Birchbox

A Field Trip to Halle Berry's Hollywood Skin Haven, Kinara Spa

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:50:36 -0400

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.

L.A. has tons of spas. As the home to Hollywood’s top stars, the city is oozing with fitness centers, healthy eateries, and beautification destinations to ensure that these million-dollar bodies and faces are well-preserved. And although non-famous residents, like myself, are not part of this six-figure club, we’re lucky to have these celebrity-approved establishments at our disposal. One of these gems is Kinara Skin Care Clinic & Spa, located in West Hollywood’s Design District.

Founded in 2003 by skincare guru Olga Lorencin-Northrup, Kinara is where A-listers get their facials the morning of the Oscars. In addition to counting Hollywood darlings like Anne Hathaway as clients, Olga’s most loyal fan is the one and only Halle Berry, who has been coming to Kinara for nearly 10 years! Given that I’m becoming a bit of a celebrity facialist addict, I had to meet with Olga to see what all the hype was about.

Since this was my first date with the legendary Olga, I knew I had to go for gold, so I booked Kinara’s raved-about Red Carpet Oxygenating Hydrafacial. This 50-minute treatment “blends together a flawless fusion of non-laser skin resurfacing technology and cellular oxygenation to immediately reduce the visible signs of aging, while stimulating collagen production and increasing cellular respiration” (deep breath). If that all sounds high tech, it is. Given that “Kinara” means “on the edge” in Hindi, Olga blends natural ingredients with cutting edge technology to develop revolutionary treatments and products (Kinara has its own skincare line) that work wonders.

In addition to enjoying a ridiculously relaxing hydrafacial, what I loved most about my visit was absorbing Olga’s wealth of skincare knowledge. Although she’s treated the skin of just about every Hollywood star, for those 50 minutes she was all mine and made sure that I left Kinara with red carpet-ready skin, just like Halle. I’m pleased to report that it’s been almost a week since my visit and my skin is still glowing! I’ll definitely be hitting up Kinara again very soon.

Kinara Spa
656 North Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90069

If you’re looking for a dose of Zen with your extractions, we recommend trying a holistic facial.

Calling All Bloggers: What's your biggest haircare concern?

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:23:00 -0400

We all have something about our hair that plagues us whether it be frizz, flatness, or oil. After years of practice we all develop little tips and tricks for combating these haircare woes. For example, our Community Manager Rachel swears by Miss Jessie’s® Original Quick Curls to fight frizz, while Relationship Manager Jillian is a dry shampoo fiend due to her oily roots.

We want to hear from you! What’s your biggest haircare concern, and how have you learned to combat it? Do you have a favorite hair product that fixes any problem? Is there a particular style that always saves the day? Email us (birchbloggers@birchbox.com) your blog posts on any of these topics by a week from today (Wednesday May 23rd) and we’ll pick our three favorite post to feature here, on the Birchbox Blog. But that’s not all—the feautured blogger will win an Ojon damage reverse™ or Ojon volume advance™ starter kit depending on your hair concern!

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Want to get opportunities for bloggers directly in your email inbox? Join Birchbloggers!

The Perfect Polka Dot Mani: Guest Blogger

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:41 -0400

Blair Badge is one multi-talented lady: she’s a social media manager, a beauty editor for fashion site Chictopia, a model, a newlywed and an all-around awesome gal with a penchant for witty banter. Her dreamy blog, love, blair, is a heady mix of all her talents in one and we can’t get enough of her style and beauty advice. This week, she’s sharing her DIY beauty tips, like how to create a pretty custom lip color and how to get perfect beachy waves.

Polka dot manicures are incredibly east to do. Perfect this adorable design with just a few simple steps!

Step #1: Choose a base color. Paint two coats.

Step #2: Choose a contrasting color for your polka dots. Grab a toothpick or small, fine-tipped paintbrush. Lightly dip into polish and dab sporadically on the upper half of your nail.

Step #3: Give your polish a few minutes to dry and seal with a top coat!

Pro-tip: If you’re serious about becoming a DIY nail art maven, invest in a bottle of OPI Drip Dry Drying Drops (say that 3 times fast!). Apply a couple drops to each nail post-mani and your polish will be dry within 5 minutes!

