Valerie Monroe Author Archive
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Valerie Monroe

Contributor, the Cut
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Valerie Monroe is a Cut contributor and author of the weekly newsletter How Not To F*ck Up Your Face. Previously, she created a monthly “Ask Val” column at O, The Oprah Magazine, where she was the beauty director for nearly 16 years.

  1. beauty
    Dermatologists Evaluate the Accuracy of TikTok’s Age-Progression FilterPure entertainment or valuable tool? Doctors weigh in.
  2. beauty
    Unsexy Question: How Do I Protect My Skin From Bug Bites?A reader anticipating a Caribbean cruise wonders how she should apply sunscreen when moisturizer and insect repellent are also on the program.
  3. beauty
    TikTok Is Taking Over My Teen’s Multistep Skin-Care RoutineWhat’s the harm in an elaborate skin-care routine for young girls? Dermatologists weigh in.
  4. beauty
    What Can I Do About My Dandruff Problem?An expert explains how to properly care for flaky scalps, clinically known as seborrheic dermatitis.
  5. beauty
    Are Veneers the New Boobs?The smiles of the contestants on The Golden Bachelor deserve their own show.
  6. beauty
    How Do I Choose the Right In-Office Treatment for Tightening Lax Skin? A dermatologist offers her best advice about getting the most bang for your buck.
  7. beauty
    I’ve Gone Gray! But What About My Brows?There’s a color-coordinating trick to it: A makeup artist explains, inside.
  8. beauty
    Is There a Way to Actually Hide Under-Eye Shadows and Hollows?A couple of pro makeup artists weigh in on the best way to conceal them.
  9. beauty
    Was Pamela Anderson’s Makeup-Free Fashion Week Just a Stunt?“I feel like it’s just freedom; it’s a relief,” Anderson said about going without makeup.
  10. beauty
    How Much Facial Filler Is Too Much?A dermatologist on what it really takes to get the best results.
  11. beauty
    How Do I Maintain Healthy and Strong Lashes As I Age?Experts explain eye care for the aged … and for you, too.
  12. beauty
    Why Does My Neck Change So Drastically As I Age?A plastic surgeon offers his best advice for caring for the neck.
  13. beauty
    Are Expensive Vitamin-C Serums Actually Worth It?A dermatologist weighs in on the value of the popular skin-care ingredient.
  14. beauty
    Can Skin-Care Products Lose Their Effectiveness Long Term?A dermatologist explains why the answer is “Yes and no.”
  15. beauty
    I Tried a Hemp-Infused Gummy for Better Sleep, and Here’s How It WentAdventures in chasing the elusive snooze.
  16. beauty
    I Feel Like My Botox Stopped Working. Is This a Real Thing?Yes, it’s possible to become immune to Botox. A dermatologist explains.
  17. beauty
    Does the NuFace Device Work on Aging Skin?A dermatologist on the pros and cons of a microcurrent device.
  18. beauty
    Is a Medical Pedicure Worth the Money?Here’s what happened when I treated my feet to a medi-pedi for the first time, along with advice from a board-certified podiatric surgeon.
  19. beauty
    Are Cosmetic Facial Threads Actually a Quick Fix?A dermatologist explains the ins and outs of surgical facial tailoring and the factors to consider before trying this treatment.
  20. how not to f*ck up your face
    What Is the Most Effective Alternative to Retinoids?A dermatologist advises what to use instead of the powerful vitamin-A derivative.
  21. how not to f*ck up your face
    Do Facial Exercises Actually Do Anything?Can working out the muscles in your face prevent signs of aging? A plastic surgeon weighs in.
  22. how not to f*ck up your face
    Are Phenol Peels Safe for My Skin?We asked a dermatologist about one of the strongest chemical peels available on the aesthetic market.
  23. how not to f*ck up your face
    Is a Fat Transfer the Best Facial Filler?The pros and cons of harvesting your excess padding to volumize your face, according to experts.
  24. how not to f*ck up your face
    What Happens to Your Skin on Booze?What research shows about drinking and your complexion.
