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How to heal cracked heels for summer, according to experts

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How to heal cracked heels for summer, according to experts

When are cracked heels worse?

Often, when we think of dry skin, we think of winter when the air is cold, and temperatures indoors and out are fluctuating, putting our skin through a lot. But when it comes to feet, Lynn explains that the summer season is the worst. “When we switch to wearing sandals, it may come as a surprise that the increased airflow around our feet can actually lead to dryness of the skin.” Our activities in the summer also contribute to dryness. Things like spending time on the beach and walking barefoot can have an exfoliating effect as we walk, making our skin feel smoother but also more prone to dryness, Lynn explains.

Who is more prone to dry, cracked feet?

If you’re someone who has dry facial skin, hair or nails, we’re sorry to say that your heels are probably more prone to dryness, too. “To help this, it is essential to prioritise moisturising routines after bathing or showering, as well as every morning and night, to maintain softer skin,” says Lynn.

“It is particularly crucial for people with diabetes to take extra precautions and ensure proper foot care, as they may have reduced sensation in their feet,” she warns. “By keeping their feet well-hydrated, they can help prevent cracked heels, which could potentially lead to open wounds,” which, in some cases, cause infection.

Ways to prevent cracked heels?

The answer is pretty simple, actually: give your feet the same care as your face. OK, not exactly the same, we’re not asking you to do a 10-step routine on your feet. But at the bare minimum, moisturise them a few times a week.

Moisturise

To keep them in tip-top shape, “I always recommend applying a foot cream both in the morning and at night,” says Lynn. You can target the areas that are most dry like the heels, too. This combination of hard-working foot cream ingredients helps keep the skin of your feet well-moisturised, ensuring their overall health. “Use a good moisturiser at least once a day that contains urea, which is a gentle chemical skin softener and is great at hydrating the skin rapidly,” says Andrew Gladstone, podiatrist, MCRPod and founder of City Chiropody. We like Mavala’s Hydro-Repairing Foot Cream, and Eucerin’s UreaRepair Plus 10% Foot Cream as both contain urea and are deeply hydrating.

Mavala Hydro Repairing Cream

Eucerin UreaRepair Plus 10% Urea Foot Cream

When the Humidity Hits – These Products Stop Frizz Before It StartsWhen the Humidity Hits

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When the Humidity Hits – These Products Stop Frizz Before It StartsWhen the Humidity Hits

It All Starts in the Shower

The Signature Collection prepares and seals the hair from the inside out. The Shampoo uses botanical juices from the Amazon to even out porosity – the open cuticle structure that makes har most susceptible to humidity. Our Signature Conditioner, formulated at pH 4.0-5.0, closes the cuticle on contact. Not coated. Not Masked. Structurally sealed.

Clinically proven to reduce breakage up to 89% from the first application of Iles Signature Shampoo + Signature Conditioner.

The ‘It Girl’ Hair Serum

The Finishing Serum is your all-weather protection. Pracaxi Seed, also sourced from the Amazon, penetrates the fiber and tames frizz at its structural source. Silk Extract seals the surface and delivers what Wendy calls an organic memory – activated by heat, retained through weather. Protection against humidity, static, UV, extreme cold, and color fade.

Apply it to wet hair before styling, then to dry hair daily to refresh.

Create A Protective ‘Humidity Halo’

Curly hair is naturally more porous – and so it absorbs moisture faster, frizzies and loses definition more quickly than straight hair. The Iles Formula Curl Revive Spray was formulated specifically for this. Its weightier cashmere texture wraps each curl in protective humidity halo, blocking moisture from penetrating the shaft while preserving definition, bounce, and shape.

Reset Between Washes

Humidity doesn’t just trike on wash day. The Rinseless Root Refresh is our waterless formula that refreshed and volumizes roots between washes, without powder, without residue, without exposing freshly styled hair to water. When the forecast changes, your hair doesn’t have to.

Liquid Assets: 5 Reasons To Be Serum Obsessed | Joanna Vargas

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Liquid Assets: 5 Reasons To Be Serum Obsessed | Joanna Vargas

A good serum has become the backbone of every woman’s skincare routine, and with good reason. Here’s five powerful answers as to why, and which JV serums would be best for you based on your concerns.

