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Birchbox review: A great subscription box for skincare enthusiasts looking to discover new brands - Mashable

Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work.

It's what's on the inside that counts, but that packaging is pretty damn nice, too.

Image: nicole cammorata/mashable

Super customizable • Loyalty points for discounts • Extra focus on skin and hair care • Great value for the price

Samples can be tiny • Less than stellar customer service • Repeated products

For skin and hair obsessives, these monthly samples are a clutch way to discover new products — just don't expect a $10 box to singlehandedly stock your collection.

The makeup world is officially taking over. This $60 billion industry continues to grow and according to Statista, "consumers have been spending higher levels of disposable income on cosmetics than they had in the past." In fact, during economic hard times, buyer interest in cosmetics stays steady — something economists have cheekily dubbed the "lipstick effect."

Considering Instagram is packed with beauty gurus and their flawless skin, and that a Google search for the term "makeup tutorial" returns a whopping 700 million hits, I'd say that our beauty obsession isn't going away any time soon.

If you're anything like me, you regularly spend more money on makeup than groceries. (#sorrynotsorry) But for the beginners out there who are trying to figure out a way to learn the ropes of the industry without setting their wallet aflame, beauty subscription boxes are the answer. One of the most popular (if not the most popular) choices is Birchbox.

Launched in 2010 as the OG beauty subscription box, Birchbox sees over one million subscribers and over four million customers total, which includes online purchases from the Birchbox store and from the physical Birchbox store in New York. Though 2015-2016 were relatively rough years for the company (and the country as a whole, honestly), Birchbox recently had a record-breaking year of growth in 2017, turning profit for the first time in a while and seeing a 63% increase in subscribers.

So, I've set out to answer the question on every beauty junkie's mind...

The short answer: Hell yes.

The long answer: Get a bowl of popcorn and keep reading. I'll get pretty in-depth here, guys, because if there's one thing I take seriously in this world, it's my beauty products. Before I get into the nitty gritty, here's the gist

You'll get five samples per month ranging from makeup, to skin care, to hair care.

The value of each box ranges from $20 to $40.

Birchbox supplies more of a variety of makeup, skincare, and hair care products than Ipsy, which sends mostly cosmetics and less skin or hair care products.

Birchbox's loyalty program offers discounts on full-sized items in the Birchbox store, as well as extra amounts off when you review a product online.

Now, onto the good stuff.

Packaging: Aesthetic overload

Image: nicole cammorata/mashable

Let's talk about this adorable packaging for a sec. Not only are these mini gift boxes perfect to reuse for gifting over holidays or as storage for small items like jewelry, they're also hella cute. You can tell Birchbox really puts effort into them and it's much appreciated — and actually makes me trust their item choices even more.

You don't get a cute little makeup bag like you do with some other boxes, which could be a bummer — but those bags are sometimes worthless and end up taking up space in a drawer most of the time.

But it's what's on the inside that counts

Image: nicole cammorata/mashable

Each month, you'll receive five beauty treats ranging from makeup, to hair stuff, to skincare, to fragrances from both premium and niche brands. The actual value of the boxes ranges from $20-$40. Considering you could spend that much on a single item at Sephora, that value is pretty insane since you're getting five items for $10.

You can also choose between two different boxes each month: Choose a curated box, where you can preview all of the samples you'll be getting that month, or a choice box, where you choose one of your samples and get surprised by the rest. Many months also offer the option to choose a featured box or Guest Editor box, which will include hand-picked items by your favorite YouTube bloggers and gurus. Regardless of your choice, the price won't go up — and all you have to do is log onto your beauty profile to let Birchbox know what you want.

Men who aren't interested in receiving makeup samples can also subscribe to Birchbox Plus, a monthly dose of all things grooming, lifestyle, and men's health related for the same $10/month. They also have a ton of options for free gifts with your box like leather NFL coasters, BENNKAI sunglasses, and more. (*Hint gift idea hint*)

You can't expect full-sized items when you're paying what you would for one travel-sized thing.

Keep in mind that most of the items will be pretty small. They're perfect to try new products before jumping all-in on the (expensive) full-sized product and are great to throw in your bag for an on-the-go emergency kit — but you're gonna be disappointed if you wanted Birchbox to singlehandedly stock your beauty collection. It's $10, guys. You get what you pay for. You can't expect full-sized items when you're paying what you would for one travel-sized thing in the Sephora check out line. If that's what you're looking for, hit up Boxycharm.

But full-sized items aren't totally off the table yet: If you get a sample you really like, you can order a full-size version (with free shipping) in the Birchbox shop, and then get $1 back in loyalty points for every $10 you spend.

They're themed based on the month, so that's fun

Everyone knows that everything is more fun with a theme and beauty boxes are way better when the products are sent according to the month (or at least the current season).

The April Box was (aptly and adorably) dedicated to Earth Day and included all clean beauty items or items that sought to honor Mother Earth:

Clarins Multi-Active SPF 20 Day Cream (full size $54)

CLEAN Reserve Citron Fig Eau De Parfum (full size $95)

COOLA Classic SPF 30 Dawn Patrol Primer (full size $42)

OUAI Volume Spray (full size $26)

Wander Beauty Catch the Light Highlighter and Glowtion (full size $34)

My favorite box recently was July, which featured five products to combat those devilish, sweaty, and frizzy 90+ degree days:

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (full size $32)

Beauty Protector Protect & Blonde (full size $23)

Coastal Scents Blush & Bronzer Palette (full size $19.95)

Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel (full size $21)

Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (full size $22)

I needed that bronzer palette because I'm pale AF, and I used the shit out of that dry shampoo when I was skipping hair wash days on vacation. I also found my new favorite lipstick shade thanks to this box. (I ended up buying the full-size version of that lipstick and used that sweet Birchbox store discount. Boo ya.)

Image: nicole cammorata/mashable

December's boxes aim to dazzle up your holiday glow and give users a $10 off coupon and an extra treat to stay in line with the giving season. Subscribers receive items like special primer to combat winter dryness and flaky skin, festive shimmery liquid eyeshadow, fashion tape (holiday dresses literally never cooperate), and more items to make sure you're the best looking one at the office's holiday party.

A few of my favorite brands that I've received from Birchbox are Stila, Keihl's, Benefit, Smashbox, OUAI, and Coola. While it's always nice to get samples from premium brands that you know are trustworthy, don't freak out if you open a box to find that you haven't heard of any of the brands. If they weren't nice, Birchbox wouldn't put them in there — and they provide a handy card that explains each product and how much it costs IRL. Imagine how cool you'll feel when you discover a new go-to item and get to feel like a damn guru when you suggest it to all of your friends.

Personalization: Pretty on point

Sure, getting samples of expensive brands for a fraction of the price is cool, but it doesn't really matter if none of them are things you can use. Good thing Birchbox has you create a personal beauty profile to give them an idea of the kinds of products that will work best for you — because makeup isn't always one size fits all.

The questionnaire will ask about your skin type, skincare concerns (like dark spots or acne), skin tone, hair color and texture, whether you color your hair or style it with heat, and what your makeup experience is — are you a newbie or could you teach a class? Do you stick with nude tones or go for the neon palettes? You'll also get to mention if you'd prefer more makeup, more skincare, or more haircare products. I marked that my hair is extremely thick and that my skin concerns were acne, aging, and dark spots.

