Beauty Universe

Carley Fortune has masterfully carved out her place as the undisputed queen of the summer romance. Her best-selling novels, which have graced the New York Times’s top charts, are beloved for their rich, emotional depth and captivating settings, often centered around serene lakes and breathtaking natural landscapes. While her stories are famous for making readers swoon over dreamy characters and picturesque locales, they are also praised for their honest exploration of mental health, family dynamics, and grief. In an exclusive conversation, Fortune, a former journalist herself, reveals the intricate ways her personal self-care journey, writing process, and approach to beauty are all connected. From her essential lakeside skincare to the unexpected habits that protect her mental health, she offers a glimpse into the thoughtful, healing philosophy that informs her life and her work.

For Kourtney Kardashian Barker, self-care is a holistic practice that extends far beyond a simple routine. As the founder of the health and wellness brand Poosh and the supplement company Lemme, she has built a philosophy centered on nourishing the body from the inside out. In this exclusive interview, the mother of four shares the deeply personal and practical ways she finds balance, from the parenting audiobooks that guide her to the daily habits and holy-grail products that help her feel her best.

Ashley Graham is a woman who wears many hats, seamlessly moving from supermodel and mother of three to a prominent body-positivity advocate. Most recently, she added another impressive title to her résumé: Broadway star, making her debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. With a schedule packed with triumphs, challenges, and high-energy performances, Graham has developed a self-care routine centered on a simple, yet powerful, philosophy. She recently shared her go-to holy-grail favorites and the simple habits she uses to decompress on and off the stage.

Once you reach a certain age, collagen becomes the singular focus of every conversation about skin health. It’s the superstar of every anti-aging ad, the coveted ingredient in countless creams, and the promise behind expensive treatments. Everyone wants more of it, but navigating the vast market of serums, supplements, and treatments can feel overwhelming. What exactly is this protein, why does it disappear, and which of the countless products and procedures truly work? This guide cuts through the confusion to provide a clear, expert-backed roadmap to understanding collagen and building an effective, multi-pronged strategy to support it for a firmer, fresher-faced future.

For anyone battling dry, chapped lips, a standard balm just won’t cut it. That’s where a lip mask comes in. Designed to be a richer, thicker treatment, these masks are the perfect final step in a nightly skincare routine, working overnight to hydrate and repair. A group of beauty editors has curated a list of the best formulas on the market, each chosen for its unique benefits, from plumping and healing to gentle exfoliation.

The world of hair care is full of innovative solutions, and the latest trend to capture attention is the use of caffeine to combat hair loss. Shampoos infused with this powerful stimulant are being marketed as a way to promote growth and strengthen strands. But can a simple shampoo really be the answer to such a complex problem? We take a closer look at the science behind these products and what experts say about their true effectiveness, separating the hype from the reality.

As a beauty editor, I’m always looking for new ways to elevate my nail game. While I’ve tried everything from gels to long-lasting polishes, I’ve never been able to build a custom look from scratch—until now. Paintbox, the New York City nail studio known for its celebrity clientele and professional-level polishes, has just launched a new custom press-on service. It promises to deliver personalized, high-end nail artistry directly to your door, and I was able to try it out firsthand to see if it lives up to the hype.

The power of a perfect fragrance is undeniable. A single spritz can not only define a person’s presence but can also transport you back to a long-lost memory. And like the best perfumes of all time, the most coveted colognes are no longer reserved for the men in our lives, but for anyone who wants to get complimented on their fantastic scent. Today, fragrance is becoming an act of personal expression, unbound by traditional gender roles. As Delphine Jelk, a perfumer at Guerlain, explains, “What we see more and more is a non-gendered perfumery. A lot of fragrances are created without any notion of gender.” She reassures that the only thing that matters is how you feel in a scent, encouraging wearers to “assert your personality” and simply “go for it.”

It’s a tale as old as time: You walk into the salon with a photo of a chic, sophisticated bob, ready to emerge as a better, fresher, and more polished version of yourself. But when you get home and try to style the chop on your own, the reflection staring back at you looks more like a little boy wearing a cheap Halloween party wig. Suddenly, you miss your buns, your ponytails, and your long, flowing hair. While bobs are undeniably trending right now, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially for those who aren’t well-versed in the nuances of styling short hair. As hairstylist Sean Michael explains, a professional blowout involves “brushes, products, and techniques that most people aren’t doing at home.” And as celebrity hairstylist Alyx Liu adds, it can be difficult to control the texture and the way a bob settles on its own, leaving you with a serious case of bob regret.

In the decade-plus that Natalie Portman has been the face of the iconic Miss Dior perfume franchise, the fragrance itself has evolved no less than seven times. From more floral and powdery renditions to sweeter, more gourmand versions, each iteration has been a fresh take on the idea of capturing youth and romance in a bottle. This ongoing collaboration with one of the world’s most elegant and respected actors is a testament to the timeless appeal of both the star and the scent. The brand-new Miss Dior Essence, created by Dior perfume creation director Francis Kurkdjian, is the latest evolution—a bold and confident fragrance that pays homage to the very first Miss Dior perfume from 1947 while infusing it with a modern, fruity twist that is so distinctly 2025. It’s a scent that is both deeply romantic and unapologetically audacious.