Beauty Sites to Watch for 2012

If you’re a woman living in the modern world, chances are pretty good that you have more than a passing interest in the beauty industry. And why shouldn’t you?

You deserve to look and feel your best, and if a little makeup, moisturizer, and hair cream can give you that, why wouldn’t you want to use them? Of course, it does take a little education, some time spent comparison shopping, and an ongoing desire to try new products.

But with so many beauty websites providing the tips and tools you need, it’s easier than ever to get on board with a beauty regimen that suits your lifestyle.

And here are just a few sites that can help you out in the coming year.

Allure.

The magazine that has been bringing you the best beauty tips and trends for two decades is now available at the click of a mouse. With features like the insiders’ guide, a fashion directory, and an all new “beauty product finder”, this site will tell you what’s hot (and what’s not) in the beauty industry.

And when you sign up for a free membership you can take advantage of monthly giveaways of some of the best products on the market (to try before you buy).

Total Beauty.

It’s not all about how you can camouflage your flaws with beauty products, and this site is geared towards helping you to be beautiful and healthy inside and out.

The result is a collection of articles that focus not only beauty advice and product reviews, but also on the diet and fitness advances that will help you get to a good starting point with your beauty routine.

The firm body and glowing skin that come from a healthy diet and regular exercise make a great palette for any products you might use to enhance yourself.

Inside the Gloss.

Editor Emily Weiss states, “IntoTheGloss.com is a blog dedicated to Beauty, from the Inside…Inside in this case means Inside the fashion industry and on the street.”

In short, this is the place to get the scoop on what’s trending before it even starts to trend. With behind-the-scenes sources like stylists, models, and beauty editors chiming in, you’re sure to be on the cutting edge and quickly become the trendsetter that all your friends call for fashion and beauty advice.

Makeup Alley.

The idea behind this beauty collective is to rate products based on independent reviews by visitors, sometimes hundreds of them.

The upside is that you can find out what average women think of the products you’re interested in and probably get a better idea of what you want to try than you could from potentially biased professional reviews.

No More Dirty Looks.

Even girls that aren’t necessarily passionate about paraben- and phthalate-free beauty products will appreciate the studied reviews and advice on this eco-friendly beauty blog.

They’re not too pushy about the green thing and they tend to rave about the products that they love to use themselves, so you know they’re not just trying to push content.

Though the site has been taken down now, you can take a look at their book No More Dirty Looks: The Truth about Your Beauty Products--and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics.

With the help of top scientists, dermatologists, and makeup artists, the authors share their compelling findings and the easy way to detoxify your beauty regimen. No More Dirty Looks also reveals the safest, most effective products on the market and time-tested home recipes.

Thanks to dropping prices on computers, laptops, and tablets, not to mention cheap internet access, nearly everyone can now enjoy the best beauty sites the web has to offer.

So if you want to look your best in 2012, now is the time to check out one or all of these beauty repositories to see what they have to offer and how it can help you to look and feel like a million bucks in the coming year.

(Guest Post by Carol Montrose)