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February 17, 2026 | xtzhev

Your Guide to the Perfumes That Last All Day and Night

Image may contain Bottle Lotion Cosmetics and PerfumeCollage: Jemeria Davison / Images: Courtesy of Amazon, Blue Mercury, Byredo, Neiman Marcus, and NordstromSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

The beauty of the best long-lasting perfumes is that they stick with you from your morning coffee to your evening plans without a single touch-up. Whether you want a cozy, musky hug, a fresh floral that feels like a crisp spring morning, or a sexy and spicy statement scent, these fragrances won’t quit after the first spritz. We tested tons of different scents and tapped professional perfumers to find the bottles that truly go the distance, delivering complexity, depth, and that can’t-stop-sniffing effect. Below, your guide to fragrances that actually last—and keep turning heads hour after hour.

Our Top Long-Lasting Perfumes

  • Best Floral: Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum, $150
  • Best Fruity: Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum, $250
  • Best Citrus: The Harmonist Sacred Water Parfum, $285
  • Best Woody: Byredo Rouge Chaotique Extrait de Parfum, $465
  • Best Smoky: Balmain Carbone Eau de Parfum, $190
  • Best Gourmand: Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat 540 Extrait de Parfum, $310
  • Best Sweet: Bond No. 9 Tribeca Eau de Parfum, $345
  • Best Musk: Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum, $240
  • Best Spicy: Prada Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum, $190

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

  • What makes a perfume long-lasting?
  • What are the best tips to make fragrances last longer?
  • Meet the experts
  • How we test and review products
  • Our staff and testers

Best Floral: Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Gucci

Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum

$150

Nordstrom

$150

Ulta Beauty

$150

Sephora

Why we love it: If you’re craving a floral that leans soft and sweet, rather than green and woody, Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Gardenia delivers. It layers juicy notes of pear over a soft bouquet of gardenia, then deepens with brown sugar and patchouli for warmth. It’s playful but polished, and the kind of scent that makes an immediate impression—no surprise it earned an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022.

This scent lasts so long that when our tester mailed clothes to a friend across the country, the perfume still lingered on the fabrics. (Her friend loved the scent so much that she bought a bottle for herself!)

Tester feedback from social media director Kassidy Silva

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“From my first sniff of Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, it had me questioning a major breakup with gourmand fragrance. Was I a floral girl now? While I'm not fully ready to break away from my beloved sugary scents, Gorgeous Gardenia gives me the best of both worlds. With a stunning bouquet of pear, white gardenia and brown sugar, the sweet, elevated floral is a head-turner. Not to mention, it lasts for days, literally. I shipped my best friend a jacket from New Jersey to Oregon and the scent was still going strong after a week.” —Kassidy Silva, social media director

More to know

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  • Key notes: pear, gardenia, brown sugar
  • Sizes: 30 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Fruity: Parfums de Marly Delina Eau de Parfum

Parfums de Marly Delina in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Parfums de Marly

Delina Eau de Parfum

$250

Amazon

$250

Nordstrom

Why we love it: Although Parfums de Marly Delina took home a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award for best floral perfume, we can’t put this darling in a corner. Alongside classic florals like rose, lily of the valley, and peony, you’ll find fresh, fruity accents—hello, lychee and rhubarb—that give the scent a bright and modern twist. To balance it out, bergamot, cashmere wood, vanilla, and musk add warmth and depth. The result is a floral, fruity, and undeniably elegant scent that transports you to the south of France, donning a little black dress with a martini in hand. And, of course, we can’t forget to mention the chic pink bottle—the perfect addition to your vanity.

Tester feedback from associate beauty editor Annie Blay-Tettey

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“This was my first fragrance from the brand, and I immediately fell for the pink bottle with its tassel because it’s so feminine and regal. I’m usually drawn to warm, spicy gourmands, not florals, but I can’t get enough of how powdery this one is. The first word that comes to mind? Feminine. Anytime I want to feel girly and pretty, this is my go-to. Bonus: It lasts all day and all night. I can still catch whiffs of it even after a shower, so you truly get a fragrance that delivers from first spritz to last, a true bang for your buck.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor

More to know

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  • Key notes: rose, lily of the valley, peony, lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, cashmere wood
  • Sizes: 30 ml, 739 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Citrus: The Harmonist Sacred Water Parfum

The Harmonist Sacred Water Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

The Harmonist

Sacred Water Parfum

$285

Bluemercury

Why we love it: The Harmonist’s Sacred Water earned a 2022 Allure Best of Beauty Award, thanks to its bright, uplifting, and quietly elegant spirit. It opens with a sparkling mix of citron, mandarin, and fresh ginger, delivering an instant burst of freshness that softens as it wears. As the scent settles, orange blossom and magnolia come forward, adding depth through easy-to-wear floral notes. A base of grey amber, woody amyris, and cedar anchors everything, giving this fragrance a clean finish that lingers.

Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen

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“I spritz two or three pumps of Sacred Water onto my neck and hair, and then walk into the lingering mist. I layer Dedcool's Xtra Milk on top to lock it in and add a soft warmness to the otherwise citrus scent. While Sacred Water brings light, refreshing notes of ginger and orange blossom, Xtra Milk adds depth with amber and white musk. When I say this elite pairing elicits compliments, I'm not kidding. I've had Trader Joe's employees stop me in the middle of checkout to ask about my perfume, and had company colleagues chase me down in the office to find out what scent I'm wearing. The layered combo is lethal in the most non-lethal and incredibly delightful way. I do wish Sacred Water was more affordable, but it's such a beautiful scent in an even more beautiful bottle, so it's easy to see why the cost is so high!” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director

More to know

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  • Key notes: citron, mandarin, orange, magnolia, grey amber, cedar
    Sizes: 50 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Woody: Byredo Rouge Chaotique Extrait de Parfum

Byredo Rouge Chaotique Perfume Extrait in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Byredo

Rouge Chaotique Extrait de Parfum

$465

Nordstrom

Why we love it: Byredo hits the nail on the head with this wood-forward fragrance. Anchored in bergamot, smoke, and oakwood, Rouge Chaotique smells like a crunchy walk through a forest. Fresh black currant and juicy plum cut through the earthiness, while sweet praline and saffron—it’s the most expensive spice in the world, so this addition, in part, explains the price—add warmth and depth. A single spritz instantly transports us from the concrete jungle of New York City straight to Wyoming, but with this fragrance, we’re glamping, never pitching our own tent. Since this is an extrait, it’s even more concentrated than your typical eau de parfum; each spritz goes a very long way. And, the next time you wear that same shirt, you might not need to reapply.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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“This Byredo extrait is my go-to date or night-out scent: The woodsy, slight spicy notes make me feel confident and sexy all night, and the scent lingers well into the next day, but at a slightly softened level that’s more appropriate for the office or meeting up with friends for brunch. I can even smell it towards the end of day two. I’m definitely more light-handed with this extrait than I am with my EDPs, maxing out at two spritzes. It’s potent but not overwhelming.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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  • Key notes: bergamont, oakwood, blackcurrant, juicy plum, paraline, saffron
  • Sizes: 70 ml
  • Type: extrait

Best Smoky: Balmain Carbone Eau de Parfum

Balmain Carbone Eau de Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Balmain

Carbone Eau de Parfum

$190

Neiman Marcus

Why we love it: Many of our editors have tested the Best of Beauty Award-winning Balmain Carbone, and we all agree it’s unlike anything else in our fragrance rotation. It can come across a bit strong at first, with an immediate hit of musk, suede, cumin, and patchouli, but give it a few minutes, and it enters an entirely new era. A soft rose note emerges, wrapped in a smoky tobacco haze, transforming the scent into something far more nuanced. Together, it’s floral yet smoky, with a moody, jazz-club-after-dark vibe. In our eyes, this isn’t a summer spritz, but its dark sultriness makes it perfect for fall and winter. Just a few sprays offer maximum impact that lasts from dawn until dusk.

Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

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“After weeks of testing, I can say Carbone lingers way longer than some of my other favorite perfumes (a major win in my book, since who has time to reapply hourly?). The scent is pretty strong at first, so you only need one or two spritzes for serious impact and staying power. (I’ve noticed it can lasts up to 8 hours.) I tend to wear Carbone on nights out rather than in-office days, for some much-needed confidence.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

More to know

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  • Key notes: white musk, rose, suede, patchouli, cumin
  • Size: 10 ml, 50 ml, 150 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Gourmand: Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat 540 Extrait de Parfum

Maison Francis Kurkdijan Baccarat 540 Extrait de Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Baccarat 540 Extrait de Parfum

$495

Nordstrom

Why we love it: The extrait version of Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s Baccarat 540 intensifies the power of the original eau de parfum, which is bold, given that the original already lasts a long time. It’s woody, ambery, and musky, but also has notes of jasmine flowers, ethyl maltol (an aroma enhancer and sweetener that adds a gourmand twist), and bitter almond to enhance the dessert-ness of it all. Also a saffron-boosted scent, this is another well-worth-the-price perfume that leaves a trail everywhere you go for days, with just a few quick spritzes.

Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner

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“This is one of my all-time favorite perfumes—and one of the only bottles I’ve ever actually finished. (I own around 100 scents, so that’s really saying something.) Like Santal 33, it’s so unique and instantly recognizable when you smell it on someone. It’s the perfect blend of my favorite scent profiles—sweet and ambery—so when I don’t know what to reach for, this one always hits the spot. It also layers beautifully with more skin-scented fragrances, which helps tone down the sweetness for an office day or a morning walk when I don’t want anything too strong. I always get compliments when I wear it.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer

More to know

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  • Key notes: cashmaran wood, saffron, jasmine, ethyl maltol, bitter almond
  • Size: 35 ml, 75 ml, 200 ml
  • Type: extrait

Best Sweet: Bond No. 9 Tribeca Eau de Parfum

Bond No. 9 Tribeca Eau de Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Bond No.9

Tribeca Eau de Parfum

$470

Amazon

Why we love it: Smelling like a chocolate cupcake isn’t for everyone, which is why Bond No. 9 elevated the good-enough-to-eat scent and turned it into something worthy of all-day wear. Tribeca has much more to offer than the warm, chocolaty star note. The brand mixed smooth, sweet cacao and caramel with green hazelnut for a crisp twist, along with jasmine and moss for an earthy, yet romantic touch. “Not only are the fragrance concentrations high, but the brand uses newer nitro musks that are stronger than older musks, so you can use 10% less and smell 100 times stronger,” says New York City-based senior perfumer Darryl Do. Translation: While it’s an investment, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth, since a little goes a long way.

More to know

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  • Key notes: cacao, hazelnut, jasmine, cedarwood, moss, caramel
  • Size: 50 ml, 100 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Musk: Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Le Labo

Santal 33 Eau de Parfum

$240

Nordstrom

Why it’s worth it: Darryl Do is also a fan of Le Labo’s Santal 33 for the same reason he loves Bond No. 9: It’s formulated with those aforementioned, newer nitro musks, so the scent is stronger, longer-lasting, and doesn’t require half the bottle to make an impact. Yes, it’s the viral fragrance everyone (and their mom) has smelled before—but there’s a reason it became that scent. The musky base is the definition of comforting, but it's not overpowering. It’s on the minimalist side, but you can immediately recognize when someone is wearing it. Cardamom brings a cozy warmth, iris and violet add brightness, and sandalwood and cedarwood give it that signature leathery edge. Le Labo’s very first creation is a unisex classic for a reason—and, years later, it’s still the one we reach for when we have no idea what scent to wear.

