Unlisted Brand • Allure magazine • CD/Books/Movies

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RobinMaryAgnes on 12/5/2010 4:49:00 PM more reviews by RobinMaryAgnes

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I loved (back in the day) when they had a feature called How I Got that Look-- a celeb or wealthy person talked about their trademark look...they got rid of that feature and I think the Horoscope page too! Bummer! My Number one beef with allure is How can they be objective about any product they talk about when that company is probably giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars (at least) in advertising revenue..and don't get me started about their promoting plastic/cosmetic surgery..as far as really useful, economic cosmetic tips, try Cosmo or glamour.com..I also am tired of sephora and hearing about how wonderful Great Lash mascara is..I grew up reading Seventeen when it had ads for Cover Girl and Maybelline..if you want hardcore cosmetic advice and pics try French Elle or Marie Claire..but my favorite cosmetic advice is from online blogs and youtube vids..their opionions are not tainted by corporations who are partially funding the magazine..I get allure at used book sale at my library..I don't like the fashion part either..too much compeition nowadays..Allure is sort of past its prime. Thank you ..

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*TOP REVIEWER* athenasius on 7/23/2010 3:31:00 PM more reviews by athenasius

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Great magazine for learning about the new advances in skin care that are making their way into consumer products. Good for learning makeup application tips and techniques.


I don't pay attention to the Hollywood fluff stuff, but I'm sure that sells enough magazines that I can keep buying it for the interesting articles on skin care and makeup.


The "best of" awards are twice a year. One set in the fall, I think the October issue is the editors choice awards, and in the spring they do a readers choice awards.


I'm not sure how they judge these, or how many people write in on the reader's choice ones, but like many things, it's a start. I've picked up some winners from their awards (Sally Hansen No Chip Quick dry top coat for one) and others that they've raved on about, and even got good ratings from MUA here (like Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Balm) smelled good but didn't do diddley!


I liked the pull out instructional cards, but they seem to have discontinued those.


They do seem to have a balance between the expensive skin caviar stuff and the drugstore cheapy. I still go to Paula Begoun's book Don't Go to the Cosmetics... 8th ed (the current one) and then MUA here to see the reviews before I buy into whatever they are pushing in the articles that catch my eye.


After all, they are in business, and the cosmetics giants that advertise in their pages probably don't want them printing a nasty review, or they simply pay them a boatload of money to make sure that their latest item gets plugged in the next skin care/makeup article touting the products that you can't live without!


I always keep in mind that in the magazine business the money comes more from ad revenue, than from people buying the magazine!

~(Reiman publications were the one exception I know of and even they have caved in, and are accepting ads-- that or consumers guide type magazines)

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*TOP REVIEWER* Paulygirl21 on 2/16/2010 8:22:00 PM more reviews by Paulygirl21

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Ah, how I used to love this magazine. When I was in my teens, that is. What really got to me about this publication is the makeup and skincare product recommendations. I sincerely believe that magazines are paid to feature products within their articles. Highest bidder, indeed. It's pure b.s. that magazines not only contain ads every other page, but also shill within the articles themselves. Time and time again, I have found Allure's "Best of Beauty" picks to be among the worst rated ones here on MUA. For that reason, I haven't purchased it in years. I really can't be bothered to waste my money. If I'm interested in seeing the latest and prettiest packaged makeup items, I'll zip over to Sephora's website. If I'm so inclined to blow money on said makeup, I'll check the reviews, here.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Noboho on 11/11/2009 3:11:00 PM more reviews by Noboho

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I USED to really enjoy this magazine. I was a subscriber in high school and for the first year whenever I received a new issue, I read it cover to cover. Howver the quality of this magazine began to fade rapidly to me. The articles are incredibly redundant. I understand there are only so many things you can write about when it comes to beauty. Just about everything has been discussed to death. The "tips & tricks" are hardly new or informative. I agree with one reviewer that mentioned she highly doubts they actually try the products they recommend. I agree. A lot of times I think the suggest things that look aesthetically pleasing on the page. I do however like when they cover the beauty trends on the runways from Paris and New York. I religiously watch Linda Wells' beauty special each season on the Style channel. Other than that, I would much prefer to see models on the cover instead of celebrities I abhor. This is a great magazine for a non-beaty junkie. If you or someone you know doesn't know anything about makeup, skincare and beauty in general, get thee to a newsstand and buy Allure immediately. However if you can't get enough of beauty products and know your stuff, don't waste your time. Nothing new here.

