Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mardi 26 décembre 2017
Here's How A Christmas Prince Stacks Up to These 3 Other Royal Holiday Romance Movies
Picture this: you're curling up on the couch after a long day at work, about to crack open a bottle of Trader Joe's finest $7 white wine. While a sleeve of Ritz crackers pairs nicely with such a luxurious personal happy hour, you're also going to need some entertainment. It's cold outside! (At least in some parts of the country!) What's cozier than a movie about a woman falling in love with a prince against all odds and plot conventions? Enter: A Christmas Prince.
Wait, hold on. Is it A Prince For Christmas? No, wait, it's A Princess For Christmas, right? Or is My Christmas Prince the one you're looking for?
Until very recently, I was blissfully unaware of a very specific subset of seasonal movies: the royal holiday romance. All of these movies share a core set of values and/or character stereotypes - the small-town girl who wasn't expecting to fall in love, a dashing prince bucking against his parents' rules, precocious kid(s), and dialogue so cheesy anyone with lactose intolerance should stop reading this immediately - and, in a rather impressive feat, have managed to rearrange the words "prince," "princess," and "Christmas" into dozens of title variations.
While most of these movies have lived happily ever after on Lifetime and the Hallmark channel, Netflix recently stepped into the game with A Christmas Prince, its unintentionally hilarious foray into the world of ridiculous (and ridiculously charming) holiday romance. Since there are tons of Christmas movies competing for your attention this season, I took the liberty of watching four royal holiday movies with confusingly similar titles to figure out which one truly reigns supreme. Each film is rated on a very scientific scale of zero to five snowflakes, so read on to see which one you should spend the night with.
The Original Titanic Pictures Will Make You Swoon Even Harder After 20 Years
This month marks Titanic's 20th anniversary, and to honor it, we're looking back at the 1997's classic. Leonardo DiCaprio is still one of our all-time crushes, and it's mesmerizing to see these vintage pictures of him and Kate Winslet as Jack and Rose. Get a blast from the past with these sweet shots from the 1997 movie, and I dare you not to swoon over Leo in that tux.
The Crown, Peaky Blinders, and 50 Other Titles Coming to Netflix in December
Netflix is pulling out all the stops for December. Although the streaming giant is getting rid of one of our favorite Disney movies, they're also adding a ton of fresh titles that we can't wait to watch. On top of Netflix originals like season two of The Crown and the premiere of the ridiculously creepy Dark, there are also exciting movies like 8 Mile, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and more. Check out the full list of movies and TV shows ahead!
Winter Reading List: 47 Books to Curl Up With Before They're Movies
There's nothing more hygge than grabbing a good book and reading in front of a roaring fire during this cold weather - but you need tools for that. While you will have to figure out your own fireplace situation, we can furnish you with reading inspiration. There are some excellent books being made into movies and TV shows next year, and we have a big, handy list of all the books that are in the process of being adapted. Some hot recent titles like The Hate U Give are in here, along with titles from authors of other successful adaptations, like Big Little Lies' Liane Moriarty.
Why the Reveal of Rey's Parents in Star Wars: The Last Jedi Matters
Warning: spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi ahead!
Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally answers one of the most pressing questions of the new trilogy: who are Rey's parents? Rey spends half the movie trying to figure it out, even as she trains with Luke - she visits creepy caves and looks into never-ending mirrors, bemoaning her lack of an answer to Kylo Ren in one of their Force-connected heart to hearts. In the end, Kylo tells Rey he's seen her parents in a vision . . . and that she has as well but doesn't want to acknowledge it.
As it turns out, Rey's parents are, well, nobodies from nowhere.
If this is actually true and not just a ploy on Kylo Ren's part to bring her over to his side, it's a bit of a letdown to longtime fans. We've spent so long trying to find the answer to this mystery, and, like Rey, we expected something amazing. There were theories that Rey is related to Luke or that she is related to Obi-Wan Kenobi - the stuff of Star Wars legends! Instead, Rey is bitterly disappointed to know her true parents sold her off for money and ended up dead on Jakku anyway.
But here's the thing: Rey may be a nobody from nowhere, but so was Anakin Skywalker in the beginning. So was Luke Skywalker before that infamous reveal of his father. In fact, in a way, being so makes her more important than ever.
Despite the title of the movie, there is no such thing as the last Jedi - and there won't be when nobodies and legacies alike wield the Force. Rey herself takes the Jedi tomes from the tree on Ahch-To (before Yoda burns it, obviously) to continue the legacy. The last shot of the movie further drives it home, as the young boy in the Fathier enclosure in Canto Bight seemingly uses the Force to move his broom into his hand. The Force flows through the universe and people regardless of bloodlines (especially since indicative midi-chlorians, if you want to get into it, aren't passed down genetically).
If Rey is a nobody from nowhere, but she revives the Jedi Order or balances the Force anyway, it demonstrates that heroes are not chosen: they're formed. They rise to answer the call, like Admiral Holdo and Rose Tico. Rey and the stable boy, neither of whom are part of the epic family drama playing out across the galaxies, open the story to a future. Because of this, there can be no last Jedi. Anyone could be the next hero. There is no Chosen One anymore (he was lightninged to death and then cremated, remember?). Rey's background matters because it doesn't matter.
While previous films look back to lost parents or origin stories, The Last Jedi turns its sights forward to a new future, just as Yoda instructs Luke. (And for all of you screaming, "BUT STAR WARS IS ABOUT THE SKYWALKERS!" . . . well, you still have Kylo Ren, aka Ben Solo, aka Leia's son, so, uh, enjoy that whole "Skywalker" thing.)
Does Timothée Chalamet Look Familiar? Here Are 7 Places You've Probably Seen Him Before
Timothée Chalamet is making a big splash in Hollywood, thanks to his breakout role in Call Me by Your Name. In addition to the film, Chalamet was recently nominated for his first-ever Golden Globe. Even though that's obviously a major accomplishment, the 21-year-old has actually been around for quite some time now. Chalamet has been starring in films and TV shows since 2008 and has even made guest appearances on Royal Pains, Law & Order, and The Adderall Diaries. Take a look back at some of his most notable projects.
8 Shows You Should Watch If You're Obsessed With Riverdale
Riverdale has quickly become the It show on The CW. With all the mystery, drama, and hot eye candy, what's not to love? Perhaps the reason we can't get enough of the series is because it reminds us of some of our other favorite TV shows. That love triangle between Betty, Veronica, and Archie? Totally Gossip Girl. The continuous question about who killed who? So much like Twin Peaks. Not to mention the subtle retro vibe reminds us of Stranger Things. See which other popular series Riverdale has similarities to.
Please Watch A Christmas Prince, Netflix's Unintentionally Hilarious Holiday Romance
When it comes to watching cheesy romance movies, I like to think my tolerance is fairly high. Sure, I cherish Never Been Kissed and Bridget Jones's Diary, but I also have a soft spot for . . . Beauty and the Briefcase. And From Prada to Nada. Oh, and Pizza My Heart (YES, Pizza My Heart). There's something comforting about sinking into the couch and getting wrapped up in the pure fluff of these movies' romantic entanglements, and I won't apologize for it. Some people meditate or go for a run to let off steam; I like to watch B-list actors get themselves into relationship problems that would be solved in real life with a single text message.
That's why, upon spotting Netflix's new original holiday movie, A Christmas Prince - Note: not to be confused with My Christmas Prince or A Princess For Christmas - I was ready to shut off my brain and enjoy a Christmas movie about royalty with a Netflix budget. It stars iZombie's charming Rose McIver, as well as Ben Lamb, a British actor who I'd never heard of before, but who looked hot on Netflix's tiny thumbnail. I knew it would never measure up to Pizza My Heart (I'm telling you, just watch it), but my bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and I were ready to at least give it a shot. Were we disappointed? No, no, we were not. Although to be fair, it's hard for me to be disappointed by anything six glasses of wine deep.
The movie follows McIver's Amber, a reporter working for a magazine in New York City as a lowly "junior editor" (FYI, a junior editor is typically a more senior position at standard publications, but I digress) who gets the chance of a lifetime to go to . . . a press conference. OK, OK, the press conference is in Aldovia, a low-rent version of The Princess Diaries's Genovia, where her boss needs her to get the scoop on the tiny country's playboy prince (played by Lamb, who's set to take over the throne following his father's untimely death). Amber jets off to the "castle" (which may or may not be a resort in the Poconos), only to discover that the press conference has been called off. Kind of rude considering 50 journalists flew halfway around the world to be there, no? Fortunately it takes way more than that to stand in Amber's way.