More to Know

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  • Key notes: cardamom, iris, violet, cedarwood, sandalwood
  • Size: 15 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml, 500 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Best Spicy: Prada Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum

Prada Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Prada

Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum

$190

Nordstrom

$190

Ulta Beauty

Why we love it: Picture sitting fireside with a milky chai latte, bundled in your comfiest coat and beanie. Now, imagine what that moment would smell like. You’d land somewhere close to Prada’s Infusion de Santal Chai Eau de Parfum. It blends creamy sandalwood with warm chai spices, layered with cardamom and a hint of citrus. A musky base keeps it grounded, reading more like a skin scent than a full-on gourmand.

This recommendation comes by way of Nordstrom’s national beauty director, Autumne West: “I love a niche fragrance where you can really feel the thought behind the ingredients and how the scent develops over time. It has depth without feeling overpowering and wears in a way that still feels very natural and easy.” You can reach for this balanced, comforting spritz while sipping your morning coffee and know you’ll still smell good on your evening commute.

More to know

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  • Key notes: chai latte accord, creamy sandalwood accord, citrus, musks​​
  • Sizes: 100 ml
  • Type: eau de parfum

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a perfume long-lasting?

According to Do, the higher the concentration of fragrance oil is directly correlated to its longevity. Eau de toilettes typically fall in the 7 to 12% range, eau de parfums land around 15 to 20%, and concentrates (also known as extraits) can reach 22 to 30%. Look for fragrances labeled parfum, intense, or elixir, West suggests, if you’re looking for a scent that lasts all day.

The notes of the perfume also make a big difference. West says that fragrances with deeper notes like musk, tobacco, and cardamom, create a lasting impression as the fragrance dries down throughout the day. “Citrus-forward notes can be beautiful and refreshing upon first spray, but they fade quicker,” she says. That’s why many of the citrus scents on this list are anchored with deeper notes, so they’ll linger.

What are the best tips to make fragrances last longer?

One of West’s favorite tips is to apply your fragrance to freshly moisturized skin because hydrated skin holds onto scent much longer. “Layering also makes a big difference,” she says. “If a fragrance has a coordinating body lotion, oil, or shower gel, applying that first helps create a base so the perfume lasts longer and wears more evenly.”

Meet the experts

  • Darryl Do is a senior perfumer at Delbia Do based in New York City.
  • Autumne West is Nordstrom’s national beauty director based in Seattle.

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our reviews of the best long-lasting perfumes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, and contributors. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete review process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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February 9, 2026 | xtzhev

5 Best Hair-Dryer Brushes for Your Easiest At-Home Blowouts

A photo of Allure associate director of audience development Melanie Curry after using the T3 Airebrush with the oval...Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of brands, Allure editorsSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

If there’s one styling tool our editors rely on the most, it’s the best blow-dryer brushes. These innovative, two-in-one tools help you achieve a professional-level blowout, no salon appointment (or sore arms) required. While they won’t fully replace your blow-dryer—you’ll still want to rough-dry first—they’re a game-changer once hair is damp, cutting down on frizz, styling time, and the dreaded arm workout. Even if you've gotten used to—or resigned yourself to—maneuvering your blow-dryer and round brush simultaneously, trust us when we say hair-dryer brushes make styling more controlled, easier, faster, and smoother.

Our Top Hair-Dryer Brushes

  • Best Overall: T3 Airebrush, $150
  • Best for Quick Styling: GHD Duet Blowdry, $429
  • Best for Curly Hair: Shark Glossi Blowout Brush, $180
  • Best Volumizing: Drybar The Double Shot, $155
  • Best Budget: Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0, $70

The concept of a hair dryer brush is simple yet intuitive: The handy, two-in-one tool combines the detangling ability of a brush with the power of heat, allowing you to style, volumize, and blow-dry your hair to perfection. “Blow-dry brushes work for most hair types—fine, wavy, straight, medium, and even very thick hair if the sections are small enough,” says Reagan Baker, a stylist based in New York City, adding that they’re the closest you can get to a professional blowout without needing expert technique. Interest piqued? Keep reading to learn more about our tried-and-true picks

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I get the most out of a hair-dryer brush?
  • How do I minimize heat damage from a hair-dryer brush?
  • Are hair-dryer brushes easier to use than traditional hair-dryers?
  • How do I clean my hair-dryer brush?
  • Meet the experts
  • How we test and review products
  • Our staff and testers

Best Overall: T3 Airebrush

T3 AireBrush One-Step Hair Dryer Brush: A white blow-dryer brush on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

T3

Airebrush

$150

Amazon

$150

Nordstrom

$150

Ulta Beauty

Allure associate director of audience development Melanie Curry using the T3 Airebrush with the oval brush head

Melanie Curry

Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann using the T3 Airebrush Duo with the round brush attachment

Sarah Hoffmann

Why it's worth it: New York City-based hairstylist Jennifer Korab calls the T3 Airebrush One Step her go-to blowout brush, especially for beginners, because it has everything you need for easy styling: multiple heat and speed settings, smooth bristles, and a lightweight design. Head’s up (literally): There are two versions of the Airebrush. One is outfitted with an oval head and the other with a round head. We’ve tested and loved both, but there are some key differences. The oval brush is slightly wider in diameter, making it ideal for thicker, longer hair. Its flatter edges help add soft waves, bends, and that just-left-the-salon lift. The round brush, on the other hand, is slimmer and better for shorter hair that doesn’t require as much surface area. It gets into hard-to-reach edges around the crown of the head way easier and creates a sleeker, more polished finish with a subtle flip at the ends. Thanks to the ceramic barrel and smooth bristles, both brushes literally feel like you’re brushing your hair with a comb—no pulling or tugging. Finish with the Cool Shot setting, which activates a burst of cool air to lock in shine and set your style.

Curry before using the T3 Airebrush Duo

Curry before using the T3 Airebrush with the oval brush attachment

Melanie CurryCurry after using the T3 Airebrush Duo

Curry after using the T3 Airebrush Duo with the round brush attachment

Melanie CurryHoffmann before using the T3 Airebrush Duo

Hoffmann before using the T3 Airebrush Duo with the round brush attachment

Sarah HoffmannHoffmann after using the T3 Airebrush Duo

Hoffmann after using the T3 Airebrush Duo with the round brush attachment

Sarah Hoffmann

Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry

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“I never thought too much about blow-dryers—before now. TBH, I usually just grabbed the cheapest one at Walmart and called it a day. But since upgrading from a $20 tool to the T3 (oval version), I can faithfully say I've been convinced of the prowess that is luxury hair dryers. The T3 evenly distributes heat so my strands are fully dry with just a few passes, so I'm not at risk for extra damage. It's not heavy at all, so my arms don't get tired out.” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development

Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann

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“This was the first blow-dryer brush I've ever used, so it'll always hold a special place in my heart. It's pretty quiet for how powerful it is, and it's not particularly heavy either. I like holding it upside down and letting my hair wrap around the round barrel as I pull the brush through while twisting. I prefer a curly blowout and find that letting a freshly passed strand cool slightly on the barrel before releasing it really helps maintain the shape for a long time. A little bit of mousse to prep and hairspray to finish really help with longevity too, especially if your hair is textured.” —Sarah Hoffman, commerce producer

More to know

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  • Best for: all hair types and textures
  • Weight: 16 oz
  • Wattage: 1200W
  • Noise level: low
  • Attachments: 1 (you can purchase it with the oval or round attachment, but they're not interchangeable)

Best for Quick Styling: GHD Duet Blowdry

GHD Duet Blowdry in branded wired component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

GHD

Duet Blowdry

$429

Amazon

$429

Nordstrom

$429

Ulta Beauty

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee using the GHD Duet Blowdry

Christa Lee

Why it's worth it: Even with a blow-dryer brush that cuts your routine in half, there’s nothing more frustrating than a perfect blowout that deflates the minute you step outside. The GHD Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer Brush could never: It keeps your blowout bouncy and humidity-resistant for up to 24 hours—so even muggy weather won’t ruin your look. Its proprietary Heat-Air Xchange Technology evenly distributes heat and airflow through the brush—while built-in sensors monitor the temperature up to 400 times per second—to speed up drying, smooth frizz, and boost shine without overheating hair. And for damage-conscious stylers, GHD’s clinicals report “no thermal hair damage detected after 100 cycles of four passes on thoroughly towel-dried hair.” Translation: This tool checks every box for a long-lasting, damage-free blowout. “It’s truly effortless and delivers a polished, salon-quality finish in a fraction of the time. The craftsmanship and quality are unmatched,” says Linda Gattineri, a colorist based in Del Mar, California.

Lee before using the GHD Duet Blowdry

Lee before using the GHD Duet Blowdry

Christa LeeLee after using the GHD Duet Blowdry

Lee after using the GHD Duet Blowdry

Christa Lee

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

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“My strands usually get wild when I air-dry, but the before photo (at about 80% dry, as GHD instructs) shows the difference—rolling each section down with its smooth tension makes styling easy without tugging. It’s a little heavier than some tools I’ve tested (close to three pounds), but because it dries hair so quickly, you’ll barely notice the weight. I never knew my hair could possibly be this frizz-free and shiny.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

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  • Best for: all hair types
  • Weight: 2.82 lbs
  • Wattage: Approx 260W
  • Noise level: moderate
  • Attachments: none

Best for Curly Hair: Shark Glossi Blowout Brush

Save to wishlistSave to wishlist

Shark

Glossi Blowout Brush

$180 $129 (28% off)

Amazon

$180

Nordstrom

$180

Ulta Beauty

Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin using the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush

Shanna Shipin

Why it's worth it: If you have curly or coily hair and want a blow-dry brush that protects your texture instead of fighting it, the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush has a teardrop-shaped barrel that hugs close to the roots and gently smooths hair from end to end. Combining a round brush, ceramic hot tool, and air styler in one, it glides through textured hair (no annoying snagging) for quick drying, defined volume, and long-lasting shine. The brand’s Gloss Lock Technology locks in up to 24 hours of frizz-resistant smoothness, while Smart Heat Sense Technology monitors temperature 1,000 times per second to stay below 302°F—the sweet spot in protecting delicate curls prone to breakage.

Shipin before using the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush

Shipin before using the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush

Shanna ShipinShipin after using the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush

Shipin after using the Shark Glossi Blowout Brush

Shanna Shipin

Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin

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“My fastest routine hack ever? Using this Shark Glossi brush. This gets me and my curly hair out of the shower and through the front door in 20 minutes, flat. The handle is smaller than the average blow-dryer brush that I've used, making it easier and more comfortable to maneuver around my head (especially important if you're in a rush to begin with), and it can be used on dry or wet hair. I love how straightforward the product is, but be patient with the motions: you'll need to practice a bit to ensure you use the straightening section correctly when transitioning from wet to dry. Once you have it down, the whole thing is a breeze. It's not a tool I'd use for styling—given that the head is so large, I definitely need to get closer to the roots or S-wave my hair with a straightener—but that's not what it's for! The Glossi is great for quick and smooth utility drying, and would be great for travel. Don't want to chance it on a hotel blow dryer, or pack multiple tools? This is your one and done. (PS: The Shark Speed Style has a much smaller head that lets you style and blow-dry simultaneously; I use this one more often when I have time on my hands.)” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director

More to know

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  • Best for: all hair types and textures, especially curly or coily hair
  • Weight: 1.6 lbs
  • Wattage: 1300W
  • Noise level: 11.25 amps
  • Attachments: none

Best Volumizing: Drybar The Double Shot

Dry Bar The Double Shot yellow blow dryer brush on light grey backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Drybar

The Double Shot

$155 $108 (30% off)

Amazon

$155

Nordstrom

$155

Ulta Beauty

Former Allure content director Kara McGrath using the Drybar The Double Shot

Kara McGrath

Why it's worth it: The Drybar The Double Shot packs everything we love about visiting a Drybar salon into a handy hot tool. The technology is straightforward: ionic technology reduces frizz, while a combination of nylon and tufted bristles walks a careful line between tension and control. Plentiful vents ensure even, strong airflow that leaves your hair with a springy bounce (without looking like Shirley Temple ringlets). Pro tip: If you have very thick or very long hair, you can do a preliminary rough dry with a regular blow-dryer to prep for The Double Shot.