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*TOP REVIEWER* rickisyed on 10/1/2009 6:37:00 PM more reviews by rickisyed

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love this magazine, I have been buying this magazine since 2005. I guess because I'm a beauty junkie. I do notice that marie claire offers the same beauty product reviews since they are both from hearst publications so I end up reading them twice. Other than that, I also love the monthly giveaways, I have won 2 fullsize products in the past so the sweepstakes really do work!!! If youre a beauty junkie or new to beauty this is a good magazine that gives detailed reviews.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Geekette on 6/28/2009 9:45:00 PM more reviews by Geekette

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I have my own life and no interest in celebrity features. All of the "awards" and "bests" titles are bought and sold to the highest bidder. This magazines offer no actual informational value. Great trash reading for the bus or train if you are into that sort of thing.

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*TOP REVIEWER* RitaPerfect on 6/28/2009 8:15:00 PM more reviews by RitaPerfect

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Black    

I began my subscription to Allure in 2005 after my cousin gave me an old July 2002 issue and I instantly fell in love with the magazine. On the cover of July 2002 was Amber Valleta with a boyish cropped haircut, freckles scattered across her cheeks, and what looked to be a tiny pimple under her left eye. In my head, I praised Allure for the lack of any obvious airbrushing. Then I flipped through the pages and was fully absorbed in reading each article, makeup tip, and even advertisement. At that time, with Seventeen magazine being the only other magazine I could claim readership to, Allure was like the best thing in the whole world. No longer did my teenage eyes have to suffer through makeup tutorials for extremely basic procedures, like applying blush to the apples of my cheeks. No longer did I have to suffer through silly advice, like how to flirt with boys and how to make crafts. By reading Allure, the self-proclaimed "Beauty Expert", I entered a more sophisticated world where I was taught real beauty lessons about current runway makeup trends, the pressing importance of sunscreen (the best anti-ager out there), and the correct way to deal with frizzy hair. Allure taught me tons of insider tips and gave me unending lists of exciting new beauty products to try out. I looked forward to reading every new issue that arrived in my mailbox, and I panicked whenever it came late.


Over the course of the next three years, I started to notice a slight decline in the overall quality of the magazine. Like the reviewer below, the repeating cycle of topics got a little boring. Every spring there is an anti-aging special, made complete with interviews with top specialists in the field. Every July there is an issue about sexiness and how to reach such an elusive level of desirability. Every winter there is an issue that features ten "looks" (or themes) from the winter fashion shows. Every October there is the Best of Beauty awards. Every December there is a list of absurdly expensive gifts that can be given to friends and family. You get the idea. I probably finish the magazine in three to four days, whereas I used to sit down and read everything voraciously, saving my favorite pieces for last. I also think that some of the writing has also gone downhill, especially since I don't see the names of some of the truly entertaining writers as I has used to. And maybe it's because I've just read it for too long, but I notice that I haven't been able to pick up any new information from Allure. All the "new makeup tips" don't seem very new; I already know them. I can no longer get that "whoa, I gotta try that!" feeling. Once in a while, they will have a really amazing article about advances in skincare or something that will catch my interest, but for the most part, not many of its contents capture my attention. And I'm pretty sure that Allure has jumped on the airbrushing bandwagon, even for those nude celebrities photos, which are supposed to praise and celebrate imperfections.


I will still continue to read Allure. It's still much better than Lucky (shopping, clothes, more shopping, more clothes, and more spending), Seventeen (Pg. 51 "Get a poster of the Jonas Brothers!"), Cosmopolitan (nothing but relationship advice and "how to please your man"), Self (geared towards those who love to exercise and work out, and I can't say that I do), or Vogue (way too high fashion for me). But when my next end-of-subscription-reminder letter comes, I might just hesitate before sending off my next payment. Allure has really got to step it up if it wants to keep its readers.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Selenite on 6/28/2009 3:42:00 PM more reviews by Selenite

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

All right, I'm going to say it. Allure sucks. I had a subscription for three years and noticed a predictable cycle. They would always have an issue which featured starlets nude for some reason. There was the usual hair issue, the makeover issue, etc. Even when talking about wrinkles, they used young models screwing their smooth faces and pulling on their skin to simulate crow's feet. The clothes were of no matter to me since my idea of high fashion is a band t-shirt and jeans. Dark lips and smoky eyes would always make a return for fall while shimmer and gold would always be "back" for the holidays. The how-to sections often bordered on the ridiculous with basic advice for everyday or ordinary situations. Practically no advice or features for women who are not caucasian, rarely would you see a dark skinned model used. But most annoying of all were the fawning fluff articles of celebrities who I couldn't care less about. Overall, I think that Allure can be summed up for me in a photo that they consistently recycled: that of a young, underweight model strutting full force catwalk style on a boardwalk. She clutches a surfboard as if determined to have some serious beach fun in one hand yet her feet are clad in expensive heeled sandals and she has a full face of makeup on along with a few bracelets.

