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.
dimanche 4 mars 2018
7 Health and Fitness Commands You Didn't Know You Could Use Alexa For
Anyone with an Amazon Echo device is most likely not using it to its full potential. Aside from being a fun companion, Alexa is capable of doing more than you could ever imagine from calling you Ubers and helping you with math to helping you get fit. She can be your fitness coach, meditation guru, and everything in between. See some of her best health and fitness commands below! And remember, you can always jump straight into any of the individual skills.
"Alexa, help me sleep."
Forget counting sheep - Alexa can help you drift off with soothing ambient noises like these below.
- Ambient sounds - Rain Sounds
- Ambient sounds - Fan Sounds
- Ambient sounds - Babbling Brook
- Sleep sounds - White Noise
- Sleep sounds - Beautiful Dream
"Alexa, let's work out."
Bet you didn't know you had your own personal trainer right at home. Alexa will guide you through quick, doable workouts that you can squeeze into your busy schedule. She'll tell you the name of each move, the number of repetitions, and for how long. If you're unfamiliar with the exercise, say "Help," and Alexa will walk you through it step by step. And the best part? No equipment required.
- Five-Minute Workout: This quick core-and-cardio workout starts with a brief warmup and fires up your abs.
- Five-Minute Plank Workout: Strengthen your core with this awesome workout that features six sets with short breaks in between. You can even ask Alexa to play the music of your choice to really get you in the zone.
- Seven-Minute Workout: In just seven minutes, burn fat, increase your metabolism, and up your energy with scientifically proven exercises.
- My Workouts: Alexa can create custom workouts for you based on your fitness levels and goals. Not only do you get to enjoy upbeat music with this one, but My Workouts also keeps track of your weight to show you your progress. You also have the choice of choosing "Generic Workout" if you don't want any personalization.
- Random Workout: Enjoy common exercises that can easily be done at home in between commercial breaks.
"Alexa, help me relax."
Need help unwinding? Alexa will ask you to choose from a few different skills like those below.
- Sleep sounds - Thunderstorm Sounds
- Sleep sounds - Babbling Brook
- Ambient sounds - Ocean Sounds
- Ambient sounds - Fireplace Sounds
- Ambient sounds - Rain Forest Sounds
"Alexa, open guided meditation."
Check in daily for the meditation of the day, led by a soothing voice that's not Alexa. Expect short exercises like the six-minute "Soften and Relax" meditation, which begins with you lying comfortably on your bed.
"Alexa, ask Fitbit how I'm doing today."
Find out exactly how you're tracking by connecting your Fitbit to your Echo device. Alexa will tell you how many more steps you need to hit your goal, how well you slept, and more.
"Alexa, open BreatheTherapy."
Whenever you're feeling anxious or stressed, or just need to Zen out for a little, ask Alexa to start this breathing exercise. You'll be instructed to breathe for a certain number of counts and to pay attention to the rise and fall of your chest and belly.
"Alexa, open HiFit."
All you need for these guided HIIT workouts is your body. Designed by an experienced fitness coach and trainer, HiFit features 10- to 15-minute workouts for your entire body or single muscle groups, depending on what you're looking for.
To see everything Alexa can do, check out the full list of health and fitness skills she's capable of on Amazon.
6 Signs Your Bottle of Wine's Gone Bad
Not all wine is ideal for storing. If it's been in contact with air for too long or has a tainted cork, the liquid inside has turned and should not be consumed. Here are a handful of telltale signs that might indicate a good wine has gone bad.
- The smell is off. If a wine's aroma is moldy or resembles a musty basement, wet cardboard, or vinegar, it's turned. A heavy raisin smell is another bad signal.
- The red wine tastes sweet. If the bottle of red wine has the aroma of Port or tastes like dessert wine (even though it is neither of those two things), it has been overexposed to heat, and is therefore undrinkable.
- The cork is pushed out slightly from the bottle. That's a sign the wine has overheated and expanded within the bottle.
- The wine is a brownish color. A brown hue in red wine demonstrates that the liquid is past its prime. White wines that have darkened to a deep yellow or brownish straw color are usually oxidized.
- You detect astringent or chemically flavors. Wine that lacks fruit, is raspy, too astringent, or has a paint-thinner taste is usually bad.
- It tastes fizzy, but it's not a sparkling wine. A still wine that is fizzy or effervescent has undergone a second fermentation after the bottling and shouldn't be enjoyed.
One last word of advice: Always smell and examine the actual liquid. Although the term "corked" commonly refers to tainted wine, inspecting the cork alone will not determine if the wine has gone bad. Use your other senses. Have you ever had an undrinkable bottle of wine? How did you know it was questionable?
10 Trader Joe's Hummus Dips, Ranked From Best to Worst
As a versatile, simple, and healthy dip, hummus has taken the world by storm, and Trader Joe's does not disappoint in its inventory of different flavors. Aside from a classic dip, there are so many great ways to use hummus, like as a dressing or even added into soup. When searching for all the bean dips in the store, I found nine different hummus flavors and one other black bean dip, so I've ranked all 10 from best to worst. If you're feeling inspired to make your own, check out these unusual hummus recipes (or dream up your own).
7 Things You Never Knew About Chick-fil-A, Straight From an Employee
When you think of Chick-fil-A, the first thing that comes to mind is how all locations are closed on Sundays, and of course that drool-worthy sauce, but there are a lot of things we don't know about the fast-food joint. One employee just revealed tons of secrets about what it's like to work at Chick-fil-A in a Reddit AMA, and we're impressed. During the "Ask Me Anything" conversation, this teenage employee dished where the delicious chicken comes from, their thoughts on the chain being anti-LGBTQ, and why they always say "my pleasure" instead of "you're welcome." Read on for all of the Chick-fil-A insider secrets, straight from someone who knows best.
How "fresh" is the chicken?
It seems like fast-food chains are constantly competing with each other and saying that another chain's food comes frozen, but this employee is setting the record straight about Chick-fil-A's chicken. When asked if the chicken comes prebreaded and is frozen on site, the employee shut that down. "The chicken is FRESH and hand-breaded then fried on site," they said. "We're not lying to you."
The company has changed its anti-LGBTQ ways.
It's no secret that Chick-fil-A has been against LGBTQ rights and has even donated to anti-LGBTQ causes in the past, but this employee is explaining how the chain has changed and why it doesn't bother the employee at all. "As of late, they've actually made a turnaround and stopped donating to anti-LGBTQ corporations and apologized to the community," the employee said. "It's all about keeping a good name. I'm transgender and I know a gay guy who works there. I feel fine."
About that employee discount . . .
The employee said, "We get a free meal for 5 1/2 hours of work." This employee's favorite meal? "I'm a fan of the #1 (Just the chicken sandwich)," the employee shared. "CFA sauce and the mayonnaise they have is soooo tasty! Everything about the sandwich is perfect from the toasty buttery bun to the pickles. My location also serves mac and cheese and it's the bomb!!"
There's a reason they always say, "My pleasure."
Anyone who's been to Chick-fil-A can recognize within seconds that the employees don't say "you're welcome" and instead say "my pleasure." WHY?! "It's a courtesy thing," the employee said. "'You're welcome' seems too indifferent and we're told to use elevated language. Besides, we could get in trouble if we don't say it. Also, did you know that saying 'my pleasure' is not mentioned in the official training at all? It's a learned behavior."
