the glossarie

keep it pretty: sweet pea soap dish2

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

my dresser is a disaster and i’m starting of 2013 with the clear intentions of getting organized in the beauty department. i think what i really need to catch all of the perfume samples, mane message hair ties and anna beck rings that i have roaming around is a small series of pretty trays. this trio caught my eye at anthropologie this week and i’m definitely going to have to go back and scoop them up.

not only are the patterns feminine without being overdone, the whimsical shapes are absolutely calling to me. i love the way that they go together but not in a matchy matchy way. at less than an inch high and four inches wide, i’m already picturing them filled with lip balms and nail polishes – the perfect way to start getting organized!

the sweat pea soap dishes in neutral, blue, and rose are available at anthropologie for $12 each.

how do you organize your beauty products?

Posted in keep it pretty | Tagged anthropologie | 2 Comments

perfekt lash perfection gel7

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

it turns out that our lashes weren’t meant to be coated in mascara daily and they remind us of such by exhibiting behaviors like drying out, falling out, and being all around not the long lush natural fringe that we all lust after. while our favorite mascaras deliver the dramatic lash look that we want in the short run, they’re not actually doing us any long-term favors.

on days when i can afford to forgo the bambi look, i have been applying perfekt’s lash perfection gel. technically not a mascara, it’s a lash treatment masquerading as a smudge-proof lengthener. you get ingredients to help with added growth and extra moisture while enjoying the curl and darkening effects you would normally find in a mascara.

i find that my lashes look far better than they would with nothing on, and i’m actually doing something good for them. this is a great product to use a few times a week to give your eyes a break from your regular mascara and your lashes will fully repay your efforts as they morph into a shinier and stronger set than you started with.

pick up perfekt’s lash perfection gel at sephora for $28.50.

Posted in editorial sample, eyes, lashes | Tagged perfekt | 7 Comments

planet beauty x the glossarie giveaway!6

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

i’m so thrilled to partner with planet beauty for a giveaway featuring four of my favorite products. i was introduced to the cosmetic e-retailer last month and i’m still floored by how many of the best brands they carry. after a quick browse, i easily found dozens of products that i had reviewed in the glossarie over the years, ranging from popular cult favorites to those lesser known niche brands that i’ve got a soft spot for.

my lucky cali girls can actually visit this beautiful mecca in person and browse all of their amazing brands. for the rest of us, we can shop the incredible selection online enjoying free shipping on orders over $34!

to celebrate this pretty discovery, the lovely people at beauty planet have selected four fabulous glossarie favorites to give away to one lucky reader:

sara happ’s the lip scrub in vanilla bean ($24)
murad’s clarifying mask ($37)
deborah lippmann happy birthday ($18)
tokyo milk makeup bag ($14)

i don’t know if you’re doing the math, but that’s over $90 in beauty booty – not a bad start to start the new year, right? to enter the giveaway, please click through to raffle copter below. follow the simple instructions and watch your inbox. i’ll announce a winner one week from tomorrow. good luck!

ENTER HERE

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged deborah lippmann, murad, sara happ, tokyo milk | 6 Comments

cover fx total cover cream foundation4

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

when testing a new foundation, i almost always look for the same combination of features. in short, i love a finish that flawlessly covers all of my hyperpigmentation and redness without looking like stage makeup. it has to go on quickly, easily (i’m not one for a lot of effort) and stay all day in a semi-matte finish that won’t get shiny or greasy. color matching is also key! it can be tough to find the right shade in a lot of foundation lines and i often end up with something that’s just a touch to pink or too yellow.

the generous team at cover fx offered to send me their latest release and they even color-matched my skin tone from a recent photo. the formula is a true cream (almost a hybrid between a concealer and foundation) and comes in a compact. i’ve been starting light and building coverage using this brush with fantastic results. the coverage is not too cakey or heavy and it sits really nicely on my skin without irritating it in the least. acne scars and redness are fully covered and it stays matte all day. (although, the true test will be in summer’s wicked humidity. dc winters don’t really challenge my oily skin too much.)

the shade range on total cover is seriously impressive, with 28 shades for ladies who are the fairest porcelain to the deepest rich ebony, with neutral, pink, or golden undertones.

if you’re in the market for a foundation that gives medium-to-full, buildable coverage, this is definitely my new favorite. you can visit sephora for an expert color match or buy online for $42.

