the glossarie

10% off mark. products – today only0

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

yesterday’s snow storm has me experiencing a major case of winter blues. i think monday marks the 18th “snow day” that we’ve had in the dc area so far this winter and i could not be more ready for spring.

like a little beacon of light, mark. is offering 10% off all of their gorgeous products (which include lots of options for fresh spring color!) today only in celebration of brand ambassador lucy hale’s spring season finale of pretty little liars with code PLL10.

hallelujah!

this spring, i’m looking to add products to my collection that are equal parts bright and wearable – things that represent my style without being over-the-top expensive. right off the bat, i honed in on mark. blooming pretty highlighting face powder ($16) as the perfect way to add a soft sheer glow to my cheeks who are desperately craving color. (for the record, i’d pair it with this fluffy blush + bronzer brush ($8) to get the ideal placement of pink.) to balance things out, i can’t get enough of the go-to neutrals in the color swing eye palette ($20). they are just what my hazel eyes need to counteract that bold cheek pop! then, just for fun and as a little icing on the cake, it’s impossible to resist the combination of sunny yellow and spring-ready mint (plus that cocktail ring!) in the nail this look set ($28).

i’m thinking these are just the ticket to helping me fight off the blahs brought on by this never-ending winter. will you take advantage of 10% off mark’s spring goodness?

Posted in blush, cheeks, eyes, lids | Tagged mark. | Leave a comment

greening my routine with mario badescu6

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

my skin care routine has quite literally gone green.

besides being perfectly fitting for saint patrick’s day, the truth is that this trio has saved my pregnancy hormone-ravaged skin. the team at mario badescu must be getting pretty used to my panicky emails at this point and seeing as though i am yet to present them with a pickle that they cannot get me out of, it’s really no surprise that they sent me the perfect solution to my latest problem.

they informed me that my sensitive, oily, acne-prone skin requires a combination of chemical exfoliation, gentle disinfection, and soothing nourishment to keep it from getting inflamed. here’s the very festive combination of products that is keeping everything in check:

mario badescu enzyme cleansing gel, $12
forget everything you know about washing your face. add a drop of water to this mint-colored gel, massage it over your skin and every trace of makeup is dissolved, without drying. it provides a deep clean without being harsh – just be sure to avoid your eye area.

mario badescu seaweed cleansing lotion, $15
a very green toner to remove any left-behind smudges of makeup while also giving something back. it cleans out all of my pores with witch hazel, soothes my sensitive areas with aloe, helps to prevent dryness and preps skin perfectly for my night cream.

mario badescu seaweed night cream, $20
this green cream restores hydration (essential for helping my skin to repair itself overnight) without adding oil. collagen and hyaluronic acid leave things feeling so smooth and plumped up in the mornings, while also reducing redness and shrinking pimples.

all three products have made a visible (and fast) improvement in my skin – completely turning things around from the broken out turmoil that i have been experiencing. lucky for me, and thanks to mario badescu, going green has saved the day!

Posted in editorial sample, skin | Tagged mario badescu | 6 Comments

detox your locks2

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

sometimes my hair feels…congested. product buildup can cause it to go heavy and limp and kind of dull at virtually no notice. i used to rely on drugstore detox shampoos like this one to get things back to normal, but i’ve found that they really strip things down and dry them out unnecessarily – almost creating more trouble than they are worth. lucky for me detox shampoos have come a long (and i mean long) way. i’ve been playing with two new releases from phyto and ouidad to the tune of squeaky clean and extra gorgeous results.

ouidad superfruit renewal clarifying cream shampoo, $18
anyone with curly hair knows that it’s notoriously sensitive to product buildup, so it’s no surprise that the queen of curl has created the epitome of clarifying shampoos. this cream shampoo feels more like a conditioner, but lathers beautifully to get all of the gunk out of your hair. it smells heavenly, making my shower feel like a sweetly scented oasis that really adds to the whole experience. while it’s a wiz at detoxing, the addition of five superfruit acids add vibrancy, shine, softness and bounce leaving my hair looking the best it ever has.

phytoneutre detox clarifying shampoo, $19
this option from phyto is also a cream formula that eliminates buildup, but eucalyptus oil means that your hair’s natural protective barrier remains intact. chamomile, sage, and witch hazel break down even the strongest-holding styling products while delivering a boost of oxygen to your scalp that you can actually feel. i find that the scent here is weighted in eucalyptus for a fresher, deep clean (and tingle!), but that the results are incredible. with mostly natural ingredients and a concentrated formula, you’ll notice that a little goes a long way.

with results like these, you’re probably wondering why i don’t make either (or both!) of these my regular go-to shampoo. the truth is that detoxifying shampoos should really only used once a week, but either of these beauties would make a perfect complement to whatever shampoo/conditioner duo you’re already committed to – and will probably make them work even better.

