the glossarie

dhc olive body butter0

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

i got positively burnt on sunday while sitting on the sidelines of a shadeless soccer field in capitol hill. i don’t know what i was thinking! i should have known that 2.5 hours out in direct sunlight, even on a mild day, is way more than my skin can handle.

as my burn came out of hiding over the remainder of the afternoon, it was soon apparent that i was going to be pretty uncomfortable. i tore through the glossarie drawers in search of something to soothe and pulled out this gorgeous tub from dhc. new olive body butter was just the ticket to take the heat out of my freshly scalded forearms and tops of feet.

with a list of ingredients that includes cocoa butter, shea butter, olive and avocado oils, the body butter absolutely melts on to skin. while this product is not marketed to heal sunburn specifically, upon further research, i learned that this combination of ingredients actually works to speed healing and prevent peeling.

dhc olive body butter has the consistency of buttercream cake icing and smells subtly of green apples – yum! this stuff is somehow not heavy at all and it leaves my skin with a non-sticky softness that you’ve got to feel to believe. it’s definitely an all-season moisturizer that i won’t be letting go anytime soon!

the good news: my sunburn is on the mend (yet, i still can’t stop slathering this stuff all over my body). the bad news: dhc’s new olive body butter ($19) won’t be available until july 1st.

Posted in body, editorial sample | Tagged dhc | Leave a comment

over on the anna beck blog2

POSTED ON Posted on April 17, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

some of you know that my day job is in mid-atlantic sales / account management for two of my very favorite accessories brands – hobo and anna beck. it’s the best job in the whole world and i absolutely love it.

i’m so excited to be featured over on the anna beck blog today in their “meet the anna beck team” series. click on over to learn more about what i do and see my three favorite pieces from the line – plus a few more fun lara facts!

Posted in lara | Tagged anna beck | 2 Comments

boston16

POSTED ON Posted on April 16, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

yesterday went from high to low, so very quickly. those who engage with me on social media know that i was personally rocked by the events in boston. while i live in the dc area now (northern virginia, to be exact) and i have since i left for college in 2000, i spent the first 18 years of my life in massachusetts. i was raised in jamaica plain, a boston neighborhood full of character and history, so my ties to boston proper are fierce. currently, my sister lives in southie and my parents are on the north shore in newburyport. yesterday was particularly stressful because last year my sister volunteered for the boston marathon and was stationed at the finish line. not to overdramatize, but she was set to volunteer again yesterday and my parents and i could only assume that she was in the same location. thankfully, she changed her plans last minute and she was safe at home during both blasts.

but this is not about me.

this post’s sole purpose is really to proclaim my love, passion, and pride for the city of boston. to let my fellow bostonians know that i am with them in spirit and saying endless prayers for those who were injured, and sadly, those who died. boston is a tough city, but it’s also a safe city – i can’t help but think that the spirit of the city has been permanently altered. the marathon and patriot’s day as a whole are state-wide holidays. it’s the day of the year when i am the most homesick and to imagine my friends and family going through all of the turmoil of yesterday’s events has been beyond heart wrenching.

so, i hope you will excuse our regularly scheduled beauty programming in lieu of a little love for the hometown.

my heart is with you, boston.

Posted in lara | 16 Comments

white hot nails11

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

i cannot get enough of the simple chicness of the white nail trend. yes, at first it reminded me of the days when i used to paint my nails in white out (yes, i was the girl painting her nails with white out during study hall…then drawing flowers on them with a sharpie. what can i say? it was the pre-teen nail art of the 90’s.), but i have overcome my own white nail prejudices and i’m totally loving the trend. there is something so impossibly elegant about the finished look and i’m extra excited to wear it when i’ve got a bit more a sunkissed glow going. thankfully the brands are on board, and you can score white nail polish at both the department store and the drugstore:

essie marshmallow, $8
revlon spirit (on my nails, above), $4.79
deborah lippmann, $17

will you try it?

