Conspiracy theory time: If zits aren’t trying to get in the way of us living our best — or at least, most Instagrammable — lives, then why do they always seem to materialize right before every big event or party? These gross little growths have a life of their own, and we're sick of it.
But it may be time to put down the benzoyl peroxide because, as a new study published in Scientific Reports has revealed, the popular strain of acne known as P. acnes — one of our skin’s most notorious villains — has been hiding a positive quality. Turns out, it secretes a protein that can protect molecules in the skin against oxidative stress, like UV radiation (caused by sun exposure). This protein, known as RoxP, not only reduces free radicals, it can also help protect skin from common diseases like psoriasis, skin cancer, and atopic dermatitis. That's right: This particular type of acne can actually be good for you.
Does this mean that those of us with major zits are less likely to get psoriasis or don’t have to wear as much SPF as our clear-complexioned comrades? Not exactly. The P. acnes strain is actually present skin that’s both blemished and clear, though those with skin diseases are shown to have less of it. But it’s comforting to know that the very thing that causes heartache in those of us who just want clear skin (read: all of us) is also working to keep it healthy in other ways.
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Ah, makeup brushes — the underdogs of the beauty world. Though they do the ever-important task of blending your foundation, eye shadow, and blush to Instagram perfection, it's not often that you see a set innovative enough to truly excite you. (Unless they're of the unicorn, snake, or Harry Potter variety, of course.)
The exception: Artis Brushes, a brand we fell hard for a few years ago, when it introduced a slew of ergonomically shaped tools that went beyond your standard bristles. Its first collection had superfine fibers and cool applicator tips that looked like toothbrushes. They beautified our faces with ease, changing our perspective on makeup brushes forever. And now, the company is at it again.
Its latest line is called Digit, and it's inspired by the shape and size of — you guessed it — your fingers. Sounds weird, but if you're anything like us — lazy and unwilling to apply makeup with anything but your hands — the launch is nothing short of brilliant. Each brush is designed to replicate the outline of your fingertips as you glide products across your face.
And, yes, they look bizarre. One editor even compared them to dog brushes. But, we tried them ourselves and they couldn't be easier. In fact, we think these flat, curved handles are even more intuitive than Artis' last set. Because they are short, they are easier to control, and thanks to the design, you can press your finger directly over the bristles themselves, controlling just how much pressure you want. The result? A damn near perfect concealer application with thoroughly buffed edges. Says beauty editor Maria Del Russo, "It's like applying makeup with your fingers — if your fingers had bristles on them."
It's a concept that every lazy girl can get behind, but it won't come cheap: Snag the 5-piece set (meant for eye shadow, lipstick, blush, concealer, and foundation) for a cool $185, or the 10-piece full set for $375 on the Artis website.
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Lauren Streib is a senior editor at Huge Inc. The views expressed here are her own.
I know why I feel so gutted by a Trump win. Because I feel responsible.
I’m an educated, employed, agnostic, white female living in Brooklyn, New York, a radically diverse city within a blue state. And when my dad — who lives in my home(swing) state of Pennsylvania — said he was voting for Trump, I effectively chose to stop talking to him. Our last real conversation in August about the election revolved around Trump's business acumen. He wanted someone in office that had business experience; I simply couldn't understand how bankruptcies and fraud accusations didn't accentuate Trump's business ineptitude.
So what did I do to support Hillary? I bought a fashion-y Hillary T-shirt. I called my mom a lot. I got really angry and disgusted by the misogynistic vitriol and got "grl pwr" permanently inked on my arm.
So what did I do to support Hillary? I bought a fashion-y Hillary T-shirt. I called my mom a lot. I got really angry and disgusted by the misogynistic vitriol and got "grl pwr" permanently inked on my arm. I trusted the polls that predicted a Hillary win. I tweeted my opinions during the political debates to the teeny tiny echo chamber of the like-minded. And ultimately, I voted for Hillary in my neighborhood precinct, which is a 10-minute walk from Hillary's campaign headquarters, surrounded by women in pantsuits wearing "nasty woman" t-shirts and pearls. I didn’t let anything pop my bubble of optimism.
What did I not do? I didn't get on a bus and go to Pennsylvania to campaign. I didn't give money to Hillary. And I didn’t call my dad.
What did I not do? I didn't get on a bus and go to Pennsylvania to campaign. I didn't give money to Hillary. And I didn’t call my dad.
I didn't feel the need to have a conversation with him because I assumed his vote would simply be rendered innocuous. I didn’t want to face the possibility that my dad was racist or blind to the social consequences of a Trump victory. And I didn't want to hear his opinion. Which is utterly inexcusable considering how much of social progress depends on simple conversations. The fact that he — a man with three daughters and a gay son — was willing to cast a vote in favor of Trump should've been a dire signal.
My father is a mostly retired lawyer who spent three decades teaching law in Pittsburgh. He has said he previously voted for Obama, but he voted with the majority of his neighbors in northwestern Pennsylvania last week because he wants change.
In our post-election conversations, his version of change is mostly fiscal. He is terrified by the dire economic straits of the nation, and doesn't believe another Democratic president will be good for our $13 trillion debt. He doesn't think that open trade is economically positive. He doesn't want his federal tax dollars to go toward supporting post-secondary education.
Because of the world I live in, I thought most people agreed with me.
He didn't want to cast a vote for another Bush or Clinton, full stop. He supports H-1B immigration in principle, but not illegal immigration. He believed in Trump's promise to "drain the swamp." He understood why I think it’s dangerous that the Roe v. Wade decision is even in play, but agrees with the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling (i.e. a private company doesn’t need to pay for insurance for contraception on the basis of religion). He doesn't think the most extreme promises of the campaign will come to bear. Which is why, when I told him how scared I am, he said, "It'll be ok."
The thing is, I love my dad. And when we talk, I think he hears me. But our single votes are swayed by polarizing considerations. To me, change means gay marriage is federally mandated, along with paid maternity leave of at least 12 weeks. I don’t believe government has any say in women’s right to choose, full stop. I desperately want my federal tax dollars to go to universal health care and community college. It means I simply and unequivocally reject a candidate who panders to a racist electorate.