  25. how not to f*ck up your face
    Are Expensive Skin-Tightening Laser Treatments Actually Worth It?A dermatologist offers the pros and cons of one very popular in-office skin-tightening treatment.
  26. beauty
    Women With Thinning Hair? Science-Backed Solutions for Hair LossEverything you need to know about thinning hair and how to grow it back.
  27. how not to f*ck up your face
    Are You Really Getting the Sun Protection You Need?Probably not, says a dermatologist, especially if you’re mixing products.
  28. how not to f*ck up your face
    Emface, Self-Tanner, Oral Care, and More Explained by a DermatologistDoes washing with face oil remove self tanner? Is rapamycin the new fountain of youth? Will Emface work for you?
  29. how not to f*ck up your face
    Is Toner Really Necessary?As HNTFUYF DermDiva Heidi Waldorf said, getting right to the bottom-line, “Using a toner is unnecessary.”
  30. how not to f*ck up your face
    How to Heal Melasma, According to a DermatologistAdvice on how to get rid of a particularly intractable spot.
  31. how not to f*ck up your face
    Is There a Legitimate Way to Get Rid of Cellulite?A dermatologist cuts through the costly options.
  32. how not to f*ck up your face
    Why Do I Get Purple Blotches on My Skin Out of Nowhere?They can actually be explained.
  33. how not to f*ck up your face
    Can Your Hair Turn Gray Overnight?A hair expert explains why hair loses pigment and whether stress is the cause.
  34. how not to f*ck up your face
    Is Matrixyl the Magic Ingredient for Younger-Looking Skin?Why some things work better when they have less to do.
  35. how not to f*ck up your face
    Are Plasma-Pen Treatments Safe for Improving Crepey Skin?A dermatologist advises caution about electrosurgery.
  36. how not to f*ck up your face
    All Wrinkles Are Not Alike, and Here’s WhyWhat to do when “drape face” becomes an issue.
  37. how not to f*ck up your face
    Do Pricey Silicone Patches Work to Eliminate Wrinkles?A dermatologist weighs in on a different kind of patch test.
  38. how not to f*ck up your face
    Is That Estrogen in Your Face Cream Safe?Why you may want to reconsider hormones in your skin care.
  39. how not to f*ck up your face
    Is There a Pill for Prettier Skin?A dermatologist weighs in on the legitimacy of retinol supplements.
  40. how not to f*ck up your face
    Does Using Nontoxic Beauty Products Actually Matter for My Health?A deeper look into the marketing behind “clean beauty.”
  41. how not to f*ck up your face
    Why Popular TikTok Beauty Trends Don’t Speak to MeA woman in her 70s prefers advice from … the ’70s.
  42. how not to f*ck up your face
    Are DIY Skin-care Wands Worth the Money?A dermatologist weighs in on at-home devices
  43. how not to f*ck up your face
    A Plastic Surgeon Solves a Mysterious Body-Part ProblemHere’s how to deal with one of the ways our aging system shows signs of wear and tear.
  44. how not to f*ck up your face
    How to Find the Best Retinol for Your Skin Type, According to a DermatologistDermatologists call retinol “skin-care gold” for a reason, and here’s why.
  45. how not to f*ck up your face
    How to Deal With Hormonal Acne, According to DermatologistsAn almost-30-year-old asks for help managing monthly acne flare-ups.
  46. how not to f*ck up your face
    Dear Beauty Marketing: Stop Telling Me How to Look YoungerUnderstand what you’re buying. Plus: solving a red-eyelid mystery.
  47. how not to f*ck up your face
    In Defense of ‘Good Enough’ AgingWhen good enough is plenty good. Plus, are you dealing with thinning lashes?
  48. how not to f*ck up your face
    Why Is the Skin on My Face Constantly Flaking?A reader is plagued by unusual flakiness on her face.
  49. how not to f*ck up your face
    I’ve Gained Weight. Do I Need to Change My Makeup?A reader asks whether more fullness around her face means a new makeup routine.
  50. how not to f*ck up your face
    How to Make Your Self-Tanner Situation Less of a MessA cosmetic chemist weighs in.
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