the glossarie

la prairie anti-aging eye and lip perfection4

POSTED ON Posted on October 10, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s a wicked gloomy day here in virginia so i’m tucked up at my kitchen table sipping hot coffee and perusing boots and sweaters online, thinking about how i have to spend three days in virginia beach this weekend. at a soccer tournament. in the rain.

to get my out of my (very) mini funk, i’m dreaming of the ultimate fall beauty buy: this anti-aging eye and lip perfection from la prairie. i was given a small sample of each formula included at a neiman marcus beauty event earlier this fall and can i just tell you that they are GORGEOUS. the ultra luxurious lip balm is thick and hydrating with a slight plumping effect that is too good to be true. and the eye gel is illuminating and lifting – perfect for patting on when you need to quickly transition from the office to the bar, or anytime you need a boost. both products are combined in one stunning silver compact for the ultimate in on-the-go refreshment.

it’s chic. it’s portable. it’s, well like the name says, perfection.

but it’s also one hundred and fifty dollars.

am i rushing out to buy this tomorrow? absolutely not. (i’m on a shopping ban, remember?)

but a girl (and her lips and her eyes) can dream.

la prairie anti-aging eye and lip perfection, $150 >

Posted in eyes, lips, skin | Tagged la prairie | 4 Comments

stars + stripes nail art with Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions + Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs2

POSTED ON Posted on October 9, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i had way too much fun coming up with a creative vision for my final nail art look. i have been wanting to play with star glitter and i figured now was as good of a time as any. i opted to work the stars into a racing stripe look which required lots of extra help from Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs. since my nails are mostly bare yet again, clean, moisturized cuticles were essential and Suave® Skin Solutions Soothing Body Lotion saved the day.

here’s how i got a racing stripe nail art look in this season’s hottest shade – hunter green – accented with star glitter for a little extra funk:

i massaged Suave® Skin Solutions Soothing Body Lotion into my cuticles and let it sit while i gathered my supplies. then, i used a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab soaked in remover to make sure that the bases of my nails were clean and ready for polish.

i used my favorite tape trick again to ensure that my racing stripes were as straight as possible. i painted on two coats of a shimmering dark green and carefully removed the tape.

once my nails were dry, i removed the tape and cleaned up the edges of each stripe with a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab for precise polish.

after coating each nail with a top coat, i quickly stuck a gold star in the center of each nail, pressing firmly. the key is choosing stars that are small enough to lay flat over the curved shape of the nail.

i loved this stars and stripes look! after coating on two strong layers of top coat over top of each star, i was shocked at how long it wore and how many compliments i got while wearing.

this post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer for Suave® and Q-Tips®. visit www.facebook.com/SuaveBeauty for the chance to win Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style.

all photos by kate headley.

Posted in nails | Tagged q-tips, suave | 2 Comments

kai perfume oil6

POSTED ON Posted on October 8, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

here’s the thing about a classic: it’s simple, unassuming, not overdone and never tries too hard.

kai’s gorgeous fragrance has a list of celebrity devotees longer than my arm and one sniff solidifies just why that is. the scent is comfortably light, but seriously intoxicating with a certain je ne sais quoi that has friends (and strangers) grabbing my arm to get a closer smell. a look at the ingredient list reveals a hearty dose of gardenia tangled up with several other exotic florals that make this one a rare specialty, worthy of its cult following. its ease makes it perfect enough to be worn everyday and a flick of my inner wrist towards my nose is all it takes to have me dreaming of the islands. it’s one of those fragrances that goes with every outfit, every mood, making it an essential for every girl. i’m thinking that all you need is a cozy afternoon with this stuff and you won’t wonder as to why it’s such a sought-after scent. i’m partial to the rollerball (no surprise) for its concentration and convenience, but just about anything in this collection will add a touch of cool-gal glamour to your situation.

kai perfume oil, $48 >

Posted in editorial sample, fragrance | Tagged kai | 6 Comments

triangle tips with Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions + Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs0

POSTED ON Posted on October 7, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

this week’s nail art challenge was to play with intricate design. again, steady handedness not being one of my strong suits, i opted to cheat a little bit using some tape and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs to get the finished look. and since my nail is mostly bare in this look, clean cuticles were especially important! Suave® Skin Solutions Soothing Body Lotion was just what i needed to ensure my cuticles were moisturized, creating the foundation for a perfect manicure.

