When it comes to figuring out what makeup to invest in right now, think beyond your New Year’s Eve beauty look. Picking winter makeup for daily use is a much tougher challenge. At this time of year, you’re in danger of looking either washed out or too made up during the day. That’s why we love this simple but beautiful look with just a bit of eye liner and some punchy red lipstick. If you’d prefer a pucker that’s more of a stain, simply blot your lips after applying your shade of choice.
To get the look:
blinc Eyeliner, $24
Beauty is Life Lipstick in Kingdom, $28
Photo: The Sartorialist
We’re less than a week away from New Year’s Eve, which means you better start stocking up on noisemakers and kitschy party hats now. Whether you’re spending the night at home with your besties or going to a glitzy bash, you’ll want to look even more gorgeous than usual. (After all, if New Year’s Eve is good for anything, it’s photo ops!) This week, we’re helping you out with five days of party essentials. Today’s topic: getting a gorgeous flush.
Photos: Style.com
Whenever I am getting ready for an event or party, I am inevitably running late. Since I refuse to attend any sort of fete without styled hair (ie: blown dry) and a cute outfit (why does this part always take so long?), it is my makeup that usually pays the price. Enter my biggest time-saver: Red lipstick.
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Color Theory is a weekly post about home decor and beauty. Because we can’t always make over our homes at the drop of a hat, but we can make over our faces. Check back weekly for a new room and a new set of products we love.
I’m crushing pretty hard on this room with navy walls, built-in bookcase, window seat, and zebra print rug. It looks eccentric and cozy, but not too cluttered. To match my makeup to it, I pulled out my favorite navy liner by stila (smudgy but easy to apply), a creamy cashmere eye shadow by Jouer, and a great red lipstick to match the flowers on the table. Perfect for a chilly first official week of winter.
stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Blue Ribbon; Available at Birchbox.com
Jouer Creme Eye Shadow in Cashmere; Available at Birchbox.com
Beauty is Life Kingdom Lipstick; Available at Birchbox.com
— Lorelei
Photo: Pink Wallpaper
‘Tis the season, which can mean only one thing: You are in search of great holiday gifts. Well, look no further. Whether you’re stumped about what to get a co-worker, your dad, or your bestie, we have something for everyone on your list. Check back every day this month for a new dose of gift-giving inspiration — and get ready to deck your halls with much more than holly.
Why This Makes a Great Gift: Anyone who has hunted for the perfect red lipstick knows that it’s an arduous task. After trying a zillion shades from a gazillion different brands, we are unanimously smitten with this cheerful Beauty Is Life crimson. The color is sophisticated, classic, and wears well on every skin tone.
Perfect For: Any woman, whether it’s your sister, your best friend, or yes, even yourself (after all, you deserve a gift too). Not only is the shade is universally flattering, but it even has blue undertones that help make teeth look whiter.
Price: $28, available on birchbox.com
For more great gift ideas, visit our Holiday Gift Guide.
Yesterday, we made a big announcement: We will soon be selling our very first red lipstick on the site! We held off for a long time because we are ever so picky, but we’re thrilled to say that our debut shade will be from one of the chicest brands out there, Beauty is Life. To ensure that our first crimson foray was a smashing success, we sent three staffers on a mission to find a universal red at the brand’s Barney’s counter here in New York. Obviously, we documented the field trip with plenty of photos and then showcased pictures of three shades, Royal, Kingdom, and Red, on our blog. Readers and fans were encouraged to vote for their favorite hue, and let’s just say that we weren’t shocked by the winner…
Left to right: Royal, Kingdom, and Red
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Calling all Birchbox fanatics: we need your help! We’re trying to decide which is the perfect shade of red to add to our catalog (just in time for the holidays!) and we want your input. We sent three staffers (Mai, Meredith, Charlie) with varying complexions to try on shades from our new favorite line, Beauty is Life. Check out the pics below and tell us which is your favorite. We’ll add whatever shade gets the most votes in the poll below to our site — how many other companies let YOU choose what they sell?
1) Color: Royal
Our Take: This dark berry was the deepest color we tried — not for the timid!
2) Color: Kingdom
Our Take: Not as dark as the first, this shade might be our fave. It’s cheerful and bright, with nice blue undertones.
3) Color: Red
Our Take: The brightest of the three, this is a great retro cherry red.
Tell us what we should add to the Birchbox Shop by voting in our poll below!
Like most lazy beauty lovers, I have a bad habit of applying eye shadow with my fingertips. But after years of this amateur routine, I’m ready to try a more sophisticated technique. There’s a reason why pro makeup artists use an arsenal of brushes: Unlike your fingers, brushes allow for precise application and easy blending. Plus, less shadow gets wasted in the transfer between the palette and your lids. I just picked up two Beauty Is Life brushes that simplify the art of eye shadow contouring. Use the rounded Standard Eyeshadow Brush to sweep a neutral base color all over your lids. Next, dip the tapered Special Eyeshadow Brush into a darker shadow and blend the shade into the crease of each lid. Your eyes will instantly look bigger and brighter — really.
Need more pointers? Check out our Eye Contouring video with Stila makeup artist Jason Araujo and our Three Essential Eye Brushes video with our resident brush guru Meredith.
-Mai