1. Targets Specific Concerns: The ritual of applying a serum is essential because it offers more targeted results. While moisturizers can provide general assistance, a serum goes deeper and gets specific. It can address unique concerns, individually. Serums are essentially your skin’s most studious student, or skincare super hero.

2. Highest Potency: Serums are more potent formulas that deliver their game-changing ingredients deep into the dermis for maximum results and skin nourishment. No matter your concern, the proper serum will contain the appropriate formula to address your needs with ACTIVE ingredients to lift, brighten and beyond!

3. Skin Transformation: Serums are single handedly the number one product that will make the biggest difference on your complexion conquest. A high quality serum can be transformative like no other product in your skincare routine.

4. Strongest Anti-Wrinkle: A good serum can help with wrinkles better then any other product and prevent wrinkles second to no other then SPF and laying off the sugar. On that note, you can click here to learn more about how sugar is rapidly aging your skin.

5. Tailored to you: Serums are customizable to meet your personal needs! The beauty of this sought after product is that you can chose a serum that is perfectly tailored to suit your unique concerns. With that said, here’s a brief break down of the serums that reign in the Joanna Vargas Skincare collectioncherished by clients and customers for their luxurious ability to transform the skin and leave you glowing.

*If your concerns are uneven skin tone, hyper pigmentation, sagging, dullness and/or lack of clarity: The Super Nova Serum: New to our collection, this powerful elixir is a multidimensional retinol serum that can truly transform the quality of your skin. Learn more about the infinite benefits packed in this major serum by clicking here.

If you’re looking to boost your radiance and build your skin’s resilience: The Rescue Serum: This concentrated, highly potent formula is packed with Vitamin C to protect the skin from free radicals and boost its immunity! Even though it is an oil based serum, it is totally fine for acne prone skin as it has detoxifying properties and the ability to control excess oil production. Your skin will thank you for this serum, endlessly. Learn more about its benefits by clicking here.

If you’re concerns are aging skin, dryness and a lack of nourishment… The Rejuvenating Serum: This luxurious face oil smells as good as it works. It is a nourishing glow-enhancing serum that replenishes skin for improved hydration and tone.

If your concerns are enlarged pores and you’re looking for a refreshing daily vitamin for your skin: The Daily Serum: This light-weight, water based serum. It will give you the utmost radiance by raising your skin’s moisture levels, minimizing your pores and improving your skin tone.

Lather and reap!]>>

What Is ‘Fiber Training’—And Why Should You Be Doing It?

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What Is ‘Fiber Training’—And Why Should You Be Doing It?

What exactly is fiber training?

Fiber training is exactly what it sounds like: training your body to handle fiber better. It’s all about “slow, consistent increases in fiber to help you build your tolerance…while minimizing the potential symptoms,” Nielsen says.

You can think of fiber training kind of like preparing for a race. “In much the same way that you wouldn’t go out and run a marathon tomorrow if you haven’t run a mile before,” you need to work your way up to a high-fiber diet, Nielsen says. Similarly, Dr. Ganjhu compares it to a weightlifting regimen. Rather than lifting 50-pound weights right off the bat, “you kind of have to adjust slowly,” she says. “You start off with 10. When that becomes easy, you go to 20, then you go to 30”—and so on.

Fiber training is especially critical if you’re constipated at the outset, as many people are, according to Nielsen. Even though fiber can help prevent and alleviate constipation, too much at once can actually make an existing issue worse by overwhelming your gut. “When you add a ton of fiber to an already backed-up system, it’s kind of like a bottleneck on the highway,” Nielsen says: If you try to shoehorn four lanes into one, you’re going to end up with a jam on your hands.

How to start fiber training

Now that you know fiber training entails steadily increasing your fiber intake, you’re probably wondering what that looks like on a more practical level. Before we share specifics, some context for how much fiber you actually need might be helpful. Per the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025women should aim for 28 grams of fiber daily from ages 19 to 30, 25 grams of fiber daily from ages 31 to 50, and 22 grams of fiber daily starting at age 51, though some experts recommend even more—a helpful set of parameters if you’re not sure where to start.