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nm1981 on 6/28/2009 9:25:00 AM more reviews by nm1981

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Okay... as a self proclaimed "magazine whore" ,over the years I have read almost every fashion publication geared toward a female audience. In Allure Magazine I find the makeup and trend tips i am after, without the contortionist sex positions and the obligatory "how to catch a man" articles that other publications like Glamour and (cringe..) Cosmopolitan seem to have cornered the market on. This is the beauty nut purist's magazine. My congratulations to Editor Linda Wells for maintaining high standards. All the artistry of legendary photographers, models and designers.. without the crap.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ayngemac on 6/28/2009 5:54:00 AM more reviews by ayngemac

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I started reading this magazine when it debuted in the early 90's. I even subscribed for many years. I began to dislike it when they replaced the cover models with celebs. They always seem to go with the young pretty airhead starlet instead of really interesting women, and then they began to just recycle every article over and over. Case in point: they always do the Top Ten Trends gimmick, and Red Lips is always on it. Gimme a break! Red lips aren't a trend! Red was the first lipstick color! It'll always be in style. But what else are they gonna say? Green lipstick? Another thing I hate is when they recommend products, half the time they obviously do not even test them. They'll put a bunch of products on one page and recommend them because they are all in the same color family and look pretty together. Another giveaway is that there are never any real bad reviews of products. Thank God for the Internet and MUA. Although I know that many MUAers really work for cosmetic companies, it's easy to weed out the fake reviews and read what actual customers say.

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*TOP REVIEWER* chayaNY on 4/27/2009 3:48:00 PM more reviews by chayaNY

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

i have been reading this since it first came out. as someone who trained to be a mua (still certified though no longer working in the field), i was really excited to have a magazine that was mainly focused on makeup. i liked it more previously as now there are issues that are too fashion based for me. i want it to be all cosmetics, skin care, and any other article to also directly relate to beauty, but not beauty via fashion. accessories yes, they are sort of like makeup for your body, but pages of fashion shoots? no. i still buy it and like it, especially the product recs, the best of lists, the readers reviews, the pull out step by steps. i just don't like it as much anymore since sometimes other mags, fashion ones, have as much makeup talk as allure might.

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fica_23 on 3/30/2009 5:17:00 AM more reviews by fica_23

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Looove "Allure". Probably the only fashion magazine with a heavy emphasis on makeup!! Gorgeous photography, helpful beauty tips, and without the condescending sexism of "Cosmo".

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*TOP REVIEWER* jiney17 on 3/9/2009 7:07:00 PM more reviews by jiney17

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

One of the few women's glossies I actually enjoy. The articles are usually good diversions and better-written than the pap in Glamor or Cosmo. I enjoy the guest features by makeup, hair and skincare experts, the frequent articles on fragrance, and the consciously indulgent, non-serious, but not completely empty-headed and soul-less vibe.



ETA: I've decided to let my subscription lapse. I've also noticed a decline in quality and recycling of material. I like seeing new products featured in it, but the editorial advice is not trustworthy, given how the revenue model for these kinds of magazines. And I'm getting really, really, really sick of seeing the same half-dozen (usually young, white, slim) celebrities on the cover of this and every other woman's glossy.

These days, I'm reading makeup and fashion blogs. They tend to be more critical of products, especially the less popular ones (some of the bigger beauty bloggers get free stuff from companies to review, which I think compromises their integrity) and have better writing--less recycling of 'tips', no condescension for readers, greater attention to women of color, social and political issues important to women, and greater variety in terms of editorial voice and viewpoint.

Allure still does pretty layouts, though.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Princesa7 on 3/9/2009 10:32:00 AM more reviews by Princesa7

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I luv this magazine!! Its one of the main magazines that I always stick with and renew my subscription to. I always read it from the cover and all the way through to the back!!!!

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castell on 3/8/2009 10:52:00 PM more reviews by castell

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Kind of surprized to not see magazine reviews on MUA. I bet we all read all of them every month. Ok, exaggeration, but if you're like me, it's close to the truth! Recently though, I've had to cut waaaay back on the mags I buy each month. I'll buy ANY beauty mag if there seems to be enough interesting stuff inside, but I never pass up Allure. It's a sweet, little workhorse of a magazine: a little fashion, a little health, a lot of make-up and some nicely written articles.
Don't you check the Reader's Pics? The Breakthrough Products?
I love the sneaky critiques of hair/spa/glam places and the now yearly weight loss/makeovers.
My only complaint is that it's not longer!

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