Posted in nails | Tagged deborah lippmann, essie, revlon | 11 Comments

refinery29 beauty nation16

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

i am so giddy-excited because today marks the launch of refinery29’s new nationwide beauty hub – beauty nation. i am beyond tickled that the refinery team asked me to be one of the beauty nation bloggers and i’m still pinching myself that i’m involved in such a cool and innovative project. the site is designed to be an interactive, community-driven platform for you, me, five other crazy talented blogesses and refinery29’s beauty editorial team to exchange tips and advice. think of it as a discovery zone for groundbreaking products, the freshest new treatments, everyday beauty tricks, and one big celebration of beauty as a form of self-expression that is key to personal style.

i’m joined by aimee of the formula blog, jessie from style and pepper, kim from eat.sleep.wear., baze from beautycism, and aja mangum. knowing this group (personalities that i already love and trust!), content is sure to be fun and user-friendly – i can’t wait to get the conversation going!

to kick off the launch, my profile page is showcasing my confessions of a product addict along with a round up of 8 gel-cream moisturizers (spot on for spring weather!). i’m chomping at the bit for you girls to get to reading – and then come right back here and tell me what you think :)

Posted in lara | Tagged refinery29 | 16 Comments

davines love smoothing shampoo + conditioner4

POSTED ON Posted on April 13, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

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

kind of like the way that the right skincare routine provides the perfect foundation for your best-chosen cosmetics, the perfect shampoo and conditioner can make all the difference in your hair. when my hair is cleaned with the good stuff, my styling products perform better, and the finished look is a piece de resistance.

italy-born sustainable beauty company, davines, has been making big waves in salons with a focus on quality products that are crafted with style and spirit, but not only that – they really work.

the newest additions to my routine are davines love smoothing shampoo and conditioner. my entry into the brand, i have been nothing short of thrilled with this pretty pair! the shampoo is gorgeously scented, leaves my hair super soft and just the exact right amount of clean after a good head massage (free of oil, but without drying my scalp). i love a good lather and this stuff foams up nicely, yet it’s a piece of cake to rinse out. the conditioner is thick, almost masque-like and it frees my head of any tangles while giving hair a boost of moisture and smoothness – prepping it perfectly for the blow dryer and flat iron.

i think what’s got me loving this duo so very much is that it’s gentle. i can feel a difference when it’s in my hair and i can absolutely see a difference when my hair is done – leaving it seemingly healthier than when i started. best of all, what normally turns dry and frizzy when fresh out the shower, is moisturized and easy to get a comb through. after a blow dry, hair is left with added shine and some serious volume.

so, let’s recap: this good-for-you shampoo and conditioner adds shine, adds volume, cleans thoroughly, is gentle, lathers well, improves the health of your hair and smells great. i’d say there’s nothing not to love.

shop davines love smoothing shampoo ($19.80) and conditioner ($22.50) >

Posted in body, editorial sample, hair | Tagged april showers, davines | 4 Comments

aqualillies for tarte amazonian clay palette9

POSTED ON Posted on April 12, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

this new palette from tarte brings so many of spring’s best trends into one beautifully designed mirrored compact. inspired by the aqualilies synchronized swimmers (how glam!), every element of this cheek and eye color grouping is actually waterproof meaning that it’s perfect for staying pretty on vacation, at the beach and lounging poolside. the generously sized palette (about the size of a cd) has TONS of product inside and will be a perfect companion for you traveling beauties or those who want an easy way to wear a few of spring’s most gorgeous color trends.

i should note that i first fell in love with this collection for the color. it’s got six eyeshadows (including two of this season’s hottest shades: a seashell pink and an aqua blue), a champagne highlighter, a matte bronzer and a blush that perfectly blends pink and coral for the ultimate in universal flattery. if you’re a gal who likes to sport a natural complexion and interpret trends with a few subtle pops of color – there’s nothing not to love here. the colors easily last throughout the whole day without fading and i’ve been able to create countless, surprisingly sophisticated combinations. you can contour, highlight and play with eye looks that encompass both matte and shimmer shades – all in one place! well done, tarte.

