birchbox:

With tons of new beauty products added to the shelves every year, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to discern great products from so-so options. How can you possibly know which cream will keep your locks in check and what red lipstick has the best staying power without buying every last one (aside from signing up for Birchbox, that is)? Luckily, Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and their 5500 beauty insiders have done the work for you.

Every year, CEW and its members review the year’s latest and greatest products in the CEW Beauty Insiders’ Choice Awards where one product in each of the 30 categories will be crowned best of the best. More than 650 products were considered for this year’s awards and now 186 finalists have moved that much closer to receiving the industry’s highest honor. The winners will be announced on May 17, so be sure to check back on the blog for a full report of the top picks from this year.

Even better news? This June, we’re teaming up with CEW to bring you two limited edition boxes featuring a selection of finalist and winning products! (One box will be filled with prestige category products while the other will have mass products). Keep an eye out for more details on those boxes coming soon. In the meantime though, here are just six of the nominated categories and their selected finalists from this year’s awards:

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birchbox:

Here’s our fun Friday find: We just learned about Celebrityclose-up.com, a fascinating tumblr that gives an unadulterated, extra-personal look at Hollywood’s biggest stars. Everyone from Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara, to Mila Kunis, to Ashton Kutcher, are featured in photos that give an uncomfortably close look at minute facial details. 

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