McGrath before using Drybar's The Double Shot BlowDrying Brush.

McGrath before using the Drybar The Double Shot

Kara McGrathMcGrath after using Drybar's The Double Shot BlowDrying Brush.

McGrath after using the Drybar The Double Shot

Kara McGrath

Tester feedback from former content director Kara McGrath

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"If you want people to ask if you just got a professional blowout—that is, super smooth with loads of bounce—Drybar’s The Double Shot Oval Blow-Dryer Brush is the tool for you. Since the barrel is larger than others, it gives tons of volume, but is still thin enough to create some curls as well (and to really get into the cowlick that curses my bangs)." —Kara McGrath, former content director

More to know

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  • Best for: fine-to-medium hair textures, straight-to-wavy hair types, short-to-medium lengths
  • Weight: 2.6 lbs
  • Wattage: 1100W
  • Noise level: 80.8 dB
  • Attachments: none

Best Budget: Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0

Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0 black blow dryer round brush on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Revlon

One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0

$36 $28 (22% off)

Amazon

$66

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han using the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0

Sarah Han

Why it's worth it: If you haven't already seen one of the many Allure editors and TikTokers raving about the award-winning Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0, you have some serious catching up to do. This brush's innovative, groundbreaking design (which has inspired many copycats) is so good that we’ve given it not one, but two Allure Best of Beauty Awards. (In fact, the original One-Step arguably started the entire blow-dryer brush trend!) Let’s run through all of its pros: The under-$70 tool has four heat settings that suit different textures and a slightly smaller brush head (compared to the original’s)—so it’s easier for those with shorter hair to use, or if you’re looking for extra volume, and a slimmer handle that's easier to grip. During Best of Beauty testing, one of our editors got away with styling their whole head with just one hand.

Han before using the Revlon OneStep Volumizer Plus 2.0

Han before using the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0

Sarah HanHan after using the Revlon OneStep Volumizer Plus 2.0

Han after using the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Plus 2.0

Sarah Han

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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"I'm no expert at styling my hair, so the more straightforward a tool, the better—so I really appreciate that Revlon's One-Step 2.0 doesn't have much of a learning curve. I wrap my hair in a microfiber towel and wait until it's 75% dry before using low heat. I'll sometimes set my front pieces with the cool shot mode, but I'm not super precious about it. The tool itself is still rather bulky for my liking—even though the top of the handle is slimmer than that of the 1.0—but it gets a good job for the price, and you can probably snag it when it's on sale, too.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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  • Best for: all hair types and textures
  • Weight: 1.8 lbs
  • Wattage: 1100W
  • Noise level: 75 dBs
  • Attachments: 1

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the most out of a hair-dryer brush?

Even with the fanciest hot tool, the key to a glorious blowout starts with prep, prep, and more prep. Always start with clean, detangled, and damp hair with a bit of leave-in conditioner, advises New York City-based hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew. "Start at the root and work your way down to the ends without putting too much heat or tension on the hair," Sturdivant-Drew explains.

Volume is even easier to achieve, especially for straight or wavy textures. "Twist the dryer as you go in a circular motion to add volume if that's what you are looking for," says Sturdivant-Drew. If your hair is on the curly or coily side and you're going for a sleek look, you can follow up with a flatiron or brush it out with the heat off. "If you want it straight, you should use the blow-dryer brush and, right under it, use another brush to smooth those kinky strands all the way out," she says.

How do I minimize heat damage from a hair-dryer brush?

To minimize the risk of heat damage, opt for a blow-dryer brush that features several temperature settings, so you can better moderate the amount of heat your hair is undergoing. Not all hair types call for the same heat level, so if you're getting acquainted with a new blow-dryer brush, pay attention to how your hair reacts to different temperature settings as you become more familiar with the tool.

Another tried-and-true defense mechanism is to prep your blowout with a heat protectant. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King tells Allure, "If you're using heat styler or any heat products directly on hair, using a heat protectant, usually made with meadowfoam seed oil, light polymers, or even silicone, can help to minimize damage as they can form a coating on hair." But the best way to fend off heat damage is to not overuse heat on your hair—plain and simple.

Are hair-dryer brushes easier to use than traditional hair-dryers?

Choosing a new hair tool is a matter of personal preference, but shoppers and professional hairstylists alike vouch for the ease of use of hair-dryer brushes. “Blow-dry brushes are so incredibly user-friendly—you can achieve a great blow-dry at home without needing pro-level skills. They take about half the time compared to juggling a dryer and a round brush,” says Baker.

Additionally, if you have pain or limited mobility in your hands or arms, a hair-dryer brush is an excellent alternative to a traditional blow-dryer. “Because they’re easier to maneuver, you’re less likely to tire out your arms or need a second round of styling with a flat iron or curling iron,” says Baker. That said, be sure to let your hair air-dry about 70%—or give it a quick rough dry with a traditional blow-dryer—before reaching for your brush. Starting on damp strands helps prevent breakage and ensures a smoother, frizz-free finish, as these tools aren’t designed for sopping-wet hair.

How do I clean my hair-dryer brush?

Hair-dryer brushes come in a range of designs, so depending on the type of barrel, bristles, or shape of your tool, cleaning techniques may vary. "Every brand has different features, but if yours has a filter, remove the dust from it every week," says Devin Toth, a New York City-based hairstylist. "If you are interested in removing hair from the bristles, use either a comb or a boar bristle brush cleaner—a brush used to clean other brushes," he suggests.

To remove product buildup from the bristles of your blow dryer brush, wipe it down with a damp cloth. Cherin Choi, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist, previously told Allure that if product buildup won't budge, she uses a small amount of rubbing alcohol to tackle residue from hairsprays, pomades, and the like.

Remember that cleaning your hot tool regularly is critical to peak performance. "[The product/hair buildup] can prevent your tools from working at full capacity," Atlanta-based hairstylist Tukia Allen told Allure. Brian O'Connor, a Nashville-based hairstylist, agreed with Allen, adding that a hot tool with buildup can lead to the "uneven heating of the hair."

Meet the experts

  • Tukia Allen, a stylist based in Atlanta
  • Reagan Baker, a stylist and founder of House of Reagan based in New York City
  • Cherin Choi, a stylist based in Los Angeles
  • Linda Gattineri, a colorist and owner of Equo Co. based in Del Mar, California
  • Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist based in Parsippany, New Jersey
  • Brian O'Connor, a stylist based in Nashville
  • Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, a stylist based in New York City
  • Devin Toth, a stylist based in New York City
  • Jennifer Korab, a stylist based in New York City

How we test and review products

We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certain products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls— right?

For our review of the best hair-dryer brushes, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and stylists—each of whom have different hair types, experiences with hair-drying, and desired outcomes. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, versatility, ease of use, and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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January 10, 2026 | xtzhev

Vote in the 2026 Allure Readers’ Choice Awards

red lipstick swatch background with white logo that writes Allure Readers' Choice Awards 2026 Vote NowTrunkSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

How the Readers' Choice Awards Work

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The Allure Readers' Choice Awards are entirely reader-voted. Each year, we invite our audience to vote for their favorite beauty products, brands, and creators across multiple categories. Voting remains open for a limited time, after which results are tallied and winners are announced on Allure.com. Learn more about how the Allure Readers’ Choice Awards work.

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November 29, 2025 | xtzhev

Your Glam Deserves These Next-Level Lighted Makeup Mirrors

A collage of makeup mirros on a deep red backgroundCollage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

Applying makeup under dim bedroom lights or harsh fluorescent bathroom bulbs can totally throw off your look, which is why we’ve invested in the best lighted makeup mirrors to ensure our glam is exactly up to our (high) standards. Whether you want a lighted mirror that mimics natural daylight, the cooler light of an office, or the warmth of a candlelit dinner, there's something for everyone here: Allure editors have tested tons of options to find the accessories that make us feel like pro makeup artists. Offered in a range of magnifications, sizes, light and brightness settings—and some with nifty bonus features like swivels or magnetic phone holders—these are the best lighted makeup mirrors to assist you in perfecting your beat.

Our Top Lighted Makeup Mirrors

  • Best Overall: PMD Reflect Pro, $119
  • Best for Selfies: Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror, $225
  • Best Magnification: Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max, $350
  • Best Light Bar: Willed 3W Rechargeable Light Bar, $24
  • Best for Travel: Fancii Taylor LED Compact Mirror, $50
  • ​​Best Tech: Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror, $38
  • Best Handheld: Conair Rechargeable Handheld Mirror, $130
  • Most Versatile: Jerdon Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror, $60

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

  • How we test and review products
  • Our staff and testers

Best Overall: PMD Reflect Pro

PMD Reflect Pro in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

PMD

Reflect Pro

$119 $93 (22% off)

Amazon

$119

Nordstrom

$119

Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: The PMD Reflect Pro is all about flexibility. It swivels a full 360 degrees, tilts 90 degrees, and offers 5x magnification in the corner of the mirror, so you can find the perfect angle—whether you’re blending foundation down your neck or dealing with a rogue brow hair. Use it docked on its base, detach it to hold closer to your face, or toss it in your bag for travel. Three dimmable light settings (soft white, neutral, and natural daylight) make sure you’re always working with the right lighting, whether you’re getting ready in the morning or touching up before a night out.

Tester feedback from associate beauty editor Annie Blay-Tettey

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“I originally saw this mirror on my co-worker's desk and knew I had to have it. I love doing quick touch-ups at my desk, and corporate lighting isn't always the best, so the LED light on this mirror (which comes in four modes by the way) comes in clutch when I need to re-do my lip combo before my next meeting.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor

More to know

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  • Magnification: 5x
  • Type of light: soft white, neutral, natural daylight
  • Size: 11.5" x 2.5"
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs

Best for Selfies: Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror

Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror mirror with lights and white base on light grey backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Riki Loves Riki

5X Skinny Lighted Mirror

$225

Nordstrom

Why it's worth it: No makeup routine is complete without snapping a few selfies, and the Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror agrees. Simply pop your phone into the phone holder attachment, mount it onto the mirror, pair the Bluetooth, and then press the mirror's camera button to start snapping pictures. Or, if you'd rather watch a tutorial than film one, the phone clip makes it easy to do your makeup as you follow your favorite YouTuber's instructions.