When you’re ready to take your DIY skills to the next level, try the gradient manicure!

How to Give Yourself a Spa Manicure At Home

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:02:00 -0400

Photo: Ritournelle

Getting my nails done has always underscored the paradox of choice. Exhibit A: the rows and rows of polishes. Exhibit B: the abundance of treatments and add-ons. To make matters worse, I’ve long been baffled by the difference between a regular salon manicure and a spa manicure. Is the higher price for a spa manicure justified?

Since ignorance is definitely not bliss in this case, I consulted Regine Berthelot, the Treatment Manager from Caudalie’s Vinotherapie Spa at The Plaza to get clarification. Berthelot explains, “A regular manicure serves the purpose of moisturizing your hands and polishing your nails. A spa manicure goes beyond that to include exfoliation, a hand and arm massage, a moisture mask and hot paraffin treatment, and a brightening serum before the polish application.” What’s more, a spa manicure typically lasts around 45 minutes—much longer than a regular manicure.

Sounds great, right? Better yet, you don’t necessarily have to drop big bucks to experience the height of luxury that is the spa mani. Click through to learn how to recreate Caudalie’s signature Vinotherapie manicure at home!

Step 1: Wash your hands and dry them. Next, buff your nails with a file and gently push back your cuticles.

Step 2: Slice a fresh grape in half. Using a half-grape on each side, rub the juice onto each nail, over the hand, and up the arm. This helps sooth the skin.

Step 3: Massage a body scrub into your hands and arms, spending a little extra time on your elbows. Use a hot towel to wipe it off.

Step 4: Apply a rich hand lotion like Caudalie’s Hand & Nail Cream. Make sure to rub the cream cream into the cuticle as they require extra moisture to look their best. Stretch the fingers by gently pulling on each one and finish by pressing down on each nail with a fingertip to increase blood flow.

Step 5: Next, massage your palm and apply pressure to your thumb muscle (with your other thumb) since this is where a lot of stress in the hand is carried. Flex your hand backwards and forward. Run your thumb up the muscle of the inner arm on the opposite side of your body. Stop when you reach the elbow.

Step 6: Take a deep moisturizing mask (yes, one that you would use on your face) and apply it to your hands. Wrap with a fresh towel, saran wrap, or plastic bags to help retain heat and help the product soak into skin.

Step 7: Drape a hot towel spritzed with a calming scent (lavender, chamomile, and mint are best) around your neck. Ideally, the towel should be prepared before your hands are wrapped! Kick back and relax for a few minutes.

Step 8: After seven to ten minutes have passed, wipe the mask off and apply a brightening serum or essential oil to your skin to seal in hydration. Wipe your nails clean. Now it’s time to apply your favorite polish!

—Mai

As far as serums go, it doesn’t get any better than Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, which is full of anti-aging antioxidants. Smooth a few drops into your hands as the last step of your home spa mani.

Kristen Stewart's Edgy Gold Chain, And Other Must-Have Hair Accessories

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:03:49 -0400

Photo: newstalkradiowhio.com

At the Snow White and The Huntsman premiere earlier this week, Kristen Stewart did her best edgy-princess style by rocking a gold chain woven into her classy updo. The look was so pretty, it made us want to re-examine our hair accessory collection. Here are a few ideas that will add something extra to your regular style:

1. Neon colored headbands: The ultra-bright colors of these bands are perfect for summer and spring (paired with a flowy white shirt and cut-off shorts? Yes, please). While they’re cute, they add a little edge to an otherwise sedate hairstyle, and keep all eyes on your hair. Wear it traditionally around just above your forehead or loop it into your bun for Kristen Stewart-inspired updo.

2. The Bow: It’s not quite as tough as the chain look, but this is a classic, extra-girly look, for when you’re in the mood to go ultra-preppy, or when we want to add a little sass to our ponytails.

Photo: glamour.com

3. Chain necklace: To try K. Stew’s Snow White look, use a chain like this one. Start with a ponytail first, then loop a necklace through as you’re pulling the hair into a bun. Pin the chain in place to keep it set.

—Candice

For other great styling ideas, take a peek at all our hair coverage in the Birchbox Magazine.

