the glossarie

soap & glory foam-call5

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

i just love this body wash by british beauty brand, soap & glory. foam-call is one of the most welcome additions to my shower possibly ever thanks to its unique (and delicious) scent, ultra moisturizing formula, and the fact that it doubles up as a luscious bubble bath. the oversized pump is a steal at $16 and a few squirts of this creamy wash onto your loofah will cause quite a stir in your morning routine. swipe it over your skin and you will notice an instant boost in hydration even decreasing the need for a body lotion. it cleanses well but rinses off completely and i cannot do the fruitigo scent justice without urging you to go smell it for yourself. i think that if it came in a perfume bottle i would buy it and the heavenly citrus oasis that it leaves lingering in the bathroom is super refreshing. as a word of warning, you might want to hide this one under the sink between washes, because your shower mates are definitely going to want some for themselves.

soap & flory’s foam-call is available at sephora.

Posted in body, editorial sample | Tagged soap & glory | 5 Comments

perricone md no concealer concealer10

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

since turning 30 (ok maybe since way before then) my dark circles have worsened and a permanent crop of fine lines has made itself at home around my eyes. i do not love these signs of aging, and if i cannot accept them with grace, i must fight them with the forces of beauty. i find that a liquid concealer works best for me in the eye area (the rest of my face is an oil slick, but my under eyes are pretty dry – go figure), but it can be tough to find the right shade and consistency to combat dark circles while also brightening and not settling into fine lines. apparently it’s a tall order, but a tall order filled with one teeny tiny bottle.

perricone md’s no concealer concealer is a major multitasker. its light texture is easy to blend by patting onto the under eye and the formula is long wearing while at the same time being ultimately crease resistant. i’m loving the way that it leaves my eye area looking well rested and brightened but it also leaves things feeling hydrated while also delivering anti aging benefits and spf 35 protection. (i mean really! can it make the bed, too?!)

you will have to pry this one from my cold, dead hands ladies and gents. it might be a bit of a splurge at $45, but i predict that you will use it every day once you give it a try. scoop it up at nordstrom and be sure to let me know what you think!

Posted in concealer, editorial sample, eyes, face | Tagged perricone md | 10 Comments

kiehl’s activated sun protector sunscreen for body spf 502

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

i cannot even begin to tell you how long i have been on the hunt for the holy grail of sunscreens. here is my (brief and totally reasonable) list of demands:

it must go on super smoothly like a body lotion (i.e. must be easy to apply)
it must not be sticky (at all)
it must be water resistent
it must have an spf higher than 15 (i am too fair for my own good)
it must be oil free and preferably lightweight

is that so much to ask?

apparently not, because kiehl’s has delivered on every single one of the above and far surpassed my expectations. it feels like heaven when i put it on, making applying spf a joy instead of a chore. the sleek bottle looks oh-so-good coming out of my beach tote, but it’s the way that my skin feels when i wear it – soft and moisturized, to die for – that really makes me want to sing. it’s also very subtly scented so i don’t need to smell like a coconut to protect myself from the elements. too many good reasons to count! you need this summer essential for the remainder of your beach and pool days.

kiehl’s activated sun protector sunscreen for body spf 50 is available here for $23.

Posted in body, editorial sample | Tagged kiehl's | 2 Comments

nyx pin-up tease boudoir mascara6

POSTED ON Posted on July 13, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

a $6 mascara is tough to come by these days, but a $6 mascara that rivals my beauty counter favorite? practically impossible. nyx pin-up tease mascara is more than a pleasant surprise to my lashes. while i will say that the curved, hard bristle comb takes some getting used to, the results are so worth the wait once you get the hang of it. i don’t think i’ve ever used a brush with this sharp of a curve and let me say that it delivers major curl. (in fact, it’s the end of the day as i write this and my fan of fringe is still standing at attention – a rarity, for sure.) the formula extends lashes nicely, giving them a bit of shine and tons of definition. all of that is well and good, but by now you know that the true test of a mascara for me is its staying power. this stuff is completely smudge-free, although removing it with warm water does take a bit of tugging on the lashes (if you’ve used other fiber mascaras, you know what i mean), but you can still get away without using a makeup remover. i am pretty smitten with this budget-friendly tube and find that i keep reaching for it again and again – a true testament to its rockstar’dom.

nyx pin-up tease mascara is available at ulta for $5.99.

