Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Annie Tomlin, Photographed by Bek Anderson, Refinery29

Does makeup make women feel bad about themselves? We last pondered the question back in Women's Studies 101, but this week, the New York Times resurrected it for another look. "If makeup has indeed become the status quo in the public realm," its latest Room For Debate column asks, "does it ultimately damage a woman's self-esteem, or elevate it?" To explore this issue, seven writers - makeup artists, writers, and researchers among them - argue whether makeup signifies female self-expression or an oppressive tool of the patriarchy.

We're all for a good rip-roaring debate, but this particular one is about as current as, well, frosted lilac lipstick. As third-wave feminists already argued decades ago, wearing makeup doesn't necessarily mean a woman feels inadequate without it - just as going bare-faced doesn't automatically lead to radical self-acceptance.

Don't get us wrong; when women feel pressured to wear makeup, that's

By Nicole Catanese, Refinery29
As soon as the first day of the year strikes, it's easy to get all gung-ho about reversing your previously callous ways when it comes to your diet and fitness routine. We swear off overdoing it with the Veuve, then we vow to never ever skip spin class for an impromptu dinner with the girls. Do-able, right? Eh, if history holds true, probably not. Instead of setting yourself up for get-healthy-and-fit failure, try these tiny tweaks. They may not make a whole lot of bang initially, but they're more likely to stand the test of life-gets-in-the-way time than the big promises we make to ourselves year after year.

Look At The Bright Side
This one is way harder than it sounds, but it can also have a way bigger payoff than you think. "Often we focus on what we are doing wrong," says Susan Albers, PsyD, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic and author of Eating Mindfully. "I ask my clients what they think they do well and then come up with ways to do it even

By Dena Stern, Illustrations by Naomi Abel, Refinery29

Yep, it's officially winter, and with that comes lots of warm fuzzy knits, darkness at 4 p.m.… and the inevitable dawning of cold and flu season. Germs and bugs wreak havoc on our jam-packed schedules, our skin, and every other element of our lives. Not to mention, double-fisting Gatorade and Tylenol PM isn't exactly our idea of fun. Naturally, we want to protect ourselves from getting sick, to avoid spreading nasty germs around, and to get better as quickly as possible if those bugs manage to sneak past our well-crafted defenses.

That's why we consulted two doctors who know how to prevent and treat colds and flus: Dr. Eduardo Dolhun, MD, founder of the Dolhun Clinic and creator of Drip Drops ORS, and Dr. John Cranshaw, also of the Dolhun Clinic and former Chief of Medicine at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco. They've got everything you ever wanted to know about colds, flus, and keeping yourself healthy. Follow their advice

By Tara Rasmus, Refinery29

As much as we love trying all of the new products and potions that come our way, sometimes we like to go classic with homemade beauty treatments, whether as a natural fix for our finicky skin or as a break for our wallet. Fancy treatments for hair, skin and nails are undoubtedly luxurious, but as our mamas taught us, sometimes the best beauty fixes can be found in your medicine cabinet - or even in your kitchen.

These beauty fixes are classics, but to investigate whether the treatments that go on your face are, you know, safe, we reached out to Dr. Howard Sobel, a dermatologist in New York City, who gave us the scoop. Click through to get the 411 on these unexpected hair, skin and nail solutions, and find out if it's really worth it to ditch your trusty Kiehl's for an egg white mask.

More from Refinery29:

How To Get Rid Of Frizzy Hair In 10 Seconds Flat
How To Boost Your Metabolism in 9 Easy Steps

How To Do Your Makeup In 5 Minutes (Really!)

By Erin Donnelly, Refinery29

Mommy-to-be Kate Middleton probably skipped out on the bubbly this New Year's Eve, but apparently she's got a hangover remedy up her sleeve anyway. Which is useful, just in case you're still suffering - particularly now that you're back at work.

Sources reveal that the royal has been combatting nausea related to her gnarly case of hyperemesis gravadarum (a.k.a. really horrendous morning sickness) by nibbling on lavender shortbread biscuits.

It seems lavender has long been used to naturally relieve nausea, and in true royal form, KMid has found a suitably posh way to administer her dosage, munching on Camilla and Charles-approved shortbread sourced from Duchy Originals and Fortnum and Mason.

"A lot of women develop cravings during pregnancy and Kate is no exception," a source tells The Sun. "She has got a real taste for these biscuits. Lavender is said to have healing properties, so it is not such a wacky food to nibble on when you're pregnant."

Or,

By Tara Rasmus, Designed by Ammiel Mendoza, Refinery29

Resolutions, schmezalutions: there's a reason why those stinkin' things never last past January 14. Yes, it was totally noble that time you pledged to be super-organized-all-the-time-everywhere and drink-only-green-juice-from-here-to-eternity, but let's get real. We all want to be happier, healthier and wealthier versions of ourselves in 2013, but we have a tendency to set up goals that are so lofty (and expensive, and complicated) that they're next to impossible to carry out.

Well, Gretchen Rubin (author of the immensely successful blog-turned-book The Happiness Project, as well as the new tome Happier at Home) has a message for all of us New Year's grumps: the best resolutions are not really resolutions at all, but quick, d'oh-worthy tips that we're surprised we never thought of. From taking a moment enjoying your favorite scents (hello, beloved morning coffee!) to giving your roommate a warm hello every evening (yes, even

By Lexi Nisita, Refinery29

The holiday season in NYC is all about one thing: shopping. From the moment the temperature dips below 60 degrees, your inbox (and mailbox, and wallet) are bombarded with Christmas "cheer" in the form of unbeatable deals (only to be beaten come December 26), special holiday editions, and approximately 70 versions of "Baby It's Cold Outside". But behind all the Hallmark goodness is, of course, a whole lot of cash. We got our hands on a list of all the top earners this season, surprises and underdogs not included.

Despite the fact that holiday sales this year hit lows comparable to the dark times of '08, there's still plenty of cash to be had for a select few. If you're thinking, "Oh, good! I'm so glad The Future Perfect is finally getting the mainstream recognition it deserves," think again. None of your favorite designers or most-beloved little boutiques will make this list of the top-dollar stores. Not that we're complaining - though we love our more

By Sarah St. Lifer, Refinery29

Considering how many red carpets occur in a single week, you can imagine how tough a task it was for us to sort through all the styles of 2012. Not that we're complaining - reliving every black-tie moment from Cannes to SoCal has been quite the exciting sartorial journey. And, after sorting through thousands of looks, polling R29 HQ, and taking into account the full-package factor (dress, shoes, makeup, et cetera), we've gathered the gals who straight-up nailed it.

Between the ball gowns, cocktail dresses, and festive frocks, we had quite the assignment on our hands. Peruse our lineup and let us know which leading lady takes the cake in your book. And, let's not forget - the 2013 awards season is quickly approaching, meaning we've got loads of haute happenings on the horizon!

More from Refinery29:

How To Get Rid Of Frizzy Hair In 10 Seconds Flat

How To Boost Your Metabolism in 9 Easy Steps

How To Do Your Makeup In 5 Minutes (Really!)