Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Courtesy of hsn.comElizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

One of the best parts of my job as Allure's beauty writer is getting to be on the set at photo shoots. I've picked up tons of amazing beauty tips from watching the best of the best in action. After each shoot, I come back with fresh advice to share in the pages of Allure-and to bolster my own makeup routine. For the September issue's Fall in Lust, I was lucky enough to watch makeup artist extraordinaire Tom Pecheux perfect fall's eight best makeup trends. Here are some of the tips I've been incorporating into my own daily routine ever since:

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Upgrade your cotton swabs: Instead of basic ones, try out extra thin cotton swabs such as these from Muji. Use them to sharpen the perimeters of your eye makeup (trace the edges with a dry swab) or to remove lipstick smudges in a cinch.

Curl just your outer lashes: It will have the effect of lifting your eyes and making them appear extra big,

Kate Sullivan, Allure magazine

Johnson & Johnson recently announced that by 2015 it will rid all of its personal-care products-for both children and adults-of a series of chemicals, including preservatives that release formaldehyde. Parabens, which are also preservatives, will be removed entirely from kids' products, and from many, but not all, adult products. Johnson & Johnson is the first beauty company to take such actions; items in the Neutrogena, Aveeno, and the Clean & Clear lines will be affected. A company vice president reiterated the safety of the products currently on the market, and said that Johnson & Johnson is merely responding to consumers demand for products free of these chemicals.

In November 2011, we reported on the company's goal to phase out the dioxane and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives from their baby products by 2013, though they maintained at the time that these ingredients were not harmful. (A chem-free version of their original baby shampoo was

Alexandra Owens, Allure magazine

Lea Michele recently revealed her secret to clear skin-she gives it room to "breathe." "Maybe I'll put on a little mascara. But other than that I try very hard to just let my skin breathe," she told people.com. "I care more about letting my skin breathe than how I look." While there's no denying the pleasure of a Sunday spent bare-faced in your pajamas, is there any actual health benefit to naked, "breathing" skin? I spoke with dermatologist Papri Sarkar to find out.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Is there any truth to the idea that skipping makeup makes your skin healthier?
There are some benefits to wearing zero makeup, especially for people with sensitive skin or who are prone to breakouts. The biggest culprits are the fragrances, allergens, preservatives, and oils in makeup, which can cause blotchiness or acne. But as long as you remove makeup properly so it doesn't clog your pores, you should be fine. If you wear

Courtesy of nbcolympics.comAlexandra Owens, Allure magazine

Steely biceps, toned calves, and flat stomachs were all praised during the Olympic Games over the past couple weeks. But when a group of supermodels, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Georgia May Jagger, and David Grandy, walked for the Closing Ceremony, their svelte figures caused an uproar. On Twitter and Facebook, viewers complained that such thin people don't have "real" bodies, so the finale was counterproductive to the positive image the muscly athletes had set.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

But after spending two weeks in a state of stunned awe over Michael Phelps's torso and Allyson Felix's legs, the last word I would use to describe an Olympic athlete is "real" or "normal." "Real" would be me, or any of my friends, who go to the gym (on occasion) and try to eat a reasonably balanced diet. But we don't dedicate our lives to fine-tuning our bodies. While Jourdan Dunn's rail-thin frame isn't average, neither is

Kate Sullivan, Allure magazine

Mistakes have been made. Maybe you did that weird cabbage soup business for a few weeks and went right back to your favorite carbs the month after. Or perhaps you were super into that raw food thing for awhile until you smelled some mac and cheese. For years we've all heard that yo-yo dieting is the biggest enemy of permanent weight loss, causing your body to hoard its fat and making it harder to lose weight the next time.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

But according to a a new study, fittingly published in the medical journal Metabolism, your fickle history of dieting may not have destroyed your metabolism after all.

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Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center followed 439 overweight-to-obese women, some of whom had a history of yo-yo-ing weights and others who didn't. Each of these women were on a Center-proposed restricted-calorie diet plan, an exercise plan, both, or no plan at

Courtesy of airbrushmakeup.comRenee Trilivas, Allure magazine

As someone who usually does her makeup on the train ride to work, airbrush makeup would, for me, be at the very top of the list of impossible-to-master beauty techniques. Although makeup applied with an airbrush can yield flawless-looking skin and is the preferred method of professionals at fashion shows and movie shoots, it's definitely daunting to the average woman. And that's why they invented workshops! I recently attended one offered by Dinair Airbrush Makeup, and it went a long way to demystifying the medium. Here are a few tricks I picked up that made me feel (a little bit) like a pro:

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Prep your skin. Make sure your skin is clean and moisturizer is fully absorbed before applying airbrush makeup. Also, skip primer because the makeup will attach to that instead of your skin, and won't last as long.

Keep your distance. Always hold the airbrush four to six inches from your skin. Any closer and the makeup will

Shannon Ray, Allure magazine

Make Up For Ever has just launched a new shade of their Aqua Rouge lip color-a vivid red, the color (#8) was created by Madonna's makeup artist Gina Brooke specifically for the singer's MDNA tour, which hits stateside on August 28.

Madge has come a long way from her humble roots, and her very first makeup artist, Debi Mazar can confirm it. These days, Mazar is famous in her own right as a successful actress (Goodfellas, Batman Forever, Entourage, Ugly Betty) and cooking show host (Extra Virgin), but her early work including backup dancing for Madonna, a close childhood friend-she also did Madge's hair and makeup.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

I had a chance to chat with her recently-Mazar admitted, "I couldn't afford to buy department store brands, and even though Madonna could, she liked what I did. I was using Maybelline pencils and liquid liner-things that cost two bucks but performed great." Madonna wore Maybelline? And now she has her

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

There a lot of bad info out there surrounding breakouts-I mean, we're talking 1950s cliches that still seem to linger. Once and for all, acne isn't caused by chocolate or French fries; you can't scrub zits away by washing your face a zillion times a day; and you really shouldn't pop pimples, ever. But on the flip side, there are also some seemingly innocuous everyday items that just might be undermining your complexion, especially in the summer.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

1. Your sunglasses. Yes! I was shocked too! But you'd be surprised at how much bacteria can grow on your sunglasses or regular prescription glasses, says dermatologist David Bank of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery in New York City. I know I'll start thinking twice about tossing my sunglasses in my bag or on top of any restaurant table. Fortunately, you can de-bug your shades by washing them with antibacterial hand soap and water every few