Maya Allen
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Assistant Beauty Editor @ByrdieBeauty \\ Living everyday like it's my birthday
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Articles by Maya Allen
How to Even Out Discoloration on Darker Skin Tones
@teyanataylor / instagram Clear, glowy, doll-like skin sans dark spots is always the goal, right? But like every other journey in life, you can't have a success story without jumping through a few hoops. And for those with dark skin, at one point or another one of those hoops will likely be discoloration.
These Are the Hormonal Acne Treatments Dermatologists Swear By Original
Stocksy Hormonal acne often appears as painful cysts on the lower face due to hormonal fluctuations, especially before menstruation. Dermatologists recommend using topical benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to clear pores and reduce hormonal acne outbreaks. Stress can worsen hormonal acne by triggering inflammation; managing stress through sleep and yoga may help alleviate symptoms.
How to Incorporate Coconut Oil into Your Haircare Routine for Softer, Stronger Hair Original
Stocksy Applying coconut oil to hair can moisturize and strengthen strands, particularly for those with dry or curly hair. While coconut oil doesn't directly promote hair growth, it can reduce breakage and improve hair health. Use coconut oil as a pre-shampoo treatment by applying warmed oil to dry hair for deep penetration. As far as DIY hair treatments go, coconut oil is at the top of our ingredient list.
Dark Red Is the Ultimate Cozy Chic Fall Hair Color-30 Ways to Try It
Red hair seems like it's so tough to pull off, but the truth is, it's totally attainable. While most of us might think of bright, fire-engine hues, red can run the gamut from having dark brown undertones to auburn highlights. In other words, there's a range. This is fortunate for us, because not only do we love dark red hair colors, but the sheer variety of shades means there's something for every skin tone. This shade is super complementary and usually comes down to personal preference.
Brown Hair With Blonde Highlights Are a Classic for a Reason-54 Ideas to Try
If there was a ranking of popular hair color options, brown hair with blonde highlights would absolutely be at the top the chart. Often an iteration of bronde, the color combo easily transcends every age, texture, and trend. "Brondeis essentially a perfect balance of blonde and brunette, creating a great mixture of colors," explains master colorist Tiffanie Richards. The blend of colors can add depth to straight hair, dimension to curls, and shine a spotlight on your favorite facial features.
37 Beautiful Bob Hairstyles for Natural Hair
Long hair has its time and place, but short hair will always be chic. The versatility of your hair and what you can do with it is endless, especially when it comes to bob-length hair. From short mini twists to blunt cuts, there's always a style to test out and obsess over. No matter what curl pattern, the styles are more than a trend: they celebrate beauty and culture.
Maya Allen
Maya Allen is the Beauty Director for InStyle, where she oversees all beauty coverage in the magazine. She has a thing for red lipstick (her collection is 200 strong) and an elaborate skincare routine. Embracing beauty, in all of its diverse glory, is her form of activism and she’s committed to amplifying representation through storytelling. Brooklyn is where she resides. At home she’s often dancing to the latest Drake album, masking, or FaceTiming with family and friends.
13 Ways to Treat Hormonal Acne, According to Dermatologists
Stocksy Hormonal acne may have a cyclical pattern, but that doesn't mean we're any less-than-pleasantly surprised whenever it rears its head. Hormonal fluctuations can trigger an acne breakout at any time and just about any stage in your life. But, you don't need to be going through a major life transition to experience hormonal acne. It can also appear month after month with your menstrual cycle or surge with lifestyle changes.
I've Admitted My Obsession With Wearing Perfume to Bed—10 of My Current Faves
I have a personal, committed, serious, and loving relationship with perfume. It started before I could even spell perfume. I got a glimpse of my mom's gorgeous collection on her vanity in my early childhood. When she wasn't paying attention or nearby, spritzing my neck and wrists with her shiny bottle of Tom Ford felt like such a treat. Fragrance is mood-boosting in many ways.
Celebrity Hairstylists Say These Are the Best Conditioners for Natural Hair
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The 9 Best Dark Red Lipsticks for a Bold Lip Look
Byrdie In This Article Final Verdict What to Look For FAQs Why Trust Byrdie A classic cherry red lipstick is a foolproof go-to when you're looking to add a pop of color to your makeup look, but if you're feeling inspired to change it up a bit, consider opting for a rich red instead. Just like bright red shades, dark reds are nuanced—they vary in finish, undertone, and depth, too.
