About Health

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

5 Eyebrow Enhancersâ€”Explained

5 Eyebrow Enhancersâ€"Explained

The help you need to navigate the plethora of options these days

We all want perfect brows, but with the influx of new products, there's clearly more than one way to get us there. Which is the right one to use?

"There are some products that work well for almost all face shapes and complexions, whereas others do not and are more specific to skill level," says makeup artist Brittany Gay of Tenacious Glam Cosmetics at New York-based Oasis Day Spa. Below, she walks us through each type of product to help you find your perfect fit.

1. Powder
"I prefer powder to enhance a brow over most products because it gives a softer and more youthful look," says Gay. "This is probably the best product to fit every lifestyle." If you can apply eyeshadow, you can apply brow powder. The same rules apply.

Application Tip: "Use an angled brush [with short, stiff bristles] when applying. This will make for a smooth and more precise application." Use the brush tip to follow the outline of the brows, coloring between the hairs with soft, even strokes.

2. Pencil
"Eyebrow pencils are good for creating a slightly different shape for a poorly shaped brow," says Gay. "The application with a pencil is very sharp and clean." However, because the application is so sharp, it requires more skill and practice. Use with a light touch or soften with powder.

Application Tip: "Apply in soft strokes, almost like you're sketching," says Gay. "A common mistake with pencil is drawing a shape that is too strong, so be mindful."

3. Pomade
"A pomade is best to use when you want a very sleek look that keeps the brow hairs controlled while at the same time giving definition," says Gay. Because most pomades are made of wax, the finished effect is a bit more stiff. For more movement, stick to powder or pencil.

RELATED: Eyebrow Extensions Now Exist

Application Tip: "Use it sparingly. A little goes a long way." Similar to how you apply powder, use an angled brush to blend the product onto the skin and hairs. After dipping your brush into the product, swipe it across the back of your hand to remove excess. "Use a little bit of foundation to clean up underneath the brow to achieve a clean shape."

4. Gel
No matter what you're starting with, brow gel can elevate your look. "Eyebrow gel is great over powder to tame the brow hair," says Gay. "Clear gel is great to use on brows that are already dark and just need to be combed in place. And if you need to strengthen the color, this product is great for that, too." She recommends always choosing a gel one shade lighter than your hair color. "Going too dark can age the face and be too harsh."

Application Tip: "Apply lightly just on the brow—not on the skin—combing the brows up and out toward your hair line." This adds movement to the brow so it looks groomed, yet natural.

5. Tint
Although only temporary, eyebrow tints are now available as at-home solutions in pen form. "If you change your hair color and need to darken your naturally light brows, a brow tint is a life saver," says Gay. "Select a shade that is closest in tone to your hair color, and then grab one shade lighter."

Application Tip: Because tints are highly pigmented, apply softly like you would a pencil and expect to put in some practice time. "Only apply the product to the brow hairs," says Gay. "Avoid the skin around and behind the brows." Otherwise, product will be noticeable to the naked eye.

The Workout Playlist That Doubles as a Stress Reliever

The Workout Playlist That Doubles as a Stress Reliever

Peloton Cycle wants you to get lost in the music.

Every week, Your New Favorite Playlist introduces you to workout-worthy tunes from a different fitness brand. This week, Peloton Cycle shares one of its recent playlists.

While dozens of riders get sweaty on the ground-floor studio at Peloton Cycle in New York City, a video producer works in the basement, switching between camera angles to give home riders the best view possible of the instructor. "Our studio in New York is a place where we teach dance-type classes, but we also have five different cameras in the room that are live-streaming our classes to people at home," says Stephanie Nieman, head coach at Peloton Cycle. Riders who purchase the company's bike ($1,995, pelotoncycle.com) and pay the $39 per month subscription fee can stream live rides or take them on demand. They're exactly the same as the bikes used in the studio, but with a 21.5-inch high-def touch screen.

