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Primer, Touch-Ups, and Travel Tips

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Primer, Touch-Ups, and Travel Tips

A foundation stick can slot into your routine as a seamless base, a precision touch-up tool, and a smart travel companion—all in one. Yes, you can layer a foundation stick with primer to boost wear and smoothness, use it for quick midday refreshes, and choose it over liquid when you need a leak-proof, TSA-friendly format. As clean beauty pioneers, bareMinerals crafts a mineral-powered, talc-free, vegan stick that evens out tone while caring for your skin. Below, you’ll find clear steps for layering over primer, practical touch-up strategies, and travel advantages—plus expert tips to help you build a polished, natural finish at home or on the go.

Primer Compatibility with Foundation Stick

Primer and foundation sticks are a natural pairing. Primer is a preparatory product applied after skincare, like serum and moisturizer, and before foundation to create a smoother canvas. It helps minimize the look of pores, refine texture, and improve grip, so your stick glides on evenly and wears longer—especially on oily or textured areas. Makeup educators consistently recommend priming because it helps sticks adhere and reduces streaking, improving blendability and longevity.

Match your primer to your skin:

  • Dry or mature skin: choose a hydrating primer to cushion the stick and avoid patchiness.
  • Oily or combination skin: opt for a mattifying, pore-blurring primer to curb shine and lock down T‑zone slip.
  • Sensitive skin: pair gentle, fragrance-free primers with our talc-free, vegan sticks for calm, compatible wear.

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4.4

4.4 Stars (342 Reviews)

Prime Time Original Foundation Primer

This clean, mineral powered primer extends makeup wear for 24hrs with a soft-focused, breathable matte finish that smooths and controls shine.*

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Shop the rest of the primer collection here.

How to Layer Foundation Stick over Primer

Follow this simple order for a smooth, buildable application:

  1. Cleanse and moisturize. Let skincare absorb fully.

  2. Apply primer suited to your skin type. Wait 30–60 seconds to set.
  3. Swipe the foundation stick where you want coverage—forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and any spots.
  4. Blend outward quickly with a dense brush or fingers (the warmth helps it melt into skin).
  5. Build coverage in thin layers only where needed.
  6. Set strategically with a lightweight powder on oily zones or mist for a fresh, skin-like finish.

Quick flow: Prep → Prime → Swipe → Blend → Build → Set

For deeper technique nuance and finish choices, explore our tutorial on stick application and blending from our artistry team.

Using Foundation Stick for Touch-Ups Throughout the Day

Foundation sticks excel at fast, fuss-free touchups. Their solid format means no spills, no pump, and no palette—just tap where you need it and blend with your fingertips:

  • Blot first to remove excess oil.
  • Swipe directly over redness, shine-prone areas, or faded spots.
  • Tap-blend edges with clean fingers for a seamless refresh.
  • Finish with a quick spritz of setting mist.

Market research highlights that ease of application and portability are key drivers of stick adoption, especially for on-the-go routines. Keep a foundation stick in your bag for pinpoint touchups between meetings or post-workout—no brush required. For shade and finish consistency, choose the same shade you use at home from our collection.

Travel Advantages of Foundation Sticks

When it comes to choosing a travel foundation stick versus liquid, sticks win for simplicity and spill resistance.

Consideration

Stick Foundation

Liquid Foundation

Format

Solid, portable bullet

Fluid in bottle or tube

Leakage risk

No-spill, no-fuss

Possible spill or mess in transit

TSA rules

TSA-Approved

Subject to liquid limits

Tools needed

None—finger blending works

Often requires sponge/brush

Touch-ups

Fast, precise, mess-free

Less convenient on the go

Multipurpose

Doubles as concealer/contour with shade tweaks

Typically single-use format

Emerging consumer trends also show younger travelers favor minimalist, stick-based routines for portability and speed, contributing to the format’s momentum.

For a glow-on-the-go option, try our travel-friendly Complexion Rescue Luminous Skin Tint Stick—easy swipe, dab, done.

