Gentle treatment—not torture—is the key to pore-fection. By Megan McIntyre Apr 26, 2021 For something so small, pores definitely cause us a lot of unnecessary drama. The obsession with them can cause many people to pick, poke, and prod their faces in an effort to shrink pore size and clear out debris, leading to some serious skin trauma that can have lasting effects on your face. Still not sure you can keep your hands to yourself? We asked experts to pinpoint what irritating our pores really does to our skin—and what we can actually do to help make pores appear less visible. What Picking, Poking, and Overly-Potent Exfoliators Can Do… read more

You have to wear SPF, but it doesn’t have to look like you are. Editors and experts share their favorite products to keep darker complexions protected. By Gabi Thorne, Nykia Spradley, and Shammara Lawrence April 28, 2021 This story is a part of The Melanin Edit, a platform in which Allure will explore every facet of a melanin-rich life — from the most innovative treatments for hyperpigmentation to the social and emotional realities — all while spreading Black pride. A deeply harmful skin-care misconception that just won’t die is that those with darker complexions don’t need to wear daily sun protection. Now melanin may be magical, but it isn’t sun-resistant. No… read more

By: Dr. Corey Hartman, Skin Wellness Dermatology Though social media has told everyone that they need to augment their lips, the whole point of doing lip filler, in my opinion, is to restore and hydrate. Lately and fortunately, the overfilled, no-shape sausage lips are something that we’re finally seeing the pendulum swing away from. (Though I did see that one nurse practitioner in New York who was trying to trademark “Blow Up Doll Lips” like that was a good thing.) Don’t get me wrong – patients still want them full, but they want good contour at the same time. Lip Fillers: The (honest) answers to all of your questions One… read more

Tamara Pridgett・April 22, 2021 If you’ve ever shaved, you know razor bumps are pretty much inevitable. While no one else may be staring at them, you may not like them aesthetically. Like most things, there isn’t one perfect way to prevent razor bumps, and what works for you may not work for someone else, but there are a few simple steps you can implement instantly to prevent razor bumps. Medically called pseudofolliculitis, Dr. Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist, and the medical director and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL, says the prefix, pseudo, refers to there not truly being inflammation of the hair follicle. “We… read more

by Sarah Yang In my 20s, I had a pretty minimal, simple skincare routine. My normal products were cleanser, toner, moisturizer (and a lot of it because my skin can get dry), and most importantly, sunscreen. I think I didn’t screw things up so much because at the age of 32, my skin is healthy and glowy—I think even more so than in my 20s actually because I’m taking better care of it, working out more, eating better, and just living a more balanced lifestyle. And of course, I do have to give some credit to my genes for the state of my skin. I’ve been writing a couple of stories… read more

Blue, red and yellow lights claim to fix everything from acne to wrinkles and sun damage. By Joline Buscemi 04/22/2021 05:45am EDT LED masks look vaguely like something Iron Man would wear from the outside, and shine multicolored lights onto the skin that claim to clear acne, prevent wrinkles and repair sun damage. Kourtney Kardashian uses one (or at least sells a device on her website), so if it’s good enough for a Kardashian, why not for the rest of us? But it’s not quite that simple. At-home LED devices can range in price dramatically. There’s an under-$40 Neutrogena LED mask for acne (which only lasts for a month before… read more

Aside from dutifully washing my face twice a day, I don’t have a true dedicated skin-care routine. A lot of men don’t. I spoke with several board-certified dermatologists across the country, and they noted that many of their patients do no more than scrub their faces with a slab of soap. If you’re a dermatologic do-nothing just looking for a simple routine, you might find the knotty, modern skin-care market forbidding. Visit your local pharmacy and you’ll encounter shelves of serums, creams and other concoctions packed with “uh, what does that do?” ingredients like ascorbic acid and avocado extract. As I learned, however, you mercifully don’t need a painstaking, 12-product… read more

Afraid that sunscreen might clog your pores, dry out your skin and cause it to break out? If you have acne-prone skin, these are very real concerns. But with melanoma on the rise and sun being one of the main causes of wrinkles, skipping your daily dose of SPF is not a healthy option. The good news? If your skin is sensitive and breaks out easily, there are specific sunscreens designed just for you. It’s just a matter of knowing what ingredients to avoid and what properties to look for. “As a general rule of thumb, people with acne-prone skin need to make sure that their sunscreen is non-comedogenic/oil-free, which… read more

By Molly Triffin April 17, 2021 Antiperspirant has been getting a bad rap lately, with the active ingredient aluminum being blamed for seemingly everything from breast cancer to dementia. So it’s no wonder you see products advertised as “all natural” or “aluminum-free” all over the supermarket shelves and shopping sites. It might even be driving the declining use of underarm hygiene products. In a June 2019 YouGov poll, nearly 40 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds and 31 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds said they hadn’t worn antiperspirant or deodorant in the last month. But is aluminum actually worth sweating over? We talked to dermatologists about whether or not you should… read more

Bio-Oil’s founders share how they reformulated their iconic product without fragrance, preservatives, parabens, or phthalates for clean beauty lovers. By Leah Prinzivalli April 19, 2021 Thirty years passed before Bio-Oil, the South African company behind the beloved Bio-Oil Skincare Oil, launched a second product. Clearly on a roll, a third product is about to launch less than a year later: the Bio-Oil Skincare Oil (Natural). The new formulation of the fan-favorite body and face oil for moisturizing skin, while minimizing the appearance of scars and stretch marks, just dropped. “Natural” may be a beauty buzzword, but no true definition of the term exists — hence the brand’s use of the… read more