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Fresh Fashion Lifestyle

Squiggle Brows, Nose Hair Extensions, And Other Bizarre Beauty Trends

Watching beauty trends change throughout history, two things become very clear—beauty is subjective, and what is seen as beautiful is always changing. For some time, having a unibrow was considered be an attractive quality. In Ancient Greece, this facial feature was believed to signify intelligence, according to The New York Times.
With the passage of time, this preference swung to the opposite side of the spectrum. During medieval times, women removed their eyelashes and sometimes their brows as well. This was done to accentuate their foreheads, which was then largely regarded as the most beautiful part of the face, according to Marie Claire.
[pullquote align=”center”]If something is unusual, it will always garner more attention.[/pullquote]
On the dangerous side, plenty of women and men have done some incredibly extreme things in the name of beauty, or at least, what was seen as attractive at the time. A 1936 newspaper ad shows an eerie picture of invention created by Isabella Gilbert: a machine that allegedly creates dimples on the face (spoiler alert, it did not create dimples). And in the 18th century, lead poisoning was rampant because of the popular practice among men and women to lighten their faces with lead-based makeup.

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Joseph Caraud “La Toilette” (1858)

Strange, right? Interestingly enough, though, many of the beauty trends of today are just as unique. Yet now, social media provides the perfect medium for quickly sharing and spreading new trends.
“I can tell you that anything that provokes a strong reaction causes a chain reaction,” explains Aimee Davison, an Instagram user who has gained over 13,000 followers by trying out unusual beauty trends.
“If something is unusual, it will always garner more attention. Also, if any trend is relatively easy to attempt with products one already has, it’s more likely to catch on.”
It’s a unique time for the beauty industry. In a digital age, makeup trends can catch fire within hours. Here are some of the strangest beauty trends that have gone viral in the new age.

You put glitter where?

Although shaving your armpits has long been the status quo in the United States, this is a trend that is changing among the millennial generation. Since 2013, the number of women who keep their armpits bare has been declining. In 2016, nearly 25 percent of women surveyed by Mintel reported to have quit shaving their pits completely, according to The New York Times.

A post shared by Glitter Tribe (@glittertribenz) on

Lately, millennials are taking things one step further, beautifying their armpit hair with glitter to make a point—it’s 2018, and women are free to do what they want with their bodies, including their armpit hair. Still, this trend might not catch on beyond posed Instagram photos, namely because it isn’t all that comfortable.
“The combination of long, damp armpit hair and abrasive body glitter is totally not comfortable, and it leaves a giant, sweaty, flaking mess,” shares Davison. “There is no practical reason to bedazzle your pits other than as a conversation piece, which is mostly why I try or start most of the weird beauty trends that I do.”

A post shared by Hervembs (@hervember) on

Armpits aren’t the only body part getting a little glitter love these days. Actress Bella Thorne made headlines when she posted pictures of herself wearing glitter makeup as a bra. Davison tried this trend as well, telling HealthyWay that she found it beautiful, despite the fact that she hated having glitter on her pits. She recommends glitter bras as a bold choice for a rave or music festival.

Trend or trick?

Depending on who you ask, this incredibly strange beauty trend is less of a trend and more of a joke gone viral.

A post shared by GretChen Chen (@gret_chen_chen) on

In the last couple of months, nose hair extensions are becoming a thing on Instagram. According to Cosmopolitan, this all started with user GretChen Chen, who only had 173 followers when she posted a picture of herself sporting nose hair extensions, which were actually just fake eyelashes glued into her nostrils. Now, no one is certain if this was meant to be taken seriously, but the picture went viral, resulting in copycat posts by several Instagram users in the beauty world.

A post shared by Taylor R (@taytay_xx) on

Always up for a challenge, Davison reports having tried this trend after it became popular.
“Utterly ridiculous,” she says. “You need to stick lash glue up your nose, which winds up ripping out your actual nose hair after the fact.”

Raise a Brow

Nose hair extensions may have been inevitable, considering the fact that the beauty world seemed to have exhausted every possible iteration of eyebrow art over the course of six months. Creative eyebrows just might go down as the defining makeup trend of 2017.
We know that brow art took off in the Spring, Allure reports that the earliest viral brow art seems to date back to March 10th, when Instagram user @athenapaginton shared a picture of barbed wire brows, which quickly went viral. Next came feather brows, which was accidentally started by popular beauty influencer Stella Sironen. On April 8, she posted a picture of her brows styled as feathers.

The very next day, Sironen was back with another picture of feather brows and a little explanation of exactly what she was thinking. As it turns out, it was just a silly joke that got taken way too seriously. Now it’s totally a trend.
Moving on, we have carved brows. Using makeup, artists are creating the illusion of brows shaped in squiggles, lightening, and more. Makeup artist Lucky Martinez tells HealthyWay exactly what he thinks of this trend.

“I tried the ‘brow carve’ trend,” he says, explaining that the look is created by putting shadow around the brow and then using concealer to create a ‘shadow carved’ look. “It wasn’t really for me because it isn’t very natural, and I wouldn’t ever see me repeating it at all.”
Lastly, we’ve got squiggle brows. They seem to be creation of hugely successful Instagram influencer Promise Tamang, who shared a picture of squiggle brows and squiggle lips in August. The picture now has over 27,000 likes and plenty of comments, both good and bad.

“Promise, how could you be responsible for this monstrosity,” user @luz_822 posted under the original picture.

Looking Yellow in the Face

If, like me, you missed the memo that yellow eyeshadow was on trend, you may be just as surprised to hear what else yellow makeup is being used for. According to Allure, yellow blush became hugely popular over the Spring.

It’s applied like any old blush, only the color is bright. It’s strangely flattering, to be honest, and Davison says she was surprised by just how much she likes the look on herself.
“It’s not a color I would have ever thought to use, but the end result was interesting,” she says. “I love when unusual makeup trends force you to rethink your makeup choices and lead you to new styles.”

Eyeliner Art

Sometimes beauty trends quickly fade away after gaining popularity, but this trend seems to be here to stay. Double liner has become so popular over the last couple of years, and it likely was inspired by a look worn by Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid at a Chanel show in January, 2016.

“The double liner is something that recently came into play, and I love it,” Martinez shares. “It’s a winged liner within a winged liner. I really like it because not only does it not require a lot of work, but it adds a bit of color and pop to the face without completely turning the look into a certain color.”

Do you glow?

Perhaps the most widely embraced of recent unusual beauty trends, neon makeup has become super popular among instagram makeup artists.
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Some artists are using actual neon makeup that reacts to black lights, but many are just really, really good at tricking the eyes. Different makeup colors are layered to make it look like the eyes or lips are glowing.

Too much, or just right?

Unusual beauty trends get a lot of negative attention. Growing out armpit hair has been called unhygienic, and it’s really no surprise that the comment sections of brow art pictures on Instagram are a free-for-all.
Many makeup artists simply don’t care. For them, it’s about doing their own thing, not conforming to the status quo.
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“When I use makeup, it’s always only about makeup,” explains Martinez. “Using makeup as an art for me is when I’m able to enjoy my time alone and create something new that I believe will put a … smile on someone’s face.”
And although Davison is quick to admit that the trends she tried are strange or weird, she doesn’t think that is necessarily bad.
“Our bodies are canvases, and makeup is a tool to create a masterpiece,” she says. “I think we are at an incredibly liberating point in history where makeup is so accessible and affordable, and tutorials [are] so easy to find, that anyone can become anything they choose. Makeup enables self-creation, and creativity is art!”

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Happy Home Lifestyle

How To Staycation At Home And Leave The Rest Of The World Behind

Although all of us can undoubtedly use a break to get away from the hustle and bustle, vacations aren’t always within our means. Despite how necessary it may feel from time to time, skipping town altogether can often seem impossible when taking into account strained finances, limited time, and overbooked doggy daycare. When that’s the case, we have a few suggestions to help make your home a true haven.

What’s your vibe?

Picture your ideal getaway. If you could be anywhere in the world with whomever you please, what would the trip look like? Well, let’s recreate it in the comfort of your own home! Are you craving a hygge sanctuary with your significant other, a fireside marathon of movies and board games with the kiddos, or a girls’ night out (or in) with bottles of ’booch and dancing through the night?
Just as with anything in life, planning is key. Start to jot down a few ideas, and really home in on what you want to feel during these glorious days. If you’re like me, putting together an itinerary with a handful of “needs” and “wants” for an upcoming vacation is routine. Use this same practice for your stay-at-home weekend. Prep your space, make “me” time your top priority, and treat yourself to some major pampering.
Here are several do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you go.

