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.
Ayren’s left and right side respectively.
Ever since my little brother accidentally threw his football into my right cheek when I was in the sixth grade, I’ve preferred having my photo taken on my left side. I guess I subconsciously always envision a swollen, black-and-blue right cheekbone and eye socket. But, it seems there’s more to my predisposition than meets the eye (er, football). A Wake Forest University study recently published in the journal Experimental Brain Research found that people view the left side of a face to be more pleasant. I decided to test out the study’s findings on some of my family and friends. First up my husband…
Birchbox staffers have been known to play the beauty field. With so many fun samples floating around, can you blame us for having a hard time committing? Then again, when we find something we love, we stick to it. In this new feature, we’ll be asking Birchbox staffers to share the products they just can’t quit. Next up, co-founder, Hayley.
Products I can’t quit: Since we launched Birchbox, I’ve vowed to only use beauty products we sell in our store. In tech circles, it’s called “eating your own dog food.” If we can’t live off of only what we sell, how could we expect you to? I’ve tested tons of products from our shop but I keep coming back to the same ones over and over again. These are my current favorites.
We love a good smoky eye but sometimes black and grey eyeshadow can be a little overwhelming. That’s why we enlisted Neil Scibelli, national makeup artist for Jouer, to teach us a metallic smoky eye that anyone can do at home. Watch the video and then let us know in the comments: would you give this look a spin?
We fell hard for Natalie Alcala last fall, when the L.A.-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.
Spring officially begins on March 20, which means there’s only a few weeks of heavy layering left before we can break out those floral sundresses. As you clean out your closet to make room for the warmer season’s styles, it’s also time to start thinking about making some key changes to your makeup routine so you’re not left out in the cold, beauty-wise. After all, turning up to a colorful picnic party with a dull, pale face can be a major buzzkill.
To help us all transition our looks from winter to spring, I checked in with Christina Zilber, the founder of celebrated cosmetics brand Jouer to offer up three super quick fixes.
The Vibe: Girly but a little fierce. “This season, they went a little edgier,” said lead makeup artist Neil Scibelli of Jouer. “So we focused the edge on the eyes, which we’re smoking out.” To create the dramatic, but very wearable look, the team used Jouer’s Amaretto on the lid and lower lid, Cappuccino in the crease, some liquid black liner on the upper lashline, and an eye definer pencil in Noir on the lower lashes. “We also added false lashes just for some extra tszuj,” said Scibelli of the makeup look’s standout feature.
I have discovered a ton of exceptional products since I started working at Birchbox, but there are only a handful that I classify as totally life-changing. One such product: Jouer’s Lumizing Moisture Tint (known as LMT around the office). I don’t go a day without slathering it on my face (it has SPF 20!), even though I regularly skip other fundamentals like mascara and blush.
What makes this tinted moisturizer stand out from the rest? The hydrating formula contains tiny light-reflecting particles that are too small to see with the naked eye, but that give your complexion a visibly radiant finish.
Sold? I thought so. Now you just have to find the right shade. Click through to review our cheat sheet.
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.
We’re in the process of shooting February videos today, and we were lucky enough to score Neil Scibelli, a Jouer national makeup artist, to help us with a smoky eye tutorial. Obviously, good concealer is essential to making anyone look camera-ready. While we were prepping, we got a great tip from Neil: always pat your concealer in place. “I see so many people drag their finger under their eyes and it just pulls the concealer off,” say Scibelli. Good to know, we’ll be dabbing from now on—we want our concealer to stay put!
Our office manager, Nicole, is wonder woman. No, really. It’s the only explanation for how on top of everything she is. From human resources and employee benefits to keeping us well fed with treats at all times, she does it all. We snagged a few minutes of her time to take a peek at her desk.
January Birchboxes have shipped! While lots of them have already arrived in homes across the country, we know many of you are still waiting for that pretty pink box to land in your mailbox. Pass the time by watching some of our favorite December un-boxing videos! We subscribed to all three of these lovely ladies and hope you will too!
We love MissVickybee’s holiday-themed music and animation! Hank is cute too ;) She is looking forward to using her L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil and says she’ll let us know how it goes. Can’t wait!
