When you live in a city, you might not have much room for gardening. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have the space for it at all – your apartment probably has a patio, a balcony, a fire escape, or even a tiny concrete garden.

If that’s the case, you’ll only need the right tools and the knowledge of which plants are the most adequate choice for those who are tight on space – here’s мъ list of the best herbs you can plant in your small garden or grow on your balcony:

Basil

A native of tropical regions, basil is one of the best “summer herbs” and comes in many varieties, including Spicy Globe, Dolce Fresca, Nufar, Genovese, and others. As an annual warm-weather herb, it thrives when it’s grown in window boxes and pots.

While it’s true that some gardeners struggle with this herb, growing it is extremely easy as long as you’re able to provide it with plenty of sunshine and well-drained soil. And, just like most herbs, this one also responds well to periodic harvesting. Even when it’s trimmed back, basil will continue to push out fresh growth.

As such, it is easily one of the best plants of this type for container gardening. Just don’t forget to pinch off all of its flower buds if you don’t want its leaf flavor to decline.

Rosemary

Rosemary is well-known for the depth of flavor it adds to chicken and potato dishes. This woody shrub with needle-like, fragrant leaves is a native of the Mediterranean region. However, rosemary fares quite well in cooler climates too, and after all, growing it in pots means that you can easily bring it inside once the day starts to cool down.

There are a lot of cultivars of this herb, but most of them tend to grow upright. The ones that cascade down are ideal for the edges of planters and pots. In my opinion, the best varieties are Arp (quite tolerant to cold) and Gorizia (an upright variety with sizable leaves).

The most important thing you need to know about rosemary if you’re planning to grow it on your balcony or in your small garden is that you shouldn’t water it too much. While it’s true that this herb needs consistent moisture, you need to be very careful – the quickest way to kill it is by keeping its feet constantly wet.

Greek Oregano

This herb is a very enthusiastic grower in gardens – there’s no doubt about that. However, growing it in a pot is entirely possible and you can easily control the herb’s growth.

The small leaves of the Greek oregano are packed with flavor, and that’s precisely why it’s ideal for adding to marinades and vinaigrettes as well as topping bruschetta and pizza. This particular variety of oregano provides the best flavor for dishes, but other cultivars (like Turkestan, Mexican, or Syrian oregano) are just as great when it comes to culinary uses.

Greek oregano can be planted from a cutting, from seed, or by dividing. If you decide to plant it from seed, make sure to plant it around five to six weeks before the year’s last frost.

Mint

One of the best things about growing mint in pots is that controlling its aggressive growth is much easier that way. Keep in mind that planting just a couple of sprigs of mint into a garden can easily lead to this plant overtaking the whole yard.

Just like all other herbs on this list, mint comes in many different varieties, such as, for example, spearmint, strawberry mint, mojito mint, chocolate mint, peppermint, apple mint, and many others. If you have a larger pot, you should definitely plant several of these cultivars into it at once.

Later, you’ll be able to add its leaves to your summer salads and drinks, but also to your winter tea. Just keep in mind that mint appreciates rich soil and ample moisture. A good idea would be to use one-third compost to two-thirds potting soil mixtures in your mint containers.

Thyme

As a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance herb that can take a bit of neglect, thyme is undoubtedly among the best herbs for balcony gardening. In addition, it looks absolutely dazzling when it’s planted at the pot’s frontal part (so that its leaves can mound over the pot’s edge) and combined with eye-catching glass pebbles.

Make sure to give your thyme a lot of sun. Also, don’t forget that, as a drought-resistant herb, thyme prefers dry soil, so try to avoid overwatering it. The best time to plant thyme is just when the weather starts to become warm, which is typically around three weeks before the last spring frost.

If you’re planning to use your small garden or balcony thyme for cooking, your best options are Lemon thyme and English thyme. The former variety is especially interesting, as it features variegated green and yellow leaves and a very pronounced lemon flavor and scent.

