7 Vegan Beauty Products To Try During Veganuary 2020

It's Vegnauary, which means people are shunning their meat or animal-based products in favour of animal based goodness. While the focus of Veganuary is usually on food products, there are changes that we can make to our other parts of our daily routines to support the vegan movement also, including when it comes to our beauty and wellness. This may come as a surprise, but not all beauty products are all completely plant based, even if they're cruelty free, so always pay attention to the labels. Here are the best vegan beauty products to get your Veganuary 2020 started.

If you aren't totally familiar with all the phrasing around beauty products, green news site Tree Hugger has some very useful explanations. According to them, cruelty free means "that the ingredients/components and final product have not been tested on animals. It refers to the testing process, not the ingredients." Vegan, on the other hand, means "that a product does not contain any animal products or animal-derived ingredients. It describes the ingredients, rather than the production process." This means that products cannot contain the ingredients such as beeswax, honey, lanolin, milk, carmine, keratin, or sugar that has been cured using charred bones.

Below are 7 products to incorporate into your beauty routine if you're hoping to go vegan for January and maybe beyond.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Foundation
Think of the best foundation you've ever tried, because I'm betting you that this can top it. A medium coverage that can be built up but feels weightless on the skin. This product comes in loads of shades, so you'll definitely find your match.

2. Foreo Vegan Smart Mask
This product is designed to be used in conjunction with Foreo's UFO masking device and honestly it's a bit of a game changer. This mask is part of a Farm to Face collection with a focus on finding nourishing vegan skin care that really works, and it does.

3. White Glo Pure & Natural Whitening Toothpaste
Interestingly, a lot of toothpastes (especially whitening ones) aren't actually vegan, so enter White Glo. Always free from chemicals, it contains natural cleansers and even comes with a eco-friendly, bamboo toothbrush.

4. Alchemy Oil
If your hair is needing a little TLC after the festive season, look no further. This is the perfect product to unwind with and even use for a head massage. Lucky for us, the entire Alchemy range is vegan, so have a browse around their site.

5. Tandem More Than Moisturiser
This is seriously good for skin and acts as a pretty great primer pre makeup. It's super delicate and lightweight and definitely won't leave your skin looking greasy.

6. Only Curls Travel Mini Collection
These products are packed full of goodness and offer only the best for curly hair. They will keep your curls moisturised and soft and of course bouncy. If you have curly hair this is a must try.

7. OG Vegan Shellac
It's sad to think that most shellac colours actually aren't vegan. Luckily this range by OG is and has a huge range of colours that you'll be able to try.

Drop the myths about roses

It’s very strange. Roses are wonderfully rewarding and easy to grow, but they have the reputation of being ‘difficult’. All that mumbo-jumbo about pruning, all that earnest advice on pests and disease that’s where the trouble begins. But almost all the traditional advice on how to grow roses is baloney.

I don’t spray my roses, even though I live in a very wet area and most of my plants get mildew or black spot. Some get both. Does it matter? Not at all. Fungal diseases never killed any rose and few are the plants that mildew and black spot actually render unsightly, but this year’s victims are often free from disease the following year. I’ve no moral objection to chemicals, but life is too short to spray and we’re not here to underwrite the profits of the chemicals industry.

The pruning of roses has acquired a mystique of its own. I don’t prune to any particular regime. In fact, the only time I prune roses is when I think they’re getting too big, not flowering enough or need opening up. That’s the key to pruning—think of roses as just another shrub. Take Hybrid Teas, for example. I do deadhead them if I have the time, but may let them go for three or four years without a proper prune, whereupon they start flowering much earlier and produce many more flowers.

When they reach their natural height (say, 6ft), they don’t flower so prolifically, which is when I give them a renewal cut, back to about half of their height, to encourage new growth. This could be at any time of the year—in midwinter, for example, or in midsummer after the first flush of flowering. It really doesn’t matter.

I grow at least 1,000 roses of every imaginable type and they don’t seem to suffer from my failure to apply the traditional rose wisdom (‘prune them in late winter to within an inch of their life’), which was developed in the 19th century by people who grew roses to win competitions. In fact, I think my roses look better than most.

Nor is it true that ‘roses are gross feeders’. This is also a myth that dates from the 19th-century fashion for growing roses for exhibition. A Hybrid Perpetual—and, later, a Hybrid Tea—would be grafted onto a vigorous rootstock, piled up with manure and pruned and disbudded so that it produced only one flower, big enough to win a prize. Then, the plant would be dug up and burned. Nowa-days, roses are garden plants.

I haven’t got the time to lug barrowfuls of manure around the garden in winter and, anyway, one never has enough of the stuff for every plant that would enjoy a dollop. So are roses gross feeders or not? It would be truer to say that roses respond well to feeding. All shrubs do.

Nurserymen encourage us to believe that rose bushes don’t live for long. That’s not true, either. The rose trade is posited on novelty new is beautiful, old is rubbish but some of the best roses are great survivors. There is a plant of the climbing Tea Rose Homère on the south side of the parish church at Staplefield in West Sussex that was planted in 1862. As for the quality of individual varieties, a Hybrid Tea such as Peace is still a much better rose, 70 years after it was first introduced, than many of its descendants. The RHS acknowledged this last year by confirming its Award of Garden Merit.

But one learns all the time. This year, the flowers on my roses have been enormous. I put it down to the very wet spring. The lesson? Roses also respond to watering, even in the damp British climate. In future, I shall water them—but only if I can find the time.

So, let’s abandon the myths. You know, I know, rose-lovers know, that roses are among the easiest and most rewarding of all plants. They don’t have to be constantly fed, watered, pruned, deadheaded and sprayed—just simply enjoyed!

Recipes from my little black book

There is a little black book on the kitchen table. Neatly annotated in places, virtually illegible in others, it is the latest in a long line of tissue-thin pages containing the hand-written details of everything I eat. This is not one of the kitchen chronicles where I write down recipe workings and shopping lists, ideas and wishlists, but a daily diary of everything that ends up on my plate. If I have yoghurt, blackcurrant compote and pumpkin seeds at breakfast, it will be in that little book. Likewise, a lunch of green lentils and grilled red peppers, or a dinner of roast cauliflower and a bowl of miso soup. Each bowl of soup, plate of pasta and every mushroom on toast is faithfully logged. I don’t know exactly why or when I started noting down my dinner, but these little books are now filled in out of habit as much as anything else. The notes are often made at night, just before I lock up and go to bed. I suspect my little black books will be buried with me.

