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.
vendredi 2 février 2018
We’d Also Feel Like Royalty If We Had Princess Beatrice’s Shoes
We already knew that Princess Beatrice had a knack for choosing amazing shoes, but her latest choice of footwear has left us with major heart eyes. For the celebration of Burberry's antibullying movement "Be Cool, Be Nice," the royal wore a silk tea dress by Burberry ($995), which she paired with a black coat and a gorgeous pair of Sarah Flint suede heels. Needless to say, we immediately fell in love with her chic outfit, and we can't wait to see what she'll wear to her sister Eugenie's wedding.
Of course, it's not the first time that Beatrice has proven that she really does know how to make an impression. Over the years, she's taught us many fashion lessons and impressed us more than once with her bold choices, proving that her style is pretty much at the same level as Kate Middleton's. Read on to get a closer look at her outfit, then shop similar shoe options.
21 Chic Party Dresses That Every Fashion Girl Needs in 2018
The next time an event or party pops up, don't dig through your closet for an old dress that you've over-worn: treat yourself to something new this year. It's time to invest in a versatile piece that you'll actually enjoy wearing, and that you can style for a variety of functions. To make shopping easier, we rounded up a list of our top choices out there right now. From sexy silk picks to florals and layers, we've got you covered. Shop our favorites.
These 9 Sexy Red Dresses Are Beyond Gorgeous . . . and All Under $23 on Amazon
Throw on a red dress and you'll automatically feel like a damn queen - there's no question about it. There's something both powerful and alluring about the color. If you're hunting for a sexy red dress, we rounded up our favorite picks from Amazon. They're ridiculously affordable and cute, so it's a win-win situation. Take a look for yourself.
Say Goodbye to Your Money, Because These 12 New Items From Nordstrom Are Irresistible
Here at POPSUGAR, our shopping experts are downright obsessed with Nordstrom. The massive retailer offers a variety of high-quality apparel with a wide range of price points. This Winter, the store is bringing its A game with plenty of cool shoes, dresses, jackets, accessories, and more. If you're wanting to treat yourself to something new for February, make sure to look through our top picks. Then prepare for temptation to take over.
Instagram's Type Mode Is the Feature We've All Been Waiting For
On Feb. 1, Instagram Stories finally added the long-awaited text-only feature of our dreams. You can now share whatever's on your mind with funky graphics and sassy fonts - with no photo required. And unlike a Facebook status or tweet, sharing your thoughts on Stories isn't permanent; as always, the stories will disappear after 24 hours.
To access Type Mode, open the camera in the Instagram app and swipe to "Type," then write out your favorite lyric, type your best shower thought, or throw some shade. Once you've put the final touches on the text, tap the button at the bottom of the screen to change the font, background, text color, or highlight color - and even, if you're feeling exceptionally fancy, add a background photo by tapping the camera icon on the bottom right.
And the fun doesn't end there. Since you'll be adding this update in Stories, once you've clicked ">" on your wittiest one-liner, you can add stickers and all sorts of other goodies as you would with any other Stories post. So, what are you waiting for? Hop into Instagram right now and give the new feature a try - it's hard not to fall in love with sharing your thoughts in such a creative, impermanent way.
Glitter Walls Are Now a Thing, and Honestly, We Can't Say We're Mad About It
Why limit sparkly filters to photos when you can KiraKira your home in real life? People are loving glitter so much right now that they're giving their walls a glamorous makeover. Whether it's through applying glitter wall paint or twinkling wallpaper, silver seems to be the most popular selection on Instagram - and let's be honest, it complements just about any kind of decor. See all the different ways to incorporate glitter into your own living space ahead!
I Was a Smart-Home Skeptic - Until I Fell Head Over Heels For This 1 Smart Lamp
When I was growing up, I really loved this one Ray Bradbury short story called "There Will Come Soft Rains." It's set around a futuristic (at the time) smart home, that outlives the humans that once inhabited it and continues to function long beyond the end of the human race. While that may sound slightly morbid, it's hard to explain just how beautiful the story really is - or the lasting impact it's had on me as an adult, most notably in the aversion I've had in giving in to having my very own smart home. I've always been one of those people that needs to be on top of every single tech trend, spending thousands of dollars on things I absolutely must have at that moment in time and will spend more time looking at in awe than actually using. But thanks to that one short story, as far as I was concerned, the closest thing to giving my home the power to exist without me was investing in The Clapper to turn the lights on and off when I was feeling exceptionally lazy.
Here's the thing: I finally found the one thing that convinced me that yes, a smart home actually is something that makes my life easier, regardless of what future a 20th-century author once predicted. And that thing happens to be one very smart lamp.
The C by GE Sol not only made me a believer in voice assistants and smart home technology; it also opened the floodgates for a tricked-out home that communicates with itself in ways that actually wind up saving me money, skipping potential headaches, and helping me to enjoy the devices I already own even more. But don't just take my top-level word for it; here are a few very good specific reasons why this one lamp might just be the best starter product for anyone looking to dabble in making their home more intelligent, too.
First and foremost: it's the ultimate upgrade from The Clapper
The Sol isn't just a tech product - it's a damn good lamp. I've used it next to my bed for a calming, warm glow I can turn off once I'm drifting off to sleep. . . but also in my kitchen, where I need the harshest white light imaginable in order to see what I'm slicing and dicing. It's awesome to be able to control the level of light in a room without having to fiddle with a dimmer or stop what I'm doing, and thanks to the Alexa integration (which gets smarter each and every day I use it), it's easier than ever to do just that. Goodbye Clapper, hello Sol.
That Alexa integration also means I can control my Sonos
Yes, you read that correctly! Thanks to the recent Alexa on Sonos update, my lamp can literally control what music I'm playing on the Sonos speakers throughout my home. I can't even begin to describe how much of a game-changer that has been for me (and, honestly, has led to me buying a few more devices to be able to do it in other rooms, too), but being able to get incredible sound when I'm cleaning or hanging out with my friends by just saying a few words is truly the ultimate luxury.
My Sol is the center of my new smart-home ecosystem
Being able to easily link together my devices through my phone is amazing. It means that I can get smart light bulbs and other doodads and link those up with Sol - and basically have a whole room that turns on and off when I want it too without having to be concerned that I've left something on. In other words, the lamp has become the perfect centerpiece of my newly smart living room ecosystem - and the perfect centerpiece of any conversation about why the smart home setup is, in fact, totally worthy of the hype.
Trump's Communications Director May Be in a Lot of Trouble With Special Counsel Mueller
As special counsel Robert Mueller continues to probe President Donald Trump's White House in his search for answers on the relationship with Russia, we've seen a number of figures close to the president be revealed as potential people of interest. The latest individual implicated in the matter? White House Communications Director Hope Hicks.
