Beauty Box 5
Month
Dude, it’s chilly out there.
And while I don’t necessarily dislike cold weather (okay, that’s not true, but I am originally from the north), I REALLY don’t like what the cold does to my skin. Dry fingers are not the most attractive, and if it gets really bad out, my skin can crack– gross AND painful.
Luckily, I have a collection of lotions that work really well, and I just added h2o to my list. The Spa Hand and Nail Cream we featured this month is lightweight but powerful, so it absorbs into my skin right away– my hands never feel greasy or have that weird sheen that some intense creams leave.
Although I’m still an oil girl at heart, this Detoxifying Body Butter from Amala is just the thing to pamper my skin during the dry and cold months.
Made with myrtle, fig, and olive oil, this body butter is seriously the best winter-time lotion I’ve ever used. The creamy, thick, non-greasy formula softened my rough patches, made my skin smell like myrtle (a criminally underrated scent), and was a delightful way to start my morning.
I was able to do my whole body with just one packet and I immediately started worrying about when I could fit a full-size of this into my budget.
1. Never made varsity? You can still have swag. [glitter guide]
2. Yikes! What’s the worst nail advice you’ve ever heard? [all lacquered up]
3. It’s hard to believe, but spring is coming! Want to know what colors are hot next season? [allure]
4. You thought browns were boring? Think again. [makeup]
5. Be gone, breakouts! Still dealing with adult acne? Here are a few things that just might turn your skin around. [byrdie]
6. Have to attend a winter wedding? Be sure to dress cool. [brit + co]
7. Still raving about the new Naked palette? Hold on tight, because this Urban Decay’s new electric picks are going to be ahhhhhh-mazing. [temptalia]
8. So much easier (and less risky!) than carrying perfume in your purse, you should totally try this DIY. [bella sugar]
9. We were blown away by Dolce and Gabbana’s fierce, medieval fashion-scape. What did you think? [fashionista]
10. Loved the figure skating costumes even more than the actual ice skating? Relive them in all of their sequined glory. [the cut]
This March we want to streamline our beauty routine.
We don’t want to sacrifice our favorite things, but we DO want to save time (and space) so that there’s more time for adventure. Meet our new all-purpose favorite, Bellapierre Cosmetics Makeup Base!
This pale, creamy base works as an eyeshadow primer, concealer, and matte highlighter that can brighten your cheek bones or under your eyes. Did we mention that it’s also paraben-free?
Maybe multi-tasking is the key to happiness after all.
Hate makeup remover wipes because they sting your skin or leave your face dry? You are not alone.
It’s hard to find a reliable and gentle wipe, but Every Beauty’s Makeup Remover Pads fit the bill.
Made without alcohol or parabens, totally natural, hypoallergenic, and great for all skin types, these wipes are a dream for sensitive skin. Like all of my favorite products from this brand, these argan oil pads are kind to my skin but incredibly practical. I really appreciate that these are easy to store, and I don’t have to worry about them drying out (which also means they last forever).
Cursed with little baby lashes? Girl, I feel you.
Until last year I was strictly an eyeliner girl because my lashes are so tiny that I can hardly see them behind my glasses, even after curling and generously applying mascara. However, after discovering the joys of my local Sephora, I started experimenting with (quality) mascara and found a few that don’t leave me feeling lash-less.
I was excited for us to feature Elizabeth Mott’s It’s So Big in the February box because I LOVE when we share eye-centric cosmetics, and because I think it’s great mascara! In complete honesty, I found this mascara to be a little more lengthening than volumizing (it makes my itty bitty lashes look so much longer!), which is why I think it’s the perfect perfect daytime tool. It definitely offers a little drama, but is very natural and office-appropriate at the same time.
The best part? The wand makes it super easy to do my bottom lashes, which is usually a chore with most brushes.
A confession: I never get my nails done.
OKAY, not never, but most of the time my nails are painted from the safety of my bed and in close proximity to Netflix. I like my lazy weekend ritual, but sometimes I do yearn for the cool nail art on Instagram, which I obviously can’t do myself.
Luckily, I was staring at my chipped, black-purple nails not so long ago when these babies arrived at the office. Did the BB5 Team have a manicure party? You bet we did. And we LOVED it.
Everyone has a few, and here are some of ours.
“That awkward moment when your brother-in-law sets you up on a date with someone EXACTLY like him. My brother-in-law is cool and all BUT that’s kind of awkward.”