I occasionally look back at what I have written, often as I change one journal for the next. One of the points that interests me, and perhaps this is the main reason I have kept the daily ritual going for so long, is that I can follow how my eating has changed, albeit gradually, over the years. There are, of course, unshakable edibles, (I seem to have started and ended each day’s eating with a bowl of yoghurt for as long as I can remember), but I also find marked changes in what I cook and eat. The most notable is the quantity – I definitely eat less than I used to – and there is a conspicuous move towards lighter dishes, particularly in spring and summer.

But here’s another thing. Despite being resolutely omnivorous, it is clear how much of my everyday eating has become plant-based. Although not strictly vegetarian (the bottom line for me will always be that my dinner is delicious, not something that must adhere to a set of strict dietary rules), much of my weekday eating contains neither meat nor fish. I am not sure this was a particularly considered choice. It is simply the way my eating has grown to be over the past few years. I do know, however, that I am not alone in this.

Greenfeast, like Eat before it, is a collection of what I eat when I finish work every day: the casual yet spirited meals with which I sustain myself and whoever else is around. The recipes are, like those in previous collections, more for inspiration than rules to be adhered to slavishly, word for word. But unlike Eat, this collection offers no meat or fish. The idea of collecting these recipes together is for those like-minded eaters who find themselves wanting inspiration for a supper that owes more to plants than animals.
How I eat

I rarely hand someone a plate full of food. More hospitable and more fun, I think, is a table that has a selection of bowls and dishes of food to which people can help themselves. And by that I mean dinner for two or three as much as for a group of family or friends. That way, the table comes to life, food is offered or passed round, a dish is shared, the meal is instantly more joyful.

In summer, there will be a couple of light, easily prepared principal dishes. Alongside those will be some sort of accompaniment. There may be wedges of toasted sourdough, glossy with olive oil and flakes of sea salt. Noodles that I have cooked, often by simply pouring boiling water over them, then tossed in toasted sesame oil and coriander leaves, or an all-singing and dancing Korean chilli paste.

A dish of red pepper soup might sit alongside a plate of fried aubergines and feta. Crisp pea croquettes may well be placed on the table with a tomato and french bean salad. South-east Asian noodles might be eaten with roast spring vegetables and peanut sauce, and a mild dish of creamed and grilled cauliflower could turn up with a spiced tomato couscous. Two dishes, often three, are very much the norm at home. I find the thought of being able to dip into several dishes uplifting in comparison to a single plate piled high. The recipes throughout the book are light. They are meant to be mixed and matched as you wish. A table with several bowls of unfussy food to please and delight, and, ultimately, gently sustain.

A note on the recipes: though all are plant-based, the recipes are not strictly vegetarian. They can, however, be rendered suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets with a bit of informed tweaking.
In a bowl

I am a collector of bowls. Bowls for soup and porridge, bowls for rice and pasta, bowls for pudding. I enjoy choosing which will be most appropriate for my dinner, deep or shallow, with a rim or without, earthenware, lacquer or wood. There is nothing precious about this, I simply feel food tastes better when you eat it from something that flatters the contents.

When I moved to London 40 years ago, I bought a couple of thick, heavy, white Pillivuyt soup bowls. I have them to this day. They were my only tableware for many years, long before I bought plates or shallow dishes. They are used daily, no longer to eat from, but for beating eggs or blending a dressing. There is always at least one sitting in the fridge, a saucer for a hat, keeping a little treasure safe for another day.

The holding of a bowl – more like cradling really – comforts us. But it is important how the bowl feels in the hand. Too rough and it can grate on the nerves, like nails down a blackboard or teeth on a pear drop. Too smooth and your soup feels refined and cold-hearted. What I appreciate most is the humble quality of a bowl and the food you put in it. Even the most exquisitely formed recipe is brought down a peg or two when served in an earthenware dish. The food jumbles unaffectedly in the hollow, the deep sides capture the scent of the food, increasing the enjoyment of every mouthful.

I have a certain reverence for food served in a bowl that I don’t when it is served on a plate. I am not sure why this should be, I only know that it is. I love the way the dressing, sauce or juices sit in the base, to be spooned up as a final treat, which is why so many of the dishes throughout these books are presented the way they are. It is my preferred way to eat.

We've Got Some Books for You

The “Game of Thrones” finale, which aired on Sunday, marks the end of a Twitter era. For those already feeling nostalgic, consider reading the books that the HBO show is based on — or plunge into a new epic world with one of these seven other series.

Broken Earth Trilogy, by N. K. Jemisin
Jemisin “burst on the epic fantasy scene with her earlier Inheritance trilogy,” our reviewer wrote about the last installment in this series, “and has pretty well conquered it with Broken Earth.” She won the Hugo Award for best novel for each of the books. Start with “The Fifth Season,” which begins at the end of the world and follows a woman as she tries to recover her kidnapped daughter.

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
There are nine novels in this time-bending series about Jamie Fraser, an 18th-century Scotsman, and Claire Randall, a World War II-era nurse, whose worlds collide when Claire is transported back in time. The Outlander series — which starts with a namesake title, “Outlander” — was made into a television show on Starz.

The Lymond Chronicles, by Dorothy Dunnett
The six historical romance novels that make up this series are “vivid, engaging, densely potted,” one critic wrote in 2000 (sound familiar?). The books follow Francis Crawford of Lymond, “the perfect romantic hero,” and its events unfold during the 11 years from the Scottish border wars of 1547 to the accession of Queen Elizabeth in 1558.

The Earthsea Cycle, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Set in the fictional archipelago of Earthsea, this series follows a child named Ged through his journey to become a wizard. LeGuin has an “intricate imagination,” our reviewer wrote, adding that in the first book, “A Wizard of Earthsea,” the “attention to physical detail effectively and exactly” represents “young Ged’s reactions to the strange world about him.”

