January 14, 2019 at 09:00PM Eclipses are basically a cosmic kick in the pants. Continue Reading… Author The AstroTwins | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Category: Beauty
I tried a digital detox facial meant to undo the damage blue light causes
January 10, 2019 at 12:03PM by CWC Technology is such a part of my life that I can’t even remember what things were like before my smartphone existed. My job requires being on a computer, like, all day, and when I’m not typing away, chances are my hands are preoccupied with using my cellphone. Yeah, I know—I can feel you shaking your head in disapproval. So when an email popped up in my inbox announcing a new “digital detox” skin-care treatment catered specifically to tech-loving beauty enthusiasts, my screen-addicted, blue light-riddled face perked right up. The facial aims to undo all of the damage that technology can cause for your complexion. That means tech neck, the effects of blue light, and facial tension that comes from staring at screens. Um, yes please to all of the above. “The digital detox treatment relieves tech neck through touch therapy and complete relaxation,” says Lynne Araw, global service innovation manager at Dermalogica, the brand that’s offering the treatment in their spas starting this month. “Touch therapy massage stimulates and loosens the muscles in the jaw, neck, and shoulders, plus helps balance the circulatory and lymphatic systems to help recapture a healthy, energetic glow.” In other words—it sounds completely necessary. First of all, I was strongly advised to put my phone down—meaning, no social content. (I negotiated being allowed to take one selfie, but the benefits would def be better if you resist this temptation.) “We are on our phones and computers all day so
Even the angriest skin is no match for anti-inflammatory elderberry serums
January 07, 2019 at 12:14PM Now that the buzziest natural ingredients of 2018 have become a part of the permanent skin-care conversation (I am personally proud to admit that I have committed for life to witch hazel toner and a rosehip oil serum), it’s time to start looking ahead to the skin saviors we’re going to be talking about through 2019 and beyond. One week into the year, and we’re already calling it: Get ready to get excited about “elderberry,” an ingredient that you’re about to see a whole lot more of in the beauty aisle. You may recognize the word “elderberry” from fancy cocktail menus, but in addition to tasting delicious when mixed with gin and simple syrup, it also happens to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties—which means its A-plus for certain skin conditions when applied topically. “It is a powerhouse for fighting free-radical damage and aging pollutants caused by environmental exposure,” says dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian of NYC’s Schweiger Dermatology. “It’s also high in vitamins (such as C and E), which will help decrease signs of aging such as sunspots and fine lines.” While the hype on elderberry is relatively new, the evidence supporting its skin-saving benefits is not. One study, for instance, found that it can help fight off the effects of aging by improving microcirculation (AKA blood circulation in teeny, tiny “micro” blood vessels), and it has been used in holistic skin care dating back to ancient times. Because it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, Dr. Nazarian notes that
I tried facial acupuncture—and every bit of jaw and forehead tension melted away
January 06, 2019 at 04:00AM I’ve been noticing myself getting increasingly braver when it comes to trying out skin-care treatments. Last year alone, I zapped, lasered, and micro-needled my face to better absorb my own plasma. Then, at the tail end of the year, I heard about facial acupuncture—yet another way to achieve luminosity—and despite my fear of needles (that aren’t attached to a micro-needling device), I decided to give it a go. Facial cosmetic acupuncture (FCA) is just what it sounds like: The traditional treatment of placing needles into skin, which correspond with various meridians and release chi energy…only done on your face for beautifying reasons. There’s science to back it up, too. According to one study on the efficacy, facial cosmetic acupuncture resulted in boosted elasticity among the 27 participants who received 5 treatments; other studies have found that multiple FCA treatment improve skin texture, fend off fine lines, and provide an all-over refreshed glow. “It’s the ultimate multitasker,” says Shari Auth, DACM, LAc, LMT co-founder of WTHN, a New York City acupuncture studio. “Facial acupuncture is anti-aging, relaxes the muscles of the face, and boosts collagen to reduce wrinkles. It also increases circulation and boosts elastin to firm and tone the face, and promotes detoxification to leave you with a clearer, more even complexion.” Okay, okay, you’ve got my attention. But what is it like to experience? I was about to find out. Keep on scrolling for my firsthand account. What it’s like to get facial acupuncture When I
What the heck should you be using on your lips this winter? We’ve got your foolproof guide
January 05, 2019 at 05:22AM I have officially taken to referring to winter as chapped lips season, because my dry, painful lips seem to supersede any thoughts of joy I could possibly have during the cold months. But the good news? There are a seemingly endless number of products on the market that specifically help you deal with chapped lips. On the other hand… with that many options out there—from balms to masks to oils—it can be hard to figure out exactly which one you’re supposed to be swiping on. So, we tapped Dr. Lily Talakoub of McLean Dermatology and Skincare Center to help us navigate the vast world of lip hydration. First up: Understanding the differences between balms, oils, and masks—AKA the three main product categories that derms recommend for dealing with a chapped pout. “They all generally treat dry, dehydrated lips,” she explains. “A lip balm contains waxes that prevent moisture from evaporating from the top layer of the lip; an oil simply hydrates the lip but doesn’t prevent the loss of moisture; and a lip mask usually just replenishes the lip with hydration, but doesn’t seal in any moisture.” A-ha. Here, Dr. Talakoub breaks down when exactly to reach for each: Lip balm: While a lip balm may be the most common go-to when your pout is feeling flaky (I currently have 17 of them on my desk), Dr. Talakoub notes that they can be tricky if you’re super dry. “The waxes in the balms help moisturize, but when it wears
