Birchbox

Update! We recently launched Customer Reviews in the Birchbox Shop! Learn more here.

A few months ago, we wrote about why Birchbox has a shop and the connection between full-size product sales and unlocking high quality samples for our subscribers. It’s the virtuous cycle of Birchbox! We also shared our goal of building you the best beauty and lifestyle ecommerce experience and asked for your suggestions. We loved your ideas!

We wanted to report back with a few progress updates. Since we last checked in, we’ve added a product recommendation feature to every product page and tested a way for you to choose additional samples each month. We’ll also be expanding our free shipping policy in October to include all products from sampled brands instead of just the specific products we sampled.

What do you guys think? Steady progress? We have many more features in the works that we can’t wait to share! In the meantime, we thought we’d share some behind the scenes info about what customers are loving this month.

Highest Rated Products from our September Boxes 

(Psst… we’re only weeks away from launching public product reviews!!!)

• Skin, An Apothecary Soy Body Whip
• Sedu® Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment with Pure Moroccan Argan Oil
• boscia Soothing Cleansing Cream
• BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages by Cynthia Rowley
• DDF® Brightening Cleanser

Bestselling Products in September

• twistband™ Hair Tie 12-pack - Neutrals
• Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+
• Juicy Couture Rollerball Duo: Viva la Juicy La Fleur and Viva la Juicy
• theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac - Beauty Queen
• Beauty Fixation Make Up Remover

Bestselling Products from our Men’s Shop in September

• Bálla Powder - Original
• Quirky Wrapster
• MeUndies
• C.O. BIGELOW Ultra Mentha Lip Shine
• BENTA BERRY Super Moisturizing Face Cream for Men

Have you tried or bought any of these products? Let us know in the comments! 

—Hayley

Check out these and other star products in the Birchbox Shop!

One of our favorite beauty icons celebrates her birthday today and we’re celebrating with lots of black liner and a messy updo. (Photo: dailymail.co.uk)

• Beauty High has condensed our favorite fall trends into one place, with tips for achieving each one. Now we just need to figure out whether to try graphic liner or a sleek pony first. [Beauty High] 

• You probably remember the Facebook’s virtual “gifts,” but chances are you haven’t missed them since they went away in 2010. Now Facebook has announced their first foray into e-commerce: Gifts, a full-service shop hosted within the site. Yes, you can shop on mobile too. Sounds like all those birthday notifications will pay off. [All Things D]

• Zara announced this week they’re opening an ecommerce shop for housewares. The brand already has home stores in 32 countries but this will be the first time the products will be available to US customers. Our wallets have been warned. [NYTimes]

• Turns out guys are just as concerned with under eye puffiness. Sales on men’s eye creams grew by 33 percent (up to $5.4 million) in 2011. [NYTimes]

• The ultimate symbol of French hotness, Brigitte Bardot, turned 78 today. Is it just us or has there been a resurgence in her beauty influence lately? We’ll certainly be wearing cat-eye liner this weekend in her honor. [The Cut]

—Lorelei

Stock up on liner from the Birchbox Shop and you’ll be turning heads like Ms. Bardot soon.

Russian Editor Miroslava Duma always tops our list of best outfits—no matter the season. (Photo via peoplewithstyles.tumblr.com)

Even though we’re still getting over the fact that summer has officially ended, it’s not so bad because we absolutely love fall. For New Yorkers, autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year, plus it means it’s time to start bringing out our cooler weather essentials—and you know we love fall fashion!

To help you prep for the new season, we’re hosting a contest with kate spade new york on our Facebook page.

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One of the more novel beauty trends we saw emerge from the spring 2013 runways in New York was blue eye shadow. Sure, it’s been done before (we’re children of the ’80s so we know this shade well), but it hasn’t been mainstream for a long time. Plus, this modern incarnation is extremely wearable.