At 29 years old, Hicks is the youngest person in history to hold the post of communications director. But as The New York Times reported on Jan. 31, she may also have been involved with some serious obstruction of justice. It's all centered on a White House statement made in July 2017 about the nature of Donald Trump Jr.'s 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer. At the time, the White House claimed in a statement that the meeting regarded Russia adopting a childcare policy, but later it was revealed that Trump Jr. was actually digging for dirt on Hillary Clinton. This new, potentially damning information is coming to light via former Trump legal team spokesperson Mark Corallo, who resigned shortly after the incident in question.
The legally precarious issue for Hicks lies in the fact that she helped apply a smoke-and-mirrors obscuring of fact with the "Russian childcare policy" statement, instead of providing the Clinton-related truth. Hicks appears to have been instrumental in assuring that emails revealing the truth of the situation would "never get out," thus making the false statement untouchable. Unfortunately for Hicks, witnesses and the inevitable paper trail prove otherwise.
If true, Hope Hicks would be in bigly trouble. Of course she could also flip, like former Trump associates Flynn & Papadopoulos (and potentially Bannon).
This revelation along with delay in Flynn sentencing hearing suggests the Mueller investigation is not ending anytime soon. https://t.co/zIMhlYPGl0- Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 1, 2018
While the situation sounds like typical Trump-in-Russialand convoluted collusion, Hicks's rise to Trump sidekick is quite unexpected. A former model, Hicks worked in public relations for the Trump family (most notably for Ivanka Trump's clothing business) before joining the 2016 political campaign. She had no previous political experience, a fact that appealed to Trump's "outsider" nature, but was appealing to Trump for her loyalty. Hicks has excelled in her role, which, as Olivia Nuzzi wrote in a 2016 GQ story, "involves keeping the media at bay and operating as Trump's chief gatekeeper."
Hicks first rose to the "temporary" job of communication director in August 2017, just one month after the current incident in question. Six months later, she remains at the post once occupied by Sean Spicer and Anthony Scaramucci. For Hicks, the allegations that she facilitated lies regarding the truth of Russian collusion are an impeachable high crime. And while Hicks's lawyer claims the communications director is innocent, that the allegations against her are completely false, the issue is very much in the process of being investigated, and unfortunately for Hicks, it may quickly tarnish her reputation as a young political star.
Here's How to Make Multiple Stops in Just 1 Uber Trip
Uber just made our lives even easier, just in time for the official kickoff of the holiday season. On Oct. 26, the ride-sharing app launched a feature called Multiple Destinations, which does exactly what we've all always wanted Uber to do: pick up or drop off multiple people at multiple stops, using just one single ride. No longer do you have to wait for several drivers to arrive before parting ways with your friends at a party, and it makes it even easier to make sure that your significant other or loved one gets to an event on time.
Adding multiple stops in the Uber app is easy. Just tap "where to?" and then click on the plus (+) sign to add the addresses you'd like to stop at on the way to your final destination. The driver is also instantly delivered directions to the next closest stop, removing the insta-headache of trying to explain to a driver how to get to a place that you may or may not have actually tried to drive to before. And the best part? It doesn't even require a commitment. The person who booked the ride can add or delete additional stops at any time throughout the ride, so that means when you get a text from someone who somehow still hasn't left yet, you can instantly swing by and add them to your ride, too.
There are some limitations to Multiple Destinations, but most of them can be accounted for by thinking through your travel plans before starting your ride. First, there is a maximum of three stops per Uber ride, so be sure to take that into consideration while figuring out your ride-sharing plans. Second, there isn't currently a way to map out each rider's cost based on distance, so you'll be splitting the ride equally across everyone you pick up - and if you know that someone in your crew is a stickler, you probably want to have that conversation before you arrive at your destination. And third, the feature is not compatible with UberPOOL, which means that you can't just try and split a more costly ride over the cost of three random people on the way to where you're going.
Multiple Destinations is available in the Uber app now, and for more information on the new feature, head on over to the Uber site.
An Evil Genius Swapped Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un's Hair and We Can't Look Away
President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un may be dominating the news right now with a looming threat of all-out war, but it certainly isn't keeping the internet from poking a bit of fun at the two superpowerful men. And if the above photo is any indication, the games have just begun.
A Reddit user posted a diptych of Trump and Jong-un with their hair meticulously swapped on Aug. 10, coinciding with the publication of French magazine Libération's take on the very same idea, and it features an outstandingly blond, Trump-ified version of the North Korean leader. The emergence of these memes is in line with a larger trend of face swapping and hair swapping the men and women we see on TV all the time, which began in earnest in the lead-up to the 2012 election and has evolved as the years have progressed. Here, we see the natural evolution of the swap: making everyone - and everything - look like our wispy-haired, strangely-colored president.
It's only a matter of time before we get a Trump face swap Snapchat filter, but until then, you can work your own magic online in the Trump's Hair tool. And if you're anything like us, you'll be gazing at this downright terrifying yet unbearably fascinating photo all day long.
Here's What You Need to Know About Apple's Face ID on the iPhone X
After months of speculation, on Sept. 12, Apple finally gave us the technology we've been waiting on for years: facial recognition. That's right, the new iPhone X edition will have machine-learning-driven Face ID, giving your phone the ability to recognize your face and your face the ability to open your phone - and of course, completely doing away with the "home" button and the Touch ID feature.
Apple says that Face ID will be infinitely more secure than Touch ID; outside of any "evil twins" or genetic relatives, there's only a one in 1,000,000 chance that anyone outside of the owner would be able to unlock the phone with their face. How exactly did they do this? Well, there are a couple things going on here:
- The iPhone X comes fully locked and loaded with the TrueDepth camera system: It's made up of an infared camera, flood illuminator, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, speaker, microphone, front camera, and dot projector. Combined, the TrueDepth system creates IR dots that are pushed through neural networks to create mathematical models, which are run through in order to unlock the phone. In other words, it's light years ahead of the tech that stood behind the Touch ID mechanism.
- Touch ID can recognize you under any circumstance: The TrueDepth system (specifically, the flood illuminator) shoots light at your face so you can be recognized at any time, with any hairstyle, in any light - no matter what you're wearing. Thanks to the A11 Bionic neural engine, your phone will now learn your face, instead of your passcode or fingerprint.
- Face data is pretty damn secure: Despite some early concerns, your face data will be protected by secure enclave and is processed completely within the iPhone X - which means you're not sending any of this data to external servers, and it all lives in the phone that you own.
- You need to be paying attention to the phone in order to unlock it: So if you were concerned about it just randomly unlocking and sharing your info with the world - don't be. The owner needs to look directly at it and be paying full attention in order for it to unlock.