The fries are highly ranked, but here's the truth behind them.
One Reddit user asked the employee how he or she feels about the fries and the fact that the crisped-to-perfection waffle fries just won the number one spot on The Ringer's best fast-food items list. "I'm very proud," the employee shared. "We don't make them in house though, they come in a box. Honestly, I think the Wendy's fries are better." OUCH!
The employees are legitimately trained to be super friendly.
When someone asked if friendliness was part of training because they "get diabetes every time I go to the local one because everyone is super sweet," the employee said yes! "We are literally told in training and reminded constantly to be 'aggressively courteous' there are literal steps on how to do it," the employee shared. "I won't tell you those steps so the sweetness remains genuine."
Fun fact: you can order Oreo pieces in any drink you want!
Yup! The employee shared that a big pet peeve is "people who order too quickly and then they MUMBLE. Also, if you have a huge milkshake order please please please call ahead!" But the most important thing here: "you can order Oreo pieces in whatever beverage you want."
14 Grocery Staples I Always Have as a 20-Something on a Budget
As a 25-year-old who has just started out in the professional world, I know how hard it can be to get your life together. You're supposed to find a job, live on your own, cook for yourself, and find the time to exercise, which, unfortunately, I don't think includes walking to the kitchen for snack breaks in between TV episodes. When you have so much going on - especially when you're on a budget - one thing that some people dread is grocery shopping. I personally love it, but it took a little practice to figure out a routine and a grocery list that worked for me. As someone who loves to cook, there are certain things I like to have on hand all the time. These are 14 budget-approved staples I always have stocked in my kitchen.
Kellogg's Unicorn Cereal Is Officially on Shelves - and It Tastes Like "Magic Cupcakes"
The crazy year of 2017 may have come to a close, but that doesn't mean one of its biggest trends - unicorns - is over yet. In fact, unicorns are coming right along into the new year and will be joining people at their breakfast tables, because Kellogg's has confirmed the US's first Unicorn Cereal is hitting shelves in March 2018. The cereal consists of red, blue, and purple loops with white crunchlets, and as for the taste, it's "magic cupcake" flavored, because would you expect anything less? What a world.
This might look vaguely familiar to you if you saw that Kellogg's released Unicorn Froot Loops in Germany earlier this year. But rest assured: this will be the first Kellogg's unicorn cereal available in the US, so get your bowls ready, because you're probably going to want this for breakfast every day. We're not sure what magic cupcakes taste like, but we can't wait to find out! The cereal hits shelves nationwide in March.
Why Gordon Ramsay's Sticky Toffee Pudding Is the Best Thing on the Menu at Hell's Kitchen
If you're thinking about getting a reservation at Gordon Ramsay's new Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Las Vegas, there's one important question to consider: what should you order? The menu is full of enticing entrees and appetizers that will jump out at you, like the incomparable beef Wellington and the tender Wagyu meatballs with slow-roasted tomato sauce and polenta croutons. It's the kind of place where you'll want to share multiple dishes with your table because there are so many flavors to savor. But there's gotta be one thing that stands out the most, right? To find out from the best possible source, I asked Gordon Ramsay face to face, "What's the best thing on the menu?"
"That's a really good question," Gordon said. He thought about it, mentally going through options, and then responded, "Every time I put a new version of my sticky toffee pudding, f*cking thing just gets better and better. I don't know whether it's the salted caramel or the amount of toffee that we steep inside." Sticky toffee pudding, a traditional British sponge-cake dessert, is something Gordon has been making for years, but he's improved upon it and changed up the ingredients many times. At Hell's Kitchen, it's drenched in salted caramel and topped with speculoos ice cream. And yes, it's ridiculously good.
"We've modernized it in a way that we give you your own little sort of tray bake," Gordon said. One order of sticky toffee pudding (pictured above) is big enough for two or three people to share, depending on how much room you have left after dinner. The cake is warm, soft, and bursting with comforting flavors of brown sugar and vanilla, and the cold speculoos ice cream on top takes the decadence over the edge. Hell's Kitchen at Caesars Palace isn't a restaurant you'll likely be visiting on a regular basis, so don't pass up your chance to try this can't-miss dessert.
The Best New Trader Joe's Products From 2017
One of the best things about Trader Joe's is that it's constantly releasing new products for customers to try, and we're not just talking about the free samples. Shopping at Trader Joe's is never boring thanks to the never-before-seen foods available every month, and 2017 was a fantastic year for the brand. We kept up with every single new offering from Trader Joe's to let you know which items are worth the purchase and which ones you should skip. Ahead, read up on all the best new Trader Joe's products of the year, and add your favorites to your shopping list the next time you head to TJ's.
- Additional reporting by Jamie Mieuli
Olive Garden Now Has Pasta Nachos With Alfredo Drizzle and We're Not Mad About It
Olive Garden has found a way to bring two of the best food groups together: pasta and nachos. From Jan. 29 through April 1, Olive Garden will offer new Loaded Pasta Chips on its menu, and they're the Italian-inspired nachos you never knew you needed. The Loaded Pasta Chips are lightly fried pasta chips topped with Italian cheeses and meat sauce made with chicken, meatballs, and sausage, and they're finished with cherry peppers and an alfredo drizzle. Tater tot nachos who?! This is the wildest, most weirdly perfect cheese-topped, carb-based snack.
Launching in the spirit of the Super Bowl - aka the best excuse to eat game-day appetizers - Olive Garden wants people to be able to re-create the Loaded Pasta Chips at home, too. To make them, just cut sheets of lasagna noodles into three equal pieces for the "chips," heat oil in a pan and fry them until crispy, drain the excess oil on paper towels, gently toss the chips in garlic salt, and add your favorite toppings. Over-the-top snacks are the real MVP!
40 Killer Vegetarian Appetizers
Even if you're an omnivore, it's nice to offer up at least one meat-free option when hosting a party, as it's likely some of your guests are vegetarian, or even vegan. Thankfully, we've got an array of options so superb that no one will miss out on the meat at all.
- Additional reporting by Susannah Chen and Hilary White
What President Trump Eats Every Day - and Why This Nutritionist Has Her Concerns
Image Source: Getty / Stephen Lovekin
During a prepresidency interview with CNN, Donald Trump opened up about his predilection for fast food. He said, "I'm a very clean person. I like cleanliness, and I think you're better off going there than maybe someplace that you have no idea where the food's coming from. It's a certain standard." One nutritionist, however, shared her concerns about the president's poorly balanced diet.
Jo Travers is an esteemed nutritionist and the author of The Low Fad Diet. She assessed Trump's everyday diet in an interview with The Guardian, and it was pretty eye-opening.
For starters, Trump isn't a big breakfast fan and he's reportedly said, "My big thing is dinner." If he absolutely must have breakfast, he opts for bacon, eggs, or cornflakes. Travers strongly advised against the consumption of bacon. She said, "It's a processed pork product, which has been linked with cancer, so his risk of developing the disease will go up." Given that his usual breakfast is so protein-heavy, Travers recommended a better balance of protein and carbs.