She ends up sneaking into the castle (no security in the palace, naturally) and posing as a tutor for the prince's little sister (no vetting of the palace tutors, naturally). Undercover as "Martha," Amber grows close to both the princess and her handsome older brother (the thumbnail does not do him justice, to be honest). Some complications ensue since she's caught in the queen mother of all lies, which I won't spoil for you here. What I will spoil are a few choice highlights from A Christmas Prince, which somehow manages to be enjoyable despite making little to no sense and having approximately the same budget as the New Year's Eve "party" I threw in ninth grade. For four friends. In my basement.
ANYWAY. If the above synopsis hasn't convinced you that this instant classic is worth a watch, maybe these will:
- The beginning of the movie is supposed to take place in New York City, but there are very clear establishing shots of Chicago landmarks.
- I'm pretty sure one of the guards outside the palace door is a mannequin.
- A palace staff member (legitimately one of, like, two?) automatically assumes Amber is the new tutor without checking her ID.
- No one notices her taking photos of the prince and castle, despite her phone's flash sound being on.
- An establishing shot of the castle at night looks weirdly like a toy miniature. It's probably not, but . . . it's kind of weird that there's even room for me to speculate that it is, is all I'm saying.
- Amber breaks an extremely old, extremely valuable vase in front of the queen, but no one cares.
- Amber insists on wearing red Converse sneakers to all of the palace's fancy events.
- Which I guess aren't that fancy, because these are served at one of them?
- Amber leaves her computer password sitting out for anyone to find, despite the fact she's writing an exposé on the prince. Hmm.
- Her boss is zero percent shocked and/or worried when Amber tells her that she's pretending to be "Martha."
- Amber is attacked by wolves. Freakin' wolves.
Like I said, this movie is not very good while also being incredible. I hated every minute of it, and also prayed it would never end. Once you finish watching Pizza My Heart, check this out. And then watch Pizza My Heart again so you can forget you ever saw this.
The Best Music Videos of 2017
Aside from raking up views on YouTube, music videos serve a larger purpose. There's an allure to them that's irresistible and there's a science behind creating great visuals. Down to wardrobe, lighting, and special effects, it all plays a major role in how we view the songs we love to hear. Beyoncé, the reigning supreme queen of visuals, proved to us in 2016 with Lemonade that music videos still matter. They enhance the kind of music that either gives us the feels or makes us dance. So, for 2017, we've compiled a list of nine music videos from talented artists who embrace creativity to produce some badass imagery, satisfying our music consumption.
Stranger Things Season 3 Is Coming, and We Have Plenty of Intel
By now, we've all made it through the second season of Stranger Things at least once, if not multiple times . . . right? After the insane new installment of the series, there's a lot to unpack. Luckily, we can already look forward to a third season that will hopefully give us an even deeper understanding of the crazy alternate universe that seems to haunt Hawkins, IN. And hey, maybe we'll get some help processing Bob's death, the heartbreaking Chief Hopper detail, Dustin's rebuff at the Snow Ball, and all the other things that made us weep in season two.
At this point, it's clear that the Duffer brothers, aka the show's creators, are in the very early stages of planning season three. Even so, there are a few things we know, a few things we can assume, and even a few things we can very lightly theorize about what's to come. Let's dive in.
1. The Cast
I mean, it mostly goes without saying that the entire cast would have to come back for season three. With such a small town and so many interwoven storylines, it would be hard to exclude anyone from future episodes. What's more interesting to consider is the newcomers. Seeing as Max (Sadie Sink) has more or less assimilated into the group and Billy (Dacre Montgomery) has more or less established himself as the town bully, we can guess they'll probably be back too.
And then there's Kali, Eleven's long-lost "sister" (aka another test subject from Hawkins lab) who is introduced in the season's highly contentious seventh episode. In a recent panel, the co-creator Matt Duffer insinuated she'd return. "It feels weird to me that we wouldn't solve [her] storyline," he said. "I would say chances are very high she comes back."
There's one more question mark in this equation that's looking more and more like an exclamation mark: Dr. Brenner. Season two hints that he's still alive in a pretty big way, so we wouldn't be surprised to see him in season three.
2. The Time Jump
Of all the things the show can accommodate with its vast and complex mythology, there's one thing production can't ignore: the fact that its stars are growing up, and fast. To compensate for the rapidly aging kid cast, there will be another time jump for season three. Matt Duffer broke it down in a postmortem interview for season two. "Our kids are aging. We can only write and produce the show so fast. They're going to be almost a year older by the time we start shooting season three," he said. "It provides certain challenges. You can't start right after season two ended . . . it's a long way of saying that yeah, we're going to do a time jump."
3. The Mind Flayer
While the show may, of course, introduce yet another monster in the next installment, don't assume we're done with the new creatures contained in season two. Ross Duffer revealed in an interview that the ominous final shot of season two is a hint at what's to come. "They've shut the door on the Mind Flayer, but not only is it still there in the Upside Down, it's very much aware of the kids, and particularly Eleven," he teased. "It had not encountered her and her powers until that final episode. Now, it knows that she's out there. We wanted to end on a little bit of an ominous note on that level." Get ready for round two with the big ol' smoke monster, everyone.
4. The Other Loose Ends
It's not just the Mind Flayer that was left a bit unresolved in season two. As we mentioned, both Kali and Dr. Brenner have storylines that need conclusions. And, well, let's not forget that Joyce Byers has a dead Demodog in her fridge. Oh, and the fact that Dustin may be in trouble after what he experiences in those twisted underground tunnels. Suffice it to say, the show will certainly have to address a few things as they push onward.
5. The Premiere
OK, here's the bad news: we may have to wait quite a while for the next go-round. In an interview with Variety, David Harbour (who plays beloved Chief Hopper) said we may be looking at a 2019 release. "You probably won't get [season three] until sometime in 2019," he said. "But also part of the thing is, like any good thing, they need time. And those guys work so hard. I mean, they just sit in their apartment and write for 12, 14 hours a day."
We're sure it will be worth the wait.
Eminem Is Surrounded by a Bunch of Clones in His "Walk on Water" Music Video
While everyone was out scrambling to find last-minute holiday gifts, Eminem decided to finally drop his music video for "Walk on Water" from his Revival album on Friday night. Even though Beyoncé is featured on the track, she unfortunately doesn't make an appearance. In the video, the rapper is shown performing in an empty theater, walking on a frozen lake, and in another scene, in a roomful of clones, typing away on typewriters (because that's not creepy at all). But the best part, perhaps, is at the end when the real Slim Shady comes forward. Honestly, you just have to watch the whole thing for any of it to make sense.
We're Calling It: These Are the Best Songs of 2017
Now that we're nearing the end of the year, it's time to crown the best songs of 2017! From sexy hits like "Wild Thoughts" and "Slow Hands" to romantic love songs like "Malibu" and "Shape of You," we were blessed with so much amazing music this year, we don't even know where to start. So let's just jump right in - here are the best songs of 2017!
- "Lemon," by N.E.R.D and Rihanna
- "Perfect Duet" by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé
- "Malibu" by Miley Cyrus
- "Green Light" by Lorde
- "Let Me Go" by Alesso and Hailee Steinfeld feat. Florida Georgia Line
- "Slide" by Calvin Harris feat. Migos and Frank Ocean
- "Cut to the Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen
- "Wolves" by Selena Gomez and Marshmello
- "Sorry Not Sorry" by Demi Lovato
- "Ready For It" by Taylor Swift
- "Woman" by Kesha
- "May I Have This Dance" by Francis and the Lights feat. Chance the Rapper
- "I'm the One" by DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne
- "Biking (Solo)" by Frank Ocean
- "You Are the Problem Here" by First Aid Kit
- "8Teen" by Khalid
- "Riding Shotgun" by Kygo and Oliver Nelson feat. Bonnie McKee
- "I Dare You" by The xx
- "Feels" by Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams and Katy Perry
- "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
- "Bodak Yellow" by Cardi B
- "What About Us" by Pink
- "What Lovers Do" by Maroon 5 feat. SZA
- "Too Good at Goodbyes" by Sam Smith
- "New Rules" by Dua Lipa
- "Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller
- "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran
- "HUMBLE." by Kendrick Lamar
- "Havana" by Camila Cabello
- "Slow Hands" by Niall Horan
- "Strangers" by Sigrid"
- "The Cure" by Lady Gaga"
- "Want You Back" by Haim
- "Praying" by Kesha
- "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles
Bookmark This Guide to 2018's Biggest Award Shows
With the 75th Golden Globe Awards nominations and the 24th Screen Actors Guild nominations announced, award show season is officially upon us. When the new year begins, there's an award show (or two) almost every week from the beginning of January to the middle of March. To help you get ready for all the red carpet razzle dazzle, the large-scale musical numbers, and the inevitable live show flubs, here is a guide to the 2018 award show season.
