Blog Posts by Self Magazine

Courtesy of thebodyshop.comAlexandra Samuel,SELF

Today is a HUGE day for your lips: either you have a date and are planning on some serious smooching, or you don't have a date and you want to make everyone who is not smooching you super jealous. (Or, you're heading out with girlfriends and kissing a stranger. #NoJudgment )

So, I've worked out how to get awesome, kissable lips in under five (Yes, you can do this on the subway en route to your date or in the bathroom after dessert). Here's the run down:

See more: Lose 2 Pounds a Week!

Exfoliate: I know, there are a zillion different ways to exfoliate lips: dry toothbrush, drippy pre-made lip scrubs, a DIY mix of sugar and coconut oil, etc. But lately, I've been depending on my The Body Shop Lip Scuff, $13, which is an exfoliating and hydrating stick. It's not messy. It's easy to use on the go; just wipe it off with a tissue after applying.

Hydrate: I am a huge fan of SuperSmile's new Ultimate Lip Balm, $22; an insane blend of hydrating

Read More »from Get Kissable Lips in Seconds

Amanda MacMillan, SELF

Happy Valentine's Day, gorgeous! Got a hot reservation and are set to brave the V-Day dinner crowds? According to a new survey by 'OpenTable.com, 51% of women will be heading out, while 36% of us are waiting until the (long!) weekend for a special dinner out. But no matter what day you dine with your sweetie--whether it's a long-time love or a first-time fling--watch out for the fatal flaws that, apparently, guys hate more than anything on a date. Can you guess what they are?

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

In the survey, 56% of women and 61% of men said that talking on the phone or texting at the table is the biggest dining faux pas a date can commit. (We agree: It's probably also a sign that you're too into your digital social life and not enough into your real one.) Being rude to the waitstaff came in second, being the biggest no-no for 32% of women and 28% of men.

Got a new love interest and are not so sure if he's ready for the V-Day

Read More »from Guys' Biggest Date-Night No-no?

Courtesy of Thayer Allison GowdySarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF

Ordering in for dinner tonight? You might want to pick up the phone to place your order before you click "Place Order" on that website. A recent study conducted by Ryan McDevitt, a professor from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, found that customers who ordered pizzas on the internet made much more calorie laden choices--sometimes quadrupling their bacon and piling on toppings sky-high--compared to those that ordered on the phone or in person.

But ordering online doesn't have to send your healthy diet out to cyberspace never to be seen again. In fact, according to the folks at GrubHub.com, a nationwide online ordering platform, this may be the year of healthier takeout. Their research found that what are considered to be "healthy orders" have spiked nationwide by approximately 10 percent in the first three weeks of 2013, with no current signs of a downturn.

See more: The Flat-Abs-Fast Secret

Perhaps this is because

Read More »from How to Order Healthy Food Online

Pascale Le Draoulec, SELF

Ready to graduate from wine and beer? From select spirits to must-have mixers, these are industry experts' entertaining essentials.

Setting up a home bar can be daunting-and expensive-when starting from scratch. So we asked some New York City mixologists to help us pare down the bare necessities. Assuming you already have some requisite kitchen items like a zester, a tea strainer and maybe even a small herb garden with cocktail-friendly mint, thyme and basil (hey, we have faith in you!), here are the ten items you'll need to start mixing drinks for your next soiree.

More from SELF:
6 Moves for a Great Butt
Top Secrets of Beauty Pros
6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism
How to Get Bombshell Hair
Read More »from DIY Home Bar: What Every Girl Needs

Jaclyn Emerick, SELF

These pared-down shoes will have you high on running. Lace up a pair of minimalist sneaks, and you may also be less likely to get injured. Here are six styles to try.

More from SELF:

6 Moves for a Great Butt

Top Secrets of Beauty Pros

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism

How to Get Bombshell Hair

Read More »from Minimalist Sneakers: What's the Deal?

Rachel Hayes, SELF magazine

In a recent poll, 76 percent of you told us that you wear makeup to the gym. Here's how to do it the right way.

More from SELF:

6 Moves for a Great Butt

Top Secrets of Beauty Pros

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism

How to Get Bombshell Hair

Read More »from How to Look Good at the Gym

Nicole Catanese, SELF

The coldest season of the year comes with a special set of skin care issues (Rudolph nose, anyone?). Read on to save yourself.

"I have eyebrow dandruff. WTF?!"
When you wash your face, you probably don't get into brows, so over time, dead cells stack up, forming flakes, explains Francesca Fusco, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. At home, a.m. and p.m., use a face wash with gentle buffers like jojoba beads, targeting brows to slough skin. On the go, tote nubby makeup remover wipes. Skip brow products until flakes are gone, so gook doesn't build up.

See more: The Flat-Abs-Fast Secret

"My nose is red and raw-not cute."
A dry-air assault from indoor heat and outdoor cold + wads of tissues from nose blowing = Rudolph syndrome. Dab on a cream with ceramides, hydrating lipids that dry air depletes, Dr. Fusco says. Cracking, too? Layer on barrier cream, a protective ointment with beeswax or botanical oils. Hide evidence with green concealer topped with a

Read More »from Look Hot in the Cold

Robin Hilmantel, SELF magazine

Splits spike in January and peak in March, a FindLaw analysis notes. So divorce lawyers are buys! Learn from their clients' mistakes.

She told her girlfriends about his erectile dysfunction: When one husband realized his now-ex-wife had dished to her girls about his sex issues, "it was clear he felt humiliated," says Erik Newton, an attorney in San Francisco who represented the wife. Emasculating topics such as bedroom shortcomings or even a bad work review should be off-limits. They make him feel inadequate and that he can't trust you, which is tough to recover from, says Jane Greer, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist and author of What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship. Sure, we all love a good bitchfest, but let us remind you of a little game called telephone. You tell friends, "We're having trouble in bed." They hear, "He can't get it up." They pass along, "He's probably on Viagra!" Not cool.

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Read More »from How NOT to Break Up