Because of the world I live in, I thought most people agreed with me. While I grew up in Pennsylvania, my home county of Allegheny (where my mom still lives) went to Hillary by a 16% margin. I graduated from a public university in North Carolina, the same state where Klansmen were on parade last Friday, but my alma mater's campus is located in Orange County where Hillary won by more than 50%.
I tricked myself into thinking that I could empathize with the majority of the people in those states, whose lives I have only driven through.
In fact, it seemed so obvious that Trump can't bring back steel to Pennsylvania, and that even trying to do so would plunge the state's economy further into instability, that I didn't give credence to the opinions and power of the millions of people that attended his rallies in places like Hershey and Scranton. But these are people who felt moved by Trump's message and voted out of self-interest.
I tricked myself into thinking that I could empathize with the majority of the people in those states, whose lives I have only driven through.
I cried watching Hillary give her concession speech, as her husband, whose personal transgressions were lobbed against her repeatedly and effectively, stood in the camera's frame. These were tears of anger. (How dare we as a nation allow the concession of the most qualified candidate, who may ultimately have earned more popular votes than any candidate in history?) They were tears of fear and self-pity. (Did she really lose because we are a racist and misogynistic republic?) But, overwhelmingly, they were tears of embarrassment. It's not that I didn't do enough, it's that I did next to nothing.
While it's nice to live in a time when the majority of my country votes for a candidate that stands for my ideals, it's not enough. It's not enough to wait until a disparity in my own family, and an unexpected outcome, forces me to confront the difference between voting for my ideals and advocating for them. I may not agree with my father’s vote, but I take responsibility for not listening and not taking the risk to challenge it.
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If you've ever been at least a little curious about what it's really like to be in the porn industry, Tori Black is here to answer all of your burning questions.
On Monday, the porn performer sat down for an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit to get real about her line of work. Here are just a few of the most interesting tidbits we learned from her AMA.
1. She has a favorite sex act to perform.
Black's favorite act to perform on someone is the cowgirl — "bitch betta werk," she said.
2. She also has a favorite couples' sex toy.
When asked for her recommendation for a partnered sex toy, Black suggested the Hitachi (one of our favorites, too).
3. Porn scenes take a lot longer to film than you might think.
According to Black, it typically takes about three hours to film a 45-minute scene.
4. It also takes time toprepare for a scene.
Though she loves her bare face, getting her makeup prepped for a shoot usually takes about an hour and a half.
5. There are some things she just won't do at work.
Being a porn performer can often mean portraying a varied range of kinks, but Black said that she won't degrade anyone — or herself — at work. "I'm not into racial slurs, and I don't like encouraging some of the darker fantasies," she wrote. "While they may be fun I feel like they lead down a darker path."
6. She finds her job super-rewarding.
"I get to explore myself sexually and encourage others to do so in a safe environment," she wrote.
"Oh, and the harder I cum, the more money I make," she added. "That's pretty cool."
7. That being said, she's seen some pretty weird things on set.
When asked about the strangest thing she has witnessed on a set, Black recounted the time she saw "a guy accidentally catch his own money shot in the mouth." Money shot, indeed.
8. She has a lot of ideas about what's in store for her post-porn future.
Black said that after her current career, she'd most want to focus on being a mother, though she's not ruling out cooking, writing, dancing, or being a doula (a non-medical professional who helps support mothers during pregnancy and childbirth).
9. But she also has to deal with the unfair stigma attached to being a porn performer.
Black said that she's faced pretty much every stigma there is when it comes to her chosen profession, but the hardest one is that people don't seem to think she can be a mother.
"People seem to think the two don't mix, like sex and being a mother somehow cancel one another out, which makes no sense," she wrote.
Black is right — unfortunately, there are a lot of misunderstandings about porn performers and sex work as a whole. But hopefully, her openness about her profession will help to put an end to the negative stereotypes about porn performers. After all, we certainly came away from her AMA feeling a whole lot more informed and enlightened.
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Update: Kat Von D has been teasing the launch of her brand's Alchemist palette for what feels like an eternity, and thanks to Snapchat and Instagram stories, we finally got a peek inside. On Saturday, the brand posted images of the four-pan palette, which contains what we can only assume are duo-chrome highlighters. Check 'em out in the slides ahead, and prepare to collectively freak out.
This story was originally published on June 24, 2015, at 8:30 p.m.
We’re always suckers for Kat Von D beauty news. Earlier this year, she announced her Too Faced collab. Now, she’s introducing a cutting edge palette with an Instagram video.
Her Alchemist palette is shaped like a triangle with a letter "A" embossed onto the front cover. She says that the design was seven years in the making. From the looks of things, it was time well-spent. But we won’t be hazarding any guesses as to what is actually contained within. “Don't even try and guess what this special ‘palette’ is, cuz I promise you won't!” Von D wrote in the caption.
Not only are the powders in this palette mesmerizing, but the packaging is absolutely gorgeous.
Photo: Via @KatVonDBeauty/Snapchat.
Each shade is inspired by a a gemstone (emerald, opal, amethyst, and sapphire).
Photo: Via @KatVonDBeauty/Snapchat.
We can't wait to dust these duo-chrome pigments all over our cheekbones, lids, and cupid's bows.
Photo: Via @KatVonDBeauty/Snapchat.
Kat Von D even gave us a sneak peek at the palette's versatility. Here she layers the powders over the brand's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Witches, resulting in an ultra-chic metallic lip look.
Photo: Via @KatVonDBeauty/Snapchat.
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Remember back in season 4 of Game of Thrones, when [Spoiler alert!] Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) came upon Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) bathing nude in the river? Well three seasons later, we may get to see the pair finally do what we've been waiting for: Get naked together. (Sorry, do I sound crass? I'm honestly just really excited for them.)
