Tag: care

It’s what’s on the inside that counts, right?
Actually, as it turns out, the way we look is more important than most people might like to believe. Physical traits can be used to make judgments about personality traits and can even predict certain future health conditions.
In fact, our brain is always making snap judgments about others to form first impressions. The amygdala is amazingly capable of picking up on and interpreting nuanced social cues, according to research that was reported in Psychology Today. This part of the brain accomplishes this by taking in information from each of the five senses. After this information is interpreted, the amygdala sends out directions about how we should proceed in social situations.

The amygdala doesn’t have to work alone, though. The posterior cingulate cortex brings a more subjective perspective to the process of forming first impressions. This area of the brain is believed to be responsible for pulling up memories that are emotionally significant. It is thought that the posterior cingulate cortex helps individuals form the motivations that influence how they interact with others. In a way, it’s like the posterior cingulate cortex processes information about a new person and asks, “What can you do for me?”
From the way you respond to annoyances to your long term risks for cancer, here’s what your body is trying to tell you (and others) about who you are.

1. Red in the Face

For a young person, a look in the mirror might be enough to predict what skin problems you will deal with later in life, according to Dr. Cynthia Bailey, president and CEO of Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology.

If a child or young teen tends to flush easily, this might be an indicator they will deal with rosacea when they get older. There are also specific concerns for redheads.
“Being a redhead or carrying the redhead gene predisposes to melanoma,” Bailey explains.

2. Hey there, good lookin’!

No matter how hard we try to keep an open mind, our brain is always making snap judgments. This is especially true when we meet new people. In fact, the human brain is capable of making assumptions about someone in a tenth of a second, according to research presented in Psychological Science. Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov found that we form first impressions almost immediately based on a person’s face.

What exactly is your brain looking for? As it turns out, certain physical traits are linked with certain personalities. Or that’s what your brain believes, anyway.
For instance, if you’ve ever suspected that attractive people have it easier, prepare to feel validated. When we meet people we view as attractive, we tend to make positive assumptions about who they are.

It’s called the halo effect, according to an article on Being Human, and it’s the tendency our brain has to assume that someone who looks good is good. Meaning, if you meet someone with a great smile and dazzling eyes, you are more likely to believe they are friendly, trustworthy, and kind, regardless of whether that is actually true.

3. Look me in the eyes.

A look in the eyes might also be a predictor of your risks for cancer, according to Dr. Jennifer Stagg, naturopathic physician and author of Unzip Your Genes, 5 Choices to Reveal a Radically Radiant You.

“When it comes to uveal melanoma, a type of cancer that affects the eye, people with light-colored eyes do have an increased risk of developing this type of cancer due to the reduction in the protective pigment in the eye,” she explains.
When it comes to other types of melanoma, specifically on the skin, eye color isn’t so much a predictor, it just happens to be linked to other risk factors, according to Stagg. Darker eyes have been said to be linked to a lower risk of skin melanoma, but the truth is that darker skin comes with a lower risk, and darker-skinned individuals are more likely to have darker eyes.

So, if you’re brown eyed but fair skinned, you still need to be extra vigilant about watching for symptoms of the disease.

4. Hearing Kindness

When it comes to forming first impressions, the way a voice sounds is one characteristic that heavily influences how we form our first impressions of another person. And we can form that impression with a single word, according to a study conducted by the Voice Neurocognition Laboratory.

Participants were asked to listen to different recordings of people saying hello, then rate them based on traits like warmth, aggression, or trustworthiness. What researchers found was that people share common beliefs about what makes a voice sound trustworthy. For male voices, it is a higher pitch, and for female voices, it is the way their voices drop at the end of word.

5. Aggression Connection

One connection our brain makes between a person’s appearance and how they might behave is how aggressive they are. Based on how a person’s face looks, we make quick judgments about whether we have cause to be nervous in their presence.

This response is related to the width of their face, according to a study that appeared in Evolution and Human Behavior. Apparently, a wider face is associated with higher testosterone levels. Specifically, the brain makes a quick judgment based on a person’s face height:width ratio. Since high testosterone levels are associated with aggression, it is really a pretty smart assumption our brain makes with limited information.

6. Does size matter?

Although breast cancer research has long been looking for a link between breast size and an increased risk of breast cancer, Stagg says we still need more information to come to a definitive answer.

“Further research is needed to clarify the results of preliminary association-type study … breast cancer is extremely complex, involving many factors and genes. It is difficult at this point to say that having larger breasts confers an increased risk,” she explains.
While we’re talking about size, Stagg also pointed out that taller men should know their risks of aggressive prostate cancer are higher and that they’re more likely to die from the disease. Additionally, obesity has long been connected with increased risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or stroke.

7. Leadership Qualities

When we meet a new person, our brain automatically makes judgments about whether that person would be a good leader. Interestingly enough, one characteristic we look for in a leader is height. Taller individuals are automatically assumed to be better at being in charge.

Amazingly, our brain is capable of making this judgment even when all they see of a person is their face. Certain facial characteristics, such as the length of the face, are believed to be associated with height, according to some studies. Researchers believe that once the brain has this information, it decides if a person is tall or not and whether they have leadership potential.

8. Reading Your Mental Health

Interestingly, people on the street aren’t the only ones judging your personality based on your appearance. In mental health, these type of judgments are a common practice as a means of making a diagnosis, according to Amina Shea Tinsley, licensed psychotherapist at the American Center for Holistic Wellness. But it’s not just your physical traits they are watching, it’s how you carry yourself.

