the glossarie

a reverse moon mani in mint + navy0

POSTED ON Posted on July 18, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i cannot stop thinking about this multicolored half-moon manicure spotted on nailing hollywood. the rounded tips, the navy-on-aqua tones accented with gold dots, it’s just all very, very good. this is the kind of nail art that i love because, believe it or not, it’s actually not that hard to recreate. want these nails on your own pretty hands? the look can be pulled together using these polishes and the following steps:

1 – opt for an opaque cool blue, like rgb cobalt, as a base and go for two coats so that you get that vivid color payoff

2 – once the navy is completely dry, stick a binder reinforcement at the base of your nail, exposing a skinny sliver along your cuticle

3 – apply a mint creme, like deborah lippmann flowers in her hair, to the very bottom of your nail, overlapping slightly with the binder reinforcement

4 – slowly remove each binder reinforcement once the mint color is completely dry and use a spare bobby pin dipped in a gold shade, like butter london the full monty, to create dots where the two blues intersect

5 – seal everything with a high-shine gel topper like dior gel coat and admire your masterpiece for days and days

Posted in nails | Tagged butter london, deborah lippmann, dior, rgb cosmetics | Leave a comment

r+co park ave blow out balm0

POSTED ON Posted on July 16, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i haven’t washed my hair in four days – and it’s not because of a professional salon blowout, but the result of my new favorite styling product from r+co.

as someone who is trying to shorten and simplify her hair routine as soon as possible, i am making major strides towards embracing an unfussy, less-than-perfect finished look that i’m able to create solo in my own bathroom. i’ve been working with r+co’s park ave blow out balm lately and i really, really like it. something about this blow-in lotion gives a little grit and texture to my layers, leaving them with a touch of attitude and sass. i don’t know how to explain it, but this product smooths my hair without stripping it of its own personality. it’s far less stepford wife slash news anchor, and much more effortless. i get oomph at the roots, nice shape and body throughout, it delivers shine and i’m able to easily get my fingers through it – a must, since i have never committed to parting my hair to one side. (if you know me, you know i flip my hair. a lot.)

this is seemingly the product to beat in the race for a perfect styler that will allow me to maintain my favorite style amidst sleep deprivation. i love all of the hardworking ingredients that condition, strengthen, nourish, adding shine, volume, elasticity, and moisture. the combination makes this yet another winner from r+co.

and in case it’s not clear, if you haven’t given these goods a go, your hair is majorly missing out!

r + co park ave blow out balm, $28 >

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged r+co | Leave a comment

mum+bub soothing ointment4

POSTED ON Posted on July 15, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

let’s just say that change is afoot around here (i mean, there is a box of nursing pads nestled in among my hanky panky collection…) and today i really have babies on the brain because the two women who i have been pregnant along side of since the get-go have both delivered their beautiful daughters in the last 48 hours. this means three things:

baby gloss’ tiny girl posse is shaping up quite nicely
i’m next – exciting!
3. i’m next – terrifying!

but while i wrestle with all of that, i am making fierce friends with a new, um beauty product. i received a sample of mum+bub soothing ointment in one of many millions of gift bags that i have picked up along the maternity way and after reading the ingredients (pawpaw fruit!), i quickly squirreled it away for myself assuming that it would make an excellent and nourishing lip balm – and i was not mistaken.

this intensely soothing and healing balm has becoming my go-to for overnight lip treatment. it recently got me out of a very sticky allergic reaction situation and has even worked wonders on some nasty little greenhead bites that i got while in massachusetts. since then i have used it on flyways, hangnails, and even as a lash conditioner. (ah-mazing!) since the stuff is already performing magic on my own skin, i can only imagine that it will do marvelous things for the babe, too. from my experience, the ingredient list will be safe and gentle enough for her, but do not mistake the fact that this is some seriously sophisticated skincare, too.

in short, i can tell that i’m going to need two tubes of mum+bub: one for the changing table and one for my nightstand…and maybe one for the diaper bag…and one for my car…

(i told you change is afoot around here!)

mum+bub soothing ointment, $15.95 >

Posted in lips, mama bear, skin | 4 Comments

mark. crushing on coconut body scrub0

POSTED ON Posted on July 12, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i know i talked a little bit about my love for this scrub here, but my affair with its coconutty goodness has gone straight from first impression rose to fantasy suite status. it is by far the best thing happening in my shower, and here’s why:

scrubs can be really fussy. they always come in tubs or jars (requiring way too much coordination for me) and they’re always dripping in oil which, while it feels luxurious, never ever makes me feel clean. this scrub from mark comes in a tube and it has a perfect consistency that’s not too thick and not too liquidly. i squeeze it straight into my hands and get to work massaging into my arms, legs, chest, and big ole belly. i take an extra second to really go to town on my elbows, knees and heels, too.

