Next up, take a look at the only skincare product dermatologists say is guaranteed to work.

I remember the first time I went on birth control. It was freshman year of college, and my hormonal acne was off the charts. I wanted to blame my new surroundings and diet of Easy Mac and beer (I mean, apple juice), but my dermatologist pinpointed my out-of-whack hormones and prescribed the pill to handle my situation. I was scared to take a pill every day for the next… however long was necessary but essentially decided to venture down the monthly pill-pack journey for the sake of a smooth complexion.

In addition to drastically clearing up my skin, it also helped relieve me of my once debilitating period cramps (and, of course, helped prevent pregnancy). But recently, I found myself in the midst of an unexpected 10-pound weight gain and constant bloating and decided to self-diagnose birth control as the culprit. Without consulting a physician, I went off of it to test whether I could finally shed those extra pounds, but the results were underwhelming—stagnant, even. I also noticed a slew of other changes like intense cramps and irregular periods.

I decided to put aside my WebMD mentality and consulted two gynecologists who shed light on the common bodily changes you may encounter post-pill, which differ from woman to woman. First things first, aside from pregnancy, there is no immediate risk of stopping hormonal birth control right away (phew). According to Jessica A. Shepherd, MD, SweetSpot Labs expert and director of minimally invasive gynecology at the University of Illinois. "Although there may be changes seen after stopping the pill, there is no danger in stopping immediately from a birth control regimen and no need to taper off the doses."

Today, we're just focusing on the pill, as symptoms post–copper IUD, hormone implants, or other forms of contraception will differ. For more on these changes, keep scrolling.

Over a decade ago, when I suffered from disordered thoughts and began restricting my food intake, those three simple words were indulgent. They practically sparkled, glowing in my mind like lightning bugs trapped in a mason jar. "Skinny" was always the goal, and the more others adulated my frame, the more victorious I felt. I'd beam at the utterance of the word, finally feeling like my physically damaging and mentally exhausting plan was working. I wanted to look pretty, I wanted to be skinny—and adolescence painstakingly coached that one did not exist without the other. I went through treatment and therapy and came out permanently altered on the other side. Still, the struggle, though decidedly quieter and less frequent, remained omnipresent despite my distance from it. 

Next up: I eat healthy now and feel really good—but I miss my curves.

There have been so many times an actress, singer, or model shared an exceptionally good makeup nugget with us that we found it fruitful to sift through the many interviews we've conducted for the best tips they ever learned from a makeup artist. Their insight, below.

Want more tips? This is how Redditors help their foundation last all day long.

In recent months, however, my sleepless tendencies crept back. Maybe it’s from stress; maybe it’s just a normal part of the adult experience (“how to fall asleep” does get thousands of searches on Google a month). Either way, I found myself staring at my now-white walls once again, praying for sleep and growing more stressed with every passing moment that it eludes me. I tried breathing exercises, but they didn’t work for me. I always felt slightly like I was drowning. I counted sheep. I listened to soothing music. I prayed. Nothing worked. When I did sleep, I often found myself waking up throughout the night, overheated and disoriented. Then I'd looked at my room, with clothes haphazardly strewn around, some on my bed, and realize that the place where I spent 50% of my life was the opposite of zen and peaceful. I also happened to start getting a ton of pitches about new products—from pajamas to comforters—that promised to help me sleep blissfully. I made it my mission to make my bedroom the most comfortable sleeping environment possible, and sure enough, it worked. Ahead, find the unexpected sleep products that worked for me, plus some picks from my fellow editors.

Up next, take a look at the fastest way to get rid of belly bloat.

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Most skincare pros will argue that patience and consistency are key if you want to see results. I call bullshit. While I won't understate the importance (or joy!) of establishing a ritualistic skincare routine, I am also a huge proponent of instant gratification. If I have an acne scar on my chin and a fancy dinner to attend tomorrow night, you better believe I'm going to pull out all the stops to excavate that thing from my face.

This has gotten me in trouble in the past. For example, I used to be a sucker for anything that I could feel working, but usually, those kind of products were merely A) too harsh for my complexion, B) a marketing ploy, or C) all of the above. But as I've fine-tuned my routine over the years, I've amassed a lineup of products I know I can rely on if I want a glowy, even complexion by tomorrow morning. Better yet, they contribute to healthier skin in the long run, too.

Below, find the seven products I swear by to get rid of under-eye bags, visibly brighten my complexion, nix acne scars, and more—all within a matter of hours.

This month, she's sharing the nail color you should wear in April, based on your sign. Each color is thoughtfully selected for your sign and with the current astrological landscape in mind. You can also read for your sun, moon, and rising signs.

We're talking about barrettes. The old-school hair staple is all over Instagram, holding back the hair of bloggers, famous hairstylists, and celebrities. Trend-setters like Kendall Jenner, Ariana Grande, Ashley Graham, and Winnie Harlow (just to name-drop a few celebrities) have 'grammed photos of themselves wearing their favorite clips. Each one—whether it's a subtle French-girl barrette or a slim and sleek metallic fastener—is perfectly '90s-chic. 

With brands like The Ordinary democratizing beauty and allowing us to buy the individual ingredients our complexions need at an affordable price, we should all be living our best skin lives. The reality is, though, the endless choices and number of individual ingredients sold can make shopping for skincare more confusing than ever before. But, if you can identify exactly what ingredients your skin needs and understand how to factor them into your daily routine, then clearer, more glowing skin is possible. It's all about figuring out the how, which is where we come in.

To wade through the marketing speak and beauty hyperbole, I called on the following experts to shed some light on the confusing world of skincare ingredients: Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, who runs a private practice in New York; Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician; Megan Felton and Ksenia Selivanova, co-founders of skincare consultancy Lion/ne and Mark Curry, founder of The Inkey List, a Brit brand selling the most-wanted skin ingredients at a fraction of the price (launching in the U.S. this spring). Below, find the ideal cocktail of ingredients for your skin type or concern. 

Confession: I rarely get a manicure or attempt to paint my nails because I'm too hard on my hands. I'm a frequent hand-washer, I type like a baboon, and I'm constantly putting them through the wringer doing the dishes, opening packages, and the like. Before I know it, my nails have that awful peeling, chapped look that makes my skin crawl. Try as I might to preemptively nourish them by taking biotin gummies and frequently applying cuticle oil and hand cream, they still break like a tortilla chip. The only fix that's somewhat improved their appearance is a gel manicure, but it's far too expensive to spawn into a habit, and I'm convinced that spine-tingling removal process in which the nail tech scrapes the paint off your nails with a metal tool is making them even worse for the wear.

I figured my fate was cut out for me as a brittle-nailed girl until I recently tried a sheer pink-peach shade from Zoya's Naked Manicure collection. I'd gotten the bottle backstage several New York Fashion Weeks ago and figured it was a nice neutral color I could always keep in my arsenal. What I didn't know was that it would completely change the state of my nails.

Up next, the best nail art ideas we've seen this year.

Let me be clear, Sukoenig is stunning. And she has a beautiful body by anyone’s standards. Hard stop. There is nothing about her physical features that would ever lead me to believe she’s been subject to judgment and exclusion. Though, perhaps that’s the point—the fact that anyone, anywhere, who looks any type of way, has dealt with negative experiences in relation to their shape. Surely, an involvement in the modeling industry amplifies things, but it’s true women of any profession are exposed to cruel, discriminatory criticism. It would be impossible not to internalize it in some way or another. Sukoenig is outspoken about the size gap—how when you’re not a “straight” size (a term the industry uses for models who fit the traditional sample size) or “plus” (an often controversial word for sizes above a 12, though models in this category can be as small as a size 8), you’re all but banished from the industry. It’s like no one knows where to place you, so they forget your existence entirely. And let’s not forget this dilemma is in reference to women who fit a size 4 or 6. With the average U.S. woman wearing a size 16 to 18 (according to this 2016 study), that is purely ludicrous.