The Best Bottom-Lash Mascaras Because You're All Set Up Top
Byrdie / Cristina Cianci Wearing mascara is a commitment, but applying a formula to our lower lashes is a different ball game. The smudging and smearing that inevitably happens don't do lower lashes any justice, with runny mascara quickly turning into what we'll affectionately call raccoon eyes. But the payoff when lower lashes are done right? Unparalleled. To avoid this dreaded scenario, it's best to stick with waterproof, non-budge mascaras that can stand the test of time under any conditions.
Celebrity Hairstylists Say These Are the Best Conditioners for Natural Hair
Byrdie / Lecia Landis In This Article What to Look For FAQs If you have natural hair, conditioning your strands is so, so necessary. Plus, if you’re trying to revert your curls to their natural state after too much heat damage or you're transitioning to natural hair, conditioner helps restore vital nutrients while strengthening your hair follicles to prevent future breakage. To keep your natural hair in the best possible shape, you'll want to look for a conditioner free of sulfates and parabens.
The 19 Yoga Studios Fit FolksFrequent in NYC
AnVr / Getty Images It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of New York City and never chill out. Living in this fast-paced place, you’ll find yourself in go-go-go mode at all times. But sometimes you need to take a break from your busy life and just woosah. That’s where yoga comes in—the perfect time to breathe, stretch, shake, and let it out. Practicing yoga is a great way to center yourself, relax, and burn a crazy amount of calories all at once.
The Most Popular Perfumes in America, by City
Getty Images In This Article Dallas Las Vegas New York Atlanta Boston Chicago Washington, D.C Miami Los Angeles Seattle Like haircuts, colors, and lipstick shades, fragrance trends vary by region. Need proof? Fragrance subscription service Scentbird (for $17 per month, the company sends you a month’s supply of fragrance that allows you to try before you buy) analyzed data from its over 35,000 subscribers to see which perfumes are the most popular in major U.S. cities from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
The 9 Best Maybelline Foundations to Try
Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to makeup is that you need to spend a hefty amount on foundation. Thankfully, beauty evolves with time, and we now have some seriously game-changing affordable formulas on the market. If you think otherwise, let us be the ones to tell you that amazing formulas exist outside of luxury lines. A high price tag on a bottle doesn't mean a foundation will work for your unique skin.
The NuFace Sculpting Devices We Tried (and Loved) Are on Sale
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut October Prime Day is here, and the NuFace is up to 40 percent off. If you’re one of the beauty enthusiasts who still doesn’t own one of these coveted devices, then read on to see our full review. The TL;DR? We recommend you buy it while it’s discounted. Over the past few years, the obsession with face-slimming treatments through at-home microcurrent gadgets, gua sha, and in-office treatments (i.e., buccal-fat removal) has been at an all-time high.
How Caring Less About Fitting In Changed Supermodel Adwoa Aboah's Life
Exclusive Certain women don’t even have to speak to communicate with you. You feel their effervescent presence as soon as you enter their space. It’s what differentiates a woman who truly knows herself from others. This compelling, strong energy is what supermodel Adwoa Aboah exudes. We first met at the Sunken Living Room in Spring Studios, home to the biggest fashion shows in New York City—a fitting space for meeting this powerhouse of a model in, to say the least.
Celebrity Makeup Artists Share Makeup Tips for Dark Skin Tones
Imaxtree In This Article Your Complexion Test Shades Look for Warm Shades Layer Your Highlighter Support Brands That Value Shade Inclusivity I can't say it enough: Embracing the beautifully diverse spectrum of dark skin tones is so incredibly important. Every impeccable shade of brown deserves a spot in every single beauty brand's lineup, and we're fortunate to see this finally starting to happen.
This $595 Caviar Cream Is Supposed to Be a Facelift in a Bottle
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Maya Allen, Retailer Remember when Kanika Batra-Matheson’s $10,000 “glass skin” routine went viral earlier this year? “You can actually see the caviar in this,” she says in a video, holding La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Eye Lift serum ($555).
