Beauty Box 5
BB5 Babes enjoy 5 beauty must-haves delivered by mail for $12 a month!
Golden fans & rouge ✨ @cndworld #shellac and @akzentz #gelplay (at Camelback Village Racquet & Health Club)
Lipstick heaven
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!
You’ve been loving this month’s Eco Chic Limited Edition Box, full of organic makeup and skincare must-haves, and we’re so happy to reveal one of the brands featured: [re]Fresh Skin Therapy!
Created in 2013 by a busy power couple from Boston with a combined 30 years in the beauty industry, [re]fresh Skin Therapy’s philosophy is real results from highly effective therapies which are safe and natural, for healthy skin.
The [re]Fresh Skin Therapy products are produced in the USA using state-of-the-art equipment at a climate controlled, FDA-registered facility; they use USP-grade ingredients which are all botanically-derived and never test on animals or use animal-derived ingredients. [re]Fresh products are always free from parabens, perfumes, dyes, and phthalates!
We recently had a chance to chat with [re]Fresh co-founder, Joanna Elkayam, about her line, her favorite products, and what sets [re]Fresh Skin Therapy apart from the rest.
BB5: What inspired you to create an eco-friendly/natural brand?
Joanna: I’ve always had very sensitive skin that is prone to allergic reactions if there are too many ingredients in any of my skin products. Because of my sensitivities, my dream was to make my own skincare products that I’m not allergic to! All of our products have very few and simple ingredients, all botanically-derived, and with no preservatives, parabens, or added colors or fragrance.
Are there any tips or tricks you can share with our subscribers about your Rose Glow Cleanser, featured in our Eco Chic box?
A very simple step, that most of us (including me) tend to skip is using facial cleanser in the morning AND at night. Your skin will thank you- the action of taking off all the dirt, oil, makeup, and pollution is like going to the gym for your skin, and it has all kinds of benefits! It boosts circulation and prevents those pesky free radicals from aging your skin while you sleep. When you cleanse both day and night, your skin can repair itself and stay younger-looking for years to come.
Which product is your favorite? Is there one product you never leave home without?
My everyday go-to is the Rose Cleanser - I love that it smells so clean, and it really gets all the oil and makeup off my skin. But my weekly can’t-live-without product is our Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel - if my skin is breaking out, or I look tired - this instantly brightens my complexion, and leaves my skin really smooth feeling and even-toned.
What products are in your makeup bag right now?
I keep it really simple: the Rose glow cleanser, our Hyaluronic moisturizer, Dr. Perricone’s No Foundation Foundation, and Blistex’s Deep Renewal Lip Balm.
What do you feel sets your brand apart from other eco-friendly and natural brands?
We’ve skipped the trendy ingredients: coconut water! snail slime! (yes, that’s a thing) for ones that Dermatologists have proven to work, like Glycolic Acid, but we make sure they’re naturally derived.
To learn more about [re]fresh Skin Therapy, visit them here and score the Reveal Pre-Peel Rose Glow Cleanser, plus, 6 other full-size organic beauty faves in our Eco-Chic Box, here!
We’re big on tips about covering up and contouring your face, but we also know that treating the precious skin underneath your makeup routine really transforms your whole outlook.
So, rather than shying away from embarrassment, we’re here to share all the crazy things we’ve put on our face to help stop a breakout.
Although we’ll keep the specifics anonymous, just between the BB5 Team, we’ve tried it ALL, from kitchen to bathroom cabinet, including-
- yogurt
- coffee grounds
- olive oil
- lemons
- baking soda
- honey
- apple cider vinegar
- witch hazel
- banana peels
- toothpaste
- calamine lotion
- garlic
- nearly every multivitamin made!
Oh, how we’ve mixed crazy concoctions in hopes of clearing our skin!
However, through all this trial and error, we’ve found that simple is best. One of our favorite’s from this month’s box, Dr. Lin’s Acne Spot Corrector, is easier to use than whipping up ingredients in our kitchen, and the best part is, you only need a small amount. This powerful formula works fast to treat breakouts and fade any old red or dark marks fast when applied daily. Sensitive skin? Just apply it every other day on blemishes to banish them- no mixing gloves or medicine-cabinet raiding required.
Dr. Lin’s products aren’t hyped without reason- after all, they were created by a well-known Beverly Hills dermatologist, and won’t break the bank! Plus, they’re powerful and targeted to give your skin exactly what it needs while still being gentle and paraben-free.
We also hear that they make a great prize…
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever put on YOUR face to clear your skin?
Share with us in the comments below- one lucky winner will score Dr. Lin’s Complete 2 Step Acne Clarifying System!*
(*1 Winner chosen at random. All comments must be received before 11:59 PM CST on Sunday October 5th, 2014.)
Calling all all-natural beauties- our Eco Chic Limited Edition Box is here!
This set of organic skincare and makeup is free of parabens and harsh chemicals, leaving you gorgeous and glowing with ingredients you can actually pronounce.
Score these eco-essentials- over $100 in value- for just $39 before we’re out!
Whether you’ve been denied ordering off the kids menu, desperately wanting to be older so you’ll be taken seriously, or enjoying the senior discount with no shame, you’re never too young- or too old- to start taking care of your skin!
Plenty of us have used skincare products that our friends, mothers and grandmothers used, with no regard to how it might impact us. Rather than spending money on the next fad lotion or cream that everyone else uses, why not get exactly what you need? Catching my eye with customization lately has been the different phases of Simyskin’s Anti-Aging Eye Serum. All three target what’s affecting the sensitive skin around your eyes in each stage of life.
While I personally fall on the left side of the graphic above, and have always been told eye serum was something I wouldn’t need until later in life, even now, a tube will do some preliminary protection for my peepers and plus, a tiny bit will last me a long time!
BB5 Tip: A little goes a long way!
You only need to massage a very small amount into your skin each morning after cleansing and before applying moisturizer. Just a dab does wonders!
Remember- you’re only as young as you feel, but good skin makes every era your golden years.
XOXO,
Kelsey
Tree Hut rocks my world.
I had the pleasure of trying each body butter, hand cream, and foot scrub we featured this month and from the fabulous fruity scents, to the lusciously thick formulas, this brand can do no wrong!
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.
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]
Are you a jet setter, chronic snoozer, or just terrible at properly cleansing your face each morning? Then you know it’s hard to be chipper when your face feels super gross, which means dependable facial wipes are a must.
At BB5 we’re fans of the La Fresh Facial Cleansing Wipes from your October beauty box because they’re great for all skin types, gentle, biodegradable and compostable! Each wipe is pretty thick and contains Vitamin E, aloe vera, cucumber, chamomile, marshmallow and tea plant botanical extracts.
It’s a little ridiculous to carry your favorite cleanser with you at all times, so why not keep a pack of wipes in your purse?
Although we’re only just starting to think about fall here in Texas, we know that our northern gals are already adjusting to changing leaves, chillier temps, and a more serious moisturizing routine.
Are we jealous about your gorgeous foliage? Yes. The cold? Not so much, which is why we decided to team up with Aveeno for our October box and send y'all a sample their awesome Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
Aveeno is a great skincare staple because of the non-greasy oatmeal formula, and the fact that it’s fragrance free, which means you don’t have to worry about creating a Frankenscent when you apply your favorite perfume. Huzzah!