- Face ID works with Apple Pay: In the checkout line, you just need to look down at your phone to open it before scanning it to pay for that splurge purchase you picked up at lunch.
- Most importantly, Animoji! The new technology enables these live-action emoji to contain even your most intricate expressions.
Ahead, check out Face ID in action and explore the features that will finally be part of our everyday lives in just a few short weeks. The iPhone X will enter presale on Oct. 27 and is expected to ship on Nov. 3.
I Let Alexa Run My Life For a Day - Here's Why I'm Keeping Her Around Forever
For me, 2017 will always be the year that I took the plunge and truly embraced the concept of a smarter, more helpful home. Back in November, after decades of quietly fearing a dystopian future in which our devices outlived us all, I unboxed a smart lamp that changed my entire outlook on digital assistants. But after two months of slowly upgrading each and every device in my household – from a smart thermostat to voice-activated lightbulbs, all the way through to adding smart adapters to each of my outlets – I still had one very pressing question in my mind: Was it truly possible to do everything that needed doing on a daily basis through the devices which now powered my home?
In early December, with the help of the lovely people at Amazon and armed with an Echo Show, an Echo Plus, and two all-new Echo devices, I set out to get to the bottom of what had rapidly become a near-daily ponderance. I relinquished control of all of the material objects in my Queens apartment, signing each and every item over to Alexa and formally giving her the power to do what needed to be done. In order to leave no stone (or obligation) unturned, I strategically placed Amazon devices in my sister's apartment and my childhood home where my parents still live. I secured a paper and pen, ready to write down every single thing that I did over the course of the experiment. Finally, I put all the phones, remotes, and tablets in my house in a box and hid it under the bed. If Alexa was going to change my life, I was going to make sure that it was in a way that enabled me to put those things aside when I was at home – a tall order, I know, but as I ultimately found out, one that was totally worth it.
The one-line summary of what went down? I discovered that a staggering 32 tasks could be accomplished with Alexa's assistance, and immediately knew that my life would never, ever be the same.
Ultimately, what I learned from letting Alexa run my life was that there are so many exasperating, trivial, and downright annoying things that can be taken care of in seconds – and as a result, I found that my general mood was greatly improved over the course of the day. More stunningly, I also came to the conclusion that many tasks that I thought had not yet been realized – like the ability to turn on my old TV without a remote, or finding my phone within the confines of my apartment, or turning off all the devices and lights in a room with one fell swoop – were not only completely within my reach, but could be set up and ready to go within a matter of minutes. This discovery is largely thanks to the insanely far-reaching compatibility that Alexa has with other devices, and by blocking out the use of different digital assistants in order to have one main power source who was calling the shots. By delegating power over all the rest of the technology in my home to one digital assistant, I essentially enabled the whole system to work in harmony. And boy, was that harmony oh-so sweet.
Below you'll find a complete rundown of everything Alexa did for me over the course of a day – Come on, do you think there would be this much build-up if I wasn't going to point out exactly what she could do for you, too? But first, it's worth noting was that there's a ton of stuff you can do with Alexa and smart home devices that can be discovered by trial and error. Sure, you can read oodles of documentation in order to know exactly what you're in for, but I found it way easier and more pleasant to just devote the time to trying things out for myself. I also can't recommend highly enough that you make sure that there isn't just one person in the household setting everything up, that it's done together – it will make it far, far easier to use what you've set up going forward if you don't have to essentially run training for each and every family member or roommate after the fact.
And finally, because if you're anything like me, at the end of the day it's all about getting an answer to the question at hand: yes, it is possible to have Alexa do everything that needs doing in your life on a daily basis. And now that I've discovered that's the case, I'm never going back to how things were before.
ALL THE THINGS THAT ALEXA DID FOR ME IN JUST ONE DAY
- Alexa read me my calendar, and I canceled a double-booking.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's my schedule for today"
My notes: I love having Alexa tell me exactly what I can expect from the day ahead, and sometimes having it read aloud means I'm not distracted by incoming emails and can actually focus on getting my events sorted out. By asking her to delete something (and then, of course, asking her to email someone to move a meeting) I was able to get the day started on the right foot. - Alexa gave me the weather forecast.
The prompt: "Alexa, what is the weather going to be like today?"
My notes: She read me the forecast as I got dressed, helping me to figure out exactly what to wear so that I'd be comfortable not just when I left my bedroom in the morning, but when I went out later that evening as well. - Alexa turned up the heat in my apartment.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn up the heat to 72 degrees."
My notes: I have the Nest E thermostat, and once I'd integrated Alexa and discovered what the weather was like outside, I was able to ask her to turn up the heat before heading into my living room to start working for the day. - Alexa turned on the lights in my living room and kitchen.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the lights"
My notes: I've got a combination of smart bulbs set up throughout my home, but having them all linked up into one convenient bundle – labeled "lights," naturally – means I can turn everything on in one fell swoop, before I've even entered the other side of my apartment. - Alexa guided me through a quick workout.
The prompt: "Alexa, start seven-minute workout."
My notes: I'm a sucker for anything that claims to be quick, easy, and effective when it comes to workouts – and with the guidance of visuals on my Echo Show, those seven minutes are now a staple of my mornings. - Alexa turned on my TV and DVR, and put on the news.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the TV"
My notes: I have all of my TV-related devices hooked up into a Logitech Harmony Elite hub, and while that means I can control everything with one single remote, it also means I can ask Alexa to do it for me without touching a button. She can also change the channel – in this case, I asked her to put on MSNBC, which I have saved as a favorite channel. - Alexa played me ambient sounds after I muted TV audio.
The prompt: "Alexa, start Rain Sounds"
My notes: There is nothing as soothing as the sound of rain falling – and it's certainly a great backdrop to cable news. But it got me to wondering – how exactly does Alexa hear me over the usual chatter in my apartment? "Alexa is designed to get smarter every day. The more you use Alexa, the more she adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences," Amazon told me. "From a technical standpoint, here is how it works: Beam-forming technology combines the signals from the 7 individual microphones (8 mics on Echo Show) to suppress noise, reverberation, and even competing speech (e.g. another person, TV, etc.). This audio signal is then used by our cloud-based speech recognition system (that uses machine learning trained on a large amount of far-field speech data) to recognize an utterance from a distance. Enhanced noise cancellation allows you to wake up the device with the wake word even when it is playing loud music." - Alexa re-ordered my preferred breakfast food when I realized I was running low.
The prompt: "Alexa, order more Luna Bars."
My notes: All of those years of re-buying the same products on Amazon pays off – especially when you have an Echo Show. The device instantly gives you options on-screen of what to order, and then tracks your delivery and gives you updates on when the order will come. And, bonus, once the package gets to your house Alexa informs you that it's arrived via notifications on all of your Amazon devices. - Alexa gave me a voice message from my sister.