Inspired by Sukoenig’s candor, I reached out with a few questions about her experiences. Below, she shares her thoughtful words on representation and empowerment in the face of perceived failure.

We were wrong. At least when it comes to the ingestible beauty and nutrition brand, Dirty Lemon, which makes a full range of supplemental beauty waters; think charcoal, rose, turmeric, collagen, ginseng, valerian, matcha ... and now retinol. That's right, the world's first-ever drinkable retinol is here, and it's formulated to treat the skin from the inside-out. Keep scrolling to learn more about this new drink, and see the beginning of the brave, new world of retinol products. 

To be clear, "a stretch mark is a tear in the collagen fabric of the dermis that occurs whenever the skin is stretched beyond its tensile limits," explains Scott Wells, MD, a New York–based plastic surgeon. "This is visible as a lighter-appearing linear wrinkling under the skin. This will happen in the abdominal region during pregnancy or in the hips and leg region with rapid weight gain—this can happen any time but is most common during adolescence due to the hormonal alteration in the skin to accommodate growth."

I've grown used to my stretch marks, barely noticing them when I dress or undress, and the shame that came with them during my teenage years has generally subsided. I like my body, and I'm not worried about the stigma still attached to stretch marks. That being said, feeling compassion toward your body (all its curves and edges) and wanting to reduce the appearance of stretch marks don't have to be conflicting schools of thought. I can feel good about my body positivity and still try to treat my stretch marks if I so choose. So that's exactly what I did.

If you're still a bit iffy on how to use one, here's everything you need to know.

"When it comes to women hitting midlife (life expectancy is still in fact about 71 worldwide and 80 for developed nations), the first thing I encourage people to think about is that 40 is no longer the stereotypical version of 40 that's existed for decades," she says. "Women used to be questioned for being in great shape and focusing on fitness past a certain age. Now the question is 'Well, why they heck aren't you in great shape?' The game has changed in terms of how we look at age, access to healthcare and wellness offerings and products, and just in terms of how we look at societal norms. It is tough to look at a Salma Hayek, Gabrielle Union, or Reese Witherspoon and say, 'That's past prime.'"

To help you reach your own fitness prime well into your 40s and 50s, Stokes shared with us her best fitness and nutrition tips, which you can find below.

Next up: Skincare advice from dermatologists over 40.

A small little music festival called Coachella is happening next weekend, which also means that Indio, CA will once again hold the record for having the highest number of crop tops and fringe-everything in one location. By now, we all associate certain things with festival fashion (see the aforementioned trends), but festival beauty has its own set of stereotypes. For some reason, listening to your favorite bands now also requires you to do strange things like dip-dyeing your hair pastel colors or donning an Indian headdress (just…no). As someone who has been to six (!) Coachellas and fallen prey to many of these very stereotypes myself, I've gathered a list of ones that I think everyone should really, really leave behind, if only to save you from cringing when you look back on them years later (it's not a good feeling, trust me). 

Though I think you should wear whatever beauty trends you want when you’re frolicking around to Ariana Grande, there are certain looks that have been so overdone that they’ve become complete and utter clichés (not to mention a little thing called cultural appropriation). But hey, feel free to take my thoughts with a grain of salt—even I admit we still have a soft spot for hair chalk. Keep scrolling for five festival beauty clichés I think we're better off without. 

Age-old stories and advice would have us believe drinking a gallon of water a day will solve every problem we have, from weight loss to anti-aging. You can even trick your brain into drinking more water for those very reasons. But is it a myth? I can't imagine it would help much more than the frequency of my trips to the bathroom. That, and there's evidence it's possible to drink too much water.

So before trying it myself and subsequently carrying a gallon of water around with me all day, I decided to ask experts in fitness, nutrition, and skin what that water would really affect. Turns out it's not a cure-all for any and every body-related issue. But there are a few surprising things that added hydration helps with. Below, top trainers, estheticians, and nutritionists discuss the truth behind the water bottle.

FYI: We know what you need to do to actually have a "high metabolism."

As much of a one-stop shop as Whole Body already is for natural, nontoxic products (many of which are relatively inexpensive and have cult followings), you’re only going to see it get better in the coming months—and you have Maren Giuliano, head of beauty and wellness at Whole Foods, to thank for that. It’s her responsibility to source and curate the products that appear on Whole Body’s shelves—an honor reserved for few qualifying brands. “Our goal is to carry the best natural skincare products on the market and we’re always looking to elevate our standards,” she says. “We have strict standards for what we allow in every aisle of our store, but that’s especially true for our beauty department.

Each time Giuliano and her team are considering a new product or brand, it goes through a rigorous vetting process that covers everything from formulation (“We screen for more than 400 ingredients, including parabens,” says Giuliano) to company conditions and the backstory behind a given brand. “It’s really important that a brand aligns with our company’s mission and that the brand uses their platform for good,” she says.

All of this has allowed Whole Body to stock an exclusive but illustrious array of brands, a number that is only growing exponentially with the rise of eco-friendly and organic beauty as a greater trend. Inexpensive essential oils and petroleum-free jellies share shelf space with luxe, organic skincare and makeup, making for a wonderful variety that’s all tied together by clean ingredients and reliability. Right now, popular brands range from Dr. Hauschka and Burt’s Bees to Weleda and Juice Beauty. Whole Body’s next major launch is from Whole Foods’ native brand: a salon-quality haircare line due in November. Giuliano notes they’re also starting to focus on indie and international brands.

Which brings me back to that Disneyland analogy. Aside from the excitement and fun of perusing Whole Body, it’s also sensory overload—you want to sniff, touch, and look at everything. So to save you a little time on your next visit, we asked Giuliano to handpick her must-have items—and threw in a few of our own, too. Click through below to see some of the best beauty products at Whole Foods.

The latest way fashion and beauty trends are coinciding is through the dual embrace of a print we haven't seen in years: cow print. Whether it's on the nails of celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Ariana Grande, or filling up our Instagram feed, cow print nail art is officially the trendiest manicure of the moment. Is it unexpected? Yes. Is it trendy and chic? Also yes. 

To turn the dial a bit, we collected stories from Muslim women regarding their haircare routines, learning along the way how a hijab or head covering can be both helpful (fewer wash days) and detrimental (dryness) depending on someone’s particular hair texture and chosen style. So we reached out to four women for their favorite products, chosen regimens, and more. Below, see four Muslim women discussing their haircare in their own words.

Related:
3 Stunning Hijab-Makeup Pairings ft. Shahd Batal
6 Muslim Beauty Bloggers With Seriously Mind-Boggling Makeup Skills

Opening Image: Kat Borchart

“Sensitive skin can be connected to a disrupted skin barrier, which is the skin’s protective layer, so often people can experience symptoms of itching, burning, or tingling more easily, and it’s generally more reactive than skin with a healthy, strong barrier,” explains Hemali Gunt, head of clinical and scientific affairs at Burt’s Bees.

So how can people with sensitive skin avoid flare-ups and find products that work? It’s important to understand that what causes sensitivity for one person may not for another, so as long as you’re cautious about what you’re using (and not using), you should be in a good place. Here, Gunt shares the ingredients to seek out—and others to and avoid—if you have sensitive skin.

I decided on a few habits that I could easily incorporate into my daily life. For me, it's all about balance—the ability to understand and practice what's good for me but still keep it all feeling accessible. I can't get down with anything too time-consuming or limiting. Such is the case with the six things I've built in to my weekly schedule. There's small changes in my diet, my (previously non-existent) workouts, and skincare routine. Trust me, the results have been palpable. Below, find the easy Ayurvedic habits that have made my life, skin, and health so much better. 

FYI: I got naked and wrapped in a plastic air bubble in the name of detoxing—find out what happened next. 

