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

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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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You know vitamins as the micronutrients our body needs in order to function, but when applied topically, vitamins can have a profound effect on the health and appearance of our skin. In this episode, Michelle and Jenny learn about the man who first gave these micronutrients a name (he just so happens to have a very cool one himself) and tell the forgotten tale of the lost vitamins. Then, with the help of Dr. Frauke Neuser, PhD, Principal Scientist & Senior Director of Science Communications at Olay, Michelle and Jenny separate the facts from the fluff when it comes to vitamins and your skin. Yes, you should be using a vitamin C serum. And no, patting on vitamin D won't make your body produce more.

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

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Let's get one thing straight: It's a privilege to have wrinkles. But if you want your skin to look as youthful as you feel, modern medicine has a few tricks up its sleeve, and injectables like Botox are chief among them. Ophthalmologist Jean Carruthers sits down with Michelle and Jenny to tell the truly unbelievable tale of how she "accidentally" discovered that botulinum toxin could smooth brows and erase frown lines. And dermatologist Melissa Levin shares the scoop on the most effective topical ingredients to treat every kind of wrinkle, even those pesky ones between your brows and along your neck.

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

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There are millions of tiny openings all over your skin — and if you didn't have them, you'd be dead. If that makes you feel squeamish, then cover your ears, because we've got dermatologist Sandra Lee, also known as Dr. Pimple Popper, in the house. The social media sensation and reality star walks Michelle and Jenny through how she extracted one gigantic blackhead from a single pore. After that, dermatologist Shereene Idriss joins the party to explain the misconceptions surrounding "poreless" skin and the best products to give your pores the TLC they deserve.

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

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Our skin is home to many tiny factories called melanocytes. They're responsible for producing the pigment that gives skin its color. But certain triggers like UV light can send those factories into overdrive, resulting in dark spots and discoloration known as hyperpigmentation. In this episode, Michelle shares a cautionary tale of some splotchy, unwanted mementos from one magical island vacation in her youth, and dermatologist Mona Gohara breaks down the best ingredients and in-office lasers to make them disappear.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Allure: The Science of Beauty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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

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Without protection from UV rays, every one of the greatest beauty innovations of the modern age — retinoids, AHAs, hyaluronic acid, lasers — is a big, old waste of time and money. It's fitting then that our debut episode is all about SPF. First, Michelle and Jenny have a frank talk with Shyla Raghav, vice president of climate at Conservation International, about how the state of our environment makes wearing sunscreen more crucial than ever before. Then, dermatologist Caroline Robinson shares everything you'd ever want to know about how to choose and use SPF, including the one place you're definitely not applying it — but should.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Allure: The Science of Beauty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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

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During an upcoming episode all about pores, Michelle and Jenny get nerdy with dermatologist Sandra Lee — also known as Dr. Pimple Popper — as she walks them through how she extracted one gigantic blackhead from a single pore.

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Do you start group chats about the best scalp treatments? Google AHA vs BHA exfoliants until the wee hours? Take progress photos of your dark spots after trying a new vitamin C serum? You’re our people. And we know you’re going to love The Science of Beauty, a new podcast produced by the editors of Allure. Michelle Lee, editor in chief, and Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director, are deep-diving into the topics you’ve always wondered about and bringing dermatologists, cosmetic chemists — and even a reality-TV star — along for the ride. 

Allure: The Science of Beauty launches Thursday, October 15th, with new episodes releasing weekly. Subscribe now so you don't miss our first episode all about the one product experts say everyone (yes, everyone!) needs to use daily.

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