TSA-Friendly Benefits of Foundation Stick Packaging

TSA-friendly means a product meets Transportation Security Administration carry-on requirements; solid sticks typically bypass liquid restrictions, so you can pack them in your purse or personal item without a quart-size bag. Our stick packaging is leak-proof and designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating eco-conscious choices such as PCR components in select formats. Industry data shows growing demand for eco-friendly stick packaging and smart features like rotating bases and built-in blending tools—innovations that make travel beauty lighter and cleaner.

On-the-Go Application Tips for Foundation Stick

  • Focus placement: Swipe on the T‑zone, around the nose, under eyes, and over blemishes; blend with fingers for heat-assisted melding.
  • Multiuse mindset: Use your main shade as foundation and concealer; add a deeper stick for contour and a rosy tone as blush to streamline your bag.
  • Finish fast: Mist to rehydrate makeup and softly set, or tap a sheer powder on the T‑zone to control shine.

Quick routine for commuters and travelers:

  • Blot excess oil
  • Swipe where coverage faded
  • Blend edges with fingertips
  • Set with mist or a touch of powder
  • Repeat micro-touches as needed

Consumers increasingly prefer multifunctional sticks with skincare benefits (and even mineral SPF) for space-saving kits—look for skin-loving actives in our mineral-powered options.

Integrating Bare Minerals Foundation Stick into Your Routine

  • Choose by skin type:
    • Dry or mature: hydrating, dewy sticks that cushion fine lines.
    • Oily/combination: natural-matte or oil-controlling sticks for shine-prone zones.
    • Sensitive: fragrance-free, talc-free, vegan mineral sticks to respect the skin barrier.
  • Find your shade: Use our digital tools for accurate, inclusive shade matching across undertones. Start your search in our foundation family.
  • Build your routine:
    • Pair with the right primer (hydrating or mattifying) for a smooth base.
    • Apply and blend as directed above; layer where needed.
    • Set with a breathable powder or setting mist for longevity. See our pro-approved setting strategies.
  • Learn the differences among formats to tailor your finish and wear time. Stick vs. liquid vs. powder explained.

Our clean, mineral-first philosophy means high-performance, skin-improving formulas in eco-conscious packaging—built for everyday ease, foundation stick touchups, and effortless travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prepare my skin before applying foundation stick?

Always begin with a clean, moisturized face, allowing your skincare to absorb fully. To help your foundation stick glide on smoothly and last longer, apply a primer suited to your skin type before makeup.

Can foundation stick replace foundation and concealer?

Yes, foundation sticks can double as both foundation and concealer, providing buildable, targeted coverage—perfect for minimalist routines and on-the-go touch-ups.

What is the best way to blend foundation stick for a natural finish?

Blend the foundation stick with your fingers for a warmed-in finish, or use the Smoothing Face Brush.

How do I set foundation stick for all-day wear?

Lightly dust translucent powder on oily areas after blending, and finish with a setting spray to lock in your look for longer wear.

What common mistakes should I avoid with foundation sticks?

Avoid applying too much product at once, and don’t skip your skin prep—start with a small amount and blend thoroughly to prevent streaks or patchiness.

Why Experts Don’t Do Personal Colour Analysis with Only 1 or 2 Photos — Inside Out Style

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Why Experts Don’t Do Personal Colour Analysis with Only 1 or 2 Photos — Inside Out Style

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When I first started doing personal colour analysis back in 2004, the only way to do it accurately was in person.  This was because cameras and screens (unless you had the professional equipment) just didn’t give you an accurate enough image to do a great job.  Fortunately, with the significant improvements in mobile phone cameras, these now produce some really great photos, making it much easier to do a personal colour analysis online.

I started experimenting with ways of doing personal colour analysis online in 2014 in my 7 Steps to Style program and have spent the past decade improving and tweaking my methods.  What’s great is that I’ve had the joy of meeting quite a few of my online clients in person when I’ve travelled, which has meant I’ve been able to confirm that their colour palettes are correct, along with the signature colours I chose from their photos. So that I know my online colour analysis system works well.

