We’ve seen a lot of wild beauty trends over the years. Remember squiggly brows?! Some of the actually useful ones involve using unexpected items to make our lives easier, such as tape to guide eyeliner application. But what about the new TikTok trend of using lube as makeup primer? Yes, like personal lubricant often used during sex. Folks on TikTok are putting it on their face before applying foundation, as well as mixing it with their favorite complexion product. The results are mixed.

For some, it smoothes skin and allows makeup to apply evenly without bumps and flakes. It worked for TikToker @seananthonyv who said in a viral video, “You need to start mixing your lube with foundation. It makes it glide extra smooth.” @MannyMUA733 tries it, too. Both guys look great, though Manny notes his foundation is sure not to last even a few hours. Then you’ve got @itsrady who included it in her “best makeup hacks” video. What is going on?!

It looks like most of these creators used a silicone-based product to get a glowy, radiant finish to their foundation. As @glamzilla notes in her video, you can get the same effect with your favorite serum. Strangely, we saw @mikaylanogueira try it as well but the video seems to have been taken down. She used a water-based lube and did not like the process or the finished product. She said she gets a better glow from her favorite Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow.

Basically, there’s a chance this will work for you. But with all the stellar makeup primers on the market, what’s the point? Except for a fun TikTok, of course. Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD is a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, tells STYLECASTER that lube can even be harmful to your skin.

“First and foremost, not all lubricants are the same and what may work fine as a facial makeup primer for one person could be irritating or breakout-inducing for others,” she says. “Some are oil-based and can clog pores. Others, like those with concentrated glycerin, can leave a sticky residue that may attract bacteria and debris, promoting acne.” Eek! You do not want to deal with that.

Murphy-Rose says using lubricant might be fine as primer in a pinch (though we’re not sure what situation that would be!), she definitely doesn’t recommend it for regular use. Though “water-based lubricants are least likely to clog pores and hypoallergenic products will be least likely to irritate skin,” she notes.

Lube as primer might be a funny TikTok trend, we’d stay skip it to keep your skin healthy. There are also great radiant primers on the market, including Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Primer + Serum ($17.99 at Ulta), Ilia True Skin Radiant Priming Serum ($52 at Sephora) and Wet n Wild Photo Focus Dewy Face Primer ($5.99 at Ulta). Save the lube for the more sexy things.

When it comes to makeup and skincare, few do it as well as the French. I mean, just look at how life-changing every CeraVe product is (BTW, did you know they have a new chemical exfoliator that’s already getting rave reviews?). So, when I stumbled upon a moisturizer that shoppers call “magic,” I wasn’t surprised at all.

According to shoppers, Avène’s Hydrance Aqua-Gel Cream is a truly do-it-all product. It can act as a daily moisturizer, overnight mask, and under-eye gel. The lightweight cream is jam-packed with anti-aging ingredients that even out the look and smooth the feel of skin. It’s so effective that one shopper said it’s “the best [moisturizer] I have ever used. 56 and I look 36.”

The reason this anti-aging cream is so versatile is because of its heavy-lifting ingredients. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate skin, and it also is made with cohederm, a trio of skin-savers that is known to restore your skin’s barrier while also preventing water loss. Also worth mentioning: the vegan formula is designed without parabens, soy, and other prominent allergens.

RELATED: Dakota Johnson’s Trick For Fuller, More Voluminous-Looking Hair Is Shockingly Simple

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy: Avène.

This is the kind of technology that we expect from a brand that’s nearly three centuries old. Shopper after shopper have heralded this moisturizer for its repairing and rejuvenating capabilities.

“They’re not lying,” one reviewer wrote. “This stuff is magic (and it smells amazing). I even saw results after one day of using this. My skin is glowy and hydrated without being greasy or tacky after use. AND my extremely sensitive skin is has had 0 problems with this. It’s a life-saver for everyone, especially those with very sensitive skin.”

So, basically, we’re adding this to our list of anti-aging hero products and adding it into our carts ASAP.

I
recently had another of those relationship discussions with a few single
friends. What they have in common is, they all have plunged into online dating.

And everyone agrees that online dating is more painful than a dental scaling and root planing of all four quadrants of your mouth.

With
one exception.

Miranda
(not her real name) has no complaints about internet dating.

She
dumped her boyfriend of two years (I must mention that the breakup was not an
easy decision, but this article is not about that subject), took a few months
off to look around, and joined an online dating service. I’ll get back to her
in a minute.

Why I Care About Relationships

Relationships
fascinate me. Coming together fascinates me, why people stay together intrigues
me, and breakups are the stuff I write about.

“Enough
is enough,” said a friend when I picked her brain about her ex-husband. “15 years
ago? I don’t want to go over the past. Why do you?” Frankly, she was irritated,
and I didn’t blame her.

