Growing up, we did not have a Sephora. I was a Clinique girl, constantly reviewing product offerings in my local Ohio department store – I did not know there was a bigger cosmetics world out there (probably fortunate at the time). It was my time at Syracuse University (and my sorority) who introduced me to the world of luxury products, and Sephora.
What I found is that I was soon bored by the sheer number of choices, as well as the amount of data and reviews available on each product. I would spend time researching products before going in-store to make a purchase. Where was the middle ground? Where was my cosmetics advisor?
Which leads me to the solution, found via FastCompany.
My first memory of Birchbox comes from a time in my life where I was spending a lot of time on airplanes- and in this specific case, traveling to a major speaking gig in Orlando, Florida. And what do I do on airplanes? Read a lot of magazines- including FastCompany.
In February 2011, FastCompany profiled Birchbox, a growing startup headquarted in NYC by two Harvard Business School grads who wanted to redesign how women find beauty products by offering a curated box of deluxe samples for $10 a month.
Immediately interested, I signed up for Birchbox and have been a huge fan since- especially with the “themed” boxes the company has been promoting (ahem a Cynthia Rowley box?)
So when I received an invite to the “members only” VIP party at the Caudalie Spa at the Plaza on August 1st, there was no turning back.
With a few friends from work in tow, I sampled Caudalie products (including some amazing eye cream called Premier Cru) and received mini-spa treatments (including a scalp massage!) while sipping on some Merlot (the spa has it’s own Sommelier!)
[Bloggers Note: I have to give a shoutout here.]
The chance to get high-quality and targeted products delivered in a hot pink box is truly something special. Yay for Birchbox, and yay for entrepreneurial women with technology-focused mindsets driving innovation!

The pink box was a centerpiece at the event

A Live TwitPic from @Birchbox from the August 2011 event