the glossarie

on my shower shelves10

POSTED ON Posted on April 9, 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.

what better way to celebrate “april showers” than to give you a glimpse of the products that actually stare me in the face as i lather up each day? our shower scene is the perfect picture of cohabitation, complete with his and hers caddy shelves. here’s what mr. glossarie and i reach for everyday to get cleaned up:

top shelf / his:

paul mitchell tea tree special shampoo & conditioner, 2 for $20 in salons: as a confession, i have been known to partake in the mister’s shampoo – i love how invigorating it feels and how clean-smelling it leaves my hair. for the record, it works wonders on his head as well (and hair free of sticky man product means extra head scratches in our house).
kiehl’s ultra facial cleanser, $19.50: breaks up oil without drying out his face. i have nonchalantly tossed many a facial cleanser onto his shelf over the years and this is the only one that has stuck! he likes the way it leaves his face totally clean and balanced.
dove men+care body & face wash in extra fresh, $5: steve is a fan of this body wash because of how clean it gets him after a gritty soccer game or sweaty work out. the scent is great and the price isn’t too shabby either.

bottom shelf / mine:

soap & glory foam call, $16: i’m still in love with this body wash almost one year later. i am crazy for the consistency, the foamy lather and i can’t get enough of the scent!
colorproof clearitup detox shampoo: the newest addition to my shower continues to impress! my hair is clean, vibrant, with no harm done to its fragile state – win, win, win.
simple smoothing facial scrub, $6.99: when the heat goes off and there’s extra moisture in the air, the seasonal change can lead to breakouts. i like to increase exfoliation to twice weekly and this scrub has been a lifesaver. it soothes and smoothens rough skin, keeping my face free and clear of pesky spots.
use me moisturizer for fine hair, $29.99: my most favorite of all conditioners. this stuff detangles and softens without weighing my hair down. a little goes a long, long way and this might be the only conditioner not to break out my skin.
gillette venus embrace, $11: i won’t get into my frustrations about how they haven’t made more technological advances in the shaving department, but nonetheless, until they do this is the only razor i will ever use. i have not nicked myself once since transitioning over a couple of years ago and it leaves my legs and ‘pits baby smooth without the need for shaving cream.

so there you have it! a juicy sneak peek into the world behind my shower curtain. what do you think: should this be a regular feature? would you like to see what fellow readers and other bloggers keep inside their showers?

Posted in body, editorial sample | Tagged april showers, colorproof, dove, gilette, kiehl's, paul mitchell, simple, soap & glory, use me | 10 Comments

lipstick queen hello sailor2

POSTED ON Posted on April 8, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

file this one under “so crazy that it just might work.”

poppy king is no stranger to the innovative lip product – her offerings include sheer black, a blood-red stain, and even incandescent opaque shades that mimic butterfly wings. her latest release, however, has me a bit intimidated. hello sailor is a navy blue tint that the experts are telling me is sure to glide on sheer and leave lips with a beautiful berry hint. the blue pigments are suspended in a super-moisturizing vitamin-e treatment, so it goes on like a balm and softens skin with every application. i am lost between feelings of it looking like costume makeup and the thought that it could also be freshly gorgeous for spring…

while i attempt to figure that out, those not of the faint of heart (or perhaps any brides needing a ‘something blue’?) can preorder their own tube from barney’s ($25).

Posted in lips | Tagged lipstick queen | 2 Comments

eyeko mascara wardrobe10

POSTED ON Posted on April 8, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

there’s a lot of debate over what makes a mascara great – the formula or the brush. i definitely believe that it’s a combination of both and your preference for mascara performance depends on if you’re looking for a do-all (thickening, defining, lengthening) or something that specializes in one effect. it gets confusing and you can end up with many different types of mascara and brushes in your beauty arsenal to achieve various desired looks.

but, who really wants to keep up with several tubes of mascara when one amazing formula that comes complete with three different brushes is truly all that you need?

this insanely cool concept from eyeko is a game changer. it gives you one tube of fabulous mascara and three different brushes for less than $30. i’ve been using the mascara wardrobe for a few weeks now and i’m convinced that there is nothing this little set can’t do. the formula might be my favorite one yet. it makes my lashes thick, jet black and glossy; it doesn’t smudge, flake, or run (and it washes off with good old h2o) and by interchanging the brushes, i can get three completely different lash looks.

the tube comes with the define brush already attached and the two spare brushes (left: curl, right: volume) come in these little glass vials for safe keeping in between uses. It’s a piece of cake to switch the brushes around and i think it’s genius that eyeko included the little vials.

