M. writes:

Dear Jolie, I am 19 years old and summer (and spring break) is drawing near, and I just finished reading the Marie Claire with Drew Barrymore on the cover. Under “Insider Beauty Secrets” they say that there is basically no hope with cellulite creams…and therefore I should not spend my money. Have you ever heard of Fat Girl Slim from Poetic? Or those new crazy patches that apparently firm your skin from L’Oreal??? I’m hoping that along with exercise, there is hope in a jar to help firm my bum and thighs for this summer, and felt like you the beauty guru would be best to ask (even better than Marie Claire :)). Much love! 

Hi M.!I hate to say it…but efficacious cellulite creams are one of those myths, like Santa Claus or men who prefer “natural” women. (The problem there is usually the male fantasy of “natural” versus the brutal female reality, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.) While there are some cellulite creams that have cult status (like Shiseido Body Creator and Osmotics), all the creams really do is smooth out the appearance of the top of your skin. They can’t actually make cellulite disappear and literally change the composition of your body, otherwise they’d have to be FDA regulated as drugs, not faux-miraculous, happiness-inducing (well, temporarily, at least) cosmeceuticals. That’s not to say that you may not see a very small, temporary difference in the appearance of your thighs and tummy after using these creams several times a day, everyday, for weeks—the same way, say, a really great foundation might make acne look like, poof!, it’s gone—but even if that unlikely scenario were to happen, once you stopped using the creams, the magic would disappear. And I’m just too damn lazy to put all that time and effort into something that will probably not work, or will only provide miniscule results once it does.

Nancy (from the comments section!) asks:

I’m not sure if you’ve wrote about this or not, but when should you throw out old products? I’ve heard you need to replace eyeliner and mascara every three months. But what about lipstick that’s three years old? Or foundation that’s two years old, and so on? I’m a product junkie myself, but my little bathroom is gettng a bit overwhelmed with my collection. 

I find it nearly impossible to throw away old products, even when they’re getting old, crusty and crumbly. (Well, okay, it’s slightly easier then, but still.) Unfortunately, being too attached to expired products can lead to breakouts and infections—not to mention the fact that your makeup simply won’t look as good as it should. In general, mascaras will last three months; foundation will last for about six months; lipstick will last for a year; and powders (such as blush and eyeshadow) will last between one or two years. Toss perfume within two years—sooner if it’s been in the heat or the sun. A good rule of thumb: liquid formulas (mascara, foundation) breed bacteria quickly, so they should be the first to toss. It’s hard, but worth it—be brutal!

K writes:

Hi Jolie! I love your blog. I have a question - why can’t I pop my pimples? When I get facials, they pop them and it doesn’t scar, unlike when I try it. Thanks! 

Hi K.!Technically, you’re not supposed to pop your own zits—it’s true that it does very easily lead to scarring, hyperpigmentation, bleeding, and unnecessary face-touching, mirror-staring and “Why didn’t I just leave it alone?!” moaning. The truth, however, is that (shh) it is possible to pop your own blemishes, just like you’ve always suspected. Now, I’m not saying it’s recommended, and when done improperly, you could wreck some serious havoc on your complexion. But let’s be real here. You want to do it. You’re going to do it. So, at least do it right. First of all, never squeeze cysts—go for the white suckers just under the skin that are begging to be put out of their misery. Remove all makeup and wash your face and hands, to get rid of bacteria that might get into the open skin and cause an infection. (Optional steps: apply a warm washcloth to the skin for a few minutes, or sterilize a tiny needle with boiling water and rubbing alcohol and prick the surface of the skin ever so slightly. Personally, I never, ever go the needle route—I know people who have gotten infections this way. But I feel the need to mention that, if you are going to do it, then for the love God, sterilize it and be gentle.) Next take two cotton swabs or pieces of gauze and very (very!) gently press around the pimple until the white stuff surfaces and comes out, or when you see clear fluid. Don’t press too hard—and never until you bleed!—because you could force the bacteria further into your skin, which will just cause a bigger, badder pimple down the road. (As for me, if I’m going somewhere soon after my minor bathroom-sink surgery, I dab on a tiny bit of Hydrocortisone cream, to help the irritation and redness go down faster, then follow with a dab of medicated concealer.)

Maya writes:

Hi Nadine — by chance are there any men’s colognes you recommend at the moment?  I think the person I’m dating could use something other than Acqua di Gio.  Thanks, and thanks for everything you share!

Hi Maya!  Fragrance is obviously a really personal thing, so what one person thinks smells divine might be absolutely horrendous to another’s nose.  Regardless, there are a few classics that it’s pretty hard to go wrong with.  For a masculine scent that’s not your typical college boy musk, check out Givenchy Pi, which is my favorite cologne in the history of the world.  It’s fresh, woodsy and very mysterious. Other sexy, giftable, you-won’t-be-able-to-stop-sniffing-him choices: Chanel Allure Homme, Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy for Him (seriously!) or Creed Green Irish Tweed.  (By the way, they all smell fabulous on women, too.)

L. writes:

How important is brand loyalty when it comes to a skincare routine? I am wondering if it’s better to use the face wash, moisturizer, acne treatments, etc. of one brand if they are formulated to work together rather than alternate products? Thanks so much for enabling my beauty addictions!