While the ideal amount of fiber to add to your diet while fiber training can vary from person to person depending on health needs (like a constipation issue), most people are “looking at [adding] probably three to five grams at a time,” Nielsen says.

With that in mind, you’ll want to choose a food that has a fiber content in that ballpark—say, an apple (around four grams of fiber), a half-cup of chickpeas (around five grams of fiber), a tablespoon of chia seeds (around five grams of fiber), or two tablespoons of ground flax (around four grams of fiber)—and eat a serving every single day until you feel like your body has adjusted (read: you’re not experiencing any additional bloating, gas, or other GI side effects). This process typically takes around five to seven days, according to Nielsen, but everyone’s digestive system is different, so don’t worry if you need more (or less!) time. “It really is about listening to your body and individualizing the rate at which you increase,” Nielsen says. “You have to follow your symptoms and go slow,” Dr. Ganjhu agrees.

Why Are People Taking CoQ10 Supplements for Longevity, and Do They Work?

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Why Are People Taking CoQ10 Supplements for Longevity, and Do They Work?

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, was once a niche supplement, known best in wellness circles for its possible benefits for heart health and fertility. But now the antioxidant’s star is rising for a new reason: its purported longevity-boosting powers.

The appeal of CoQ10 has grown as researchers have explored its effects on various conditions, with small studies revealing, for example, it may help boost insulin sensitivity, cut the frequency of migraine attacks, and alleviate muscle aches from statins used for high cholesterol. But as of late, there’s excitement around its broader anti-aging potential because of how it supports our mitochondria, which you may remember from high school biology as the “powerhouse of the cell.”

That role has punched CoQ10’s ticket into the longevity club, alongside other supplements thought to lend a hand to mitochondria (like urolithin A and nicotinamide mononucleotide, or NMN). There’s even a synthetic derivative of CoQ10 designed specifically for better absorption by mitochondria, which is called mitoquinone (or MitoQ), that’s gaining hype among celeb trainers and athletes for boosting energy, recovery, and “cellular health.”

But is CoQ10 all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to longevity? Read on to learn more before grabbing a bottle of this supplement.

Why are people taking CoQ10 for longevity?

Our cells naturally produce CoQ10, a molecule that acts like a conveyor belt for charged particles inside our mitochondria, enabling them to “efficiently create adenosine triphosphate, or ATP,” the “currency for cellular energy,” Anthony Molina, PhD, a professor of medicine at UC San Diego who studies aging biomarkers, tells SELF. That’s a big deal, as all cells rely on that energy to complete their daily functions. As we age, both the number and energy-producing powers of mitochondria drop off—a process involved in the development of many age-related diseases, Dr. Molina points out. Meanwhile, CoQ10 levels also decline with age, leading to the idea that we should take it in supplement form for better mitochondrial (and, in turn, overall) health.

Beyond its role in energy production, CoQ10 is also an antioxidant that is “very powerful in capturing free radicals,” or volatile molecules that can harm cells, Daria Mochly-Rosen, PhD, a professor of chemical and systems biology at Stanford University and coauthor of The Life Machines: How Taking Care of Your Mitochondria Can Transform Your Health, tells SELF. By stabilizing those molecules, CoQ10 may help to keep that damage (a.k.a. oxidative stress) from piling up and also contributing to aging and the development of chronic disease.

Exosomes and PDRNs: An integrative approach to cellular regeneration

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Exosomes and PDRNs: An integrative approach to cellular regeneration

Exosomes are a subtype of extracellular vesicles (EVs), released by cells and originating from endosomal pathways. They contribute to cellular homeostasis by removing metabolic waste while also facilitating communication between cells.

Since 2010, research on exosomes has experienced exponential growth. The number of publications per year on PubMed mentioning the term “extracellular vesicles” is close to 5,500 (according to Bazzan et al., 2021), representing an annual growth of 30%.

In 2024, Saranya P. Wyles, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Pharmacology, and Regenerative Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, published a study on the topical use of platelet-derived exosomes in 56 adults. After 12 weeks, 87.3% of participants reported visible improvements in facial skin aging, including reductions in redness, pigmentation, and overall sun damage. These findings were supported by histological analysis, which showed an increase in collagen thickness.