Now, there are lots of apps that use AI (artificial intelligence) to do colour analysis, based on one photo that you upload.  But in my experience (and I’ve tried some out myself to see how well they work), the answers are often not particularly accurate, and there isn’t the nuance that I have built into my Absolute Colour System – it’s 18 palettes based on the science of colour properties, so it has more nuance and accuracy than seasonal systems.    It’s also why I don’t do celebrity analysis from photos, as those photos are usually photoshopped, and who knows if the celebrity is wearing fake tan, or what has been changed about their natural colouring.

I love listening to a podcast when walking my whippets round the park, and one of my regular listens is Hidden Brain. The other day, I listened to this episode on Trusting Your Doubt, and I loved the explanation that the guest, Bobby Parmer, gave about why experts actually seek more information than novices. I took a 30-second clip of the relevant part that you can listen to here:

How Does this Relate to Online Personal Colour Analysis?

When I do an online colour analysis, it’s a multi-step process.  This is because I want to get you an accurate result.  As Bobby Parmer says in the clip: “When we look at nurses, experienced nurses collect twice as much data as novice nurses when making a diagnosis… People who are experienced when it comes to dealing with uncertainty and doubt are more sensitive to their surroundings, and they’re investing in learning, they’re not investing in trying to get to the right answer quickly.”

As many people, I’m sure, would love an instant answer as to their ideal colour palette, I know what matters to my clients is the right answer.  So, as an expert with over 20 years of colour analysis experience, I take the time to ask for more information, learn more, and get more photos to ensure the outcome is the best for my client.  I love it when my clients send me 20 – 50 photos.  And in fact, the more I get, the more accurate my analysis is (and of course, the better quality the photos, the easier and faster this process is as well) as cameras can skew colours a little, but by the time I’ve looked at lots of photos, I see the patterns and the nuance.

Having just finished running a personal colour analysis training course (next one starts 27 April if you’re keen to learn), I always stress to my students that they should ask for more photos.  So often, they are hesitant because they worry that asking for more shows their inexperience. It was great to hear that research shows that I’m not alone in wanting more, as more experienced people always spend more time learning so they can make better decisions.

If you want an accurate online analysis, rest assured, it’s possible with a good system and high-quality training.  If you’d love to discover your best palette of colours, no matter where you are in the world, here’s a link to my online colour analysis services.

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How to Style a Puffer Jacket This Winter 2026

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How to Style a Puffer Jacket This Winter 2026

If you’re wondering how to style a puffer jacket, you’re not alone. This cold-weather staple has been firmly back in our winter rotation since last November. It’s one of the few styles that actually keeps me warm through winter’s worst, and, let’s face it, if you live in the rainy UK, having a waterproof winter coat at the ready is essential all year round.

As practical as it is, though, knowing how to style a puffer jacket isn’t always straightforward. Its padded, oversized shape doesn’t exactly make it the easiest piece to work into an outfit without feeling bulky. As much as I like feeling as if I’m wearing an insulated comforter, I don’t want to look like I just rolled out of bed.

But one thing I’ve learned over the years of dressing for winter is that understanding your proportions is key. I’m 5’3″, so I like a cropped option to avoid any awkward lengths. Other features, such as a drawcord to tighten at the waist or a funnel neck to keep me warm, are a bonus. Similar to styling a gilet, I recommend experimenting with oversized layers, monochromatic looks and of course, accessorising.

That said, it’s ultimately up to your personal style, height and preference. Still, below are some tips on how to style a puffer jacket to look chic and cosy this season.

7 best winter coats, tried and approved by editors

By Georgia Believed and Harriet Davey

Puffer jacket and slouchy bottoms

Image may contain Clothing Coat Pants Hood Adult Person Jacket Jeans Knitwear Sweater Sweatshirt and Hoodie

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How Your Mindset Can Influence How Fast You Age

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How Your Mindset Can Influence How Fast You Age

Still, psychologists say it’s not shocking to think that worries about your well-being may lead to worse health. Fears around health can spark a chain reaction that ultimately has an impact on your physical health, Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast, tells SELF. “Worry and anxiety causes stress and strain on your body,” she says. “It takes up a lot of mental resources, which then take up physical resources.”

