Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

This week, Linda Wells, Allure's editor in chief, will be guest blogging about beauty and style at the Inaugural events in Washington, D.C. Look for her Inaugural Beauty Bulletins Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

She's a dream client, that Michelle Obama. The very definition of loyal.

When Mrs. O was 18 years old, she went to Rahni Flowers, owner and stylist at Van Cleef Hair Studio in Chicago. She hasn't budged since.

But her hair has.

I watched Steve Kroft's 60 Minutes interview with the Obamas back in February 2007. Michelle wore her hair in a stiff flip, high on top, and more Jackie Kennedy than Condoleezza in style. It didn't really fit with her clothes (a basic ivory top and faded jeans) or the time.

Not any more. Michelle O's hair looks full First Lady in the best possible way. It says she's confident, strong, forthright, not stiff or afraid (yes, I think hair can say a lot. But I would).

Allure talked to Rahni Flowers, who did Mrs. O's hair for her

This week, Linda Wells, Allure's editor in chief, will be guest blogging about beauty and style at the Inaugural events in Washington, D.C. Look for her Inaugural Beauty Bulletins Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

I called Narciso Rodriguez about Mrs. O and how she came to wear his clothes.

If you've been living under a rock for the last year, here's the background: Narciso designed the black and red dress Michelle Obama wore on election night.

Narciso has been pretty hush-hush about his role in it all. Seems that a journalist called asking "inappropriate questions." (Things like what size Michelle wears. Not cool.)

Here's our chat:

Me: "How did Mrs. Obama find your clothes. Did she pick them off the rack?"

Narciso: "She saw the dress in the show, and someone called and ordered it for her."

Me: "She was at the show? I didn't see her there."

Narciso: "She must have seen pictures of the show....I met Mrs. Obama years ago at the Children's Hospital benefit in

Contrary to rumors that she's gone under the knife, Madonna's youthful appearance is due to something a lot fishier: Salmon. While only her personal chef knows for sure, to many in the anti-aging industry, it's obvious why she'd be stocking up on salmon, and why we should, too:

"Wild salmon is an outstanding source of natural astaxanthin, a unique and multi-talented antioxidant," says Nicholas Perricone, MD, author of Ageless Face, Ageless Mind and one of salmon's biggest cheerleaders. "It's a superstar in the realm of anti-aging foods."

"Astaxanthin is shown to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines," he says. It also helps "endurance and recovery following vigorous exercise"-key for Madonna, who spends hours each day working out.

Now before you dig in, make sure the salmon you're eating is wild, since only wild salmon is rich in astaxanthin.

Bon appetit!

-Jessica Matlin

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If your winter's been anything like mine--frigid--you'd rather leave home without your iPhone than your lip balm. But using the same balm November to February is also borrrrring. So I switch mine up every week with one of these tinted numbers.

Lucy B. Tinted Lip Balm in Chocolate. This one's pretty dark for a lip balm, but don't worry if you keep layering--the color doesn't become opaque. $18

Kiehl's Lip Balm SPF 15 in Hue 58B. Expect the same protection you get from your plain Kiehl's blam, but with a fun raspberry tint. $9.50

M.A.C Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Fuschia Fix. A pretty pinky-lavender shade with SPF. $14.50

ChapStick True Shimmer Tropical. This clear, shimmery lip balm gives your lips a nice sheen. Perfect for when you're feeling lazy, but want to look polished. $2.49

Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate. I can't decide which is more delicious: This balm's sheer coral shade, or its rich, shea butter formula. $9

Pucker up!

Most of my friends think my love of gold is about as modern as Carrie Bradshaw's nameplate. And yes, I've retired the term "bling". Forever. But they don't realize how warm, flattering, and, fabulous gold makeup can be. Here, five gorgeous products that'll convince you to have faith in gold.

Chanel Glossimer in Gold Shine. I'm in love with this gloss because it warms up your natural lip color and adds yummy-looking dimension, without looking fake or opaque. $27

Nars Silent Night Eye Shadow. This yellow-gold sheer shadow has bits of gold ranging in size from micro-fine to flakes. It's more of a going-out eye makeup look than a Monday-morning meeting kinda thing. $22

Guerlain Ombre Eclat Single Eye Shadow in Gold Fever. If you don't like sparkles but you love sheen, try this luminous peachy gold. I find it really counteracts blueish purple undereye circles. $31

Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Honey. I played poker with a girl who was wearing this liner the other day. It

Creedspringflower2 "If I were a rich girl," so the song goes. Ha! After the beating my Visa card took this holiday season, I'm feeling not at all like a rich girl at the moment. (Find budget-friendly makeup finds here!)

My cure for the strict-budget blues? Testing out designer fragrances. They feel indulgent but aren't a fortune. Here are a few I'm in love with right now:

Ralph Lauren Romance Always Yours. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of RL's Romance, Mr. Lauren got the same perfumer, Harry Fremont, to give the original sheer floral a sensual twist by adding more musk and oak moss. Like its predecessor, it's a class act. $60.

Oscar de la Renta Sheer Freesia. Inspired by his Connecticut garden, Oscar de la R. created a fragrance that captures their sweet scent. It should hold you over until the first bloom. $42.

Creed Spring Flower. Holy icon! This pricey scent was created for Audrey Hepburn by the legendary perfumer, Olivier Creed. $122

Badgley Mischka Limited Edition Eau de

The other day I got into an argument with my cab driver.

He insisted that Lindsay Lohan had her freckles removed since Mean Girls, and being a freckle-face myself, I vehemently disagreed. Not because I know LiLo's dermatologist, but because if there were a way to wipe out freckles, I'd have done it.

I asked David Colbert, a NYC derm, if it's possible to get rid of the things.

"Freckles darken with increased sun exposure and fade with decreased exposure," he says, "so use a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater year round."

Tame your freckles with the best new sunscreens on the market.

Good advice, but Booorrrr-ing! I wear SPF 30 every day and still, major spots. Got anything better?

"There are cosmetic treatments like the Nd:YAG laser, prescription strength hydroquinone-based creams, and in-office glycolic or trichloroacetic acid peels." Colbert says the best results come from the laser and sunscreen 365-days a year.

Sounds high-maintenance.

In 2008, not every beauty move was an undisputed winner. We bed good riddance to the following:

Face yoga. A new-agey alternative to injections, face yoga hit the high-end gym scene. You were supposed to stretch, yawn, and puff out your cheeks to reduce your wrinkles. I felt idiotic sticking my tongue out like that. Plus: It doesn't work. (More unusual beauty treatments from last year.)

Eyebrow and lash transplants. If you lost your brows and lashes from alocpecia or chemotherapy, these procedures are great. As beauty treatments? Not so much. Stick with pencils, powders, and false lashes.

Forget about transplants, this newly-approved lash growing solution will give you longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes.

Pastel hair. Sure, Pink and Lily Allen pulled off baby blue and sugary pink dye jobs. But if you don't perform on a stage, skip this. Besides, these shades fade fast. And maybe that's a good thing.

Bowl-cut bangs. The black wigs and black lips look at Yves Saint