Here's what they sent according to my profile:

OUAI Wave Spray (full size $26)

Lipstick Queen Lip Liner in Raisin (full size $18)

Love of Color One & Done Shadow Stick in Champagne Problems (full size $10)

COOLA SPF 30 Dawn Patrol Setting Spray (full size $36)

(MALIN + GOETZ) grapefruit face cleanser (full size $36)

They did pretty well following my requests, if you ask me. The tousling spray for curly hair and cleanser make sense for obvious reasons, and no makeup enthusiast will ever be upset with a new setting spray. Though I'm not a fan of stick or roll on eyeshadow and usually use my liquid lipstick without liner, that's a super specific personal preference that I didn't even mention in my beauty profile. Don't judge the actual products so much as how they listened to your preferences and the brands they send.

However, if you really aren't feeling one of the items you receive and want to make sure you don't get it or something similar again, you can review the item online and Birchbox will take that into consideration when packing your next box. You can also go back into your beauty profile and change preferences at any time, which is convenient if you dye your hair a totally different color or something like that.

Don't judge the actual products so much as how well they listened to your preferences.

Downsides: A few complaints, but nothing too serious

This is probably just nit-picking, but one downside I wanted to mention is that repeated products seem to be thing — based on my boxes and on what I've gathered from other reviews. I mean, you can kind of expect this as they're trying to tailor boxes to millions of subscribers and can't keep a 20-foot long list of what they've already sent to each person — but when you're only getting five tiny samples, the last thing you want is to see the same thing you just got the month before. The surprise is half of the fun, right? They do try to combat this by allowing you to review products and note what you'd prefer to not receive again, which is nice of them. Though all subscribers obviously don't get identical shipments each month, it'd be nice if Birchbox could set aside the entirety of items they've sent out in a certain month and make sure there are at least a few months go by before the add those items to boxes again.

When it comes to personalization, I do wish they would have inquired about color preferences, just to make sure you're not getting a shade of lipstick that makes you look like a clown (though the complexion questions probably help with this). I guess it's a way to see how something looks on you instead of purchasing and hoping for the best, which is the entire point of Birchbox anyway. *Shrugs*

The competition: How do Ipsy and Play! by Sephora stack up?

10 bucks is an insanely good price for how much stuff you get, and Birchbox obviously isn't the only one taking advantage of that affordable AF market. If you've done any other research, I'm sure you've seen that Birchbox, Ipsy, and Play! by Sephora are all battling it out to be the $10 box with the best value. While Birchbox was struggling with sales a few years ago, Ipsy stayed sitting pretty, and continues to be Birchbox's number one competitor — and with the way they keep bumping up their subscriptions, Birchbox can't afford to stay complacent.

I wish Birchbox's beauty quiz inquired about eye and lip shades that you prefer instead of leaving it up to your complexion.

Ipsy's boxes range from $40-$80 in value, Play! by Sephora's boxes range from $40-$60 in value, and Birchbox subscriptions range from $25 to $40 in value each month. That's obviously a slightly lower value for the same price, and you obviously want the best bang for your buck — but I promise Birchbox meets that requirement, guys. They are the box that sends the most niche and less well-known brands — meaning they're gonna be less expensive — but the entire point of the subscription is to expose you to brands that you wouldn't find on mainstream shelves. Ipsy and Sephora don't exactly offer that variety.

And if you watch any YouTube tutorials, you know damn well that even the most famous beauty bloggers don't care if something is cheap. All that matters is that it's good, and Birchbox ensures that their samples are the best of the best — plus you're only spending $10, which is significantly less than what you'd spend on even one item in Sephora or Ulta.

As I mentioned earlier, I wish Birchbox's beauty quiz inquired about the eye and lip shades that you prefer to wear instead of leaving it all up to your complexion. Ipsy's beauty quiz really gets into the nitty gritty, asking what shades of eyeshadow, lipstick, eyeliner, blush, and nail polish you prefer, as well as the types of makeup you prefer to get in general (for instance, I never wear lip gloss or lip liner, so I'd prefer to just not deal with getting them). This makes the chance of getting something you don't like even smaller, which is obviously important as no one wants to spend a monthly fee on getting things they won't use. IMO, Ipsy's beauty quiz is just more user-friendly and fun to take, but this is not a deal breaker.

Where Birchbox does have an advantage is in its loyalty program: For every $10 you spend on a purchase at the Birchbox store, you'll receive $1 of loyalty points that can be used directly toward another purchase — it's just like a money-back credit card. Once you've spent $300 at Birchbox in a calendar year, you'll be bumped up to Ace status (similar to Sephora's VIB and Ulta's Platinum status) which gives significantly more points on purchases, AKA more money saved.

Play! by Sephora obviously only helps with loyalty points at Sephora in-store or online, which limits you to Sephora-only brands. Ipsy's loyalty program revolves around a point system where you get points for reviewing bags and products, following Ipsy creators on social media, and referring friends. While racking up points can happen relatively quickly, it's more work than Birchbox — and Ipsy's points can only be redeemed on select product and expire eventually, whereas Birchbox is more flexible with their rewards.

If you follow a skincare routine religiously and care about your naked face over your caked face, Birchbox is the way to go.

Ipsy also recently launched a Plus version of their Glam Bag, which bumps the price up to $25/month and features five full-sized items instead of samples. The catch here is that you already have to be subscribed to Ipsy's $10 bag to participate, which does give them a slight leg up. (Why Birchbox hasn't upgraded to a full-sized box, I don't know. I'm just as surprised as you are, but after seeing what Ipsy's doing, it's not long until Birchbox does the same.)

It's nearly impossible to say which one is best. They're all good for different things, and trying to name one as "the best" doesn't really make sense. If you like to cake your face and care more about trying new makeup samples from more premium brands, go with Ipsy. If Sephora is your second home, you trust those brands, and would like to continue racking up VIB points, Play! will be your best friend. If you follow a skincare routine religiously and care about a naked face more than a caked face, Birchbox is the way to go. Jonathan from Queer Eye would be proud.

The good thing about all three is that they're only $10 per month. If reading reviews just isn't giving you enough deets, subscribing to all three for a few months to get the gist won't set you back too far, and you can just cancel the ones you don't like later.

Final verdict

Newbie to the entire industry? Get Birchbox.

Skincare-obsessed refuse to hit the hay without doing a skincare routine? Get Birchbox.

An expert who could school any YouTube blogger on a cut crease? Get Birchbox.

Image: nicole cammorata/mashable

Seriously, guys. Birchbox is great for beginners who want to try new brands before making the plunge to full price, but also clutch for experts who use samples in emergency run-out situations or to keep in on-the-go bags. It's a little more skin and hair oriented than competing boxes, which is something to keep in mind if you're choosing between this, Ipsy, or Play! by Sephora — but all true beauty connoisseurs know that expensive makeup isn't worth it if the skin underneath isn't healthy. The samples can be pretty small, so it's not the box to get if you're trying to stock a full makeup collection. But purse-sized items are still a necessity — you never know when you'll get stuck in the rain in non-waterproof mascara or need a breakout-clearing moisturizer when you're traveling.

If you're not great with change and only want to try premium brands, another box might be up your alley — the whole point of Birchbox is to discover brands and products that you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. However, if your beauty tastes are more eclectic and you're down to discover niche brands and blaze a trail for your friends, Birchbox is about to open up a whole new world for you. Sign up for $10/month and complete your beauty profile here.

