the glossarie

bluemercury product picks8

POSTED ON Posted on May 20, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m getting so very excited to celebrate the glossarie’s fifth anniversary on saturday. my mom, sister, grandmother, and friends all roll into town at the end of this week to help me toast five beautiful years (and also conveniently my baby shower on sunday!) – and i am giddier than a schoolgirl.

if you’re joining us, i posted a sneak peek of what you can expect to find at the sample bar. i’ve been really thrilled to see that element of the party come together. i have always wanted to host an event with candy jars filled with beauty samples and it seems that dream is coming true! i can’t wait to see everyone this weekend and to watch them fill their beauty bags with treats.

while in store, i’m obviously going to take the opportunity to stock up on some favorite products and i’m guaranteed to discover at least a dozen new must-haves as we sip champagne and nosh on cupcakes. here are a few (nine to be exact) of my top of-the-moment bluemercury picks:

phytovolume actif volumizing spray, $29 – i swore that i had posted about this! probably my all-time favorite styling treatment, it falls somewhere between a straightening spray and a volumizing dry shampoo. hair is left big, big, BIG with a style that lasts far longer than a lotion or a cream. gorgeous!

m-61 jetglow, $98 – the combination of glycolic and peptide makes this serum every acne-slash-early-wrinkle-sufferer’s best friend. i love how it resurfaces as i sleep without tearing up my skin. seaweed soothes any irritation while antioxidants actually give something back after the acids work their magic.

ren glycol lactic radiance renewal mask, $55 – for when you really want a facial, but your wallet tells you to DIY, this ren mask is all kinds of amazing. it’s a ten minute shot for when your skin really needs it (and i don’t recommend using this stuff more than once a week) – but the glowing results are well worth it.

la roche-posay anthelios 50 daily anti-aging primer with sunscreen, $40 – more than a primer, this anti-aging smoother packed full of SPF hides everything from large pores to crow’s feet, all while providing serious sun protection and a dose of anti-aging ingredients. it’s an impressive hard-worker that really changes the game.

mario badescu oil-free moisturizer, $22 – do you hear angels singing? i cannot say enough wonderful things about this line, because it has seriously changed my skin. this moisturizer is so perfect, providing all of the hydration that i need and none of the pore-clogging. my skin has never looked better and it’s all thanks to mario.

kiehl’s creamy eye treatment with avocado, $28.50 – simple, hydrating, and shockingly effective, sometimes i find this tub in my beauty drawer and wonder why i don’t use it every single night. the crepe’y skin under my eyes absolutely drinks it in and i’m always left looking more awake in the mornings.

clinique almost lipstick in black honey, $15 – there’s a reason why this one is labeled a cult product and why i reach for it every time that the weather gets cool and crisp. the raisin-hued stain flatters everyone (seriously) and i love it so much that i’ve even started dotting it on my cheeks for a sheer berry flush.

laura mercier shimmer bloc in pink mosaic, $40 – so pretty, so glowy, so effortlessly flawless, laura mercier’s shimmer blocs add color to eyes and cheeks (and décolletage if you so dare!). pink mosaic is the perfect combination of highlighting neutrals and pops of bright. grab a stippling brush and go crazy!

moroccanoil body buff, $42 – the newest addition to my shower (hello! did you even know moroccanoil makes body products?!), this scrub is bursting with exfoliating orange peel and nourishing avocado. you get intense, non-greasy moisture and silky soft skin that will have you constantly touching (and sniffing!) your own arms and legs.

do you shop bluemercury for any of your beauty go-to’s?

more importantly, will i see you saturday?! :)

Posted in my DC days | Tagged bluemercury, clinique, kiehl's, la roche-posay, laura mercier, m-61, mario badescu, moroccanoil, phyto, ren | 8 Comments

summer skin refresh2

POSTED ON Posted on May 19, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

the temperature has (finally!) crested above 80 twice in the last week. not only did this glimpse of summer have me banishing all of my coats to the faraway closet, but it also signaled that the time has come to switch up my skin routine to accommodate the warmer weather and increasing humidity.

when it gets hot, i find that light and simple is best on my skin. in the mornings, i smooth my face with a steaming hot wash cloth and in the evenings, i use cetaphil gentle skin cleanser to remove my makeup, followed by mario badescu seaweed cleansing lotion. it’s no wonder that cetaphil’s mild cleanser is a best seller. i love that one pump covers my entire face and that i can actually feel it breaking up my makeup while i brush my teeth. a few splashes of warm water and my day is all but washed away.

in my makeup bag, i’m switching my matte blush out for this urban decay highlighting palette packed with featherlight formulas. i’m also opting for huge, smudge-proof lashes, tinted rose lips, and warm, orange-red fingers and toes.

