This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.
I’ve been hearing all of these reports lately about sunscreens formulated with vitamin A that increase the risk of skin cancer. The headlines sound pretty [...]

MARSHMALLOW/(mahrsh-mel-oh)/n./ 1. A plant native to Europe and naturalized in the marshes of eastern North America; /n./ 2. Marshmallow contains vitamins A and C and is a naturally conditioning herb that helps nourish and detangle curly hair, e.g., “More than just a campfire staple, marshmallow’s moisturizing capabilities make it the perfect treat for dry, unruly [...]

SUNFLOWER OIL/(suhn-flou-er oil)/n./ 1. An oil extracted from sunflower seeds; /n./ 2. Sunflower oil is rich in vitamins A, B, D, and E and can help rebuild the skin’s moisture barrier when applied topically, e.g., “Much like the emotional effects of receiving an unexpected bouquet of the yellow-petaled stalks, sunflower oil will keep your skin [...]

PUMPKIN/(puhmp-kin)/n./1. A squashlike fruit ranging in size, shape, color, and appearance originating in North America;/n./ 2. Packed with active enzymes and the anti-aging power of vitamin A, pumpkin can help speed up the skin’s cell-renewal process while providing gentle and effective exfoliation, e.g., “Turn that jack-o’-lantern trick into an easy, skin-pleasing treat, and let [...]

apricot-kernel oil/ (ap-ri-kot kur-nl oil)/ n./ 1. Oil extracted from the inedible kernels of the apricot pit; / n./ 2. Rich in vitamins A and E, apricot kernel oil also boasts high levels of essential fatty acids that help skin maintain moisture levels without leaving it greasy, e.g. “Dry skin is the pits—slather on some [...]