in case you needed one more reason to invest in this high quality collection, i love knowing that tarte packs its products with amazonian clay and naturally-derived mineral pigments. while i’m certainly not consumed by all-natural organic beauty, it’s nice to know that these particular products have much less of the bad stuff in them than their counterparts.

all in all, we’re talking a great value for less than $40 and, if you trend toward the beauty minimalist, quite possibly all that you need in color for the season. pop a mascara and a tinted lip into your carry on and go get ’em, girly.

shop tarte aqualilies amazonian clay palette ($38) >

Posted in palettes | Tagged tarte | 9 Comments

yes to grapefruit exfoliating body wash7

POSTED ON Posted on April 11, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

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

i’m not the biggest fan of body scrubs that come in tubs. something about unscrewing a big tub, trying to avoid water rushing into it, scooping out a bunch of crystals soaked in oils, slathering it on my body, attempting to avoid touching my face, and then slip sliding around in the shower trying not to kill myself…just isn’t the most relaxing experience.

i also find that while scrubs are great for exfoliating (their main purpose, yes), i always need to follow up with a body wash to rid my skin of excess oil when i’m done.

rather than leave my body un-exfoliated (gasp!), i have been hunting for the perfect solution – and this new scrub from yes to is changing the game. first of all, it comes in a tube which means i can put the lovely scented stuff straight on to my loofah without involving my hands. second, as i wash and scrub away i can actually feel my skin getting cleaner while the ground pumice naturally exfoliates.

i consider this more of a body polish as it walks the fine line between body scrub and body wash, leaving my skin with a smooth even tone that’s a touch glowier than what i started with. it’s completely non-greasy and rinses away clean without having to work at it and, best of all, i’m left with the feeling that it really takes care of my skin while it cleanses and exfoliates. (you know how some scrubs can feel like they are actually tearing your skin off of your body? none of that here.)

roll all of those amazing qualities into one product that costs under $10 and i can’t help but feel as though we’ve got a big winner on our hands.

shop yes to grapefruit exfoliating body wash ($9.99) >

Posted in body, editorial sample | Tagged april showers, yes to grapefruit | 7 Comments

wanted: dior bb eye cream spf 206

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

this little beauty from dior is next on my list! it’s popping up everywhere and i’m hearing that the stealthy triple agent actually de-puffs under-eye bags and lightens dark circles while protecting the delicate area from the sun.

umm…can it make my morning cup of coffee, too?

shop dior bb eye cream spf 20 ($45) >

Posted in concealer, eyes, face | Tagged dior | 6 Comments

new! color by benefit10

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

benefit is one of the brand’s that fueled my beauty addiction early on. i loved the brightly colored packaging, cheeky product names and the rich, wearable shades that translated to a beautifully natural look. the brand has come so far over the years and i am salivating over their new color collection, featuring ultra plush lip glosses, creaseless cream shadows, and longwear powder shadows. all coming in newly redesigned packaging that screams art deco, these pretty products are just as gorgeous in the box as they are on your skin.

the new ultra plus lip glosses ($16) come in six shades. they are soft and luscious, gliding on so smooth and giving lips a kissable, sexy sheen. i’m recommending the clear fuchsia ‘kiss you’ as my pick of the six.

the brand’s award winning creaseless cream shadows ($20) are back in a big way with seven new shades. colors are fresh and fabulous for the ultimate in crease-proof and budge-proof wear. my personal favorite is the new bikini-tini, a gorgeously girly oyster pink.

new longwear powder shadows ($20) are available in 12 shades, spanning three finishes: matte, satin, and sheen. i’m all about blingo! a brilliant silver that’s infusing just the right amount of electricity into my spring routine.

do you think you’ll be dipping in to benefit’s new color collection?