Parsley

Both the flat-leaved and curly parsley are absolutely fantastic when it comes to balcony growing, although they can do just as great in small gardens. In my opinion, curly parsley deserves a special recommendation – its unique leaf texture turns it into an attractive planting partner for summer bloomers like petunias and geraniums.

Just like mint, parsley is extremely easy to grow. Another similarity with mint is that parsley also requires regular feeding and moisture.

At planting time, make sure to mix in a slow-release organic fertilizer in order to keep your herb happy from spring to late fall. Finally, keep in mind that, while it can take a small amount of shading, parsley appreciates full sun.

How to Keep the Herbs Small and Prevent them from Spreading

To put it simply, the best way to keep your tiny garden or balcony herbs small is by pruning them often, as well as:

• Using small pots
• Keeping an adequate temperature: around 77°F (25°C)
• Using diluted alcohol solution (4-6%) to stunt their growth
• Trimming the tips of flowering herbs when they show new growth
• Keeping the herbs small and bushy by cutting the tips exactly above the first bud on every stem

How big are you on home-grown herbs? Do you like to use them fresh? What herbs do you have on your balcony/small garden? How do you keep them small? Please share your best advice for growing herbs in containers!

If you don’t remember The Jewel of the Nile, you’re too young to be reading this article. If you do remember The Jewel of the Nile, you’ll remember “When the Going Gets Tough.” Great song and Billy Ocean sounds the same today as he did then.

The Two Options

Before I’m overtaken by nostalgia for the 80s, I’m going to address the fight or flight question and start by saying I feel, as we have reached a certain level of maturity, flight is seldom an option.

Many of us can say “been there, done that” and move on quite easily because finally, whatever happens, is out choice.

We grew up with a variety of challenges, some of them not faced by children today, and we learned very early the two options available.

The paralysing trepidation of walking into a new school. The fear of going to the local shop for the first time… money wrapped in the paper shopping list. The horror of having to ask for something from the bus conductor. The list is endless if we stop and think about it…

You will have your own memories of the most fearsome events. As a child, I was painfully shy. I still am, but I’ve learned to hide it with a magnificent show of front. Do you do the same or are you completely relaxed in your skin?

Why Fight or Flight?

The fight or flight reaction is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. If you think of it as an accelerator or gas pedal in a car, you can understand how quick and easy it is to trigger the flight reaction.

When you hit that pedal, hormones (mainly adrenaline and noradrenaline) flood the body, and a tremendous burst of energy is created. Perfect for flight …

But how many situations really warrant this reaction?

Flight is our self-protection system against danger or anything that may harm us. It keeps us alive. Fortunately, we no longer have to worry about Sabre Toothed Tiger attack, but unfortunately, our body can trigger the flight reaction if we are feeling stress.

The fight-flight-freeze (FFF) response causes your heart rate to increase which causes an increase in oxygen flow to your major muscles. Your pain perception drops, your hearing sharpens, and these changes help rapid and appropriate action.

What’s Up with FFF, Really?

So what causes enough stress to trigger that instant reaction we really don’t need? What is so dangerous that we hit the trigger for the FFF response? Have we learned which battles to take-on and which to let go?

These all seem to be how-long-is-a-piece-of-string type questions. Each of us is unique, and we all respond differently to different stimuli. For example …

• Riding with someone who basically doesn’t know how to drive – your heart is in your mouth, your breathing is rapid and you sweat. You would love to throw yourself out of the car and get away from the danger.
  • Huge, hairy, black spiders climbing your wall.
  • People on trains or buses who refuse to wear masks but insist on breathing all over you.
  • Falling out of the rowing boat into deep dark water and being unable to swim.
  • Deep dark water.

These are just some of mine and I would love to know what yours are… it’s good to compare horrors because it gives us the ability to laugh at them!

When it comes to taking on phone companies or utility companies or even the guy supposed to fix the cupboard door in the kitchen, we seldom feel fear and we seldom trigger the FFF reaction. Mostly, we feel frustration and yes, this is definitely part of aging.

