Q&A: Serums & Masc Scents with Nicola Dall'Asen, Allure's Senior News Editor
A redhead at heart with a Virgo’s eye for detail, our News lead is all about simplicity and rosacea-soothing skin care.
In this weekly Q&A series, friends of The Beauty Chat spill their routines, recs, and rituals—from their holy grail concealers to the podcast they always push. Think of it as your new favorite scroll: beauty picks, pop culture takes, and inspo you didn’t know you needed.
Nicola Dall’Asen
Job: Senior News Editor, Allure
Generation: Millennial
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
💋💅💄 BEAUTY REGIMEN
How much is your beauty routine?
The products I currently use every day probably add up to around $500 — not all of which I'd be able buy for myself if I had to. 😅
Most expensive is a $250 face serum made by a plastic surgeon: Doft New York's Vitamin Antioxidant Renewal Serum
Least expensive is a $34 face wash: Dieux's Baptism (though I'm a sucker for good ol'-fashioned Cetaphil)
Which beauty product would you personally fund the creation of if the brand threatened to discontinue it?
SkinMedica TNS serum—it's the G.O.A.T. Truly does everything: hydrating, plumping, firming and–most importantly for me–redness soothing.
What's the most impactful beauty lesson you've learned since you started your career / adulthood?
That it's good to actually look the age you are. I'm happy to say I stopped getting "preventative" Botox in my late 20s and am quite charmed by the (barely visible) crows feet I'm starting to get at 30.
On a more practical note, Katie Jane Hughes's "priming the brush" makeup application technique truly changed my whole outlook on what base makeup should look like. Never went back after learning it in a masterclass of hers in 2019!
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What's your relationship with fragrance?
I adore it and have dozens in my collection, but I often forget to apply it unless I'm going out for a special occasion. It's an exploration of gender for me, too. I prefer scents that lean "masculine" (woody, earthy, spicy) depending on what I'm wearing. If I have a signature, it's Dark Lord By Kilian.
What's your manicure philosophy: (MULTIPLE CHOICE)
Simple and subtle.
Something cute and on trend, but not too flashy.
Super trendy but functional.
If it wouldn't impress Cynthia Erivo, it’s not for me.
✅️ Other: Would have nail art ALL the time if I could afford to keep a nail tech on hand (or could kick my nail biting habit). I like shorter nails and simpler designs. Keeping them bare and buffed most of the time these days for longterm nail health recovery.
What is your signature beauty look?
I used to do bold or colorful cat eyes every day, but now I'm bare-faced most of the time. If anything, some mascara and red lip stain, but I wouldn't call it a signature. Simplicity is key when you're 30 and exhausted. 🤣
We listen and we don't judge: What's a habit you'd be put in beauty jail for?
Going to bed with wet hair. Sorry! I absolutely must shower at the end of the day, and I absolutely will not spend all that time blow drying when I'm ready to fall into bed.
Is there a beauty trend or look you've been too afraid to try? And what's making you hesitate?
I don't think I'm necessarily "afraid" of trying anything beauty-related. I've tried basically every crazy beauty look I've ever wanted to. But Red hair is trending. I see it all the time. Everywhere! I've had it many times in the past and always have some desire to return to it, but I stop myself these days when I remember how much maintenance it requires for naturally dark brunettes like myself.
What's the latest skin-care treatment you want or need or plan to try? And what does it do?
I've kind of sworn off treatments for the foreseeable future because I don't really think I need them! But, in the future, I could see myself going for whatever the latest laser treatment is for broken capillaries and reducing redness in general. (I have rosacea on my cheeks.) I've gotten ADVATx in the past and had incredible results.
What's the best spa treatment you've experienced?
I get regular deep-pressure massages at a super cheap, low-key, independently owned place in my neighborhood. Honestly, it's better than any high-end spa experience I've ever had, despite it lacking all the standard bells and whistles of something fancier.
😊🫶🙃 LOVE & LIFE
What is an element of your beauty routine that's cultural?
I'm not sure! But as a bisexual woman, I do feel a little more free to play with competing masculine and feminine looks. I love to slick back my hair like Elvis and make by brows all bushy, but also wear a dress and lipstick, ya know? I think anyone can and should do that, regardless of identity, though, it's not restricted to bi life.
What's a beauty product or habit you put your friends / family / partner on to?
Chemical exfoliants! Almost none of the people I know understood them or even knew they existed prior to me becoming a beauty editor. Putting them on has helped a lot of them with their respective skin issues. I have recommend Ole Henrisken's Glow2Oh Toner to nearly everyone, including my acne-prone boyfriend, who now hogs all of mine (that bastard).