‘It Feels Like Somebody’s Putting a Hot Hole Puncher Deep in Your Skin’
Photo-Illustration: The Cut; Photos Getty Images My skin-care obsession came from being a flight attendant for a Los Angeles–based private-jet charter company for six years. If you ever look closely at flight attendants’ skin, it’s not great. Since we’re always so high up in the air with all these windows, there’s way more radiation on our skin. I’m consistently jet-lagged, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve slept sitting up.
Nicole Richie’s No.1 Skin-Care Rule? Never Leave the House Without Lotion On
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Courtesy of Relevant You may remember Nicole Richie’s iconic Y2K beauty looks from her The Simple Life reality-TV era, but gone are the days of bleach-blonde highlighted extensions and over-the-top makeup for the actress. The House of Harlow 1960 founder much prefers a skin-care-first approach to makeup.
Saucy Santana on How to Be a Material Girl
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Thread Beauty Saucy Santana knows how to keep the internet’s attention. It all began in 2019 with his breakout track, “Walk ’Em Like a Dog.” The next year, he followed that hit up with “Here We Go,” “Walk,” and “Material Girl.” All of them quickly climbed the ranks of the Billboard charts. “I look a mess right now; I’ll get glam later,” he tells me as soon as our conversation begins. Santana entered the industry as a celebrity makeup artist.
Is Shiseido’s $65 Eye Cream Actually Worth It?
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Maya Allen, Shiseido If you’ve ever purchased a pricey teeny jar of eye cream then you’ve also thought to yourself: Are eye creams scams? Countless Reddit threads and viral TikToks have debated this question. “Eye creams are overpriced moisturizers and these companies are taking you for a ride,” says one video that garnered over 1 million views with a side-by-side analysis comparing a brand’s eye cream and moisturizer to reveal nearly identical ingredients.
Jennifer Coolidge’s No. 1 Date Night Rule? A Big Tip.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: e.l.f. cosmetics “I always have been about pouty beige lips,” says White Lotus actress Jennifer Coolidge. So much so that she teamed up with e.l.f Cosmetics and created her own lipkit she named Dirty Pillows, which includes lipstick, lip liner, and gloss, which quickly sold out this past Tuesday, November 21. (They’ve since restocked.) Her ideal lip look? Swollen.
Tumblr, ‘90s Music Videos, and Eiko Ishioka Are Inspirations for Chanel Beauty
Photo: Chanel Beauty It’s hard to imagine that when Gabrielle Chanel created Chanel Beauty’s first Rouge Allure lipstick color, 99 Pirate, in 1924, she could have predicted where we are with makeup today. While color theory has become a hot topic on TikTok (the hashtag now has over 2.6 billion views) with countless hot takes and tutorials on the psychology behind complementary colors and products, Chanel left it to the pros.
Tumblr, ‘90s Music Videos, and Eiko Ishioka Are Inspirations for Chanel Beauty
A big swirling bucket of the latest rumors, celebrity news and Hollywood gossip. The premier celebrity gossip app. The only apps that gives you a comprehensive real time celeb news stream. Gossip Bucket aggregates and streams the latest gossip news and headlines from the top sources in one place.
Let’s Talk About the Makeup Shaming in Love Is Blind
Photo: Netflix As an avid viewer since Netflix’s hit show Love Is Blind’s inception, I can confirm that this past season has been chaotic. Let me give you the show’s premise quickly: Boy meets girl behind a wall; boy and girl fall in love behind a wall; boy and girl decide to spend the rest of their lives together behind a wall; and then, the wall comes down. For everyone who has ever been on a date, ever, you know this is a recipe for disaster.
Model Jazzelle Zanaughtti on Being Rihanna’s Muse
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Fenty Born in the suburbs of Detroit, Jazzelle Zanaughtti, also known as @Uglyworldwide, has been in beauty campaigns for Fenty Beauty (she’s one of Rihanna’s muses) and on the covers of Paper and i-D magazines. She moved to Chicago at the age of 17 to start modeling, and along the way found a community: “While I was there, I ended up meeting some friends on the street of Boystown in Chicago and they took me under their wing,” she tells the Cut.
