Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Allure

“You are born with beauty, but there are some things you can only gain through living: intelligence, poise, determination.” This line is from the first editor’s letter I ever wrote. I was a high school senior and had created a mini magazine called ONYX, for Black teens. (I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge that I knew nothing about life at the age of 18, but it all sounded very grown up at the time.) Looking at that publication and now at this one, I want a lot of the same things for Allure that I wanted for ONYX. Back then, I craved a platform where the inspiring people I saw in my community could share their stories (the makeup artist at my local photo studio made a cameo,…

EIGHTH DAY Reconstructive surgery is an unlikely inspiration for skin care, but post-surgery “we place a nutrient-dense membrane dressing over a wound, which helps to tap into the body’s healing mechanisms,” says Antony Nakhla, a dermatologist and Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgeon in Newport Beach, California. “I wanted to mimic that in a topical delivery system that could stimulate cell renewal and collagen formation.” His Peptide-Rich Plasma (in a serum and eye cream) is a blend of 24 peptides, amino acids, and growth factors that are biologically similar to those found in human skin cells and proven to stimulate wound healing and collagen synthesis. “These bioidentical ingredients can communicate with cells to trigger a cascade of repair and healing,” says Nakhla. By doing so, third-party clinicals have shown that Eighth…

Ninety percent of women have cellulite. It is nothing more than an interaction between two body parts (fat meeting connective tissue, like collagen, under the skin). But as part of that 90 percent, I realize how cellulite brings with it mixed emotions, from ambivalence to embarrassment. For those who want to get rid of their cellulite, a lot of the options have been unappealing, delivering unimpressive results via invasive procedures that break connective tissue using scalpels or heat from lasers. So it’s a big deal that the FDA has approved the first injectable for cellulite, called Qwo. “It’s an exciting, less invasive treatment option for women with good skin firmness, meaning not loose skin, who are also bothered by dimpling from cellulite,” says Shari Marchbein, a clinical assistant professor of…

Prince Harry wears one. So do Jack Dorsey, Jennifer Aniston, and Jill Zarin, former Real Housewife of New York. How does Kim Kardashian West sleep at night? Optimally, according to feedback from her Oura ring: Once, after a restful eight hours, she awoke (at precisely 7:22 a.m.) to a sleep score of 93 out of 100, which she then posted to Instagram. “Okay WHAT??” Gwyneth Paltrow replied. “I thought I was killing it at this Oura ring game.…I guess not.” NASCAR drivers wear them. Chris Paul wears one (Will Smith and Shaq are investors in the company). At the onset of the pandemic, the NBA ordered more than 2,000 rings to outfit players, coaches, and staff in their Orlando bubble. “Looks like a tracking device,” observed former Laker, now Wizard,…

THESE WOMEN HAVE THEIR BEAUTY ROUTINES DOWN TO A SCIENCE. “When I go straight from the field to in front of a camera, I run Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream [7] through my hair to make me look polished. I also carry a travel-size bottle of Giorgio Armani Sì Passione [8] that I spritz on my neck after taking off my field clothes.” “My ‘power combo’ for when I go into #BossLatina mode is Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored [2] and sparkly hoop earrings. Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara [1] adds volume and doesn’t run.” “I’m often on a boat for hours waiting for animals to show up. Cygnett Power Bank [5] makes my phone last 24+ hours.” “The constant salt water is brutal for my…

The makeup look you see above was painted not with powders or creams, but strings of code. The artists are the programmers behind YouCam Makeup, an augmented-reality app that allows users to virtually try on thousands of products—including foundation, eye shadow, and lipstick in seven different finishes—with the touch of a few buttons. As you might imagine, our collective interest in trying on makeup from the comfort of home peaked amid the pandemic: YouCam Makeup now has over 950 million downloads globally. And according to the app’s data, the makeup users have tried on the most this year is what you see here: sheer cranberry lipstick and warm purple eye shadow. If you want to wear the look in—gulp—real life, you can turn to the app’s new offshoot, YouCam Tutorials,…

Karen Elson The British supermodel is naturally strawberry blonde, but started enhancing her color at 18 when photographer Steven Meisel convinced her to take the plunge for a magazine shoot. “It changed my life,” Elson says. “I looked in the mirror and said, ‘This is me.’” She’s kept it up ever since, tweaking the shade to be slightly richer or lighter depending on the season. “There are infinite possibilities in being a redhead.” Tess Carter Until recently, the Nassau, Bahamas-born model considered herself a blonde. “[But] a couple of months ago I was looking at photos of myself and I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness, I’m a redhead.’” Carter is now thoroughly embracing the lifestyle. “Redheads have such a kind aura about them,” she says. “I don’t think I’ve ever…

