Crystal Kung Minkoff’s Grey Celine Hoodie at Her House

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 Episode 17 Fashion

Crystal Kung Minkoff looked so cozy in her grey Celine hoodie at her house. She was giving Kyle the run down on her new million dollar basement. All I can say is wow if that’s Crystal being frugal I don’t even think there is a word for what I am. But I guess I too am willing to spend money updating a room in my house. That room being my closet, obviously.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Celine Hoodie on eBay

Originally posted at: Crystal Kung Minkoff’s Grey Celine Hoodie

Over the years we’ve run our Caregiver Smile Summit, we have had leading experts speak about how technology can assist aging in place. In this article, we look at what they are seeing and what you should be incorporating if you want to age in place safely.

Laurie Orlov, founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, said it best that, with few
exceptions, every five years
technology changes.

It is important to be able to safely
stay in your home and also avoid social isolation. We have written previously
about aging in place specialists who can come into the home, even virtually,
and go room to room and tell you what needs to be changed or modified.
Conversely there is often a technology solution that helps.

Safety Issues

According to Orlov, personal
emergency response pendants have withstood the test of time and have also grown
to be able to detect falls, detect your voice, and more.

Wearables, think Apple Watch and
Fitbit, are becoming ‘smarter’ and also essential. There are so many smart
devices that can help monitor your health that it would take a book to document!

Lisa Cini, Founder, President, and
CEO of Mosaic Design Studio, has an amazing website – Best Living Tech – that
showcases technology in these categories: home, health, memory, companion,
fitness and vision/hearing. She had a great analogy.

Smart technology is like Alfred the Butler in Batman. Always in the background. Never obtrusive.
There when you need him!

One of the trends she sees is smart
lighting, which allows you to program the lights in your house to come on based
on sensing. And you do it from an app. Think of what a great help that would be
for older people who get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom!

There is also Circadian Smart
Lighting where the temperature of the lights adjusts naturally to keep your
body in its natural rhythm.

For your bathroom you can buy bidet toilet seats to assist with hygiene. Bidets, popular in
Europe, may yet be in fashion! They may not be what you think of as tech but
the fact that they can be installed on an existing toilet is pretty savvy!

Induction looping is another trend Cini
has spotted. A hearing loop is a special type of sound system for use by people
with hearing aids. 

The hearing loop provides a
magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by the hearing aid. It cuts out
unwanted background noise though you need to use a receiver/headset. Better
hearing leads to better health.

Of course, induction cooking (cooking without
fear) allows the unit to detect whether cookware is placed on it and shuts down
the element if a pot is not there or not large enough. The stovetop stays cool:
no burned fingers or hands. And no house fires leaving burners on.

Getting
Places

When you need to go somewhere, we
know it’s getting easy. Not self-driving-cars easy but cars driven by someone
else, certainly. Uber and Lyft are developing specialized senior services.

Niche companies like SilverRide provide an assisted ride service that picks you up from any location and transports you safely and securely all the way to your final destination. Food delivery to the home has become the norm.

Relieving
Social Isolation

To me, one of the advantages of
senior living facilities is the ability to socialize. Senior isolation is
pervasive. Still, even the home-bound can prevent isolation. Certainly, social
media has helped engage people via video chats on a number of platforms.

Virtual reality devices like Oculus
can put you in the middle of a new experience without leaving home. Hasbro’s
Joy for All Companion Pets gives you all of the benefits of having a pet
without the burdens. I stream live concerts to people in their homes. You get
the idea.

AI Voice Activated

Probably the biggest tech development
is voice activated technology like Alexa and Google Home. I am working with a
company called Brio that has an app specifically designed to help caregivers,
engage the end user, and help prevent social isolation.

Listen to music, receive reminders,
listen to a book… the skills developed and being developed are sometimes bigger
than our imagination. My fitness tracker is connected directly to Alexa. Go
figure. I can provide input to it and also review my progress from it.

So, if you are apprehensive about
aging in place, at least know that one part of the equation, technology, is
developing rapidly. It can keep you safe at home, help engage your mind,
relieve isolation, and increase your happiness.

How are you leveraging technology to
stay in your home for years to come? Which apps or devices do you currently own
and how do you engage with them on a daily basis? How is your live made
different because of them? Please share in the comments below.

Have you ever caught yourself asking what life was like before Amazon? Same. There are very few things you need or want on the daily that you can’t just grab on Amazon. Not to mention how incredibly easy things like Amazon Prime’s “Buy Now” buttons make shopping, One category that has been a bit under the spotlight for Amazon finds is skincare. In reality, some of the best skincare tools are sold on the site.

To guide you through the endless world of Amazon skincare, we called on some experts to share their must-have items. We trust these dermatologists, estheticians and beauty brand founders for their expert advice. Of course, we asked them to share what they love about them and even how to use them, too. Get ready to learn all the tricks you need to know to tackle your at-home skincare like a pro.