For instance, when she visits with a new client, she says she cares more about body language than the color of their eyes.
“Mental health professionals observe their patient’s physical appearance at the beginning of each therapy session because it is a key component of the mental status exam, which includes your appearance, mood, and affect, among other things.”

Do you still control your future?

It might be discouraging to read that the way you look seems to matter so much. It’s no fun to learn that a specific trait you were born into is linked to increased risk for disease or that people are using your appearance to make judgments about who you are, but you should know that this isn’t a prediction of your future.
For instance, when it comes to personality, you can always work to make a positive first impression or change how people feel about you, according to Tinsley. It starts with understanding how you are perceived by other people.

“I call it mindful posture or being self-aware and conscious of how you are presenting yourself publicly. Slouching is culturally associated with being shy, timid, or fearful. I recommend practicing positive body language in the mirror before each social interaction. This may include a smile, standing tall, or mirroring to appear engaged and confident,” she suggests.
When it comes to physical traits and how they may influence the future of your health, genetics certainly matter, but Stagg offered some encouraging insights.
“Most diseases are the result of a combination of many genetic and lifestyle factors. We typically say that about 70 percent of health outcomes are dictated by your lifestyle choices, while only about 30 percent is genetics,” she says.

“For example, people who have a specific genetic variant that increases their risk of developing diabetes can completely negate the effect of that gene by eating a Mediterranean diet,” explains Stagg.
What this means is that making the right choices about how you live your life matters. If you are able to eat a nutritious diet, manage your stress, and get plenty of exercise and adequate sleep, you’ll provide your body with a healthy environment that will promote your overall wellness. And if you happen to know you’re at risk for a specific disorder or disease, talk with your doctor about actions you can take to mitigate that risk.

Let’s talk about germs and the meaning of life. Believe it or not, they’re related.
Your life does have a purpose, or at least your body does, and it is to serve as a roaming nation of microorganisms with a population in the trillions. Microbes outnumber our own cells 10 to 1, and the invisible communities they form are essential for the healthy functioning of the [linkbuilder id=”2134″ text=”human body”]—just as our bodies are essential as homes, even neighborhoods, for them.

Understanding how the microbiome changes and how it correlates to health and disease is really going to be one of the challenges of the next several decades in medicine.

Doctors call these microscopic residents microbiota, and their collective genetic information is the microbiome. They are vast. The microbiome of your gastrointestinal tract alone contains 100 times as many genes as you inherited from your parents.
So who are these fellow travelers?

“The human microbiome is composed of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotic microbes that reside in and on our bodies,” Andrew Shreiner and colleagues wrote in a 2015 article for Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. Essentially, we are swarming with microscopic organisms. In a very real sense, we are partially made of germs.
“There’s a microbiome present basically all throughout your body, and they perform very vital tasks for the human body,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, infectious disease physician and a senior associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security tells HealthyWay.
“They help the immune system mature, they prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from getting a foothold, they synthesize vitamins for us. So you really want to have a healthy and robust microbiome.”
Still, as Adalja tells us, “We’re kind of in the infancy of microbiome science. We don’t know all the influences and how much an individual’s microbiome changes.”

As researchers uncover more and more facts about the microbes that live within, upon, and around us, traditional models of sanitation may face increased scrutiny. We can’t just blast away all the germs to eliminate illness, it seems. We need microbes to survive.
Jerry Kanellos is the CEO of Immuron, a biotech firm that develops microbiome-related interventions. He tells HealthyWay that it’s time for a paradigm shift in thinking about and achieving healthy cleanliness.
“We should all reconsider our approaches to sanitation,” he says. “Look at the soaps and disinfectants [people] purchase. Most are targeted at bacteria in a very broad-spectrum approach.”
In conjunction with overprescription of antibiotics, this scorched-earth policy of sanitation is leading pathogens to evolve resistance to the human antimicrobial arsenal, Kanellos explains.
“We are now seeing the evolution of antibiotic-resistant super-bugs which will be a significant challenge to the medical community now and into the future,” he says.
Adalja puts the question of sanitation in even starker terms.
“To be completely a sterile person, without a microbiome, would mean death,” Adalja says.
Given this emerging understanding, then, how much should we worry about traditionally espoused means of controlling infection?
The internet is full of facts and figures about the fecal particles on your phone, the germs on your dog’s tongue, the danger of the “five-second rule.” But could these factoids be washed away by a new understanding of the human body’s relationship with microbes?

In other words, are all germs poison, or do some of them make us who we are in some way, pulling essential levers inside the body where the unseen dramas of wellness unfold?
To answer these questions, let’s look at some things commonly considered “unsanitary” by the paranoia-loving internet to see how they hold up to the scrutiny of science.

1. Failing to Wash Your Hands

Your environment influences the microbes that live on and within you. You pick them up, sometimes literally, with your hands.

Your microbiome emanates from you when you cough or sneeze or even when you breathe.

“You will pick up things and you will transmit things in the microbiome, not in a pathogenic [aka disease-causing] manner, but people’s microbiomes are influenced by these factors,” says Adalja.

The trouble is that we don’t know how exactly. Not yet. So where does that leave the good old-fashioned practice of washing your hands before every meal?
“Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs,” reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That organization continues to recommend frequent handwashing with soap and water before meals, before and after interacting with sick people, and after using the toilet or blowing your nose.
Adalja agrees, but with one important caveat.
“I would avoid using antibiotic-impregnated soaps that are not really necessary,” he says. “Soap and water is fine for the vast majority of activities… I would avoid the antibacterial soaps that people are using because that just fosters resistance and really disrupts the microbiome.”

