Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

by Grace Clarke


courtesy of Aqua Studio The Spinning frenzy has reached such a fever pitch, we're now officially onto the next wave. No, really: After sweeping over France, aquatic spinning hit the U.S. last week with the opening of Aqua Studio in New York City. The underwater workout has been lauded as restorative, rejuvenating, and amazing, and when it comes to the dimly lit, cavernous space in TriBeCa, that's all true! Lowered showerheads (to preserve blowouts, which stay dry during the workout), organic bath products, rough-hewn wooden beams, and dark stone tiling--the ambiance is so heavenly, it's practically a spa. Just one tiny problem: When I was actually in the water, I was so bored.

See more: Best Hairstyles for Spring 2013

Spinning at Aqua Studio is a lot like "dry" Spinning at a place like SoulCycle--thumping beats; yogic, inspirational instruction; constant action and motion. But because the water is supporting your body weight, when you hoist yourself up out of the saddle (that's off of the

by Lexi Novak


WWD/George Chinsee Of all the things that make life just a little bit sweeter--DVRs, heated car seats, Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Collide--DNA testing doesn't exactly spring to mind, unless you dream of appearing on a dramatic paternity-reveal episode of Maury. Yet without it, couples couldn't screen their future children for medical disorders, and dog owners couldn't boast that their mutts are descended from Shiba Inus. Now, we can add a new benefit to the list: A company in Scotland has developed a test to determine whether people carry the genes that produce redheads, according to CBS News. All you have to do is spit into a plastic tube, send it off to ScotlandsDNA, and await your results.

See more: Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

Apparently, it takes a couple who both carry the recessive gene to produce a wee ginger, and even then, there's only a 25 percent chance. But here's the cool part: Neither parent, as Amy Poehler and Will Arnett can tell you, need

by Madaline Donnelly


David Stesner File this under more reasons not to use a tanning bed: A new study by Cancer Research UK suggests that tanning bed users are actually more likely to be depressed about their looks than non-sunbed users. Yes, you read that correctly: Despite the artificial Vitamin D and temporary high you might get from those 7 to 11 minutes in fake sun heaven, you're actually setting yourself up to feel worse about your body.

See more: Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

According to Cancer Research UK, almost half of tanning bed users ages 18-to-34 are unhappy with their appearance, compared to 36 percent of non-fake tanners in the same age range. And of those unhappy tanners, 8 out of 10 cite pressure (from peers, celebrity images, and the media) to look different. Sad, no? While the whole vicious cycle is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg deal, we do know this: artificial tanning absolutely doesn't benefit skin's appearance or health, causing early signs

by Alexandra Tunell


You see this freakishly split split end? It came from the head of an Allure editor. An editor with gorgeous, glossy, healthy-looking hair--and a bathroom full of damage-repair masks and heat-protecting serums. The lesson? Split ends happen to everyone. I asked hairstylist Ruben Colon of Sally Hershberger Salon how we can best minimize the damage. "Split ends happen primarily for three reasons," he says:

See more: The Secret to Anti-Cellulite, Super Soft Skin

1. Using the wrong comb or brush. "Never use a brush with wire or plastic bristles. I like the Mason Pearson brush because it has natural bristles that are gentle on hair and reduce breakage," Colon says. The only way to safely detangle hair is in the shower, with conditioner and a wide-tooth comb.

2. Wearing tight rubber elastics. "Go for nylon instead," he says. We love Emi Jay hair ties, which look just as good on your wrist as in your hair.

See more: The 12 Best Eye Creams

3. Overdoing the heat styling

by Alexandra Owens


Getty ImagesAirplane seats, ambulances, and even school desks have been adapted to suit the needs of the obese. But it looks like there's at least one type of business that hasn't caught up with the BMI equality movement: tanning salons. Last week Kelly McGrevey, a customer at Aloha Tanning in Ohio, went to the press after she was turned away due to her weight. "[The Aloha employee] said, 'Sorry, but I'm not going to let you tan today because we've just implemented a new policy whereanyone over 230 pounds can't go in one of our beds,' " McGrevey told reporters. "It really upset me. It's discrimination. He asked if I was aware of how many times he had to replace the acrylic on those beds because of heavy people."

See more: Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

In fact, Aloha's policy isn't that unusual: Other tanning salons have implemented weight limits because the clear acrylic sheets that top the bed's fluorescent bulbs can crack under pressure (how

by Jenna Rosenstein


Patrick Demarchelier I wash my face thoroughly every night. I scrub and exfoliate. I moisturize, cleanse, mask, and peel. I am so good to my skin. And, even in my 20s, I still get minor, but very annoying, breakouts. For years I have depended on acne products with salicylic acid. With every flare-up, I'd try a new spot treatment or long-term regimen with the acid, and avoid those with benzoyl peroxide, out of fear they'd be too harsh for my dry, sensitive skin. But I'm here to tell you that I am, as of this week, a benzoyl-peroxide convert.

See more: Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

So what's the deal? "Both products treat acne, but they target different types," says David Bank, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. He recommends first identifying the type of acne you have--inflammatory (red pimples) or comedonal (white- and blackheads). Inflammatory acne responds to benzoyl peroxide,

by Alexandra Owens


Roger CabelloOne woman's trash can be a makeup artist's treasure, or so I learned during a recent chat with Troy Surratt, a guest judge for Allure's 2013 Beauty Blogger Awards. Instead of tossing the disposable sponge tip applicators that come with eye shadow compacts, he likes to repurpose them for the lips.

See more: Celebrity Hairstyles That Will Make You Look 10 Years Younger

"They can be a useful little tool for blending and applying lipstick as a lip stain," he says. "The sponge absorbs the oiliness of a lipstick and deposits just the right amount of pigment onto the lips. It creates a really beautiful effect." Surratt suggests lightly sweeping the sponge across the lipstick, then patting and smearing the color onto your lips. It's similar to using your finger, he says, but you get more even coverage… and fewer germs. (If you tossed yours, you can buy extra packs, like Sally Girl's Sponge Tip Applicators.)

More from Allure:
How to Wear Bangs Top 21 Drugstore Beauty

by Stephanie Saltzman


Roger CabelloConsider this a friendly--if redundant--PSA from Allure: clean your makeup brushes. Even if laziness occasionally gets the better of you and your brushes go neglected (believe me, I understand), this time of year brings out the OCD in many of us, so while you're giving the rest of your apartment a seasonal scrub-down, channel that energy toward your makeup bag. Even better, use this opportunity to de-gunk the other brush you probably use every day: Your skin brush. I asked some experts to help me brush up (sorry, had to) my cleaning technique.

See more: The Best 6 Spring Nail Polish Colors

Why is it important to clean my brushes? According to makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci, soaping up your makeup brushes regularly can extend their life and can make for a better makeup application. "Brush hairs and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris, and bacteria. If your brushes are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult," she adds.