Beauty Box 5

This month’s featured Cleansing Facial Wipes from Simple Skincare (our personal fave wipe!) aren’t messing around (pun intended). They really remove your makeup, all while instantly hydrating your face without leaving behind a greasy residue.

(We know, the obsession is so real.)

However, BB5 Babes are multi-tasking mavens, and we wanted to up the “favorite” label even more with routine-saving face wipe quick fixes.

Since you’ve already fallen in love with using them to take off your fiercest face at the end of the day, why not also…

Lighten excess contour shading

Nobody said Instagram Makeup was easy. We all have that oops moment, admit it. Refine your technique before you buff in your cream contour by swiping away at any overdone areas with the wipe gently, then blend and apply foundation on top. (Ta-da!)

Fix an eyeliner wing gone wrong!

Too much of a good wing? It happens to the best of us. For the most control, wrap the wipe around your pointer finger and drag your nail closely from tip to lid to thin out the shape! These wipes will be your best friend to help even the strongest of wings.

Wipe away liquid lipstick outside the lines

For pretty pout precision, use the same finger-wrapping wipe technique as the eyeliner wing fix to gently remove any stubborn pigment that took over-lining a little too far. You’ll thank us later.

Clean away makeup trial swatches from your hands

BB5 Tip: press and hold the wipe against skin for a few seconds to let it saturate the area first. (Even better, toss a pack of wipes in your purse before shopping for new shades and you’ll be set!)

Wipe residue off the inside of your makeup bag

Toting your must-have products around can leave a mark (or two). Remove any stains or spills in one swoop to keep your cosmetics case fresh.

What’s your favorite way to #MakeUp4Makeup using this month’s Simple Skincare Cleansing Wipes, babes? Simple Skincare will help you remove make up from your face (and make up bag) and put the good stuff – like instant hydration – back in. Share your #MakeUp4Makeup moment with us in the comments!

I’m just going to be real: something about “all-in-one” just sounds less than sexy. Maybe it’s because after working in products all day, there’s this seemingly luxurious feeling about a super-stacked vanity of shiny bottles and alluring elixirs that you layer like a fabulous mad scientist of skincare and makeup, with a complicated primping process to top it all off, instead of a do-it-all solution that sounds much more hardware store than cosmetic counter. However, some schedules are just too long, and some routines don’t always stay consistent after a tiring day of traveling, a hectic work week, running errands all over or just literally running around catching rare Pokémon in your neighborhood (hey, I’m not judging).

When you’re in a rush or you’re just trying to simplify, suddenly one product that does it all is like a pampering angel sent from above to solve your skincare woes with a wave of her wing (or, in this case, an adorable tiny pink spatula). This cherub’s name? Mirakle Cream by The Better Skin Co.

I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical of anything with “miracle” in the title, as I think it could be over-promising just a bit, but this little tub of perfection has calmed and hydrated my skin enough that I will let it keep the title and open up the heavens of my medicine cabinet to stay and then some. The thick-but-not-too-thick formula means that a little of this cream goes a long way, but it absorbs quickly so you can use it anywhere- and by that I mean I have slathered a tiny amount on my face and neck before bed as a night cream, on my bright-pink shoulders after I spent a little too long in the sun, as well as on dry elbows, rough cuticles, and on my itchy razor-burned legs, too! I’ve mixed it with my favorite facial oil after using a drying detoxifying mask to restore moisture to my skin and I’ve had absolutely no sensitivity issues as it’s fragrance-free and packed full of soothing hyaluronic acid, beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, aloe, and more. This cutie comes with a small spatula that fits on the lid so that you don’t have to dip your fingers into the tub (and so that you can feel like a fabulous spoiled housewife vacationing in the French Alps and applying her divine skincare with a dainty little spoon…or is that just me?) and the pretty printed label makes me want to leave it out on my counter to brighten things up.

Don’t just take it from me, here’s what one of our fave bloggers, Kara (who received it in our sister subscription, Lilee) is loving:

“Simple and effective products are the type of products I search for, as I am always careful with the ingredients I put onto my skin. The cream is gluten-free, paraben-free and fragrance free! Fragrance free is important for my sensitive skin! Beside the ingredients, I am also in love with how this makes my skin feel! It is a very thick cream, so I personally do not use this on my face…I love to use this on my body. I love using it when I get right out of the shower- once my legs are freshly shaven- and I apply an even thin layer on my legs. Letting it sink in overnight leaves my legs incredibly silky smooth- it is unreal! I even convinced my mother to buy it!”

See? Even the mom seal of approval is strong with this one.

So, what am I going to do with all my other shiny bottles now that I’ve got one product for so many multiple fabulous uses? While I’ll still work my way through them and will probably always own more than I technically need (hey, product junkies don’t change overnight!), it’s oh-so nice to have a hardworking-but-gentle cream to keep my skin happy in any situation- and to keep my carryon luggage light from just having to bring 1 thing for all my complexion complications!

The real question, though: do you think I’ll ever get the “…there can be miracles” song from The Prince Of Egypt out of my head every time I look at Mirakle Cream on my nightstand? Probably not…but I’m not complaining (and neither are your desk neighbors when you crank up that Whitney + Mariah after reading this post at work).

Wishing you so many skincare Mirakles!

Xoxo,

Kelsey

P.S. You can $10 off your purchase from our friends at The Better Skin Co. with code BB5 at checkout through 8/10! 