Source: https://mashable.com/review/birchbox-beauty-subscription-box/?europe=true

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3x1 Is Partnering With Nike On A Collection of Denim Air Force One’s

If you’ve ever fantasized about having denim Air Force 1’s, your dreams just came true in a very big way. Nike has announced their latest collab and this isn’t one to miss. Partnering with 3x1, a premium denim brand known for its custom-made jeans, the two companies have released a trio of denim Air Force 1’s in black denim, stonewash blue, and raw indigo. We might have just become jeans on the feet people.

The story behind this collaboration is also distinct as the two brands have some shared history. Not only does 3x1’s atelier sit on 15 Mercer Street in New York City, which is adjacent to Nike’s specialty store NikeLab 21M, but the denim brand’s initial concept was to create a place where customers could come and get their jeans custom made, an idea that was originally inspired by Nike By You, the sportswear giant’s custom sneaker service.

Although they’ve shared a block and many of the same clients, the duo have never partnered—until now. And this is not your normal fashion collaboration. To create the denim sneakers, 3x1 worked closely with a Japanese mill, Kuroki, to develop two one-of-a-kind denim fabrics. This is the first Nike shoe that uses selvedge, denim that hasn’t been pre-washed and utilizes the edge of the fabric. The brands just took the Canadian tuxedo to a whole new level.

The trio of denim kicks drop today on 3x1denim.com, SNKRS (Nike's app) and at specialty stores worldwide including Kith. Each style retails for $130. Like any of your favorite denim products, these shoes are rooted in the concept of “better with time.” So, they’re kicks that will keep on giving as you wear them out and about. We recommend pairing them with your favorite all-denim look for an outfit that screams Britney and Justin circa 2001.

See the sneakers here:

Source: https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/3x1-nike-air-force-1

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Your Horoscope for the Week of October 15

What does it mean to be “emotionally intelligent”? Monday’s transit of Venus with Mercury wants you to acknowledge what you're feeling and why, so you can act on it. Since Venus is still retrograde, the talk could focus on a romantic topic from the past that needs to be addressed. Meanwhile, the Pisces moon this weekend is creative, empathetic, and dreamy.

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~*~Aries~*~

You love to move fast and focus on the future, Ram, but on Monday you’ll want to do some reflection and try to take care of an intimacy or romance issue that keeps coming up. If you want to love in the present, you have to address something from the past that needs your attention. A sensitive Pisces moon fosters self-care, recharge, and rest this weekend.

~*~Taurus~*~

Something within needs to change, Taurus, if you want to receive the love you deserve. If negative patterns keep repeating themselves, own your part in the pattern, find a solution, and commit to achieving it. A friendly Pisces moon this weekend gravitates you toward your closest friends for healing conversations and emotional support—they’re here to help you move forward.

~*~Gemini~*~

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If something’s not right in your life, Monday’s transit will show you the solution for changing it. A productive and ambitious Pisces moon will give you energy to work on the weekend at whatever goals you want you to achieve this week.

~*~Cancer~*~

Self-esteem is not dependent on circumstances, Cancer. Monday’s transit reminds you that your confidence is a gift you can give to yourself. It’s not negotiated or born from other things. Weekend getaway? Explore new horizons with friends, or pick up the book you’ve wanted to read to help you see life differently.

~*~Leo~*~

There’s no place like home, Leo. You’ll think about your royal castle on Monday and ways to cultivate a more healthy place of rest and recharge. Think about redecorating or even moving if that’s what feels right. You'll explore your erotic desires this weekend thanks to a sexy Pisces moon—have fun!

~*~Virgo~*~

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Your ruling planet Mercury wants you take deep breaths on Monday. People don’t always say what they mean, so you don’t have to respond. Listen, and check in with yourself without quick reactivity. This weekend’s romantic Pisces moon could have Cupid’s arrows, romance, and fun planned. May it all be yours!

~*~Libra~*~

Happy birthday, Libra! As the birthday cash rolls in, are you thinking about how to spend and save responsibly? Monday’s transit inspires you to strengthen your financial literacy. This weekend is a grounding, healthy, and organizing moon, which helps gets you back in a routine.

~*~Scorpio~*~

Extreme makeover, Scorpio? You know you want to change your beliefs so you can be a happier you. On Monday, think of values like joy, gratitude, and courage and how you can use them to live a happier life. You’ll be the talk of the town this weekend, regaling crowds with your storytelling, listening skills, and elegance.

~*~Sagittarius~*~

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Surrender is sweet, Sagittarius. Let go of whatever circumstances, relationships, or events that are keeping you low. Monday’s transit will show you the things that you need to release. The weekend’s Pisces moon has you wanting to stay indoors to process your sensitivities and recharge, so enjoy the relaxation and social sabbatical.

~*~Capricorn~*~

After working your butt off, you want to reconnect with friends. Monday’s transit inspires reunions, social gatherings, and laughter. Life is meant to be enjoyed, so give that joy to yourself and others. This weekend takes an intellectual turn—open the book you want to read, visit a museum, and let your brain run wild under the Pisces moon.

~*~Aquarius~*~

If a goal from the past is coming up again, give it the attention it deserves, Aquarius. Trust those hunches as they’re pushing you in the direction of your best-case career scenario. Make sure you take the time this weekend to indulge in a bit of luxury. Plan a massage, or splurge a little on your favorite decadent things. You’ve earned it!

~*~Pisces~*~

Thinking optimistically is a wise idea, since what you visualize materializes, Pisces. Approach Monday with the assumption that things will go well for you and people are here to help, not harm. Take the time this weekend to let your courage and confidence shine while the Pisces moon shimmers for you!

Source: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a23725549/weekly-horoscope-october-15-2018/

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Garb: Grease Monkey

Created with the benefits of a comfortable, supportive sneaker and the rugged durability of a lightweight hiking boot, Forsake's Range High is one of the most versatile sneakerboots on the market. Each pair of sneakerboots features a waterproof and breathable membrane within a seam-sealed leather upper for protection against any type of weather. The boots also have a Vibram Megagrip outsole with an extra wide footprint that is as well suited for an urban commute as it is for an off-the-grid trail. Available in black and grey or brown and tan and as a low top.

Presented by Forsake.

Source: https://uncrate.com/garb-grease-monkey/

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Nike Celect Acquisition August 2019

NIKE, Inc. has acquired Celect, a leading retail predictive analytics and demand sensing firm based in Boston. Celect is Nike’s latest acquisition fueling its Consumer Direct Offense strategy, serving consumers personally at a global scale.

“With the acquisition of Celect, Nike greatly accelerates our digital advantage by adding a platform developed by world-class data scientists.” said Eric Sprunk, NIKE, Inc. Chief Operating Officer. “As demand for our product grows, we must be insight-driven, data-optimized and hyper-focused on consumer behavior. This is how we serve consumers more personally at scale.”

Celect, founded in 2013, holds a cutting-edge intellectual property portfolio across data science and software engineering. Celect’s cloud-based analytics platform provides proprietary insights that allow retailers to optimize inventory across an omnichannel environment through hyper-local demand predictions.

Celect's team will immediately be integrated into Nike's Global Operations Team and its co-founders will continue as tenured professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, consulting Nike on an ongoing basis.

