the glossarie

my weekend5

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

i had the best weekend in new york with two of my favorite people.

my friends blair, sarah, and i were pretty inseparable when we were all living in dc, but they moved away to chicago and long island respectively this winter and i’ve been missing them terribly.

we rendezvous’d at sarah’s beautiful home and had ourselves a lovely little weekend. highlights included a long, lingering trip to sephora, an impulsive indulgence at godiva (chocolate covered oreos? don’t mind if i do!), some super tasty mexican food and plenty of qt with sarah’s sweet, almost two-year-old babe, caroline.

(thanks to blair for snapping these pictures!)

after i gifted her mom a stephanie johnson mini pouch with deborah lippmann’s ‘almost paradise’ tucked inside, the baby beauty addict perched herself on my lap for a teeny tiny manicure. the result was perfectly pistachioed nails which she proceeded to display for anyone who would take notice over the entire weekend.

all in all, it was pretty perfect.

hope your weekend was just as great!

Posted in lara | Tagged deborah lippmann | 5 Comments

april bag + balm6

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

bag: lis sartori mini makeup bag in fashionista print, $14

balm: yes to carrots color balm in rosy bloom, $6

i fell hard for this month’s bag via instagram. seeing sarah’s chunky jewels spilling out of the green zipper version had me hook, line, and sinker. clicking around, i found that lis sartori is a brilliant illustrator and we have things in common, she and i: she’s from massachusetts with a penchant for all things feminine and girly. clearly this is someone whose work i need to support. the fabric on lis’s beauty bags represents classic fashion staples and was designed by lis herself. each bag is fully lined with a bright print and your choice of contrasting zipper. they come in two sizes (mini and maxi) and lis even designed a fun patchwork version if you’re looking for something extra special.

as for the balm, i’m seriously considering renaming this series bag + tinted lip balm. i am not meeting a tinted lip balm i don’t like these days, but none so much as my most recent love affair with yes to carrots color balm in rosy bloom. this pink stick has taken up permanent residence in my beauty basket and i can’t stop swiping it on my lips. the color is too perfect, almost a sheer cinnamon and the rich, nourishing hydration factor is spot on. take into considering the wallet-friendly price point and the 99% natural make up, i’m not sure how you can justify not trying this little lady.

(right image via)

ps – if you love this blog, please vote for me / the glossarie in allure’s beauty blogger of the year competition! you can vote once per day, now through friday 4/27. thank you!

Posted in bags, lips, tools | Tagged etsy, yes to carrots | 6 Comments

kiehl’s grand opening3

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

kiehl’s has landed in my neighborhood and i have to say i’m pretty psyched about it.

kiehl’s was the first brand of man-products that i bought the mister (one fateful valentine’s day if memory serves), and since then, it’s the only brand that steve and i can agree on.

last night, the skincare extraordinaire threw a welcoming fete for their newest location in tyson’s corner. conveniently situated across the way from sephora, the store evokes the feel of a vintage apothecary – i love it! store manager evan (the girl) and i became fast friends. she loaded me up with samples, and i dare say it won’t be long before i’m sitting in her chair for my mini facial.

here are a few quick snaps from the event:

i immediately zeroed in on the fabulous chandelier.

i quickly found my summer staple: this oil-free lotion can be layered under makeup for a flawless application and complete sun protection. sold!

georgetown cupcakes?! don’t mind if i do. those girls have their own tlc show for a reason. (make that many, many delicious reasons.)

did a little shopping in the man section as i’m desperately trying to convince the husband that it’s time to start taking preventative aging measures. (he’s not interested.)

and, the aftermath: a perfect his’n’hers haul.

we both love the ultra facial cleanser (so co-ed shower friendly!) and i scooped up a facial fuel energizing facial wash for steve. i couldn’t resist these two tinted lip balms for me, and a classic clear one we can both share.

all in all a most successful evening!

if you’re northern virginia based, pop into the new store and tell miss evan that i sent you. while i can’t promise you that there are any cupcakes left, i know that she’ll be sure to spoil you with sample swag and your skin will love you for it.

kiehl’s, tysons corner center, 1961 chain bridge road, mclean; 703-893-9400

ps – if you love this blog, please vote for me / the glossarie in allure’s beauty blogger of the year competition! you can vote once per day, now through friday 4/27. gracias!

Posted in my DC days | Tagged kiehl s | 3 Comments

thing of beauty: guerlain by emilio pucci8

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

i owned the brush and meteorites duo from pucci and guerlain’s partnership in 2007. it cost me $85 and i’m pretty i ate ramen noodles for a week as penance for the purchase. as a freshly minted 25 year old, i remember feeling so freaking fancy swirling that pink brush around in those pastel-hued pearls and sweeping them over my face.

this is luxe beauty at its finest.

now that guerlain and pucci have teamed again, i’m itching to invest in the pretty. this time around, the set will cost you a whopping $102. it’s a commitment, but i’m thinking it’s worth it to have these two pieces of art in your arsenal.

available now: guerlain by emilio pucci meteorites perles, $59; guerlain by emilio pucci powder brush, $43

ps – please vote for me / the glossarie in allure’s beauty blogger of the year competition! you can vote once per day, now through friday 4/27. gracias!

Posted in face | Tagged emilio pucci, guerlain | 8 Comments

allure challenge 1: product review2

POSTED ON Posted on April 23, 2012 by lara ramos BY lara ramos

it’s time to vote! week one of allure beauty blogger of the year challenges is here and our first task was a product review. i pondered spring trends and chose something that will update your entire face for the new season. click on over to read my thoughts on too faced’s natural face palette and vote for me if you like what you see!

