the glossarie

dior addict lip glow19

POSTED ON Posted on August 27, 2013 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

i’ve heard a lot of hype about dior addict lip glow, so when the lovely lady at sephora told my friend and me that it would give us the always-strived-for “your lips, but better” effect, we rolled eyes before settling in front of the mirror to give it a whirl. seconds after applying we realized that although she may have uttered the most overused and laughable phrase in the beauty industry, she was also exactly right. this incredibly moisturizing balm adjusts to each user’s skin pigment, giving lips a personalized, subtle swipe of color. mine turn just a shade rosier, and the balm adds a touch of sheen. it’s so nourishing that it can substitute as my chapstick in a pinch, and since i’ve started using it (religiously, every day) i’ve had multiple people ask me what i’m wearing on my lips. it’s also spf 10 which is always a plus during these last sun-filled weeks of summer.

reader and glossarie cousin diana is clearly already a fan of this gem as evidenced by her lip bomb post. we love the touch of glam peeking out from inside our purse and the absolute ease with which this stuff makes us feel instantly prettier.

is this one already in your makeup bag? think you’ll be making the addition?

dior addict lip glow, $31 >

Posted in lips | Tagged dior | 19 Comments

murad instant radiance eye cream2

POSTED ON Posted on August 22, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

turn around, bright eyes: i have been full-on wowed by this brightening undereye treatment from murad.

the texture is unlike any eye cream i have ever tried, with a buttery (almost slight silicone) effect that hydrates and smooths every unwelcome nook and cranny underneath my eyes. it’s rich and heavy, but doesn’t sit on top of my skin or leave things greasy. it definitely blurs dark circles (superficially, but i’ll take it) and leaves me looking far less tired in the mornings. i can go a little lighter with the concealer thanks to the brightening effects and the younger-me glow it bestows is attributed to a vitamin c complex that plumps things right up.

i’ve been fighting some chronic under eye dryness (chock it up to my hellacious travel schedule), but this has cured me. i find that my makeup goes on more smoothly because things are far more hydrated. in truth, i was completely skeptical about all of the claims (and the price tag) on this one, but i’m kicking myself for not trying it sooner. it’s my current go-to and i don’t leave home without it.

murad instant radiance eye cream ($68) >

Posted in editorial sample, eyes, skin | Tagged murad | 2 Comments

use me anti gravity volume myst0

POSTED ON Posted on August 20, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

let’s talk about sexy hair.

it’s big, toussly, you can flip it around and get your fingers through it, but it has a mussy texture that evokes a bit of bed head without being sloppy.

if your hair could use some sexing up, have i got the ticket for you. use me’s anti gravity volume myst doles out thickness and volume with piecy texture that’s all kinds of sexy. i love the softness that i get from the paraben and sulfate-free formula and the remaining ingredients include nothing that will weigh me down. my hair is fluffy with slight hold and a flippy finish that’s easy breezy. it’s all kinds of bombshell in a bottle.

use me products are the best because i know that i’m not putting anything in my hair that will damage or dry it. in the case of anti gravity, the spray texture is lightly hydrating with ingredients that protect my hair from my hot tools but that don’t build up and create heaviness. these products always give me my very best hair – like this is the way my hair is naturally supposed to behave.

but way, way better.

use me anti gravity volume myst ($24.99) >

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged use me | Leave a comment

hourglass femme nude lip stylo2

POSTED ON Posted on August 19, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

so you wanna go nude, but where’s a girl to start?

the nude lip is such a chic trend, yet so tricky to pull off, with shade choice being the deciding factor and all too often, (pun intended) the kiss of death. people, nude does not mean beige, and the key to that classy nude lip is warmth, dimension, and a creamy satin finish.

if you’re looking to take the guess work out of this not-so-passing trend, i suggest you take a peek at hourglass’ stunning new collection of nude lip crayons. formula is full coverage and so comfortable to wear with a luxurious finish that just doesn’t quit. quite possibly the best part about this half dozen is that hourglass has made it so simple to find a flattering shade.

as a quick rule of thumb: if you’re fair, opt for something golden or peachy (like no. 5); for olive tones, a rose or pink hue (like no. 3 and no. 4) will flatter you beautifully; dark-skinned gals should look for mauves, bronzes and caramels (like no. 2 and no. 6).

the weight on this packaging is luxe and substantial, making me feel like i’m taking a tiny secret weapon out of my makeup bag every time i reapply. i’m calling this one worth every one of its 300 pennies – and i really think you’ll love it, too.