The president has also spoken about his love of meatloaf. He once prepared meatloaf with Martha Stewart and said he often likes to eat meatloaf sandwiches. Travers said meatloaf sandwiches are just fine if prepared with whole-wheat bread. She did, however, bemoan the lack of vegetables or fruit: "Meatloaf is essentially just meat. There's no roughage. And no fibre impacts on gut health. If you don't feed your gut bacteria with fruit and vegetables, that can impact the immune system and lead to infections."
Then there's Trump's commitment to fast-food purveyors like McDonald's and KFC. Following his win during the primary election, Trump celebrated with McDonald's signature Big Mac and fries. Later that Summer, he shared a picture of himself eating fried chicken on his private plane. Albeit delicious, these aren't the healthiest choices. Travers noted these meals are packed with trans fats and linked to heart disease.
Image Sources: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts, Flickr user su-lin, Flickr user zigazou76, and Flickr user powerplantop
In addition to its physical effects, Trump's heavy diet may have mental and emotional implications, as well, specifically due to the lack of healthy fats and omega-3s. "His body will substitute with other types of fats, which are less fluid, making it harder for neuro transmitters to get through," Travers said, adding, "This is linked to mood disorders."
This post was originally published on Feb. 7, 2017.
Much like his policies, the president's diet is vastly different than that of Barack Obama, whose main late-night snack was once described as being "seven lightly salted almonds."
I've Spent a Year Searching For My Forever Mascara - Here's Everything I Learned
Up until a year ago, I had been wearing the same drugstore mascara that I discovered in high school. I purchased tube after tube for over a decade, trusting the formula to make my stick-straight Asian eyelashes look long, thick, and, most importantly, dramatically curled. Accompanied by a good dose of eyeliner along my top and bottom lash line, the mascara looked fantastic. I had no complaints.
But when I hit my mid-20s, my approach to makeup shifted - I grew more comfortable and confident in my own skin and started to appreciate a less-is-more beauty look. As someone who previously balked at the thought of leaving the house without wearing a full face of makeup, I found myself going out more and more frequently with just my lashes and eyebrows done. And I soon discovered that without the buffer of eyeliner, my previously trusty mascara would end up tragically transferred onto my lower lash line (where I would normally apply eyeliner) by the end of the day.
Disappointed, I set out to find a new everyday mascara - one that would still hold an aggressive curl, minus the raccoon eyes. Little did I know, it was a process, and one I wasn't exactly prepared for. One year and 10 tubes of mascara later, I still haven't discovered a worthy replacement, but I have discovered some eye-opening (literally) things along the way.
If you're on the hunt for your own forever mascara, learn from my mistakes and read on for seven tips I picked up that'll help make your search easier than mine.
1. Take product reviews, testimonials, and suggestions from others with a grain of salt
Nothing will derail a meeting faster than telling a conference room full of beauty editors that you're looking for a new mascara. As soon as I casually mentioned it to my colleagues here at POPSUGAR, the suggestions came pouring in. And with plenty of impressive before-and-after photos to go off of, I had a running start.
But after trying the third tube that came highly recommended, I realized that what was working for my fellow mascara-lovers was definitely not working for me and I couldn't rely solely on word-of-mouth, popularity, or photos, no matter how jaw-dropping. Now, I do my own extensive research on a potential brand and product and remind myself to give every product a fair chance, whether or not it's been highly touted by others.
2. Don't write off a mascara after the first try
Whether it's the way you wield the wand, the passing of time, or even the formula's exposure to air, your second experience with a mascara can differ drastically from the first. When I first applied a popular mascara, I found that the formula weighed down my lashes and deflated the curl. A few weeks later, I decided to give the same mascara another try and was pleasantly surprised to see that somehow the formula held a curl much better the second time around. With every new tube, I now make a point to apply the product on at least three different occasions before formulating a definitive opinion on it.
3. Standard and waterproof formulas are different, even for the same mascara
The name and packaging may be the same (save for a small "waterproof" label), but that doesn't mean the formulas are. After interrogating my sister on how her lashes always look so amazing, she suggested I use her go-to mascara. After trying a tube for myself, I was disappointed to discover that what delivered long and thick lashes with an impressive curl on her fell completely flat on me.
The one small, but significant, detail? She uses the waterproof version. Sure enough, after swapping my standard formula for the waterproof one, my lashes held a curl for longer. If you think about it, standard mascara formulas need to be chemically altered to withstand water, so there's a high chance they're developed differently - which means they'll most likely interact with your lashes differently as a result.
4. Ensure everything else in your makeup routine stays consistent
Don't follow my lead and start experimenting with a new liquid liner at the same time that you're experimenting with a new mascara. Since your lashes can be affected by everything from the eyelash curler you use to the order in which you apply your products, you'll want to keep the makeup you're wearing around your eyes the same in order to quickly determine whether the mascara is right for you.
5. A coat is not created equal across mascaras
With my previous drugstore go-to, I was used to swiping on coat after coat after coat in rapid succession to achieve the mega volume I liked. Once I started wielding different wands, it quickly became clear that I needed to change up my application technique depending on the mascara. Sometimes all I needed was one lighthanded coat, while other times, the mascara called for three coats (along with drying time between each) to achieve the same effect.
6. Don't assume mascara will look the same once it dries
You'd think that the eyelashes you see in the mirror directly after applying mascara would be the same eyelashes you see an hour later, right? Not necessarily. After applying a new mascara for the first time, I was happy with the results. But a mere few moments later, I glanced in the mirror and was disappointed to discover my curl had completely deflated as the formula had dried.
7. It takes a lot of time, money, and patience
Patience is really the key word for me here. I'm not one to let beauty products go to waste, so over the course of the year, I found myself trying to finish a tube of mascara before moving on to the next one, even if I didn't love it (or even like it). But that just means that once I finally discover The One, I know I'll appreciate it that much more. After all, confidence-boosting lashes are worth it!
Your Hairstyle Could Actually Be Aging You - Here Are 11 Ways to Avoid That
We worry a lot about keeping our skin youthful, but have you ever considered how your hairstyle might be another culprit that's aging you? See: wispy bangs, limp locks, or chopping all your hair off once you've hit a certain age just because you think it's your social obligation to do so. The truth is, you can make simple hair changes that instantly leave you looking fresh-faced and, more importantly, give you a confidence boost. Ahead, we show you exactly how with the help of celeb hairstylists like Etienne Ortega, Franck Izquierdo, and more.
Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin: Which Do You Really Have?
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Maria del Rio
Dry skin and dehydrated skin are the same, right? Wrong. The two are very different when it comes to skin care, though you can even have both dry and dehydrated skin at the same time. The approach to resolving these skin care issues is important, as you might be using products for dry skin when yours is actually dehydrated (or vice versa), which just aggravates your skin care woes. Confused yet? Don't be, we spoke to Bioderma's skin care expert, Emilie Montassier, to give us all facts and science for the best skin solutions yet.
How Dry and Dehydrated Skins Differ
Dry skin is a skin type (much like oily or combination skin) that is caused due to lack of lipids. Montassier says the "main issue here is that the skin barrier is impaired," meaning the lipid levels are lacking causing severe dryness (not an ideal skin situation!) "Dry skin can be dehydrated, whereas dehydrated skin is not necessarily dry but could also be oily or combination" Montassier clarifies. Dehydrated skin is very different, noting that "we can't consider dehydrated skin as a skin type but more as a temporary state," it lacks water both internally and externally. Dehydrated skin is "a very common problem affecting all genders and skin types."
