the glossarie

seventeen magazine23

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

this blog has always been a passion project – an outlet for me to share my beauty product obsession with anyone who is willing to read along. the opportunities that have been presented to me over the last four years have far surpassed any expectations that i ever could have set and it’s an adventure that has been beyond my wildest imagination.

i never created any goals, but if there was a personal milestone or any kind of far flung dream, it was that one day my beauty tips and picks might be featured in a magazine – in a tiny corner with a nod to the blog and maybe an itty bitty picture of me. maybe.

magazines have been amazing to me and the blog over the years. lucky magazine really started it all when they nominated the glossarie for best beauty voice in 2011. allure honored me as a finalist in their first beauty blogger of the year awards in 2012 and now, seventeen magazine has included me in their beauty blogger special for the august 2013 issue with a full page feature.

i could die.

let me just say that seventeen and i go way back. it was the only magazine that i was allowed to read (although i totally snuck peeks at ym in the checkout line at the grocery store!) and i kept every issue through high school. my mom even used to send them to me in care packages when i was in college. i always devoured it cover to cover!

so, when seventeen tasked six of us with offering up our best tips for back to school beauty, i was all over the chance to contribute. i’m super proud of my “sweet sophisticate” suggestions and i love knowing that girls are taking my tips to the beauty aisle in preparation for the new year.

i am humbled and thrilled at seeing my name, face, and blog in print. i swear this stuff will never get old. so thank you, seventeen! i’m checking a BIG one off the bucket list.

Posted in lara | 23 Comments

america the beautiful2

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

happy 4th my gorgeous girls and boys! i hope you’re all enjoying a day off to celebrate with barbecues, fireworks, and (in our case) a fierce corn hole competition (of which we are the reigning champions).

beauty product selection can be tricky on a day when we are often subject to blistering heat and lots of sunshine. i’ve got several favorites to survive the day in style:

perricone md photo plasma, $69
this oil-free spf moisturizer is the bomb. it’s mousse-like in texture, boasts spf 30, absorbs lightning fast and works as a killer makeup primer. definitely my favorite facial sunscreen of the moment! it’s not cheap, but i can feel it keeping my skin baby soft and wrinkle-free.

josie maran coconut watercolor cheek gelee, $22
a cooling gel-stain, these innovative blushes are packed with moisture and positively drench cheeks in a sheer and sort of perfect wash of color. i pat it on with my fingertips, blend, and enjoy 14 hours of continuous wear. water balloon fights and all.

coola liplux spf 15, $12
my lips are always prone to dryness, but in the summer they’re prone to sunburn as well. i refuse to settle for plain old chapstick so i love that coola’s liplux brings serious skincare and spf protection to my lip game. oh, and a peppermint-vanilla flavor that’s to die for.

lucy b lipgloss in pink bikini, $18
i know what you’re thinking: lip gloss is lip gloss. not so in this case as lucy b’s pale flamingo pink is a beautiful finishing touch complete with jojoba and vitamin e. it’s a lusciously smooth formula that’s not at all sticky – just perfectly pretty.

oscar de la renta sun protection stick spf 30, $26
necessary? no. effective? totally. fancy? oh, yes. i don’t know about you, but i’ve never seen a more beautiful sunscreen in all of my life. you’ll be pulling this little guy out nonstop to touch up ears, feet, and other small spots – if only to get a look at the gorgeous tube.

essie naughty nautical, $8
who says you can’t wear red, white and blue-green teal marine? this essie shade has not left my fingertips in weeks. i do love the way it shimmers! add a few glitter stars and seal with a top coat for the ultimate in completely chic patriotic nail art.

i’m off to warm up my tossing arm. happy birthday, america!

Posted in editorial sample, mixed bag | Tagged coola, essie, josie maran, lucy b, oscar de la renta, perricone md | 2 Comments

not your mother’s way to grow shampoo + conditioner25

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

not your mother’s is quickly becoming one of my very favorite hair care lines. their products are formulated without any of the bad stuff that tends to dry out and damage hair – and their prices cannot be beat.

i have grown fond of stylers like smooth moves, beat the heat, and beach babe and each one delivers in a shockingly good way. i had to move my love affair with this line into the shower! so i’ve been using the way to grow duo for weeks, and not surprising, the results are kinda out of this world.

it’s not that i wanted my hair to grow (in fact, i kind of like the fact that my hair grows slowly – it saves beaucoup bucks when it comes to haircuts.), but the flat iron and blow dryer routine does tend to cause breakage. i had been feeling for awhile that my hair was weakening and the ends always look fried from heat damage. i needed some rescuing.

to say that way to grow has been a welcome addition to my shower scene would be an understatement. for one, these products smell like candy. the shampoo cleanses my hair without stripping it and the conditioner leaves my hair super shiny, without weighing it down. as a major bonus, they both boast ingredients like castor oil and biotin that help with hair growth. after consistent use, my hair is stronger, healthier, and yup – definitely longer.

like visibly longer. like i need a haircut today because my lob has lost all of its shape much more quickly than anticipated. but, you know, beauty is pain, people. so i’ll go call for my haircut and you go buy this shampoo and conditioner, ok?

not your mother’s way to grow shampoo and conditioner, $6 each.