New Crobuzon, by China Miéville
This series, which starts with “Perdido Street Station,” is set in the fictional world of Bas-Lag, in a complex city, New Crobuzon, inhabited by a broad range of human and nonhuman characters. In a review on the website Tor, one critic recommended several readings: “The first time, you read it as a travelogue of New Crobuzon,” she wrote, as Miéville dips in and out of multiple perspectives. After, “you reread it for the pleasurable intricacy of Bas-Lag’s cultural and economic substructures and to appreciate the inventive strangeness of the social details — languages, clothing, cultural artifacts and the like — that you zipped past the first time.”

Temeraire, by Naomi Novik
These nine novels reimagine the events of the Napoleonic Wars. The story starts when, while serving in the British Navy, Capt. Will Laurence finds a dragon egg in a captured French warship. He becomes the dragon’s master, and his discovery will alter the course of history. In a review in The Washington Post, one writer called the first book, “Her Majesty’s Dragon,” the “most original of dragon books” and wrote that it contains a “generous dollop of intelligent derring-do.”

The Accursed Kings, by Maurice Druon
These seven historical novels follow the Iron King, Philip the Fair, as he attempts to rule his kingdom and his family. “Believe me, the Starks and Lannisters have nothing on the Capets and Plantagenets,” George R. R. Martin himself wrote about the series in The Guardian. “It is the original game of thrones.”

A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R. R. Martin
Or you could just dive right back into Westeros and read “A Game of Thrones,” the first in Martin’s yet uncompleted series about the epic fight for the Iron Throne. In an interview with The Times from 2005, Martin described how he conceived of the series: One day, an image came to him of a man who was taking a boy to witness a beheading. They find a dead direwolf who has just given birth to a litter and decide to rescue them. This became the opening scene in “A Game of Thrones.” “To this day I don’t know where it came from,” Martin said. “But I knew that I had to write it.”

Getting Thicker Lashes At Home Just Got Way Easier

The no-makeup makeup look isn't going anywhere anytime soon (thanks, Glossier!), which might help to explain why lash serums are becoming a regular step in multi-step beauty routines. These little vials of liquid promise to give you longer and thicker lashes — minus the mascara clumps, expensive lash-extension sessions, and hassle of falsies.

According to Lauren Bilon, founder of Calgary-based Plume Cosmetics Inc., you can see results within a few weeks if you use serums properly. Many serums use ingredients you might find in products that help strengthen the hair on your head, such as vitamin E or vitamin B5, which work to nourish and condition the hairs. These ingredients have the same effect on brows, giving lash serums like Plume's a dual purpose.

The catch? It's important to stay consistent. "You have to be committed to the process for at least a month or two, every day," Bilon says. "And, you need to stay on the program. If you use the product for a few months, achieve great results, and then stop, you'll eventually end up back where you started."

Wedding cake, flowers and electricity

The Green Mountain Energy booth looked seemingly out of place at the Bridal Extravaganza this past weekend at the George R. Brown Convention Center,  wedged among the vendors showcasing bridal dresses, bridal cakes and bridal china place settings. Two company representatives stood in front of the electricity display, trying to attract the brides-to-be, mothers-of-the-bride and bridesmaids walking by with catering and flower arrangements on their  minds to think about something more mundane.

"Who is your electric provider?" they shouted.  "Are you happy with them?"

The electricity market in Houston is deregulated and electric utility providers like NRG Energy-owned Green Mountain Energy are in a constant scramble for new customers and hanging on to their existing ones. Energy retailers spend as much as $250 to sign up new customers when the cost of marketing and enrollment are figured in. NRG Energy has the largest share of the retail electricity business in Texas and also owns Reliant Energy, Cirro Energy and Pennywise Power.

Many of the visitors sailed past the Green Mountain booth on their way to the cake samples up the aisle but a few lingered long enough to shout out their current provider or pick up a brochure. Others shrugged their shoulders because either they don't know their provider or they don't care. Only about 16 percent of customers in the CenterPoint service area - the utility that serves the Houston area - switched electricity providers last year. But enough must be stopping and signing up because the personal sales technique is still an important way electricity is sold in the deregulated parts of Texas.

For years, Green Mountain Energy and other retail electric providers have set up tents at grocery stores, big box stores and festivals to promote their electricity plans to shoppers and fun seekers. The bridal show is one of those events when shoppers might have electricity on their minds, said Green Mountain spokeswoman Alex Angelina.

Many couples attending the show are planning new homes together, she said, and with any move, picking out an electricity plan is part of the process.

Japanese beauty products you need if you call yourself a beauty addict

For a while, Japanese beauty was shunned from the spotlight as the world became obsessed with Korean beauty. It seemed that our love-affair with K-beauty would never end, but Japanese beauty is set to become popular once again in 2018.

The truth is that Japan has exported some of the very best cleanser, lotions and best face serum that the whole world has to offer. In fact Japan's best-selling brand, Decorté, invented the world's first face serum; their Liposome Moisture formula is still the number one selling serum today.

Much of the obsession with perfect-looking skin comes from the geisha community. Japanese-inspired brand Tatcha's founder, Vicky Tsai, spent close time with geishas, who take skincare incredibly seriously – any flaws show up easily under their theatrical, brilliant white make-up.

'Underneath their iconic white make-up is the most breathtakingly pure skin I had ever seen in my life,' she writes in a blog post. 'I have met trainee geisha as young as 19 and senior geisha as old as 70, but regardless of age they all share the same exquisite complexion.'

So how can you get some of that flawlessly soft, baby-skin complexion for yourself?

Keep scrolling to learn about 10 of the best Japanese beauty products you can get your hands on in the UK, from fragrance to skincare.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Japanese skincare and lotions go hand in hand, and SK-II's is possibly the most famous out there. Cate Blanchett constantly raves about the Pitera-rich essence, which clears and refine's the skin's appearance and texture over time for a “crystal clear” look.

Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder
Inspired by the Geisha ritual of gentle cleansing and exfoliation using rice water, Tatcha's rice powder exfoliates super gently every day for that smooth, 'baby skin' look.

Decorté Liposome Serum
This one is Japan's best-selling serum, and it's a hydrating dream. Dehydrated and unhappy skin's thirst is quenched almost instantly, with tiny capsules that absorb into the deepest layers of the skin, and slow time-release technology keeping its moisture levels topped up throughout the day.

