Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

Shannon Ray, Allure magazine

Shannon Ray was the winner of the 2012 Allure Beauty Blogger Awards and is now contributing to the Daily Beauty Reporter.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

'Tis the season for everyone around you to start dropping like flies. Okay, it's not that dramatic, not dying or anything-I mean getting that cold/SARS/bird or swine or feline flu/whatever that disease was in Contagion. (It's hard to focus on the details when you're honed in on Matt Damon being a sexy ass single dad throwing faux proms for his teenaged daughter.) But odds are, you will be befallen at some time this season with some kind of nastiness. And just because you may be FEELING like complete crap, doesn't mean that you must LOOK like Vada Sultenfuss's dad is totally working you over.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed. If the eyes are the window to the soul, or whatever, you better lock those nasty I've-been-lying-in-a-sick-bed-made-solely-from-snotty-tissue ghouls up tight.

Catherine Devine, Allure magazine

I'm really close with my sister. We're two years apart, and we've shared just about everything-clothes, friends, and even a bedroom when we were little. I consider myself a pretty decent sharer, but when it comes to my makeup, I'm not as easygoing. I'm cool if she wants to borrow my bronzer every now and then, but the second she reaches for a mascara, things get serious. It's not a competitive, sibling-rivalry thing, like, "Ugh, this mascara will make her lashes longer and thicker than mine, so she absolutely can't use it." It's a germs thing-no matter how close we are. I wouldn't share my mascara with anyone. (Why, hello there, pinkeye, it's so nice to see you.) People gross me out.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

We recently asked our Facebook fans if they considered themselves beauty-product germaphobes, or if they were open to sharing, and more than half admitted that their makeup bags are completely off limits. Interestingly, 31

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

Chances are, you apply mascara the exact same way every day, and it works pretty well for you. But here's a little secret: Top makeup artists almost never open one tube of mascara, swipe the wand a few times, and call it a day. Instead, they mix and match formulas, wands, and even shades to solve the most common mascara mistakes. And you can do the same!

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

For lashes that won't droop all day: Makeup artists including Mally Roncal swear that layering a coat of regular mascara over a coat of waterproof mascara is the best way to coax stubborn lashes into holding a curl. Oh, and curl your lashes the right way: Pumping a curler along your lashes gives you a more natural-looking bend than just pressing it right at the base.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

For ultranatural eyes: Makeup artists often apply brown mascara to the lower lashes (and the usual black mascara on the upper lashes) to "make

Alexandra Owens, Allure magazine

After indulging in a season's worth of eggnog, peppermint bark, and turkey, almost all of us have gained a couple pounds-and are more than a little bloated. That food baby will take some extra work at the gym, but in the meantime, here are some tips to get rid of the puffiness.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Pass on the salt. Sodium-including the kind found in processed foods like microwave dinners and canned soup-is one of the biggest bloating culprits because it makes your body retain water. Eat fresh ingredients, and try seasoning your meals with fresh herbs instead.

Don't fake it. You're probably avoiding sugar after that entire box of candy canes you had last week, but the artificial sweeteners found in sugar-free gum and diet sodas contain sugar alcohols like sorbitol, mannitol, and lactitol that are difficult for the stomach tobreak down, causing an excess of air and bloating.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for

Lexi Novak, Allure magazine

We may have missed the zombie apocalypse of 12/21, but in case you want to get in shape for the next one (I hear 2018-2028 is looking pretty good)-or maybe just shed a few of those post-eggnog pounds-better start getting reacquainted with the treadmill. A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that aerobic exercise is the most effective way to work out if you're trying to lose weight.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Researches evaluated participants in three different groups: resistance training, aerobic exercise, and a combination of the two. Not only did those in the aerobic group lose the most body fat overall, but they also spent the least amount of time exercising (133 minutes per week versus about 180-260). That's less than 20 minutes a day! Even I can handle that.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

So whether you prefer pounding it out on the treadmill, walking in the park, or doing laps in the

Renee Trilivas, Allure magazine

Let's face it; your teenage years aren't necessarily your prettiest. I had frizzy, bleached-out hair and two rows of metal braces. I cringe when I think about that shiny torture device, so my jaw dropped when I heard about a new trend in Southeast Asia (brace yourself): braces.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

According to Vice, braces are the cool new accessory for teens in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Because of their hefty price tag and popularity among Eastern pop stars, a full-on metal mouth is seen as a symbol of wealth and style (kind of like the equivalent of having a Louis Vuitton purse or Louboutin heels in the states). Some teens are even buying metal-and-plastic mouthpieces with cutesy cartoon designs to mimic the look of braces.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

I admittedly don't get some trends (like mullet skirts and bird poo facials), but bringing back braces goes completely over my

Grace Clarke, Allure magazine

With 2012 officially behind us, we take a look back on the most memorable beauty moments that, for better or worse, made headlines: the good, the bad, and that weird sock bun thing.

See more from Allure:

The 12 Best Eye Creams

10 Hairstyles That Make You Look 10 Years Younger

Best of Beauty 2012

The 10 Most Gorgeous Hair-Color Ideas for Brunettes

Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

You already know that flat-ironing your hair every day isn't so great. And ok, maybe you do it anyway; I'm not judging. But other hair-dulling, frizz-causing mistakes are less obvious-and cutting them out of your routine can go a long way toward preventing new damage.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Mistake #1: Lathering your shampoo too thoroughly. I know, I know. It sounds inoffensive. But when you start massaging the lengths of your hair and piling them on top of your head shampoo-commercial style, you're creating lots of little tangles, explains hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins. Since hair is most fragile when it's wet, combing that nest of wet hair is likely to cause breakage. And that (as we all know) results in the scourge known as flyways. Speaking of...

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Mistake #2: Manhandling wet hair. Don't brush your hair when it's wet. Pat, don't rub, with a towel.