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To determine which hand soaps are the most moisturizing, we looked at dozens of formulas and narrowed down the options based on type, ingredients, scent, and more. We also spoke with Angela Lamb, MD, director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice, for expert tips on how to keep your hands feeling soft and supple. For starters, she emphasizes the importance of using mild soaps and keeping the water lukewarm—as opposed to scalding hot—when you’re washing your hands....

“An over-the-toilet storage cabinet can prove to be a clutch factor in a space-challenged bathroom,” says Clara Jung, principal designer at San Francisco’s Banner Day Interiors. “It will unwittingly provide much-needed shelf space for an often unoccupied area of the room. It’s easily accessible for visiting guests without having to ask—or snoop—for supplies.” To determine the best over-the-toilet storage, we spent hours researching and considering factors like type, size, and capacity....

To determine the best air fresheners, we devoted hours researching top-rated favorites and scouring ingredient lists. We considered a range of criteria such as longevity, maintenance, and scent. We also spoke to Melissa Maker of Clean My Space to find out how to get your home to smell like “nothing.” “I have come to prefer the smell of ’nothing’ at home, because, to me, that’s truly the sign of a clean home,” says Maker....

To find the best at-home compost bins and buckets, we spent hours researching the market and considered factors like type, material, capacity, and lid style to find those that reigned supreme. We also received expert advice on how to shop for compost bins (and use them correctly) from Rick Carr, farm director and master composter at the Rodale Institute. “When it comes to composting outdoors, make sure you have no food showing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” says Carr....

But using vanilla can also be confusing, since it comes in many different forms. Beans, paste, extract—they all describe vanilla. As a general rule, if a recipe calls for vanilla beans, a teaspoon of either vanilla paste or vanilla extract can work as a great substitute. Alternately, you can use the seeds scraped from half a vanilla bean in place of a teaspoon of extract. Still have questions? Here’s a breakdown of the many types of vanilla, giving you the base you need to make the most of this amazing ingredient....

Once the Pantone team decided on the feeling they wanted the chosen color to evoke, the selection of Viva Magenta was easy. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a time when we had a big controversy,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “We’re all very much on the same page.” The psychology behind the color comes first, and after extensive research—including inspiration pulled from art exhibits, travels, fashion shows, even TikTok videos—the color is chosen....

It turns out that the beautiful state of Hawaii is one of those exceptional places—well, really, the most exceptional—according to data pulled by NiceRx, a company helping patients access affordable prescription medications. To determine which states are the happiest in America (and why), NiceRx compared all 50 states, calculating an overall happiness score by measuring each state against several “happiness factors,” such as prevalence of mental illness, crime, poverty, average life expectancy, and more....

Banana bread checks all the comforting baked good boxes: It’s sweet, soothing, and saves once-fresh fruit from ruin. And unlike other popular baking projects (like homemade yeasted bread or from-scratch sourdough starter), banana bread bears almost no intimidation factor. Whether you’re Dame Mary Berry or have never baked a day in your life, you can probably pull off this scrumptious loaf. However, there are easy ways to upgrade your loaf to nail that perfectly moist and tender texture....

Whether you’re looking for health and happiness guidance, want to hear from people on a similar path, or are simply craving an upbeat dose of motivation and empowerment, there’s at least one body-positive pod out there for you. Get ready to rejoice in the body you were born with. Here are 10 fantastic podcasts to help you start—or continue—your journey toward body acceptance and positivity and find a community of like-minded listeners along the way....

Health Benefits “Seaweed, a sea algae, is high in minerals and vitamins including iodine, copper, calcium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B2, and vitamin C,” says Lisa Dreher, a registered dietician with the UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. “It’s also one of the few food sources of the less well-known mineral vanadium. Preliminary research shows that vanadium may improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and decrease the body’s production of glucose.” Moreover, Dreher notes that seaweed contains unique phytonutrients and antioxidants needed to protect cells and DNA against damage....

“The passport makeup trend blew up on TikTok when creator Georgia Barret did a version of soft glam for her passport photo,” explains makeup artist Kasey Spickard. “The trend is about defining and intensifying your natural features through contouring and brightening.” The reason why it’s so important to enhance your features is because “more subtle highlighting and contouring tend to get washed out on camera,” adds the pro. Ahead, he—along with Too Faced makeup artist Elyse Reneau—outlines exactly the right way to nail the passport makeup trend so that your passport photo doubles as a glamour shot....

Since this dental issue is often caused or exacerbated by very common lifestyle choices, it’s a pretty typical ailment. “Most people—87 percent—are at risk for [tooth sensitivity] at some point in their life,” says Monica Biga, an oral care expert with GSK Consumer Healthcare, Oral Health. So at least you’re not the only one, right? Biga is here to break down the most likely, everyday causes of tooth sensitivity and what to avoid, so it doesn’t get worse....

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With little more than the twist of a can opener, this gluten-free puree delivers tons of health benefits with a healthy dose of vitamin A (300% of the recommended daily dosage in just a half-cup!) and 5 grams of dietary fiber, with zero grams of added sugar and half a gram of fat. It might make you wonder why you don’t incorporate canned pumpkin into dishes all year long. With more than 40 recipes ranging from savory to sweet (and even sippable!...

In an effort to better understand the juice found inside the coconut fruit (not to be confused with coconut milk, which is mostly coconut meat), we turned to Kaleigh McMordie, RD. She helped us cut through the wellness-y health halo touted by coconut water—and turns out, this beverage is packed with a number of legitimate health benefits. RELATED: Can Beet Juice Really Boost Your Physical Fitness? We Asked an RD RELATED: 3 Immunity-Boosting Ingredients RDs Want You to Add to Your Diet Right Now...

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While using a quality brush will get you far, achieving a smooth, professional finish begins with determining the proper applicator for the job. Natural-bristle brushes work best with oil-based paints. Synthetic brushes, made from nylon and polyester, are the perfect match for water-based latex paint. Ideally, tape should be removed about an hour after you’ve finished painting. But if you’ve let it sit for too long and the paint starts coming up, you’re not out of luck....

1. Introduce Some Greenery Choose a variety that lasts for a while and will add a fresh scent, such as minty eucalyptus. 2. Hang a Chic Shower Curtain Swapping out the shower curtain is the easiest and cheapest way to refresh a bathroom. Visually, it takes up a surprising amount of space in the room, so changing this one element can dramatically alter the entire look of the room. Choose a minimal and fresh design to fit the spa theme....

But that doesn’t mean you have to hibernate to stay healthy for the holidays. Try these smart and strategic changes that’ll help you stay healthy Don’t rely on a single tactic to protect you The more layers of protection you add to your wellness arsenal, the more you reduce your risk of catching something. “To protect yourself from getting sick, high-quality masks, good ventilation, and avoiding crowds are the best layers,” says epidemiologist Maria Pyra, Ph....