Beauty

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.

NYX Brow Products for a Laminated Brow Look: Glue, Pencils, Gels

NYX brow products for a laminated brow look start with The Brow Glue Laminating Setting Gel, the brand's first instant brow styler. I cover the NYX brow pencils, the rest of the NYX bag and clear gels from other brands.

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.

Best Stick for Lips and Cheeks: Blush Sticks, Peach to Cherry

The best stick for lips and cheeks is a multi-use cream blush stick, like Fenty Beauty Match Stix or Bobbi Brown Skin Enhancer. I sort cream sticks, multi-use sticks and longer wearing ones, then say how I pick a shade.

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.

Luxury Beauty: Skincare, Makeup, and SPF

Luxury beauty here means prestige skincare, makeup and SPF, from anti-aging serums to a Viva Glam lipstick. I picked pieces worth the counter space, including a peptide serum, an SPF 50 sunscreen and a silky matte lipstick.

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.

Anua Sunscreen: Three Formulas and the Heartleaf Brand

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.

St. Tropez Self Tanner: The 1995 Car Boot Start and the Mousse

St. Tropez self tanner has been around since the mid 1990s, and the mousse is still the reason most of us know the name. Here are the St. Tropez mousses, mists and serums, the face drops from other brands, and the mitts and exfoliators that make a tan last.

First Step Cleanser: Cleansing Oil First, Foam Second

A good first step cleanser is a cleansing oil, which melts sunscreen and makeup in about a minute before a gentle foam finishes the job. I sort the oils I would start with, the foaming washes for step two and the cotton, cloths and wipes.

Gypsy Water Body Oil and 13 Other Body Oils for After a Shower

Byredo's Gypsy Water Body Oil sits with other body oils, from fast-absorbing dry oils to scented oils from perfume houses. I use them on damp skin after the shower and say which are for softness first and which for scent.

Phoebe Gates Skincare Edit

The Phoebe Gates skincare edit keeps layering simple: cleanse, add one product you like, moisturize when needed and always wear sunscreen. I go through cleansers, serums, moisturizer and sunscreen, then a short shopping list.

My Fall Skincare Essentials

My fall skincare essentials protect the barrier and keep water in the skin when the air turns dry and the light goes low. I go through the prep, the serums, the moisture and a weekly reset, with Le Prunier, Chantecaille and Vintner's Daughter in the mix.

Maui Aloe Vera Shampoo: Why Aloe Juice Comes Before Water

Maui aloe vera shampoo uses aloe vera juice instead of water as its first ingredient. I go through four Maui Moisture shampoo and conditioner pairs for dry hair and curls, plus a lighter pair and scalp care.