here’s my take on fun and funky triangle-tipped nail look, including the essential steps of moisturizing skin and precision polishing with Suave® and Q-tips®:

first, i used two pieces of colored tape per finger to create little triangle stencils on each nail. i found that colored tape works far better than clear because i can actually see what I’m doing.

then, i carefully painted two coats of a show-stopping red on to each nail, making sure each coat was on the thin side. (if things get too globby, you’ll literally have a mess on your hands when you try to remove the tape.)

once my nails were dry, i removed the tape and cleaned up the edges of each triangle with a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab. the pointed tips were perfect for this kind of precision work and my triangles had smooth, straight edges.

then, i dipped a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab into a beautiful molten gold polish, dotting the tip of each triangle.

the finished look is so fun and definitely eye-catching, plus, did you see how easy it is to achieve?

all photos by kate headley.

Posted in nails | Tagged q-tips, suave | Leave a comment

iman breast cancer awareness lip stain0

POSTED ON Posted on October 5, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

did you guys read sarah’s post on pink ribbon campaigns? i found it fascinating and it really made me think about the products that i choose to endorse during the month of october. after falling in love with iman’s breast cancer awareness lip stain, i immediately checked out their website to get the details on how much from each sale is actually reaching their intended charity. i was happy to find that $20,000 of profits generated from the lip stain during the month of october goes straight to sisters network, so on with the review!

iman’s pink luxury lip stain is gorgeous. it’s more of a lipstick than a stain, but the satiny semi-sheer pink lip color has as soft hint of metallic shimmer that makes me want to wear it everyday. i’ve been throwing it on each morning and loving the way that it actually does wear down to a soft stain. the color is so flattering and the formula is conditioning enough that i don’t need a balm underneath. i’m thinking that the tone is universal enough that it would flatter tons of skintones, too. so, if you’re in the market for a medium pink lip, i recommend scooping this one up and supporting a great cause in the process.

iman breast cancer awareness lip stain, $10 >

Posted in editorial sample, lips | Tagged iman | Leave a comment

a luxe little friday6

POSTED ON Posted on October 4, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

happy freakin’ friday, beauties! i don’t know if this week was as much of a haul for you as it was for me, but i don’t think that i have ever been happier to lay eyes on the weekend.

as some of you know, my husband and i are in the throes of homebuilding (so exciting! so stressful!). if all goes to plan, our house will be done about a week and a half before christmas and i vowed since the beginning that i would go on a shopping ban starting october first until we’re in the new place.

holy hell, this is going to be HARD.

since i can’t shop, i’m counting on all of you to do it for me. just be kind, ok?

here are a few things that i’ve got my wishful eye on and one beautiful candle that is like a little burst of sunshine in our current condo.

i’m picturing this sweet pea tray set atop my dresser, catching all of my beauty products in test phase and stud earrings (which are constantly on the loose). i can also see it as a home for my perfumes and mane message hair ties.

i discovered this jonathan adler specs case via meg biram and it’s got my name all over it! i’ve been on the hunt for a new place to tuck my sunnies and this velvet-paneled, padded, and downright ADORABLE case is obviously the solution.

you might recall that i fell hard for rosie jane’s tilly fragrance. the coordinating soy wax candle is gorgeous! we haven’t even lit it yet and it’s been filling our living room with the sweet scents of summer. love!

is this chantecaille zebra kabuki the most gorgeous cosmetic brush ever? it’s so unbelievably soft and it’s just begging for a permanent home in my life – perhaps on my sweet pea tray. i would dunk it in high definition powder and dust it all over my body.

this might be my favorite designer collaboration of all time: jewelry designer lisa salzer (aka lulu frost) for bobbi brown. the bb team teased this vintage-inspired swarovski-encrusted compact in their holiday gift guide and i just know that i need it. i don’t even know what’s inside (powder? a mirror?) and i don’t care.

