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.
Here on the East Coast, May is not off to such a flowery start. No matter, I have just the polish to keep things sunny: Amchoor from the Thakoon for NARS Collection. This brilliant yellow creme is perfectly on trend and is one of the hottest colors of the season.
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Freelance makeup artist Jennifer Duvall has kept us entranced with her blog jennysuemakeup.com for months. The Georgia blogger is the ultimate multi-tasker as both a makeup guru and a mommy of three! We love her great how-to advice and awesome product reviews, which is why we’re so excited that this week, she’s graciously sharing her style secrets with us.
It’s not really my specialty to do my makeup in a hurry, but there are times I like a good challenge. The other morning, I decided to set my iPhone timer for exactly 5 minutes to see if I could actually accomplish the daunting task. Granted, this isn’t the full face of makeup that I typically sport, but it was definitely enough so I wouldn’t be embarrassed if I ran into someone I know at the local coffee shop. Here are my before and after shots so you can see what can be done in 5 minutes flat. (I can’t believe I’m showing you my bare morning face and robe ensemble, but I’m doing this to show everyone there’s hope even when time’s an issue!)
On your mark. Get set. GO!
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One of our favorite enduring trends: bright pink lips. Whether you’re rocking an easy-going, natural vibe or a look with a touch of dramatic flair, this ultra-feminine color is nothing but flattering. We’re always on the hunt for the perfect shade, and, in fact, we teamed up with Jouer to create a bright magenta Birchbox pink lip gloss. Sheer and subtle with one coat, keep applying for additional pigment payoff or layer it over an opaque lipstick for a highly saturated effect. Not sure how to rock a bright pink pucker properly? Take a cue from pros like Blake Lively, Jessica Biel, and Rihanna.
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The Show: Creatures of the Wind
Hair: Odile Gilbert for Kérastase
Makeup: James Boehmer for NARS
Nails: Essie
The Vibe: At the Creatures of the Wind show yesterday afternoon, the theme of magic versus reality and nature was present in everything. James Boehmer, lead makeup artist for NARS, pulled inspiration from the “contrast between what’s the real world and what’s the magic world. And the makeup is definitely the magic world.” To achieve that magic, Boehmer used a moisturizer from the brand’s skincare collection (relaunching in Fall 2012) and a very sheer foundation to give models “lit from within skin.” The eyes were strong, with what he called an “almost 90’s shape.” Finally, they used a rose gold shadow to “gild the inner corner of the eye, eyebrow and the lip.”
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Courtne Smith, a.k.a Queen Shmink, is a world traveler with extraordinary fashion and beauty sense. The Toronto-based blogger is one of our favorite ladies to follow on the Interwebz because she makes her impeccable style (fancy fur is her specialty) feel so accessible and easy to recreate. Plus, she always has a killer manicure. This week, she teaches us her secrets that keep her perfectly primped when she’s both at home or on the road with her bff, Drake.
I would definitely call myself a nail fanatic — I own over 85 bottles of polish in my growing collection. From drugstore to department store, if it’s pretty, it’s mine. While I’m a sucker for Deborah Lippmann’s lacquers, you don’t necessarily have to spend $20 or more to get the “color of the moment.” Here are a few identical hues I’ve come across in my nail polish hunt:
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Courtne Smith, a.k.a Queen Shmink, is a world traveler with extraordinary fashion and beauty sense. The Toronto-based blogger is one of our favorite ladies to follow on the Interwebz because she makes her impeccable style (fancy fur is her specialty) feel so accessible and easy to recreate. Plus, she always has a killer manicure. This week, she teaches us her secrets that keep her perfectly primped when she’s both at home or on the road with her bff, Drake.
When it comes to my everyday makeup, I tend to keep things pretty simple. If my skin isn’t having ‘a moment,’ I can skip foundation and get away with just dabbing on some concealer and bronzer. But I always make sure to fill my brows and apply a coat of mascara—I definitely feel naked without those. These are the products I use on a daily basis:
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Photo: allurabeauty.com
Add one more exciting debut to your calendars for next month: blockbuster color company NARS is coming out with nine shades of tinted moisturizer!
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Sometimes, our greatest inspirations for new looks come from the past. Which is why we love The American Vernacular, a recently launched (it started last November!) online vintage store with fantastic, bygone-era inspired taste. Each piece on the site comes with information about its brand history, written by TAV’s owner and founder, Bryn Lander. This week, Bryn shares her vintage style secrets with us and gives the downlow on how to score those glam, leading lady looks.
Top: Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor. Bottom: Grace Kelly, Dorothy Dandridge, Bettie Page, Doris Day
The ’50s was a transition period between the rigid and conformist World War II era to the individualistic, youth-oriented culture of the ’60s. Several distinct styles emerged during this time and helped define the style of the decade. Icons like Grace Kelly and Doris Day represented the demure and conservative feminine ideal while the glamorous and provactive look of Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Sophia Loren, and Brigitte Bardot made them sex symbols. Audrey Hepburn became a style icon and muse to many designers for her distinct easy elegance that was both classic and modern. She, amazingly, exuded the same graceful confidence in a turtleneck, pedal pushers, and ballet flats as she did in full-skirted lace gowns. Some of my favorite films that define the era are All About Eve (1950), Rear Window (1954), And God Created Woman (1956), Funny Face (1957) and Some Like It Hot (1959).
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Photo: fashionfame.com
Emmy Rossum is always one to watch on the red carpet—the girl’s got style!—but her ensemble for the second season premiere of Shameless last week was especially stellar. Channeling the roaring ’20s with her fingerwaves and flashy flapper-esque Ralph Lauren dress, she looked head-to-toe perfect. My favorite touch? Her intense burgundy lip color. Wine-hued pouts were a huge runway trend for this winter season, but many starlets opt for the obvious cherry shade when hitting the red carpet. Rossum’s deviation from the norm was eye-catching and her deep berry hue lends a modern touch to an otherwise very retro look.
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