the glossarie

one, two step0

POSTED ON Posted on January 4, 2010 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

do i even need to tell you that i love a double duty product? these crazy cool shadow sticks are covergirl’s latest and greatest. the sculpted double ends are like a makeup artist in your hand with a blunt side for swiping on a lighter base shadow and a tapered end for smudging the bolder shade into the crease making it super easy to create one beautifully blended look. i’m a huge fan of the coordinated color pairings especially purple plume because i’m no expert at matching shades. and since they’re all under $8, might i recommend picking up more than one?

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introducing kimchi blue cosmetics4

POSTED ON Posted on December 31, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

everyone’s favorite urban outfitters designer, kimchi blue, has forayed into my favorite land – the land of makeup! with a sweet and simple (and muy affordable) line up of lip tints, lipsticks, a rollerball perfume, six-pan palette and pretty eye quad, i’d say this collection is completely darling. it also perfectly complements kimchi’s line of adorable dresses. you can find it all online at urbanoutfitters.com for your purchasing and testing pleasure. oh, and pick me up this lip tint in plum while you’re there!

Posted in lids, lips, palettes | 4 Comments

back to the days of bonne bell3

POSTED ON Posted on December 30, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

oh em gee.

so on my most recent trip to sephora i toyed around with smashbox’s new heartbreaker collection. my most favorite treat in the bunch sent me reeling right back to the days when i used to raid the aisles of cvs in search of the latest and greatest lip smacker gloss. i had every flavor and version (though most were in wild cherry, my fave): rolly, liquid, the shimmers that hooked on to my backpack zipper, you name it. well, i’m happy to report that a) you can still purchase most lip smacker products online and b) smashbox has grown the whole idea up a bit – but, just a bit. the final product is, after all, bubble gum pink and sparkly. the new rollerball lip gloss can be worn by itself for a princessy pink pout or over your favorite lipstick for a bit of sheen and glitter.

i. am. in. love!

Posted in lips | 3 Comments

santa baby4

POSTED ON Posted on December 28, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

’twas a beautiful christmas, oh yes indeed
i knew once i opened my stocking with speed
inside were beauty delights, how could i frown?
when i found the 3 pan palette by bobbi brown!
also within was a lip glaze from stila
and four healthy fragrances á lavanila
further on down was bobbi gloss in baby glitter
and a bliss sugar scrub, orange + white pepper gritter
there were two final treasures, much to my surprise
a cool new mascara and pink shadow for my eyes!
and with that my holiday haul completes
did santa bring you any beauty treats?

Posted in body, eyes, fragrance, lashes, lids, lips, palettes | 4 Comments

in the bag2

POSTED ON Posted on December 18, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s been awhile since i’ve featured one of these and i just cannot get enough of this speck-and-a-smidge cosmetic bag from the marvelously talented stephanie johnson. i love that it looks like a gorgeous clutch (you could totally a get away with using it as one) and features a beautiful interior lining with a mirror tucked inside its perfect little pocket! it’s large enough to hold all of your essentials and best yet, looks totally fabulous as you pull it out of your purse or carry-on. if the paisley’s not your thing, stephanie also makes a version in ikat and ditsy flora eliminating any excuses not to make one of these your own.

Posted in bags, tools | 2 Comments

fuller fringe0

POSTED ON Posted on December 16, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

2009 saw the introduction of prescription lash serums like latisse to the scene which promised to boost lashes so significantly, some customers would find the need to trim them back! new for twenty-ten is the idea of adding growth-stimulating ingredients to the mascaras that we already apply each morning and first to market is l’oreal’s double extend lash boosting mascara, an update of a glossarie fave. the original coated lashes with an extender and then magnified them with a tubing mascara for a long lush, envy-inducing effect. this one does the same but includes a formula that actually stimulates lashes to grow longer and stronger making it an unbeatable ten dollar triple threat. since the first one worked wonders for my lashes, i can’t wait to get my hands on this new version!

have you tried it? tell us in the comments!

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champagne kisses0

POSTED ON Posted on December 15, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

we can all get away with an extra bit of shine this time of year. be it a sparkly shadow, jeweled ballet flats, or ultra glitz a la katy perry. if you’re looking to winterize your makeup collection without replacing each product, let me recommend a solution. bird of paradise gloss from becca cosmetics can be layered or mixed with all your existing goodies to give them that little something extra. it can be swiped on cheeks, lips, even eyes to lighten and brighten with a pearly glow for a very happy highlighted holiday season.

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eye buy0

POSTED ON Posted on December 14, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

looking for a way to keep brows looking fresh between waxings? this double-sided chunky pencil from soap and glory is a compact little brow kit that actually shapes, shifts, and lifts. the left side fills in the sparse spots while the right side works to highlight under the brow giving the illusion of a perfectly sculpted shape. the long-wearing formula is a neutral shade, making it appropriate for beauties of all skintones and hair colors. since it’s your brows that give your face its definition, they’re worth investing in, but thanks to arch de triumph’s $10 pricetag, you won’t have to!

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scentimental reading0

POSTED ON Posted on December 10, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

behold my latest and greatest find in the land of beauty reads. i have both literally and figuratively got my nose stuck in this definitive guide to the world of perfume. before now, i was clueless about top notes and base notes. i couldn’t even begin to tell you what comprised a certain scent on first sniff, or even my favorite scent after years of wearing it. perfumes: the a-z guide came to the rescue, answering some burning questions about various scent vocab, changing fragrances seasonally, how to pick a perfect perfume, and so much more! it also houses over 300 pages of reviews and nine top 10 lists which were the result of over 1500 product tests. overall, it’s a real treat of an easy read that will be much adored by any fragrance lover, wearer, or gifter.

Posted in fragrance | Leave a comment

this works0

POSTED ON Posted on December 9, 2009 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

meet vogue beauty guru kathy phillips’ award-winning collection of products that deliver what they promise on the bottle and leave your skin looking and feeling incredible. “this works” is the phrase kathy heard time and time again from product testers who found that her simplistic packages hide modern-day solutions to nearly every skincare ailment. i’m particularly sweet on perfect cleavage (because it’s never too early to start caring for the skin below the chin!) and super moisture which indulges my face, protecting it from environmental damage and preventing signs of aging all at the same time. aside from skincare, this works covers body moisturizers and muscle therapy as well as bath oils, shower gels, and a wide range of natural candles. so whatever your woes, if you’ve been searching for something that just works, hop on over to beautyhabit or thisworks.com to meet your new best friends.