“This is one I try to forget! It was a beautiful night and I was pretty comfortable with the guy I was going out with because we had been texting and talking for a while already. Anyway, for our third "official date” we decided to see some bands play and do a little bar hopping, but my hop was very short. We were crossing the street, making our way to our next stop, when I leaped to get to the sidewalk, completely missing the curb and landing on all fours! I was horrified! Did I mention I was wearing tights, which tore, and there were plenty of passer buyers! I totally just laughed it off and acted like it was nothing but inside I just wanted to burst out in tears– not just because of how embarrassed I was, but because it hurt!“
"I went on a trip to Europe and while I was there I met this really great guy. We went out on our first date, the day before he had to leave back to the states. As we were ending the night, walking to the tram stop, it started to pour. We said our dramatic goodbye in the rain and ended up missing the tram. I felt terrible because then we had to wait another 35 minutes, AND my friend (who I begged to go on this date with me) also had to wait for our tram ride home."
"We were on our second date and he wanted to go to the movies. There was a shoe store right next to the cinema and I just had to stop and look at these gorgeous pumps. Anyone that knows me knows that shoes are my weakness. I decided to buy the pumps, but at the register I discovered that I had forgotten my credit card at home when I switched purses. I was so embarrassed and he offered to pay for them. I insisted that he didn’t because they were over $100, but he bought them anyway. I felt so uncomfortable the entire date because I didn’t want him to think I was some kind of gold digger! ”
[Photo: Classic Dating]
Yes, girl, you can do bad all by yourself! Here are a couple of ideas of how to treat yourself today.
1. Pamper yourself.
Go on, girl! Get your nails and toes done, or buy yourself a nice calming massage to give your body and mind a much needed break. Remember, you always feel good when you look good.
Looking for a blog that understands beauty, but doesn’t just stick to makeup? We think that you’ll love our newest Blogger of the Month, Johanna Grange from 101 Things I Love! Our appreciation for Johanna goes beyond her amazing lipstick and preppy chic style– she’s a great writer and a mom!
BB5: Hey, girlfriend! We love your blog and that lipstick! Tell us a little about your website?
JOHANNA: I started my blog four years ago because I was going through a particularly tough time in my life. I needed a creative outlet and I have a journalism degree that I’m very proud of. I dove in head first and I’ve never looked back. I cover everything, including my latest masterpieces… my gorgeous daughters.
BB5: Awwww. That’s too cute. What would you say is your makeup philosophy?
JOHANNA: Less is more. I wear just as much makeup as the next woman, but I try to look as natural as possible. And I never leave the house without a bold lip.
“That awkward moment when you feel your false eyelashes start coming out of place in a middle of a conversation and you’re trying not to blink because the more you blink the more loose they get, but you just can’t stop blinking– it’s like your eye lids are starting to have a nervous breakdown– and then you miss the entire conversation you were in the middle off. Yup, that’s happened to this girl… a couple of times." -Joanna, Marketing Director
"I don’t have an awkward beauty moment on a date, but I did have an awkward beauty semester while in junior high. Okay, actually a whole year. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until I was in seventh grade, and when I was allowed, I would try anything on my face, especially my eyes. I went a whole year alternating between white and blue eyeliner. Gross! But I can’t blame anyone for not telling me that white and blue eyeliner are not my color since all my girlfriends did the same thing." -Vee, Media Relations Manager
"Loving my food way too much while wearing bright red lipstick. By the end of the meal the lipstick is everywhere else on my face but my lips!" -Lauren, Customer Account Manager
"I rarely use foundation and makeup powder, but I had to attend a special occasion and decided to pack it on. While I was there I ran into and old friend, chatted briefly, then leaned in to give him a hug. I ended up getting my makeup on his WHITE t-shirt. It was embarrassing and extremely awkward. I quickly walked away and pretended like nothing happened." -Natalia, Art Director
"I was at an awards ceremony and a cute friend of mine from another school was there, so I looked in my compact mirror to make sure I looked good. I got up, gave him a hug, talked to his friends for a minute, then came back to my table. I looked in the mirror again and discovered that while my makeup looked great, I had food stuck in my front teeth." -Alexa, Communications Director
[Photo: Getty Images]
For the last two years, I’ve used oil as my main body moisturizer and, at the risk of over-sharing, my skin is wildly soft.
However, during the winter time, I have to switch to a thick lotion to keep hydrated and my skin (although still pretty good) just doesn’t feel as nice to the touch. In an effort to fight dry skin and get rid of rough patches, I started looking into exfoliation.
Although all those cute and easy-looking DIYs sounded great, I decided to take the easy way out and get a body brush. It did the job and my skin felt nicer, but it was super rough on my body and didn’t exactly feel pleasant.
Enter my newest beauty steal: Swissco exfoliating gloves.