With that in mind, I asked the other editors at Byrdie HQ to sound off on the products they're coveting for spring. It's a mixture of good things—balms, gels, dry shampoos, vitamin C serums, and many other gems you're going to want to try. There are new launches, a few old favorites, and reasons for why we're loving each one. Below, find twelve of the hair, makeup, and skincare products we're swapping in for spring. 

FYI: You can actually train your skin to be less oily.

Many women of color carry natural hair stories. Whether the stories stemmed from a small-minded question or partial comment, these instances are far too common. Most of the time, our scenarios go unsaid and are discussed within our own sister circles. Instead of being kept in the dark, I wanted to shed light on our experiences. We received an overwhelmingly positive number of responses from women willing to share their stories with us. 

Read on for 31 of the most powerful natural hair stories below.

Ed. note: Quotes have been shortened and edited for content.

Do you have a similar hair story? Sound off in the comments below. 

To see more of our favorite vitamin C serums, click here. Then, check out the super hydrating skincare ingredient showing up in products everywhere (it's not hyaluronic acid). 

With each annual music festival, Halloween or holiday party—or sometimes just a random Wednesday—comes a whole lot of glitter. The glitter roots trend has been spotted on hairlines in the fields of Indio, and glitter-flecked models have been marching down the runway season after season for years. But seeing so much tinsel begs the question: Where does all that glitter go? All that glitters is gold (as Smash Mouth so eloquently put it)—but is it sustainable for our environment? Scientists and marine biologists agree on the simple answer: No.

When these little pieces off cut-up plastic and polyester sheets are washed off of your eyelids, body, cheeks, or hair, they can escape into waterways and become marine plastic litter. I love glitter, so I’m just as gutted about the facts as you probably are. But, alas, there is hope. Unlike gluten-free bread (it’s just not the same!), sustainable glitter brands are just as sparkly, sticky, and awe-worthy as their mainstream counterparts. To make your next glistening moment guilt-free (and keep your plumbing bills at bay), try one of these biodegradable glitter products.

Blue algae is set to ruffle some beauty feathers because it's vying with bakuchiol for the accolade of 2019's hottest ingredient. According to intelligence agency Mintel, blue algae is on its way to be one of 2019's biggest skincare trends. "Blue algae is on the rise as a result of a more holistic approach to skincare. With a growing acceptance of Total Beauty – the idea that our outer skin health represents our inner health and vice versa – ingredients that showcase their health credentials are becoming more desirable," says Jessica Smith, creative researcher at The Future Laboratory specialising in beauty and wellness. "In a world where companies are increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuel-based products blue algae is in the spotlight due to its abundance. To be a successful brand in 2019 means that sustainability is one of your key pillars, so I think this pressure and knowledge is encouraging individuals to search for more responsible sources that serve the planet."

Blue algaehas many names—blue-green algae, cyanobacteria, spirulina—but what skincare experts are laser-focused on is that the pigment-rich ingredient can work wonders when applied to the skin. "Blue algae contains chlorophyll, a pigment that gives plants their green colour and which puts its major antioxidant powers to work in the body by fighting free radicals from pollution and carcinogenic material," says Smith. In the Mintel article, the author and skin expert Jo Lawlor reveals that blue algae is "packed with a powerhouse of essential amino acids and minerals... It boosts skin moisture by preventing water loss, and is rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals, which contribute to the elimination of free radicals within the skin."

Whether you're a city dweller who has to deal with a barrage of pollutants every day or you're dealing with unwanted skin dehydration, adding a daily dose of blue algae to your skin routine could help keep your skin looking and feeling its glowy best. Below we've rounded up the seven best skincare products that boast are made with blue algae—but watch this space, because we predict many more algae-rich skincare products to launch in future.

If you don't immediately recognize Emily DiDonato's name, her face will surely ring a bell. The New York City–based model became the face of Maybelline just months after graduating high school and has continued to appear in television and print ads for the brand. She's also modeled for Victoria's Secret and countless designer brands, as well as ad campaigns for some of the top fashion houses in the world. Through the demands of her impressive modeling career, DiDonato has become well-versed in all things beauty and wellness. Today, she's breaking down her tips for staying healthy and bloat-free while she travels internationally.

When most people think of models, they picture glamorous photoshoots in exotic locations. Indeed, as a model you do travel often to exotic locations for photoshoots, but just like any person, we deal with the trials and tribulations that come with a long travel day which is not so glamourous. Layovers, airplane food, airport lines and delays can lead anyone to ditch their wellness routine and grab the nearest burger and fries. Trust me, I’ve been there, but as a model, we are expected to arrive to our final destinations, fresh, fit, and healthy, making stopping for that burger a little less enticing. After years of traveling and navigating airports, train rides, foreign countries and hotels without gyms, I have had to master my wellness routine on the road. With a little bit of planning, staying motivated and sticking to your healthy lifestyle is doable, and I will share with you what tactics work for me.

Ed. note: Before taking supplements or changing your diet, please speak with your physician.

The newest diet gaining traction in the wellness world is similar to the Mediterranean Diet, yet different in that it takes heed from a small Japanese island called Okinawa. Since Japan has a higher percentage of centenarians (people aged 100 and older) per capita than anywhere else, it's only apt that the rest of the world is looking to them for healthy living inspiration. Keep scrolling to learn all about the Okinawa Diet, including what it entails, why it's trending, and what it can mean for your health. 

FYI: I love makeup, but here's why I choose not to wear it.

For centuries, perfume has been applied from a bottle either via a spritz or by dabbing the scented liquid onto your pulse points. In 16th century France, the upper classes and nobles were particularly enamored with the power of perfume and got everything scented, from furniture to gloves. They were ahead of their time. These days, perfumers are looking to more innovative ways to allow us to scent ourselves (and our homes). Surrounding yourself with scent should be a joyful experience—a chance to take a moment for yourself in an increasingly digitally demanding world. Perfume is a powerful thing; we process scents in the same part of the brain that we store memories, so a fragrance can instantly take us back in time. We can take advantage of that by creating happy scent-related moments throughout our days, so when we smell that fragrance, we instantly feel calmer and more grounded. 

Jo Loves has created a scented paintbrush so you paint your skin with perfume. Diptyque has the chicest car diffuser we ever did see, while Amkiri's scented ink and stencils allow you to get creative with hand-drawn temporary tattoo designs. Intrigued? Here are 12 brands getting playful with perfume. Keep scrolling for the most unusual ways to apply perfume to yourself and your home. 

Whitening strips have traditionally been my go-to product, but ever since I tested out my first charcoal toothpaste awhile back, I've been a loyal convert. That's because most charcoal toothpaste formulas veer towards the natural side of personal care products. The one I use contains mint, coconut oil, charcoal, and little else. Plus, they're easy and satisfying to use (they turn your turn gray for two minutes before revealing a whiter and brighter smile underneath). I swear my teeth look all the better for it, but dentists aren't convinced. Charcoal, they say, might whiten teeth, but it could have detrimental longterm effects. Keep scrolling to get the truth about charcoal toothpaste straight from an expert dentist.  

Before taking a supplement, please speak with your physician to ensure it is a safe addition to your diet and to find the correct dosage.

Want more? We collected our favorite tricks to banish under-eye circles—for good. 

This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. 

Blackheads are the termites of skincare—they're difficult to get rid of and keep coming back. And as we've previously learned, pore strips aren't a safe solution—in fact, they even have the potential to make your pores appear larger, so we thought we'd turn to a few top skincare experts for the (safe) blackhead treatments they would actually recommend themselves. 

