Who it’s for: Anyone looking for more hydrated skin
If you haven’t already tried hydrating toner, here’s the deal: The prep step makes skin look so much dewier than moisturizer alone. Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich has a soft, waterlike texture, a subtle rose scent, and a radiant finish — the whole shebang makes you feel, smell, and look like you just came from a facial. This is meant to be the first step in your morning skin-care routine. Smooth about a nickel-size amount onto damp, freshly cleansed skin, and then give it a few seconds to absorb before layering your other products on top. You can finish with a serum, cream, and/or facial oil (in that order) — and sunscreen always, always goes last.
You'll find Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich in the November 2021 Allure Beauty Box.
Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich
$43 at Whamisa
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
This is part of Thank You Notes, a series of letters offering gratitude to the people and things that inspire us most. Like many others, Allure has spent the pandemic looking inward. What we found was deep gratitude for the medical professionals that cared for our communities and our country during a profoundly difficult time. Then we wrote.
Dear Dr. Aisha,
First, I should really thank TikTok. Because that’s how in the midst of the pandemic, I, a New York-based beauty editor, found you, a badass Black nurse anesthetist, mentor, and entrepreneur living in Japan and pursuing her pilot license in her free time. We may not have all that much in common on paper, but through your social media content, I found your refreshingly transparent videos on positive mindset, building wealth, and harnessing happiness. While the world was in uncertain chaos, I was assured and inspired by you, watching you encourage your followers about entrepreneurship, gratefulness, and advocacy.
Growing up, I walked through the world with incredible ease — a white Midwestern student with tremendous privilege. I was allowed to question authority and deemed “plucky.” I was able to swap stories and compare experiences with every white student surrounding me for reassurance and encouragement. But you had the exact opposite — when you stood up for yourself, you were labeled difficult and obstinate. And you couldn’t turn to classmates to discuss a racist comment made by another student or teacher, because no one else noticed the commonplace derogatory slights.
Your experience was different. Even as a five-year-old, your first-grade teacher assumed your perfect spelling-test score was the result of cheating. You could have taken it to heart — heard the unwarranted criticisms, the microaggressions, the blatant racial biases — and allowed it to alter you, but instead you powered on (with the guidance of a steadfast, confident mother). Many years later while in nursing school, a mentor balked at your hefty goals, telling you not to dream so big or else you’d surely be disappointed. You could have easily been discouraged. And yet, you carried on with your head held high and dreams as grand as your heart.
You worked your way from RN to an advanced practice nurse, the only Black nurse in your class. That wasn’t unusual to you though. While your degree was an incredible feat on its own, it was especially so because only around 5 percent of physicians are Black, and only around 9 percent are nurses.
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Your entire life and career, you’ve been doubted, questioned, and challenged — but you haven’t let it get in the way of who you are meant to be. Instead, you’ve used your position to advocate for those without a voice. It’s heartbreakingly common for POC patients to feel unheard, disregarded, and invisible to a care provider — and that is exactly what has propelled you forward in your profession.
As a nurse anesthetist, you’re the one who administers epidurals during labor. When we spoke, you recalled your first meeting with a Black mother who was visibly nervous — not just about giving birth, but about her horrifying reality. According to the CDC, Black women have a maternal mortality rate three times higher than that of white women. The estimated national rate in the United States is about 17 per 100,000 live births — but it is about 37 per 100,000 live births for Black women. When you introduced yourself and explained you were there to listen and keep her safe, she instantaneously calmed. You assured her, “If you feel like you’re not being listened to, have them call me, and I will be here to advocate for you.”
You’re also motivated to mentor those beyond your physical reach, becoming a spokesperson for a rather unfamiliar emotion in nursing recently: joy. In this unprecedented time, mental health for nurses is understandably on a decline, and a lot of health-care workers are feeling underappreciated. On social media, you’ve started to bring nurses to the conversation of what it means to be truly happy and create the life you want. You educate around developing life skills outside of your profession: finances, investment, and encouraging followers to try new things.