Another bonus: It only weighs 1.5 pounds, so it’s super lightweight and easy to move around your house if you want to place it in different areas. It has five dimming options with both 5x and 10x magnifying options, so you can really customize its settings to all your glam likings.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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“This was my first ‘smart’ makeup mirror years ago and I’d still recommend it. As someone who’s no stranger to zero natural light in their apartment, this really helped me avoid leaving home looking patchy or under-blended. I definitely took my fair share of selfies (and maybe a few poorly-recorded videos for TikTok) with the handy magnetic phone holder—I think the Bluetooth connectivity feature is pretty cool, so that you can snap photos more naturally. Most of all, the five light settings allowed a lot of customization and, despite its height, I liked how little space the actual base took up on my limited desk area.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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  • Magnification: 5x
  • Type of light: customized HD daylight lighting
  • Size: 9.5" x 13"
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs

Best Magnification: Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max

A Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max with a black base on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Simplehuman

Sensor Mirror Trio Max

$350

Simplehuman

Why it's worth it: The Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max is everything a makeup mirror could possibly be. A rechargeable battery that lasts five weeks? Of course. Touch-control brightness levels? Naturally. Turns on automatically when your face nears the sensor? Ok, color us impressed. The mirror also boasts a 95 CRI (a 100 on the CRI, or Color Rendering Index, means it looks exactly like actual daylight) via its patented Tru-Lux technology, which features patterned micro-reflectors that spread light evenly. But, if you're doing your makeup for an indoor environment, the mirror features two color modes (sunlight or candlelight), so you can accurately prep your makeup look for wherever your day or night is taking you. As far as magnification goes, it features 1x, 5x, and 10x magnification to view every inch of your face in complete detail.

Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin

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“This makeup mirror is such a luxury. There are three different magnification mirrors, which give you a great overall look at your face, but also allow you to go IN on those tiny, stubborn facial hairs. (My tweezers would like to shout out the 10x magnification mirror.) It's pricey for certain, but it is also seemingly unbreakable; it's been victim to my clumsiness and my toddler’s desire to destroy anything on my vanity and emerges after every tumble without a dent or scratch.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director

More to know

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  • Magnification: 1x, 5x, 10x
  • Type of light: sunlight, candlelight
  • Size: 8" x 8"
  • Weight: 6.6 lbs

Best Light Bar: Willed 3W Rechargeable Light Bar

Willed 3W Rechargeable Light Bar in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Willed

3W Rechargeable Light Bar

$24 $19 (21% off)

Amazon

$18

Walmart

Why it’s worth it: If you’re anything like us and living in NYC bathrooms with less-than-ideal lighting (or just need a boost for your current mirror), we have a game-changing, affordable solution: the rechargeable Willed Light Bar. It comes with a magnetic swivel mount that you can adjust to your preferred angle. You can choose between three- or five-watt power, with five brightness levels and three color temperatures to customize your glow. There’s even an LED display to track battery life, plus a remote control so you don’t have to stand on your tippy toes to turn it on or off. And it’s not just for mirrors—think closets, vanities, kitchen cabinets, you name it. Honestly, we’ll take 10!

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

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"I didn't have a way of getting real lighting around my vanity mirror, so I've made do with this lighting strip for three years (and counting). It looks sleek—almost as if it were built into the mirror—and is bright enough to make up for the fact that my closet doesn't have any natural light. I love that I can adjust the brightness with a few taps, and only have to plug it in to recharge once every two months or so." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

More to know

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  • Magnification: N/A
  • Type of light: 10% brightness, 30% brightness, 50% brightness, 70% brightness, 100% brightness
  • Size: 11.8"L x 1.25"W x 1.57"H
  • Weight: 0.66 lbs

Best for Travel: Fancii Taylor LED Compact Mirror

Fancii Taylor LED Compact Mirror in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Fancii

Taylor LED Compact Mirror

$50

Amazon

$49

Nordstrom

Why it's worth it: If your phone's front-facing camera isn't cutting it for on-the-go touch-ups, tuck the ultra-lightweight Fancii LED Compact Mirror into your purse. It packs a pretty punch with a built-in ring light featuring three brightness settings (natural daylight, soft white, and neutral light) and two magnification options (1x and 10x). It’s rechargeable with a battery that lasts up to 30 days per charge, so it’s always ready when you need a quick check. It also makes a great gift for your friend who can't go 45 minutes without a retouch, and it comes in 10 neutral and bright colorways to match anyone’s vibe.

Tester feedback from Han

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“As someone who’s constantly pulling up her phone camera to make sure her lip color hasn’t strayed past her lip lines or stained her teeth, or touch up her smudged eyeliner or concealer, it took me long enough to get my hands on a compact LED mirror so I can see what I’m doing more clearly. (Did I mention my eyesight isn’t great?) I got this as a gift and it’s already accompanied me on a trip to Seoul, where it really pulled its weight through long, blistering days, and early winter sunsets, when lighting becomes a scarce commodity.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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  • Magnification: 1x, 10x
  • Type of light: daylight, neutral, soft
  • Size: 3.94” X 0.98”
  • Weight: 0.41 lbs

​​Best Tech: Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror

Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror rectangular mirror with white round bulbs on light grey backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Fenchlin

White Vanity Mirror

$38 $36 (5% off)

Amazon

Why it's worth it: The Fenchlin White Vanity Mirror is sort of how we imagined everything would be in the future when we were kids. Sure, our skies aren't filled with flying cars (yet), but it's 2026, and you can buy a makeup mirror with a Bluetooth speaker on Amazon—and that's enough for us. So whether you want to jam out to your Spotify Discover Weekly while you contour, catch up on your reality TV while you curl, or call your best friend while you gel your brows, the world is your oyster with this smart mirror. By the way, the light settings and brightness are adjusted using touch controls embedded into the glass.

More to know

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  • Magnification: 1x
  • Type of light: warm, daylight, cool light
  • Size: 11" x 9.8"
  • Weight: 4.4 lbs

Best Handheld: Conair Rechargeable Handheld Mirror

Conair Rechargeable Handheld Mirror in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Conair

Rechargeable Handheld Mirror

$130 $102 (22% off)

Amazon

$130

Ulta Beauty

Why it's worth it: The Conair Lighted Makeup Mirror lands somewhere between no-frills and just the right number of frills. This round, rechargeable LED mirror is customizable, thanks to a 360-degree swivel, three brightness settings, and three light modes. Instead of built-in magnification, there’s a 10x magnifying mirror you can manually attach to the base, perfect for tweezing brows or concealing the tiniest blemishes. Depending on what you’re looking for (or your bathroom setup), it comes in corded or cordless options.

More to know

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  • Magnification: 1x, 10x
  • Type of light: home, office, day
  • Size: 9" x 9"
  • Weight: 3.3 lbs

Most Versatile: Jerdon Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror

Jerdon Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Jerdon

Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror

$60

Amazon

$70

Walmart

Why it's worth it: This Tri-Fold Double-Sided Makeup Mirror from Jerdon is—if we may—robo-chic. The slider at the base allows you to choose between four lighting settings: day, office, night, and home. The center mirror can be swiveled between 1x and 5x magnification, while the two adjustable mirrored wings help illuminate blind spots and discover new angles for your best GRWM yet. It’s almost like a three-way mirror in a dressing room, but just for your face.

More to know

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  • Magnification: 1x, 5x
  • Type of light: day, office, night, home
  • Size: 11.8" x 9.6"
  • Weight: 3.5 lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best lighted makeup mirrors, we considered each product's performance across different categories: magnification, type of light, size, and other special factors like magnetic phone holders. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from makeup artists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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October 28, 2025 | xtzhev

9 Best Creams for Dry Hands That Repair and Protect

Image may contain Cosmetics Bottle and LipstickSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

Are your hands sending out an SOS? Between constant washing, harsh weather, and dry indoor air, you need one of the best hand creams for dry skin to rescue them from their rough, cracked state. Our favorite, go-with-us-everywhere formulas go beyond basic hydration, packing in barrier-repairing ceramides, moisture-locking butters like shea and marula, and firming peptides.

Whether you prefer a lightweight lotion for easy reapplication throughout the day or a thick overnight treatment for seriously in-distress skin, we’ve rounded up the options our editors swear by for baby-soft hands and hydrated cuticles all year round.

Our Top Hand Creams

  • Best Overall: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $35
  • Best Scent: Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal, $22
  • Best Luxury: Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment, $60
  • Best With Retinol: Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream, $18
  • Best for Cracked Hands: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream, $25
  • Cutest Packaging: Chanel La Crème Main, $62
  • Best Overnight Hand Cream: Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment, $62
  • Best for Eczema: Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream, $25

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

  • What causes dry hands?
  • Why should I use a hand cream?
  • Meet the experts
  • How we test and review products
  • Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm in branded tube component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Aesop

Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm

$35

Nordstrom

$35

Revolve

$35

Bluemercury

Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann applying Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm.

Sarah Hoffmann

Why it's worth it: Ever wonder how one of the world’s most recognizable hand creams came to be? Fun fact: Aesop’s cult-favorite Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm actually started as a hair product. Back in the ’80s, the brand’s founder—a Melbourne-based hairstylist—began mixing essential oils into his salon formulas to make them smell (and feel) a little better. What began as a small experiment for clients’ hair quickly turned into a global obsession for their hands. The now-iconic balm blends sweet almond, macadamia, and coconut oils to deeply hydrate, while shea butter and cocoa seed butter soften without any greasiness. Carrot root, rosemary, and aloe soothe and repair, and that signature mandarin rind, cedarwood, and lavender scent instantly transforms a simple act into a mini ritual. Bonus: It also comes in a jumbo 17-ounce jar with a pump, so you won't run out.

Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann

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“I can't go to bed (or wake up, frankly) without reaching for this hand cream. It lives on my nightstand, and saves my hands from the lizard-like state they want to be in once it hits November. The scent is fresh and light but not so strong that it announces itself to the room. I've used it before bed so often that it functions like a sleep spray: It signals to my brain that it's time to wind down and hit the hay.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: glycerin, mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, cedar atlas, cocoa seed butter
  • Scent: citrus, woody, herbaceous

Best Scent: Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal

Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal brown tube on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Cyklar

Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal

$22

Cyklar

Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin applying the Cyklar Urea Hand Cream in Sacred Santal

Sarah Felbin

Why it’s worth it: If you’ve tried anything from Cyklar—from its body washes to its body oils—you already know the appeal isn’t just in the formulas, but in the compliment-inducing scents. At the top of our list is Sacred Santal, a refined blend of bergamot, cardamom, amber, velvet musk, and cashmere wood. The fragrance evokes an outdoor shower in the forest: clean and fresh, with a subtle, nature-forward warmth that never veers too musky. And while it smells divine, it treats hands just as well: Urea gently exfoliates dead cells, while glycerin, snow mushroom, and ectoin draw moisture into the skin. Smoother skin and healthier-looking cuticles without the stickiness? We’ll take three.

Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

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“In the winter, my hands are constantly dry (sometimes to the point of cracking). I slather this on any time they start to feel scaly. It sinks in quickly (no greasy finish here) and immediately makes my hands feel softer. I love the formula—rich and deeply hydrating, but not so thick that it sits on top of my skin. My hands look and feel visibly more moisturized right after I use it, and the more I apply it, the better. I also really like the packaging—it's a large tube, so I know it'll last me a few months, and the marbled cap looks so luxe. Plus, the Sacred Santal scent is divine! I was genuinely surprised that this hand cream is only around $20 a tube. The formula and packaging feel much fancier! I'd recommend it to people with super-dry hands who want a cream that not only performs well, but smells great, too.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: urea, glycerin, ectoin, squalane, snow mushroom
  • Scent: bergamont, cardamom, amber, velvet musk, cashmere wood

Best Luxury: Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment

Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment blue tube on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Augustinus Bader

The Hand Treatment

$60

Amazon

$60

Nordstrom

$60

Dermstore

Allure editor in chief Jessica Cruel applying the Augustinus Bader The Hand Treatment

Jessica Cruel

Why it’s worth it: $60 for a hand cream can be tough to swallow, but an ultra-cushiony, fast-absorbing formula that instantly soothes chapped hands makes it easier to justify. Enter Augustinus Bader’s The Hand Treatment, powered by TFC8, a proprietary formula that acts as a GPS to deliver nutrients to your skin cells. Made up of naturally occurring amino acids, vitamins, and molecules, Bader’s signature blend promotes cellular renewal, repair, and a healthy glow. Rounding out the formula is a conditioning, moisture-locking blend of shea butter, white peony extract, vitamin E, and glycerin—as well as firming peptides to address signs of aging.

Tester feedback from editor in chief Jessica Cruel

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“This is the hand cream I keep in my expensive designer handbag, because one luxury item deserves another. I'm always using a nickel-size amount between meetings and subway stops. The consistency is like buttercream icing and easily melts into my hands. I've spent a lot of time focused on my face when it comes to skin care, but now that I’m 35, my attention turned to my hands. My usual drugstore hand cream didn't have the level of actives I need to keep age spots and wrinkles at bay. This one has peptides, niacinamide, vitamin E, and shea butter to moisturize hands instantly and help with signs of aging in the long run. A $60 hand cream is a high price to ask, but I will say that I'm three months in and haven't run out yet.” —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: TCF8, shea butter, white peony extract, vitamin E, glycerin
  • Scent: none

Best for Barrier Repair: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream silver tube on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

L'Occitane

Shea Butter Hand Cream

$32

Amazon

$34

Sephora

Allure managing editor Alessandra Foresto applying the L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

Alessandra Foresto

Why it’s worth it: The classics always deliver: L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Balm is pretty much the Goldilocks of hand creams, rich yet never greasy. Its star ingredient, shea butter, is packed with omega-6 to deliver lasting hydration and heal cracked skin. Sunflower seed oil and glycerin join the nourishing lineup to leave hands soft, supple, and smooth all day. Plus, the light, fresh lemon scent keeps us coming back for more.

Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto

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“As someone who goes through a lot of hand sanitizer (I live in New York City!), my hands are only soft because of this ultra-rich hand balm! But while the lotion is thick, it's not greasy—I promise you'll be able to tap your phone right after without leaving sticky stains. This super-rich lotion leaves my hands super soft and absorbs quickly. Because the balm is a little thick, you have to really press on the tube to get it out, but it's nothing a little tube squeezer couldn't help with. I have tried hundreds (no exaggeration) of hand lotions and this is just simply the best!” —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: shea butter, sunflower seed oil, glycerin
  • Scent: lemon

Best With Retinol: Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream

Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream round red container of hand cream on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Remedy

Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream

$18

Target

Allure beauty director Sarah Kinonen applying the Remedy Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream

Sarah Kinonen

Why it’s worth it: Beyond its cute, purse-friendly packaging and easy-squeeze delivery, Remedy’s Hand & Cuticle Repairing Butter Cream tackles signs of aging like a pro. The star ingredient is encapsulated retinol—a stabilized form of vitamin A that penetrates deeply without irritation—targeting dark spots, uneven tone, damaged cuticles, and rough, dry hands. Ceramides and shea butter offer rich moisture, so you wake up with unbelievably soft hands come morning. (Don’t forget to apply sunscreen after!)

Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen

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“I don’t know what I love most about this hand cream: its squeezable, spherical packaging, the thick and creamy texture, or how moisturized it leaves my palms. And it doesn't have much of a scent, which is great for sensitive skin types, like me! It's a bit of a struggle to squeeze out the product at first, but once it warms up, it comes out just fine.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: 0.1 encapsulated retinol, ceramides, 20% shea butter
  • Scent: none

Best for Cracked Hands: Dr. Jart Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream in branded tube component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Dr. Jart+

Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream

$25

Amazon

Allure senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen applying Dr. Jart Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream.

Nicola Dall'Asen

Why it's worth it: The primary emollient in Dr. Jart+’s Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream is, you guessed it, ceramides. More specifically, this cushiony cream soothes stressed skin with ceramide NP, a skin-identical lipid that supports moisture retention and minimizes sensitivity. To up the ante on its skin-softening properties, Dr. Jart’s hand cream also contains glycerin to hydrate and antioxidant panthenol to soothe irritation.

Tester feedback from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen

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"My hands get unbearably dry and scaly in the winter, which wouldn't be such an issue if I didn't hate the sensory experience of having moist, cream-covered hands, especially while out and about. Thankfully, Dr. Jart's Ceramidin Hand Cream is light and fast-absorbing enough that I can apply it anywhere without any goopy, lingering wetness while still providing plenty of hydration, thanks to its barrier-building ceramides. Plus, the generous, three-and-a-half-ounce tube can last me months." —Nicola Dall’Asen, senior news editor

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: ceramide NP, glycerin, panthenol
  • Scent: floral

Cutest Packaging: Chanel La Crème Main

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Chanel

La Crème Main

$65

Chanel

$62

Nordstrom

$62

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying Chanel La Crème Main

Sarah Han

Why it’s worth it: The adorable, egg-shaped Chanel’s La Creme Main sits so pretty on your bathroom counter, but is also compact enough to toss into your bag or coat pocket for easy post-hand-washing moisture. But she’s not all about looks. At the heart of the luxurious formula is a blend of camellia-derived ingredients: Camellia ceramides help protect the skin barrier, camellia oil deeply nourishes and softens, and camellia yeast delivers lasting hydration. Iris extract adds brightening benefits, helping achieve a more even tone. Why reach for a $62 hand cream over any other? Because you’ll use it to the very last drop.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

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“I'll be honest: I've long overlooked the importance of hand care and hand cream—sometimes to the point of painfully cracked hands. This winter, I'm undoing my wrongs and slathering up with hand cream right before I go to bed, and as often as I can manage during the day after washing my hands. One of my go-tos is Chanel La Crème Main, which instantly softens my hands without leaving them feeling greasy—my main gripe with most hand creams. It also has the perfect level of floral notes that's not too subtle nor overwhelming. I can't get enough!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: camellia oleifera seed oil, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, iris pallida root extract, shea butter
  • Scent: soft floral

Best Overnight Hand Cream: Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment

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Soft Services

Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment

$62

Sephora

$62

Soft Services

Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai using Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment.

Deanna Pai

Why it's worth it: The key ingredient in Soft Services Theraplush, a dense overnight hand cream, is retinol, which you might be familiar with from your wrinkle-reducing skin-care routine. This active ingredient is considered the gold standard for treating aging and discolored skin because it regulates collagen production and helps boost skin thickness—so long, sun spots and wrinkles. The cream is infused with calming colloidal oatmeal and panthenol to moisturize and keep active ingredient-related irritation to a minimum. To protect the formula from bacteria and oxidation, it comes in an air-tight, pump-top container that’ll look great on your nightstand.

Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai

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“I have hand cream everywhere—my car, my desk, my purse—but this is my ride or die. Everything about it is perfect, from the beautiful, sculptural tub to the soft scent. I also appreciate the addition of retinol for my rapidly aging hands. It’s enough to keep them smooth, but not so much that I’ve ever experienced irritation.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: 0.05% retinol, 1% colloidal oatmeal, 0.5% panthenol, ceramide NP, glycerin
  • Scent: floral

Best for Eczema: Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream

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Skinfix

Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream

$25

Sephora

$25

SkinFix

Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee using the Skinfix Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream.

Christa Joanna Lee

Why it’s worth it: Raise a (cracked, dry) hand if you’re dealing with red, irritated, or eczema-prone skin. Skinfix's Eczema+ Hand Relief Cream, with the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association, was made for exactly that. The formula combines 1% colloidal oatmeal with a 1.5% Triple Lipid Complex of ceramides, sterols, and fatty acids to mimic your skin’s natural barrier and lock in hydration. “I love this because it hydrates deeply without feeling greasy,” says Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “It contains colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and allantoin to soothe irritation while strengthening the skin barrier, making it a great choice for anyone with sensitive skin.”

Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee

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“With two kids, I wash my hands about 4,543 times a day, and they’re as cracked, patchy, and red as ever. This formula is as nourishing as can be—maybe a tad slick for my palms, but since the real irritation is on the back of my hands, that’s where I focus it. Even my nails feel stronger and less dry since I started using it.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: 1% colloidal oatmeal, 1.5% Triple Lipid Complex (ceramides, sterols, fatty acids)
  • Scent: none

Best Long-Lasting: Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème

Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème in branded tube component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Mienne

Fleurir Hand Crème

$45

Revolve

Allure designer Briana Rengifo applying Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème.

Briana Rengifo

Why it’s worth it: Launched just this year, Mienne Fleurir Hand Crème is already catching everyone’s eye (and nose) here at Allure HQ. While we usually think of hand cream as a utilitarian part of our routine, this one takes hand care to a whole new—dare we say—sensual level. The brand calls its approach “aphrodisiac skin care,” with ingredients meant to awaken the senses through touch and scent. Maca root extract and ylang-ylang oil lend a warm, romantic feel, while ginger, rosehip, and passion flower oils smooth and nourish. Shea and mango butters, ceramides, and sodium hyaluronate keep hydration locked in for hours. Every time you use it, your hands feel silky, smell amazing, and suddenly, moisturizing feels less like a chore and more like a treat.

Tester feedback from designer Briana Rengifo

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“A staple in my purse since the tube is stunning and sleek. It's such a sensual and smoky hand creme that it transforms such a mundane task into a self-care ritual, leaving my hands hydrated and with a pearl effect.” —Briana Rengifo, designer

More to know

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  • Key ingredients: ceramides, passion flower, ylang ylang, aloe
  • Scent: floral

Best Multipurpose: Malin+Goetz All-Purpose Moisture Balm

Malin + Goetz All-Purpose Moisture Balm white tube with green text on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Malin + Goetz

All-Purpose Moisture Balm

$20

Nordstrom

$20

Malin + Goetz

Why it’s worth it: Malin+Goetz’s All-Purpose Moisture Balm isn’t just for the hands—it can be used all over the body to support the skin barrier and deliver lasting hydration. Formulated with 17 botanicals and butters, including meadowfoam seed oil, plum seed oil butter, and sunflower seed oil, this rich balm melts into a lightweight, dry-touch oil, soothing dry patches, chapped lips, and rough cuticles, and even smoothing hair ends and slicking back strands. It never feels heavy—just like a comforting hug for your skin. You’ll want it in your bag, bedside table, and at your desk at all times.

Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva

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“With chronically dry skin, keeping my hands moisturized during the winter months is a four-to-five-month battle. Finding a hand cream that doesn't leave my hands feeling tacky or oily is an even bigger challenge. The Malin+Goetz cream has been getting me through this extra-cold winter. It’s lightweight, has no sticky residue, and since it’s all-purpose, I work whatever is left into my neck for some extra hydration during the day.” —Kassidy Silva, social director

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  • Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, plum seed oil butter, sunflower seed oil, rice bran extract, jojoba oil, avocado oil
  • Scent: none

Best Drugstore: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

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Neutrogena

Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

$7 $6 (14% off)

Amazon

$7

Walmart

Why it’s worth it: Inspired by Norwegian fishermen who spent their days braving icy Arctic seas, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream was made to handle parched, overworked hands. The formula is refreshingly simple—just a few ingredients centered around super-hydrating glycerin. “Glycerin powerfully attracts and seals in moisture even after multiple hand washings,” says Dr. Rambhia. The texture is thick and dense at first, but don’t let that fool you. It sinks in fast and leaves behind an invisible shield of softness. “It creates a protective layer that restores cracked, over-washed hands, perfect for anyone who washes or sanitizes often. I’ve used this one since residency and always keep it in my white coat pocket,” says Dr. Rambhia.

More to know

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  • Key ingredient: glycerin
  • Scent: none

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes dry hands?

Like anywhere else on your body, dry skin can develop on your hands from environmental changes as the weather becomes colder. "Winter is particularly harsh, as cold, low-humidity air can cause skin to dry out and become itchy, cracked, and irritated," Ross C. Radusky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, previously told Allure. "Cold air also tightens pores, reduces circulation, and reduces sebum production." Also worth keeping in mind: General dehydration can lead to dryness, so make sure you’re staying hydrated to keep your skin at its plumpest. “When we're hydrated, our skin cells swell, and this can be a great thing,” he says. “It minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

Why should I use a hand cream?

Hand creams are formulated with some of the best moisturizing ingredients available to soothe, comfort, and moisturize dry skin. Usually, they contain a mix of humectants (ingredients that draw water to the surface layer of skin), emollients (lipids that fill in “gaps” in your skin’s moisture barrier), and occlusives (essentially moisture-sealing cling wraps for your skin) to provide softening moisture at different levels of the skin.

Meet the experts

  • Audrey Kunin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Kansas City.
  • Ross C. Radusky, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas.
  • Pooja Rambhia, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City.
  • Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best hand creams, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors, along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine. You may simply be browsing for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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October 21, 2025 | xtzhev

Calls Rise for Peter Thomas Roth Boycotts Amid Release of Epstein Emails

A headshot of skincare founder Peter Thomas RothPhoto: Getty ImagesSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

Each day since the Justice Department published 3.5 million new documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case on January 30, we’ve learned of yet another powerful man who was in contact with the convicted sex offender and people in his network. Late last week, the name Peter Thomas Roth surfaced. According to what appear to be emails in the DOJ release, the skin-care brand founder had communicated with Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell from 2004 until 2018. Now, influencers and content creators are publicly disavowing Roth’s brand and—along with some everyday consumers—calling for boycotts in light of this information.

Nothing in the files suggests that Roth was involved in any criminal conduct, but he exchanged many friendly emails with Epstein and Maxwell long after the former pleaded guilty in 2008 to felony solicitation of prostitution and procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution. In September 2017, Roth allegedly visited Epstein’s home to “explain to all the girls about skin creams, cleansers and such,” according to an email. The same month, Roth sent Epstein 13 gift bags filled with products. In another email, dated August 2018, Roth sent Epstein the link to a New York Post story headlined Steve Bannon Trying to Get on Disgraced Jeffrey Epstein’s Good Side,” saying “Great picture of you!!!” Epstein responded “fun,” to which Roth replied with three thumbs-up emojis. Epstein was subsequently charged with federal sex trafficking in July 2019.

Roth launched his skin-care line in 1993 after struggling to find products to treat his acne. The brand is now carried in Sephora, Ulta, and QVC. In a statement sent to Allure, representatives for Peter Thomas Roth stated that Roth “gave up the day-to-day operations of his eponymous brand in 2016.” According to the brand’s website, Roth “leads all research and development efforts.” He is still the CEO.

On February 8, skin-care influencer Hyram Yarbro posted a 26-minute YouTube video in which he said he would no longer promote the brand. He says he has featured its products in “hundreds” of his videos. “I just figured out today that one of my favorite skin-care brands that I have featured in hundreds of videos since the very beginning of my channel, Peter Thomas Roth, is all up in the Epstein files,” Yarbro stated in the video. “I personally will not be supporting him or the brand anymore.” At press time, the video has more than 230,000 views and over 2,000 comments, some saying they are going to boycott Ulta and Sephora as long as they continue to carry the brand.

J.C. Dombrowski, a content creator, also posted a video to say he’s severing any connection with the brand, deleting any previous videos he’s made featuring its products, and requesting to be taken off its public relations team’s mailing list. “I feel especially let down, violated, and appalled that my content helped bankroll someone and some brand like that,” he wrote in his caption, where he also described himself as a survivor of abuse.

People across the internet with far smaller followings, including on Reddit, are also denouncing Roth and his brand, calling on others to stop purchasing his products. “I’m genuinely disgusted and angry about this. PTR made one of my favorite moisturizers, but after this, I will be buying no more,” one user wrote in the /BeautyGuruChatter subReddit.

When Allure asked brand representatives at Peter Thomas Roth for comment, they pointed us to a statement that Roth posted to both his personal Instagram profile and the brand’s on February 5. In it, he said that Epstein was his physics teacher at the Dalton School in New York City in the early ’70s. “We stayed in touch casually in the nearly five decades that followed,” he wrote. “I’m horrified by the crimes he committed and the lasting impact they have had on his victims, and I deeply regret maintaining any association with him after leaving the Dalton School.”

Roth also said in his statement that he never attended Epstein’s parties, flew on his plane, or visited his island. He did recall once visiting Epstein’s Manhattan residence to “show him some skin-care products” and leaving after what he described as a “brief meeting” in his dining room. Roth previously mentioned a visit with Epstein to The New York Times in 2019. He described it as “an afternoon gathering” where “everyone present was in their 40s and 50s.” He told the publication at the time that he witnessed no “untoward behavior.”

This isn’t the first time that a beauty brand founder has been named in files related to Epstein. In January 2024, Frédéric Fekkai, hairstylist and founder of his namesake brand, was named in unsealed court documents related to a 2015 lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell. Giuffre, a prominent survivor of Epstein’s abuse who died by suicide last year, named Fekkai in the suit as one of the individuals who “has knowledge of [Maxwell’s] conduct.” In one deposition related to the case, an Epstein employee testified, “I heard him call someone, and say, Fekkai is in Hawaii. Can we find some girls for him?”

Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that regular appointments for “undisclosed or redacted individuals” in Epstein’s circle were made at Fekkai’s salon on New York City’s Upper East Side. In 2019, former Fekkai employees told The Daily Beast that Epstein regularly brought groups of young women into the salon, where the outlet reported, “He paid for their services and had them sit on his lap and stroke his hair.” In a statement sent to the outlet, a spokesperson said, “Neither [Fekkai] nor the current management team had any knowledge of the incidents described and, in Mr. Fekkai’s limited acquaintance with Mr. Epstein, he never witnessed any of the deplorable conduct that led to Mr. Epstein’s conviction.” Nothing in the files suggests that Fekkai was involved in any criminal conduct, and he has not been charged with any crime. Allure reached out to representatives for Frédéric Fekkai yesterday for comment and did not receive a response before the time of publication.

Leslie Wexner, founder of L Brands (previously Limited Brands), has been in headlines for years regarding a longtime association with Epstein. L Brands once owned Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Abercrombie & Fitch. (In 2021, the name was changed to Bath & Body Works. Victoria’s Secret was spun off into its own company, and Abercrombie & Fitch was sold nearly 30 years ago.) Wexner stepped down as CEO in 2020. In the January 30 release of documents, an FBI file from 2019, unredacted earlier this week, referred to Wexner as a “co-conspirator” of Epstein. Wexner has not been charged with any crime in connection with Epstein’s sex-trafficking and denies knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct.

A legal representative for Wexner sent a statement to multiple outlets on Tuesday, saying, “The assistant U.S. attorney told Mr. Wexner’s legal counsel in 2019 that Mr. Wexner was neither a co-conspirator nor a target in any respect. Mr. Wexner cooperated fully by providing background information on Epstein and was never contacted again.”

While there are many industry players who appear in the files, the release of emails between Roth, Maxwell, and Epstein seems to have sparked sizable outrage from consumers. This may be due to the country’s disgust with the investigation in general—and a perceived lack of consequences—that is growing more intense with the passing of time.

It remains to be seen if this outrage is maintained, if other emails or accusations arise among beauty industry leaders, and what domino effects we might see. Last week, skin-care brand Augustinus Bader reportedly canceled an Upper East Side cocktail event hosted by its cofounder Charles Rosier and self-help author Deepak Chopra just two hours before it was set to begin. We learned of Chopra’s link to Epstein back in November, when another Epstein file release showed that the author had been in frequent email contact with Epstein in the years leading up to his 2019 sex trafficking charges. More of their email correspondence was included in the files released on January 30—among them a 2017 email exchange in which Chopra wrote to Epstein, in part, “God is a construct. Cute girls are real.” In June 2025, Rosier and Chopra launched an AI-based wellness platform called AB Chopra Epigenetics. Chopra has not been charged with any crimes, nor do his emails suggest involvement in any criminal conduct.

In a statement posted to X on February 4, Chopra wrote, “I want to be clear: I was never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct. Any contact I had was limited and unrelated to abusive activity.” He continued: “Some past email exchanges have surfaced that reflect poor judgment in tone. I regret that and understand how they read today, given what was publicly known at the time.” Allure reached out to representatives for Chopra for comment and did not receive a response before the time of publication.

A representative for the Bader brand told Puck News this week, “Deepak Chopra is no longer a stakeholder or involved in the development of Augustinus Bader’s longevity platform.” Allure reached out to representatives for Augustinus Bader yesterday for additional comment and did not receive a response before the time of publication.

While the possible damage to brands and reputations seems to grow with each new cache of Epstein releases, in the end, it is nothing compared to the actual damage to the lives of countless abuse victims at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein.

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October 6, 2025 | xtzhev

7 Best Eyelash Curlers for a Longer, Lifted Look

A collagen including a photo of a woman holding an eyelash curler and two eyelash curlers on a red backgroundCollage: Jemeria Davison / Images: Courtesy of brandsSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

The best eyelash curlers are key to creating and securing brow-grazing lifted lashes. When paired with your favorite mascara (and/or eyeliner, if you want more drama), these essential beauty tools can help elongate and enhance your lashes, adding an instant, enlongating oomph to even the shortest, straightest, and wispiest eyelashes among us.

Even better? Despite the fear that may accompany placing a contraption so close to your eyeballs, high-quality eyelash curlers do the trick without pinching or pulling. So, for your fluttery-lashed pleasure, we scoured the web and talked to editors, board-certified dermatologists, and professional makeup artists to get the skinny on what makes an eyelash curler stand out. Read on to find your perfect match.

