Blog Posts by Refinery29

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.

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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!

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By Nicole Catanese, Refinery29

If you've been hearing buzz about, well, getting buzzed while pregnant, here's why: A recent study published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology says that low to moderate drinking throughout pregnancy didn't alter kids' IQs. The researchers looked at 1,628 women, with the average age of about 30 years old, half of whom were first-time mothers. The authors of the study had the women report how often they were drinking: low was considered one to four drinks per week, moderate was deemed five to eight per week, and binge drinking was defined as five or more in a single occasion. The researchers then followed up with the subjects five years later and administered IQ tests to their 5-year-old children.

According to the study: "There were no significant effects on test performance in children of mothers drinking up to eight drinks per week, compared to children of abstaining mothers. However, there was a significant association

By Rebecca Taras, Refinery29

Let's face it, no matter how hard we try to brave the elements, winter always seems to get the best of us. With bone-chilling temps and whipping winds, there's only so much those Hunter boots and cashmere scarves can do. But this week, instead of long underwear, may we suggest warming up from the inside out? Forget about soup or cocoa - we got our mittens on seven hot, boozy sippers that are guaranteed to take the chill off.

In an effort to get more creative than a plain ol' Irish coffee, we tapped local bartenders for creative but simple drinks with a kick. Quay's Snow Day packs a punch with rum and cognac, and we guarantee you'll be able to feel your fingers and toes again in no time after sipping on a little Pirate's Tea from The Gage. After all, there's nothing wrong with having some holiday hooch - even after the holiday. We've got a long, cold season ahead.

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