Posts

Reader question: I have really dry lips so lipstick always looks terrible on me. Is there any way for me to wear it? —Judy Price As someone with eternally chapped lips, lipstick has always felt intimidating to me too. There are few things more unpleasant (and anti-ASMR) than slathering lipstick over dry lips, and unless you were blessed with supernatural membranes, flaking tends to be a perpetual problem. And don’t even get me started on matte finishes, which might as well be dry lip purgatory....

To understand how your habits can boost your immune functioning, know that there are two basic types of immunity in the body: innate and acquired. The innate immune system is your body’s first line of defense. “When an infectious agent, such as a bacteria or virus, attempts to invade your body, it immediately confronts the innate immune system, which has several components, each of which acts to restrict access to the body,” Dr....

“Identifying your curl type could feel like cracking a sci-fi case, but luckily there’s a curl classification system that was created by Andre Walker to help you identify your curls,” explains Irinel de León, a celebrity hairstylist and Ouidad ambassador. “To put it simply, type one is straight hair, type two is wavy, type three is curly, and type four is coily. Within those types, there are sub-classifications such as A, B, or C, which are based on the diameter of your wave or curl....

The best way to chop chocolate for baking—without rediscovering cement-like bits of it on every surface for months to come—is quite easy. All you’ll need are a couple of damp paper towels, a microwave, and a serrated knife. Here’s how. Why soften the chocolate? The less hard, dense texture makes the bar easier to cut, plus it’ll project fewer dusty shavings and there will be less risk of the knife sliding off and nicking a finger....

We asked a couple cleaning pros for the full rundown on how to clean TV screens of all types, including flat plasma and LCD screens, along with some common mistakes people make when cleaning their TV screens so you know exactly what to avoid. How Often You Should Clean a TV Screen To prevent buildup from accumulating on your TV screen, aim for a once-weekly TV cleaning. “It’s important to clean your TV screen not only to prolong its lifespan, but also to provide the clearest picture possible—smudges, dust, and fingerprints be gone,” says Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional with Two Maids & a Mop....

What You’ll Need: An empty spray bottlewaterwhite vinegarsoft clothtea tree oil (optional) Instructions: Experts recommend cleaning your yoga mat once a week if you’re practicing regularly, either with this homemade cleaning solution, a pre-mixed mat cleaner, or wipes. A clean mat will take you from ugh to om!

How to Clean Potatoes Start by choosing good potatoes that feel firm to the touch and don’t have a musty order or abundant discoloration and blemishes. It doesn’t take long to clean potatoes; you just need cold water and a vegetable brush. If you want the potato skins to crisp up, make sure to pat them dry with a towel before cooking them. Do You Need to Wash Potatoes? In short, yes, it’s very important to wash potatoes before cooking with them....

Also, clean out the dishwasher filter (located at the bottom of the machine) at least once per month with warm, soapy water and a soft brush. This three-minute chore could not only be the difference between sparkly clean dishes and caked-on food particles, but also between a fresh- and foul-smelling machine. Before you go on vacation (or if your home has a toilet that isn’t used often, such as in a guest room), flush the toilet several times before you leave for the trip, as well as when you return....

Learning how to cook acorn squash begins with its easy prep. It’s a breeze since there is no real need to peel the squash, as the flesh separates easily from the skin and can be eaten directly from the shell once cooked. (Eating the skin is a personal preference but it is edible, just be sure to wash and scrub well). You will always want to start by halving the squash through the stem to remove the seeds and stringy bits and using a sharp chef’s knife and a stable work surface to do so....

After you have your cut of choice, you only need a few ingredients to cook steak. While you can always add steak sauces, rubs, and wet or dry brine, this is your guide for a basic steak. (And if you’re ready to take things up a notch, you can always use a cast-iron skillet to make a pan-seared steak at home.) How to Cook Steak Take the steak out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature....

Cutting fresh pineapple yourself is so easy, in fact, you may soon find myriad reasons to make your favorite fresh pineapple recipes, from Pineapple Caramel for ice cream to Maple Glazed Salmon with Pineapple. If you’re a fan of smoothies, you can save money by buying fresh pineapple, cutting it up, and then freezing it for your fruity beverage. Fresh pineapple, once cut, will last in your refrigerator for about 5 days, and one large fruit will make about 8 cups of chopped pieces....

While you may be familiar with the benefit of letting a steak rest after it has finished cooking (it keeps the juices locked in), there’s also a perk to taking the meat out of the refrigerator to rest before cooking. By letting the meat begin to come to room temperature for at least 15 minutes, the muscle fibers will begin to relax, resulting in a much more tender product. Otherwise, placing a very cold piece of meat directly on a hot grill or skillet will cause the muscles to toughen up and result in a tougher bite....

But not much is worse than sitting outside in the fresh air on a hot summer day and smelling your garbage cans in the distance. It’s not like you can remove the bags (and thus the odor). Is there anything that can mask that offensive smell until garbage day? Fortunately, the solution is simple. Find out how to keep outdoor garbage cans from smelling by using items you may already have in your pantry....

If you love the look of braids but consider yourself braid-challenged, let me introduce you to the foolproof bubble braid. These easy-to-achieve plaits consist of fluffed-out sections of hair divided by hair ties. Unlike other pigtails, this is an Insta-worthy hairstyle you don’t need a pro to perfect. Why? The name itself is a bit of a misnomer. “Bubble braids are essentially a modern and playful update to standard ponytails, so it’s way easier to achieve than a traditional braid,” says Miko Branch, hairstylist and CEO of Miss Jessie’s....

Reader question: “How do you hydrate hair that has been bleached, colored, and recolored? My scalp is dry too!” —@calliugraphic For the longest time, I thought that having healthy bleached hair was an impossible oxymoron. While I did opt for the occasional coloring session, I stressed that my stylist never touch bleach. Unfortunately, that also meant that the lightest shade I could ever achieve was dark caramel. Eventually, my dreams of going blonde grew too strong, and I caved....

You might shake off these experiences and attribute them to personality differences, someone having a bad day, or something other than bullying entirely. But according to a 2017 survey by the American Osteopathic Association, adults are being bullied nearly as often as adolescents. Of those surveyed, 31% of Americans admitted to experiencing “repeated, negative behavior intended to harm or intimidate,” with 43% saying the behavior has intensified during the last year....

And the two are similar, crucially, in the hot comfort they bring. Making panelle is rewarding. It is easily worth the small effort. The resulting fries—shaped not like fingers, but flat moons or half-moons—make for a great opener, snack, or side dish, much like potato fries. In the old country, people even slide them onto buns, making for a soft sandwich. Like many Mediterranean foods, the beauty of panelle lies in simplicity....

What You Need Dry ingredients (such as flour or salt)Spoon Measuring cup and spoonKnife Follow These Steps

Reader question: What are the best ways to prevent wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes? —@mktesta85 They say your undereyes are the first place to show signs of aging, yet so many of us neglect that area in our skincare routine. So it’s a very good thing that you’re already getting a head start—preventative skincare is the best approach to anti-aging. While having lines under your eyes is a normal, completely natural part of getting older, you can take steps to minimize them by incorporating anti-wrinkle eye creams into your skincare routine and by practicing preventive lifestyle methods....