the glossarie

dermelect provocative0

POSTED ON Posted on October 16, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m putting the ‘cure’ in my mani this month with a poppy pink shade from dermelect. the new ME collection is more than just a polish range. the bottles house a true color treatment infused with peptides to protect and restore fragile, weak nails.

the fresh fuchsia dries fast, delivering high-gloss shine and resists the chipping, splitting and peeling that run rampant this time of year due to cooler, drier temps. two coats do the trick and i’m highly impressed by the way coat number one quickly bonds to nails. my nails feel more flexible with this stuff and i love the bold color.

nail products really have come a long way and it’s a real treat to find something that is not only without harmful chemicals (so many wonderful brands are dbp, toulene, formaldehyde and cruelty-free these days) but something that actually delivers benefits to the nails.

on top of the benefits that your nails will enjoy, this month, 30% of net proceeds of provocative will go to cancer and careers, a non-profit organization and program of cosmetic executive women, inc. that empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in the workplace.

it just doesn’t get much better than that.

if you must have this multi-tasker in your mani kit, get it here. (with free shipping! you’re welcome.)

Posted in editorial sample, nails | Tagged dermelect | Leave a comment

on sundays, we boost7

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

yes, i know it’s monday, but as i sit here enjoying the effects of last night’s skin treatment, i feel compelled to share my little secret.

first, you should know that for a high maintenance beauty queen, i’m sadly lazy about my skincare. i can only commit to so complicated of a routine and three steps is definitely where i max out…but, for someone whose skin sees as much action as mine does in the product-switching department, i need a regular part of the regimen that can work some serious miracles – the requirements being that it has to be speedy and it has to work wonders once-a-week.

my answer to the riddle is somme institute’s boost mask. it’s subtly pumpkin scented (making it especially appealing this time of year!) and has an almost gluey texture that glides onto skin and begins warming on contact. the formula nourishes and regenerates making way for clearer pores and less redness while also working to improve sun damage and fine lines. it’s gentle but at the same time supremely fierce at absorbing oil, destroying dirt and impurities. it’s a pleasure to use and works its magic in ten minutes flat.

last night alone, it softened the blow on an allergic reaction to something i tested last week. this morning, i awoke to fresh skin almost completely clear of the little bumps left behind by a wayward foundation that have been lingering for days.

boost is nicely priced at $40. grab your own tube here.

Posted in editorial sample, skin | Tagged somme institute | 7 Comments

suave kids detangling spray6

POSTED ON Posted on October 13, 2012 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

remember when you were five years old and your mom would use detangling spray to get the pesky knots out of your hair?

and, remember when you were 25 years old and still using detangler designed for children to get out said pesky knots that you’ve not yet outgrown?

for the fine maned, tangles know no age, and to this day i use suave kids double dutch apple detangling spray daily for smooth, snag-free locks. the sweet-smelling spray is made for kids but strong enough for a lady – making my post-shower comb-through perfectly painless.

and i think that, effectiveness aside, the cartoon octopus on the bottle, the one doing double dutch with an apple on its head? really adds something.

to bid tangles adieu and say hello to apple-scented smoothness, check the drugstore aisles or get it delivered here.

Posted in hair | Tagged suave | 6 Comments

beauty for real miracle mascara6

POSTED ON Posted on October 12, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

one of the many things that i love about having a beauty blog is the opportunity to meet and test new-to-me brands that would have never wound up on my radar. beauty for real is a perfect example. i don’t know where this little line has been hiding, but the arrival of their miracle mascara on my doorstep has brought a welcome change to my eyelashes.

i have the most watery eyes on the planet. they are constantly tearing meaning that my mascara is constantly running. even though there are tons of no-smudge and waterproof versions on the market, i hate the dried-out way that they make my eyes and lashes feel. the beauty for real formula conquers that obstacle with ease. this creamy mascara glides onto lashes looking feathery and shockingly natural (we are talking length and volume that looks like it’s growing right out of your own lash follicles). i absolutely love the look that it gives me. there are no clumps (none!), no lash comb necessary and the wear on this stuff is beyond compare. i can make it through a full work day, a happy hour, and a walking workout without a smudge or flake. beauty for real has created a formula that resists oil, sweat, and tears, yet still removes easily with warm water. i am in awe.

some of you may be interested to know that the tube itself boasts a magnifying mirror and a light-up wand, neither of which i’ve taken advantage of (it’s not often that i’m doing my makeup in a dark alley), but both are a nice added bonus if you like that sort of thing.

if you’re a contact wearer or discerning mascara maven, pop on over to beauty for real and pick up your daily miracle for $23.

