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What's a Chemical Exfoliant? A Dermatologist Breaks It Down
Walk into any Sephora, Ulta, or department store or pharmacy, and you're likely to see hoards of bottles that list a chemical exfoliant as an active ingredient in their formula. Words like alpha hydroxy acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid can sound intimidating if you're unfamiliar, but the ingredients actually have some hefty benefits that are worth exploring.
To help you decide whether to work them into your routine, we consulted board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, to explain and demystify the common ingredients. Ahead, he breaks down everything you need to know about chemical exfoliators — including what they are and how they can transform your skin.
How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs (And Prevent New Ones)
Ingrown hairs are one of the most dreaded beauty woes, especially when they materialize around the pubic area. They hurt, can get irritated and swollen easily, and are just not what you want to see peeking out from your bikini line. If you're experiencing a case of the bumps, you might be wondering how to get rid of them at home (and, let's be real: whether or not you can pop them). And, of course, once you treat any existing spots, you may be wondering if there are any specific measures you can take to prevent ingrown hairs from popping up in the future.
Ahead, we talked to a dermatologist about what causes ingrown hairs, how to treat them, and the best prevention practices so you can get rid of those painful little bumps as fast as possible.
Everything You Need to Know About Acrylic Nails, Straight From Cardi B's Manicurist
For some people, acrylic nails can be very intimidating and cause fears about weakening your natural nails. However, with celebrities like Cardi B, Ariana Grande, and Kylie Jenner wearing them almost religiously, it's no wonder people are increasingly interested in giving the treatment a try.
The technique is super versatile because you can add length to your nails, which then can be shaped into coffins, squares, stilettos, or almonds to suit your manicure tastes (more on how that's achieved ahead). They also create extra surface area to show off color, nail art, or crystals, which is great for people with shorter nails. Another benefit to trying the trend is that you can conceal broken or damaged nails or kick your biting habit by covering your natural nails with acrylics. As with all manicures, it's important to find a salon that follows sanitary guidelines, and it's never a bad idea to bring your own tools to ensure you avoid infection.
2019 Was Dominated by Bright, Colorful Makeup, but These Were the Top Celebrity Looks
This year's makeup motto might have well been "go big, or go home." Bold, imaginative, colorful looks dominated our Instagram feeds and shattered all previous notions of how we wear and apply color cosmetics. No longer is makeup purely 2D with the addition of rhinestones and textured glitter. Eyeliner has migrated from the lash line to the crease, and even eyelashes and eyebrows started to get a rainbow makeover.
Celebrities and their talented makeup artists seemed to enjoy the trend as much as we did, because every event and red carpet appearance just gave us more colorful inspiration photos. From Lucy Boyton's bevy of graphic eyeliner looks to Millie Bobby Brown's rainbow CD floating eyeliner, this year's makeup was anything but boring.
Ready to be inspired? Check out the most creatively colorful makeup looks of the year, ahead.