Your biggest goal — as someone who advocates about health and social disparities — is educating anyone, no matter their background or where they are in the world, so they can spread the message. Educating others leads to understanding, which leads to advocacy — and that can be a catalyst for impossibly great achievements.
Thank you, Dr. Aisha, for being you. You're a nurse anesthetist, an educator, a mentor, an advocate — but you’re also a business owner, an investor, a soon-to-be pilot, a hiker, a vegetarian, and so much more. You can’t be defined by a single sentence — and that has inspired me in my own life. You’re more than just a job title or career, you are multifaceted, and you are manifesting a whole world of your own creation.
If you somehow haven't managed to hear about The Ordinary or seen it all over skin-care TikTok, then you're about to let in on one of the buzziest, most affordable skin-care brands in the game. But for most skin-care devotees, The Ordinary is basically vernacular.
For the uninitiated, The Ordinary is owned by parent company Deciem, which is also the home and incubator of Niod, Hylamide, and more. However, The Ordinary has made waves as the most budget-friendly out of the bunch. Its star-studded lineup includes a Best of Beauty-winning hyaluronic acid serum that can double as a hair serum, social-media-famous face peel, and countless other skin-care products (with a smattering of makeup and hair care) that belong on your shelves. It's enough beauty knowledge packed into one brand to practically transform you into a pseudo cosmetic chemist.
As such, The Ordinary has evolved into one of the golden standards for affordable (under $15), to-the-point skin-care products that address just about every skin issue under the sun. Do you have dry skin? Would you like marula, argan, or rosehip seed oil? What about dull skin? There's a salicylic, lactic, or mandelic acid for you. The names themselves, like AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, are extremely transparent and list out the exact percentage of active ingredients, so there's no second-guessing involved. As always, patch test when in doubt and always, always wear SPF — but especially the morning after you use actives and acids to fully protect your skin from damage.
And after launching at both Ulta Beauty and Sephora, the brand is more accessible to consumers than ever before. We rounded up the best The Ordinary products that we are beloved by Allure editors, readers, and board-certified dermatologists alike. With such reasonable price points, we wouldn't blame you if you went ahead and bought a handful at once. After all, skin care is highly personal and takes a lot of trial and error to perfect. The Ordinary simply lessens the burden on your bank account in doing so.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
If it's one product from The Ordinary that you've definitely heard about (whether you've seen the viral TikTok videos or otherwise), it has to be the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. Basically unmatched in terms of affordability and laced with a potent blend of glycolic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and salicylic acid (the lone beta hydroxy acid), this at-home peel is amazing for improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of blemishes.
Our reviewer says that she's been using it for three years for these very reasons. "After 10 minutes of looking like I got a vampire facial with this stuff spread all over, my face comes out the other side as brighter and clearer," she says, and swears that "it's absolutely my go-to, even for my sensitive and reactive skin."
$7
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Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
The beloved Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is no stranger to skin-care cabinets or awards, as it's won both Best of Beauty and Readers' Choice. As you probably know, hyaluronic acid can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in water, while vitamin B5 soothes skin and boosts hydration levels — so together, they absorb quickly and nourish dehydrated skin in an instant. One to two drops of this odorless, viscous-but-fast-absorbing formula is enough for your entire face. Take it from our tester, who layers it underneath a lightweight night cream and "wake[s] up with skin that looked like you could bounce a quarter off it."
$7
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Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
David Kim, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, shared that Mandelic Acid 10% + HA is one of his top picks for treating tricky hyperpigmentation at home. Generally speaking, Dr. Kim approves of mandelic acid (a type of alpha hydroxy acid or AHA) because it's gentle enough for most patients to tolerate — due to its larger molecule size, compared to other acids. To further calm skin, this affordable serum also contains hyaluronic acid to keep skin soft, plump, and free from irritation.
$7
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Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
Plant-derived squalane helps stabilize the 0.5 percent pure retinol (also known as vitamin A) found in the Best of Beauty-winning Retinol 0.5% in Squalane treatment, as well as decrease irritation commonly associated with the wrinkle-fighting and skin-smoothing ingredient. Those two are paired with jojoba seed oil, tomato fruit extract, and rosemary leaf extract to keep skin soothed and looking fresh. For more options, The Ordinary has a 0.2 percent retinol, as well as a 5 percent retinoid.