Fans of the brand who want to use a different bike—say, one at their gym—can tune in via the Peloton Cycle app (which currently doesn't charge for class streaming). "All of our instructors are great at connecting with the clients, whether it's their first time or 100th time [riding]," says Nieman. "Even if they're not in the studio, we call out their names at home and get with them on Twitter and Facebook."

The high production quality is part of what sets Peloton's videos apart from a lot of the other fitness class-streaming services out there—and a top-notch playlist is part of the Peloton experience. "Music is a huge motivator," says Nieman. "I really focus on creating a journey: I have a method where I start with a song that gets you focused, and then I'll play a song that teases you. And then the third song is always a banging party song." Here's a mix she created for a recent class:

You can download the playlist on Spotify. Not ready to sweat this second? Sample some of the songs:

Peloton Cycle is located in New York City.

5 Ways You're Being a Bad Friend Without Knowing It

5 Ways You're Being a Bad Friend Without Knowing It

And how to be friendship necklace-worthy

Would you want to be your friend? At one point or another—if we were really being honest—we’d all probably say “no.”

That’s because friendships, like any relationship, can get a bit too comfortable over time. And while a good friend will know when you’re just having a bad day, it’s easy to get into bad habits without even realizing it, says Irene S. Levine, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine and producer of TheFriendshipBlog.com.

Since your friends aren’t always the first ones to call you out on your crap, we’re here to do it. Check out the five most common ways you might be being a bad friend.

1. Being Chronically Late
We know: Your schedule is packed. And who doesn’t occasionally hit the snooze button one too many times? But if your friends have stopped counting on you to be on time, you’re being a bad friend. “When you show up late or don’t show up at all, you’re conveying that your friends’ time is less valuable than yours,” says Levine. “It devalues the other person.” Think long and hard about how you may be making your friends feel and if you need to re-examine your schedule and priorities. “Or, if you’re only late with one individual, consider whether your tardiness might reflect your ambivalence or lack of interest in the friendship,” she says.

2. Being Too Needy
Friends help each other out. But are you asking for more favors (Can you pick up my kid from school? Give me a ride? Cover my dinner just this one time?) than you’re handing out? Your pal probably feels it, and it can wear thin. Friendships need to be reciprocal—not every second, but in the long run, says Levine. “Make sure that you are as attentive to your friend as you expect her to be to you." Consider scaling back on the requests for favors and helping her out more—even when she doesn’t ask for it. The most thoughtful gestures are the ones you do on your own.

3. Expecting Your Friendship to Stay the Same
People change, and so should friendships. If you expect—or even pressure—your best friend to be the same person she was in college, you’re going to be frustrated—and possibly friendless. “Just because your friend used to join you on bar crawls, it doesn’t mean that she can do the same when she has a newborn,” says Levine. You've got to accept her as she is now rather than assuming she's going to be the person she was 10 years ago, says Levine. After all, you’ll want her to adapt to changes in your life, whether it’s a new job, city, boyfriend, or baby.

4. Talking Too Much
Are you having a conversation or monologuing? “If you’re the one doing all the talking, you may not even notice that your friend is rolling her eyes or looking at her watch,” says Levine. Plus, often, when women are just trying to show solidarity (think: “The same thing happened to me! This one time…”), they can inadvertently cut off friends and make them feel like they’re being one-upped. Instead, take a breath and ask her about what’s going on with her. “Make sure that you show interest in your friend by asking questions and being an active listener,” says Levine. And if you really have that much to vent about, Levine recommends seeking the helpful ear of a counselor or therapist.

5. Never Planning
Do you ask out your friends or wait for them to call you? Do you count on them to figure out what to do every time you’re together? “If you never initiate, friends may interpret it as a lack of interest in the friendship and stop asking you to do things,” says Levine. So pick a day, and pitch some ideas to your friends. A good rule of thumb: For every invite a friend extends your way, try to extend one back.

