I have been playing golf for almost half my life without any negative physical side effects. Recently, however, I started experiencing some pain in my left shoulder. Even though I am very proactive about my health, including joint health, as a boomer I really should not have been all that surprised. After the age of 60, it would be news if I didn’t have some aches and pains.

So, I checked with my doctor about it and after an MRI, she confirmed that I have mild osteoarthritis – which is often called “wear and tear.” Reportedly, more than 54 million adults in the United States have some kind of arthritis and for almost half of this group, the pain is so bad that is makes daily life a challenge. It appears that, as we age, friction develops in our joints. It is also true that as we age our cartilage becomes thinner.

Getting Red Light Therapy

The first thing I checked after my diagnosis was my nutrient balance to make sure my body was still getting the nutrients it needs and in the right amounts. I also added red light therapy (RLT) to my treatment program. In case you’re not familiar with this therapy, it is a form of low-level laser light therapy. I like to think of it as a healthy tanning bed. It is described as a type of photomedicine, since it uses light to treat a variety of health conditions.

Most treatments consist of a series of sessions over a certain period, which is determined by your treatment goals. During a session, the light delivers wavelengths of natural red and near infrared light. It’s like the wavelengths you get from sunlight without the harmful UV rays. The procedure was totally painless, and I didn’t even feel any heat, which I was expecting. I felt more relaxed after the RLT than I did before, which was a bonus.

What Is Red Light Therapy Used For?

I found it interesting to learn that light therapy has been around since the 1960s. As with many things in science, its benefits were almost discovered by accident when researchers found during experiments with red lasers on lab animals that this form of light aided in wound healing and hair growth.

It also was reassuring to learn that NASA used RLT to help keep astronauts healthy while in space. And learning that RLT neither causes damage to the skin nor has been associated with any side effects gave me more confidence to try it.

RLT improves targeted health conditions by creating a biochemical effect that strengthens a cell’s mitochondria. If you think back to your high school biology classes, the mitochondria were described as the “powerhouses” of the cell. Without going too much into the biochemistry, the energy it creates is carried by a molecule called adenosine triphosphate or ATP (is this sounding familiar?).

The theory is that by enhancing the function of the mitochondria with RLT, the cell makes more ATP which, in turn, helps the cell be more efficient and repair cell damage. Others believe that RLT may improve our bodies’ natural response to stressors.

In my case, I can tell you I have noticed both an increase in my shoulder’s mobility and a decrease in discomfort since adding red light therapy to my treatment regimen. There also is a notable decrease in inflammation. There is also some evidence that RLT may also stimulate collagen production and blood flow, both of which contribute to joint health.

RLT Benefits

While research continues into the benefits of RLT, for boomers some of the more promising and relevant potential for this therapy include:

Bone Health

Given our risk for osteoporosis and related conditions, bone health is priority. RLT is associated with accelerating the healing of breaks and defects in the bones themselves as well as increased bone mineral density, bone strength, and general bone health.

Inflammation

RLT has been associated with reduced inflammation and swelling caused by arthritis, burns and other injuries. This, in turn, can help promote tissue healing.

Pain

RLT may also have a positive effect on acute and chronic pain. The theory is that RLT acts on the neurons that transmit pain.

Skin

RLT may also help improve the appearance of your skin as well as its complexion. It is reported to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help heal sun damage. It is thought to do this by increasing circulation, decreasing inflammation, and triggering collagen production.

Hair Loss

There is some evidence RLT may improve hair growth in people who have androgenic alopecia, a common form of hair loss (also known as female/male pattern baldness).

Wound Healing

Credible research suggests that the anti-inflammatory properties of RLT may improve your body’s ability to heal. The theory is that it activates a growth factor that promotes healing and regeneration.

Sleep

If you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep, recent studies suggest that RLT may help by increasing the amount of melatonin in your body.

Cancer Treatment Side Effects

RLT may help reduce some of the side effects of cancer treatments. Additional research is needed in this area, but it is promising.

Keep in mind that RLT is usually meant to enhance or complement other steps you may be taking to manage joint pain or other medical conditions. As I did with my doctor, I highly recommend that you first make sure you are nutritionally balanced so that you can address any needs your body may have to keep itself as healthy as possible.

Finally, please consult with a competent health practitioner before starting RLT or any other new therapy. This is especially true if you have any existing health issues such as diabetes.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you or anyone you know used red light therapy to help treat arthritis or another help condition? If so, how was the experience? Would you use it again or recommend it to someone? If you have not used it, would you consider it? Why or why not? Please join the conversation.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

It’s nearly impossible to watch a GRWM video these days without spotting the viral Versed bubble headband in the shot. These headbands are so ubiquitous that there are even parody videos about the trend, which is how you know it’s seriously ~made it~. TikTok users like @annafaithbarber are poking fun at the trend by putting insane things on their head to “get ready.” She puts a fanny pack and even her cat on top of her head with the caption, “this is what y’all look like when I scroll on my FYP.”