Causes
As previously mentioned, dry skin is caused by a loss of lipids due to a problem with the skins barrier so "the skin loses more water than usual and also becomes dehydrated." Dry skin can be worsened by using the wrong skin care, likewise not using any skin care at all can have a big impact on your skin health. Hormonal changes can also wreak havoc on the skin. Genetics can play a role in skin types too; some people are prone to dry skin more than others. Whereas, dehydrated skin is caused by a "mix of internal and external factors such as environment (wind and cold), social factors (smoking and alcohol), and emotional factors (stress)." Keep your showers at a reasonable heat and the central heating down, and both your bank account and skin will thank you for it. Another main factor contributing to dehydrated skin is lack of hydration inside the body: not drinking enough water! It is the most overused skin care tip but most important. Your skin needs internal hydration to externally benefit from it.
Symptoms
"Dry skin suffers from possible itching, discomfort, scales, roughness, and even cracks in the skin." Sufferers may also find that it is irritated easily, even from the most gentle products. Montassier highlights that dehydrated skin symptoms often leave the skin in a state of "tightness, discomfort, loss of radiance, increased facial lines, and cause trouble for biological functions such as the bodies healing process." You may also find that your skin feels dehydrated but can also look oily, and you may still get breakouts despite the tight feeling. You might also find that your makeup becomes patchy throughout the day.
Products
Bioderma's Atoderm range is perfect for those with dry to very dry skin as it "supplies the lack of lipids and helps the skin to produce its own lipids thanks to the products Skin Protect complex, which also rehydrates the skin." Montassier recommends using a "daily gentle cleanser that increases lipid levels, like the Atoderm Shower Gel ($20) and Oil. ($11)" The Atoderm Moisturising Cream will "act on lipids and water levels." All products from the Atoderm range are suitable for face and body from birth.
For dehydrated skin, Montassier recommends using the Hydrabio Range due to the Aquagenium patent inside. She recommends using the Hydrabio Serum ($25) underneath the Hydrabio Eau de Soin to "fight daily pollution and fix makeup."
I Discovered This Life-Changing Makeup Brush Cleaner (on Amazon!), and It's So Addicting
I used to clean my brushes by hand and leave them out to dry overnight; the whole process from beginning to end was a tedious task I dreaded. I recently found this genius Wloomm Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner ($30) on Amazon, and now I can't imagine living without it.
When I received it, I was shocked by how great the quality of the product was. It comes with a spinner, clear cup, eight different brush holders, a stand for everything, and even a velvet slip cover for the wand. The rubber holders vary in size and work on all my tools.
I couldn't wait to use it - I quickly filled the glass bowl with an inch of water and started cleansing. You simply stick a brush in the water, press a button to make the brush spin, and watch all your makeup seep out as the water changes color. I can't describe how weirdly satisfying this is. You'll also be grossed out when you realize all the grime that can come out of your tools. After spinning, you lift your brush out of the water and let it dry. Within minutes, it will be cleaner than ever!
Not only is it fun to use, but it was by far the fastest and most efficient process I've ever experienced. I can't imagine cleaning them the old-fashioned way ever again. Get this and it will change your beauty game forever!
What You Need to Know About the 6 Main Skincare Acids
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the skincare world, know that you're not alone. There's a veritable alphabet soup of vitamins, a constant debate over silicones, preservatives, and alcohols, and a never-ending stream of words like "occlusives," "parabens," and "surfactants."
Though it's impossible to cover everything in a day (let alone a single article), we can start somewhere. And today, that somewhere is acids. With the help of board certified dermatologists, we're breaking down six different types of acids by explaining what they are and how they can benefit your skin.
Exactly What Free Radicals Are and How They Can Affect the Skin
"Free radicals" is a phrase you've probably heard floated around when it comes to skin care, and living in increasing polluted air, it's important to know how to they affect your skin. And once you've learned free radicals and what they mean for the body, it's time you knew about how you can protect your skin from them.
We reached out to Dr. Goldfaden, a dermatologist with over 40 years experience and the brain behind the Goldfaden MD skincare line, to teach us all about free radicals and how we can protect our skin against them.
What Are Free Radicals?
Dr. Goldfaden explains that "pollution releases microscopic particles or free radicals that can go deep into the skin and cause damage to otherwise healthy cells." You can be particularly prone to this if you live in the city, if you're a smoker, or if you like to regularly soak up the sun. Regularly being exposed to all of this can cause "loss of elasticity (wrinkles and sagging) and hyperpigmentation. Pollution can cause uneven skin tone, dehydration, dryness, dark spots, expedited aging, wrinkles, sagging, and a deterioration of collagen." So basically, free radicals really are the baddies when it comes to skin health.
What Does It Mean For the Skin?
Although exposure to free radicals is inevitable, there are things we can do to prevent further damage. Dr. Goldfaden told us "first and foremost, always wear an SPF!" This is something that we have all been told approximately 173 times, and yet we still often skip a day (me included). So, now's the time to learn that lesson: start wearing SPF regularly and prevent free radicals from wreaking havoc on your skin. He also suggests looking for products with antioxidant ingredients, as these fight free radicals. The best ingredients he says to look out for are red tea, ferulic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, japonica flowers, watercress sprouts, retinol, and reservatrol (*makes notes*). In his line, the Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir ($80) is designed for the exact purpose of protecting the skin against this damage. It protects against free radical damage (including UVA and UVB) while hydrating, firming, and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
I Finally Found the 1 Acne Spot Treatment That Works on My Problematic Skin
I've suffered from hormonal cystic acne since I hit puberty, and those huge, painful, and embarrassing blemishes have never stopped stressing me out. Finally, after 15 years and the help of a dermatologist, I have clear skin. But that doesn't mean I don't suffer from a breakout every now and then. I often feel those pesky, painful pimples under my skin before they're even noticeable, and I want to fight them before they get bigger. From the classic myth of using toothpaste as a spot treatment to rubbing a piece of aspirin on my skin (I know, but I was desperate at the time), these kooky hacks never did it for me. Then, a little over a year ago, I found a spot treatment product that finally does what it promises to: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17).
I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I discovered this amazing product by watching Kylie Jenner's Snapchat. (This was before the launch of her own cosmetic line, when she used to show more of her own skincare routine.) Little did I know that the small pink bottle was a total cult classic. I went and bought it immediately. That night before bed, I followed the instructions and used a cotton swab to dab the pink lotion on every little bump I could find. I woke up the next day and there was no trace of the lotion or of a blemish. At last, a product that I saw results with. I've been addicted ever since.
If you're wondering what makes this treatment so special, it's the pink substance itself: the calamine lotion. (Yes, that's the same lotion that you may have used if you've ever suffered from poison ivy or insect bites as a kid.) This soothing lotion is mixed with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and sulfur, which work together to dry out clogged pores, kill bacteria, and diminish your spots. If you've been searching for the right spot treatment for you, this one is definitely worth a try.