“We’re thrilled to be joining the Nike team, adding our unique and innovative capabilities to the data and analytics foundation they’ve been building over the years,” said John Andrews, Celect CEO.

Source: https://news.nike.com/news/nike-celect-acquisition

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Sephora Is Supporting Trans People With Its Latest Campaign And Collection

Transgender rights are being threatened across the globe but we're happy to report that Sephora is taking a stand for trans inclusion with their recent ad campaign, We Belong to Something Beautiful.

While the company came under fire earlier this week for racially profiling SZA and ultimately shut down their stores for an hour of diversity training, the campaign comes at a critical time — not only is June Pride Month in the United States, but at the end of May, the US government rolled back protections put in place by the Obama administration that banned discrimination against transgender medical patients. This means that the already vulnerable group are even more at risk. Even more recently, two transgender women were murdered in Texas, pointing to a much larger problem of violence targeting trans people.

Subtler forms of discrimination against trans people happen daily, including slurs, misgendering, and denied service. These are symptoms of larger issues that lead to the normalization of trans people’s personhood being denied. And this is why it’s important for allies, including companies and brands, to loudly and publicly announce their support for transgender people (and follow up on these campaigns by providing inclusivity training for staff).

Sephora

In 2016, Sephora began providing in-store make-up classes and online tutorials specifically geared towards transgender people and people transitioning. “To see a company cater to the trans and queer community not as token models in one-off beauty campaigns, but in centering us as essential to their community is a relief,” Arabelle Sicardi wrote in an article about Sephora’s class offerings for them. “By employing trans people and providing them resources through which they can help themselves and their customers, they’re showing that beauty and politics are linked, all the time, and sometimes wonderfully,” they continued.

As makeup is intimately connected to how we look and feel about ourselves, and how people perceive us, Sephora’s latest campaign, which is directed by Matt Lambert, who is known for his work with the LGBTQ community, is the first ad in connection with its new Belong campaign. Titled "Identify as We", the video has beautiful cinematography and features transgender, genderqueer, and non-binary models including Aaron Philip, Hunter Schafer, and Fatima Jamal.

Source: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/sephora-campaign-supports-trans-people

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Presenting 2018's Strangest Health and Wellness Trends

CBD Oil? Goat Yoga? Presenting 2018's Strangest Health and Wellness Trends

Some health trends — like intermittent fasting, charcoal everything and infrared saunas — have been bubbling up for a few years now, but in 2018 we saw them explode beyond New York and L.A.’s healtherati circles. While some of these oddball health and fitness fads are rightfully going mainstream, others — like...umm goat yoga...appear to be more fluff than substance. To separate the strange but effective from the strange but insane, we turned to some of the country’s leading health experts.

Here’s a look at some of the most notably weird (for better or worse!) health and fitness trends of 2018.

Goat Yoga

“Including live animals in any workout routine seems a tad problematic. With goat yoga, playful goats will wander around your mat and even climb on your back while you’re mid-yoga pose. It’s meant to keep you focused, grounded, and connected with both yourself and with nature. I like time-efficient, effective and fun workouts and my gut tells me that goat yoga may only hit on one of these characteristics — no matter how adorably cute those goats really are.” — Brian Zehetner, Director of health and fitness at Planet Fitness

IV Therapy

“Even the needle-phobic are rethinking their aversion now that IV drips and shots are becoming a popular way to hydrate, boost immunity, increase energy, and cure hangovers. No doctor or prescription required.” — Amanda Freeman, Founder/CEO of SLT and Stretch*d

Drinking Mushrooms

“This year mushrooms popped up on the ingredient list of beverages in the form of powders and elixirs. The health-conscious are now relying on mushroom varieties like reishi, cordyceps, chaga, and lion's mane to solve all of their wellness issues, including focus, immunity, and relaxation.” — Amanda Freeman, Founder/CEO of SLT and Stretch*d

Face Fitness

“When you think of workouts, you think of your abs, legs, arms, even obliques, but you likely don't think of your face. Until 2018 when Face Gym, FaceLove, and other facial exercise-focused businesses came onto the scene to convince you that you should spend five minutes a day massaging your face or buy a face roller or, better yet, get a personal trainer for your face.” — Amanda Freeman, Founder/CEO of SLT and Stretch*d

Cold Workouts

“The sweat addicted have been flocking to hot workouts for years, but 2018 marks the introduction of cold temperature workouts. Benefits of working out in the cold include increased calorie and fat burn in addition to increased energy and stamina to get through a workout.” — Amanda Freeman, Founder/CEO of SLT and Stretch*d

CBD Everything

“CBD, the fully legal part of the cannabis plant, is unquestionably this year's it-ingredient. CBD oils, vapes, creams, and edibles are the number one selling product at Stretch*d. People are turning to CBD to help them sleep, relax, focus, and reduce pain. It's a miracle worker.” — Amanda Freeman, Founder/CEO of SLT and Stretch*d

Pea Protein

“For years, consumers have been trying a variety of dairy-free protein alternatives; everything from almond to oat to hemp to whey has had its day.Pea is the protein of the moment, thanks to it being high in protein, low in sugar, and nutrient-rich. It's not only easily digestible and highly bioavailable, but also aids in muscle development and recovery.” — Amanda Freeman, Founder/CEO of SLT and Stretch*d

Celery Juice

“No, drinking a bitter cocktail of pure celery in the morning will not propel you to realize your wildest health dreams nor will it ‘detox’ your organs, which are already doing so quite well, on account of your natural physiology and anatomy. Celery is indeed a nutritious vegetable and may have antispasmodic effects on the bowels, but juicing it loses the satisfaction factor of mastication and compromises fiber content. While it's probably not harmful to drink celery juice, there is no incredible benefit to juicing anything.” — Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition

Cauliflower Gnocchi

“I've seen a meme that says that when you turn 30 in 2018 (which I did), everything you love turns to cauliflower. While I am ALL about people increasing their vegetable intake, I'm a little sad for the great Italian master chefs who must be depressed seeing their gnocchi craft reduced to frozen balls of cauliflower. I think we need to stop thinking so 'black and white' and maybe indulge mindfully and occasionally in REAL gnocchi or do a half and half cauliflower/real gnocchi split, and well-portioned.” — Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition

Dousing Goods with Coconut Sugar

“Coconut sugar may be mildly more nutrient-dense and mildly less likely to spike blood sugar than plain white sugar, but nothing significant enough to impact your health. Sugar = sugar = sugar; your body recognizes coconut sugar the same. It's not a health food, it's not something to use with reckless abandon, it's just a little less refined.” — Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition

Eating Charcoal

“This still baffles me. Activated charcoal is something I used to see used when I worked in a hospital as an emergency detoxification treatment for severe alcohol/drug overdoses. Yes, it does bind to toxins in your body — but healthy, normal people eating food need to know that food is not a toxin! Eating charcoal will just cause you to mal absorb vital nutrients and it can mess heavily with medications and supplements.” — Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition

Intermittent Fasting

“Intermittent fasting is essentially timed eating: a fasting window of 12 hours is practiced for benefits such as weight loss, mental clarity and energy. While the fasted hours are flexible as long as the period is at least 12 hours, most followers generally consume their meals between noon and 8pm at night. In fact, intermittent fasting can be extremely flexible and can be adjusted to each individual’s lifestyle. However, fasting is not appropriate for everyone — particularly pregnant women and those with health conditions such as diabetes. Calorie control and quality of foods still play a large role in the success of this diet.” — May Zhu, a dietitian with Lifeway Foods