In the series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” she woke up before her husband every day to put her face on, and then slipped back into bed to pretend she was always flawless. What's something beauty-related you hide or would hide from your partner?
Literally nothing—my boyfriend lives with me and has seen everything, including but not limited to my chin-hair plucking and my bikini waxing. Hell, I've popped his back pimples and plucked the ingrown hairs from his beard. Call it gross, but 🤷♀️ IMO, if there was something beauty-related either of us felt the need to hide, that would be my sign something's off!
We listen and we silently judge: What could a partner do to give you the beauty ick?
Getting bad tattoos. As in, literally the artist was not very good, or the concept is very cringe. Also tiny fine-line tattoos are so ugh to me. They age so poorly! [Editor’s Note: Noted. 👀]
What's the biggest beauty lie or myth you were surprised to learn the truth of?
That having naturally curly hair is low maintenance compared to keeping your hair blown out. LIES. 🤬
What beauty advice would you give to your younger self?
Start wearing daily sunscreen the moment you have your first skin-care routine!
Develop skin-care habits now and they'll come way more naturally later—especially for you, younger self, considering your rather intense yet-to-be diagnosed ADHD.
⭐🎧📖🎥⭐ ZEITGEIST
Favorite Substack / Newsletter:
Favorite Social Platform:
Do I have to pick one if I dislike them all? Actually, Tumblr! (Yes, I actually still use it from time to time. No I will not tell you my blog URL.)
Which content creator(s) have you been watching a lot of lately?
Nykita aka @neoitgirl on TikTok: a model and trained MUA, who does the most in-depth monthly favorites where she often recommends products that even I have never heard of. She is chock full of hair, skin, makeup, body care, and lifestyle advice that is deeply practical but not totally obvious. She applies makeup in such a meticulous, detailed way. I take her word as gospel!
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What TV show are you obsessed with right now?
ER. (Yes, the George Clooney hospital show from the '90s.) I'd never seen it before, but am binge-ing in preparation for The Pitt, which I have yet to watch past the pilot episode. I'm a nerd for TV production and history, and I get why ER was so iconic now. It has crazy-good writing (until its later seasons, anyway) that keeps you on your toes always and INSANELY good practical effects for blood, open wounds, organs, etc. Noah Wylie, you're definitely not reading this but... call me!
What's the last movie you don't regret paying for, and why?
I pay a monthly subscription fee for unlimited movies through Regal, so it's rare I regret seeing a movie. But my favorite of the spring/summer releases so far is definitely Sinners! Comedy, horror, history, and cultural commentary all wrapped into one. Also... two Michael B Jordans.
Which song / album do you currently have on repeat, and why?
Lola Young's “One Thing.” Her voice is so unique, and the track is catchy as hell.
What's the last book you enjoyed?
John Green's latest book, Everything Is Tuberculosis: A fascinating non-fiction read, encapsulating all the facets of modern-day society (including beauty standards) that exist because of TB.
What's the coolest side project you've ever worked on?
Old lady alert: I just got back into cross-stitch embroidery. My mom quilts and embroiders professionally, so it's in my blood; she taught me how to thread needles and read a pattern when I was very young. It's been years and years since I picked it up, but I've been itching to work with my hands more and be on my phone less, so me and the midtown Michael's location are becoming good friends right now.
For the next several months, most of my free time will be spent on my biggest embroidery project ever, a 19x19" mountain landscape. It's kind of a gift for Nick (the aforementioned boyfriend), who left NYC for a stint to serve as a forest firefighter in Grand Teton, Wyoming, a few years back—when we were still "just friends." He loves that area very deeply, as do I for helping me realize I needed to make a move upon his return. So when it's done, it’ll hang in our apartment forever, just like the ones my mom has had hanging in our family home since before I was born. Pretty cool if you ask me! 🤓
What do you want to plug?
Shameless self-promote—but Allure's News vertical, which I oversee! We aren't just covering the news straight-up these days. Rather, we're observing, analyzing, and reacting to beauty news alongside all the internet discourse it comes with. Recently, we've:
Debunked the widely reported $1 billion figure used to value the Rhode acquisition
Investigated claims that Dior Lip Oil is turning people's lips black
Highlighted some rather glaring hairstyling issues in The Last of Us
Expressed some frustrations with the general attitude toward Kris Jenner's "new face"
Come read!