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged ouidad, phyto | 2 Comments

sephora upside down mascara7

POSTED ON Posted on March 13, 2014 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

sometimes i feel like mascara wands have all of the fun. we’ve certainly seen our fair share of innovative shapes and designs in this department, but this new double-brush from sephora may just take the cake. there was no way that i was going to let something this crazy looking pass me by without giving it a test, more out of curiosity than expecting any earth-shattering results.

here’s the deal: sephora’s new upside down mascara features a double brush that promises length, curl, volume, and definition. (those are some real bold claims, sephora!) you can use this contraption many ways, which makes it kind of fun. 1) place lashes in a clamp between each brush to coat the tops and bottoms in thick, black pigment

2) hold the “v” closed and use both brushes in line together to fully coat each lash, kind of like how you would use a regular mascara wand, but this version is on steroids

3) open the “v” and use each brush individually on top and/or bottom lashes (or use them to layer) to really customize and maximize the effect.

once you get the hang of opening and closing the brush to create various looks and you figure out how to minimize clumping (i say, just keep a lash comb handy – the end results are worth the clumps), the possibilities here are pretty endless. i like the idea of this “all in one” mascara and you really can create day or evening lash options delivering length or volume (or both!), depending on your preferences. i will say that this formula is a bit on the heavy side, but that’s what delivers the drama. i find that i have to really let it dry in-between coats and it did smudge a tiny bit on me. (note: i have the wateriest eyes on the planet, so don’t judge it too harshly.)

all in all, i’m calling this one a win for innovation and for impressive results. beauty buffs will have a lot of fun experimenting with the wand and your lashes will definitely display the fruits of your labor if you’re willing to give it a go.

sephora upside down mascara, $22 >

Posted in eyes, lashes | Tagged sephora | 7 Comments

falconwright wallet pouch0

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

i really don’t care to discuss the fact that it’s going to be 70 degrees today and 25 degrees tomorrow. (because that’s just crazy.) all i want to talk about right now is this adorable pouch from falconwright. done up in bubblegum pink with a white print and a mint suede tassel, this little beauty is shouting spring. i love pouches for many reasons, but mainly because they keep the depths of my daily tote organized – catching all manner of things from receipts to change, stray otc meds and let’s not forget about that #lipbomb. this one is perfectly sized at 7×5″ and is beyond cute enough to be taken out on its own for an errand or a mocktail.*

falconwright’s shop is chock full of pretty pouch options, each more fabulous than the next. if your clutter or your business cards are looking for a new home, definitely give their handmade selection a good long look.

falconwright pouches ($28 – $68) >

note: my non-water drink of choice these days? it rotates between a refreshing lemonade and the occasional chick fil-a cookies & cream milkshake. gotta get my kicks where i can get ’em while i’m the wagon!

Posted in bags, tools | Tagged falconwright | Leave a comment

stila sweet treat bronzing powder2

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

i’m aware that not everyone suffers from my particular shade of pale, but the way i see it, we can all benefit from a good bronzer. something about the month of march with its long, dragged out end-of-winter (please, let it be the end of winter) days has me so disgusted by the lack of color in my skin that i had to take action. i did a little research into how to treat “ghost face” and kept stumbling upon stila’s valentine’s day bronzing powder in sweet treat. it’s the right mixture of matte and shimmer, with shades of brown, pearly sand, and even peach to deliver depth and glow to my sad complexion. the trick is to get your hands on the softest, fluffiest brush you can find (i love this one) and dust it ever so lightly all over your skin for a touch of warmth. it’s bringing me immense happiness, and is serving as just enough saving grace to get me to spring. (come. on. spring!)

to tempt you even further, stila is currently offering 25% off and free shipping through friday with code spring25, bringing this little beauty down to a perfectly bite sized $10.50.

stila sweet treat bronzing powder, $14 >

(use code spring25 to get 25% off and free shipping through 3/14)

Posted in bronzer, cheeks | Tagged stila cosmetics | 2 Comments

ag bb cream0

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

i really can’t stress the importance of a good hair day highly enough – even for those of you whose bodies are not expanding at all angles from the neck down as you create a miracle, but definitely for those of you whose are. for a boost of confidence, i got myself a shiny new haircut a couple of weeks ago and in line with tradition, i hated it for twelve to twenty four hours before i fell in love. the love can probably be most directly attributed to my talented stylist but i’m thinking that it also has a little something to do with a new styling product from ag.