Note: Not all of these are televised, but there is telecast information when an awards show has one. All times Eastern.
75th Golden Globe Awards - Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. on NBC
23rd Critics Choice Movie Awards - Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. on The CW
49th NAACP Image Awards - Jan. 15 at 9 p.m. on TV One 2018
29th Producers Guild of America Awards - Jan. 20
24th Screen Actors Guild Awards - Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. on TNT and TBS
60th Grammy Awards - Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. on CBS
70th Director Guild of America Awards - Feb. 3
22nd Satellite Awards - Feb. 10
70th Writers Guild of America Awards - Feb. 11 (there is no telecast, but video highlights can be found here.
71st British Academy Film Awards - Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. on BBC America
33rd Independent Spirit Awards - March 3 at 5 p.m. on IFC
38th Golden Raspberry Awards - March 3, live stream can be found here.
90th Academy Awards - March 4 at 8 p.m. on ABC
5th iHeartRadio Music Awards - March 11 at 8 p.m. on TBS, TNT and truTV
If you're wondering where the People's Choice Awards are, since they typically air in the beginning of January, the answer is they have moved. With E! picking up the award show from CBS, the new network has chosen to move the awards to November.
"By moving People's Choice Awards outside of the traditional award season, we establish a new window to celebrate the best in pop culture and will harness E!'s tremendous multi-platform reach to engage fans and drive momentum throughout the year," Jen Neal, executive vice president of marketing for E!, said in a statement.
So look for the 2018 People's Choice Awards on Nov. 11, 2018 on E!.
ThredUp Goody Boxes Will Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Thrift Shopping
Technology can be one hell of a glorious thing. Thanks to the supersavvy innovations of the last few decades, some of the most aggravating, time-consuming tasks faced by modern womankind have been transformed into a recurring iPhone reminder and a few simple clicks of a mouse. And now one of the biggest time sucks in history joins the ranks of "things made way easier by technology": thrift shopping.
On Dec. 12, online thrift-and-consignment giant ThredUp launched Goody Boxes, a streamlined way to make firsthand style out of secondhand goods. Here's how it works: You take a quick quiz about your personal style and the brands you love, which is then processed through an algorithm that scans 35,000 brands and over 2 million items to come up with the pieces that fit you best. Then you choose how many items you want to include in your box (10 to 20, all of which get up to an 80 percent discount), and the in-house ThredUp stylists sign off on the items that they think you'll love the most. It's worth noting here, too, that you can choose the type of box you want - from "work wear" to "fancy," it's all covered in individual boxes available for purchase.
Once you've completed that process, the box is then shipped straight to you for final approval - and you have seven days to decide what you love and must have, and what you can absolutely live without. The best part? The whole process costs $20! That includes the initial shipping, the return shipping of the items you don't want (with an easy-to-use prepaid label), and a $20 credit that goes against the total price of the items that you ultimately decide to keep.
In the lead-up to the Goody Boxes launch, I gave the "work wear" box a spin. It was delivered in just one day, straight to my office and chock full of amazing thrift-store finds that would have taken hours - if not days - to find in stores or online. Inside the packaging, I found a mix of brands: an Alice + Olivia blouse, a funky French jumpsuit, a little black dress from J. Crew, and a pair of sensible Cole Haan flats alongside a Kate Spade purse. In other words: it was the perfect combination for a mini in-home fashion show before it was time to make real decisions.
While half of the items I received were not the right fit for me - although maybe in my dreams! - everything was reasonably priced and in perfect condition, and I wound up keeping quite a lot of what was sent in the box. Most importantly, though, the whole process was thrilling - one that I would recommend to anyone who loves to shop the secondhand circuit but just can't find the time. My tl;dr? The concept had me sold from the get-go, but the fact that I was sent a like-new version of my favorite Michael Kors coat that I had desperately been trying to replace was the real clincher.
Ultimately, not knowing what you're going to get makes it exciting, but giving the information that can best tailor the products to you makes it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. And for just $20, what do you have to lose? You, too, might find exactly what you're looking for - and it's all just a few clicks away.
Not Sure What Wine to Grab From Trader Joe's? Here Are 16 Tasty Options
While Trader Joe's may be the best thing in the world for great bargains, healthy options, unique foods, and really fun people-watching, the store also carries a wide variety of wines. From red blends to Champagne, its wine selection can meet the needs of any dinner party, brunch, or night in.
Also a big win? The price. The bottles are usually a bargain, and although you may be going for something a little bit finer, there is just something about grabbing a bottle of Two Buck Chuck for good measure that makes the college kid in me smile. (OK, I still drink it sometimes and I'm well into my 30s.) Check out our definitive list of the best bottles of wine you can find at Trader Joe's.
The Most Popular Google Searches of 2017
There's no mincing words: 2017 was one hell of a year. It's hard to fathom how it's even humanly possible that everything that happened this year occurred in just 12 calendar months, but from politics to entertainment to weather phenomena and global tragedy, it all happened, and we've all got lots of feelings about each and every event that affected our lives. What better way, then, to measure the year that was than by examining the words we searched for the most on the internet?
That's the thinking behind Google's annual Year in Search report, which examines all of the data gathered throughout the last 365 days and ties it all up together with a nice neat bow (and, naturally, a list of what we searched for most). It's here that you'll see why it is that 2017 was the year that we asked "how" far more than anything else - and see how it shaped the way that each and every event went down. Not sure what that means? Ahead, witness the top stories of the year in one hell of a year-in-review video - and be sure to scroll through to read some of the most riveting parts of this year's study on US searches in easy-to-digest list form.
Sip on Any of These Teas to Stop Your Bloating in Its Tracks
When bloating comes out of nowhere and ruins your life day, you're left frantically searching for the best cure to banish your belly. There are actually many ways to relieve bloating, but one of our favorites is with a hot cup of tea. Certain herbs and roots have properties that can alleviate inflammation and distress in your gastrointestinal tract, therefore helping to eliminate the distention in your lower abdomen. Here are some go-to recommendations not just from us, but also from the tea experts themselves. While there may not be much scientific evidence proving that tea relieves bloating or GI issues, it can certainly be a holistic supplemental practice that helps you along the way.
Dandelion
Kristina Richens, certified tea expert and minister of commerce at The Republic of Tea, told POPSUGAR that this floral tea "can help eliminate excess water weight" and noted that "this small, yellow flower dots meadows around the world, [but] its roots are known as a powerhouse of healthy benefits" within naturopathic and homeopathic medicine. "The dandelion's use traces back to the 10th century, when Arabian physicians revered the root for its cleansing properties and as a natural aid for digestion."
Fennel
Slightly licorice-esque in taste, fennel is an anti-inflammatory and can help relax the muscles in your GI tract, which can ease an upset stomach and help with bloating.
Ginger
Ginger is something of a digestive cure-all. You can make your own ginger tea at home or brew up something in a bag. Billy Dietz, tea specialist at DavidsTea, recommends a blend called Le Digestif that combines some debloating powerhouses: "a mix of apple mint, fennel, ginger, and peppermint."
Lemon
While not a "tea" per se, a hot cup of lemon water does wonders for digestion and bloating. If you need a little more oomph in your morning hot cup, try adding some fresh-squeezed lemon to lemon-peel tea or metabolism-boosting green tea and let the distention melt away.
Chamomile
Yes, chamomile will help you sleep and de-stress, but did you know chamomile is also a powerful anti-inflammatory? Dr. Andrew Weil (creator of the anti-inflammatory diet) recommends this herbal brew for upset stomachs, indigestion, and even menstrual pain.
