All Editorials

Bond-Building Systems: Olaplex, K18 and the Brands That Followed

Bond-Building Systems: Olaplex, K18 and the Brands That Followed

Bond building systems went from a salon secret to a mainstream shelf, led by Olaplex and K18. I go through the names that made it mainstream, then masks for deeper repair and serums.

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Olaplex, Explained by Someone Who Keeps Losing Track of the Numbers

Olaplex, Explained by Someone Who Keeps Losing Track of the Numbers

Olaplex has a numbering system that confuses almost everyone at first, so this edit sorts it out. You will find the treatments, oils and creams, the No.4 and No.5 wash-day line including Olaplex shampoo, and a few other bond builders people ask about.

What Olaplex No.3 Turned Into, and the Numbered Shelf Around It

What Olaplex No.3 Turned Into, and the Numbered Shelf Around It

Olaplex No.3 now lives on as No.3PLUS, and the brand has built a whole numbered system around it. Here are masks, shampoos, conditioners and leave-ins, and how I would use each one.

Bronzer Stick Guide, Sorted by Who Should Use What

Bronzer Stick Guide, Sorted by Who Should Use What

A bronzer stick is a cream bronzer you swipe on and blend with your fingers, no brush needed. Cream melts into skin instead of sitting on it, so the shade is the thing to get right.

The Best Tinted Moisturizer for Mature Skin, Since Laura Mercier's 1996 Idea

The Best Tinted Moisturizer for Mature Skin, Since Laura Mercier's 1996 Idea

The best tinted moisturizer for mature skin is a sheer, glowing formula that hydrates first and adds color second. I go through SPF options from NARS, Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown, plus a few more skin tints.

The Best Lip Balm for Dry Lips

The Best Lip Balm for Dry Lips

Repair balms, SPF and tints for dry lips

The Best Conditioner for Curly Hair, From Rinse Outs to Co Washes

The Best Conditioner for Curly Hair, From Rinse Outs to Co Washes

The best conditioner for curly hair is a rinse out with plenty of slip, plus a weekly mask or leave in when curls feel dry. I went through rinse outs, masks, co washes and leave ins, then built a simple wash day around them.

The Best Hand Creams for Dry Skin

The Best Hand Creams for Dry Skin

Barrier creams and pocket tubes for dry hands

The Best Shampoo for Oily Hair Is a Clarifying One, Used the Right Way

The Best Shampoo for Oily Hair Is a Clarifying One, Used the Right Way

The best shampoo for oily hair cleans the scalp thoroughly without stripping the lengths, which is harder than it sounds. Clarifying, exfoliating and hard-water formulas each solve a different part of the problem. These twelve are sorted so you can find the one that matches why your roots get greasy.

The Best Blush for Mature Skin, From Melting Balms to Sheer Liquids

The Best Blush for Mature Skin, From Melting Balms to Sheer Liquids

The best blush for mature skin is the one that melts into skin instead of sitting on top of it. These are the creams, soft powders and liquids I would reach for, and how to place them so cheeks look lifted and fresh.

Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Frizzy Hair: 6 Pairs

Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Frizzy Hair: 6 Pairs

The best shampoo and conditioner for frizzy hair is a matched pair. Six compared by hair type and what each brand says it does for frizz.

The Best Shampoo For Curly Hair

The Best Shampoo For Curly Hair

The best shampoo for curly hair is one that cleans the scalp without leaving the curl pattern rough or thirsty.

The Best Mascara for Sensitive Eyes Keeps Things Simple

The Best Mascara for Sensitive Eyes Keeps Things Simple

The best mascara for sensitive eyes is simple, gentle to remove and replaced often, and a tubing formula is often the easiest on irritated lids. These are the everyday mascaras I would patch test first, the tubing mascaras that slide off with warm water, and the gentle removers that finish the job.

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What the Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Can Really Do

What the Best Shampoo for Thinning Hair Can Really Do

The best shampoo for thinning hair cannot regrow hair, but the right one can make thin hair look and feel fuller. Here are the shampoos, conditioners and scalp treatments I would try, and when to see a dermatologist.