$6
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Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
The Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is perfect for oily and acne-prone skin because its main ingredient, salicylic acid — along with kaolin and charcoal — sloughs off dead, pore-clogging skin cells and speeds up the healing process of inflamed pimples. "It's my saving grace when fighting a breakout," says beauty assistant Talia Gutierrez. "I have sensitive skin that's easily irritated with treatments, so I rely on this gentle mask to reduce swelling and redness, while visibly improving my skin's texture.”
$12More from Allure
22 Best Cleansing Oils for Melting Away Makeup
15 Best Ceramide Skin-Care Products to Nourish Dry Skin
The 22 Best Eye Creams to Improve Dark Circles and Puffiness
17 Best Salicylic Acid Products to Banish Breakouts
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Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%
Ferulic acid lends a helping hand to many of our favorite ingredients — most commonly vitamin C — to stabilize them and provide a boost of antioxidants that helps make dullness and hyperpigmentation an issue of the past. The Ordinary's Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% employs a slightly different pairing that provides similar results, as resveratrol (like vitamin C) works hard to neutralize free radicals, boost collagen production, and slow down the development of fine lines and wrinkles.
$8
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Concealer
On days you don't need an all-over foundation beat, The Ordinary also has a $6 full-coverage concealer that'll hide dark circles and uneven texture in a pinch. Allure senior beauty editor Dianna Mazzone, who broke the news for Allure, had nothing but praise for this tiny-but-potent tube. "This stuff lasts all day with little to no creasing," she said in her review, canceling redness in its wake.
Believe the hype, folks. The aptly named Concealer is available in 36 shades (even more than the foundations) that are broken down by four undertones: neutral, yellow, red, and pink. The precise nozzle makes it easy to squeeze out the perfect amount of product that you need every time — no more, no less.
$6
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Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is a lightweight serum that employs caffeine, which can temporarily constrict visible blood vessels and reduce the appearance of undereye puffiness. And while dark circles are oftentimes hereditary and out of your control, EGCG (or epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside, in full) derived from green tea leaves can help reduce pigmentation commonly found in the eye contour region. Either way, it's worth paying extra attention to your thin and delicate undereye areas.
$7
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Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Seven percent glycolic acid (a common form of alpha hydroxy acid or AHA) is the star in this toner formula, which mildly exfoliates the skin, diminishes dark spots, and regenerates collagen. But that's not all: The Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution contains amino acids, aloe vera, ginseng, and Tasmanian pepperberry to reduce signs of irritation typically associated with using the small-molecule, deep-penetrating acid.
$9
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Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is formulated with 10 percent pure niacinamide (or vitamin B3) to scale down the appearance of blemishes, fine lines, and congestion, while one percent zinc PCA balances any signs of sebum overproduction. Basically, what we're saying is: Oily skin-types, this one's for you.
$11
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Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
If you're searching for an affordable brightening product, look no further than the Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. This water- and silicone-free formula combines 23 percent pure, stabilized L-ascorbic acid to visibly brighten the skin, while two percent dehydrated spheres of hyaluronic acid supports the vitamin C and smooths the skin's surface. Add in hydrating squalane and sodium hyaluronate (a salt form of hyaluronic acid), and you've got yourself a well-rounded serum for less than the cost of a fancy New York City latte.
$6
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Serum Foundation
Longtime fans of The Ordinary know that the brand has two well-known, Allure editor-approved base products: the Serum Foundation (pictured above) and Coverage Foundation. But here's the good news: While they have frequently sold out over the years, it's easier than ever to get your hands on one of these popular formulations.
All 21 shades of the Serum Foundation correspond with a specific undertone: Y for yellow, P for pink, and R for red, and N for neutral. The thin, liquidy consistency melts into skin and provides semi-matte, natural-looking coverage — it even pairs well with a drop of facial oil for added glow. Just make sure to shake the bottle before pumping out product. Conversely, as the name would suggest, go for the Coverage Foundation if you're looking for a denser base.