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged bobbi brown, chantecaille, jonathan adler, lulu and georgia, lulu frost, rosie jane | 6 Comments

caviar nail art with Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions + Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs6

POSTED ON Posted on October 3, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

continuing on the texture trend, i’m tackling an easy and achievable nail art look. i love painting my nails as much as the next gal, but not everyone has the time or talent to work out a detailed design. texture is a piece of cake to achieve thanks to all of the amazing advancements in versatile products and handy tools like Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs. best of all for me, it takes no skill at all.

here’s how i got a rich berry manicure with a lilac caviar accent nail, including the essential steps of moisturizing skin and precision polishing with Suave® and Q-tips®:

i gave myself a mini hand massage while moisturizing with Suave® Skin Solutions Advanced Therapy Body Lotion. these lotions are light enough to absorb into my skin quickly (i hate waiting for lotion to dry!), but still keep me moisturized for up to 24 hours. they are definitely hydrating enough to tackle the dry skin that comes along with the rapidly disappearing virginia humidity. (hello fall!)

after removing the oils from the surface of my nails with a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab dipped in polish remover, i painted on two coats of one of my favorite fall shades – an opaque, magenta pink shimmer. the shade is mature, but still fun and since my nails are my most favorite accessory, the right color choice is everything.

once my ring finger was painted, i immediately poured the lilac and silver pearls over top, completely covering my entire nail. i took a second to press the tiny balls into my nail so that they would set properly and then i used another Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab to clean up the shape.

after the pearls were safely in place, i layered a second coat of the berry lacquer on to my other four nails. my hands are less than steady (as we know) so a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab came in handy again to clean up the wobbly edges and give me that precise painted nail.

i loved the sophisticated, girly tones in this one. normally I see caviar poured over a nail color that’s the exact same shade or at least in the same family, so going for contrast was a definite twist. the trick to getting caviar just right is pouring the beads on when the polish is wet and then compacting the beads with your finger to get them to stick. you have to paint one nail, then apply caviar, paint a second nail, then apply caviar. it’s a bit tedious and it makes a mess, but the finished effect is edgy and fun!

all photos by kate headley.

Posted in nails | Tagged q-tips, suave | 6 Comments

stephanie johnson mini pouch in dubai9

POSTED ON Posted on October 2, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

nails are deborah lippmann’s rolling in the deep;
my fabulous ring is by anna beck

stephanie johnson’s mini pouch is nothing short of a handbag essential. its small size and boxy shape make it ideal for stashing daily makeup products, pain killers, tweezers, spare change, and whatever else you’ve got clanking around the bottom of your purse. this isn’t exactly breaking news – but when i saw the traditional mini pouch in her shimmering dubai ensemble of golden glittering sequins and patent tassel zipper, i knew that she was WAY to good to travel inside of another bag. once i figured out that i could slide my iphone 5, a set of keys, two lip products, my ID, debit card AND a box of altoids smalls comfortably inside, i knew that it would make the perfect wedding clutch. i carried it to our friends outdoor event on saturday to the tune of many compliments and now i’m counting down the days until i can take it somewhere else – because this beauty is way too pretty to be collecting dust in my makeup bag drawer!

have you ever turned a cute cosmetic bag into an elegant little clutch?

stephanie johnson mini pouch in dubai, $33

Posted in bags, editorial sample, tools | Tagged stephanie johnson | 9 Comments

a few recent favorites14

POSTED ON Posted on October 1, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

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i’ve been a little testing machine lately and sometimes there is just TOO much goodness to share at once. rather than keep you waiting while i craft individual posts for each of these pretty products, i’ve mashed them into one gorgeous little group. i hope you like what you see!

beautyblender, $19.95
is anyone else a complete sucker for the beauty to go section at sephora? this not-at-all-new pink sponge totally captured me and it was way beyond time that i gave it a try. i have used it both wet and dry to apply my favorite cc cream and i have to say that it has never been faster or easier to flawlessly blend my foundation. i’ve been using the blendercleanser to keep it clean and, well, i may just toss my brushes forever.