Our Top Eyelash Curlers

  • Best Overall: Shiseido Eyelash Curler, $25
  • Best Long-Lasting: Tweezerman Promaster Lash Curler, $24
  • Best for Short Lashes: Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler, $26
  • Best Grip: Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler, $20
  • Best Tug-Free: Hourglass Lash Curler, $34
  • Best for Round Eyes: Surratt Relevee Lash Curler, $36
  • Best for Beginners: Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler, $20

Frequently Asked QuestionsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron

  • What are the benefits of using an eyelash curler?
  • How do you find the right eyelash curler for your eye shape?
  • Should you curl your lashes before or after mascara?
  • How often should you replace an eyelash curler?
  • How should I use an eyelash curler?
  • Meet the experts
  • How we test and review products
  • Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Shiseido Eyelash Curler

Shiseido Eyelash Curler in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Shiseido

Eyelash Curler

$28

Amazon

$28

Nordstrom

$28

Ulta Beauty

Allure commerce editor Sarah Han using Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler

Sarah Han

Why it's worth it: The broad curve and flexible silicone pads make the Shiseido Eyelash Curler catch and curl even the shortest lashes, like the ones nestled along the inner and outer corners of the lash line. "It has an especially good grip and a curved shape that makes it good for most eye shapes, with no worries of pinching the skin on the sides," says New York City-based makeup artist Meredith Baraf. Its large clamp opening, wide slit, and cushiony dent-prone silicone pad make it the ultimate lash curler for just about any eye shape or lash type.

Han before using Shiseido's Eyelash Curler

Han before using Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler

Sarah HanHan after using Shiseido's Eyelash Curler

Han after using Shiseido’s Eyelash Curler

Sarah Han

Tester feedback from Allure commerce editor Sarah Han

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“Asian brands know Asian lashes—who would've guessed? But not just my lashes. Shiseido's Eyelash Curler can coax any lashes—my itty-bitty, stubborn lashes included—out of hiding. With some practice, it's really easy (and painless, despite what you might gather from the video!) to get super close to the lash line before working my way out. My real estate is limited here, so I can sometimes squeeze in two more curls, but usually, it's just one more near the tips of my lashes. I simply don't apply mascara without prepping my lashes with this baby, and it lasts for approximately one million years.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

More to know

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  • Material: stainless steel, silicone
  • Who it’s for: everyone

Best Lightweight: Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Tweezerman Pro Master Lash Curler in dark silver color way on light gray background with red Allure Best of Beauty seal in the top right cornerSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Tweezerman

Promaster Lash Curler

$26

Amazon

$26

Nordstrom

$19

Ulta Beauty

Former Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Angela Trakoshis

Why it's worth it: The Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler is a repeat Best of Beauty Award winner for a reason. Scratch that—many reasons. For starters, the wide top bar is specifically designed to fit deeper-set eyes, and the silicone pad is plusher than most, making for a more comfortable clamp. The long pad also makes it easy to catch every hair along your lash line, including the teeny-tiny ones along the inner corners, resulting in an elegant, lifted curl that lasts. It comes with three replacement silicone pads to keep everything nice and hygienic.

Trakoshis before using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Trakoshis before using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Angela TrakoshisTrakoshis after using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Trakoshis after using the Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler

Angela Trakoshis

Tester feedback from Former Allure shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis

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"I've had this Tweezerman eyelash curler for years, and it never lets me down. One quick squeeze, and you've got the kind of lift that makes people wonder if you secretly got extensions." —Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor

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  • Material: stainless steel, silicone
  • Who it’s for: people with deep-set eyes

Best for Short Lashes: Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Kevyn Aucoin

Eyelash Curler

$26

Kevyn Aucoin Beauty

$26

Bluemercury

Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Sarah Felbin

Why it's worth it: It's easy to spot this backstage favorite in a lineup, thanks to the cherry red pad, which helps the curler align with the roots of stubby lashes for a precise, pinch-free clamp. A few gentle squeezes will get you beautifully curled, crimp-free lashes. Kevyn Aucoin's Eyelash Curler is also made of durable, rust-resistant stainless steel to ensure that all you'll need to update are the occasional new replacement pads.

Felbin before using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Felbin before using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Sarah FelbinFelbin after using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Felbin after using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Sarah FelbinHussein before using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Contributor Jennifer Hussein before using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Jennifer HusseinHussein after using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Hussein after using the Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler

Jennifer Hussein

Tester feedback from Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin

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“An eyelash curler that actually fits my eyes, doesn't pinch, and is easy to clean? Sounds like a unicorn—or Kevin Aucoin. I use this every single day, and I'm obsessed. It feels so high-quality—a little heavier than drugstore versions, which goes a long way. And the way it lifts my lashes is simply unmatched. You'll never catch me applying mascara without using this first.” —Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor

Tester feedback from Allure commerce contributor Jennifer Hussein

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“I have extremely straight lashes, and a few squeezes of this lash curler always gives them the lift they need to show off their true length. It fits perfectly across my lid to grab each and every lash without tugging them or causing fallout, another chronic issue I have with my natural set.” —Jennifer Hussein, commerce contributor

More to know

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  • Material: stainless steel, silicone
  • Who’s it for: short lashes, straight lashes

Best Grip: Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Shu Uemura Iconic Eyelash Curler in branded component on a light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Shu Uemura

Iconic Eyelash Curler

$28 $21 (25% off)

Amazon

$28

Nordstrom

Allure social director Kassidy Silva using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Kassidy Silva

Why it's worth it: This might look like your run-of-the-mill metal eyelash curler, but the results are anything but average. The silicone pad on Lancôme's Le Curler Eyelash Curler has a no-slip grip that gently cushions lashes as you squeeze to prevent tugging and breakage. After each use, you'll dig the difference: a dramatic, lifted, crease-free curl that'll carry you from conference calls to cocktails.

Silva before using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Silva before using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Kassidy SilvaSilva after using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Silva after using the Shu Uemura Iconic Lash Curler

Kassidy Silva

Tester feedback from Allure social director Kassidy Silva

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"If you suffer from long-lash envy, this eyelash curler is for you. In less than 20 seconds, you'll have all the lash volume you've been looking for."—Kassidy Silva, social director

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  • Material: alloy steel, silicone
  • Who it’s for: everyone

More eyelash curlers we love:

Best Tug-Free: Hourglass Lash Curler

Lash Curler in gold color way on light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Hourglass

Lash Curler

$34

Nordstrom

$34

Ulta Beauty

Why it’s worth it: Hourglass’s Lash Curler boosts the look of length and curl without tugging or pulling lashes in the process. Designed with a universal-fit shape, it comfortably reaches even hard-to-curl lashes at the inner and outer corners of the eye without pulling. Both Allure editors and Los Angeles–based makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy frequently use this curler for its controlled, gentle clamp that helps prevent breakage while creating a smooth, long-lasting curl that holds throughout the day.

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  • Material: stainless steel, latex
  • Who’s it for: those with fragile eyelashes

Best for Round Eyes: Surratt Relevee Lash Curler

Save to wishlistSave to wishlist

Why it’s worth it: The Surratt Relevee Lash Curler is one of those “if you know, you know” kind of products. Its a sleeper hit that’s ultra-wide for all lash types, including those with rounder eye shapes. Ariuna Iakovleva, a New York City-based makeup artist, calls the Surratt Revelee Lash Curler one of the most well-made lash curling tools that’s become a poopular standout. “It provides a smooth, controlled curl and feel comfortable to use,” she says.

More to know

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  • Material: nickle-free steel, silicone
  • Who’s it for: round eyes, wide eyes

Best for Beginners: Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler

Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler in branded component on a  light gray backgroundSave to wishlistSave to wishlist

Jenny Patinkin

Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler

$20

Amazon

$24

Nordstrom

$24

Dermstore

Why it’s worth it: The elegant rose gold-and-white design gives the Jenny Patinkin Lazy Perfection Eyelash Curler extra style points, but this tool is more than just a pretty face. "The carefully calibrated trap opening gives balance and control and accommodates lashes of any length," Tarryn Feldman, a Nashville-based makeup artist, explains. "Additionally, the white bumper pad allows for better user visibility and curler positioning, limiting the likelihood of pinching or crimping." We'd venture to say this is a very worthy addition to your makeup bag.

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  • Material: zinc alloy, silicone
  • Who’s it for: everyone

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of using an eyelash curler?

If you've been overlooking lash curlers in your beauty routine, it's time to rethink.—t These small tools can make a significant impact with very little effort. "Besides the fact that a lash curler boosts your lashes for mascara application, it's also really great for making you look more awake when you're going for a no-makeup look," explains Ashleigh Ciucci, a New York City-based makeup artist. Whether going full glam or keeping it minimal, a quick curl can instantly open up your eyes and elevate your entire look.

Despite the benefits, you should still take precautions when using these tools. Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., previously noted, "Eyelid skin is super sensitive, and lashes are fragile. I would make sure that the device comes nowhere near the skin and that it isn't overused so as to damage eyelash hair."

How do you find the right eyelash curler for your eye shape?

The good news for all eye shapes: According to Iakovleva, most lash curlers are created with a a large, universal fit. That means no matter which curler you grab, there most likely won’t be a dramatic difference between fit. That being said, if fit has been an issue for you in the past, she suggests keeping the the radius of the curve and the width of the curler in mind.

Should you curl your lashes before or after mascara?

You may feel an urge to curl your lashes after applying macara, but Hussainy recommends using your lash curler before you apply any makeup. “Curling before mascara is better to ensure your mascara doesn’t clump or, more importantly, not damage or pull your lashes,” she says, adding that this technique provides an overall more polished look.

How often should you replace an eyelash curler?

Depending on how often you use and clean your lash curler—which should be cleaned after every use to prevent product buildup—Hussainy recommends replacing the tool every six months to a year. “I find that after that period of time, it doesn’t perform quite as well,” she says.

It’s also important to replace the silicone pad regularly. “For maintenance, the rubber pad should be changed every three to six months, or as soon as it starts to harden,” says Iakovleva, noting that regular cleaning is essential for both hygiene and performance.

How should I use an eyelash curler?

For starters, take your time. "Keep the lash curler clamped for a good 20 seconds on each eye," Baraf tells Allure. “If you're not going to hold the curler on each lash for at least 20 seconds, don't even bother.”

Meanwhile, makeup artist Tommy Napoli employs a three-part approach to lash curling. He previously advised Allure readers to start at the base of the lashes using firm pressure before squeezing outward the middle of the lashes—this time, less pressure than is used at the base. Use a touch of pressure at the tips of the lashes to round things out.

Meet the experts

  • Ashleigh Ciucci, a New York City-based makeup artist
  • Tarryn Feldman, a Nashville-based makeup artist
  • Mezhgan Hussainy, a Los Angeles-baed makeup artist
  • Ariuna Iakovleva, a New York City-based makeup artist
  • Meredith Baraf, a New York City-based makeup artist
  • Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
  • Tommy Napoli, a New York City-based makeup artist

How we test and review products

Before reviewing any makeup tools, we ask questions about a number of factors: What purpose does it serve? Does it accommodate a wide range of customers? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best eyelash curlers, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different lashes, desired outcomes, and price points. We considered each product's performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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August 5, 2025 | xtzhev

The ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Documentary Proves the Series Was Always Doomed to Hurt Us

Tyra Banks attends Tyra Banks Hosts SMiZE  DREAM Hot Ice Cream First Taste at Artechouse NYC on December 10 2025 in New...Photo: Getty ImagesSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

If anyone expects an apology from Tyra Banks in Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, they will surely be disappointed. The new Netflix docuseries chronicles the evolution of America’s Next Top Model—and the toxic messaging about beauty it pushed upon audiences—featuring interviews from some of its judges and contestants, executive producer Ken Mok, and host-slash-creator Tyra Banks. To a millennial viewer such as myself, watching it felt like a sort of seance—a call into the void, making contact with the meltdown voyeurism, diet culture, and reality TV ghosts of the early aughts.