6 Ways To Harness Tonight’s Rare New Moon & Solar Eclipse
January 04, 2019 at 10:00PM No apologies if you kick off the month in overachiever mode. Continue Reading… Author The AstroTwins | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
If you love pimple popping videos, you’ll want to tune in for this gunk-sucking facial
January 04, 2019 at 08:51AM There’s something incredibly satisfying about clearing out your pores. Whether it’s using one of those classic nose strips for blackheads, an at-home pore vacuum tool, or a clay mask, the end result is an amazingly gunk-free complexion. So when Well+Good video editor Ella Dove went off to try a dermalinfusion facial—which essentially uses a machine to suck dirt and grime straight our of your pores—she was poised to see some skin-clearing magic. In the second episode of What the Wellness—Well+Good’s new YouTube series that takes an inside look at all kinds of buzzy wellness treatments—Dove hits up New York’s Envy Medical to test out dermalinfusion, which is said to be a “professional exfoliation treatment.” It does this via a vacuum-like device that sucks out skin debris while infusing a hydrating serum into the complexion at the same time. “We’re exfoliating at a controlled depth, we’re extracting, and we’re also infusing the skin all at the same time,” explains Sona Tolani, Envy Medical’s chief marketing officer. The perks of this? An advanced skin resurfacing treatment that supposedly eliminates fine lines, resurfaces the skin’s texture, and basically make you look brand new. And here’s arguably the best part about it: At the end of your vacuuming treatment, you get to see the jar full of all the crap that came out of your skin. Yes, really. “It’s what we call the waste jar,” Tolani says. “We call it a very disgustingly satisfying feeling. Everybody will usually see some
3 ways to curl your lashes *without* a curler
January 03, 2019 at 07:25AM I have a love-hate relationship with eyelash curlers. They definitely get the job done, seriously upping the wow-factor of my peepers. But even after much practice, I still manage to pinch my delicate eyelids once in a while and I always shed more lashes when I use the tool regularly. It’s easy to accidentally yank out or break off your lashes, even if properly using the most expensive of gadgets. Fortunately, an eyelash curler isn’t the only way to give yourself the doe-eyed look. If you’re over the damage, have yet to master the technique, or simply left your curler at home while on vacation, check out these three eye-opening alternatives. Here’s how to safely curl your lashes—no metal curler required. 1. Use a spoon. Actor Eiza González says her mom taught her this very important beauty hack at a young age—and it’s almost too easy. Just grab an ordinary spoon from your kitchen drawer, warm it up, press the curved edge against your lashes, and hold with pressure from your thumb for a few seconds. “When you don’t have a curler, you can run to your kitchen and warm it up with your hands,” she tells Vogue. You can also heat up the spoon under warm water or with a quick burst of air from your blow dryer. 2. Use a Q-tip. Q-tips are great for cleaning your ears (just don’t swab too deep!) and removing fossilized eyeliner, and they’re also perfect for curling your eyelashes.
2019 is kicking off with a seriously potent eclipse—here’s why that could affect your New Year’s
December 29, 2018 at 10:51AM We’ve taken a whole lap around the sun, and it’s time to take a look back. Astrologer Jennifer Racioppi is here to help you do that—as well as take a peek at the first highlights of the new year. Be warned: 2019 is wasting no time in making things interesting, with a solar, new moon eclipse coming late this week. Here’s Racioppi’s day-by-day advice for making the most of these (intense) cosmic conditions, no matter what your sun sign is. Monday, December 31 While 2018 was a year wrought with retrogrades, hairpin turns, and deep emotional growth, it was also a year that taught so much. Today, honor your transformation. Consciously choose how you want to spend your day, and with whom you want to spend it. Don’t let FOMO push you to do something you don’t want to. Instead, tune in and assess what will serve you best! Tonight at 9:19 p.m. Eastern, Mars (the planet of action) moves out of Pisces, where it has traveled since November 15, and into Aries, the sign it rules. Mars will tour Aries until Valentine’s Day, igniting the new year with red-hot drive, determination, and focus. Mars will tour Aries until Valentine’s Day, igniting the new year with red-hot drive, determination, and focus. However, the new year kicks off with Saturn, the planet of discipline, conjoining the Sun, too. So, despite Mars returning to the first sign of the zodiac, you might need extra rest and time to
It’s probably (slash definitely) time to clean your makeup removing pads
December 28, 2018 at 03:00AM On any given day, I’d estimate that I go through three cotton pads for the sake of my beauty routine. I’d never really thought that much about it, until I did the math: In the course of a single year I throw away upwards of 1,000 cotton pads. That, multiplied by the span of a lifetime, is a *lot.* While I’d like to think the rest of my routine is fairly sustainable (thanks in large part to the strides the beauty industry, in general, is making in that direction), the cotton ball conundrum still needs to be hacked. And though I know reusable cotton pads exist, I’ve always been skeptical: Because how safe is it, really, to recycle and reuse something that’s sole purpose is to get dirt, grime, and bacteria off of my skin? When I found out just how nasty it is to double dip with a makeup removing wipe, I had to know for sure. So I checked in with New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, who let me know that despite what I’d initially believed, reusable cotton pads (like these bamboo babies) are A-okay—as long as you wash them. A lot. “Reusable facial cotton rounds are a great way to help sustain the earth, but you must make sure to clean them properly,” he says. And no, he doesn’t mean “wash them” the way you probably wash your makeup brushes (AKA never)—he means that they really, really need a regular