Skincare terminology can be confusing. We all know we fall somewhere along the dry-combination-oily spectrum, but many of us have a hard time figuring out our exact skin type.
Our fellow editors over at Birchbox UK decided to get to the root of the problem in their brand new blog series on skincare. They asked former New York Times Magazine beauty editor Rona Berg to share the best way to decode your skin type. Turns out all you need is a sink and a few sheets of tissue. Read up on the full method here!
—Mai
Over on this side of the pond, we’ve rounded up answers to all your most pressing SPF questions.
Salma Hayek has quite a list of accomplishments. Besides her numerous starring roles, the 46-year-old star is also a mom and the founder of Nuance, a new cosmetic line based on her grandmother’s recipes. (She also happens to have the most gorgeous skin we’ve ever seen—here’s hoping we look half as good when we’re her age!)
We interviewed Salma in this month’s issue of the Birchbox Magazine, and here’s what she had to say about her counterintuitive approach to anti-aging:
I don’t believe in peels. A lot of people were doing peels starting years ago. Yes, in the moment they look fantastic. Now they don’t. Now I look better. Do not do things that make your skin thin out. Because if you inject it or pull it, you will look old. I also don’t do microdermabrasion. None of that.
Read the rest of the interview here.
—Mai
Find our favorite anti-agers in the Birchbox Shop.
Have you ever wondered what you would eat for your last meal? Melanie Dunea has. When she’s not interviewing people for her site My Last Supper, she spends her time as a freelance portrait photographer and casual instagramer. And this week, Melanie is sharing her favorite beauty, food, and photography tips on the Birchbox blog.
I used to dodge kisses from my Grandmother Oma at bedtime, not because I didn’t love her, but because her face was always greasy. Sitting in front of a vanity mirror, dressed in a lovely robe, she would slather layer upon layer of cream while going on about the myriad benefits of moisturizing. “Trust me,” she would say. “When you are old, you won’t regret having taken care of your skin.”
I took her words to heart and by the time I was a teenager in the ’80s, I was blowing over half my paycheck ($4.35/hour working in the school cafeteria) on—you guessed it!—moisturizer. Lotions, creams, serums, fluids, balms, salves, emulsions and unguents. You name it, I was daubing onto my face, lids, neck, shoulders, knees, and toes.
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Susie Wang is making a serious splash in the cosmetics world. In addition to founding 100% Pure, a line of all-natural skincare essentials, this Berkeley grad rescues dogs, champions earth-friendly causes, and isn’t afraid to rock a bold lipstick.
We asked the superchic entrepreneur about her makeup inspiration, the products she can’t live with out, and much more.
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My™’s debut skincare collection took centerstage at Henri Bendel’s.
A few weekends ago, I ventured from my humble Brooklyn abode to Henri Bendel’s Upper Eastside outpost. Leaving my beloved borough during the weekend, generally takes a lot of cajoling but when I heard one of my fave brands, My Skincare, was hosting an eye-opening trunk show I was there in a New York minute.
I fell in love with My™’s nourishing line after a particularly awful skin freak-out made my complexion a totally-not-cute scaly texture. Fortunately, the California-based brand’s vegan, gluten- and synthetic-free skin essentials miraculously quelled the dryness without causing further irritation. I’ve been a major fan girl every since.
Manning the tropical-inspired display, My™’s gorgeous founder Tessa Yutadco gave me the lowdown on the rare ingredient that makes her skin saviors so unique: pili oil.
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From painful chemical peels to extreme facials, there’s no shortage of beauty treatments that claim to combat breakouts. And when you’re dealing with an unexpected blemishes it’s easy to contemplate drastic measures. But before you book an appointment with your dermatologist or take matters into your own hands (literally), try these at-home tricks to calm your complexion:
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I was so excited when this new trio of organic skincare products landed on my desk. A package arrived last week packed with a cleanser, bath and body salt, and recently launched face oil from one of my favorite NYC-based facialists, Negin Niknejad. I’d been asking (okay, begging and pleading) for something to save my dried-out winter skin, and this was Niknejad’s delicious-smelling answer. I love her holistic approach to beauty—she doesn’t believe in using chemical-laden products and has convinced me to pay closer attention to what I eat (I’ve been devouring tons of salads as a result).
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Meet pūr~lisse founder Jennifer Yen. (Photo: Peter Cervieri)
Last week on a blissfully sunny trip to L.A., I had the chance to catch up with skincare expert and pūr~lisse founder Jennifer Yen. In her former life as an actress (she played an evil sorceress on Power Rangers in its first season), Yen wore extradramatic heavy makeup on a daily basis—which stressed out her sensitive skin, in turn causing acne, hives, and rosacea. To help combat these skincare woes, Yen created pūr~lisse—an entire line of sensitive skin-friendly products that rely on two soothing, healing traditional Chinese ingredients: blue lotus and white tea.
After spending an afternoon with Yen and her seriously luminous skin, I knew I had to find out everything that she uses in her personal regimen. So without further ado, here are the top four tricks that she follows to keep her sensitive skin clear and glowing:
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Keeping Our New Year’s Resolutions: Fresh-Start Skincare
For 2013, we resolved to have perfect glowing skin. To help banish breakouts and unevenness once and for all, we’re revamping our entire skincare routine with fresh products. From a double-duty cleanser to a depuffing eye gel, here are our tricks to ensuring a radiant complexion.
Need even more tips? Here’s the latest and greatest skincare advice from the Birchbox Magazine.
![Beyoncé for H&M, American Eagle’s “Skinny” Jeans, and More
Beyoncé teams up with H&M for its new summer campaign—she might literally be the queen of everything. [Glamour]
Check out American Eagle’s newest “skinny” jean—the tightest fitting jean ever designed. [Refinery29]
Dove’s new men’s shampoo commercial in Brazil is stirring up some major controversy. [Huffington Post]
Dylan Lauren, founder of Dylan’s Candy Bar, teamed up with LeSportsac for a candy-themed bag collection that looks sweet enough to eat. [SheFinds]
Find out which glasses are the best for your face shape. [Pretty Connected]
—Charisse
Speaking of Beyoncé, watch the Refinery29 team learn to dance like the popstar with a private lesson from her choreographer.
(Photo: H&M)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/d68d0b6a955bc90f618230d8cee29f6c/tumblr_mk0ssh3Zcx1qbz3xno1_500.jpg)