The word “peptide,” which denotes a chain of amino acids that can send messages to cells to achieve different biological ends, first appeared in the pages of Allure in January 2003. (A peptide called Melanotan had been shown to increase “courtship behavior” in female rodents.) The word made its way into moisturizer marketing throughout the decade as beauty companies endeavored to turn on collagen production just as researchers could turn on lady rats. Olay’s Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, an early adopter, made its Allure debut in March 2008; it was a best-seller at a Walmart in Spokane, Washington. As of this writing, over 50 million jars have been sold, enough to overfill an Olympic-size swimming pool with vitamin B3 and peptide technology. Now that is reason to get excited. (See what…

GINGER KING She has worked with the greats (Chanel, Estée Lauder, Avon); speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese, and some Japanese; and has been fluent in making innovative beauty products since 1995. CREDENTIALS: Master’s in natural product chemistry, San Jose State University GREATEST HITS: Joico Ice Spiker, the first water-resistant styling gel (a.k.a. “hair glue”), and Avon Daring Definition Mascara, “a mousse formula that was novel at the time.” LAST EMPTY: “IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream doubles as a concealer for me, and has natural-looking coverage with SPF 50. I will cut open the tube for the last drop.” MY FAVORITE INGREDIENT IS…”Peptides. When you have to really brighten or firm the skin, peptides are the way to go because they work. Period. I like ingredients that have clinical studies. [In one study,]…

Frank Gehry loves Louis Vuitton. He designed the brand’s museum, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, in Paris, which looks kind of like a cloud made of glass. And Louis loves Frank: The brand’s new perfumes, Les Extraits Collection, are encased in flacons capped with the only Gehry sculpture most of us will ever own. They are exceptionally precious, so much so that beauty writers hoping to eulogize them are granted just a weeklong audience with the factory samples, after which Louis Vuitton will come to your house and take them back. Each of the five fragrances in the collection is hyperconcentrated—straightforward, strong scents, including woody Rhapsody and citrus Symphony. But Louis Vuitton can’t take away the small amount of Dancing Blossom, a powerful rose, that one beauty writer may or may…

Every great cat eye requires two things: a precise liner and a shimmery shadow that I can use to highlight my artistry. Tarte’s Quick Stick Waterproof Shadow & Liner in Rose Gold Luster & Black comes equipped with both. The thin, charcoal-black liner is one of the smoothest pencils I’ve used (and I’ve tried just about every gel, liquid, and pencil out there). The creamy texture glides along my lash line seamlessly, creating a smooth wing. Then I scribble the metallic, rosy shadow stick (which has more of a golden payoff on my brown skin) at my inner corners and smudge the shadow for a soft finish. It’s anywhere eye makeup—and it looks good everywhere. *The November Allure Beauty Box includes Tarte’s Quick Stick Waterproof Shadow & Liner in Rose…

You could do a different hair and face mask every day for a year—there are hundreds of options available—but a mask for your brows and lashes? That’s a new one. RevitaLash Lash & Brow Masque uses mascara-tubing technology to coat individual hairs in its baby-blue gel. Apply it with the included spoolie brush, and then let the hydrating vitamin E and trehalose (a sugar compound) treatment sit for at least 15 minutes (or overnight) before you rinse. It’s a conditioning treatment that can “replenish moisture, making hair less brittle,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. My own lashes could use a little TLC (I get extensions monthly) and my brows are on the stiff side, so I gave the mask a shot during my morning coffee. After two treatments, four days apart,…

If you’re reading this, I owe you an apology. About six years ago, there was a sudden rise in the number of products that claimed to optimize the skin’s microbiome, the collection of microorganisms living on its surface. The formulas contained probiotics, or live microorganisms derived from fermented foods or dirt, for example. But no matter the source, the storyline was the same: These probiotics were said to rebalance your skin’s microbiome by adding “good” bacteria that then (by a somewhat acrobatic leap of logic) could edge out the alleged “bad” bacteria and, in turn, among other things, reduce inflammation—thus bestowing you with happier, healthier skin. Parts of that story hold true, but if you string them together with a daisy chain of Boolean logic (if this, then that), probiotic-laced…

CLAIM This is what a product says it does. It sounds simple, but there’s some nuance here. “If a product claims to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, prevent disease, or affect the structure or function of the human body, then the Food and Drug Administration considers it a drug,” explains cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. Cosmetics, on the other hand, can only make appearance claims. “If I were to say a product reduces the appearance of wrinkles, that’s a cosmetic. If I said a product reduces wrinkles, that’s a drug,” says Dobos. (FYI: Drugs aren’t uncommon in beauty products. Salicylic acid, for example, is considered a drug for acne at certain levels. But its natural sources, like willow bark, are not.) While the FDA monitors all drug claims, cosmetics claims are closely…

