the glossarie

beauty resolutions check in15

POSTED ON Posted on July 1, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

(suitable image for the occasion by mimi+meg / kick-ass nail polish by butter london)

remember these? today marks 2012’s official halfway point so i thought i’d check in on my own progress. here’s where things stand:

visit a dermatologist to get this 30-year old acne under control
haven’t done this yet, my skin is moderately in control at the moment…but i still need to go.

discover (and stick to!) a skincare regimen that works
the blog continues to keep my skincare on constant rotation, but thanks to this video, i’ve found a handful of trusty products to calm things down when they get revved up.

find my signature scent, toss the rest
done! i’m in love with leila lou…but that is always subject
to change when the next great scent comes along.

not pick at my pimples (hopefully won’t be an issue – see resolution #1)
i’m somewhat improved here. truth be told, i invested in an extractor (i know…)
but at least it keeps my fingernails out of the equation.

experiment with eye makeup and learn to confidently craft a few different looks
total fail! thank goodness i still have six months left to go.

maybe take a makeup class?
double fail! does anyone want to do this with me?
i really want to improve my artistry skills.

master the at-home manicure
done-ish. i know what this entails and i own the tools…
actually getting it done is another story.

drink more water!
i still have a long way to go, but i am so much better about this!
i have a 24 oz water bottle that i keep with me at
all times now and it has helped so much.

take my vitamins
done! i take a daily multi – my nails and hair have never looked better.

work on my horrendous posture
ugh, a work in progress. i’m still a hopeless sloucher…

there are a few successes in the mix and a few things for me to work on between now and december. did you make new year’s resolutions? what kind of progress are you making?

Posted in lara | 15 Comments

rouge bunny rouge glassy gloss2

POSTED ON Posted on June 28, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

rouge bunny rouge is a beauty lover’s brand. their color palette is so thoughtfully balanced, their packaging so sweetly designed, that it’s a line for those of us who choose something beautiful over brand name or trend. their latest launch, sweet excesses glassy gloss, is exceptionally tempting. each of the five new shades has got a pop of sparkle and shine without a trace of stickiness. they go on smooth, moisturizing lips, making them cushiony soft with a wear-time of about four hours. at $29, this is a little luxury, a gloss that’s oh-so-comfortable to wear and one that looks pretty darn good when you pull it out of your purse. glassy gloss and all of the rouge bunny rouge goodness can be found online at beautyhabit.

Posted in lips | Tagged rouge bunny rouge | 2 Comments

this or that: bronzer duos6

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

i love a blush and bronzer duo. my years as a beauty addict have taught me that going with a formula that has multiple tones can be super flattering to tricky skin tones since there’s often nothing better than a product that allows you to create a custom blend. i need a bit of bronzer to warm things up after putting on my daily dose of foundation, but for fair girls like me, the addition of a peach, coral, or rose to the bronze can add a brightening finishing touch. it pulls the whole look together and makes it look more natural. i’ve chosen two bang up options for anyone in the market for a blush and bronzer in one compact, regardless of your budget.

top: nyx cosmetics bronzer & blusher combo, $9
(a mostly matte finish, perfect for those fighting
blemishes or wrinkles which shimmer tends to amplify)

bottom: bobbi brown limited edition bronzer/blush duo, $36
(so stunning in pink peony and bahama brown)

Posted in blush, bronzer, cheeks | Tagged bobbi brown, luckymag, nyx | 6 Comments

butter london friends & family event8

POSTED ON Posted on June 26, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s treat yourself tuesday and aren’t you lucky? butter london, everyone’s favorite high fashion, non toxic nail brand is on major sale. between now and tomorrow, you can score 30% off your lacquers, lippies, and treatments – so get to shopping!

i’m scooping up nail lacquers in classic metallics (silver, gold, and rose gold) plus a bright or two to get me through the summer months. since sandal season continues to wreak havoc on my feet and i’m hearing amazing things about the glycolic callus peel, i’ll be adding one of those to my cart to melt away the rough stuff. finally, those lippies have been calling to me for the longest – i can’t wait to give ’em a whirl.

are you a butter london fan? will you be taking advantage of their friends & family event?

