Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Bad hair days, bah. When it comes to beauty problems, there are few things quite as troubling as waking up to a zit. Don't believe us? According to a recent survey conducted by Sea Breeze, 93 percent of women say they have breakouts at least once a month-and zits, the survey found, have even resulted in 32 percent of women crying! While we've yet to find an instant solution, these spot-treatments help clear things up, fast.

Sonya Dakar Drying Potion: "This liquid, which uses sulfur to dry up your pimples, claims to work overnight-and truly, I've witnessed it shrink my zits and take down redness by the next morning. My husband became so obsessed with this product when I was first testing it, I had to get him his own bottle." -Amy Keller Laird, beauty director

Get more skin secrets from Sonya Dakar.

Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion: "I squeeze a little of this alcohol-based toner on a cotton swab and dab it on the pimple twice a day, and it dries it out in just a day or

For every Sex and the City-inspired Manolo fetishist, there is also a hardcore sneaker junkie. They're a rare breed, but highly passionate in nature. (In fact, sometimes you can spot them queuing up outside unmarked doors in Manhattan, waiting to get into underground shoe dealerships like addicts badly in need of a fix.)

Follow who is buying what kinds of shoes, and where, here!

Now, CNN is giving us a glimpse of life "on the inside" at Atlanta's Sneaker Pimps convention, where the enthusiasts converge to talk shop and just plain shop. And it's no joke: A premium, new limited-edition pair of kicks can range from $250 to $2,000 (vintage crocodile-skin Nike Air Force 1's go for around $1,800 on Ebay!), which makes some of the chicest Louboutins look cheap by comparison. Kinda makes us appreciate that sale rack at Saks.

If high heels are still your must-have, try these comfortable insoles to ease the pain.

-- Erin Flaherty

image via David Cook

More from Allure's Daily Beauty Reporter:

The wheel of stardom has spun Jessica Simpson in an, er, challenging direction, and it's clear that she's trying to re-invent herself. Now there's an encouraging rumor about where she's headed: Back to reality TV-but this time, instead of spying on her marriage, we'll be voyeurs in the house of glamour. A tabloid reports, "The premise of the program, titled The Price of Beauty: She and a friend set off on a road trip around the world in search of what people find beautiful and why," says a source.

Read more about how looking good can literally pay off.

We likey, especially the part when the unnamed source cites Fear Factor as the tone of the show. Who knows if this whole TV deal is true or not, but Jessica Simpson as the unlikely beauty anthropologist could actually be kind of interesting on several levels. And if it indeed comes to fruition, you can bet she'll be addressing how destructively the media handles, ahem, love handles.

Related: How to care for your lingerie like Jessica

What is it with penises and wrinkle cures? The anti-aging product TNS Recovery Complex made a name for itself when they admitted to harvesting foreskin cells. And now our friends at New York magazine have stumbled upon Spermine, which takes the whole connection to the next level: A Norwegian company has synthesized human sperm and is touting it as the hottest new antioxidant.

We thought the best way to benefit from antioxidants was by eating fresh produce.

We know, we know, you can't wait to get your um, hands on it, right? Get on down to Townhouse Spa in Manhattan, where you can pay $250 for the privilege of getting drenched in the stuff (sorry, I know, eww...) with their hilariously named Baby Face Facial, or pick up a bottle of Spermine to go. While you're there, you might also want to check out their snail-secretion facial (they're still coming up with the name) for $175. We're not even going to speculate about what's next...

Check out these simple ways to get a "normal" facial

Talk about a phrase that doesn't roll right off the tongue... "Pretty Products For Healthy People Minus Many Lousy Chemical Substances" is something a company called Best in Beauty would like you to remember. Their mission it is to increase awareness about potentially harmful ingredients in cosmetic products, and each word in the phrase is supposed to remind you of a sketchy chemical. We ran their list by independent cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer and dermatologist Jeannette Graf to see what's really worth worrying about:

"Pretty" is for "Phthalates": "Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) has been found by the FDA to be safe and effective in making nail polish flexible and resistant to chipping," Graf says. "However, since DBP has been banned in some countries, most polish manufacturers no longer use it."

"Products"is for "Propylene Glycol": This is widely used as a humectant (a substance that draws water to the skin), and at the very worst, "may cause some skin irritation," Hammer says. Otherwise,

We're feeling the humidity creep up like there's no tomorrow. Luckily, we got our hands on an awesome new antidote. Sunsilk hair stuff has long been a secret drugstore find, and they now have Captivating Curls, a line that's suitable not just for those who straighten, but people who like to wear their hair curly-curly. The thing is, it just prevents poofy, frizzy hair.

Professional tricks for styling curly hair.

The shampoo and conditioner are extra hydrating, and the De-Frizz Leave-In Cream is a godsend for the fuzz-fraught among us addicted to similar (but more expensive) products. Plus it smells clean and fresh, not fruity, and never feels tacky. Consider this hair day considerably improved. And for more info on fighting the dreaded frizz, check out Beauty 101 in the June issue of Allure, on sale now!

Other products we love: hair tips from the man who created Frizz-Ease.

-- Erin Flaherty

More from Allure's Daily Beauty Reporter:

• Iman's Top 5 Beauty Secrets
  

Getty ImagesNo matter what weather you experienced this Memorial Day weekend, we know you know you're not supposed to get a tan-let alone a burn. But let's say you screwed up and it happened, or it might happen later this summer. After you kick yourself (and swear you'll never do it again-not to be all Debbie Downer, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure), here's what to do:

1. Take a chill pill: Aspirin and/or Ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and redness. And help out with that excruciating pain.

2. Bring on the plant juice: Aloe vera is definitely every mom's go-to for burned skin, but it's so sticky you can end up glued to your seat. Triple Lanoli Hand and Body Lotion With Aloe Vera can be found in drugstores (or on this website), and costs under $3.

Read more about the amazing skin-care benefits of aloe.

3. Drink it up: Think you were dehydrated after drinking your weight in wine this weekend? Drink

New research shows that looking good pays off, quite literally. A Harvard study found that the beautiful generally had better educations, were more confident, and bottom line, made more money. "Little is known about why there are income disparities between the good-looking and the not-so-good-looking," said a researcher who analyzed the data. "We've found that, even accounting for intelligence, a person's feeling of self-worth is enhanced by how attractive they are and this, in turn, results in higher pay."

Think you might need a pick-me-up at the office? Try these Bodies of Work tips to get you there.

Okay, makes sense. Take note: While the effects of intelligence on income were somewhat stronger than those of facial beauty, looks combined with intelligence were an unquestionably kick-ass combination.

Look you best by knowing these 10 beauty mistakes that add 10 years.

-- Erin Flaherty

image via Patrick Demarchelier

More from Allure's Daily Beauty Reporter:

• Iman's Top 5