Beauty Box 5

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.

Read More →

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.

Read More →

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.

Read More →

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?

Read More →

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:

• a gentle clarifying shampoo or cleanser
• one shallow bowl
• two clean cloths
• a sink

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

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.

Read More →