$7
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Squalane Cleanser
The Squalane Cleanser feels incredibly gentle on the skin while dissolving all evidence of makeup, sunscreen, and dirt. It also leaves skin feeling soft and never stripped, thanks to key moisturizing ingredients like squalane and glycerin. Those reasons are why senior beauty editor Dianna Mazzone always reaches for this multitasking makeup remover. "You only need the teensiest bit of this balm to get off every stitch of makeup since it melts into a spreadable cleansing oil," she previously said.
$8More from Allure
15 Best Ceramide Skin-Care Products to Nourish Dry Skin
22 Best Cleansing Oils for Melting Away Makeup
17 Best Salicylic Acid Products to Banish Breakouts
The 22 Best Eye Creams to Improve Dark Circles and Puffiness
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100% Niacinamide Powder
If you still haven't hopped on the niacinamide train, no worries — there's still plenty of time to get yourself acquainted. "Niacinamide is a vitamin B3 derivative that helps revitalize, firm, and smooth skin and minimize the appearance of large pores," New York City board-certified dermatologist Howard Sobel previously explained to Allure. Safe to use on all skin types, including sensitive, it also works wonderfully to calm redness and even skin tone.
The Ordinary's most potent form of the powerhouse ingredient is none other than the versatile 100% Niacinamide Powder, which allows you to mix it with other formulas with a pH higher than 5 to avoid irritation — the brand suggests its Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. The idea is that you are able to address more skin concerns in one go. Vitamin C and niacinamide is another synergistic ingredient coupling to try.
Simply mix a quarter scoop of product (using the provided spoon) with a water-based treatment in the palm of your hand and work it into skin before washing everything off.
$6
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Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Add Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% to your acne-fighting regime right this second. Naturally derived from barley, rye grains, and wheat, "azelaic acid has been shown to be bactericidal against p. Acnes, the bacteria on the skin that is one of the causes of acne," Ava Shamban, a Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist, previously told Allure. While that's impressive on its own, Shamban also noted that the acid is also effective at loosening dead skin cells, preventing pore clogging and acne-induced inflammation, and evening out dark spots. Best of all, it's safe for pregnant or nursing people to use.
While you can use this oil-free treatment on its own at nighttime, follow up with a moisturizer if your skin is prone to dryness, as well as sunscreen if you're using it during the day. With regular use, you can wave those pesky breakouts goodbye.
$8
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Buffet
Whenever senior commerce writer Sarah Han's skin is looking a little less lifted, she turns to this multi-peptide and hyaluronic acid-infused Buffet serum to support collagen production and support cell turnover. "Though the formula is a little stickier than other serums I've used, it sinks into my skin and dries down incredibly fast," she says. "My skin feels plumper after application, and this could be just me, but I feel like my thicker nighttime moisturizers absorb faster as well."
$15
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Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%
Like the glycolic acid solution mentioned earlier, Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% also offers mild exfoliation via 10 percent lactic acid, along with Tasmanian pepperberry to help calm down any inflammation your skin incurs.
If your skin's especially sensitive, try diluting the lactic acid with other treatments (like green tea and resveratrol) until your skin builds up a tolerance. And, with any alpha hydroxy acids, make sure to wear sunscreen the next morning — even though you should be wearing it every day anyway.
$7
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Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Like its name implies, Natural Moisturizing Factors (or NMF) help penetrate and hydrate the outer layer of skin and consist of a long list of ingredients that includes amino acids, fatty acids, triglycerides, urea, ceramides, glycerine, sodium PCA, and hyaluronic acid. Did we mention it's also really lightweight and doesn't leave any greasy or heavy residue? We're in.
$8
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100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
When rosehip seed oil is extracted using high heat levels, the process degrades its linolenic acid and pro-vitamin A — which is why The Ordinary's organic offering is cold-pressed, thus preserving the oil's full moisturizing and acne-clearing benefits. Pair it with a jade roller for a relaxing facial massage.