If you’re as excited as we are about the revival of pretty blues, you’ll be psyched to know it’s a shade that works year-round. We asked our web producer, Alicia, to give it a try (she’s a makeup junkie if ever there were one) in a way that’s very fall appropriate. Click through for her best tips and remember: when you’re rocking an unusual color on your lids, keep the rest of your makeup minimal!

Left: Blue eye shadow look from Tibi’s spring 2013 show. Right: Web producer, Alicia. (Photos: Birchbox)

1) Prime your eyes. This will increase the staying power of your look and prevent any unnecessary smudging.

2) Begin with a medium matte blue eyeshadow. I used MAC’s Blue Spill. Using a flat dense synthetic brush, lightly swipe color onto your lids. The trick is to avoid being heavy-handed—you want just a light wash of blue shadow, nothing intense or dramatic.

3) Now use fluffy shading brush to pick up a lighter blue shade, Bobbi Brown’s Electric Eel. Tap off any excess and then use windshield wiper motions to blend in the color including in the crease. Repeat until completely blended.

4) To add some dimension and open up the eyes, I added a Bobbi Brown’s Cornflower Blue (pale sky blue) eyeshadow to the inner corners of my eyes.

4) This look focuses on the blue eye shadow so only use a very sharp eyeliner pencil just to fill in any gaps between your lashes. Make small dashes directly into your lash line. You do not want visible liner. Add a small amount of mascara to just coat lashes.

5) Finish the eyes by filling in and setting your brows with Benefit’s Brow Zings.

6) End with a swipe of neutral lip color. I used Bobbi Brown’s Rosy.

Would you ever wear blue shadow?

If you’re not ready to experiment with your shadow, try a colored liner.

We’ve been pinning up a storm lately and our followers went crazy for this shot of Emma Stone at last year’s Met Ball. To replicate the look yourself, here’s what you’ll need: 

(Photo: em-stoners.tumblr.com)

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Emma Watson all glammed up on the red carpet. (Photo: Daily Mail)

We’ve been following Emma Watson’s style evolution ever since her Hermione days. Last night, the actress showed up at the UK premiere of Perks of Being a Wallflower wearing the unusual combo of a Dior strapless dress paired with black trousers. The style was an upscale version of the dress-and-jeans look many of us wore back in the ’90s. Coupled with a loosely curled, half-up hairdo, the outfit managed to work for Emma, but we think it definitely falls in the love-it or hate-it category.

What do you think of Emma’s layered combo? 

—Mai 

To get Emma’s cute ‘do, curl your hair section by section with a clipless iron. 

I’ve always struggled to find a foundation that matches my skin tone. I’m Indian and I have yellow undertones, and I’ve tested virtually every brand on the market. While many brands come close, I always feel like shades show up a little grey on my skin or a little too dark. Plus, when you’re not really a foundation girl, it’s hard to find a product you feel comfortable using day-to-day, especially when it doesn’t match well.

But recently, I stumbled upon what just might be my foundation Prince Charming. Vasanti’s two-in-one foundation/concealer, Liquid Cover up, landed on my desk last week and I’ve been using it ever since. What I love about this product is that it doesn’t feel heavy because it’s formulated with silicone in water emulsion—translation: I don’t even feel like I’m wearing a foundation! The applicator is unique (I feel like you either love or hate it)—It’s a small wand that allows you to place the foundation on whatever part of your face you need it. It allows me to decide exactly how much coverage I want and is perfect for small blemishes. I usually put the Liquid Cover up on before applying my powder. Not only do I feel as though my skin tone is more even, I also notice a difference in pictures! It gives my skin a glow that I didn’t have when I just used my powder, and who can complain about a little glow? 

Just to make sure Vasanti worked for other skin tones, I gave it to two of my colleagues. Click through to see how it looks on pale and dark skin!

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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.

Following my roundup of London Fashion Week beauty, here are four beauty looks that caught my eye in the City of Lights. Although the garments were as decadent as ever, it was refreshing to see a more natural, wearable beauty look on the runways this season.