All gifs courtesy of giphy.com

Why You Shouldn't Feel Like Crap When Your Yoga Instructor Corrects You

Why You Shouldn't Feel Like Crap When Your Yoga Instructor Corrects You

We promise, that physical adjustment isn't an insult.

Once upon a time, before I became a professional yoga teacher, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing on the mat. None. I was a blundering teenager who had no concept of proper physical alignment or how doing a pose incorrectly could potentially damage my seemingly indestructible body.

I somehow survived this way for years. (I believe it's called "being a resilient teenager.") But once I decided to partake in a yoga teacher training program, everything changed. Day one of our physical practice will be seared in my memory forever. We had two teachers and roughly 10 assistants for a group of 39. We went through a vigorous practice, and the assistants were on me like white on rice—I couldn't even hold downward facing dog without them adjusting the rotation of my arms, the width of my posture, or the angle of my pelvis.

It's a miracle I survived the class with my sensitive disposition because I took each adjustment as a literal "You suck. You're doing everything wrong. Why on earth are you in a teacher training program?" Of course, not everyone's internal dialogue is as insecure, but it's more common than not for newbies to take physical adjustments from the teacher as an insult. It's easy to assume that you're being adjusted because you're wrong.

Truthfully, sometimes that is the case—but don't take it the wrong way. We all start off doing poses wrong. It's impossible to waltz into a classroom and nail every minute detail. It's the teacher's job to see the students who could potentially harm themselves and prevent that injury. These adjustments aren't coming from an "I know better than you" place. A good teacher wants to see you grow and understand the postures at a deep level. Every time a teacher changes your alignment, know it's coming from a place of concern, nurturing, and support.

Some adjustments are given as preventative medicine, while others are given as a way to deepen the practice, or enhance the posture through better alignment. There are plenty of postures you'll think you're doing correctly, but because of the nature of the poses, you can't truly tell. A teacher's hands-on assistance can illuminate these blind spots and get us back on track to feeling our best in the pose.

There are also certain poses that—even if you're a practitioner who knows her alignments well and puts in the time and dedication to constantly improving your practice—you can't go further in without the physical aid of another person. You’ll see assists like this given frequently in an Ashtanga class—a beautiful pose can soar to magnificent with a smart and beautifully executed assist.

Let's also not overlook the fact that yoga adjustments can be a beautiful way to give love. Plain and simple. A beautiful savasana adjustment, a gentle push on someone's lower back during child's pose, or even an elongating push in downward facing dog creates a blissful state of yumminess.

All of this being said, you have the right to turn down physical adjustments. Perhaps you are a seasoned practitioner with an injury and you'd prefer not to be touched. Or you're dealing with something on an emotional level that prevents you from wanting that physical contact. All you need to do is approach the teacher at the beginning of the class, tell him or her what's going on, and politely request no adjustments. This is completely normal and respectable. Remember: At the end of the day, this is your practice—listen to your body and choose what works best for you.

5 Fitness Gear Lines You Should Get Sweaty-Excited About

5 Fitness Gear Lines You Should Get Sweaty-Excited About

#OOTD

It's only January, but big things are already happening in the workout gear world for 2015. From fashion designers and huge celebrities releasing fitness apparel to awesome clothing lines getting in on exercise threads, find out which brands you should keep an eye out for this year:

Cynthia Rowley

Cynthia Rowley
These not-yet-released sporty separates, which come from designer Cynthia Rowley, are made for workout activities from surfing to cycling. You can also mix them with ready to wear. Rowley calls the pieces "functional fitness gear," and we like the sound of that!
Date available: March
Where: Cynthia Rowley stores and cynthiarowley.com
Price: $78 to $178

Zella

Zella
Nordstom, which has its own fabulous active wear brand, Zella, just opened month-log pop-up Zone Zella. Not only does Zone Zella have limited-edition apparel that is perfect for the cold weather—such as layering pieces, reflective details, and bold prints—but it also introduces shoes, a first for the brand. Definitely worth checking out this month!
Date available: Now until February 9
Where: Select Nordstom stores and on nordstrom.com
Price: $10 to $345