Do!

Fine-tune the details.

Light some candles, cozy up the ambience, minimize clutter, and settle into a fresh abode. If you’re feeling a relaxing couple of days tucked inside, then go ahead and call a cleaning service to perfect the mood! That’s right—a clean space is a calm space. You can’t deny the instantaneous feeling of relief when you walk into a clean home. This time, let’s just make sure you aren’t the one sweating over accomplishing this feat.

Set the mood.

Are you planning on a fun weekend with your galpals? Have a few Spotify playlists ready and healthy munchies on hand. You ladies will need a landing pad if you choose to hit the latest sustainable dinner spot with plant-based apps and kombucha on tap.
Your emotional health includes relationships too! Take this time to connect without distraction. If you’re opting for a quieter, self-loving staycation, gather the coziest throws, cushiest rugs, and fluffiest pillows. Sit like a queen with your favorite book in hand or film on the telly.

Incorporate mindful movement.

With nothing but time for yourself during these couple of days, bring meditation and yoga back into focus. Instead of watching the latest Netflix series right before bed, whip out your mat for a decompressing hour spent finding your center. Check out Trevor Hall or Novo Amor for our favorite vibey jams.

Don’t!

Set your alarm.

Wake up quietly and slowly, according to your own circadian rhythms. There’s no need to spend these sacred days rushing to get the morning started. Instead, allow yourself to recuperate after your long week (or month!). When your eyes flutter open, curl into the covers, practice full-body stretches and pranayama breath work, and mosey out of bed when you’re truly ready.

Glue your eyes to your phone (or computer).

Take this as an opportunity to unplug from technology. Remember, we have to disconnect from our external world to reconnect with our internal world. Think about it: You wouldn’t be tied to your phone if you were bumming it on a tropical beach, so why do it now? Give yourself a sweet break from that noise.

Stress about perfection.

Your weekend at home is your time to ditch the undercurrent of perfectionist tendencies that tend to grace the calendar. Release that pressure and practice finding your flow! This may mean being fluid in planning your cozy days ahead and remembering that above all else, you should be unwinding. If something doesn’t go according to your hopes, do not stress.
This is your special time, friends. Revel in whatever brings your heart a bit of peace (and play)!

Categories
Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

Going Gray The Right Way: Everything You Need To Know About Gray Hair

One day you will find yourself going about your morning routine, when all of a sudden you’ll do a double take in the mirror after applying your mascara.
That second look isn’t because you look amazing (although you do!). No, you spotted a glint of silver in your blowout.
Your first gray hair.
First, don’t panic. Although silver-haired men seem to get all the glory (Anderson Cooper is still bae, y’all), there are plenty of women who make going gray look ultra chic. I mean, have you seen Helen Mirren lately? She’s a total silver foxy lady!

Going gray? You can thank your parents.

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You may have inherited your mom’s gorgeous smile or your dad’s eye color, and you can also thank your parents for your salt and pepper locks. Gray hair can strike at any age, and when it appears is largely thanks to genetics.  
“Going gray is a genetically programmed process that appears to have multiple genes that are interacting to start the process,” says Amy McMichael, MD, chair of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  
According to McMichael, the interferon regulatory factor 4 gene (IRF4) plays a key role in when you’ll develop gray hair. IRF4 genes code proteins that affect the immune system and help protect the body against viruses. In addition, IRF4 genes regulate melanin production, which determines skin and hair color and is the pigment made by cells called melanocytes.
“There are two types of melanin,” says Fayne Frey, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of FryFace, an educational dermatology site. These two types of melanin are “eumelanin, which imposes a brown to black color, and pheomelanin, which is a reddish yellow color. Both types are made in melanocytes. Which type and how much of each is genetically determined with a wide variation.”
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Before we’re born, our hair is actually white, because it’s completely free of melanin. Over time though, the melanin begins to color our hair, resulting in each person’s unique hair color. Just as melanin colors our hair when we’re young, we lose melanin pigment as we age, which can result in silver strands.
The BCL gene family, which keeps certain cells from dying by coding a protective outer membrane around the cell, also plays an important role in why we get gray hair. BCL genes may protect melanocytes. When the body doesn’t have a sufficient number of melanocytes, hair may turn gray faster. In one study, BCL-deficient mice experienced graying faster than mice who were not BCL deficient.
A more recent study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center claims to have pinpointed a protein called KROX20 that some scientists believe is responsible for graying hair. KROX20, also known as early growth response protein 2 (EGR2) is a protein that aids in neural crest cell development (these are the cells that end up forming hair and skin, smooth cartilage, and bone, among other things).
KROX20 produces another protein, called stem cell factor (SCF), which is the protein needed for hair color to form. When KROX20 no longer produces SCF proteins, pigment is no longer produced, which results in gray hair.
So does this mean we can reverse gray hair?
Not quite.
The study was performed on mice and has yet to be examined in human subjects. Other scientists and doctors believe it may be a bit too early to determine if SCF proteins may be the secret to keeping colorful locks longer.
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But I’m too young for gray hair!

Most men start seeing their first gray hairs sprout at around age 30, whereas women tend to see them a few years later, at 35.
Any gray hair that occurs before this age is considered prematurely gray hair.
[pullquote align=”center”]“Stress has been implicated in every possible way with hair loss and the process of graying,”
—Amy McMichael[/pullquote]
Aside from genetics, several other factors can also play a role in how early you’ll go gray. Some—like hormonal imbalance, age, and certain environmental factors—are beyond your control. Others, like stress and smoking, may be reduced by lifestyle changes.
Frey says, “There are multiple studies that consistently show smoking linked to premature graying. The exact mechanism of how smoking affects hair pigment is unknown, but an increase in free radical (unstable atoms that can wreak havoc in the body) formation within the hair follicle is one theory.”
As we age, free radical production increases, which also causes an increase in oxidative stress, which is stress that actually changes cellular makeup. As free radicals in the body increase, so does the damage to melanocytes, thereby causing prematurely gray hair.
“Stress has [also] been implicated in every possible way with hair loss and the process of graying,” says McMichael.
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According to McMichael, similar to the oxidative stress caused by smoking, long-term physiologic stress may affect the graying process. These long-term stressors include chronic illness and severe caloric restriction. Scientists theorize that long-term stressors cause oxidative stress, thereby causing melanocytes to die prematurely. However, scientists are still working to prove this theory. So one stressful day at the office is probably not the cause for your gray hair, but a whole year in a seriously stressful work environment might be.
Unfortunately, McMichael says there are no proven methods of reducing or reversing gray hair. “While there are labs that are working on this process, it is not clear that any group really has this figured out.”
If a product promises to slow or reduce gray hair growth, it’s probably too good to be true. Instead, focusing on lifestyle changes is the best way to slow the growth of gray hair.
Limiting stress and stopping smoking has many added benefits besides delaying the graying process. Manage stress by exercising daily or practicing mindful meditation. (And if you’re trying to quit smoking, you don’t have to do it alone. Visit smokefree.gov for information, resources, and support to quit smoking.)

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Help! My gray hair isn’t on my head.

So you noticed a few gray hairs…everywhere on your body except your head.
According to Frey, graying patterns vary from person to person. “Based on my personal experience, I’d say hair on the temporal scalp (above the ears) seems to gray first on many individuals.”
McMichael says that anecdotally, “Some feel that the facial hair grays before the hair on the scalp, but this is not a hard and fast rule.”
What dermatologists do know is that your hair down there will go gray eventually.
Even though you might be totally freaked out, it’s usually totally normal for your body hair to start graying around the same time as the hair on your head.
Sometimes though, gray or white strands in your nether regions do signal a health problem.
If you notice silvery white strands while you’re landscaping downstairs, it could be the result of a severe vitamin B12 deficiency. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia, which interferes with red blood cell production, depleting the source of oxygen that most cells need to thrive. Fortunately, with treatment, hair will usually return to its normal color if a B12 deficiency is the culprit.
White piedra, a fungal infection, is another reason your hair may appear gray or white prematurely. White piedra is caused by a yeast-like fungus. While it can occur anywhere on the body, it is more likely to be found in the groin than anywhere else. The fungus attaches to individual hair follicles, giving the hair a white or gray appearance. The good news is that this asymptomatic fungal infection is easy to treat by trimming the affected hair (a great time to do some grooming!) and over-the-counter fungal creams.
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If you want to go gray gracefully…

