Birchbox

You’re probably already familiar with today’s desk subject: it’s our community manager, Rachel! In addition to overseeing Twitter and Facebook, she also works with our Birchblogger network and is frequently featured here on this blog. Be sure to check out this video where she talks about how much she loves the Birchbox community and her favorite products.

1. Zoya Blogger Collection: I’m really proud of this polish collection that we created with Zoya and some of our favorite bloggers. I love these colors for summer!

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Operations associate, Loren, has a thing for nails—and we can’t blame her. We love reading about new finishes and fun techniques, so we thought we’d give her a weekly slot on our blog to wax poetic about all things manicure (and pedicure!) related. Check back every Thursday for Nailing It, Birchbox’s dedicated polish series.

Many of you (21 and older, of course) may be familiar with Santa Margherita, a wine company founded by Count Gaetano Marzotto Jr. in the 1930s. Recently, the vintner decided to venture into an unfamiliar territory—the beauty world. They’ve launched a limited edition line of lacquers inspired by the wines that they make, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better way to combine two of my favorite things: nail polish and vino.

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This week’s guest blogger, Rodan Luo, is a lawyer by day and stylish blogger by night. We can’t get enough of her blog, full of eloquent musings and excellent advice. Since she’s also one of our jetsetter role models (the frequent traveler was most recently in Sayulita, Mexico), she’ll be blogging all week about ways to make travel even more awesome.

I strongly believe that every girl needs at least three people in her life: a best friend for when she needs a way to get out of a sticky situation (e.g., the phone call in the middle of an awkward date), a therapist to listen to her problems and help unwind her dark twisty side, and most importantly, a dermatologist who will show her how to be her skin’s biggest champion.

Last summer, I found my dermatologist in the form of one sweet and charming Texan, Dr. Heidi Prather, M.D. There are so many great things about her: she’s approachable, she’s intelligent, and most importantly, she has glowing perfect skin herself. She told me early on that putting on sunscreen is the most important thing a woman can do in terms of skincare. So, when I wanted to put up a post about the importance of always traveling with your sunscreen, it’s no surprise why I went to her for some advice. Here’s what she had to say:

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There comes a time when suddenly your summer weekends are filled with more father-daughter dances than keggers, and you can recite your bridesmaid dress measurements as easily as your phone number. You’re just at that age. Birchbox is right there with you—and we’re not even two yet! Our PR Manager, Kelly, will be getting married this weekend in New Rochelle, NY and we can’t imagine a more gorgeous or organized bride. Here’s what she’ll be bringing with her to ensure that her big day goes smoothly.

“I’m most excited about my fiance Kenny seeing me for the first time. That and the breaking of the glass, since it marks the end of the ceremony and the start of the celebration!”

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk: My hair stylist has instructed me to have second-day hair for the wedding day. I plan to use Klorane dry shampoo to ensure my hair still looks fresh.

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We fell hard for Natalie Alcala last fall, when the LA-based writer and blogger spent a week guest blogging for us. In fact, we loved her posts so much that we asked her to be a contributing editor. In addition to blogging for us once a week, she’ll also be writing for the Birchbox Magazine and keeping us up to speed on all things fashion, beauty, and fun.

Thanks to brilliant nail art gurus like Elizabeth Monson, we know that beauty can certainly be inspired by fashion. But can fashion be inspired by beauty? According to a handful of game-changing designers, the answer is a resounding yes. To prove it, here’s a roundup of some quirky-cool pieces to help us all wave our beautification flags high.

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I’m a huge Les Mis fan. I have been ever since I was a kid. I’ve seen the musical three times, which is why I was so excited when the trailer for the new movie finally came out in full force yesterday. Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and Amanda Seyfried all appear in the trailer as part of the blockbuster cast. Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen will also make appearances in the flick, pretty much guaranteeing that it’s going to be an amazing movie. Since I have to wait until Christmas for the film’s release, I had to do an in depth analysis of what to expect by digging into the nitty gritty of the style and looks from the trailer. Herewith, my assessment and predictions for the looks of Les Misérables. (Beware: mini-spoilers ahead!)

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Hello all you Windy City ladies! We’re excited to kick off our first event in Chicago next week. On June 4th and 5th, we’ll be at Benefit’s chic Armitage location and you won’t want to miss the fun. Benefit’s team of experts will be on hand for complimentary brow shaping and makeup application, and you’ll receive a $30 credit toward any purchase during the event. Of course, there will also be a Birchbox goody bag.