Ree Drummond's Christmas Cookies Are Almost Too Cute to Eat
The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, is best known for her cheery personality and comforting recipes made on her ranch in Oklahoma. Her favorite holiday sugar cookies take on a fun new twist with dyed egg-wash paint in place of traditional icing. Lemon zest is added to the cookie dough for a light hint of citrus, and the egg-wash paint makes these cookies much less sweet than traditional frosted sugar cookies.
In her step-by-step blog post, Ree doubles her recipe, so be mindful of the portions if you're not looking to make enough cookies for a small army. The egg-wash paint goes a long way, which makes it easy to have a variety of colors for your cookie designs. The color of the glaze comes out a lot more vibrant once it's baked and the piped powdered-sugar icing adds a bit of added sweetness to each bite. Make these cookies with the whole family and add some color to your holiday spread. Just be sure to make extra because they're as addictive as they are cute.
Get the recipe: Ree Drummond's Favorite Holiday Cookies
11 Supersimple Ways to Make Your Home Smell So Fresh and So Clean
Have you ever come home from a long day of work, stepped through your door, and noticed that your home smells a little musty? Between lingering food smells from the kitchen, damp towels in the bathroom, and other day-to-day activities, there are lots of things that contribute to your home smelling a little less than fresh. It happens to the best of us, but luckily it's an easy fix! DIY air fresheners, houseplants aplenty, and some essential cleaning tips are some of our favorite ways to get a fresh home that smells amazing.
This 1 Accessory Makes Any iPhone Take the Best Photos Ever - No Upgrade Required
It's that time of year once again. All of the new phone models have just been announced, and as a result, we're all pinching pennies to avoid FOMO and score that coveted upgrade. But if what you're really after is a better-quality camera for your old iPhone, look no further: the DxO One camera ($499) will solve all your problems for about half the price.
Boasting 20.2-megapixel resolution, the world's smallest one-inch format sensor camera, and a wide-format lens, the DxO One connects directly into your iPhone's lightning port and integrates directly into the Apple iOS - giving you the power of a pricey DSLR camera, but letting you instantly drop your photos into your group iMessage or chuck them up on Instagram. Oh, and did we mention that it will solve every single one of those low-light problems you've got with your three-year-old phone?
Ahead, check out some of the features of this game-changing device - and be sure to check out the DxO website for additional information on what it can do.
11 Reasons to Visit Disneyland in the Winter
First things first: there's no wrong time to visit Disneyland. You can get something special out of your trip no matter what time of year you go, but visiting in the Winter definitely has its perks. Holiday decor and festivities aside, you can actually experience shorter wait times for rides, you indulge in Winter-themed treats, and you can escape the sweltering heat of the Summer days. Read on to see why Disneyland is the best in the Winter.
The Obamas Traded the White House For This $5.3M Mansion
When their presidential term comes to end, most first families are eager to return to a life of anonymity far away from Washington DC - but the Obamas aren't most first families. Their younger daughter, Sasha, has a couple years of school left. With this in mind, Politico has revealed that the Obamas are staying put in DC, at least until Sasha graduates.
They've traded the White House for a luxurious brick mansion in the upscale DC neighborhood of Kalorama, just two miles away. This makes Barack Obama the first president to stay in DC after his term since Woodrow Wilson in 1921. Kalorama is home to many embassies and ambassadors' residences, so it already has the security its new residents need.
The Obamas are reportedly renting the nine-bedroom, eight-and-a-half-bathroom estate from former Clinton administration Press Secretary Joe Lockart and wife Giovanna Gray, who paid $5.3 million for it in 2014. The sprawling 8,200-square-foot home was built in 1928, and its traditional bones have been tastefully updated with modern fixtures and decor.
Look through the pictures below to see the luxurious amenities the former first family is enjoying now that they've left office.
These Are the Songs That Alexa Was Asked to Play Most in 2017 - by Their Unforgettable Lyrics
Amazon's Alexa is a digital assistant of many talents. Alexa can turn on your lights, tell you the news, rope you into a rousing bout of Jeopardy!, or play any song you've ever listened to in your digital library - all with a simple sentence and in just a matter of seconds. But as we found out this Fall, one of the best features of the Echo version of Alexa is that her remit isn't limited to playing a tune by its proper title. Regardless of how much you butcher the title, so long as you belt out one accurate lyric with which to track it down, Alexa can scan the massive Amazon Music library and instantly start playing the exact song you're looking for.
Naturally, the lyrics most frequently requested are a sight to behold. Back in October, Amazon took note - and treated us to the very first chart of Alexa's most requested songs.
Now, as we count down the final days of 2017, Amazon has released the definitive ranking of the top Alexa lyric requests of the year . . . and boy is it one hell of a list! And you're in luck, because we've pulled it all together for you for easy consumption - and, of course, oodles of giggles. So, without further ado, behold the top 40 lyric requests of 2017. But be forewarned: we can't promise that you won't have these one-liners stuck in your head for days to come.
1. ". . . I just wanna Roley, Roley, Roley . . ." - Ayo & Teo, "Rolex"
2. ". . . I'm a rebel just for kicks . . ." - Portugal. The Man, "Feel It Still"
3. ". . . swish, swish, bish . . ." - Katy Perry feat. Nicki Minaj, "Swish Swish"
4. ". . . push me to the edge, all my friends are dead . . ." - Lil Uzi Vert, "Xo Tour Llif3"
5. ". . . I'm in love with the shape of you . . ." - Ed Sheeran, "Shape of You"
6. ". . . I'm weak, and what's wrong with that?" - AJR, "Weak"
7. ". . . I want something just like this . . ." - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, "Something Just Like This"
8. ". . . I'm in love with your body . . ." - Ed Sheeran, "Shape of You"
9. ". . . I finally found something I'm good at . . ." - Brett Eldredge, "Somethin' I'm Good At"
10. ". . . love like there's no such thing as a broken heart . . . " - Old Dominion, "No Such Thing as a Broken Heart"
11. ". . . I don't wanna be alive . . ." - Logic feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid, "1-800-273-8255"
12. ". . . that's how you speak to a girl . . ." - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, "Speak to a Girl"
13. ". . . that's what lovers do . . ." - Maroon 5 feat. SZA, "What Lovers Do"
14. ". . . wake up in the morning, then I dab . . ." - ILoveMemphis, "Lean and Dabb"
15. ". . . if we go down, we go down together . . ." - The Chainsmokers, "Paris"
16. ". . . I'm blue, if I was green I would die . . ." - Jay-Z, "4:44"
17. ". . . promise me no promises . . ." - Cheat Codes feat. Demi Lovato, "No Promises"
18. ". . . drivin' with my eyes closed . . ." - Sam Hunt, "Body Like a Back Road"
19. ". . . hit me like a hurricane . . ." - Luke Combs, "Hurricane"
20. ". . . baby, I'm sorry, not sorry . . ." - Demi Lovato, "Sorry Not Sorry"
21. ". . . I feel like my life ain't mine . . ." - Logic feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid, "1-800-273-8255"
22. ". . . this is how we do it down in Puerto Rico . . ." - Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, "Despacito (Remix)"
23. ". . . send me your location . . ." - Khalid, "Location"
24. ". . . I'm ready to jump out the window . . ." - Big Sean, "Jump Out the Window"
25. ". . . there's no crying in the club . . ." - Camila Cabello, "Crying in the Club"
26. ". . . why is everything so heavy?" - Linkin Park feat. Kiiara, "Heavy"
27. ". . . you'll always be by my side . . ." - Zara Larsson & MNEK, "Never Forget You"
28. ". . . don't be afraid to catch feelings . . ." - Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, & Big Sean, "Feels"
29. ". . . the clock is ticking . . ." - Zedd & Alessia Cara, "Stay"
30. ". . . you wrecked my whole world when you came . . ." - Luke Combs, "Hurricane"
31. ". . . strip that down for me . . ." - Liam Payne feat. Quavo, "Strip That Down"
32. ". . . I make money moves . . ." - Cardi B, "Bodak Yellow"
33. ". . . give me some good news, baby . . ." - Ocean Park Standoff, "Good News"
34. ". . . I was busy thinking about boys . . ." - Charli XCX, "Boys"
35. ". . . my left stroke just went viral . . ." - Kendrick Lamar, "HUMBLE."