We lose our fear of incidentals because we have finally come to realise the sad (or happy, depending on how you look at it) facts of life:

• Nobody is actually looking at us.
• Most people aren’t listening to us.
• Opinions of others are a waste of time.
• Nobody really cares if we fall flat on our face.

Why? They’re more interested and concerned about themselves. I am, of course, talking about the general population; not your nearest and dearest.

So my opinion on fight or flight is knowing when to fight or when to leave well alone. This is a wisdom that calms with age.

In what situations is your first instinct to flight? And when do you feel most propelled to fight? Have you grown wise with age, and do you think it’s better to disregard the factors we cannot control?

I’ve said it before and I’ll proudly say it again — when it comes to mascara (whether drugstore, premium or luxury) Essence’s Lash Princess formula, is hands down my favorite of all time. When I found out the drugstore beauty brand was launching a new member to the Lash Princess collection, I knew I had to get my hands on it STAT. While I love the original Lash Princess Falsies Effect Mascara and have been using it for over five years (I always use the waterproof version), I simply had to give the new Lash Princess Curl Mascara a review.

Essence decided to launch this new addition to the Lash Princess lineup because fans had been requesting a curling formula for years — the collection already includes False Lash Effect (my tried and true holy grail), Sculpted Volume, and Volume formulas — each designed with different formulas and brush shapes to help create the desired result. The Lash Princess Curl Mascara is designed with a peanut-shaped wand, which allows you to get from root to tip and build volume while maximizing the curl factor. Best of all, this formula doesn’t flake or clump — sure, sometimes I do like that look, but on the daily — not so much.

Courtesy of Essence.

Compared to the other mascaras in the Lash Princess line, the Lash Princess Curl Mascara definitely adds more of a lift and curve, but the difference is subtle. With that being said, the formula is still stellar and it wears all day without smudging, smearing, or transferring — and yes, I did try the non-waterproof version and it held up like a dream. For reference, I applied this mascara at eight in the morning in ultra-humid Austin Texas weather before boarding a flight back home to Los Angeles, which made for about a twelve-hour day, so I’d say it passed the long-wear-friendly test without a doubt.

Courtesy of Mia Maguire.

Above see the difference between my bare lashes (left) and two thin coats of Lash Princess Curl Mascara (right).

Full disclosure: my best pandemic beauty habit was being consistent with my brow and eyelash serum (I swear by both the GrandeLASH and GrandeBROW formulas, BTW), so my lashes are already in good shape, but this mascara really did tighten the curl without having to use an eyelash curler. In comparison to its fellow Lash Princess counterparts, the Curl a drier, thicker consistency, which I personally think helps add more volume to the lashes as opposed to solely length.

Unlike the Sculpted Volume formula, however, the Curl doesn’t allow you to build up as many layers without clumping, but that’s the price you pay for that extra curl. Overall, while the Lash Princess Falsies Effect will remain my ride-or-die, the new Curl Mascara has definitely made its way into my go-to mascaras drawers and you best believe I’ll be taking it with me the next time I travel.

I don’t know about you, but I have some serious envy of people with naturally long eyelashes. They have no idea about the struggle of finding a high-quality lengthening mascara that creates the appearance of long, separated lashes without being too chunky and thick. Mascara not only enhances just about any makeup look, but it also brings attention to your eyes and helps them look wider, brighter, and well, more awake. 

Sure, falsies and lash extensions are always an option, but they’re expensive and frankly, kind of a hassle. Fortunately, the right lengthening mascara can be a quick and easy alternative that doesn’t break the bank or require an obscene amount of patience and skill to apply. Of course, lengthening mascara won’t make your lashes grow longer (sad, but true) — that’s what eyelash serums are for. However, they typically have small rayon or nylon fibers that cling to the root of the eyelash and work their way up to the tip to create the appearance of longer lashes. Besides creating the look of longer lashes, many mascaras also contain curling properties to help eyelashes curve upwards for an extra voluminous look. 