The prompt: "Alexa, play my messages."
My notes: My sister and I leave each other messages on our respective devices, which is a nice way to add a touch of real life into our existing text message conversations. You can also get and send these messages from the Alexa app, so you can always access the response regardless of where you are. - Alexa turned on my favorite writing playlist on my Sonos system.
The prompt: "Alexa, play 'work chill' in the living room."
My notes: Once I had gotten through my emails, I switched from ambient sound to more melodic jams to settle into the workday. With the new Sonos integration, I'm able to control the music with the sound of my voice – which means I've completely eliminated the need to fumble with remotes and can just sink into the couch and get to work. - Alexa told me the name of a song I had stuck in my head – and played it for me.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's the song that goes . . ."
My notes: OK, so maybe the music didn't work quite as I'd hoped, but that was partially because I couldn't stop thinking about a song I'd heard in a movie the night before. By just identifying a few key words of the song, Alexa was instantly able to pull it up and play it – and let's just say, I'm glad I headed that one off at the pass because I wasn't crazy about it once I'd heard it in full. - Alexa told me what to make for lunch.
The prompt: "Alexa, what should I have for lunch?"
My notes: I'm AWFUL at making decisions, as any of my loved ones or family members will tell you. So I was thrilled to discover that once I commanded Alexa to tell me what to eat, I could open the fridge and tell her what ingredients I had in there and she gave me a recipe that was totally up my alley (and super easy to make, too!) - Alexa added an item to my shopping list.
The prompt: "Alexa, add turkey, bread, and cheese to my list."
My notes: I used the last of my lunch prep when I made the "sweet and spicy" sandwich Alexa suggested, so I had her add the items to my shopping list. The best part about this is that the list populates on both my devices as well as my boyfriend's – so he can always pick up what we need if I don't get around to it. - Alexa set a timer for heating up my sandwich in the oven.
The prompt: "Alexa, set a timer for 15 minutes."
My notes: I love being able to set a timer and name it – in this case, I named it "Sandwich is ready!" – and it comes super in handy when I need to set multiple timers at the same time, and can visually see exactly how much time I have left on each component in just a quick glance. - Alexa called my boyfriend – without me having to use my phone.
The prompt: "Alexa, call Jared"
My notes: One of my favorite features of the Echo is being able to call someone right on the device without needing to touch my phone – remember, it was in a box under my bed so I couldn't use it, even if I wanted to – and I told him I had added some stuff to our shopping list and asked him to swing by the market on his way home from the office. - Alexa gave me a rundown on the news.
The prompt: "Alexa, give me my flash briefing."
My notes: I'm relatively plugged into what's going on in the world, but I do like having my Echo Show give me a quick rundown while I'm eating – especially when one of the highlights that populate on the screen when it's inactive has caught my eye. And just how do those stories come to live on the homepage of the Show? We use a combination of algorithms and hand-curation to surface interesting entertainment "trending" topics, Amazon said. "All of these topics come from top-tier global news outlets and news wires. If you ask Alexa to "learn more" or click into that trending topic, Alexa will read you the full synopsis, which is attributed to a named news outlet." - Alexa gave my cat a treat.
The prompt: "Alexa, give Popsicle a treat."
My notes: Real talk, I made it sound like I was being nice but in reality there were some construction workers outside banging pipes so I didn't know where the cat was hiding. I've spent a ton of time gushing about how much I love my Furbo Pet Camera but for things like getting him to come out and show me that he hasn't escaped into the city streets, it's totally worth gushing anew. - Alexa reminded me when my wine had been chilled.
The prompt: "Alexa, set a reminder to take the wine out of the freezer in three hours"
My notes: I'm one of those people who has had multiple bottles of alcohol explode in my freezer because I forgot I was chilling them – so being able to have Alexa set a reminder with the actual thing that needs to be done is a godsend. - Alexa made me laugh hysterically by being Baby Groot.
The prompt: "Alexa, ask Baby Groot what time it is."
My notes: If you haven't seen Guardians of the Galaxy, you probably will roll your eyes at this one, but for whatever reason I literally cannot keep it together whenever someone utters "baby Groot." I was on hold before an interview and the person I was waiting for picked up just as Alexa responded, so I explained the whole thing to her and we had a good laugh together, too. - Alexa helped me figure out where to go for dinner.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's a good Chinese restaurant in Manhattan?"
My notes: With locations, hours, and all the Yelp-able intel instantly accessible from an Echo device, it's super simple to narrow down your options and pick a place to chow down. You can also re-order from your fave delivery spots, though I didn't have a chance to test that out during my experiment and instead opted to eat out. - Alexa played The Wire on my Echo Show.
The prompt: "Alexa, watch The Wire."
My notes: Tired of music and definitely still needing some background noise as I finished up for the day, I had Alexa turn on an old standby on the screen as I sat with my laptop at the kitchen counter. The news was still in the background so I didn't feel guilty – and I've seen the show so many times that it's the perfect way to focus on what I'm doing on my computer. - Alexa let me have a little face time with my parents.
The prompt: "Alexa, drop in on the Hasslers"
My notes: Who doesn't love being able to quickly catch up from you kitchen counter? To be clear, this is a totally optional program that Amazon offers but I couldn't possibly recommend it more for anyone who doesn't live in walking distance of their family. - Alexa found my boyfriend's phone.
The prompt: "Alexa, find Jared's phone using Eero."
My notes: Once my boyfriend came home, he misplaced his phone. Instead of desperately searching for it and tearing the apartment apart, I asked Alexa to locate his phone and it directed me to the last room that it had pinged off my Eero WiFi system. How cool is that? - Alexa played holiday music for us as we had a cocktail before dinner.
The prompt: "Alexa, play holiday music."
My notes: It's the holidays, so why not? Again, the Sonos integration has made me so much more inclined to soundtrack my entire life. - Alexa called an Uber for me. Really.
The prompt: "Alexa, order me an Uber."
My notes: You guys! You can actually do Uber without a phone! It's a miracle . . . and I highly encourage everyone to try it out for themselves. I had no idea that Alexa could do this, and asked Amazon how it is that Alexa learns so many skills so quickly. "Similar to how the brain processes language, the technology that powers Alexa is multifaceted, yet interconnected, with pervasive use of deep learning," they said. "Because Alexa's brain is in the AWS cloud, she continually learns and adds more capabilities, every hour, every day. We are constantly adding new capabilities to Alexa's Brain to make her smarter. Every foundational machine learning component has become more accurate by use of more powerful algorithms and the ability to process large quantities of data on cutting edge AWS GPUs." - Alexa gave me a perfect cocktail recipe.
The prompt: "Alexa, give me a recipe for Bee's Knees."