Alkaline Diet

“The Alkaline diet focuses on consuming foods that fight acidity and lead to an alkaline state in the body. The diet is based off the idea that our bodies function at the most ideal between a pH of 7.35 and 7.45, leaning towards the alkaline side. Essentially, it’s a form of the elimination diet and excludes foods such as alcohol, grains, conventional meats, eggs, processed foods, and refined sugar. Dairy is limited to yogurt and kefir, mainly for the probiotics. Followers claim that benefits include lowering inflammation, boosting immune function and enhancing metabolism. While there are definitely positive associations to regular consumption of alkalizing vegetables such as kale and brussels sprouts, there are also other benefits to consuming foods that are high on the acidic list, such as nutrient-rich eggs or certain nuts. Bottom line: eating a variety of real foods and limiting heavily processed foods can have just as much of a positive effect, without going too extreme.” — May Zhu, aa dietitian with Lifeway Foods

Appetite Suppressing Lollipops

“These low-calorie candies claim to suppress appetite and kick cravings, but upon closer inspection of the ingredient list, the first items listed are two different forms of sugar, which are nutritionally void of true nutrients. The star ingredient is a patented saffron extract meant to increase satiety and, as a result, reduce overall food intake. However, it’s currently not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and future research is necessary to provide concrete statistics. When it comes to weight loss, anything that claims to be an appetite suppressant rarely provides long-term results.” — May Zhu, a dietitian with Lifeway Foods

Shoes Off While Lifting

“The storyline of feeling more connected to the ground has been bought into leading to all the shoeless feet across gyms. I don’t disagree that over time shoe wear contributes to weakness in the arches, toes and ankles, however taking off the support to lift and wearing them for the other part of your workout and/or the rest of the day, much like dress shoes, is counterproductive and just makes a scene on the gym floor. The hard-core look and goal of ‘foot feel’ while lifting is trending upward this year and I expect to see more shoeless hard bodies in the new year.” — Joanna Stahl, founder of Go2Practice

The Sweat Stick

“Still one of my favorite Spin Class sightings: a woman applying a stick that looks like a circular deodorant across her arms, shoulders, core, and calves… pretty much everywhere she could reach that wasn’t covered in activewear. Why was she doing this? Sweat sticks create a sauna-like environment for your skin by clogging your pores with the promise to make you sweat more and quicker to enhance your workout.” — Joanna Stahl, founder of Go2Practice

Infrared Saunas

“Infrared saunas are now everywhere. Touted benefits range from detoxification, sore muscle relief, joint pain reduction, clear and tighter skin and improved circulation to weight loss and better sleep. All very similar to old-school sauna benefits, but these higher tech glowing boxes provide effects in less time with less heat and more comfort thanks to new technology.” — Joanna Stahl, founder of Go2Practice

Collagen

“Collagen is rich in amino acids and helps protect our tendons, bones and joints. Collagen also helps our nails, hair and skin grow faster and look healthier. It’s estimated that in 2018, Americans spent roughly $122 million on collagen supplements. While the research is not strong or high quality, I have seen my nails and hair grow faster and experienced less aches and pains since using it (it’s tasteless in coffee, tea, or smoothies).” — Kristin Oja, founder of STAT Wellness

Chocolate Milk for Recovery

“Chocolate milk is by no means a perfect recovery drink. Training tears down our muscle tissue and so we want to build back up with premium fuel that does the least amount of damage. Chocolate milk gives you some carbs, protein and fat (which millions of other foods can give us), but it also gives us a nasty cocktail of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol and contains saturated fat, which clogs our arteries and slows down blood flow.” — Dotsie Bausch, Olympic cyclist and founder of Switch4Good.com

Fluid Stretching

“Unlike the stretching of the older days, where you hold the stretch for eight counts, the non-static stretching concept is to stretch, move through the stretch to the next stretch, and then repeat the stretch movement for several reps. The belief is that static stretching is too harsh on your tendons and muscles. I would equate it to a ballet-like warm-up rather than what you would consider typical stretching. The guru for this type of stretching is Miranda Esmonde-White, a Canadian fitness trainer and former ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada.” — Dr. Robb Akridge, health expert and co-founder of Clarisonic

Vitamin Supplements

“The concept of taking vitamins to improve your health is not new to anyone, however, how these vitamins are derived and concentrated is a big trend. There are companies like 8 Greens that create sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy-free effervescent tablets, which can be dropped into your water and are packed with vitamin C, B5, B12 and more. Other companies like Olly create vitamins in the form of gummies. Creating vitamins that are more bioavailable has also become a big trend, as this looks at how quickly products or vitamins are absorbed into your system. There are so many different options these days, which makes it really easy to hop on the vitamin bandwagon.” — Dr. Robb Akridge, health expert and co-founder of Clarisonic

Supplements in Food

“Supplements are no longer restricted to that smoothie you get at the gym bar; now you can add supplements into your food and use different protein- and vitamin-rich powders in your at-home recipes. For example, Vital Proteins creates Bone Broth Collagen Powders, which you can cook with — using it in the broth of soups, as an additive to almond flour to make breaded chicken, mixed with seasoning, sprinkled on your steak…” — Dr. Robb Akridge, health expert and co-founder of Clarisonic

You Might Also Dig

Source: https://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/strangest-health-and-fitness-trends-of-2018.html

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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Aerie Real Role Model Brenna Huckaby on the Difficulties Of Shopping With a Disability

The fashion industry is slowly becoming more inclusive to size, but there’s still a long way to go. Outside of making clothes that fit curves better or that extend into plus-size, there’s another group of people the industry forgets about: people with disabilities. #AerieReal role model, Brenna Huckaby knows all about this. The #AerieReal role models are “a source of inspiration” to Aerie customers and women who shop with the brand. Aerie has always stayed true to working with women who have unique stories, real bodies, and influential voices. Brenna is one of those women.

She joined the family of role models earlier this year where she hopes to “help change the stigmas of disabilities” as a part of this campaign. The gold medal para snowboarder had her leg amputated in 2010 after being diagnosed with cancer at 14 years old and her entire world changed. Teen Vogue chatted with Brenna about the difficulties of shopping with a disability and what being a role model means to her.

Brenna is one of the first women to be a part of this campaign with a physical disability. As a woman with a “relaxed, on-the-go style,” she loves fashion with a bit of functionality but it wasn’t an easy transition into shopping when her body first changed. “When I lost my leg I had no idea what I was going to look like. I thought I was going to walk around with a springy leg,” like the ones runners use in the Paralympics. “I had no idea that I was going to live a normal life,” Huckaby admits about her initial thoughts after her amputation.

Due to lack of representation and people with disabilities being “hidden” for so long, Huckaby didn’t know what her shopping experience would be like. “I find it really hard to find things that are flattering to my prosthetic leg. My prosthetic leg is significantly smaller than my actual leg, so one side is usually baggier than the other and that has really been frustrating in my life,” the Aerie role model tells Teen Vogue.

Brenna had to build up the mindset to know that the clothing she wore didn’t define her, but her confidence does. “Once I learned to accept myself and accept my body, shopping became a lot easier,” she says. In a recent Instagram post she admitted she’s most self-conscious in a pair of pants. “There is a part of me that doesn’t care and loves herself regardless, but that annoying voice in my head that looks at pictures and says ‘oh no baby what is you doin’ still exists,” she wrote.