kiehl’s multi super-corrective cream, $62
talk about a major upgrade to my fall face care, this ultra thick yet still non-greasy cream from kiehl’s is super luxe. it glides on to my skin and has a slight optical blurring effect. it soothes my tight post-shower skin and it’s thick enough that i can use it as an eye cream at night. it’s extremely hydrating but it leaves my skin matte so it feels like i’ve got nothing on. my foundation blends seamlessly over top and my face feels comfy all day long.

balm chicky sweet baby ginger balm balm, $12
you guys, this stuff is GORGEOUS! the balm chicky line of cheeky balms is too cute for words. they are chunky and oversized (reminding me of my favorite bath & body works balms of the 90’s) and the flavors are to DIE for – melon, cucumber, hot chocolate, honey. yum! best of all each tube has a “friend end” for sharing. they are hydrating and flavorful, and way too much fun. if you know what’s good for you, you will def check these out.

sally hansen fuzzy coat in tight knit, $6.99
this polish was the hero in yesterday’s textured nail art post. it was definitely way outside of my normal nail repertoire but i’m so happy that i gave it a test run because they are really great. you can layer them over your favorite solid shade, put them on bare nails, or even “sandwich” them together different jelly polishes for a fun effect. they were a surprisingly long time and they’re a cinch to remove. definitely a fun little update!

lulu organics jasmine travel hair powder, $9.50
another star from the beautyhabit collection, this hair powder is a fabulous little upgrade on my current go-to. it’s silky and talc-free and its tiny size is beyond perfect for keeping handy on the go. on day two, i often find myself with a need to powder up late in the day as opposed to first thing in the morning. this is so easy to work with in a restaurant bathroom (or wherever you find yourself) and the jasmine scent is delightful.

josie maran argan cream blush, $22
i don’t know where this pretty golden compact filled with soft pink perfection has been hiding, but i sure am thrilled to have discovered it. finally someone has created a cream blush that blends into skin without just sitting on top. the sunrise color is gorgeous, leaving me with a natural glowy flush that lasts all day long. my skin absolutely loves something about the argan oil and i love that it doesn’t “fight” my foundation. pretty, pretty, pretty.

Posted in blush, cheeks, editorial sample, hair, lips, nails, skin, tools | Tagged balm chicky, beautyblender, josie maran, kiehl's, lulu organics, sally hansen | 14 Comments

fuzzy coat nail art with Suave® + Q-tips®3

POSTED ON Posted on September 30, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i am so excited to launch a little something new here in the glossarie! the team at Suave® and Q-tips® invited me to participate in their ManiCure Pinterest sweeps and i couldn’t resist the opportunity to jump on board. nail art may be one of the hottest beauty trends, but getting the look isn’t just about the designs

over the next two weeks, i will be sharing four of my favorite diy ManiCure looks with you, complete with tips for top notch nail care, like moisturizing skin and precision polishing, all captured with gorgeous photography by kate headley. (she makes my novice handiwork look SO good!)

i’ll be pinning these pics to pinterest and that’s where you can get in on the action. visit Suave Beauty on facebook where you can enter for the chance to win Suave® Skin Solutions Body Lotions and Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs (trust me, your mani will never look better) or $500 for the ultimate day of beauty and style. then, pin my nail art looks (or any of my fellow influencers) to the ManiCure inspiration board.

here’s how i got look number one, a simple fuzzy coated manicure:

i started with clean, dry nails and i moisturized with Suave® Skin Solutions Advanced Therapy Body Lotion to hydrate and soften my skin. i used a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab dipped in a little remover to clear my nails of any excess oil before polish.

then, I layered on my favorite base coat, knowing that there’s a good chance that this textured style could chip easily.

applying this type of textured polish is tricky! you have to kind of “pat” the first coat in place to get an even distribution of glitter.

going back over with a second coat really brought the texture out! i was able to “paint” this one on more traditionally for even coverage. i cleaned up stray polish with a Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swab dipped in polish to make sure the mani was precise and perfect.

after waiting oh-so patiently to let these dry, i rubbed a little Suave® Skin Solutions Soothing Body Lotion with Aloe on my tortured cuticles.

the finished look is so fun! all in all, i was really impressed with how easy the polish was to apply, how well it wore and (shockingly) how easy it was to remove. i definitely like the new textured twist on a plain old mani!

this post was created in connection with my role as an influencer for Suave® and Q-tips®