Posted in editorial sample, eyes, lashes | Tagged nyx | 6 Comments

make up for ever aqua shadow6

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

my eyelids are often the most neglected spot on my entire face. truth be told, on a typical day you will find them unlined and free of shadow. it’s a shame and likely cause for beauty blog mutiny, but it’s mostly because i feel like no matter what kind of waterproof shellac i put on them, it almost always ends up smeared beneath my bottom lash line. thankfully, the new aqua shadow sticks from make up for ever offer up a simple solution to my annoying little problem.

there are so many things that i like about this shadow-in-a-stick concept. for starters, carrying my eye shadow around in one slim pencil means no brush needed. it also means that application is a breeze. you can draw these on in thinner strokes to line eyes or easily shade in the entire lid for a pretty wash of color. the aqua shadows come in twelve shades ranging from five moody mattes to seven pearly, neutral cremes. they can be used to create a smudge-proof smoky eye or a super easy single-hued look.

they have totally simplified my make up routine and i’m obsessed with the way that they stay put in this heinous humidity. best of all, they’re compact and portable, ideal for on the go. my go-to shade is 26e (a rose gold) and i’m having a ball combining it with the others for a multicolored effect that even i can master.

make up for ever aqua shadows are available at sephora for $20.

Posted in editorial sample, eyes, lids | Tagged make up for ever | 6 Comments

brand new nail candy14

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

sometimes i feel like there are so many fun things popping up in the nail category that i can’t even keep up! i rounded up seven of the sweetest new nail products – from fresh shades to nail art tools, a crazy convenient cuticle oil and one seriously speedy top coat. take a peek:

one – nailezee: a new-to-me brand started by a sweet sister trio.
lacquers come in a whopping 66 gorgeous shades for $10 each.

two – essie good to go: i’m apparently the last person on
earth to know about this holy grail of top coats!

three – julep essential cuticle oil: comes in a rollerball for easy application.
just run it around the edges of each nail – how genius us that?!

four – sephora nail art set: a teeny tiny paint brush and double ended
marbling tool make perfecting your painting skills a piece of cake.

five – sheswai in totally: a wickedly hot new shade from my favorite brand.

six – sephora collection nail lacquer in myrtille: this $4 cornflower
blue is going to be my shade of the season.

seven – topshop nail art pen in fool’s gold: draw golden nail art
onto bare or polished nails. seal with a top coat and go!

Posted in nails | Tagged essie, julep, luckymag, nailezee, sephora, sheswai, topshop | 14 Comments

stila set & correct powder6

POSTED ON Posted on July 6, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

as summer swelters, i am constantly seeking products to perfect (and protect!) my makeup look. while i normally embrace the dew and stay away from setting powders, stila’s new set & correct has me changing my tune. more finishing touch and less cake-y matte-ifier, this super cool powder trio in a sleek black compact is good looking all on its own. a half turn of the shaver dispensed onto a big fluffy brush is perfect over a tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation. just a tiny bit sets makeup flawlessly with a sheer finish and the three shades work together to brighten and illuminate (peach), minimize redness (green), and counteract sallow undertones (lavender). talk about super powers! this powder corrects the minor imperfections that your one-shade foundation cannot mask while zapping oil from the t-zone and any other shiny spots that may need tending when the temps reach the triple digits.

stila’s set & correct powder is available in a bunch of places for $34, but zappos will ship it for free! (you’re welcs.)

Posted in face | Tagged stila cosmetics | 6 Comments

july bag + balm8

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

bag: j.crew printed makeup pouch, $16.99 (on sale!)

balm: l’oreal colour riche caresse stick, $7.99

i’ve had my eye on the chunky makeup pouch from j.crew since it popped up in stores earlier this spring. it’s been on my list to share with you and since it’s on sale i just had to include it in this month’s bag + balm duo. it’s made of waxed canvas and it’s the perfect size at almost 4 x 6. you can really stuff it with all of your beauty booty and it will serve you well to tote your daily essentials if you’re a big bag carrier or it’s great for overnights.

one thing you’ll want to be sure to keep inside is l’oreal’s new colour riche caresse sticks. i’m kind of cheating this month since these are not really a balm (at all) but i’m pretty in love with them. the sticks are sheer and deeply tinted with a consistency falling between a lipstick and a gloss. they are moisturizing and give a glossy finish with amazing color payoff that lasts a really long time. i’m liking these even better than revlon’s lip butters (especially for summer) because they’re a bit lighter in texture but more pigmented. win, win.

Posted in bags, lips, tools | Tagged j.crew, l'oreal, luckymag | 8 Comments

independent beauty5

POSTED ON Posted on July 4, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

how crazy good are these 4th of july nails by pink, you rock? i am totally inspired by makeup artist and blogger selena’s ability to orchestrate such a stunning gel manicure at her fav salon – including those hand-painted blue stripes and the 3d heart.

if you’re in a bit more of a time crunch and on your way to a cornhole tournament (ahem, like me) then might i recommend this bit of patriotism in a bottle by sephora for opi? It’s sure to create a quick and easy mani that will last you through the holiday and the upcoming olympic games.

happy 4th!

Posted in nails | Tagged sephora by opi | 5 Comments

baublebar inspired style5

POSTED ON Posted on July 3, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m over at the baublebar blog today taking part in their inspired style series. i had a ball styling the pieces they sent over and must give endless thanks to kate headley for taking the photos. i’m pretty proud of the finished product – go take a peek!