the glossarie

it’s been waitin’ for you0

POSTED ON Posted on September 17, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

oh, hello. hi – remember me?

did you think i forgot about you?

i have been thinking about this blog nonstop since i last popped in to share a beauty obsession (3 months ago – yowza). while i’ve been absent, my family and i have relocated from VA to NY – a bold and exciting move, for sure. all in the name of beauty.

it has been an insane whirlwind, but we are finally moved in and starting to get settled. i’m commuting daily into an NYC office (er, desk) in the empire state building and continuing to pursue this crazy beauty dream.

and when i’m walking through grand central or down park avenue to work, i think about this little blog. i think about what i should say to you guys after such a long time away, how i can ever thank you for coming to read my wandering thoughts on beauty, for telling your friends, your sisters, your moms to come read them, too.

so rather than dive into a long and ever-growing list of products to share (that’s coming, too – don’t you worry), i will start with thank you from the bottom of my grateful heart and a promise to be back to writing very soon!

but, in the meantime:

i can’t stop thinking about this moisturizer

i’m in love with this simple little lip in cherry

two style bloggers killing it for me lately: jen and gaby

one of my work projects launched (finally!)

this shampoo is topping my wishlist

officially lusting everything in salma’s routine

Posted in hair, lips, skin | Leave a comment

caudalie vine[activ] 3-in-1 moisturizer0

POSTED ON Posted on June 12, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

ever since clearing up my skin from a heartbreaking stint with acne a couple of years ago (thank you so super much for that treat, postpartum hormones), when i now find something that works for my face, i tend to stick with it.

during the great skincare cleanup phase of early 2016, i discovered this caudalie moisturizer and oh man, has it brought me some happy pores. i have repurchased more than once and i scoop up the mini version every single time that it’s available with my sephora points. it has been a long-term love affair for sure.

but now that things have been clear for awhile (knock on all of the wood) i have started to want a bit more from my hydrator – some anti-aging power and protection would be extra nice. i returned to the caudalie family (because if it ain’t broke) and was delighted to discover the new-ish vine[activ] line. the moisturizer was especially intriguing and i loved the way it felt on the back of my hand during an in-aisle test. it’s lightweight but glides on super smooth, soaking right in. it feels really refreshing, smells incredible, and after a longer test, i found that it did not irritate my sensitive skin in the slightest.

well, no surprise, now it’s mine and we’re a few weeks into daily use. my skin LOVES this moisturizer. it has improved my complexion even further (my no-makeup days have me doing a major double take in the mirror), faded my acne scars due to some brightening ingredients and it fights the effects of aging through polution all day long as i wear it. it also has the oh-so-slightest mattifying effect that grips on to my go-to foundation without the need for a primer.

my only hope is that caudalie adds SPF because then it would be straight up holy grail status – but they have gotten it pretty darn close to perfect (at least for me) and that’s worth far more than the $44 investment.

Posted in face | Tagged caudalie | Leave a comment

laura geller diamond dust baked gelato swirl illuminator0

POSTED ON Posted on June 8, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

so highlighter pretty much ranks up there with liquid eyeliner for me. i never know if i’m doing it right and i always kind of feel like a poser. i can very much appreciate its purpose and all of the glowy gals on instagram make it look super inviting, but in my day to day? it has mostly felt silly.

last month, i attended a big beauty expo in florida and everyone there was walking around with this KILLER HIGHLIGHT. i stopped several girls to see what was happening and they directed me to the laura geller booth where i was plopped down by an adorable MUA and dusted in diamonds. (not really, but the highlighter she used is called diamond dust and i’m going to call that pretty spot on.)

what happened next was something like –

me (looking in the mirror): “whooooa…what is that?”
adorable makeup artist: “it’s your color.” wink

(it was apparently everyone and their mother’s color at this expo, but whatever. it looked hot and i wanted it.)

fast forward to my return from orlando, prompt email to my sweetest-ever friends at laura geller and a happy dance when diamond dust arrived on my front steps. i have been swirling my favorite brush into this goodness daily and applying it in a reverse c, grazing my brow bones and the highest, most outer parts of my cheeks.

the sheen it gives off isn’t yellow or gold which i think is what makes this so universally flattering and not-at-all scary to wear. it’s a translucent glow that shifts only very very slightly pink from its white base. and when i tell you that people stop me in the street to ask what this highlight is, i am not exaggerating. i have had coworkers, waitresses and perfect strangers tap me for details because it’s that good.

sneaky laura geller has made this limited edition so i would scoop it up quickly or run into ULTA to give it a test and let the compliments pour in. (seriously. don’t say i didn’t warn you!)