Nzingha’s Hip-Hop’s Original Architect of Makeup
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images, Youtube Think back to Lil’ Kim’s purple pasties jumpsuit at the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards, worn with her frosty lilac lipstick and long lashes, or her green glitter lips in the “Crush on You” music video. Or perhaps Mary J. Blige’s sultry black lipstick in her “Not Gon’ Cry” music video soundtrack for Waiting to Exhale.
Nzingha’s Hip-Hop’s Original Architect of Makeup
A big swirling bucket of the latest rumors, celebrity news and Hollywood gossip. The premier celebrity gossip app. The only apps that gives you a comprehensive real time celeb news stream. Gossip Bucket aggregates and streams the latest gossip news and headlines from the top sources in one place.
Linda Wells on Air Mail Look, Allure, Celeb Beauty Brands
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Tommy Ton Beauty journalism would not exist without Linda Wells. In 1990, Wells made magazine history when she became the founding editor-in-chief of Allure, Condé Nast’s first-ever beauty publication, which quickly became one of the most influential “beauty bibles” in the industry. She got her start in journalism working as an assistant at Vogue, which served as her training grounds for reporting and writing.
I Tried Dior’s New Capture Totale Serum
Photo: Courtesy of Dior Beauty Most of the beauty industry’s production is based on the Fitzpatrick Scale. First developed in 1975, it concerns only six skin types and tones. Six. So it makes total sense why I, as a Black woman, am constantly questioning if products will work for my skin tone. I’ve been told to do specific treatments, only to find out later that they haven’t been tested on melanated skin tones and can damage them.
If Erewhon Had a Scent, This Would Be It
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo:Louis Vuitton On a cool, overcast spring day in California, I found myself standing in a $27 million mansion in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I was there for a day of “mindfulness” for Louis Vuitton’s latest fragrance, Pacific Chill. But unlike other perfume events I’ve been to, today, we were discussing an unlikely inspiration: Erewhon. Yes, the hyped, exclusive grocery store in Los Angeles.
The Beauty Products Eva Alexandridis Uses to the Last Drop
Photo: Eva Alexandridis Eva Alexandridis grew up in Bulgaria and was introduced to luxury products by her mother, an air hostess, who used to travel to beautiful destinations and bring back things she had never seen before. As a young girl, Alexandridis would watch her spend hours getting ready for work. “She was very proud of her job and would spend time looking presentable,” she says.
The Best and Wildest Beauty Looks on the 2023 Met Gala Red Carpet
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images Want more of the Met Gala? Sign up for The Cut daily newsletter so you don’t miss any of our coverage. Newsletter readers will also receive exclusive interviews with attendees and Cut staffers’ personal picks for the best — and worst — looks of the night. We’ve been holding our breath all night this Met Gala, and no, not for Bad Bunny’s backless look — for the best beauty moments of the night.
Lizzo: ‘I Am the Beauty Standard’
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Getty Images About an hour before Lizzo led a room full of teenagers through breathing practices and self-love affirmations at the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, she was in her trailer meditating. When I walked in, the Grammy-winning artist was in full glam, sitting by herself, with her eyes closed. “I’ve just been really calm and Zen lately because I’ve been off tour and home,” she says. “Now I’m back in my bag and in my routine.
A Lesson In Dressing Wealthy From a Saks Stylist
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Retailer Try not to get jealous when I tell you about this trip I just took: I went on a horse-and-sleigh ride. I danced at an après-ski party on a mountaintop and later at a members-only club where we may or may not have spotted a Real Housewife. I took ski lessons and followed them with an incredible spa treatment at the St. Regis hotel. Even better (or worse, depending on your fomotional state): It was hosted by Saks.
Mei Kawajiri’s Very Extreme Nails
Jil Sander By Lucie and Luke Meier Cotton Mini-dress and Satin High-Knee Boots, available at jilsander.com. Hannah Jewett Invite Only and Puddle Play Earrings and Strawberry Barbed Wire Necklace, available at hannahjewett.com. Photo: Fumi Homma Mei Kawajiri’s process is magpie bricolage; she uses objects like salt and pasta when she creates nails, and she steals shapes and colors too. A dark-green foamlike design was inspired by a matcha shop in Japan.