Up next, read what happened when one editor tried seven different blackhead treatments.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

As with any buzzy beauty launch, we couldn't wait to find out more about the brand—namely the price point, product selection, packaging, and formulations. We knew that it would be free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, along with being cruelty-free, but we were itching to get our hands on the products to try the formulas out for ourselves. Luckily, Byrdie's senior editor Lindsey Metrus had the chance to test the products out ahead of their launch. Now we have all the details. Keep scrolling to get our honest and unfiltered reviews of 3 of Belei's brand new products. 

FYI: Here are eight things I learned after spending 15 minutes with Hailey Baldwin.

That’s why we reached out to our trusted resources and asked beauty editors to spill the details on the best facials they've ever had in NYC. These women experiment with products and treatments on a daily, so you can imagine that when something sticks out, it's worth investigating. Ahead, read everything you need to know about the facials in New York that have reached top status, according to beauty editors.

FYI: These are the five best facials in Los Angeles.

The "skin-ification" of hair is a thing right now, and rightly so. While we've all been obsessed with masking and jade rolling and exfoliating the skin on our faces, our strands have been watching and patiently waiting for their time in the sun. Well, that time has arrived, thanks to haircare products that take inspiration from the advancements in the skincare world. No longer are sheet masks, jade tools or AHAs reserved only for beautifying our complexions. Yes, you can do a whole lot more with your hair than that regular shampoo and conditioner and occasional mask. 

Haircare formulations, much like the skincare products that have gone before, are more sophisticated than ever. Our skin naturally extends up from our forehead to become our scalp, so it makes sense that a lot of these new products focus on scalp health. It's a little like a garden, in that if you plough and feed the soil, the plants will grow stronger and healthier. And to keep your strands in tip-top condition for longer, ingredients previously reserved for skincare (think AHAs, hyaluronic acid and vitamin c), are also being utilized in abundance. 

Want to jump on the skincare-as-haircare bandwagon? We thought so. Keep scrolling for 19 high-tech, buzzy haircare products inspired by the skincare world.

In the eyes of the beauty obsessed, there’s no such thing as too many visits to the new-arrivals pages of our favorite shopping sites. We may or may not even have a few bookmarks dedicated to such a pastime. (What can we say? We're obsessed!) After all, online shopping is the quickest way to satiate our wildest beauty cravings. This rings especially true when it comes to Ulta, the beauty mecca known for offering both prestige brands and drugstore products. Since we consider ourselves seasoned virtual shoppers, we thought we would share with you the recent fresh finds we’re dying to have shipped to our doorsteps. Keep scrolling to see the most recent arrivals at Ulta.

Up next: The best drugstore launches of 2019.

Cica creams are a go-to for anyone suffering from skin sensitivity or flare-ups. The medicinal herb centella asiatica (also known as gotu kola or Tiger Grass) is at the heart of these hot new formulas that are both incredibly soothing and hydrating. “Today, anything that 'repairs' or 'heels' is seen as a savior for all skin types,” says Megan Felton and Ksenia Selivanova, co-founders of expert-led skincare consultancy, Lion/ne. “We know how stress, pollution, UV light and diet can affect our skin and make it more vulnerable to the outside world. This is why soothing, comforting, and fragrance-free products are becoming more and more popular as everyone recognises that they have 'stressed' skin sometimes.”

Studies into cica creams have shown that this hero ingredient can relieve minor burns, help heal scars and even soothe psoriasis. You may think it's a K-Beauty trend, but its roots are actually in Western dermocosmetic products (La Roche Posay’s cult Cicaplast helped to inspire this South Korean craze).

In an article about cica cream, Mintel’s Global Beauty Analyst Jane Jang writes, “brands are already trying to differentiate their cica creams.” Not ones to stand still, innovative South Korean beauty companies are pushing the boundaries and formulating centella asiatica with other ingredients like probiotics and infusing it into fan-favorite products, like CC creams, serums and face masks.

Since we all have sensitive skin at times, cica creams really do suit everyone. Thanks to the key ingredients' anti-inflammatory properties, cica products are especially useful to have on-hand after certain skin treatments, such as after a chemical peel, IPL treatment or between retinol applications when your skin can be feeling a little raw. Even if your complexion isn’t particularly stressed out, you may find a cica cream is a welcome addition to your daily routine: "moisturizers or serums with this ingredient are great for dry, aging and sensitive skins, as they boost collagen production,” say the Lion/ne co-founders.

Below are 11 of our favourite products containing centella asiatica, from traditional cica creams to next-gen serums, masks and more.

FYI: I'm obsessed with even, glowing skin—these are the only foundations I trust.

One simply can’t write about oil-controlling makeup without possessing some highly overactive sebaceous glands. So you can safely assume that I am no stranger to a shiny forehead—it’s something I’ve tried combatting with everything from harsh cleansers to blotting papers.

Oil-controlling primers, my most recent discovery, promise to not only make your makeup stay put all day (which is hard enough to achieve when you have a shiny complexion), but to also combat over-enthusiastic oil production. These products typically contain polymers that simultaneously bind the foundation with your skin while also creating a smooth finish—the perfect canvas for makeup. Some also have ingredients that can help to balance out shine, like silica. The result? An even, sheen-free finish and makeup that lasts all day.

It almost sounds too good to be true, which is why I put six popular products to the test. Unsurprisingly, I discovered that not all primers have the same oil-controlling qualities, so keep scrolling to find out which primers actually work, and which don’t.

Click here to see the best drugstore primers, all under $14.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. 

Frankly, I hadn't been taking very good care of my hair when I met Matt Rez, a colorist at Mèche Salon in Beverly Hills and Redken's newest brand ambassador.. He was the first and only colorist to really take into account the health of my hair as he colored it. He cared for every strand—making sure not to paint over sections that had been done before and recommending products to use as homework before next time. Under his care, my hair has grown more over the last few months than ever before, and my color's never looked better. As I sat in the chair, he'd regale me with stories of other clients just like me—those who'd come in without any idea why their hair was breaking off or what to do to prevent it. He's really seen it all. So, I had his assistant give away all his secrets for maintaining the health of your hair and preventing the ever-feared "chemical haircut." Below, find her tips.

Can you even imagine a world without dry shampoo? We can’t either. The product has improved haircare routines everywhere by letting us go a few days—er, okay, many days—between washes. But no two dry shampoos are alike, especially now that formulas have evolved. Pretty much every option on the market these days will remove dirt and oil, but now many have styling ingredients, too, so your hair will be clean and imbued with mega-bombshell texture.

That is, if you use it right. To ensure we’re getting the most out of our dry shampoo brand of choice (namely, IGK Hair Dry Shampoo), we tapped three influencers to share their secrets. They were more than happy to share how they use the line’s three formulas (Jet Lag, which offers a light cleanse; Direct Flight, which offers a medium cleanse; and First Class, which offers a deep cleanse) to get that effortless texture we all desire. Time to lather up…

Venus Williams has built an inspiring legacy—as an athlete, as a woman, and as an absolute powerhouse. Her numerous championship wins are just the beginning of the conversation. Williams went pro at the age of 14 and later became the first black woman to score the world's top rank for singles players. Her game—methodical, graceful, and dynamic—is just as much an experience for the spectator as it is for her adversary. And now, as a 38-year-old woman with athleticism in spades, her career has had a resurgence during a time when most other players hang up their whites. More than tennis, she has degrees in fashion design, business administration, and interior architecture, as well as her own fashion-forward activewear brand, EleVen. Which leads me to her most recent venture, a spring collaboration with the ever-popular subscription box FabFitFun. 

Williams created a co-branded jump rope and the company curated the rest of the box, offering up a selection of gems that'll help you workout (if you so choose) but also generally live a more balanced life. We chatted with the icon over email and she revealed more about the partnership, her beauty go-tos, and how she continues to feel confident, empowered, and strong. Plus, some incredible advice from her sister, Serena. Below, find her words.

FYI: This is the $8 eyeliner Venus Williams always wears on the tennis court.