I only have one gray hair (that I can see). It’s right at the front of my hairline, and it insists on sticking straight up, Alfalfa-style. When I frantically called my stylist, Emilee Phillips, who is the owner of the organic Green Goddess Hair Salon, she told me very sternly not to pluck it no matter how much I wanted to do so.
“The old wives’ tale that plucking a gray hair will cause two more to sprout in its place isn’t true, but you still shouldn’t pluck a gray hair,” says Phillips. “Just like tweezing your eyebrows, over time, repeated plucking will damage the hair follicle so much that it won’t grow back at all.”
So how do stylists recommend caring for gray hair?
Jamie Church Ball, a veteran stylist at Shear Shakti Salon in Boone, North Carolina, says “Styling products depend on what the client is looking for just the same as natural hair, but there are shampoos formulated for gray hair.”
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Ball recommends Oribe products, which has two products that work for gray hair. Oribe Silverati shampoo and conditioner are specially formulated for gray and white hair. This illuminating shampoo brightens hair and removes yellow tones that makes silver strands shine.
Ball also recommends Oribe’s Bright Blonde shampoo, which works for both blonde and silver hair. Many people with lighter skin tones are afraid that gray hair will wash out their complexion, but they needn’t worry. This revitalizing violet shampoo corrects brassiness and yellow tones while brightening natural highlights for hair that is healthier, shinier, and lit from within.
Another way to boost lighter complexions while sporting gray tresses is to wear bold colored clothing. Think rich jewel tones, like Pantone’s 2018 color of the year, Ultra Violet. 
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While you don’t have to wear makeup to be beautiful, Hope Alfaro, a makeup artist in Durham, North Carolina, shared some of her favorite makeup tips to balance your complexion with gray hair.
“Embrace cool tones,” says Alfaro. “As you embrace your natural gray hair, try new shades like mauves or taupes that compliment the coolness of gray tones. Lipstick and blush with cooler undertones will start suiting you better as well.”
In addition, Alfaro says if you do only have time for one thing in the morning, make sure you don’t neglect your eyebrows.
“If you are in the later stages of graying, your eyebrows and eyelashes may have also turned gray. Even two minutes with a pencil defining your eyebrow shape can make a world of difference to your face.” A few products we love are Glossier’s Boy Brow, Anastasia’s Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Eyebrow Pencil, and Maybelline’s Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil.
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If you’re not feeling the gray…

Gray hair is totally having a style moment right now. Celebs from Kim Kardashian to Zosia Mamet have paid big bucks to have their hair dyed gray on purpose. If you just can’t jump on the gray-hair trend, you can color your hair to hide the gray. Before you reach for that box of Clairol, there are some things you need to know about dyeing gray hair.
“I can tell you that gray hair is very coarse, which makes it resistant to color,” says Ball. “So your stylist has to formulate the color for gray hair and let it process about 10 minutes longer than normal.”
In addition, Ball says, because gray hair is resistant to color, stylists end up using a double pigmented color, which can end up being pricier than your standard dye job. After the color is applied, your stylist will probably use a developer, which helps open up the hair cuticle so the color can totally penetrate your hair.
Justin Barnett, owner of Justin Salon and Spa in Vero Beach, Florida, says, “regular hair grows up to a half an inch a month so every 4 to 6 weeks, you should plan to touch up your color.”
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One perk of dyeing your gray hair is that color-treated hair is often softer, which makes it easier to style. The downside? Coloring your hair can add up to a big monthly expense.
Whether you choose to color your gray hair or not is totally up to you, but the same styling tips apply to both.
Exposing hair to prolonged high heat from styling tools can seriously damage hair, so always use a heat protectant, like amika’s The Wizard Multi-Benefit Primer, before styling your hair.
[pullquote align=”center”]“A lady’s grays are life’s trophies. Celebrate your age, wisdom, and accomplishments through your natural beauty.”
—Justin Barnett[/pullquote]
Additionally, because gray hair is already coarse, try to avoid washing your hair daily, which can strip your hair of natural oils, leaving hair brittle and dry. Instead, aim for washing your hair every two to three days, and use a dry shampoo in between washings.
“In one way I feel that I shouldn’t encourage women to embrace their gray hair,” Barnett jokes. “Women embrac[ing] their gray hair doesn’t pay my salon bills! However, I do believe that a lady’s grays are life’s trophies. Celebrate your age, wisdom, and accomplishments through your natural beauty.”
So will you embrace your gray strands as they are or will you cover them up? Whatever you decide is totally fine either way.
Because you know what’s really sexy? A woman who’s in love with her own look, even if that includes a gray strand or two.

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Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Eyebrow Shapes—And How To Get Yours Just Right

When the movie Mirror, Mirror premiered in 2012, Lily Collins’ bold eyebrows were far from mainstream. Fast forward five years to now, and her brows are—knowingly or unknowingly—being emulated by almost everyone.
Thanks to the influence of Collins and others, including model Cara Delevingne, thick eyebrows have become a beauty ideal. Much like contouring, creating bold eyebrow shapes is now seen as an essential part of sophisticated beauty routines. Thick brows—and the products needed to create and maintain them—can be found nearly everywhere.
The obsession with eyebrow shapes has even saturated pop culture. “Eyebrows on fleek” has been ubiquitous since 2014, when teenager Peaches Monroee used the term in a Vine. In the UK, overly thick, dark, artificial-looking brows are often called “scouse brows”—a reference to an episode of the British TV show Desperate Scousewives.
Eyebrow trends, including fun, brightly-colored eyebrows and parodical “squiggle brows,” had their heyday in 2017. The brow trend has even involved its fair share of controversy, with many people pointing out that women of color were shamed for having thick brows until white influencers made them trendy.
While eyebrows have gotten bigger over the past few years, they’ve always been an important part of the face: we just didn’t realize it until recently. A 2002 study, for example, shows that eyebrows play a huge role in facial recognition. Eyebrows also contribute greatly to our recognition of emotion in facial expressions.
Different eyebrow trends have punctuated Western beauty ideals over the decades. In the ‘20s and ‘30s, pencil-thin, curved brows were popular. These were ditched for fuller, thicker brows in the ‘50s and ‘60s, which were replaced by more natural-looking brows in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The ‘90s saw women opting for thinner eyebrow shapes, while the early augts saw brows thicken again.
So why have bold, perfectly-groomed brows suddenly become so popular?
In part, it’s because of the influence of social media. “Brows have been become the focal point of beauty trends in recent years due to the new wave of social media marketing and the ongoing evolution of brow products,” says Shobha Tummala, founder of Shobha hair removal salons. “With the growth of visually-driven social networks such as Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, etc., people are now able to be in touch with beauty trends all over the world at the palm of their hands,” she says.
Selfie culture means it’s easier than ever to see numerous close-ups of celebrities and influencers every day, and there’s no doubt that we’re strongly influenced by the picture-perfect, impeccably groomed eyebrows of our influencers. This includes celebrities like Collins and Delevingne, as well as the Kardashian sisters, who naturally have dark, thick hair due to their Armenian roots. The far-off paparazzi shots of yesteryear could never show off groomed eyebrows as well as a well-lit selfie, and we get to see those all day long.
Bold brows might also be trendy because they contrast strongly with the thin brow trends of the ‘90s—a look that’s now considered outdated. Influenced by celebrities like Pamela Anderson and Gwen Stefani, many women plucked—and over-plucked—their brows until they were pencil-thin.
“The ‘90s did a number on the ladies of my generation. We looked to Drew Barrymore and the cast of Friends as our beauty icons,” says Di Medlock, exhale spa’s national director of waxing.“Many of us tried to force our brows into a thin and highly stylized shape, which is not universally flattering.”
Another reason for the apparent popularity of thick brows? As far as beauty standards go, it’s relatively attainable, says Medlock. “We can’t all be a size two or have legs for days, but brows…that works for everyone,” she says.
And if your brows aren’t currently working for you, they’re relatively easy to fix.
eyebrow shapes diagram

How do I decide between different eyebrow shapes?

When it comes to styling your brows, you want to go bold and trendy while still looking natural. The key to great eyebrows is choosing a good shape.
Unfortunately, there are no universal rules when it comes to shaping your brows. “Brow rules are like horoscopes—they can’t all work for everyone all of the time,” Medlock says. “The human face is too unique for that kind of simplification.” Instead, it’s important to keep certain soft rules and tricks in mind when it comes to choosing an eyebrow shape.
Medlock notes that your different facial features will be accentuated by different brow shapes. “A thinner brow will highlight a dominant feature, whereas a thicker brow will draw attention away,” she says. A thick brow can reduce the look of a large nose, for example, while thinner brows could draw more attention to your eyes. Angled brows can make your features look sharper, while round eyes will emphasize rounder cheeks or lips.
Base your eyebrow shape on the shape of your face, but remember it isn’t the only thing you need to consider. Sabah Feroz, blinkbrowbar brow specialist, says that your ideal brow shape also depends on your brow bone structure and other facial features. Not every round-faced person, for example, would look great with the exact same shape of eyebrows.
Stick to these soft rules, but take your own brow bone into account, too.