Kosé Medicated Sekkisei
Licorice is a big name in Japanese beauty when it comes to trusted ingredients, as it calms and detoxifies the skin while brightening the complexion. Kosé's medicated lotion is full of the stuff, and improves radiance and skin texture over time.

Fairydrops Quattro Mascara
Fairy Drops was born when Japanese celebrity, Aya Yasude, customised her own mascara brush. Struggling to find a mascara that was just right for her TV appearances, she took a pair of scissors to a mascrara wand and cut away until she was left with a brush that made her eyes pop. The distinct 'bobble' wand is the perfect companion for the jet-black, water-resistant formula that leaves lashes big, bold and camera-ready.

Learn How One Entrepreneur Transforms The Color Of Our Lips

With New York Fashion week upon us, it’s only inevitable that many women will be focused on fashion, beauty trends, makeup, and skincare products. If you’re not in the industry, often there is little thought behind the story of a brand. As women, we often choose our beauty products based on packaging, word of mouth, comfortability, or need.

The Lip Bar, a non–toxic, vegan and cruelty free line of colorful lipsticks, was born out of New York City by Founder and CEO Melissa Butler. Melissa had a career in finance, before making the leap to launch her lipstick line. A few years in as an entrepreneur, Melissa was featured on Shark Tank where the sharks challenged her business model.

According to a recent article in Forbes, “the $445 billion beauty industry has become a gold mind for self-made women,” and this self-made woman is carving a slice out of the beauty industry at the right time. Melissa has grown her revenue to nearly half a million dollars, while maintaining a brand fueled by a corporate, socially responsible culture.

Melissa has an untraditional story that led her to create a market in the beauty industry, without formal background in this industry.

I sat down with Melissa to hear more about her journey from finance to the beauty, lessons learned along the way, and advice she would give to other women entrepreneurs.

Lauren Wesley Wilson: When and why was The Lip Bar created?

Melissa Butler: In 2012, I was working on Wall Street. I was completely unfulfilled, unsatisfied, un-everything. I decided that instead of complaining about it I’d change my path.

I’ve always loved lipstick. Lipstick is feminine and powerful and with one stroke, it can completely transform your mood. I was also looking for lipstick products that weren’t chemically laden. I noticed that it was easier to find natural hair and skin care alternatives, but the assortment of natural lip colors were frankly just boring.

The Truth About the Korean Beauty Routine

It’s no real surprise that when it comes to talking beauty, the conversation almost always lands on some exotic, nay, crazy concoction that has made its way from the East. You know those snail-infused sleep masks you’re obsessed with? Or that oil cleanser you use every AM and PM? Or the brightening serum responsible for your glow? All Asian imports. You gotta admit, when it comes to skin care, they’re onto something.

Sure, it’s likely due to the fact that they’ve been up to it since, oh, let’s say 700 BCE, and have been busy passing down their techniques since then. While the likelihood that our brains could compute centuries’ worth of skin-care data is, well, questionable, it doesn’t mean we aren’t going to try (big emphasis on try here, guys).

If you haven’t gleaned over countless multi-step K-beauty articles by now (we’re going to ignore the fact that you’ve been living under a rock), here’s the gist of it all: Getting porcelain-like skin is all about cleansing (twice to be thorough), hyper-targeting skin issues (that’s where most of the steps lie), and protection (SPF; duh). We might be simplifying a bit, but we’re trying to ease you into it, OK?

What we’ve learned is that it isn’t a one-size-fits-all type deal, nor is it that difficult. To help you (and us) mine the hotbed of info, we went to the experts to tell us why it’s actually worth your time and money (just think about how much you’ll save on concealer).

5 Terrible Weight Loss Tips to Stop Using Immediately

While we're not fans of the pervasive and harmful "diet culture," and we believe women of all shapes and sizes are gorgeous (and make the world more beautiful), it's also every woman's prerogative if and when she does want to lose a few pounds. Whether you call it dieting or simply making a few lifestyle tweaks, there are some things that work and some that don't—but it's not always easy to suss out the good advice from the just plain wrong.

You've heard that you should eat lots of fruits and veggies and whole foods, and not overdo it on caffeine, sugar, refined carbs, and alcohol. That stuff is basic. What I wanted to find out is which tips are actually myths that experts wish more people knew the truth about. I talked to nutritionists, doctors, healthy cooking experts, and even a personal trainer, who let me in on some of the worst diet advice out there—the tips that, if you take them to heart, could actually harm you more than help you. Below, find out five bad diet tips that you should disregard ASAP, and tell all your friends to ignore, too.

Juice Cleanses Are Good For You
As a veteran of failed juice cleanses, I can't pretend I was totally disappointed to hear that it's not the best idea to restrict your diet to liquids to detox. "Sipping green juice five times a day and ducking out on all other foods sounds like a great idea to lose weight and improve your health—for about one hot second," says celebrity nutritionist Keri Glassman. "When you juice-to-lose, you're missing out on the fiber in the vegetables you're drinking, which can cause constipation and disrupt your gut flora. You're also likely missing out on calories. All this, plus the lack of chewing, can lead to irritability, fatigue, yo-yo-dieting, and mental distress. The end of a juice cleanse can be synonymous with a big ole junk food binge, leading to weight gain. So if you want to get your green juice in, make it a part of your diet, not your whole diet."

Heather Marr, a Manhattan-based personal trainer, says that the number-one thing she tells model and celebrity clients who are trying to lose weight is not to juice. "When you eat fruits or vegetables, the body has to work to break the food down, which burns calories and keeps you full," she says. "When you juice, the fruit or vegetable is already broken down for us, so the calories we use to digest is lower, and leaves us feeling hungrier and more likely to eat more food and calories. Instead of juicing an apple or carrot, just enjoy the food whole."

Eat Everything in Moderation
While this old adage might be comforting when you decide to indulge in a little chocolate at the end of a long day, it's an excuse that prevents us from losing weight, says holistic nutritionist Esther Blum. "Thinking we can eat everything as long as it's in moderation is what has made 66 percent of Americans obese," she says. "We can no longer afford to write checks our bodies cannot cash. Moderation can either mean a little bit every day, or once per week—but it should really mean once every two weeks to once per month. For instance, eating a scoop of ice cream every day can bring in an extra 875 calories per week, or 3,500 calories per month, of mostly fat and sugar—the equivalent of one pound of weight gain per month that will likely hit your midsection. Small habits still make a BIG difference in the long run." Sigh.