36. ". . . I'm not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts . . ." - The Chainsmokers & Coldplay, "Something Just Like This"
37. ". . . you woke up with me . . ." - Bryson Tiller, "Don't Get Too High"
38. ". . . I just want some ice on my wrist so I look better when I dance . . ." - Ayo & Teo, "Rolex"
39. ". . . just stop your crying . . ." - Harry Styles, "Sign of the Times"
40. ". . . live it up for the weekend . . ." - Brantley Gilbert, "The Weekend"
I’m a Financial Advisor - and I Rent My Home and Lease My Car
Renee Cohen is a financial advisor whose mission is for you to love your money story.
As a successful woman in my 30s, people are often surprised to learn that my car is leased and my home is rented - especially when they find out I'm a professional financial advisor.
I am very open with my personal philosophies and my own personal financial journey with clients. When it comes to financial planning and goal-setting, everyone's situation is different. You've got to evaluate all the pieces around you to ask: "What is the best fit for me?" And for me, personally, home ownership is not something I strive for at this present time. I prefer to build my assets in other ways.
I'm definitely not against home ownership. But you don't have to own just because society says you have to own. It's OK to rent!
Why Owning Isn't Everything
My philosophy has always been that real estate is a great piece to have in your overall portfolio, but it's not the only thing to have. So many people have tunnel vision about real estate being a great asset. And it is! There are tax deductions that go along with it. But there are also a lot of complications that go along with it. And that's beyond just saving for the down payment. When you own a house, everything else is on you.
When I talk to people about saving for a house, we can't just talk about the 100 grand that you want to put down. What about that question for the plumber? When you need a painter? Furnishing the house? Most people are not going to just take all their furniture from their one-bedroom apartment into a home and call it a day.
Our generation is redefining the American dream.
Bottom line? You don't want to become house poor. I've had some clients who are now pinching pennies because they pulled the trigger on buying a property - that million-dollar condo that's not going to be their forever home - and now they're pinching pennies in other capacities. They're not diversifying their portfolio. They're not building meaningful savings.
I also live and work in LA, where real estate is notoriously expensive, which is important for people to keep in mind. Many of us saw our parents' generation get married, have kids, and buy a home. But I think our generation is redefining the American dream - especially in a market where our dollar obviously doesn't go as far as it used to.
Other Places to Save
As an advisor, I look at assets in four to five main buckets. One bucket is cash: a good emergency fund that could cover you for about six months. The second bucket is a tax-deductible bucket - a 401(k) or Traditional IRA. The third bucket is a taxable bucket, which includes nonqualified investments for your mid- to long-term goals because you don't want money sitting on the sideline in cash. You want to have some opportunity for growth relative to your risk tolerance. The fourth bucket is a tax-free bucket - the most common vehicle is a Roth IRA, but there are income restrictions, so it is important to understand how to build that bucket when you don't qualify. And a fifth bucket is real estate.
But real estate is not a liquid asset. In an emergency, what if you don't have an emergency fund and all your money is also locked up in a 401(k) or real estate?
Why I Love Leasing
My initial conversation with clients is understanding their why. What's the why? What really drives and motivates them? What's important to them in the long term? And then I can connect their "whats" and build a plan around that. But I always joke that the plan is like a car: because as soon as we're done with the meeting, it changes. It's like buying a car - as soon as you drive off, it depreciates.
In my own personal life, one thing that I love is having a new car every year. So I lease my car. I've always factored a car payment into my budget, and I'd much rather have one and be able to drive to the dealership if something goes wrong or turn it in when I want. I don't want to deal with having to sell a car. And I won't benefit from purchasing when I'm planning to get a newer vehicle so often.
The Healthiest Strategy
We should all be architects of our own financial lives based on our own personal goals and philosophies. Maybe real estate isn't right for someone. And if I'm advising women, let's talk about family life and work. Do you want to have kids? Do you want to freeze your eggs? Let's talk about the costs associated with that. There's traditional and there's nontraditional, and that's fine, and it could change for you.
As women, we want to be empowered, financially - where we're not having to make personal and professional decisions because we're beholden to the financial part of our lives. That's where I really like to help women understand all the dynamics, so we can be empowered. And that means something different to everyone.
- As told to Lindsay Miller
17 Tech Hacks That'll Make You Feel Like a Boss
No one can resist the power of a game-changing secret, especially when it comes to the gadgets and technologies we use on the daily. If you want to know how to keep earphones from getting tangled or what to do with your favorite square Instagram prints, there's a hack for that, and we've rounded them all up. Your tech life's about to get a whole lot easier.
After geeking out to these gadget tricks, check out 33 more game-changing, brilliant hacks.
Google Just Launched 3 New Photo Apps - and We're Obsessed
Google has always been at the forefront of innovation. It's no surprise, then, that as we start to hit that point when we think we've got it all, the massive company pops up with something new and exciting and just all-around awe-inspiring. The latest endeavor, released on Dec. 12, is being labeled as the first in a set of "photography appsperiments," all aimed at getting the most out of the incredibly futuristic capabilities in every mobile phone.
Ahead, check out the details on all three of the new apps - Storyboard (available on Android only), Selfissimo! (available on Android and iOS), and Scrubbies (available on iOS only). And be sure to swap phones with a friend if you can't access all three of them, because they are all worth playing around with.
A Neuroscientist Says These 4 Things Will Make You Happier
There's a ton of "helpful" advice floating around the internet, but when the tips come from a neuroscientist, it might be time to actually listen up. Ladders, a job platform site, put together some insights from neuroscientist Alex Korb's book The Upward Spiral on how you can be happier - based on brain research.
1. Label your emotions.
If you're feeling a negative emotion like sadness or anger, label that emotion. It may seem simple, but your brain responds when you put your feelings into words. One fMRI study cited in the book noted that when a participant was shown images of people expressing emotions on their faces, their amygdala activated to the emotions they were seeing. When they were told to name the emotion, "the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activated and reduced the emotional amygdala reactivity." This essentially means that when participants consciously recognized the emotions they were seeing, it reduced the impact of those emotions in their brains.
Reddit user letstablethisfornow noted the effect labeling their emotions has had on their own happiness, calling it a "a game changer" for them.
"It's so simple and yet has such a profound effect that I'm amazed this isn't taught in schools. The effect is subtle since you are not actually removing the emotion, you just take one step away from it intellectually. You find that from experiencing long drawn-out swings in emotion you tend to have short peaks and valleys with a nice equilibrium most of the time.
You also realize that for the most part our day-to-day emotions are not really connected to anything specific. It could be caused by anything. That outburst at your wife, coworker, or boss could be the end result of waking up with a headache, indigestion, or forgetting you keys on your way to work. We tend to construct stories in our minds as to what our emotions mean after the fact when in reality we have no clue. When you label, you become more aware of your emotions, don't get carried away with them, and will be less likely to fall into this trap."
2. Ask yourself what you're grateful for.
In The Upwared Spiral, Korb says that the benefits of gratitude "start with the dopamine system, because feeling grateful activates the brain stem region that produces dopamine. Additionally, gratitude toward others increases activity in social dopamine circuits, which makes social interactions more enjoyable." Gratitude can also boost the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is what many antidepressants do. And as The Ladder points out, even if you don't have an answer to the question "what am I grateful for?", that's OK. "It's not finding gratitude that matters most; it's remembering to look in the first place," the book says. "Remembering to be grateful is a form of emotional intelligence." The studies showed that as emotional intelligence increases, the neurons in these areas become more efficient. So even if you have trouble finding something to be grateful for, merely asking yourself the question means you're on the right path to happiness.
"Address the possibility of a blind spot in your mind where you aren't able to instantly know what you take for granted. Spend time simply observing the things you don't have to overcome, all the conveniences and luxuries," says Reddit user Privatdozent. "This 'positive feedback loop' has to loop around many times to have a solid effect. The common criticism of this idea is that 'No one else's struggles diminish your own.' Well, yeah, they don't. But what if you take seriously much more of the struggles than the things deserving of your gratitude? Basically, try to give equal weight to the good things that happen as to the bad."
3. Be decisive!
There's nothing more anxiety-inducing than feeling like you've got unfinished business. Simply making a decision about something can reduce anxiety rather than allowing yourself to spend more time hesitating over all of the scenarios and outcomes that the decision will result in. "Making decisions includes creating intentions and setting goals - all three are part of the same neural circuitry and engage the prefrontal cortex in a positive way, reducing worry and anxiety," says Korb. Making decisions also allows people to feel more in control - feeling "out of control" can also cause feelings of worry. And when you do make a decision and the outcome of that decision happens to be a positive one, then even better!