Round

eyebrow shapes round face
Round faces are nearly as wide as they are long. If your face is round, it’s widest at the cheeks with a soft jawline.
If you have a round face, avoid rounded brows and go for angled brows with high arches, instead. If a high arch is too bold for you, soften it a little. According to Feroz, this will open up your eyes and balance your facial features, making your face look slimmer.

Oval or Oblong

eyebrow shapes oval face
Oval and oblong faces are relatively round, but a bit longer than truly round faces. They’re widest at the cheekbones and involve a soft jawline.
Generally, any eyebrow shape will suit you if you if you have an oval or oblong face. If your bone structure seems a bit sharp, a low arch can soften your look. Opt for a nearly-flat brow—that is, one with a very low angle—if your face is particularly long.

Square or Rectangle

eyebrow shapes square face
Square- and rectangular-shaped faces are equally wide at the forehead, cheekbones and jawline. They often include a prominent jawline.
If you have a square or rectangular face, the angles of your jaw might look a bit harsh if paired with a dramatically-arched brow. Soften your look by choosing a round or soft arched brow instead. The curves will accentuate your rounder features like your eyes and lips.

Heart Shaped

eyebrow shapes heart face
Your face is heart shaped if it’s widest at the forehead and narrowest at the jawline. You might have a sharp chin, too, and will want to soften your eyebrows to counteract that sharpness.
At the same time, you don’t want your face to look too round, especially if it’s short. Opt for a soft, low arch with a rounded curve to keep your face looking balanced.

Diamond Shaped

eyebrow shapes diamond face
Diamond-shaped faces are widest at the temples. They often look a bit angular and bony, and can include a sharp chin.
A high arch will bring attention to your eyes whereas a soft arch will soften your features, meaning either shape is a good option depending on the look you’re going for.

How should I sculpt my eyebrows?

The shape of your eyebrows is important—but how you shape them is also important. If you don’t sculpt your eyebrows correctly, you might over-pluck, irritate your skin, and cause yourself a lot of unnecessary pain.
When it comes to removing unwanted growth and keeping what’s left behind “neat,” you have several options. Waxing and threading are both popular ways to shape your brows quickly. Although both methods can be painful, they’re a lot quicker than tweezing individual hairs.
“If you’re looking to maintain your brows at home … only remove the stray hairs,” Feroz advises. “Don’t attempt to shape unless you know what you are doing.” She suggests you leave shaping to the professionals and commit to maintaining brow tidiness between scheduled sculpting appointments.

Tweezing

It’s a good idea to shower or wash your face with warm water just before you work on your brows. The warm water will open your pores, making it easier and less painful to remove the hairs. Medlock suggests you brush your eyebrows downward before plucking above your brow to help you see the stray hairs. Use a pair of tweezers with a slanted tip in order to get the best hold.
Be careful not to over-pluck your eyebrows, as this will damage your follicles. You can avoid over-plucking by leaving a fair amount of time between each tweezing sesh. If you have over-plucked, give your eyebrows time to regrow. In that time, don’t pencil over or dye your brows too much, as that can further irritate your skin.

Threading vs. Waxing

Tummala recommends eyebrow threading instead of waxing or tweezing. Threading is a centuries-old technique that was initially popular in the Middle East, India, and China. Many people find it more effective, quicker, and less painful than other forms of hair removal. Those who swear by threading also say that the hairs grow back slower than they would if they were waxed or tweezed.
“The skin around your eyes is super delicate and waxing your brows essentially takes that first layer of skin off. Ouch!” Tummala says. “We always recommend threading your brows since threading is more precise and allows you get the shortest hairs from the root.”
Of course, if you have particularly sensitive skin, hair removal of any kind might irritate it. If you’re maintaining your brows at home, keep some soothing cream on hand. If you’ve accidentally ripped some skin off, a cold compress and some fresh air should help you soothe it.

Beyond Taming: How to Enhance Brows Without Going Overboard

Of course, since the trend is all about thick, bold brows, you don’t just want to remove stray hairs: you want to enhance the shape of your eyebrows, and many people rely on eyebrow pencils, powders, and creams to make their brows look fuller and thicker.

Pencil

If you’re reaching for a pencil to achieve thicker-looking brows, you might want to use an eyebrow stencil to help you create and fill in the shape. If you don’t have a stencil, Medlock gives this advice: “Make a solid line on the underside of your brow and then use upperward feather strokes to fill sparse areas.”
She goes on to say, “I never take the pencil all the way to the top edge of the brow—it looks too artificial.” She suggests brushing over harsh pencil lines with a clean mascara wand to give your brows a softer, more natural look.

Tinting

If your brow hairs are particularly light, you can have them tinted. Salons offer tinting services, and it’s also relatively easy to do at home with a home tinting kit. Just don’t make your eyebrows too dark—start by going a shade or two darker than your natural brow color.

Microblading

For those who have particularly sparse eyebrows, microblading might be the answer. Microblading is a meticulous process that involves tattooing hair-like strokes over your brow area. Unlike traditional eyebrow tattooing, though, microblading involves using tiny needles to deposit small amounts of ink under the skin. The result? Smaller, feather-like strokes that create natural-looking brows.
Microblading is semi-permanent, but some specialists recommend a follow-up appointment after a month to retouch the initial work. After that, the effect should last between one and three years. Microblading is usually priced between $600 and $900—and while this may seem pricey, it could be worth it if you find yourself filling your brows in every day and wanting to invest your time elsewhere.
We can’t all be Cara Delevingne, but we can take inspiration from her look and embrace thick, bold brows—that is, until the next eyebrow trend catches on.
enhancing your eyebrow shapes

Categories
Lifestyle

8 Things People Did Before Plastic Surgery

They say beauty is only skin deep, but try telling that to the stampede of women who are now requesting the “Meghan Markle nose” from their plastic surgeons.

Seemingly overnight, Prince Harry’s fiancée has become the most popular inspiration for plastic surgery out there. Even celebrities who preach about self-love and being “Born This Way” often nose-dive into some of their own cosmetic improvements.

We’ve all wanted to look like a celebrity at one time or another, or we’ve at least wondered what we would look like with a few improvements to those “genetic flaws,” like the chest your momma didn’t give you or that nose that children confuse for a beak.

HealthyWay

But plastic surgery isn’t accessible to everyone. And what about the days way back when it wasn’t really an option at all? How did people manage to get those dashing dimples they were lusting after?

Well, it turns out they had their ways.

1.) Dr. Lecter’s mask would “fix” facial defects.

In 1912, if you had a facial defect, like wrinkles or sagging flesh (you know, serious facial defects), you could invest in a sort of Hannibal Lecter Mask. It was invented by a woman named Lillian Bender, and you wore it around your throat and face, with a small opening for the mouth.

The diagram itself shows just how user friendly this product is!

HealthyWay
Google Patents

Tanya Judge, a plastic surgeon at Tri Valley Plastic Surgery in Dublin, California, called Bender’s face mask “barbaric.”

“Trying to remove wrinkles and sagging flash by putting it in a harness would never work,” she says. “What we have learned is that the facial sagging that happens over time is not just the skin, but the tissue underneath.”

That’s why a facelift works, she says, because it lifts the tissue below and then “re-drapes the skin.”

Unfortunately, some companies are still selling similar gimmicks. Take this “face hammock” for example. It’s supposed to prevent sags and wrinkles by combatting gravity. This similar device, a “face belt,” is pretty self-explanatory.

2.) A Whole New Meaning to the Term “Chin Strap”

This one is fun. It’s called a “Chin Reducer and Beautifier” and promises to deliver the “curves of youth,” which sounds like a bad emo band.

HealthyWay
The Advertising Archives via fineartamerica

You just secure the chin strap around the top of your head like a belt and place the other strap under your chin. Then, the strings attached to the chin portion go up and through the forehead strap, so that you can tug on the strings and pull your chin up as tight as you like.

This is supposed to prevent and efface double chins, as well as reduce enlarged glands.

Professor Eugene Mack advertised his product as the only mechanism “producing a concentrated, continuous massage of the chin and neck, dispelling flabbiness of the neck and throat, restoring a rounded contour to thin, scrawny necks and faces, bringing a natural, healthy color to the cheeks.”