So what’s the deal with his head band? How did it get so popular and… ummmm yeah how can I get my hands on one? First of all, the idea of a headband vs. an elastic one that you pull up to your hair sounds v appealing to me, considering I have a huge a head and those elastic ones never seem to be made big enough. Sliding a head band on keeps your hair out of the way while also easily coming on and off when you need it to. Also, the different colors this headband comes in like pastel pink and mint green are tres cute. They even have black ones if you want the headband to seriously match with just about anything you wear.

Courtesy of Versed.

Versed Bubble Headband with Daily Dissolve Cleansing Balm

Part of the reason why these bubble headbands got so popular in the first place is that mega-influencers like @sarah_wolak and @emiliekiser were spotted wearing them in their GRWM videos. The trend quickly caught on, and the headband has sold out quite a few times since.

Versed knows it has a good thing going here. The brand actually limits the sale of these headbands to two per customer to ensure everyone has a chance to grab one. But luckily, you get some of the brand’s viral cleansing balm as part of the bundled deal for just $32 — although I’d bet that some customers would pay $32 just for the headband itself! That’s how popular this baby is.

Right now you can’t officially add the headband/balm combo to cart yet. Versed suggests signing up for their newsletter to be one of the first people to be alerted that they’re on sale. They also note that if you’re a member of their rewards program, you can get one as a gift for being a consistent shopper.

If you simply can’t wait (who can!?!), I’ve found some dupes you can pick up right now that are just as cute and that you can get delivered to your door ASAP.

Amazon.

Spa Headband for Women

This headband is a dead ringer for the Versed option and it comes in three different colors: pink, blue, and black.

Courtesy of Amazon.

NGDN Mimi and Co Spa Headband

If you want to grab one for you and each of your besties, you can snag this three pack that comes with blue, pink and black headbands for just $17.

Whether you’re obsessed with GRWM videos, want to start making some of your own or just want an easy way to keep your hair out of your face as you do your makeup and skincare routine, these bubble headbands will do the trick. And now that you have the inside scoop on the dupes, they won’t cost you an arm and a leg either.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I’m from Philadelphia so I’ll need to hide my face when I go visit family, but I have to admit my truth: I don’t care anything about the Super Bowl. I’m not a football fan. I’m just happy for whoever wins, you know? But I do love whatever music Rihanna will bless us with during Halftime, as well as the really fun commercials you can find online before and after the game. (Because I’ll never catch them during.) It’s not even Friday, and one of the most highly anticipated brands, E.l.f., dropped a teaser for its commercial. And it stars Jennifer Coolidge. Are you dying? I’m dying.

This is E.l.f’s first-ever television commercial at the Big Game, and the brand didn’t go small. It was brought to life by award-winning writer, actor, producer and director, Mike White, yes, of HBO’s The White Lotus fame. (Seeing the Jennifer Coolidge connection now?) The star product of the commercial is the Power Grip Primer ($10 at Ulta Beauty), a TikTok favorite for its ability to grip makeup and make it last all day.

In the teaser, Coolidge realizes how “dewy, glowy and baby dolphin-like her skin looks” after trying the primer she received in a gift box from the brand. There’s more to come in terms of stickiness you’ll see when the commercial airs in the second quarter. (Don’t ask me when that is.)

After you watch the commercial on Sunday, you’ll be able to shop a new beauty set from E.l.f.: The Dolphin Face Bundle ($33 at E.l.f. Cosmetics.) It includes Power Grip Primer, Halo Glow Liquid Filter and O Face Satin Lipstick. The Halo Glow Liquid Filter was sold out forever so this is a good time to try the glowy makeup prep.

I might not know about football but I know about good beauty products. Go team!

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

If you’re as picky as I am when it comes to makeup, then the hunt for the perfect primer is always on. I’ve tried many in my days, to no avail—some formulas pill underneath foundation, while others bring a fresh crop of breakouts after a day of wear. That’s why leaning on the opinions of fellow shoppers is an almost foolproof way of discovering products that actually work. Case in point: Tula’s Blurring & Moisturizing Primer has earned over 3,400 five-star ratings from users of all ages.

The dermatologist-tested primer is available in four different shades (as well as a non-tinted version) ranging from fair to deep. It contains plenty of skin-loving ingredients—prebiotic and probiotic extracts and licorice—that smooth the skin’s texture, balance out uneven tone and minimize the appearance of dark spots and redness. Essentially, it blurs any concerns underneath makeup while also working to heal them. We love a 2-in-1. 

Best of all, the brand is offering the primer at discount as part of a Valentine’s Day promotion; score the product alongside the Radiant Skin Tint with SPF for less right now.

Courtesy of Tula

It works its blurring magic across all skin types, providing a ‘filter-like’ finish across blemish-prone, dry, oily, mature and sensitive complexions. What’s more, the formula is completely non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores or trigger blackheads and breakouts. Instead, it adds an extra level of hydration to the face that makes makeup glide on effortlessly. 

And because Tula doesn’t mess around, the brand put the primer to the test through several subject trials. After one use on 122 subjects, 96 percent agreed their foundation applied more evenly and smoothly, while near equal percentages said their skin looked more even-toned, brighter and illuminated, and claimed their chosen shade worked for their skin tone. Similar findings were reported after a four-week test run, where 90 percent of users said the primer gripped their foundation well, and left their skin feeling nourished. 

