6 Byrdie Editors Spill the Secrets to Their Best Features

 

A post shared by Amanda Montell (@amanda_montell) on Apr 23, 2017 at 1:29pm PDT

“No matter what any dermatologist says, I love my freckles. They’re one of my most defining features, and I want to enhance them! Recently, I’ve been playing them up by creating even more ‘faux freckles’ with a skinny brow pencil, like Urban Decay Brow Beater ($20). I lightly dot the tip of the pencil on the high points of my face: my cheeks, forehead, chin, and especially my nose. Then I blend them in with a Beautyblender ($20). This makes my existing freckles look like they’re in HD!” — Amanda Montell, associate features editor

 

A post shared by Victoria Hoff (@victoriadawsonhoff) on Oct 20, 2016 at 11:16am PDT

“This is very recent since up until about a year ago, I would not have been able to name one thing I liked about my body. But some much-needed weight gain along with regular hiking (and squats—I am a squats BEAST) has produced a little booty that looks phenomenal in vintage Levi 501s.” — Victoria Hoff, associate editor

“I’ve always been really into my butt. It was sort of a secret delight of mine until I started garnering compliments from both men and women on the subject. Now it’s become something I proudly discuss and display. I couldn’t be happier about the resurgence of vintage denim—it’s a cut that accentuates my backside without squeezing too much everywhere else. I just bought this pair of old-school Guess jeans that are magnificent. And I already wrote my thoughts on the Levi’s Wedgie Jeans ($158). So, my tricks are to wear thrifted jeans and slather on a healthy amount of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($45) after the shower. After a glowing recommendation from Victoria (I swear, she knows all the best stuff), I have become obsessed with the potent blend of caffeine, nourishing Brazilian cupuaçu butter, acai, and coconut oil.” — Hallie Gould, senior editor

 

A post shared by DEVEN HOPP (@dehopp) on Apr 8, 2017 at 5:40pm PDT

“I count my smile as one of my best features, which is part of the reason I take lipcare so seriously. I’m never without lip balm, I regularly exfoliate, and I even use a lip mask at night. I stay away from dark beverages as much as possible, and when I do find myself drinking coffee or tea, I use a straw to avoid bathing my pearly whites in enamel-staining liquid. I’m also quite obsessive about floss. I carry it everywhere with me—seeds and kale in teeth kill an otherwise shining smile. When I really feel like accentuating my smile, I’ll outline the outer corners of my lips with concealer to give my smile a little lift and definition.” — Deven Hopp, beauty director

 

A post shared by Hallie Gould (@gouldhallie) on Jan 30, 2016 at 2:40pm PST

“I never tweeze. I really do think that’s the secret. You have to let your brows do their thing, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a hefty set. I started playing them up more and more over the last few years, and now they’re quite possibly my favorite feature. I think there’s something so effortless but dramatic about dark, bushy brows. I swear by Make Up For Ever’s Pro Sculpting Brow Pencil (you can read my full review), Estée Lauder Brow Now Stay-in-Place Brow Gel in Clear ($25), and Josh at Shen Beauty (he does the best ashy tint). But the first brow powder I ever used—it’s my ride-or-die—is Joey Healy Luxe Brow Powder in Corduroy ($28).” — Hallie Gould, senior editor

“I LOVE MY BROWS. I haven’t tweezed one hair in like a year, and I’ve never been more obsessed. It’s true what the pros say—they really can make or break your face. I wish I had known that they look best with absolutely no maintenance (aside from a few swipes of Glossier Boy Brow, $16) because I spent way too much time and anxiety on trying to shape them for years.” — Victoria Hoff, associate editor

 

A post shared by Faith Xue (@faith_xue) on Aug 22, 2016 at 10:03pm PDT

“There’s been an obsession with lips lately (thanks, Kylie!), which has made me hyper-aware of my own–namely, that according to my friends, they’re great (thanks, Mom!). I keep them hydrated and flake-free by hoarding lip balms, and I usually apply a thick layer of a hydrating balm (Chanel Hydra Beauty, $50, is my favorite) before bed to wake up to soft lips. I also have made it a personal mission to try every lip product that comes my way—doing it for the people, you know. (Kidding, but for the record: BareMinerals and Pür Minerals both make incredible non-drying and underrated matte liquid lipsticks. Check them out. Also, try any of Charlotte Tilbury’s lipsticks, and you’ll never want to use another—fact.)” — Faith Xue, editorial director

 

A post shared by Victoria Hoff (@victoriadawsonhoff) on Mar 24, 2017 at 9:15am PDT

“My eyes are kind of cool—growing up, I always had dark, chocolaty brown eyes, but they’ve steadily grown lighter and greener as I’ve gotten older, just like my mom’s. Now, I am loving my hazel eyes, and I like to play them up with rust-colored or bronzey eye shadow. The color is a consolation prize since I cannot see two feet in front of me without contact lenses.” — Victoria Hoff, associate editor

 

A post shared by Lindsey Metrus (@lindseymetrus) on May 25, 2017 at 7:49am PDT

“I always used to feel very ‘meh’ about my hair growing up. It was kind of just there. Then one day in college, I decided I wanted some Khloé Kardashian–style layers in the front of my hair and cut them myself (true story). Somehow, the hair gods gave me a break, and it wasn’t a botched haircut—I actually kind of liked it. And it made my curls lie in a way that they never had before. I smartened up and visited an actual stylist after my DIY haircut and got some angles and layering throughout, and my hair was forever changed. Curling my hair so that it faces out and away from my cheekbones widens my otherwise narrow face and gives my hair so much more body (using the Ghd Curve Curling Iron, $199, helps with this too). Now I get complimented on my hair, and to be honest, I’m always surprised to hear it (but I’ll take it!).” — Lindsey Metrus, associate editor

 

A post shared by Victoria Hoff (@victoriadawsonhoff) on Mar 9, 2017 at 8:58am PST

“I’ve always had decent skin, but I’ve only really started taking care of it in the past couple of years or so. The difference is huge; I love playing up my natural glow and feeling clean, dewy, and fresh. Nothing makes me happier than going without foundation or excessive concealer. Obviously, just establishing a regimen has been extremely helpful for this (shoutout to Eve Lom Cleanser, $80), but getting regular facials has been essential to maintaining my best complexion possible. And by regular, I don’t even mean monthly. My minimum is twice a year—once at the beginning of spring and then once at the end of summer. It’s just nice to kind of hit the reset button with the help of a professional.” — Victoria Hoff, associate editor