The Game of Thrones set spies at Watchers on the Wall reported a juicy tidbit in their latest batch of season 7 spoilers, and you're going to want to hear this one. Missandei and Grey Worm have been making bedroom eyes at each other for quite a while now. And despite the warrior and handmaiden sharing a kiss and growing close emotionally, it wasn't clear whether they would ever consummate their love. As a member of the Unsullied, Grey Worm was castrated in order to minimize the possibility of sexual activity or romantic feelings — love-stoned warriors do not win wars, apparently.
But a source told Watchers on the Wall that "Grey Worm and Missandei's relationship will go much further than in previous seasons." Oh? "In fact, there is a sex scene in the works!" Yes! We're pumped to see the beautiful duo get hot and heavy in 2017, because my god do they deserve it. Actually, you know what? So do we. Don't disappoint us, guys.
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Have you ever wished your favorite brand would sell everything you ever needed in one idyllic superstore? Well, Madewell fans will be getting one step closer to that dream starting tomorrow. The clothing giant teamed up with Food52 to launch its first-ever kitchenware line. The limited-edition stunning home-goods collab features everything from candles to coasters to wooden spoons.
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but we’re guessing you’re going to want to start stocking up on holiday gifts now before everything sells out. It might even be time to dive into that hidden budget for all the presents that we end up, ahem, secretly buying for ourselves.
The new line launches at Madewell stores tomorrow and will only be available through the holidays. (Food52 will also be offering the products via its online store.) And prices aren’t bad — the products range from $10 to $36. So now that you've got yourself covered, you just have to find presents for everyone else on your list!
Blush Spoon Rest, $26.00
Never has a holder for a messy soup spoon been so lovely.
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
Shibori Cocktail Napkins, $24 (for a set of 4)
These cocktail napkins say, "I'm low-key groovy."
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
Dipped Wooden Spoons, $29 (for a set of 3)
Remember that spoon rest from earlier? Well, they were made for each other.
Photo: Courtesy of James Ransom/Food52.
Winter Wreath Candle, $35.00
We imagine that a winter wreath candle smells of pine and freshly fallen snowflakes.
Photo: Courtesy of James Ransom/Food52.
Speckled Coasters, $25.00 (for a set of 4)
A practical gift for the artful drinker.
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
Dipped Pinch Bowl, $10 (each)
Now here's a vessel that's fashionably fit for storing our favorite candies.
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
Porcelain Paper Cup, $28
This seems to be an oxymoron — and we're okay with that.
Photo: Courtesy of James Ransom/Food52.
Modular Marble Trivet & Cheese Board, $36
A trivet and a cheese board, all in one? Sold.
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
Shibori Flour Sack Tea Towels, $25 (for a set of 2)
These blue-and-white towels will zen out any teatime.
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
Lavender Rosemary Bar Soap, $15.00
Six ounces of pure relaxation in a bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Luten/Food52.
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"Freeganism" is a lifestyle philosophy that revolves around limited participation in capitalism and the conventional economy. In other words, a freegan doesn't buy anything.
The word is a combination of "free" and "vegan," and while vegans avoid all animal products because they're harmful to animals, freegans have taken this to the next level and avoid purchasing anything at all on the basis that every product is harmful in some way, whether to humans, animals, the oceans, the rainforests, etc.
This week, I took a freegan approach to life in New York City. I wore clothing donated by friends, discovered free sources of entertainment, and even went dumpster-diving. No, I'm not kidding. I've learned some mind-blowing food-waste facts this week, and I hope to share my newfound knowledge with you. Could you ever become a freegan?
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This article was originally published on November 8, 2016.
This month's full moon, also known as the Beaver Moon or the Mourning Moon, is a doozy, stargazers. You probably know by now that it isn't any old full moon — in fact, this one is a supermoon the likes of which we won't see again until 2034. It reached its crest at 8:52 a.m. EST this morning as the largest-appearing supermoon in 70 years.
Thanks to its proximity to earth, the moon will appear much brighter and larger than usual, but this won't just be a sight worth seeing. Some believe that the spiritual effects of the moon intensify during a supermoon. In other words, any rituals performed before, during, or right after a supermoon may be felt more profoundly than they would otherwise. So, we thought, what better time than now to kick off our own personal full moon rituals?
Of course, Pagan and Wiccan traditions have their own monthly full moon celebrations, but here we're going to focus on smaller, more personal practices you can incorporate into your everyday life.
Click through for five totally witchy — but totally doable — moon rituals you can do right now.
Charge Your Crystals
The full moon has major regenerative effects on healing crystals of all kinds. Think of it as an engine tune-up — leave your stones out overnight where the moonlight can touch them, whether outside or on a windowsill, and by morning their energetic properties will be renewed and realigned. Don't worry about charging all of your crystals if you've amassed a bit of a collection, but it's recommended that you make sure to charge any you use regularly. Don't have any crystals to charge? Here's where to start.
Photographed by Atisha Paulson.
Get To Manifesting
As we've discussed previously, full moons afford a natural opportunity to look inward and determine what you need most at this moment. Whether you spend the night journaling or meditating, the moonlight will lend a greater sense of clarity to your thoughts. Now is a perfect time to think about yourself apart from everything else that's going on around you — in doing that, you'll know better how to proceed. Reflect, set a plan, and see it through.
Photographed by Claire Pepper.
Practice Some Sensual Self-Care
According to the Astrotwins, this month's full moon is in Taurus, one of the most romantic signs in the Zodiac. While you could spend this sensuous night with a partner, this is also an excellent opportunity to take some well-deserved you time — alone. Take a bath, get a massage, or treat yourself to fancy dinner. To take advantage of the especially sensual feeling in the air, we also recommend getting in touch with yourself via solo sex (perhaps your intention is to begin our masturbation challenge?). Whatever you decide, this is your invitation to just kick back during a time of year that can feel so unforgiving.
Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh.
Do A Quick Cleanse
Cleansing rituals are always useful, but they're particularly relevant to the Mourning Moon, the last full moon before the winter months. Tradition holds that, at this time of year, we should let go of anything that doesn't serve us — a bad habit, a difficult relationship, or needless grief. That way, when the year comes to an end in a matter of months, we're already free from anything that was holding us back.