Stressing about your future health can impact your sleep, heart rate, and your nervous system, and all of those can contribute to worse health outcomes, Dr. Gallagher says.

It can also do a number on your heart health, Hillary Ammon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Center for Anxiety and Women’s Emotional Wellness, tells SELF. “The body reacts to anxiety in similar ways to how it reacts to fear,” she says. “When we are experiencing these emotions, the body releases [stress hormones] cortisol and epinephrine, along with neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and glutamate. So if someone is constantly worrying about their physical health, it may put these hormones and neurotransmitters in overdrive.”

This can even cause your blood sugar to fluctuate and fuel chronic inflammation in your body, Dr. Ammon adds. Unfortunately, chronic inflammation is linked to a range of serious health conditions, including autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and cancer. “By chronically worrying about their health, individuals unfortunately create more health problems, leaving them more susceptible to additional health issues,” Dr. Ammon says.

One more thing to consider, per Dr. Ammon: When you have health anxiety, you tend to be hypersensitive to what’s happening with your body. “You may notice minor changes, which in turn, likely makes their anxiety worse,” she says. “It is a cyclical pattern.”

How to navigate health fears around aging

It’s normal and OK to worry sometimes about your health, Dr. Gallagher points out. But the big concern is when you regularly stress about it.

Your Glam Deserves These Next-Level Lighted Makeup Mirrors

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Your Glam Deserves These Next-Level Lighted Makeup Mirrors

“I originally saw this mirror on my co-worker’s desk and knew I had to have it. I love doing quick touch-ups at my desk, and corporate lighting isn’t always the best, so the LED light on this mirror (which comes in four modes by the way) comes in clutch when I need to re-do my lip combo before my next meeting.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor

  • Magnification: 5x
  • Type of light: soft white, neutral, natural daylight
  • Size: 11.5″ x 2.5″
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs

Best for Selfies: Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror

Riki Loves Riki

5X Skinny Lighted Mirror

Why it’s worth it: No makeup routine is complete without snapping a few selfies, and the Riki Loves Riki 5X Skinny Lighted Mirror agrees. Simply pop your phone into the phone holder attachment, mount it onto the mirror, pair the Bluetooth, and then press the mirror’s camera button to start snapping pictures. Or, if you’d rather watch a tutorial than film one, the phone clip makes it easy to do your makeup as you follow your favorite YouTuber’s instructions.

Another bonus: It only weighs 1.5 pounds, so it’s super lightweight and easy to move around your house if you want to place it in different areas. It has five dimming options with both 5x and 10x magnifying options, so you can really customize its settings to all your glam likings.

Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han

“This was my first ‘smart’ makeup mirror years ago and I’d still recommend it. As someone who’s no stranger to zero natural light in their apartment, this really helped me avoid leaving home looking patchy or under-blended. I definitely took my fair share of selfies (and maybe a few poorly-recorded videos for TikTok) with the handy magnetic phone holder—I think the Bluetooth connectivity feature is pretty cool, so that you can snap photos more naturally. Most of all, the five light settings allowed a lot of customization and, despite its height, I liked how little space the actual base took up on my limited desk area.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor

  • Magnification: 5x
  • Type of light: customized HD daylight lighting
  • Size: 9.5″ x 13″
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs

Best Magnification: Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max

A Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max with a black base on a light gray background

Simplehuman

Sensor Mirror Trio Max

Why it’s worth it: The Simplehuman Sensor Mirror Trio Max is everything a makeup mirror could possibly be. A rechargeable battery that lasts five weeks? Of course. Touch-control brightness levels? Naturally. Turns on automatically when your face nears the sensor? Ok, color us impressed. The mirror also boasts a 95 CRI (a 100 on the CRI, or Color Rendering Index, means it looks exactly like actual daylight) via its patented Tru-Lux technology, which features patterned micro-reflectors that spread light evenly. But, if you’re doing your makeup for an indoor environment, the mirror features two color modes (sunlight or candlelight), so you can accurately prep your makeup look for wherever your day or night is taking you. As far as magnification goes, it features 1x, 5x, and 10x magnification to view every inch of your face in complete detail.

