Of U.S. cities, which town is the fairest of them all? No, we're not talking waterfalls and flowers; we're talking people. And since beauty is pretty much in the eye of the beholder, we admit, it's hard to tell which town takes the title. There are so many qualities to consider: good looks (like having beautiful hair or clear skin), fit figures, brains, personality, charisma, sense of humor ... and everyone's preferences are so different. But just for fun, we put good looks way up there.
Putting on sunscreen is right up there with brushing teeth and applying deodorant: We primarily do it because we're terrified of what will happen if we don't. But what if it didn't have to be that way? What if smearing on sunscreen didn't make your hands greasy, your face break out and your skin chalky and white? What if applying sunscreen wasn't motivated by fear, but by the same joy we get from our favorite mascara or lipstick?
"Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn't if it had a neck." So said the late Nora Ephron in her best-selling memoir, "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman".
What causes acne, how to prevent acne from forming, and how to treat existing acne are three of the most mystifying issues in dermatology today. That's because acne can be influenced by such a weird amalgamation of factors -- from major influences like lifestyle, heredity and stress down to seemingly insignificant details like what you pour over your cereal in the morning. Here's everything we know about acne and how to cure it, from the foods that cause acne to pimple home remedies to antibiotics for acne.
Pinterest is great for many things: finding braid inspiration; planning your fantasy wedding; reading motivational fitness quotes; scoping out your next DIY project. But just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn't mean it's a good idea -- in fact, some of those beauty DIYs can seriously damage your skin.
On the street, we call it chicken skin. But in the dermatologist's office, they call it Keratosis Pilaris (KP) -- pronounced "Pie-LAIR-is," like the "pie" you eat and the "air" you breathe. Odds are you're familiar with this skin condition: KP consists of those little red bumps that commonly speckle the back of the arms and thighs, and it effects a whopping 40 percent of the population. Though it's not a dangerous or painful condition, KP is an international enemy purely for its stubbornness -- medical science has yet to find a cure.
Hybrids are everywhere: The freeway, the grocery store (tangelo, anyone?) and, now, in our skin-care routine. Melting cleansers give us the best of both worlds: An easy-to-apply gel makeup remover that transforms into a cleansing oil that rinses away as a silky milk.
Botox has been around for a long time -- long enough that it's regarded as a normal, not-so-crazy procedure. Once associated with Beverly Hills housewives, Botox is now a procedure that someone you know probably gets -- or maybe you've considered yourself.
We've all been there: You glance into a mirror and you're suddenly shocked by the scary state of your skin. Spurred into action by your crossover into bad skin territory, you book the first facial appointment available. Surely, an hour on the table in some able aesthetician's hands will get you back to glowing. You zone out while your aesthetician slathers blissful-smelling concoctions on your face, with visions of clear, lit-from-within skin dancing in your head. You're so relaxed, you barely even remember swiping your credit card and being steered out the door. When you break out a few days later, you wonder: Is it a coincidence? Am I just purging? Or did I put my skin into the hands of a bad aesthetician?
Ayurveda. It's one of those New Age-y trends that we're still not 100 percent sure we're pronouncing correctly (along with acai and jojoba) -- or clear on why we should care much about it. The 5,000-year-old practice is steeped in tradition, handed down from generation to generation. But it also taps into the very modern and not-so-out-there idea that whatever is going on inside your body shows up on the outside (think: acne, clogged pores and rosacea).
The only thing worse than a big, angry zit is a face full of big, angry zits. Acne -- from the occasional breakout to chronic bumps -- is the worst confidence crusher out there.
We got a little voyeuristic and took a peek into the skin care routines of some of the best dermatologists (who also happen to have really, really pretty skin). Ranging from one who absolutely, will not, under any circumstances, leave the house without putting antioxidants on her face to another whose routine is as simple as cleanse-and-moisturize, these top dermatologists spill the products, treatments and injections that keep them looking impossibly young.
If you've ever downloaded one of those blue-water, white-sand screensavers as a way to mentally transport yourself to a calmer, happier and more beautiful place, chances are you were probably looking at Tahiti. Full of welcoming people, isolated beaches and the bluest water you've ever seen, Tahiti is one place that is just as beautiful as the brochures.
If you don't have clear skin, you probably don't have a clear sense what to do about it, either. There are a million different acne products on the market, and just as many random pieces of advice on how to cure it. (Chocolate? Doesn't cause pimples, after all.) All those false starts and false hopes can make a girl think her best solution is to simply invest in full-coverage foundation.
If you suffer from acne, psoriasis or another skin condition, chances are you've tried everything to get rid of it. From crazy diets to expensive procedures, there's no rock that goes unturned in the fight for clear, healthy-looking skin. But have you tried wishing it away? Psychodermatology, an emerging field that makes the connection between skin health and mental health, suggests that using your mind to get rid of a problematic skin condition isn't such a crazy concept.
If you're into beauty -- even if you only dabble -- you probably know that most of the hottest trends come courtesy of Korea. From BB creams and cushion compacts to oil cleansers, many Korean favorites have made their way stateside.
You change your wardrobe when winter rolls around, so what makes you think you shouldn't change your skin care? After all, your moisturizers and serums are sort of like clothes for the face -- they protect it from outside elements. And when those outside elements are destroying your skin, you need to have an arsenal of winter skin-care products on your side. Here, the best skin-care products for combating dry skin.
You could do everything else right: eat the best foods for your skin, be up to date on the latest in anti-aging skin care and tirelessly slather on sunscreen -- but if you're neglecting your hands, all your efforts to harness the fountain of youth are for naught.
Winter comes with its many perks (hot chocolate, cozy pajamas, endless pie) but dry, itchy skin is not one of them. While that taut, tight feeling and unsightly flakes are a nuisance for everyone, the more visible scales and ashy dryness that show up more prominently on dark skin make them even more annoying and troublesome for women of color.