Purging is expected, but peeling is not. Courtney Leiva Apr 28, 2021 @ 3:39 pm Before and after retinoid selfies are our true Achilles heel, as these jaw-dropping photos demonstrate just how powerful this miracle worker is.  However, while retinoids smooth skin and reduce breakouts over time, the early stages of using this active ingredient aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. On the contrary, many retinoid users have dubbed this hectic period as “the retinoid uglies,” or retinol side effects. This awkward and frustrating phase usually involves some unsettling skin changes including purging (aka more breakouts), mild dryness, and flaking. Sigh. Thankfully, these regular side effects pass after continuous use of… read more

Can we trust TikTok with our beauty routine? CR talks to beauty experts to break down TikTok’s viral beauty hacks and see if they really work By Catharine Malzahn Apr 28, 2021 Our mantra this past year: “Because I saw it on TikTok.” We have to admit, we’d be lying if we said we’ve never tried something that popped up on our TikTok FYP (hello, baked feta pasta and sock curls). For more than a year now, TikTok has been our go-to for entertainment, from new recipes, to fashion and beauty tips. Throughout the pandemic, so many beauty tips have gone viral with some people not ready to go to… read more

The benefits are worth it. By Victoria Moorhouse 4.27.2021 Retinol has officially reached icon status in skin care. The ingredient, which is a derivative of vitamin A, has a broad scope of expertise: it can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, kick acne to the curb, and fade stubborn dark spots. Unfortunately, retinol’s side effects, like irritation, redness, dryness, and peeling — although temporary — frequently overshadow its many benefits. According to Dr. Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, these flare ups of irritation are formally dubbed retinization, and they usually occur within two weeks of ingredient introduction — sometimes sooner. Retinoids (the overarching term used… read more

From Peloton to existential anxiety, these formulas have your sweat handled. By Hannah Morrill Apr 27, 2021 What starts out as a harbinger of adolescence—hello Teen Spirit, I see you and I honor you—quickly evolves into one of the stinky secrets of personal care: Most deodorants aren’t that great. They’re cakey. They stain your white tees. If you aren’t into the stuffy smell of talc, you’re done for. And perhaps most insulting? Most of them don’t work, full stop. Of course, this is fifteen-year-old me talking. Adult me is here to tell you deodorant has come a long way, and honestly—some of them are amazing. What’s the difference between deodorant… read more

Rumors of Zac Efron having plastic surgery or fillers abounded after an image circulated of a different-looking face. If he has, he’s joining the growing number of men having work. Alaina Demopoulos // Style Writer Updated Apr. 28, 2021 1:49PM ET / Published Apr. 28, 2021 4:56AM ET  All Zac Efron wanted to do was celebrate Earth Day, but when a clip of the celeb promoting Bill Nye’s Facebook Watch special went viral, fans focused on something else. Suddenly, all eyes were on his plumped-up lips and square jaw. A delicate question arose: So, uh, what’s up with his face? Internet sleuths and people who do not mind their business wondered if the 33-year-old actor… read more

By Cristina Montemayor April 26, 2021 With summer just around the corner, it’s about time to bust out the shorts, flip-flops, and not-so-ironic Hawaiian shirts that have been gathering dust all year. As you dig for the swim trunks stuffed in the back of your dresser drawer, you can’t forget about another summer style essential: sunscreen. Sunscreen is a must-have not just on boats, beaches, and boardwalks, but also every day. Dermatologists recommend using an SPF of 30 or higher every day of the year, but especially during the summer when the sun’s rays are at their most powerful. Although the experts recommend wearing SPF daily, the safety of chemical… read more

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