What it does: Makes lashes look lifted and curled, with an easy-to-use cushy pad and gentle arc
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for major lashes
I thought you needed a surgeon’s steady hand to get lifted, curled lashes — and then I was asked to write about Eyeko Eyelash Curler for work. The gentle arc and cushy pad of this tool make it easy to use (there was no accidental pinching!) and the handle rests comfortably on your cheek to make curling a breeze. There are so many different techniques for curling lashes, but I love this one shared by a top makeup artist: Curl your lashes by the base, apply one coat of mascara, let it dry completely, curl again, and then apply more mascara. Waiting a few seconds before going back in with the curler is key. If your lashes are wet, they may stick to the curler or clump.
You'll find the Eyeko Eyelash Curler in the 2021 November Allure Beauty Box.
Eyeko Eyelash Curler
$15 at Eyeko
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What it is: A whipped cream moisturizer that feels amazing
What it does: Nourishes, hydrates, and smooths skin with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a rich moisturizer, especially for dry and/or mature skin
Inside this pretty pink jar lies a whipped, luxurious cream that coddles both dry and mature skin — a feat much-needed (and appreciated) during an extended work-from-home period when Botox appointments are few and far between. The Neogen Probiotics Youth Repair Cream is formulated with peptides (11 of them, to be exact), along with hydrating hyaluronic acid and nourishing ceramides, to not only moisturize skin, but give it a bouncy, slightly lifted disposition. I like to slather on a hefty helping after my nightly retinol application to give fine lines and laxity a one-two punch. And yes, I’m aware this K-beauty cream doesn’t work exactly the same wonders as my beloved Botox, but it sure is a nice temporary stand-in.
You’ll find Neogen Probiotics Youth Repair Cream in the November 2021 Allure Beauty Box.
Neogen Probiotics Youth Repair Cream
$48 at Neogen
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
At Allure, we get inundated with the latest and greatest beauty offerings every day. Most of it is exciting, some of it confusing, and sometimes it gets overwhelming, especially now that our homes have become our offices. Alas, that is the beauty editor's burden to bear.
When we really like something, you can trust that our opinion has come from vetting it against everything we've seen before, including our longtime favorites. (We've even written love letters to some of the products we hold most dear.) But we're always open to finding — and sharing — new favorites. It's a big beauty playground out there, so we'll gladly do the dirty work to test everything under the sun. And the crème de la crème often graduate to our Best of Beauty trials.
But let's stick to the present for now. Each week, Allure editors select the new hair, makeup, and skin-care products we're currently obsessing over. Trying to narrow down our favorites to just one or two products can be hard, but we manage. Check out what our editors can't get enough of right now.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Chroma Stix
"Now that IRL hangouts are happening again, I'm reintroducing myself to vibrant cosmetics after two years of a bare face. So far, one of my biggest saving graces in my quest for cosmic colors is Anastasia Beverly Hills' Norvina Chroma Stix Makeup Pencils, which come in 16 shades to mix and match. These slim-tipped pencils glide onto skin like a dream (no pulling or tugging!), and their bold pigments won't smudge or sweat off during the day. I'm loving the Yellow shade (shown above) for how bright and opaque it is, unlike other yellow pigments I've used before." — Jennifer Hussein, commerce writer
$18
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Eva NYC Magic Mane Hair Fragrance
"I won't leave my apartment before spraying a few generous pumps of Eva NYC Magic Mane Hair Fragrance. The pink glass bottle carries the brand's signature floral scent with notes of white flowers like jasmine and fruity plum. Whether it be a day full or errands of a night out, I can't resist at least one light mist of magic." — Talia Gutierrez, beauty assistant
$18 at Eva NYC
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Whamisa Toner Deep Rich
"Hydration is the focus of my skin-care routine for the moment, so I've made sure to invest in moisturizing toners, which is why I've been loving Whamisa's Toner Deep Rich on my skin. Its silky formula leaves a light film of hydration that helps prep my skin for the serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen to come. The toner is infused with some amazing skin-care ingredients like hydrating aloe vera, reparative oat kernel extract, and humectant glycerin." — Gabi Thorne, editorial assistant
You'll find Whamisa Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich in the November 2021 Allure Beauty Box.
