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Face First

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The Big Skin Detox

Can lotions and creams really remove pollutants from the skin? Our no-nonsense cosmetic chemist explains what is—and is not—possible

The Big Shrink

Is the era of overfilled hot-dog-bun lips reaching its peak? Stop your pouting!

Sex on the Beach

Seduction sells—but, for years, sunscreens didn’t get the message. Now they’re joining in on all the fun

Hungary for Improvement

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It Takes Two

Cleanse

Mountain High

Getting poked, prodded, massaged, and wrapped—detoxing never felt so good. Susanne Kaufmann’s retreat in the Austrian Alps reimagines the spa

Actives Investigation

“Essences” are claimed to have all sorts of powers, but do they really make a significant impact on the skin? Our cosmetic chemist weighs in

Doctor’s Orders?

Is “medical-grade skin care” really all that superior to whatever is stocked at Sephora? We investigate and discover a few surprises

Touch and Glow

Is the humble safflower the next big miracle worker in skin care? We go to Japan with a hope and a prayer

Don’t Shoot Me

The chipmunk cheeks, the bulbous chin, the lips that look ready to pop. When filler injections go too far, doctors say, they can be dissolved. Turns out, it’s a little more complicated

A Replacement for Retinol?

Our cosmetic chemist breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly truths about bakuchiol

Seeing Red?

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Don’t Sweat It

Roll

Ice, Ice, Baby

Roll

Slathering on the Midnight Oil

Our science guy weighs in on whether face oils really live up to their hydrating hype

Rocky Mountain High

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Turn On the Red Light!

Clever marketing campaigns for L.E.D. and laser devices make all sorts of promises. But can these so-called skin saviors take the heat?

Creature’s Comforts

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Defaced, Refaced

What happens when plastic-surgery procedures don’t go exactly as planned?

Baby Face

Pricey serums and high-end night creams aren’t just for grown women anymore—meet the new consumers who are raiding the skin-care aisles

Striking Oil

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Silver Lining

Re-fill

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Creams

The ingredients are mysterious. The benefits can be elusive. But the newest skin-care products are determined to prove their worth