Don't Drink While You Eat
Some food gurus claim that it's a bad idea to sip water between bites of your meal because it can dilute your natural digestive enzymes, making it harder for your body to break down food. Don't buy it. "This is awful advice that makes no sense to me," says Ilana Muhlstein, nutritionist for Explore Cuisine. "All the foods we eat are made up of water. Some fruits and vegetables contain up to 96 percent water. Cheese contains up to 37 percent water, beef contains up to 70 percent water, and even butter contains 15 percent. Therefore, as you're eating these foods, you're literally taking in ounces of water with every bite—and water actually helps prevent overeating and can help digestion. As long as you don't have an issue with gastric emptying, you should take sips of water throughout a meal for optimal weight and portion control."

Eat Lots of Small Meals Throughout the Day
Some conventional wisdom dictates that you should graze on a series of five to six small meals during the day to keep yourself full and prevent overeating out of hunger—but that's not necessarily the case, says Blum. "Recent research has shown that eating six meals per day has no metabolic advantage over eating three meals per day," she says. "What you eat can have a much bigger metabolic impact than how often you eat. A great way to lose weight is to focus on protein, veggies, healthy fats, and fruits during the day to keep your blood sugar stable, and then have a higher carb meal at dinner to help you sleep well that night." So much for the myth about not eating carbs passed 4 p.m.

It's Smart to Cut Fat Out of Your Diet.
This myth, at least, has been starting to get more attention and is being busted more often these days, kind of like the myth that you shouldn't eat any carbs. (Quick refresher: It's about eating the right kind of carbs, meaning nutrient-rich complex carbs like quinoa, potatoes, beans, or squash, rather than bread, crackers, cookies, or cereals.) Similarly, cutting out fat entirely is not the wisest way to slim down, says Glassman. "One of my favorite things to tell my clients is, ‘fat is your friend!' On the flip side, low- or fat-free foods can be your love handles' worst nightmare. When fat is removed from food, it's often replaced with sugar for flavor and additional chemicals—such as thickeners and additives—to retain the fatty texture. You end up with a product that's higher in calories and sugar, and packed with chemicals. Ditch the extra sugar, and go for the less processed version even if it's higher in fat." Here are a few reminders of which kinds of foods contain good-for-you fats, and all the benefits they have, from better skin and losing weight to helping keep you full (a pro for any dieter).

Sephora is Having an Epic Sale on Eyeshadow Palettes Right Now

The holidays just keep on giving. Just two weeks after Black Friday, Sephora has come for our wallets and credit cards again. But with no day to mark on the calendar, Sephora slid under the radar and marked down tons of their eyeshadow palettes—good, high quality ones, too.

The price range is pretty wide, but there's a good chunk that are close to 50 percent off. We have no idea why this sale is happening, but we're certainly not complaining. Take a look at some of our top picks below and head over to Sephora ASAP before it ends.

If the season for buying has got you in a bind, these sale prices could be your saving grace. A quick scroll unveils heavy discounts on palettes like Tarte's Limited-Edition Buried Treasure Eyeshadow Palette  ($25), Fenty Beauty's Galaxy Palette ($39), BECCA's Après Ski Glow Collection: Eye Lights Palette ($45 now $29), and over 30 more.

A floral dress in winter

Wearing a floral dress only in the summer months is a bit like watching a TV show for an hour at the same time once a week: life just isn't that regimented in 2017. You don't have to be dictated to by fashion convention any more than your viewing has to be governed by 9pm appointments with the television.

I would go so far as to say that it's not just that you can wear floral dresses outside summer, but that outside summer is, in fact, the best time to wear them. A floral dress in summer is almost too neat. It is so appropriate that it feels a bit literal, and I am not a big fan of literal dressing. That thing where you wear, for instance, a strawberry-print dress to Wimbledon makes me kind of itchy. To me, an outfit that makes such ploddingly obvious connections does not sell the wearer as a scintillating conversationalist. Is that mean? Sorry.

Christmas, by the way, is the exception to my anti-literal fashion diktat. For December, I operate an amnesty on basic. I am all for a full-fat festive look. Head-to-toe festive red? Count me in. Novelty, mistletoe-themed hair accessory? Not ruling it out.

When you wear a floral dress in the summer, you mirror the world around you; when you wear one in winter, you challenge it a little. You are creating your own aesthetic. It helps that there is no basic styling option open to you when you go down the flowery dress route on a chilly day. You can't default into a sandal and a neutral blazer, unless you intend to freeze. You are going to need a dress with a long sleeve, or to layer a turtleneck under your dress, either of which takes the floral dress to a more interesting place. And you are going to need tights or, may I suggest, boots, which instantly stop even the floatiest dresses from looking flighty.

Floral dressing in the cold months has been made easier with the arrival of the winter floral print in every high street near you. A winter floral – you've seen it, even if you didn't know the name – is a pale, spriggy flower against a dark background. Which isn't, the observant among you may well have noticed, the kind of floral I'm wearing in the picture to the right promoting the wearing of florals in winter. Because as discussed, why be obvious?

5 Signs You're Using The Wrong Face Wash

When it comes to face wash, one size does NOT fit all. With so many types of skin, sensitivities, and issues, how do you even know if you're using the right kind for your complexion? In fact, the one you're using now may actually be causing you some major problems—like irritation, oiliness, or excessive dryness.

That's why we asked New York City dermatologist Marina Peredo, M.D., for the top warning signs that you're slathering on the wrong one for your skin. But relax, our trusty doc also explains what to replace it with, so we've got you covered—and clean—either way.

Whether it's warm and muggy or cold and dry, if your skin needs a blot not too long after cleansing, you're probably not using a formula meant for your oily skin. Peredo says to look for oil-free formulations with ingredients that have shine-absorbing properties, like salicylic acid, naicinamide, and clay. These pore-suckers will help your skin feel more comfortable and look matte for longer. "Make sure all of your makeup is oil-free, too—that's just as important," she adds.