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The Best Shampoo for Colored Hair Skips the Sulfates on Purpose

The Best Shampoo for Colored Hair Skips the Sulfates on Purpose

The best shampoo for colored hair skips sulfates on purpose, because a strong detergent strips pigment along with the dirt. This edit sorts sulfate-free formulas by what they add on top of that gentle base, whether that is strength, shine or bond repair for hair that has been lightened more than once.

Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Frizzy Wavy Hair: What Actually Works

Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Frizzy Wavy Hair: What Actually Works

Frizzy wavy hair usually needs moisture without weight. Here is how to choose a shampoo and conditioner that give you both, plus the few extras that help waves hold their shape.

Best Curl Products for Wavy Hair: Cleanse, Define and Hold

Best Curl Products for Wavy Hair: Cleanse, Define and Hold

The best curl products for wavy hair start with proper cleansing and hydration, then a defining product and a holding one. I sort them that way, from curl shampoos to stylers.

The Best Hair Mask For Dry Ends

The Best Hair Mask For Dry Ends

The best hair mask for dry ends goes on from the mid-lengths down and stays on for at least five minutes. Dermatologist Dara Spearman tells SELF to use a mask once or twice a week if your hair is very dry or damaged, and once every one to two weeks to maintain healthy hair.

The Best Toner for Oily Skin Works Overtime Between Cleansing and Moisturizer

The Best Toner for Oily Skin Works Overtime Between Cleansing and Moisturizer

The best toner for oily skin works between cleansing and moisturizer, clearing out what a face wash leaves behind rather than just tightening pores for an hour. For years the fix was an alcohol heavy astringent, which strips skin so aggressively that it produces even more oil to compensate. This edit compares eight acid based formulas instead, from gentle, regular use options to stronger ones meant for active breakouts.

The Best Toner for Oily Skin

The Best Toner for Oily Skin

A generation grew up stripping their faces with alcohol and wondering why the shine came back harder. The best toner for oily skin regulates rather than removes, usually with a mild acid and no drying agents. These are the modern version and my personal favs

The Best Face Wash for Oily Skin Does Not Strip It

The Best Face Wash for Oily Skin Does Not Strip It

Oily skin gets sold aggression when it needs regulation. The best face wash for oily skin removes the day without triggering the rebound that makes tomorrow worse. All of these walk that line.

The Best Skincare Products for Dry Skin, in Three Easy Steps

The Best Skincare Products for Dry Skin, in Three Easy Steps

A routine for the best skincare products for dry skin only needs three steps: a cream or balm cleanser, a hydrating serum or essence, and a rich face cream. Here is what I would put in each step and how to layer them.

Best Exfoliator for Acne Prone Skin: Scrubs, Toners and Pads

Best Exfoliator for Acne Prone Skin: Scrubs, Toners and Pads

My pick for the best exfoliator for acne prone skin here is Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner, which is built around salicylic acid. I also sort scrubs, liquid exfoliants and pads, with one rule: acid at night, sunscreen every morning.

Best Skincare for Oily Skin: A Short Routine, One Active

Best Skincare for Oily Skin: A Short Routine, One Active

The best skincare for oily skin is a gentle cleanser, one active and a light moisturizer. Oily skin gets sold long routines, and I explain why a short one gives you something to actually diagnose.

The Best Eye Cream For Dark Circles

The Best Eye Cream For Dark Circles

The best eye cream for dark circles depends on whether the area looks shadowed, puffy, or simply tired. For most people, the right choice is a lightweight eye treatment that sits comfortably under

Best Eyeshadow Palette for Blue Eyes

Best Eyeshadow Palette for Blue Eyes

We looked at Eyeshadow Palette for Blue Eyes on construction, materials and how it holds up. Here is what stood up.

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara and the Rest of the Look

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara and the Rest of the Look

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara with the ILIA liners, brow products and complexion pieces that go with it.

Best Makeup Brands: Clean Picks From ILIA, RMS Beauty and Kosas

Best Makeup Brands: Clean Picks From ILIA, RMS Beauty and Kosas

The best makeup brands I would trust with a face include ILIA, RMS Beauty, Westman Atelier, Kosas, Tower 28 and Merit. Clean means nothing legally, so I go through what each one actually promises.