My
persistence is a mixture of wanting to know more about my friends’ lives,
combing for material, and wanting to understand the whys of people’s behavior.

I
write, you see, and writers are curious. We wrestle with words and, in trying
to figure out our characters’ motivation for acting the way they do, push to
make sense of the relationship landscape.

Lots of Women Start Over

My
stories weave around women of a certain age starting over, changing their lives, dating after a divorce
or a breakup. By the way, several of my characters discover along the way that
their women friends are more fun and less trouble than a man.

So,
grabbing real-life examples from my friends is what I do. I ask friends and
sometimes new acquaintances intrusive questions.

Which
is how I learned Miranda was having a blast dating three guys.

Yes,
you read that correctly.

Other
friends gaped in astonishment – or Horror – at this revelation.

“How
can she juggle three men?” asked a friend who’s met two men online. “Where does
she find them? The guys I meet don’t let me get a word in edgewise.” Another
describes the boredom, the misrepresentation, the lack of effort.

After
a few weeks, Miranda narrowed the playing field down to two guys. “I like them
both,” she says. “But my mom likes Bob (not his real name) better.”

How
did her mom meet Bob? He invited her – Miranda – to lunch and, not wanting to go to his place
by herself, Miranda asked if she could bring her mom.

“He
must really like you,” I said.

Miranda
puts a positive spin on her dating life, but she’s no push-over and won’t be
rushed into taking the relationship to a level she’s not comfortable with.

Have Fun Instead of Making Lists of Your Wants and Needs

The
other thing? Her behavior and her attitude are different from other women I’ve
talked to who want a serious relationship.

They
mention a desire for commitment after two or three dates. Or they focus on
looks. “I can’t help it if I’m into hot guys who work out,” says a friend who’s
had a score of unsuitable boyfriends over the years.

Others
have strong ideas about a man’s profession, his financial status, and whether
he knows his way around Tuscany.

Two
refuse to go on second dates unless there’s chemistry. “If I’m not attracted
the first time I meet someone, what will happen in six months?” says a friend
who’s looking for the mythical love-at-first sight.

Miranda?
No complaints. She’s usually game for a second date if a man makes an effort to get to know her. “I
don’t want to think about how it will all turn out,” says Miranda. “Besides,
I’m having too much fun right now.”

Enjoy Each Date and You’ll Enjoy Online Dating So Much More

Smack
in the middle of one of these discussions, my brain whirled and clicked. The
difference between Miranda and most of my other friends was her willingness to
go along for the ride, enjoying the moment.

And
that reminded me of Judith Sills’ book, A Fine Romance. Published in
1987, it’s nowhere near new, but the dating message is timeless.

Don’t
get attached to the outcome, a
piece of wisdom that is pretty much the approach to dating that is working for
my friend Miranda.

I
think it’s another version of that old cliché, “Don’t put the cart before the
horse.” Imagine that.

At
this writing, it’s been four months since Miranda met her two guys, and she’s
whittled them down to one special man. Bob. Mother-approved.

Sounds
like fun to me.

Please
share one of your dating stories. Have you reluctantly given a man a second
chance, only to find you hit it off? How do you feel about fellows who
misrepresent themselves in their dating profiles? Please use the comment box
below and let’s have a conversation!

An eerily and timely quote from the classic Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other direction.”

For some, the times have never been better, and for many the times have never been worse. The stress of living through a global pandemic with all its fallout, namely political, family, relationship and health care philosophy divisions, has made this classic 18^th century Dickens’ tale relatable, so to speak. How does one make their life today into a season of light and hope instead of a dark winter of despair?

There are aspects of our life, health and wellbeing we have control over and there are some aspects we do not. We cannot pick our grandparents, reverse our past or wish we would have taken a different road, but we can affect today and our future tomorrow by adopting strategies that powerfully impact our health and wellbeing for a coming season of light and hope.

Change of Thinking Changes Everything

Changing one’s life may seem daunting at a first glance; change is easy, thinking about change is hard. Taking that first step, changing one aspect of your daily routine, improving one habit or committing to one new step can help jump start your new journey with renewed faith, confidence and belief that you can achieve.

Starting the Day on the Right Foot

How do you start your day? Sleeping in past your productive time? What’s the first information that enters your mind? Upon waking, instead of hitting the news or social media, start with a positive affirmation, a spiritual devotion, prayer or meditation. Set your mind up for hope and productivity instead of fear and anxiety. Remember, what you think about you bring about.

Commit to Exercising

Weight bearing exercise is a must as we age. Start with a brisk walk for 10 minutes and then add strength training. Start with small hand weights and/or exercise bands to build muscle and bone density to counter sarcopenia (muscle loss) and osteoporosis (bone loss).

