Read this article in Allure‘s August 2012 issue.

Read this review on allure.com here.

WHAT IT IS:
A face cream for normal to dry skin

WHAT IT DOES:
Moisturizes

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Vitamin C (improves texture and tone); jojoba oil, rose hip oil, and shea butter (hydrate)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
This pale yellow moisturizer feels lush, not greasy, and has an intense herbal scent. It takes a few minutes to fully absorb into the skin.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
The full-bodied cream quenches tight, parched skin and makes fine lines less noticeable. But it’s seriously rich—likely too much for combination skin.

—Renee Trilivas

Read this post on allure.com here.

Some of my favorite brands have recently downsized their bestsellers. These are perfect for summer travel, and every time I see them I just want to say “awwwww.”

Read this post on allure.com here.

It’s supposedly one of a man’s biggest fears: No, not getting married—going bald. But is a naked skull really something to dread? A new study from the Wharton School of Businesssuggests that men would do well to embrace the Jason Statham look.

Read this slideshow on allure.com here.

LONG AND SIDE-SWEPT

These sleek bangs are flattering for every face shape. “This look is sexy and mysterious,” says Garren of the Garren New York salon. Ask your stylist to cut long bangs at an angle, so they blend in with the rest of your hair. If you can get away with it, tuck your bangs behind one ear and let them air-dry. Otherwise, comb styling cream through wet bangs (or gel, if you have curly hair). Pop a nozzle attachment on your blow-dryer, and direct the airflow straight down from the roots. Bonus: The style works on all face shapes, hair textures, and lengths.

LONG AND THICK

On long, straight cuts, blunt bangs have a cool ’60s, Penelope Tree vibe. This heavy brow-skimming fringe suits thick hair (fine hair gets wispy) and makes oval faces seem thinner. Avoid this cut if you have strong cowlicks at the crown; they can cause unwanted separation in your bangs. To re-create Olivia Wilde’s look, prep wet bangs with styling cream and blow-dry with a vent brush, making crisscross motions to eliminate your natural part. Finish by quickly sweeping a flatiron over the hair in an arc, which helps the ends lay flat against the forehead. “It makes the bangs look more polished,” Garren says. If bangs begin to separate later in the day, mist a dry shampoo at the roots and massage through bangs with your fingertips.

LONG, FACE-FRAMING BANGS

“Bangs that hit right at the corners of your eyes highlight the cheekbones,” says Garren. That’s especially flattering to oval and round faces. Use a small comb, like the T3 Carbon Comb, to pull bangs away from the face while blow-drying, creating volume. Then part them down the center and smooth a flatiron over the ends. Since this look draws attention to the eyes, play them up with black liquid liner.

LONG, PIECEY BANGS

Alexa Chung’s bangs are quirky and cool—not prim and proper. “The separation in the middle adds a little imperfection to the style,” Garren says, “It gives off a rocker vibe.” Roughly blow-dry the hair without a nozzle attachment until the hair is about halfway dry. Then run a brush through the bangs before letting them air-dry the rest of the way. “These bangs work on all face shapes as long as you mess them up with your fingers to give them some separation,” says Garren. Tame flyaways with a dab of wax (such as Sebastian Professional Shine Crafter), and set with hair spray (Garren likes L’Oréal Elnett).

SHORT BANGS

Mini bangs make a pixie cut, like Ginnifer Goodwin’s, appear “more ingénue and gamine,” says Garren. They also slim a round face and make a small forehead appear longer. Ask your stylist to cut blunt bangs two inches back from your brows, he says. Let them air-dry, and then use a pea-size amount of pomade to create a piecey texture and control flyways. (Garren likes Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade.) “Push bangs to the side,” he says. “It makes them look cooler.”

CLIP-IN BANGS

“This is a great way to add fringe without the commitment of actually cutting your hair,” Garren says. For faux bangs that look natural (like Kim Kardashian’s), find a hairpiece that matches your hair color and texture. Garren recommends getting the bangs custom colored and cut by your stylist, but bangs with longer pieces at the sides easily mix into hair, making fake fringe look real. Part your own hair down the middle, tease the roots, and mist them with hair spray before clipping in the piece about an inch or two back from the hairline. Finish by brushing your real hair over the piece to blend the bangs with the rest of the hair. Expert tip: Try clip-ins if you’re considering getting bangs—it’s a great way to test out the look temporarily. The pros rely on human hairpieces, like Helena Collection.

Read this post on allure.com here.

We recently called in some of our favorite Essie polishes for a shoot and got this adorable note. It tells a little story about founder Essie Weingarten in a quirky Mad Libs-style that uses their polish names to fill in the blanks. New party game, anyone?

Read this article on allure.com here.

I don’t know many women who don’t idolize Diane von Furstenberg—she is incredibly glamorous and yet somehow relatable. She recently hosted a bingo night to preview her holiday collection, and despite the gorgeous clutches, fragrances (she has a new one out this fall), and male models serving up fancy cocktails, all eyes were on DVF. She even called out the bingo numbers in her unforgettable accent. It’s official: We’re in love.

Read this post on allure.com here.

Whether it means dropping a few pounds or putting on mascara in the morning, everyone wants to look good. But do you really want to look good—or do you want to be looked at?

An Ohio woman is raising money for breast implants, which will help improve her self-esteem, she says, but instead of picking up some extra shifts at work, she’s taking her cause to the streets. Thirty-seven-year-old Chrissy Lance, clad in a silver bikini and perched on a shiny motorcycle, has been panhandling at the side of the road to pay for her plastic surgery. You’ve got to give her props for putting it all out there to get what she wants, but her quest for $5,000 to pay for a boob job seems to be as much about attention as self-improvement.

Maybe it’s just me, but if I ever decided to opt for plastic surgery over my real breasts, I wouldn’t be parading around in next to nothing with strangers ogling my goodies. I would feel completely objectified. There’s got to be a better way! I’d keep it a private matter, maybe ask family and close friends for loans—or invest in a padded bra. But no busking on the street corner.

How far would you go to pay for plastic surgery?

RELATED LINKS:
Daily Beauty Reporter: Would You Get Cosmetic Surgery…On Your Feet?
Daily Beauty Reporter: New: The Gummy Bear Breast Implant
Daily Beauty Reporter: What Would You Sacrifice for a Hot Body?
Daily Beauty Reporter: Brazil Makes Plastic Surgery Tax-Deductible

Read this post on allure.com here.

WHAT IT IS:
An antibacterial toothpaste

WHAT IT DOES:
Cleans teeth and gums; helps prevent and treat gingivitis

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Sodium fluoride (prevents cavities); triclosan (kills bacteria); hydrated silica (removes surface stains)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The white paste smells and tastes like peppermint and lathers into a dense foam.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Sensitive gums are coddled while microscopic nasties like bacteria and plaque are swept away.

—Renee Trilivas

Read this review on allure.com here.

WHAT IT IS:
An anti-gingivitis toothpaste for sensitive teeth

WHAT IT DOES:
Treats and helps prevent gingivitis

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Stannous fluoride (kills bacteria)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The minty white paste is flecked with blue beads that polish teeth.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Teeth feel just-brushed for hours.

—Renee Trilivas