Photographed by Alexandra Gavillet.
Just Go Outside
Though it might not be as balmy as it was back in June, going outside (and not just doing it for the 'gram) during a full moon can still do wonders for your mindset. Some people suggest moon-bathing, which usually means going outside and basking in the moonlight — fully naked. We understand that this might not be possible, but you should still be able to feel the renewing effects of the moon while taking a (fully clothed) stroll around your favorite park or neighborhood.
Photographed by Andrew McCaren/LNP/REX/Shutterstock.
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How to get your kids to listen to (and to actually do) what you say is one of the most frustrating and difficult parts of being a parent. A new study, published this month in the journal Pediatrics, has shed some light on trends in how parents are choosing to discipline their children these days. The researchers found that nonviolent forms of punishment are on the rise, and that the use of spanking and hitting as discipline has decreased.
For the study, researchers looked at four national surveys, spanning 23 years of data, and found that, in 1988, 46% of mothers in middle-class families (which the researchers defined as those living in the 50th income percentile) said they used spanking as discipline. By 2011, that number had dropped to 21%. In that same period of time, the number of moms who regularly put their kids in time-out increased from 41% to 81%.
When looking at all socioeconomic groups of mothers, the researchers found that spanking was found to be on the decline in general. However, among mothers in the lowest income percentile, one third said they spank their kids.
The researchers called this finding "alarming" for several reasons. Besides the risk of serious injury, corporal punishment has been found to have negative emotional effects on children, and it can lead to physical abuse in some cases. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against using spanking or hitting as a form of discipline.
The fact that lower-income women often reported resorting to spanking reflects a lack of resources more than anything else, the researchers say. Not all parents have access to or are aware of the AAP's approved guidelines for effective discipline. A 1996 study found that the majority of parents who spank their children do so when they're stressed or angry — and they feel remorse afterward. In other words, spanking is rarely a thoughtful, pre-planned form of discipline — more often than not, parents resort to it when they're out of options.
The researchers acknowledged that the stigma around spanking could be what's really driving the results. Fearing judgment, some parents may have simply reported they don't resort to spanking their children when, in reality, they still do. "What people say they do and what they actually do are two different things," psychology professor Christopher Ferguson, who was not affiliated with the study, toldLive Science.
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Blame it on athleisure. Or maybe it's just our very basic, very lazy subconscious desire to avoid "real" pants whenever possible (and sometimes get away with it). Whatever the reason, the leggings market certainly isn't lacking for options these days. Sportswear heavyweights have luxed up with fashion-y collaborators (think Alexander Wang and Olivier Rousteing), while other designers, like Tory Burch, have launched entire standalone athletic lines. Mass retailers like Gap Inc.'s Athleta are thriving, and even mall stalwarts that vowed to stay out of the leggings game, like J.Crew, have caved. Plus, models like Gigi Hadid are walking, paparazzi-documented proof that the "leggings-as-pants" trend is back with a vengeance. So, could the world, or our closets, really, possibly need (or even deal with) another pair of leggings?
For American Giant, the answer is a resounding yes. The San Francisco-based startup is responsible for a humble hoodie that was gushingly billed as the "best," "most amazing" iteration ever of the casual staple as soon as it launched in 2014 (we begrudgingly fell for it, too). They also whipped up this frequently sold-out jogger pant everyone flipped over. Today they unveiled their very first legging, which rings in at $69, is available solely in "Super Black" (for now, at least), and is offered in numerical sizing (uncommon for leggings, right?) ranging from 0 to 14. It's been in the works since the beginning of the year — and I've been along for the ride.
I became a leggings-sampling guinea pig along with dozens of other testers, wriggling into three different prototypes and providing (and hearing) feedback on each. I partook in naming brainstorm sessions and fit meetings, too, to intimately understand what goes into crafting the platonic ideal of the stretchy, butt-hugging, forgiving staple that's the paradigm uniform for everything from Netflix-and-chill to running errands to traveling. But is this pair really going to radically alter your leggings collection?
Read on for the full scoop on how a brand obsessed with perfecting basics went about joining the leggings fray.
The brand started to scheme up its very first pair of leggings at the beginning of the year, and it was so hell-bent on really nailing its first foray into the category that things ran a full two seasons behind the original schedule: The plan was originally to launch in spring of 2016.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
American Giant focused on five main categories. First up, how to avoid that dreaded saggy-butt effect by finding a fabric with great return or resiliency — basically, how well the fabric retains its shape over time. Compression was key, too: “People want to feel ‘held,’ but too much compression is uncomfortable,” Bayard Winthrop, the company's founder and CEO, explained.
And then there’s the opacity vs. transparency factor (which, you may recall, is the quality element that plagued Lululemon a few years ago, leading to a big recall and, later, a revamp of its leggings offerings). “We wanted to avoid ‘grinning,’ where when you kneel down or bend over you can see, or have the perception of seeing, through the fabric," Winthrop told us.
When talking leggings, comfort is obviously a non-negotiable. For American Giant's take on the wardrobe staple, the feel had to be "non-abrasive on the skin," Winthrop explained. "Fabric and seam softness are so important.”
Fit was also obviously essential, with the focus being on "finding the right rise and width of waistband," he said, but the first two rounds of prototypes were strictly focused on nailing the right fabric.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
The company dug deep into market research before getting to work on its own version of the stretchy staple. That meant looking at dozens and dozens of leggings, from around 70 different labels in total. "We pulled leggings apart, put them through rigorous wash cycles, and punch-tested to see how other brands' fabrics regained," Winthrop said. "Then we gathered a profile of the problems we wanted to solve.”
Approximately 65 people, including me, were sent the trifecta of sample pairs over the course of three months (with two to five weeks between sample rounds) to try on and sound off about. There were some internal AG staffers in the mix, though their feedback was taken with a grain of salt. "Using employees is great, but I tend to discount that [feedback] because they’re so close to the product," Winthrop said. "They have baggage, even if it’s ‘good’ baggage, so they can accidentally steer the testing.”