What’s one thing you think of when summertime rolls through? We don’t know about you, but when it gets summer-y, we start getting restless for a road trip! There is nothing more spontaneous than hopping in the car with your best girlfriends and your best playlists and heading to the nearest beach or big city. However, one thing about spontaneity is it doesn’t allow a lot of time to plan or pack, (and for our fellow makeup addicts and high maintenance gals, this can pose a problem!) but BB5’s got got the solution!

July’s box theme is “Road Trip Ready” and is filled with all the things a glam girl needs on a casual trip out of town. We wanted to create a box to be your go-to when a random trip pops up. (Meaning: throw the contents of July’s box into a makeup bag and you’re ready to run out the door and meet your friends!) 

So what exactly are Team BB5’s road trip essentials? Let’s peek inside this cruisin’ collection and review!

Item one was our sneak peek: a full-size eyeshadow in assorted colors from our friends at Hikari Cosmetics!

Before you roll your eyes and say ‘boring’ - these shadows are the perfect traveling companion. You never want to take your large, expensive eyeshadow palette on trips. Why? Because what if you drop it? What if you lose it? What if you spill gas station coffee on your favorite shade? (GASP!) Your Hikari shadow can replace that big, bulky palette while traveling in a snap and, plus, these singles are highly pigmented, glide on skin so very easily, and last all day! With 8 colors you can potentially see in your box, the possibilities for en route looks are endless and all shades are on-trends (hello, neutrals and shimmers!) look great on any skin tone and even when layered. Whether you’re a matte maven, shimmer sweetheart, or glitter gal there is a shade for you. (Bonus tip: For a foiled, metallic look, wet your brush with setting spray or water before applying.)

We also understand a lot of Hikari eyeshadows are arriving a broken mess in your box- and we’re so bummed! Unfortunately, we can’t hand deliver them all ourselves, but we’ll absolutely send you a new shadow – just shoot us a quick email at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to replace it! For those of you who can’t throw anything away or fancy yourselves a DIY, we have a video solution to this crumbled eyeshadow issue below:

How to fix any and all broken eyeshadows (or highlighters!):

1. Using a q-tip, eyeshadow applicator, or similar item, crush the broken eyeshadow until it looks like powder.
   
2. Fill the alcohol cap with a little alcohol and gently pour in the eyeshadow container with the powder shadow.
   
3. Mix the powder eyeshadow and alcohol to create a goopy mixture. It will be messy!
   
4. With the other side of your q-tip, clean up the edges of the container to your liking.
   
5. Pick up the wet shadow by the base of the container and flatly drop it on the table. This is done to create a flattened shadow so it looks new. Repeat this step about three or four times.    
   
6. Let the shadow properly dry. This will take about 2-3 hours.
   
7. Use, blend, and enjoy!    

The second item that’s coming to a vanity near you is a round blending brush from us at BB5. 

We are so excited to present you guys with another supersoft brush with so many uses. Bust this baby out to blend eyeshadow (like the Hikari above!) to perfection or buff highlight on your cheekbones. You could even use it to sweep and blend on contour! (In fact, hmmm…maybe we’ll film a tutorial on the many ways to use this brush. ;) ) It can do double duty and replace multiple brushes so your bag isn’t so heavy and overflowing, and you can travel even lighter. Plus, if blending is your cardio, you’ve got to get some exercise in before sitting in the car all day, right? You’re welcome.

Remember the brush from last month? The oval head from Sweep Beauty? We absolutely heart this brand more than you know and they have graced our presence again with another amazing beauty duo. May we present: this gorgeous pair of rose gold tweezers with a mini mirror to match! 

Every savvy chick knows the car is optimal time to pluck those stray chin or eyebrow hairs, because REAL TALK: the sunlight really makes them stand out. Keep these tweezers in your middle console for red light plucks and touch-ups for you and your girls. Plus, someone always needs tweezers for some reason on every trip (better safe than sorry!) and they’re a great tool to bring if you want to be Road Trip Ready! We love these tweezers especially because they have a great super sharp tip that’s perfect for grabbing those tiny fine hairs and precision brow shaping, and they are just about the prettiest shiniest hue we could dream up.

Every gal is different on a road trip. Some babes wear a full face, even if they are gonna be in the car all day, while others opt for a more simple look. Even if we are gonna be playing the license plate game for a few hours, Team BB5 needs some kind of makeup so we don’t scare anyone. (You never know who might be at the next rest stop!) 

We always recommend filling in your brows, whether you’re wearing a full-face or a light look, since they frame the face and a bold brow can give the illusion of being put together when in reality you just rolled out of bed and hopped in your ride. We love the super fine tip on Chella’s Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Pencil, as it’s ideal for shaping the perfect precise brow and there’s no sharpener needed! (Oh, and did we mention it pairs perfectly with last month’s Brow and Lash Brush by Prestige Cosmetics? It’s like we planned it or something…!)

Lastly, what happens when you get to your destination and you need a little pre-vacay glow before you head out to the pool? We can help with that with one of the cutest beauty tools we’ve ever included: the Mini Mitt by SkinnyTan! 