Pretty Pastel Wigs Steal the Show at Chanel's Resort 2013 Presentation

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:56:00 -0400

I adore that Karl Lagerfeld goes so over the top every time he shows a new collection. With this latest showing, I’m not sure how he’ll outdo himself the next time around. For Chanel’s Resort 2013 presentation yesterday, Largerfeld chose Versailles as his backdrop. The location was perfectly fitting for the Marie Antoinette-inspired ensembles, which showcased embellishments, ruffles galore, and even voluminous pantaloons.

Among the beauty highlights were the gorgeous candy-colored wigs that many of the models were wearing. Not only were they the perfect compliment to the confection-like frocks, but I adored how the cuts were very modern—blunt bobs instead of a towering powdered coifs. In fact, old-meets-new was a theme throughout the show, from the cheeky double C beauty marks and eyebrow-grazing bright pink shadow to the punky flatforms and contemporary hemlines.

But of all the details, I keep coming back to the fabulous faux ‘dos and how they really helped bring the whole look together. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the bowl cuts were actually placed atop the model’s own ponytails, which were completely visible and finished with royal-looking ribbons. These styles are so avant-guarde and playful—how can you not appreciate them?

Do you also like the wigs? Or do you find them more freaky than fun?

—Meredith

We’re still enchanted by the bedazzled brows from Chanel’s last show!

Jennifer Lopez Rocks Summer's Deep Red Lip Trend

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:09:00 -0400

Photo: zimbio.com

Last night, at the What to Expect When You’re Expecting premiere, J.Lo rocked a gorgeous set of deep mauve lips with a bronze smoky eye. Not so long ago we predicted that the normally wintry deep red hue would be a hot new trend for spring and summer, so we were excited to see one of our favorite pop culture icons showing off this extra bold look.

In general, we’re big fans of mixing things up. But we want to know—would you be comfortable pulling off this more fall-like style during the summer with a sundress?

—Candice

Dying to find out what lipstick colors to wear this season? We’ve got you covered. Check out our Spring Lipstick Guide.

Is Nail Art Too Artsy For You?

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:24:39 -0400

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.

When it comes to beauty, I’m all for letting your creative juices flow. If you think blue eyeliner and red lipstick look good together—rock it! If you think peach and pink and blue and purple highlights are where it’s at—right on! You want to wear glitter and graphic neon stripes on your nails? Go you!

But if I’m being completely honest, the whole nail art trend is starting to wear me down a wee bit. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love how it looks on other people—no matter how off the wall it is. (Mini-tangent: the other day at the grocery story, I saw a woman with a different Sesame Street character painted on each of her nails and I felt a tinge of jealousy). But when I try to take a walk on the wilder side with pink polka dots or navy zig-zags or yellow smiley faces, I get sick of it after just a few hours. Meanwhile, I could paint my nails in Deborah Lippmann Waking Up In Vegas Nail Lacquer (a super-flattering creamy taupe) everyday for the rest of my life and never get bored.

But why should all of the color-lovers have all of the nail art fun? I went on a little beauty hunt to find designs that neutral polish-zealots—even hard-core ones like me—could enjoy.

I peeped these three looks on Birchbox’s Pinterest “Nails” page, but I want more to add to my repertoire (‘cause I’m greedy like that). Do you have any cool nail art ideas for nude and neutral polish? Do share!

If you want to experiment with nail art, check out what supplies at your desk you can use to help you get cool designs!

How to Prep Your Skin for Summer: Guest Blogger

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:04:52 -0400

Let’s face it—bikini season is a challenge. It’s often daunting to think of those upcoming summer months knowing our post-hibernation bods will soon be on display. Here are a few tricks for whipping your skin into shape for summer!

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
I suggest exfoliating at least twice a week. My absolute favorite exfoliant is Qtica Exotic Mango Sugar Scrub. Not only does the scent remind me of summertime, but it also minimizes those pesky bumps on my arms and legs. Don’t overdo it, though, since heavy exfoliation can cause irritation.

Hydrate
This should be a no-brainer. Hydration is the key to luminous, healthy skin. I steer clear of heavily scented moisturizers as they can strip skin of natural oils and cause irritation. Slather lotion on morning and night, and directly after jumping out of the shower to lock in moisture.