3.) The Glamour Bonnet might keep you from breathing, but you’ll be prettier for it.

According to D. M. Ackerman, if you want a beautiful complexion, a vacuum to the face will do just the trick. She made the Glamour Bonnet “like a diver’s helmet,” where the atmospheric pressure around the person’s head is lowered, similar to the experience of climbing a high mountain.

HealthyWay
Modern Mechanix

Ackerman claimed this vacuum helmet would stimulate blood circulation, thus leading to a more naturally beautiful complexion. Best of all, the advertisement states that “a window has been installed so the customers can read during treatments.”

This means you can catch up on all the latest celebrity gossip while you slowly asphyxiate yourself.

4.) Like being able to breathe? Don’t worry. We have electrocution, too.

An “electric mask,” invented by Joseph Brueck, MD, was supposed to treat lines, wrinkles, and sags through a battery of heating coils. Sounds super-relaxing.

HealthyWay
Modern Mechanix

If the image isn’t creepy enough, the description will do the trick. The wearer “breathes through a tube set between the lips of the mask, and views the world through eyes cut where eyes should be.”

Now let that sink in.

Facial electrocution for beauty is still a thing today, as this device attests. Think twice about why this would ever work before buying.

5.) An Easy Way to Recognize the Flaws You Never Knew You Had

If you’ve ever wondered what a medieval torture device looks like, check out Maksymilian Faktorowicz’s “Beauty Micrometer” (the inventor also went by the Hollywood-friendly name “Max Factor”).

HealthyWay
Jllm06/Wikimedia Commons

This scary-looking thing sits on your head and supposedly shows makeup professionals where all your facial flaws are so they can apply makeup appropriately. It was popularly used on actresses in the 1930s.

“Flaws almost invisible to the ordinary eye becoming glaring distortions when thrown upon the screen in highly magnified images,” according to the product’s advertisement. “But Factor’s ‘beauty micrometer’ reveals the defects.”

HealthyWay
Modern Mechanix

It works by using “flexible metal strips which conform closely to the various features. The strips are held in place by set screws, allowing for 325 possible adjustments.” If your nose is even slightly crooked, the ad claims the beauty micrometer will detect it and corrective makeup can be applied.

If you ask us, though, the Beauty Micrometer would only benefit actors who are taking a stab at the role of Pinhead in Hellraiser.

6.) “You have a beautiful face. But your nose?”

Don’t worry, we can fix it right up with the Trados Nose-Shaper.

This harness that you strap to your face went through several models in the early 1900s. Inventor M. Trilety was sure to warn the readers of his advertisements that looks are very important if you want to get ahead in life, and that you should look your best at all times.

… it most definitely would not quickly change the nose, be painless, or remotely comfortable.

“Permit no one to see you looking otherwise,” he warns.

Lucky for you, the harness was meant to be worn overnight, so no one would see you wearing it in public. And not only would it give you “a perfect looking nose,” but Trilety claimed it was comfortable and painless.

HealthyWay
Edgar R. McGuire Historical Medical Instrument Collection via University of Buffalo Libraries

In all seriousness, though, these claims were pretty baseless.

Judge says that unless the harness is used on a baby or young child with a still-developing nose, there is no way to squeeze your nose into a new shape.

“Contrary to what the ad states, it most definitely would not quickly change the nose, be painless, or remotely comfortable,” she says. “Reshaping the nose requires surgery.”

That’s why you shouldn’t buy into any similar current products either, like this one, among others.

7.) “Dimples are now made to order!”

Another lovely harness.

This one has a “face-fitting spring carrying two tiny knobs which press into the cheeks.”

HealthyWay
Modern Mechanix

Isabella Gilbert invented this contraption in 1936, and we have a feeling she never quite got the results she was hoping for.

“This one was a valiant effort but again ineffective,” Judge says.

In her words, dimples are created by a variant of facial muscle that connect to the overlying skin near to the corner of the mouth. When you smile, that skin indents.

“Pressing a spring on the outside of your skin would surely cause a temporary dent on your face, and if you kept it on long enough, would probably cause skin breakdown,” she says. “Creating a dimple can be done in today’s age but requires a small surgical procedure.”

8.) Targeted Vibration: The Cure-All

Little vibrating machines got really popular in the early 1900s, as advertisers treated them like a cure for just about any ailment you had.

“Those women who find that the hips are getting too large” would slim down with the help of the White Cross Electric Vibrator.

It sounds like a first generation hand-held back massager.

Supposedly it would promote soft, glossy hair if you used it on your head, and it would also drive out all the dandruff (at least that part might be a bit believable).

“Nothing would make me happier than if this device worked for fat reduction and scalp health,” Judge says. “But like most things back then, they didn’t understand fat like we do now.”

HealthyWay

Judge points to more modern methods of fat reduction, such the noninvasive CoolSculpting or Sculpture, as well as the invasive liposuction procedure. At least the advertisers also mentioned that the vibrators could help with aches and pains.

“The only thing this device was probably correctly advertised for is increasing blood through sore muscles,” Judge says. “It sounds like a first generation hand-held back massager.”

A Clean Cut

Judge says she finds all these products interesting because they show that “we have been striving to better our appearance for decades, and the areas of interest haven’t changed at all.”

… you have to applaud and respect the innovation involved.

We still want to look young, get rid of extra fat, and reshape our noses.

“The difference now, compared to that time period, is that we have comprehensive understanding of the anatomy of the body and the biological reasoning behind why we have extra fat, or an uneven nose, or sagging facial skin,” she says.

That’s why we can effectively and safely obtain the look we want by using surgery or modern noninvasive procedures.

“That being said,” Judge points out, “despite the wackiness and ineffectiveness of all the devices, you have to applaud and respect the innovation involved.”

Yes, they were certainly creative. Just not useful.

Categories
Life x Culture Lifestyle

This Is How You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking

Almost 21 million people. It’s a shocking number, even more so when you realize it represents how many victims of human trafficking there are in the world today. At least a quarter of those are children, innocent kids forced into modern-day slavery.
In a nutshell? People are trapped, forced to work or have sex (or both) against their will, and often have no means of escape.
This is their life every day. Across the globe and right here in America, human trafficking statistics are on the rise. From 2015 to 2016 alone, there was a 35 percent jump in reported cases.  
But for all the bad news, there’s a light in the dark. You don’t have to go back to college, take criminal justice courses, or join the local police department’s special victims unit to help.

Be a savvy buyer.

You already focus on buying healthy fruits and veggies and reading food labels. But do you know if the blueberries in your morning smoothie were picked by a child who’s being refused the right to attend school and have a normal childhood? If they’re coming from Argentina, they might be!
Check out the U.S. Department of Labor’s list of goods produced by child and forced labor in countries around the world before you hit the store. Refusing to buy those products takes money out of the pockets of traffickers and makes it less lucrative for them to enslave people.

Ask questions.

Those semi-weekly massages may be a crucial (and let’s face it, amazing) part of your complete wellness routine, but have you checked with your massage therapist to make sure she’s digging into your tight glutes because she wants to…not because she has to?
Just this past November, massage parlors outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, made headlines for illegal trafficking busts. And it’s no coincidence: Massage parlors, farms, and sweatshop-type factories are highest on the list of place where you’re likely to find someone being trafficked.
Another hot spot is airports, as victimized people are often shuttled back and forth by their traffickers via airplanes, moved from their homes to far-flung places where they’re forced to work.
Your to-do: Pay attention and ask questions…during your massage or while you’re waiting for your flight.
Not sure what to look for? The U.S. State Department offers these potential red flags that someone is being exploited:

  • Living with employer
  • Poor living conditions
  • Multiple people in cramped space
  • Inability to speak to individual alone
  • Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
  • Employer is holding identity documents
  • Signs of physical abuse
  • Submissive or fearful
  • Unpaid or paid very little
  • Under 18 and in prostitution

If something’s not right, follow the adage “if you see something, say something.” You can call 911 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The latter is toll-free and open 24 hours, with people available to speak a number of languages to help answer questions.

Get on board.

Write a check. Call your local member of Congress and ask them to vote on important trafficking issues.
Or roll up your sleeves and lend a hand.
There are hundreds of non-profits across the country doing work to cut down on human trafficking, be it through work with kids or adults. Some organizations, such as Annie Cannons, address the aftermath for rescued victims, providing job training and a soft landing as they try to re-enter everyday life.
Other groups don’t even have trafficking as a focus but work to prevent it nonetheless.
Because statistics show that one out of six endangered runaways reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children were likely child sex-trafficking victims, work with kids is especially vital in fighting traffickers in America. Organizations that work with at-risk teens, for example, can encourage them to stay in school and provide them healthy alternatives to risky behavior, which may keep them from ending up in a trafficker’s eyeline.
Every little bit makes a difference.
 

