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.
Although my go-to party look is a super-smoky cat eye and a rich rouge pout, some occasions deserve more experimentation. While perusing for New Year’s Eve beauty inspiration, I stumbled upon this brilliant editorial in French magazine Madame Figaro. Although the feature is meant to promote three of the season’s fiercest headbands, it also showcases three fantastic makeup options for this year’s ultimate party.
(Photo: Madame Figaro)
1. Victorian Vixen: Channel your modern Marie Antoinette by dipping into your spring pastel palettes for this look. After filling in brows, lightly apply Make Up For Ever’s #93 Irish Green (an exact match) or Stila’s Night Sky (a charming blue alternative) around the entire eye. Complete the look with a few coats of Alicia Silverstone for Juicy Beauty’s Pure Kissable Lip Color for the perfect pink pucker and a swipe of a creamy blush, like Jouer’s Poppy. Top your messy bun with a standout bejeweled headband and you’re good to go!
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Maybe you haven’t noticed, but the holiday shopping season is in full swing. As much as we love gifting, we also get overwhelmed by the sheer number of people on our list. That’s where gift sets come in. These smartly packaged collections are a complete no-brainer—they feature some of our favorite products and are bundled so prettily that you may not even need to gift wrap. We’ve rounded up some of this season’s top sets, plus what customers have to say about their standout products. Happy shopping!
Whether you’re a fan of bold colors, miracle-working skincare, or gorgeous hair, you can’t go wrong with these sets by Lipstick Queen, boscia, and Number 4. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what Birchbox subscribers had to say:
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Photo by The Sartorialist
My appreciation of
street style is no surprise, and I am constantly going to
The Sartorialist to get inspired by different fashion and beauty looks. Through Scott Schuman’s lens, it’s easy to see that it’s not just about the outfit. The shade of lipstick, arch of the eyebrows, or pearlescent tone of the skin can transform and elevate any look. I recently ran across one of my favorites from the archives: this
colorful shot of Niama. Her stylish outfit conveys the look of an urban tourist in a tropical, concrete jungle. But it’s Niama’s radiant
fuchsia lips that steal the show by adding a touch of brightness and playfulness to complete her look.
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We’re less than a week away from New Year’s Eve, which means you better start stocking up on noisemakers and kitschy party hats now. Whether you’re spending the night at home with your besties or going to a glitzy bash, you’ll want to look even more gorgeous than usual. (After all, if New Year’s Eve is good for anything, it’s photo ops!) This week, we’re helping you out with five days of party essentials. Today’s topic: getting a gorgeous flush.
Photos: Style.com
Whenever I am getting ready for an event or party, I am inevitably running late. Since I refuse to attend any sort of fete without styled hair (ie: blown dry) and a cute outfit (why does this part always take so long?), it is my makeup that usually pays the price. Enter my biggest time-saver: Red lipstick.
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When I came across this bright room on Pinterest (It’s originally from this post on Design Sponge) the bright blue wall called to me. That’s a great color! And although the hot pink and blue would be extremely hard to pull off together on the face (eesh, 80s flashback!), they’re complementary when you keep them on nails and lips. Since blue nails are so big right now, it wasn’t hard to find an equally electrifying shade.
Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Crime: $20
Zoya Nail Polish in Tart: $8
— Lorelei
Bright makeup makes a big impression! Find more in the Birchbox Shop.
Dedicated to “what’s in your closet and on your vanity,” Samantha Fodrowski’s blog, Closet Vanity, couldn’t be more perfectly suited to our interests. This week, the busy blogger is lending us her talents and musing on some of our favorite topics like the fashion-forward red lip and au naturel makeup.
There’s nothing worse than digging around your purse unable to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s a pen, gum, a hair tie, a tissue, or tampon. Try as I might to be prepared, inevitably I forget to replace any of the above items once I’ve taken them out of my handbag. Luckily, I keep all of my on-the-go cosmetics in two small pouches, which are easy to find. I find that having purse-designated products helps ensure that I’ve always got what I need with me. To keep things compact, travel and sample size items are perfect for purse purposes. (As you know, Birchbox is a great source for these!)
What’s in my purse:
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![Kate Upton Covers Vogue, Benefit’s Surprise Makeovers, and More
Perhaps in a ploy to get more male readers, Kate Upton graces the cover of Vogue for June. [Huffington Post]
Nikki Reed partners with 7 For All Mankind on a jewelry line. [SheFinds]
Lipstick Queen’s new Endless Summer collection has the editors over at Beauty High drooling. [Beauty High]
Jennifer Aniston gets on camera for Living Proof to talk candidly about “The Rachel” cut with the hairstylist that made her coif so famous. [Living Proof]
One woman tried Gwyneth Paltrow’s strict diet for 10 days and did not cut corners. Here’s how she fared. [The Cut]
Looks like Seth Meyers will take over Late Night when Jimmy Fallon moves over to host the Tonight Show. [New York Times]
Refinery29 test drives YSL’s new Tie & Dye nail polish topcoat. [Refinery29]
Benefit lures unsuspecting U.K. residents in to surprise makeovers with a pink ringing telephone booth. And then has them perform karaoke in front of a live audience! [YouTube]
—Charisse
Get perfectly soft curls with this how-to hairstyle tutorial and Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls.
(Photo: Vogue)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/f8ce93ecaf056e8a2e9a7e97612ef6c7/tumblr_mmqnumpaxG1qbz3xno1_500.jpg)