hourglass femme nude lip stylo ($30) >

Posted in editorial sample, lips | Tagged hourglass | 2 Comments

benefit gimme brow13

POSTED ON Posted on August 18, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s been a bit since something truly great came along in the brow category. historically, it’s been all about powders, pencils, even pens, but brands have just kind of reinvented the wheel over and over – and to be fair, i never feel like my filled-in brows look natural!

well say goodbye to blah brows, because benefit is making waves with their new gimme brow. as far as i know, this brush-on fiber gel is the first of its kind. going far beyond just taming things and keeping hairs in place, the pigmented product actually gives the very real illusion of thicker brows. it darkens the sparse spots in a natural, buildable way and it’s so fast and easy to use. the brush is impossibly tiny so you can’t really screw up and the formula is sweat proof and long wearing.

i am kind of shocked by how much of an impact this tiny tube makes on my arches. it’s such a cinch (no more feathering in individual hairs with a pencil) and the finished results are going to draw major attention to your beautiful eyes. the product comes in two shades for brunettes, blondes, and in-betweens.

bring on the brows!

benefit gimme brow ($22) >

Posted in brows, eyes | Tagged benefit cosmetics | 13 Comments

eve lom rescue mask1

POSTED ON Posted on August 17, 2013 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

last weekend was one of those weekends that was so much fun – i had visitors in town and the weather cooperated wonderfully with our plans – but due to a combination of too much time in the sun, eating all the wrong foods (shake shack, anyone?) and indulging in a few summer cocktails, i was left feeling less than beautiful come monday morning. think puffy, tired eyes, broken-out skin, and a general feeling of blah-ness. i was in need of some serious revival.

eve lom’s rescue mask did just what the name suggests – came to my post-weekend rescue. after applying to clean skin (admittedly, with some hesitation due to the rough, oatmeal-like texture and strong smell), i left it on for the instructed 15 minutes, and rinsed off to find my skin feeling refreshed and extremely soft. the mask leaves a subtle cooling sensation, and my skin did not feel tight or dry, as it sometimes does with other clay masks. my pores appeared smaller, and i swear it reduced redness in those 15 short minutes. suffice it to say this might need to become a sunday ritual.

have eve come to your rescue and snap this mask up at nordstrom.

Posted in skin | Tagged eve lom | 1 Comment

new drugstore favorites8

POSTED ON Posted on August 15, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

there’s no question that i could source every single one of my beauty needs in the aisles of cvs if necessary. the makeup and skincare department has exploded with such an array of brands that i find myself discovering just as many new and exciting products there as i do at sephora. it’s kind of mind blowing.

so if you like to quench your cosmetic thirst on a budget (or if you just like pretty things, regardless of price point), read on for my five new favorites:

yes to grapefruit cc cream, $15.99 – this gorgeous smelling cc cream might be the most refreshing product to ever touch my skin. it cools instantly, blends seamlessly, and dries to a perfectly flawless matte finish. it’s practically undetectable once it’s on and it feels completely weightless. at well under $20 for a huge bottle, i’ll be coming back for more.

l’oreal paris colour riche le gloss in watermelon crush, $5.97 – destined to become a new cult classic, this gloss is a makeup bag must-have. giving its far pricer counterparts a serious run for the money, l’oreal has packed omega3, vitamin e, and argan oil into this super shiny gloss. it’s rich in color and super soft in texture. you’re gonna want it, bad.

simple refreshing facial wash gel, $6.99 – i like something serious to break up my makeup at the end of the day, but it has to be gentle on my sensitive skin. simple has the perfect solution in this nondrying gel. it melts my daily face and washes away clean, making it a miracle for oily skin, especially in the summertime.

bic soleil bella disposable shavers, $6.29 – bic has come a long way since i started shaving my legs and they’ve brought the disposable razor to a new level with bella: four blades, a moisture strip for touchable legs, and a pivot head that hugs the pesky knee area that i always miss. in fact, they’re so good that it’s kind of hard to throw them away.

burt’s bees herbal blemish stick, $8 – the best possible emergency pimple solution, especially if you’re without access to a beauty counter. burt’s bees blemish stick has ingredients like tea tree oil and willow bark to clarify and decongest any irritated areas. oh, and it’s the perfect thing to pack, as i am famous for sprouting zits while traveling.