Want to get your beauty routine into tip-top shape? Purchase your ticket here and sign up for one of the four available time slots!

Mick Jagger’s daughter, Georgia May Jagger, isn’t always on our beauty radar, but her new cover for Numero Toyko’s July/August issue definitely grabbed our attention. We’ve seen the cat eye paired with soft waves many times before (so many, in fact, we were feeling a little bored with the style), but Miss Jagger’s look is so appealing, we’re definitely doing our hair and makeup like this the next time we go out.

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It’s official, the Snow White and The Huntsman excitement is upon us. This limited edition polish duo from Deborah Lippmann, part of HSN’s 24-hour sale-a-thon featuring products related to the film, just landed on our desk. We can’t wait to paint it on our nails for the opening of the movie this Friday. (You know, we’ve had an obsession with movie-themed polishes before). 

Are you as excited as we are about the updated version of Snow White? 

—Candice

Looking for even more polishes? You can find even more pretty Deborah Lippmann lacquers in the Birchbox Shop.

When it’s hot and humid outside, there’s no other option: You must pull your hair back. While low ponies and messy buns are easy-breezy, they’re also a bit bleh—not the fashion statement you want to make, trust us. That’s why we’re big proponents of hair accessories. They easily spruce up your look and often require little to no effort. Case in point: Our latest office-wide obsession is the oversize metal barrette. A cinch to use, these jumbo clips are fun and slightly kitchy—in the best way possible. Gold is super sleek, but we’re particularly fond of the green since it’s a nice bright contrast to almost everything in our closets. 

There are so many awesome looks you can create with these barrettes, so we thought it would be fun to showcase three of our favorite styles on different staffers. 

Graphic designer Ally has shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair. She decided to do a sweet side twist, which would even work with shorter, chin-length hair. 

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Photo: myfashionlife.com

Earlier this week at the Queen’s Garden Party, our favorite British royal Kate Middleton donned a jaunty, side-tilted hat to match her pink frock. Aside from the fact that we love the Duchess of Cambridge in classy lady-like ensembles, we also love hats—and she’s reminded us that it’s time to bust out some of our faves for the summer. 

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This week’s guest blogger, Rodan Luo, is a lawyer by day and stylish blogger by night. We can’t get enough of her blog, full of eloquent musings and excellent advice. Since she’s also one of our jetsetter role models (the frequent traveler was most recently in Sayulita, Mexico), she’ll be blogging all week about ways to make travel even more awesome. 

(Photo: ashthemakeupartist.tumblr.com)

Practically everything comes packaged nicely in 3.4 fluid ounces these days - there’s even an awesome company that sells only travel sized luxury items for all product junkies out there. But…just because things come ready to go into your carry-on-bag, doesn’t mean you should always bring them. I try to travel with the mindset of taking only what I need. So, while some things in our beauty regime are essential (look out for my post tomorrow on sunscreen), other things should be left behind so there is room to squeeze in that fourth pair of heels for your weekend get away.

This means that while I love doing a weekly face mask, I will never bring my fresh Rose Face Mask with me. So what is a girl with dry skin problems to do? Enter the DIY face mask. Recently, while on a trip to luscious Bali, a friend of mine showed me a great moisturizing facemask with ingredients that can be found everywhere. Look below for an easy-to-make mask that you can do anywhere, anytime.

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Microdermabrasion isn’t just reserved for later in life—it can help in your 20s, too.
Photo: dk-klinik.com.tr

I used to think microdermabrasion was best left to individuals looking for serious anti-aging results. The professional-grade treatment is known for helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, giving a youthful glow by stimulating collagen growth, and minimizing pore size. But recently I found that the procedure is actually great for 20-somethings like myself who have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Click through to find out why!

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This week’s guest blogger, Rodan Luo, is a lawyer by day and stylish blogger by night. We can’t get enough of her blog, full of eloquent musings and excellent advice. Since she’s also one of our jetsetter role models (the frequent traveler was most recently in Sayulita, Mexico), she’ll be blogging all week about ways to make travel even more awesome. 

(image via: whole-body-detox-diet.com)

When I was young summer meant three things: swimming pools, watermelon, and vacation. Now that I’m older, traveling has become one of the most important things in my life and one of the main reasons I continue to love summer so much. I’ll be here all week to give tips and ideas to make travel (and recovering from travel) easy and fun.

