Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Catherine Q. O'Neill, Allure magazine

Scalp burn. It's one of those things you never think will happen to you-until you can't blow-dry your hair without screaming in agony. Add in unsightly peeling, and you've got maybe the most distressing summer beauty problem.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

When a friend returned from vacation in Mexico this week, she called me the minute she landed for help. But, after scolding her for not wearing a hat, I didn't know what to tell her. It's one thing to soak your body in aloe, but your scalp? (And your $400 highlights?) I called hairdresser David Evangelista to find out what to do if this happens to you:

1. Add Milk Dip a washcloth into freezing-cold milk (two percent is best) and gently press it against the scalp. "The enzymes in the milk bond to the skin and promote healing," Evangelista says. Sound familiar? This is the same treatment many dermatologists give to patients with chemical burns.

See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9

Catherine Q. O'Neill, Allure magazine

It's one of the little ironies of summer: Perfectly effortless-looking beachy waves rarely involve a dip in the ocean or air-drying in the wind. For those willing to put in the requisite time, these techniques create Gisele-worthy hair in...

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Photo: Courtesy of qvc.com10 minutes: Sarah Potempa Beachwaver

Clamp a one-inch section of hair at the ends and press "Go." The rotating barrel spins hair away from your face, stopping when you release the button. Once hair cools, run your fingers through it for polished waves. Don't try this with one eye open-the only thing scarier than a 450-degree curling iron is one that's spinning near your face.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

30 minutes: Kevin Murphy Wave Clip
Photo: Courtesy of kevinmurphy.com
Apply mousse to damp hair and rough-dry with a blow-dryer. When hair is 80 percent dry, clip the rollers on three-inch sections-no rolling required-and set with a blow-dryer for a loose crimp.

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF COPPERTONEAnne-Marie Guarnieri, Allure magazine

Time was, people didn't pay much mind to sunblock. When I was a kid, it was more about tanning oil. I can still remember the older girls in the neighborhood, in cutoff jeans, bikini tops, and feather barrettes, slathering themselves with the shiny stuff (SPF? Zero!) and periodically rolling over, as if driven by some internal timer set to "golden brown." The scent of coconut drifted on the breeze. Ah, those were the days.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Thankfully, we now know more about the harmful effects of the sun's rays. This dispatch, however, is not about that. It's about the amazing, summery scent of the sunscreen of my youth. I was reminded of it recently when Coppertone sent a vial of its signature fragrance, which is salty and floral and really quite nice. (Though it's not for sale as a perfume, you find the same scent in high concentration in Coppertone Ultraguard Lotion SPF 30.)

See more: The 10 Commandments

Heather Muir, Allure magazine

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm actually bummed American Idol has finally come to an end, but only because I won't be able to drool over Jennifer Lopez's hairstyle, makeup, and outfit choices a few times each week-talk about beauty inspiration. Good thing I recently got my bronze-goddess fix when I talked to the superstar about what she packs in her beach bag. (I mean, honestly, does anyone else do the beach babe look any better? I think not.) We all know Casper will be in tow, but here's what else J.Lo will have with her when she's basking in the sun:

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Sunscreen. "I always wear sunscreen. My favorite for body is L'Oréal Paris Sublime SPF 50+, and I use it on my little coconuts, too." (And before you even ask, her "little coconuts" are her twins, Max and Emme.)

Lip gloss. "I don't wear a lot of makeup to the beach, but I do always keep a nude lip gloss in every bag."

iPod. "I am listening

Photo: Courtesy of Sports IllustratedCatherine Q. O'Neill, Allure magazine

The world's most beautiful models, hundreds of bikinis, and a private tropical location-what could possibly go wrong? More than you'd think, says makeup artist Tracy Murphy, who's been working on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition for 11 years. "Something has always happened," says Murphy, who now carries everything from lip balm to Pepto-Bismol (we don't want to know). We talked to her about her must-have products on set and were surprised to find out that it's not always a vacation-welcome news to the rest of us mortals headed to the beach next weekend.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

They do get sunburned: Murphy slathers the models in the highest SPF there is, but it still happens. "If someone is getting too red and there's a sunburn, you have to cover it with makeup," Murphy says. She likes Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation for its buildable coverage and convincing shades.

They don't sleep in: The models

Anne-Marie Guarnieri, Allure magazine

I have a good nose. Not a perfect ski-jump nose (it's actually more Roman), but a nose that is very sensitive to fragrance, which is a blessing in my line of work. And less of a blessing wandering around New York City, where I pick up on rotting fish, stale alcohol, delicious pretzels, roasted nuts, and Lord knows what else on a daily basis. But then I get to work, where there's an endless array of perfumes to smell, up to a few dozen in a single sitting, all of which I need to be able to remember, to write about now, or to save for later. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Here are a few tips I've learned along the way for getting the most out of a quick whiff of perfume.

See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9

Coffee beans will help reset your nose-but not always. It's conventional wisdom in the business that the strong smell of coffee is good for clearing your palate, like sherbet between courses at dinner. But as Jake Nagle,

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

It's not every day you get a lesson in blowouts from Alli Webb, founder of the Drybar blowout bars. Rule number one: If you've gotten your blowouts down to 10 minutes, you're doing something wrong. (Sorry!) Webb gave me the rundown on the other most common styling mistakes-and how to get the ultimate results.

See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9

1. Shampoo. The best styling sessions start in the shower. Shampoo thoroughly, because you want your hair to be as clean and oil-free as possible.

2. Choose the right brush. If you're going for a smooth look, use a large-barrel boar-bristle brush. "The cork handle on Ibiza brushes is really easy to work with, and they're great at smoothing the hair," says Webb. For curls or wavy styles, round metal brushes are best. "They heat up and act like a curling iron," says Webb. While drying, constantly twirl hair back (from the mid-shaft down) using the brush. "The biggest mistake is curling your hair toward the

Sophia Panych, Allure magazine

A few weeks ago, nail enthusiasts were dealt a blow when the creative director of CND Colours, Jan Arnold, mentioned in an interview with More that neon-colored polish is actually not approved for use in the United States. According to the brand's chief scientific advisor, Doug Schoon, it's not because the lacquers are toxic; it's because the the Food & Drug Administration hasn't signed off on the safety of the colorants they contain-a necessary step for marketing beauty products in the U.S. that takes both time and lots of money. That means those neon polishes you've seen are most likely imported, or they're not really neon at all-just very, very bright. Either way, I am going to wait to pick up a neon polish until they've gotten the okay from the FDA.

See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9

But that doesn't mean you can't, with a little ingenuity, get psychedelic right now. Yesterday, at the launch event for Revlon's new nail colors, I came across