So no real change here. Stick to good old-fashioned soap (perhaps a nicely scented, all natural bar, even?) and water. And keep on washing those hands.

2. Sharing the Air

Anyone who’s woken up to a partner’s morning breath could tell you that we exchange microbes through the act of breathing.
“Any time you exhale, there are going to be microorganisms…in your breath, so in that sense, your microbiome emanates from you when you cough or sneeze or even when you breathe,” Adalja says.

We surround ourselves with a cloud of microbes with every breath, and most people carry pathogens even when they’re healthy—that’s according to the National Institutes of Health in its groundbreaking Human Microbiome Project. So why aren’t we always getting each other sick?
The answer could be that cohabitating partners tend to have similar microbiota communities. You share the same environment, you eat the same foods…essentially, your guts match. Isn’t that romantic?

“We see that people who cohabitate or spend a lot of time together, they do exchange parts of their microbiome,” Adalja says. So go ahead and share a smooch—as long as neither one of you is actively ailing.

3. Owning a Pet

To certain non-pet-owners, the concept of allowing an animal free rein in the house seems, frankly, a bit gross. And it is true that cats tread litter onto surfaces and dogs have potentially pathogenic bacteria on their tongues.
But it’s also true that your pets have already changed your microbiome in measurable ways, as you have theirs. We’re not saying you should let the cats climb on your dishes, but some research suggests that the diversity of microbes that pets bring to your indoor environment could be beneficial.

“We don’t know all the influences and how much an individual’s microbiome changes, but clearly, we know that even people who have pets in their house have different microbiomes,” Adalja says.
“There’s definitely an influence that goes both ways with what you’re around and the microbiome of other organisms you might be exposed to, like your dog or your cat, or the people you cohabitate with. That’s going to influence your microbiome and vice versa.”
Again, we’ve exhausted our review of the current research before coming to a satisfying conclusion. But that’s okay. The quest for knowledge is ongoing. We’ll know more soon.

4. Leaving Your Handbag on the Restroom Floor

Maybe you’ve heard it said that your purse is home to more germs than a toilet seat.
Actually, this factoid is usually misreported. Most of these claims refer to a 2012 study that found “the handles of women’s handbags are home to more bacteria than the average toilet flush.” (Our italics.) It doesn’t help the researchers’ credibility that the study was sponsored and promoted by a manufacturer of sanitation products.

Besides, reports the Washington Post, “a toilet seat is a terrible yardstick of germy-ness.” Studies have found plenty of fecal bacteria on toilet seats, some of it potentially pathogenic. But, as The New York Times notes, “the danger is minimal unless the germs get into an open cut or are carried by a hand to the mouth, nose or eyes.”
This brings us full circle to the sensible and easy practice of washing our hands. And if you’re concerned about getting bathroom germs on your purse, maybe hang it from the hook on the stall door instead of throwing it on the floor of the public restroom. That’s not great from a hygienic standpoint.

Germs, Health, Self, and Environment

The emerging science of the microbiome could change our assumptions about cleanliness, health, and even the nature of the individual itself. Look, we don’t want to sound like an undergraduate burnout fresh from the drum circle, but doesn’t this sort of break down the wall between the self and the environment in fascinating ways?

We’re finding out more and more that the microbiome is at least, at this point, correlated to certain health states.

Just think. You do not end at the limits of your skin. You are not a body alone. You breathe some essential part of yourself out in little puffs everywhere you go. The other moves in. The self moves out. In a very real sense, not religious or spiritual at all, but physically, you are your environment.
Research on the human body’s bacteriological makeup has exploded in recent years. These ideas have made their way to mainstream audiences. Popular authors like Michael Pollan make the profound argument that our bodies wouldn’t function if it weren’t for these secret worlds of life within us.
We can’t wait to see what the researchers come up with next.

In time, we may be able to leverage this astounding state of being into medical interventions for a wide variety of afflictions. Of course, we might not; that’s how early science is in its understanding of the human microbiome. We just don’t know where it’s going.
“Understanding how the microbiome changes and how it correlates to health and disease is really going to be one of the challenges of the next several decades in medicine,” Adalja says. “Because we’re finding out more and more that the microbiome is at least, at this point, correlated to certain health states and I think eventually what we’re trying to do is find out [whether] the microbiome [is] causative of certain disease states, for everything from obesity to autism.”

Looking to expand your beauty repertoire? Beauty boxes—monthly deliveries of hand-picked skincare, haircare, and makeup products—offer a great way for you to try new goodies while staying within your budget. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. BomiBox

Billed as a Korean beauty box, BomiBox is actually quite a bit more versatile than it sounds. The items within come from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea, and with one or two full-size items per month, it’s a fantastic value.

Review: “I absolutely love this box! Such great products and you definitely get more than your money[‘s] worth. Their packaging is amazing and I absolutely love how they try to incorporate a lot of different K-Beauty items for you to try out. I haven’t splurge[d] on buying products from other K-Beauty site[s] since subscribing to Bomibox.”

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2. BeautyFIX

BeautyFIX costs a little more than some of the other boxes on this list, but it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. For less than $25, you’ll get innovative, professional-quality haircare, skincare, and makeup products. If you’re looking for a premium beauty box, start here.

Review: “BeautyFIX is a monthly subscription box that features over $100 worth of beauty products, hand-selected by an elite team of beauty pros.”

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3. Benevolent Beauty Box

The Benevolent Beauty Box serves up a selection of cruelty-free items. Everything’s full-size, and for only $15.95 per month, you get an excellent array of guilt-free skincare and haircare items.