Since most of us are in Memorial Day Recovery Mode, today I’m focusing on the importance of detoxing. Our bodies work naturally to detoxify every day, but sometimes they become overloaded (those margaritas, that pan of brownies). Detoxing is a great way to help our body rebalance itself. Here are three skin detox ideas that will help you achieve glowing skin without the commitment of a raw food diet or juice cleanse. 

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I like to switch up my fragrance pretty frequently but ever since Bulgari’s Omnia Crystalline landed on my desk I’ve had a one-scent mind. It sits just to the right of my laptop, perfectly positioned for an afternoon pick-me-up or a pre-happy hour spritz. I like how the fragrance balances both woody (bamboo, balsa wood) and floral (lotus blossom) for something that sweet and fresh.

Now that it’s summer, I’m feeling really inspired by the sculptural bottle on my desk. According to Bulgari, the two intersecting clear circles are inspired by the “radiance, clarity and purity” of crystals in Bulgari jewelry. Since I’m not into wearing white all summer, I’m intrigued by the idea of translucent accessories—what, you don’t match your outfit to your perfume? Clear accessories or lucite are easy to match and help “summerize” any outfit. Here’s what I’d wear with my Omnia Crystalline:

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Based in Washington D.C., Ayren Jackson-Cannady is so savvy that we wished she lived closer to NYC so that we could swap products with her. This beauty writer knows what’s up (she’s written for Fitness, Glamour, and Gloss Daily) and we’re excited to have her sharing her know-how and multi-culti beauty expertise as a contributing editor.

Last summer (and fall and winter) was all about the topknot. And for good reason. The style is simple, cute, versatile and works on every hair texture imaginable. I have dreadlocks and I ALWAYS whip them into a topknot. But all good trends must come to an end (we’ll save the fact that trends are cyclical and always make a comeback for a separate post).

With the impending demise of the high bun, the question of the summer is: What is the new top knot? It’ll be tough to find a style that is both high-fashion and low-maintenance, and versatile enough to work with everything from fine and straight tendrils to super thick and curly strands. Here are three possible contenders straight from Birchbox’s Pinterest hair board.

Image: everlytrue.tumblr.com

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Windy City, here we come! Next Wednesday, June 6th, we’re teaming up with Kérastase to throw a braid party at Maxine’s Salon, right off of Miracle Mile. Kérastase’s genius stylists will be there to give you the braid style of your dreams—think intricate fishtails, romantic crown plaits, and more. Naturally, there will be plenty of bubbly and sweet treats, and you’ll leave with a Kérastase-filled Birchbox worth $35! 

Space is limited so book your time slot now!

I adore fresh flowers. (Who doesn’t?) There is something so wonderful about having blooms on display in your home. But buying cut flowers has always been a bit intimidating. I can never arrange them in a vase in a way that looks quite right and does the stems justice. That was, until I made a small advancement in my bouquet abilities by using Classtivity to book a class at the Flower School New York 

The two-hour session was taught by Meredith Waga-Perez, the founder of Manhattan’s Belle Fleur. The entrepreneur’s success story was just as impressive as the perfect peonies she dolled out to students. While I learned a ton over the course of the three-hour flower bootcamp, these are my three biggest takeaways:

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Operations associate, Loren, has a thing for nails—and we can’t blame her. We love reading about new finishes and fun techniques, so we enlisted her to post regularly about all things manicure- (and pedicure-) related. Check back every week for Nailing It, Birchbox’s dedicated polish series.

Glossy polish that lasts up to three weeks without chipping? Sign us up. But as appealing as gel manicures are, they can be damaging to nails if they’re not done right. We recently told you that the UV exposure in the drying process of gel manicures is causing a stir among health experts, but that’s not the only thing to be worried about. Gel manicures can also leave your nails extremely soft, thin, and peeling if you don’t go to a great salon. However, there are ways to prevent these after-effects. Follow these steps to keep nail strong and healthy.

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This weekend marks the official start of summer, which means that Birchboxers have plans to kick back, rest up, and hopefully bask in some serious sunshine. We asked several of our staffers where they’re headed (stay-cations sound as enticing as traveling) and the must-have product they’re bringing along. Here’s what merchandising market manager Rachel, a.k.a. Rachelista, had to say. 

I’m headed to Nantucket for the Figawi sailing race. A sunburn is so not sexy, so I’ve packed my entire Supergoop! City and Sand Tote, which is packed with all my sunscreen essentials in TSA-approved sizes. 

Here’s a cheat sheet to other awesome sunscreens!