Back pain is a common ailment and can be caused by so much more than an injury to your back. Sitting for long periods of time can cause your upper leg and hip muscles to tighten, which can pull on your back muscles. Neglecting to use your core throughout the day can put extra pressure on your lower back, which can force the lower back muscles to work double time. Even if you’re super active, overexertion can make you tired and more prone to back injury. Good news, however: the below yoga flow will help you ease your back pain by loosening your legs, hips, and back and releasing tension throughout your whole body. Keep scrolling to learn more.

Up next: The best yoga poses for better sex.

When it comes to skincare results, we're total Veruca Salts—we want them now. But the reality is, for most skincare products, you can't expect to see actual, tangible results until you've used them consistently for several weeks. It's true that patience is a virtue since consistent application and preventative care will serve you well as you age. (But back to wanting the works right away.) What can we do today to have better-looking skin tomorrow, you know, aside from injectables? We turned to three top dermatologists for their sage advice on how to achieve noticeably better skin texture and clarity in 24 hours (it's possible), as well as how to do our due diligence to ensure our skin is surpassing its full potential a decade from now (and beyond). 

Curious which order you should be applying your routine? Check out this step-by-step skincare guide.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

And maybe it shouldn't have been surprising, given that many scientists and experts denote sugar as the single-most destructive (and addictive) ingredient in the average modern diet. Most Americans eat more sugar in one year than our ancestors did in their entire lifetimes—and that's because it's everywhere.

"Because there are over 50 different names give to sugars, it can make it even harder when reading food labels to determine what foods actually contain added sugar," explains Emily Maguire, a UK-based nutritionist.

Prepackaged salsa, bread, you name it—chances are, it contains extra sugar, which means even the healthiest among us might not even be aware that we're addicted. And that's why cutting it out entirely was like the breath of fresh air for my entire body and mind that I didn't even know I needed.

I asked Maguire and psychologist and nutritionist Candice Seti, PsyD, to help devise a weeklong plan, which you'll find below—and best of all, we're inviting you to share your progress and any questions you have along the way. Get all the details below.

That basically sums up everything I know about the importance of sleep. More specifically, I know that when my sleep routine is healthy, I work like a well-oiled machine. When it's not, I feel the emotional and physical distress that usually results from a viewing of The Notebook. According to Business Insider, there's a reason for that. Sleep deprivation sets us up for some serious health risks, including a greater risk for various diseases, mood disorders, and more. Keep scrolling to see seven health effects of sleep deprivation.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

As Snyder explains, bloating is often caused by one (or more) of the following: hormones, indigestion, and/or water retention. And while all the above should be investigated by a health professional (more serious conditions like SIBO, IBS or Crohn's disease could be at play, after all), they can also be managed with some strategic lifestyle tweaks. When it comes to health and wellness, we're perpetually skeptical of quick fixes, but according to multiple experts we consulted, there are a few worthwhile habits that can soothe and possibly stave off bloating overnight. Curious about our healthy roster of tips and tricks? Keep scrolling! A healthier, happier, and in turn flatter tummy awaits. 

Keeping my skin clear, hydrated, and distinctly radiant is somewhat of a hobby of mine. I might even go as far as to say it's an obsession. Even as I write this sentence, I'm wearing Bioeffect EFG Eye Mask Treatment ($95) at my desk. Everything I put on my face is calculated and purposeful. That goes for my favorite cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers—as well as my foundation.

See, pretty much every single makeup artist advocates for thoughtful skincare as part of your makeup routine. Because without a healthy canvas, your makeup will never look as good as it could. It all begins and ends with your skin. That being said, some formulas offer all the dewy, even, glowy results more so than others. They provide coverage without looking cakey, catch the light without creating shine, and allow for supreme staying power through your longest nights and most stressful days.

To keep things easy, I've listed the only foundations I trust below, the offerings that have taken me through weddings, workouts, and NYC's public transportation system during the throes of summer (and this year's especially dry winter). Each one is a blend of good ingredients, excellent coverage, and hydrating, radiating, evening properties that make my skin natural-looking—but better. Find my favorites below.

Next up: Meet "micro-concealing"—a makeup trick that keeps your skin looking like skin.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

FYI: Are you an introvert or extrovert? Science says one sleeps better than the other.

Let me preface this by saying this was my dream assignment. Of all the beauty rituals I succumb to, washing and styling my hair is my least favorite. Maybe it’s because I’m not particularly good at it, or perhaps it’s because the texture of my hair (curly and frizzy) is quite the opposite to what I normally style it to look like (shiny and smooth). In other words, I spend more time with hot tools than I’d like.

Despite my disdain for washing my hair, I do end up washing and restyling it three to four times throughout the week because I have yet to find a dry shampoo that holds up—especially if I muster up the motivation to work out and add sweat to the mix. That is, until I tried IGK—the brand challenged me to go five days without washing my hair, swapping out regular shampoo for its dry shampoo products. Ready to see what happened?

Day one of my no-wash challenge fell on a holiday, and as I’m very low-key with my off-duty beauty routine, the most I could be bothered to do with my recently washed and blow-dried hair was run a comb through it and pray for the best. Normally I might use some sort of styling cream to fight the frizz, but I was admittedly hesitant to overdo it with product in case it made my hair even greasier in the days to come.

I hoped my parched strands would not need dry shampoo after day two—but they certainly did. I opted for the more mild Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo ($27) because this is a marathon, not a sprint, and I wasn’t ready to have my head full of dry shampoo on only day two. [Ed. note: This is a gentle dry shampoo made to remove mild dirt and oil, thanks to finely milled volcanic ash that revives your scalp without leaving your hair dry and straw-like.]

After a few spritzes along my roots, I was pleasantly surprised that this product lived up to the “invisible” part of its name; there was no white residue (important, because it really shows up in my dark hair), and my strands had a nice wind-blown texture. When I say a few spritzes, I really mean two to three, which is less than what I’ve done in the past. This spray was quick, efficient and cut my routine down by at least 10 minutes. As someone who frequently hits the snooze button, every extra minute is a serious blessing.

Last week I promised a friend I’d go to a 7 a.m. yoga-sculpt class with her, and since I wanted to be as accurate with this test as possible, I braved the class despite knowing I could not wash my hair afterward. In preparation, I sprayed my hair all over with the dry shampoo to mop up any existing oil. I then put my hair in a bun on top of my head and crossed my fingers. Here’s a photo of me post-yoga, pre-styling. Despite my hair looking a bit messy, I was surprised my roots still seemed relatively clean even after 60 minutes of vinyasa flow with weights.

To make myself a bit more presentable for work, I sprayed the product all over again—at my roots and along part, flipping my head over to spray underneath, putting my hair in clips to spray under my layers, etc.; then I brushed my hair out. I was originally planning to straighten my hair from top to bottom, but I loved the body and texture the dry shampoo gave my locks, so I just ended up flat-ironing a few pieces in the front and back. Maybe it’s the dry shampoo fumes talking, but I really think my hair looks like I got a professional blowout thanks to all the volume. No? Well, it at least looks clean.

Okay, as much as I love this dry shampoo, this morning’s situation required a more heavy-duty lift. I opted for another IGK product, First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo ($27), and my first impression was that it smelled exactly how I’d want my hair to smell: fresh and clean. Made with a multitasking duo of charcoal powder to lift dirt and build-up while absorbing sweat and oil  and white tea powder calm the scalp and strengthen your hair follicles, it worked to refresh my style while still adding volume and texture.

Since it offers a deep cleanse, it required even fewer sprays to make my hair look clean while still giving my hair volume. Also, I’m happy to report that again, there was no white residue. After cleansing with the First Class dry shampoo, I wand-curled my hair, and I’m pretty happy with the results, despite four days without washing it. Normally at this point it would be weighed down with grease (gross but true), but today it felt fresh and bouncy.