 Hi L.!When it comes to brand loyalty, it seems that a lot of women have been terrified by beauty companies into thinking that, if they don’t use the cleanser and toner and moisturizer and serum together (and only from their line—nobody else’s, God forbid!), their skin will turn purple, develop crater-sized wrinkles, molt, and force them into wearing a mask for the rest of their lives.  (You know, in a nutshell.)  The truth is that this is mostly a marketing construct.  If you do need a cleanser and you do need a moisturizer and you do need a problem solver (say an anti-acne or intensive-anti-wrinkle treatment), then it’s best to have brand/product synergy, sticking to the same line with the same ingredients designed to target the same problems in the same ways…so they say.  This ensures that you don’t irritate your skin or choose products that are wrong for it; they do all the guesswork for you.  (In some cases, such as with severe acne, it is helpful to have a regimen laid out for you, as the formulations in products can be so strong that you don’t want to over-irritate your skin by using a mix-and-match regimen of retinol plus glycolic acid plus benzoyl peroxide plus…you get the point.)  But nowadays, there are so many great products out there to choose from, and everybody is finally waking up to the fact that women don’t have “one-size fits all” skin.  The idea that you’re dry and I’m oily and she’s combination is finally, mercifully, becoming old hat, because these narrow categorizations only help people who really don’t have many skin issues to begin with.  You may have skincare needs that are beyond the scope of what one line can provide, just the same as you probably have a favorite (but different) shoe brand, jeans line, comfy tank top company, etc.  There are some truly miraculous, rock-star products out there that come from companies where the rest of the products are just so-so, and what targets acne the best may not necessarily come from the same line that makes your favorite SPF moisturizer, or the other line that makes a really fantastic anti-wrinkle night cream.  The point?  Figure out which products you love based on what your skin needs, and use those, brand be damned!

A recent question from the comments: 

Jolie, I’m in a hair style rut and am wondering if it’s actually worth it to try a stylist who may run $150 or so per cut (think places like Cutler, etc). I currently go to the TwoDo Salon on the UPW where my haircuts avg $80 and I’ve never been disappointed. I want a new look, though, and I’m afraid my hair woes are not related to the cut/stylist but to the nature of my own hair. Maybe I’ll never be satisfied. What are your thoughts on trying a pricer salon?

I will never be swayed from my position on this: more expensive cuts are always better.  Now, this isn’t to say that a $70 cut is going to be better than a $60 cut, but almost without fail, the more you pay for your hair, the higher quality the results will be.  This is because competition for jobs at the pricey salons is insanely stiff, so even the junior staffers have lots of talent and have been trained at other great salons or schools.  The better the stylist, the more she charges (because she can)…but the more likely she is to give you a cut that will fall better, dry faster, work with your texture and grow out gracefully.  That’s the other benefit of a more expensive haircut; it will last you much longer.  As far as the specifics of your situation, however, you say that you’ve never been disappointed with your salon and that you simply want a new look.  While I’m certain that you’d be dazzled by, say, a $250 cut, I don’t believe in spending more money just for the sake of it, particularly if you’re already happy.  Why not bring in some photos of the new look you’re hoping for to your stylist, giving her a chance to do your makeover?  An $80 cut, after all, is hardly bargain-bin, and the rapport you’ve developed with your stylist over the years might be worth salvaging.  If you’re still not happy with your hair after changing it up, then go ahead and make that chi-chi appointment.

J. writes:

Hi! You kindly answered questions for me before about my hair care, and the advice was great! The Bumble & bumble Thickening Spray you recommended is a miracle product, I’m convinced. It was worth the splurge, especially considering the rest of the products you recommended weren’t expensive. So, I’m hoping I can get away with asking another question of you… I live in Florida, too, and have fair, freckly skin. I’d love to find a high SPF sunblock that goes on well under makeup and isn’t greasy. I will break out if it’s too oily or if it aggravates my somewhat sensitive skin (Coppertone and I are mortal enemies). I’m willing to invest somewhat if I have to, although drug store price is preferable, but this is my face, after all… Thanks!!!

Hi J!  Sensitive, oily skin and sunscreen may seem like mortal enemies, but in fact, there are several options (yes, even at the drugstore!) that will keep you damage-free without clogging all your pores, becoming mask-like and turning your face into an oil-slick.  One of the best drugstore brands across the board is Neutrogena, and depending on how much protection you’re looking for you could either choose the Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 30 (great for beach days and ski vacations) orNeutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 (good for everyday). I’m a huge fan of both, because they work (read: no freckles or sunburn!) without causing breakouts.  Hope that helps!

T. writes: 

Hi Nadine!  As a fellow beauty junkie, maybe you can help me out. You know lip glosses that come in wand form, such as Chanel Glossimer (or any of the other five thousand out there)?  What do you do when there’s still about a quarter left in there and you just… can’t… reach it… because the wand’s too short?  It seems like such a waste to toss it out, especially since the gloss at hand is my obsession: the discontinued Mary Kay “Pink Starshine” gloss, the exact color of a discontinued Chanel gloss.  Help!

Hi T.!Whatever you do, don’t throw out your not-quite-done lip gloss!  To reach the last little bits of your favorite color, all you need is a lip brush (you’ll find tons at Sephora - make sure it’s long and thin enough to get through the tube opening), or even a long-stemmed Q-tip, to reach the bottom of the tube.  If you’re taking the gloss in your purse, I’d recommend a lip brush with a cap to cover the top, so you can apply gloss on-the-go without getting dirt and dust (and whatever else might be floating around in your purse to stick to the open lip brush!) on your lips.  By the way, if you’d like exact replicas made of discontinued shades, go to Three Custom Color, which will mimic the shade to a T.  Enjoy!