Although some dermatologists have expressed reservations about the study, the potential of exosomes in cosmetic applications appears promising.

A winning synergy

The K-beauty phenomenon has highlighted the complementary relationship between exosomes and PDRNs. PDRNs provide the essential building blocks for cell regeneration and tissue repair—stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis, reducing chronic inflammation, and helping to restore skin damaged by environmental stressors such as UV radiation and pollution—while exosomes act as messengers, delivering biological signals between cells.

Traditionally, PDRN (sodium DNA) is derived from trout or salmon sperm, making it highly concentrated in nucleotides, carefully purified to minimize the risk of allergic reactions, and biocompatible with human tissue. More recently, the rise of vegan formulations has encouraged the development of plant-based alternativesderived from sources such as ginseng, rice, green tea, or rose. However, some experts question this terminology, arguing that so-called “plant-based PDRNs” differ from true PDRNs and are closer to plant extracts or fermentation lysates, which are rich in polyphenols, saponins, and antioxidants.

Most recently, the first microbiologically derived PDRN (L-PDRN) from Lactobacillus rhamnosus has emerged. A study published in January 2025 (PubMed, National Library of Medicine) highlights the potential of L-PDRN as a multifunctional and sustainable alternative to salmon-derived PDRN. “The use of microbially derived PDRN opens new avenues for therapeutic applications in oxidative stress management, tissue regeneration, and immune modulation, paving the way for a paradigm shift in PDRN supply and functionality,” the authors explain.

The study, conducted by a Korean team dispatched into several laboratories, showed that L-PDRN exhibits superior antioxidant activity, as well as increased efficacy in cell migration and wound repair. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that L-PDRN is composed of smaller DNA fragments (less than 100 bp) than those of PDRN extracted from salmon (200–800 bp), suggesting improved bioavailability and skin absorption.

Cosmetics and exosomes

The Cellogic range from the Bio Logica Cosmetics brand, launched in 2025 by Dr. Laurent Blascois rooted in biomimicry and Phytobolites® exosomes—plant-derived biological messengers. Its creator explains that biomimicry, the focus of his thesis, inspired him to “design cosmetics by applying the logic of living systems, replicating the structure and functioning of the skin.”

Replicating the skin in order to better respect it thus became his guiding principle. “I collaborated with a Swiss company to develop plant-derived exosomes,” he explains. “These act like intercellular ‘express couriers,’ stimulating aging cells. When a biological imbalance occurs, they transmit signals between skin cells, activating natural defense and repair mechanisms.”

Exosomes and PDRNs represent a highly innovative and promising area of research, particularly for their regenerative potential. They offer a compelling alternative to more invasive aesthetic procedures. As non-invasive approaches that do not rely on injections, they empower individuals to take a more active role in managing their skin and hair concerns. These solutions promote a gentler, more natural approach, with results that are often more progressive and long-lasting.


Read the full article in our special issue on Cosmetic Ingredients (April 2026 )available to read here.

Contents

  • AI ‘transformative’ for cosmetic dermatology
  • Scalp care is taking center stage
  • The K-Beauty model
  • Silab Softcare: scientific innovation for fragile skin
  • Expanscience’s Osmolya : hydration ushers into a new era
  • Gelyma’s Wealy harnesses marine benefits against oxidative stress
  • Ingredients News

8 Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin That Protect Without Irritation

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8 Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin That Protect Without Irritation

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I benefit from sunscreen for sensitive skin?

As we mentioned, it can be challenging for people with sensitive skin to find a sunscreen that won’t agitate due to common irritants from chemical sun blockers. If that sounds like you, you’ll want to try a gentler mineral sunscreen.

Even if you’re not sensitive to every chemical in a chemical sunscreen, discerning which irritates your skin is complicated. “Even if you identify which [kind of] product it is, you don’t know which chemical it is [because] formulas typically contain up to four [photoprotective chemicals],” says board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, based in Birmingham, Alabama. Thus, a mineral sunscreen with no chemicals rids you of the root issue.

