the glossarie

lip gloss lineup9

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

for a blog called the glossarie, lip gloss sure doesn’t get much play around here. i’ve been in a longstanding lipstick / tinted lip balm phase because i had started to feel like glosses were kind of…annoying. they stick to everything (hair, wine glasses, the like) and you can’t get through a full glossy-lipped meal without smearing it all over the place. in short, they feel fussy and i was over it.

but, i’ve slowly been getting back into the lipgloss game and there have been a bunch of key players impressing me as of late. seems like with these bang-up formulas, i can have the shiny lips i like without the hassle!

physician’s formula pH matchmaker pH powered lip gloss, $9.95 – there’s very little this gloss can’t do. it has a mirror along the side of the tube and a lighted top for application in the dark.** the paintbrush applicator is perfect for getting the right amount of gloss on your lips and the formula reacts to your pH to create a “custom shade.” once it fades, you’re left with a light stain that i kind of like.

mark. glimmer shine lip gloss, $12 – these are gorgeous, and all about the shine. i love the light, hydrating formula and the sheer colors tint lips in just the right way, leaving them smooth and full with a glossy finish. the oversized tube looks ultra expensive with its shiny gold top and the flat applicator makes putting it on a piece of cake. they are easy to wear – a makeup bag must have.

miracle skin lip rewind, $24 – sometimes your lips just need a little something extra. with this click pen from miracle skin you get a beautiful jewel-tone finish and ingredients that work behind the scenes to hydrate, restore, enhance and protect. lips feel comfortable while you wear and the hydration effects really last once it fades. a definite must for those seeking a little color and a lot of nourishment!

aerin beauty limited edition lip gloss, $30 – for the girls out there who just want to feel pretty, from the time you pull the product out of your purse until you tuck it away, this gloss is for you. off the bat, it’s nothing fancy – a medium weight, near full-coverage pink that goes on extra smooth and doesn’t settle into lines – but something about this gloss just brightens up my whole face and makes me smile. i can’t get enough! a clutch must.

nyx butter gloss, $5 – these were such a pleasant surprise! the formula is creamy and opaque with beautiful color payoff and bonne bell-like deliciousness. each shade is named after a sweet treat and the insanely moisturizing gloss is, well, just like butter. i cannot stop swiping these on my lips and i think the four shades currently knocking around in my purse says something very important about my feelings on the matter.

**it works! i tested it…but who are you people applying your lip gloss in the dark? am i too old to understand the need for this? please advise.

Posted in editorial sample, lips | Tagged aerin, mark., miracle skin, nyx, physicians formula | 9 Comments

sweet charity: make by we see beauty8

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

it’s nice to be nice and we see beauty’s vision is just plain nice. with a shop full of gorgeous products, 1/3 of sales goes directly to the we see beauty foundation, a non-profit organization supporting women-led, worker-owned cooperatives. make is the first wholly for-benefit color cosmetics line launching on we see beauty’s online marketplace.

i got to play around with a few pieces of the collection yesterday and i am seriously impressed. the line has a fun freshness about it that makes the products completely unique and totally wearable at the same time. on top of that, the creators certainly did their homework, formulating products that are blendable, buildable, and long lasting.

matte finish blush in vegas, $22.50 – this electric pink requires a very light touch, but the high quality pigments are a piece of cake to blend so you’re left with a sheer fuchsia flush that’s ultra fresh.

soft focus corrective duo, $22.50 – i have been in the biggest concealer rut until discovering this concealing/setting pair. dabbing the creamy formula on to blemishes made them vanish completely and setting with the translucent powder kept them under wraps until bedtime – a huge win in my book.

defining mascara, $16 – i’m a mascara snob so i did not have high hopes for this. i was quickly proven wrong after applying the silkiest, blackest black lengthener ever. the tapered brush delivered crazy long, fluttery lashes that looked homegrown and did not flake or smudge. the biggest surprise of the day – love!

if you do nothing else, you must pay the website a visit. i’ve never seen a cosmetic collection so gorgeously represented online! beauty junkies who have to have it, will absolutely devour the comprehensive line complete with color, skincare, and tools ranging in price from $5 – $40.