Successfully nailing that perfect legging meant getting 80% or above in ratings for all of the categories, from compression to fit, by the time the development process was over.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
Four or five fabrics were made into prototypes before designers even settled on the ponte fabric used in the initial tester pair. The team mulled over 25 to 30 fabric samples in total. There was a pretty good reason for being fanatical about the material: It was a first for the brand.
"Working with a stretch fabric of this caliber was new to us," Robin Rice, chief product officer, said of the process. "The technical aspect of perfecting this fit definitely took us to the next level."
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
The first prototype was satisfyingly opaque, and testers (myself included) were digging the thickness and how it felt on the skin. "There were a couple tweaks we had to make, but people really loved that fabric," Winthrop said. But it wasn't a home run on the first go as far as fabric was concerned: The first iteration didn't feel like it hugged enough, a.k.a. there was more to be desired in terms of compression.
I was also kind of puzzled by the presence of one credit card-sized, zip-free little pocket on the hip when the first prototype arrived on my desk in July. But once I got that these were, in fact, non-workout-centric leggings (more on that later), the pocket seemed a little less awkward.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
The company actually changed mills mid-production on its quest to really nail the fabric. "It was a very expensive process, not just in time, but the sample and development costs of all the iterations of these leggings," the founder and CEO explained.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
Make no mistake: These aren't intended to be your new go-to for Spin class, Zumba, and the ilk. They're certainly flexible and soft enough to get you through something low-impact, like, say, a Pilates class, maybe on your lunch break, if you're truly living that athleisure life. (I can attest to the fact that you can definitely do some downward dogs comfortably, as was the case with all three prototypes.)
The matte finish and thicker, more substantial feel were intentional ways of telegraphing that these are truly meant to be off-duty leggings. You know, the sort of leggings that displace your denim, which is kind of what's happening these days anyway. To wit: Online sales of leggings grew 41% over the past year, while online sales of jeans increased just 3% in the same period, per The Washington Post.
"We didn’t want any shine," Winthrop said. "That was really important, to distinguish it from sportswear. It definitely shouldn't look like a workout legging."
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
The main concern for the second round, which arrived in testers' mailboxes in August: tackling the compression shortcomings of the first tester pair while also making the fabric feel lighter-weight. And while this round scored high for return, it wasn't pleasant-feeling enough.
”We tried to soften the fabric a bit, because some users complained the first fabric felt sandy," Winthrop said. "Yet we still got dinged on softness, and some users thought the fabric was more rough, actually."
Though design and fit became priorities later on, slight edits were made at this point — to waistband height and crotch construction. Frankly, I personally didn't notice a huge difference. But perhaps that's because I'm very curvy at the hips and always hoist my leggings to high, belly-button-grazing (or obscuring) heights to avoid that dreaded waistband slouch and/or butt exposure. So I'm always adjusting my leggings to hit where I'm most comfortable, not where they're necessarily designed to fit.
Another fabric tweak? Fighting that dreaded between-the-thigh and on-the-butt pilling, as well as the tendency to pick up lint, which were issues with the first prototype. "That just looks like sh*t," Winthrop said. "We worked with our yarn-knitters to improve this, with cycle-testing, where you put a particular garment through five hours of washes."
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
Yes, the American Giant folks are sort of fabric nerds, if you couldn't tell by now. And that seems to be a good thing, as far as your relationship with your leggings goes. "The ponte we're using is a beautiful, technical fabric, but it's important to understand the way the fabric performs on the body," Rice said.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
By the time the third iteration arrived in September, a finer feel was still a sticking point. "We loved the way the fabric was holding the shape of the garment, but still wanted to add a little bit of softness," Winthrop said.
Compared to the heavyweight fleece the brand uses in that famous hoodie and the French terry employed in its joggers, this was uncharted terrain. "Ponte tends to be scratchier and rigid, so we experimented with different washing techniques to soften it," Allen explained. However, it ultimately wasn't a wash that fixed things, but more on that in a moment.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
In a mid-October fitting session, Allen explained the objective for the garment from the get-go. “We were looking at leggings in the marketplace and noticing everyone wearing yoga pants on the street, and saw a lot of fit issues: looking too tight, like you’re wearing tights and are too exposed,” she explained. “Also, we saw a lot of fading, so we wanted to make a style with really great color-fastness; that was very important to us.”
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
Next, I listened in on the naming brainstorm session, where four possible monikers were candidly hashed out. I was a little surprised, dubious, even, that the team was clearly leaning toward one of the "pant" options versus actually having "legging" in the name.
But there's a bigger-picture rationale behind that: Should the brand roll out different versions of its leggings in the future, perhaps with different silhouettes or lengths, the semantics do matter. And the wrong name could be limiting down the line. “I prefer a simple naming convention, and we keep that in mind as we launch a new category," Beth Gumm, the brand's CMO, explained.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
After I got past my skepticism about why you'd launch a legging that isn't even called a legging, I realized the naming approach does in fact help justify wearing these far beyond your couch. Like, say, donning them at the airport: It's a place I sheepishly prefer to wear leggings, because comfort is so key while schlepping around between time zones.
Because, honestly, I still have an internal struggle about whether the curve-hugging, potentially frumpy garment is truly ever apropos beyond the gym. I shared this schlubbiness paranoia with Winthrop early in the game as we discussed where AG's leggings would theoretically be worn. “Success to us will look like people not having qualifiers about when and where to wear our leggings," he said. Translation: These are bottoms you shouldn't feel guilty wearing while going through the TSA line.
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
As for the fit, it "was engineered around a woman’s curves. We wanted to create a democratic fit for women,” Allen said. That meant fine-tuning everything from the feel around the knees to the crotch depth. American Giant’s fit model, Anne, “spent a lot of time squatting down in these pants to make sure there wasn’t any gaping in the back, and so that the pant moves with you so you’re not tugging at the waistband,” she explained. That waistband needed to be “supple and sturdy, with the right elastic to ‘hold and mold,’ and not binding or uncomfortable.”