the scent is pure heaven – relaxing and mood lifting at the same time, making my shower smell like a tropical oasis. i like the way that the fragrance sits subtly on my skin once i’m toweled off. it’s not so overbearing that you smell like the beach, but my skin is left fresh, clean, and slightly sweet.

the very best part is how this stuff makes my skin feel, because holy moly the softness is so freakin’ good. i cannot stop touching my arms and shoulders and i have also gotten positive endorsements from mr. gloss (by way of the double eyebrow raise, basically his highest praise for anything beauty-related).

so yes, this is the best thing to hit my shower in ages. it has given me some added confidence to break out my sundresses and bare a little more (very pregnant) skin. plus it’s already got me looking forward to my next shower – and i hear those are about to become a precious commodity in my world.

mark. crushing on coconut body scrub, $12 >

Posted in body, editorial sample | Tagged mark. | Leave a comment

kestrel air grid duo-zip makeup case2

POSTED ON Posted on July 11, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

maybe it’s because i have just four short weeks of this pregnancy adventure left (give or take an early/late arrival) and there’s hospital-bag packing on the brain, but i am full-on, can’t stop thinking about it obsessed with this most beautiful cosmetic case from kestrel. for one, the hand-drawn pattern is amazing, but put it in coated canvas, add brushed gold hardware and you’ve got something so special. once inside, you’ll find that the top layer of this case houses 12 (!) slots for your makeup brushes and there is still plenty of room for your daily cosmetics. get down into the bottom layer and you’ve got a hugely roomy section to pile in your skincare and even your hair products. this is a one-stop shop for a beauty lover’s weekend getaway (or perhaps an upcoming stint in labor and delivery).

kestrel air grid duo-zip makeup case, $84 >

Posted in bags, editorial sample, tools | Tagged kestrel | 2 Comments

perfect lips for tanned skin2

POSTED ON Posted on July 8, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

we just got back from four days on the north shore of massachusetts and while arthur may have dampened our plans a bit, i still managed to catch a little sun while sitting on my parents’ roof deck. since i rarely get a tan, i’m planning on milking this hint of bronze for all its worth! so, aside from kicking up my bronzer game, i’m adding a warm, rosy-nude lip to my makeup mix to accentuate this oh-so-slightest kiss of sunshine.

i love clinique butter shine lipstick in pink-a-boo because it’s creamy and ultra wearable. on me, the shade is a true golden pink that’s comfortable and long-lasting. it adds a subtle pink glow to lips and plays so nicely with my baby tan.

if you’re less into shimmer and want something simple that will still enhance your summer skin tone, try bite lush lip tint in lychee. it’s a glossy neutral pink with lots of shine and ingredients like argan oil and vitamin e soothe and soften sun-parched lips.

those who like rich color but don’t want to sacrifice skin conditioners will like bobbi brown creamy lip color in rose petal. it’s a medium rose with soft shimmer (more pigment than the other two) and i also think it would be so gorgeous on a summer bride.

i’m not ashamed to tell you that all three of these are currently slotted into my favorite lipstick holder, but there’s always room for more! what lips do you like to wear with your tan?

Posted in editorial sample, lips | Tagged bite beauty, bobbi brown, clinique | 2 Comments

ogx anti-breakage keratin oil 3 minute miraculous recovery0

POSTED ON Posted on July 7, 2014 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

one of my girlfriends has the most gorgeous, long and shiny, healthy-looking hair. i asked her what her secret is and she shared that she’d been using ogx ever-straight hydrating keratin masque – from the drugstore – once a week to deep condition. (“magic,” she called it.) obviously, i had to have this stuff. alas i searched high and low at every mass retailer in my vicinity with no luck. fate would have it that the illustrious miracle product was being phased out (you can still grab it on amazon), but i stumbled upon something better.

what i did find was ogx anti-breakage keratin oil – a 3 minute deep conditioner that makes my hair feel so soft and silky that i cannot stop touching it. this formula is bursting with proteins and argan oil that my hair is absolutely drinking up. it smells amazing, and doesn’t weigh my fine hair down. i can actually use it twice a week without feeling like i’m overdoing it on the deep conditioning and the results are all kinds of amazonian goddess – making me feel like my wild goose chase through our nation’s capital was well worth the effort.