11 Editor-Approved Palettes Every Beauty Junkie Needs - Shop Them Now!
We have a palette problem and we don't want to solve it. There's something so exciting about a convenient little package that's filled with with a variety of products. This Spring, beauty brands are bringing their A game with pretty, seasonal options. It was no easy task, but we rounded up our favorite choices on the market right now. These picks range in price point and purpose, so you're sure to find something ideal for your needs. Whether you like a soft, neutral look or a bold, colorful one, there's a palette for you. Check out our favorite finds and grab one ASAP.
12 Red Wine Beauty Products That Will Protect Your Skin
Whether you're powering through a dry January (kudos to you!) or already incorporating more wine into your 2018 diet, there are more ways than one to indulge in vino. Of course, drinking red wine regularly can make you all warm and fuzzy (or buzzy) on the inside. The color even makes for a really pretty hair trend. But applying it topically, using red-wine-infused skincare products, may be the most powerful way to partake.
The ingredient within the skin of red grapes, called resveratrol, is a potent antioxidant that can help ward off bacteria and keep UV radiation and free radicals from doing serious damage to skin. Essentially, it protects our skin's barrier function, which will keep skin looking younger and fresher, longer. Resveratrol can also boost cell turnover, which means more collagen, faster healing, and just better-looking skin. This batch of skin enhancers, infused with red wine extracts, is ready to help you kick off wine-o-clock, no matter what time of day it is.
Too Faced's Summer Line Will Enhance Your Natural Beauty - and There's Not a Peach in Sight
If Too Faced's recent collections are any indication, the cult beauty brand and peaches go together like the stone fruit and cream. Just about every Too Faced sneak peek includes some sort of peach-scented glitter, shimmer, and shine. But this Summer, the brand is coming at you hot with something different. On March 15, the brand will launch 17 new products that aim to enhance your natural beauty, in a line called It Just Comes Naturally.
You can feel the au naturale vibes oozing from this collection of bronzers, palettes, and lipstick that all follow a neutral color scheme. Some of the products are revamps of old friends, such as the beloved Too Faced Chocolate Soleil. If you're a bronzing aficionado, you've probably slathered one of the many Chocolate iterations the brand has dropped in the past, be it the rose gold or matte option. The formula is infused with - you guessed it - cocoa powder, which contains antioxidants that even out skin tone and reduce redness.
For Summer 2018, you'll be able to get your hands on three new Chocolate Bronzers. There's Milk Chocolate, Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate, a range designed to radiate a buildable, faux tan. As an added bonus, Too Faced will release Sun Bunny, a dual-shade bronzer compact that contains both a soft pink color and a deeper flushed hue that's supposed to give off that just-back-from vacation look. These options are all matte, which you'll be thankful for once the sun - and therefore the sweat - starts shining right around mid-July.
It wouldn't be a proper Too Faced drop without some palettes, and the brand delivers with three options. There's a shimmer and matte option for eye shadow, and a face palette for adding blush and a soft highlight. Of course, mostly sunny neutrals like tan, taupe, and sand are included in the pan colors, but there are also a few bright pinks and soft purples to round out the lineup. (This is Too Faced, after all!)
For the pièce de résistance, you can pick up one, two, or all 10 of the brand-new lipsticks. Featuring cheeky names like Birthday Suit, Nip Slip, and Overexposed, the lippies clearly take inspiration from the nude theme. Each comes in a creamy satin finish and is infused with coconut butter to hydrate and nourish lips.
Read on to see every last dang product in this lineup - then start planning your vacation!
Move Aside, Slow Cooker - These Instant Pot Recipes Will Keep Your Weight Loss in Check
When it comes to trendy kitchen gadgets, the Instant Pot is all the rage right now, and with good reason. It's versatile and convenient, and it makes for less mess and less time spent in the kitchen. As far as recipe options are concerned, the possibilities are endless, especially when it comes to cooking healthy options. If you're looking for recipes to help with weight loss, here are more than 20 options, from protein-packed staples to filling vegetarian soups.
6 Ways to Tone Your Derriére With Dumbbells
Exercises that target your backside not only add shape and lift in your jeans and leggings, but they can also make you a stronger, faster runner. To work the glutes a little more, we suggest you grab a set of dumbbells. Look good and run faster with these effective tush-toning moves.
A Dozen Delectable Things to Do With Trader Joe's Cookie Butter
Though many of us would happily eat Trader Joe's cookie butter with a spoon all day for the rest of our lives, there is a whole world of scrumptious, speculoos-rich desserts out there to try - you know, for the days you want to exert just a little more effort during your sugary endeavors. Here are a dozen delicious, luscious, and easy ways to incorporate cookie butter into your favorite sweets.
What Mister Rogers Did For This Young Fan in a Coma Will Make You Ache That He's Not Here Anymore
The following story by Beth Usher was originally published on her Facebook page.
When I was five years old, I suffered up to one hundred seizures a day. During my seizures, I would often fall and bang my head on the floor or whatever hard object presented in my descent, and the only way for my mom to shower and dress for work without worrying was to prop me up with soft pillows and place me in front of the TV. One time she turned on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and I didn't have a single seizure for the entire duration of the show. Something in his voice calmed the electrical circuits in my injured brain and allowed my body to rest.
Mister Rogers, my friend, called to ask me about my brain surgery.
My mother and I performed this ritual every work day for two years with great success. I quickly began to consider Mister Rogers a real friend, and would talk back to the TV screen, saying things like, "Yes, I will be your good neighbor!" So it came as no surprise that my sweet mother called Mister Rogers' TV studio in Pittsburgh in preparation for my upcoming brain surgery. My neurologists had determined that I had somehow contracted a very rare brain disease called Rasmussen's Encephalitis. They theorized that a slow growing virus was killing brain cells in the left side of my brain, causing life-altering epileptic seizures. The only cure was an operation called a hemispherectomy, or the removal of one half of my brain. My mother told Mister Rogers' assistant that the show was a sanctuary for me and that I believed Mister Rogers was speaking directly to me when he sang his song, "Won't You Be My Neighbor." She explained about my seizures and upcoming surgery and the fact that that the seizures would subside during his entire show. My mother hoped that Mister Rogers' assistant would send an autographed photo of my TV friend, or even a note from him assuring me that I was going to be OK.
One week before my surgery, the telephone rang. My mother spoke for a few minutes and told me that a friend wanted to talk to me. I remember feeling excited that someone calling themselves a friend was calling me (friendships were difficult for me at the time). I said hello, heard a familiar voice, and immediately felt at ease. Mister Rogers, my friend, asked me about my brain surgery. I told him that I was scared but wanted the seizures to go away; I told him that I wanted the kids in my class to like me and play with me; I asked him about the members of his neighborhood who I had come to love - King Friday, Lady Elaine Fairchild, and Daniel Striped Tiger. We talked for nearly an hour. Before I hung up the phone, I said, "I love you, Mister Rogers."
During our seven-hour drive to Johns Hopkins Childrens' Hospital in Baltimore, my mom and I listened to the many cassette audio tapes sent to me by Mister Rogers a few days after his call. His soft voice discussed so many topics that concerned young children. My favorite cassette was the one where he sang, "I like you just the way you are." While in the hospital, I endured back-to-back medical tests to determine if my body could survive the 12-hour surgery to remove my entire left hemisphere. I was confused and scared, but believed my doctors and parents wouldn't do anything to hurt me. In between the tests, I was able to spend time with my beloved brother. We played games and watched movies. I didn't realize it at the time, but my older brother was worried he might never see me again. He was only ten years old.