the define brush is nicely shaped to the lash line, giving length and definition that really opens up my eyes. the fattened-up volume brush adds fullness and drama of the glossy black variety for super lush lashes – my favorite of the bunch! while i like the curl brush least of the three, it does offer up some very nice curl and hold (even without a curler, which is how i’ve been testing it).

all in all, this is an excellent everyday multi-tasking mascara that provides some serious bang for your buck. i’m highly recommending it for all mascara junkies and anyone who likes to play around with different lash looks, depending on their mood and day of the week.

shop eyeko mascara wardrobe ($28) >

Posted in eyes, lashes | Tagged eyeko | 10 Comments

show me your lip bomb, marissa0

POSTED ON Posted on April 7, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

name: marissa schneider
internet home: gilt city
number of products: 20
she says: more than anything, when it comes to beauty, i love to have options!
the bomb: (clockwise from top)

bobbi brown treatment spf 15 in papaya

nars lip gloss in chihuahua, $25

trish mcevoy beauty booster spf 15 lip gloss in brighten pink, $25

fresh sugar lip treatment spf 15, $22.50

smashbox lip enhancing gloss in pout, $19

chanel aqua crayon lip colour stick in rosey, $26

c.o. bigelow mentha supreme 2X, $8

pla beauty creamy satin in breathless, $22

erwin gomez liquid gloss in catherine

nars lipstick in sexual healing, $26

nars larger than life lip gloss in spring break, $26

bobbi brown creamy lip color, $24

revlon colorstay soft & smooth in so blushious

stila lip glaze in bubble gum, $22

bobbi brown sheer color gloss in cabana coral

carmex cherry moisturizing lip balm & sunscreen, $2.22

kiehls lip balm spf 15 hue no. 30g, $9.50

lipfusion color shine in sweet, $38

laura mercier lip stain in sugar violet, $20

benefit benetint, $8

i met marissa a couple of weeks ago when she and her team were sweet enough to treat me and several other bloggers to an insanely delicious tasting menu at brasserie beck before the gilt warehouse sale. marissa is a doll and she is flawlessly stunning. we instantly got to chatting about beauty, so when she expressed interest in sharing her #lipbomb, i jumped at the chance to feature her. marissa’s lip bomb is im-pressive! this lady totes a lot of lip product in her bag on the daily and she clearly plays favorites, carrying multiple products from nars and bobbi brown. i’ve got my eye on the baby benetint and the mentha lip shine – looks i’ll be making a couple of additions to my #lipbomb thanks to marissa!

if you want to see your lip bomb in the glossarie,
send it over to theglossarie@gmail.com

Posted in lips | Tagged benefit cosmetics, bobbi brown, c.o. bigelow, carmex, chanel, erwin gomez, fresh cosmetics, kiehl's, laura mercier, lipfusion, nars, pla beauty, revlon, smashbox, stila cosmetics, trish mcevoy | Leave a comment

3114

POSTED ON Posted on April 6, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m the birthday girl!

to kick off the celebrations, i gave myself a manicure in my signature pink, zoya’s (appropriately named) lara. i’m getting pret-ty good at the diy manicure if i do say so myself, and i attribute my high shine and long-wearing paint jobs to the combination of butter london’s nail foundation (seriously gives the absolute perfect matte base for polish) and opi’s start to finish (leaves a gel-like mirror shine). it takes four coats total and the results are well worth it.

now that my nails are done, i’m off to do a little wine tasting and design hunting with my mister, wrapping up the day with a margarita happy hour followed by dinner with our favorite couple. tomorrow, i’m continuing the celebrations at brunch with my two blogging besties, casie and meg (whose big 3-0 was yesterday). let’s get this party started :)

hope you beauties have a perfect weekend!

Posted in lara, nails | Tagged zoya | 14 Comments

oh baby! california baby everyday lotion6

POSTED ON Posted on April 4, 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 think maggie is rubbing off on me with her routine filled with kids products. this wishy-washy weather has been absolutely beating on my skin and there is nothing i hate more than the act of lathering up with lotion post-shower. call me lazy, i just despise it. a few of my mom friends have raved about the california baby line and i found myself perusing their products at target last week. my skin was particularly miserable that day so when i stumbled upon their everyday lotion, i threw it in my basket. several showers and applications later, i am having a full on love-fest with this stuff, and here’s why: it’s non greasy, absorbs on contact but still soothes my sensitive skin. it glides on like silk and the french lavender scent is enough to make me want to bathe in it (the scent is much more womanly, not at all baby so don’t fret). the combination of skincare and aromatherapy make me so happy! plus, the knowledge that i’m using baby-safe ingredients on my body helps me sleep better. california baby is gluten, soy, oat, dairy and nut (?) free. with a 100% natural base and organic ingredients, this light-textured lotion has a permanent home in my bath basket.