for some reason, changing up my hair routine always proves to be the most problematic, but i’m dedicated to fighting frizz this season with an arsenal of products. cricket’s conditioning comb is helping me keep things smooth, while pantene’s new serum and the occasional drybar blowout are just the ticket for making me feel flawless. when all else fails, bright mane message hair ties create a sleek ponytail that’s always chic.

with the warmer weather comes a sun-kissed tan, and while i assuredly slather the SPF on daily, i’m never going to be sad to see my fair tones fade to bronze. to keep summer skin hydrated, cetaphil dailyadvance lotion is pure perfection. it glides on, leaving no trace of stickiness, and i love knowing that it won’t break me out.

to top things off (and even if I’m wearing nothing else, because it’s just too darn hot), i reach for avon ultra glazewear lip gloss in darling pink and nars radiant creamy concealer. the combination brightens up my face, zaps under eye circles and conceals blemishes completely without feeling heavy.

visit stylelist see how other bloggers get ready for summer with a skin refresh! how do you change your beauty routine when it gets warm?

this is a collaboration between cetaphil and the aol lifestyle contributor network. compensation was provided by cetaphil via aol media. the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of cetaphil.

thank you for supporting the brands that support the glossarie!

Posted in body, skin | Tagged cetaphil | 2 Comments

josie maran argan infinity lip and cheek creamy oil10

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

i wasn’t so sure about this one at the start, but curiosity got the best of me and i gave it a real solid test during a recent stroll through sephora. making it my first stop, i grabbed the tube of limitless pink and used my finger to apply it to my bare (dry, chapped) lips. my first thought was that the color was beautiful – a super flattering medium pink that brought some much needed life to my complexion, and absolutely drenched my lips in moisture. catching sight of myself as i shopped, i noticed that the shine on this stuff gave the rest of me a dewy glow, without changing anything else on my face. i was in heaven!

needless to say, i purchased limitless pink and endless guava (whoops!) and i’ve been rotating them ever since.

so what’s inside the tube?

this product is definitely unique. it’s a creamy oil base, tinted with color, its payoff falling somewhere between a stain and an opaque (difficult to describe, but very pretty). it goes on beautifully, covering lips in comfort and color and it wears down to a sheer stain by the end. the only thing i’m not crazy about here is that i still haven’t found the perfect way to apply it. using my finger is the obvious choice, but it leaves me with a very pink fingertip. honestly, i like the colors so much that i’m willing to get past it.

this may be one that you’ve got to try to believe, but if your lips are on the dry side, you’re in the market for natural pigment that’s super smooth or you need a little something to give added shine and hydration to your favorite ‘sticks, i’m thinking that josie’s latest is going to be your ultimate summer lip.

josie maran argan infinity lip and cheek creamy oil, $18 >

Posted in lips | Tagged josie maran | 10 Comments

maybelline volum’ express pumped up! colossal mascara6

POSTED ON Posted on May 17, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

as the rest of me has been expanding, i’ve found myself craving bigger and bigger lashes. it’s all about balance, right? but, as i have tested mascara after mascara in search of that crazy smudge-proof volume, mascara after mascara has disappointed me. i just couldn’t seem to find anything that was delivering the length and oomph that i was looking for – and that also didn’t give me raccoon eyes by lunchtime.

as if reading my mind yet again, maybelline has delivered their latest lash creation, volum’ express pumped up! colossal. the name alone screams volume (three ways!) and the formula-brush combination provides gorgeous length and lash plumping. it’s one of the more easy-to-wear mascaras i have tried recently – going on wet (without clumping, but do be careful when blinking right after it’s applied) and not feeling at all dry or stiff throughout the day, so my lashes aren’t suffocated. it wears beautifully with no flakes or smudges, which is rare in a volumizing mascara. (sometimes i feel like the bigger the lashes, the more they flake and break down as the mascara wears.)

the brush is tapered at both ends so you get a big fat part in the middle that’s perfect for building drama, and then a conical tip that allows you to get into the corners so that no lash is missed. to apply, i love standing super close to my leaning mirror and watching my lashes grow and grow with every swipe!

for less than $10, this hot pink tube is bringing some major competition to the mascara market. girls who like a lot of lash will love this stuff – and your wallet won’t be complaining in the least.

maybelline volum’ express pumped up! colossal mascara, $5.99 >

Posted in editorial sample, eyes, lashes | Tagged maybelline | 6 Comments

urban decay streak naked flushed palette4

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

i’m not always one for palettes. i love them from afar, but mostly file them away in the “too pretty to use” category – or i buy them and end up using just one shade. it’s never been my cup of tea, but urban decay is changing my whole way of thinking.