HealthyWay
Sources: International Labour Organization and Polaris Project

Categories
Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

How To Get In On The Clean Beauty Movement (And Why It's Worth The Effort)

Disclaimer: Just so you know, if you order an item through one of our posts, we may get a small share of the sale.

If you’ve glanced at a beauty blog or your favorite YouTube beauty guru in the last couple of months, we’re sure you’ve noticed the prevalence of so-called natural or green beauty brands. The trend of clean beauty is easy to get behind, but a lot more goes into it than you may think.

What is clean beauty?

The clean beauty movement’s defining feature is a commitment to being more discerning about the many products you put on your skin every day. It usually assumes that natural (in this case meaning not lab-made or synthetic) ingredients are better for you and that you should put in the research to find out what you’re buying and using, steering clear of the synthetic stuff. Ideally, clean beauty products exclude any known and potential toxins—providing you with options that pose the least possible safety risk.
Still, there’s no one concrete definition of clean beauty. You can find brands across the board that use vague terms that are more clean-beauty marketing than offering the healthiest product. Frustrating, we know! Clean beauty can also mean different things to different people, making it hard to pin down and adhere to a single interpretation.

Clean Beauty and Marketing

The use of certain words in describing products sold in the United States is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But the FDA doesn’t have a definition for every word out there, and it can’t enforce standards in certain cases. For example, for the word “organic” to be used in a product description, the product must comply with both U.S. Department of Agriculture organic regulations and FDA labeling requirements. Use of the word “natural,” however, does not have to adhere to any regulations.
Using words and phrases that aren’t regulated and generally making any old product seem like the best, greenest pick is called greenwashing. The best way to avoid greenwashing is by getting your hands dirty and researching both the company and the individual product before you make a purchase. In short—learning to read labels is key to a successful clean beauty routine.

Ingredients You’ll Want to Avoid

Getting into the green beauty scene means you’re going to need to get comfortable reading labels and searching out scientific names. It’s a bit complicated if you aren’t used to it, but after a while you’ll get the hang of things. These are four heavy-hitter ingredients you may want may want to banish from your beauty routine.

Parabens

Parabens are used to preserve cosmetics and other products we come in contact with every day. These chemical substances are used in cosmetics to decrease the chance that your favorite liquid lipstick, for example, will become moldy in the tube. There is quite a lot of debate around whether parabens or other preservatives are safe for human contact and consumption. The FDA allows paraben use in cosmetics because there have not been any large-scale studies that prove they are harmful to human health. Regardless, many people still choose to avoid parabens because some studies have found them in breast tumors.
Fortunately, parabens are pretty easy to suss out of ingredient lists. Paraben ingredients’ names can start with many prefixes, but will always end in “paraben.” For example, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben are all parabens you can opt to avoid.

Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly (or petrolatum) can be purchased as a stand-alone product and is also an ingredient in many cosmetics. It’s used to seal moisture into the skin because of its occlusive properties—which means it prevents water or moisture loss. Unfortunately, use of petroleum jelly is considered a threat to the environment and the human endocrine system. Petroleum is a byproduct of the petroleum—or oil— industry, meaning it’s a nonrenewable resource.
Instead of opting for petroleum-based hydration, reach for a renewable plant oil instead. Think of oils like coconut, jojoba, olive, and even shea butter. All of these come from plants that can continue to grow and produce more of the fruit or nut that contains the oil. They will all work to hydrate your skin, and the best part is you can pick and choose different oils for different levels of hydration. If you’re looking for a direct replacement for petroleum jelly, try plain old shea butter. It remains solid at room temperature and will melt into your skin as you use it, similar to petroleum jelly.

Formaldehyde

Shockingly, a 2015 study found that formaldehyde may be found in your beauty products even when it isn’t listed as an ingredient. This is an issue because formaldehyde is widely recognized as a sensitizer, meaning products containing formaldehyde can cause uncomfortable cases of contact dermatitis. You’re most likely to see formaldehyde (or formalin) in nail polish. Fortunately, nail products labeled “three free” do not contain any of the big three potential toxins or allergens commonly used in polishes, which makes purchasing safe alternatives easier.

Microbeads

Microbeads (also known as polyethylene or PEGs) are a problem for pollution, which in turn affects the environment and eventually human health. Although microbeads aren’t used as often in skincare and cosmetics as they once were, products that contain them are still on the market in some areas. The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 will prevent companies from introducing products containing microbeads starting in July 2019, but until then, check the label to see if a product you’re using or considering contains microbeads.
According to the 5 Gyres Institute—a nonprofit that has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is spearheading microbead research and corrective initiatives with Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, and Unilever—if you do own products that contain microbeads, do not flush them or rinse them down a drain.
Companies and consumers need to make concerted efforts to keep microbeads out of water sources. If you still want to get some use out of a product that contains microbeads, strain it through a coffee filter or cheesecloth before use, then throw the filter and microbeads away in the trash. Or if you’re done with the product altogether, squeeze it into the trash and recycle the container.

Clean Beauty and the Personal Care Act

In 2015, Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced the Personal Care Act, but the original bill was not enacted by Congress. In May of 2017, Feinstein introduced the Personal Care Products Safety Act. The goal of this act is to give the FDA more power to regulate ingredients used in cosmetics. It also requires the FDA to review five cosmetic ingredients every year to consider their potential toxicity and determine whether a concentration restriction should be implemented. This legislation could fill a gap in protection that U.S. consumers have faced for decades.
If this act is made into law, we’re likely to see a shift in the ingredients used in beauty products. Right now, though, the oversight of cosmetics is still fairly low in the United States compared to Canada and the EU, where regulation of ingredients in personal care items is much more stringent.

Clean Beauty Benefits

When you make the shift to using more (or only!) clean beauty products, you’ll not only gain insight into the ingredients that make up your products—you’ll also commit to taking control of what you’re putting on your skin. Knowledge is power, y’all, and even though we in the United States don’t have as much government oversight on cosmetics as we might like, we can choose to use products that feel safe for our health and our beauty games.

Where to Find Clean Beauty

Finding a brand that you trust is one of the first steps into the clean beauty scene. Depending on what products you’re looking for, you’ll need to check out different ingredients. To make your life a million times easier, the Environmental Working Group has a cosmetic ingredient database that can help you learn whether a given ingredient is safe or not. They do all the heavy lifting for you!
We have a few cult favorite clean beauty products that can get you started. For a natural looking base, try Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular CC Cream. It comes in multiple shades to match your skin tone and has SPF 30. It will help even out skin tone and texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, all while protecting your face from the sun’s harmful rays.
RMS Living Luminizer is another favorite. It’s a super sheer, wet-looking highlighter that’s perfect for accenting your cheekbones on a good skin day. Kjaer Weis is known for their ultra luxurious products, and dreamy (refillable!) packaging. We suggest starting with their Magnetic Eyeshadow since it’s a shade that will suit all eye colors.
Taking charge of the products you use can be empowering! Clean beauty should put your mind at ease, and since the trend is really taking off, it will be easier than ever to find products and brands you trust in 2018. Welcome to the clean beauty crew!

Categories
Life x Culture Lifestyle

How To Find Your Passion And Live Your Best Life Every Day

Ever feel like you spend your work days going through the motions, but not feeling emotionally invested in your tasks? You’re not alone—only about a third of American employees feel engaged or enthusiastic about their work according to a recent Gallup poll. Even if your job is comfortable, you probably fantasize about finding something more fulfilling to do from 9 to 5. But before you can pursue that dream, you need to figure out what you’re even passionate about—which is a big challenge on its own.
Portland-based personal branding and career coach Robin Cangie has some first-hand advice about how to find your passion. Before building her coaching business—a career she thrives in—she spent more than 10 years feeling less than satisfied in software marketing jobs.
“While there were things I liked—I had the chance to be creative and opportunities to write—it wasn’t authentic. It always felt like I was serving someone else, and I just wasn’t that interested in business-to-business software marketing,” she recalls.
However, the jobs did help her discover what she was actually passionate about: coaching others. She noticed that colleagues needed a bit of help building credibility with the public and the media, so she led coaching workshops to give them more confidence. Not only did she enjoy coaching others, she also discovered she was good at it—and eventually turned that passion into a business she devotes herself to full time.
“It sparked something in me I had never felt in a job before,” she says. “It was rewarding and valuable.”
Through her personal journey, as well as the journeys of her clients, she has developed some strategies that can help anyone discover their true calling. From learning the difference between a hobby and a passion to building a personal brand based on the things you love, here’s how to find your passion—and live it every day.