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
While the shape retention was on point in the third prototype, things didn't feel sumptuous enough on the skin (yet). To get that, the company added a nano-technology finish (after trying out a number of washes with prototype three), "so the fabric doesn't lose any of that structure but also has a really soft, smooth hand feel,” Winthrop said. "We also tweaked the fit very slightly, adding a 1/4-inch rise to ensure the waistband sits comfortably.”
Next up? More leggings, probably in 2017. They'll be assessing if there's room or a need for a two-season program (in other words, having two seasonal versions of the leggings, one lighter-weight and one thicker version). There's also the possibility of having three different silhouettes eventually.
But for now, the brand's first legging, a.k.a. The Pant, is finally out in the world, vying to become the "most amazing incredible best leggings ever."
Illustrated by Elliot Salazar.
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If I had to pick a Kardashian favorite, Kourtney would likely be it. The 37-year-old mother of three isn't just the funniest of the bunch (shout-out to this collection of one-liners), but she's also one of the most outspoken when it comes to paying close attention to what we're putting in — and on — our bodies.
Read: She's an advocate for an organic, gluten-free, dairy-free diet (and credits the glow of her skin to just that), and she pays the same care and attention to her beauty routine as she does to her health. In fact, she swears by Manuka Doctor honey, for which she's now a brand ambassador. Naturally, when presented with an opportunity to sit down with her to get all of her skin tips and tricks, we jumped at the chance.
Ahead, she opens up about her skin secrets (including the homemade "pudding" she eats every morning for better skin), her must-have products, and the one tip her youngest sis, Kylie Jenner, taught her about putting on makeup. Like I said, if it's coming from Kourtney, it's got to be good.
Tell me about your morning beauty routine.
"My morning routine is washing my face. I use the Manuka Doctor face wash. Then, I sometimes do the Manuka Doctor toner. Sometimes not. And I always do sunscreen — I use Elta MD; there’s one for acne-prone skin, and I love it. It’s the only sunscreen that doesn’t make me break out, and that I feel like actually, like, helps my skin.
"I used to not do sunscreen at all — I would just wash and let it be until after my workout. But now, I always do, and it’s definitely helped with pigmentation."
Why do you prefer natural products over conventional ones?
"I feel like once I had Mason, I just became more aware. And then once you learn information, you can’t really make it go away. I have the EWG Skin Deep app on my phone that rates different products by the levels of what’s bad. Like, I just changed all of my pillows and Q-tips to organic. There's so much stuff that you don’t think about or realize.
"The last thing that I really have not changed is makeup. And I really want to start. I just feel like I want to send a tweet, like, 'Can someone help me get started with natural makeup that actually works?'"
Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images.
What makeup do you use right now that you swear by? Is there anything from the drugstore you like?
"I love certain Charlotte Tilbury products. I love Armani. I love the Kylie Lip Kit. And now, the extensions of everything. I feel like the KyShadows are probably my favorite."
Do you eat anything in particular for better skin?
"I do. Every morning, pretty much, I have an avocado shake. I call it avocado pudding, because it’s more like pudding, and I eat it with a spoon. The recipe is on my app, but it’s avocado, Manuka honey, and almond milk or coconut milk. I used to do whole milk, but I don’t do dairy anymore. And I just feel like the avocado and the honey are so great for my skin and hair, and it keeps me full until lunchtime."
Does it taste good?
"I think it tastes really good. But some people who come over, I can tell they’re not into it. They were like, ' Oh, I think we should add ice,' because it’s kind of room-temperature. But it’s Brazilian, and I had a Brazilian baby nurse who made it for us and we all fell in love with it. Even my kids will eat it."
Photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images.
What is the most expensive beauty product you own?
What’s something you did for your skin in your 20s that you’re thankful for today?
"I have always used oil under my eyes and on my eyelids; I love the Manuka oils and I use that still. But Kim and I started doing that in, like, eighth grade. We used to put oil on instead of eye cream. I feel like the consistency is much lighter, and it doesn’t clog under your eyes, where I feel like a cream does, at least on me. That and...we’re just very conscious of taking care of our skin."
Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Have you noticed any changes in your skin since you stopped having dairy?
"Yeah, I really have. I feel like I have way less breakouts. And...I just feel like even energy-wise — I just feel better. I will cheat once in a while with a bite of mac 'n' cheese, or something like that."
What is the weirdest beauty treatment you've ever had?
"I haven’t really done any weird beauty treatments. I want to do the vampire facial."
It kind of looks scary...
"It does. I’ve heard that they can do it with a serum instead of blood. But I think, why not just go for it and do the whole thing? And I mean, why it would work sounds logical. I used to hang upside-down from my bed for like 20 minutes when I was in high school, because I heard it made your hair grow. I spent every night talking on the phone laying upside-down, but that’s not really a treatment..."
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images.
Besides products, do you have any skin-care secrets?
"Since around eighth grade, I've used a satin pillowcase. Khloé’s godmother, who was an actress, would always tell us that her beauty secret was to sleep on a satin pillowcase. And now, there are tons of them being sold. I think it’s good for your hair, too. I travel with mine. I have one that tries to keep your head in place, and keep you laying on your back, but it’s not practical for me. I like to smush my face into the pillow. So I feel like at least if I’m gonna do it, it’s better."
Have Kendall or Kylie taught you any beauty tips or tricks?
"Kylie is the makeup queen. She once told me: 'Don’t ever put black liner on the bottom of your eyes, even under your waterline, because it makes you look so much older, and it brings your eyes down.' And I was like, 'Never doing it ever again!'"
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
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We're living in tough times, and what you're about to hear won't make things any easier. It's no secret the country seems to have lost its footing on democracy and, well, just about everything else you can think of. But — oh, speaking of feet, a woman found a dead rodent sewn into her Zara dress and lived to tell the tale. So, hey, if she can get through the scratch of rat toenails against her thigh, you, too, can get through a Trump presidency.