Posted in editorial sample | Tagged bic, burt's bees, l'oreal, simple, yes to grapefruit | 8 Comments

mark. 10th anniversary party with brand ambassador lucy hale3

POSTED ON Posted on August 14, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i trained up to nyc on monday to celebrate a momentous occasion: mark’s 10th anniversary party. the event was at the trump soho (gorgeous!) and featured their new brand ambassador, lucy hale. mark. really rolled out the red carpet for me, arranging hair with greg ruggeri and makeup with grace ahn – i was having the time of my life before i even set foot inside the party. after i was all dolled up, and before the festivities kicked off, i had a quick meet and greet with lucy! she is beyond adorable, completely refreshing, and very down to earth.

right off the bat, lucy told me that she loves what mark. and avon stand for. beyond her insanely busy schedule filming pretty little liars and recording her first album, lucy expressed that she wanted her next project to be just a little bit more than promoting a product. she has already attached herself to the mark. m.powerment message, feeling as though she was put here to do something bigger than her already impressive accomplishments.

of course we got to talking beauty and she has honed in on some early brand favorites like the make it rich lip pencil, touch & glow and the new on the dot smokey eye color compact. she, like me, really loves promoting something that she really loves. when i asked her if she had any trade secrets, she told me:

“i’ve loved makeup since i was a little kid. i’ve always been fascinated by it and i love going into sephora. i did my sister’s makeup for her wedding – it was pretty good, i’m not going to lie. i have learned what works for my face and how to apply things, what colors make my eyes pop.”

lucy has killer eyebrows, so it’s no surprise that they are her favorite feature to play up. i could not stop staring at them – serious brow envy! before we scooted off to celebrate, i asked lucy what is the best piece of beauty advice that she had been given, and i loved her response:

“no matter how bad your day is, we all have things that we are insecure about. it’s important to find one thing that you love about yourself and embrace it.”

love it. loved her. endless thanks to mark. and lucy for such a fun and fabulous day!

*photo credit to rob loud

Posted in lara | Tagged mark. | 3 Comments

too faced lip injection color bomb4

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

news flash: your lipstick is kinda boring.

thankfully, too faced is about to change all of that with their new lip injection color bombs. the chubbiest ever lip crayons combine too faced’s lip plumping technology with an intensely pigmented satin lacquer for lasting fullness and an explosion of gorgeous color. they smell like strawberries, bring a burst of brightness to lips along with a slight cinnamon tingle that means your pout is getting sexier by the second.

coloring your lips in with these is so much fun! i love the way that vitamins a, c, and e along with mango butter drench my mouth in moisture so that i can apply it on to dry lips without worry (and without a pre-lipstick balm). the formula melts on and kind of seals in to lips with a high shine and budge-free finish. all i can say is that the color payoff is wow, the comfortable wear is seriously surprising, and the long lasting staying power is worth the burn.

coming in six shades, i’m professing my love for coral pop (a salmon pink), but the intense pigment delivered by all options is beautiful and true to tube. i’m loving these little guys for the way they smooth and plump lips with all kinds of crazy color. if you’re looking to up your lip game for these last few weeks of summer, don’t delay!

too faced lip injection color bombs ($21) >

Posted in editorial sample, lips | Tagged too faced | 4 Comments

make solstice bronzer2

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

some may argue that we’re at the tail end of bronzer season, but for me pre-fall is actually when i start to rely more heavily on the stuff. as any tiny hint of a tan that i’ve managed to accumulate this summer begins to fade, my cheeks need a touch more punching up and i’m prone to swap my bright pink blush for more bronze-y tones.

if you too are in the market for a bronzer, look no further than make’s gorgeous solstice option. the geometric design is just the tip of the iceberg and i would argue that four skin-enhancing shades have never before been combined together. it comes in three levels of multi-toned mosaic deepness to suit ladies of all beautiful skins and each one is more beautiful than the next. the paraben, mineral oil-free formula is never tested on animals and the bronze effects that you get from these tans, browns, and pinks is simply stunning. i’ve taken to concentrating my brush on the light pink sections, picking up some of the warmer tones and then swirling together on my cheeks. the results are subtly sun kissed and glowy in the most natural way. i’m in love!

if your makeup bag is craving a tiny piece of art, do be sure to pick this one up. as you may recall, make is a wholly for-benefit color cosmetics line from we see beauty – so your purchase does nice things for both your inner and your outer beauty.

make solstice bronzer ($22.50) >