Lanvin: Alber Elbaz’s spring 2013 collection was surprisingly minimalist this season. To complement a black-white-nude palette punctuated by the occasional jewel tone, the French fashion house’s creative director opted for a smudged smoky eye and nude pink lips. I love that the lower eyelid gets all the drama and the upper is mostly bare. For this look, I’d reach for a nice smudge-ready liner like this one by Noir.

Balmain: Blink and you’ll miss the super subtle sparkle at the Balmain show. Just a teeny-tiny bit of glitter on the lids adds a light punch to an otherwise bare face. To nab a similar dewy glow, I’d lightly swipe on a bit of Benefit’s Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow Liner in R.S.V.P., a sparkling champagne hue.

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Our creative team is pretty, well, creative and they come across beautiful imagery all the time. Why not share the inspiration? Keep an eye out each Friday for their Mood Board, a collection of images they’re loving.

1. BeStrawberry.Tumblr 2. MiddleChildComplex.Tumblr 3. MiddleChildComplex.Tumblr 4. Apartment Therapy 5. TinyWhiteDaisies.Tumblr

Chilly, wet weather in NYC this morning had us all bundled up and craving a warm beverage. As gross as it is outside, this type of weather is actually one of our favorite parts about fall in the Northeast—it’s perfect for throwing on an oversize sweater and snuggling up under a warm blanket.

Find more of our fall favorites in the Birchbox Shop.

A first look at Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney’s new makeup ad. (Photo: beautyhigh.com)

• It was only a matter of time before the Kardashian clan expanded into makeup. Take a look at the first images for their upcoming Khroma Kollection. [Beauty High]

• See what happens when two real girls recreate a couple of the crazier looks from the NYFW runways in everyday life. [Refinery29]

• It may be near impossible to truly emulate that Parisian je ne sais quoi, but we can at least try with these popular French beauty products. [The Cut]

• Unreal Candy makes it okay to eat junk food by recreating our favorite sweets without the bad stuff! Plus, they have Gisele’s stamp of approval. We’re sold. [Good]

• Last year, the fashion world went crazy for Isabel Marant’s wedge sneakers. Read about the inspiration behind them. [Fashionista]

—Hallie

Craving some Parisian chic in your beauty routine? Try out the much-beloved Caudelie Beauty Elixir. 

We’re guilty of sticking with the same hair cut for years—if it’s not broke, why fix it? — but that can be a little boring. But not everyone has our issue. Paulina, one of our amazing Operations Associates, is always eyeing new cuts and styles. She’ll be sharing her tress inspiration and tips every other week here via her feature Hairistocracy.

After too many sessions with a curling iron, blow dryer, or any hot tool, there comes a time when your hair needs a little extra TLC. Weekly hair masks are a great way to revive stressed strands, but preventative measure are equally as important. 

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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. 

I Love fall (Love it with a capital L). The drapey sweaters, the candy corn, the crisp, fresh air! But, if there’s one thing that really irks me about the season it’s that fall is precisely when our poor toes start to play second fiddle to, well, everything. No more neon pink polish. No more strappy sandals to show off a fresh pedicures. No more caring. And, why should we? We just wind up stuffing our feet into super cute boots to hide any visible flaking or callousing. Then, when we see them again, the sight of our jagged toenails and dry cuticles just depresses us so we quickly slip them into our reindeer slippers.

But here’s my fall challenge to you (and myself): Make it all about your toes. Rock the bright polish, give yourself pedicures, and play with nail art. Here are some ideas from CND nail expert Candice Manacchio to making foot care fun in the fall.

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Earlier this month, we celebrated our second anniversary. To celebrate the last two years and to show our appreciate for our subscribers, we created this little video.

Making the video got us thinking and reminiscing. Throughout our company’s short history, the very best part of our jobs has been hearing stories from our lovely subscribers. Whether you always unbox your monthly Birchboxes with your sister over Skype or you save your for a particularly icky day, you all have your own Birchbox stories. Last week we asked you to share them with us and we were so honored to read all your responses. Click through to read a few of the stories we received.