The reality competition series ran for 24 seasons (or “cycles,” as they’re called) between 2003 and 2018. Contestants vied for the title, a cash prize, and a loosely defined modeling contract. Each week, they endured challenges—mostly themed photo shoots—that have since been lampooned across social media for their cultural insensitivity, all-around weirdness, and lack of relevance to modeling. (Cycle four contestant Keenyah Hill shared in the docuseries that she couldn’t use her photos from the show in her modeling portfolio because they were so thematically nuts.)

Every cycle, beauty makeovers were the highlight—and the biggest point of cognitive dissonance. Banks says in the docuseries, as she has many times in the past, that she made a point of casting models whom the fashion industry writ large excluded at the time—Black models, brown models, queer models, curvier models… only to bind them in the same impossible beauty standards she claimed to denounce. Weaves, extensions, and drastic haircuts or color changes were ostensibly forced upon contestants for the sake of making them more fashion-forward. Cycle six’s Joanie Dodds and Danielle Evans were vaguely threatened with elimination unless they agreed to permanent, painful dental work. (Dodds was asked to straighten her smile, which required surgically removing several teeth and replacing them with implants; Evans was asked to have the gap between her two front teeth surgically closed because it wasn’t “marketable,” which she vocally opposed on camera.)

Reality Check Inside America's Next Top ModelPhoto: Courtesy of Netflix

Criticisms about contestants’ looks from Banks and her judges ran the gamut in their cruelty. And when receiving feedback on their performance in challenges from week to week, panel critiques frequently strayed from modeling prowess to aesthetics. Contestants were measured and weighed on camera at times and were often interrogated about their eating habits in front of the entire cast and crew. In cycle one, Banks openly criticized 18-year-old contestant Giselle Samson for having a “wide ass.” In the docuseries, cycle 18 contestant Ebonee Davis described the joy she felt being a Black woman on a television show created by a Black woman—and how that joy deflated when Banks told her the judges thought she looked “ashy.”

Naturally, these instances didn’t age well and have long drawn post-mortem criticisms. Reality Check makes a point to mention ad nauseam that much of the public backlash toward America’s Next Top Model took hold following the pandemic, when a majority of people were blowing through their to-watch queue, desperately seeking fresh viewing fodder. A “2020 lens” is how members of the cast described this perceived shift in public reaction in the docuseries. The general sentiment is that things were “different” when the show originally aired—back when reality TV was built on a foundation of shock, awe, and scrutinizing women’s bodies. (Anyone else remember The Swan and Extreme Makeover? Yikes!) There is a kernel of truth there, but it does not absolve Banks, Mok, or anyone else involved in the show’s production of their behavior.

I watched America’s Next Top Model in that fabled “different” time, when I was a tween-going-on-teen. I remember judges calling contestants around a size six “plus-size” and criticizing them for being too big. I remember contestants who were a size four being told to lose weight—the how didn’t matter. In Reality Check, Whitney Thompson (cycle 10) and Bre Scullark (cycle five) recalled the proliferation of eating disorders on set, where some contestants skipped meals ahead of photoshoots and challenges. The docuseries also featured a brief archival clip of Banks and judge Jay Manuel discussing an unnamed contestant he said “isn’t plus-size and isn’t model-size;” Banks responded that the model should gain weight to become “plus size.”

“[Makeovers] stripped contestants of their bodily autonomy—if they could not protest a bob, they did not have a leg to stand on when the series took unpredictably dark turns.”

Meanwhile, Thompson, the show’s first “plus-size” winner (she was a size six at the time), said that when she signed to Elite Model Management after the series, a contingency of her victory, the agency didn’t even have a plus division. The way models’ weight was treated on ANTM communicated to my younger self: Be skinny or be fat; pick a side—but if you fall into “fat” territory, beware the consequences.

I have struggled with disordered eating my entire life. Being 13 years old and obsessed with America’s Next Top Model in tandem with the ever-pervasive diet and tabloid culture of the 2000s absolutely contributed to my shaky body image. With a frontal lobe about as firm as overnight oats, I, like many others my age, fell victim to the ideals presented in the docuseries: It’s just how things are. My friends and I entered middle school and traded juice boxes and multiplication tables for diet soda and calorie counting. We didn’t understand at the time how the media we consumed, not our diets, was causing our anguish.

But in Reality Check, Banks—who has been interviewed about the negative impact of her show multiple times—smizes unflinchingly into the camera lens as she utters every adage and platitude instead of, "Hey, I'm sorry for fucking up a generation of young people—particularly young women." (For what it’s worth, Banks has said in past interviews that she “agreed” with criticisms for “off choices,” but it was still predicated by the “it was a different time” spiel.)

But the sins against contestants—and society writ large, for that matter—extend beyond distorted conversations about beauty. The highlight reel of what-the-absolute-hell moments on America’s Next Top Model also included the now-infamous race-swap photo shoot, a photo shoot where the models pose as unhoused people, and a spine-chilling photo shoot where the models (one of whom was the daughter of a gun violence survivor) pose as murder victims. The models Banks vied to empower so audaciously became her dolls for makeovers and playing pretend. It stripped contestants of their bodily autonomy—if they could not protest a bob, they did not have a leg to stand on when the series took unpredictably dark turns.

As many fans vividly remember, the production filmed and aired cycle two contestant Shandi Sullivan’s intoxicated encounter with a man in Milan, which she describes in the docuseries as sexual assault. “It’s a little hard for me to talk about production because that’s not my territory,” Banks said when asked why production did not intervene to protect a clearly intoxicated Sullivan, blaming Mok and other members of the team. (Writer's note: Banks also held an executive producer title on the show; the docuseries does not interrogate exactly how production wouldn’t have been her “territory” in this instance.)

In one instance, she does apologize—on camera, not face-to-face—to cycle four contestant Keenyah Hill, who faced unwanted sexual advances from a male model on the set of a photo shoot. These instances happened on camera and in front of the entire production crew, but when Hill stopped the shoot to share her distress, she was dismissed and later told she needed to take more control. Banks’s response in hindsight: “None of us knew… but she needed more [protection],” Banks said of Hill’s experience. “Boo-boo, I am so sorry.”

americas next top model stagePhoto: Courtesy of Netflix

And that’s ultimately how Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model unfolded. Banks acted as though she parted the Red Sea to make her vanity project come to fruition—all to change the modeling industry by way of reality television—and mostly refused to acknowledge the gravity of her choices. But Banks believes what she believes: that her work was groundbreaking. ”24 cycles of changing the world,” she said last year while accepting an award from Essence.

Watching Reality Check, I could only surmise that Banks wasn’t just drinking her own Kool-Aid; she had manufactured an ayahuasca-like substance from contestants’ distress that transported her from this reality we’re all living in. She used words like “accountability” as a shield, and her loose apologies felt hollow and flippant to me as a result.

But who is to blame for America's Next Top Model going off the rails? The networks, Banks, or executive producers? For viewers, it's hard to navigate the finger-pointing. The buck is passed around as liberally as hair wefts in the show’s makeover episodes. From judges to Banks. From Banks to Ken Mok. From Mok to network executives. For God’s sake, Banks blames the viewers at one point, saying, “You guys were demanding it. And so we kept pushing… more, and more, and more.”

In the many dropped bombs in this docuseries, one explosion still rings in my ears: Banks’s out-of-nowhere revelation that cycle 25 is coming. For all the discussion around accountability and how America’s Next Top Model was a sign of the times, I’m not confident Banks and her peers can be trusted with a reboot, especially now with diet culture and body shaming resurgent and cosmetic procedures of every sort multiplying; beauty standards remain as rigid as ever.

At one point in the docuseries, Banks says, “Hindsight is 20/20 for all of us. It just so happens that a lot of the things that are 20/20 for me happened in front of the world.” If you ask me, it’s time she gets glasses.

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July 28, 2025 | xtzhev

Sweatproof Mascara Has Nothing on the Sephora Collection Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover—Review

Image may contain Bottle Cosmetics and Perfume$18 at SephoraSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

TL;DR:

  • What it is: A bi-phase eye makeup remover
  • What it does: Soaks off eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow without causing sensitivity
  • Who it’s for: Anyone looking for an eye makeup remover that can actually remove waterproof formulas

Aside from my trusty tubing mascara, I rarely wear eye makeup. (Brow products don’t count in this generalization.) But when I do, it’s usually some variation of a sparkly shadow for a special occasion.

On these nights (well, at the end of them), I skip my usual double-cleanse routine and instead reach for something stronger: a bi-phase eye makeup remover. It cuts through the glitter faster than my cleansing balm ever could.

I really like Sephora Collection Express Waterproof Makeup Remover, which is formulated with cornflower extract and castor oil soothe and moisturize lids and lashes, while silky silicones help obliterate said stubborn shadow (and sweatproof mascara and waterproof liquid liner).

To use, I give it a quick shake, then sprinkle a few drops onto a cotton round (or reusable cloth if I’m at home and not traveling) before gently pressing into (closed) eyelids. From there, I lightly move and massage the pads until all of the makeup has been transferred. Sometimes this process requires a couple of rinse-and-repeat steps, but for the most part, most of the makeup comes off in the first round—without causing any sort of irritation, which is a feat for my sensitive eyes!

You can find the Sephora Collection Express Waterproof Makeup Remover, along with other editor-loved products, in the February Allure Beauty Box.

Get The BoxSephora Collection Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

Sephora Collection Express Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

$18 at Sephora$18 at Sephora

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July 3, 2025 | xtzhev

Cuccio’s Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On Is So Cute and Portable, I Take It Everywhere—Review

Image may contain Advertisement Food Honey and Poster$5.69 at CuccioSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story

TL;DR:

  • What it is: A rollerball cuticle oil
  • What it does: Keeps skin around nails hydrated without feeling greasy
  • Who it’s for: Anyone looking for an on-the-go, mess-free way to moisturize cuticles

I’m embarrassed by my cuticles. They’re dry, ragged, and, oftentimes, on the verge of bleeding. I’m a picker (and a puller), and my poor cuticles don’t deserve any of it.

Before the new year, I told myself I’d treat my hands better in 2026; I’d keep them moisturized, I’d maintain a manicure to prevent picking, and start paying attention to my cuticles. And as someone who despises the feeling of grease, oil, or anything slippery and slimy on hands, fingers, and nails, this call to action was a big feat for me. In the past, any time I’ve ever tried to incorporate a cuticle oil into my routine, I’d be left with splotches on clothes or bedding, and…sticky fingers.

But I’m ready for a change, and the Cuccio Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On is already a big help.

The portable rollerball, which fits securely in the palm of my hand, is filled to the brim with moisturizing milk and nourishing honey to keep dry hands hydrated—not greasy. Its twist cap ensures the application—which requires running the rollerball across the base of nails and cuticles—is easy and mess-free.

But my favorite thing about this little vial? The hydrating formula, which is indeed an oil, dries instantly once it’s massaged in—and doesn’t leave any residual grease. It’s kind of amazing how fast it works. No wonder my colleague wanted one of her own…

You can find the Cuccio Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On, along with other editor-loved products, in the February Allure Beauty Box.

Get The BoxCuccio Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On

Cuccio Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On

$5.69 at Cuccio$5.69 at Cuccio

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