ag’s bb cream is truly multifunctional. the texture is light, like a lotion and in all of that lightness is some serious power. not only does it moisturize and smooth, but it also thickens while protecting against ferocious damage from my heat tools. on a deeper level it protects my natural color from brassiness, provides a shield of care including anti-aging, anti-humidity (not an issue at the moment – thanks, polar vortex), and uv rays all while maintaining my style longer between shampoos.

it’s that last point that really has me singing, because not only do i love my style after it’s been freshly shampoo’d but on the second day? it looks really super gorgeous! no dry shampoo needed. this is a major time saver and it’s really just tricking me into thinking that i have naturally great hair. (i don’t. it’s the product.)

this stuff is so good that i’m prescribing it for anyone with hair. (that would be you.)

ag bb cream total benefit hair primer, $26 >

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

morphe deluxe buffer brush1

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

everyone has their druthers when it comes to foundation application: fingers, sponge, flat brush, etc. – and i happen to be a fan of the big, fluffy brush. this version from morphe is near perfection. for one, the size is generous but not too big (you’ve still got to be able to get into those eye corners and nose crevices after all). the bristles are the right combination of sturdy, but soft so that it applies foundations seamlessly and at the same time doesn’t irritate. (side poll: have you ever touched a makeup brush to your skin and it just plain hurts? i hate that!) i just love the way that this brush buffs and blends color right onto my face, making it look like second skin. i was so happy to find that for a lesser known brand, the quality here is very high, with not a single hair going astray (my biggest brush gripe!) and a price point that simply cannot be beat. if you’re in the market for a new way to apply your favorite face base, take a look at morphe – i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

morphe deluxe buffer brush, $13.95 >

Posted in editorial sample, tools | Tagged morphe | 1 Comment

urban outfitters petal perfume oil5

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

every once in awhile, something really takes my breath away. such is the case with this rose petal, peony and bergamot perfume oil from urban outfitters. this is one of the most gorgeously luxe and elegant fragrances that i have sniffed of late, but at the same time it’s insanely wearable and casual enough for everyday. the blend of florals (including freesia, along with two different roses and peony), fruity bergamot and woodsy musk combine for an addictive experience that keeps me coming back for more. the scent is refreshingly pure and light, kind of like what you wish your hair products left you smelling like without the need for extra fragrance. it’s pretty, and easy.

beyond the notes themselves, i have to talk about the packaging. for one, this bottle is huge. at nearly one full ounce, it generously fills my hand (for comparison, most rollerballs are .17 to .24oz) and i love that you can see real rosebuds floating in the perfume oil. the whole thing is just beautiful and exactly the hip and stylish kind of chic you would anticipate from urban outfitters.

you might expect that a perfume oil of this unique caliber would sell for department store dollars, but just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, i’m going to tell you that this chunky glass vial goes for a jaw-dropping eighteen dollars. (that’s less than a designer rollerball at sephora, gals.)

i’m calling it case closed on the search for my spring fragrance – who’s with me?

urban outfitters petal perfume oil, $18 >

Posted in editorial sample, fragrance | Tagged urban outfitters | 5 Comments

lipstick queen saint in hot rose0

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

in my opinion, dry lips don’t just need moisture, they need color. for that reason, i am always on the hunt for a one-step lip that will hydrate and soothe while also giving me a sheer pop of pink. sadly, most tinted balms don’t deliver nearly enough pigment for my liking, leaving me mostly disappointed. i’m not sure why this concept is such a tough one for brands to latch on to, but it’s really not surprising that a real winner in this category would arrive from poppy king.

lipstick queen’s saint lipstick has 10% pigment for a hint of long-lasting and buttery-feeling color. available in 20 (!) shades, saint is easy to apply and a piece of cake to wear, delivering a casual glam that’s perfect for everyday. i’m partial to hot rose, a deep fuchsia that has been delivering a lightly vanilla-scented wash of pink hydration to my dry and colorless lips this winter. the shade is more than enough to wake up my dead winter lips and i also love the way that it’s bringing life to my paling complexion.

if your lips are needing a burst of brightness (or even if a sheer, hydrating nude or a gothy wine is more your speed), forego the obvious choice and take a good long look at lipstick queen’s saint formula. you won’t be sorry.

lipstick queen saint, $22 >