Not going to lie, I was afraid to wake up on day five and see what I’d be working with. Unsurprisingly, this was the worst day of all. My hair was greasy, unruly, and frizzy, and my poor dry shampoo had its work cut out for it—especially because I had plans later this evening that I want to look nice for.

Instead of aimlessly spraying the First Class dry shampoo around my head, I separated my hair into sections, spraying the roots to ensure my hair was fully covered. Then I shook my hair out, ran a comb through it, and added a few more spritzes of product to my roots. I opted for wand-curling my hair again, as I think my serious case of bedhead would make achieving a sleek, smooth style a bit tough.

The verdict? I’d like to lie and say I’m shocked with the results, but I’m honestly not. These dry shampoos managed to keep my hair under control all week, no matter what I threw at them. My hair smells fresh, looks clean, is flexible enough to restyle, and is surprisingly not weighed down by grease, but actually bouncy and voluminous. 

While shampoo and water are certainly the easiest way to keep your hair clean, these IGK dry shampoos are an excellent product to keep in your back pocket.

FYI: I tried to be vegan for a week—see what happened to my body.

Because exfoliating toners, like Lotion P50, have become a mainstay in our arsenals, many brands have come out with their own formulas—for far less coin than Biologique Recherche. For me, P50 will always reign supreme. I practically sing its gospel every morning as I swab it on my face. But, for the sake of paying my rent on time, I tested and reviewed many others that are worth their salt. Hero ingredients AHAs, BHAs, and tons of hydration, exist in many other, less expensive formulas that'll keep your skin bright, glowy, and clear. Below, find my thoughts on each.

FYI: These are the five biggest skincare ingredient trends of 2019.

The only giveaway that she’s definitely of our current world is her e-cigarette—a Juul, obviously—which she twirls in her hand as she unfurls to greet me.  At 5’11”, with amber pools for eyes and magnificent cheekbones, Teddy Quinlivan makes for an imposing figure. She was discovered at age 21 by Nicolas Ghesquière himself, after all, and has already walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chloé, and more in the three years since. Regardless of what her intimidating bone structure might convey, I realize very quickly that Quinlivan is not one for airs or false pretenses. In the one minute it takes for me to sit down across from her in the window nook, she’s already filled me in about her (mis)adventures from the night before that involved running into an old NYC flame, generously offered me one of her Juul pods when I mention I’ve run out, and explained why she prefers 3% Virginia Tobacco-flavored Juul pods over 5% (a reason she’ll have tell you if you ever meet her, but, trust me, will make you laugh).

Retinol has long been the gold standard anti-aging ingredient. It's the beauty do-it-all that can tackle every skin woe, from pigmentation and uneven texture to wrinkles and zits. In short, there is not a person on this earth that wouldn't benefit from retinol. Of course, there's a "but": Retinol is notoriously irritating. It's a powerful, effective ingredient, but the side effect of all the good work is that it can cause the skin to flake, go red and become sensitized. These less-than-desirable side effects are short-lived, usually. As the skin starts to acclimate to the retinol, it does calm down, but that's why you have to take a low and slow approach to traditional retinol products: low percentages and limited use, building up over time. Some retinol products can only be used for a short period of time before your skin has to take a break altogether. This usually means people with hypersensitive skin find it's difficult to reap its rewards.

Enter: the new guard of over-the counter retinol products. It's little wonder that, with retinol being such a skincare superhero, brands wanted to be able to deliver its benefits to its shoppers without the downsides. And deliver they have. Brands from Clinique to Drunk Elephant have found ways to incorporate retinol into high-tech, non-irritating formulas. But wait, there's more. All of these next-gen retinol products are made with anadded a cocktail of other actives, hydrators, and botanicals to amplify the smoothing and brightening effects. It sounds too good to be true, but we promise it isn't. Welcome to the world of retinol 2.0: we can all play here.  

Keep scrolling to meet the new class of over-the counter retinol products.

Over email, I was told the treatment would leave me feeling energized and totally detoxed. Because both of those things aren't exactly tangible, I wasn't sure what to expect. When I arrived, Pekar asked me to undress and get inside a huge plastic bag. Anywhere else this would have felt like a red flag and I would have run out faster than she could utter "plastic bag." But the results from the last treatment speak for themselves, and I trust Pekar implicitly. So I stood quietly while she applied an electrolyte gel (it contains vitamins and minerals) all over my body and helped me step into the plastic casing. Once I was naked, covered in gel, and dressed in plastic, I had to scoot and shimmy up on to the treatment table while Pekar attached a machine to the bag. "It's a machine that generates water-based negative ions," she told me, "it helps address so many concerns. This is the treatment of the future."

"I'm excited," I told her, still not exactly sure what was about to happen. "Feeling and seeing symptoms on your skin and body are signs of communication from within," Pekar told me. "You have to take the time to learn what your body is telling you. It's an inside job. After tons of research, I've noticed a few trends with most of my clients: inflammation, acidic environments, and nutritional deficiencies. I decided to launch a treatment to address the root causes of those symptoms, which will help improve the skin and body concerns of everyone I treat."

The allure of lengthy, voluminous lashes is one that isn't forecasted to die down anytime in the near future. In fact, they date back to Ancient Rome when sky-high flutters were deemed a sign of having high moral standards. Then, in 19th century Europe, women began threading their lashes to their eyelids to achieve maximum height (ouch). As a more practical (and safer) solution, chemist Thomas Williams made Cake Mascara, inspired by his sister Mabel who applied Vaseline and coal dust to her lashes to lift and tint them (the brand would later be called Maybelline). Since then, we've made extreme headway in the lash-enhancing department with semi-permanent treatments like lash lifts, tints, and extensions, but there's nothing like the simplicity and ease of a traditional inky mixture and corresponding curling wand to make your steepest lash dreams come true. Mascara: it's our desert-island product.

Still unsure which tube is best for you? We've touched on the best wands for your lash type, but it's important to also be able to decipher between the various formulas. Below, we've outlined every type.

Up next, we try Pat McGrath's first-ever mascara.

Thus, the Internet went abuzz recently over news of a reboot—aptly named The Hills: New Beginnings—that promised to feature members of the old cast (hi, crystal-clad Heidi and Spencer!), along with some fresh new faces. One such new face is Kaitlynn Carter, who isn’t really a new face at all if you’ve been following the fashion crowd in LA. With over 600K followers and counting on the ‘gram, the sunny-haired New Hampshire native is the co-founder of the influencer-fueled shopping platform, Foray, and also happens to be a fellow beauty buff. Knowing evidence of a dedicated skincare regimen when we see one, we asked Carter to share her current favorite beauty favorites—from the one place in LA she trusts to get a facial to the product her O.G. Hills-alum husband, Brody Jenner, always steals. 

Ahead, get to know the secrets to Kaitlynn Carter's Cali-girl waves and glowing skin. 

Bakuchiol is being touted as the new, natural alternative to retinol. But since retinol is the gold standard anti-aging ingredient, able to tackle everything from wrinkles and blemishes to skin tone and texture, is bakuchiol really worthy of the hype? Let’s take a closer look.

Bakuchiol is 100% plant-derived, found in the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea Corylifolia plant found in Eastern Asia. Scientists have known for awhile that this plant extract can have retinol-like effects on the skin: a French study published back in 2014 wrote, "We propose that bakuchiol can function as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression." So, while it appears to be the new kid on the beauty ingredient block, it has actually had some scientific weight behind it for quite awhile. “In that 2014 study, bakuchiol was formulated into a finished skincare product and was tested in a clinical case study by twice‐a‐day facial application," explains dermatologist Sarah Shah. "The results showed that 12 weeks of treatment showed significant improvement in lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness and overall reduction in photo‐damage."