This Australian brand is known for their incredible formulas that include Guarana - a natural skin smoothing caffeine-like ingredient - and means their sunless tanner also reduces cellulite, too. The mini mitt (or mitt-lette) is the perfect size to apply any kind of tanner (mousse! liquid! cream! foam!) to your face or smaller areas of the body, plus, it’s tiny enough to fit in your smallest toiletries bag. The velvety mitt texture ensures your tanner will go on evenly and streak-free, and keeps your fingers from getting stained, too! You could pair it with another formula by SkinnyTan, the Mystic Tan bronzing lotion from May’s box or the VersaSpa Gradual Face Tanner from June’s box - because hey, we love a good completed product trio. ;)

Which product are you crushing on the most in July’s box, babes? What are you hoping for more of in August? Let us know in the comments!

( P.S. Missed out on July? There’s still time to get your box! Sign up before the 22nd to get everything shown above!)

June is here and we think you’re hot enough already: so why compete with more heat? ;)

The products in this month’s box include are everything you need to ‘shade’ your complexion with sun-kissed bronzer and glowy highlight, gradually tan your face without any harmful rays, and stay cool and brushed to perfection out of the sun!

Brush Crush

You can never have enough makeup brushes, so we went overboard in the best way this month by sending 2 of our favorite classic styles of brushes - an extremely useful brow & lash beauty by Prestige Cosmetics and the new all-over-Instagram oval-shape by Sweep Beauty. 

Sweep Beauty’s oval head is ideal for contour and highlight placement, but also works beautifully for foundation, too! 

At the end of the day, this tool is for blending. If you are new to this style (and many are!), Team BB5 filmed a short tutorial for all you first timers. View it here: 

You probably have already seen a cute brow and lash brush around the internet or maybe you’re owned one, but we think every makeup junkie needs a few of these Prestige Cosmetics duos laying around their vanity, since they can be used for so many things.

The bristle side is ideal for creating natural-looking filled brows. After you swipe on your brow pencil or pomade, give your brows a quick brush to diffuse the shade and make it less harsh. Flip over to the comb side to de-clump lashes from a mascara-gone-crazy moment – spidery lashes no more!

Show Some Face

If there was one thing we’d ask you to write on your mirror in lipstick as a reminder (besides, “BB5 loves you!”) it would be to WEAR SPF. The sun can wreak so much havoc on your pretty face, and we’re big believers in both prevention and treatment. 

Rather than waiting for your tan and inflicting damage, create your own color with Versaspa’s Face Moisturizing Gradual Tanner. It is a build-able product, so it won’t shock you with a suddenly-bronzed face and contains Marine Algae to help wrinkles and luminous skin appearance, too! Smooth it onto your cleansed face and wash your hands after application; color will develop slowly over a week or so.

Even if you’re a dedicated sunscreen wearer, you can still give your complexion some TLC with Pur~lisse’s Sheet Masks in Blue Lotus + White Tea + Seaweed! Both are extremely moisturizing after a day outside in the heat, or just to wind down after a long week.

To get the most out of your mask: open and smooth onto cleansed skin, and leave on for 15-20 minutes (taking a selfie while wearing is totally optional but so encouraged!). When you’re done, remove and massage the essences into your skin. One of our favorite mask hacks? Toss it in the fridge for a few hours for a super-cooling sensation, or steep it in hot water (be sure to let it cool off some!) to open your pores for better absorption of the skin-magic ingredients.  

Shade & Strobe

If you have been subscribed with us for a while, you know we adore Manna Kadar! Their products are so pigmented and long lasting and Team BB5 loves this month’s screw-off Radiance bronzer & highlight duo for multiple reasons. 

First, it’s a high quality, velvet texture– you can tell right away when it’s swatched on your finger or hand! The highlight portion allows for a subtle glow and the contour side is beautiful for a sun-kissed look. We have also become obsessed with using the duo as eyeshadow- especially applied with a wet brush to create a foiled look. After testing this product on babes of various skin tones and types, it creates a beautiful universal look across the board and doesn’t aggravate sensitive skin. Three cheers for Manna Kadar and the versatility and quality of their products!

What’s been your favorite product in June, babes? What do you want to see next month? Let us know in the comments!

Oh, and yes- there’s still time to snag June’s box! Sign up before the 22nd to get all the pretties above.

We’re feeling this month’s MerMayd Box vibes so strong that we had to make some wallpapers for your (shell) phone. 

Allow me to come clean: (and not just literally with the body wash pictured below) the rush that I get when I find a new product to obsess over is a stupidly addictive feeling. It’s not that I’d classify myself as a shopaholic, but I just adore when the stylish stars of the beauty universe align and send me a sign via a new perfect addition to makeup and skincare routine. Of course, this means that I tend to try out a few dozen trends and welcome new brands and formulas for all sorts of reasons, but no matter what, my top criteria is that they actually WORK (like that new Rihanna song) and that they keep performing amazingly (like Rihanna with each live version of her new song that I keep watching on Youtube).

While not every single product meets my high standards, I’m extremely loyal to the ones that do, and so when the products I buy over and over actually make a difference beyond my own makeup bag, too, it’s like a haute homerun! Sure, there’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes with supporting a giving organization each time you beautify, but if the product itself doesn’t wow you, no amount of charity is going to make you repurchase it. That being said, allow me to introduce a swoon-worthy world-changing brand: Soapbox!