Review: “The June box was a real surprise. I felt a little hesitant when I first opened it, but the makeup selection works so well together. I’m not good at picking stuff out for myself. It was fun to try everything on and see it all come together. Really a well curated box. I love that there’s always skincare items too.”

Find it on Cratejoy here.

4. How To Be A Redhead

This beauty box has a pretty specific target market, but that’s what we love about it: Every item complements red hair. That means that you won’t receive anything that could dull or detract from your naturally lustrous locks.

Review: “Every month when I received my box in the mail, I was thrilled to open it to see what surprises were inside. Of course I did not or could not use all the products, but the box allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. As we all know finding red head products [is] so hard….this made it easier. Thank you! “

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5. Play!

This low-price subscription gives you samples of makeup, skincare, or fragrance products. Respond with what you liked and what you didn’t in your Play! profile, and you’ll receive selections tailored specifically to you. Play! is a great way to find your new favorite products without spending a fortune.

Review: “It’s only $10 a month and you receive 6 decent sized samples. I like trying new products so I’m always really excited about the box. Considering I’d usually be spending $30+ to try out these products without the box, I think it’s definitely worth the money. All of these samples last a while too. I’m still using all of the products from the May box and my June one is arriving today.”

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6. Orglamix Beauty

The Orglamix box is a bit pricey, but for good reason. Everything in the box is handmade, vegan, and cruelty-free. Use your luxury makeup products with a clear conscience. What’s even better? For every box sold, Orglamix provides a meal to a child in need.

Review: “Using cruelty-free beauty products is the best remedy to look beautiful and young. It is also good to know what to use and when to use them. These beauty products are easy to use and also friendly to apply.”

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7. Bulu Box

Bulu Boxes help you look beautiful from the inside out. Great-tasting treats and healthy supplements will make your skin glow and boost your energy. Earn points for completing surveys after trying samples. When you find a product you love, redeem points for money off of corresponding full-size products.

Review:”Bulu boxes are full of items related to health, fitness, and diet. A typical box might contain vitamins, supplements, energy drinks, healthy snacks, sports creams, and personal care items. The subscription is only $10/month and well worth it!”

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8. Beauty and Bling

Beauty and Bling provides an assortment of prestige brand makeup along with a bracelet or two. It’s not cheap, but it’s a great way to sample high-end products without committing to full-size versions.

Review: “I love the boxes! The subscription boxes come with a nice amount of items and it’s very inexpensive. I really love the bracelets, they’re so unique and cute. I would advise everyone to subscribe!!!!!”

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9. Sabbatical Beauty

Sabbatical boxes deliver between two and four of their famous artisanal beauty products every month. These handcrafted, small-batch samples contain high levels of active ingredients that make your skin glow.

Review: “As a longtime user of Sabbatical Beauty products, I can vouch for the potent effects of these incredible skincare products. But getting them in a subscription box from CrateJoy has really amped up the happiness I experience in trying new and different products every month.”

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10. Birchbox

Birchbox may be old news to some, but they continue to surprise us with a great selection of products. They’re also one of the few subscription services that lets you choose one of your monthly products.

Review: “I’m also relatively new to Birchbox and am really enjoying the service! It’s a great way to discover products that you might not otherwise ever know about. I love looking forward to and receiving my new box each month. I find the price to be reasonable for what you receive and like that there are opportunities to rack up points for product discounts. I think this service is very much worth it, especially for Beauty Junkies, which is what I am!”

Subscribe to Birchbox here.

Best Shampoos and Conditioners Under $10

L’Oreal Paris 8.5 oz EverCreme Sulfate Free Deep Nourish

Want clean and silky soft hair without all the junk found in normal shampoos and conditioners? This line from L’Oreal cleanses hair gently while helping revive moisture and shine without weighing it down.

L’Oreal Paris EverCreme Sulfate Free Deep Nourish Shampoo

L’Oreal Paris EverCreme Sulfate Free Deep Nourish Conditioner

Review: “Both the shampoo and conditioner are amazing. Love that it leaves my hair feeling clean and soft after every use.”

Aveeno Nourish and Volumize

Breathe life back into your dry and damaged locks with this lightweight yet volumizing duo from Aveeno.

Aveeno Nourish and Volumize Shampoo

Aveeno Nourish and Volumize Conditioner

Review: “I have used numerous shampoo and conditioner products and Aveeno by far has been the best for volume addition. My hair has never looked better. I highly recommend this product for people with hair that needs a boost.”

Hair Masks and Conditioning Treatments Under $10

Hair masks are the key to getting shiny, supple hair when regular conditioning just isn’t enough.

Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Repairing Mask

This wholesome treatment with honey and royal jelly will renew your hair, making it soft and strong in one quick application.

Review: “I love this mask! I’ve been using it for a little over two weeks and my hair is still as healthy as it is when I visit the hairdressers. It smells amazing and makes my hair very soft while protecting the ends, which have always been a trouble spot for me.“

Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

With this intensive hair treatment, even the most damaged locks can become silky and shiny once more.

Review: “This deep conditioner is rich and thick, a little goes a long way, and it leaves my hair feeling extremely soft, flexible, with healthy looking ends.”

L’Oreal Paris EverPure Repair Remedy Mask

Is your color-treated hair dry and dull? This restorative mask is designed to restore tresses while keeping color bright.

Review: “This deep conditioning mask is one of my new staple products. My color treated curls were craving moisture but after one use they are vibrant and full of life.”

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Cond
itioner

In just three short minutes, you can transform your hair from straw to silk with this incredibly moisturizing formula.

