This winter, forgo the heavy makeup in favor of a refreshingly clean look that places all the emphasis on your eyes. Consider it the beauty equivalent of a detox: instead of eyeliner and shadow, enlist an eye brightener to whisk away dark circles and a false fringe (hey, we didn’t say it was completely low-maintenance) to doll up your lashes. Finish with a generous dusting of blush to create a healthy just-in-from-the-cold look and all eyes will be on you. Read on for the step-by-step instructions.
You don’t need to be a math whiz to learn how to multiply the benefits of different ingredients by using them together. We sat down with three skincare experts to get the scoop on how to get the most out of your regime.
LIGHT TO HEAVY
You’ve got a bathroom shelf filled with products, but which comes first? According to New York-based facialist Elena Rubin, a good rule of thumb is to go from lightest to heaviest and layer water-based products under oil-based products. Start with a good serum. These highly concentrated blends of actives are generally a brand’s most potent formulas—celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas calls them “multivitamins for your face.” Next, seal in the serum and prevent water loss with a moisturizer. If you’re using a face oil, that goes last.
Read More
Some days it feels like my face is mad at me. Like, it’s angry that I didn’t get enough sleep or I had a bit too much at happy hour so it’s rebelling and giving me a super inconvenient breakout. Even though it’s tempting to blame it all on my personal skin, there are a few common things that could be triggering these issues. Hint: the sleep thing is big! The good news is, there are easy solutions for calming down and preventing future freak-outs.
Click Through To Read All Five Reasons.
—Lorelei
If you’re an avid follower of Birchbox on Twitter, you may have noticed that we’ve started workday workouts in the office. We’re doing one minute-long workouts (squats! pushups! lunges!) every hour on the hour, every day. The goal is to make us a fitter, happier office without too much effort and it has the added benefit of making the day go a lot faster.
Read more
We’re still recovering from last weekend’s parties but it’s only going to get worse this weekend. We already know we’ll eat too much, drink too much, and stay up way too late on New Year’s Eve. It’s a fun — but exhausting — way to kick off 2012. Luckily, we have a few tricks up our sleeve for bouncing back on January 1. Read More!
We love the holidays. The twinkly lights, cheerful spirit, and gift giving make us all warm and tingly inside. But the pressure from a packed schedule, stretched gift budget, and Christmas music playing on repeat can also turn even the most jolly into the Grinch. Never fear, we have some foolproof ideas for getting through the holidays with your sanity intact. Read on.
We’re pretty obsessed with mascara but it’s a huge hassle to remove and can also majorly irritate sensitive eyes. Lash extensions are one way to avoid needing that daily coat of mascara. They make your lashes look amazing and last way longer than false lashes but we’ve always wondered what the trade-offs are. One brave Birchbox editor took the plunge and documented the do’s and don’ts for us! Read More.
Have you ever tried lash extensions? Share your experience in the comments!
Looking for a less permanent way to enhance your eyes? Shop our favorite eye makeup products.
Photo: Paper Crown Holiday 2011 Lookbook
We’re obsessed with glitter and shimmer, but wearing it on our face and body can feel like a flashback to middle school. Luckily, we’ve got four easy ways to wear glitter and look sophisticated. No tweens in sight! Read More.
Even though we’ve never met a chocolate we didn’t like, we do have our favorites. And we’ve seen first-hand how polarizing chocolate preferences can be. (Just think of those vicious debates over the legitimacy of white chocolate!) Now, as highly trained chocolate experts (read: untrained chocolate enthusiasts), we’re helping you decode what your chocolate craving says about your personality. Study up to become a more informed indulger. Read on.
Occasionally, we’re so crazy about something non-beauty related, we carry that in our shop too. Chuao Chocolatier products fall into that category and are available here!
There are plenty of ways to recreate splurgy spa therapies at home — and no, you don’t have to install a rock garden. For help, we went to Jan Cohen, the Northeast Account Executive of Borghese, the Italian brand known for luxe mud treatments. All their products are formulated with mineral-rich water from Tuscan springs, which helps to rehydrate skin and increase circulation. According to Cohen, using mud masks once or twice a week can give you the same benefits as a spa visit. Here’s how to get zen at home.