April’s Beauty Box 5 featured a deluxe sample of SoapBox Sea Minerals body wash, and I’ll be honest: I was excited that the brightly colored bottle told me that for each bottle bought, SoapBox donates a bar of soap to someone in need, but I was also curious about how the suds would satisfy my sensitive skin. A few scrubs in and I was completely obsessed. Not only does this body wash smell like I borrowed it from an expensive spa, (like, one that’s priced way beyond my usual treat-your-self weekly budget of a few Netflix rentals and a face mask) but it also actually moisturized my skin with rich shea butter and washed away with no clingy feeling. As if my product crush couldn’t grow any more: it’s made in the USA, cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free, so easy to find at my local Target, and the bottle is made with 100% recyclable materials, meaning that I’ll be able to do good by giving back with each purchase while feeling good each time I lather up.

Talk about a life-changing shower.

Want to add some more empowerment to your bathroom cabinet? Here’s a few more of our favorite brands that give back!

1. Your love for Soapbox doesn’t just have to stop at Sea Minerals! They also make shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, lotion, bar soap, and body wash in all different scents- like this refreshingly delicious Bataua Fruit. Don’t forget to copy the Hope Code printed on the back of each full-size bottle and type it in their website to see exactly where your donation goes!

2. While we were already here for the pretty packaging and gorgeous organic lipstick shades from Axiology, we flipped over how they give back: including recycled boxes sourced sustainably in Bali and a portion of their proceeds going to animal welfare organizations. That’s one major muah! 

3. We featured Lasting Smiles Organic Lip Balm in our beauty boxes last year, after hearing their amazing promise: for each 1,000 lip balms sold, one child receives life-changing cleft lip or cleft palate surgery. They work globally to provide jobs in sourcing their materials and make their tasty sticks (like this yummy Passionfruit Mango!) with good-for-you ingredients.

4. Girl power looks SO good. Make Beauty’s stunningly designed skincare and cosmetics already blow us away, but hearing that 10% of their sales go toward the We See Beauty Foundation that supports women entrepreneurs with cooperative businesses? That just makes us want to buy the glowy Universal Stick in bulk now.

5. These pretty bottles by Afterfeather Refillables are much less boring than your regular travel vessels, and they fly high when packed aboard your suitcase and with their charitable efforts. Each set is made in the USA with 25% post-consumer plastic, and 10% of their proceeds go to charities that have a direct impact on their employees!

What give-back brands did we miss? Let us know in the comments, babes!

Xoxo,

Kelsey

It may be springing up flowers outside, but Team BB5 is still trying to treat our just-outta-winter skin inside, and the one thing we want to soft, smooth, and ready to be Instagrammed holding cute things all year round? Our hands, of course!

Since your digits go through a lot- texting, driving, high-fiving, manicures, and just generally, LIFE- it’s important to keep them happy and hydrated. The skin on your hands shows aging quicker than many other parts of your body, so take matters into your own hands- literally!- and treat them to some of our favorite applause-worthy remedies.

Our current favorite soothing lineup includes:

1. Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream in Vanilla Apricot

If you’re scarred from ever moisturizing in public and having someone turn up their nose at the smell of your lotion, this rose gold tube is your new savior. Not only is the fragrance absolutely divine, but it contains miracle-status argan oil to hydrate deeply.

2. Skinclinical’s Extreme Healing Repair Concentrate

Rough hand patches are no match for this amazing intensive treatment that heals chapped skin without ever feeling greasy. Bonus: use it all over - elbows, knees, arms - as its formulated for all skin types, from dry to sensitive to eczema and psoriasis-prone complexions, too!

3. Jaqua’s Buttercream Frosting Luscious Hand & Body Lotion

Have a sweet tooth? Beware: this rich lotion smells good enough to eat! Enriched with Vitamins A & E, it’ll soothe your dry skin while giving a seriously just-like-frosting aroma. (No, really…you’ll be convinced there’s a cupcake at the bottom of the tube.)

4. Red Carpet Manicure’s Cuticle Elixir

Forget Murphy’s Law- it’s Mani’s Law: you’re never near a salon when your nails start chipping or looking less-than-perfect. Luckily, this magical oil goes to work quicker than an appointment at softening cuticles and the sensitive skin around your nailbeds to keep your fingers fresh.

5. BODIPURE’s Keratin Gloves

These little lifesavers were a hit in our January Beauty Box, and we have the soft results to prove it! Just slip them on for 20 minutes (they’re touchscreen friendly, so you don’t even have to stop tweeting during use!), massage the solution in, and treat yourself to major moisture for your hands and nails.

6. Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Crème

Organic rosemary and eucalyptus oils make this lotion smell so fresh while helping improve circulation and cellular regeneration wherever applied, too! Added to the fact that it’s paraben-free with no artificial flavors or colors, and it’s a real all-around all-natural winner.

7. L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

If you’ve read any beauty blogs in the past, then you may be rolling your eyes, but hear us out! This silver tube is a cult classic for a reason! The silky texture, 20% rich shea butter formula, and superfast “soak-in” time make it a must-have in your purse.

8. Rachel’s Plan Bee’s Original Bee Cream

We’ve expressed our love for RPB before, and our crush keeps on growing! This amazing balm-like consistency of this cream melts into your skin- a little bit goes a long way! A hint of vanilla combined with organic beeswax and essential oils lock in moisture while smelling oh-so-nice.

What holy grail hand treatments did we miss, babes? Let us know in the comments!

