Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Elegant and immensely sexy, Coco Noir ($130; Chanel.com) captures the essence of rich florals like rose, jasmine, and narcissus, and dresses them up with sandalwood, vanilla, and frankincense. The result? A fragrance you'll want to slip into the moment the sun goes down.

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!

Marie asked: How can I go gray naturally without cutting all my hair off?

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: Greg Kessler

Q: My eyebrows have gotten thin. Should I have them tattooed?

A: Though I once saw a fine result with eyebrow tattoos, I doubt I'll ever do it myself. Why? Two words: indelible ink. Once the ink has dried, that's your look. For the rest of your life. If it's pretty, lucky you. If not: three to six laser removal treatments costing anywhere from $700 to $1,000 each, likely accompanied by a refrain of What was I thinking? Your decision, but Mitchel Goldman, MD, volunteer clinical professor in medicine/dermatology at UC San Diego, advises against it."I have seen patients with infected eyebrows thanks to the use of unsterile water and equipment," he says.

Keep in mind: You can get fuller brows using an eyebrow pencil or marker. Makeup artist Laura Geller makes feathered strokes with her Brow Sculpting Marker where her brows are thin. Her marked-in brows look great.

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Photo: Courtesy of Seventh Generation

The back of a soap bottle may not seem like a fascinating read, but ignoring the label can be bad for you and the planet. I remember the first time I idly scanned the ingredient list on my dollar-store body wash. "What the heck is ethyl paraben?" I wondered. Squeaky clean and seated at a computer ten minutes later, I learned that parabens (a common synthetic preservative in soap, body wash, and shampoo) can be hormone disrupters, potentially affecting fertility. Yikes.

So when Seventh Generation, masters of eco-friendly household cleaners, launched a new line of soaps, lotions, and body washes this summer, I was game to get my suds on. Like any packaging, you should skip the marketing hype on the front ("natural," "pure," and "healthy" aren't regulated claims) and flip to the backside. Here, the science is transparent and promising: No parabens, phthalates (hormone disrupters that have been linked to increased cancer risk), or synthetic fragrances.

Equally noteworthy: This line is one of the first to qualify as a USDA Certified Biobased Product. The new seal discloses the percentage of materials that are made from renewable plant and marine elements versus petroleum products. All certified products must meet a threshold of 25 percent renewable resources, but Seventh Generation's mandarin-scented body wash, for instance, is 93 percent plant-based. Consider it a clean routine that leaves no residue of environmental guilt. ($4 to $8, seventhgeneration.com)

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!

Our guest user asked: What's the best foundation/powder that gives a less made up look?

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: Greg Kessler

Q: How can I get rid of the awful end-of-summer brassy color in my hair?

A: Brassiness, or oxidation of haircolor, can be due to sun exposure, chlorine, or salt water, says Tammy Sherman, creative director at Frédéric Fekkai at the Mark Hotel in New York City. She suggests that the next time you color your hair, you choose a shade and tone that will darken slightly and neutralize; for example, if your hair is light brown, use a medium ash brown. Most colorists agree that using an ashy tone is typically the best way to combat brassiness.

Keep in mind: A good offense is the best defense. The more brassiness you develop, the harder it is to get back to the shade you started with. So be sure to color your hair (or see your colorist) regularly, especially during the summer, says Marie Leppard, senior colorist at the Julien Farel Salon in New York City.

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Photo: Thinkstock

Don't blame your breakouts on perspiration, says New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD. "Sweat is sterile, and even contains antimicrobial peptides that kill some bacteria," she says. You might notice more skin irritation in the summer because the heat and sweat swell your pores, causing them to trap bacteria. To help keep pores clean, use a lotion with chemical exfoliants like salicylic, lactic, or glycolic acid. Try Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Defense Face Lotion ($9; drugstores) or Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Moisturizer ($45; peterthomasroth.com).

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Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

Not very long ago I would have been proud to tell you that despite years of jogging, hiking, and walking long distances, my feet never hurt. Never! And then—suddenly—they were killing me. Was it age? Years of jogging, hiking, and walking long distances? Not sure. But at a meeting in my office, Marcia Kilgore, founder of the beauty companies Bliss and Soap & Glory, and—more to the point of this story—the FitFlop empire of footwear, casually mentioned that she'd send me a pair of FitFlop Uno Sneakers ($275; fitflop.com). She did, I've been wearing them everywhere, and my foot pain has nearly disappeared. Whether or not that's due to the sneaker's "biomechanically engineered triple-density Biomimetix midsole"—again, it's a mystery to me. The sneakers have an unmistakable Miss Marple look: Sexy they're not. Then again, neither is limping.

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Photo: Greg Kessler

Q: Is it possible to make my eyes look bigger with makeup?

A: Yes, it is, and it's pretty easy. Elizabeth Arden makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo (who appears to have enormous eyes, but...does she really?) suggests you first line the inside lower lid with an off-white pencil (she likes Nars Rue Bonaparte, $23; narscosmetics.com). That will brighten the whites and make your eyes look more open. Next, apply a soft, medium-toned shadow (like Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eye Shadow Singles in Shimmering Taupe, $18.50; elizabetharden.com) from the upper lashline to just above the crease. Curl your lashes, then apply a couple of coats of black mascara. Presto: All eyes!

Keep in mind: Well-shaped brows also help open up the eyes, so if you haven't been professionally groomed, try that, too.

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