Now she wears confidence better than any pair of pants. “I know something works when I look in the mirror and I’m like, ‘Dang girl, you’re killing it,’ that’s when I know to buy it. I don’t look at what’s not fitting, I look at how it makes me feel,” Brenna says. She admits she still struggles sometimes because “some tight or bodycon dresses are super awkward.” Brenna thinks it’s time for the industry to “be aware that [people with disabilities] exist, love clothes, and love to feel on top of the world in what [they’re] wearing.”

Source: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/aerie-fashion-disability-inclusion

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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How To Apply Glitter Nail Polish the Right Way

Glitter nail polish may be a fun way to inject some sparkle into our beauty routines, but between the removal process and the fact that it never quite seems to be as glittery enough, it always seems to be tricky to get right. However, we've found a hack that answers the age-old question, "how to apply glitter nail polish?" and makes getting off-the-charts levels of shine factor easier — and quicker — than ever.

This game-changing method comes courtesy of YouTuber Kelli Marissa’s tutorials, as reported by Lipstick, and will seriously make you forget everything you know about applying glitter nail polishes. Long story short? Instead of applying your polish with a brush — the way you would any other hue — this process requires using another beauty product that you likely already have in your beauty drawer: A makeup sponge.

Virtually every nail brand on the market carries tons of glitter options to get in on the trend, so lucky for you, shining bright like a diamond (at least on your fingertips) is one affordable beauty trend we can seriously get behind.

Read on for exactly how to make it happen.

Step 1: Start With the Base Coat

Start with a clear base coat to protect your nail from damage, and to make your glitter mani last as long as possible.

Step 2:

Paint the skin around your nail with liquid latex or PVA glue, which protects your skin from being covered in glitter when you apply the polish. FYI: This genius hack can be applied to any type of manicure to avoid getting polish on your nail beds.

Step 3:

Paint the corner of a makeup sponge (told you it was something you already had lying around!) with a generous amount of glitter polish. If you need some inspiration, here are a few of our faves. If you don't want to sacrifice your beloved Beautyblender, pick up a pack of disposable ones from your nearest drugstore.

Step 4:

Using the painted makeup sponge, dab the glitter delicately onto your nails, going over it as many times as necessary until the entire nail is covered. The idea behind the additional step is that the porous material will soak up much of the liquid base, allowing the glitter to go on in a thick, opaque coat. If you really want to get fancy (now that you're basically an expert) try the "burnishing technique" for an extra holographic look.

Step 5: Get Rid of the Latex

Peel off the liquid latex/PVC glue to get rid of any stray sparkles.

Step 6: Cover With a Top Coat

Coat the nail with a glitter top coat, like this one from Deborah Lippman's Candy Shop Glitter or Jinsoon's Soirée.

Step 7: Repeat With All Nails

Repeat nine times for a full set of disco ball nails.

Watch the full tutorial below:

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Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: 12 Nail Art Horoscope Ideas That Are Perfect For Your Sign

Source: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-apply-glitter-nail-polish-hack

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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Stigmatizing views and myths about psoriasis are pervasive in the United States

The stigma associated with the autoimmune disease psoriasis may lead people to avoid patients who show signs of the condition, including not wanting to date, shake hands, or have people in their homes if they suffer from the disease. New multidisciplinary research involving both psychologists and dermatologists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is the first to examine how common this stigma may be among the general population of the United States as well as among medical students. The study also found false perceptions about psoriasis continue to persist, including the belief that psoriasis is contagious and that it is not a serious illness. Researchers published their findings in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology today.

Psoriasis is a common, chronic autoimmune disease affecting more than eight million Americans, causing painful, thick, red patches on the skin that often itch and bleed. It also has profound effects on health-related quality of life, and in moderate to severe cases, it carries an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death. It is not contagious, and while it is treatable, there is currently no cure.

"Although it's widely recognized that the appearance of psoriasis can negatively impact patients' social, professional, and intimate relationships, we wanted to quantify the perceptions patients with psoriasis face on a daily basis in order to understand how pervasive they are," said the study's senior author Joel M. Gelfand, MD MSCE, a professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology at Penn. Rebecca L. Pearl, PhD, an assistant professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, was the lead author of the study.

Researchers used Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), a web-based data collection service, to survey people about their perceptions of individuals with psoriasis. They also sent the survey directly to several hundred medical students. In all, 198 laypeople responded on MTurk and 187 medical students completed the emailed survey. All participants were shown images of people with psoriasis as well as close up photos of psoriasis lesions.

Overall, 54 percent of laypeople who responded said they did not want to date someone with psoriasis. Thirty-nine percent said they did not want to shake hands with someone suffering from the disease, while 32 percent said they did not want to have someone with psoriasis in their homes. Respondents also endorsed several stereotypes about people with psoriasis, with 57 percent saying they were insecure, 53 percent saying they were sick, 45 percent saying they were unattractive, and 27 percent saying they were contagious. Medical students demonstrated less stigmatizing views compared to the MTurk group. Among MTurk participants, those who knew someone with psoriasis or had heard of psoriasis demonstrated less stigmatizing attitudes.

"It's possible that better education about the disease, as well as contact with individuals with psoriasis, may help to dispel myths and stereotypes and reduce negative perceptions," Pearl said.

The researchers stressed the need for further research with a larger sample size before drawing any definitive conclusions. However, they said the findings do have implications for both public health and patient care.

"Future studies should evaluate the effects of education campaigns on people's attitudes toward those with psoriasis, as well as efforts to incorporate patients with psoriasis into general medical education for physicians and other health care providers," Gelfand said.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180830102537.htm

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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10 Things All New Cooks Should Know

Ten Things All New Cooks Should Know

Whether you’re just moving out to live by yourself for the first time or you’re simply tired of eating too much fast food and take-out, once you make the decision to start cooking and prepare more food on your own, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find cooking really isn’t as hard as it seems! While you may not want to leap to tackle a difficult culinary challenge, like macarons, mastering the basics isn’t too tough, and you’ll be amazed to see how delicious something as simple as a bowl of pasta or a plate of roasted veggies can take as long as it’s prepared properly!

Ready to get started in the kitchen? As a new cook, it’s important to do your research and equip yourself with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. To start, here are ten things all new cooks should know:

Recipes Are Your Friend

It’s fine to experiment in the kitchen once in a while, especially when you know what you’re doing. But if you’re just learning how to cook, you probably shouldn’t stray too far from tried-and-true recipes. Instead, find a few food blogs or search some recipe websites for inspiration and follow along to recreate the dishes that look the tastiest! You can also always ask for recipes in the PhyrraNyx Facebook Group or the Beauty Balm Lounge!

One big important note on recipes: read the entire recipe before you start cooking. One more time for the people in the back. All new cooks should know to read the entire recipe before your start making it. Pay attention to the details. You don’t want to find yourself two hours ahead of dinner faced with a meal that calls for an overnight marinade. This is the most important one out of all the things all new cooks should know!

With baking, I almost always experiment and tweak recipes, rather than make them exactly as instructed, but I’ve been baking since I was about 14. With cooking, I follow recipes pretty closely because I’m not as skilled at it.

