Got a question about haircare, skincare or makeup for O's beauty director, Val Monroe? Now's your chance! During the month of August, Val is answering your burning beauty questions!

Norma asked: Too many confusing choices for face creams, and no money to keep on throwing away products, suggestions please.

See Val's video response:



Do you have a question for O's beauty director Val Monroe or O's creative director Adam Glassman? Ask away here!

Photo: Kevin Cremens

This fall we encourage you to enjoy a little wine with your makeup routine—because there has never been a wider, more varied range of saucy bordeaux, claret, and plum lipcolor pigments to choose from....

Photo at left, from top:

• NARS Rouge Tribal Larger Than Life Lip Gloss, $26; NARSCosmetics.com
• Chanel Rouge Allure in Rouge Noir, $33; Chanel.com
• Estée Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Chaotic Currant, $23; EsteeLauder.com
• Lancôme L'Absolu Crème de Mat in Potion D'Amour, $30; Lancome-USA.com
• Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Drama, $25; Shiseido.com
• Tarte Glamazon Lipstick in Inspired, $26; Sephora.com

Cheers!

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

If you're the type who feels more beautiful when you're philanthropic, the new Kahina Giving Beauty Spa Set ($145; Kahina-GivingBeauty.com) will have you feeling extra gorgeous. Kahina Giving Beauty donates 25 percent of all profits to the Moroccan women who extract the argan oil the company uses in its products. This set includes skin-softening 100 percent pure Moroccan argan oil, a rich eye cream, and an antioxidant clay mask in a cute fabric pouch sewn by workers at Destiny Reflection, a nonprofit that provides employment and support for Indian women at high risk of being sex-trafficked.

Photo: Thinkstock

Your guide to decoding the latest skincare ingredients:

Probiotics
You may include these "friendly" bacteria in your diet to regulate your GI tract; some beauty companies now suggest you also put them on your face to improve your skin. Most dermatologists, however, find the idea hard to digest. Some studies have shown that probiotics can soothe inflamed skin in children—but only when taken orally.

Growth Factors
Proteins that promote cell growth, these molecules could theoretically grow you fresh, smooth skin. In reality, no independent studies have shown that a skin cream with growth factors can improve your complexion, says molecular biologist Yann Echelard, PhD: "These are large, fragile molecules unlikely to penetrate your skin in the concentrations included in cosmetics."

Stem Cells
Human stem cells have awesome regenerative potential. But you won't find them in a face cream. What you may find: stem cells derived from anything from apples to rice. "Those stem cells have no relevance to human skin," says Ron Moy, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA.

Photo: Thinkstock

Why do you open your mouth when you apply mascara?
When you widen your eyes, you create tension in a muscle connected to your jaw, says Ellen Marmur, MD, associate professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Your body's natural reaction to relieve that tension: Say "Ahhhh!"

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Stop the Water While Using Me! All Natural Rosemary Grapefruit Shampoo, $19; WoodleyAndBunny.com

Why we love it: Astringent grapefruit and rosemary absorb oil from the scalp without stripping it of moisture, leaving hair soft and full. And the fresh, citrusy scent is a great way to start the day. We like the name, too, reminding us to be good citizens, even in the shower.

Got a question about haircare, skincare or makeup for O's beauty director, Val Monroe? Now's your chance! During the month of August, Val is answering your burning beauty questions!

Deeppa asked: How do you clear clogged pores?

See Val's video response:



Do you have a question for O's beauty director Val Monroe or O's creative director Adam Glassman? Ask away here!

Photo: Courtesy of Palomar Medical Technologies

Laser company Palomar has translated a fractional laser—a favorite skin-renewing machine in dermatologists' offices—into an at-home device smaller than a hairbrush. While the pros' versions treat 10 to 30 percent of the skin's surface in one pass, PaloVia ($499; PaloVia.com) targets about 1 percent at a time, and treats only lines around the eyes. To get results, you must use it daily for a month, and then twice weekly, indefinitely. In a study published this year, 90 percent of subjects saw a reduction of their crow's-feet by at least one grade on a nine-point scale after using PaloVia for 30 days. Not a revolutionary difference yet—but a glimpse into the future of skincare: high-tech results from do-it-yourself devices.

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Perfumer Francis Kurkdjian's fragrances smell of desire, of glamorous, exuberant style, and some other indefinable essence that makes me feel far more sophisticated than I actually am. After a recent visit he left me a new body cream scented with one of my favorite fragrances, Aqua Universalis. The rich cream, infused with bergamot, sweet mock orange, and jasmine, captures the original scent perfectly. A light layer on my shoulders keeps me happily spellbound all day. ($60; BergdorfGoodman.com)

Photo: Greg Kessler

Q: Is it safe for me to use self-tanner lotion year-round?

A:  Those long, lazy weekend afternoons, the balmy evenings, the flattering fake glow—I, too, find it hard to relinquish the joys of summer. And I'm happy to tell you that as far as your tan goes, you don't have to. There's no health-related reason to quit using self-tanner lotion after the beach has closed, says Ava Shamban, MD, author of Heal Your Skin. The active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone, is simply a sugar that reacts with amino acids in the skin's outermost layer, darkening it; the color fades gradually as that skin sloughs off. Just be sure, if you're using an aerosolized self-tanner rather than a lotion, that you protect your lips and eyes and avoid inhaling the product, says cosmetic chemist Mort Westman, president of Westman Associates.

Keep in Mind: If you have psoriasis or rosacea (or another skin condition), test a small area before you apply self-tanner; the color can concentrate on the affected skin, making it look more pronounced.

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