RELATED: I Finally Found A Fashion Brand That Exclusively Makes Slacks For Curvy Women

We’ve already established shopper reviews are golden when it comes to hunting down your next favorite, which is why highlighting some of the Blurring & Moisturizing Primer’s praise is pivotal. 

According to one 72-year-old reviewer, the primer is worth stocking up on. “I like it so much I ordered another one immediately after using it for the first time,” they wrote. 

Another person claimed the primer has them looking “10 years younger” than their actual age. “After using this product for three days I had multiple people tell me my face was looking fresher and tighter,” they said. “One of my friends thought I had gotten Botox. It reduces redness, and evens out your skin tone. I also use WAY less foundation when I apply this product first.”

“I’ve been looking for years to find a primer I absolutely love! I found it! Most primers leave my skin oily later in the day, this does not! Some days I only wear this, it has a little bit of a tint so it does so it gives some coverage,” raved a third. 

If no other primer has given you the filter-like skin it claims to, it’s time to add Tula’s Blurring & Moisturizing Primer into your makeup bag during this rare offer.

Fine-haired women don’t have an easy time of it. I envy my girlfriends who are genetically blessed with great hair. One friend I often traveled with has a thick mane of wavy hair. In the morning, all it took was for her to run her fingers through her hair and shake her curls back into place. A toss of her head, and she was good to go. Whereas I awakened with my hair flat and plastered to my head. No amount of head tossing would help.

Layered Style Didn’t Help

Until the Farrah craze of the late 70s, I was pretty much unaware of the texture of my hair. It was only after I, like just about every other young woman, rushed to the salon for the feathered and layered cut. I was surprised when my hairdresser told me that the style would not work for my hair type. She did her best to create a modified version.

What Is Fine Hair?

Fine hair, often described as silky and baby soft, is not necessarily thin hair, but it can be both, especially as we age. Composed of strands that are smaller in diameter and less porous than those of other hair types, it can get oily fast, and be easily damaged by dye and heat styling.

If you, too, have fine hair, you know the challenges that come with it. Fine hair is often difficult to style and can appear flat and limp. But, with the right products, you may be able to achieve fullness and thickness that will make your fine hair look its best.

Best Products to Make Fine Hair Look Fuller

While no product will change the texture (don’t I wish), the right products can make hair appear thicker and fuller. After years of trial and error, I have found the best products that work for me. I hope they will work for you, too. Here are some of my favorites.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging® Clinical Densifying Styling Mousse

One of the best ways to add volume to fine hair is to use a mousse. A good mousse will help to add body and fullness, without making it look or feel greasy. For me, the holy grail of mousse is Alterna Caviar. Having tried more brands than I can recall, I first came across Alterna about 10 years ago and knew I had found “the one.”

Now, I’m never without it in my arsenal of hair products. Marketed as a “lightweight densifying foam that thickens and strengthens hair” it does just that. And I like that it’s formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. You only need a dollop, so the product lasts a long time.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

I first tried Bumble and Bumble salt spray when it was new on the market. With its salty sea air scent, it became my summer go to for that tousled beachy look. Now I use it year-round. I admit to having tried less costly salt sprays, rationalizing that “a salt spray is a salt spray,” but I was wrong.

Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray is by far the best, and I always return to it. I love B & B products, in general, and this is my favorite product in their line. One caveat: salt spray can be drying. So, don’t forget to deep condition.

Living Proof Full Dry Volume and Texture Spray

A few squirts of this light and airy texture spray are all it takes to add some grip to my hair. With a fresh scent, the spray doesn’t leave my hair feeling stiff or sticky. There’s a good reason why it’s on the list of Allure Magazine’s 19 Best Dry Texture Sprays for Tousled, Voluminous Hair.

I alternate between this and Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Volume Texture Spray, which works equally well, though the scent (which I like) is more pronounced.

Davines NATURALTECH Energizing Shampoo and NATURALTECH ENERGIZING Thickening Tonic

I discovered the Davines line a year ago, and although I’m sometimes reluctant to try new products, I’m glad I did. The duo is a bit on the pricey side, but worth it. I generally use the shampoo and thickening tonic in tandem. Both have a pleasant scent, and do, in fact, make my scalp feel energized, and my hair appear fuller. A review on Birdie.com described the shampoo as “an espresso for your hair as it kickstarts blood circulation in the scalp.” I couldn’t agree more.

Aveda Dry Remedy

If your hair is prone to frizz (as fine hair often is), you may want to try using a moisturizing oil. These products can tame flyaways, make hair smooth and shiny, and help prevent breakage. Aveda’s dry remedy is my favorite. All you need is a drop or two.

I alternate with Virtue’s Heal & Shine Hair Oil Duo for Dry or Damaged Hair which I was introduced to/discovered. I began using dry remedy after receiving a sample of it from Sephora. It comes in a travel size which I carry with me in my cosmetic bag. Now, humidity is my friend.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favorite products for fine hair?