Posted in editorial sample, eyes, lashes | Tagged beauty for real | 6 Comments

day to night: lip and eye palettes7

POSTED ON Posted on October 11, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i love these new limited edition palettes from bobbi brown for holiday. they’re perfectly petite (palm-sized) and expertly edited to include three eye shadows (each with one that doubles as a liner), two lip colors (one safe, one sassy) and a gloss for the ultimate finishing touch. bobbi has dubbed uber nude as your timeless look for monday-sunday while atomic pink is fresh and fun, a bit more evening in my opinion. both are slight enough to slip into your work bag or the min-est of minaudieres. and whether you opt to give these cute compacts as gifts or keep them for yourself, the $30 pricetag is sure to please everybeauty.

the limited edition eye palettes will be available this november as part of bobbi brown’s holiday collection.

Posted in palettes | Tagged bobbi brown | 7 Comments

sale rack skinny2

POSTED ON Posted on October 10, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m doing a little beauty on a budget over at trend hungry today. click on over to learn a bit more about how i shop for beauty bargains!

Posted in link roundups | Tagged l'oreal, nyx, sephora, sephora by opi, simple | 2 Comments

living proof prime style extender2

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

this lightweight lotion is bringing big brains to my beauty routine. created by the mit scientists behind living proof, prime style extender is a non-sticky hair product that delivers improved manageability and really helps a blowout last. working in a manner similar to what makeup primer does for your face (evens out tone and texture, helps makeup stick around much longer), prime makes a noticeable difference in how quickly my hair gets dirty. an everyday blowout lasts more than two full days without dry shampoo – quite a miracle in the world that is my head.

the product is designed to work alongside whatever products you already use, but beauties like myself (with fine hair that tends toward oily) will enjoy the fact that it actually replaces my former routine and cuts drying time in half.

i’ll save you the science behind why this works the way it does, but trust me when i say that you will definitely see a few extra miles from your hairstyles with this in your arsenal.

living proof prime style extender is available at sephora for $20.

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged living proof | 2 Comments

givenchy hydra sparkling magic lip & cheek balm4

POSTED ON Posted on October 7, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

you guys know that i fall victim to any and all tinted lip balms that come on to the scene. (it’s like a sickness…but it’s the very sickness that fuels this blog, so what can ya do?) i finally pulled the purchase trigger on one that’s been on my list for a long while: givenchy’s hydra sparkling magic lip & cheek balm. at $31 it was not a buy that i took lightly but man-oh-man am i glad that i snatched this little baby up!

here’s the dish: on my bi-weekly stroll through sephora, i popped right over to the givenchy wall and used a disposable lip wand to apply a wash of this thick, buttery balm. i thoroughly enjoyed the intensely hydrating effect, but promptly forgot about it until i walked by a mirror and caught site of my lips. they had transformed into the most beautiful rosy pink! not a hint of that neon day-glow pink that all-too-often accompanies a product that claims to “adjust” – this is a delicate, opaque stain that i feel fairly confident does not exist in a lipstick tube anywhere. it’s that unique and dare i say, that pretty.

no matter the season, pink and glossy lips are always on my wish list, so i have a good feeling that this portable pot will remain a staple for many months to come.

this innovative formula is available at sephora.

note: the website is sold out of the peach glow, but my local sephora had lots of both shades in stock!

please also note: i would not put this on my cheeks, the consistency is too glossy for my likes. but don’t let that hold you back! and please report below if you do use this on your cheeks – i’m very curious.

Posted in lips | Tagged givenchy | 4 Comments

laura mercier almond coconut body butter4

POSTED ON Posted on October 6, 2012 by maggie moore BY maggie moore

this body butter has been running through my group of friends like wildfire. it all started when one of us received a complimentary bottle through a work function and let the rest of us in on her sweet-smelling secret. perhaps the $35 price tag is not ideal, but, it smells so good.

i’m a sucker for yummy scents, so if that wasn’t enough to get me hooked, the rich, fluffy texture of the moisturizer without a trace of stickiness sealed the deal. and as the weather gets dryer, it’s the perfect solution to the thirsty skin that’s bound to follow suit. plus, the tube is surely going to look all kinds of glamorous on a dresser and i love anything that pretties up both my vanity and my skin!

laura mercier’s almond coconut body butter is available here.

Posted in body, skin | Tagged laura mercier | 4 Comments

my favorite fall look0

POSTED ON Posted on October 5, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

happy friday! i’m over on the washington posts’s dc scout today (and all month!) chatting about fall beauty trends. take a look at my favorite fall look and my favorite beauty of the moment. can’t wait to hear what you think!