$43 at Whamisa
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Facile Press-On Nails
"When I first tried Facile's Press-On Nails, I thought the fact that they're lighter weight than others I've tried would be a negative. Not so! Contrary to my assumptions, the thinner nails actually looked more natural (people who complimented them were shocked when I said they weren't my real nails) and, I think, are at least part of the reason they lasted a full two weeks before any started to pop off." — Kara McGrath, deputy editor
$20
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Simihaze Beauty Velvet Blur Matte Lip Balm in Mist
"Since adopting my dog Scorpion earlier this year, I've become more of a morning person and less of a full-face-of-makeup person. The time I used to spend painting my lids with neon liners and gluing rhinestones onto my cheeks has been replaced with visits to the dog park. I still love a wash of color on my lips and cheeks, though, so I handle both with one product: the Simihaze Beauty Velvet Blur Matte Lip Balm in Mist. The creamy formula melts into lips like a hydrating stain after I swipe it on and blend it out with my fingertip. Whatever is left on it gets dabbed onto the high points of my cheekbones for a natural-looking flush. Then, I coat my lashes with mascara, and Scorpion and I are good to go." — Devon Abelman, beauty editor
What it is: A black liner with a shimmery rose-gold shadow on the other end
What it does: Lets you create sparkling cat eyes, or smudgy smokey looks
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a quick eye shadow look
Every great cat eye requires two things: a precise liner and a shimmery shadow that I can use to highlight my artistry. Tarte’s Quick Stick Waterproof Shadow & Liner in Rose Gold Luster & Black comes equipped with both. The thin, charcoal-black liner is one of the smoothest pencils I’ve used (and I’ve tried just about every gel, liquid, and pencil out there). The creamy texture glides along my lash line seamlessly, creating a smooth wing. Then I scribble the metallic, rosy shadow stick (which has more of a golden payoff on my brown skin) at my inner corners and smudge the shadow for a soft finish. It’s anywhere eye makeup—and it looks good everywhere.
You'll find Tarte’s Quick Stick Waterproof Shadow & Liner in Rose Gold Luster & Black in the 2021 November Allure Beauty Box.
Tarte Quick Stick Waterproof Shadow
$25 at Ulta Beauty
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What It Is: A lightweight face oil enriched with squalane and plant extracts
What It Does: Hydrates, smoothes, and softens skin overnight
Who It's For: Anyone booking to double-down on moisture
If you haven’t yet added face oil to your skin care routine, I’m actually jealous — because there’s nothing quite like that first morning you wake up after using face oil as your last step the night prior and realize your skin feels so much more hydrated than it does after using moisturizer alone.
As a diehard face oil fan, I’ve gotten used to that feeling — so to really wow me, a formula has to go beyond simply helping to hydrate. Pili Ani Self-Care Night Recovery Oil is one of those formulas: not only did it leave my skin feeling more moisturized, but noticeably smoother and softer, too.
The blend is stacked with one of my favorite hydrating ingredients, squalane, along with a laundry list of plant-derived extracts including calendula and chamomile. It’s hard to say which one in particular is responsible for the softening and smoothing I noticed — but if you ask me, that’s all part of the magic.
You'll find Pili Ani Self-Care Night Recovery Oil in the November 2021 Allure Beauty Box.
Pili Ani Self-Care Night Recovery Oil
$72 at Pili Ani
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Around 2015, charcoal went from simply a fire starter and an emergency room treatment for overdoses and poisonings to an ingredient that set the food and beauty industries aflame. Lattes, smoothies, cleansers, and face masks alike were spiked with the sooty powder to give them a pitch-black hue that brands swore helped with detoxification. Years later, charcoal's popularity in foods has waned, but it's still a reoccurring inclusion in skin-care products to this day.
For those who never fully considered what the charcoal in your favorite product actually is, it's basically wood burnt down to an absorbent powder composed of carbon and ash, cosmetic chemist Laura Lam-Phaure tells Allure. But how does it work its magic for our complexions? We asked experts to share how charcoal rids skin of nastiness.
