Life Style

While exfoliating is key to maintaining healthy skin, using products that have a rough texture or an aggressive formula risks damaging your skin barrier. When you exfoliate away dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin, it increases cell turnover - your skin's natural process that replaces dead skin cells with healthy ones. This makes your skin appear bright and healthy. If you've been put off by skin-care acids out of fear that you won't be able to tolerate them, a reliable skin-care ingredient that will make you glow is malic acid. Even if the ingredient sounds a bit unfamiliar, there's a good chance you've used a facial cleanser or serum formulated with this alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from apples. Malic acid is used in many skin-care products because of its ability to clear dead skin cells, resulting in a brighter complexion and smoother texture. It has many other benefits too, which is why it's becoming such a well-known and frequently used ingredient. Implementing malic acid in your skin-care routine means the road to brighter-looking skin is ahead; however, it's important to know all about any AHA you're planning on using on your skin. To help understand how malic acid works, we asked an expert to give us the lowdown on the exfoliating component, including how to use it and if it is safe for sensitive skin. What Is Malic Acid? Naturally derived from fruits like apples, cherries, and even pears, malic acid is an AHA that can be "potentially beneficial for skin because of its ability to break up the 'glue' between dead skin cells," board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, tells POPSUGAR. This provides a "chemical exfoliation effect, which makes skin smoother, improves tone, and replaces old, aged, damaged skin with newer, fresher, and healthier skin," she says. Malic acid has a larger molecular size than its AHA counterparts, meaning it penetrates the skin at a lower rate. This makes it a relatively gentle option for exfoliation. What Are Malic Acid's Benefits For Skin? Since malic acid is a chemical exfoliant, it aids in exfoliating or removing dead cells from the outermost layer of the skin. In the process, it helps diminish the appearance of discoloration and treat fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, malic acid can help unclog pores, resulting in a brighter and more radiant-looking complexion, and it can be beneficial in treating melasma, according to a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. However, according to the International Journal of Toxicology, there is not enough available information to determine if it is safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding, which is why it's important to err on the side of caution when using skin care formulated with malic acid. How to Use Malic Acid For Skin How you use malic acid in your skin-care regimen is totally dependent on your preference and skin type. However, it's worth noting that Dr. Nazarian doesn't recommend using it alone as your primary source of exfoliation. "The clinical evidence and studies on malic acid are far more limited than other common exfoliants that we use in skin care." Malic acid has long been used as a supportive player in the ingredient list as a pH (the degree of acidity or alkalinity) adjuster in formulations. You can think of it as a supporting actor if you will. Opting for products that include components like vitamin C, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid will allow your skin to experience the benefits of malic acid while reducing the possibility of irritating. You can find malic acid listed as an ingredient in various acne and facial cleansers, night creams, and serums. No matter how you use it, especially when you're just starting out, Dr. Nazarian recommends applying it to the skin in moderation – once a week at most - and monitoring for irritation and overdrying of the skin. Once your skin can handle it, you can slowly increase the frequency of use. Is Malic Acid Safe For Sensitive Skin? Generally, malic acid is fairly gentle on skin. However, if you consider yourself to be very reactive, Dr. Nazarian suggests proceeding with caution and doing a patch test on a discrete area of your body before using it on your entire face. It has the ability to improve moisture and add hydration to skin as a humectant, but she says overall, "it can be quite irritating to many sensitive skin types." If you find that your skin is way too sensitive for malic acid, she recommends using other tried-and-true chemical exfoliants that are known to be gentle on the skin, such as products made with glycolic acid and lactic acid. To ensure your skin is getting the moisture it needs and then some, you can apply a hyaluronic-acid-based serum to your skin before applying malic acid. If irritation does arise, she suggests applying hydrating fatty acids to the skin, such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or shea butter, to counteract it.

