by Jenna Rosenstein


Patrick Demarchelier I wash my face thoroughly every night. I scrub and exfoliate. I moisturize, cleanse, mask, and peel. I am so good to my skin. And, even in my 20s, I still get minor, but very annoying, breakouts. For years I have depended on acne products with salicylic acid. With every flare-up, I'd try a new spot treatment or long-term regimen with the acid, and avoid those with benzoyl peroxide, out of fear they'd be too harsh for my dry, sensitive skin. But I'm here to tell you that I am, as of this week, a benzoyl-peroxide convert.

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So what's the deal? "Both products treat acne, but they target different types," says David Bank, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. He recommends first identifying the type of acne you have--inflammatory (red pimples) or comedonal (white- and blackheads). Inflammatory acne responds to benzoyl peroxide,

Read More »from Why Benzoyl Peroxide is a Skin Game Changer

by Alexandra Owens


Roger CabelloOne woman's trash can be a makeup artist's treasure, or so I learned during a recent chat with Troy Surratt, a guest judge for Allure's 2013 Beauty Blogger Awards. Instead of tossing the disposable sponge tip applicators that come with eye shadow compacts, he likes to repurpose them for the lips.

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"They can be a useful little tool for blending and applying lipstick as a lip stain," he says. "The sponge absorbs the oiliness of a lipstick and deposits just the right amount of pigment onto the lips. It creates a really beautiful effect." Surratt suggests lightly sweeping the sponge across the lipstick, then patting and smearing the color onto your lips. It's similar to using your finger, he says, but you get more even coverage… and fewer germs. (If you tossed yours, you can buy extra packs, like Sally Girl's Sponge Tip Applicators.)

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Read More »from A New Use for Those Sponge Tip Eye Shadow Applicators

by Stephanie Saltzman


Roger CabelloConsider this a friendly--if redundant--PSA from Allure: clean your makeup brushes. Even if laziness occasionally gets the better of you and your brushes go neglected (believe me, I understand), this time of year brings out the OCD in many of us, so while you're giving the rest of your apartment a seasonal scrub-down, channel that energy toward your makeup bag. Even better, use this opportunity to de-gunk the other brush you probably use every day: Your skin brush. I asked some experts to help me brush up (sorry, had to) my cleaning technique.

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Why is it important to clean my brushes? According to makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci, soaping up your makeup brushes regularly can extend their life and can make for a better makeup application. "Brush hairs and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris, and bacteria. If your brushes are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult," she adds.

Read More »from How to Get Rid of What Lurks in Your Makeup (and Skin) Brushes

Remember this lady? She turned 39 on Wednesday.

(Getty Images)

Most people know her as Victoria Beckham, the unflinchingly serious high-fashion brand ambassador, designer, power mom, royal party guest, and U.K. national treasure.  But we still remember when she was just a girl named Posh. Let's have a memory walk, shall we?

Remember when butterflies were her favorite fashion accessories and those front two bangs were her favorite pieces of hair?

 

 And remember how she used to show her teeth when she smiled?

 

 She used to smile a lot. Sometimes, aggressively.

Remember how much she loved wearing rectangular librarian/raver glasses indoors?

And remember her spray-bleached denim bustiers? And remember how okay she was when David Beckham wore a sleeveless tuxedo shirt and wrapped his head in nylon? Proud even.

And remember this lip ring? Now you do. Happy Birthday Victoria Posh Spice Beckham. We miss you almost every day.Read More »from Happy Birthday Victoria Beckham! We remember when you were just Posh.

by Nicole Cantanese


Terry DoyleStep away from the [insert your hot tool of choice]: blow-dryer, flatiron, curling iron. We've got smokin' looks that don't require scorching. A few strategic twists and you'll look like you're on a photo shoot at the mercy of a wind machine.

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1. Mist clean, damp hair with a salt-based texturizing spray to get that full, rumpled look and to keep strands from falling flat, says Jen Atkin, a stylist for Clear Hair in Los Angeles.

2. Lift top sections, spritzing underneath at the roots. This gives hair "windblown" body without the help of actual wind.

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Terry Doyle3. Secure hair in two low pigtails. Divide each in half and twist the two pieces around each other, tying ends. Wind; pin twists against head. (Check out this picture at the left -- this is how your mane should look. Tip: Try securing strands with fabric hair bands, which won't leave weird ridges.) When hair's dry, unravel and run fingers

Read More »from Get Casually Cool Strands Without Your Hair Dryer

Ninety-two percent of women have some, a Unilever study says. Pinpoint the problem; we'll solve it.

by Nicole Cantanese

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My good friend, Jennifer Toyohara, M.D., is a dermatologist with Adult & Pediatric Dermatology in Concord, MA and DermPath New England in Boston. She generously provided me with a list of her favorite drugstore products. All of these products are exceptional values (all under $20 - woohoo!) and are doctor recommended. - By Sonya Lee Benham

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Read More »from Doctor's Notes: 7 Dermatologist Recommended Beauty Products Under $20

Can't remember the last time you changed your makeup look? We're here to help

It's one thing to go through a makeup phase-fuchsia lipstick and glitter nail polish, anyone?-but it's quite another to experience a full-on beauty rut. According to a new survey by CouponCodes4u.com, the average woman keeps the same daily makeup look for 11 years. Eleven! Repeat after us: Change is good. Try these five tweaks to freshen up a stale beauty routine.

Read More »from 5 Ways to Bust Out of a Beauty Rut