Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Manhattan has spoiled me rotten. The relatively cheap and almost always decent nail spas that pop up every fifth storefront have made me all thumbs in the home pedicure department. I can pick which color I want, but after that, it's over. It's pathetic, really.

But refusing to let this life skill slip between my fingers (or toes), I dialed up Essie Weingarten (yes, the Essie) for a quick refresher course:

Give them a good scrubbing. Spending the summer in a pair of Havaianas can leave your soles rough and wreched. (Ick.) To keep them fresh and pretty, exfoliate at least once a week, says Weingarten.

Moisturize. No one wants to see your dry, cracked heels, so after showering or before bed, "Slather them with a rich lotion full of vitamins and healing ingredients," she says. "Then put on socks." She mixes Essiespa Kirby Creme (shown above) with two drops of Essiespa Ylang Ylang oil.

Apply a basecoat. "One of the biggest mistakes women make when giving themselves an

Brides-to-be, I know there are plenty of wedding-themed websites and blogs to obsess over while you prepare for the big day, so I promise I thought long and hard before suggesting another one to add to your bookmarks.

This one's actually kind of fun.

Go to clinique.brides.com before June 30, and download the Clinique Bridal Beauty Countdown Widget. Each week, it delivers bridal beauty tips straight to your desktop, so you can tweak your skin-care regimen or plan your makeup long before the nuptials.

Bonus: Clinique will send you a free sample of their Lash Power Mascara once you've downloaded the widget. If you've ever worn Lash Power, you know how budge-proof it is. Made to last for 24 hours, this mascara resists rain, pool water, sweat, oil, humidity, and (most importantly) tears of joy.

On the off chance you've got some extra time on your hands, Clinique invites you to submit a video of yourself wearing Lash Power and subjecting it to the elements. To prove the

I was 10 years old when my mother kindly informed me I was developing a unibrow. Being a schoolteacher, she was highly attuned to what elicited teasing from the other kids, and to spare me from it, one afternoon she took me out to the gazebo, iced my forehead, and plucked a giant tuft of fuzz from between my brows.

This might seem rash to some of you, but kids today can relate to what my mom was saying back then.

Hair removal, specifically by laser, has rapidly become the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure for the underage set, according to The New York Times.

In the Times's piece, we meet a 13-year-old girl who got the hair on her upper lip removed ("It really started messing with my self-esteem," she says), as well as a 16-year-old girl who was so thrilled about getting her unibrow zapped, she and her mom went to Bloomie's to celebrate immediately after.

And I thought my mom was cool for getting me my very own pair of Revlon tweezers.

But not every

Needle-wielding Botox pushers are everywhere these days, hoping to inject you where you eat, drink and sleep. After Allurereported on a service in which you can summon a professional to inject your face in your office (much as you would order General Tso's chicken), I learned that Norwegian Cruise Line now offers on-board injections and Wine Styles, a bar in San Diego, combines booze with-you guessed it-Botox.

Feeling creeped out about all this, I dialed up Joan Kron, Allure's contributing editor-at-large and cosmetic surgery expert. (Joan writes our Scalpel News column and reported on the dial-up Botox service.)

Joan explains that while it may be novel, getting Botox on a cruise ship-where there is a medical facility staffed with doctors and nurses-is a lot better than participating in a Botox party (yes, they're still going on), where someone of questionable experience may pass themselves off as a skilled practitioner. Even scarier, this "party" (if we can refer to this

I'm ashamed to say that I'm not terribly inspired when it comes to Father's Day gifts. I think I've bought my dad a barbecue thermometer from Brookstone on three different years. (To be fair, last year's had a smart chip.)

If you're looking to surprise your dad (the big day is Sunday!) with something that doesn't reference grilled meats, golf, beer, ties, or whatever it is men are supposed to like, here are some alternatives:

Kiehl's Limited Edition Dopp Kit. Do you know Jesse James, the motorcycle guy? (A.K.A. Sandra Bullock's husband?) Well, Kiehl's got him to design this limited edition kit, filled with his favorite products. It sounds random, but one of the founders of Kiehl's was a huge motorcycle enthusiast, and the company has amassed a tremendous vintage collection--hence the connection.

Burberry Brit for Men Gift Set. My dad thinks conditioner is girly (I know, don't get me started), yet when he runs out of this clean, woodsy scent, he calls me up like an angry

When I heard about FitFlops, I felt the way I did when I first learned about cellulite creams. Come on! Sandals that do the grunt work of exercise is so freaking fabulous-but hello!-can you bypass that whole sweating part?

FitFlops don't promise miracles. Instead, they destabilize your feet as you walk, creating a tension that eventually tones thighs, calves, and (hallelujah!) glutes. (Think of it as the difference between doing a crunch on a mat versus one on a workout ball. Every bit helps.)

I've been walking around my FitFlops all day, and I can really feel it in my calves. (Maybe that's why the company suggests you break them in gradually to prevent muscle fatigue. Oops!)

And because they simply look like cool, bronze thongs, no one's been able to tell I'm wearing exercise gear. Good thing, because frankly, when I'm exercising, I don't even like to know it's happening.

Sign up now to start turning back the clock with Allure's Look Younger in 30 Days program.

You know when eye shadow gets tricky? When you don't want to look like you're wearing any.

Example: if I'm wearing my Edward Bess Lipstick in Pure Impulse (a dramatic, matte russet) I struggle to find a great, subtle shadow to balance it. Or when I can't be bothered to wear any makeup at all (but know I really should slap on a little), it's always the question of shadow to wear that trips me up. If I choose beige, I look washed out. Anything brighter or darker? The rest of me looks half-dressed.

The Benefit sisters, Jean and Jane Ford, somehow sensed this minor frustration and are introducing three neutral Creaseless Cream Shadows/Liners next month.

Recess (a peachy beige pearl), Honey Bunny (a terracotta nude) and Gossip (a silvery plum) give just enough color and sheen to add a little polish to your eyes, but not so much that it will compete with any other strong elements (like bold eyeliner or lipstick). And of course, if you're feeling lazy, a quick slip of these

I've never quite understood those girls who rocked sunscreen only when they're at the beach or the pool when your body is just as exposed when you're going to work. Seriously, think about it: Whether you're driving, dining al fresco, walking the dog, or going to the corner for a Pinkberry, the sun is prematurely aging every square millimeter of your skin it can reach. Even as I type this-in front of two, large open windows-I know my shoulders, arms, and hands are getting a UV beating.

I know you're probably not up for slathering your body in coconut-scented, white sunblock every morning before work, but allow me to suggest a few products that are easy, discreet, and a pleasure to use:

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15. Oatmeal-obsessed Aveeno infused its rich body lotion with broad spectrum protection, and housed the product in a convenient pump. I keep one of these at my desk, stealing a couple of squirts before heading out for lunch or running errands.

DuWop