Keep Staple Ingredients On Hand

It’s a good idea to limit the number of fresh ingredients you keep around to avoid letting food spoil, but keeping a well-stocked pantry is key to creating great meals without a special trip to the store. Canned goods, and other basic ingredients should always have a place in your home. Since we’re doing the keto lifestyle, I keep fresh salad fixings, vegetables, cheeses, and hormone free meats on hand.

Use Salt

Don’t be afraid to use salt… One of the mistakes many new cooks make is that they fail to properly salt their food, but it’s definitely an important thing that all new cooks should know. When following a recipe, don’t cut down on the amount of salt called for by the creator – unless, of course, you’re watching your sodium intake. It may sound like a lot, but it takes more than you’d think to truly season your dish. And if you’re eyeballing it? Don’t be afraid to add a bit more than you think is necessary, especially when salting water for pasta or rice.

Also, I’ve found that using sea salt adds more flavor for me than some other salts. I use either sea salt or pink himalayan salt to season my foods.

Use Spices

Experiment with a variety of spices. It’s one of the best things all new cooks should know. Embracing an array of spices is one of the easiest ways to enhance your cooking and incorporate flavor and excitement into your home-cooked meals. Explore spices from different areas of the world to give your food an ethnic flair, or come up with new combinations of your own to delight the diners in your home.

If you have a Savory Spice Shop near you, you can find some great spices! We have a Savory shop in St. Pete and I’ve picked up all kinds of cool spice mixes from them! While I normally advocate for shopping online, it’s one of the few stores I like to go into so that I can smell the different spice blends to determine if I will like them.

Mise En Place

Practice mise en place. Mise en place is a French phrase that essentially means “to set in place,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like – the process of preparing your ingredients and finding everything you need before you begin to actually cook your dish. There’s nothing worse than scrambling to chop ingredients and add them in before it’s too late. Ditch the unnecessary stress and put some effort into the setup process. This really ties into reading the entire recipe before you start, as the recipe (if it’s well written) will have everything broken into different steps so you’ll be able to prep properly.

Watch Youtube Videos

You can learn just about anything on anything on Youtube. From how to make a perfect hard-boiled egg to the most useful knife techniques to use in the kitchen, you’ll find tutorials on how to do just about anything cooking-related online. A quick search on Youtube – or in your favorite search engine, for that matter – will likely reveal multiple instructional videos.

Let It Breathe

Let it breathe! This is one of those lessons that all new cooks need to learn. When frying or roasting foods, you probably want your end result to be crispy, right? If so, don’t overcrowd your pans! Cooking pieces of food too closely together will cause you to actually steam your meal, which is essentially the opposite of roasting or frying it. For crispy snacks and sides, leave a little room around each piece to breathe. This applies to everything from small stuff, like french fries, to larger items like chicken drumsticks. It took me a long time to learn this lesson!

Let It Rest

Let it rest! After grilling or roasting meat, don’t slice into it right away. As eager as you may be to dig into your dinner and see how it tastes, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes (or longer, if necessary). The resting process allows the meat to absorb its juices, leaving you with the most flavorful piece possible.

Don’t Over Mix

When baking, don’t over-mix. Pay attention to your recipe. Most will ask you to stir or mix until the ingredients are just incorporated. Stir too much, and you’ll whip up a dessert that’s chewy and dense. Be careful when preparing cakes, batters, biscuits and pie crusts!

Invest in Quality Equipment

Invest in quality equipment. You don’t have to splurge and stock your kitchen with top-of-the-line tools, but you shouldn’t be afraid to spend a few dollars on some important items you’ll use again and again. A good knife set, one cast iron skillet, and a solid stock pot are all small investments that a new cook should make that will make a big difference as you whip up your favorite meals.

As you begin to explore the world of cooking, keeping these tips in mind will help you set yourself up for success in the kitchen. There are lots of tips and tricks to keep in mind and skills to master, but with a little practice, you’ll be comfortable in the kitchen in no time!

What do you think all new cooks should know? Which of these tips sounds the most helpful? Share your tips below!

More Food Features

Source: https://phyrra.net/10-things-all-new-cooks-should-know.html

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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C-Space Mars Base 1

While most massive cruise liners are sailing across the open seas, True North Adventure Cruises are taking their passengers through shallow rivers to get up close to the coastal wilderness. Their flagship voyage travels to Australia's Kimberley region, getting guests unparalleled access to King George Falls, Montgomery Reef, and the Horizontal Waterfalls. To take advantage of the ever-present views, vessels are fitted with a sundeck and a forward observation lounge while dining rooms feature panoramic windows to display the scenery. Off the boat, their itinerary goes beyond tours and snorkeling and leans more toward hiking to ancient rock art, visiting the wreck of the Koolama, and having a heli-picnic at Eagle Falls. If cozying up to a Komodo dragon or sitting in on a crocodile initiation ceremony is more up your alley, True North also offers trips to the Indonesian Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, and Western Australia.

Source: https://uncrate.com/c-space-mars-base-1/

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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Too Faced Launches Better Than Sex Mascara Vault

Some people preach “everything in moderation,” while others firmly believe “you can never have too much of a good thing.” If you’re in the latter camp, chances are Too Faced’s newest launch will really appeal to you.

As part of its 2018 holiday collection, the brand is releasing an entire Better Than Sex Mascara vault, cheekily named A Year of Great Sex, as Bustle reported.

While some vaults, like Too Faced’s 2017 limited-edition Chocolate Vault, offer a variety of items in a single package, A Year of Great Sex goes all in on one product: Better Than Sex Mascara. The pink-and-gold package is stocked with five full-size tubes of the world’s best-selling.

Lest you think it’s a bit excessive to buy five at once, take comfort in knowing you’ll be getting a killer deal. While single tubes of Better Than Sex Mascara sell for $24 a pop, the entire vault is only $69. No word on whether the price itself is meant to be an innuendo, but considering Too Faced’s tendency toward suggestive product names, we certainly wouldn’t be surprised.

Either way, you’ll save $51 by snagging the five-pack; and you’ll have enough mascara to last you a year — or enough to keep a tube on hand in your bathroom, backpack, and wherever else you might need a swipe of volume throughout the day.

Ready to stock up? The vault will be available here beginning tomorrow, Sept. 13, with the rest of the holiday collection to follow.

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Want More from Teen Vogue? Check this out: The Fashion Week Runways Have Me Wanting to Put All the Flowers in My Hair

Source: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/too-faced-launches-better-than-sex-mascara-vault

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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Poirot-Themed Wedding at a Vintage Motorsport Museum with Tony Tony the Miniature Pony!

When a bride describes the inspiration for the wedding as “a fun episode of Poirot with lots of tiny animals”, you KNOW it’s going to be an alternative wedding, and an amazing day! Frankie and Chris (or Jaffa as most people call him) got married on 5th October 2018 at The Brooklands Museum in Surrey. It was the home of an old Motorsports racetrack but is now a museum for vintage vehicles – cars, planes and buses.

As soon as we saw their beautiful pictures by Nikki van der Molen we squealed with delight – the miniature pony is called Tiny Tony!! I doesn’t get any cuter than that! They arranged to have a him there for an hour or so in the afternoon for the guests to meet him. He was very sociable and made for the most adorable photo ops! Animal Magic also brought along a few dogs and a the most laid back friendly cat ever.