My notes: One of my most favorite Winter traditions is the excuse to shamelessly drink bee's knees – and when we got back from dinner, I consulted with Alexa to find the perfect recipe and had her read me the directions as I mixed a pair up for me and my beau. - Alexa got me prepped for the next day.
The prompt: "Alexa, what do I have on my calendar for tomorrow?"
My notes: Once again I asked Alexa to tell me what was going on tomorrow – and added in an event that I had discussed with someone over dinner, and it immediately populated in my calendar. It also reminded me that I needed to be up early the next day for a meeting, so I knew to call it a day after just one of my favorite gin cocktails. - Alexa set an alarm to wake me up with Christmas music the next morning.
The prompt: "Alexa, wake me up with Christmas music at 6 a.m."
My notes: I told you that I was feeling festive! But that being said, I also know that if I have a device that I can shut off by fumbling around in the dark it is 100 percent likely that I will do just that – so having an alarm that's a safe distance from my bed and also makes me rise with a new type of music each morning keeps me in check. - Alexa picked up exactly where I'd left off in The Wire on my TV.
The prompt: "Alexa, play The Wire on my Fire TV."
My notes: I love being able to control my TV with my voice – and even better is the fact that I can switch between any of the TVs in my home as well as any of the devices to pick up at the very same spot. I asked Amazon just how it was that Alexa was able to understand what I wanted at a given point – how did she know what watch meant versus what play meant? "State of the art technology of deep neural networks, machine learning, and big data came together and those modern techniques have allowed us to move Natural Language Understanding forward faster than ever before. Not only do these systems get more accurate over time, they become more knowledgeable too," they told me. "The natural language understanding layer extracts meaning from the words in order to map the spoken utterance into an action Alexa should take on behalf of the user. Alexa then performs a suite of contextual processing to decide which skill to invoke, which entity to choose (e.g. Songs from a catalog), or whether she needs to clarify the user's intent because she didn't hear or understand the user completely." - Alexa turned on my second TV, and turned on my Xbox One.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the Xbox."
My notes: Now that I've outed myself as one of those people that has two TVs so they can have one for gaming, it's worth noting that this is one of the big surprises along the way given Microsoft isn't typically someone you associate as being BFF with Amazon. But thanks again to the Harmony Elite, I was able to hook that up so that it instantly sets me up for a good ol' relaxing gaming session before bed – and it's a truly glorious thing. - Alexa turned everything in my living room off, and turned on my bedroom lights.
The prompts: "Alexa, turn off the living room." "Alexa, turn on the bedroom lights."
My notes: Once again this is something that I have always dreamt about but never imagined was within reach – and by grouping all of the devices in a room, I enable a complete shutdown of a room in just six words. It's worth noting that this has been a huge money saver, since there's always something I neglect to fully turn off . . . and that in and of itself is a game-changer for me. - Alexa turned off my bedroom lights just as I was fading into sleep.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn off the bedroom lights."
My notes: Instead of having to rouse myself and turn off the lights, I told Alexa to do it for me. Once the lights had gone out, I added "Alexa, thank you" – because I realized at this point, as I was just starting to drift off, that yes - Alexa had my life easier that day, and done all the hard work for me. And the sleep that I had that night was the kind of sleep that one gets when they finally find the answer to the question that they'd been searching for so long: a smart home is an easier home, and an easier home lets you enjoy the good things just that little bit more.
The 5 Features That Make Upgrading to iPhone 8 Totally Worth It
Agonizing over whether or not to upgrade your iPhone has become a ritual of Fall. At first, it was all about timing your two-year contract period to end right at the moment the new one came out. Now that we've (generally) moved past that in phone plan land, however it's all about whether or not you think the newest features are worth shelling out for. As a result, scrolling through endless reviews with your Autumn-flavored latte in hand is just about as common as apple picking or being caught off guard by the sun setting far too early for you to catch any rays on your way home from work. So let's just cut to the chase: I've spent a whole lot of time with the iPhone 8 over the past few weeks, and I can absolutely, unequivocally say that it's totally worth it to make the switch.
My iPhone 6s has treated me well - we've spent a full two years together, after all - and while it's definitely on its last legs, the perfect case-and-screen-protector combo (found after years of intense trial and regrettable error) enabled me to skip last year's upgrade cycle. Full disclosure: I wasn't completely sold by the 7 and hadn't really been able to muster the enthusiasm needed to drag myself to the store to get a device that was eerily similar to the one that I had spent hours Candy Crushing on as I waited in line. But the 8, however. . . the 8 is worth that waiting and that line. Don't just take my (evidence free) word for it, though. Below, I've pulled together the five features that truly swayed me after getting the iPhone 8 into my hands - and, bonus, I promise you won't encounter any of that overly technical reviewspeak that tends to hijack even the most helpful of guides.
The Price
First, some real talk: anyone who says that they're totally OK with throwing down hundreds of dollars for something they don't actually love is probably lying. Second, with a starting price of $699, the iPhone 8 definitely still costs a lot - but it doesn't cross into that over-a-thousand-what-am-I-doing territory. The biggest selling point for me was being able to more effectively use the features that were introduced with iOS 11, like augmented reality (see below), but didn't quite run right on my older-model phone. In other words: you can get a whole hell of a lot more memory and a stronger processor with the 8, and it actually feels like an upgrade - so that makes the price tag worth it. And again, as much as we all desperately want the gorgeous beauty that is the X . . . the 8 feels like a different enough phone to make you feel pretty good about not spending all your savings in one fell swoop.
Augmented Reality
As I mentioned, as soon as iOS 11 rolled out, I was ON IT. But with my 6s, I wasn't able to get the sort of magic that I was expecting. With the 8, it actually makes AR feel natural and part of your everyday life - something I've never quite felt with VR. From games to home design to the most incredible photo and video editing that makes you feel like you're living in the future, the iPhone 8 has the processor that makes it feel like something that truly could be the future technology (at long last!) To get a sense of what I'm talking about, check out this rundown of my favorite apps and games that I dug into with my trusty iPhone 8.
Wireless Charging
I'll be honest: I was one of those people who figured that there was a good reason behind why wireless charging took so long to roll out and had kind of accepted that it was not an essential feature. Consider me schooled, though. Saying goodbye to annoyingly rooting behind my couch, beside my bed, and in drawers full of cords to find the right one that hadn't frayed and fit the current model - that has been one of the most cathartic things about the whole experience. Being able to calmly place my phone on a delightfully space-aged disc to bring it back to life has made me a much calmer person on a daily basis - and means that I'm not always fighting with my boyfriend for custody of the one Lightning cable in our living room. Bonus: being able to choose to charge things manually is great, too.