Hair Removal
We shave, wax, sugar, and laser our way into the summer months. I’m a fan of sugaring as it’s natural, doesn’t adhere to live skin, and is kept at room temperature. Regardless of your hair removal preference, keep your skin free of annoying ingrown hairs with gentle exfoliation and a spa-grade antibacterial lotion. Now, to the beach ladies!

Looking for more great DIY tips from Blair? Read her post on creating a homemade custom lip color here.

Waitresses! Wear Red Lipstick, Get More Tips

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:01:00 -0400

Photo: mnn.com

Researchers at the Universite de Bretagne-Sud in France have made a fascinating discovery for restaurant servers: wearing red lipstick earns you significantly more tips when you’re serving gentlemen. Hello, crimson!

Sociologists studied seven waitresses as they served roughly 450 customers over the course of two months. The results are intriguing: when the servers sported red lips, they received tips from male customers 50 percent of the time, as compared to when they wore lighter shades like pink, beige or brown when they only received tips 30 percent of the time. (It should be noted, that lip color had zero effect on tipping behavior from female customers—hmmm.)

The study’s authors suggested that the reason for the difference in male tipping may be because red lips are “associated with an indication of estrogen levels, sexual arousal and health.”

Have you ever experienced this (now scientifically proven) phenomenon as a server in a restaurant or a bar?

—Candice

Need to get your hands on a rouge lip color right now? Check out these must-have red lipsticks in the Birchbox Shop.

Mix ‘n Match Lip Color: Guest Blogger

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:51:59 -0400

Blair Badge is one multi-talented lady: she’s a social media manager, a beauty editor for fashion site Chictopia, a model, a newlywed and an all-around awesome gal with a penchant for witty banter. Her dreamy blog, love, blair, is a heady mix of all her talents in one and we can’t get enough of her style and beauty advice. This week, she’s sharing her DIY beauty tips, like how to create a pretty custom lip color and how to get perfect beachy waves.

(Photo: Aura Cosmetics’ “Just Out” + “Hollywood”)

Lipsticks are like socks. You never know when they might sprout legs and run off! I’m notorious for misplacing (a.k.a. losing) my lipsticks. Then I’m faced with the conundrum of replacing said color or making due with what I already have.

I’m here to advocate thriftiness. Before you rush out the door to replace that missing color, let’s try something new: Channel your inner child and get creative by mixing your current lip shades for a custom color!

Try it on for size and experiment by blending various lip shades on the top of your hand. Then, once you’ve concocted a dazzling new shade, take to your lips for the full effect! Don’t be shy about mixing random hues together—even that ugly color you’ve never worn might be the perfect compliment to another lipstick in your palette.

Lastly, tone down those vibrant hues with good ‘ole Vaseline. I usually apply a layer of Vaseline first and lightly tap the lipstick on. Remember to rub your pretty pout together for that perfect blend!

Need more inspiration for the perfect lip colors to try? Check out our Spring Lipstick Guide.

VIDEO: How To: Get "Gossip Girl" Waves

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:39:31 -0400

Our office has been buzzing about the “Gossip Girl” season finale, which airs tonight. To get ready for this season’s last episode, we’ve been practicing our favorite hair looks from the show and watching this video tutorial featuring the “Gossip Girl” lead hairstylist, Jennifer Johnson. Here, she demonstrates how to get a modern Brigitte Bardot style, also known as “Serena van der Woodsen waves.” Watch the clip and let us know if you try the look yourself!

And don’t forget to watch”Gossip Girl” with us tonight at 8/7c on the CW—we’ll be live tweeting throughout the show! Also, be sure to enter our trivia contest for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree!

—Lorelei

We chatted with the show’s lead makeup artist, too. Check out her pro mascara tip.

4 Gorgeous Updos Courtesy of Kate Middleton

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:47:57 -0400

Photos: justjared.com

Kate Middleton has a gorgeous head of long, brunette hair that she almost always wears flowing down over her shoulders. It’s a rare occasion when the Duchess of Cambridge decides to pull her hair back for an elegant updo—which is why her recent hairstyle at the BOA Olympic Concert (above) caught our eye. The braided loose bun was such a departure for everyone’s favorite real life princess, it inspired us to search for our other favorite up-looks from the British style icon. Click through to see Kate Middleton’s best updos!

