Photograph: Caroline Voagen Nelson
Photograph: Caroline Voagen Nelson |

One might expect the head of a beauty start-up to have products bursting from every nook and cranny at home, but Birchbox (birchbox.com) cofounder Katia Beauchamp’s uncluttered Chelsea apartment is an exercise in restraint. “I’m good at spring cleaning,” she concedes. “[At work,] there’s new stuff coming in weekly and I’m swapping out monthly. But I try not to take home a lot—there are 100 people in our office and a lot of girls who want it.” Much like the beauty-sample subscription service she launched with Hayley Barna in 2010, Beauchamp’s personal stash places an emphasis on items from lesser-known, independently run brands—although she admits she’ll always have a soft spot for luxe goods. “In high school, I had a friend who was more advanced [beautywise] and she introduced me to [prestige] cosmetics—she had Chanel nail polish when we were 16 years old,” the native Texan recalls. “We had this teeny-tiny boutique that was the only place [in El Paso] that sold everything from Nars and Fresh to Kiehl’s, and I would just hang out there. That’s when I developed a taste for finer beauty.”

Vanity tour: Birchbox cofounder Katia Beauchamp

Birchbox cofounder Katia Beauchamp reveals her pared-down beauty storage, featuring products from independent brands.

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As a cofounder of beauty-sample subscription service Birchbox, Katia Beauchamp has made a career of discovering beauty products from lesser-known indie brands. The bedroom and bathroom in her Chelsea apartment are brimming with a curated collection of skin care, makeup and hair care from labels such as Caudalie, TenOverTen and Benefit.

Her favorite NYC beauty resources

Aesop Locations throughout the city; visit aesop.com
“I don’t do that much shopping outside of Birchbox, but I do a lot of perusing,” admits Beauchamp, who often browses at this Australian skin-care chain. “I think its very on-brand and cool, and I love the line.”

Dennis Gross M.D. Dermatology 900 Fifth Ave at 71st St (212-725-4555, dgskincare.com)
“I really want to go to Dr. Gross and get a proper diagnosis,” says Beauchamp. “He’s a dermatologist who has an amazing and serious skin-care line, so I’d like to see him.”

Fancie Nail & Beauty Spa Inc. 196 Seventh Ave between 21st and 22nd Sts (212-206-7988, fanciespa.com)
“I swear the damn manicure lasts a week without chipping,” marvels Beauchamp of her favorite no-frills nail salon. “I asked them what they do [differently] and they said, ‘We just don’t use old nail polish.’ But there must be some other voodoo magic in there.”

Jeff Chastain Parlour 29 W 17th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, fifth floor (347-204-7100, jeffchastainparlour.com)
Beauchamp gets her hair cut by Chastain, who runs this intimate salon in an office building and has tended to the heads of IMG and Ford models. “It’s the only thing I keep up with regularly,” she says. “He will never do something that won’t look good on you. He’s very artistic.”

Isabelle Bellis 60 E 66th St between Second and Third Aves, penthouse (212-966-3262, isabellebellis.com)
Beauchamp is constantly trying out different facials, but cites the one she had from this epidermologist as memorable. “She’s this amazing French woman who is all about stimulating circulation,” she enthuses. “She doesn’t use specific products—it’s more about massage.”

Follow Cristina Velocci on Twitter: @cvelocci

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