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged not your mother's | 25 Comments

summer scent stars3

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

i am getting more and more into fragrance every day. my vanity tray has gone from housing one signature scent to a full on wardrobe of beautiful vials and glass bottles, making for a very difficult choice each morning. just like skincare, i find that i switch my scent game up when the weather turns warmer. heavier florals are replaced with tropical inspired top notes and and loveliest of fresh smelling oils. from left to right, here are my top picks for summer scents:

une nuit a bali – the travel perfume, $60
grapefruit, vanilla and indian jasmine keep this gorgeous fragrance on the lighter side. it falls somewhere between a perfume and a body mist so you can spray through the day if the heat has you feeling less than fresh – or just aching for an island getaway.

tokyo milk arsenic eau de parfum spray, $36
fennel, absinthe, and sea salt make this unexpected scent from tokyo milk an exotic choice. somehow it all works together and i promise this one will evoke countless inquiries of “what are you wearing?”. it’s spicy, but fresh, almost androgynous and all kinds of sexy.

jouer cosmetics perfume oil, $42
jouer’s fresh and feminine rollerball is my current go-to. i can’t get enough of the fragrant bursts of gardenia and honeysuckle and the tiny size makes it super easy to travel with. i roll a bit into the crook of each elbow in the mornings and enjoy uplifting whiffs all day long.

nomaterra miami eau de parfum refillable travel spray, $86
if you haven’t smelled nomaterra’s fragrances yet, you’re missing out. miami is the to-die-for scent of summer with smells of melon, coconut, orange blossom, and pink pepper. it’s a fruity floral with a beachy garden vibe that’s truly unique.

amazonian wild lily perfume oil, $12
husband’s choice, this pretty floral is crisp and rain-kissed. ranging somewhere between a true oil and almost a scented water, the subtle scent lasts all day long. if you were/are a fan of the body shop’s perfume oils, this one does not disappoint!

is there a scent that you can’t get enough of this summer?

Posted in editorial sample, fragrance | Tagged beautyhabit, jouer, nomaterra, the body shop, tokyo milk | 3 Comments

aveda petal essence collection5

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

most associate aveda with some of the very best in hair care. their products are top notch in my opinion and their georgetown salon is still one of my favorite places to go for a blowout.

but did you know that they also do makeup?

i’ve been playing with the eye and cheek products from their petal essence collection and i’m so totally excited about the palette that i built for myself using their single eye colors and face accents. something about the colors just screams summer and i can’t wait to pack this baby up for warm weather weekend getaways.

from left to right: hibiscus face accents, and single eye color in lemongrass (light, iridescent green), oceanica (bright island blue), bare bellis (baby pink), and lantana (fresh coral).

the formula on all five components is satiny and soft to the touch. everything is very easy to blend and the combinations are endless. plus, i love that the total face environmental compact‘s magnetic base makes things easy to pop in and out – so if i change my mind it’s no biggie.

this is one makeup collection full of pretty possibilities!

Posted in editorial sample, palettes | Tagged aveda | 5 Comments

e.l.f. lip exfoliator4

POSTED ON Posted on June 29, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

the skin at the edges of my lips is extra prone to flakes (i think it has something to do with my foundation, but that’s a story for another day). they rear their ugly heads at the worst times – like when i want to wear lipstick of any kind. i picked up e.l.f. lip exfoliator at target last week thinking that i haven’t seen a good stick exfoliator since i used the body shop’s lip scuff in college. it was a total impulse purchase, but at $3 what did i have to lose?

i used it this morning and let me tell you that i am blown away by this little guy! a few circular rubs on my top and bottom lips eliminated all traces of flakes and left behind a super moisturizing balm that has made them hydrated and very happy. my lips are plumped up and so smooth that i can’t stop rubbing them together. i feel like i just gave them a mini facial! and oh, did i mention they taste like vanilla?

win. win. win.

e.l.f. lip exfoliator is available online and at target for $3.