Our last February face makeup look is here! 

Felicity used 4/5 items in this month’s box to create this simple mauve makeup look, plus, some of our other new discoveries and old standbys!

Here’s the product breakdown:

• Elizabeth Mott’s Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer (February Box fave!)
  
• Manna Kadar Cosmetics’ Day-Dream Palette 
  
• Manna Kadar Cosmetics’ 3-in-1 Blush, Highlighter and Eyeshadow in Fantasy (February Box fave!)
  
• Starlooks’ Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen in Plum (featured in our August 2015 box!)
  
• Geri G’s Ultra Plush Mascara (Spoiler Alert: it’s featured in our Indie Makeup Limited Edition Box!)
  
• Starlooks’ Longwear Mechanical Lip Pencil in Sultry Sangria (February Box fave!)
  
• Epic Blend Hemp Lip Balm in Coconut (February Box fave!)
  

What looks do you want to see next, babes?

The Beauty Box 5 shop is having a major sale just in time for spring! All of our lovely Bellapierre Eye Kits are half-price! That really is a major steal and with the upcoming season change it’s definitely time for some new additions to that makeup collection. 

In this video, Elisa at Team BB5 is modeling a fun, gorgeous look created with Bellapierre eye and lip products - and we couldn’t forget to prime her eyes with Elizabeth Mott “Thank Me Later” primer from February’s beauty box to prevent creasing. Here’s what we used: 

Eyes: 

Elizabeth Mott “Thank Me Later” Eye Primer

Bellapierre Eye Candy in Champagne

Total Intensity Eyeliner in Deepest Black

Styli-Style Line & Seal Twist Mechanical Eye Liner in Lapis

Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Cocoa

Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Snowflake 

Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Haha 

Geri G. Mascara in Black - Found in BB5′s Indie Makeup Box (spoiler alert!)

Cheeks and Lips:

Bellapierre Cheek and Lip Stain in Coral 

Babes, we have a confession to make: we’re kind of absolutely obsessed with being exclusive. You know, like, giving you products you can’t find just anywhere. So, that being said, we went a little liner crazy this month, but we think you’ll love the outcome. 😋

With February being our birthday month, we couldn’t resist celebrating in every way possible- and customizing is one of our favorite things to do! Any time we can making a one-of-a-kind beauty fave for you, babes, we jump at the chance and this time around, Starlooks made our lip pencil dreams come true!

We picked a mauve shade to feature in every February box because, well, Kylie was onto something with her mauve obsession, no? It’s the shade of the moment, while serving as the perfect color for transitioning from winter to spring and looking oh-so flattering on every skin tone. 

Of course, naming is everything, so while we’re celebrating our 4 years of existing (all thanks to you, by the way!), we thought we’d pop a bottle (responsibly, of course) and call it Sultry Sangria. And, while we were naming, we thought it only appropriate to share a fave sangria recipe to share and pair with this lovely liner, because, well, duh, right?

So, if you’re feeling festive, here’s our own spin on (drinkable) Sultry Sangria!

BB5′s Sultry Sangria 

• 1 lime
• 1 cup strawberries
• ½ cup raspberries
• 2 cups watermelon juice
• A bottle of your fave Rosé wine
• Ginger Ale to taste
• 1 Starlooks Sultry Sangria Longwear Mechanical Lip Pencil, of course!

Gather all your materials, photograph them cutely, and maybe give a good hairflip for some extra sass because you are about to become a Sangria master. Proceed.

Core and slice your strawberries in half. Place them and the raspberries in a pretty pitcher and then muddle the berries in the bottom of the pitcher. (’Muddling’ is just a fancy word for ‘smooshing’, by the way.) We left a few pieces intact for presentation.

Next, add your watermelon juice. If you’d like, you can substitute really any fruit juice that suits your fancy- we just went with watermelon to make the best mauve-matching shade of sangria. ;)

Pour in Rosé to your liking. Not a wine gal? No problem! You can sub in another fruit juice (pineapple or cranberry would be divine!) or just add in more of that A+ watermelon juice, too.

Finally, cut your lime in half. Squeeze in the juice of one half (be careful- those seeds can get away from ya!) and slice the other half to place into the pitcher, too.

Once you’ve added everything, give it all a gentle shake and then place it in your fridge to let all those flavors combine for at least 12 hours. (We left ours in for closer to 26 because we’re rebels like that.)

When you’re ready to serve, add ice to your glasses and fill halfway with the sangria mixture, making sure some of that marinated fruit makes it into each glass! Top each glass off with ginger ale and sip gorgeously, babes!

The best part? Your Sultry Sangria lip pencil will last through a (or 4, who are we to judge?) glass of this concoction without smudging, so cheers, babes!

XOXO,

The BB5 Team

[Oh, and don’t forget, this pretty pencil is custom and limited in run, so snag another for you or a gal pal while supplies last!]

This is Jenny, back to bring you part three of the 2016 Skin Spa!

At this point, we’ve already rid the wrinkles of holiday stress and started correcting our skin tone with a splash of vitamin C just in time for smooth skin season. While my skin is repairing its owner-induced hyper-pigmentation, I decided to give my great cover-up jobs a little boost with Kaleidaskin’s Color Solve Primer in Red, featured in the Indie Makeup Limited Edition Box (spoiler alert!).

