Elizabeth Siegel, Allure magazine

We're not saying you should go right ahead and have that second vodka soda (especially if your office holiday party is on a Tuesday night), but if you do, an easy change to your skin-care routine could pay off.

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A new, small study from the University of Berlin suggests that alcohol depletes antioxidants in your skin. And when that happens, skin is more susceptible to the oxidative stressors that break down collagen and elastin. Over time, all this can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture, says Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

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"This study isn't conclusive, but it is opening the door to new research in cosmetic dermatology and skin protection," he says. "If you know you're going to be drinking, make sure you use topical antioxidants that

Renee Trilivas, Allure magazine

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, it's the holiday season, which means it's time for me to hit the holiday parties with my vampy black cherry lipstick in tow-and I won't be alone. According to Birchbox's Beauty Pulse Survey Holiday Edition, tons of women are excited about breaking out the bold lippy: 23 percent of women polled said dark red was their lip color of choice for the holidays. But sometimes the color can look more scary than sophisticated. Here, we explain how to pull off a deep lip without looking like an extra in the Twilight movies.

Prep your lips. To remove dead skin, use a lip scrub (Sara Happ makes a good one) or buff with a wet towel or clean toothbrush, and then apply lip balm. This will prevent the lip color from settling into the dry spots that can prevent the color from going on smoothly.

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Think about formula. For parties (where you're drinking and snacking on hors

By Megan McIntyre, Illustrated by Naomi Abel, Refinery29

Contrary to popular belief, our staffers did not emerge from the womb knowing how to braid, curl, or draw a perfect cat-eye - we all had to learn it somewhere. With that in mind, we're starting a new series for you guys called Amateur Hour, where our staffers (with the help of top-notch experts) will teach you the basic techniques for some everyday beauty looks and tools. First up: hot rollers.

We've sung the praises of hot rollers on numerous occasions - they really are a one-stop shop for a coterie of curly coiffs. But for some women, they continue to be a mystifying hair tool that they just can't seem to conquer. Here, with the help of hairstylist Dan Sharp, we'll show you the basics of hot rollers, including how to create different types of curls and some sneaky tricks for mastering this handy hot tool.

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How To Get Rid Of Frizzy Hair In 10 Seconds Flat
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How To

How To Pull Off A Red LipBy Rachel Adler, Beauty High

With an onslaught of holiday parties coming up, whether you're doing cookie exchanges with friends or ugly sweater parties with more friends, being able to dress up your look after work is essential. The easiest way to do so? A bold lip of course! Just in case you're a bit hesitant to don a deep lip color when you know you'll be sipping drinks and eating hors de ouvres, we have some tips for you to get that perfectly vivid lip color without the hassle of touchups.

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Step 1: Prep Your Pout Before applying a lipstick of any shade, you should always exfoliate your lips (especially in the winter) to buff off any dead skin. Try a lip exfoliator like VS Pro Smooth FX Lip Scrub or Sara Happ's The Lip Scrub, using your finger to buff over lips, wash off, and then apply a lip balm.

Step 2: Choose Something That Lasts Obviously one of the most crucial steps in your bold lip-wearing process is finding a

INFphoto; Courtesy Chanel (3); Time Inc. Digital Photo StudioA deep bordeaux lip like Anne Hathaway's makes a trendy statement, but finding your perfect wine hue can sometimes be a challenge. That's why Hathaway's makeup artist Kate Lee mixed three different shades to create a custom color that looked just right. "We wanted Anne to look slick and chic in her home town of New York City," Lee said of the makeup look Hathaway wore the New York premiere of Les Miserables. "I started out with Chanel's Rouge Allure Intense Lip Color in Rouge Noir, a deep plum. I then added the raspberry-toned Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lip Colour in La Somptuese." A touch of Chanel's shiny magenta lipstick in Palpitane brightened the dark aubergine base, and made it less severe. Pick up each of the colors, priced from $33 to $34 each, at chanel.com.

Plus, shop more star-loved lipsticks.

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• More About Anne's Deep Wine Lipstick
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• Anne Hathaway's Pixie is Boston's Most-Requested Cut
• Get the

Retinol

by Wendy Rodewald, Daily Makeover

"Anyone who is serious about anti-aging should be using a retinol regularly," says Dr. Dennis Gross, NYC dermatologist and founder of the product line Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, who explains this ingredient will "leave skin looking brighter, younger, and more alive" (sounds good to us!). This over-the-counter cousin to prescription forms of vitamin A (like those found in Retin-A and Renova) works by helping skin shed faster and speeding up its renewal cycle.

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According to Dr. Gross (and almost every other derm we've ever consulted), "Retinol works dramatically well, which is why there are so many retinol products out on the market right now." To help you find the best one for your skin, we've narrowed down a few retinol-based products targeted toward specific concerns.

For Sensitive Skin
StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Night Treatment ($109, available January 2013 at strivectin.com)