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.

BOETECO.

Reusable Silicone Swabs

“A set of reusable silicone swabs are a must-have for safe, at-home pimple popping,” says Dr. Zenovia Gabriel, MD, FAAD, founder of Dr. Zenovia Hormanal Dermatology. “Silicone swabs are the perfect, unconventional tool to pop whiteheads and extract blackheads at home.” 

For “juicy, ready-to-pop whiteheads,” Dr. Zenovia recommends the following steps:

1. Scrub the pimple gently with a warm washcloth. The warm water will help loosen the debris and make extracting the pore a bit easier.
2. If the pimple is still not popping after using a warm washcloth, roll two clean swabs over the whitehead. Change the direction of the swabs so that you can move toward the pimple from all angles. For blackheads, roll two swabs towards the pimple, pushing deeper into the skin (rather than simply rolling them in).
3. Finish by cleansing the skin with warm water.
4. Apply an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, healing product like Dr. Z’s own Dr. Zenovia Skincare 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Spot Treatment ($25 at Sephora).
5. Sanitize your reusable swabs with soap and warm water.

DTF-Zhou.

3D Roller Face Massager

“I am a huge fan of increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage [by facial massaging and steaming],” says Rachel Roff, licensed esthetician and founder of Urban Skin Rx. “It is a great way to be proactive about early signs of aging and facial puffiness. Blood flow is essential to your skin repairing itself, and overall get the skin’s cellular function working optimally.”

Vanity Planet.

Facial Steamer

Roff also loves a facial steamer, like this one from Vanity Planet. “The results are instant with the steamer,” she says. “Steam is amazing for all skin types but especially those with congested pores. It opens up pores and allows deeper product penetration of essential ingredients to get better results while minimizing clogged pores. Steam is also relaxing, and stress affects your skin by releasing free radical damage that leads to premature signs of aging and even acne.”

Roff favorite times to do a facial massage are after a plane ride or a night of a few too many drinks. Here are her easy steps.

1. Start by cleansing your skin with your favorite cleanser while your steamer is going. Roff’s own brand, Urban Skin Rx, has a great LacticGlow MicroPolish Gentle Cleansing Gel ($28 at Amazon). Another option is to steam for 5-10 minutes after rinsing away the cleanser.
2. Follow with your favorite serums and moisturizers. Try Urban Skin Rx Hydrafirm+ Brightening Serum with Hyaluronic Acid ($58 at Amazon) and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Fragrance-Free ($17.02 at Amazon).
3. Give yourself a facial massage with the face roller, always rolling up and out. Doing skincare first allows the massager to run over the skin with less pulling and friction.

GUGUG.

Skin Spatula

“When working with clients, I usually go over the skin with the ultrasonic scrubber directly after exfoliation,” says Essence Moore, licensed esthetician and owner of Lineage Skin & Hair Studio. “This helps to make professional extractions more efficient. I enjoy this device for the treatment room and home care because it helps to reduce the likelihood that clients will try at-home manual extractions, which could lead to scarring and hyperpigmentation.”

We love skin spatulas, too. Here’s an easy way to use one.

1. Wash your face and remove your makeup.
2. Apply a toner, cream or essence to ensure your skin is moist before using the scrubber.
3. Gently glide the spatula over the skin, concentrating on more congested areas.

Jill.

Facial Razor

“Facial shaving has become increasingly popular for women in their skincare routine,” says Dr. Dustin Portela
board-certified dermatologist and TikTok sensation. “I recommend twice-monthly shaving with the Jill Razor as a way to exfoliate and promote better penetration of topical serums. Facial shaving helps my patients maintain clear skin and get more mileage from their skincare products. Removing excess dead skin promotes radiance and glow to the skin with safe at-home practice.”

Always be careful when using a razor! Here are a few tips.

1. Hold the skin taut with one hand and the razor at a 45-degree angle.
2. Gently graze the skin with short strokes only applying a tiny bit of pressure.
3. Wash the razor off after each use.

Clean Skin Club.

Biodegradable Face Towels

With close to 4,000 rave reviews, Amazon reviewers — like the at-home pros they are — sing the praises of Clean Skin Club towels, the first biodegradable face towel, according to the brand. One reviewer shares that the towels came as a recommendation from her esthetician and has since been a “holy grail” in her at-home skincare routine. Towels carry bacteria that may cause breakouts. Though routinely washing your face cloths and towels can help keep bacteria from invading your pores, if you don’t have an in-unit washer and dryer, that can be a huge pain. Try these biodegradable towels that you can toss after every use.

Have you ever caught yourself asking what life was like before Amazon? Same. There are very few things you need or want on the daily that you can’t just grab on Amazon. Not to mention how incredibly easy things like Amazon Prime’s “Buy Now” buttons make shopping, One category that has been a bit under the spotlight for Amazon finds is skincare. In reality, some of the best skincare tools are sold on the site.