Posted in editorial sample, face, foundation | Tagged cover fx | 4 Comments

beauty resolutions in review + a fresh set21

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

happy new year, beauties!

i love january 1st: a whole new year lies ahead – full of possibility! i’m taking a quick pulse check on 2012’s resolutions and sharing my fresh set of goals with you.

2012 beauty resolutions:

visit a dermatologist to get this 30-year old acne under control
appointment booked for january 4th! stay tuned for a full recap.

discover (and stick to!) a skincare regimen that works
done! mario badescu has my skin looking clearer than ever.

find my signature scent, toss the rest
i don’t know if i’ll ever stick to one scent,
but at the moment i can’t get enough of vintage bloom (above).

not pick at my pimples (hopefully won’t be an issue – see resolution #1)
done! i’ve been keeping my fingers away from my face, as a rule.

experiment with eye makeup and learn to confidently craft a few different looks
fail. fail. fail.

maybe take a makeup class?
done! ‘all decked out‘ was a smashing success
i can’t wait to do more of these in 2013

master the at-home manicure
done! i do this much more often than going to sit in the salon chair, now.

drink more water!
eh…still a struggle, but i’m trying.

take my vitamins
done! i leave my multi on my bedside table and i take it nightly without fail.

work on my horrendous posture
this may be a lost cause. does anyone have any advice?
definitely going back on the list for 2013!

i have to say, i did better than expected – all in all i’m pretty pleased!

2013 beauty resolutions:

get organized! my cosmetic collection is taking over my world.

master the self blowout and stop making the excuse that it requires three arms.
(although, you and i both know that it does!)

treat my body like i treat my face – moisturize and exfoliate on the regular.

apply my eye cream more nightly, because there’s
no time like the present to get serious about preventing crow’s feet.

floss.

quit my cream and sugar habit – opt for almond milk in my morning coffee –
or, better yet, switch it up for a mug of green tea.

get out and run a minimum of twice a week – no excuses.

stop. the. slouching.

drink 48 oz of water daily.
(less than suggested, i know – but this will be a huge upgrade for me!)

wear spf every day.

of course i would love to know what challenges you have set for yourself this year (be they beauty-related or otherwise!) – please leave them in the comments.

Posted in lara | Tagged jessica simpson | 21 Comments

in my new year’s eve clutch2

POSTED ON Posted on December 31, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i woke up in a cold sweat this morning.

not because another year has passed me by at lightning speed. not because i still don’t know what i’m going to wear tonight (or more importantly, what color i’m going to paint my nails), but because i am consumed with concern over how i’m going to pack my itty bitty bag for this evening’s festivities.

when carrying a small bag, i am very picky about what i pack, putting every inch of that precious real estate to excellent use. tonight is like the super bowl of clutch packing – the marathon hours of celebrating and venue hopping call for keeping a complicated survival kit on hand. here’s what made the cut:

i’ll be touching up with revlon’s super lustrous creme lipstick
in berry haute between glasses of champagne.

aerin’s rose lip conditioner and a box of altoid smalls
will make sure i’m fully prepped for that midnight kiss.

i always need to mattify after a spin on the dance floor.
this mini sized make up for ever hd microfinish powder is clutch-friendly
at half the price (and i just toss in a disposable powder puff for application).

kate spade’s twirl rollerball is fresh and flirty,
just what the festive atmosphere calls for!

becca’s beach tint in fig is my current blush of choice.
lucky for me that it’s extra little (i’m loving this duo!)
and takes up next to zero room – plus, it also doubles as a lip color.

a super stylish iphone backup battery will help ensure
that i don’t miss a single happy new year text!

a mane message hair tie (in stylish black glitter) will inevitably come
in handy when my hair gets pulled back into a ponytail well before midnight.

and last but certainly not least, i should mention that i have been saving the cutest of holiday hobos for new year’s eve. i cannot wait to take this little beauty (whose name is twinkle!) out on the town.

so, do tell…are you carrying a tiny bag tonight? more importantly, what’s inside?