Posted in palettes | Tagged allure, too faced | 2 Comments

a note to you18

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

(photo by kate headley)

those of you who know me well know what a big piece of me this little beauty blog actually is. on the eve of the allure contest launch, i’m nervous and excited, but most importantly i’m reminded of how lucky i am that you come to visit the glossarie.

i would write and post even if no one came at all (because that’s how deep this addiction runs!), but the fact that you do come, read and comment…well, i’ll just never get over how great that is. this blog would be nothing without you, the readers, and i’m so thankful for you!

just a few noteworthy mentions, because i’m not sure i’ve ever really let these people know how much i appreciate them:

to my friends who indulge my beauty chatter and make the glossarie part of every conversation – i can’t tell you how much your love and support means to me.

to my mom and sister who were instant fans from the very first post, who dragged me out after closet blogging for far too long, who have sent blast emails to their friends and coworkers encouraging them to visit the blog – i love you both so much.

to my dad, (who might be this site’s biggest fan!) who believes so greatly in me and in this tiny place on the web that he financed my tabitha emma redesign because he saw it as a good investment – you gave me a pretty place to share my love of beauty with everyone, and for that, i will be forever grateful.

to my blogger friends who encourage and inspire me constantly, i adore you! the internet has brought such wonderful people into my life and i feel crazy lucky to know you all.

to the wonderful strangers, who click on product posts from google searches, who stumble upon this blog in all of the crazy ways that you do, who read my ramblings, pin my posts, tweet links out to your friends, and send your skincare success stories to my inbox – you rock my world.

so, as the allure beauty blogger of the year contest kicks off tomorrow, i hope you know how much your support means to me. i would love it if you voted for the glossarie as the challenges unfold weekly, because while silly this may seem to some, it is a big, BIG deal to me – and i thank you so much for helping to get me here!

all my love,

lara

*the allure beauty blogger of the year competition is comprised of five weeks of beauty challenges with weekly eliminations. the basis for eliminations is a combination of public voting and allure editor scoring. i need your vote! i’ll be sharing the voting link here and if you’re not normally a voter, allure is giving away insane prizes like diamonds, a spa trip, and rebecca minkoff bags – so that’s a bit of encouragement, yes? :)

Posted in lara | Tagged allure | 18 Comments

this or that: pink hearts glitter polish2

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

on left: forever21 pink hearts glitter nail polish, $2.80

on right: opi nothin’ mousie ’bout it, $8.50
(from the vintage minnie mouse collection available in june!)

Posted in nails | Tagged forever21, opi | 2 Comments

aveda be curly style prep1

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

some of you know this, but i was not blessed with a straight head of hair. after years of battling a flat iron addiction, my thick tight curls have turned into something between fine waves and fine curls. i have wurls. and wurls are not easy to deal with, because it means that your hair does not get perfectly straight, nor does it magically fall into happy, bouncy curls.

it’s complicated.

some days, i think about quitting blowouts and abandoning my flat iron forever. this post in refinery29 awhile back, really inspired me to take a good long think about what life would be like with my natural curls 24-7. part of me thinks i would love it, but the other part of me remembers that my curly flyaways tend to mimic a lion’s mane when pulled into a pony tail, and i do love a good pony tail.

if i were going to quit straightening, this product would be my saving grace. it’s organic which means i could use it daily without stressing over what it’s doing to my hair. it smells lovely (a big bonus) and it gives me soft tendrils that are never crunchy, weighed down, or greasy. i’m even convinced that it helps them keep their shape longer. in a nutshell, it intensifies the god-given and keeps frizz from zapping my waves away.

if you’re living life with wurls, thinking about embracing your ringlets full-time or just need something new to add moisture and definition to what you’ve got, you can find aveda’s be curly suite of products and my personal favorite, style prep, in salons and online for $20 – $24.

Posted in hair | Tagged aveda | 1 Comment

spring beauty trends at hadley emerson2

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

my friend hadley owns the cutest boutique in chapel hill, north carolina. she has a keen eye for high fashion at a moderate price point and really exceptional taste. while her boutique was coming together, she started blogging her fashion finds around the same time that the glossarie was born. now, her business is booming and hadley continues to blog all of the beautiful pieces that land in her store.

today, i’m over at the hadley emerson blog sharing my thoughts on spring beauty trends with six ways to wake up your makeup in the warmer months. come click on over to see what all the fuss is about and you just might discover a new product obsession (or two!) for spring.

Posted in mixed bag | Tagged buxom, china glaze, fresh cosmetics, lancome, nyx | 2 Comments

estee lauder sumptuous two tone mascara6

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

contoured lashes were all over the spring and summer runways last fall, and i loved them.

a little known backstage trick used by the likes of estee lauder’s tom pechaux and covergirl’s pat mcgrath is to brush contrasting colors on the root and tips of your lashes for a beautiful, wide-eyed look. my favorite combination is to add brown tips to a bold, black lash. the result is stunning and thanks to estee lauder’s new sumptuous two tone eye-opening mascara, i no longer have to fumble with two tubes to get the same lush effect.

this shiny gold number houses two shades and two different brushes that are going to add some major wow to your morning eye routine. the big brush comber on the bottom gives bold volume in inky black while the microbrush on top adds a pop of eye-brightening color. estee actually recommends using the microbrush on lower lashes, but i’m loving it on the tips of top lashes for the contoured effect we saw on the runways.

this mascara delivers serious lash and neither brush clumps, bringing big-time drama sans smudging. it’s one fun trend you’ve just got to try, so make room in the makeup bag – estee lauder has brought us beauty at its best.

new sumptuous two tone mascara is available in three shades (brown, plum, and blue) and you can find it at counters or online for $28.