Another consideration is “to avoid mineral sunscreens that have parabens, phthalates, and added fragrances, as these can cause irritation, redness, and inflammation of the skin,” Dr. Lamm notes. The lesson: Always read the ingredient list, especially as some sunscreens are hybrid formulas and contain physical and chemical UV filters.

What’s the difference between a chemical and a mineral sunscreen?

“Physical sunscreens (a.k.a. mineral) work by reflecting the UV rays off skin,” he says. Conversely, Dr. Lamm explains that chemical-filter sun protection products work by absorbing the sun’s rays that hit your skin rather than bouncing them off.

Mineral-based products utilize, well, mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are usually gentler than chemical options. “Mineral sunscreens also typically do not irritate the eyes like chemical sunscreens,” he says. Plus, they’re photostable, so they don’t need to be applied as regularly as chemical sunscreens, according to New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD. In other words, mineral UV filters don’t break down or degrade when exposed to sunscreen; however, we still recommend reapplying sunscreen every two or so hours, and more often if you’re swimming or sweating heavily.

That’s not to say people with sensitive skin can never use chemical sunscreen—it just may involve more trial and error to discern which (if any) ingredients spur adverse reactions. More important than anything, though, is to use any sunscreen—period. “My recommendation is to find a sunscreen you love, chemical or physical, and use it every single day,” says Muneeb Shah, MD, a Wilmington, North Carolina-based, board-certified dermatologist. “Whichever sunscreen you love, as long as the SPF is [at least] 30, is the sunscreen for you.”

Meet the experts

  • Kristina Collins, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist based in Austin
  • Corey L. Hartman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology based in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
  • Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
  • Muneeb Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Wilmington, North Carolina
  • Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Facet Dermatology based in Toronto

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best sunscreens for sensitive skin, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, protection, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Martha Stewart’s New Selfie Captures the Beautiful Chaos of Getting Ready

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Martha Stewart’s New Selfie Captures the Beautiful Chaos of Getting Ready

Many of us are under the illusion that a celebrity arrives at their pre-event glam sessions looking somehow already perfect: recently showered, fresh-faced, a pristine canvas for the makeup artist and hairstylist. Martha Stewarthowever—perhaps the least likely superstar to do so—is poking holes in that fantasy, giving us an iconic new selfie that feels wildly relatable to anyone familiar with the mayhem of getting ready.

The entrepreneur and modern-day Hestia posted an uncharacteristically disheveled yet predictably glamorous mirror pic on Friday afternoon, showing her mid-hairstyling sesh. Some of her hair is clipped on top, while some messy bangs fall forward over her eyes, which visibly have makeup smudges under them. She’s making her now world-famous selfie pout, her chin not quite clearing the top of her phone, which she’s holding with a rich, brown manicure that matches its case.

“While In @milan for a wonderful event called @isaloniofficial I had my hair done @bulgari hotel Milano by Salvatore and snapped a Selfie for my instagram account,” she wrote in the caption. “This is before makeup (except for vestiges of last nights mascara and some Elm sample lip serum – soon to be in our line) so you can see great clean skin thanks to @elmbiosciences !! Thanks Salvatore for the great blow dry @dazzle_dry nail polish.”

Wouldn’t The Vestiges of Last Night’s Mascara make an incredible memoir title? We just never thought it would be Martha Stewart’s memoir, considering her image is one that’s been carefully curated to seem absolutely impeccable.

Speaking of impeccable, we love that short and sweet, brown manicure. Although Stewart doesn’t mention exactly which Dazzle Dry shade she’s wearing, our educated guess is that it’s Fringe.

As of publishing, Stewart has yet to share photos of the results of her hair and makeup appointment, but this is Martha Stewart we’re talking about—she undoubtedly turned out her usual gorgeous self, with fresh mascara to worry about removing in the morning.

More celebrity nail news:

Having ‘Boring’ Conversations Is Really Good for You, Psychologists Say

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Having ‘Boring’ Conversations Is Really Good for You, Psychologists Say

It’s tempting to try to bypass coworkers in the break room or limit small talk with the person waiting next to you in an effort to avoid what you suspect will be a dull conversation. But new research makes a solid argument for leaning into these “boring” chats.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychologyfound that people who actually engage in these conversations thought that they were much more interesting and enjoyable than they expected. But beyond that, there is data to suggest that having these “boring” conversations could do your mental and physical health a solid.

