Blog Posts by Birchbox

by Candice Chan, Birchbox
A beauty line after your favorite book? Read on for all the details.

Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey have become household names in the last few months, thanks to the explosive popularity of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. But now their, uh, extra-experimental relationship will become even more ubiquitous. Coming soon: Fifty Shades of Grey beauty products.

Related: Long-Haul Beauty: Products to Last Your Entire Flight

The beauty line is among many new licensing agreements in the works for the books, following on the heels of a movie deal, a lingerie line, and sex toys-obviously. (We're wondering if there's going to be a limited edition set of Christian Grey-esque silk ties, too.)

While no firm details are available yet on what will be included in the makeup line, we wouldn't be surprised if a lotion, a vampy lipstick, a bath oil or bath salts, and even candles were released to help create a Shades of Grey ambiance at home. As the Girls in the Beauty Department pointed out, there will also hopefully (or likely) be a

By Natalie Alcala, Birchbox

Travel in style (and beauty!) with our expert's jet setting tips.

With any luck, you have summer getaway plans that will take you far, far away. And what better way to use your in-flight time than to experiment with some fun beautifiers? Sure, you may bewilder your seatmate when you bust out a sheet mask or sassy nail strips, but in the end, you'll be the one who's primped and polished as soon as you touch down. Bon voyage!

A FACIAL MIST
Beauty Benefit: Keep your skin from getting thirsty by spritzing it with a natural facial mist like Melvita's Rose Floral Spray. Distilled from rosa damescena petals, this spray works with water clover and lemon extract to rehydrate skin while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Freak Out Factor: The fresh floral scent of this spray will have passengers wondering where the bouquet of roses is hiding.

Related: Survival Kit: Travel Edition

A SHEET MASK
Beauty Benefit: You're stuck on a plane anyway-why not give yourself a mini facial? Masqueology's single-use masks are soaked in

by Natalie Higdon, Birchbox

How to get the most out of your sunscreen. Read on for our tips and tricks.
We've all heard the basic facts about sunscreen: apply 15-30 minutes before sun exposure; wear daily to prevent premature aging; reapply after swimming. But there are some gray areas. Can you use leftover sunscreen from last year? What about tinted moisturizer with SPF-is that enough? We went to the experts to get answers-and you're going to be surprised by what we learned.

1. EXPIRED SUNSCREEN CAN DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD
"Using an expired sunscreen can lead to reduced protection from UV rays due to diminished SPF," says Holly Thaggard, Founder and CEO of Supergoop!. Plus, Thaggard says, expired formulas can also contain bacteria and fungus growth (yuck!). Elizabeth Hale, M.D., board certified dermatologist and a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center, adds, "Sunscreens degrade in hot temperatures, so those left in the glove compartment, for example, might lose their effectiveness well before the expiration

by Mai Wang, Birchbox

Luxe hair care tips from the pros here at Birchbox!

We still remember the days we washed our hair with 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner from generic supermarket brands. Now that our tastes have grown more sophisticated, our hair care vocabulary has expanded to include more targeted (not to mention prettier) products. Check out the latest superstars to rock our world-there's something for every type of hair.

SNAFU: SPLIT ENDS
Solution: Before you fly to the nearest salon and ask for a pixie cut, perform some emergency TLC with Ojon's damage reverse™ Restorative Hair Treatment Plus. The creamy mask has a high concentration of healing ojon oil that smooths ragged ends and crazy flyaways. We love the balm-like consistency, which melts into silky oil in the warmth of your palms.

Related: How To: "Gossip Girl" Waves

SNAFU: THINNING STRANDS
Solution: As we age, our hair naturally thins out and becomes more prone to breakage. Keep strands youthful with anti-aging products like Kérastase's volume-enhancing Age Premium Bain

by Lorelei Orfeo, Birchbox

3 stylish girls model summer trends.


As much as we love the art and fanfare of the runway, we're more likely to take inspiration from the real (and very cool) girls we see everyday in New York. This month, we parked ourselves in Tribeca and a few blocks from our office in Union Square and snapped away with a camera. Amidst the morning commuters and the lunch crowd we spotted three beauty styles you have to try this season. They're so breezily chic that you won't look like you're trying, and you might just find yourself in front of a street photographer's lens.

Colorblocking

Brights lips are so in this season. Take a page from Anna's book for a wearable day look.

Anna, Assistant Director, RH Gallery

Beauty Secret: "I love using bronzer as an eyeshadow, especially with a bold lip." Why we love her look: Colorblocking isn't exactly a new trend but we still rarely see it done with beauty. The contrast of her bright red-orange lip (the must have color of the season) with her bold blue scarf caught our attention right away. Plus, a statement lip is the easiest way to look chic on the fly,

by Candice Chan, Birchbox
Check out our favorite NYC beauty spots below!

Birchbox staffers share their favorite spots to eat, play, and primp.
Ah, the Big Apple. Birchboxers have a particular affinity for New York since we happily call the city home. That being said, our staffers are some of the most in-the-know, cool kids around town, so we've tapped our in-office experts to give you the lowdown deets on where to eat, drink and get beautified.

GET YOUR GRUB ON
We're spoiled by New York's phenomenal food scene. Our offices are right next to ABC Kitchen, Jean Georges Vongerichtan's stylish seasonal New American spot-I go once a week for Manhattans and peeky-toe crab toast. We're also by my all-time favorite, Gramercy Tavern. The food is sophisticated but not fussy, and the service is flawless.
-Mollie, Editorial Director

Related: Insider Guide: Austin

MUST-VISIT BEAUTY BOUTIQUE
I love Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics's adorable store partly because it's near one of my favorite places in Manhattan's Lower East Side (No Fun Bar). But

by Anna Norman, Birchbox

Three Designs You Can Do At Your Desk

3 DIY nail styles you can put together at work
Why run for a latte when you can beat the 3 p.m. slump with some DIY nail art? Okay, we're not actually advocating on-the-clock manicures, but all the tools you need to create eye-catching, on-trend designs are already sitting right there on your desk. And if your boss is out of town…

Related: How To: Easy DIY Pedicure

Use label moons for a quirky re-styling of the French maniReinforcement Label Moons
Begin by applying a coat of fresh polish to each nail, or work on top of an existing manicure. Once your nails are completely dry, firmly apply a reinforcement label to each nail in the position of your choice. (Helpful tip: cutting the labels in half helps get a tighter seal.) Apply polish to the part of the nail that isn't covered using a contrasting color and then carefully remove the label while the polish is still wet. Finish with a glossy top coat.
Colors Used: Color Club's Jackie Oh! over China Glaze Passion


Paperclip dots spice up a solid nailPaper Clip Polka Dots
Who needs fancy dotting tools when you can

By Mai Wang, Birchbox

Blemish Balm or Beauty Balm a.k.a BB Creams
This innovative skincare-meets-makeup product is a real globe trekker. Invented in the 1950's by a German dermatologist named Christine Schrammek, the BB cream (also known as beauty balm or blemish balm) was originally designed to help post-peel patients mask redness. It wasn't until decades later that BB creams resurfaced on a different continent. In 2005, Korean brands such as Dr. Jart brought the concept to the Asian market and they quickly spread to other countries. These all-in-one products combine the functions of a primer, anti-aging serum, moisturizer, and light foundation-plus, many contain added benefits like SPF. Read on to find the best BB cream for you!

Related: Top 3 Summer Beauty Trends

Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25
The first Korean BB cream to land on our shores, Dr. Jart's lightweight bestseller was developed by a team of twelve dermatologists. Thanks to the cool space age formula, it's super-hydrating. Upon application, miniscule water