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.
We’ve been lusting after Camilla Belle’s eye-catching brows for years. (Photo: Getty Images)
Besides brilliant braids, the hottest trend on the West Coast these days is a bold brow. From Camilla Belle’s flawless arches on the red carpet (pictured) to Demi Lovato’s ever-evolving shape on X-Factor, Hollywood has totally gone Brooke Shields—and I like it.
If you find yourself in L.A., here’s a roundup of the best brow bars for every budget.
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We’re always working to find the best new brands so we can share their amazing products with you—and our kickbutt brand partnerships team is hard at work sourcing those awesome lines everyday. Two of the team’s newest additions are Carlos and Logan, whose past experience with the coolest names in fashion, beauty, and food at Ogilvy & Mather and Weber Shandwick, respectively, means that you can expect lots of great things coming your way! When this savvy duo isn’t busy testing new products (see below) or hosting meetings, they’re erupting into spontaneous laughter and recapping last night’s shows on Bravo.
Name/Title: Carlos Alvarado, Brand Merchandising and Marketing Manager
Hometown: New London, CT
Unofficial role: Senior Director of Britney Spears Dance Parties
Fun fact: I celebrated my 21st birthday in both Rome and Amsterdam in one day.
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A native of Silicon Valley, Tammy spent her very first day in NYC at the Birchbox HQ. The newest addition to our Tech Team, Tammy came to her field by accident—after finishing her college pre-med coursework early (who does that?!), she occupied her time by enrolling in a computer science class. The rest, as they say, is history. Here in New York, Tammy is anxious to satisfy her coffee addiction by determining the best coffee microroasters around. Have any suggestions for her? Let us know in the comments!
Tammy Hwang, Technical Product Manager
Hometown: Los Altos, California
Fun fact: I can ride a bike, but only barely. It’s always questionable if I’ll survive the experience without cuts and bruises (so far, I haven’t).
Beauty Confession: The best thing about having bangs is not having to pluck my eyebrows.
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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.
Greetings from Las Vegas! I’m one of 30 official bloggers at MAGIC—the world’s top marketplace for apparel and accessories. It’s been a true blast out here bonding with some of LA’s top fashion influencers. (Check out the #RoadtoMAGIC blog here to follow our adventures.) I checked in with four of my lovely trip mates to see what beauty products they can’t get enough of this summer.
Bethany Struble of Snakes Nest
1. Homemade Rosewater: “I literally make it over the stove. I love it because it’s so light and all natural. I use it as a toner, too.”
2. Benefit Hoola Bronzer: “This is a non-shimmery bronzer in a natural brown hue.”
3. CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara: “I love it because it’s so cheap and fantastic.”
4. Urban Decay Naked Palette: “It has every color you need! It’s so versatile.”
5. Benefit Posietint: “It’s the perfect shade of pink for your lips and cheeks.”
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The dynamic duo behind Beauty Bender, Kathryn Romeyn and Alexis Johnson, have an impeccable eye for deciphering up-and-coming cosmetics trends and finding experts to give the lowdown on how to wear them. (It must be the decade’s worth of magazine curating experience they have between them.) We can’t get enough of their gorgeous site, and happily, for a whole week they’re sharing all of their beauty insight on our blog!
If there’s one thing we both agree we’d never want to be deprived of, it would be our Clarisonic brushes. Life-changing. Luckily, as beauty editors, we don’t have to whittle it down to just one routine-altering device or product. Here, we pay tribute to a select few truly genius skincare formulas we just wouldn’t look the same without.
Le Mieux Vita-C Serum
I love this incredibly potent serum, which is super hydrating and brightening thanks to maximum-strength vitamin C. My obsession stems from the fact that unlike most products, the main ingredient isn’t water, it’s this is hyaluronic acid, which quenches and plumps my always-thirsty skin. –KR
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We are a sucker for a bright red pout, but this week’s guest blogger, Julianne Carell, is even more addicted to bold lips than we are. In fact, her blog, PeaceLoveLipstick.com, is an ongoing ode to her favorite makeup category, covering everything from news to helpful application tips. This week, the lipstick-lover is showcasing her obsession on our site — check back each day for a new dose of lip color inspiration!
There are so many new lip color launches this season, but the innovative ones are what I’m most excited about. Here are the top three products I can’t wait to try.
Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick, $34: A multipurpose lipstick-and-lip gloss, this handy product is perfect for a night out. Major plus: the sleek packaging will save a ton of room in my clutch.
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Skincare guru Kate Somerville.
California-based beauty expert Kate Somerville doesn’t make it out to NYC very often (she keeps pretty busy treating Hollywood starlets like, you know, Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba) so when she does make it to Manhattan, it’s a real treat. In town the other day to promote a suite of new products she is adding to her ever-expanding skincare line, I was able to sit down with the guru and get the inside scoop on what will soon be on offer. Here, a breakdown of the three things I am most excited about.
Clinic-To-Go: Resurfacing Peel Pads, $48 for 1.7 oz (Available March)
Somerville spent three years working with a manufacturer to get the packaging for this new product right. A professional-strength peel in a single-use buffing pad, all you need to do is remove the seal to expose the formula and place two fingers inside the clever little sleeve on the back. Jam-packed with skin-boosting goodies, the key ingredients include lactic acid, which softens and exfoliates and Vitamin C, which boosts collagen. Use them two times a week for four weeks and you’ll see a brighter complexion, the diminished appearance of pores and wrinkles, and a smoother skin texture. “It’s good for every skin type,” says Somerville.
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