Posted in face | Tagged laura geller | Leave a comment

christophe robin cleansing purifying scrub with sea salt0

POSTED ON Posted on June 5, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

real talk: sometimes life gets in the way and you forget to wash your hair for a week. (real’er talk: these days, life sounds something like “mommy, what color is my big girl bed going to be?” or “mommy, can we bring cinderelly’s castle to the new house?” or best, “mommy, is there water to drink in new york?” #moving) and while i am all for praising dry shampoo and my ever sharpening top knot skills, sometimes your scalp reacts unfavorably to not being cleansed.

lately, when i need to hit the reset button on what’s happening at the top of my head, i reach for this scrub by christophe robin. it’s kind of the coolest. the consistency is super thick (think paste, or peanut butter) and is basically a detox shampoo all mixed up with chunky sea salt crystals to exfoliate. i grab a tablespoon full and distribute it from my hair line to the base of my skull and it feels so-o amazing.

the product removes buildup and zaps oil for when you’ve taken your hair one day past its due. the results are super fluffy, boosted roots with hair that’s lightweight and full of volume. somehow the salt is not at all drying, but, depending on your hair type, i would recommend following up with detangling conditioner. i steal my daughter’s because 1) her spirals snag like no other and 2) it smells like a fruit smoothie. you could also work it through with something like this for extra credit. to finish, style with your favorite air-dry product and take your soothed, balanced, happy scalp out on the town.

Posted in hair | Tagged christophe robin, ouidad, tangle teezer | Leave a comment

kjaer weis mascara0

POSTED ON Posted on May 9, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

you can keep your better than sex, your perversion and that l’oreal mascara every celebrity and their makeup artist won’t stop talking about. (newsflash: it smudges!) i have found the little black dress of mascaras. the splurgeiest most covetable of metallic tubes, and it comes housed in the most gorgeous little red box.

packaging aside, the best thing about kjaer weis mascara is that it glides on easily, coating lashes with a thick and glossy black tint and holding curl like no other. it doesn’t smudge or flake, feels like i’ve got nothing on my lashes and, at the end of the day, it wipes clean with my favorite micellar water and a cotton pad without any jabbing or tugging at my delicate eyelids.

i’ve heard good things about this yummy little discovery through the beauty pipeline but feel like no one ever shouts about it. in fact, it has been on my wish list for so long that i finally treated myself to it a few months ago and i’ve been asking around to see if people understand how fab it truly is. apparently, it is flying far beneath the radar because no one else knows my little secret – but i had to share it with you.

if you invest (and i recommend you do!) you’ll be delighted to learn that not only is the formula organic, but it’s refillable at a digestible price point. this preserves the beautiful pack (the inner tube and wand just pop right out so you can put a fresh set in) and it allows the kjaer weis team to provide you with exactly 3 months of mascara at a time which helps to keep bacteria away from your eyes.

in summary? this mascara is stunning and smart and you need it. happy long and healthy lashes to you!

Posted in eyes, lashes | Tagged kjaer weis | Leave a comment

colourpop forget me not super shock highlighter0

POSTED ON Posted on April 21, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i dipped my toe into the colourpop pool and i may not ever be climbing out.

my fling started innocently enough with this icy pink highlighter. i was on the hunt for something to layer underneath of my go-to-blush and was carefully considering making this investment when forget me not popped up in a roundup of millennial pink beauty goods.

i had to have it.

since then, i have learned that the super shock formula is pretty much what put colourpop on the map. it’s creamy and cushiony, but dries to a soft powder finish that does not budge. i have been using my middle finger to tap it on as a primer-highlighter and then layering orgasm over top for a skyscraper-high cheekbone that lasts all day.

i don’t know how i have been sleeping on the stuff since it’s just so straight-up gorgeous. it’s pearly, smooth, beautiful – and at $8 each, plus a dozen ways to work it into your routine, it’s one of the most valuable beauty buys i’ve made to date.

Posted in cheeks | Tagged colourpop | Leave a comment

patchology poshpeel pedi cure0

POSTED ON Posted on April 20, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

freak bursts of warm weather tell me that it’s almost sandal season (also known as: time to think about preparing my feet for public consumption).

normally i would go running for the nearest pedicure chair and let them go to town on my calluses and dry heels, but this season i did something very unlike me: i opted for a DIY solution and tried an at-home foot peel. you’ve probably seen this phenomenon pop up in your social feeds, but i have avoided it like the plague. please know that i was full-on terrified before tackling this, but i could stand my squirrelly feet no longer.

thankfully, the patchology poshpeel process was super simple and before i knew it, i was donning plastic booties filled with AHA and BHA designed to dissolve my calluses and dry skin. i soaked my feet in hot water for a few minutes before getting started, poured one full pack of acid essence into each bootie (although you can do less depending on how tenderfooted-slash-brave you are), then left things to sit for 60 minutes.

immediately following, my feet were much softer, but visibly no different. peeling actually didn’t begin for a full 4 days and i basically walked around wondering if i had made a huge mistake.

once the peeling action began, it wasn’t at all the full shed that i was expecting (at least not all at once). it was mostly subtle, intensifying over a day or two. i had read that you can use a pumice stone to speed things up a bit and get the most smooth results so i powered up my amope to help my heels and big toe calluses in the shower.

by the third day of peeling, my feet were in full nirvana with no rough heels or calluses in sight: it absolutely eliminated them! (also weird side note: the acid essence does attack any nail polish you have on, causing that to peel up and off immediately following the treatment. i was super weirded out by this, so just a warning!)

conclusion?

i’m obsessed with my new feet which are in better shape than the best pedicure i’ve ever received. there’s just no amount of sloughing and scrubbing that could equal this level of skin renewal. it’s been a solid two weeks and things are still perfectly sandal-ready. such a win! best of all, i love that these kits come with two full treatments (including the booties) so essentially, my feet should be in glorious shape until fall.