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Teach us the meaning of life, Tina! (photo: EntertainmentWeekly.com)

Tina Fey has once again proved herself to be a master of disguises on the October 5th issue of Entertainment Weekly. If her tiara is any indicator, the comedian and creator of  30 Rock has moved way beyond her Liz Lemon persona and seems to be embracing her leading lady status. Somehow we think the ode to Holly Golightly is her way of poking fun at the irony of it all. 

Since the Breakfast at Tiffany’s style is a classic Halloween costume (you really can’t go wrong), you can start getting ready extra early this year with our guide to getting the makeup look. 

—Lorelei

Shop our curated Fall Trends shop today for all the products you need this season. 

Want to share your nail art creations with the world? We’ve partnered with SELF to harness the power of social media to showcase your best manicures. Each week, SELF has a different theme (check out the list here). If you share a pic via Instagram or Twitter using the appropriate hashtag—this week’s is #FunFrench—you’ll have a chance to receive your five minutes of manicure fame on this SELF Pinterest board. We’re adding pins to the board all the time to help inspire you—check it out and let us see your adorable designs!

(Photo: Birchbox)

I’ve been on a serious bold lip kick lately. It’s one of the easiest ways for me to feel primped when it’s overcast and grey, like today in New York, without putting in a ton of effort. (Admittedly, I have yet to fully master the deep plum lip for fall). So imagine how excited I was when this line of pretty lipglosses from Armour Beauty found their way to my desk yesterday—with three extra-pigmented colors in tow. 

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We’re busy ladies and as much as we love all things nail-related, we can’t always find the time to go get a manicure. Manicube understands the woes of working women, which is why they set up shop, literally, in offices and offer 15-minute manicures for $15. What’s more, $1 from every manicure goes to help fund microloans for women in the developing world (they partner with non-profit Kiva), so you can beautify and give back at the same time. To set up a convenient manicure sesh in your office, visit manicube.com and fill out a contact form. 

-Meredith

Want polish ideas that are appropriate for the office? Here are six ideas for a conservative work place. 

Karlie Kloss airbrushed to appear healthier (left) and the original un-retouched image (right). (Photo: blisstree.com)

• Here’s something unexpected: Numéro airbrushed model Karlie Kloss to look less skeletal. [BlissTree]

• We love this roundup of designers with seriously awesome hair. [Fashion Etc.]

• Here’s how to get Elizabeth Banks’s faux bob look with five easy steps from her stylist. [BellaSugar]

• Certainly, this was the best thing we read yesterday: a Reddit user posted a misguided comment about a Sikh woman with facial hair and she somehow found it and responded with the utmost grace and self-confidence. What’s almost as impressive as her eloquent statement? His apology afterward. [Jezebel]

• Even the NYT recognizes that the CC cream trend is starting to pick up steam. [New York Times]

—Hallie

Still confused about CC creams? Check out our in-depth investigation with the skincare pros to learn more. 

The newest addition to our must-have list: Lancôme’s eye brightening serum. (Photo: nuancewatson.com.sg)

One of the best things about our monthly video shoots are the tips we’re able to steal from our lovely makeup artist, Reiva Cruze (also known as ReivaMakeupDiva). Last week while we were filming with her, she revealed her new favorite product for prepping clients’ peepers: Lancôme’s Génifique Eye Light-Pearl, or Eye-Illuminating Youth Activating Concentrate.

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Olivia Palermo. (Photo: aahairstyle.com)

So here’s a major beauty confession: I am actually really bad at curling my hair. It’s funny because I’ve actually gotten quite good at updos and fancy braids, which definitely require a lot more skill and patience. But the simple Olivia Palermo wave (she’s one of my ultimate hair crushes, just in case you were curious) has always eluded me. Not a ringlet, but definitely not something you get from just using salt spray and air drying—I’ve never been able to get the look quite right. For the longest time, I thought maybe I could get this effortless tousle with a flat iron, and many women do, but I’m just not that good at it. For me, the answer is a clipless curling iron.

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