Photo: stylebistro.com

For a sophisticated look to match a floor-length gown, the Duchess opted for a half-pulled-up ‘do at this charity event in October 2011 with some light curls falling gently along her back. This look is easy to get by yourself—just wrap ends around a curling iron, then pull hair back just above your ears and clip into place, letting the curled ends fall loose. This is similar to the style Kate wore under her veil at the Royal Wedding.

Photo: dailymail.co.uk

At a Canada Day celebration in Ottawa last summer, Kate opted for a low chignon. This subtle low-semi twisted style is perfect for taking a simple dress, like Kate’s purple jersey Issa selection, and giving it an air of elegance.

Photo: justjared.com

The Duchess of Cambridge is a master of the low bun. This inverted option, from the Investec Derby Day last summer, can be hard to see in detail (click here for a much closer image) but it’s actually a bun with the ends flipped upwards and pinned into the back of her head, with pieces of hair elegantly splayed outward. It should also be noted that what really sets this look apart is the addition of headwear. No one quite does hats like the British! We can’t wait to try this ourselves.

Are there any other pretty Kate Middleton updo moments we should know about? Tell us in the comments!

—Candice

Dying for more updo ideas? Us too. Check out these great D.I.Y. hairstyles in the Birchbox Magazine.

Supergoop! Launches Project Backpack

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:01:12 -0400

Around the Birchbox office, I am known as the sunblock pusher. “Don’t forget your SPF” and “be sure to reapply throughout the day” are things you will commonly hear me saying. As a fair-skinned gal, I learned in my early twenties the dangers of being casual with your sun protection. Ever since, I’ve tried to spread the good SPF word. That’s why I was particularly excited to meet Holly Thaggard, the founder of sunscreen empire Supergoop!, recently in New York.

Aside from creating safe, highly effective products, Supergoop! has also always been on a mission to educate about the danger of UV rays—a message that Thaggard especially stresses at home to her children. So when the entrepreneur’s first grade daughter came home prior to a field trip one day with a note explaining that any sunscreen included in the child’s backpack would be discarded, Thaggard was shocked. It turns out that the FDA deems sunscreen as an over the counter drug, which means that many schools prohibit it in the classroom.

Obviously, this didn’t sit well with Thaggard. This month, Supergoop! launched an initiative called Project Backpack to not only change these state policies, but to go one step further and provide SPF to schools across the U.S.

To help support the Project Backpack cause, all you have to do is buy Supergoop! SPF 30+ Everyday Face and Body Moisturizer or Endless Summer Pump, SPF 30+ Everyday UV Lotion and the company will donate one backpack-sized sunscreen to a partner school in the U.S. You can also help by signing the petition here.

Is anyone else as shocked as we are that kids can’t bring sunscreen to school?

—Meredith

Summer is just around the corner, time to stock up on your SPF!

Reading List: Nicki Minaj's New Commercial, Benefit on Film, Designer Nail Strips, and More

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:17:54 -0400

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend! We hope you’re thinking of all the amazing women in your life and, if you’re lucky, spending time with them. (We know we’re thinking of all our awesome Moms.) This week’s round-up includes ’90s-inspired nail polishes and a brand new Bond No. 9 fragrance—the perfect amount fun to start the weekend. See you on Monday!

Two of our favorite beauty founders (no, not Hayley and Katia!), Jean and Jane Ford of Benefit, screened a documentary, Glamouriety, at Tribeca Film Festival. The film actually started as a training video for new Benefit employees about the history of the company. Now, the film will be seen by Benefit employees before eventually making it to the Cannes Film Festival. [WWD]

Remember those amazing hypercolor t-shirts from the 90s? Some new polishes change color in the sun, too, and they’re totally putting us in a nostalgic mood this afternoon. [She Finds]

Nicki Minaj’s new commercial for Pepsi launched this week and features the starlet giving a concert while two fans run through a beach scene, a tomato fight, and Betsey Johnson’s fashion show. Kind of makes you want to drink a Pepsi, huh? [Elle]

Nail Rock, one of our favorite stick-on nail polish companies, has collaborated with three designers for Australia’s Fashion Week. The designs are too cute for words and, best of all, you can actually get your hands on some. [Beauty High]

Not to be outdone by President Obama, indie fragrance company Bond No. 9 will release a new fragrance called I Love New York for Marriage Equality on July 24th, one year after the Marriage Equality Act took effect in New York State. It will be a unisex scent with woody-spicy notes of mandarin, classic rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and amber. [Fashion etc]

—Lorelei

Find our favorite products from Benefit in the Birchbox Shop.