The very last thing I said to my parents as I was wheeled into the operating room was, "No more seizures."
My surgery went well, and my doctor told my parents they could see me in the recovery room. I lay swollen with tubes and wires in and all around my head and body. My parents had faith in my surgeon and neurologist, but later that night, for reasons that have never been explained, I fell into a deep coma.
Mister Rogers gently placed his clarinet case on my bed, opened it, and took out King Friday, Lady Elaine Fairchild, and Daniel Striped Tiger. For the following hour, I was the star in his neighborhood.
With the sounds of life-support machines beeping, IV fluids being pumped into my body, nurses and doctors running in and out of my room, and my parents softly sobbing, you could hear Mister Rogers singing "I like you just the way you are" from a cassette player in my ICU room. My mother was called from the room to the nurse's station where she was handed the phone. It was the Mister Rogers, and he wanted to know how I was doing. My mom gave him the bleak news that although the surgery went well, I suffered severe brain stem swelling and was in a coma. They talked a little more and he told her that he would pray for me. What we didn't know was that Mister Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian Minister.
For the following two weeks, Mister Rogers called every day to ask about my status and to pray with my mother. One morning he called and asked her if it would be OK if he visited me the next afternoon. My mother told him that sadly I was still in a coma and wouldn't know he was there. He said he would come anyway. He asked that she not tell anyone he was coming because he wanted it to be a private visit and didn't want the press to be there.
The next afternoon, Mister Rogers flew from Pittsburgh to Baltimore with only a clarinet case in tow. A minister friend from Baltimore picked him up from the airport and drove him directly to the hospital. My parents, brother, grandparents, and many other family members took turns keeping vigil by my bedside, each trying in their own way to wake me from my coma. They immediately recognized the tall man with the kind face as he stepped inside my room. Mister Rogers gently placed his clarinet case on my bed, opened it, and took out King Friday, Lady Elaine Fairchild, and my favorite, Daniel Striped Tiger. For the following hour, I was the star in his neighborhood.
I'd love to end this story by telling you it was in that moment that I emerged from my coma, but that wasn't the case. After his visit with me and several more minutes with my family, Mister Rogers' minister friend drove him back to the airport and he flew back to his hometown in Pennsylvania, taking along an empty clarinet case. What I can tell you, though, is that when I did wake up, Mister Rogers became my real friend and not just a TV friend. We remained close and shared many conversations, birthday wishes, and milestones for the following twenty years until his death on February 27, 2003.
samedi 3 mars 2018
Brittney Cooper Talks Eloquent Rage, Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé, and Embracing Her Black Girl Magic
Brittney Cooper isn't afraid to speak her mind. As one of the brightest stars in academia - and as a blogger, commentator, and author - Cooper has inspired millions with her words on race, feminism, and culture. With her newest book, Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, she traces her own personal journey toward embracing the anger that drives her forward, as well as what she learned about society along the way. Timely, powerful, and an absolute page-turner, Eloquent Rage is destined for a gilded spot in the feminist canon, and further cements Cooper's role as one of the most important voices in America today.
POPSUGAR caught up with Cooper by phone shortly after Eloquent Rage was released in late February, and a transcript of that wide-ranging conversation (lightly edited and condensed for clarity) is below.
POPSUGAR: What does the term "eloquent rage" mean to you?
Brittney Cooper: That term comes from one of my students, actually . . . she felt my anger radiated through the way that I lectured. She was a black girl looking for modes of connection in a predominantly white institution, and for her, that rage felt authentic. So I tell the story in the book of this very mild confrontation that we have where she calls me out for this anger (in a good way) and says, "I see it. It feels to me like the most eloquent rage I've ever heard." That began a moment of reckoning for me, around how to grapple with my own anger as a person - and as a black woman, also battling the angry black woman stereotype and not wanting to succumb to it. So this book is about reclamation - in the tradition of Audre Lorde, who also wrote very famously and beautifully about anger and its power - about trying to reclaim this rage in a way that can be expressive and powerful for black women, and not in a way that will not be weaponized against us, or used to delegitimize our call for justice.
PS: What makes it your superpower?
BC: I grew up encountering lots of modes of injustice as a black girl living in the Deep South, and as a black girl with a father who struggled with addiction and domestic abuse. So there were lots of moments of experience for me that were deeply enraging - and I had suppressed all of that rage, rather than learning to have a healthy relationship to it. So part of the reason that I own it as a superpower is because I do think I'm at my best when I tap into the things that I'm angry about. When I use that feeling of anger and all of the things that surround it - vulnerability and fear and potential powerlessness - when I channel that rage through my writing, through my teaching, through my activist work, it seems to give it a different quality, one that folks can relate to and understand, and it feels like it helps me to sort of be deeply embodied. Because I'm a nerd - both professionally and personally - and it's very easy when you're a nerd to be cerebral, to try to be overly analytic about everything. Rage is a thing that you have to feel in your body. And I think in doing so, it powers the other kinds of work that I want to do in the world in a way that feels deeply both gratifying to me and, I hope, useful for others.
"Sometimes you just need to shout. Shout, and see what happens."
PS: I think that cerebral aspect is key - there are so many things happening and it's just like, "I know I need to say something but what do I do to explain this to everybody, and how do I get my message across without just shouting it into the void?"
BC: That's right. One of the things I'm saying to women is, "Sometimes you just need to shout. Shout, and see what happens." I think the thing that happens is that we shout at other people's responses, and then accept other people's response to our enraged reactions. We recondition ourselves into thinking that it is legitimate, and that other people are being unreasonable when they don't recognize that in the face of the sort of massive forms of sexual violence that we're learning about through the #MeToo movement, or all the injustice that we see through the struggle of Dreamers, or through the movement for Black Lives - all of these sort of big political things happening in this moment. All of them are deeply enraging. And so the rest of the world is off in their reactions when they don't feel that way. We shouldn't be asking other people, "Why are you so angry?" It should be, "Why are you not angry?"
- Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) February 26, 2018
PS: As feminists, what do you think that we can do to make the world a better place for ourselves?
BC: In this moment, I think we have to not back down from the analysis that says patriarchy is a real problem. It's a clunky word, but the concept is spot on. The continuing problem of male violence and male dominance is real. In owning that analysis, in letting it shape how we think about the world - there's a lot of talk in this moment about capitalism, right, because we've seen folks moving farther to the left after the election of 2016 in some ways. There's of course a lot of talk about white supremacy. And in this moment folks are talking about rape culture, they're talking about sexual violence. But we really just need to zoom out and name the big system.
"This is one of the lessons that this generation has to figure out: what are the grounds in terms of solidarity?"
