Beauty
Beauty
Expensive Perfume: The Famous Bottles and What Makes Them Special
Expensive perfume usually comes down to three things: the concentration, the person who composed it and the history of the house. These are the famous prestige bottles, the fashion house private collections and the extraits I would smell first.
Milk Blush: Jelly Tints, Cream Sticks and Look-Alikes
Milk blush began as a sideline of a downtown New York creative studio and became a jelly tint with a waitlist of more than 60,000. Here are the jelly tints, the cream sticks and the gel blushes I would wear beside them.
Wedding Guest Nails That Stay Out of the Bride's Way
Wedding guest nails should look polished in photos without pulling focus from the couple. Here are sheer polishes and milky press-ons that do exactly that.
CoverGirl Blush and the Powders and Creams I Pair With It
CoverGirl blush is the compact so many people learned on, and the current lineup still makes sense. Here are the CoverGirl powders I know best, plus creams and glowy powders I would put next to them.
My Fall Body Care Essentials
Body care is where my fall routine gets its most sensory, with warmer scents and slower rituals. As the weather cools I want richer lathers, a weekly exfoliation and an oil that leaves skin glowing under knitwear. These are the washes, scrubs, oils and scents I am keeping close this season.
MAC Blush Beyond the Film Noir Shade Everyone Asks About
MAC blush began with two Toronto founders who wanted makeup that held up under studio lights. These are the Skinfinish powders, glow creams and liquids I would reach for, plus the brown and taupe blushes that sit near the Film Noir shade.
Glass Nails, the Korean-Rooted Finish That Looks Like Wet Jelly
Glass nails are sheer, glossy and see-through, a manicure that catches light like a window. Here are the jelly polishes, builder gels and press-ons that get that wet, translucent look.
Pantene, From a Swiss Hair Tonic to My Shower Shelf
Pantene began in 1945 as a Swiss hair tonic built around Pro-Vitamin B5, and the line has grown into shampoos, conditioners and repair masks. Here are the Pantene bottles I would reach for, plus the masks and leave-ins I would pair with them.
Rosemary Shampoo Went From Kitchen Herb to Scalp Aisle Staple
Rosemary shampoo earned its current reputation through a wave of videos showing people massaging rosemary oil into a dry scalp, on the theory that it improves circulation, though the shampoo versions dilute that oil into a rinse-off formula rather than a leave-on treatment. Brands responded fast, and the aisle now holds everything from a spa-style daily wash to a stripped-down clarifying option built around the same extract. This edit sorts the formulas by format and strength rather than by the rosemary claim alone.
Hypochlorous Acid Spray, the Cleaning Chemistry That Moved to Skincare
A hypochlorous acid spray borrows chemistry hospitals have used for years to clean wounds, because the compound kills bacteria without the sting of alcohol or stronger antiseptics. Skincare brands picked it up once people wanted something gentler than a toner but more active than plain water. This edit sorts the daily mists from the spot-treatment sprays and lays out the one real limit of the category, which is that the acid degrades with light and time.
Why Curls Get Thirsty, and the Leave In Conditioner for Curly Hair I Reach For
Curls run dry because of their shape, and a good leave in conditioner for curly hair is the step that answers it. Here are the leave-ins and creams I trust, the stylers to layer over them, and the gels and towels that finish the job.
e.l.f. Blush: Putty, Liquid and Stick Shades to Try
An elf blush is the easiest way to try a new texture, and the putty, liquid and stick formulas each behave differently. Here is how I would pick between elf putty blush, Camo liquid and Soft Glam sticks, plus the cream-to-powder cousins that share their finish.
Soft Blue Eyeshadow for Fall
Soft blue eyeshadow is the easiest way to wear color this fall, from dusty denim to deep navy. Here are the blue shadows, navy liners and colored mascaras I would use for a look that feels fresh, not costume.
The Ordinary Lip Balm and Other Simple Lip Balms to Keep Around
The Ordinary lip balm does one thing well: it keeps lips, elbows and cuticles soft with squalane and amino acids. These are the plain, dependable balms, peptide treatments and multi-use sticks that belong in every bag this winter.
Oakcha Perfume, Explained: Extrait Strength From a New York Brand
Oakcha perfume is a New York-based line where every bottle is an extrait de parfum, and the brand releases new drops every month. Here are the bestsellers, more bottles from the range, and the vanilla, amber and sandalwood scents from other houses that sit in the same neighborhood.
Tom Ford Black Orchid, the Bottle That Started Tom Ford Beauty
Tom Ford Black Orchid was the first fragrance in Tom Ford Beauty, and it is still the bottle people mean when they say dark, dressy perfume. This edit walks through its three versions, the rest of the Tom Ford line I would sniff next, and eight evening perfumes from other houses.
The Spa Headband and the Home Spa Night It Started
The spa headband went from a plain terry band to the thing you see in every skincare video. Here are eight to try, plus hair towels, face cloths and masks for a proper spa night at home.
Glycolic Acid Body Wash for Skin That Feels Bumpy and Dull
A glycolic acid body wash is the easy way to start on rough, bumpy arms and dull legs, because the acid works while you shower. These are the AHA washes I would start with, the leave-on lotions and sticks that go further, and the scrubs and bars for the weekly polish.
The Best Shampoo and Conditioner Pairs, Sorted by Hair Type
Buying a shampoo without its matching conditioner is how most people end up with hair that feels squeaky and looks flat. The best shampoo and conditioner sets are formulated as one system, with the cleanser doing less and the conditioner doing more. These pair up cleanly.
Chrome Nail Polish, From a Last-Minute Met Gala Fix to Everyday Mirror
Chrome nail polish went from a pro-only powder trick to something you can wear at the kitchen table. Here are the polishes, powders and press-ons that carry the mirror finish, from glazed pearl to deep emerald.
NARS Powermatte Lipstick: Shades, Pencils and Matte Lipsticks to Compare
The NARS Powermatte Lipstick is a slim cream-to-matte bullet with bold color and up to ten hours of wear. Here are the shades I would pick, the Powermatte pencils and liners that go with it, and matte lipsticks from other brands.
LolaVie: How One Detangling Spray Became a Whole Hair Shelf
LolaVie began in September 2021 with one product, the Glossing Detangler, and grew into a full hair-care line. Here is the range, the detangling sprays and leave-ins from other brands, and the glosses and shine treatments for hair that needs to catch the light.
The Best Shampoo for Men, From a 1994 Chicago Barber Chair
The best shampoo for men depends on your scalp, not the scent on the bottle. Here are eight everyday men's shampoos and eight that handle thinning, dandruff and faster 2-in-1 routines.
Tarte Blush, From the Original Cheek Stain to Today
Tarte blush started in 1999 with a cheek stain and a founder who left a psychology PhD to make it. Here are the Amazonian clay powders, macaron duos and juicy sticks I reach for, plus the soft powders and creams that sit beside them.