Allure: The Science of Beauty

Actor Olivia Munn is no stranger to the spotlight, but in recent years, after the birth of her first child and a breast cancer diagnosis, things have looked a little different for her—a reality Munn is bravely leaning into. “When I get asked about any part of my health journey,” Munn tells Allure’s editor in chief Jessica Cruel, “it feels like I have purpose now.”

Munn walks Cruel through the physical and emotional challenges that came with the joys of her new motherhood. Munn was determined to breastfeed her son, Malcolm, but after working with multiple lactation consultants and trying acupuncture, supplements, and meditation, she turned to formula. Munn says she had “all of this guilt that ‘breast is best,’” adding that “breast milk is amazing, but that slogan is so difficult for women like myself.” She also wrestled with postpartum anxiety and its physical symptoms—waking up in the middle of the night, chest tight, heart racing—that soon did something “strange” to her brain, intensifying the loss of identity she felt during her postpartum break and financial anxiety about being out of the workforce.

Two years later, at the urging of her doctor, Munn took the lifetime risk assessment test for breast cancer, and received a high score. After more testing, Munn was diagnosed with bilateral luminal B breast cancer. She’s had five surgeries since then, including a double mastectomy and reconstruction, and an operation to remove her uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes to reduce the risk of recurrence. “One question I have been asked,” Munn recalls, “is did I ever feel that my body was betraying me. That doesn’t make sense,” she says, because “my body is the thing getting me through this.”

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool can be found here.

Allure’s Perspectives is a new series exploring the topics shaping women's lives today through honest, nuanced, and deeply personal conversations. The first season examines the cultural significance of breasts through intimate accounts and expert interviews, hosted by editor in chief Jessica Cruel.
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It's our final episode of the year! After reviewing the colorful — pun very-much intended — history of hair dye, Jenny and Dianna team up with cosmetic chemist Dr. Anne Wagner to answer all your burning (well, hopefully not burning) questions about coloring your hair. 

This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Head & Shoulders, available at Target.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Allure: The Science of Beauty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.



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This week, we're covering the topic holding this whole season together: our scalps. Join Jenny, Dianna, and guest Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, principal scientist for Head & Shoulders, as they get to the root of dandruff, dryness, and every other scalp issue imaginable.

This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Head & Shoulders, available at Target.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Allure: The Science of Beauty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.



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As we speak, there are about 30 million women in the United States who are experiencing hair loss and thinning as caused by genetics — yet the topic remains taboo. So this week, Jenny and Dianna called in dermatologist Nazanin Saedi to investigate the different causes of hair loss and review the many treatment options available — while getting real about the costs.
This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Head & Shoulders.
Don’t miss out on new episodes of Allure: The Science of Beauty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.



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This week, Jenny and Dianna are going to battle with a universal enemy: frizz. Join them — along with cosmetic chemist Erica Douglas — as they dive deep into what causes frizz and how to prevent it, plus share the frizz-fighters we should all add to our arsenal.

This episode of Allure: The Science of Beauty is presented by Pantene.

Don’t miss out on new episodes of Allure: The Science of Beauty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.



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