Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Confession: I've got tiny red bumps on my upper arms, and no matter how much I scrub, they don't want to go away.

I buzzed Dr. Kenneth Beer, a Palm Beach derm, to find out what the heck it is. His phone diagnosis:

"Sounds like keratosis pilaris to me. This happens when skin proteins plug up hair follicles, and it's common to get it on your upper arms or thighs," he says. P.S., It's often hereditary, too. Thanks, Mom.

So how the heck do I get rid of the stuff?

"There isn't a permanent fix, but you can make the bumps go away for a while with glycolic and lactic acid treatments, which will diminish buildup and make your skin feel softer," says Beer.

Beer suggests a prescription such as Am Lactin, Lac Hydrin, and Theraplex FT. "And for some people, Retin A works well."

Two over-the-counter fixes with glycolic and lactic acid: DermaDoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Moisturizing Therapy for Dry Skin, $36 and DDF Glycolic Body Lotion 10%, $42.

It takes about two months

Allure's Best of Beauty winners--in our October issue--are royalty in these parts.

We tested thousands of products for more than five months straight until we found the perfect one for every single category. (I can tell you that nothing slipped through the cracks.)

We're celebrating this year's 182 winning products on allure.com with a new program called 31 Days of Best of Beauty. Log on every day for an easy, expert trick on how to get clearer skin, shinier hair, and more. By Halloween, you'll be so gorgeous, you won't want to look like anyone but yourself.

But it doesn't end there--you can win major beauty loot, too!

• Each time you log a tip you've tried, you'll be automatically entered to win a gift set from L'Occitane.

• A suitcase full of winning products worth more than $3,000 is being given to one lucky reader.

• A weeklong trip for two to Rancho La Puerta Spa in Tecate, Mexico is being offered--and all you have to do to be eligible to win is sign up.

The beauty rumors are swirling around Sarah Palin. There's the question about her Valentinos, her alleged tattooed lipliner, and the tanning bed in her Wasilla, Alaska home.

After Thursday's debate, we asked our friend Lily, the blogger at Beauty Maverick, if she had some pointers for Palin. Here's her advice, from one maverick to another:

ISSUE: Palin's teased hair and brassy highlights look.

REBUTTAL: Ditch the streaks for a rich, chestnut color. A blunt bob would be a more modern than the voluminous updos.

ISSUE: Her makeup looked cakey, didn't it? The coppery brown blush was distracting, and the thick beige lipstick just didn't work.

REBUTTAL: Go with thicker brows and more natural neutrals, says Lily, who cites Palin impersonator Tina Fey as a perfect example. A warm rosy blush applied to the apples and creamy nude-rose lipstick could do wonders.

ISSUE: The sun damage on her chest. (High-definition TV is a b---- .)

REBUTTAL: Lose the tanning bed.

For

The Mission: To find a high-quality makeup brush kit that doesn't cost a fortune.

Status: Accomplished.

Avon Mark. Go With the Pro Brush Mini Kit, $15. This kit packs mini versions of Mark's powder, concealer, lip color, eye shadow, and eyeliner brushes. Slip it into your desk drawer for day-to-night touchups.

Kat Von D Kat Eye Brush Set, $48. If you take your eye makeup as seriously as Kat von D takes her tattoos, you'll love this kit. It includes an angled eye shadow brush, a blending brush, an angled brow brush, a smudge brush, and a flat eyeliner brush.

Mally Paint the Town Brush Shaping Duo, $45. A must for blush addicts: Use one side of the pink double-ended brush to evenly dust shimmer onto your cheekbones, and rely on the chubby, thicker side for blending contouring powders. The super-plush brush is for bronzer and blush.

Playboy Beauty Stay the Night Kit, $38. A makeup artist friend of mine turned me on to this pony-hair brush kit. It comes in a hard plastic

Between the ethereal, flower child headbands I saw at this month's DvF show and the parade of thick, thin, and sparkly ones on Gossip Girl, I'm kind of obsessed with headbands right now. But every time I wear one, I worry that I look silly--and will have a migraine by lunchtime.

Convinced headbands are just for little girls? Check out these runway styles that will make you think again.

I asked Jennifer Behr, who makes headbands worn by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Nicole Richie, and the cast of GG, what to look for when buying. (Check out her site for some cute, non-dorky styles.)

• Consider your face shape. If you have a small face and fine features, a big floral number is going to overwhelm you. Go for a simple, thin headband. If you have a full face and prominent features, choose a thicker band. It's all about proportion.
• Hairbands are like jeans: Stretch helps. Not only does elastic keep a smooth, sleek shape, it's also more comfortable.
• Stay far, far away from

Now that Lindsay Lohan has her own self-tanner in the pipeline (what, you didn't hear?), I'm bracing myself for a slew of other celeb beauty products.

Here, some fantasy ones that I'd love to see:

Jennifer Aniston's At-Home Hair Color. It's not blonde, it's not brown. It's just some shade of neutral gorgeousness that should be easy to achieve yet somehow isn't. Somebody bottle this, quick.

Victoria Beckham's Contouring Kit. I might not ever have arms or a waist as sculpted as Posh's, but can't I at least have some semblance of her cheekbones? Seriously, every angle of her face is ready for its close-up.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Equine Shampoo. In my dreams, it would be just like Lucky Kentucky's Mane n' Tail Shampoo, only made with luxe ingredients that Gwynnie probably sources while on vacation. Oh, how I love her thick, straight, flaxen hair.

Beyonce's Body Firming Gel. The girl says she likes all kinds of fattening Southern food, but even when she shakes it?which is

The Feds aren't just investigating investment giants these days--they've also set their sights on cosmetics companies.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it'll be probing companies that are manufacturing potentially harmful products without official approval.

B. Braun, Baxter, and Hospira--three brands that make eye washes that do not meet federal safety regulations--are currently under investigation after more than 300 patients suffered serious reactions, according to the Associated Press.

Check your skin cream labels for papain (papaya enzyme), because it's also considered suspect in the FDA's view; according to spokesperson Rita Chapelle, there are no approved versions of the stuff available on the market, even though it's pretty widely used. Complaints range from merely insufficient results to life-threatening allergic symptoms.

Stay tuned.

For the latest on skin, weight, sleep, stress, what to eat to look and feel your best, and more,

Beverly Hills hair stylist Neil Weisberg is accustomed to helping celebs upgrade their images in a pinch at his salon, Neil George. Here, his five must-haves for making the transition as painless--and pretty--as possible:

Hot Tools Spring Iron. "This curling iron heats up faster than any other I've used," says Weisberg. His hasn't died, even after years of abuse.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. Weisberg's tip for creating beach hair: "Mist it on towel-dried hair and let it air dry for a sexy, tousled look, or use it after you've used a curling iron to keep waves from looking too 'prom queen.'"

Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray. Weisberg's tip for adding mega-body to limp, fine hair: Spritz this onto the roots of your towel-dried hair, flip your hair over, and hit it with a blow dryer. "This is the best root lifter on the market," he says.

Neil George Intense Repair Mask. Weisberg created this mask to give heat ravaged hair a boost of shine. It's made with Indian