Review: “Miracle is right. My hair feels softer! And coming from someone who does quite a bit of flat-iron abuse to my hair this gives it a nice reprieve. Love it!”

“Magic” Serums and Oils Under $10

Instantly transform your unruly head of frizzy hair into a slick, manageable mane with these shine-boosting serums.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum

In just one application, take your dry frizz up a notch—or six—with this multitasking formula that can last through even the rainiest of days.

Review: “I have tried so many different products for my hair to help maintain the frizz from humidity, overuse of heat and coloring products. This is by far the best I have ever found. I’m so happy with it. Not only is my hair so soft and shiny, it’s not frizzy and maintains the style all day.”

L’Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Extraordinary Oil Lustrous Oil Serum

Don’t let the word “oil” scare you—this lightweight serum will give your hair the bounce and softness it lacks without weighing it down.

Review: “This product brings life back to my dull, lifeless, and limp looking hair. My hair has been over-processed from bleaching, and this is the only thing that takes away the dingy lifelessness. It leaves my hair healthy feeling, untangled, shiny, and radiant!”

OGX Hydrate and Repair Argan Oil of Morocco Miracle In-Shower Oil

Take your deep conditioning routine to the next level with this rinse-away treatment that hydrates hair and repairs split ends.

Review: “This oil is so light and it smells great. It leaves my hair with a beautiful shine and my hair doesn’t feel greasy or weighed down.”

Prep and Protect Sprays Under $10

Hair care doesn’t end when you step out of the shower, and these protecting sprays can help your hair hold out when the heat is on.

L’Oreal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Blow Dry It Quick Dry Primer Spray

Make wet hair easier to handle with this water-wicking spray that’ll reduce dry time while helping hair resist damage from heated tools.

Review: “I always hate how long it takes to dry my hair. This product really cuts the time and makes my hair look nice after it’s dry.”

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Leave In Spray

If you use heated styling tools often, this formula will not only help leave your hair soft and healthy, but boost shine as well.

Review: “My hair was very dry since I straighten it a lot, [I] needed a product that would protect my hair from damage. This product totally works for me, after straightening it makes my hair feel softer and look healthier.”

Curl-Enhancing Products Under $10

Give your curls their bounce back with these lightweight formulas meant to soften and strengthen.

SheaMoisture 8 oz Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Milk

Even the thickest curls will get the boost they need with this natural formula tha
t’ll leave hair enriched and tangle-free.

Review: “Really nice smell and makes your hair curly, very soft and shiny.”

OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Frizz Defying Styling Milk

This blend of coconut oil, citrus oils, and honey will make you feel like you’re on the beach, even though you’ll look like you just walked out of the salon.

Review: “This is the best styling product for my curls that I have used. It beats every other cream, gel, mousse and spray that I have tried. My curly hair stays soft and manageable, has great curls, and no frizz!”

Umberto Curl Enhancing Lotion

Help your curls keep their shape all day long with this defining formula that adds shine and relaxes frizz.

Review: “I love this lotion. It is very easy to use, simple instructions, and did not weigh my hair down like some do. It kept my hair very light with the same feel my hair has without the lotion. It held my curl all day.”

Dry Shampoos and Hairsprays Under $10

Say goodbye to grease and get ready to love your hair from one wash to the next, even when you’re on day two or three.

Batiste Original Clean Dry Shampoo

With a few simple sprays, you can refresh the look of your unwashed hair—and give it a clean scent, to boot.

Review: “Love this dry shampoo and the price! I use this stuff extremely regularly, and it’s perfect for refreshing your hair and making it look great! I use it after a workout, to freshen up second day style and give it a little more volume and bounce, and in a pinch on dirty hair. Works wonders every time.”

Umberto Dry Clean Dry Shampoo

Save your color-treated hair—or just save some time in the shower—with this volume-boosting dry shampoo.

Review: “This dry shampoo removes any oil from your hair without leaving it sticky or weighed down like another dry shampoo I tried. You can keep your blow-out or ironed hair style for a extra day or two without re-styling and causing unnecessary damage to your hair.”

Garnier Fructis Style Flexible Control Hairspray

Bid a not-so-fond farewell to hairspray that’s hard as a rock, and pick up this flexible spray that’ll hold your style but still look natural.

Review: “Flexible control by Garnier Fructis is the best hair spray by far. It will make your hair smell great, look shiny, and feel natural. No more stiff hair, your hair will hold whatever shape you desire, but still have that natural bounce.”

TRESemme TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray

Designed to stay strong when you need it to, this hairspray keeps frizz under control without being sticky or hard.

Review: “I have been using TRESemme’s Extra Hold Hairspray for years. It gives me the hold that I love but yet leaves my hair soft to the touch. No sticky or hard feeling.”

A single hair is growing from the center of my tongue again. It is wiry and impossibly long. It dangles out of my mouth and gets caught in my crumbling teeth. I try to pluck the hair. It hurts, but its root is attached much deeper down than my tongue. It goes down to my core, in fact. If I pull it out I will die.
There is a dark presence in the room. It watches me struggle with my tongue hair and disintegrating dental work. If I can scream loud enough, the stranger will not harm me. I fill my lungs. I bellow…

And find myself transported back to my bedroom, where my wife has just kicked and nudged me awake. It’s the wee hours of the morning and I sense myself hyperventilating.
“Was I screaming?” I pant.
“No. You were going, ‘Myeh.'” She offers a pathetic bleating, the complaint of a scrawny goat as opposed to an adult human determined to live.
“No way,” I say. “That was a scream. A shriek. This was a night terror.”
“No,” she corrects me. “You don’t wake up during night terrors. You generally don’t remember the content of a night terror episode.”

