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

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.

A Beauty Chat with My Mom, Rose

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.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I sat down with my beauty idol to learn more about her best secrets, the discontinued products that she wishes would be reissued, and the one tried-and-true product that she’s been using since high school. (Try this Q&A with your mom on Sunday—you’ll learn so much!)

What was your earliest beauty memory?
“I used to really love flipping through Cosmopolitan magazine—that’s where I first discovered vanity. My favorite model was Cristina Ferrare. I also loved Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren. I even used to fake Marilyn’s beauty mark with a pencil!”

So funny! Who taught you how to put on makeup?
“I think I taught myself really, but I also got some tips from your Auntie Esther [her sister-in-law]. I first started experimenting with mascara because I was so amazed by how long it made my eyelashes look.”

5 Instantly Awesome Beauty Instagrams to Follow

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.

Photos via Stop It Right Now, Eva Chen, Nasty Gal

As we’ve said before, Instagram is a beautiful thing. There’s something about those fantastic filters that just make everything look so magical—it really is like looking at life through rose-colored glasses! When I’m not stalking Birchbox’s amazing Instagram (are you following yet?), here are the accounts I turn to for mega beauty inspiration.

1. Stop It Right Now: This girl is so darn cool. Jayne Min’s Instagram is a condensed version of her cult-favorite blog and features a mix of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle moments from her charmed life. I’m particularly fond of her crazy-amazing manicures (exhibit A, above).

2. Eva Chen: Teen Vogue’s beauty director (and friend of Birchbox) is somewhat of a digital darling for her fantastic participation in various social media platforms, such as Twitter, Tumblr and, of course, Instagram. In addition to providing major beauty product envy, I love seeing what she does next to her super cute, short hair.

Mani-Matching with Galaxy Nails

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.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been collecting images of nebulas. There’s something about these colorful interstellar clouds that fascinate me. My favorite has always been the Eagle Nebula, which is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens. I have an image of it on both my business card and website. (Nerd much?)

5 Awesome Eco-Friendly Brands To Add Into Your Routine

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.

Did you know that Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22? In addition to contributing to one of the many green organizations taking part in this vital eco-friendly holiday, I’ll also incorporate more organic products into my beauty routine. Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite ecologically-inclined brands to date.

1. Josie Maran Cosmetics: Actress and model Josie Maran is ridiculously gorgeous, wildly talented, and cares deeply about her environment. (In other words, she’s perfect.) Her sophisticated range of beauty products contain pure and gentle formulas that are free of parabens, toxins, and animal testing. To remedy split ends, I’m loving her 100% Pure Argan Oil ($48) that is organically grown in Morrocco.

2. Pangea Organics: I’m obsessed with all things Pangea Organics. Not only has the brand’s arsenal of skincare savers made a major impact on my complexion, but they stay true to their formula mantra: “Always beneficial, never artificial.” All of their products are free of harmful ingredients like petrochemicals, paraben, and GMOs and are sourced using fair trade practices whenever possible. Their Facial Cleanser for Oily to Combination Skin ($28) is sublime.

6 Ridiculously Cute Fruit Looks for Coachella and Beyond

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.

I love a good fruit print. In addition to offering a charming sartorial statement, there’s something about wearing fruit that instantly lifts your mood. Maybe because eating fruit is fun and it’s an honest to goodness treat. With that said, this Coachella weekend, I’m swapping predictable neon, animal print, and floral numbers for a bounty of produce-inspired pieces that are sure to harvest plenty of smiles.

6 LOL Beauty Products From the ’90s

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.

Photos: eBay, Definitely Beauty, Beauty High

Since Birchbox is always on the cutting edge of beauty, I thought it would be fun (and funny) to switch it up and go back, way back, to salute some of the beauty products that we’re all guilty of experimenting with during the Saved by the Bell era.

I may be dating myself here, but these products were absolutely essential to my tween and teen days in the ’90s. Here are my personal (yes, cringe-worthy) memories with each; drop me a line in the comments if you have a story, too!

Herbal Essences in Rose Hips: Ah…I can still smell the magical fragrance of this conditioner and shampoo. I remember when Herbal Essences were all the rage and that “Yes! Yes! Yes!” commercial would play before TGIF on ABC (talk about a throwback). I was so sad to learn that this scent was discontinued a few years later—and it looks like I’m not alone, because the product is going for a pretty penny on eBay right now.

Bonne Bell Lip Smackers: Okay, who doesn’t remember these? The watermelon, raspberry, and Dr. Pepper-flavored Lip Smackers were my absolute jam. I remember slathering this on when I was around my crush in school, convinced that the scent of my soda-flavored lips would surely reel him in. As if!

The 3 Best Braids to Rock at Coachella

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.

Photos: The Fashion Spot

Erica Davidson is a star in L.A. for both her makeup wizardry and hair innovations. I knew she was a true innovator when she created this awesome pink root look for cult-favorite jewelry line Luv AJ’s latest lookbook. And talent runs in her blood: not only is Luv AJ designer Amanda Thomas her cousin, but Birchbox’s current guest-blogger Claire Thomas of The Kitchy Kitchen is her cousin, too!

Now that the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is fast approaching (what weekend are you going?), I thought it was the perfect time to ask Davidson which hairstyles she recommends sporting at the fest.

Loving The Ombré Nail Polish Sets From The New Black

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.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending The Makeup Show L.A., also known as a beauty aficionado’s dream. While I had tons of fun fawning over the latest offerings from brands like Anastasia and stila, there was one booth in particular that caught my eye: The New Black.

I Experienced L.A.’s Most-Wanted Facial—and It Was Glorious

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.

Yesterday will go down in history as one of my favorite days, ever. After years of reading about and driving by Sofia Coppola and Madonna’s favorite facial haven, Face Place, I finally booked a coveted appointment at their West Hollywood location. The trip was, in a word, thrilling.