Why Your Skin Does Not Respond Well to Trends – 100% PURE

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Why Your Skin Does Not Respond Well to Trends – 100% PURE

Somewhere between the 12-step “glass skin” tutorial and the breathless product haul, skincare stopped being care and became sport.

New drop. New miracle ingredient. New “holy grail.” A fresh set of rules every week, delivered with the urgency of breaking news: Stop using that. Start using this. Your pores are crying. Your barrier is begging. Everyone is double-cleansing with fermented moss now.

And if you’ve ever felt a twitch of panic—Am I behind? Am I doing it wrong?—you’re not alone.

But here’s the thing: your skin doesn’t respond to trends the way your feed does. Skin isn’t built for constant novelty. Skin is a system—smart, protective, reactive—and it prefers stability. It thrives on what it can predict.

If you’re worried about skincare trends damage skinor you suspect you’re stuck in a loop of skincare routine mistakes and overusing skincare productsthis is your permission slip to step off the trend treadmill.

Because healthy skin is not a viral moment. It’s a relationship.

Why Trends Create Skin Stress

Trends aren’t inherently evil. But trend culture rewards speed and intensity—two things your skin generally hates.

Overuse of actives

Actives can be transformative. But in trend-land, they’re often stacked like a cocktail: retinoids + acids + vitamin C + “brightening” something + exfoliating something else, all because you saw a 30-second reel that made it look normal.

The problem? Skin has limits.

When you pile on strong ingredients without enough recovery time, you can trigger irritation, dryness, inflammation, and the kind of sensitivity that makes everything sting—including products that used to feel fine.

More isn’t more. More is often just louder.

Inconsistent ingredient exposure

Switching products constantly means your skin never gets to settle. One week it’s acids. Next week it’s peptides. Then it’s a barrier balm. Then you hear everyone is “slugging,” so you do that too. Then you stop because someone says it causes congestion. Then you panic-buy a clarifying serum.

Your skin experiences this as environmental whiplash. It can’t adapt to what keeps changing. Instead, it stays on high alert—reactive, uncertain, unpredictable.

Barrier disruption

Your skin barrier is the bouncer at the door. When it’s strong, your skin holds water better, stays calmer, and resists irritants. When it’s compromised, everything gets in (irritation, allergens, bacteria) and everything leaks out (hydration).

Trend-driven routines—especially ones heavy on actives and exfoliation—can quietly dismantle that barrier over time. You might think you’re “improving texture,” but what you’re actually doing is making your skin more vulnerable.

Signs Your Skin Is Overwhelmed by Switching

Skin doesn’t always send a dramatic memo. Sometimes it whispers. Sometimes it tantrums. Either way, these are common signs you’re doing too much, too often.

Sensitivity and irritation

  • Stinging when you apply products
  • Redness that lingers
  • Random itchy patches
  • “Suddenly everything burns” energy

That’s not your skin being fussy. That’s your skin waving a little flag that says: Please stop experimenting on me.

Dullness and dehydration

Overworking the skin can lead to a confusing outcome: you’re using more products, yet your skin looks flatter, tighter, and less alive.

Dehydrated skin often looks dull. It can also overproduce oil to compensate, which then sends you chasing “oil-control” products—making the cycle worse.

Inconsistent results

If your skin has good days and bad days with no clear pattern, routine switching might be the culprit. When you’re always introducing new variables, you can’t tell what’s helping, what’s hurting, and what’s simply coincidental.

Trends create noise. Skin loves clarity.

Why Gentle, Repetitive Care Works Better

This is where skincare gets quietly radical: the best results often come from doing less—with more consistency.

Skin adapts to what it knows

When you use the same supportive routine regularly, your skin learns it. It stabilizes. It stops bracing for impact. Over time, hydration improves, sensitivity can calm down, and the overall look becomes more even—because your skin is no longer stuck in constant defense mode.

Predictability supports healing

Healing requires conditions: enough moisture, minimal irritation, and time. Predictability creates those conditions.