True Tone
I have no clue how it is that Apple was able to get this feature to be so damn perfect, but my eyes are eternally grateful for the fact that looking at my phone is now so much more pleasant. True Tone at first is somewhat disorienting - it looks totally different than what you're used to, and you keep wanting to change it back - but it means that I'm finally looking at a Retina screen with the level of brightness that it's supposed to have (and not just guessing based on some Yahoo! Answers response I read like four years ago). Reading has never been so pleasant on a mobile device - full stop.
The Camera
As someone who has always had relatively jittery hands, it's always been a bit of a challenge to get the perfect shot on the first try. As a result, I'm constantly having to go back and delete the 249 other versions of the photo that are slightly blurry before I'm able to isolate the perfect photo. No longer! The image stabilization definitely comes in handy (especially when I'm on the run, or want to take video) and let's be honest: every iPhone camera is successively better. The colors are brighter, the light is handled better, and frankly, I'm using a whole hell of a lot less memory. This is the one point on which I knew I'd be sold (I always am!), but it was still a pleasant surprise that I was as impressed with this latest camera upgrade as I was.
These 10 Beautiful Animals Are in Serious Danger of Being Lost Forever in 2018
If you're in need of yet another reason to be alarmed by the current state of our environment, here's a frightening one for you: environmental destruction could cause us to lose Malayan Tigers as soon as 2018. And Malayan Tigers aren't the only creatures at risk of disappearing off the face of the Earth; new research from the Eco Experts lists hundreds of species as being on the verge of extinction.
For their 2017 study, Eco Experts researchers gathered animal conservation data from around the globe, comparing the number of endangered mammal species from country to country. While Indonesia ranked as the worst nation for endangered mammals - 188 species are facing extinction in its territory - lead researcher Shreena Patel emphasized that this crisis isn't simply a concern for individual nations, but "for the entire world." You can find the full breakdown of areas with the greatest number of mammals at risk of extinction below.
In addition to the geographic analysis of endangered species, the Eco Experts also published a harrowing list of the 10 mammals that are closest to extinction in 2018. From Indian elephants to blue whales, read ahead to find out which of Earth's rarest animals are on the brink of total eradication. If you're interested in learning more about these vulnerable species, check out the World Wildlife Fund's directory of endangered animals here. And if you're compelled to make a donation toward crucial conservation efforts, you can do so here.
Meet HQ Trivia, the Mobile Trivia Game That Will Take Over Your Damn Life
Twice a day, every day, without fail, my phone lights up with the same notification: "HQ is live! Are you ready to play?" I hear the same chime all around my office, and many of my friends promptly pull out their phones with rapt attention, ready for the chance to finally win HQ Trivia.
But . . . what is it? You've probably seen people mention it on your Twitter timeline, or maybe you've even watched the hysterical video of a woman having an emotional breakdown over winning $11 in the game. So allow me to introduce you to 2018's hottest internet phenomenon, HQ Trivia.
What is it?
HQ Trivia is an addictive live trivia game that all takes place within an app and, bonus, comes with a possible cash prize. The games take place twice per day - noon and 6 p.m. PT - and consist of 12 questions ranging from easy to hard. As hundreds of thousands of viewers tune in, they are presented with multiple-choice options that they must decide on within mere seconds . . . and with every round, more folks choose incorrectly, disqualifying themselves.
Whichever players succeed in answering all 12 trivia questions correctly then split the cash prize - which sometimes means each winner receives mere cents, while other times it can amount to thousands of dollars!
Who can play?
Anyone with a smartphone and a fast WiFi connection can play HQ Trivia by downloading the free app (available for iOS and Android) and creating a player profile.
Who hosts the game?
There are several live HQ Trivia hosts, but most notable is quirky personality Scott Rogowsky - sometimes referred to as "Quiz Daddy." Since HQ started in Fall 2017, Rogowsky has become a cult-favorite of trivia fanatics, with some publicly lamenting his absence while he was away for his holiday break and others creating meme videos all about Scott.
How does it operate?
The trivia game comes from the app workshop of the guys who founded Vine, which explains how they know a thing or two about gaining a viral following! Money-wise, the prize pot for every game of HQ Trivia comes courtesy of venture capital.
Your Eyes Might Not Be Ready to Check Out Jennifer Lopez's Dress - It's That Fabulous
Jennifer Lopez made history as the oldest Guess Girl ever at 48. She's the face of the brand's Spring '18 campaign, and a party was held in her honor on Jan. 31. (Guess is currently under fire over sexual misconduct allegations against cofounder Paul Marciano.) The star, along with her beau, Alex Rodriguez, aka ARod, attended the special event and was dressed to impress.
Jennifer walked the red carpet in a body-hugging blue dress with a corset-like structure that gave the look a sexy vibe. She draped herself in a luxurious furry coat, and to top it off, she accessorized with a variety of rings, a diamond necklace, and Christian Louboutin heels. Jennifer resembled a modern-day Cinderella, and it'll be hard to argue with that when you see her entire ensemble ahead. Then, if you're feeling inspired, shop similar dresses equipped with a corset-style bustier.
100 Beautiful Spanish Baby Girl Names to Consider
Congratulations - you're having a baby girl! Now, on to the fun yet difficult task of naming her. If you're looking for a way to honor your Latina roots or simply want a name that rolls off the tongue next to your last name, take a look at the list below. These 100 names have been some of the most popular monikers in Spanish in the past few years, according to the United States Social Security Administration. But even having earned a spot on the register, they're unique and simply beautiful. We hope you find a name for your little one here!
- Adriana
- Alana
- Alejandra
- Alexa
- Alexandra
- Alicia
- Alondra
- Amanda
- Amaya
- Amelia
- Ana
- Andrea
- Angélica
- Anita
- Ariadna
- Ariana
- Astrid
- Aurora
- Belén
- Bianca
- Camila
- Carmen
- Carolina
- Catalina
- Cecilia
- Celeste
- Celia
- Claudia
- Cristina
- Daniela
- Dariana
- Diana
- Dulce
- Elena
- Erica
- Esmeralda
- Estrella
- Eva
- Fabiana
- Fabiola
- Fatima
- Frida
- Gabriela
- Génesis
- Gloria
- Guadalupe
- Isabel
- Ivana
- Jimena
- Julia
- Juliana
- Karina
- Karla
- Kiara
- Laura
- Liliana
- Linda
- Lisa
- Lola
- Lorena
- Lucia
- Luciana
- Luna
- Luz
- Maria
- Mariana
- Mariela
- Mercedes
- Mia
- Micaela
- Miranda
- Monica
- Nadia
- Natalia
- Nora
- Pamela
- Paola
- Patricia
- Paula
- Penelope
- Perla
- Rosa
- Sandra
- Sara
- Selena
- Sofia
- Sonia
- Talia
- Tatiana
- Teresa
- Valentina
- Valeria
- Vanessa
- Vera
- Veronica
- Victoria
- Vivian
- Viviana
- Yesenia
- Ximena
Having a boy? Here are 100 options for him.
