Blog Posts by Allure Daily Beauty Reporter

As we start gearing up for Valentine's Day, Allure editors share the lip colors that give the most romantic looks. (And for more about what makes lip, cheeks, and eye colors romantic, check out our February issue, on newsstands now.)

"I think sheer brights are appealing because they're gorgeous but don't look like you're trying too hard. My favorites are Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Juicy Apple, a sheer cherry red, and Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupté Stick in Chilled Raspberry, a transparent hot pink." -Amy Keller Laird, beauty director

"I like to enhance my natural lip shade a notch with a rosy lip balm or gloss. It adds healthy color that makes lips look a little more pouty. Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment gives that perfect just-bitten color without looking like you're wearing anything." -Victoria Kirby, beauty editor

"The Cover Girl Lip Stain markers are the best-I love the Everbloom Kiss shade. It's a bright pinky red color, but not too overwhelming. I apply

There's nothing like stressing out over tipping to ruin the end of a great haircut, pedicure, or other treatment. Knowing the basics makes everything better for you-and your aesthetician. Here's what you need to know:

• Twenty percent is a good rule of thumb for the person who performed the service. Throw in a little extra for more labor-intensive or truly spectacular treatments.
• The owner of a salon should never be tipped.
• Assistants should be: the right-hand people get $10 to $20.

• Pricey services have their own rules. Cindy Barshop , whose Completely Bare spas specialize in laser hair removal at $150 to $1000 a session, advises clients to give $25 to $40.
• Always try to tip in cash. Otherwise, the technician has to wait until the end of the payroll cycle to get the money.
• Finally, if you're paying with a gift certificate, the tip may not be included. If you're not sure, ask the receptionist to check.

Our Total Makeover participants get brand-new diets and workout plans for six months with the help of a team of weight-loss experts. Recently, Stephen Gullo, the Total Makeover nutrition expert, blogged about the small changes you can make to your diet to see big results. But the diet is half the battle. We asked our Total Makeover trainers Tehera Nesfield and Juan Pellot, both from Equinox Fitness Clubs, what to keep in mind when you're heading to the gym for the first time in months.

Eat More of These 9 Foods and Weigh Less

Start slowly-but make it count. "Don't overdo it your first week,"says Pellot. "Aim to keep your heart rate between 65 and 85 percent of your maximum beats-per-minute-that's a clever way to maximize your workout without killing yourself."

Progress quickly. "Vary your speed and intensity every few minutes while doing cardio," Nesfield says." It will help you see results within a couple of weeks."

Keep it up. It may seem counterintuitive, but soreness

Earlier this week we posed the question of whether you'd share your cosmetics with a friend. Comments flooded in: some of you said definitely not, while others thought it was no biggie.

Apparently we'd tapped into the collective unconscious with that blog post. Because today, we stumbled upon a Daily Mail article citing an astounding new study on cosmetic co-mingling-with the other gender. It's findings reveal that one in ten British men has 'fessed up to using their girl's makeup. (Concealer and foundation, to be exact!!!) And, nearly a third say they've borrowed nail products and hair styling tools from a woman. We asked our resident Brit, Allure assistant and blogger Daisy Shaw, for her take on men wearing makeup. Her response? "Absolutely. Most guys I know from home were using concealer before I was." And, in a quick office poll, we found the trend is not just limited to England. From another Allure editor who asked to remain nameless (and after you read this quote, you'll know

America apparently has something to get off its chest: big breasts are ok as long as they're fake. At least that's what Meghan McCain typed yesterday in her blog on the Daily Beast, based on her perception of Heidi Montag being "hailed" for her astonishing number of plastic surgeries, including a second breast augmentation, while women with naturally large breasts have recently been made fun of.

"Surely there has to be some happy medium among Heidi Montag's People cover, Christina Hendricks being referred to as a 'big girl' because she didn't attend an awards ceremony in a burqa, and Jessica Simpson being mocked for taking 'her boobs out to dinner,'" McCain wrote.

The 5 Latest Celebrity Diets You Won't Believe

True, Montag's new DDDs are the talk of the town-she's even mentioned going under the knife again to get H size breasts-whereas Simpson's natural DDs are the butt of tabloid jokes about her weight. But the response to Montag hasn't been all positive by any means. What do you

On Allure's Facebook page, a reader recently commented that she rarely finds tips for her bob haircut. Allow us!

• The freshest bob is one with angled layers. If you want an edgier look, ask your stylist to keep the front sections at your chin but to trim the back so it's no longer than your hairline.
• If you have fine hair, get a blunt bob--it can make wimpy strands look thicker. Sprinkling a little dry shampoo at the roots will also help build volume. (We like Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo.)
• For wavy hair, the key is to avoid a cut that turns your head into a triangle/pyramid/disaster. A bob that's a little longer than chin-length and layered in the back will keep you out of embarrassment's way.
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• Bangs with a bob look hot. Just make sure they're strong, not soft--wispy bangs can look dated and too girly.
• Don't OD on products, but don't skip them entirely-or watch as your short style turns poofy. The pros say that a volumizing

Did 2009 end with you a few pounds heavier-and with an expired (and hardly used) gym membership? Did you make a New Year's resolution that you'll join again and actually go? Since diet and fitness are on everyone's mind this time of year, every Wednesday in January, we'll be bringing you special guest bloggers: experts in nutrition, diet, and fitness.

Today, Laurie Cole, a senior master instructor at cycling studio Soul Cycle in New York City, explains ways to increase the odds you'll meet your fitness goals.

Often, when January 1 hits, people immediately join a gym and set unrealistic goals for themselves. Here's how to choose better, most effective ways to get back into exercising.

6 Small Changes for Easier Weight Loss

• Get specific. How much weight do you want to lose? Do you want to become more flexible? Get in better shape? Showing up at the gym or a class is not enough. You need to know what you want to get out of it.
• If you join a fitness group (like a yoga

We recently overheard a hilarious-and thought-provoking-conversation among some of our friends. The topic? Whether they'd let a friend borrow their deodorant. The debate was split: some said they'd absolutely help out a girl in need, while others said no-freaking-way. We called up Jeannette Graf, a dermatologist in New York City, to find out the medical POV. The general upshot is that sharing cosmetics is a little skeevy: "Skin is not a sterile organ; we carry germs on it, and you just don't know what one person is carrying," she says.

Basic Rules for Tossing Makeup.

The worst stuff to share? "Mascara," says Graf. "Because you can easily spread conjunctivitis." Stuff like lipgloss, makeup brushes, and roll-on deodorant are also not so hot, but you can take precautions with them. Wipe off the gloss with a tissue or make your friend use a Q-tip to apply it. For makeup brushes, spray them with an antibacterial brush cleaner. (We like Bodyography Pro The Brush Off Anti-Bacterial Makeup