Kaleidaskin’s Color Solve corrects different difficult pigments by layering colored minerals on your skin. Certain colors of light then refract off the primer. For instance, I have pale skin, and I often need the reds and pinks corrected in my skin. By using a red-corrector, reds are refracted off my skin to make my pale complexion look luminous and dewy.

Kaleidaskin makes several different primers like the red corrector. They base their product off the color wheel. So a person with yellow skin tones would want to use the violet corrector because they’re opposite of each other on the color wheel.

Now I’ve noticed that my fine lines are getting a bit atrocious with the color correcting primer; it’s a lot thinner than what I’m used to. I consulted our in-house makeup artist about my issues, and she gave me some great insight (as always). She reminded me that it’s ok to mix product, but be careful to leave some setting time before applying makeup. Be sure to use your products from thinnest to thickest. My regiment now looks like this:

1. Juice Beauty Serum
2. Moisturizer
3. Kaleidaskin Color Solve Primer in Red
4. Line Filling Primer
5. Makeup
6. Setting Spray

Another great attribute of this product is that you don’t even have to apply makeup with it; wear it alone for a great natural glow. I would love to try the Dynamic Line Filler and the Color Correcting Primer in Green, as well. I love my glowing pale skin when I use Kaleidaskin; I feel like I’m finally starting to belong to the skin I’m in!

Snag your own Color Solve Correcting Primer in Red as part of our Indie Makeup Limited Edition Box, while supplies last!

Xo,

Jenny

Hello beauty babes, it’s Jenny and I’m back to let you know how my second step in my skincare journey is going. I’ve now been using Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Repair Booster Serum for about three weeks, and it’s been a really gratifying jigsaw puzzle to figure out.

My skin was looking pretty clear from my wild spin with Palmetto Derma; my fine lines were hardly noticeable. Although I hadn’t used the entire bottle yet, I was satisfied with the results after a month and moved on to Juice Beauty. Like a kid in a toy store, I was just too thrilled to pass up the shiny new package.

Juice Beauty’s label promptly caught my eye. I already knew it was organic because I ordered it based on that biasedness for my finicky skin. The label says, “decreases DNA damage and improves cellular turnover.” The cellular turnover bit already had me eager to experiment. I’m always wishing for new skin, which I know is impossible, but it seemed like this little bottle had granted me a personal miracle.

At first, I followed the bottle’s instructions: apply night and day to a clean face. I would give it five minutes to absorb and go on about my routine. I began to notice my fine lines weren’t as faded with Juice Beauty as they were with Palmetto Derma. More importantly, I noticed my face seemed red and irritated when I took my makeup off at the end of the day. The reason I ordered this specific serum was because I wanted to reduce redness with Juice Beauty’s high concentration of Vitamin C.

I spoke to our in-house makeup artist about my concerns. She informed me Vitamin C can cause photosensitivity, or inflammation of the skin induced by sunlight. We came up with a solution that works with my skin flawlessly. In the morning, I use Palmetto Derma to plump my fine lines so my makeup won’t crease on my forehead. At night, I apply Juice Beauty to correct my skin tone from acne and eczema scars. I’m typically hesitant to use too many things on my skin for fear of it yelling at me. However, this combination makes me feel like I’m not using as much product, and my face loves my new power couple.

Xo,

Jenny

Hey Y’all!

It’s Jenny coming straight at ya from the Beauty Box block talking to you about some serious skincare. When I started my internship here at BB5, I was eager to score some incredible makeup tips, like any luxe lady would be. Even so, the majority of my excitement dawned with dermacare.

My skin’s problems are two-fold: acne and eczema. Both of these are on my kisser, how kind. When I work to dry out my acne, my eczema flares up and vise versa. I’m very careful not to disrupt my skincare regiment, but I need something to get rid of these dark scars.

I started ordering all-natural serums to test after receiving some awesome insight from the BB5 ladies. The ingredients didn’t irritate my skin as many harsh chemicals inevitably do. I was also carefully advised to start from the bottom; I needed to work my way up with serums otherwise I could shock my skin.

I chose Palmetto Derma’s Collagen Booster & Restoration Serum to begin my journey. I was looking for something that would smooth my forehead wrinkles and brighten my skin. This little gem performed way better than I thought my “first step” would. Before using the serum, I would get comments from coworkers asking if I changed my makeup because my forehead seemed more wrinkled than usual (no really, true story, it happened, mortifying). This collagen booster made me feel like my skin was a trampoline. Under the serum’s influence, the rebound of my skin was more elastic than the easiest of break-ups.

As soon as I washed in the morning and at night, I towel-dried my face and immediately applied two pumps. The consistency was more watery than I was expecting, but very gentle. I was expecting sting or crazy redness like a facial; it’s got to get worse before it gets better ideology, right? Nope! After five minutes, I went on about my normal skincare routine. No dryness, minimal redness, and noticeable results after a couple weeks.

My favorite part about this collagen boosting serum is the feeling I got 30 seconds into the treatment. Remember those “lip plumpers” we all got so excited about a few years ago, ladies? That’s what my skin felt like, without the burn of the peppermint. I love when I can truly feel a product working; I believe I’m getting my money’s worth.

Can’t wait for you to see what skincare product wins my love next!

