Eva Chen: Birchbox Crush

Teen Vogue’s beauty director takes a break from runway reporting to share her skin secrets and product faves

It isn’t surprising that the office of Teen Vogue’s beauty director, Eva Chen, has products occupying every surface, nook, and cranny. What is surprising, is the fact that Chen wasn’t always a beauty die-hard. She was actually pre-med in college, until a Harper’s Bazaar internship opened her eyes to the world of makeup and more — and we couldn’t be happier she switched career paths. We’d be lost without her Tumblr, Whatever Eva Wants…, with its daily outfit inspiration, and her Twitter feed full of behind the scenes pics and product tips. We caught up with the talented editor during a (very short) break between fashion weeks to get the inside scoop.

Skin Savvy

It’s amazing how many people think beautiful skin is something you have or you don’t. That’s not really the case — it’s something you work toward. I use a Clarisonic at night and a really gentle cleanser like a Cetaphil in the morning. Elemis’s Melting Cleansing Gel is also really gentle, smells delicious, and is moisturizing. I wear SPF every day, rain or shine. I also put it on the backs of my hands and my neck because I feel like those are the secret age spots.

Lip Service

The one product I cannot live without is lip balm. I love Dr. Hauschka’s. I have probably six of them, but they are scattered into different bags and I can never find them. I feel that way about Poppy King’s Jean Queen Gloss. I have two of them, but I can never find them so I am always emailing Poppy to ask for another one. It’s a great color and it looks good on everyone — like your lips, but better.

Serum Devotee

Granted I have a very Asian point of view on skincare, where I use like nine products at night, but I do feel like face serum is basecoat for your skin. It makes everything work better and makes your skin so much happier. Right now I’m using Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Serum. 

Splurge Worthy

Perfect concealer is worth the money. I love Cle de Peau’s concealer because it matches my skin perfectly. This is what people should be splurging on because it’s so, so hard to find that perfect match, even if a brand has 100 different shades.

Strand Plans

I change my hair more than anyone I know. I had a perm earlier this year, then I had an asymmetric bob, and then I did this boy-short hair, which is growing out. My next cut is going to be a bowl cut, kind of like a six year-old Chinese boy, and then I am going to grow it out with bangs. I have my hair strategy planned literally through 2012.

Getting Social

The social media stuff is all very new to me. I only started tweeting a year and a half ago. I saw Twitter as a way to demystify what I did on a day to day basis. Also, I get so many tips. For every 100 tips I get, maybe one of them makes it into the magazine. So I love being able to share the rest. It’s obviously really time consuming, but it’s nice to connect with readers on a real time basis. Someone could be like, ’I’m at Barneys and I don’t know what NARS lipstick to buy‘ and I could tell them, ’Oh my gosh, you’ll love Funny Face, it’s the perfect pinky-plumy color.’

- By Meredith Stebbins