Yes, most of us want some extra lash length, but it’s important to take your eye shape and other facial features into consideration when you’re looking for the right formula. For instance, if you have hooded eyes, you might want to opt for a water-proof lengthening mascara to prevent transfer. The same goes for sensitive eyes, in which you’ll probably want to find a hypoallergenic one and stick with that. 

Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the best lengthening mascaras for longer-looking lashes, from vegan formulas to those infused with plant-based length serums. Whether you’re looking for an affordable find or a higher-end mascara, we’ve got you covered.

Courtesy of Maybelline New York.

Maybelline Sky High Washable Mascara

This high-quality, drugstore mascara creates ultra-defined, fluttery lashes with the help of its exclusive flex tower brush. Designed to volumize and extend every lash, the bamboo-infused formula evenly coats lashes for a lightweight and bold finish. 

Buy: Maybelline Sky High Mascara $8.99

Courtesy of ColourPop.

ColourPop BFF Mascara

This affordable cruelty-free and vegan mascara lengthens lashes using a special nylon fiber brush designed to coat lashes from root to tip. This clump and flake-free formula, helps you achieve those long, voluminous lashes with just a few swipes. It’s also available in a wide variety of fun colors: blue, purple, red, teal and magenta. 

ColourPop BFF Mascara $9

Buy Now

Courtesy of BareMinerals.

BareMinerals Strength & Length Serum-Infused Mascara

Infused with Red Clover Flower plus strengthening peptides, this mascara lengthens and enhances lashes for a visibly longer and fuller look instantly and over time with continuous use. Free from additives, this long-wearing, waterproof mascara takes every makeup look to the next level. Say goodbye to short-looking lashes with this mascara. 

BareMinerals Serum Infused Mascara $22

Buy Now

Courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes Mascara

This mascara’s micro pro precision paddle brush loads, combs and lifts lashes to enhance length and fullness. Infused with keratin, lashes are conditioned to create a thicker look and feel with each use. The jet black pigment sets apart this mascara from others making it a must-have in your makeup bag. 

Charlotte Tilbury Mascara $22

Buy Now

Courtesy of Flower Beauty.

Flower Beauty Warrior Princess Mascara

The brand’s exclusive royal hourglass brush coats lashes from root to tip creating a high-volume, elongated look. Achieve your desired look with its clump-free and buildable formula that stays on when you need it most. With a price tag of $10, this cruelty-free mascara offers high-quality results at a reasonable price point. 

Buy: Flower Beauty Mascara $10

Courtesy of IT Cosmetics.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara

Using exclusive Lash Stretch Technology, with just one coat, this formula works to stretch, volumize and lengthen lashes for a fuller lash line appearance. Its black pigment contains collagen, biotin, and peptides which condition with each layer and help ensure strong and soft lashes. For those with contacts or sensitive eyes, this mascara is ophthalmologist-approved.

IT Cosmetics Elastic Stretch Mascara $25

Buy Now

Courtesy of Nudestix.

Nudestix Lengthening Mascara

Free of parabens, this long-wearing mascara is formulated with a tri-peptide booster complex designed to create longer and thicker lashes. Made for sensitive eyes, achieve your desired length with this oil-free and vegan formula. 

Nudestix Lengthening Mascara $26

Buy Now

Courtesy of Benefit.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

This water-resistant formula lengthens and curls lashes for an eye-opening, instant-pick-me-up kind of look. For up to 12 hours, this cult-favorite, ink-black mascara stays on and provides a satin finish ideal for many makeup looks. 

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara $26

Buy Now

Courtesy of Huda Beauty.

Huda Beauty Legit Lashes Mascara

Featuring two full-size wands, this mascara is designed to create the appearance of long, curly, voluminous lashes. The formula is made with gripping waxes and fibers for an instant length boost and a major curl that will stay all day and a two-in-one dual-ended brush applicator for precision. 

Huda Beauty Mascara $27

Buy Now