Learning the True Meaning

From an early age, you may have been encouraged to “do what you love.” But is “doing what you love” at work the only way to live your passion? Not necessarily, according to Cangie.
“Passion manifests itself in all kinds of ways,” she tells HealthyWay. “We tend to talk about it a lot in terms of career, but that’s a bit misguided. I like to think of passion as your life’s work. If you can find a career that leverages your passion, that’s great, but if you can’t or don’t want to do that, you’re not a failure.”
Passion can mean different things to different people, depending on where they are in life. For some, it might mean raising a family or giving back to the community. For others, it’s about pursuing a lucrative career or developing skills in the creative arts.
Cangie says when thinking about how to find your passion, you should consider pursuits that bring joy, connect you to a higher sense of purpose, and fill a need in society. But also be open to finding your passion in areas you wouldn’t expect.
“We tend to treat finding your passion like finding a perfect pair of jeans—try on enough of them, and eventually one will fit. But we’ve got it backward. We don’t find our passion so much as our passion finds us. It’s about doing good work and staying open to opportunities that arise from that, and it’s good news for those of us who don’t know what we want.”

Life’s Biggest Challenge

Many of us fall into one of two camps: We either have so many things we love that we don’t know how to narrow it down to one true calling, or we have no idea where to begin looking for our passion. Why is it so difficult to discover your passion?
“There are lots of reasons why people struggle with this, and a lot of it has to do with our society. We set expectations that everyone should find a passion before they graduate college, then go to a corporate setting and do it for someone else. It sets you up for disappointment, especially as you start your first jobs and don’t immediately find that one passion out there for you,” Cangie shares.
Figuring out what makes your heart sing can be overwhelming at first. To help you get started, Cangie suggests asking yourself a few questions:

  • What do I really want?
  • What am I good at?
  • How can I best serve others?
  • How can I meet my financial needs?

You could plot your potential passions on a Venn diagram (like this example from Cangie) to explore the ways in which they overlap. An idea that intersects two or more circles will serve as a starting point for pursuing and getting to know what you’re truly passionate about.

Could your hobby be more?

Hobbies give us the opportunity to pursue things we love or explore things that interest us. But are hobbies the same as passions?
“Hobbies can be a great outlet for pursuing passions, but they’re not necessarily the passions themselves,” says Cangie.
Wait, what? If I love photography, and spend my weekends shooting beautiful images of my neighborhood, wouldn’t that also be my passion?
“It’s a matter of [the] degree to which it’s fulfilling to you and serves others,” Cangie explains. “The difference between a hobby and a passion is that passion connects to a higher purpose and the outside world in some way. I love crafting, but I do it for me. But one of my passions—telling stories—brings me joy and provides a service to the world. That’s the difference.”
Don’t write off your hobbies as you work to find your passion. Instead, explore the bigger picture of what they bring to you and the world, and work to transform those realizations into a deeper understanding of your life’s purpose.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Sometimes your passion is right under your nose. It was for Cangie—she was already offering career and leadership coaching to colleagues at her company when she realized that’s what she absolutely loved to do. But how can you shine a light on something that’s hidden in plain sight?
“Start paying attention to things that bring you joy,” says Cangie. “Joy is a fertile ground for finding your passion. No matter what situation you’re in, there’s always an opportunity to feel joy and that allows passions to come in.”
You could also think about a time in your life when you felt you did your best work, she adds. A key moment of pride, like the time you threw an amazing event or produced an insightful report, might offer clues that point to what you’re passionate about.
“Think about what it was tapping into within you,” Cangie says.
However, finding your passion isn’t just about focusing on the positive. Your frustrations might also hint at a problem you’d be passionate about solving. For Cangie, her passion for coaching was tucked inside her frustration that the people she worked with struggled to see their own value.
“The people I was coaching at work couldn’t see how awesome they were. Through discussions with them, I helped them find a story that felt empowering, allowed them to reclaim their sense of agency, and see their own brilliance,” says Cangie.
In short: “Stop chasing your passion, and instead seek opportunities to do what brings you joy and follow your frustrations,” she says.

A Word on Advice 

You look around and it seems like everyone has already found their passion. Your best friend is a successful wedding photographer who looks forward to every shoot; your mom is a nurse who feels fulfilled healing others; your sister, who recently gave birth to her second child, thrives as a mother and embodies it as her true calling. Should you ask them for advice on how to find your passion?
“Getting a really clear picture about what you are good at is difficult to do on your own. So, ask friends and family, ask a manager, ask a colleague, or even a good career coach—there are lots of people who can help you find what you’re really great at,” says Cangie.
An outside perspective gives you the chance to talk about things that are meaningful to you and dive into the deeper reasons that energize those feelings of purpose. For example, when one of Cangie’s clients told her she excelled at project management, the discussion led to a breakthrough realization about what she’s passionate about.
“We discovered that project management was a label that didn’t fully capture what she was really great at. Her real talent was getting groups of people together from different functions to achieve a common vision,” shares Cangie.
Keep in mind that everyone pursues a different path to their passion. While your loved ones who have it all figured out might be able to explain how they got there, only you can forge your own journey toward deep personal fulfillment.

Building Your Brand

Branding isn’t just for businesses—it’s a useful tool that can help you focus on your passion.
“Personal brands are a kind of story you tell about yourself. It changes over time as you do,” says Cangie.
A strong personal brand can unite all of your passions under one umbrella. While coaching and storytelling serve as the foundation for Cangie’s personal brand, she also ties in another passion: her cats. They even inspired a recent Medium post she wrote about what cats have taught her about building a business. Including this quirky passion in her personal brand has helped Cangie honor something that’s truly important to her heart and has allowed her to spark meaningful connections with others.
“Having multiple things you’re passionate about, whether or not it has to do with your job, helps build credibility as you try new things. It shows you’re a whole person, and can help integrate what you love into your life, even if you’re just starting to find your passions,” she shares.
Embrace the unusual side of yourself. If you have a passion for collecting sneakers, creating collages, birdwatching, or anything else that grounds and connects you, but feels random—harness your enthusiasm and tell others about it.

Face Your Fears

Once you figure out your passion, pursuing it takes guts. If you decide to change careers, you may have to leave the security of a high-paying job. If you decide to dedicate your nights and weekends to writing a book, learning a foreign language, or designing costumes for a community play, there’s always the risk of failure. How can you overcome this fear?
“No one bats a thousand, no one is perfect, and everyone has setbacks. And when you find yourself in the midst of a failure moment, it’s painful—but know that it is normal,” Cangie advises.
If things aren’t going to according to your plan, give yourself a little space to process the situation. Then, when you’re ready, journal about the lessons learned from the experience and develop a new plan that prioritizes moving forward with grace.
“Think about how this will fit into the larger story of your life. Six months from now, how will you look back and see the crucial thing you just learned that helped you move forward? The failure then turns from a crappy thing into a necessary thing that gets you where you’re going next.”
The most important thing is to pick yourself up and keep trying.
“You have to persist anyway. It’s not that the people who are successful haven’t failed—they’re successful because they persisted in spite of their failures and consistently showed up until it paid off,” says Cangie.

Take the plunge.

So, you’ve found your passion and have an idea of how it fits into your life. How do you move to the next stage, and actually take the plunge?
“Look at the situation right now and think about where you can start living your passion. You might not be able to make major changes right away, and that’s OK. Start every day by looking for opportunities in front of you to put these things into play,” says Cangie.
For example, let’s say you love writing and you’re passionate about making it part of your job, but your current position doesn’t require much writing. Don’t sit around waiting for a writing assignment. Instead, get creative and look for ways you can start doing it right now.
“Maybe you can do a side project with the marketing team to write emails, or write a guest blog about your role, or maybe ask a friend at another company if they need a volunteer writer,” Cangie says.
Taking immediate steps toward your passion, even if they’re just small projects at first, makes the pursuit more achievable, and will allow you to pick up key skills along the way.
“Looking at your life as it is right now takes you out of this overwhelming idea that you have to make all these major changes to pursue a passion. It’s OK … not being sure where everything leads to next … that’s liberating. Just start where you are, and create more joy and purpose there,” she says.

Let it light up your daily life.