When you maintain your strength, you maintain your independence with vitality instead of dependence and disability. In addition, exercise increases your ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine which give you a sense of well-being, hope and optimism, not to mention the protective benefits to your heart and brain for longevity.

Eat to Live Instead of Living to Eat

Look at food differently, instead of eating to satisfy your tastebuds and cravings, begin to see food as fuel to feed your brain and body for longevity and function. Start by asking yourself: does this food I’m about to eat promote tissue healing?

Choose fresh whole foods that God created instead of man-made processed junk. Your consumption of healthy staples must be greater than any questionable delicacies. Try the 80-20 principle: 80% healthy, 20% reward. You must Learn It, Earn It, then Burn It, right?

Maintain Your Posture

No one ever wishes or wants the dreaded hunch. That unsightly hunchback look, commonly referred to as forward head posture and hyper-kyphosis, is never desired. Beyond the cosmetic and vanity effects, the detriment to one’s heart, lungs and digestive organs is well documented.

Increased cardiovascular disease, lowered lung capacity and reduced bowel function set the stage for rapid aging and disease. The good news, there are simple strategies to prevent, improve and correct postural distortions before it’s too late.

During these challenging times, make a decision to live life with vitality, hope and productivity instead of worry, fear and apathy. Take care of your health as if you’ll live to 100, live out your life as if you’ll die tomorrow. Seek out a 100 Year Lifestyle affiliate Doctor of Chiropractic who is well trained to help you address these five steps for a new lease on life.

We may not know the future, but we do know who holds the future. Choose hope instead of despair, faith instead of fear, health instead of sickness and longevity instead of disability. I know there are no guarantees, but why leave anything on the table. Go out and live, give it your all, making your ‘tale’ the best of times!

How do you live in these difficult times? Are you full of hope or full of despair? What techniques are you practicing to create more hope and optimism in your life?

I have a confession to make.

Based on the science, for years I
have been recommending Tai Chi to my patients without ever doing it myself.

To avoid being a hypocrite any
longer, I decided to attend my first ever Tai Chi class. The class was a free
one set in a large open square. My first impression was just how warm and
welcoming everyone was. Despite my initial apprehension about trying something
new, I immediately felt at ease.

What Is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi is a form of Chinese moving
meditation that has been practiced for hundreds of years. It is based on the
concepts of promoting the flow of Chi, or energy, and balancing yin and yang.

Tai Chi is a form of graceful
movement that is gentle and non-competitive. Movements are slow and focused,
and accompanied by deep breathing.

Benefits of Tai Chi

The great thing about Tai Chi is that
is has wide-ranging benefits, including balance, pain and stress management.

A key element of Tai Chi is that it
involves unilateral weight bearing and weight shifting, which means it provides
a challenge for balance, hence it can help decrease the risk of falls.

In one study, people who had already
had a fall were assigned to either Tai Chi or a mixture of aerobic exercise and
strength training or stretching.

After six months, both the exercise
group and Tai Chi group had a lower risk of falls, but even compared to
exercise, Tai Chi was the most effective way to prevent falls.

Tai Chi also has a role in managing
chronic pain. Two studies have been done with people who have fibromyalgia, which is a complex
disorder characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and
sleep disturbance.

People with this condition often
describe brain fog and a generally low sense of well-being. The participants
were assigned to Tai Chi classes or to guided exercise. Those who took Tai Chi
had a significant reduction in pain at six months, as well as an improved sense
of well-being.

The question is, why does Tai Chi
have such wide-ranging health benefits?

What’s so Helpful About Tai Chi?

One of the most important benefits of
exercise in general is that it is good for mental health. Tai Chi is no
different as it benefits people who struggle with depression, anxiety, and
stress management.

In any form of exercise, we release
neurotransmitters, which are our brain’s chemical messengers, that are associated
with improved mood.

There is also some fascinating
evidence that exercise modulates our immune function, and since higher levels
of inflammation are associated with depression, this might be a key mechanism
of action.

Since Tai Chi is a true mind-and-body
intervention, it helps people to practice concentration.

The slow sequence of movements is
obviously physical, but it takes significant focus to be able to do this. This
can create a state of flow, or intense and focused concentration with a loss of
self-consciousness. In a world full of distractions, this can be a welcome
break for our minds.

My Experience with Tai Chi

As I worked on mirroring the
instructor’s slow and controlled movement, I could certainly feel the cognitive
challenge as well, and since any form of cognitive challenge is good for our
brains, it’s highly plausible that Tai Chi could be good for preserving brain
power as well.

Tai Chi is a low impact exercise and
doesn’t need any special equipment. There are group classes available, but it
is also something that you can do at home with an online video.

If you are interested in learning
more, please visit Project 3-6-12 to get your free e-book and learn
about our online women’s health course.

What exercise practices
have you tried? Is Tai Chi among them? How does exercise benefit you
personally? Please share in the comments below.