Beauty
Beauty
Anua Sunscreen and the Heartleaf Brand Behind It: A Field Guide to the Shelf
Anua sunscreen is the newer half of a brand best known for a toner, so this edit starts with the three formulas and their finishes. After that come the Anua toners, serums and cleansing oil that sit underneath, and a handful of Korean sunscreens from other brands.
A French Pharmacy Gave Us the RoC Eye Cream Shelf I Keep Coming Back To
The RoC eye cream line began in 1957 with a young pharmacist in Paris, and it is still the place I start when I want a retinol eye product made for the eye area. Here are the five eye formulas, the retinol creams and serums from the same brand, and a handful of eye creams from other makers.
Rice Toner, Explained: Milky Rinse Water, Modern Bottles and a Softer Shelf
A rice toner is a milky, soft-feeling step that sits between cleansing and serum, and the idea is older than you might think. Here are the bottles I reach for first, the rice serums, creams and cleansers from the same family, and the hydrating toners to try next.
Pore Strips, Honestly: What They Lift, What They Leave
Pore strips have been a bathroom-cabinet habit since 1997, and they do one narrow thing: lift the top of what sits in a pore. This edit covers the Bioré originals, the strips and patches from other brands, and the toners and clay masks I use afterwards.
The Best Nail Polish Is the One That Survives Your Week
The best nail polish depends on how you live, so this edit sorts the options by behavior. You get gel-look formulas that set in air, classic lacquers for color and mood, and the base and top coat habit that holds a manicure together.
Salicylic Acid Body Wash Picks, From CeraVe to Sol de Janeiro
A salicylic acid body wash clears the breakouts and bumps that show up on the back, chest and shoulders. Here are the washes, the leave-on sprays and serums, and the scrubs and patches that work alongside them.
The Best Shampoo for Gray Hair, and Why Purple Cancels the Yellow
A shampoo for gray hair has one main job, which is keeping silver strands bright instead of yellow. Here are the toning shampoos, the shampoo and conditioner pairs, and the masks, oils and scalp serums that keep gray soft and shiny.
Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum Picks, From AXIS-Y to EADEM and Glow Recipe
A dark spot correcting glow serum works best as part of a simple routine with daily sunscreen. Here are the niacinamide serums, the vitamin C and tranexamic acid treatments for stubborn marks, and the glow essences and SPF that finish the job.
Color Safe Shampoo Picks, Plus the Masks and Glosses That Keep Dye Bright
A color safe shampoo cleans gently so salon color stays bright between appointments. Here are the shampoos, the conditioners and masks, and the glosses and leave-ins made for colored hair.
Blue Mascara Is Back, From Diorshow Overblue to YSL Electric Blue
Blue mascara was a signature of the 80s that the runway keeps bringing back, and it reads as bright color from across a room. Here are the blue mascaras, the navy liners to pair with them and the primers, curlers and removers that keep the look clean.
The Neck Cream Edit, From a Stretch-Mark Accident to Red Light Devices
A neck cream exists because the skin below your chin is thinner and drier than the skin on your face. Here are the neck and décolleté creams, the serums and masks for extra lift, and the devices that work alongside them.
Slugging Skincare: The Balms, Barrier Creams and Sleeping Masks That Seal It In
Slugging skincare means sealing your night routine under a thin layer of balm so skin wakes up soft. Here are the balms made for it, the barrier creams to use underneath and the sleeping masks for the nights in between.
Skincare Brands Built by Doctors, Facialists and Founders With a Story
The skincare brands I come back to usually start with one person, whether a stem cell scientist, a facialist or a winemaker. Here are the doctor-founded lines, the facialist brands and the labels rooted in a place, with the product to try first from each.
Scalp Brush Picks, From Manta's Bendy Bristles to a Jade Gua Sha Comb
A scalp brush works shampoo in, lifts buildup and turns wash day into a massage. Here are the brushes and massagers I would reach for, plus the scrubs and serums to use with them.
Rosemary Hair Oil and the Study Behind the Trend
Rosemary hair oil went from a folk remedy to a bathroom-shelf habit, helped along by a 2015 study and a lot of TikTok. Here are the rosemary oils, serums and scalp sprays, plus the rosemary shampoos and conditioners to use alongside them.
Marula Oil, From Drunk Elephant's Face Oil to Body Wash and Lipstick
Marula oil comes from a fruit tree native to southern Africa, and it is light enough for the face and rich enough for hands, hair and lips. Here are the marula face oils and cleansers, the body and hair care made with it, and the makeup that uses it for slip.
The Make Up Bag Edit: Soft Pouches, Clear Cases and What Goes Inside
A make up bag should fit what you actually carry and make every piece easy to find. Here are soft pouches, clear cases and vanity bags in every size, plus the sticks and balms that earn a spot inside.
Top Coat Picks for a Manicure That Lasts, From Seche Vite to Chanel
A good top coat is what keeps polish glossy and chip-free past the first few days. Here are the top coats I rate, the base coats and colors to wear under them, and the oils, creams and tools that finish a manicure.
Clarifying Shampoos, Scalp Scrubs and Skin Care That Clears Buildup
A clarifying wash lifts the buildup that makes hair look heavy and flat, from styling products to hard water minerals. Here are the clarifying shampoos, scalp scrubs and pre-wash treatments to use once a week, plus clarifying skin care for congested pores.
Eyebrow Lift Gels and Waxes for Brows That Stay Up All Day
An eyebrow lift at home comes down to a clear wax or gel that brushes the hairs up and keeps them there. Here are the lifting gels, tinted brow gels and finishing pencils that make brows look laminated without a salon appointment.
Pureology Leave In Conditioner, and the Irvine Hairdresser Behind It
The Pureology leave in conditioner most people mean is Color Fanatic, from a sulfate-free brand a hairdresser started in Irvine. Here are eight Pureology leave-ins, oils and masks, and eight more leave-in conditioners I compared them with.
Tweezerman, From a Splinter Tweezer to the Slant
Tweezerman started in 1980 with one splinter tweezer and went on to make the slant tip most of us still reach for. Here are eight Tweezerman tools, from lash curlers to a cuticle nipper, and eight more lash and brow picks I compared them with.
The Crème Shop, the LA K-Beauty Shop That Opened in 1988
The Crème Shop opened in Los Angeles in 1988 and later became the Hello Kitty sheet mask brand. Here are eight Crème Shop skin care picks and eight lip balms and oils, four of them from the brand, that I compared side by side.
Textured Hair Care, From Madam C.J. Walker to the CROWN Act
Textured hair covers everything from loose waves to tight coils, and the products for it have a long history. Here are eight curl stylers and eight leave-ins, oils and treatments I would build a routine from.