently every woman’s pink gloss & current glossarie lust have

next up, a yummy single shadow in subtle violet hue that will officially overtake clinique’s key lime pie as my shadow of the season

and finally a gorgeous duo that my unsteady hand will never do justice but just must belong in my makeup bag because it’s too pretty to pass up

the goods arrive at sephora this week (the 15th to be exact) so these pics won’t have to hold you over for long!

Posted in eyes, lids, lips | Tagged nars | Leave a comment

polish partner0

POSTED ON Posted on January 6, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m in new york this week and let me tell you, this city and its windchill factor are rough on the hands. luckily i’m in a beauty mecca and i found a savior at bliss57 for just $9. this tiny tube of manicure’s best friend is an extra special cream made just for your nails. it soothes, hydrates and heals unruly cuticles and actually toughens your tips making them stronger, less apt to breakage. i’ve already noticed a significant difference in the skin around my nails with fewer nasty hang nails and happier hands overall. welcome to my purse, manicure’s best friend. you’re here to stay.

Posted in nails | Tagged bliss, manicure | Leave a comment

stay, stay, stay for awhile1

POSTED ON Posted on January 5, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

there’s a new eye primer on the scene and this one is all business! benefit’s new stay don’t stray keeps all of your eye makeup including liner, shadow, and even undereye concealer in place. i was extra delighted to find that the product’s shade actually worked so well for my skintone that i didn’t even need undereye concealer. amaze! stay don’t stray has actually replaced benefit’s former (and notsoverymuch loved) primer/corrector f.y…eye! it’s a little less thick and less drying making it easy to blend with just three tiny dots under the eye and three tiny dots on the lid to do the trick. so if your new year’s resolution is to look fab for longer, i think you’ll be quite happy with benefit’s new staying power.