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MOST RECENT ARTICLES BY:

Valerie Monroe

Contributor, the Cut
See all their articles from across New York Magazine

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
    This Beauty-Pageant Winner Is Not Real. That’s a Good Thing.Unrealistic ideals, simplistic thinking, misogyny, and objectification have always belonged — at best — in the world of make-believe.
  2. beauty
    What to Do About Spider Veins on Your FaceElectrodessication and lasers could help. Here are some solutions.
  3. beauty
    A Plastic Surgeon Clears Up 10 Beauty MythsNew York City plastic surgeon Gerald Imber, M.D., is down-to-earth and honest about the effectiveness of various skin-care treatments.
  4. beauty
    Would a Face-lift Make You Happy?A 73-year-old beauty editor weighs the pros and cons.
  5. beauty
    ‘Help! My Under-eye Makeup Is Peeling Off!Layering products with different formulas can cause that. Here’s what to use instead — and how to apply. (Hint: Use your finger!)
  6. beauty
    “If You Take All Your Wrinkles Away, the Map of Your Life Is Different.”A new documentary about Diane von Furstenberg makes us think differently about aging.
  7. beauty
    The Joys of Jowls (and What You Can Do About Them)Sofwave, Ulthera, and Radio Frequency (RF) microneedling can reduce the appearance of jowling. But read this before you consider.
  8. beauty
    Stop Yassifying Your KidsIt should go without saying, but: Don’t Facetune your children.
  9. beauty
    I’m 52. Will Hyaluronic Acid Supplements Help My Skin?Probably not. But read here to see other solutions which will help your skin.
  10. beauty
    The Power of Discretion After 60Sometimes, less really is more.
  11. beauty
    I’m 66 and Have Dry Skin Around My Eyes. Will Concealer Help?A 73-year-old beauty expert answers a question dear to her.
  12. beauty
    The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" - Arrivals
    Pamela Anderson Looks Great With or Without MakeupThe choices she makes are less consequential than the fact that she has freed herself to make them.
  13. beauty
    I Want to Buy Embryolisse in the U.S. How Do I Avoid Fakes?Plus: Is steaming good for my face?
  14. beauty
    Do Copper Pillowcases Help With Wrinkles?Can a pillowcase save your face?
  15. beauty
    In Defense of Annette Bening’s FaceWe need to re-evaluate our relationship with aging.
  16. beauty
    One Hairstylist’s Method for Frizzy HairA reader’s question about frizz is answered by an expert hairstylist.
  17. beauty
    I Hate My Dimply Chin. Help!A dermatologist offers her best advice for dealing with an unfavorite feature.
  18. beauty
    My Makeup Smudges. Tips to Help It Last?Try using a tubing mascara or powder.
  19. beauty
    My Scalp is Pink and It’s Showing Through My Hairline. Help!How to avoid that pink-scalp-through-the-snowy-hair look.
  20. beauty
    I’m in My Mid-40s and Got Dysport. Can It Age You?Absolutely, says a dermatologist, but here’s how to avoid it.
  21. beauty
    Can Your Sleep Habits Give You Wrinkles?Smooshing your face into a pillow for eight hours can give you wrinkles. Here is what to do.
  22. beauty
    The Under-Eye-Bag DilemmaWhat kind of works, and what really works.
  23. how not to f*ck up your face
    How Do I Keep My Makeup on All Day?Plus: a question about the best eyeliner for those with allergies.
  24. beauty
    My Experience Using Lasers for Skin LesionsMy dermatologist Orit Markowitz, M.D., recommended FDA-approved photodynamic therapy, which, according to studies, is highly efficient.
  25. beauty
    I’m Almost 60. What Can I Do About Marionette Lines?A reader question prompts this 73-year-old former beauty editor to give advice about being too self-critical.
  26. beauty
    I’m 33 and Botox Messed Up My Face. Help!What to do when you think your treatments have gone awry.
  27. beauty
    Why Are We So Susceptible to Beauty Marketing?Here are the things that work and don’t.
  28. beauty
    What’s This Bag Under My Under Eye?A dermatologist and plastic surgeon weigh in on treatments for festoons.
  29. beauty
    I’m 30 Years Old. Should I Get ‘Baby Botox’?I’m a 73-year-old former beauty editor, here is my advice.
  30. beauty
    A Laser Expert Shares Solutions for Facial BirthmarksA laser expert and a makeup artist offer their best advice.
  31. beauty
    Dealing With Dermatitis? A Dermatologist Weighs In.A dermatologist explains how to solve a mysterious skin-care issue.
  32. beauty
    Dermatologists Evaluate the Accuracy of TikTok’s Age-Progression FilterPure entertainment or valuable tool? Doctors weigh in.
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. beauty
    What Can I Do About My Dandruff Problem?An expert explains how to properly care for flaky scalps, clinically known as seborrheic dermatitis.
  36. beauty
    Are Veneers the New Boobs?The smiles of the contestants on The Golden Bachelor deserve their own show.
  37. 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.
  38. beauty
    I’ve Gone Gray! But What About My Brows?There’s a color-coordinating trick to it: A makeup artist explains, inside.
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. beauty
    How Much Facial Filler Is Too Much?A dermatologist on what it really takes to get the best results.
  42. beauty
    How Do I Maintain Healthy and Strong Lashes As I Age?Experts explain eye care for the aged … and for you, too.
  43. beauty
    Why Does My Neck Change So Drastically As I Age?A plastic surgeon offers his best advice for caring for the neck.
  44. beauty
    Are Expensive Vitamin-C Serums Actually Worth It?A dermatologist weighs in on the value of the popular skin-care ingredient.
  45. beauty
    Can Skin-Care Products Lose Their Effectiveness Long Term?A dermatologist explains why the answer is “Yes and no.”
  46. beauty
    I Tried a Hemp-Infused Gummy for Better Sleep, and Here’s How It WentAdventures in chasing the elusive snooze.
  47. 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.
  48. beauty
    Does the NuFace Device Work on Aging Skin?A dermatologist on the pros and cons of a microcurrent device.
  49. 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.
  50. 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.
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