Back in July, Cailey Fiesel bought a Zara dress that allegedly came with rodent-borne disease sewn into its hem. According to the NewYork Post, Fiesel wore the dress to work, and, for a reason unbeknownst to her at that time, she just couldn't seem to escape a terrible odor. You know, like, the only smell that's worse than walking into a vomit-scented dive bar.
Any who — as she walked around her office searching for potential culprits, the stench seemed to follow her. That's when, after feeling something rubbing against her leg, she reached down and grabbed ahold of a little rodent's foot. Yep. That little tickle was not a loose tag, nor was that smell the product of something that seemed to crawl inside a coworker's body and die — it was the paw of an actual rat.
Now, shopping at Zara comes with its own stresses. And most of its customers can agree that long lines and malfunctioning zippers are enough to warrant throwing a may-I-speak-to-the-manager-level type of fit Soccer Moms indulge in on the daily. But this is horrifying on so many levels. It was so horrifying for Fiesel, in fact, that the Midtown resident decided to match her nightmarish experience with an even nastier lawsuit against the giant retailer, suing Zara for "emotional distress" and (presumably) doctor fees to take care of a rat disease (she allegedly broke out in a rash) that no one asks for. And we don't blame her.
Though it's hard to wrap this story without gagging, we're going to do just that. We reached out to both Fiesel and Zara for comment, and a spokesperson for Zara USA responded, saying, "Zara USA is aware of the suit, and we are investigating the matter further. Zara USA has stringent health and safety standards, and we are committed to ensuring that all of our products meet these rigorous requirements." Well, there you have it.
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If you’re a true beauty nerd, chances are you’ve dipped your toes in a few loyalty programs. After all, it’s easy to rack up some perks — free shipping, steep discounts, the works — on purchases you were already planning to make.
But there’s another type of rewards program that oft goes forgotten, and that's the recycling incentives. If you're unfamiliar, that's when legit beauty brands hand over product freebies — without you having to spend a dime — every time you bring in your empty containers. Turn in five empty cans that once held your body scrub, get another one free. Drop off a few used-up eyeshadow pots, score a free lipstick in exchange. If this all sounds too good to be true, don't be fooled: These rewards are very, very real.
We've rounded up three of our favorite programs, so you can feel like a do-gooder while reaping some serious beauty benefits.
MAC Cosmetics
The brand offers plenty of rewards for recycling. The first is its Back To MAC program, in which you can receive a free lipstick for returning six empty product packages or tubes to your local MAC counter.
Even better, if you're a MAC Select member (which grants you exclusive access to limited edition products), those six empties can score you a lipstick, gloss, or eye shadow — again, with no additional money spent.
MAC Lipstick in Relentlessly Red, $17, available at MAC Cosmetics.
Lush
This fan-favorite bath and body brand is already good for the environment: Every black pot used is made with 100% recycled plastic. But thanks to its 5-Pot-Program you bring five of 'em to your local store once you're done, and Lush will give you a free face mask.
Lush Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion, $29.95, available at Lush.
Kiehl's
All it takes is one full-sized empty product for you to get started with Kiehl's Recycle & Be Rewarded Program. In exchange, you'll be given a stamp (similar to the one you get at your local coffee shop). Once you collect 10 stamps, you can choose to take home any travel-size product for free.
Kiehl's Bath and Shower Liquid Body Cleanser Grapefruit, $20, available at Kiehl's.
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So this image, of the family on the beach, should come as no surprise. But let's look at the caption. "Everything I need is right here," Levine writes. "(Beach optional)."
Clearly, we're meant to play some kind of finding game with this photo. What does Levine need?
He needs his wife, Behati Prinsloo. He needs a small to-go coffee cup, presumably filled with a small amount of coffee. He needs a sleeveless t-shirt with a slogan on it. He needs two arm sleeves worth of tattoos. He doesn't need pants; we don't see any. He needs Prinsloo to wear sunglasses (to block out the haters), a hat, and a baby carrier. But we see no baby. Maybe it's a stunt baby? We'll never know.
Oh and he does not need the beach. Don't even think of suggesting he needs the beach. Who do you think you are? But the definite message here: If you see Levine without a hat, offer him your own. He needs it.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. We only needed 121. Your move, Levine.
In what may be the most fun experiment in history, scientists from the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience are exploring the neural origins of ticklishness. To do this, they've enlisted the help of some cute participants: lab rats.
Like humans, rats make noise when they're tickled, according to a National Geographic video about the research. It's not exactly a laugh, though. It's too high-pitched for humans to hear, but when it's dropped to a lower frequency, it sounds like a squeak. And unlike many humans, they actually seem to enjoy tickling, chasing hands that tickle them after they let go.
By recording rats' brain activity while they were tickled, the researchers noticed that the neurons in the trunk of the somatosensory cortex — which is used for perception of touch — were active during tickling. To double check the theory that this is where ticklishness comes from, they electrically stimulated the region and found that the rats did indeed emit their signature tickling noise.
The interesting part, though, is that when the rats were in a bright, high-up, or otherwise stressful place, they didn't make that squeak. The authors of the paper, published in Science, think the rats' brains may suppress enjoyment in these situations so they can be on the alert for predators.
Check out the video below to watch rats being tickled for the sake of your education.
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The looming reality of a Trump presidency has caused as much fear as it has violence. Timereports that racist incidents are on the rise since the election last Tuesday, and people are doing everything they can to fight back — that includes wearing...safety pins?
The pins have become a symbol of solidarity with victims, but while well-intentioned, they might not be as helpful as people think, especially when they're solid gold and on sale for $335 on Etsy.
The seller, Rebecca Cullen, currently lists a necklace embellished with two solid 14k safety pins. While she notes in what appears to be a more recent edit that she's been selling the necklaces since 2009, this election has given them a whole new meaning.
"This is a design I created in 2009 and have sold on and off on my site," she writes. "People got excited when they saw it. Some people purchased it in silver, and in gold to symbolize something they believe in."
Here's the thing: while Cullen adds that 10% of profits will go to Planned Parenthood, she's still receiving a lot of cash for herself while somewhat capitalizing off of other peoples' struggles. Twitter users pointed out as much when they took to social media to complain.