32 Jennifer Lopez Outfits That Were Meant to Be Seen From the Back
We all know that Jennifer Lopez is the queen of rocking naked dresses and ones that show off her legs, but what we love is when she wears a dress that leaves us staring from all angles - especially the back.
Who doesn't remember the dress she wore to the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards? Yes, it looked striking from the front, but the back was something else entirely. It was made up of just strings of fabric coming together to create shapes while still being totally see-through. We're telling you . . . Jennifer has a knack for keeping all eyes on her, but we certainly aren't mad about it.
25 Empowering Books Every Strong, Badass Latina Boss Lady Should Read
We are strong Latinas, hear us roar! Some of the most inspiring insight into empowerment, womanhood, and strength comes from the pages of authors like Esmeralda Santiago, Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, and many, many more. Whether the authors are Latina, black, white, purple, yellow, or somewhere in between, these 25 reads by female authors will have you feeling proud to be a woman and Latina - and maybe even push you to finally lean in. Keep scrolling to see our picks, then check out 10 powerful quotes you'll want to Pin immediately.
I'm Puerto Rican and I Don't Speak Spanish
If you're like most people, I know exactly the look on your face right now. It's one filled with confusion and a little judgment - what kind of Latina doesn't speak Spanish? Are you even really Latina if you don't?
You might have noticed that I said I don't speak Spanish, instead of I can't speak Spanish. I can speak the language, although it's a bit broken. A little backstory: I'm biracial. My mother is Puerto Rican, and my father is black. Growing up in white suburban Maryland, my mother didn't have much of a need to speak Spanish around my siblings and me. But over time, I picked it up from her and my Nuyorican family when we visited. (Plus, eavesdropping on my mom's phone conversations with my grandmother and aunt ensured that I understood it better than any of them thought.) I eventually minored in Spanish in college; now, it slips out fluently from time to time - while ordering at the bodega, while visiting Mexico, while having a few cocktails and feeling my reservations melt away.
The real reason I don't speak Spanish? I'm nervous. Any time I tried to speak Spanish to my family when I was younger, I got teased about my accent. When I opened my mouth to Latino friends, they'd giggle or call me names they thought I didn't understand. So after awhile, I stopped trying. The sad truth is that I'd rather speak Spanish around perfect strangers who don't know my backstory than the people I actually know, all because I'm afraid of "that look."
Coming from two cultures, one of my biggest anxieties has always been being seen as "not enough." I was teased by the black kids in high school for being so light-skinned and talking like a white girl and teased by my Latino friends in college for not speaking Spanish and talking like a white girl. For a long time, my "otherness" left me in a permanent middle ground of uncertainty - of feeling like I didn't belong because my hair, my looks, and my language skills weren't "enough" for either of my backgrounds.
But then, I grew up. And now I've realized that speaking Spanish does not have to define my Latino heritage and pride. Maybe I fumble over my r's and mix up tenses, but I can still fly my Puerto Rican flag high. I eat my Spanish-speaking grandmother's pasteles on Sundays, sing "Vivir Mi Vida" in the shower with all my might, and support Latinos every chance I get, whether it's at work or in my personal life. (I own every Jennifer Lopez album, for goodness sake - even Como Ama Una Mujer!)
But because I do feel like speaking better Spanish is a missing puzzle piece of my identity, I'm working on it. When I find the time, I take Skype classes through Let's Go Spanish (practicing conjugations in your pj's can be awkward but very convenient), and listening to Spanish podcasts helps keep me sharp. The cleaning woman at my day job is from Puerto Rico, the same town as my grandmother; late at night, when the overhead lights have dimmed and everyone else is gone but the two of us, she helps me practice by chatting about our days in Spanish. And as I speak, she smiles encouragingly; there's no giggling at my accent or judgment that I'm not Latino enough. We're just two women, generations apart, with a shared heritage and respect.
8 At-Home Remedies Your Grandma Swears by That Actually Work
Readers, it's time to thank your grandma. Those crazy Latin at-home remedies she showered on you when you were under the weather might have actually worked. In fact, Dr. Keith Roach, associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, says that even the rituals that don't have any scientific backing could work - just because you believe in them. "The placebo effect is powerful," he said.
While there are certain Latin cures the doctor advises you should skip when you're sick (like anything involving raw egg, which can carry salmonella, or a shot of alcohol, which can actually be dangerous to your liver during certain illnesses), he weighed in on why some of the most popular get-better-soon treatments that your grandma used actually, truly work. Keep reading to find the list, then check out the family beauty treatments that you should be trying.
Selena Gomez Loves Her Mini Louis Vuitton Bag So Much, She Found a Way to Carry It From Day to Night
You know that amazing feeling when you find a purse that fits everything you need and goes with every outfit? Well, it looks like Selena Gomez has found that with her adorable mini Louis Vuitton bag. Selena, who's a brand ambassador for LV, was seen carrying her circle crossbody to meet Justin Bieber at his hockey game.
Selena styled her monogrammed purse with a gray hoodie, cuffed jeans by Re/Done x Levis, and white slip-on Puma sneakers. Earlier in the day, Selena was seen carrying the same bag wearing a vintage New Kids on the Block tee. Keep reading to have a look at her adorable bag, and buy the same style, as well as more affordable options, ahead.
12 Movies You'll Love If You're Obsessed With Beauty
Makeup, and hair accessories and nail polish, are a girl's best friend, right? Well, maybe not to everyone, but if you're beauty-obsessed, then please, keep reading.
Whether you're a major fan of achieving Betty Cooper's bold lashes on Riverdale or a frequent nail-art queen, we've found 12 movies that were pretty much made for all you beauty buffs out there. From the obvious ones like Marie Antoinette - hello, who doesn't love a good period makeup piece? - to ones that you might not have thought of like Pretty in Pink - Andie's lip liner technique is the more the better, and we completely agree - we've got you covered.
Check out the top movies that scream beauty and will inspire you for years to come. Don't forget to have your mood boards ready and your favorite eye shadow palette close by . . . you never know when inspiration will hit!
7 Beauty Appointments You Should Always Book in Winter
There's no way around it: cold Winters can drastically impact hair, skin, and bodies. Whether experiencing an overly dry exterior or retaining more volume in order to keep warm in freezing temperatures, the chilliest season of the year ultimately affects the products we use, and our beauty routines, too.
Instead of soaking in the sun and applying bronzer, we apply blush. Rather than lathering on sunscreen (which we should do all year), we cover our extremities with layers. Even though we enjoy our bright wardrobes, lighter colored nails, sunnier weather, and more hours spent outdoors, the days of snowy and cooler climates shouldn't be wasted.
