the glossarie

beauty to be thankful for0

POSTED ON Posted on November 22, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

happy thanksgiving!

this is my favorite of all holidays. it always reminds me how much i have to be thankful for and towards the tippety top of that very long list is the opportunity to share my beauty love with you wonderful people. i absolutely adore blogging beauty and i’m so grateful that you visit the glossarie to read and comment as often as you do. you guys are the best.

also on my thankful list? several standby products that i couldn’t survive without:

top row –
mac powder blush in easy manner
bobbi brown creamy lip color in blue raspberry
chanel lash curler
dior creme de rose lip balm

bottom row –
mane message hair ties
essie beyond cozy
tweezerman zebra slant tweezer
mario badescu buffering lotion
neutrogena naturals purifying pure scrub

this group keeps me looking my best: clear skin, curled lashes, soft lips and flushed cheeks. while it’s true that in the grand scheme of life, beauty products might not rank too high, i really do love and cherish the great ones – and i know you do, too! so, if you’ve got beauty products that you’re thankful for, i would love to hear ’em.

i hope you all enjoy a warm and cozy thanksgiving with your family and friends.

Posted in editorial sample, mixed bag | Tagged bobbi brown, chanel, dior, essie, mac, mane message, mario badescu, neutrogena, tweezerman | Leave a comment

show me your lip bomb1

POSTED ON Posted on November 21, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i think the general rule is that the average lady carries 3+ lip products in her purse at any given time. that’s a fairly impressive statistic on its own, but every time i hear it, i feel compelled to inquire: yes, but which ones?

in a new blog series i’m calling “show me your lip bomb” i am begging reader friends to snap a shot of the lip products currently in their bag. the picture doesn’t need to be anything fancy (we’re talking unfiltered iphone photo up there), just clear enough to see all of your beauty booty. here’s my current collection:

nars velvet gloss lip pencil in new lover, $24
clinique chubby stick in voluptuous violet, $16
smashbox reflection high shine lip gloss in firecracker, $19
vapour lux organic lip conditioner, $16
vspro moisture fx softening lip balm (coming soon to victoria’s secret!)
revlon colorburst lip butter in cotton candy, $6
covergirl natureluxe gloss balm in tulip, $6
fresh sugar berry tinted lip treatment, $22.50
hobo’s rae lipstick case, $38

so, now it’s your turn! regardless of whether you’re a saver or a spender, an addict or a minimalist, i want to see the explosion (or lack) of lip products you keep on hand. my only rule is that you don’t edit or add. i really want to see your purse lip collection as it exists in nature and i’m hoping to feature as many as possible.

so won’t you please send your lip bomb my way? email theglossarie@gmail.com – i can’t wait to see what comes of this little project!

Posted in lips | Tagged clinique, covergirl, fresh cosmetics, hobo international, nars, revlon, smashbox, vapour, victoria's secret | 1 Comment

living proof restore mask treatment3

POSTED ON Posted on November 20, 2012 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

confession: i am a triple hair offender.

as someone who highlights, blow dries, and uses heat styling tools on a regular basis, my locks are in need of some serious therapy. i’ve long resisted leave-in conditioners and hair masks, mostly because my hair leans on the greasy side and i worry that any mega-conditioners might leave it limp or oily. living proof’s restore mask treatment has completely converted me into a twice-weekly deep conditioner user. recommended by a friend with gorgeous long hair, this product is slightly pricey, but with my hair feeling more straw-like than ever due to the dryer weather, i decided to splurge.

and i am so glad i did.

after using this product once (just apply to clean, wet hair, leave for 5 minutes, then rinse), my hair was so smooth and soft that i didn’t even need my trusty detangler when combing through it. i couldn’t stop touching it throughout the day – so silky!

this is the perfect product for those who use heat on your hair regularly. you can join the deep conditioning club by purchasing living proof’s hair mask here for $42.