To guide you through the endless world of Amazon skincare, we called on some experts to share their must-have items. We trust these dermatologists, estheticians and beauty brand founders for their expert advice. Of course, we asked them to share what they love about them and even how to use them, too. Get ready to learn all the tricks you need to know to tackle your at-home skincare like a pro.

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.

BOETECO.

Reusable Silicone Swabs

“A set of reusable silicone swabs are a must-have for safe, at-home pimple popping,” says Dr. Zenovia Gabriel, MD, FAAD, founder of Dr. Zenovia Hormanal Dermatology. “Silicone swabs are the perfect, unconventional tool to pop whiteheads and extract blackheads at home.” 

For “juicy, ready-to-pop whiteheads,” Dr. Zenovia recommends the following steps:

1. Scrub the pimple gently with a warm washcloth. The warm water will help loosen the debris and make extracting the pore a bit easier.
2. If the pimple is still not popping after using a warm washcloth, roll two clean swabs over the whitehead. Change the direction of the swabs so that you can move toward the pimple from all angles. For blackheads, roll two swabs towards the pimple, pushing deeper into the skin (rather than simply rolling them in).
3. Finish by cleansing the skin with warm water.
4. Apply an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, healing product like Dr. Z’s own Dr. Zenovia Skincare 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Spot Treatment ($25 at Sephora).
5. Sanitize your reusable swabs with soap and warm water.

DTF-Zhou.

3D Roller Face Massager

“I am a huge fan of increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage [by facial massaging and steaming],” says Rachel Roff, licensed esthetician and founder of Urban Skin Rx. “It is a great way to be proactive about early signs of aging and facial puffiness. Blood flow is essential to your skin repairing itself, and overall get the skin’s cellular function working optimally.”

Vanity Planet.

Facial Steamer

Roff also loves a facial steamer, like this one from Vanity Planet. “The results are instant with the steamer,” she says. “Steam is amazing for all skin types but especially those with congested pores. It opens up pores and allows deeper product penetration of essential ingredients to get better results while minimizing clogged pores. Steam is also relaxing, and stress affects your skin by releasing free radical damage that leads to premature signs of aging and even acne.”

Roff favorite times to do a facial massage are after a plane ride or a night of a few too many drinks. Here are her easy steps.

1. Start by cleansing your skin with your favorite cleanser while your steamer is going. Roff’s own brand, Urban Skin Rx, has a great LacticGlow MicroPolish Gentle Cleansing Gel ($28 at Amazon). Another option is to steam for 5-10 minutes after rinsing away the cleanser.
2. Follow with your favorite serums and moisturizers. Try Urban Skin Rx Hydrafirm+ Brightening Serum with Hyaluronic Acid ($58 at Amazon) and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Fragrance-Free ($17.02 at Amazon).
3. Give yourself a facial massage with the face roller, always rolling up and out. Doing skincare first allows the massager to run over the skin with less pulling and friction.

GUGUG.

Skin Spatula

“When working with clients, I usually go over the skin with the ultrasonic scrubber directly after exfoliation,” says Essence Moore, licensed esthetician and owner of Lineage Skin & Hair Studio. “This helps to make professional extractions more efficient. I enjoy this device for the treatment room and home care because it helps to reduce the likelihood that clients will try at-home manual extractions, which could lead to scarring and hyperpigmentation.”

We love skin spatulas, too. Here’s an easy way to use one.

1. Wash your face and remove your makeup.
2. Apply a toner, cream or essence to ensure your skin is moist before using the scrubber.
3. Gently glide the spatula over the skin, concentrating on more congested areas.

Jill.

Facial Razor

“Facial shaving has become increasingly popular for women in their skincare routine,” says Dr. Dustin Portela
board-certified dermatologist and TikTok sensation. “I recommend twice-monthly shaving with the Jill Razor as a way to exfoliate and promote better penetration of topical serums. Facial shaving helps my patients maintain clear skin and get more mileage from their skincare products. Removing excess dead skin promotes radiance and glow to the skin with safe at-home practice.”

Always be careful when using a razor! Here are a few tips.

1. Hold the skin taut with one hand and the razor at a 45-degree angle.
2. Gently graze the skin with short strokes only applying a tiny bit of pressure.
3. Wash the razor off after each use.

Clean Skin Club.

Biodegradable Face Towels

With close to 4,000 rave reviews, Amazon reviewers — like the at-home pros they are — sing the praises of Clean Skin Club towels, the first biodegradable face towel, according to the brand. One reviewer shares that the towels came as a recommendation from her esthetician and has since been a “holy grail” in her at-home skincare routine. Towels carry bacteria that may cause breakouts. Though routinely washing your face cloths and towels can help keep bacteria from invading your pores, if you don’t have an in-unit washer and dryer, that can be a huge pain. Try these biodegradable towels that you can toss after every use.