If anyone is tempted by a fucking $300 safety pin necklace you could spend $10 on BLM pin & give $290 to groups working to make people safe.
If someone has $335 to spare, that money is better spent as a donation to a charity that will actually help people rather than on a "symbol" that, while nice in theory, doesn't actually do much for the very thing it's supposed to symbolize.
Cullen responded to the backlash on the Etsy listing, writing, "If you like it, buy it. If you don't, you don't need to buy it. I love what the safety pin has come to symbolize. I too, stand with Hillary. I think we should all go forward with positivity and hope. If I have offended anyone with my jewelry I apologize."
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Unfortunately, many people still consider it unfeminine to be strong, both physically and mentally. Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman would know: When she was growing up, she was bullied for her physical strength.
But she hasn't let her body — or her body-shamers — bother her. In an Instagram post last week, she explained why she embraces her muscles.
"Shoutout to all the boys from 5th-9th grade who made fun of me for being 'too strong,'" she wrote. "Thanks for forcing me to learn to love myself and my body. My muscular arms that were considered weird and gross when I was younger have made me one of the best gymnasts on the planet. Don't ever let anyone tell you how you should or shouldn't look. There is no such thing as a perfect body type."
It's no secret that the mainstream beauty world is made up of a web of mega beauty companies that own numerous others. The many-brands-under-one-roof concept is something that insiders know very well, from Kylie and ColourPop to, well, just about all the big guys. In the grand scheme of things, Estée Lauder is one of the heavyweights, with brands like MAC, Tom Ford, Bumble and bumble, and many more under its umbrella — but the latest to join the roster is setting major records.
Estée Lauder just acquired Too faced for a cool 1.45 billion, the biggest acquisition in Lauder's history. So how will this impact you and the products you love? What about the cruelty-free formulas? Let's dive in.
First things first: A rep from Too Faced confirmed this: "The formulas will stay the same, and yes, the brand will stay 100% cruelty-free!" Phew!
“We started our careers behind the counters of the Estée Lauder brand, so this is truly a ‘homecoming’ for us," Jeremy Johnson and Jerrod Blandino, cofounders of Too Faced said in an official statement. “The Estée Lauder Companies appreciates our unique vision — to provide innovative, cruelty-free makeup products that give women the confidence to ‘have fun, play, and dream big’ — and is committed to ensuring that we retain and build on the core pillars of our brand that are so important to us and our fans."
And don't expect them to waver on those feel-good pillars many fans love: “We will not be animal testing, we will not be going into China, we will not be made to fold into a corporate culture that we do not have," Blandino told WWD. "[ELC] love and respect what we have created and are just going to support us and lift us up, without changing us in any way but great.”
Fret not, for all the Too Faced goodness is here to stay...
This is a developing story, and we will update it as new information comes in.
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Update: Last month, Whoopi Goldberg's assortment of kitschy, ugly holiday sweaters, created with Lord & Taylor, launched with three designs. Today, the rest of the collection dropped, with the rollout of five additional styles; now, the full assortment of eight sweaters is available at the retailer's stores and online. Basically, there's a quirky, festive knit for everyone on your list.
This story was originally published on October 13, 2016.
Whoopi Goldberg's first foray into fashion design is befitting of the funny actress and TV host, and it's got a pretty sentimental hook, too: (ugly) holiday sweaters, anyone? Goldberg paired up with Lord & Taylor on a capsule of festive knits that are cheekier than what you'd find while sifting through the racks at your local Salvation Army.
The idea originated from an offhand remark Goldberg made to Tommy Leonardis, her longtime business partner, about whipping up her own kooky seasonal knits. Leonardis, who is also president of her company, Whoop, Inc., then brought the idea up to their mutual friend, fashion investor Gary Wassner. "Holiday sweaters signal that better times are coming, you know?" Goldberg told Refinery29. "I always find that holidays should be better. Families come together, if they’re able to, and there's something about the season that feels like, 'Hey, whatever else is going on, we got this to look forward to for a couple of weeks.' So, I love holiday sweaters, and I wear them a lot."
She estimates that her own collection of kitschy knits clocked in at 20 to 25 sweaters (before she added her own designs to the mix, of course). So, when is it appropriate to start wearing them? "On December 1, I bust them out, " Goldberg told us, definitively.
Designs include reindeer Rockettes doing a kickline, a little boy wearing a yarmulke while he decorates a Christmas tree with a dreidel, and one that features a "family where everybody looks alike except one person, but nobody really cares, ‘cause it’s the holidays," Goldberg explained. For future design endeavors, she would love to dabble in glasses or socks collabs: "Both of those are things I love, and glasses are a big deal to me."
As for Goldberg's holiday shopping strategy? It's impressive bordering on overachiever status. "I’m finished. I did it all in the summertime, when nobody else is doing it; you get the best deals then," she said. "I know that if I don’t designate the time to do it, I’m not gonna get it done. It's easier now, because all my grandkids are in their 20s," Goldberg said. "I have one great-grandbaby, who’s going to be 3 years old in March, so she’s the one that I concentrate on."
Goldberg's own holiday wishlist is very Spartan; in fact, it's basically nonexistent. "You can’t really get stuff for me, because I’ve got a lot of stuff!" she said. "So I discourage it. I ask for scratch-offs. Whether you spend a dollar or $5 on it, that and a card makes me pretty happy."
Each sweater will run you $139, exclusively available at Lord & Taylor. Click through to check out the collection.
Whoopi Goldberg Zip-Up Ugly Christmas Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Family Elf Ugly Christmas Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Octopus Printed Swing Hanukah Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Dancing Reindeer Jingle Bell Ugly Christmas Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Gingerbread Men Turtleneck Ugly Christmas Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Hark The Herald Angels Sing Ugly Christmas Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Light-Up Christmas Tree Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
Whoopi Goldberg Christmas Tree Skirt Swing Ugly Christmas Sweater, $139, available at Lord & Taylor.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor.
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