Posted in hair | Tagged living proof | 3 Comments

cuticle care5

POSTED ON Posted on November 19, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

the harsh effects of winter are so unforgiving on your skin, but perhaps no precious part is hit harder than your hands. while hand creams and balms play a big role in preventing dryness, i like to be sure to give a little extra love to my cuticles this time of year.

historically, they are probably the least cared for part of my entire body, but as i have slowly discovered the benefits of a good cuticle treatment, it has become a tiny luxury that i cannot live without. (dry cuticles can lead to snags and tears that are not only painful, but can open you up to infection – ouch!)

in the land of cuticle care, there are creams and there are oils. depending on your needs and your preferences, the options are endless. the key ingredient in all products is some sort of moisturizing oil, so you can opt for a convenient, less messy cream, or go straight to the source and choose an easily absorbed oil. some say that oils are best, especially if you’re dealing with super dry skin, but i find that a cream can definitely soften things up nicely.

now that you’re schooled in cuticle care, i’ve rounded up several of my favorite products, at all price points to help ensure that yours are not overlooked this season:

top row, left to right:
dior creme abricot fortifying cream for nails, $24
deborah lippmann cuticle oil, $20
sally hansen cuticle eraser + balm, $6
l’occitane cuticle & nail cream, $18

bottom row, left to right:
the body shop almond nail & cuticle oil, $12
butter london handbag holiday cuticle oil, $18
burt’s bees lemon butter cuticle cream, $6
lush lemony flutter cuticle butter, $16.95

Posted in nails | Tagged burt's bees, butter london, deborah lippmann, dior, l'occitane, lush, sally hansen, the body shop | 5 Comments

samples + the safety pin14

POSTED ON Posted on November 17, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i am on a serious treasure hunt for my next eye cream, but that’s really a story for another day. the hero of this blog post is the simple safety pin. last night while discussing said treasure hunt with my girl evan (who happens to be the manager at the still new-ish kiehl’s store in tyson’s corner – it really pays to make friends with people in high beauty places), she generously proffered two samples of kiehl’s creamy eye treatment with avocado. as i stuffed them greedily into my silvie, she gave me the most genius tip! she told me that instead of tearing the top off of these precious packs, which almost certainly speeds up the drying out process, wasting valuable product, to pierce them with a safety pin and only squeeze out a little at a time. this way, i’m sure to get the exact right dose each evening as i give the windows to my soul their delicate massage and the samples will last that much longer. best of all, i get to use every last drop and the stuff inside stays nice and fresh while i do.

i. was. dumbfounded.

is this trick new to you? have you been keeping it from me?

Posted in my DC days | Tagged kiehl's | 14 Comments

covergirl clump crusher mascara9

POSTED ON Posted on November 15, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

the lashblast franchise is at it again, and just when i thought there were no more formulas to add to the family, covergirl proves me wrong. i’ve been a fan of the lashblast mascaras for a long while now (the original is still the only drugstore mascara that i recommend) and i have tried them all…but, when i spied this mysterious green tube in last month’s lucky magazine, i knew something good was coming our way.

and i was correct.

this version is the first one to actually surpass the original lashblast and become my new favorite drugstore mascara. something about the curved brush and silky formula gives this insanely fluttery volume that i can’t get enough of. this is the most buildable formula that i’ve found in a mascara ever. you can coat and coat your lashes with this stuff, the brush perfectly shaped to your lid, creating crazy long perfectly defined lashes without any of them looking spidery or sticking together. (it’s actually kind of weird how perfectly it goes on.)

the results are gorgeous and super flirty for everyday – you get this beyond natural, very achievable drama that looks like you might have grown it yourself. i’ve found that it wears very well over the course of a long day without making lashes feel dry or crunchy and, best of all, it washes off with warm water, meeting and exceeding all of my criteria for pure perfection.

beauties, i’m officially crowning a new queen of casual mascara. grab your own green tube of glory at drugstores and online for $6.99.

