Whether you’re assembling a rainbow cake or putting together a skin-care routine, proper layering is essential. And the multistep regimens that have become synonymous with K-beauty (we're talking 10, 12, and even 17 steps) have turned the way we apply serum, moisturizer, and oil into an art form. To master it, Michelle and Jenny called upon dermatologist Marie Jhin to share some hard-and-fast rules for layering and to spell out exactly how — and when — to apply your skin-care products for maximum benefit.

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This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by AHC.

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What's better than dedicating one episode of The Science of Beauty to all things K-beauty? Well, dedicating three of 'em, that's what! For the next several weeks, hosts Michelle Lee, editor in chief, and Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director, are taking a deep dive into some of the most important facets of Korean skin care, including layering, hydration, and masking. Along the way, you'll learn practical tips (yes, face oil should be the last product you apply at night) and next-level terms like transepidermal water loss. (You're about to become the unofficial skin-care expert in your group chat.) So grab the nearest sheet mask, then press play on this little preview.

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Cue the Star Wars-style sound effects, because this week's episode is all about lasers. The ones we're talking about can't defeat the dark side, but they can conquer dark spots. And unwanted hair and broken blood vessels and scars. With the help of dermatologist Tina Alster, Michelle and Jenny demystify some of the lasers you may have heard about (like Fraxel), nerd out about how they work, and share the surprising things that happen to your skin following some laser treatments (they speak from experience).

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This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Pantene.

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Now that we've given the hair on our head its due, we're traveling south to explore the hair we have everywhere else. And we mean everywhere: Our bodies are covered with about five million follicles from tip to toe, except for our lips, palms, and the soles of our feet. First, Michelle and Jenny travel back in time with anthropologist Nina Jablonski, who explains how our ancestors went from thoroughly hairy to basically naked over the course of a half-million years. After that, dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla stops by to talk through all the many options for removing body hair, if that's what you choose to do.

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Put down your lunch, because this episode begins with a very, uh, vivid description of every nook and cranny on Jenny's scalp, as seen through the microscopic lens of consulting trichologist David Adams. (Don't worry, we explain what a trichologist is within the first three minutes.) Then, Michelle and Jenny welcome dermatologist Michelle Henry, who explains the many ways you should care for your scalp (but probably aren't) and the best treatment options for issues like itchiness, oiliness, and — of course — dandruff.

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If you have spirals, coils, or waves, you already know that having curly hair isn't just a trait; it's a lifestyle. So we packed this episode with tips, tricks, and techniques, beginning with an easy at-home test that can make a big difference in determining how to care for your hair. After that, Michelle and Jenny call in cosmetic chemist Erica Douglas to explain what curls actually are, debunk some common myths (yes, your curl pattern really can change over time), and a whole lot more. Then, three Allure editors stop by to share all the products and tools that put a spring in their curly strands.

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This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Pantene.

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You can't always control a stressful situation, but you can control the way you — and in some ways, even your skin and hair — react to one. During this episode, Belisa Vranich, psychologist and founder of The Breathing Class, walks Michelle and Jenny through simple exercises that use breath to bring peace of mind. Next up is Amy Wechsler, one of very few humans to be board-certified in dermatology and psychiatry, who stops by to discuss the cruel and unusual ways stress can impact our skin and hair, and what we can do about it. Now, take a deep breath and press play.

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Imagine a world where instead of using shampoo, you relied on the powders and liquids in your pantry to keep your hair looking (and smelling) fresh. That was reality just a little more than 100 years ago; Today, the shampoo aisle has a dizzying number of options. In this episode — our first to focus on hair — Michelle and Jenny try an old-school hair-washing method before cosmetic chemist and longtime Allure collaborator Ni'Kita Wilson joins in to share the latest and greatest ways to remove dirt, oil, and product build-up. And before you ask: Dry shampoo is not a replacement for the real stuff.

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As the old saying goes: An acid a day (or, uh, every few days if you're sensitive) keeps breakouts, fine lines, and dullness away. And no, we don't mean that kind of acid. In this episode, we're talking about AHAs and BHAs — the acids commonly used in skin care to help slough off dead cells and keep complexions bright. First, Michelle and Jenny try a product that proves how powerful acids can be — and completely gross-out their loved ones in the process. Then, dermatologist Laurel Naversen Geraghty (who — fun fact! — is a former Allure editor) stops by to help make sense of when and how to use these powerful skin-care ingredients.

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This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Olay.

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