Now, notice that we’ve said it has a retinol-like effect. That's because it doesn’t work in the same way as retinol, but the effect it has on the skin is comparable. “Retinol and bakuchiol are not structurally similar," says Shah. "In fact, bakuchiol bears more structural resemblance to [the antioxidant] resveratrol. However, they are very similar in functionality. When confirmed side by side in a lab study, they were shown to upregulate the same proteins and types of collagen in the skin.”

The benefit of bakuchiol over retinol is that, while retinol is heralded as a wonder ingredient, it can irritate the skin for those who are sensitive, with most people having to acclimate to it by increasing frequency and percentage slowly over time. Bakuchiol, on the other hand, has none of the side effects that can put many off trying retinol.

“Bakuchiol has actually been used as a skincare ingredient for many years for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant purposes,” reveals David Delport, Global Brand Ambassador and Head of Education for REN Clean Skincare. “It stimulates cell renewal in the epidermis for a smooth surface, giving a retinol result without the irritation.”

So what gives? “It’s as much about what you don’t use on your skin as what you do,” says Hemali Gunt, head of clinical and scientific affairs at Burt’s Bees. Read: You just might need to tweak your cleanse-exfoliate-nourish routine this time of year.

We know you guys can relate, so we turned to our Instagram to ask about your biggest winter skin woes. And guess what? We’ve got answers. Er, Gunt has the answers, including souped-up products from Burt’s Bees that’ll see you through the cold spell. Read on for solutions to your top winter skincare concerns.

You see, several days earlier, I woke up and was struck by inspiration. I decided to cut my hair short for the first time since third grade. Armed with this photo of Miranda Kerr's recently cropped locks, I spontaneously called a chic salon in SoHo that came recommended and booked an appointment for that same afternoon. Buh-bye, hair.

To truly comprehend the gravity of this decision, you must understand that I've been mostly satisfied with exactly the same haircut for nearly 20 years. I don't have layers, bangs, or anything else one could reasonably call a "style" but have always loved my locks blunt, very lengthy, and naturally wavy. I've briefly considered short hair before, but never for more than a day or two, and always wake up the following morning thankful I didn't go through with the chop. So asking for a sharply angled lob was truly out of character. Keep scrolling to see my transformation, and to learn how to grow your hair faster, longer, and stronger. 

Have you ever had a bad cut? Did you find any remedies to help it grow faster? Slide into our DMs and tell us @byrdiebeauty. 

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Spring is only a few weeks away—not that we're counting or anything. And if your skin could benefit from some much-deserved TLC right about now (thanks a lot, harsh winds, plunging temperatures, and radiance-zapping indoor heating), you're not alone. To achieve a highlighter-worthy glow post-winter, you're going to need more than just a heavy-duty moisturizer: Think thorough exfoliation to remove dullness, plus calming ingredients to lessen irritation. Whatever your skin woe, Bliss is here to help. Its line of cruelty-free, PETA-certified hydrating face masks ($15) is free of harmful ingredients, ensuring that your skin looks and feels healthy and revitalized. Scroll to shop the moisturizing products we swear by when we're prepping our skin to look its best (fast).

An office go-to, this unique mask looks—and smells!—like mint-chip ice cream thanks to cooling, soothing peppermint leaf extract. Shea butter and aloe vera also work to combat dryness and flaking, while bentonite (a clay absorbed from volcanic ash) binds and removes toxins and oils for a clean, refreshed complexion.

This vegan whipped mask is lightweight, and made with a boost of marshmallow-root extract to give your skin not just a surge of hydration but also instant luminosity and brightness by visibly evening out discoloration.

Calling all city dwellers: Living in a metropolitan area means exposing your skin to environmental stressors that can leave your skin feeling clogged and dull. This vegan overnight mask works to remove dead cells while calming and reviving your complexion for plumper, softer skin by morning.

If your skin is dying for an instant surge of hydration, opt for Bliss's In the Honey™ mega-moisturizing mask. Made with skin-soothing lavender oil and honey, this mask melts into your parched skin to give you a dewy, hydrated complexion fast.

The study was just published in a journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In it, researchers from the Duke Eye Center discovered that an eye scan is all it might take to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease. This is huge, considering the current Alzheimer's detection methods are invasive and expensive (most notably spinal taps and brain scans). An eye scan, on the other hand, is non-invasive and comparatively inexpensive and accessible. 

Concealer can be used to cover blemishes and discoloration, or applied to highlight. For the latter, the shade should be a shade or two lighter than your actual complexion. The best way to do this? Understand your undertone. I am a black woman of African American descent with luscious caramel skin. Which means every shade of brown won't work, the same way it wouldn't with lighter skin tones. Each complexion is unique. See, undertones are separated into cool, warm, and neutral categories with blue, red, and pink, falling under the cool realm, and yellow, gold, and peach in the warm. Neutral undertones are a mix of both.

Personally, I have caramel skin with super yellow undertones—so warm, yellow-tone concealers work best. But, I didn't always know that. It wasn’t until Cle de Peau's cult-favorite formula (in the shade Honey), landed on my desk years ago that I began to understand how much undertones come into play when finding the perfect formula. And, it was only then that I began to look like as much like myself with makeup on as did bare-faced. Adding a little yellow here, a dab of chestnut there, and some bronze along the sides is the formula that works best for me. Below, find concealers to best match my skin tone.

FYI: Meet "micro-concealing"—a makeup trick that keeps your skin looking like skin.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

FYI: These are the five biggest skincare ingredient trends of 2019.

So far in 2019, we've found the drugstore offerings to be particularly lustworthy. From an innovative root-touchup system to a purple detox mask practically made for Instagram, keep scrolling for our top picks.

Up next: 15 under-$20 products that are sleeper hits at Ulta. 

But everyone has their own idea of the perfect travel essentials. So I asked a few Clique staffers to share that one product they refuse to travel without. My pick? IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo ($27), because who wants to wash their hair while on vacation? See what other products made the list below.

March is an exciting time for beauty, and not just because Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty Sale is kicking off next week. It's not even because some truly exciting hair, makeup, and skincare products have hit Amazon's virtual shelves (more on that in a minute). To us, March is an exciting time for beauty because it's one of those transitional months in which one season imperceptibly melds into another. This is, after all, the month that's best known for the old saying "In like a lion, out like a lamb." What starts out as a blustery and cold continuation of winter will leave with warm winds and spring blooms. That means, in the realm of beauty, we treat it like a free-for-all—we can stay in tune with the preceding months and opt for dark and moody colors or we can metaphorically spring ahead to play with bright pastel shades. One day we can fall back on old and comforting wintry styles, the next we can experiment with new products and trends. 

This duality is reflected in Amazon's new beauty selection. New products have just dropped: Some are hydrating skincare products that are perfect for curing dry winter skin, others are bright makeup products made to make their users look ahead to spring and summer. Keep scrolling to see each exciting new Amazon beauty product we're shopping in March. 

We consider ourselves to be Amazon aficionados. After scouring the website for the best new beauty launches every month—not to mention staying up-to-date on the top-trending products—we feel totally and thoroughly comfortable putting our Prime accounts to good use...and that we do. (In fact, if we're being totally honest, ordering beauty products on Amazon has become as customary as grabbing a morning coffee, going for a jog, or maintaining a weekly brunch habit).

Today, as we were languidly scrolling through Amazon as we are wont to do, we noticed something rather interesting—that is, every single moisturizer that's currently trending on the site is of the drugstore variety. That's right, all 6 of the best-selling moisturizers on Amazon cost $19 or less; they'll hydrate your skin without costing you a pretty penny. 

