By this time, you probably have skin care basics down pat. You know why it's important to cleanse and moisturize, you remove your makeup every night and never forget to wear sunscreen.
Taking care of your skin in your 40s can feel like it's you against the world. After four decades of spending time in the sun, hanging out in polluted air and sleeping on your side or stomach, your skin begins to show the wear-and-tear of modern life. Dark spots, discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture -- these signs of aging are totally normal in your 40s, even for women who have good habits.
Our eyes say a lot about us. They can express what we're really thinking, or simply reveal that we're short on the shut-eye. Likewise, our puffy eyes convey many things. Puffy eyes can be a sign of aging, or simply a side-effect from watching "The Notebook" again (sob).
You've probably had at least one milia in your lifetime. And, you probably didn't even know what they were -- just some random small white bumps on your skin. Most commonly, milia show up under your eyes and on your face, and you can't remove milia on your own. We talked to top dermatologists and aestheticians to find out how to get rid of milia -- and how to prevent them from popping up in the first place.
Actresses, musicians and TV personalities have plenty in common -- designer gowns and hall of fame hairstylists -- but in the beauty world, all eyes are on their flawless skin. With their access to top skin care professionals and expert makeup artists (not to mention their always-knowledgeable mothers) celebrities can be a great source for transformative beauty tips.
For months we slathered our skin in hundreds (literally, hundreds) of moisturizers, sunscreens, serums, oils, cleansers, masks and more -- all in search of this year's best new beauty products for your face. So you can trust us when we say that the following 34 products are the cream of the crop when it comes to smoothing fine lines, protecting skin from the sun, clearing blemishes and beyond.
Not so fun fact: Nearly 90 percent of all women have cellulite. You know, those annoying dimples on your thighs, butt and stomach (if you don't know what I'm talking about, consider yourself lucky). These dimples are caused by fat that pushes through the connective cords that attach your skin to your muscles (kind of like mesh).
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.