There aren't very many things that Lori Harvey can do wrong in my eyes and what consistently gets oh-so right is her glam. Whether she's in fashion editorials, walking down a runway, or just running errands, she always has a simple girl-next-door approach to her makeup that feels approachable and emphasizes her natural beauty rather than covers it up. While Harvey has perfected the art of the neutral lip combination, she likes to play with her lipstick shades frequently. The model has been spotted in bright red hues, as well as moody burgundy tones, and in a recent Get Ready With Me video for Allure, Harvey revealed her latest go-to lip combination: a glossy, warm brown that screams '90s supermodel. The products all came from her makeup artist Courtney Kareem's brand, Made Beauty, and thankfully, I already owned them. So, of course, I had to see if I could achieve the Lori Harvey lip of my dreams. Read ahead to see the results of my experiment. Lori Harvey's Favorite Lip Products The products that Harvey used were the Made Beauty Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick ($22) in the shade Triple Shot, the Ultimate Lip Liner ($18) in Primal, and the Ultra Lip Shine ($20) in Liquid Gold. Like the star, I first started by lining my lips with the lip liner, which is a neutral brown color and one of my favorite products from the entire line. I outlined the entire perimeter of my mouth and then added a line on each side of the top and bottom lips, essentially dividing it into thirds. This is an old lip contouring hack that is said to make the lips appear a bit larger, particularly on camera. After my lips were mapped out, I followed with the lipstick, which is a rich, warm-brown shade. Harvey said she didn't want to do "too much," so she dabbed the color on for a lighter appearance. However, when I wear a brown lip, I go for bold, so I did the exact opposite and applied the color straight from the lipstick bullet to get a gorgeous, slightly grungy vibe going. To finish the combination (and slightly tone down the very dark lip that I had going on), I added a few swipes of the same shimmery gold lip gloss that Harvey used, and the look was complete. Though I would typically consider myself a gloss girl, when it comes to brown lipstick, in particular, I usually opt for a matte finish as I feel like it makes more of a statement. However, Harvey's combination made the color feel much more approachable and easy to wear - this is a look that I would realistically revisit in the future. Leave it to her to not only convince me to try something new but to inadvertently make it one of my new favorite looks. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

If you've been on BeautyTok (the beauty side of TikTok) within the last few months, chances are you've seen at least one video referencing the "high-maintenance procedures for low-maintenance" trend, which originated from TikTok user Rahma Sheikh. The trend has gotten thousands of people talking about all of the high-maintenance beauty procedures and treatments they do in order to make their day-to-day routines easier. Although the maintenance is often expensive and time-consuming, the end result is being able to hop out of bed and say, "I woke up like this." Although I never realized it until the trend was brought to my attention, I'm someone who revels in a high-maintenance-to-stay-low-maintenance routine. I'm not a huge fan of wearing a lot of makeup on a daily basis, and I like to be able to wash and go with my face and my hair. When I sat down to take stock of all of the things I did on a monthly - or even weekly - basis to keep myself "low maintenance," I realized there are quite a few items on the list. Keep scrolling to learn more about all of the high-maintenance things I do to stay low-maintenance. Hard Gel Russian Manicures I started getting hard gel manicures last year when I realized my nails were brittle and damaged from improper gel removal. The hard gel has actually helped my hyponychium (the skin underneath my nails) recede, which has been a complete game-changer and made getting manicures in general much more comfortable. I visit My Little Beautique to see Jontel, who gives me a dry Russian manicure with hard gel. I make sure to stick with a neutral color, like a nude, tan, milky white, or light pink, which allows me to go three to four weeks in between manicures because the grow-out isn't noticeable. Botox I got "preventative" Botox for the first time last year, and even though I don't feel like I really need it (I don't have any deep-set wrinkles when my face is relaxed), I still love getting it. It makes my forehead super smooth, which, in turn, makes applying makeup a breeze. Eyebrow Tinting and Tweezing I've said it once and I'll say it again: the eyes are not the windows to the soul, the eyebrows are. I've been growing my eyebrows out for years, and I'm still deep in the journey, but nothing makes me feel better than a fresh tint and tweeze. I try to visit Two of a Kind Brows whenever I can, and for the times when I'm doing it myself, there is no better eyebrow tint than the Brow Code At-Home Eyebrow Tint ($50). Self Tanning I don't self-tan my body very often anymore, but when I do, I always use the Lux Unfiltered No. 32 Gradual Tanning Lotion ($38). I have an olive skin tone with a neutral undertone, and it's one of the only products that I think looks natural on my skin, isn't streaky, and doesn't leave me a sticky, smelly mess. While I've been forgoing the body tan as of late, I do self-tan my face with the Lux Unfiltered No. 12 Bronzing Drops ($44) once a week. I don't like to put my face in the sun, which means that even with sunscreen, my body looks a lot darker than my face. These