I later check Mayo Clinic and Sleep.org. My wife’s right—again.
We decide to call it a scream dream. It’s become the subject of some contention in our household.
Sometimes I have several scream dreams a week. Other times months go by without a single instance. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, I find myself bleating into my pillow again. Of course, within the dream, I’m letting out a mighty wail.

The Stuff Nightmares Are Made of

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a healthcare advocacy group, recently published a list of common causes of nightmares (which are, remember, distinct from “sleep terrors” or “night terrors”).
It reads like a checklist of my not-so-commendable lifestyle decisions. No wonder I have scream dreams.
Causes of nightmares in adults, according to the NSF, may include:
1. Feeling more stress than usual. Extreme forms of stress, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders, can certainly cause nightmares.

So can periods of increased non-pathological stress, such as a promotion at work or a serious life change.
2. Sleep deprivation. Oddly enough, your brain’s reward for finally getting a bit of the rest it so desperately needs can be terrible nightmares.

This, of course, can lead to even less sleep. It’s a tough cycle to break.
3. Late-night snacks. Sorry, but I feel like I have to quote Dickens here: “You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato,” Scrooge tells Marley’s ghost in A Christmas Carol. “There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”

Scrooge’s reasoning is solid, even if he happens to be wrong about this particular ghost. Eating boosts your metabolism, which boosts your brain activity, which can lead to nightmares.
4. Certain prescription medications, such as antidepressants. If you notice changes in your sleep patterns or have more nightmares after a change in your medication, talk to your healthcare providers about it. They might be able to suggest a workaround.
That’s the word from the professionals.
Now, my advice: If you find a six-foot, wiry hair growing from the center of your tongue, don’t try to pluck it. To do so might cost you your life.
Also, know that what sounds like a blood-curdling scream inside your dream might sound a bit less impressive to your spouse, kids, or roommate.

Have you ever considered the irony of the treadmill, the stationary bicycle, or the rowing machine? More than 85 percent of Americans drive to work, with an average commute of 26 minutes in each direction. Then some pay for a membership and drive to the gym to re-enact travel on stationary equipment.
At first glance, this seems absurd. It’s like opting to watch a rom-com instead of falling in love. But maybe the cardio folks are onto something. Maybe you don’t want to get your exercise during your commute. After all, the gym does have one thing over the highway: The air is much cleaner.

Rush hour pumps up the pollution. Sitting in traffic causes automobiles to belch out twice as much nitrogen dioxide, three times as many hydrocarbons, and quadruple the amount of carbon monoxide compared to cruising on the open road. All that braking and accelerating brings out the worst in an internal combustion engine.
The result is that you may be sitting in a toxic stew every time you drive to and from work. Exposure to air pollution has been associated with asthma and other respiratory diseases, heart problems, and premature morbidity. It’s sick stuff—and unless you follow the advice of a team of Washington University aerosol scientists, that smog is getting into your car, where you gulp it down with every breath.

This simple trick will help you cut down on exposure to pollutants while you’re in your car.

The October 2017 issue of the journal Atmospheric Environment features the research of Anna Leavey, Nathan Reed, Sameer Patel, and colleagues in a piece charmingly titled “Comparing on-road real-time simultaneous in-cabin and outdoor particulate and gaseous concentrations for a range of ventilation scenarios.”

The researchers measured air quality both inside and outside of a car that study participants drove to work. Sometimes they left the windows open. Sometimes they closed the windows and ran the fan. Other times they closed the windows and turned on the air conditioning.
After four months of this, they crunched the numbers and came to a straightforward conclusion.

“Car drivers can expect their highest exposures [to air pollution] when driving with windows open or the fan on, and their lowest exposures during windows closed or the AC on.”
Why, though? Reed, one of the authors of the paper, explained the situation to Science Daily.

“The AC is pulling outside air, running through the same filter with the same ventilation path as the fan,” he said. “But there’s one difference: when the AC is operating: You have a cold evaporator that is cooling the air as it passes. …This cold surface attracts the pollutant particles, and they deposit there, as opposed to diffusing it into the air you’re breathing.”
Running the air conditioning dropped pollutant levels inside the cab of the car tested by 20 to 34 percent, Science Daily reports. Beyond rolling up the windows and opting to turn on the air, it seems like the next step is eliminating fossil fuels entirely.

Imagine a new kind of gym membership: Rather than a keychain fob to swipe at the door, your trainer assigns you a bicycle or hands you a pair of running shoes—and takes your car keys. Imagine if everyone who is physically able to ride a bike or go jogging were to join this gym. Now that would cut down on air pollution.

Even if it’s a little icky, many people let their dogs lick their faces. Of course, there’s an obvious yuck factor, but are there actual health reasons to refrain from dog kisses?
The answer turns out to be more complex than we expected.

Dogs lick their owners for a variety of reasons. They may be playing, tasting, or seeking attention. Though there are many possibilities, Patty Khuly VMD told Vetstreet, “The bottom line is that most of the time, dogs will lick their people as a sign of affection.”

There are certain situations in which face-licking is definitely not okay.

There are a few instances in which experts agree that it’s not a good idea to kiss your dog. Shelly Rankin, PhD, an associate professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, warned that babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and people receiving chemotherapy should beware of puppy kisses.

These groups all have compromised or underdeveloped immune systems and may be more susceptible to disease transmission.
Rankin added, “Anywhere the skin is broken, there’s potentially a risk,” which means if anyone in your family is struggling with acne, your pooch’s face-licking needs to be strictly discouraged.