At my favorite Bangkok duck-soup stall, the owner lights up every time I say, “Aroy mak!” letting her know I thought the food was delicious. There’s a momentary connection we wouldn’t have had, had I said, “Delicious!” in English.

And now that I often take taxis in Bangkok, having graduated from buses when I was a younger traveler, it’s useful to know “trong pi,” “sai” and “khwa” for straight ahead, left and right.

Most of the taxi drivers I encounter don’t speak English. With Google Maps you can follow the route the driver is taking towards your destination and correct him if needed.

A Very Useful Travel Phrase

“Dimana kamar kecil?” “Dov’ e’ il bagno?” “Baatharoom kahaan hai?” are Indonesian, Italian and Hindi for one of the most useful and used phrases you’ll need – “Where is the bathroom?”

This is especially needed in countries with a completely different script than your own. If you see बाथरूम कहां है on a door in India, you’ll be scratching your head and crossing your legs, frantically looking for the right place.

Pantomime

I’ve been a traveler for more than 40 years, and I’ve lived as an expat in a foreign country for 28 of them. I’ve been in places where little or no English is spoken, and I’ve done a lot of pantomiming trying to get a point across when I didn’t know the word.

Decades ago in Croatia, we wanted some honey to pour over the thick delicious yogurt the town was known for. My guidebook sang praises for their honey but neglected to list the word for it.

I approached a friendly looking man, worked up my courage, drumming my arms and buzzing in my best bee imitation. Several people gathered around and finally, someone got it and led us to the store where they sold their famous “med” or honey.

Don’t Be Shy

I’ve found that no matter how badly I mangle the language, people are pleased that I at least try. For a year, I was telling people in Bali, “I am a river,” when I meant to say, “I am relaxed.”

Everyone got a laugh, including me, and laughter is a great people connector. So don’t be shy, just give it a try, and most importantly, have fun with it.

It always tickles me when I launch into Indonesian, usually asking a question of a stranger, and the person says excitedly, “I don’t speak English!” When I reply in their language, “But I’m speaking Indonesian,” there’s a pause, as recognition sweeps over their face and suddenly they understand.

So, when trying out your new phrases, be patient with the listener. It may take them a moment to overcome their belief that you couldn’t possibly be speaking their language.

Niceties Go a Long Way

Of course, whatever age you are, you need the niceties of “Please,” “Thank you,” “You’re Welcome,” “Hello,” “Goodbye,” and perhaps more importantly, “I’m sorry.” These simple but magical words and phrases will enrich and transform your travel experience. You’ll be regarded as polite and gain respect.

I’ve cringed many times, overhearing one of my countrymen raising his or her voice in English, hoping the volume will break through to understanding a language the local doesn’t speak.

Travel Phrase Necessities

As older travelers, we also need to know how to say, “Help!” and “I need a doctor.” Hopefully, we won’t need them, but they’re good to have in our arsenal.

If you have food allergies, you’ll need to be able to say, “I can’t eat…,” “I’m allergic to….” or “I’m a vegetarian.”

Enrich Your Experience

Learning a few phrases where ever you travel not only helps you accomplish your goals but also deepens your experience and opens you to cultural experiences you might have missed.

Often, the locals know great places to eat that aren’t in the guidebooks, or interesting temples, artworks or sites you would have missed otherwise.

Countless times I have asked directions in the native language and had the person go out of their way to walk me to my destination. These people connections mean more to me than ticking off a list of must-sees.

If you are taking your cell phone, Google Translate is a useful app to have. It fills in what you didn’t learn and even speaks it out loud when you click the speaker symbol. This is especially helpful if the language is tonal, and how a word rises or falls changes its meaning.

If You Love Languages

Learning languages has been a lifetime passion of mine. I’ve been learning Italian while I’m on the treadmill at the gym, using the free app ‘Duo Lingo’. It’s a fun way to learn a foreign language and teaches you reading, writing and speaking. There are other apps as well, such as Babble or Memrise.

A Dozen Travel Phrase Basics

Here are the basic words and phrases to learn before you go:

Hello

Good-bye

Please

Thank you

You’re Welcome

I’m sorry

Where’s the bathroom? (this teaches you the ‘where is…’ phrase, useful in so many ways)

Help

I need a doctor

I’m allergic to… or I can’t eat…

How much is it?

I am… (you can attach your name, state of mind or body – hungry/thirsty/tired)

Note: Even though there are travel restrictions worldwide, people have not really stopped traveling. Just stay safe and enjoy your trip!

Have you tried learning the language spoken in your travel destination? How has speaking a bit of the language enhanced your trip? What words do you suggest others learn before going to a foreign country? Please share your tips in the comments below.