“These moments are small, but they are not trivial,” Nicholas Allan, PhD, psychologist and assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF. Here’s why.

The study did a deep dive into conversations around topics people usually find dull.

The research focused on nine experiments featuring 1,800 participants. During the experiments, participants were asked to predict how much they would enjoy talking about a range of topics they identified as boring. These included World Wars I and II, nonfiction books, math, onions, the stock market, cats, and vegan diets. These chats happened with either strangers or friends, and were in person or online.

The researchers discovered that while participants said they expected the conversations to be pretty lame, they reported afterward that they enjoyed them much more than they thought they would. This even happened when both people in the conversation thought a topic was boring.

“We decided to conduct this research because so many people avoid conversations they think will be boring. We cancel small talk, dread networking events, and assume that certain topics, like the weather, commuting, or daily routines, just won’t be interesting,” Elizabeth Trinh, lead study author and a doctoral student at the University of Michigan, tells SELF. “If conversations are generally good for us, why do we so often expect them to be dull or draining?”

Being engaged in the conversation matters more than what you’re talking about.

Ultimately, the researchers found that being engaged in the conversation was what really mattered. “Engagement drives enjoyment more than topic does,” Trinh says. “People assume that interest comes from having a fascinating subject. But in reality, what makes conversations enjoyable is the sense of connection like feeling heard, responding to each other, and discovering unexpected details about someone’s life. Even a mundane topic can become meaningful when two people are actively engaging with each other.”

4-IN-1 & Stand-Alone Treatment: What are the differences?

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4-IN-1 & Stand-Alone Treatment: What are the differences?

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4-IN-1 & Stand-Alone Treatment: What are the differences?

4-IN-1 & Stand-Alone Treatment: What are the differences?

If you want the most intensive bond repair, choose the Stand‑Alone Treatment; if you want deep conditioning with bond‑building support in one salon service, the 4‑IN‑1 moisture mask is designed for that. Both approaches address damage and dryness, so the real question is how intensely you need to repair and moisturize your hair. OLAPLEX Stand‑Alone Treatment and OLAPLEX 4‑IN‑1 moisture mask have changed salon services by bringing bond‑rebuilding science into professional treatments. With OLAPLEX’s patented formula to rebuild the hair’s internal structure, and now to moisturize it, we aim to break down our two professional treatments.

So, what’s the difference between The Stand-Alone Treatment and OLAPLEX 4-IN-1?

The Stand Alone Treatment is the most intensive bond‑building repair available, using the OLAPLEX concentrate and reserved for salon professionals OLAPLEX® Nº.2. You may have heard a lot about Nº.1 and Nº.2 with color, but when the two come together as a Stand Alone Treatment, there are no added chemicals working against the bond‑building process. That means salon‑strength repair and healthier-looking hair after each treatment. Though this is the most concentrated OLAPLEX you can get at the salon, it’s important to note that this treatment does not moisturize.

The bond-building category OLAPLEX created can be a bit confusing for clients with which treatment to get. Your hair needs both equally. Hair is consistently exposed to elements that both damage and dry it out. Luckily for you, we launched 4-IN-1 to address the former.

4‑IN‑1 moisture mask rebuilds bonds in the hair and moisturizes them. This may sound like a Stand‑Alone Treatment and moisture mask all in one, but it is not. The 4‑IN‑1 is a moisture mask with OLAPLEX’s patented bond‑building ingredient added. When tested on damaged hair, it provided:

74% more moisture, 84% more shine, 84% more smoothness, 94% saw more body (instrumental measurements vs. untreated control; internal lab). It works wonders on every hair type without weighing the hair down, as most moisture masks do. Though it rebuilds bonds, it is not as concentrated for bond building repair as the Stand‑Alone Treatment. Learn more about usage and specifics on the OLAPLEX 4‑IN‑1 moisture mask.

For the healthiest, moisturized hair, use the two treatments back to back at the salon. Call it a treat yourself day!


© 2026, OLAPLEX. All rights reserved.



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