Blog Posts by Birchbox

By Candice Chan, Birchbox
Seventeen Magazine makes an anti-photoshop policy--well, sort of. Get the details here.
Back in May, we told you about Julia Bluhm, the 14-year-old who petitioned Seventeen with 25,000 signatures to stop photoshopping young models within its pages. Well two months later, the magazine has given a gutsy and admirable response. In the upcoming August issue, editor-in-chief Ann Shoket's letter includes a "body peace treaty" promising readers that the magazine "will never change girls' body or face shape" and it will only have images of "girls and models who are healthy." Huzzah!

Related: Should Photoshopped Pictures Be Labeled

The eight-point pact, signed by the entire staff, also has the magazine promising to "be totally upfront about [their] photo shoots," which means that they'll be showing behind-the-scenes video and photos on their tumblr. It's an important step in the right direction, and we're hopeful that this attitude about showing real bodies will carry over to some of the more mature women's magazines as well.

Related: Photoshop Scandal:

Read More »from Seventeen Pledges to Never Alter Models’ Face or Body Shape

by Mai Wang, Birchbox
The Fathom founder and perennial globetrotter shares her best travel tips

We all aspire to be as cool as Pavia Rosati. As the first executive editor of DailyCandy, Rosati spent nine years honing in on the best places to shop, dine, and play. So we naturally paid attention when Rosati started her own venture: Fathom, the new travel website that combines inspiring personal stories, practical guides, and cool souvenirs. (Coming soon: a travel agency.) Before we head off on our own summer trips, we asked Rosati to tell us about her travel regimen and what she always stows in her carry-on.

You only have one carry-on suitcase for a weeklong trip. What do you bring with you?
My travel uniform consists of dresses. I can't pull off the khakis and T-shirt look: I just look dopey. I pack as few shoes as possible, and I love a cute pair of Pumas. It's very important to leave room for souvenirs.

What is your beauty regimen while traveling?
Amore Pacific cleansing oil is the best product ever, and I am slavishly devoted to it. For moisturizers, I

Read More »from On the Road with Pavia Rosati

by Lorelei Orfeo, Birchbox

Whether you're refreshing your highlights for the summer or going all out with colored dip-dye, there are a few things you need to know before going under the foils.

Whether you're refreshing your highlights for the summer or going all out with colored dip-dye, there are a few things you need to know before going under the foils. We talked to celebrity hairstylist Mitch Stone (whose chi-chi clients include Jennifer Lopez and Kristin Davis) to get the cardinal rules of hair coloring.

GOING LIGHTER IS MORE DAMAGING THAN GOING DARKER
If you're interested in making a change, but aren't sure which way to go, consider going darker, especially if you already have dry or damaged hair. Stone says, "When you are coloring darker, you are actually depositing color as opposed to stripping it out of the cortex. This is a much harsher procedure and it takes a harsher chemical: bleach." While we love our blond highlights, we'll be considering some caramel or cocoa shades next time we head to the salon.

Related: Power of Three: Head Gear

'VIRGIN HAIR' IS BEST FOR COLORING
The healthier your hair, the better your color will look. "The

Read More »from 5 Things to Know Before Coloring Your Hair

by Candice Chan, Birchbox
Snag these hidden gems in your terminal's shops to help prep for your flight.
Seasoned travelers know that the key to surviving long delays or layovers is mastering the terminal map. What are the drink spots to hit, the food spots to avoid, and the kiosks with the best snack and magazine selection? While we can't tell you the layout of every airport, we can tell you the healthiest and most cost-efficient products to pick up on the way to your gate.

BUY BARS, NOT CHIPS
Terminal shops are notorious for their huge selections of candy bars, gum, and extremely salty nuts. When you stock up for your flight, skip the over-iodized bag of peanuts. Instead, look for a healthy granola bar, fresh fruit, and plenty of water. We like LUNA Bars because they taste good and have plenty of vitamins (including calcium, iron, folic acid, and Vitamin D) to keep us balanced on a long flight.

BUY WIPES, NOT HAND SANITIZER GEL
There's nothing like a few hours on a plane to make you feel downright grimy. Instead of drying hand sanitizer, pick up

Read More »from Airport Shopping Guide: Buy This, Not That

by Julia Bainbridge, Birchbox
A girl's gotta have her fragrance. Find out how to pack perfume here.