Every time you leave the house, your skin is exposed to all kinds of pollutants from car exhausts, forced air in buildings, and the outside environment, says Peredo. This can have a cumulative impact on already-sensitive skin, and the abrasiveness of many cleansers—especially anything scrubby—can turn skin raw and make it hurt. Make your face wash as gentle as possible to avoid any further irritation. Paredo recommends picking a cleanser formulated for sensitive skin that is sulfate-free, (the common ingredient is harsh on sensitive skin). And look for soothing ingredients like oats and panthenol, the latter of which is a calming form of vitamin B.

If you're breaking out regularly, it's a sign that your cleanser could be doing a lot more work on your behalf. Look for washes containing benzoyl peroxide ranging anywhere from 2.5 to 10 percent (depending on your frequency of breakouts), and use white towels so that the ingredient doesn't cause bleach stains. "If your bumps are always on your jaw, this is a sign of hormonal acne," says Peredo. For this type of acne in particular she recommends a formula containing papaya extract. Papaya is anti-inflammatory, which helps calm the swelling of acne. It also contains papain and chymopapain, which are two naturally antibacterial enzymes that exfoliate clogged pores, along with the antioxidant lycopene, which Peredo thinks is especially helpful for jaw zits.

Does your face feel like it's one size too small after you cleanse? That's a tell-tale sign that you're using a wash that's way too drying for your skin type, says Peredo. You should never feel tight immediately after washing. Look for a creamy formula rich in ceramides and hyaluronic acid, advises Peredo. Ceramides help repair the skin barrier, and a healthy skin barrier means that hydration stays in while dryness stays out. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid is one of the most powerful humectants available, meaning it draws water many times its weight into skin and protects against hydration loss. Within seconds of patting your skin dry, apply moisturizer so that your dry skin absorbs as much as possible. You may even want to skip cleansing in the morning to preserve natural oils on skin and just cleanse at night.

If your skin always looks like you're blushing, and you flush even redder after you cleanse, you may have rosacea, says Peredo. Symptoms include persistent redness across the nose and cheeks, visible blood vessels, and a thick, bumpy texture that is sometimes peppered with acne-like bumps. Look for fragrance-free formulations with ingredients that reinforce healthy skin, like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Peredo also highly recommends that you see a dermatologist to discuss options that can keep your rosacea in check.

People Are Obsessed With This Lip And Chin Hair-Removal Gadget

Removing facial hair is scary. Will you singe a brow? Will you burn your face and create an even worse problem? How freaking bad will it hurt?

That's why we're all for anything that promises to take hair away painlessly sans irritation—and effectively. Enter: Finishing Touch Flawless. The small battery-operated device is designed for fine hair around your lip, chin, and cheeks, ensuring no pesky peach fuzz or stragglers are left behind.

It's consistently ranked on the top of Amazon's best sellers in the entire beauty category—no small feat.

You can also use it daily without worry of angering your skin. Oh, and though it's not designed as a body hair remover, you can use it as a touch-up for rogue hairs if needed, especially around your bikini line. (Those are the worst.)

With more than 1,000 glowing reviews, the question is if this passes the dermatologist test. It does. "I would compare this to dermaplaning, a procedure in the office that we use to exfoliate skin and remove fine hairs, though this only does the hair removal part," says dermatologist Sarah Cenac Jackson, M.D., of Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans. For safety, she suggests using it on your lower face or upper lip, avoiding the eyebrow or eyelash area. "Accidental removal can occur quickly," she adds.

The device is also super sleek and pretty, all 18K gold-plated in rose gold. And, you can take it with you wherever, even being TSA-approved for travel, the company says.

The Best Fall Nail Color For You

Few things are as customizable-to-your-mood and changeable as nail color. When you get tired of one polish, you can just use remover and move on to the next. And with new shades coming out for fall, it's time to get your manicure game on.

Not sure what color to choose? Let your skin tone be your guide. Because while you can of course rock any shade, regardless of your complexion, certain hues are especially complementary to certain skin tones, says Angel Williams, a celebrity manicurist and nail care expert.

One neat tip from Williams: To find your skin tone, look at the inside of your wrist. If you see blue veins, you have a cool undertone; if your veins are green, you have a warm undertone.

"People are taking more risks with their nail color," adds Katherine Dorn, a makeup artist from Pierre Michel salon. What's most important is that you're sporting a shade that you feel comfortable with, she adds. And if you tend not to be adventurous with your makeup or hair, you can be with your nails. Because, hey, if you don't like it, all you have to do is break out the nail polish remover and start over.

But we're sure that you'll like these six just-launched shades for fall 2017. We've included neutrals and berries, greens and metallics in the mix. Basically, anything you could ever want. They're perfect for a fall pedicure for those peep-toe booties and will make your hands totally pop.

You have a pale complexion

Go for neutrals, advises Williams. Sheer shades of pink let light in, boosting brightness and complimenting blue undertones in light skin. "Choosing a creamier pink helps with covering up imperfections," she adds. One option is Essie Mix Taupe, a cool tone pink that's perfect for fingers.

You have light to medium skin

Opt for a berry color for fair skin tones. "Most all shades of berry act as a pop of color, glamour and versatility to this complexion," says Williams. She likes Essie Knee-High Life, which has purple undertones. Slick this one onto fingers and toes for a fun pop of color.

You have olive skin

A coral, orange, or bright pink work especially well for you, says Dorn. New to OPI's Iceland collection is I'll Have a Gin & Tectonic, a coral pink shade in a gel-like formula that's made to stick around sans all that annoying chipping. (Up to 11 days.) What's more, you can count this as a wear-it-everyday shade—you'll never get sick of it.

The most extreme nail trends of 2017

The most extreme nail trends of 2017, from the mesmerising aquarium craze to bizarre nipple nails – would YOU be brave enough to try them?

WHEN it comes to nail art, it seems the options are endless.

Vagina nails were the latest trend to explode on social media, but what do you think of these nine wacky crazes from the year so far?

Succulent nails

In a trend which goes way beyond nail art, women are actually sticking live plants on their nails.

Succulents are drought-resident plants and they are pretty hardy.

But that doesn't mean they will survive very long stuck onto your acrylic nails.

Seashell nails

Given the recent obsession with everything to do with unicorns and mermaids, it's hardly surprising that seashell nails are now a thing.

