You may have noticed lots of your favorite brands coming out with oil-based products in the last year, and for good reason. These products are a far cry from the greasy, dirty kind of oil that clogs your pores and weighs down your hair. In fact, these oils are all about working with your skin and hair type to either cleanse or hydrate. My favorite cleansing oils fit the old adage “like attracts like” by pulling out the bad oils and leaving skin with plenty of moisture, not stripped. My must-have hydrating oils sink in immediately and are much longer-lasting than moisturizers. Check out a few of my all-time faves below.
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The Show: Helmut Lang
The Nails: Essie
The Makeup: Sunday Riley
The Hair: TIGI
The Vibe: All natural. The models backstage at last night’s Helmut Lang show looked as though they had just returned from a chic camping trip. The makeup by Sunday Riley was minimal and focused on fresh skin and the hair by TIGI was roughed up and pulled back into loose, low messy ponytails.
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New York Fashion Week is still a month away but we’ve been getting lots of inspiration from the pre-fall collection presentations going on this week. Our favorite so far is Stella McCartney, whose Monday night presentation featured models with dewy skin (courtesy of Sunday Riley) and a bright flash of blue liner.
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‘Tis the season, which can mean only one thing: You are in search of great holiday gifts. Well, look no further. Whether you’re stumped about what to get a co-worker, your dad, or your bestie, we have something for everyone on your list. Check back every day this month for a new dose of gift-giving inspiration — and get ready to deck your halls with much more than holly.
Why this makes a great gift: We can’t rave enough about this splurge-worthy body serum (in our humble opinion, it delivers better results than a slew of spa treatments). It has a cornucopia of potent plant oils — including blackberry, black cumin, grape seed — that help reverse sun damage and restore elasticity.
It’s perfect for: Your hardworking mom who seldom treats herself, your grandma who loves to putter around in the garden, your little sister who spent a little too much time tanning on her beach towel last summer.
Price: $105, available on birchbox.com.
For more great gift ideas, visit our Holiday Gift Guide.
Who doesn’t love toast? We sure do, and as much enthusiasm as we have for the delicious complex carbohydrate, we love the blog A Piece of Toast even more. The masterminds behind the beauty amalgamation of covet-worthy products, style inspiration, and yes, yummy food, are sisters Sally Ann and Molly Bernadette. This week, the Molly is graciously bringing her flair to our blog, dishing on everything from the best hair masks to perfect holiday gifts.
Face serums and oils seem to be one of the biggest trends in skin care these days and after reading so many positive reviews about the benefits and ‘glow’ they deliver, I jumped on the bandwagon — and haven’t looked back since! If you haven’t tried incorporating oil into your daily skin routine, I hope I can convince you…
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Once a week, Birchbox’s resident Yoga and men’s product expert, Eric, will gives us girls some insight into his world in You’ve Got Male. Whether he’s giving his expertise on skincare (boys need advice, too!) or highlighting his new favorite grooming trend, this guy has got taste—so we’re lucky he’s on staff and willing to share.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about where to draw the line with spending on grooming products. I’m sure there are some people out there who would say that you can’t put a price on beauty. There are also those who are adamant that less expensive drugstore products work just fine. My theory is this: both are right.
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This week, we’re lucky enough to have the uber-talented Grace of Stripes and Sequins on board for a week of blogging fun. As one of our most loyal fans — she was one of Birchbox’s beta members and has been with us ever since — we’re thrilled to have her on the blog. She’s a DIY whiz, savvy beauty and fashion blogger, and one of the nicest people we know. First up: Grace’s Beauty Essentials.
Like any beauty product junkie, my must-have product list has a revolving door. I’m constantly on the hunt for new products, so I’m always switching it up. But these are some that I can’t live without.
Right now, I’m all about hydration. Cetaphil Body Cream is an oldie but a goodie. It’s the richest body cream I’ve found, and gentle enough to (gasp!) use on my face when it gets really dry. Sunday Riley Juno Facial Oil is also amazing. Although spreading oil on your face seems a bit counterintuitive, this one is lightweight and absorbs incredibly quickly. I put a thin layer just after washing my face, and my skin is instantly happy. I’m a little bit obsessive-compulsive about eye cream. I tried Face It’s Smooth Eye-Operator a year ago and was instantly hooked. It zaps dark circles while hydrating intensely.
As far as beauty products go, for lips I’ve gone back to another favorite: Benetint. I apply a coat, do my eye makeup, and then apply clear gloss. The tint/gloss combination is just…juicy! To give my skin a glow, I use Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint. (Discovered this one via Birchbox and instantly became obsessed!) I use only the tiniest amount on my cheeks, temples, and brow bone – it instantly brightens winter skin. For eyes, I’m addicted to Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara. This stuff proves that drugstore mascara works just as well as the expensive stuff. It lengthens and separates like no other.
I have thick, wavy hair and I swear by Moroccan Oil. I cringe a little bit writing it, as the stuff has gotten so much buzz. But it works, plain and simple. Once my hair dries, I use Garnier Glossing Spray (another blogger introduced me to this and it’s amazing – works just as well as Fekkai) to de-frizz and sleekify.
Check back tomorrow for more of Grace’s beauty and style intel. In the meantime, get inspired to try new products in our Shop!