"There's a book that's really helped me, called Getting Things Done," says Reddit user Kabitu. "It explains how indecision is a major source of mental stress. When you don't want to make a decision now, and leave the decision to be made later, that builds up a big cloud of annoying mental work you don't want to do, and it can sustain a subconscious reluctance to work."
4. Hug and touch loved ones and friends.
Social interactions have been proven to increase a person's feelings of acceptance and therefore happiness, but The Upward Spiral takes it a bit further. "One of the primary ways to release oxytocin is through touching," the book says. Oxytocin is a hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter to the brain. Psycholology Today says that it's known as the "love hormone" because it "regulates social interaction and sexual reproduction, playing a role in behaviors from maternal-infant bonding and milk release to empathy, generosity, and orgasm." So when people touch, hug, or kiss others, oxytocin levels actually increase. "Oxytocin is the hormone that underlies trust. It is also an antidote to depressive feelings," says the site. According to Korb, holding hands with someone during a painful experience can comfort you and your brain and help reduce the reaction to pain. So, more hugs!
35 Songs You'll Want to Have Your First Wedding Dance To
With wedding season in full swing, our minds can't get off of the songs that will be the soundtrack to your special day - it's not all about the perfect dress and cake. So we took on the very hard task of listening to some of our favorite Latin voices serenade us with their beautiful lyrics and love-inducing melodies to find you the most romantic tune for your first dance as a married couple. Look ahead for 35 options that perfectly explain your intense connection. Not engaged yet? These tunes are still worth a listen.
Instagram Gave Hashtags a Major Upgrade, and We Are So Here For It
Instagram is my happy place. I open my feed to escape from the real world, to forget about current events, to fill my heart and soul with beautiful things that I want to look at for hours on end. It's for this very reason that I jumped for joy when I found out that as of Dec. 12, Instagram users will no longer be limited to following people and places - you now have the power to follow hashtags, too.
While it may seem like a logical extension of the Instagram app, it's actually a total and complete game changer. No longer will you have to aimlessly click through profiles until you find what you're looking for; instead, all you need to do is type one hashtag - an interest, a hobby, a passion, a place - and from there, an entire world of images and videos is right before your very eyes. A hashtag will no longer be an aimless branding tool, instead serving as a gateway to more of what you want to see, more often. There's even a "related hashtags" section that will keep you clicking in the right direction any time you open the app.
"For the first time ever, Instagram community members will be able to follow hashtags just like they follow their friends," Matt Ogle, product manager for Interests at Instagram, told POPSUGAR in an exclusive statement. "We're excited to create new and easy ways for people to keep up with their hobbies and passions and discover accounts, right from their feed. Instagram is making interests - and the communities that form around them - a big focus, and following hashtags is our first step."
Ahead, we've broken down how the feature works - but it's important to note that following a hashtag doesn't mean you're tied to it for life. The best thing about the new feature, overall? It encourages exploration of new areas you never knew existed, while at the same time letting it be a wholly noncommittal (and oh so enjoyable) experience. And at the end of the day, that makes us love Instagram all that much more.
Behold, Reddit's 10 Most Upvoted Posts of 2017
More than 12 billion upvotes were made on Reddit this year, a figure that almost doubles the total number of living, breathing human beings on planet Earth. In other words, you'd be hard pressed to find a platform that gets quite as much engagement on the stories of the day, every day - and why its annual year in review is essential reading for any reasonable person who spends time on the internet.
So in order to properly bid adieu to 2017, ahead you'll find the top 10 most upvoted posts of 2017. These are the subjects that attracted the most Redditors over the course of the year and are a testament to the power of shared passions and feelings. And, of course, it wouldn't be a Reddit year in review without a couple of posts that left us LOLing for days, too.
This Affordable Palette Is So Good, People Mistook It For Fenty Beauty
YouTube beauty babe Raye Boyce (also known as ItsMyRayeRaye) is the absolute queen of budget makeup - from $6 foundation recommendations to stunning full-face tutorials with only dollar-store finds, Raye makes inexpensive products look like a million bucks. So it's no surprise that she prioritized affordability when collaborating on a palette with Bh Cosmetics, which is set to launch in mid-November for for $23. But what is surprising is how luxe the products look at such a great price; after seeing swatches of the three highlighters and 15 shadows, many of Raye's followers even mistook it for Fenty Beauty!
Specifically, followers couldn't believe that Raye's golden-hued highlighter, Moonlight, isn't an exact dupe of Fenty Beauty's fan-favorite Trophy Wife. That is, not until Raye offered a side-by-side swatch of the two formulas, showcasing the uniquely iridescent white-gold hue of her Bh Cosmetics offering. While both highlighters have a definite golden warmth to them, Raye's affordable option has an unmistakable "moonlit" quality to it, and it's only one of three highlighters in the jam-packed palette!
While giving Instagram followers a sneak peek of the upcoming release, Raye also took the time to swatch her highlighters on a darker complexion to showcase how they flatter people of all skin tones. Naturally, this got everybody even more excited for the holiday launch, when Raye will also release an affordable nine-piece brush set ($25) with the brand. Count us in!
Check out Raye's sneak peeks of the palette ahead, then sign up for updates about the release to snag yours first. Usually, we'd say "prepare your wallet" . . . but this time around, there's no need to worry about breaking the bank.
Purple and Silver Toning Shampoo to Keep That Blond Hair Blond
You might have heard about toning shampoo before, but do you know why blondes need it? Also known as purple shampoo, it helps fight off all those orange and brassy tones that often develop after you've dyed your hair a lighter shade. And unless you're going for the brassy look, people typically want to get rid of it. Because the shampoos are typically purple, blue, and gray, they can help cancel out the warm shades on the hair. Interested in trying one for yourself? Invest in some of these choices.
5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Getting Laser Hair Removal
Despite how long laser hair removal has been around now, there is still a lot that many don't know about the hair removal system. When I signed up for a course of laser treatments for my underarms at sk:n, a UK-based skin clinic, I threw out my razors, shaving creams, and home-waxing kit because I just knew it was the savior I'd been waiting for. (Spoiler alert: I was wrong!) If you're considering underarm laser hair removal, read on for the five things I wish I'd known before I started the treatment.
Is It Permanent?
A course of six to eight treatments is usually recommended for the best results, with top-up sessions prescribed as needed. After six treatments, I found my coarser underarm hairs growing back and needing to be shaved more and more, so while the follicles attached to the finer hairs in my underarms appear to be permanently defunct, the ones attached to my coarser ones don't appear to have been affected at all. That being said, I currently only shave them every seven to 10 days, which is better than the twice weekly shaves I had to endure before.
Does It Hurt?
As the saying goes, beauty is pain, and if you consider being hairless a beautiful thing, then you'd better be prepared for the pain of laser hair removal. Despite how quick and uncomplicated the sessions are, laser hair removal isn't exactly painless. The zap of the laser is comparable to someone repeatedly flicking rubber bands into your underarm skin for about 10 minutes, and when that's done, you can expect to be tender for up to 24 hours after. You're always advised to shave the night before a laser session to avoid the laser burning any hair as it blitzes over the area being treated.
When Do You Start Seeing Results?
Although results vary depending on each person, I started seeing a difference in the fine texture of my regrowth after the second session. The growth was fine enough that I didn't feel the need to shave in the six weeks between that session and the next. After the first session, though, you may start noticing hairs growing as normal and then quickly falling out as the follicles slowly die. This is completely normal.
How Long Does It Take?
For underarm treatments in particular, you're required to get six to eight treatments with six weeks in between each session to allow for each follicle to be targeted in the right stage of its growth cycle. The sessions themselves take five to 10 minutes of actual laser zapping. So, if you thought it was a one-and-done scenario like I did, you're sorely mistaken because you'll be getting treatments for up to eight months. Keep in mind that any direct sun exposure that occurs on the area being treated will mean you have to wait two weeks to ensure the laser doesn't cause further damage.
Is It Worth It?
Depending on what your expectations are, laser hair removal might fall on either side of the fence when it comes to whether it's worth it. As someone with coarse hair that is more prone to ingrown hairs, I developed sensitive, blemished underarm skin because of constant abrasion from shaving and exfoliating, so the break I got from my normal grooming routine was more than worth it, sore underarms and all.