With gems and pastel hues, they look pretty stunning - but we can't imagine the ridges and bumpy texture are very practical.

Vampire fang nails

If you're looking for Halloween inspiration, this is probably the trend for you.

The burgundy-coloured, razor sharp claws have taken gothic chic to a whole new level - and only the bravest among you will be able to pull this look off.

Werewolf nails

Having been created by the style director and founder of trendy CND Jan Arnold, these furry nails are any thing but a joke.

They would look great with a werewolf Halloween outfit, but you would probably turn a few heads on public transport.

If you're a fan of the furry nails, but not the wolf-like look, there are subtler versions in white and other colours available.

Lego nails

Lego nails is the trend all 90s kids have been waiting for.

To recreate this look - simply paint your nails in a block Lego colour, add six pieces of glitter or small round gems while they're still wet, and paint over the top.

Aquarium nails

Like a snow globe at your fingertips, aquarium nails are all about the liquid glitter which moves up and down the nails.

They are decorated with gems and stars, and made using two separate fake nails - with a water-filled 'aquarium' between the two layers.

Nipple nails

Back in June, women started 'freeing the nipple' by displaying them on their nails.

With a spiral design and 3D dots in the middle, this has to be one of the most bizarre looks of 2017 so far.

Manicurist Mei Kawajiri is the brains behind the design, which even includes piercings, and the picture of her original creation immediately went viral on social media.

Spiral nails

Not to be confused with the handy DIY item, spiral nails are super-long and incredibly eye-catching.

To create the look, cover a long acrylic nail with paintable acrylic, and then use a straw to remove the long nail when dry.

Pom pom nails

Pom pom nails are every cheerleader's dream come true, and they do look very cute.

Sadly they're "completely impractical", according to nail art photographer cassmariebeauty - who's sported the look herself.

Retro clothing styles from '80s, '90s are back in fashion

Students may be savoring every second of their final weeks of summer vacation, but they're still stocking up on essential school supplies, like pencils, erasers and notebooks. All of that, plus back-to-school clothes.

Some students like to walk into the first day of school showing off new clothes. Others are prepared for the long day ahead and stick to the more comfortable attire. For Sarah Gammill, who will be attending Tahlequah High School for her first time this year, it's a little of both.

"I'll probably wear some type of jeans, but with a hoodie to stay comfortable," Gammill said.

Students headed back to classes should be aware of their schools' dress code policies. Sequoyah High School students can't wear dresses shorter than to the tips of their fingers when their arms are held to their sides. And Cashmere Lane has got the dresses for that.

"The majority of our dresses are actually school-appropriate length," said Mikayla Martin, sales associate. "The brands we buy are really great for that. We have a fun plaid one that we just got in. You can either roll the sleeves up to a quarter sleeve or keep them long, so that would be good going into fall. We have another dress that we call our tie-dye dress, and it kind of fades from a burnt orange to a lighter orange."

A common phrase heard in the summer might be, "sun's out, guns out," but once school starts, muscle shirts are frowned upon. So instead, kids can pick up T-shirts at Southern Bling.

"Our T-shirts with the different sayings are really big," said Pam Benge, owner. "That's the way everybody dresses their kids now. It's casual now. We try to stay with the trend. Last year, it was all vintage and lace. It doesn't sell anymore, so we have to go with the casual now."

As time goes on, fashion trends are continuously changing.

"High-waist jeans are really popular with cropped-top shirts," said Kristin Kimble, manager at Rue21. "As the shirt hem is getting shorter, the waist on the jeans are getting higher."

Everybody needs a good pair of jeans, and Kimble said Rue21 has some good selections.

"Jeans are always a big deal," she said. "This year is all about the ankle detail on jeans. There's frayed cuffs. There's distressed detail. There's relaxed hems."

Although it may be 2017, '80s and '90s clothing is becoming popular again.

"Grunge is coming back," she said. "With the men, it's distressed fit jeans. We have a lot of quilted detail on our guys' jeans, too. Camo is also popular right now."

Tribal citizens who received their vouchers from the Cherokee Nation's Clothing Assistance Program can visit select Stage department stores across northeastern Oklahoma.

There's likely no better time to go back-to-school shopping than this upcoming weekend, as the sales tax holiday is Aug. 4-6. Gammill said she already has a lot of clothes, but it'll hard to pass up this weekend's opportunity.

"I'll most likely go get some more just for the tax-free weekend," she said.

The tax-free weekend is important for businesses, too.

International fashion comes to Tieton

Comme des Garçons translates to "like some boys," which is open to many interpretations. As Andrew Bolton, curator in charge of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, says, the fashion designs of Rei Kawakubo are "open to interpretation, but not one interpretation."

On exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art until Sept. 4, "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between" examines nine expressions of "in-betweenness" in her collections. Rei refuses to define her work. She once said "the meaning is — there is no meaning."

On Friday, Mighty Tieton is bringing the fashion of Rei Kawakubo to Tieton in an exhibit titled "COMME to Tieton | Comme des Garçons Fashion and Design." The 11 Kawakubo-designed ensembles on display are from the collection of Cynthea J. Bogel — many with shoes, from sculptural to flat, abstract to velvet and lace — and will be on display until Sept. 3.

Visitors are encouraged to attend a free reception that's open to the public from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 12 at Mighty Tieton's new event space, 617. Bogel will be on hand.

"Comme des Garçons fashion in Tieton? Sure. Why not?" says Ed Marquand, founder of Mighty Tieton. "The art and design world is big in some ways, and small in others."

"For me, having this opportunity to show the brilliant, radical and highly influential work of Rei Kawakubo here is big," Marquand says. "Having access to the work through a good friend and occasional Tieton resident, Cynthea Bogel, reminds me how comfortingly small that world can be. The fun part is sharing it. Who knows what it might inspire?"

Bogel, who usually rides her bicycle to the subway station in Japan wearing Comme des Garcons, says, "Someone once wrote, 'If they are going to stare at you, at least make it worth their while.' This has nothing to do with my reasons for wearing Comme des Garçons. Although Rei Kawakubo's clothes may be difficult for the observer to understand, when you wear them, they are easy to understand.

