SlfDctr

It’s about time to breathe a star-sanctioned sigh of relief: We’re finally exiting an especially tough Mercury retrograde and eclipse season as Taurus season comes to a close and Gemini gets ready to shine. Now, the vibe is very much “school’s out for summer” with astrologers predicting that this Gemini season will have us out and about, adventuring and traveling or gaining momentum on creative pursuits. Read on for intel from astrologers about what to expect from Gemini season in 2023, as well as how every zodiac sign can anticipate feeling the twins’ buzzy energy this year. When is Gemini season in 2023? Gemini season begins in 2023 when the sun moves into Gemini on May 21, and it lasts until June 21, when the sun shifts into Cancer. Throughout this time, the traits of the twin sign may feel especially dominant in our moods, whims, and actions. And because Gemini is a go-with-the-flow mutable sign , all of the above may be in for some change. Thankfully, that change will likely...

Now an infamous image of abstinence-only sex education, that one scene from Mean Girls (“You will get pregnant…and die!”) is certainly satire. But like most pieces of great comedy, it contains a key kernel of truth: Sex education in this country is severely lacking when it comes to how pregnancy actually works. Of the (only) 27 states (and District of Columbia) that mandate sex education , only 17 require the content to be medically accurate, and 29 require that abstinence be stressed. Do the math, and that leaves the majority of people in this country either misled or missing information on how to actually get pregnant when the time comes. The result, for many, is a months-long period of trying—one that may prove longer and more frustrating than it needed to be, simply for lack of clear information about how to optimize that trying. It only felt natural for Chelsea Hirschhorn , mom of four and CEO of baby and postpartum care brand Frida, to, well, conceive of a conception-support ...

As a beauty editor, I consider myself a bit of a human guinea pig when it comes to trying out the latest treatments—especially if said treatments promise to improve my skin’s health and appearance. So when I heard about the Visia Skin Analysis , a facial scanner that provides a detailed analysis of factors such as texture , wrinkles , UV damage , and hyperpigmentation to clue you in on how your skin will age, I was naturally intrigued. I wanted to check it out for myself, so after some desperate emails, I managed to book a coveted appointment at The Skin Lab by Augustinus Bader in New York City. Despite my excitement, I couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous. Did I really want to know what my skin would look like as I got older? But as someone who takes a lot of pride in her skin-care routine, I knew it was essential to understand the true state of my skin, so I decided to give it a try. What is Visia? “Visia is a skin analysis system that uses advanced technology to provide dermato...

One of the perks of being married to a commerce editor at a wellness publication is getting to test a lot of skin care. At least, I think it’s a perk—my husband does not. In fact, M would just rather just stick to his bottle of Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap as a body/face/ shampoo / conditioner all-in-one wash and call it a day. But sometimes, he indulges me. Like when I noticed him checking out the puffy bags under his eyes after a long night of video gaming a few months ago. “I have a solution for that,” I said, and before he could say anything, brought out the big guns: Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Hydra-Gel Eye Patches ($75). Peter Thomas Roth, 24K Gold Hydra-Gel Eye Patches — $75.00 Pros: Firms and de-puffs skin High-quality ingredients Stays on without slipping Works in 10 minutes Cooling Cons: Expensive Results are temporary Shop Now He relented—not worth the argument when you can just put the shiny gold masks under your eyes while you dr...

Dim the lights, spark the candles, and cue the slow jams—Foria’s best-selling CBD Awaken Arousal oil is 30 percent off in honor of the Masturbation May . If you’ve never tried, it’s basically a knee-shaking, sheet-gripping orgasm in a bottle . And we love the rest of Foria’s sultry lineup, too. Because instead of any weird synthetics or chemicals, all of Foria’s products are plant-based and derived from the planet, designed to enhance sexual pleasure (and overall wellness) with ingredients that are naturally good for the body and mind. Awaken Arousal Oil — $34.00 Originally $48, now $34 If you’re cool with CBD, get your hands on the original Awaken Arousal Oil, which uses all the same organic botanicals, plus CBD. There’s kava, a popular aphrodisiac, coconut oil, ginger, and cinnamon, which come together to enhance and awaken all-over pleasure. Perfect for solo sessions and partner play alike. Shop Now What is the Awaken Arousal Oil? The Awaken Arousal Oil is a ...

I’m following a winding path around the side of an open-air cenote when a dome made of silvery stone with a small wooden door no higher than my waist comes into view, as does a man shoveling lava rocks in and out of an open-flame furnace. I’m about to begin a Temazcal ceremony at the Rosewood Mayakoba Sense spa in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, during which a shaman will lead my husband and me through an hour-long session of sweating, chanting, stillness, animal noises, yelling, reflection, and honoring hot rocks called “abuelitas” (little grandmothers). The Temazcal is a ritual sweat lodge historically used by indigenous people in mesoamerica. It was meant to facilitate moments of change; connect with underworld, water, and fertility spirits; cleanse after sickness; recuperate after battle; and socialize, Casey Walsh, author of Virtuous Water: Mineral Springs, Bathing, and Infrastructure in Mexico ,  tells Atlas Obscura . Today, it’s become a popular wellness attraction in ...

Ever in the mood for a warm homemade pastry , but the sheer idea of the legwork you’ll need to enlist = instant buzzkill? If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you could conjure baked goods out of thin air (same, same), might we suggest: upside-down puff pastries, the latest and greatest TikTok food trend that makes baking at home a no-brainer. This delicious dish simplifies the complex process of preparing laminated dough from scratch by enlisting store-bought puff pastry dough—and yes, upside down pastry recipes are divine when made either savory or sweet. With just a few toppings of your choice and just 20 minutes, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a bakery-worthy pastry right from the comfort of your home. Okay, but what does an upside-down puff pastry even mean? Let’s quickly outline what this upside-down puff pastry trend is all about. The foundation of this recipe is puff pastry, a type of laminated dough made by repeatedly folding and rolling cold butter to create ...