Beauty Box 5
Month
Who would have thought sea grass was such a great idea?
The lovely folks at h2o clearly know their underwater florals and put together a great mix of water lotus and bamboo extract, red marine algae, and vitamin e!
The Sea Lotus Body Wash is the perfect companion to the Swissco Exfoliating gloves that were also included in our January box (see what we did there?), so I recommend slathering that bod with this refreshing wash and exfoliating the cold away.
BB5 tip: Use this when your man is on a business trip.
One of my favorite things about this fab smelling body wash is that it occupies the (very sexy) unisex territory. Don’t get me wrong, I love fruity scents as much as the next gal, but sometimes something a little cleaner and less feminine is a great change of pace.
Loved your sample? Buy a full-size here for $18!
Keep clean!
Alexa
Cold weather is lotion weather, y'all.
I’m the sort of person who keeps a different moisturizer in all of my purses so I’m never without one when my hands are feeling dull and crackly, but right now my sample of Jergens Daily Moisture is sitting pretty on my desk as my current my go-to lotion.
What I like about this lotion is that it feels silky and thick at the same time, leaving my hands nice and smooth. It also absorbs quickly, but I don’t have to reapply every five minutes.
1. It’s Grammy time! Relive the craziest outfits and get ready for more wonderful weirdness. [elle]
2. You’re heard that it’s key to do a statement lip or eye, but how do you do both at the same time? [makeup]
3. Bow down to these iconic ladies and their killer hair. [allure]
4. Don’t neglect this pretty lips! Here are some products you might like for a superior pout. [the cut]
5. Stephanie Louise put together a great (and easy) tutorial for Imogen’s look in That Awkward Moment! [all things beautiful]
6. We love this gamine and totally cool look that falsies bring out on this model’s bottom lashes. [beauty is boring]
7. Keep up with the coolest beauty apps out there and show just how trendy you are! [fashionista]
8. How sweet! You can make your own heart shaped lollipops for your besties! [brit + co]
9. Our girl Gwen Stefani has partnered with OPI! [all lacquered up]
10. Check out these pretty v-day looks inspired by romantic movies! [bella sugar]
Beauty Box 5 has your back! We can’t prevent awkward dates, but we can make sure you look great. Enter the Beauty Box 5 and That Awkward Moment Sweepstakes to win a $300 spa package, free beauty box, and signed merch!
1. La Fresh Travel Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes: Never worry about a shiny, sweaty face again! Also, these handy wipes double as makeup remover in a pinch.
2. Demeter Roll on Perfume Oil: Nervous about over-spraying? This roll-on perfume is foolproof and fits in any clutch.
3. La Fresh Travel Lite Nail Polish Remover Pads: He probably won’t notice your chipped nails, so don’t pick at the stubborn remains of your manicure!
4. Body Drench Lip Drench Moisturizing Lip Balm: Avoid dead skin and awkward sandpaper kisses! Keep this on hand so your makeout session is memorable for the right reasons.
5. H. Wood. Lips Lip Shine Lipstick: Need to look a little fancier? Play up your pucker this a sexy, subtle color.
6. La Fresh Travel Lite Antiperspirant Wipe for Women: Don’t let B.O. be the reason he asks for the check.
7. Body Drench Daily Moisturizing Lotion: Ashy legs? Rough knees? Get touchable, sexy skin and don’t be afraid of putting on that cute mini skirt.
8. Blinc Mascara: Long lashes mean romance. Make sure that when he leans close, he’ll be mesmerized.
We’re celebrating year two of Beauty Box 5 and we want you there!
This February we’re in the mood to party! We want our anniversary to be fun, which is why we’re giving subscribers a full-size nail polish and nail sprinkles duo from Rockstar Nails.
Want tips on how to give yourself a caviar manicure?
Let’s be honest: no one likes cleaning their brushes.
However, it’s very important to wash them more than once in a blue moon to prevent a buildup of bacteria, oil, and foundation, so it’s time to buck up!
The first step to keeping your beauty resolution? Pick a day.
You should clean your brushes at least once a week, so go ahead and set a day (and time!) to wash all the brushes you’ve used that week. Sunday evening is mine time slot, but any variation works, as long as you leave enough time for the brushes to dry before you use them again.
To keep your tools bacteria-free, you will need:
1. With lukewarm water running, rinse the tips of your brushes. Avoid getting water where the bristles meet the base, which can erode the glue over time.
2. Fill your bowl with lukewarm water and add a little shampoo or cleanser (I’m partial to Purity from Philosophy).
3. Swirl the tip on your brush in the bowl, or dip the brush in the bowl before swirling it in your palm or a harder clean.
