Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Hayden Manders, Refinery29

.Controversy and American Apparel go hand-in-hand - and this time, the L.A.-based company is receiving flack for its "honkingly sexist" ads, as one Twitter user put it. In visuals for a Unisex Flannel Button-Up, the controversy surrounds the definition of the word "unisex," and we have to agree on this one. They've photographed women either sans pants or a barely-there g-string, wearing the flannel strategically unbuttoned and open to cover their breasts, whereas the men are photographed fully clothed. Something's a little off here, no?

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American Apparel claims the photographs are artistic. "Unfortunately, some bloggers have confused an artistic photoshoot which accompany the pages with a product shot and a controversy erupted as a result," a spokesman for the brand said. True, the product shots of both men and women feature no nudity and are pretty conservative for American Apparel standards, but

By Kevin Aeh, Refinery29

Swimsuit season is right around the corner, which means the countdown to get the bikini bod is on. Of course, the combo of a healthy diet and exercise is the best way to go, but that knowledge wasn't always common back in the day - which is why we have such a long and storied history of completely bonkers fad diets.

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Looking back at these eating regimens through the ages, we were struck by one indelible fact: People have done some really crazy stuff in the name of weight loss. How crazy? Well, there was a diet consisting completely of cabbage soup (bet those participants smelled quite fragrant), and don't even get us started on the cigarette diet.

So, while we may know better now, let's take a walk down memory lane and sneak a peek at some of the most popular diet crazes from days of yore. We think it goes without saying that, barring a few notable exceptions, you probably shouldn't try these at home,

By Megan McIntyre, Refinery29

We know, we know: Moles are not the sexiest of beauty topics. Personally, there's nothing we love more than a chick rocking her spots with pride. But, as beautiful as those marks are, they can also be the canary in the coal mine for skin cancer, a sort of skin S.O.S., if you will. "Unlike cancers that are internal and can evade detection, melanoma is on your skin and making itself known to you," says Dr. Julie Karen, an NYC-dermatologist and spokesperson for the Skin Care Foundation.

Product Smackdown: War Of The Self-Tanners

So, how do you tell a run-of-the-mill mole from a potentially fatal one? Head back to grammar school and study up on your skin cancer ABCDEs, says Dr. Karen. A is for asymmetry, meaning a mole that has mismatched sides. B is for borders, which is anything with a jagged or scalloped edge. C stands for color - not light or dark, but multiple colors represented in one mole. D, which stand for diameter is a little trickier, as Dr. Karen

By Nicole Catanese, Refinery29

When it comes to eating your greens, it turns out that you don't have to go big or go home. Even the teeny-tiny versions of your favorite veggies (think broccoli, spinach, peas, arugula, cilantro, cabbage and radishes) pack a powerful nutritional punch. So, what are these mini-me versions exactly? "Micro-greens are veggie seedlings - harvested for less than 14 days, just when the first little shoots sprout," says Brooke Alpert, founder of B Nutritious and co-author of The Sugar Detox (out in late June).

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Once used as simply a garnish, microgreens got a bump from a C- to A-list veggie after a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that they contained crazy amounts of nutrients compared to their full-grown versions - essentially stellar levels of vitamin C, K, and E in red cabbage and radishes, as well as antioxidants lutein and beta-carotene in cilantro. "Micro-greens have all

By Tara Rasmus, Refinery29

Ever wonder why we ladies seem doomed to spend one third of our lives getting primped, while our man friends simply need to shower and run their hands through their hair? Primping is fun, sure, but let's be honest -the hours upon hours we spend getting pretty are kind of cramping our style. Ain't nobody got time for that!

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We at R29 love trying new looks and products, but like most of you, we're always looking to find the easiest - and fastest - ways to get glam. Thankfully, we've picked up some great tricks along the way that help us go from ghastly to gorgeous in no time. Read on to steal our most hush-hush beauty tricks, from a pantry fix for chapped lips to the shortcut to sexy beach hair, and let us know - what's your top-secret beauty cheat?

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Is This New

By Refinery29

.Let's face it: You're busy - too busy to mess around with complicated cooking at the end of the day. Still, dinner should be more than just a cup full of cereal and the dream of a brighter tomorrow. Enter: Jenny Rosenstratch, a busy mom who makes dinner happen with style, simplicity, and just the right amount of sizzle. Whether or not you're cooking for kids, we love her easy, delicious approach. In fact, we love it so much, we'll be sharing one of her recipes every week, so you can have a life - and a REALLY good meal, too.

RELATED: 3 Perfect Salads For A Healthy Spring

Chicken Chorizo Taco with Spinach and Avocado
Serves 4

1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup cilantro
juice from 1/2 lime
1/4 teaspoon cumin
salt
2 links smoked chicken chorizo sausage, sliced into rounds (or 1/2 link per eater)
4 whole wheat tortillas
4 handfuls fresh spinach, cleaned and chopped
1 avocado, chopped

Make creamy cilantro dressing: Using a small food processor, blend together yogurt,

By Emily London, Refinery29

How much do you love your favourite pooch? Will you go to the ends of the earth for her? You are in good company. London has just welcomed the U.K.'s proudest pet owners, and their incredible four-or-two legged furry and feathered friends at the annual Pet Show in Earl's Court. Think show-jumping rabbits (it's a sport in Sweden, seriously), chickens that skateboard (all down to mealworms), and a tiny pygmy hedgehog called "Splinter".

RELATED: 10 Canine & Kitty Accessories That Are Actually Chic

Our only experience of trying to get a pet to do anything other than eat and sleep was to dress our miniature dachshund in a baby grow. Not a pretty sight. We're looking forward to the 2014 show already. (London Pet Show)

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By Kevin Aeh, Refinery29

If you hit the snooze button at least a dozen times before crawling out of bed, you're probably not a morning person. But, admit it: You wouldn't mind starting the day with a little spring in your step - without having to employ the help of a Trenta coffee. And, sure, getting up and at 'em makes you more productive, but it may boost your mood as well. Last year, a study conducted by the University of Toronto suggested that morning people tend to be happier than night owls.

RELATED: How To Get A Good Night's Sleep EVERY Night!

So, how do you become a morning person - especially if getting out of bed feels like a chore? That's the question we asked a panel of experts, who responded with some surprising tips that have us actually looking forward to sunrise. Say goodbye to groggy wake-up calls and hello to brighter days. Your new life as a morning glory starts...now.

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