Posted in nails | Tagged butter london | 8 Comments

the golden rule4

POSTED ON Posted on June 25, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

stephanie johnson medium flat pouch in palm desert white / benefit sunbeam / sephora by opi it’s real 18k gold top coat / mane message gold and black shimmer hair ties / ysl ombre solo in gold leaf / smashbox o-gloss gold

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged benefit cosmetics, luckymag, mane message, sephora by opi, smashbox, stephanie johnson, yves saint laurent | 4 Comments

a few lovely links9

POSTED ON Posted on June 24, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

i’m craving these zesty curved bobbies to tame my mane
i’ll be getting my next nyc mani at the essie flagship salon on the ues!
say sayonara to dry, cracked lips with this diy lip smoothie
lush launches a makeup line and i think i like it
where to skimp and splurge on your beauty products

Posted in link roundups | Tagged anthropologie, essie, lush | 9 Comments

day to night: eye treatments7

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

the husband and i had ourselves a little evening last night. ’tis the year for our group of friends to be turning 30 and sometimes that calls for a booze cruise on a wednesday. unfortunately, my body is far too quick to remind me that drinking something called a shark bite and staying out way past my bedtime comes with serious repercussions – especially, in the puffy eye department. thankfully, i’m armed and ready to combat the signs of drinking (er, aging) with this pretty pair.

ole henriksen’s new ultimate lift eye gel roll on is instant refreshment in the mornings. on days like today when i could use an extra boost (like large dunkin’ donuts iced coffee boost), it’s a total life saver. i keep it in my makeup basket and after hopping out the shower and slathering on my moisturizer, i roll two reverse “c’s” on to each eye. starting in the inner corner, i make sure to get underneath my eye really good, then i roll it up and over my brow bone. it makes a noticeable difference fast. the cooling roller boll is like the old back of a cold spoon trick, but far better. in short, perk is up, puff is down, and the general public is none the wiser to my wednesday night shenanigans.

in the evening’s clinique’s all about eyes has made a permanent home on my bedside table. i used to consider it the training wheels of eye creams because it really covers the basics without the addition of any harsh chemicals my skin doesn’t need yet (knock on wood – stay away wrinkles!). an eye cream can make a major impact in your skincare routine, however, so i’m fully faithful to a nightly application. this stuff is light, yet soothing, the consistency falling somewhere between a gel and a serum and i find that it tightens, brightens, and hydrates with the best of ’em.

Posted in eyes, skin | Tagged clinique, luckymag, ole henriksen | 7 Comments

m-61 limited edition sara happ lip scrub4

POSTED ON Posted on June 20, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

add this to my summer wish list:

sara happ, the world’s lip scrub queen has teamed up with bluemercury’s marla beck to create a limited edition formula. m-61 is marla’s own technical skincare line which marries naturopathic cures and dermatological heavy hitters like retinol and glycolics. for the lip scrub, sara and marla opted to whip up a scent inspired by the signature water served at bluemercury resort spa infused with lemon, mint, and cucumber. the result is a revitalizing little luxury that gets lips soft and supple. sugar and citruses work together to exfoliate dry, flaky lips while jojoba and grapeseed oils condition skin. cucumber and mint act as a pick-me-up keeping lips hydrated and energized. the perfect summer treat!

limited edition sara happ and m-61 lip scrub is $24 at bluemercury.

Posted in lips | Tagged bluemercury, sara happ | 4 Comments

mark give it to me straight super smoothing lotion3

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

we already know that the onset of summer calls for all kinds of beauty swaps. one that can make the biggest difference is my hair product. throughout the winter, my thin, newly bobbed hair requires lots of moisture to fend off static, but with the flip of the switch into humid weather, it is instantly clear that i need to make a change. i’m so happy for the recent discovery of mark’s super smoothing lotion. it gives my hair everything that i need without any extra fluff, just like the absolute best everyday product should. one pump of this stuff smooths out my curls and waves without weighing things down. the lightness and ease of this product makes me so happy and the added bonus of thermal protection means that i can blow-dry and flat iron to my heart’s content without fear of causing damage. since i’m an every-other-day hair washer, i love the way that it keeps my style looking fresh for two days without any second day grease (this is a major plus in my book!). besides all of that, the $16 price point is right on the money.

Posted in editorial sample, hair | Tagged mark. | 3 Comments

laqa & co. fat lip pencils2

POSTED ON Posted on June 18, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

let’s kick off the week with something extra pretty, shall we?

you might remember these pens of awesomeness by laqa & co. and the brand has recently released their latest launch, a foursome of fat lip pencils. unlike most of the lip pencils we’ve seen, these take on far less the personality of a balm or stain and behave more like a moisturizing matte lipstick. they go on creamy and opaque in wearable shades, each able to be built up for a deeper color application. they come in the cutest twist-bottom plastic casing with a clear top making very handbag-friendly – which is a good thing because you’ll want to keep them handy.

my favorite shade is lambchop, a nearly neon that falls somewhere between a baby pink and a bright fuchsia. i like the way it lightens things up and gives me a polished lip look in a couple of swipes of the ‘stick. i’d imagine the three other shades are dynamite as well!

perhaps the icing on the cake for these beauties is their packaging, which is too pretty to even consider throwing away. (just look at that box!) each box features the artwork of a young artist who receives royalities from the sale of every product. believe me when i tell you their work is gorgeous.

if you’ve got to get your hands on one of these four buttery shades, anthropologie has the whole bunch for $20 each.