Posted in accessories, mixed bag | Tagged aerin, becca cosmetics, hobo international, j.crew, kate spade, make up for ever, mane message, revlon | 2 Comments

best blog moments of 20122

POSTED ON Posted on December 30, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

in february, it was back to nyc to cover backstage beauty for mark at the rebecca minkoff show. it was by far my favorite runway show that i’ve seen!

april brought about the amazing news that i had been selected as a finalist in allure’s beauty blogger of the year competition. (i will be forever grateful for your five weeks of internet votes!) i made it all the way to the end, finishing the competition in the top nine which was more than i could have hoped for.

the glossarie turned 3 in may which provided the perfect excuse to celebrate! i can’t believe i never posted a recap on this fabulous party. all you really need to know is that there were cupcakes and beauty booty for all!

in june, the great gals at birchbox invited me to guest blog for them for the second time. i always have so much fun sharing beautiful ideas with them.

july was highlighted by a styling collaboration with baublebar – the perfect excuse to partner up with the amazing kate headley.

in august, i was featured in one of my favorite internet wonderlands, glitter guide. it was a pinch me moment to see my own face staring back at me from my inbox!

i met maggie in september, making her the glossarie’s very first contributor. she has been a joy to work with and judging by your reactions to her posts, she is a more than welcome addition to the blog.

then i capped off the year with a major bang, making my very first live tv appearance on dc’s local cbs affiliate wusa9.

it’s been a very good year and i can’t thank all of you enough for being a part of it! i am looking forward to so much more fun and excitement in 2013 – i wish you beauties the happiest of new years.

Posted in lara | 2 Comments

my ten favorite product finds of 20129

POSTED ON Posted on December 29, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

my vanity, makeup bag, and face see a constant rotation of products. with the volume and frequency of beauty being tested, it can be really tough to hang on to something for longer than a few weeks, let alone give it permanent residence in my bathroom’s beauty basket. low and behold, some products do actually stand the test of time. here are ten products that i posted about in 2012 that are still in my daily routine:

1. urban decay’s naked foundation is my go-to for a flawless face; i use it every day and i am still loving the semi-matte finish.

2. dr. lipp’s nipple balm for lips is a godsend for chapped lips; when all else fails, i know this will get the job done!

3. pattern body wash’s balance of effective cleaning and hydration makes it a permanent favorite in our coed shower. i love the scents and feel like i’m doing something good for my skin when i’m lathering up.

4. oribe’s dry texturizing spray is better than the best dry shampoo. it continues to make day two hair look better than day one. and the scent! yum.

5. sheswai’s nail lacquers come in the most playful shades. i still haven’t found anything that’s easier to apply than these, saving me bundles in salon manicures.

6. deborah lippmann’s the stripper to go is the most ingenious nail polish remover method. the little mitts may be pricy, but their portability and swift polish removal makes them completely worth the expense!

7. i still dab leila lou’s perfume oil in the crook of my elbows daily. the fragrance is flirty, fresh, and light, plus the rollerball makes it easy to travel with.

8. when i cannot stand to look as tired as i feel, tarte emphaseyes inner rim brightener saves the day. i constantly rely on this small wonder to fake eight hours.

9. i will never go back to plain old boring hair ties! olivia’s mane message pretties crop up everywhere, from all around my condo to the depths of my handbags to my car cup holders. you’re sure to always find one on my wrist, too!

10. chanel’s precision eyelash curler has replaced my beloved shu ueumra and proven better than the original. lashes are left perfectly curled without the awkward crimp some other curlers leave behind.

have you discovered anything through the blog that has found a permanent home in your beauty bag this year?

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged chanel, deborah lippmann, dr. lipp, leila lou, mane message, oribe, pattern, sheswai, tarte, urban decay | 9 Comments

new year’s eve outfit ideas on wusa95

POSTED ON Posted on December 27, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i spent my morning (after a rough 3 am wake up call!) with four fellow local bloggers and lifestyle expert, carine krawiec of carine’s bridal atelier. we got all dolled up at karma beauty lounge and headed off to cbs studios to shoot a fun segment on what to wear for new year’s eve. my outfit came from wink with accessories from dalton pratt. my hair was done by mark frazer and my makeup is by hania issa. (the two of them worked some serious magic on my sleepy eyes and pillow creased face!)

me with fellow beauty queen, kara manos from politics of pretty

my look includes:
rebecca taylor sequin jacket, $550
tibi racer back silk cami, $158
7 for all mankind jacquard skinnies, $198
pelle moda hype 3 raffia platform pumps (sold out)

you can click on over to wusa9’s website to see the complete segment. it was such a fun way to start the day! after a quick nap, now it’s back to the real world…