I Tried the "Grandma Mask," and Holy Sh*t, Look at My Face
While I don't consider myself on the cutting edge of beauty technology, I am a sucker for trendy treatments and new "miracle" ingredients. Thus, when I saw a Korean mask face popping up on my feeds that looked unlike any product I'd ever seen, I had to try it. Hanacure's Multi-Action Treament Mask has been affectionately dubbed "The Grandma Mask" - for good reason. The company promises that, "Within 30 minutes, all major skin concerns are combated revealing a noticeably improved complexion, time after time."
But how? The two-part mask's innovative formula relies heavily on plant extracts (think lotus leaf, green tea, honeysuckle, and peony root) to stimulate blood flow to your face, before attaching to the impurities in your skin and lifting them out of your pores.
Science aside, it's the most bizarre beauty treatment I've ever tried. Here's everything you need to know before you check it out yourself!
The Most Popular Nail Polish on Pinterest Is Perfect For Sweater Weather
We've officially entered the season of hot chocolate and mulled wine - which means you need a Winter-ready nail polish to match your mug. If Pinterest is to be believed, your best bet actually costs less than your Instagrammable cold-weather drink.
According to Real Simple, this season, literally everyone is turning to Essie Angora Cardi ($9) to get the job done. This polish is currently sweeping Pinterest, and it's been saved on the platform over 400,000 times. That's a lot of zeroes, people.
Its popularity comes as no surprise - just take a look at the dusty, burgundy-rose coloring. This faded maroon instantly conjures up feelings of Fall. It's spicy and robust, and it looks oh so gorgeous against the season's orange and red leaves.
But the proof is in the pictures, so why don't you take a look at the coolest shade in beauty school? Scroll on for some of our favorite Angora Cardi looks.
What Fenty Beauty's Universal Red Lipstick Actually Looks Like on Different Skin Tones
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint ($24) may be the last liquid red lipstick you ever buy. Like the name suggests, the formula is stunning! The shade is what we call a "true red" or universal red, meaning it is not too cool or too warm and it flatters most (if not all) skin tones.
The texture glides on in a way that looks like latex but feels like velvet. It dries down to a stain that is not dehydrating like similar products. And it claims to have 12 hours of staying power. To see if this is all true, we tested the shade against diverse complexions. See the results ahead, then shop it on Nov. 23 at midnight ET at Sephora.com and FentyBeauty.com and in Sephora stores that day.
See Swatches of EVERY New Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Rainbow Lipstick
There is something to look forward to after Christmas: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna is launching a line of 14 universally flattering pigmented lipstick shades on Dec. 26 at Sephora. The lipsticks in the line, called Weightless Matte Finish ($18), are meant to match every trend and mood. Expect shades like Midnight Wasabi (wicked green), One of the Boyz (wild lilac), and also Up to No Good (nude peach). What the skinny bullet lipsticks all have in common is that the colors are saturated and the finishes are soft, matte, and creamy.
To help you choose which shades you needed in your life, like, yesterday, we swatched every single one. See the Rihanna lipstick rainbow ahead!
Arielle Has 1.1 Million Instagram Followers - This Is How She Gets Paid to Do Beauty Ads
Yesterday, Arielle Charnas, the blogger behind Something Navy - which has amassed over 1.1 million followers on Instagram - opened up about a taboo topic. Arielle used her Instagram Stories to discuss her fans' questions about sponsored posts. She addressed everything from how she gets paid to when she says no to a deal. It was pretty informative and impressively open. Keep reading to discover what you've always wondered when you see the hashtag #ad.
The 3 Products That Cleared Up My Hormonal Acne Scars
I had clear, porcelain, glowing skin during those memorable teenage years when many adolescents suffer from acne flare-ups and cystic pimples. I never even used skincare products - not a drop. I remember how lucky I felt to not have to suffer through the emotional stress and embarrassment of having a face covered in craters, redness, hyperpigmentation, and dry, flaky skin . . . until it happened to me.
Around the time I attended college, I started noticing small breakouts along my entire jawline. I had no idea why. I wasn't doing anything different than I had been doing my whole life. And ironically, the more I took care of my skin, the more acne I got. I was embarrassed and depressed. Naturally, I ran to the local pharmacy and purchased some products recommended by my acne-prone friends, but with no results. If anything, my skin looked and felt worse. That's when I got serious and made an appointment with a dermatologist, who put me on topical and oral medications to treat my acne, which turned out to be hormonal due to the fact I had stopped taking birth control.
As Debra Wattenberg, MD, explained, "Hormonal acne tends to develop post-teenage years, and it is commonly distributed along the jawline, neck, and cheeks. It often presents with cysts that are caused by fluctuations in hormones . . . specifically increases in androgens like testosterone."
"Irregular menses, discontinuation of birth control pills, and menopause can all cause hormonal acne," she continued. "Treatment often requires oral medication because the cysts which develop from hormonal acne are deep and hard to treat. I commonly recommend antibiotics, birth control pills, and anti-androgens like Spironolactone."
Unfortunately, that's not the happy ending I would have liked. Although my acne was slowly clearing up, it had left behind terrible scars, known as hyperpigmentation and discoloration in the skin. Hyperpigmentation and scarring are caused from excessive picking at areas of irritation, picking pimples the wrong way, and picking away at pimples as they are healing.
I struggled to find the solution to correct my damaged skin. I tried all the top picks for scarring, but none worked. I was left feeling hopeless that my skin would ever be the same.
After months of research on vitamin C, turmeric, retinoids, and product testing, I finally found my skincare saviors. These three have worked their magic to completely clear my hyperpigmentation, scarring, and redness. This product combination is a skincare miracle worker like one I have never experienced before:
- Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash ($38)
- Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum ($34)
- Skin & Lab Red Serum ($35)
Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clearing Wash is formulated with two percent salicylic acid, which helps eliminate the breakout cycle while removing excess oil, makeup, and bacteria. It soothes and conditions the skin with allantoin and pro vitamin B5, leaving it thoroughly clean and residue-free!
"Salicylic acid helps to destroy the attachments between skin cells," Dr. Wattenberg explained. "It destroys the desmosome and therefore allows exfoliation of the skin and helps to unclog pores. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and helps to destroy free radicals. It decreases inflammation from acne and helps to reduce redness and scarring. It also can help to reduce pigmentation. Rose is used to hydrate the skin; it's an emollient and it has some anti-inflammatory properties to decrease the chance for discoloration."
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is packed with ingredients to brighten and antioxidants to reverse surface damage. I mix it with the superfood-rich Skin & Lab Red Serum (a Korean-beauty staple), and my skin looks and feels better than it did in 2008. Wattenberg explained, "These products work to exfoliate the skin, thereby increasing cell turnover, preventing pigmentation, erythema, and scarring. The anti-inflammatory effects of the vitamin C prevent the erythema. Salicylic acid can dissolve the keratin plug that causes a blackhead. It dissolves oil and dead skin cells, making pores look smaller. It also decreases oil production because it's lipophilic and has the ability to penetrate the pore, destroy the oil, and unclog the pore."
I wish I could tell you that the road to finding the products that work best for your skin ailments is quick and easy, pain-free, and at times not emotionally draining. Luckily, you're one step closer to trying something that your skin and soul will thank you for; trust me!
Micellar-Water-Infused Hair Care Is Going to Be Everywhere in 2018
Micellar water is a wildly talked-about skincare category. Cliffs Notes: it's essentially a water-based makeup remover and face cleanser that requires no rinsing off. So it's optimal for those of us who are a bit lazy with our routines or just looking for a gentle product. Oh yeah, and it's a "French girl" beauty secret, since the French brand Bioderma put it on the map.
Now, the category has grown beyond skin cleansing to hair care. In 2018, we predict it will be a buzzy ingredient for hair. But is the micellar water you use on your hair similar to what goes on your face?
"From a gentle cleaning standpoint, they are similar," said Herbal Essences R&D Expert Rachel Zipperian (Herbal Essences has a micellar water shampoo line hitting stores in January). "Micelles are tiny cleaning ingredients that are designed to gently remove dirt and oil and easily rinse away in water. The main difference is how you use the products. You don't need to rinse micellar water products in skin care because the micelles are already activated in the product so they can effectively work on a cotton ball or wipe. In hair care, you do have to rinse micellar shampoo out when you're done lathering. The rinse water is needed to activate the micelles to carry the trapped dirt and oils from hair."