I also think that we've got to figure out intersectionality for real. That's one of the things I'm most interested in within this book - what does it actually look like to live at these intersections? And then trying to do politics from a really embodied, relational concept of what it means to be a black woman, to be a black feminist, and to be in relationship with feminists of all stripes - to be in relationship with white feminist women, with women of color who are feminists. Look, I think it's a big struggle. It's a struggle every woman wants to talk about. How are black and white feminists lined up? Whatever. And it's like, well, I'm not mad about that. I mean, I think it's a legitimate question. But this is one of the lessons that this generation has to figure out: what are the grounds in terms of solidarity? I don't think that we're going to figure out how to play nicely with each other very well, that's a lot of history to undo. But I do think we can sort of have some critical solidarities with each other, which is why I've been very vocal in saying that I'm not actually interested, for instance, in dismissing #MeToo because its primary poster children are rich white women. And I want Tarana Burke to get all the credit that she deserves.
But when I see these rich, powerful white women having to tell their Me Too stories - for me it's staggering, because it tells us about the primal patriarchy. That you can be rich, and beautiful, and famous, and well-connected - and still be subject to the whim and fancies of violent men. And if that is true for women who have money and who are white, then all the more it must be true for women who are poor, women who are people of color, women who are not rich or well-connected.
PS: On that note, one of my favorite parts of the book was the section where you address the correlation between Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé. A lot of people have said similar things in less articulate ways, but never really dove into it and explored it the way you have. I'd love it if you could dive into that a bit.
BS: So, one of the things that Beyoncé helped me understand - or I think she helps me understand - is what happened with Hillary Clinton in 2016. In 2013, when Beyoncé came out with the Beyoncé album, there was all of this clapback from black feminists because that was the album where she forthrightly claims the term feminist. And I just didn't understand why black feminists had so many negative feelings. For me, what I went back to was the sort of middle school, mean girl stuff that I had gone through because I felt like there were are all these big pieces with all of this, in short, eloquent rage. I mean, the writing was gorgeous - but there was something about it that felt a little bit emotionally dishonest, or not righteous. As black girls, we have our sort of categories. And sometimes, in the popular imagination, the way that black girls think about mean girl stuff doesn't actually show up. It either shows up in the fact that you don't get us in the cheerleader, jock, nerd kind of thing, or as a reality television thing, which is so sensationalized that you can't get to it. Black girls certainly have these anxieties - and these are big categories, so there's all kinds of overlap - but it has to do with pretty light-skinned girls versus dark-skinned, nerdy girls. So the way that I thought about that was that Beyoncé has light-skin privilege, she's got pretty privilege, she's rich, she's famous. And I think that many black girls who knew versions of that girl in middle school collectively said, "She can't be woke, too. She can have all the other stuff - but wokeness is ours, it cannot be hers."
"If we've never seen something before, when we finally get representations of what could be, the first thing that many of us do is scrutinize it to the hilt."
But when the election happened, I was just floored that white women still voted Republican. Because I just thought, if anything, like - "Really?" Hillary Clinton is fairly moderate in many ways, and so she is not flying the flag of the radical left by any stretch. So I just didn't understand why white women could not get on board with a candidate like her. I would see all of these white women that I knew on the left and the right be like, "Eww, Hillary. No." And I realized that it was like some mean girl sh*t that I just didn't understand, that there's this kind of resentment - it's easy to say that we want women to challenge these structures of power, but when they do, we scrutinize. If we've never seen something before, when we finally get representations of what could be, the first thing that many of us do is scrutinize it to the hilt, we find all of these problems with whatever it is. And I think that people try to punish Hillary Clinton for not playing by the rules and for, in many ways, challenging a white woman's own sense of what is possible in ways that make them deeply uncomfortable.
Some of this, I'm just like, "This is what I see from the outside with white ladies" - but I do know mean girl stuff when I see it. And it is hard to say that as a feminist, because the thing that feminists are always saying is "Everyone says we're emotional and that our assessments are not rational." It's really hard to sit in the space and say, "How do I advocate, as a feminist in particular, for people to take women seriously and to take our political assessments and our intellect seriously," and at the same time say, "But some of the sh*t we're doing is deeply emotional and what the f*ck is it?!" Because that's destructive, right? So that feels hard, but I guess I would want folks to know that I am aware of the contradiction and I am trying to hold it because I think that our politics only get better if we can hold this kind of complexity.
Here's my tribute to my homegirls who made #EloquentRage possible. #PreOrder #Feb20 https://t.co/6eAQryumI8 pic.twitter.com/wj21h6hfPq
- Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) February 16, 2018
PS: On the subject of feminism, who and what do you attribute your feminism to? I know you talk about your family a lot in the book, but I'm very curious what your biggest inspirations are.
BC: As I say in this book, I wasn't claiming feminism until I got to grad school. And I actually think it's really important to say that, that in many ways my own coming-to-feminist moment happened in academic spaces - because there's sort of this woke party line right now about how academia's so elitist that nothing radical can happen there. I'm really clear that my radical sense of myself gets fully realized in the academy, from the black feminist professors who exposed me to the richness of black women's intellectual traditions, and that's why I write about it in my academic work.
But also, when I took these classes with folks like Beverly Guy-Sheftall, who teaches at Spelman, and Kimberly Wallace-Sanders, who was my professor at Emory, and I learned about Anna Julia Cooper, and I learned about Pauli Murray - all of a sudden, I felt like, "Oh, my life makes so much more sense to me now," like I had been missing a critical part of this. It helped me to go back and think about my mom, and my grandmama, and the women who raised me in a different way, to see fully the value of all of the kinds of resources that they equipped me with.
"It's a pantheon of black girl magic that helped me to become a feminist."
So, I would say that it's a pantheon of black girl magic that helped me to become a feminist. But I didn't come easily, because I had been deeply conditioned to think that white supremacy was the core thing that all black people should be fighting against. And it took a group of women in those feminist classes - in this book, I use the phrase "homegirl intervention" - in the black feminist classrooms that were part of my graduate school experience, there were moments when those classrooms felt like a homegirl intervention. Like, "Girl, get your life together. Of course, you're a feminist. There is no way for you to be in this room doing this kind of work but for the labor of black, feminist women."
PS: How did you embrace your Black Girl Magic, as you discuss in the book? How did you make that happen for yourself?
BC: I mean Black Girl Magic proceeds me for sure, right? But I feel I'm a beneficiary of it, and hopefully, an evangelist for black girls all around the world. One of the things that I talk a lot about in this book is the way that my relationships with my homegirls sort of have been the key for me across everything - I believe so deeply in the power of friendship. For instance, I'm talking to you and I just have arrived in Atlanta for an event. One of my homegirls came and got me and brought me flowers. This is who my homegirls are, right? Thoughtful, loving folks who just think of all the little touches. And I think so often that black women, in particular, don't get soft spaces to land, don't get places in our lives where people are gentle with us. Because everyone is either devaluing us at work or for instance, asking us to be magical and save the country. For me, friendship is the place where I feel most seen, and when a bunch of black girls get together and do their work and really see each other really critically, there's a synergy there that is just out of this world.
PS: I will admit when I was reading I was like, "I need better friends, honestly, how do I find better friends?"
BC: It's something I've told a lot of young folks kind of in my talks, I tell them I didn't always have this figured out. What I knew as a kid was that friends were the key. And it took me a very long time to find my tribe. I didn't find them in high school. I found a version in college who I really love. But I mean I probably was in my mid-20s before I really happened to find my crew for real. So I would just say to folks who are sort of trying to figure out when or how or whatever - just keep showing up and being the kind of friend that you would want to have and be patient. I actually think it takes a while. Because I think that folks have to wade through some of their sh*t in order to be able to show up for you that way, right? And I think we have to wade through our own. And so, pragmatically I just think it takes a while. But I do think it can happen.