With the potential for spillage and breakage, it's tempting to leave your favorite scent at home. But we'd never give up that easily. Here, a fragrance fiend shares her top tips for traveling well-scented.

PICK ONE FRAGRANCE AND STICK WITH IT
We'd love to be able to pack a gaggle of scents to match our moods when traveling, but it's just not realistic. You've got to commit to one fragrance unless you want to run into big trouble with those not-so-forgiving TSA folks. How to choose? Pairing a scent with your destination makes logical sense, but we encourage you to think about how that destination makes you feel. Take the Caribbean, for example. A fragrance with a bounty of tropical florals seems appropriate. However, because we'll be feeling sexy, tan, and have voluminous hair (thank you, ocean), we're better off with something that has warm vanilla notes instead.

Related: How to: Pick Your Perfume

WRAP IT UP
To properly protect your fragrance enRead More »from How to Travel with Perfume

by Lorelei Orfeo, Birchbox
We've always had a thing for British culture. Check out these lust-worthy brands from across the pond.

Between the Diamond Jubilee, the London Olympics, and ongoing Kate and Wills mania, there hasn't been such lust for British culture on our side of the pond since the Beatles invaded in 1964. It truly is the summer of the Brits. On the beauty front, our colonizers are known for two distinct styles: English rose ala Kate Middleton or trendy rocker (a descendent of the punk styles of the '70s) ala Kate Moss. Our favorite British brands epitomize the two personalities perfectly. We'll see you at tea. Cheerio!

EYEKO:
This newcomer to the states has been around since 1999 in the UK and first gained attention when Kylie Minogue revealed she was a fan. We love how ingrained in iconic British culture the brand is: their mascaras and eyeliners are inspired by British supermodel Twiggy and Mod fashion; founders Max and Nina Leykind live on Abbey Road; the Eyeko logo is a nod to British coats of arms. More importantly we can't live without their smudgy Fat Eye Sticks

Read More »from Beauty Trip: England

by Mai Wang, Birchbox

Three Birchbox staffers share their carry-on essentials.

As proud Birchboxers, we know better than to rely on iffy hotel soaps and shampoos when we're on the road. But the definition of "travel essential" varies widely from staffer to staffer. We polled three very diffeent types of travelers to find out which products they always pack in their carry-on.

FIRST CLASS PRINCESS
Becky Case
Becky Case, Senior Software Engineer
Last trip: Israel
BY TERRY Crème de Rose Nutri-Lift Comfort Cream. I love the scent, and the formula is so creamy that it helps my skin withstand an arid airplane cabin.
Clarisonic Classic Sonic Cleansing System. I never go on a trip without this cleansing brush. It removes dirt, desert dust, big city smog, or whatever you come across during your travels.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. I used this grease-zapping styling spray in Tel Aviv when I had 15 minutes to go from desert dustball to wedding party perfection.
Comodynes Self-Tanning. Since I'm prone to sunburn, I use these portable self-tanning towelettes to get

Read More »from Survival Kit: Travel Edition

by Mollie Chen, Birchbox

Keep reading to learn all the products we're coveting this month.
When we think summer, we think skin: baring it in bathing suits or sundresses (and, of course, protecting it with SPF). This month's beauty debuts will keep you glowing and gorgeous in even the hottest weather, starting with an all-over body perfector and an anti-aging face bronzer. You'll also find a yummy body scrub, a blockbuster-inspired nail set, and more.

Jouer Luminizin Body GlowJOUER LUMINIZING BODY GLOW
This genius product does for the body what Jouer's award-winning Luminizing Moisture Tint does for the face. Loaded with shea butter, the slightly pearlescent cream keeps skin hydrated while adding a luminous sheen-very model-like, no? Thanks to honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine, it also smells intoxicating.
$36; jouercosmetics.com

Related: May Launches

Mor Essential Salt & Sugar Body ScrubMOR ESSENTIALS SALT & SUGAR BODY SCRUB
Australians have it all: stunning beaches, fun accents, and this homegrown brand's ultra-chic home and bath products. MOR's latest addition is their Salt & Sugar Body Scrub, which uses

Read More »from Shu Uemura Dry Shampoo, Snow White Nail Polishes, and More: June Beauty Launches 2012