Tracee Ellis Ross Wants to Redefine Your Relationship With Hot Tools
Photo: Courtesy of Pattern We all remember the iconic looks Tracee Ellis Ross’s character, Joan, gave us on Girlfriends. Every episode she gave us structured power suits, slinky halter tops, low-rise jeans, and voluminous curls. But according to Ross, her curls went through a lot while filming the show. During the third season, Ross decided to try something different with her natural hair and straighten it.
How The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri Got Her Golden Globes Glam
Photo: Tasha Reiko Brown You’ve probably seen actress Ayo Edebiri in Hulu’s The Bear, where she plays an eager and ambitious sous-chef. Or maybe you’ve laughed at a few of her jokes on Comedy Central’s Up Next. But we’re here to bring your attention to her makeup last night at the Golden Globes. On the red carpet, the comedian looked like she’d stepped straight out of a fairy tale in what we called a “Cinderella moment” with elegant opera gloves and a deconstructed Rosie Assoulin dress.
How The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri Got Her Golden Globes Glam
A big swirling bucket of the latest rumors, celebrity news and Hollywood gossip. The premier celebrity gossip app. The only apps that gives you a comprehensive real time celeb news stream. Gossip Bucket aggregates and streams the latest gossip news and headlines from the top sources in one place.
How The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri Got Her Golden Globes Glam
How The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri Got Her Golden Globes Glam You’ve probably seen actress Ayo Edebiri in Hulu’s The Bear, where she plays an eager and ambitious sous-chef. Or maybe you’ve laughed at a few of her …
The Pursuit of a Snatched Jawline Continues With Buccal Fat Removal
Photo: Elke Hesser/Getty Images Thanks to one hell of a lot of TikTok beauty trends and unhinged Twitter threads, this past year has presented no shortage of cosmetic surgeries sweeping the internet. According to recent data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the plastic-surgery industry is on the rise and three of the top five most-performed plastic-surgery procedures were on the face: rhinoplasty, eyelid surgeries, and face-lifts. The latest facial procedure to enter the group chat?
How Amanda Gorman Fostered Her Confidence
Photo: Courtesy of Estee Lauder Not only did Amanda Gorman make history when she became the youngest poet ever to perform at the presidential inauguration in January 2021, she also created one of the biggest beauty moments of the year: a bright-red Prada headband on top of her styled Senegalese twists, which were swept into in an updo. And when we talk about influence, Gorman has it.
How to Train Your Nose, According to Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer
Making a glass bottle for LV’s perfume Symphony. Photo: Maya Allen The skill set for a perfumer is surprisingly unique, the training takes years, and there are so few in the world. For Louis Vuitton’s master perfumer, Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud, it was a generational trade: His father and grandparents were perfumers, and his mom worked for a perfumer.
Bold Makeup Ideas from Dior Beauty Ambassador Sam Visser
Why be subtle when you can be spectacular? Wunderkind makeup artist Sam Visser shows us how it’s done. By Maya Allen Feb 17, 2022 @ 9:00 am Sam Visser was so young when he started working as a makeup artist that whenever he arrived to set there would be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a juice box waiting for him.
Hunter Schafer on "Barely There" Skincare and Why Euphoria Feels "More Raw" This Season
As the face of Shiseido, she's finding a light-touch beauty routine that works for her, and embracing the "woke up like this" requirements of her character. By Maya Allen Feb 07, 2022 @ 8:50 am As the second season of the hit HBO show churns along, the looks at Euphoria high are as epic as ever.
Vegan Food Star Tabitha Brown Shares Beauty Products She Loves Right Now
Who better than the vegan foodie and social media star to make cruelty-free glam her business? By Maya Allen Jan 14, 2022 @ 8:50 am Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Tabitha Brown's sunny disposition, lovable demeanor, and Southern charm have made her a social media sensation with nearly 5 million TikTok followers.
Why Selena Gomez Still Doesn't Know Her Instagram Password
Shopping for Uggs, washing her face — the Rare Beauty founder really is just like us. By Maya Allen Jan 06, 2022 @ 8:50 am Whether on screen or through her songs, Selena Gomez has always been an open book. We sat down with her for our February Badass Issue to chat everything from mental health to makeup, and she didn't hold back.
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