PS: At this point, what gives you hope for the future?
BC: Well, right now my hope for the future is that I can move to Wakanda with all my people [laughter]. That's my hope.
#WakandaForever #EloquentRage Photo: Kevin Carlin for @Salon pic.twitter.com/YpHTuRKzqX
- Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) February 23, 2018
PS: What would you say is the biggest challenge that black feminists are facing right now?
BC: Look, I think the biggest challenge is getting the Trump regime out of office. There's just untold levels of devastation that Trump is doing to communities of color very broadly. If you think about everything that's happening with Dreamers and those communities of color, both black and Latinx, and then if you think about what's happening with the Movement for Black Lives and so many of the issues that they have brought to our attention, plus healthcare - all of these things, they add up to the Trump presidency being just the absolute worst thing that could have happened to black folks in the generation - in a couple of generations, I would say.
"There are some real interesting things happening in terms of black progressive politics, and they're happening down South."
That being said, one of the things that I'm feeling really hopeful about is that there were a number of amazing, important political races though the end of 2017. We saw these progressive black mayors being elected in places like New Orleans - where the black woman mayor who won was not the establishment-mayoral candidate - and in Charlotte, and in the near-upset in St. Louis with the Black Lives Matter candidate. And then even in Birmingham, the non-establishment black man who won, he's a young black man who's 36. And also in Jackson, Chokwe Antar Lumumba. So there are some real interesting things happening in terms of black progressive politics, and they're happening down South, which is incredibly interesting. And I'm hype as f*ck about the Stacey Abrams gubernatorial race in Georgia.
So those are the things that give me hope in the midst of everything else, because one of the things I think is happening is that everyone always thinks that black people are politically unsophisticated. And so everyone would think, "Yes, the Trump presidency is the big issue." But what you see is that black folks are actually looking at these down-ballot races and all these local spaces now. They're deeply engaged. A lot of the reason they're engaged is the Movement for Black Lives. And so I think that we should pay attention, because black folks actually have made the connection around what it's going to take to - even if we couldn't, for instance, get Trump out of office, I think we can mute his impact locally, at the state level, across the country. I think black folks are seeing that and I think they're voting accordingly.
PS: And what message would you hope readers would take away from reading Eloquent Rage, ultimately?
BC: I hope they come away feeling like one, they don't have to have everything all figured out, and two, that they're not crazy. That their sense of the world being really messed up and wanting to change things is actually absolutely right, but also having a deep sense that the resources that they already bring to the table, including the emotional resources that we're often told to lay aside in service of quote-unquote intellectual or rational approaches, that those emotional impulses – that they matter, and that they can power all of the other work that we're doing in the world.
This Pay Gap Calculator Provides an Eye-Opening Look at Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
The gender pay gap is by no means a new issue, but with the recent development that all companies in Great Britain with more than 250 employees are now required to report their internal pay gap to the government by April 4, it's thankfully an issue that's coming back to center stage. And as we approach International Women's Day, online math experts Omni Calculator have now given us the most eye-opening look into just how much this issue affects women around the world.
Below, you'll find Omni's Gender Wage Gap Calculator, which visualizes exactly how much money is being left on the table in a world without workplace equality - as well as how much that differential comes into play in other countries. We can't recommend highly enough that everyone spend some time seeing exactly how this issue affects women on a global scale - and here's hoping that 2018 is the year that we finally get some traction on breaking through the glass ceiling of wage discrimination.
It Only Took Seth Meyers 6 Minutes to Shred Trump's Failure to Deal With the Opioid Crisis
An average of 174 lives are lost each day due to opioid overdoses, yet our president hasn't seemed to take the increasingly grave matter seriously to date. So in a recent Late Night segment, host Seth Meyers carefully scrutinized Donald Trump's failure to solve the growing opioid crisis - and he sure as hell didn't hold back in his takedown.
Meyers begins the segment by addressing how the deadly epidemic is notably prominent in the United States, as the country accounts for a whopping 27 percent of the world's drug overdose deaths. He refers to opioid addiction as a "uniquely American problem," just like "Type 2 diabetes in adults wearing shirts with Disney characters on them," he adds. You can always count on this guy to add his own humorous flair to even serious issues like this.
The late-night host goes on to tear apart Trump's former promise to increase funding and provide resources for states that need it most. Meyers shows various news clips that point out how the POTUS hasn't taken steps with the necessary sense of urgency, despite the fact that he formerly declared the epidemic a "national emergency."
Later on in the segment, Meyers touches on how Trump appointed Kellyanne Conway to deal with the crisis, for whatever reason. "Were you expecting a spit take? Because that part of me died months ago," he jokes, referencing his lack of surprise at Trump's decision to designate Conway for the duty. See what else Meyers has to say about Trump's inaction on the opioid crisis in the segment above.
GIF Stickers Just Arrived on Instagram Stories, and They're Absolutely Glorious
Here's a fun fact about me: if you ever catch me staring intently at my phone and tapping at it with reckless abandon, chances are I'm not looking at my email or checking social media; instead, I'm messing around with a photo or video. I can spend hours placing teeny tiny Easter eggs, tweaking the layers and contours, and, since Messenger launched an AR feature that's out of this world, adding that little extra somethin' in Messenger to top it all off. As a result, it should come as no surprise at all that when I learned that Instagram Stories was adding a GIF stickers function, I was over the moon with excitement. And after a full day of testing it out, I'm absolutely obsessed - and can't recommend highly enough that you hop into Instagram and start playing with GIF Stickers right away. But first, let's walk through what the new function is (and, of course, how to use it).
The new feature is part of the Instagram version 29 update, which rolled out on Jan. 23 to all iOS and Android devices. The GIF stickers can be added to any still photo, video, or boomerang in the Instagram app - and you can share them in your stories as well as download and save them for later. "From bouncing letters and twirling hearts to dancing cats and pizza in space, these animated stickers help you make any photo or video funny, interesting or creative," Instagram announced in a blog post, noting that the feature will allow users to tap into GIPHY's massive library of GIFs to find the exact right one that lights up a photo or video. With just a few quick finger tweaks you can make it part of the scene, as if it was always there all along. Or, if it's more your cup of tea, you can add something that totally doesn't belong in the scene - and collapse in giggles at the resulting masterpiece. In other words, get ready to have a ball.
It's also worth noting that there's a hidden gem within Instagram's announcement: finally, you soon won't have to crop a photo to make it work as a story. "In the coming weeks, we're also rolling out the ability to upload photos and videos of any size to your story - so you never have to lose part of a photo or cut a friend out of a group video," the post reads. "When you upload a photo or video, pinch to share it in its original dimensions, whether it's square, portrait or landscape. Any extra room will be filled with a custom color gradient that matches what you've shared." How cool is that?
Ahead, we'll walk through exactly how to use the new GIF Stickers feature on Instagram Stories. But be forewarned: once you start, oh man is it hard to stop. So make sure you've got some time to play around, because there's literally no way that you won't want to go back through your photo library and make every photo and video pop.
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