“We wanted the whole thing to be as relaxed and fun as possible, so we chose the Brooklands Museum because it’s a really cool and interesting place that we wanted our guests to make the most of,” Frankie says. “The venue was our biggest expense but it was worth every penny – our guests really enjoyed looking around, and it made an excellent back drop for photos.”

Frankie is a huge Poirot fan so she walked down the aisle to the Poirot theme tune. One of her friends even managed to get her a video message from David Suchet! “We wanted our ceremony to be really quick, as it’s arguably the most boring part of the day,” Frankie continues. “The registrar was impressed with the choice of music I walked down the aisle to, and said it was a nice change ‘because everyone has Ed Sheeran these days’ (LOL).”

Frankie’s beautiful embroidered grey dress was a steal at £150 from Maya at ASOS, and Jaffa’s outfit came to under £200 too. The bride was very determined that she wasn’t going to spend thousands on a dress she would just wear once. another cost saving exercise was their invites, they sent them via email using Greenvelope. “It’s environmentally-friendly and Greenvelope have lots of really beautiful templates to chose from,” Frankie says. “Our giant Colin and Connie wedding cakes were only £100 from M&S, and each one served 40 people (so perfect for our 80 guests). Doing our own flowers also saved us a lot – we spent a total of £20 on the most beautiful fresh roses!”

Frankie and her maid of honour, Edith, arranged their own flowers, which Frankie then decorated with a pin of newlywed Marge and Homer Simpson from Why You Little.

As well as her fabulous wedding style, we love Frankie’s honesty about the day. When asked if there was anything she’d have done differently, she mentions “I definitely wouldn’t have worn the Spanx. Towards the end of the day, they started to roll down and I still have a mark on my stomach from where they cut into my flesh! Apologies if that’s too much information…” Not too much info at all – we gotta give the people what they want!

The Gallery

Blog it

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Supporting Cast

Photography: Nikki Van der Molen

Venue: The Brooklands Museum, Surrey

Bride's Dress: ASOS

Bride's Shoes: Lipsy

Groom's Outfit: Marks and Spencer

Bridesmaid Dress: Maya at ASOS

Cake: Marks and Spencer

The Simpsons Pin: Why You Little

Animals: Animal Magic

Invites: Greenvelope

#art deco

#british bride

#British wedding

#budget friendly

#cars

#poirot

#relaxed

#Retro

#transport

Source: https://www.rocknrollbride.com/2019/01/poirot-themed-wedding-at-a-vintage-motorsport-museum-with-tony-tony-the-miniature-pony/

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brokerplanet10-blog · 6 years ago

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A tea party wedding with dinosaurs, DIY, & a gorgeous gown handmade by the bride

Photos by Alexsandra Wiciel

Offbeat partner: Dani

Offbeat partner: Chris

Date and location of wedding: The groom's parents' backyard for the ceremony, the bride's mom's backyard for the reception, Wells, Maine — November 4, 2017

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: There wasn’t really a theme. I’m a designer, so I just roll around in things that inspire me and see what sticks. The biggest highlight is that I made my own gown. All of it! From sketches to patternmaking to cutting and sewing. I also did our save the dates — a CD playlist inside a custom sleeve, featuring portraits of us I drew in Adventure Time style. We followed that up with marble themed invites we designed, knowing the neutral tones and moody vibes would go with everything we thought we wanted for the reception.

We knew we wanted things to be really classy and elegant, but we had a small budget. Since we couldn’t afford a lot of flowers, we bought a ton of Christmas lights on sale the year before and just went nuts with white twinkle lights and it worked out beautifully. Chris loves dinosaurs, so I snuck them in everywhere without telling him: large ones held our table numbers and small ones were just hidden in strange places, all painted gold.

Everything was super DIY, from my dress, to the ceremony benches. Because it was so DIY, we had tons of help. My father-in-law built the arch, and he, a family friend, and I built the benches. My girls and I made the boutonnières, which had special touches. My beekeeper in-laws had brass bees attached with floral glue to theirs, and for my mother, who I thought should have something non traditional, I attached flowers to a wide brass cuff the night before to match her emerald gown. We also had a food truck for maximum picnic vibe.

Tell us about the ceremony: I walked down the aisle to “Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service. My dad passed away unexpectedly the spring before the wedding, so my uncle walked with me. Our music was off Spotify and we had a last minute replacement in the music management, and our stand-in DJ pressed pause instead of turning down the volume, resulting in a little pause sound jingle that made everyone laugh, which I needed.

We had a confetti girl instead of a flower girl (eco-friendly confetti for chicken and bee safety!). A long time family friend, the very first person aside from my parents and grand parents to meet me after I was born, in fact, married us in an atheist ceremony full of Star Trek references and Carl Sagan quotes under a birch arch adorned with eucalyptus garland. I made vow books for Chris and I and we read vows we had written, which made each other laugh. Instead of “you may now kiss,” it was “make it so” a la Captain Picard. As I did not take Chris’ name, our officiant announced our full names with me as “Mrs. My Full Name,” so no one would call me Mrs. His Last Name or, worse still, Mrs. His First Name.

Tell us about the reception: We had an incredible food truck, Mashed, a Maine-based operation which celebrates the Maine potato. The menu is very creative, everything is served on a bed of delicious mashed potatoes, and Renee makes EVERYTHING, including garnishes like breads, pickles, and for dessert, the authentic Maine potato Needham. Yes, Mainers even eat potatoes in their desserts. Each table was adorned with a simple white tablecloth, a gold number-bearing dino, a vase or beaker of flowers, hand dyed napkins, hand written name cards, honey from Chris’ parents’ hives bottled by his mom, and needhams from Mashed in pretty little boxes assembled by my mom.

The vases were all salvaged from flea markets or antique shops, the beakers were a nod to Chris being a chemist, my mom and I dyed every single napkin by hand in the backyard, and I wrote all the name cards on marble print card stock to match the invitations. At the head table we included gifts we had been given: a lovely vase and a set of blown glass champagne glasses, so that the gift givers could see that we truly cherish them. My mom baked our cake herself in her boyfriend's kitchen, as we lost power at her house for several days the week of the wedding. That was truly terrifying but it did come back on just in time.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding? I feel like lots of brides say this, but shit happens, so be ready. We had an enormous storm that knocked out power in 95% of the state the week of the wedding. My mom's house lost power two separate times. At this point, I was still sewing my dress and also had to move to her boyfriend's house to finish. Having a back-up house to go to and a determined bridesmaid who is also a designer and refused to see me walk down the aisle without all the closures on my dress saved my bacon. For real, shit almost went totally sideways.

Additionally, know who your REAL supporters are. I had a lot, but I know many people don’t have a close by support network. Do not, DO. NOT. let anyone get in your way who doesn’t have a right or a good reason to be in your way. Let the drama roll off you.

And one more: as you are working through the planning process, many people may tell you that you “must” do this thing or that thing. This is a lie straight from the pit of hell. Okay, yeah, you are obligated to keep your guests comfy and happy because they came to support you, but that’s just polite. There is literally nothing you “must” do. I was told I “must” block hotel rooms. To that I say, we are all grown ass adults, and everyone knows how to book their own hotel. I provided a list of hotels that were open in the off season, y’all know what to do with that info. You only have to do what you want. You’ve got this.

Vendors

Photographer: Alexsandra Wiciel • Catering: Mashed

Gallery

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Source: https://offbeatbride.com/dino-tea-party-wedding/

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