ogx anti-breakage keratin oil 3 minute miraculous recovery, $7.99 >

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged organix | Leave a comment

skin-saving duo from first aid beauty11

POSTED ON Posted on July 1, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

do you ever feel like the skincare cocktail you’ve been using religiously to the tune of beautiful results will sometimes turn on you suddenly and just stop working? it’s the worst and i’m always torn between staying the course / powering through and risking a reaction by trying something new. last week i reached a breaking point and sought out a new cleanser-toner combination to soothe some seriously congested skin. the results have been better than i could have imagined (which, for the record, only fuels my sickness. something could be working great, but isn’t there always something better?) and i’m enjoying the closest to clear skin that could easily go makeup-free than i’ve had since experiencing my very first breakout as a teenager.

here are the two products creating the magic:

i’ve been clearing the day away with first aid beauty’s skin rescue deep cleanser with red clay. i use about a quarter-sized amount and mix it with a drop or two of water before applying it to my skin that’s still covered in the day’s makeup. the grippy cleanser hangs on to makeup, dissolving all traces of foundation and unclogging my pores. it washes off easily without a lot of tugging, so i’m able to get my skin cleaner while also being more gentle. while most deep cleansers can be a bit drying, that’s not the case here thanks to added glycerin. my skin is left spotlessly clean and comfortable.

after cleansing, i follow up with first aid beauty’s facial radiance pads. i love this concept so much more than pouring toner onto a cotton pad – it’s one less step and so travel friendly. these little pads have lactic and glycolic acids for chemical exfoliation, but they do not sting or irritate like other acid-based products can. they work to sweep away any lingering traces of makeup (which i have to tell you are very few after using my new favorite cleanser!) and also to tone the skin. in the mornings, my face is less dull and dry without any redness or added grease.

first aid beauty has definitely proved themselves as the sensitive skin experts with these two, because i didn’t think a deep cleanser or renewal pad could ever play nicely with my delicate visage – but i have never been happier to be wrong.

Posted in editorial sample, skin | Tagged first aid beauty | 11 Comments

summer scents for him + her by nomaterra3

POSTED ON Posted on June 27, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i impart a fairly strong influence over mr. glossarie’s fragrance selection. i buy what i like and i slip it into his toiletry basket or casually leave it on his half of the dresser. my track record is pretty good – there may have been a few rejects along the way – and the result is a man who always smells delicious to me. (do other girls do this, too?)

nomaterra’s boston roll on is rich in smoky tobacco leaf, laced with vetiver, cardamom, basil, and a hint of rose. when i first sniffed it, i knew that it had major potential. its unique blend of high quality, organic ingredients results in a scent that’s intensely pure and warm. besides the fact that it’s named for my hometown, i love that nomaterra’s products are produced in their brooklyn lab. this particular combination is masculine enough for mr. gloss, but i’d be lying if i said that its unisex nature does not lend it to be occasionally kidnapped by yours truly.

malibu is my seasonal scent of choice for the ladies. also coming in a convenient roll-on, malibu’s notes are bursting with honeysuckle (which i am completely obsessed with at the moment) for a fragrance that is soft and lightly sweet. just like its southern california inspiration, malibu is beachy and sunny, feminine but casual. i like to rub it into the crooks of my elbows for everyday and i also occasionally dot it at the nape of my neck before a sweaty yoga class. the travel-friendly vial is a cinch to take with me wherever i go and the compliments always come pouring in.

if you haven’t experienced nomaterra’s gorgeous lineup, i highly suggest giving them a go. each location smells better than the next and their unique combinations will definitely have you coming back for more.

now, spill: what’s your scent of the season?

shop nomaterra’s full line of fragrances, $26 – $86 >

Posted in editorial sample, fragrance | Tagged nomaterra | 3 Comments

mac prep + prime beauty balm spf 352

POSTED ON Posted on June 26, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i know that summer has a tendency to make us want to wear less of everything – layers of clothing, makeup, even hair (anyone going for a chic summer chop?) – but summer sweat also tends to cause an increase in unwanted breakouts. for that reason, i usually need to up my foundation coverage a notch while still avoiding anything that looks or feels heavy on my skin. mac’s prep + prime bb is the perfect solution. its creamy consistency primes my skin, mattifying in the slightest, yet also illuminating. (how they achieved that bit of magic i’ll never know!) i’ve been using it with my new favorite brush, finding that coverage is lightweight and flawless. the product decreases redness and evens out any sunspots for a beautiful complexion that i can’t get enough of. it’s not at all drying and the addition of spf 35 (an upgrade on most makeup that boasts a measly spf 15) means that it’s even more perfect for spending some extra time in the sun. if you’re looking for a summer staple (and something that can carry you easily into fall, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves) i’m thinking this tube holds your new favorite face perfector.

mac prep + prime beauty balm spf 35, $30 >