Free People

Free People Movement
With a focus on yoga, surf, dance, and run, FP Movement is about comfortable pieces for the free spirit. Bonus: On January 20, Free People (in partnership with us!) is hosting inspirational fitness events in six cities around the world as they launch their new collection. Get more info at freepeople.com/fpletsmove and by following #FPLetsMove!
Date available: Now
Where: freepeople.com/fp-movement/
Price: $10 to $234

Ramy Brook

Après Ramy Brook
This collection is for après—or after—your workout, meaning it will help you look good leaving your sweat session. With cute rompers, sleek jumpsuits, loose tops, and super chic sweats, you'll want to hit the gym just for the trip home in this gear!
Date available: Mid-February
Where: Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, shopbop.com, ramybrook.com, and at the new Ramy Brook boutique in New York City
Price: Under $200

Calia by Carrie Underwood

Calia by Carrie Underwood
Carrie teamed up with DICK'S Sporting Goods to make the kind of fitness wear she would actually want to have in her closet. They're high-quality, supportive garments. Oh, and they're super cute.
Date available: The beginning of March
Where: DICK'S Sporting Goods stores and dickssportinggoods.com
Price: $15 to $79

4 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started Losing Weight

4 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE I Started Losing Weight

A.K.A. what NOT to do if you want to shed pounds

This article was written by Jenny Sugar and repurposed with permission from POPSUGAR Fitness.

I was no stranger to the freshman 15 in college—in fact, I experienced something closer to the freshman 30. It wasn't until I saw a photo of myself heading into my sophomore year that I realized I was carrying quite a few extra pounds and that it was time to do something about it. It took me a very long time to lose the weight (we're talking not until after graduation) all because I thought I knew what I was doing. Boy, was I wrong. Here are four things I wish I'd known at the start of my weight-loss journey.

1. Eating Peanut Butter Out of the Jar Isn't Healthy
While peanut butter is full of heart-healthy fats, it's not void of calories. I found myself spooning it straight out of the jar, wondering why my jeans weren't any looser. This is important to remember with all healthy foods: Just because they aren't considered junky doesn't mean you can eat as much as you want. Be aware of portion sizes when it comes to whole grains, nuts, seeds, and health food store snacks.

2. Being Vegan Doesn't Automatically Cause Weight Loss
My two roommates in college were tall, skinny, and vegan, so I thought eating a plant-based diet was the key to dropping pounds. I may have ditched animal products, but I ended up eating tons of pasta, bread, french fries, dairy-free ice cream, and vegan chocolate cupcakes instead. Had I focused on fresh fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains, a vegan diet might have helped me reach my weight-loss goal, but my junk-food vegan diet actually caused me to gain weight.

3. Walking Isn't Enough
Walking is definitely a better workout than just sitting on the couch, so I thought strolling through the mall and walking to class would do the trick. But walking isn't a major calorie-burner like running. When it comes to losing weight, you need to burn or cut out 3,500 calories a week to lose a pound. A 30-minute walk only burns around 122 calories, which is well under the 500 it takes to affect a weekly weigh-in. If you want to lose weight, you'll need to kick up the intensity and the length of your workouts.

4. Working Out Doesn't Mean You Can Eat Everything
After hitting a Step class with my college roommate, we'd go to the dining hall and fuel up. We worked out, so we deserved it, right? Little did I know I was undoing all the good I had done and actually eating way more than I had burned, which was making the scale numbers go even higher. If you need a little workout reward, don't do it with food. Download some new songs on iTunes, pick up a new book, or buy yourself a new top to motivate you to get to the gym.

Why Do Women SUCK At Being Friends with Benefits?

Why Do Women SUCK At Being Friends with Benefits?