shop california baby everyday lotion ($12.99) >

Posted in body | Tagged april showers, california baby | 6 Comments

hard candy cc correction creme4

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

oh, alphabet creams.

first there was the bb craze, now cc creams are on the scene, with dd creams not far behind. quietly testing bunches and bunches of them, i have mainly stayed out of the conversation because…well to be perfectly honest, i haven’t been the biggest fan. (just a little proof for you that i will never post anything on this blog that doesn’t pass my test!) my skin is just not well suited to bb creams, so i kept chugging along with my typical primer-plus-foundation routine without complaint. when hard candy contacted me about their new cc cream, i was optimistic but skeptical. when i finally got around to giving it a test last week, i was floored. i seriously cannot believe that i let this $8 wonder sit in a drawer for so long.

but first, let’s back up. what exactly is a cc cream? cc stands for color correction (or color control, or complete correction…) and cc creams claim to retain all of the skincare benefits of a beauty balm while adding more effective and natural-looking skin coverage. cc creams include spf, come in multiple shades, tending to blend better with skin tone than a bb cream, and, with a lighter texture, they leave a less oily finish while still nourishing the skin.

the hard candy cc cream comes in four shades (i’m using fair), is oil free, and includes spf 15. the texture definitely leans on liquid, so i’ve been turning the tube facing up, squeezing a little out and then using my brush to pick up the creme straight from the top of the tube. it works well because my hands don’t need to be involved and i don’t waste any product. the creme is super easy to apply, needing hardly any blending at all. my skin tone is quickly improved by a light application and i absolutely love the way that this stuff wears. my skin is left looking not too matte, not too shiny, just flawlessly natural. i find that the coverage is more than a tinted moisturizer and the wear time is so impressive that this little tube has completely replaced my primer-plus-foundation routine. needless to say i am really loving this stuff – so, providing that you can find the right shade match i am highly recommending!

shop hard candy cc correction creme ($8) >

Posted in editorial sample, face, foundation | Tagged hard candy | 4 Comments

colorproof clearitup detox shampoo2

POSTED ON Posted on April 2, 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 believe that everyone who uses styling products needs a “sunday” shampoo, a once weekly detox that clears your scalp of product buildup and restores much needed lustre to your locks. one of my favorite tricks is to incorporate a cleanser intended for those with color-treated hair into my washing repertoire. even though my hair is 100% natural (at the moment…some who know me well may remember my platinum blonde college phase), a shampoo for color-treated heads is a great way to take extra loving care of your hair and can even add a little oomph to your natural shade and texture.

colorproof’s clearitup detox shampoo has been a welcome addition to my shower caddy. it’s 100% vegan, letting ingredients like baking soda, vitamin c and vitamin e deeply cleanse hair and scalp of all dulling buildup without stripping color. it leaves my hair lushly clean, not squeaky thanks to a lack of sulfates. since i’ve been using it regularly, my color has definitely increased in vibrancy and my hair is much more shiny. i absolutely love this stuff!

as an added bonus, my stylist recently taught me the most effective way to apply shampoo. (you thought you knew!) after completely soaking your head, pour a small amount into your hands and rub them together to work up a lather. then, pat it on to the top of your head, spreading it evenly. once that’s done, get to giving yourself an excellent (and well-deserved) head massage. make sure to rinse thoroughly and voila – one clean head of hair!

shop colorproof clearitup detox shampoo >

Posted in body, editorial sample, hair | Tagged april showers, colorproof | 2 Comments

#aprilshowers2

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

this is no april fool’s joke: i am dedicating the month of april to the art of the shower. with all of the fun and exciting things happening in color and fragrance and hair, sometimes bathtime beauty takes a backseat. i’m going to change all of that this month with a slew of posts dedicated to shampoo, body wash, shaving, and even post-shower rituals like the full body lotion rubdown and the at-home blowout. i’m so excited to kick off this month-long series (and fear not, your regularly scheduled makeup program will be sprinkled in there as well). i would love any requests or suggestions for shower-related reviews and roundups in the comments below – let’s get this party started!

Posted in body | Tagged april showers | 2 Comments

easter basket beauty4

POSTED ON Posted on March 31, 2013 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i haven’t seen the likes of the easter bunny in well over a decade, but if his hippity hop highness were to pay me a visit i would love to see these treats hidden inside my basket – or, better yet, tucked into this holographic bag from sephora.

dr. hauschka eye shadow trio, $40
deborah lippmann rockin’ robin, $19
bobbi brown lilac rose shimmer brick, $42
mark. stack and style rings, $18
smith’s minted rose lip balm tube, $6
sephora the perfectionist makeup sponge, $12

happy easter sunday to you!