Hair pro Philip Berkovitz's Philip B. products have a Conditioning Water Spray. He breaks down the science of why the ingredient works for both skin and hair: "Much like micellar water for the skin - that are tiny spheres of oil suspended in water - for the hair, it is also the same principle. But it is more refined nanospheres of plant extracts." He noted that when micellar water is combined with glycerin, the formula can act as a natural humectant. This attracts moisture to the hair for a more rejuvenating effect. I often use his spray as I would a dry shampoo (from midlength to ends) to fix limp or second-day hair.
Though it is called water, it won't make your hair greasy. In fact, it should have the opposite effect. "Want to know the magic behind the micelles?" Zipperian questioned. "It can be tough to wash away oil because oil repels water. The tiny but powerful cleaning micelles work so well because they are essentially bipolar. One side of the micelle is attracted to oil, the other end is attracted to water. During use, the micelle is activated so it can trap the oil and suspend it in water that is then rinsed away."
Convinced and ready to start using micellar water on your hair? Keep reading to discover five unique haircare products that all contain it!
Why a Huge Time Jump For Star Wars: Episode IX Is Not Out of the Question
Love it or hate it, Star Wars: The Last Jedi subverts classic Star Wars tropes in new and refreshing ways. Instead of an epic revelation about the real (and seemingly important) identity of Rey's parents, we learn that they are complete nobodies who are wholly insignificant. And similarly, instead of revealing Snoke as a crucial figure from the past, he instead dies rather abruptly with no significant backstory to speak of. Outside of the actual plot and characters, there's one other major departure that we've never really seen in either of the preceding trilogies: there's no time jump.
The Last Jedi picks up mere moments after the end of The Force Awakens. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Rian Johnson gave his reason: "In every other case, Star Wars movies jumped forward in leaps of time. I knew I was supposed to do that, but the last image was intriguing. I knew I wanted to know where we were going next." And what Johnson says is true. Here's how it's all broken down so far:
- Time between Episode I (The Phantom Menace) and Episode II (Attack of the Clones): 10 years
- Time between Episode II and Episode III (Revenge of the Sith): Three years
- Time between Episode III and Episode IV (A New Hope): 19 years
- Time between Episode IV and Episode V (The Empire Strikes Back): Three years
- Time between Episode V and Episode VI (Return of the Jedi): One year
- Time between Episode VI and Episode VII (The Force Awakens): 30 years
- Time between Episode VII and Episode VIII (The Last Jedi): Like, two seconds
Before The Last Jedi, the shortest span of time that passed was still one year. What's more, when it comes to the upcoming Episode IX, a time jump actually makes sense, and not just because that's historically what Star Wars films do. Instead, it solves a lot of issues that seem to linger in the wake of The Last Jedi.
The biggest reason to leap forward in time is to give us closure on dear Leia Organa. Seeing as the late Carrie Fisher will not be able to reprise her role, and since her story is open-ended when The Last Jedi finishes up, a time jump could successfully wrap up her storyline. If a year or five years or even 10 years have passed since we last caught up with our crew, it gives space for a lot to happen. Leia's death could absolutely be included in that space.
And before you come up with all these reasons about how Leia could return, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has already stated that she will definitely not be back. There will be no attempts to re-create Fisher's likeness in CGI, and it seems even cobbling together old footage is out of the question. Episode IX needs to find a way to gracefully write out Leia, and a time jump could help facilitate that process.
But there's another aspect to a potential time jump we need to address. Simply put, the passage of time allows the story to bloom. The characters need time to grow. Right now Kylo Ren is a big whiny baby still in the infancy of his rule as Supreme Leader. Rey has only just unlocked her powerful connection to the force. Poe is still hasty and reckless. Finn has only just shown himself to be a tried-and-true hero.
Launching forward allows for character development that we don't need to witness on screen. With a time jump, Kylo Ren can become a much more formidable foe and Rey a much more intimidating Jedi master. Poe can grow as a leader of the Resistance. Finn can train harder. By all accounts, the passage of time would only breathe new life into what seems like a story that has stalled.
I mean, not to return to the whole "that's how Star Wars movies work" argument, but a flash forward is a crucial aspect of a Star Wars film skeleton. The whole reason we have that iconic scrolling text at the beginning of each film is to set the stage for the story we're about to see! With decades in between each trilogy, the scrolls serve a very practical purpose: to catch us up on everything we missed. So, in a way, this would be the perfect way to wrap the series. To leap forward, to set the stage, and to plunge us into an entirely new story one last time.
This Hilarious Thread Nails Why Nitpicking Fans Should Be Thankful For The Last Jedi
It is a Star Wars truth universally acknowledged that any real fan of the franchise has at least a few issues with the critically disastrous prequel trilogy: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Episode II - Attack of the Clones, and Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The three films, which came out between 1999 and 2005, feature dull storylines, Jar Jar Binks, and Midi-chlorians, among other sins. For the aforementioned reasons ( and many more), they fell far, far short of George Lucas's original movies.
Fortunately J.J. Abrams's Star Wars: The Force Awakens appeared to rectify the damage done by the prequels when it premiered in 2015. It blessed us with a fresh new storyline - OK, not that new if you've seen A New Hope - and an exciting cast of characters that made us forget all about Nute Gunray. Now that its sequel, Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, has arrived, the reception has been much more mixed. In fact, the backlash has been so intense that over 53,000 fans have even started a petition to wipe the film from canon altogether.
In defense of The Last Jedi, Jesse McLaren hopped on Twitter to put riled up fans in their place with one hilarious thread. Do you guys even remember just how bad some of the plot points in Episode I, II, and III really were?! Let him remind you.
Oh no! Your Star Wars had some "inconsistencies"? So sad.
Listen here motherfucker. I saw Episode 1-3 in theaters. I sat through shit you couldn't imagine. Jar-Jar Binks. BackFlipping Yoda. Midichloreans. Space diners. That's right, a FUCKING SPACE DINER. AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE-- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
No, this isn't a screenshot from a 1998 PC game that came in a cereal box. This shit was what I had to sit through. You get beautiful, imaginative fight sequences on salt sprinkled red planets. I got space diner. Go fuck yourself. http://pic.twitter.com/8XVKLsvKnI
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
Aww, you didn't get enough Luke Skywalker as you wanted??? So sad! You bastards, I sat through 9 hours spread out over the better part of a decade to see Darth Vader and when he finally showed up he basically only said one word. http://pic.twitter.com/7phFJzxSO5
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
You thought the bad guy was too two dimensional and **SPOILER** got disappointingly sabered in half before we could learn more about him? OH GEE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT'S LIKE. http://pic.twitter.com/3xLzQWquJP
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
What's that? Carrie Fisher shouldn't have been able to survive in space? Yeah I guess that is unrealistic. Especially when you consider HER MOTHER DIED WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG AND HEALTHY BECAUSE SHE WAS IN A SHITTY MOOD ONCE. http://pic.twitter.com/exQQi07bvC
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
YOU ALL THINK IM JOKING. A DUDE WITH ANTENNA TRIED TO SELL OBI-WAN KENOBI SOME COKE. THAT HAPPENED AND I PAID MONEY TO WATCH. REAL MONEY. http://pic.twitter.com/xlfRz1iWCp
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
You all sicken me. http://pic.twitter.com/9YCpCON3gD
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
Oh god, I've upset the corner of the internet that loves the prequels, may the force be with me. http://pic.twitter.com/cueqzWyUsT
- Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) December 20, 2017
Betty’s Long-Lost Brother Appears in Riverdale's Ominous Midseason Trailer
Although Riverdale's midseason finale ended more with a disappointing whimper than the Black Hood bang we were expecting, we're still excited to see where the back half of season two takes us when it returns in 2018. In addition to hopefully finding out who the REAL murderer is (we refuse to believe it's Mr. Svenson), the trailer for the remaining episodes hints at a few more complications for our favorite citizens of Riverdale. Jughead runs into some issues while re-entering Riverdale High, and Alice Cooper has an emotional reunion with her long-lost son, Chic.
As you might recall from previous episodes, Alice got pregnant with Betty's older brother when she was still in high school and was basically forced to give him up for adoption. We'll just have to wait until Riverdal returns on Jan. 17 to find out exactly how Alice and Chic's tense interaction goes down.
Articles