Trends say, “Do something new.”
Repair says, “Do something steady.”

And steady is what builds trust—both in your skin and in yourself.

A Trend-Free Evening Routine

A trend-free routine isn’t boring. It’s mature. It’s you choosing long-term health over short-term hype. It’s also the easiest way to stop overusing skincare products without feeling like you’re “giving up.”

Here’s a simple, consistent evening routine designed to support calm, balanced skin.

Cleanse: Gentle, consistent cleansing

Rose Water Gentle Cleanser
Cleansing is where you reset—removing sunscreen, makeup, pollution, and the day itself without stripping your skin’s protective layer.

Make it ritual: Cleanse slowly. Same steps, same order, every night. Your skin loves the predictability.

Tone: Balanced nightly care

Lavender Niacinamide Pore Minimizer Toner
This step supports balance and can help skin feel more settled—especially if you’re recovering from irritation or overwhelm. Lavender brings a calming element; niacinamide is a consistent-care staple that fits well into steady routines.

Make it ritual: Press it in with your hands. Gentle pressure. No rushing. Let your face unclench.

Moisturize: Reliable hydration and comfort

Rose Water Hydrating Milk
Moisturizer is your daily vote for barrier support. It’s what helps reduce that tight feeling and supports the skin’s ability to hold onto hydration overnight.

Make it ritual: Apply while skin is slightly damp for a softer, more comfortable finish.

Body Ritual: Calm the nervous system nightly

French Lavender Shower Gel
Skin health isn’t isolated from stress. A calming body ritual supports sleep—when repair processes can do their best work. Lavender also helps signal “wind down” mode to your brain.

Make it ritual: Keep the scent consistent. Let it become your nightly “off switch.”

Conclusion: Healthy Skin Grows Through Trust, Not Trends

Trends will always be there, shouting for your attention.

But your skin doesn’t need constant upgrades. It needs steadiness. It needs fewer surprises. It needs you to stop treating it like a problem to solve and start treating it like a system to support.

Healthy skin is built the way strong relationships are built:
through repetition, patience, and trust.

Not trends.

FAQ

Are all skincare trends bad?

Not necessarily. Some trends introduce genuinely useful ingredients or techniques. The issue is speed and frequency—trying everything at once, switching constantly, and treating your routine like a rotating cast. If you want to try something new, introduce one change at a time and give it enough time to show whether it helps.

How often should I change my routine?

Less often than trend culture suggests. A good approach is to keep a stable baseline routine and only adjust when you have a clear reason—seasonal changes, a specific skin issue, or a product that truly isn’t working. If your skin is sensitive or reactive, stability matters even more.

Can skin recover after too much switching?

Yes. Skin is resilient—especially when you stop overwhelming it. A simplified, gentle routine and consistent hydration can support barrier recovery and help your skin return to a calmer baseline. The key is to commit long enough for your skin to settle instead of restarting the experiment every week.

Hailey Bieber’s Pearly ‘Wuthering Heights’ Manicure Is an Immediate Classic

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Hailey Bieber’s Pearly ‘Wuthering Heights’ Manicure Is an Immediate Classic

Key Takeaways

  • Hailey Bieber wore a glazed, creamy white manicure to the Australian premiere of “Wuthering Heights.”
  • It fits right into the world of the new movie and is easy to copy at home.

RIP Heathcliff, you would’ve loved “Baby” by Justin Bieber. That’s not a spoiler, by the way—you’ll still want to see the new movie, if for no other reasons than the giant strawberries and Charli XCX soundtrack. The fact of the matter is Wuthering Heights has been out since 1847, and no one who was pining then is alive now.

There’s a new cast of yearners around these days, though. Including me! Today, my object of affection is Hailey Bieber’s latest manicure, which probably wouldn’t look at home on the moors but… that’s not really the point, is it?

The point is to drive us mad.

Hailey Bieber’s Wuthering Heights Manicure

Getty Images


On Thursday, February 12, the Rhode founder arrived at the Australian premiere of “Wuthering Heights” (the native country of the film’s leads, so this was a big one) wearing a lacy floor-length Saint Laurent naked dress and fresh manicure. Her long, soft almond-shaped nails were painted a soft, creamy white shade and finished off with a dash of chrome glaze.