Posted in blush, cheeks, editorial sample, eyes, face, lashes | Tagged make, we see beauty | 8 Comments

summer skin savers from cover fx2

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

the temperatures are rising which means it’s time for me to settle on a whole new face routine for the heat and humidity. i have historically turned to a powder foundation to keep my face matte and shine-free but in truthfulness, i love the fresh, natural finish of a liquid (i’m feeling that powders are starting to age me and look heavy). these two products from cover fx are running in strong contention to be the set that gets me through the summer.

cover fx mattifying primer with anti-acne treatment is a god-send for my problem skin! it has the same slip and shine-cancelling effects that i’ve loved in this primer and this one, but it has salicylic acid to actually treat and heal my acne while it locks down my makeup and keeps my oil glands in check. it’s completely non-irritating and it doesn’t clog my pores, but i just know it’s going to prevent the dreaded makeup slide come summer.

cover fx natural finish oil-free foundation is light and creamy, with a slight hydrating effect. i love it because it feels like a tinted moisturizer, but it’s heavy enough to cover my angriest acne spots without the need for concealer. the formula includes vitamins c and e so it actually soothes inflammation and reduces redness as you wear it and i’m left feeling like my skin is better off at the end of the day than if i wore no makeup at all. you can use your favorite foundation brush to apply and a little goes a long way, providing even, natural coverage with really long wear. i should also note that the color range in this line continues to impress me – with 24 shades, there is something for everyone.

shop cover fx at sephora >

Posted in editorial sample, face, foundation, primer | Tagged cover fx | 2 Comments

in maggie’s shower8

POSTED ON Posted on April 29, 2013 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

the glossarie is dedicating the month of april to the art of the shower! read more april showers themed posts here.

i am late to the april showers party, but had to squeeze in two quick reviews of newly-discovered products that are making my mornings extra lovely before the month is out!

victoria’s secret ‘love my body’ nearly nude body wash ($12) has quickly become a part of my daily routine thanks to the luxe, creamy texture and amazing scent. i’ve been religiously using the jasmine and water lily scent in my loofah, and the rich lather is the perfect daily moisturizing treat for my skin. plus, the scent lingers throughout the day.

eos ultra moisturizing shave cream ($3.49) has been keeping my skin bump-free (seriously! i’ve never been able to say that about a shaving cream product before.) shea butter and aloe make it incredibly nourishing, and i’m loving the pomegranate raspberry scent right now. note: it claims to work on wet or dry skin, but i haven’t braved the dry skin test yet.

what new products are making the cut in your get-clean routine?

Posted in body | Tagged april showers, eos, victoria's secret | 8 Comments

clinique ‘a different nail enamel for sensitive skins’4

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

you might remember miss caroline from this post from last april. much has changed in her world since we last saw her – she’s potty trained, she became a big sister, and she’s now in regular preschool. one thing that has not changed? her intense love for nail polish and painted nails. when i found out that caroline would be in town this week, i knew it would be the perfect chance to test clinique’s new ‘a different nail enamel for sensitive skin’ on her tiny fingertips. i went in armed with pinkini and we got down to business.

clinique’s enamel definitely doesn’t have the strong chemical smell that other bottles do and its formula is designed to be extra gentle for sensitive skin. (especially perfect for those under the tender age of three like my friend, above.) i was able to keep wiggly little caroline contained to get two coats on her and i was seriously impressed with how fast the lacquer dried – and thank goodness for that, because we had donuts to eat and patience is not our strong suit. when i asked caroline how her nails looked once they were dry, she looked up at me with a huge grin and said “pink!” i think we have a winner, here.

the new clinique nail polish collection comes in a ton of gorgeous glossy shades, including seven fabulous limited edition colors for summer 2013. bottles are $16 a piece and are sure to delight polish lovers of all ages.

shop clinique ‘a different nail enamel for sensitive skins’ ($16) >

Posted in editorial sample, nails | Tagged clinique | 4 Comments

davines no. 14 sea salt primer for wizards19

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

anyone with hair will tell you that there is no product in the world that rivals the effect of true, fresh from the ocean, salt water. those of us will curls will echo those feelings and probably launch into a long tirade of how many products claim to give the “salt water” effect but fail oh-so-miserably. i know personally, that a good knee-deep, bent-over head flip into the waves leaves my hair with the most perfectly formed spirals that are soft and matte. i mean…it’s just really, really good hair.

davines no. 14 sea salt primer is the closest thing to real salt water that i’ve ever found. it’s essentially a volume spray made with marine salt. it doesn’t weigh my natural waves down in the slightest, in fact, it totally amps them up. i’ve been spraying it all over a wet head for curls that are perfectly lifted, defined, and matte, matte, matte. as someone trying to break up with her blowdryer, this is a major step in the right direction – because soft, non-sticky natural waves make for a very happy lara.

shop davines no. 14 sea salt primer for wizards ($26) >

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged davines | 19 Comments

hourglass lip treatment oil8

POSTED ON Posted on April 24, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

this is one beauty product that evokes a sense of fancy just by looking at it – let alone actually applying it to your lips. at first glance, hourglass’ new lip treatment oil is just plain pretty! for starters, the antibacterial applicator tip is 24k gold plated and if that doesn’t tell you this stuff means business, i don’t know what will. one press of the dispenser produces something that falls somewhere between the consistency of an oil and a balm and it soothes and hydrates on contact, providing instant relief. the taste is a unique orange, vanilla, clove combination that is ultra luxurious. and the shine? beautiful. it’s also worth noting that this tube might last you a lifetime thanks to a genius pump operation that allows you to waste zero precious product.