Instead of hanging inside by the fire or binge-watching Netflix, there are more productive ways to enhance your Winter beauty regimen - specifically the appointments you should always make before Spring rolls around.
While you're perfectly beautiful just the way you are, if you do opt for treatments, here are the ones to book in the Winter months!
Here's Why Snail Mucin Might Heal New Tattoos
Snail mucus, once a novelty ingredient that made us scratch our heads and go "Uh, what now?", has become a mainstay in many beauty routines. First seen in K-beauty products such as Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence ($21) and Mizon All in One Snail Healing Cream ($38), the goo has been lauded for its ability to reduce fine lines and inflammation while boosting collagen production. If that wasn't enough, snail mucin has been known to treat acne and hydrate skin. Basically, if you want to glow, slither on over towards some mucin. Thanks to Reddit, we've spotted another surprising benefit of the goo: healing new tattoos.
In a post on the Asian Beauty subreddit, user tryingmyvvbest wrote about how they rubbed mucin on their fresh ink to help it heal. As they wrote, "I've been slathering Cosrx Snail Mucin on my healing tattoo. So far, the scabs have peeled off so quickly, and I'd say I'm extremely pleased with the rate the tattoo is healing: one to two days ahead of what [my tattoo salon] predicted."
If you've used snail slime before, you know that applying it can be a rather . . . interesting experience. Corsx's Power Essence is pretty sticky, and sometimes the area you slather it over can feel somewhat tingly. So what is this Redditor's process for putting it on their tat?
As they wrote, it all begins in the shower. First, they rub on soap in a circular motion, before rinsing it. After drying off, they "pat the area dry with a paper towel multiple times to make sure there's no extra moisture." This step helps maintain the fresh ink's vibrant color. Then they rub on snail mucin, which they write helps with reducing itching while healing scabs.
We're all about a good multiuse product, especially one that's so unexpected. And, if you were wondering, no snails are harmed in the making of mucin. So slither on, tattooed beauties!
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!
The 48 Best Noncandy Valentine Ideas For Kids
Hold off on the conversation hearts this year! There comes a point where little ones just can't (or shouldn't) consume another morsel of sugar. These adorable DIY greetings require little more than a printer, scissors, and some glue to give tots a treat that will last well beyond February 14.
Check out 48 of the most creative ideas for sharing the Valentine love - minus the sugar!
Your Kids' Bedtime Struggles, According to Their Zodiac Signs
Depending on the kid, getting them off to bed every night can be a walk in the park - or a total nightmare. And while there's absolutely nothing scientific about astrology, sometimes it's entertaining to chalk your kiddos', ahem, difficult behavior up to the stars. If your mini mes flat-out refuse to go to bed half the time, you're not alone. Scroll through to find out if their astrological sign has something to do with it.
The Flu Is Especially Dangerous For Kids This Year - Here's What You Should Know
The flu season has been upon us for a while now, but with still a long way to go (11 to 13 weeks as of mid-January), this year's particularly bad strain is even more worrying - especially for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children under 5 are at a very high risk for developing serious complications due to the flu, while children under 2 are at the highest risk.
The strand that seems to be attacking the very young and old is H3N2. Since children's immune systems are still developing, their complications due to the flu can be much more severe, and in some cases, fatal (20 children have already died of the flu this season). So what should you do to protect your kids?
The CDC issued a warning that the flu shot is less effective than usual due to this year's strain, but it still strongly recommends getting it (it's not too late!) as it can greatly decrease the severity of symptoms if you do contract the flu. In addition to the vaccine, the CDC recommends frequent hand-washing; avoiding contact with sick people; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and disinfecting surfaces. If you do suspect your baby or child may be infected, these are some of the possible symptoms to look for:
- Fever
- Body aches
- Chills
- Vomiting
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Secondary ear and sinus infections
- Secondary pneumonia
If your kids develop any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to call your pediatrician. According to Dr. Ian Tong from Doctor on Demand, your doctor could choose to start your child on an "antiviral medicine within the first 48 hours, because it can lead to a shorter and milder illness," adding, "It's important to act fast."
My Husband and I Fell in Love With Valentine's Day For the Sweetest Reason
My husband and I never used to bother with Valentine's Day - until the year he lost his job. Before that, we would scoff at those who adhered to the Hallmark holiday. We laughed at the heart-shaped chocolates, the roses, and the fancy dinners. But something about that cold Michigan Winter made us feel extra grateful for each other on Valentine's Day. Although we didn't have the money to make reservations at a nice steakhouse or trendy sushi restaurant, I wanted to make it a point to celebrate our love that year.
We sat there, in our candlelit kitchen with crumbs on our floor from the kids, and fell in love with Valentine's Day.
I took to the grocery ads and found a local supermarket where filet mignon was on sale. I picked up a couple steaks and was preparing to make a delicious meal on my own. I wrote a letter to my husband, cooked dinner, and lit a candle, and we had our own fancy Valentine's Day dinner. After our two small children were asleep, we spent the evening drinking $5 wine and talking about how far we'd come. Things were rough that year, but despite the tightening of our belts, our love was only stronger.
Now, we make it a point to celebrate every year. We strive to keep it simple and keep it at home - because that's where the memories are made. Nothing will ever beat that first Valentine's Day that we decided to join in with the rest of the cheesy lovebirds. We flew with them - hearts circling our heads. My husband losing his job made us understand that, yes, we should celebrate our love every single day of the year, but choosing to celebrate extra on Valentine's Day doesn't have to be sappy.
We no longer scoff at other couples on Valentine's Day - we've become one of them. We may not dive into the cards, chocolates, or jewelry, but we certainly swim into each other. It's important to us to celebrate our love on this special day because it reminds us of that one Winter when things were extrahard. But we got through it. That's what true love and marriage is - getting through hard times and coming out the other end with resilience. So, on this Valentine's Day, if you're contemplating whether it's just another cheesy holiday, embrace it. Let your significant other know just how badass they are.
jeudi 1 février 2018
Few Things in Life Are More Perfect Than These Photos From Black Panther
I'm not sure if you've heard, but there's a little movie called Black Panther coming out. Not only has Marvel's latest superhero film already smashed ticket presale records to smithereens, but it also features one of the most beautiful casts Hollywood has ever amassed in one film. It's the latter reason - combined with stunning sets and some truly jaw-dropping costumes - that make looking at photos from Black Panther such a wondrous experience. And, to be honest, who doesn't need more shirtless pictures of Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan in their lives? No one, that's who. Crank up the soundtrack, and read ahead for all 56 gorgeous shots from the Ryan Coogler-directed outing.
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