Posted in body | Tagged patchology | Leave a comment

fresh sugar lip treatment perfecting wand0

POSTED ON Posted on March 26, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

oh fresh, how i love you.

you had me on lock back in the early aughts with sugar lip treatment untinted and since then we’ve been through every shade under the sun, plus advanced therapy. you have only very (very) rarely let me down and that’s why i knew perfecting wand would be something special.

the treatment itself is smooth and glossy – it brings a nice shine to my lips and keeps things hydrated until i slick on my bold lip of the day – but, the magic in this wand is in the applicator. when i pass it over my lips each morning, dead skin and rough patches disappear. the tiny little scrubbers stimulate and exfoliate bringing out a natural flush of color and seriously plumping up my pout.

over a couple of weeks, this product has actually sharpened my weak lip lines, giving shape and dimension where there used to be none. it has also worked serious magic on the fine lip wrinkles that have sprouted up in the last year or so. i have been looking for something to do this for-ever, trying every balm and mask i could find – but something about the increased circulation brought on by this little wonder is doing the trick.

the ingredient list claims to seal in moisture, improve skin flexibility, fight dryness, moisturize, soften, support suppleness, hydrate and protect. (phew!) i can check the box and approve every single one of those based on the results i’ve had. in fact, i’m loving this much more than a traditional lip scrub. it’s easier to use, less messy, and more effective.

so, fresh, you’ve got me once again – and these deliciously hydrated, younger-looking lips thank you very much.

Posted in lips | Tagged fresh cosmetics | Leave a comment

curel hydra therapy wet skin moisturizer0

POSTED ON Posted on March 23, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

please let it be known that i am the laziest.

this is why i don’t wear eyeliner, don’t blow my hair out with a round brush, and i rarely mask. these beauty sins are bad enough, but possibly nothing pains me more than putting on body lotion.

the problem goes beyond dry elbows, though. as i age, taking care of the skin below my chin is becoming increasingly important, but even though i know it’s wrong, i still just can’t seem to stick to a hydrating routine.

thankfully the industry is wise to this issue because there are all kinds of gimmicky body moisturizers out there. i tried this spray version and found mild success (it now lives under my sink) but it seems like the only thing that could possibly save me is an in-shower concept.

curel kindly sent me their hydra therapy wet skin moisturizer and after first use, i was hooked. this is a lazy beauty addict’s match made in moisturizer heaven. let me walk you through:

the bottle lives in your shower and after you turn off the water, but before you towel off (while you are still soaking wet), you apply a few pumps of this balmy gel-like substance to your skin. it requires hardly any rubbing in at all because the water on your skin lets it glide over everything. so, if it takes you longer than 30 seconds, you’re doing it wrong.

because your pores are still open from your hot shower, all of the hydrating benefits penetrate deeply and immediately. the second you’re done lubing up, you can towel off all of the slime and voila! you’re done. skin is left silky, silky, silky – even for days after i’ve showered.

it’s effortless, greaseless, and my skin is looking the best it ever has.

Posted in body | Tagged curel | Leave a comment

smith & cult1

POSTED ON Posted on March 4, 2017 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

so many beauty brands seem to struggle with finding the sweet spot between pretty, craveable packaging and formulas that deliver on their claims. several brands do the cool packaging thing well (milk and glossier both come to mind) but their formulas are kind of meh. in fact, the products that stay in my routine the longest aren’t really ever in the most glamorous packs.

but there are some brands that knock it out of the park, bringing beautiful products to the market with formulas that exceed all expectations – and smith & cult is at the very top of this list. more than just stunning metallic ensembles, each of the products above has amazing pigment payoff and a unique or innovative aspect that makes them unlike anything else out there.

the polish (dubbed 1972 – an opaque rose gold) allows at-home manicurists to get seriously sharp lines, flooding nails with color and not giving way to chips for 7 full days. color me impressed.

the smallest tube houses a matte stain that glides onto lips like frosting a cupcake. the consistency is whipped and lightweight, locking into place quickly and not budging until i swipe it with micellar water or toner at the end of the day. my shade is kissing tiny flowers (a “rosette + caramel”).

finally, lash dance mascara leaves lashes long and full with tons of volume and a smoky black stain. the wand is flat like a paddle on one side and then has a curvy hourglass shape on the other, so you can get lots of dimension, lift and definition in just a couple of swipes.

all in all, swoon! i rarely expect to be blown away by products with this much purse appeal, but smith & cult has consistently delivered.

thoughts? will you be keeping an eye on this brand?