at $42, do you need it? no. could you get similar effects from aquaphor? probably. but if you take your lip balm very seriously (as i do – never joke about lip balm) or if you get a kick out of products that are truly special (and that work!), then you’re going to want to give this one a second look. and it goes without saying that if you suffer from super dry chapped lips, this could be quite the life saver.

i say, treat yo’self to this little gem, beauties.

shop hourglass lip treatment oil ($42) >

Posted in editorial sample, lips | Tagged hourglass | 8 Comments

spring cleaning4

POSTED ON Posted on April 23, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

this spring, i’m cleaning up my act by upgrading some of the products i use to keep my body, skin, and hair fresh and happy. it’s nice to be nice to yourself and while i love the feeling of being scrubbed completely clean, it’s not always the best thing for my body. a lot of products with harsh cleansers are rough on skin, we know that over-shampooing is awful for your hair, and that the chemicals in many cleansers and removers can do more harm than good. i’m not the most obsessed with avoiding these things entirely, but i’ve found that making little changes are not only beneficial, but sometimes the gentler products work even better.

simple eye makeup remover, $6.99: i tend to scrub my eyes when i wash my face to get rid of the primer, shadow, and mascara that i wear daily. after i rubbed them raw a couple of weeks ago, i vowed to add a gentle eye makeup remover to my bedtime routine. i like simple’s version because it’s not at all oily or greasy and it’s free of dyes, perfumes, and irritants.

josie maran bear naked nail wipes, $9: my nails and cuticles are always left so dry after a run with typical polish remover. infused with argan oil, these nail wipes from josie maran leave my nails in perfect condition with no need for extra hydration. one pad cleans all ten nails and I’m left with the feeling that they are naturally nourished.

dr. sponge facial cleaning sponge, $8.50: these natural and biodegradable facial cleansing sponges are the coolest! coming in eight varieties to suit all skin types, they mildly exfoliate, leaving skin clean and fresh. the best part is that after you use it, you can squeeze the water out and use it to actually dry your face so there is no towel needed.

you smell paper hand soap, 3 for $8.75 (75 washes!): the hand soap in public bathrooms really grosses me out. as an aesthetically pleasing (and fun!) alternative, you smell paper hand soap requires just a few drops of water to magically transform into a perfect lather. hands are left smelling like fresh laundry and each pack is small enough to pack inside the smallest clutch.

marvis mouthwash concentrate, $22.50: my husband and i are big fans of a morning swish and we both love contemporary toothpaste brand, marvis. when they launched their new mouthwash concentrate, i know we’d love it. just like their toothpastes, this alcohol-free mouthwash is freshly innovative and it leaves my mouth with long-lasting peppermint taste.

lush no drought dry shampoo, $13.95: i have to wash my hair every other day and that’s only if I douse it in dry shampoo on day two. this version from lush absorbs excess oil and volumizes, but fresh ingredients make me feel a bit better about massaging it into my scalp.

Posted in editorial sample, mixed bag | Tagged dr. sponge, josie maran, lush, marvis, simple, you smell soap | 4 Comments

new cosmetic bags from (wait for it) pottery barn!5

POSTED ON Posted on April 21, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

my husband and i are building our very first house (eek!) so let us just say that i am taking the pottery barn catalog much more seriously these days. as i carefully studied the most recent mailing, i was delighted to find a gorgeous new collection of cosmetic bags. they have all of the best qualities: a gorgeous exterior print, functional organization, and a water-resistant lining.

my personal favorite is the ultimate cosmetic bag ($59) pictured above. it’s huge, has two elastic pickets and two zipper pockets, all see-through for the ultimate of ease in treasure hunting. but the best part? it unzips to lay flat, like an open book, which makes for great packability.

i’m also a fan of the new brush case ($19) – because a long and lean style is so perfect for toting brushes, pencils, and long lip glosses – and the jewelry roll ($24), an elegant way to travel with your best baubles.

if you’re in the market for some new travel bags, definitely check these out. the tropical floral prints are too pretty and each piece can be monogrammed (if that’s your thing).

shop the gwyneth palampore cosmetic bag collection >

Posted in bags, tools | Tagged pottery barn | 5 Comments

keep it pretty: vestige lipstick holder10

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

what a week!

with all of the excitement in boston yesterday, i spent the day glued to cnn. mr. glossarie is out of town for an alumni golf tourney and on a night when i would normally take the opportunity to catch up with the kardashians and a bottle of wine, my nerves were too shot. so, i settled for a cookies and cream milkshake and a little online retail therapy.

i fell in love with this vestige lipstick holder ($28) inspired by anthropologie’s own albeit lipstick collection. i’m hopeful that it will hold my current favorites, because i’ve already cleared off a spot on my dresser.

hope you beauties are enjoying a peaceful saturday!