their new naked flushed palettes for summer 2014 are simply stunning and ultra wearable. with these, you get bronze, glow, and blush all in one magnetic compact. each formula in the trio is silky to the touch and goes on like a dream, making it easy to use the shades individually or to blend and experiment ’til your heart’s content.

my favorite of the bunch is streak. it features a pale matte bronzer that was made for my fair skin, a peach shimmer highlighter that is not at all scary (i have been especially loving it dusted along my bottom lash line), and a bright coral blush. it’s a pretty universal grouping that will definitely flatter many skin tones and the resulting glow is too good to be true.

to get my favorite look, take a big fluffy brush into the bronze shade and dust high on the cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin to warm up your complexion, then follow up by dipping your blush brush halfway between the blush shade and highlighter shade for gorgeously glowing cheeks!

i think what i’m loving most here is the effortlessly flawless finish. let’s be honest, most of us (myself included) are not trained artists and never have i stumbled upon a combination of colors that makes it so easy to look so good. the powders that urban decay has created are luxe and light as a feather, so you get a natural flush that looks like you’ve cocktailed something truly special together – all with the use of one gorgeous product.

urban decay naked streak naked flushed palette, $30 >

Posted in blush, bronzer, cheeks, editorial sample | Tagged urban decay | 4 Comments

avon femme nail art video + the easiest everyday lip9

POSTED ON Posted on May 14, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIK6V4i_Dig&feature=youtu.be

last month i trained up to nyc to spend the most fabulous day with my friends at mark and avon. after previewing the new saint barts collection from mark, i sat in on a media session celebrating the launch of avon’s newest fragrance – femme. this scent is full of playful sparkle and encompasses so many of my most favorite ingredients: gardenia, pink grapefruit, and a touch of musk. this is the most wearable floral and there’s no occasion that it wouldn’t be perfect for. at $30, it has me leaving my go-to flowerbomb in the dust and i’m still in awe of the quality coming from this gorgeous bottle. yum!

we capped of the day by filming the nail art tutorial above and i was so giddy-thrilled with the results that i think the manicurist might have thought that i had never had a manicure before. the combination of a soft pastel pink base, with a striking stripe of silver and sprinkle accent nails was too much for me to handle. best of all, i actually think that i could recreate this masterpiece at home!

prior to my shoot, i was treated to a makeup application by marni burton. i was definitely obsessed with my smoky silver eyes, but i have to say that the best trick i gleaned from marni that morning was how to create the perfect everyday lip for my fair skin and dark hair – and it’s a snap! marni layered a satiny nude lip underneath of a cool, neutral pink gloss. not rocket science, not complicated, but perfect in its own understated way. the combination of mark all butter now lip treat (moisturizing, extra comfortable color) in bare all and avon ultra glazewear lip gloss (brilliant creamy color, non sticky formula) in darling pink are now on me at all times and i love not having to think about my lip color for even a split second. thank you, marni!

Posted in fragrance, lips | Tagged avon, mark. | 9 Comments

plum pretty sugar cosmetic bags2

POSTED ON Posted on May 10, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

found: your last-minute mother’s day gift, courtesy of the print-masters at plum pretty sugar.

if you’re not familiar with plum pretty sugar, then you are missing out on a whole lot of goodness. i discovered the brand while wedding planning in 2010 and these days, i practically live in my knee-length kimono-style robe (belted above the bump, natch). it’s the perfect thing to snuggle up in post-shower and while i usually only intend to wear it during makeup application and while my hair dries, it would not be shocking for you to find me still wearing it after lunch. (whoops!)

since they are proven purveyors of beautiful things and constantly creating fresh and adorable new items, i had a hunch that a makeup bag could not be too far off into the future – and i am absolutely in love with what they created in the category of my most favorite accessory. their new cosmetic bag is available in two prints – pink love and poppy – for $24. it will make the most gorgeous home for your most treasured beauty items and i promise that you’ll be looking for opportunities to take this little lover on the road.

might i recommend one for you and one for mom?

plum pretty sugar cosmetic bag, $24 >

Posted in bags | Tagged plum pretty sugar | 2 Comments

five years15

POSTED ON Posted on May 9, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i always say that i would write this blog even if no one ever came to read it, because that’s how much i love these products and that’s how badly i want to share them – but you do come! you come, you comment, you email, you share your hits and misses, you ask questions and partake in the obsession that has fueled five years of beauty writing on the web, and for that i will be forever grateful.

i wish that i could give each of you a giant hug, especially the most loyal of you who have been reading since the beginning, but instead, i’m throwing a grand soiree! my way of giving back just a tiny bit of the joy that you have brought to me over these last 969 posts.

