Blog Posts by Allure Magazine

Danielle Pergament, Allure magazine

An interview with Jonathan Adler, a ceramicist and interior decorator who has 23 stores in the U.S. and England. his new book is 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life (Sterling).

Holiday decorations can be corny, but I say embrace it. No matter how jaded you are the rest of the year, the holidays are the time to let your sweet, earnest side come through. I like a snow globe and tinsel as much as the next guy.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Start simple. You don't have to cut down a whole forest or employ a team or elves to make your place feel festive. Something as simple as hanging a wreath on the door or a garland on the mantel can change the mood or your entire home. Or stack a bunch of silver ornaments in the corner and make your own sculpture. I also love a look borrowed from the great artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Dangle a strange of white Christmas lights from the ceiling and let it pool on the floor.

Zero in. I

Will Welch and Jonathan Wilde, Allure magazine

It's not that guys are tough to buy for-throw a shiny gadget at us and we'll be entertained for hours. But sometimes you want to give a gift that's more personal than whatever happens to be on his Amazon Wish List.

Upgrade. A lot of guys don't like to splurge on themselves. Treat him to a luxe version of something he wears all the time, like a hand-crafted Billykirk belt or a cashmere beanie from Steven Alan. Whenever he puts on his impossibly soft hat, he'll think of you, and that's never a bad thing.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Choose an experience. Your man likes Scotch? Take him to a Scotch-tasting session. He yells himself hoarse watching his team on TV? Get him two tickets to a game-the good seats. And here's the key part: Go with him. He will appreciate that you're taking part in the things he loves.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Dig deep. Yes, men can tell when a gift came from a

Renee Trilivas, Allure magazine

'Tis the season for holiday parties. But hours of eating, drinking, and being merry can have an ugly side-smeared mascara, smudged lipstick, shine where you want it least.... We've found a pretty solution: ten beauty essentials tiny enough to tuck into your clutch, making it easy to look amazing from hors d'oeuvres until the last dance.

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

Courtesy of the Container StoreLiz Krieger, Allure magazine

An interview with Linda Rothschild, owner of Cross It Off Your List, a personal-organizing service based in New York City.

Drawers are notorious black holes-things have a way of drifting to the back and languishing there. I hang up whatever I can and then do my best to keep everything else in sight.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Divide and conquer. Drawers are best for corralling smaller stuff, like jewelry, underwear, and socks. Drawer dividers are fabulous: they keep everything organized so you know what you have and you can see what you're actually using. No need to arrange by color, but I do suggest sorting things by narrowest categories-for example, thongs, boy shorts, and so on. I like clear acrylic dividers the best because you can see the contents and they're easy to wipe clean.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Take the temperature. Many people rotate their closets seasonally, but

CN Digital StudioSophia Panych, Allure magazine

An interview with Gucci Westman, a makeup artist and the global artistic director for Revlon, Westman has worked with Emma Stone and Jennifer Aniston.

A makeup trend is no different from a clothing trend: It can be scary to step out of your comfort zone. But if you see a bright lipstick or colorful shadow that inspires you, go for it.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Make it real. Makeup that's done for the runway or a photo shoot is exaggerated to look good under powerful lights. The key is to adapt a single element. Lips are easiest. Try applying a new color with your fingers rather than a lip brush so it doesn't look painted on. Eye trends are trickier, but a colored eyeliner is an easy way to be adventurous.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Don't go retro. Avoid trends that reference the past too literally. Forties-shaped eyebrows are always going to look costumey.

Be honest with yourself. A shade might be fashionable at the

Catherine Q. O'Neill, Allure magazine

Dermatologists tell us that face oils (plant-based, not mineral) offer intense hydration; makeup artists rave about how they leave skin fresh and glow-y but not greasy. Still need a reason to try one? Here, our top five renegade uses for face oil.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

1. Even if it's not labeled 'cleansing oil,' any face oil will gently remove waterproof mascara, long-wearing eye shadow, and lipstick with just a few swipes. And it won't strip the skin.

2. Rich fatty-acid oils (like argan and jojoba) that are easily absorbed by skin are also easily absorbed by skin are also easily absorbed by hair. Hairstylist Guido suggests smoothing a drop over parched ends or unruly bangs to tame frizz and flyaways.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

3. Adding oil to any cream or liquid foundation will make it more hydrating and more sheer, so you can get away with the shade you wore all summer even if it starts to

Julie Giusti, Allure magazine

We expect a lot from foundation-it should hide blemishes, smooth fine lines, tamp down shine, and basically do everything but the dishes. But that doesn't mean it has to cost a ton. Here, ten flawless-skin fakers that are less than $20 a pop.

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

Catherine Q. O'Neill, Allure magazine

Braiding isn't exactly an Olympic sport. But like an athlete, you need to master the fundamentals before you can excel at the game. At Barrett's Braids in the John Barrett Salon at New York City's Bergdorf Goodman, hairstylists are required to ace the following techniques:

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Fishtail Braid


1. Divide the hair you want to braid into two, not three, equal parts.

2. Pull a quarter-inch piece of hair from the outside of the left section and cross it over to the right section. Do the same on the right, bringing a piece to the left. When you return to the left section, add a small piece of hair before you cross to the right.

3. Repeat this process on both sides until all the hair is gathered into two sections. Tie the ends with an elastic.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

French Braid
1. Take a handful of hair and divide it into three equal parts.

2. Begin braiding: Cross the right