Blog Posts by Allure Magazine

Courtesy of SephoraCharlotte Tilbury, Allure magazine

People ask me all the time if I wear colored contacts-sometimes my eyes are blue-gray, sometimes blue-green, and other times intense emerald green. My secret is eyeliner. It's the makeup artist's equivalent of a magic wand. Once you find the liner (or shadow) that gives you the eye color you've always dreamed of, you will be hooked.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Blue Eyes: To make blue eyes look electric, try a terra-cotta-colored eyeliner, like Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner in Grenat. I understand it sounds weird, but the red undertones play off blue eyes in the most intense way. You don't need as much as this model is wearing-just a skinny line wedged into your upper lashes is enough. Finish with black pencil at the outer corners.

Green Eyes: Any variation of purple can transform green eyes into a surreal shade. Try Yves Saint Laurent Ombres 5 Lumières in 4 and do a gradation: Line the upper lashes with deep plum, dust purple

You don't have to sit around waiting for the UPS truck. Piles of freebies are behind every department-store beauty counter, and most are yours-if you just know how to ask.

Don't be shy. Beauty companies (and salespeople, who typically work on commission) know that samples drive sales, and they want to get them into the hands of potential customers. But don't act entitled: It's up to the saleswoman if she wants to give them to you.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Go when it's quiet. A relaxed (or bored) salesperson is more likely to shower you with loot than someone who's working the lunchtime shift or weekend rush. Aim for early morning or evening. And look for a saleswoman who works with several brands as opposed to just one; she will have access to more samples.

See more: Top 21 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Ask again. Some stores make samples on the spot. If no prepackaged sample exists, Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue will create one for you in a

Kate Sullivan, Allure magazine

For the most part, we Americans take our style, beauty, and fitness cues from the worlds of fashion and celebrity, not politics. But these six First Ladies-including Jacqueline Kennedy and Michelle Obama-have us pledging a new allegiance.

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 UltaElizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

Once you cross over from straight hair into supersleek territory, you risk looking either bald or like you've dunked your head in melted butter. Done right, "sleek hair will look really, really healthy and glossy," says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins. Not obviously flatironed, oily, or (worse) fried. "There's such a resurgence of sleek hair this fall, because it's a way of making hair look polished and luxurious," adds hairstylist Harry Josh. "It's the opposite of the beauty waves and the extensions that were so popular. I think we're all looking for a change." Whether you hair is straight or has a natural wave, the best styles for fall are polished, smooth, and lustrous. Upgrade your sleek-ifying routine (or start from scratch) with these tricks, and your hair will look like it was styled by a pro-not a pastry chef.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Pre-shower, distribute a hair oil, such as L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil or

Brooke Le Poer Trench, Allure magazine

An Interview With Courtney H. Pettit, a modern- and contemporary-art consultant and the codirector of Pettit Art Partners in New York City.

People are intimidated by the idea of buying art, but art collecting is about your personal relationship with the object. There are no right or wrong choices, just a learning curve when it comes to identifying your interests.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Train your eye. Establishing your taste is the first step in collecting, and the way to do that is to visit museums and galleries. What appeals to you? You may gravitate toward Picasso in a museum but love photography in a gallery; think about which style you'd rather live with-not for a season, but for years.

Be brave. Most galleries are open to the public, so simply walk in. Even if it's quiet and the person at the front desk seems frosty, the gallerists truly want you to come in and look around. Very few people are there

Sophia Panych, Allure magazine

An Interview With Jeanine Lobell, a makeup artist and the founder of Stila Cosmetics.

Foundation inevitably leaks, shadows crumble, and powder explodes-I've learned how to minimize the mess.

Look inside. A bag with nylon lining is easier to clean than a leather or cotton one. Keep makeup-remover wipes in there so if anything does spill, you can clean it up quickly.

See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara

Double-check. It sounds simple, but the crucial step in preventing disaster is tightening all the caps. Any compacts with iffy hinges should go in a ziplock. Eyeliner caps always pop off, so I prefer twist-up pencils.

Sort brushes. Stash brushes by type in long, narrow, snack-size ziplock bags, so dark shadow brushes don't contaminate your blush brush.

Start over. About once a month, I empty my bag, flip it inside out, and give it a good wipe-down with a brush cleaner and a paper towel. And four times a year, I do an

If it's true that behind every great man there's a great woman, then the average First Lady has an awful lot to be proud of. We take a look at the ultimate First Wives club.

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

Once you cross over from straight hair into supersleek territory, you risk looking either bald or like you've dunked your head in melted butter. Done right, "sleek hair will look really, really healthy and glossy," says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins. Not obviously flatironed, oily, or (worse) fried. "There's such a resurgence of sleek hair this fall, because it's a way of making hair look polished and luxurious," adds hairstylist Harry Josh. "It's the opposite of the beauty waves and the extensions that were so popular. I think we're all looking for a change." Whether you hair is straight or has a natural wave, the best styles for fall are polished, smooth, and lustrous. Upgrade your sleek-ifying routine (or start from scratch) with these tricks, and your hair will look like it was styled by a pro-not a pastry chef.

See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces

Hawkins has the sleek blowout down to a science:

1. Before you