How does charcoal benefit skin?
If you ask Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., charcoal is like a Dyson — vacuum, not blow-dryer — for your pores. "It sucks up everything by electrically drawing out bacteria, dirt, and oil from skin," she explains to Allure.
In fact, the carbon molecules act as charcoal's power source to pull toxins away from your skin. They have a negative charge that attracts impurities, says board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, M.D. "Every day, we come into contact with free radicals and other environmental aggressors that can clog our skin," she adds. Needless to say, charcoal can come to the rescue to detoxify the situation.
Those with oily, acne-prone complexions will benefit most from including charcoal in their skin-care routine, both of dermatologists say. "It just helps to even out the slate, minimizing the nutrients that feed zits," Dr. Gohara adds.
What are the downsides of charcoal skin-care products?
As charcoal absorbs excess oil and debris from skin, it can sometimes do its job too well by also taking away moisture. In the process, it can make skin more susceptible to dryness and irritation, Dr. Zubritsky says. So if your complexion tends to be on the drier side, charcoal doesn't need to be incorporated into your skin-care routine. Instead, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta (BHAs) will help exfoliate away impurities on the surface of your skin.
Alternatively, Dr. Zubritsky says you should skip reaching for products with these ingredients when using ones infused with charcoal. Dr. Gohara echoes this advice, adding charcoal may even suck up those actives, particularly retinol, and make them less effective.
Overall, charcoal isn't harmful for skin and "has minimal to no risk of causing allergic reactions," Dr. Zubritsky says. "However, most skin-care products do not contain just charcoal and typically have other ingredients that could be allergenic," she adds. "I always recommend performing a patch test prior to using any new skin-care product."
Which charcoal-infused products do the experts recommend?
With all of this in mind, charcoal-based masks and moisturizers are the best possible way to put the ingredient to work. Leave-on products are ideal because "charcoal works best when it can be absorbed into the skin over a long period of time," Lam-Phaure says. Her personal favorite (as well as Dr. Zubritsky's) is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores because it's also spiked with kaolin, which "enhances the oil-absorbent properties of charcoal," she adds.
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores
$28Shop Now
Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Purifying Black Mask
$60Shop Now
PCA Skin Detoxifying Mask
$62Shop Now
Dr. Zubritsky also loves the Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Purifying Black Mask. If you're worried about charcoal drying out your skin, but still want to take advantage of its oil-absorbing benefits, she recommends this mask because it's formulated with hydrating ingredients, like glycerin and hijiki seaweed. (You should also look out for hyaluronic acid and ceramides.) For the same reasons, Dr. Gohara's go-to charcoal mask is the PCA Skin Detoxifying Mask, which also touts glycerin.
All of these masks also double as spot treatments, Dr. Zubritsky says. When you feel a breakout coming on, dab one directly onto it — instead of all over your face — to help it clear up faster.
If you prefer not to wash off a charcoal mask and get the dark powder all over your skin, you can try some Allure-editor picks: the Mediheal W.H.P Brightening & Hydrating Charcoal Sheet Mask and the Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Overnight Moisturizer.
What it is: A dramatic mascara with lash conditioning ingredients
What it does: Nourishes while adding length and volume
Who it’s for: Anyone looking for major lashes
As someone who wears mascara most days, I appreciate a formula that does more than the minimum of merely tinting my lashes. Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes Treatment Mascara gives my eyes all the glam — without the unwanted drama of smudging, flaking, and clumping. Its hourglass brush is covered with comb-like bristles to separate every single lash for maximum definition. What’s more though is that the jet black ink is infused with conditioning peptides and nourishing panethenol, so my lashes are conditioned with every swipe. I apply one or two coats for a my-lashes-but-better effect or layer on the buildable, mess-free mascara for perfectly fanned-out fringe.
You'll find Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes Treatment Mascara in the November 2021 Allure Beauty Box.
Wander Beauty Upgraded Lashes Treatment Mascara
$26 at b-glowing
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