if you’re in the dc/md/va area, i would love to see you at the glossarie’s fifth birthday party over memorial day weekend! come sip champagne, nibble a cupcake, and most importantly, get all dolled up for your evening out with a quickie makeover by bluemercury’s amazing brand representatives and makeup artists. i’ll also be treating guests to a deluxe sample stop where you can make your own little swag bag full of my favorite minis from mario badescu, la roche posy, clinique, perricone, kiehl’s, laura mercier, and more.

i chose to partner with bluemercury because they are the beauty authority in the dc area. i love having a national chain of prestige cosmetics boutiques based right here in the district and i’m so lucky that they are opening their doors to host us in a couple of short weeks. the beauty fortress is celebrating FIFTEEN years this year, so suffice to say that they are also in a celebratory mood. if you’re able to join us, please RSVP to the email address on the invite – i hope to see you there!

Posted in lara, my DC days | Tagged bluemercury | 15 Comments

shades of spring0

POSTED ON Posted on May 5, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

we’re finally starting to get our first taste of spring weather, and while transitional fashion can be a bit tricky, i’m never shy about wearing the current season, regardless of temperature, where everyone can see it – on my fingernails. polish trends are funny and while i certainly love the excitement of a new color collection and the hottest must-have shade, when pressed to choose a color in the manicure chair, i tend to gravitate toward what i like.

here are my picks for the four best spring polish shades:

butter london ladybird, $15
this one originally launched as a fashion week exclusive in february and i could not get my own bottle fast enough. the shade is a striking, opaque tomato red with all of the tender loving care you’ve come to appreciate from butter london, plus the long wear time. it’s perfect for both fingers and toes and flatters all skin tones beautifully.

treat collection in outdoors, $18
more than just a gorgeous bottle, treat collection is a nontoxic polish that is all glam. with a sophisticated range of colors, including this striking kelly green, these pretty polishes are one of my favorite new self indulgences. they dry quick, last for an impressively long time, but the glossy shine is where they really get me! so. much. shine.

sheswai good vibes, $16
sunshine yellow nails are not for the timid, but man are they fun. whenever i get gutsy enough to layer on this particular polish, the compliments just don’t stop coming. i still maintain that sheswai’s lacquers are among my very favorites – practically painting my nails on their own without effort. good vibes, their latest release, is all that and more.

zoya wendy, $9
from their new tickled collection for summer ’14, zoya’s juicy summer melon has a creamy finish that just won’t quit. it’s a cool-toned pink that tends to make you look more tan than you are (bonus!). the formula is one that i adore – just two coats is enough for the perfect coverage, and in a pink you can totally skip your base and top coat. so, so good.

Posted in editorial sample, nails | Tagged butter london, sheswai, treat collection, zoya | Leave a comment

4 fab little lip balms6

POSTED ON Posted on May 4, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s no secret that pregnancy is just plain weird. (beautiful, yes; a miracle, definitely; but still very, very strange!) of all the symptoms that i was prepared for, swelled-up, bee-stung, brigitte bardot-like lips were not on the menu – and not that i’m complaining in the least. a plumper pout for the next 90 days? i will surely take it! but, there’s something else: these full lips of mine are peeling, nonstop.

this latest hormonal phenomenon has sent me searching far and wide for the ultimate arsenal of lip balms and i’ve got four in constant rotation. so, if you’ve seen me slathering (and layering) any of these lately, now you’re in the know.

albeit nourishing lip balm, $12
three words: luxe, luxe, luxe. this beautiful pink balm is housed in a weighty glass jar with a gold lid, but with ingredients like jojoba, coconut oil, and aloe, its beauty goes far beyond that perfect packaging. smoothing this on to lips delivers a comforting shine that really lingers. my advice? leave this one on the vanity, and reach for it often.

lypsyl intense protection beeswax lip balm, $3.95
throw all of your expensive sephora-bought stick balms away and go get your hands on one of these. lypsyl makes the silkiest lip balm available at the drugstore and i keep a stick of vanilla plum on me at all times. i am yet to find something more soothing for less than $5, and to be honest, since discovering this stuff i have kinda stopped looking.

l’occitane moisturizing lip balm, $12
an ultra-rich repairing lip balm, this white tube has been my go-to for an overnight treatment lately and i am already noticing the difference during the day. i slather it on after washing my face, and in the mornings, my lips start off the day all soft and hydrated thanks to a date with ingredients like shea butter every evening.

softlips cube 5-in-1 lip care, $3.49
oh, softlips. i will forever associate you with middle school dances, but your new outfit has reinvigorated our relationship for the better. the cool new cube format takes everything that i love about the classic, flavor-filled and glide-y lip balm and just makes it that much more fun to use. pretty sure you will love this product just as much as you did in 1996.

are there any other must-haves that i should add to the mix?