Posted in eyes, lashes | Tagged covergirl | 9 Comments

day to night: lip care4

POSTED ON Posted on November 14, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it is chilly outside! and i swear the first part of my body to feel the effects of the winter change is my lips. every season i can tell when the humidity is leaving town and colder days are on the way…brrr. i would love to know how some of you deal with the perma-chapped lips that come with winter, because the only way that i can seem to manage is with a super soothing one-two punch. i have needs beyond lip balm and chapstick. after washing my face in the morning and slathering on moisture, i’ve been using dhc’s lip cream for long-lasting hydration. oilive oil and vitamin e make this stick really luscious and wash my lips in smoothness before i layer on the day’s lip color. at night, i keep reaching for murad’s soothing skin and lip care to encourage healing whilst i get my beauty rest and it even exfoliates the dry damaged spots – it works wonders, i’m telling you. both products have drastically improved the look and feel of my lips and i’m really hoping that their combined magic continues as the weather gets colder.

do give your lips a little extra love this time of year?

Posted in editorial sample, lips, skin | Tagged dhc, murad | 4 Comments

keep it pretty: filigree scroll vanity tray2

POSTED ON Posted on November 10, 2012 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

until a few weeks ago, my everyday jewels were scattered about on hooks, splayed on an old jewelmint box, and stored in little trinkets around my room. not a cute or kind way to treat my favorite shiny objects! on the hunt for a solution, this vanity tray caught my eye while in the checkout line at urban outfitters and i had to snatch it up. not only has it added a lovely vintage touch to my dresser, but it’s the perfect place to organize and display my jewelry. i especially love the little raised feet – but looks aside, this tray has truly revamped my ring, necklace and earring organization, allowing me to accessorize with ease.

how do you keep your favorite jewels on display?

Posted in keep it pretty | 2 Comments

make up for ever hd microfinish powder + kabuki brush2

POSTED ON Posted on November 9, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

make up for ever hd mincrofinish powder + kabuki

combination skin can be so tricky. along with the occasional (or constant) breakout, skin that’s tight and dry after washing has a tendency to turn oily in the afternoons. it can be so frustrating to leave the house looking great, only to return at the end of the day to eyeshadow that has disappeared and a dewy look that’s just not really appropriate in november. to keep things more matte, i have adopted a product introduced to me by the lovely nicole. make up for ever’s hd microfinish powder is a godsend for anyone who suffers from shine – whether it be in one specific area (nose, t-zone) or generally all over. i keep to nicole’s advice of using a big fluffy brush and applying very sparingly (otherwise things end up looking far too heavy).

it instantly sets your look in place, but the real magic is in the difference that you’ll see at the end of the day: skin looks fresh, healthy, and far less shiny. the translucence mattifies without leaving you looking dull or flat, it gives a soft, beautiful finish and provides an invisible layer of perfection. this powder doesn’t change the color of your foundation and is ideal over both powders and liquids. i like to apply it with the make up for ever hd kabuki brush, sweeping it on after my foundation, but before mascara and blush. this duo is so worth the spend.

as a side note, i was really excited to see that the coordinating kabuki brush came with its own little zip pouch – how great for taking it on the go? sadly, said little zip pouch lives in a drawer, because one morning application is really all that i need.

make up for ever hd microfinish powder ($18 – $32) and the make up for ever hd kabuki brush ($40) are both available at sephora.

Posted in face | Tagged make up for ever | 2 Comments

brow power3

POSTED ON Posted on November 8, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

five of the top tools helping me to keep my eyebrows looking lovely (left to right):

shape: elf brow comb brush, $1
whips things right into shape, if i do nothing else
after washing my face, i brush my brows.

pluck: tweezerman cynthia rowley slant tweezer, $25
crazy for this collaboration! the print is too good
and the tweezers are reliably precise – as always.

highlight: boom boom brow bar push-up brow, $18
one side matte, one sparkly – two ways to amp up your
arches depending on your mood or agenda.

tame: tweezerman browmousse, $10
locks down the unruly hairs.
long lasting, no flakes or stickiness, an old standby.

define: tweezerman eyehance, $20
the *best* brow pencil.
a super natural shade fills everything in flawlessly.

are you as brow obsessed as me? do share your favorite tricks and tools!