The look perfectly matched the satin dress she’d worn for Rhode’s Mecca launch earlier in the trip, but was also reminiscent of the shiny white finishes in the new movie’s Thrushcross Grange house.

Getty Images


Get the Look

There’s no need to be driven too mad here; this is a fairly easy look to copy. Thanks to another sort of madness—the glazed mani mania that Bieber kicked off—there are so many press ons and polishes available to help you get this very same finish at home.

Getty Images


OPI’s Kyoto Pearl is perfect, and also available as a set of press-ons. You could try DazzleDry’s Pearl polish, or Glamnetic’s Entranced Press-Ons if you’re looking to get the same nail shape as Bieber.

I don’t know what our souls are made of, but I think chrome powder might be involved? RIP Catherine Earnshaw, you would’ve loved Rhode Pineapple Refresh Cleanser after a day spent running amok.

‘Trimester Zero’ Is Real. Here’s How to Prep Your Body for Pregnancy

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‘Trimester Zero’ Is Real. Here’s How to Prep Your Body for Pregnancy

It’s a strange shift: After spending your whole life trying to avoid getting pregnant, you suddenly want to do so, and fast. But rather than making this change at the flick of a switch, many fertility doctors are now recommending hopeful patients spend a few months improving their health to give themselves the best chances of conceiving. Welcome to “trimester zero.”

“Trimester zero refers to the three months before conception when egg and sperm quality are being shaped and the body is preparing for pregnancy,” Lora Shahine, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist, ob-gyn and host of the Brave and Curious podcast tells SELF.

Amanda Wahlstedt, RDN, tells me that she spent even longer in her build-up to TTC—the common online parlance for “trying to conceive.” Wahlstedt has been documenting her pregnancy preparation online, sharing the foods she’s prioritizing, the tests she and her fiancé have undergone, and the prenatal vitamins she’s taking in a six-months period. Wahlstedt is working on her stress levels, too. “Finding ways to care for my nervous system through meditation and intentional ‘unwind’ time has been essential, physically but also emotionally,” she says.

But don’t get carried away: Stressing out about trimester zero—or going too deep into snake oil wellness practices that likely won’t improve your chances of conceiving—won’t do much to help your chances, either. (In fact, they may even hurt them.) Here’s what you need to know.

A healthy lifestyle is linked to better fertility.

Infertility rates are rising and many people are choosing to have children later in life. While age plays an undeniable role in fertility, research shows that lifestyle changes can improve your chances of conceiving. For example, an eight-year study following 17,544 women found that eating a fertility-friendly diet, being a healthy weight, and keeping physically active was linked to a 69% lower risk of ovulatory infertility. The Mediterranean-style diet is linked with higher pregnancy rates and studies on sperm health show that nutrition, exercise, sleep, and avoiding toxins improve sperm count, motility, and DNA integrity.

The basic takeaway? If something is good for your overall health, it’s probably good for your fertility. “You wouldn’t just show up to a marathon without training and preparing, would you?” Natalie Crawford, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist, ob-gyn, and author of The Fertility Formulatells SELF. “But that’s what people do when it comes to getting pregnant.”

Prioritize sleep, strength training, and a healthy diet.

Sleep is paramount, Dr. Crawford says: “If we don’t sleep enough, we’re directly going to impact our ability to ovulate and make estrogen and progesterone.” Managing stress as best as possible can help, too. Dr. Crawford recommends meditation, mindfulness, acupuncture, journaling, walking, or yoga.

The ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Documentary Proves the Series Was Always Doomed to Hurt Us

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The ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Documentary Proves the Series Was Always Doomed to Hurt Us

I have struggled with disordered eating my entire life. Being 13 years old and obsessed with America’s Next Top Model in tandem with the ever-pervasive diet and tabloid culture of the 2000s absolutely contributed to my shaky body image. With a frontal lobe about as firm as overnight oats, I, like many others my age, fell victim to the ideals presented in the docuseries: It’s just how things are. My friends and I entered middle school and traded juice boxes and multiplication tables for diet soda and calorie counting. We didn’t understand at the time how the media we consumed, not our diets, was causing our anguish.

