Blog Posts by Allure Magazine

by Rory Evans


John Manno1. SHAVE AFTER WASHING
Showering or bathing in warm water for at least two or three minutes prior to shaving "will prevent dirt and dead skin from jamming up a razor or causing ingrowns," says Claire Girdler, a research scientist at Gillette.

2. DRY OFF YOUR RAZOR
"I knew a girl who shaved her bikini area with a razor she always left in the shower, and she ended up with a staph infection," says Jodi Shays, owner of Queen Bee Salon and Spa in Los Angeles. Granted, that's an extreme example, but wiping your razor clean and storing it someplace dry can ward off bacteria.

See more: Find the Best Haircut For Your Face Shape

3. USE A FRESH, SHARP BLADE (OR FIVE) If it's a disposable razor, chuck it after two or three uses. If it has a replaceable blade, switch to a new one before it gets dull. Most American women replace after about a dozen uses, according to Gillette research, but you should change it at the first sign of dullness or discomfort, says Girdler. "For most women, this

That's right. We said it. These nail polish colors aren't just sexy--they're the hottest things you can put on your feet this summer. Now the hard part: choosing one.

by Lindsay Colameo

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You may have spent years studiously ignoring your mother's advice (and she was right about that guy in high school, admit it), but eventually all that bossing and nagging adds up to something truly useful. Here, Allure staffers share their mothers' wisest words about beauty.

by Lexi Novak

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by Grace Clarke


CN Digital Studio "Superfoods": The term is everywhere now, but can downing them actually make you look better? In a word: Yes. "Let's say you eat three meals a day. You have three chances to hydrate your skin, boost your circulation, and promote cell turnover," says Frank Lipman, a former chief medical resident at Lincoln Hospital and founder of Eleven-Eleven Wellness Center in New York City. "Or you can eat foods that actually promote aging in skin." Here, Lipman's top four nutritional powerhouses--and one food to avoid.

Wild salmon. "Most of us are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and we need these healthy fats [found in salmon and other fatty fish] for our bodies to function and replenish themselves," says Lipman. In addition to helping the body expel bad fats, healthy fats pad skin tissue and cell membranes, leaving skin plumper and more radiant. Aim for two to three servings a week.

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Chia seeds. "They're packed with antioxidants, fiber, and fatty

by Alexandra Tunell


Fairchild Archive Maybe it's because I work at a beauty magazine, or maybe it's because last year I had my first bad bout with acne (it's probably a combination of both), but I'm constantly trying to look better, younger, firmer, and glow-ier. No joke: I slather on about ten different products each day. The newest addition to my skin-care regimen was a "no downtime, no redness, no flaking" peel at N.Y.C. dermatologist Dennis Gross's new uptown office. I used the opportunity to ask Courtney Brooks, the medical aesthetician that administered my peel, for a little skin-care advice.

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This is my first professional peel. How is it different from a facial?
"A peel achieves great exfoliation. The one we use here is a combination of multiple different acids that treat everything from acne and hyperpigmentation to fine lines and texture. Facials are usually more specific to those with complexion issues who desire a good clean with extractions, or

by Lindsey Colameo


CN Digital Studio Earlier this week, Old Spice launched a line of bar soaps as the newest addition to their product line and a comical (and convincing) ad campaign to go with it. Based on this commercial alone, I'm about ready to trade in my favorite creamy body wash, but before doing anything rash, I called dermatologist Jason Emer to get the dirt on the classic sudsy cleansing bar.

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Why do bars have such a bad rap? "Historically, they have been more drying and had preservatives that may cause allergic reactions. If bar soaps don't have antibacterial agents, they're also more likely to spread germs. However, those with antibacterial agents such as triclosan or triclocarban can be useful."

What makes a bar so drying? "Many have detergents and no added moisturizers such as glycerin, oils, ceramides. That said, some do have moisturizers, and less detergent, which makes them less likely to cause dryness or

by Brooke Le Poer Trench


David CookThose tiny bottles of oil that promise a youthful complexion are not of the snake variety anymore. Dermatologist David Colbert, the founder of Colbert M.D. Skincare, who has studied the skin-care and anti-aging benefits of face oils for 15 years, explains how they benefit the skin.

FREE-RADICAL PROTECTION
"Many botanical oils, including argan, passion fruit, and African marula oils, are potent antioxidants. In the morning, massage a few drops onto clean skin, wait two minutes, and apply sunscreen or foundation as usual."

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IMPROVED SKIN TOLERANCE
"Oils can prevent the irritation caused by some anti-aging ingredients. Argan, yangu, and borage-seed oils all decrease inflammation. Smooth one on after your nightly anti-aging treatment. A few drops will be enough to cover your face and calm the skin."

PLUMPING SKIN
"In your late 30s, wrinkles suddenly look deeper because the skin's natural oils decrease, the moisture

by Elizabeth Siegel

Roger Cabello I love a nude lip--and I always will--but there's new evidence that lipstick with a hint of red makes you look younger. As in, actual evidence: New studies from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania suggest that in addition to obvious cues like wrinkles and gray roots, we subconsciously take facial contrast into account when guessing someone's age.

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Researchers took pictures of men and women ages 20 to 70, manipulated them to increase and decrease contrast between the eyes, lips, and skin, and then asked 100 participants to guess how old the people pictured were. Care to guess what happened? Yup, the higher the facial contrast, the younger the faces appeared. It means that wearing eyeliner, brow pencil, and rosy lip colors (since your lips loose their natural red tint with age), makes you look younger. And fine, you don't need a study to tell you all of that. But it's still nice to have some backup.

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