bronzing drops even everything out, and they give my skin such a healthy glow I can completely skip wearing base makeup like foundation. Microneedling I tried microneedling for the first time last year, and it's the first minimally invasive procedure that my skin has actually enjoyed. (I tried lasers a while back, and my skin did not do well.) So far, I've done two different SkinPen treatments that have drastically improved my skin's texture, dark spots, and fine lines. It takes a full week for my skin to recover after my appointment and a full four weeks to see the results, but so far the treatments have been completely worth it. I have a lot of sun damage from too much time spent outside without SPF, and microneedling is one of the only things that has made a noticeable, long-lasting difference. LED Light Therapy I keep the Dr. Dennis Gross LED Face Mask ($455) next to my desk, and I pop it on every morning while I'm working. I run through all three of the available settings - red, blue, and purple - and I swear with consistent use, I see fewer breakouts, and my skin looks brighter on a daily basis. I haven't noticed much in the way of fading fine lines or wrinkles, but using the mask for less than 10 minutes a day is worth it for the results I get. Nutrafol Supplements I recently started taking Nutrafol Supplements, and although it's a b*tch to remember to take them every day, I'm trying my best. One of my coworkers has noticed a lot of new hair growth since she started taking them, and when I was keeping up with them, I noticed a lot less shedding. I have fine hair, and I shed like I get paid to do it, so anything that will help combat that and give me fuller, thicker hair is a win in my book. Brazilian Waxes For me, Brazilian waxes don't hurt my body as much as they do my wallet. They're pricey AF, and although I learned to do them myself back when we were in lockdown in 2020, it's so much easier (and faster) to have a professional handle it. There's a European Wax Center close to my house, so I try to make an appointment every month or so. The hardest part is just getting off my ass and heading to the appointment. Once I'm there, it's a quick 15-minute session, and I can completely skip shaving for a month. Plus, since I get waxed so frequently, I've noticed that my hair is growing back thinner and sparser, which is honestly a dream come true. Oral Acne Medication I started taking an oral acne medication called Spironolactone a few years ago, and it's been one of the biggest game-changers for my skin. Yes, it's annoying having to take a pill every day and having to refill and pick up the prescription every month, but nothing has made my skin look clearer. I'm honestly dreading the day I have to stop taking it because I was miserable when I was dealing with constant hormonal breakouts all over my face. Hair Color and Cut I'm not great about getting frequent haircuts, but I've realized that the more I do them, the better - and fuller - my hair looks. I try to get trims every couple of months if I can, and I try not to go longer than six months without a haircut. I also have a lot of gray hair, so I darken my base every couple of months as well. As for the rest of my head, I do a gloss whenever I get my base worked on to get rid of any brassy tones and keep my hair looking shiny. Skin Care I could probably write ten paragraphs about my skin-care routine, but I'll try to keep it succinct. In addition to using high-quality skin-care products (I use a vitamin C serum, a retinol, a moisturizer, and an SPF), I also oil-plane my face once a month, do weekly face masks, and get monthly professional facials whenever possible. I also try to keep my skin out of the sun, which means wearing sunscreen constantly and keeping a hat on whenever I'm outside. Ultimately, this high-maintenance routine might sound like a lot, but it saves me time and effort every morning, which in turn makes me feel lower maintenance. Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for POPSUGAR. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for POPSUGAR's TikTok and Instagram accounts.

As a native Midwesterner, I know my way around a fried pickle. Crunchy? Check. Perfectly seasoned? Yup. Air-fryer-friendly recipe? No doubt about it. After Benny Blanco shared his own tutorial for frying up that crispy goodness, however, I'm holding a new standard for fried pickle recipes: would Selena Gomez approve? In a Feb. 14 cooking video, the "Eastside" singer (and Gomez's multitalented valentine) serves up a perfectly fried dill slice coated in a panko breading. "Guys, it's Valentine's Day, and these are my girlfriend's favorite pickles," Blanco says in the TikTok. "The only problem is, you can only get 'em shipped from f*cking Texas. But we got 'em, so now we're gonna fry 'em." It's not surprising that Blanco knows his way around a comfort food recipe - his cooking series (accompanied by mildly raunchy voiceovers) has cumulatively amassed billions of views across TikTok and YouTube. His debut cookbook, "Open Wide: A Cookbook For Friends," is expected to drop at the end of April. So, off the bat, I trust his fried-pickle expertise. How to Make Benny Blanco's Fried Pickles In this short TikTok clip, Blanco presents a gallon-sized jar of Gomez's favorite pickles, Best Maid Hamburger Slices. As Blanco demonstrates, you'll start by dipping the pickle rounds in batter, then generously coat with panko. "Say goodnight!" he jokes. While he doesn't share the exact ingredients here, it's reasonable to assume it's a mix of egg and buttermilk with a few spices. Blanco recommends adding a splash of Sprite to the batter, which he says, along with an expletive or two, is completely optional. I was initially a