Beauty
Beauty
Crown Affair Pillowcase and Other Silk Picks for Sleep
The Crown Affair pillowcase is a silk one, set here beside Slip's silk versions that brands say protect hair and skin from friction. I paired them with overnight hair treatments and face and lip masks for the pillow.
Korean Skincare, One Step at a Time
A Korean skincare routine can be as simple as cleanse, tone, essence, then serum, cream and sunscreen. I laid out picks from Sulwhasoo, Beauty of Joseon, LANEIGE and innisfree one step at a time.
Textured Hair Care, From Madam C.J. Walker to the CROWN Act
Textured hair care comes down to a curl styler and a leave-in that suit your pattern, from loose waves to tight coils. I go through eight curl stylers and eight leave-ins, then a short routine that fits your pattern.
What Do Peonies Smell Like: Peony Perfume Is a Beautiful Fiction
What do peonies smell like in a bottle: a perfumer's recreation, since the flower yields no usable essential oil. I sort the fruity, skin-close and heavier peony perfumes so you can find the version you like.
J'adore Dior, the Amphora Bottle and the Gold Bath
The Dior J'adore amphora bottle dates to the 1999 launch of J'adore, the floral that still defines the house. I go through the J'adore perfumes, hair mist and body care, and the gold bath idea behind the bottle.
Benefit Brow Bar at Home: Pencils, Gels, Tweezers and Brushes
Benefit brow brushes sit alongside pencils, gels, wax, tweezers and razors in this at-home Benefit Brow Bar routine. I sort the Benefit pencils, gels and tools by the job each one does for a clean brow.
Ceramide Cream for Eczema: Oat and Barrier Creams I Trust
A ceramide cream for eczema should be plain, rich and calming, like ILIA Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream, a moisturizer with ceramides. I pair creams with gentle washes and in-shower balms, then build a routine you will use twice a day.
Sunscreen That Sits under Makeup: What Actually Works
An SPF that works well under makeup goes on clear and does not pill, like Tatcha's Silk Sunscreen or EltaMD UV Clear tinted. I cover texture, how to layer concealer, blush and powder on top, and why reapplying matters more than a higher SPF.
L'Oréal Professionnel Shampoo for Dry, Damaged Hair and More
L'Oréal Professionnel shampoo for dry, damaged hair comes in two repair lines, Metal Detox and Absolut Repair. I go through the salon bottles, how to pick a line, and the masks and finishing products to match.
Nail Top Coat Picks: From Seche Vite to Chanel Le Gel Coat
A good nail top coat keeps polish glossy and chip-free past the first few days. I share the top coats I rate, plus the base coats, colors, cuticle oils and hand creams that round out a manicure.
Prada Paradoxe and the Rest of the Prada Counter
How many Prada Paradoxe are there: five, from the original Eau de Parfum to Intense, Radical Essence, Virtual Flower and Sweet Chemistry. I smell the original against its siblings at the end of the day, then move on to the Prada fragrances to try next.
Low Heat, Low Speed: Choosing a Hair Dryer Diffuser for Curls
Use a low heat diffuser and the airflow spreads out, so curls are not blasted apart while they dry. I cover dryers that come with a diffuser, attachments for the dryer you own, and the curl creams to use before the air.
Kitsch Air Dry Cream and an Air-Dry Routine
Kitsch air dry cream comes from a brand Cassandra Thurswell started in 2010, which grew from hair ties into hair care. I pair eight air-dry creams with Kitsch's towel wraps, heatless curlers and clips for a no blow-dryer night.
Baby Foot Peel and Foot Masks: What to Expect the First Time
A Baby Foot peel sheds dead skin over a week or two, while a hydrating foot mask bootie works in minutes. Here is what I would expect from each, as someone who had never tried one.
Olive & June Nail Polish: The Story and Eight Shades
Olive & June began as a first Beverly Hills salon in August 2013, built by a trader who could not find a nail salon she loved. Here are eight shades from the brand, its tools and treatments, and the hand creams and strengtheners that keep a home manicure going.
Nail Art Started With Henna and Gold Dust
Nail art is older than nail polish, from henna in ancient Egypt to airbrushed tips in the 90s. I look at hand-painted-look press-ons, stickers and brushes to try.
Mad Hippie Serums, Plus Vitamin C and Light Moisturizers
Mad Hippie serums include Vitamin C Serum, Super A Serum and Corrective Peptide Serum, from a couple who moved to Central America. I go through the serums, oils and creams, then vitamin C serums and light daily moisturizers from other brands.
Hourglass Palette: Ambient Lighting, Curator and the Brushes
An Hourglass palette guide for people who like their powders and shadows organized. It covers the Ambient Lighting and Curator palettes, the same shades as singles and minis, and the brushes that apply them.
When Was Body Glitter Invented: A 1934 New Jersey Machinist
Body glitter was invented in its modern form in 1934, usually credited to New Jersey machinist Henry Ruschmann. I go from that machine to eight cosmetic glitters, from gels to sprays, and eight oils and glows for a softer shine.
When Did Waterproof Mascara Come Out: The 1939 World's Fair Story
The usual answer to when waterproof mascara came out is 1939, when Helena Rubinstein introduced hers at the New York World's Fair. I also sort sixteen waterproof mascaras that hold a curl, and how to melt them off.
Blueberry Milk Chrome Nails: Blue Almond Press-Ons, Polishes
For blueberry milk chrome nails, start at the pale milky blue end of a range that runs to deep navy chrome. I rounded up almond press-ons and blue polishes and gels, and how to pick the blue that suits you.
Long Lasting Lipstick for a Wedding Day: Liquids, Bullets, Liners
Long lasting lipstick for a wedding day means a liquid formula or a long-wear bullet, backed by a liner that holds the line. I sorted them for tears, toasts, dinner and a lot of kissing hello.
Anua PDRN, the Salmon DNA Serum Everyone Asks About
Anua salmon DNA means PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, which the brand sells as a serum, cream, toner and mist. I pick eight Anua products, then eight PDRN, peptide and glass-skin serums to compare.
The Caribbean Beauty Edit
A Caribbean beauty edit follows one day in order, from the plane to the beach to dinner, with sun, salt water and heat in mind. I cover mists and moisturizers for the flight, sunscreen and waterproof mascara for the beach, and glow for sunset.