Protect Your Hair via Allure

Hair Power

Coloring hair can cause it to become dry, dull, and brittle, but certain kinds of antioxidants may offer substantial protection. Moon-Moo Kim, a chemist affiliated with Dong-Eui University in South Korea, exposed hair samples to hydrogen peroxide or ammonia, ingredients in many permanent hair dyes (light or dark). Treating hair first with elm extract, which contains procyanidins--a flavonoid also found in cocoa, red wine, and apples--reduced surface damage and protein breakdown and increased hair strength. Procyanidins have been found to promote hair growth in cases of balding; they may also protect hair against oxidative stress from perming, sunlight, and aging, the study suggests. Elm extract is in some botanical products, such as select Nurture My Body shampoos and conditioners and Kinky-Curly Knot Today detangler.

How to Wear Neutrals via Allure

Sure, there are plenty of bright colors on the runways this season, but beige, camel, brown, gray, navy, and white can be worn in fresh new ways. Here's how to do it.

Mix them up

Rather than wearing on color from head to toe,, combine shades from the same family. For instance, try mixing chocolate brown with caramel and cream or navy with charcoal and black.

Choose the right accents

Accessorize with autumnal shades, such as oxblood red, ochre, forest green, or burgundy.

Use structure

In the absence of pattern and color, tailored pieces have a much bigger impact. For instance, look for wide-leg trousers, higher waists, or skirts and dresses detailed with a few pleats.

Textures

Dresses, skirts, and sweaters made with a combination of suede, leather, and wool--all in the same neutral tone--look amazing right now. Or add texture with ribbed tights, a belt, or pieces made with felted wool.

How to Buy Clothes Online via Allure

What to Buy On Sale
Stay ahead of the curve
You actually have a good chance of scoring fashion-forward pieces before they hit the mainstream. We've sold jumpsuits at markdowns for a couple seasons, but only now are they everywhere.

Keep and open mind
You might not find the quintessential Burberry trench on sale, but you can find one in a modified style or color at a discount. You'll have a staple, and it wont look like everyone else's.

Go big
Evening gowns are great to buy on sale, since they're less trend-driven and start out being expensive.

Skip the small stuff
Bags, belts, and wallets stick around from season to season and rarely go on sale.


What to Spring for at Full Price
Think long term
If you see beautiful, classic pieces--the perfect cashmere scarf in oatmeal or black; simple ankle boots or oxford shoes--get them. Those rarely show up on sale later.

Make a statement
On the flip side, I spring for that single, standout piece that will inspire the way I dress for an entire season. Recently we had a right yellow, off-the-shoulder sweater by Thakoon that flew out of the store. People went crazy for the unusual color and easy, drapey silhouette. When you see something like that, you have to act.

Track it down
The Internet is a great tool for locating that bag you love but can't find in a certain color. You'll usually see a full range of hues online, but probably at full price.


What to Buy at a Flash Sale
Be prepared
Flash sales are great for designers you love whose clothes might ordinarily be out of your price range. Check a site's calendar so you know what's coming. Use themed sales--such as "casual Fridays" or "the statement necklace"--to discover new designers, but focus on silhouettes that you know work for you.

Know yourself
Don't buy something just because it's in style or drastically reduced in price--it should always be something you'll really use. If you're the kind of person who carries your life in your bag, go for roomy, sturdy totes, not delicate clutches.

When in doubt, click
If there's an item you're debating, stick it in your cart while you mull it over. If you see something you want in someone else's cart, keep refreshing your screen in case it resurfaces.

How to Look Awake via Allure

Interview with Peter Philips, creative director for Chanel makeup

Before fashion shows, we constantly need to make tired models look fresh and awake in very little time. The answer is not to pile on makeup--it's no use little tricks to bring color back to the skin and brighten the features.

• Take a moment: First, I like to massage cream on the models. It's a great base for makeup, and it relaxes them, which instantly improves how they look.
• Keep it light: Models don't have to look perfect for loner than a catwalk moment--and they have the advantage of good lighting. In real life, too much makeup can look chalky, so stick to a lightweight foundation, such as Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua: if you need a heavier formula, apply just a thin layer. And avoid too much powder which can make skin look dull.
• Get the red out: Line the inner rims of the eyes with a beige pencil, which covers up redness. And always curl your lashes to open up your eyes.
• Warm up: Pink and peach blush will enliven your skin tone, while anything with beige tones does the opposite. Apply it right on the apples of your cheeks, and dust it lightly on the tip of your nose and under your chin. This makes it look like you've been outside.
• Go sheer: Stay away from matte or opaque lipsticks, and choose shades that add a hint of color and shine--natural but not so neutral that they blend into your face.

How to Camouflage Your Roots via Allure

If your roots are showing and your next appointment with a colorist is still weeks away, these tricks will make them much less noticeable.

• Play the part: When your hair is down, your part is the biggest giveaway for roots. A messy part helps disguise the stark difference in color. Start by styling your hair as usual, then flip your head over and come up slowly, so all your hair hangs forward. Push your hair out of your face gently, letting it fall naturally. Your part will be uneven, and your roots won't stand out as much.
• Add volume: If you wear your hair up, pulling it back tightly brings attention to the contrast in color. Keep it loose with lots of volume and texture instead. First, tease your roots a bit--this creates a little height and pushes your color closer to your scalp. Make a deep side part and gather your hair into a messy chignon at the nape of your neck.
• Try a braid: Little braids bring all the colors together and create shadows, so dark roots look like lowlights. Try a thin brain along your hairline, or twist sections of hair on either side of your part and secure them with bobby pins.
• Cover up: Root-touch-up kits work when you apply them correctly. Whether it's a mascara want or a brush, hold your hair up straight and paint in an upward motion from the roots. Then smudge the dye down into the hair shaft with your fingers so it blends.

How to Remove Your Makeup via Allure

Everyone likes a fresh start. If you want to wake up with clean, glowing skin, then you absolutely must take off all your makeup.

• Don't be childish: I cringe when I see women using baby wipes to remove their makeup. Those do not get the job done, and when I tell women this, they say, "But baby skin is so sensitive, this must be good form y face." Well, a baby's butt isn't covered in makeup that requires special ingredients for proper removal.
• Go easy: The process of taking off your makeup should be gentle and shoud never leave your skin dehydrated or irritated. That's why I like to use a cleansing oil, which won't dry out your face. Using your fingers, swipe a small amount of oil across your lids, eyebrows, and lips, and then lightly massage it all over your face. This will soften your skin and loosen the makeup, so youd on't have to rub like crazy. Then take a flat, square cotton pad--I like these better than the balls, which can be rough--and pour a little cleansing oil on it. Go over the same spots again, being careful not to scrub back and forth. Just skin the surface in one direction and pull up the color.
• Consider the eyes: When you wear waterproof mascara, swa the cleansing oil fo ra waterproof-eye-makeup remover. Otherwise you'll hae to rub so hard to loosen the color that your lashes will break. Soak a pad with remover, press down softly on the lashes for a few seconds so the formula soaks in, and then slowly move the pad across the eyes. This technique also works for long-lasting lipstick.