skeptic, I'll admit it, and while the ingredient might seem out of place in such a savory snack, that bright hint of citrus actually plays nicely with the dill pickle's sourness. You'll walk away with a thinly coated, flaky fried pickle that's primed for dipping in ranch dressing. While I can't guarantee this recipe will spark any romantic feelings, this deep-fried appetizer does provide a delicious crunch and dill flavor. After re-creating his recipe, I'd definitely save this appetizer for a leisurely weekend afternoon or reality TV watch party with friends. I will say, there is a bit of a challenge when it comes to this particular cut of pickles: when frying up these thin rounds, I found that the pickles quickly dried out and shrunk. Adjusting the ratio of the breadcrumb coating to pickle (as well as frying for a few seconds less) thankfully did the trick. The Pickles That Work Best For Benny Blanco's Fried Pickle Recipe It all comes down to your preferences. Best Maid's hamburger slices are ideal for re-creating Blanco's romantic snack, but they're a bit difficult to come by. While Blanco says that the family-owned-and-operated brand can only be shipped from Texas, you can also find them in a few large retailers across the US. It's well worth the time to hunt down these delicately sliced veggies, but it's understandable why you might want to include something more accessible. Any standard hamburger slice will work in this case. Searching for a heartier crunch? Try swapping out the suggested pickles for a thicker-cut variety, like the TikTok-loved Grillo's Pickles. Prepare to increase the amount of breadcrumbs and then fry them for a few seconds longer. No matter which way you slice it, you'll want to use large pickle rounds - all in a similar size - for cooking consistency. (Feel free to snack on the smaller slices while waiting for the oil to heat up.) Ensure all excess brine is dried before dipping them into the batter and panko to avoid any unpleasant sogginess. Related: This Trendy Earl Grey Martini Is My New Favorite Way to Drink Tea Nicolette Baker is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her expertise lies primarily in food, drink, and fashion media, but she enjoys covering all aspects of lifestyle with an accessible approach. She's written for Food & Wine, Byrdie, Business Insider, VinePair, and Flourish. Benny Blanco's Fried PicklesBenny Blanco IngredientsVegetable oil for frying 1/2 cup Best Maid Hamburger Slices 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs 1/2 tablespoon flour 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 egg, beaten 1 tablespoon Sprite Paprika, salt, pepper Directions Heat a skillet of vegetable oil on medium heat on the stovetop. Pat excess liquid from pickles and set them to dry on paper towels. Combine buttermilk, egg, Sprite, and spices in a small bowl to create the batter. Set aside. In another bowl, mix panko and flour until thoroughly combined. Dip pickles in the batter, then cover with the breading mixture. Once the oil reaches 375°F, gently drop the pickles into the skillet. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove the pickles from the skillet and cool on a paper-towel-lined plate or a wire rack. Pair with ranch dressing and enjoy!

The line between the nail and fine-art worlds continues to get thinner by the day. From manicures inspired by James Turrell to hand-painted nail-art trends that could impress even the most prolific Renaissance artist, it's been proven time and again that your hands can act as a canvas for some incredibly eye-catching works of art. If you're looking for a new design to turn heads, the latest trend is the "moonlight" manicure. The look in question quite literally looks like the reflection of moonlight off of a body of water, merging together two existing popular trends. "Moonlight nails are a fusion of magnetic cat eye and jelly nails," Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood, tells POPSUGAR. The moonlight reference comes from the shimmering properties of the magnetic polish, which create the ethereal effect that's become exceedingly popular over the last few weeks. Ahead, Hanna explains how you can get moonlight nails and provides us with some fun nail-art inspiration. What Are Moonlight Nails? Moonlight nails have the finish of a traditional cat-eye nail but are much more transparent. "They're trending because it's such an eye-catching manicure," Hanna says. "There's something about them that keeps you staring at your nails all day. That shimmer, sparkle, and color shift – it's all just so beautiful." To get a moonlight manicure at home, pair a magnetic polish with a jelly formula of your choice. "After you have prepped your nails and applied your base coat, apply one thin coat of the magnetic polish and do not cure it," Hanna says. (Keep in mind that you want the velvet polish to be a bit more sheer, so the fewer coats that you can use to achieve the look, the better.) "While the gel is still wet, sweep a magnet in a circular motion around the edge of your nail and you will see the magnetic particles in the polish move," she adds. After you create a pattern that you like, you can cure the nail. Then, to get the moonlight effect, add one or two thin coats of your jelly polish on top. Hanna recommends products like Gelcare's Oyster Velvet ($22) as a base underneath a warm-toned jelly polish. To ensure the finish is transparent, you'll want to apply a very thin layer. Though moonlight manicures make for a great design alone, they also act as the perfect base for nail art and 3D charms. Need some inspiration? We went ahead and rounded up some of the best moonlight nails that we could find. Read ahead to find a few to add to your mood board.