"I wear Comme des Garçons because of the feeling the clothing elicits in me, not on me. The clothing feels intentional — and it brings out the creative and philosophical in me. Comme des Garçons is also extremely well crafted and — with the exception of recent runway pieces that are, as Kawakubo said of her spring 2014 collection, "clothes that are not clothes" — very comfortable to wear. Other clothing feels thoughtless."

How Android Wear is clawing its way back from the dead

Google's Android Wear smartwatch platform isn't dead. It's just pivoting from a do-everything experience on your wrist to one that's better customized for your own fashion and lifestyle.

That's good because I don't want a world where the Apple Watch is the only smartwatch that matters. It'd be too dystopian.

No matter how much you might adore your Apple Watch, the Samsung Gear S3 or LG Watch Style smartwatches can be described in a single word: disappointing.

The smartwatch market declined by 51.6 percent in Q3 of last year, resulting in a year-over-year drop in volume, according to IDC. The only one reportedly thriving is Apple Watch. But still, as a product category smartwatches simply haven't lived up to expectations.

Tech companies are giving up

Tech titans that were first to champion Android Wear and challenge the Apple Watch have largely given up on making smartwatches.

Motorola and Huawei both announced they have no plans to release new models soon. Huawei's CEO Eric Xu Zhijun said in April that smartwatches are essentially pointless. "I am always confused as to what smartwatches are for when we have smartphones." This is the company that released the Huawei Watch, the first promising and fashion-oriented Android Wear smartwatch.

Asus, one of the last of the well-known consumer electronics companies that supported Android Wear, is reportedly planning to axe its ZenWatch smartwatches altogether.

And Samsung hasn't supported Android Wear since its one-off Gear Live in 2014, instead choosing to iterate on its Tizen-based Gear S smartwatches.

LG's the only one that's still batting for Android Wear, but it can't save it. The company's Watch Sport and Watch Style released last year haven't moved the needle at all.

With everyone tossing in the towel, you'd be forgiven for thinking smartwatches are over.

Hitting the reset button

Android Wear will get better — 2.0 brings some useful updates — to its software, but having a variety of smartwatches is also key.

"It's a platform we're very committed to and investing in and the rest of Google is as well," David Singleton, Vice President of Android Engineering, told me.

"This is a pretty important and in some ways a potential breakthrough year because we're seeing more sticky experiences than we would have seen years ago. We're definitely seeing the number of people purchasing devices in the category has grown very significantly, but then we look at what people are actually doing with them — are they still active with them several months down the line? — we've seen that change positively pretty significantly as well so we're excited about that."

While most of its consumer tech friends have turned their back on the platform, Google's not worried at all because it's got new buddies that are keeping the flame alive: fashion brands.

In the last year, fashion labels have gone crazy with their Android Wear offerings. Brand names like Fossil, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Emporio Armani, Guess, Diesel, and even Movado have embraced Android Wear. They're flooding the market with dozens of styles and sizes to cater to their fashion-conscious customers, and it's working. People are buying them. And they've got even more smartwatches in every size imaginable coming out this summer and fall.

Fashion first, tech second

Whether it's got a processor in it or not, a wrist-worn accessory needs to be stylish first and tech second.

"One of the big things for Fossil Group is that we take this fashion-first approach. We don't really say design is a second thought and tech comes first," says Hannah Liu, Director of Wearables Strategy and Strategic Partnerships at Fossil Group. Like other fashion labels, the brand's got a handful of Android Wear-powered smartwatches like the Fossil Q series. "For us, we've flipped that model where we're saying we'll never compromise on design and style because we know that's why customers buy our products and what kinda differentiates us from others.

"Android Wear 2.0 allows us to have these limitless options of what our customers care about. We did a study of our own — consumers trust in the tech because of a name like Google and Android and they know that it's a good platform — but what was really important to them was style and brand. Those were the two biggest purchase drivers."

Choice is arguably the most attractive thing about Android Wear compared to an Apple Watch. Sure, you can customize the Apple Watch by swapping out different bands, but you're still stuck with the square screen and limited watch faces. Like the hundreds of Android phones to pick from, Android Wear offers variety.

"That's why our play is actually going style first. You pick on style, you pick on some brands you love, and so the choices aren't as overwhelming because you're able to cut through all the diversity pretty quickly," Liu says.

I got to take a look at dozens of fashion-first smartwatches from Michael Kors, Fossil, Tommy Hilfiger, Movado, and more, and the sheer amount of choice is dizzying, but in a good way. Android Wear is not one size fits all and that's great for people who like to express themselves through what they wear.

Being true to the brand

"You have to make it familiar," a Michael Kors spokesperson told me. "For Michael Kors and Fossil Group, all of our smartwatches are based off of existing models that have been in the line for years and are tried and true styles that either have been constant or have stayed in the line and have evolved since then."

Style is important, but so too is the smartwatch software experience. Android Wear hardware has always come in all shapes and sizes, but the software has mostly been the same across the board to the point where it felt generic.

And that's where fashion brands are also mixing things up. Their smartwatches still run Android 2.0, but they're adding watch faces and features that are true to the brand and why people love them.

West Nile found in Wayne, Macomb mosquitoes

The Wayne and Macomb county health departments reported finding mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile virus.

The announcement follows Oakland County Health Department's finding of a pool testing positive in July.

No confirmed cases of West Nile virus in humans have been reported in Michigan.

Macomb County warned residents Wednesday to protect themselves from the deadly virus.

According to a news release, the county said it was the first time the virus was detected this summer in two separate samplings of mosquitoes gathered in Macomb County. The location of the finding has not been released.

Carol Austerberry, division director and deputy health officer of Wayne County, confirmed the county's first positive finding of West Nile virus in a mosquito. The mosquito was found in a Westland mosquito trap.

"The Wayne County Health, Veterans and Community Wellness Department has actively trapped and tested mosquitoes for many years," Austerberry said. "Every year, our agency has had mosquitoes that test positive for WNV."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, West Nile virus spreads to humans through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. There is no West Nile virus vaccine currently available.

Most people infected will not show severe symptoms. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people infected will develop a fever with a headache, body ache, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash.

Recovery could take months and about 10 percent of people who develop neurological infections due to West Nile virus will die, the CDC said.