Topical vitamin A, known as retinol in its over-the-counter form, is lauded for its anti-aging benefits, but it has a drawback. Like its Rx cousin Retin-A, it can irritate. Luckily, brands are finding better ways to deliver retinol sans redness.
Three innovations: Strivectin-AR Advanced Retinol Night Treatment ($109; strivectin.com) pairs ret-inol with NIA-114, a form of niacin, to strengthen skin and prevent inflammation. Kate Somerville RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream ($85; katesomerville.com) wraps retinol in a lipid shell that opens under the skin’s sensitive top layers. And Philosophy Miracle Worker Retinoid Eye Repair ($65; philosophy .com) replaced the retinol molecule’s acidic tail with a nonirritating ester. Smart!
Greige (that’s gray plus beige, the putty-toned hue that was ubiquitous for the past two winters) has ceded the hot-manicure-color crown to charcoal. Our top pick is shown above: Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Vertigo ($26; chanel.com). Perhaps the shades-of-gray trend is a nod toward a certain sexy trilogy—but the bonus is that this versa-tile color is guaranteed to look good on you.
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