Living a passionate life requires effort that goes beyond the Monday to Friday hustle. Living your passion means identifying with your mission without reservation and finding ways to do it and live it every day—a feat that demands more energy and stamina than you might expect. It means pushing through when you’re tired, or when you’ve recently failed, or even when you think you can’t achieve anything more.
“When I am having a bad day, I ask myself: ‘Do I still want this?’ As long as the answer is yes, I know I can keep going,” says Cangie.
Just as you should reflect on moments of failure, you should also celebrate your successes. Being realistic about the negative and especially the positive will motivate you to keep living your passion, says Cangie.
“If you’re in the thick of it, you can forget how far you’ve come. When this happens to me, I pause and ask myself, ‘What do I have more of in my life right now that I wanted back then?’. The reminders of my progress help keep me going.”
It’s not going to be easy, says Cangie, but it will be worth it. Nothing nourishes you in quite the same way as finding and living your passion—so don’t hesitate to let it define, inform, and inspire you.

Categories
Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

This Simple Skincare Routine Will Keep You Looking Fresh All Winter Long

Great skin isn’t just a sign of good health, it’s also a seriously attractive feature in a woman of any age. So what do you do when winter bares her teeth and ushers in dry, uninspired, or even downright itchy skin? You kick your cold air skincare regimen into high gear and make it to the spring equinox looking radiant.
Recently, skincare addicts have been touting the miraculous benefits of a 10-step Korean skincare regimen. But if you’re a mere mortal like me, you may only have the time, money, and patience for…slightly fewer steps. I did the research about simple changes beauty experts and dermatologists make to their routines to combat the effects of winter, and present perfect morning and evening winter skin routines that pack a punch but won’t overtax your wallet, or your patience.

The “Good Morning” Routine

Resist that bracingly hot shower you love.

At least, don’t take them too often during the winter, as anything over lukewarm for longer than 10 to 15 minutes can actually cause lasting harm to your skin in addition to over-drying it. The same goes for washing your face in the sink.

Switch to a cream cleanser.

Foaming or gel cleansers, or ones with other drying ingredients, like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, should be stashed on the shelf in winter when you’ll want to reach for a creamier option. We like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for a cheaper choice, or Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream for a few more bucks. Both are gentle enough for oily, dry, and combination skin.

Treat your skin to an extra layer of healing.

Between cleansing and moisturizer, it’s a good idea to apply at least one additional layer of nourishing protection during winter. If you tend to have oily, breakout-prone skin, you can opt for a very light serum like the Chlorella Serum from Skin Inc. that promises to “brighten and tackle” acne spots while it hydrates and de-flakes skin. If you struggle with a drier face, though, you might want to splurge on a serum with hyaluronic acid like Caudalie’s Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum.

Moisturize and protect.

Keeping your face hydrated and protected from the harsh winter elements is a must for maintaining healthy and pretty skin. Even if your skin usually produces more oil than you’d like, you’ll probably need a creamier product in winter than you do in summer. But don’t ditch that summer SPF when making the switch.
Even if it’s not sunny out, the harsh rays of the sun can travel right through cloud cover and damage skin no matter how low the temps go. Yep, dermatologists say you should wear sunscreen every single day of the year. But you can save a step and still stay protected by choosing a creamy moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or more. We love Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 30 for oily or blemish-prone skin or Olay Professional Pro-X Age Repair Lotion (also SPF 30) for dry or aging skin.

The Goodnight Routine

Bye-Bye Makeup Residue

Before you cleanse at night, you’ll want to remove any makeup you applied in the morning or throughout the day. Though any gentle, non-drying makeup remover will work, I personally love using an inexpensive and gentle micellar water on a cotton pad—no rinsing necessary!
Then your morning cleanser and serum can step up to do double duty on the night shift.
No need for a different cleanser in the evening. Make life easy on yourself and cleanse your face thoroughly with the same product you used to start your day, then apply a light coating of your favorite serum to your face and neck.

Moisturize, p.m. style.

You don’t need SPF when the moon is out, so try a nighttime-specific option like CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is thick and creamy (but won’t clog pores), or you can splurge on a truly decadent anti-aging night cream like Vichy LiftActiv Night Supreme, which promises anti-wrinkle and firming effects in addition to hydration.
You’re headed for bed, so it’s a great time to lay it on thick and let the nourishing ingredients soak in.

Pamper your pucker.

Don’t forget to care for the sensitive skin on your lips, which can get flaky and dry quite easily in the winter. In addition to making sure your body is hydrated by drinking lots of water, it’s a good idea to keep a stick of gentle lip balm in your bedside table to swipe on right before you turn off the lights so the moisture can soak in as you sleep.

Extra Credit

Not everyone needs an eye cream separate from their normal facial moisturizer, but if fighting signs of aging is one of your goals, dabbing on a gentle eye cream like Clinique’s All About Eyes every morning after moisturizer and before makeup will fight wrinkles and fine lines.
Finally, you may think frequent exfoliating would be just the thing to rid your face of scaly, flaky winter skin. But experts say exfoliating just once a week is enough. On Sunday nights, after cleansing, I like to use a gentle exfoliating mask like this one from Karuna. Then, you can follow up with serum and an intensive moisturizing night mask (like this lovely pick from Clinique) that you wear until you rise and shine…with glowing, beautiful skin, of course.

More Skincare Products You’ll Love:

Categories
Life x Culture Lifestyle

How To Budget For Your Wellness Goals In The New Year

Balancing your wellness needs with your financial goals can be pretty difficult. We’re fully aware that $50 a week for yoga and $10 post-workout juices aren’t in everyone’s budget. But maintaining a fitness routine is an essential investment in your health and happiness, regardless of how much money you can spend on it.
Learn how to step up your fitness and self-care games without breaking the bank this year.

Stretching Your Wellness Dollars Further

Making your fitness goals happen may mean some strategic compromises when it comes to allocating your fitness budget. Prepping your own workout snacks can help with dollars and cents here and there, but the main cost of your wellness routine probably comes in the form of a gym membership, workout class passes, or wellness treatments.
Different services vary by location, which can make budgeting more or less difficult depending on where you live. For example, using ClassPass in Pittsburgh will cost you $60 for 10 classes (six bucks a class isn’t half bad!), but the same 10 classes cost $135 in New York City. You probably aren’t going to up and move for more reasonably priced wellness services, so searching out the best deals in your area may take a little bit of time.
Surprisingly, the best time of the year to join a full service gym isn’t in January according to Consumer Reports—so you might want to hold of on locking in. Instead, they found that the best deals (like no startup fee or freebies tossed in) for gym memberships are offered during the summer months. They also suggest checking with your health insurance company to see if all or part of a gym membership might be covered by your insurance.
If you’re going to wait it out rather than taking the gym membership plunge, we suggest exploring individual classes using Groupon. Prices at local businesses like yoga and pilates studios are going to vary as well, but, in our experience, dropping in and doing one yoga class will cost you between $10 and $15. If you love the yogi life but can’t commit to hefty monthly memberships, see if you can budget for a class or two each month.
You can also use Groupon to find low prices on everything from cryotherapy and massages (a wellness must, if you ask us) to spin class sessions. Groupon deals are usually only available to first time clients, but the benefit of all the class hopping is significant financial savings and guaranteed variety.

Ultra Low Cost Wellness Plan

If your fitness and wellness budget is closer to the range of zero dollars (we’ve been there!), you can still put together a strong wellness routine—it may just require a little more creativity and doing it yourself.
Instead of splurging on fitness classes, look for local running groups (or cycling, yoga, or walking—whatever floats your fitness boat) on social media. Being part of a community can encourage you to work out and you can get together with new friends to run around a local park (which is totally free, BTW).
We also strongly recommend incorporating at-home workouts. YouTube fitness channels have made working out at home easy and—dare we say it?—fun. Our favorite fitness channels are the following:

Besides doing bodyweight exercises, you may want to invest in a couple of low-cost home gym essentials. Check out resale websites like Craigslist to find deals on weights, which can be pretty expensive to buy new. We suggest starting off your home gym with a pair or two of free weights, a kettlebell, or resistance bands (which can be reasonably priced on Amazon, too). These will help you target specific muscles and add more intensity to your home workouts. If you need a little guidance on what to do with your new weights, check out YouTube channels like BeFit and Fitness Blender for routines.
If you’re ready to take your wellness routine beyond workouts, look for free opportunities both on and offline.
UCLA, The Chopra Center, and many other mental health and wellness authorities host free guided meditations that you can use to educate yourself about the benefits of mindfulness. A yoga studio or community center in your area might offer free or donation-based classes, so make a habit of checking schedules and making calls to find out what’s available.
You can also:

Having a diverse wellness routine doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg. If you spend your money wisely, you’ll feel empowered in achieving your wellness goals (and maybe even save up for a treatment or two throughout the year), we promise.
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