Bold Lipsticks That Any Skin Tone Can Pull Off

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:00:00 -0400

Wearing: MAC Lipstick in Girl About Town

Ever since the Kardashians came into my life, I’ve been an advocate for the nude lip and smoky eyes look (sad, but true). It became my go-to going out look for a long time. I mean, what’s not to like about it? It dresses up any outfit and makes for fabulous pictures (that and Instagram).

But lately I’ve noticed a red carpet trend that has quickly taken over my makeup regimen. From Camilla Belle rocking a deep plum pout at the Met Gala to Rachel McAdams wearing crimson lips at virtually all of her premieres , bold lip colors are a Hollywood staple. I virtually never touch my nude lipsticks or glosses these days. There’s just something about a bright lip that makes your face pop.

Wearing: YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Le Rouge

One major upside to eye-catching lipstick? With a vibrant lip color, you can keep the rest of your makeup routine super simple. Let the color speak for itself and bring your eyeliner and blush down a notch. When I wear a highly pigmented lipstick, I usually pair it with a killer mascara and my favorite bronzer. Also, it’s a great day to night look. It’s simple enough for a work day, but vibrant enough for a night out.

The downside? Guys seem to hate any lipstick that isn’t nude, clear, or glossy. But then again, when do guys ever like a trend? From maxi skirts to denim vests, there are a lot of things they just don’t get.

That being said, I feel like all the magazines I read say that a bright lipstick goes best with pale skin. Uh, wrong!

Wearing: NARS Semi Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave

Whether you’re super tan or have a paler skin tone, bold lips are all about having fun and being confident. If you think you can rock it, so will everyone else. The next time you go out, ditch your safe lip color and try a lipstick you never thought you would dare touch. Don’t be afraid to make a statement!

—Deepica

One of our all-time favorite red lipsticks is Beauty is Life’s Kingdom.

How To Create The Perfect Looped Pony

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:14:00 -0400

Left: Our version of the looped pony on Charlie. Right: Carolina Herrera spring 2012.

The ponytail gets a lot of flack from hair sophisticates—it’s been accused of being boring, too tomboyish, and a sign of not trying hard enough. But designers are breathing new life into this classic style, like Carolina Herrera who showed some pretty looped ponys during her spring 2012 show. We were so inspired, we decided to break down this style step by step (fair warning: it works best on long-haired ladies with no choppy layers). Click through for the tutorial!

Step 1: Part your hair in the center with a comb, and pull your hair back into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Secure loosely with an elastic (we used our office-wide favorite, the Twistband).

Step 2: Loop the elastic around your pony until it’s taut and then pull the majority of your hair through. Do not pull all of your hair through, this creates your loop. About four inches of your ends should be sticking out as you’ll use these to cover the elastic.

Step 3: Wrap your ends around the elastic in one direction, forming a snug ring at the base. Use bobby pins on the underside of the pony to secure the ends and try criss-crossing them to make them extra-secure.

Step 4: Finish the look by smoothing a pump of serum through the sides of your hair to tame frizzies (we used Kérastase’s Cristalliste Lumiere Liquide). Finally, spritz on some hairspray like Nick Chavez’s Volumizing Extra Hold Spray to set the style in place.

Behold your off-the-runway looped ponytail!

—Mai

If wearing your hair loose is more your style, we’d suggest popping on a Twistband Headband to add a dose of polish to your locks.

Juice Beauty CEO Sits Down With The Bee's Knees

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:35:47 -0400

Last month, we ask our Birchbloggers to send us their blog posts about why they care about organic beauty for the chance to win an interview with the CEO of Juice Beauty, Karen Behnke. There were lots of great submissions but we were especially impressed by The Bee’s Knees Blog. Today we’re excited to publish their interview. Enjoy!