But in Reality Check, Banks—who has been interviewed about the negative impact of her show multiple times—smizes unflinchingly into the camera lens as she utters every adage and platitude instead of, “Hey, I’m sorry for fucking up a generation of young people—particularly young women.” (For what it’s worth, Banks has said in past interviews that she “agreed” with criticisms for “off choices,” but it was still predicated by the “it was a different time” spiel.)

But the sins against contestants—and society writ large, for that matter—extend beyond distorted conversations about beauty. The highlight reel of what-the-absolute-hell moments on America’s Next Top Model also included the now-infamous race-swap photo shoot, a photo shoot where the models pose as unhoused people, and a spine-chilling photo shoot where the models (one of whom was the daughter of a gun violence survivor) pose as murder victims. The models Banks vied to empower so audaciously became her dolls for makeovers and playing pretend. It stripped contestants of their bodily autonomy—if they could not protest a bob, they did not have a leg to stand on when the series took unpredictably dark turns.

As many fans vividly remember, the production filmed and aired cycle two contestant Shandi Sullivan’s intoxicated encounter with a man in Milan, which she describes in the docuseries as sexual assault. “It’s a little hard for me to talk about production because that’s not my territory,” Banks said when asked why production did not intervene to protect a clearly intoxicated Sullivan, blaming Mok and other members of the team. (Writer’s note: Banks also held an executive producer title on the show; the docuseries does not interrogate exactly how production wouldn’t have been her “territory” in this instance.)

In one instance, she does apologize—on camera, not face-to-face—to cycle four contestant Keenyah Hill, who faced unwanted sexual advances from a male model on the set of a photo shoot. These instances happened on camera and in front of the entire production crew, but when Hill stopped the shoot to share her distress, she was dismissed and later told she needed to take more control. Banks’s response in hindsight: “None of us knew… but she needed more [protection],” Banks said of Hill’s experience. “Boo-boo, I am so sorry.”

Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

The Unspoken Rule: Why Couples Break Up Before Valentines Day

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The Unspoken Rule: Why Couples Break Up Before Valentines Day

If you have been feeling a little extra tension in your relationship lately, you are definitely not alone. It is a well known secret that couples break up before Valentines Day more often than almost any other time of the year. While February is supposed to be the month of love and candy hearts, it often turns into the season of the clean break. If you are currently scrolling through your feed wondering why everyone is suddenly single, let’s get into the real reasons why the pressure of the holiday sends so many relationships to the graveyard.

The main reason why couples break up before Valentines Day usually boils down to the pressure. When February 14th starts looming on the calendar, it forces people to take a long, hard look at where they actually stand. If you are not really feeling the person you are with, the idea of planning a romantic dinner, buying an expensive gift, or posting a “love of my life” tribute on Instagram feels totally fake. For many, breaking up on February 11th feels much more honest than faking a smile over a candlelit dinner on the 14th.

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Let’s be real, Valentines Day can be expensive. Nobody wants to spend their hard earned money on a luxury gift for someone they aren’t planning on seeing by springtime. When couples break up before Valentines Dayit is often because one person realized they would rather save that coin for themselves. It sounds a bit harsh, but it is a very relatable form of self preservation. Beyond the money, the emotional energy required to celebrate a “perfect” romance is a lot to handle if the foundation is already shaky.

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There is also something to be said about wanting to enter the next season of life without any extra baggage. If you have been unhappy since the New Year, the holiday serves as a final deadline. It is better to have a solo “Galentines” or a quiet night in with your dog than to stay in a situation that isn’t serving you. We have all been there, and while it might feel a little awkward to end things right before the day of love, it is usually for the best in the long run.

So if you find yourself back on the apps or just enjoying your own company this week, don’t sweat it. You are just part of a very common February tradition. Sometimes the best act of self love is knowing when to close a chapter so you can eventually find the real thing.

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