by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 30, 2023 | December 2023/January 2024, Stuff
Magical beauty product or big myth?
Beauty is fleeting—as are all the so-called “magical” aesthetic fixes for myriad personal concerns over our appearance. Enter the latest rising fad: castor oil (Don’t @ us, holistic health nuts… we know it’s been around for a hot minute). Becoming quite the talker online, the essential oil has been raved about for its handful of health and beauty benefits—from helping with inflammation and digestion to aiding stress relief. And since you can never believe what you see on the internet, I decided to give the trend a try myself to discover if castor oil was worth the hype or just a bunch of hocus pocus. My guinea pig era, if you will. Here, the results of my castor oil journey.
Laxative? Uh, Yep! Castor oil has long been lauded as a natural way to go No. 2—and I can attest this is true. In the morning, after rubbing a bit of diluted oil on my stomach and waiting ~20 minutes… voila: consider me cleansed.
Hello, Hydration! Packed full of ricinoleic acid—aka a monounsaturated fatty acid—the oil helps moisturize your skin from face to bod. After a few days of applying castor oil to my face before bed, my skin was noticeably softer and smoother. A score for wintertime dry season!
Becky Anna Beth With the Good Hair After a week of massaging a quarter-size bit of castor oil into my roots, my locks started looking less dry and appeared and felt softer. Sign me up for the next L’Oréal commercial!
Mellow Mood This might be a placebo effect, but from the first day I started applying this product in the spot right beneath my lower right rib, I noticed a shift in my mood that can only be described as a sense of Zen (which aligns with the oil’s rep of providing stress reduction). … But don’t just take my word for it. Give the ~essential~ oil a try yourself!
by Anna Beth Adcock | Aug 29, 2023 | September 2023, Stuff
Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder?
They say beauty is pain. But, lately, beauty is just plain interesting. As we enter a new era of trending looks and myriad methods trying to keep up with the ever-changing trends, it leaves us to wonder: How far is too far in the name of lookin’ fresh and fab? Here, we break down a few, ahem, interesting enhancements currently gaining momentum. … Slay?
Fake Eye Bags
Who knew appearing like you haven’t gotten a good wink of sleep in weeks could be considered cute? Originally gaining popularity on TikTok (naturally), this look involves using purple, blue and red eyeliners/shadows to enhance those under-eye circles. OK, Tim Burton.
Nose Blush
Hey, Rudolph. If you enjoy a sun-kissed appearance but don’t want to deal with the skin damage, this one’s for you. Essentially, dab a little extra blush along your nose for a color that communicates “I spent a bit too long frolicking on a sunny beach.”
Snail Facials
How slow can you go? Say what you want, but apparently snail slime is hydrating—*shrugs shoulders*—and it hosts a slew of other benefits, from stimulating collagen to helping with acne and eczema. Snailed it?
Skinny Brows
The ’90s called… and they can’t see your eyebrows. This officially in: Thick eyebrows are out and skinny brows are back. Ready to dig out those tweezers?
Colored Lashes
*Flirtatiously bats eyelashes.* Because black might be too boring, currently all the rage is a range of eyelash extension colors—from flirty light blues and soft hues to bright and eye-catching warmer tones.
McDonald’s Bangs
We’re lovin’ it… or are we? Inspiring more than just your midnight french fries run, many are opting to snip their luscious locks into a shape we know all too well, aka that of the famous McDonald’s arches. Happy meals and happy hair, indeed.
ZigZag Part
Never let ’em know your next move. And that goes for your part too. Take the tail of your comb and go ham for a zigzag part—and add gel if you’re feelin’ sleek and on fleek.