Okay, ladies. I’m going to be honest here: I stayed up far too late last night. Netflix was calling my name! Then, this cute boy started texting me, and I just couldn’t end that conversation. A while later, I realized I hadn’t posted anything to Instagram in a couple of days, so I knocked that out. The result was me waking up at 6:30 AM with just a couple hours of sleep and feeling like somebody tried to turn my under-eye circles into birthday balloons. That’s a party I’d rather not attend (thank you for the invite, though).

Fortunately, my Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette was ready to save my day. This awesome palette has all the colors you never knew you needed all wrapped up in one thin, matte black case. It’s so easy to take on the go.

I was always the girl who thought you only needed one color of concealer. Well today is opening my eyes, literally! I need the green to correct my reddish/purple dark circles and blemishes. Naturally, I also need my color of concealer for my face, but I’ve got a holiday party to go to tonight and a massive black bruise on my leg that needs to get covered. Hence my need for other skin tone shades. Thanks again, Coastal Scents.

After moisturizing and priming, I excitedly went in with the green. I also use a green-tinter primer, and I feel like it helps a bit.

Depending on the pock and/or scar, I covered my blemishes with the green and lighter color concealers. I typically have to use the lightest tone I can find, but Coastal Scents pleasantly surprised me with having a color that was too light for even me. So there you have it! I promise, there is a color to match you in this nifty palette.

I then carefully blended my normal routine on top of my concealer and was ready to hit the town. I was so impressed with the applicable texture of the formula that I wore it to work the next day (because my BB5 babes made sure I needed to hide those circles again. Party party!). I got so many compliments on my skin; I’m a believer of this product for life.

Xo,

Jenny

Gift Guide- Round 2!
We all know our students are all wrapped up in finals at this time of the year, so let’s give them a little brain break.
Here’s a package of gifts we picked just for our favorite pupils:

1. Perk Naturals
Body and Face Scrub in Coffee First
After a long night of studying, your skin is the last thing on your mind, so caffeinate your complexion. We’ll eliminate the stress of tests and dry skin with this pouch of goodness.

2. Mulk
Notebook Set of 2 + Card
Doing homework isn’t half as bad when you’re doing it in style. Don’t worry, your grad can’t forget to thank you; this gift set comes with two notebooks and a card!

3. Rabbit Foot Fern Design
Sassy Pencils (Set of 3)
The card just won’t write itself, though. Set your student straight with some sassy pencils, because lets face it: all New Year’s resolutions need to be written in something less permanent than a pen. 

4. Lilee
Tea Infuser
Every student needs to meet our office mascot Fred the Manatea; he’s really the only reason we get anything done at BB5 HQ. Your grad will be gratuitous towards you. 

See the whole collection and shop for your buzziest student- or hey, students- pass this along to your parents as a suggestion. :)

The weather here in the US might be cooling down, but we trust this NYX Love in Rio- En Fuego palette will keep us warm and cozy through our chilly months. You don’t need an expert to tell you mauve, berries and plums will be huge for Fall 2015 because these particular pigments are already popping up on stores’ shelves. I was probably too excited to match my berry colored glasses to my pants and eyes yesterday, but no shame, babes.

I’m a sucker for anything purple, so I’m scrambling to put away my bright pinks and corals. The En Fuego palette is especially great for anyone with bright eyes because the high pigmentation and red base brings out our stormy colors. I love this particular wine undertone because it takes some real courage to wear sienna and bright ruby on your lids, but this cute combo is a trendy baby step.

I primed this look by applying an eye shadow base (like this Bellapierre beauty) because it really makes the pigment of the shadow pop and prevents creasing. 

Using an angled brush, I made an outline with the lightest color, silvery lilac, from the corner of my eye to the end of my brow, using caution to not cover my brow highlight. I then filled the base color around the rest of my eye, ensuring to get the corner of my eye to lighten the look. Next, I applied the middle color, plum, to my lid all the way up to the ridge where my bone starts. Finally, I finished the look by filling my crease with gunpowder. I also create a line on the outer corners of my eye, making a V-shape to darken the look a bit.

Simply add a wing and prayer (that you get the perfect eyeliner flick on the first try), and pile on some mascara to complete the look. I also used NYX’s lip butter in licorice and slim lip pencil in prune to pull together my plum-hued look. It felt great to be rocker chic and take on the fall to come, even if I was just pretending for a day.

Xoxo

Jenny, BB5 Team

Halloween doesn’t have to be too hard! With some of our fave makeup, we transformed into two bewitching beauties!

For Cleopatra perfection, Kelsey’s got the scoop:

This look finally gives you an excuse to rock blue eyeshadow like a boss! If you’ve already loaded up on a major palette (like these we love from Coastal Scents!) then you might already have these hues (as well as the witchin’ green tones below!) in your arsenal, but if not, we’ve linked some options.

Protip: Do your eyes first! This way if you have any shadow fallout or any pigments that don’t stay in place, you can remove them without messing up the rest of your pretty face!

Felicity attached tape at an angle to my eyes to get the perfect line for a wing, and we highly recommend this tip to get the perfect flick.

Once you’re taped up, proceed to makeup!

1.) Prime your lids with an eyeshadow base. As always, we’re in love with Bellapierre’s Makeup Base to keep everything in place.

2.) Get blue with it! We used Marsk’s Mineral Shadow in Melancholy with a flat brush to really pack on the pigment! (More budget-friendly option here.)

