THE HEADLINE LURED ME IN!

The cover of the May 2000 issue of Allure magazine screams out at us, "SPECIAL NUDE ISSUE." Are they trying to hook readers with a daring title? Heaven forbid! LOL. Well, it's what's inside that counts anyway, right?

Here's what I found inside: The first article is about a really weird suction cup bra. It was designed by a plastic surgeon to help increase the breasts by one cup size. They show a picture of a woman using it. It's made of two totally clear plastic domes and you can see her breasts right through them. I wonder if epinions would let me do a commercial for this!

Next, there's an excellent article about nudity in today's movies. It discusses the differences between attitudes about nudity in film in the past and present. It explains the nudity clauses signed by actresses and tells us about the dilemma they face when encountered with a script containing nudity.

The following article showed me the major difference between quality articles and filler in a magazine. Yesterday, I reviewed Mademoiselle magazine. Their May issue had an article about indoor tanning lotions (also known as self-tanners). Their article looked like nothing more than an ad for 4 or 5 self-tanner brands, simply listing products and their descriptions in a minor one page piece. This edition of Allure also has an article about self tanners. Their article is a detailed and informative 5 page education. It describes tricks of the trade, color coding, how to use on tough-to-tan spots, different formulations (creams, spray, foams, gels, and oil-free). It also tells specifically how to use these products on your face, which is different from applying them to your body. It tells us what the ingredients are in these products and how they work. For anyone who uses self-tanners, this is the best and most informative article I've ever seen on the subject. Follow the advice they give and you'll never wind up looking orange or streaky again!

The next article is called "See Jane Naked," written by Pulitzer prize winning author Jane Smiley, about her love of the nudist lifestyle. Her daughter, Lucy Silag, also contributes an article telling how it was to grow up with her Mom, "the nudist," and how she's not as comfortable baring it all. I really enjoyed and related to this article because I, like Ms. Smiley, live the nudist lifestyle, and my daughter is a lot more modest than I am.

On the next several pages, 6 female celebrities tell us how to improve our bodies, skin, and mental images of ourselves so that we can feel more comfortable and look better naked. A very impressive article which addresses everything from muscle tone to spider veins, to rough feet.

OK, what women's magazine would be complete without an article about cosmetic surgery? Allure is no exception. The exception here is that theirs is an exceptional article! If you think you already know everything there is to know about nose jobs, boob jobs, lipo, face lifts, etc., think again. This 6 page article is written in question and answer form and includes a page of "Things You Didn't Want To Know." The before and after pictures are great. The article is very thorough and looks at the downside of each type of surgery as well as the benefits, and does not seek to promote cosmetic surgery by sugar coating the procedures the way so may women's mags seem to do.

So, there you have a rundown of the articles in May's Allure. They are all well written, informative, and enjoyable to read. But wait! A review of a woman's fashion/beauty mag can't be written without mentioning all the usual stuff such as the pages, and pages of beauty, hair, and make-up tips. Well, Allure does a wonderful job in these departments, too. They offer more than just tips. They give us easy to follow, step by step instructions and well photographed close-ups.

This was the very first issue of Allure I've had the pleasure of reading and I was very impressed with the substance of the articles, the layout of the magazine, and the fact that from start to finish, it's chock-full of interesting and fresh information. When some of my other mag subscriptions run out, I will be subscribing to Allure!