Want to reinvent your natural makeup look this season? A lesson from Iris van Herpen’s fall 2021 couture collection: 1. Wear almost no makeup. 2. Embrace the organic contours of a metal nose piece. This one was molded from silver and copper by Iceland-based visual artist (and Björk collaborator) James Merry. It’s inspired by a native fern in his garden and each piece is held to the face by tension alone. 3. Keep your nails clear—but extremely 3D. Here, Japanese nail artist Eichi Matsunaga freehanded water droplets from clear resin. Natural—and otherworldly.…

Hear that sound, Andrea? It’s the whispers of thousands of readers thanking you for asking this question. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million people every year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. (That’s about 10 million more than the entire population of California.) Since acne can be triggered by factors ranging from hormones to stress to diet (or a combination thereof), there’s no one topical product that’s guaranteed to work for everyone. But there are certain ingredients that board-certified dermatologists typically recommend. Notice I said dermatologists, not Reddit users or your cousin’s godmother’s aunt. If your acne is persistent enough to warrant treatment, seeing a dermatologist, who can help identify the potential cause, should be step one. Here are…

My mom and my grandma have always kind of been my…what would you call it? My beauty icons. I have my grandma’s nose and my sister and I both share her chin. One of my first memories is at my mom’s vanity, and she’d always wear this really beautiful crimson-red lipstick. I would wear my mom’s lipstick, heels, and bandanna, and I would sing songs from Evita and Madonna. I guess beauty and art and music all became one at that age. I grew up dancing in recitals and then national competitions. My mom started doing my makeup when I was younger. It was very specific: red lipstick and very pale, powdered skin with a dark gray eyeliner or just mascara. It felt like my armor. Then I remember sitting…

OCULUS QUEST 2 and Touch controller* The latest console from Facebook owned virtual reality company Oculus is its sleekest option yet: The Quest 2 drops players into stunning and super-immersive gaming environments. Game recommendations, from least to most physically taxing: Wander allows players to visit almost any location, whether their own block or the bustling streets of nearly anywhere in the world, using “the magic of VR.” In Beat Saber, slice flying cubes with a lightsaber to the electronic hits of today. (Music by Panic at the Disco, BTS, or Green Day will incur an added cost.) The Climb 2 provides mesas and mountains to scale and breathtaking virtual vistas to witness. Dance Central is the most fun you will ever have dancing alone in your home alongside a customizable…

“I use different mascaras for different looks. When I need to [be] professional, I reach for L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara [3]. I love to rock an orangey lip [using] Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square [5]. E.L.F. Clear Brow & Lash Mascara [9] freezes [brow] hairs in place.” “My thick hair takes hours to dry on its own. I don’t like to blow-dry it, so the superabsorbent Aquis hair towel [6] changed my life. DevaCurl One Condition Original [10] amplifies my natural waves.” “I really like Mindalt Mood Enhancing Deodorant in More Energy [1]. I can’t confirm whether it’s mind altering, but it has a lovely smell.” “Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer [4] is not too heavy, not too light. It works for me in almost any weather.…

“Yo soy Boricua, pa’que tu lo sepas.” I deliver the line in my best Cuban/Puerto Ricanraised-in-Miami Spanish. The blue hoodie slides back revealing a crisp New York Yankees snapback, a mop of curls underneath, deep brown eyes, and the suggestion of a smile amid three-day stubble. Finally, I breathe. Research for this story had me convinced that Bad Bunny would be a man of few words, a difficult interview. On the flight down I stressed so much about how to get the 27-year-old Puerto Rican rapper-songwriter to open up, I didn’t notice we’d arrived until the plane’s wheels touched ground and passengers broke into applause (a Puerto Rican tradition). “Just tell him you speak his language,” my San Juan-based uncle counseled me as he navigated the potholed streets outside of…

Going Wide The past decade has seen a massive inflation in Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, procedures, says William Rahal, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. (According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of procedures jumped 90 percent over just five years.) But despite how widely known the procedure is, Rahal explains that the name is a misnomer: Reportedly, “in 1996, plastic surgeon Leonard Grossman was doing a segment for The Learning Channel and the patient was from Brazil. The segment was called, ‘Building the Brazilian Butt.’” Geographically, the procedure was performed in Brooklyn. While fat that is removed via the procedure’s liposuction stage is often added back into the butt, the real “BBL” effect comes from adding it back elsewhere, like to the hip or…