Certain diseases can spread easily from dogs to humans.

A study published in the Archives of Oral Biology found that periodontopathic bacteria (which are basically disease-causing germs in the mouth) are transmitted between dogs and humans. Veterinarian Francoise Tyler told MSN that “If a pet has medical issues such as periodontal disease or intestinal parasites, there is a risk for cross-infection.”

In an interview with People, Dr. Mehmet Oz pointed out that through scavenging, a dog could pick up giardia, hookworm, tapeworm, or salmonella. If you smooch your dog right after a walk, those germs could make their way onto your face or into your mouth.
That being said, there may be some benefits from trading germs with your pets. A 2012 study showed that babies who lived with dogs had lower instances of respiratory illness.

Of course, the dogs weren’t necessarily licking the babies in the study, so canine kisses still aren’t exactly vindicated.

Whether their kisses are dangerous or not, dogs’ mouths are grody.

“There is a myth that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than human’s mouths, and this is blatantly untrue,” Dr. Katy Nelson told Reader’s Digest. “The average American human brushes and flosses their teeth twice daily and I don’t know too many canines that live up to that.”

Anyone who’s taken a dog on a walk knows that they stick their snouts in less-than-sanitary places. A garbage can that other dogs have peed on is one of the most desired sniffing spots, which should tell you a lot about dogs and hygiene.

But sometimes, a little dose of ick is a good thing.

Kim Kelly, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studies the possible health benefits of microbe transfer from dogs to humans. She believes that contact with dogs could have a probiotic effect on humans.

In the course of her research, Kelly has found that adults who had contact with dogs had better immune systems and improved emotional well-being. However, it’s not clear exactly what causes those benefits.
Kelly has heard anecdotes claiming that dog kisses have healed people but is also aware of cases in which dog saliva caused serious illness. She hopes to learn more about the health effects of trading microbes with canines, but for now she remains skeptical when it comes to whether kissing your pup is a good idea.

“People need to be cautious,” she told USA Today. “We just don’t know enough at this point.”

Sephora has outdone themselves again with these amazing new beauty products. Don’t make your make-up budget without looking through these stunning lipsticks, foundations, and cleansers. You’re bound to find a new favorite.

1. Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick

If you love matte lipsticks, this one will change your life. Get all the color and style of a typical matte lipstick, but without the clunky weight.

Key Review: “Finally a luxurious matte with rich color. Goes on smoothly and covers in one pass. Be sure to condition your lips first though for best results. I love the vibrant colors in both the reds and darks.”
Get it here for $38.

2. Kat Von D Shade + Light Creme Contour Refillable Palette

Kat Von D continues to serve up long-lasting color with this new palette. All six shades—three for contouring and three more for highlighting—have a 24-hour wear guarantee.

Key Review: “I got this today and tried it right away. So far I can say the contour colors are very similar to the powder colors. The highlight colors like the other reviews said are different but good for color correcting and I did dab a little on my under eye and it worked well. It blends in beautifully and has not oxidized. I would say this is the best cream contour pallet on the market!”
Buy your own palette here for $49.99.

3. Bumble and Bumble Bb. Save the Day Daytime Protective Repair Fluid

You’ll see almost instant results with this lightweight repair serum that works for all hair types. It’s a great treatment for split ends, and it protects your hair from UV damage going forward.

Key Review: “My hair is very fine but gets frizzy/puffy easily, so I like to go over it with a straightener, which has [led] to a lot of damage. I love this product because it doesn’t feel too heavy on my hair, but leaves my strands feeling seriously hydrated, whether I air or heat dry. I’ve noticed a big difference, especially with my ends! They don’t look nearly as dried or split. I’m excited to see how this product continues to work over time.”
Get a bottle here for $45.

4. GLAMGLOW BUBBLESHEET Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask

This mask uses a green tea extract to cleanse while imbuing every skin type with a healthy glow. Plus, it feels terrific as it fizzes your facial impurities away.

Key Review: “This mask is so innovative, leaves your skin super clean feeling and your skin doesn’t feel stripped. A great weekly deep clean. Glamglow is on to something here and I hope they continue with more individual masks!”
Get one here for $9.

5. Make No Mistake Foundation and Concealer Stick

Use this stick as foundation or a concealer, depending which you need in the moment. The silky-smooth formula provides a natural matte finish. Given its versatility and compact container, there’s no excuse for leaving home without it.

Key Review: “I love this foundation. Its great for everyday with medium coverage but is also buildable too [for] full coverage. I don’t get too oily through out the day like I do with other foundations. After [an] 8hr work day I can just touch it up and go out if I don’t feel like redoing my whole foundation.”
Buy one here for $20.

6. Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette

Everyone knows Urban Decay is one of the best makeup brands around. This new palette includes 12 amber-hued neutrals that flatter all skin tones and allow you to create seriously stunning looks.

Key Review: “This company can always produce a high quality palette. I just love these colors they are perfect for summer and still have excellent shades for fall. The blending, pigment and the overall lasting of color is great. I am no expert when it comes to blending but I can achieve it with Urban Decay eyeshadows.”
Get yours here for $54.

7. Becca Velvet Blurring Primer

This primer instantly reduces the appearance of pores, fine lines, and blemishes, leaving your face with an airbrushed finish.

Key Review: “I am absolutely obsessed with this primer. I have fairly oily skin and lately I’ve had a real problem with makeup staying on my skin. This primer is a Godsend! It immediately becomes a velvety smooth second skin and my makeup absolutely glides on…and stays put! Highly recommended!!!”
Get yours here for $38.

8. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick

This isn’t your mother’s liquid lipstick. Bite Beauty has made a liquid lip color that is bright, creamy, and almost criminally easy to apply.

Key Review: “Ever since receiving the Amuse Bouche liquified lipsticks for my review on Influenster, I have been talking about them non stop. They are comfortable, easy to apply, non-drying and hydrating. I love the glazed look they give and how the colors adapt to your skin tone. I’m obsessed with the shade Flambé, definitely the star of the bunch. Couldn’t be happier to have these in my collection, they will be getting lots of use!”
Get one here for $24

9. Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen

Using Algenist collagen is like turning back time. It will tighten, brighten, and even out your skin. All that, and the formula is also 100 percent vegan.

Key Review: “I was skeptical at first but I now I can’t live without this product! Usually collagen doesn’t full[y] absorb. This one sinks in nicely and I [see] a difference in the softness [of] my skin as well as more bounce after just a day or two. I use this morning and night. I use about a little less than a full dropper each application.”
Buy Algenist here for $115.

10. Miss Dior, The New Eau de Parfum

Dior has made a delightfully floral new fragrance. The new eau de parfum includes hints of rosewood and citrus bergamot for a truly feminine, sensual mixture.

Key Review: “Was hesitant at first to go for the new Miss Dior as I’m a staunch fan of the original, but my doubts were tossed aside as soon as I tried it! Fresh and subtle enough for day but fun for night as well.”
Get your own bottle here for $94.

11. Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

This mask does all the work while you sleep. The Watermelon Glow Sleep Mask gives your skin a boost by evening out skin tone and vanquishing dullness.

Key Review: “I put this on every night before going to bed post-makeup removal and wash it off the next morning. My skin has never, ever felt softer and smoother. I’m also so impressed with the price for such a good product. It smells amazing and feels very refreshing when it’s soaking into my skin at night.”
Buy it here for $45.

12. Kat Von D Edge Creme Contour Brush

This is one high-performance makeup brush! The Kat Von D Edge Creme Contour Brush is a precision tool that will make a great addition to your makeup arsenal.

Key Review: “I’ve used Elf contour brushes for awhile now because the price is convenient and they do the job. I recently switched to supporting brands that do not support animal testing. When KVD announced she was coming out with vegan brushes I was elated. This brush is worth the price! First let’s start with design. This brush will make you feel like a powerful witch using her tools to create the next magical spell. It looks so beautiful and feels top notch! The bristles are soft and worked their magic with the shade and light creme contour palette. Was able to blend with ease and create soft lines. I will absolutely continue to buy these brushes!”
Get your own brush here for $32.

Spending a chunk of change on beauty products is no problem when they work. The problem is separating the must-haves from the duds.
That’s where user reviews come in. Customers who actually bought the product can steer you away from rip-offs and let you know which seemingly hot items are actually worth the cost. Check out these 10 beauty products that get big love in their user reviews.

1. Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow Face Highlighting & Contour Glow Palette

This contouring product from Natasha Denona is pricey but apparently unbeatable. It has over 6,600 “loves,” scores a 4.4 out of 5 from user reviews (with the chief complaint being price), and is an editor’s pick at Sephora.
Give your face a subtle glow with this highlighting and contouring palette. Best of all, this product contains no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

Get it here.

2. Clarins Masvelt Body Shaping Cream

Firm and smooth curves with this well-researched shaping cream. After four weeks of use, 98 percent of women reported better-hydrated skin and improved skin texture.

Get it here.

3. Moroccanoil Treatment

Keep your hair shiny, detangled, and smelling great with this well-known and well-loved product. Works on straight or tightly coiled hair and everything in between.

Get it here.

4. Aquis Waffle Luxe Hair Towel

This super-light towel dries hair quickly without damaging it. Simply wrap your hair in the towel and let it wick away moisture. Cuts blow-drying time in half and leads to shinier and less frizzy hair.

Get it here.

5. Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

This rose oil delivers a punch of vitamin C that prevents skin dullness and uneven texture. It also reduces roughness and helps fade dark spots. A clinical study showed that using this product for 28 days led to a 32 percent increase in skin radiance.

Get it here.

6. Olehenriksen Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub

This scrub recreates the unparalleled Scandinavian spa ritual of warming in a hot sauna then plunging in a cold lake. The cleanser also deeply purifies pores and absorbs excess oils.
In an independent study of 37 women, 100 percent of participants saw improvement in eight different areas after using this scrub.

Get it here.

7. Kopari Coconut Lip Love

Lock in moisture and add shine to your lips with this coconut-flavored balm. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients help nourish and hydrate lips.
This vegan product has no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates but manages to mimic natural fatty acids, smoothing lips with all the love and none of the guilt.

Get it here.

8. Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado

This ultra-creamy treatment stays under your eyes without getting in them and can be used under eye makeup to ensure hydration and protection. This versatile cream works for normal, oily, dry, or sensitive skin and is ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested.

Get it here.

9. Sephora Collection Luxe Combo Travel Brush

This compact brush is just the right size for your purse, gym locker, or anywhere else lacking in real estate. Many reviewers liked it so much they use it as their daily brush. Even better: It’s water resistant and easily detangles and smooths out kinks without excessive pulling.

Get it here.

10. Anastasia Beverly Hills Tweezers

Yes, $28 is a lot of money for tweezers. But this professional-quality tool is so great at grabbing the tiniest of hairs that it has over 300 five-star reviews. These tweezers are specially calibrated to pluck, not cut, hairs, which means you have more time before they start to grow back.

Get it here.