3. Next you’ll want to go in with the gold! Draw a skinny line in your crease with an angled brush using Marsk Shadow in Rich List and then topped it off with gold glitter from the Lol Cosmetics Glitter Eye Creme Palette in Starry Night.

5. Black lining time! We used 2 different formulas on this one. First we drew from tear duct to winged out with Bodyography On Point liquid liner and then used the Precisione pencil by Cattiva on the lower lid to smoke out for ruling-the-pyramids realness.

6. Once your eyes are set, remove the tape and add mascara and falsies.

7. For the face and lips, we kept things simple but still sun-kissed. Cheeks got some color from OFRA’s Illuminating Blush Stripes and lips from Ofra’s Lip Liner in Nude and Sunshine gloss (Fitting, no?).

Lastly, tie your hair in a high pony and walk like an Egyptian all night long!

(Want extra credit? Add some flash tattoos and a perfect gold polish on fingers and toes to sparkle even brighter.)

Feeling greener than blue? Elisa transformed into a Witchy Woman below faster than you could fly away on a broomstick with pretty greens and dark purple perfection!

Here’s how:

1.) Once you’ve applied an eyeshadow base, use a green palette on the lids, sweeping the darkest green on your lids and the lightest green up below your brows. We love Ivy Missed You from LOL Cosmetics, because it’s got a good mix of greens (and, oh did we mention that it’s under $3?).

As you can see, the tape trick is especially helpful here again to get a good perfect line that lasts.

(Protip: washi tape or painting tape is a lot more effective and less painful than old scotch tape, but work with what you have!)

2. Use a smoky gray or black shadow and draw it in an inverted V (think < and >) on each of your lids to add dimension. We like this shade the best since it’s SO pigmented and a little goes a LONG way!

3. Don’t be shy with the liner here, either! We opted for Cattiva’s Precisione pencil liner drawn super close to the lashes on the bottom and a perfect plum liquid liner by Starlooks on the top lash line!

4. Remove the tape and top it all off with a mascara that lasts- we love Scandalous Thickening Mascara by Nanacoco in Black Waterproof.

5. Bewitching lips are last and they’re oh-so-fun to mix! Line your lips with Styli-Style’s liner in Raisin first and then fill them completely in with the shade, too, then layer Nicka K’s Hydro Lipstick on top (for this look, we used the shade Daring.) You can custom blend the color as dark or bright as you want and cast a spell on everyone you meet!

If you try out these pretty looks, tag us on with #bb5BABEoWEEN so we can see! 

Oh, and snag 20% off all the makeup pretties we used to create these looks with code BOOTIFUL in the Halloween Collection in our shop!

Fall’s chill is on its way, alongside windburnt lips from late night football games, county fairs, and blistery days walking to work and classes. Chapped lips can ruin beautiful lip stains like this Tints & Sass doll featured in the September Beauty Box 5. Fortunately, we’ve still got those fresh summer lemons on the brain here at the BB5 office. We decided to take some lem-inspiration from the Beautiful Nutrition Lemon Rinse (also in September’s beauty box!) and use it towards the greater good of our cracked lippies.

Stains pick up higher pigmentation on dead skin, so we created this inexpensive DIY lip scrub. We love recipes that call for ingredients that are already in the pantry. It tastes like a sweet little lemon drop and here’s the how to.

Need:

1 Tablespoon brown, granulated, or in the raw sugar

¾ Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon honey

Half a packet of True Lemon

Note: if you like your sugar scrubs grainy, you can always use chunkier sugar, like Sugar in the Raw, or reduce the amount of honey used. Otherwise, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. I used an old lotion container with a tight-fitting lid to store mine in.

To apply, use a dime-sized dollop on your finger or an old toothbrush over a sink. Scrub lightly for a few seconds, keeping in mind to get the edges of your lips, too. Rinse with lukewarm water and viola! You’ve got a set of soft lemon lippies to die for. Start staining, babes.

Xoxo,

Jenny, Team BB5

Don’t let Tints & Sass throw you for a loop! September’s cheek and lip stain by Elizabeth Mott is concentrated and pigmented, but we promise it’s easier to use than you think! BB5 Rockstar Intern Erin is here to give you tips. Take it away, Erin!

In order to correctly apply a cheek stain a blush brush is needed. I

use the Coastal Scents Classic Blush Angle Brush, which is available in the

BB5 Shop. There are plenty of ways to use this brush to apply the stain. I

like to evenly apply the stain to the tips of the brush and gently sweep the

brush on the apples of your cheeks. Ladies, do not press the brush hard into

your skin because this product is extremely concentrated. Once it is on, it is

hard to get off.

This product is also a lip stain! Before applying this product to your lips

please remember to exfoliate. If you skip this crucial step the stain will

magnify all the dead skin on your lips and your lips will look crusty instead of

luscious- and we don’t want that, ladies. We love Perk’s Pucker Up Lip Scrub,

however any lip scrub will do. Rub the scrub on your lips in a circular motion

and rinse off with warm water.

If you do not want a super dark cheek, mix the cheek stain with a

moisturizer. This will allow a slight rosy hue rather than a full, dramatic look.

When using Tints and Sass as a lip stain be sure to be a little heavy

handed in order for the color to fully show up on your lips, unlike when

you are using it as a cheek stain. After use, if your lips are feeling a little dry

and tacky, apply a clear gloss or balm over the stain.

What’s your favorite way to use a stain, babes?