The Bee’s Knees: How did you decide to use and develop organic beauty products?

Karen Behnke: Health, wellness, and fitness have always been my passion and turned into my career once I built one of the first corporate wellness companies in the country. But once I became pregnant with my first child (at the age of 40), I really started reading ingredient labels for the first time. I was shocked that many terrible ingredients that had been banned from our food were still in our beauty products. Given that the skin is the largest organ of your body and it absorbs almost 65 percent of what you put on it, realizing the benefits of organic beauty ingredients was a natural progression.

TBK: How important is an organic diet to go along with your beauty routine?

KB: Incredibly important. You are what you eat. Feed your body healthful organic foods, exercise daily, use organic beauty products, and you will glow from the inside out!! According to the Centers for Disease Control, poor lifestyle choices account for over 70% of all premature diseases. Feed your body organic whole grains, fruits, vegetables, small wild fish, and limit processed foods and you will have a ton of energy and feel great. Exercise and practice yoga as much as you can and you’ll feel like a zillion bucks! Eat a diet rich in antioxidants and feed your skin organic beauty products rich in antioxidants and you will be fighting free radical damage on all fronts.

TBK: What’s your favorite part of your job?

KB: Being in our retail partner stores and talking to the customers! I love getting feedback directly from customers and we’ve had so many people let us know that we have changed not only their skin, but their lives!

TBK: What career advice would you give to women?

KB: Follow your passion, work with passion, and create a healthy, challenging, workplace so you can have fun every day. It is possible when you have kids to work out flexible work schedules with some employers because I highly recommend that women stay in the workplace to some extent to stay connected, stay interesting, and stay globally interested.

Read the rest of this article on the Bee’s Knees Blog!

- Rachel

Inspired to commit to organic beauty? Check out Juice Beauty in the Birchbox Shop!

Get Healthier Nails With The Right Hand Cream: Nailing It

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:48:20 -0400

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 week for Nailing It, Birchbox’s dedicated polish series.

I love a good manicure and am always looking for the best way to take care of my nails. And in order to have healthy nails, you can’t forget to moisturize your hands. Dry hands often lead to cracked skin and cuticles, which are more susceptible to infection and bacteria. Your cuticles help protect nails as they grow, so healthy cuticles means healthy nails.

To keep my hands in tip top shape, I’ve started using Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream. This lotion is packed with antioxidant-rich grapeseed oil, sweet orange peel, and avocado. It smells divine and leaves hands soft without feeling the least bit greasy. I now keep it at my desk so I can use whenever my hands feel parched—and I just so happen to do my nails at my desk quite a bit, so I have it around to help prep pre-mani.

What products do you use to keep your hands and nails healthy?

-Loren

Another important tip: be careful to protect your nails from the sun!

Christian Louboutin Is Stepping into the Beauty World

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:01:24 -0400

Photo: Christian Louboutin

I’ve long dreamed of owning a shiny new pair of Louboutin black patent platform heels. Unfortunately, my shoe budget puts me on the low end of the Payless-to-couture spectrum, but now I can finally hope to get a little piece of Louboutin for myself. As WWD reports, Christian Louboutin is planning to launch a full beauty line in late 2013.

The designer is keeping mum about what products he has in the works, but I can easily envision his signature red soles translating into a show-stopping lipstick and nail polish. In fact, a few posh London salons already offer an unofficial Louboutin Manicure—achieved by painting red lacquer on the undersides of nails (kind of like a reverse mani). Louboutin got wind of the trend and decided the moment had come to create Christian Louboutin Beauté.

When asked about the inspiration behind his new beauty line, the designer named legendary Egyptian queen Nefertiti, whose painted bust he viewed at Berlin’s Neues Museum. “It’s the most beautiful thing. I stayed like an hour just looking at the bust,” he told WWD. “It’s a perfect beauty and the makeup is quite perfect.”

Are you as excited about Louboutin’s new line as we are?

—Mai

If you can’t wait until next year to score a Louboutin lipstick (we don’t blame you), browse our favorite red lip shades in the Birchbox Shop.