Posted in lips | Tagged elf | 4 Comments

sleeping beauty4

POSTED ON Posted on June 28, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

beauty treatments that work while you sleep

i’m big on products that work while i sleep. taking an extra minute to pump moisture in to my skin, eyes, and lips before hitting the pillow means that i wake up to clearer and calmer skin each morning. my bare bones routine probably comes as a surprise to most, but these tried and true products have made a big time difference in my skin – and as a bonus, they’re easy to find and very inexpensive.

simple vital vitamin night cream, $10.99
this stuff is the best and i do not travel without it. one touch and you’ll see how thick it is and how a little goes a very long way. it’s ultra soothing and my skin absolutely drinks it up. once it sinks in there’s no extra grease and it won’t cause any breakouts. see? the best.

aquaphor lip repair, $4.29
this tiny tube provides immediate relief to dry lips (and cuticles!) and it leaves you with hydration that really lasts. if you’re prone to dry lips, aquaphor is serious skincare that will probably change your life. using it every night means that i need less balm during the day.

simple soothing eye balm, $10.99
another little tube that makes a big difference, this eye cream from simple is lightweight but effective with extra vitamins b5 (softening) and e (moisturizing). i love the way that it wakes up tired eyes in the morning and prevents all manner of puff and wrinkle while i sleep.

vaseline petroleum jelly, $4.49
my daily mascara habit really sucks the life out of my lashes, leaving them dry, brittle and falling out. an aesthetician recommended giving them a nightly dose of vaseline and it has really helped to strengthen and condition them into shinier versions of their former selves.

neosporin first aid antibiotic ointment, $4.49
and for my final trick, i will tell you that i’ve been using neosporin on my pesky pimples. it greatly reduces redness and swelling without clogging my pores and it works so much better than harsh acne meds that tend to dry and irritate my sensitive skin. who knew?!

Posted in editorial sample, skin | Tagged aquaphor, neosporin, simple, vaseline | 4 Comments

my 30 second face1

POSTED ON Posted on June 27, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s always good to have a 30-second face in your back pocket. one or two go-to products that you can slap on at a second’s notice and be completely presentable to the world in under a minute. the two products that comprise my hurry-up-and-get-out-the-door routine change on a regular basis, but my summer duo is pure dynamite.

smashbox’s cc cream comes in five shades and it has a whole lot going for it. for one, it’s extremely lightweight making it perfect for the lovely 90+ and sticky weather we’ve been having this week. beyond that, it completely covers my acne scars and dark spots while controlling oil (major!) and taking care of my daily spf 30. its skin-perfecting formula has serious staying power and emits a gorgeous glow. it does so much more than your average foundation, kind of killing all of the primer/foundation/setting powder birds (in a more minimal way) with one stone.

the new(isn) smashbox halo blushes are genius. a quick swirl into the freshly ground color is all i need to bring a luminous flush to my fair cheekbones. the ‘warm glow’ shade is a rosy nude that’s way better than natural and the staying power that these blushes possess makes them near waterproof (definitely summer sweat-proof) so there’s no issue with fading. i love the shade range in this group so much – perfect for warming up any skin tone, even if you’re spending as much time inside (and out of the sun) as i am this summer.

do you have a 30 second face routine? do share!

Posted in blush, cheeks, editorial sample, face, foundation | Tagged smashbox | 1 Comment

summer wishes4

POSTED ON Posted on June 26, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

my product lust list is ever evolving, but i can’t get these six somethings out of my head – which means that i’ll be making them all mine very very soon.

forever 21 southwestern eyelash curler, $2.80
yes you read that correctly: an eyelash curler in coral and mint
that rings in at under $3. i’ll take two, please.

the body shop amazonian wild lily perfume oil, $12
these little bottles evoke some serious high school memories and
this aqua floral is begging to be my summer scent.

sara happ ‘the lip scrub’ in lavender, $24
limited edition for summer, i am ga ga for this
relaxing, spa-like lip smoother.

ck one summer long wear + shine nail color, $14
a long-wearing, streak-free, strengthening polish? sign me up!
bonus: it smells like ck one summer when dry.

avon fiji paradise all over face powder, $7.99
such a perfectly pretty powder, this compact looks just
like a sunset and is perfect for blushing and highlighting.

aerin pretty bronze illuminating powder, $55
bronzer goes glam! this stuff gives an extra healthy
glow to the skin above and below your neck.

what’s on your wish list for summer?

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged aerin, avon, ck one, forever21, sara happ, the body shop | 4 Comments

#curlyhairdontcare4

POSTED ON Posted on June 25, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

(photo by casie mace)

i’ve been really embracing my natural curls lately. (95 degrees is way too hot to struggle with a straightener…) today, i’m over on refinery 29 sharing all of my top secret tricks for getting perfect spirals that aren’t frizzy or crunchy. click on over!