4. Rinse your brush under water for a bit. If the water doesn’t run clear, or you can still see buildup on your brush, repeat the process.
5. Gently squeeze our excess water, then wipe your brush with the cloth.
6. Reshape your brush, rub down the handle with alcohol, and lay it flat on another cloth to dry.
BB5 Tip: Between washings, use brush cleaner for a quick clean.
Don’t have time to wash your brushes on the regular? Hey, me, neither. However, I do recommend that you invest in a little bottle of brush cleaner to spritz your tools after each use, or on the go.
May your brushes be ever soft and kind to your skin,
Alexa
1. The first step to great skin? A great diet. [elle]
2. We are wild about Lena Dunham and this super cute Vogue cover. [vogue]
3. Start planning your V-day menu breakfast. Or, you know, just make some for yourself ASAP. [brit +co]
4. Getting that gorgeous “no makeup” look. It’s work, but holy cow it’s pretty. [she’s in the glow]
5. Praise! Finally, some ideas to make growing out bangs more bearable. [the beauty department]
6. The SAGs happened and lots of beautiful people looked great (and others not so much). [cut]
7. We always here that to rock colored liner you have to go subtle. Turns out, not so much. [makeup]
8. Fashion blogging is pretty glamourous, but the price tag might be higher than you think. [fashionista]
9. We want to meet the spring season with Marc Jacobs! [temptalia]
10. Time to oil up! Dry oil is the new moisturizer of choice. [cult of pretty]
Cuticle oil may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about beauty products, but it’s the over-looked things that often make a difference.
In the cold winter months, my sensitive little hands get very dry and the weather throws me off my manicure game. In short, my cuticles were suffering until I was introduced Nubar’s Cuticle Oil.
Packed with Caramiane, Vitamin D, and Mulberry Root extract, this oil does a great job at keeping my hands looking decent–and smells pretty darn good.
It appears that I’m channeling my inner beach bunny.
No, I’m not tanning (no lotions or UV rays over here), but I am saying goodbye to a dreary winter state of mind with the help of coconuts.
Our January box brought a little summer love back into my life with Epic Blend’s coconut lip balm. Made from organic hemp seed oil, this little guy feels great on my lips and keeps them lipstick ready.
Plus, if the smell wasn’t enough to win you over, you should know that none of Epic Blend’s lip balms contain gluten, GMOs, petroleum, OR parabens. And they aren’t tested on animals. Boom.
The perfect moisturizer is a rare thing, but this comes pretty close.
No joke: I am all about Clean & Clear’s Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. I don’t experiment too much with skincare products because my face is pretty sensitive, so I was a little anxious about testing this guy out, but ended up being pleasantly surprised!
As someone with combo skin, I appreciate that this product keeps my dry spots hydrated, but doesn’t wreck my t-zone. I also loved that I didn’t need to use a ton of product, which means saving serious dollars.
Need a little insider information? Mina Slater’s your girl. Beauty Box 5 is a huge fan of this gorgeous makeup and product maven who has the details on everything from cosmetics to house wares and should totally be on your blog roll.
Say hello to January’s Blogger of the Month! BB5: Tell us a little about your blog!MINA: About 6 years ago I was working at a beauty company and constantly being asked for skincare recommendations. I loved sharing my opinions, so after an auto injury I decided to start a beauty blog. Around the same time I was having major Lupus flares and really got more into makeup to help me not look as sick as I felt. I eventually added in other things I love so I blog about skin, hair, makeup, nails and even fashion!
BB5: What is your makeup philosophy?
MINA: I see makeup as beauty enhancer. It doesn’t change who I am and I’m not trying to be someone else, it simply reflects the many sides of me in fun and sometimes artistic ways!
BB5: Who is your beauty icon?
MINA: My grandmother. She may not be famous, but to me she is the pure definition of classic beauty inside and out. So many trends of today are things I remember my grandmother rocking many years ago. Tips and tricks she taught me are still a part of my daily routine.
BB5: What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?
MINA: Less is more! I always thought my mother was just doing the mom thing when she told me that but it’s so true. It’s easier to build color up than it is to lessen it when you’ve used too much! Start with a little and build it slowly until you get the result you want.
1. Yes! OCC, everyone’s favorite lip stain, is launching a line of lip pencils! [temptalia]
2. “Best of” lists were everywhere this season, but one of our favorite’s was this roundup of pretty polishes! [all lacquered up]
3. The world might not be ready for Zosia Mamet’s monthly column, but we sure are! [fashionista]
4. Spend more time partying and less time getting ready with this quickie eyeliner tutorial! [the beauty department]