One lady who’s tried the no-strings-attached thing—unsuccessfully—gives us the straight talk.

FWB is such a good idea in theory: You both get sex, and neither of you has to deal with the commitment (and let's be honest: sometimes stress) that comes along with being in a relationship. You tell yourself that he's attractive enough for a couple of rolls in the hay, but you know he’s not worth losing sleep over...at least at first. Soon enough, though, you find yourself waiting on pins and needles for him to text you back—or worse, waiting on some decrepit couch at his friend's house while he finishes band practice. Why does this happen time and time again? How is it that women are so monumentally bad at being friends with benefits?

Our Hormones Do Us Dirty
I once hooked up with this guy who I knew was a total d-bag from the first time we made out: He actually stopped mid-kiss to ask me what my SAT score was (and this was a good 10 years after I'd graduated high school). I knew I had no intention of dating him but was going through a breakup and needed a distraction. As soon as we’d slept together, though, I found myself waiting around for calls from him and putting up with a litany of horrendous behaviors: from asking me to pay for my iced tea at a lunch when I wasn’t eating to taking me on a “date” at 24 Hour Fitness. I believe I have the hormone oxytocin to thank for that one. It’s released after we have sex, and it makes us feel bonded to our partner and causes us to evaluate them more favorably than they probably deserve to be viewed.

A photo posted by Andrea Roa Sanchez (@urbayb) on Jan 9, 2015 at 5:34pm PST

We Ignore Obvious Red Flags
Often, it’s clear that we should just part ways with a guy, but good sex and inexplicable emotional attachment can be blinders when it comes to signs that it’s time to say sayonara. One friend told me that while she was hooking up with a guy, he called out the name of his ex, for whom he had made it clear that he still had feelings. She knew that this was his twisted way of making sure she didn’t get the wrong idea about what they were doing. So she made sure to punish him for this offensive behavior by...err...talking to him about his ex for hours later that night.

We Pick Guys We Don't Even Feel Good About Sleeping With
The catch-22 of finding a suitable FWB is that you have to choose someone you don’t like enough to actually want to date...but if you wouldn’t date them, you'll probably regret sleeping with them. Another friend of mine who got married young and then was going through a divorce decided that she needed a dude to distract her while she made it through a real rough patch. She ended up sleeping with a fellow student in one of her college classes (she had also gone back to school around this time). He was, if nothing else, well-endowed (she referred to him by his penis size, “Nine”).

A photo posted by @holster2707 on Jun 10, 2014 at 12:35am PDT

One afternoon, Nine asked for some help with his English paper, and my friend told him to pull some quotes from an article while she took a shower. She got out of the shower, and he had the article in his hand and told her that he had “read the article twice” and that there were none of those, “Whaddyacallem, quote thingies. Like the two lines up top.” Horrified that she had been sleeping with a man with whom she could never hold a conversation, she took one last ride on Nine before ending things. A few months later, he came into her work and asked if she never went out with him because he was really stupid and she was really smart. After she told him yes (as politely as possible), his next Facebook post was “I need to go to Oz and get me a brain.” Perhaps while he’s there, he can ask the great and powerful Oz to bestow the wisdom upon all women to know that more often than not, friends with benefits just turn into liabilities with baggage.

...But Sometimes to Justify Our Decisions, We Actually Let Them be Our Boyfriends!
The whole purpose of a friend with benefits is that we can have our sexual needs met without worrying about introducing somebody to our parents who identifies as a “freegan”—but sometimes, probably just to prove that we haven't "wasted" our time on the guy in question, we manage to convince ourselves that real pieces of work are actual boyfriend material. I have an actress friend who hooked up with a guy, only to learn that he had cast her in his short film—but not as his love interest (he'd picked another girl for that part). Put off by this, she ended things with him. But a week later, he got drunk and asked her to be his girlfriend. They dated for six years. His name still shows up on her car registration.