The Supplements Our Dermatologist Friends Are Actually Taking
Plus, Venus retrograde starts today.
We’re officially in the darkest time of year: the final push before spring. As daylight hours slowly build back up, the days also seem to drag on. But say it with me: Sunshine and flowers and picnics in the park are just around the corner! Next week, you’ll get a spring trend bonanza to celebrate the first full week of March. In the meantime, here are some long-read stories to keep you company while you stay cozy this weekend.
What supp, doc?
Supplements are sketchy. As doctors and scientists have told Allure time and time again, the industry is largely unregulated, proof of supplement companies’ claims is limited, and your body has a harder time absorbing nutrients if they’re in pill form.
Around the office, we often say that taking supplements is a great way to make sure you have really expensive pee.
And yet! Many of those same doctors who say popping a pill isn’t the best way to make sure you’ve hit all your daily vitamin and mineral goals have, often in the same breath, told us that they actually do take supplements themselves. Befuddled by this contradiction, we asked dermatologists to tell us more about the pills they take and why they think said pills are worth their not-unsubstantial price point.
A Retrograde Begins
Today, March 1, marks the start of Venus retrograde, an astrological event that will last until April 12. While Mercury retrograde tends to mess with communication and travel, Venus throws her proverbial wrench into anything related to love and beauty. That’s why people who practice electional astrology advise against making drastic changes to your appearance during a Venus retrograde—not because you’ll end up with any horrific side effects, but more because you might not love the end result. But recently, astrologer Sophie Saint Thomas had an experience that led her to doubt the rigidity of these rules, so she asked fellow astrologers to weigh in on the types of beauty appointments you’re probably safe to go through with this spring.
*White Lotus Theme Song Plays*
Season 3 of The White Lotus seems made to fuel The Discourse—as one editor put in our team group chat, there’s already “almost too much” going on to have a cohesive takeaway, and we’re only on episode two. But the show is clearly making an indictment of the absurd, overpriced wellness industrial complex. In the spirit of subjecting those businesses to more scrutiny, this weekend would be a good time to read Sue Williamson’s story about how the wellness industry, where she had once found community, turned its back once she was diagnosed with cancer.
Celeb Corner
Bethenny Frankel told Lashify to “fuck off.” Jessica Alba got a dainty tattoo. Halle Berry can’t wait for menopause. Millie Bobby Brown channeled Pamela Anderson and Carmela Soprano.
If you buy one thing this week, make it…
Living Proof Full Volume & Root-Lifting Spray
Based on the aforementioned MBB look plus some recent and upcoming launches that have hit my inbox, it appears that 2025 will be a year for big hair. There are a couple new volumizing products that I enjoy, but so far none of them have done a better job of fluffing up my fine strands than this volumizer. If these before and after photos don’t convince you, you can read the full review I wrote last year when I first fell in love with the stuff.
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