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.
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.
First, a little back story: I have acne and, eh… let’s just say I’m well past my teenage years. Since I’m in that awkward place where I’m battling zits and fine lines at the same time, I try a lot of products (you should see my bathroom sink). Some products I’ve used were for zits; some were for wrinkles. But, I’ve never found anything that I could use to address both. Until now.
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.
This weekend marked my sixth move in eight years. You’d think I’d be a pro by now. But alas, the whole process still kicks my booty, especially now with a baby in the mix (breaking down and putting-back-together a crib is no joke!). My arms feel like jelly; my back feels like it’s carrying a Toyota; and my face…oh, let’s just say that my skin has seen better days. What I need now is a vacation. And a 15-hour massage. And a super-moisturizing facial. Since the trip and marathon massage are out of the question—there’s hours upon hours of unpacking to do, people—this at-home facial inspired by The Spa at Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica will have to do. When you can’t go to Costa Rica, bring Costa Rica to you.
This week I had my monthly facial at the Dermalogica Academy (which is definitely worth trying if you’re near a location) and discovered a few things that are messing with my skin from my specialist, Renee. Unlike the usual suspects (sleeping in makeup, not exfoliating enough, etc.), I never saw these coming.
1. Not Enough Protein
As a vegetarian for 10+ years, I’m pretty used to being asked about my protein intake. I’ll get to my answer in a second, but the truth is I never really know if I’m getting enough. That’s bad news for skin because protein is necessary for cell repair, and without it, your skin won’t bounce back from breakouts, sunburns, and other damage. Keeping track of how much protein you’re getting is important, it’s worth looking into it if your skin isn’t happy.
Our latest Beauty Confessional video is live! This week, we put our Marketing and Merchandising Manager Rachel L. in front of the camera. Rachel told us about the product that she uses to perfect her complexion. Now she wants to hear from you! Send us a YouTube video response and let us know: How do you get flawless skin?
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.
One of my beauty girl crushes is Kimora Lee Simmons. Not only is she incredibly successful, but her cheekbones are ridic, she’s got the best skin, and her eyebrows are crazy-perfect. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to speak with her directly and get the 411 on her beauty regimen. The Cliff’s Notes version is this: Simmons just launched her own skincare line (Shinto Clinical), her grandma taught her everything she knows about being gorgeous (drink your water!), and she love love loves anything packed with Argan oil (i.e. Shinto Pore It Out, FIXX Argan Oil Shampoo, and Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Lotion). Check out my one-on-one after the jump, and then tell me who your beauty girl crush is in comments.
After six years of research, British brand Molton Brown has just released their Intelligent Skincare and Anti-ageing Bodycare Collection. The new capsule collection uses natural plant and mineral ingredients like antioxidant-rich malachite, exfoliating pink toronja grapefruit, and Polynesian kopara, which is a marine extract that maintains skin’s water balance and helps protect from pollution.
We’re serious tea enthusiasts here at Birchbox: we can tell you the difference between Earl Grey and Darjeeling, and we’d never be caught dead without our oversized mugs in tow. So you know we’re not kidding around when we say that Tea Forté’s skin-smart Teas are the coolest teas we’ve ever come across. Thanks to their sky-high levels of antioxidants, these organic, fair trade blends let us combine two of our favorite pastimes: drinking caffeinated beverages and beautifying our skin.
Fun fact: Tatcha blotting papers were in the very first Birchbox, way back in September 2010. Katia, Hayley, and I were cray-cray for the handmade sheets, which are embedded with real gold leaf. We even shot a video of ourselves running around New York demonstrating the many uses of blotting papers (why this never went viral, we’ll never know). Since then, we’ve been waiting for the brand to launch a full-fledged skincare line. And it’s finally here.
Last night, Birchboxers stormed Dermalogica’s flagship store in Soho for an invite-only skincare event for our NYC subscribers. Between sipping on wine and snacking on gourmet cheeses, our lovely members had the chance to mingle with Birchbox staffers and see Dermalogica’s expert skin therapists for free consultations and treatments. Click through for our favorite pics of the jam-packed event!