Despite the fact that women dominate the US beauty consumer market and new female-owned brands are popping up left and right, the dominant beauty companies of the world (the L'Oréals, the MACs, the Shiseidos) are run by men. In fact, of the S&P 500 companies, only 4.6% of the CEOs are women. And in WWD's report of the 100 biggest beauty brands of 2018, only 10 were run female CEOs. In the big picture, the glass ceiling has yet to be cracked, but granularly, it's empowering to see how many beauty companies support women both stateside and abroad through programs and monetary donations. So while we still have a ways to go before we dominate the C-suite, it's comforting to know that the steadily booming beauty industry is lifting women up from a philanthropic perspective, and, given that it's International Women's Day, there's no time like the present to highlight the brands that are giving back. 

Up next: We rounded up the times our favorite celebrities paid a compliment to the women in their lives.

“When we do our glycolic peels and show people [their skin] in the mirror right afterward, they’re shocked,” says Schultz. “One of the reasons it evens skin tone is because taking off dead cells makes the skin smoother and helps it reflect more light. Also, some of the cells it takes off are cells with too much brown in them, so it cuts down on brown discoloration.”

Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology group agrees, but adds that you can’t forget one key step: “An easy method of achieving even skin is using topical wipes or washes containing glycolic acid or topical vitamins C and E, which minimize the production of melanin, the substance that causes skin darkening, and even out skin tone. But as a must, use sunscreen! At least broad-spectrum SPF 30 daily,” she explains.

If your skin is vexed with redness, glycolic acid won’t, unfortunately, be your saving grace. “Frankly,” explains Schultz, “it’s not going to help redness most of the time. It helps with tans, browns—it makes your skin brighter. It’s literally an instant glow.” 

To help remove pesky red blotchiness from broken capillaries, Hadley King, MD, dermatologist at Skinney Medspa, suggests taking a prescription route: “There is a prescription cream called Mirvaso that works similarly to how Visine works—it takes the red out by temporarily constricting the blood vessels that are causing the red color. It’s temporary, but the results can be remarkable.”

King says you can also try intense pulsed light (IPL) to even out both redness and brown spots. For other causes of redness, like acne-based rosacea and eczema, speak with a dermatologist about the right solutions for you.

Shop some high-performing products with glycolic acid below.

Ed note: Quotes have been edited for content.

Next up, the best nighttime moisturizers for dewier skin by morning.

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

“Wellness to me is more than just taking care of myself; it’s a lifestyle,” says Los Angeles–based blogger Julia Friedman. “I live a healthy, active lifestyle. I work out, I eat well, and I take care of my skin by using only the best nutrient-rich products. Once you actually get yourself on a healthy routine, your mental clarity improves, and you’re happier and less stressed—at least I am.”  

In our never-ending quest of living a happy, stress-free life, we asked Friedman to share the small habits she practices on a regular basis for looking and feeling her best. From exercising regularly to indulging in nourishing skincare from Weleda—one of the first wellness skincare lines that was founded in Europe in 1921, with the idea that when we nurture ourselves with plant-rich ingredients, our beauty shines through. Here are a few key hints for kick-starting your own wellness plan.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting all the female celebrities we’ve interviewed over the years who have openly praised, complimented, and even gushed about the one badass female they admire most (or just the one they admire from afar—nice to know we're not the only ones #creeping). Whether it’s Nina Dobrev and Ruby Rose hyping each other up via a transatlantic phone call, or Zoë Kravitz waxing poetic about her admiration for Reese Witherspoon, all of these women are living, breathing embodiments of the concept that other people's success aren't your failures—they can (and should) be your successes, too. To which we leave you with this profound takeaway: why hate when you can hype? 

Keep scrolling for 10 inspiring instances of women lifting up other women. 

FYI: These 16 skin-smoothing products give real results.

Before I get into the specifics of this game-changing cut, let me rewind a bit. In high school, I begged my mother to allow me to perm my hair, not only to keep up with the Joneses, but to eliminate the daily and weekly maintenance it took to maintain a straightened, polished look and completely eliminate my natural frizz, because, to me, it was unattractive. I wanted bone-straight hair like the models and actresses I saw on TV, and wanted nothing more than to take away the focus from my insecurities (awkward Short Black Girl here, hello!), and put it on what I believed at the time was my most attractive feature (long hair, don’t care). After months of persistent begging and whining, my mother finally caved in and gave me permission (and the funds needed) to perm my hair.

Up next, a hairstylist explains how to grow natural hair fast.

According to Refinery29, the beauty retailer just released information about this spring's sale, including the specific dates, the brands and products we can expect to see, and the discounts we can expect to score. Keep scrolling to see everything we currently know about Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty Sale (hint: there's an exciting twist to this year's sale that makes it different than any that came before). 

We all know eating a salad is good for your insides. Dark leafy greens are some of the most energizing foods available. And, in addition to being chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they also deliver a chlorophyll boost to your digestive tract and liver, helping to rid your body of environmental toxins you ingest from metals, herbicides, pesticides, and more. Broccoli is full of nutrients and natural fiber, which makes you feel satisfied longer while helping you maintain a healthy digestive tract. Tomato offers extra carotenoids like red carotenoid lycopene to combat the formation of free radicals. This is nothing new, right? Eating nutrient-rich foods is great for your health and body. But, what may come as a surprise is that you can use them topically as well—and the results are dramatic.

Below, we go through a few of our favorite salad ingredients and offer up reasons why you should wear them on your face as well as consume them during dinner. Each one has various superfood benefits—from hydration and sun protection to brightening and anti-aging. And, there are a ton of really great product offerings to get a proper serving of fruits and veggies on the daily. Keep scrolling to read about our favorites. 

FYI: These are the five biggest skincare ingredient trends of 2019.

How many times have you left something behind at home, let a task slip at work, or completely forgotten someone's name five seconds after they've told it to you? I'm guilty on all three accounts (and then some). The silver lining: There's scientific proof that forgetfulness isn't just a result of carelessness. Stanford researchers found that people who take in several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory, or switch from one job to another as well as those who focus on one task at a time. Loss of working memory (your ability to hold onto new information and facts) is also just a matter of physiology. Researchers at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital found that memory peaks at age 30 then steadily begins to decline.

So what can we do to keep our minds sharp? For starters, exercise is amazing. Getting your heart pumping helps reduce inflammation in the brain and stimulate the release of growth factors. Eating antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory foods is also a great way to feed your brain. But for times when we can't regularly make it to the gym or when we forgo leafy greens for Shake Shack, it's nice to have easy backup reinforcements that act as a pilot light for our mind—case in point: daily supplements. Below, Christopher Calapai, DO, and Jennifer Curtin, MD, at Holtorf Medical Group sound off on the eight best supplements for your memory. 

Next up, take a look at the four foods that are making your memory worse.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

As if acne wasn't bad enough, there's the souvenir it leaves behind—scarring—just a friendly reminder that in its place was once a glaring shiner we assumed would one day shrivel up and leave us for good, but instead, we're left with the unwavering trace of its existence.

Laser treatments and prescription creams are targeted to help fade them, sure, but the dollars signs add up quickly. Which is why we're happy to provide you with a few at-home remedies that will preserve your bank balance and save you a trip to the dermatologist. Check out some of these tested remedies below.

Next up, take a look at some tips for giving yourself a facial at home.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. 

We'll be frank with you: The beauty market can be a bit overwhelming, even for us beauty editors. While we love testing the latest hyped-up products, we're more concerned with finding picks we can use day after day than with cluttering our vanities.

You can imagine, then, how appreciative we are of Bliss and its latest offerings. Born in a spa, these cruelty-free, PETA-certified products were carefully created to deliver a multi-sensory experience that leads to a self-care routine that's more than skin-deep. Plus, they're all made without harsh ingredients like parabens and synthetic fragrances.

Among our favorites are the soothing, cooling Mint Chip Mania™ face mask, the Rose Gold Rescue™ Soothing Toner Mist, and the spa-grade That's Incredi-peel®  glycolic resurfacing pads that more than live up to their namesake.

Up next, Everything You Need to Know Before Getting a Keratin Treatment