I’ve done a great deal of consulting work in the senior living industry, everything from skilled nursing and assisted living to independent and active aging communities. Each of these senior living products have very different environments but one thing they have in common is their number one competitor – home!

The vast majority of older adults report wanting to age in place. They want to stay in their homes living as independently as possible for as long as possible, and if they need assistance, they want to receive it at home.

Making Aging in Place an Option

If you truly want to age in place then step one is to do what’s necessary to retain the highest level of function possible. It’s time to take stock of what you’re doing to either support or sabotage your ability to stay at home through your full lifespan.

Have you made a commitment to well-being? Are you eating nutritious foods – most of the time – ones that support rather than sabotage your health? Do you consistently get regular physical activity that prepares your body to accomplish the activities of daily living necessary for you to live independently?

Are you cultivating a positive attitude and enriching social connections? Here you will find resources and strategies to help optimize your well-being.

Embracing New Technology and Services

Gratefully, aging in place is more possible than ever before with new technology and services. Things like home delivery and ride-share apps make it possible to receive goods and services right to your door and secure a ride right from your door.

However, taking advantage of these services requires that you embrace this new technology-driven service model even if it may mean stretching out of your comfort zone!

Embracing Adaptive Strategies

The same thing applies to embracing adaptive strategies that help you overcome functional challenges. Young people with disabilities embrace assistive devices and other adaptive strategies with enthusiasm and gratitude! By contrast, older adults often actively avoid using both assistive devices and adaptive strategies despite the benefits to independence.

I believe the reason lies in mindset and expectations. Young people with disabilities are given resources, tools, and encouragement to live fully in-spite of challenges. They’ve been given a steady diet of resilience training from day one, and resilience training encourages aggressively pursuing adaptive strategies to expand possibilities and live fully.

It’s very different for many older adults who, when faced with functional challenges, are more commonly given resources and tools to cope with – rather than overcome – those challenges.

Coping is a very different mindset than overcoming! It results in making one’s world smaller and more manageable rather than envisioning how to accomplish things in new ways and expanding possibilities. I think the resistance to using an assistive device like a cane or a wheelchair stems from feeling diminished rather than empowered by this mindset of coping versus overcoming.

Consider what you would advise a young person to do when faced with a functional limitation. Would you encourage them to make their world smaller or expand as fully as possible using whatever means possible! Start building a mindset of focusing on possibilities rather than disabilities long before faced with challenges.

Engineering Change

Fortunately, your positive mindset can be bolstered by the boom in assistive device technology. Initially, many devices were simply “jazzed up” – like artfully decorated canes – to make them more attractive to the “Boomer Generation.” However, now there’s a movement to carefully engineer assistive devices to function better with the human body and fit better into one’s life.

The clearest example is the walker. We can all likely picture a frail older person hunched over a walker with wheels on the front and legs on the back. These legs are often adorned with tennis balls to help them move more easily across different surfaces!

Why has it taken so long to re-design walkers? Their design directly leads to or severely aggravates poor posture, often causing lasting alignment and mobility issues.

Newly engineered upright walkers empower users to walk upright in good posture and facilitate easier engagement with others – rather than being hunched over looking at the ground! Canes have also been re-designed. For example, Hurry Cane is designed with an articulating “joint” that functions more like the ankle joint to provide better mobility and stability.

Other companies demonstrate that assistive devices don’t have to have the “hospital ward” look. For example, the usually antiseptic looking shower chairs have gotten a much-needed makeover, both in look and functional design by a company called Bue.

Their colorful shower chairs are stable, comfortable, and attractive; plus, they’re adjustable to body size and are foldable for easy storage. It’s about time!

Don’t Let a Health Set-Back Become a New Health Set-Point

If you envision aging in place in your own home, then now is the time to evaluate lifestyle options and empower possibilities. Make choices (most of the time) that support well-being.

When faced with a challenge, don’t let a health set-back become a new health set-point – just because of age! Instead, consider what you would have done if faced with this same challenge at age 30 or 40?

Embrace adaptive tools and strategies with a mindset of empowerment in order to continue doing the things you love and expanding possibilities. Far from “magical thinking,” research shows that older adults with this type of positive aging mindset were 44% more likely to recover from a severe disability than those with a negative aging mindset.

Give yourself the best change of living where you choose through your full lifespan by making a commitment to well-being in body, mind, and spirit, engaging a positive aging mindset and expectations, and embracing adaptive strategies that allow you to expand possibilities regardless of challenges!

Are your expectations for recovering from an illness or injury defined by age? Do you think of assistive devices as diminishing or empowering? Have you ever let a health set-back become a new health set-point?

Bethenny Frankel and Bryn Hoppy’s Pink Maxi Dress

Real Housewives of New York Instagram Fashion

Bethenny Frankel and daughter Brynn looked absolutely perfect in matching pink maxi dresses on Instagram this weekend. And while based on the caption the intention of the post was to promote their super cute Bethenny brand sunglasses, for a change, the dresses took on the role of the perfect accessory.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop the Lilly Pulitzer Rivera Dress

Click Here for Additional Stock

*Only available in adult size online*

Click Here to Shop Bethenny Brand Sunglasses

Photo: @Bethenny

Originally posted at: Bethenny Frankel and Bryn Hoppy’s Pink Maxi Dress

If you’re a so-called “bottle blonde,” and have to resort to salon services to maintain your lightened locks, you know that being blonde is not only expensive AF, but it’s also just downright hard. Before taking a deep dive into our comprehensive blonde hair color guide informed by Los Angeles based colorist (and bona fide blonde guru) Linet K, let’s first address some of the potential reasons for why we oftentimes find ourselves leaving the salon dissatisfied (and sometimes straight-up horrified) with the end result. The most common reason for leaving the salon in a state of distress is that your expectations simply weren’t realistic and/or weren’t matched with your budget, the condition of your hair, your natural color’s aptitude to lift (lighten), or the time limit you’d allotted for the service.

If you’ve ever tried to go from a brunette (or worse, redhead) to blonde with only one salon session, you’ve probably been told that this transformation is virtually impossible to undergo within one day if you plan on actually leaving with some hair left on your head. Of course, aside from consulting with your colorist about possibilities and options, it’s also possible you weren’t specific enough in communicating your hair goals or simply didn’t even know what you wanted (all you knew is that it wasn’t what you left with).

Even if you have the most amazing colorist in your city and bring in the most illustrative inspiration pics the margin of “error,” walking out of the salon with the exact shade, undertone and effect you dreamed of us is unlikely without the right vocabulary.  Not only is there a highly nuanced shade palette when it comes to a vast range of different hues under the broad “blonde” umbrella, but there is also a slew of different tones (ash, neutral, golden, icy…and the list goes on). There’s also a ton of different blonding techniques that will each give you a different look.

On top of this, colorists and hairstylists seem to have adopted their own language choc-full of mystifying terms and descriptives, and if you don’t know the jargon, you may be at a disadvantage when you’re trying to distinguish whether you’re coveting dimension, a smudged root, or blended babylights, or whether you’re looking for a “bronde,” baby blonde or champagne-hued accent highlights. “The best thing to do is to take in photos of what you like because your interpretation or understanding of cool, neutral, and platinum are not the same or someone else’s understanding of those terms,” Linet advises.

Balayage, babylights and partial highlights offer the most natural-looking blonde requiring less maintenance and offering a more forgiving grow-up process, while bleach and tones give an all-over blonde (often platinum-white) but you’ll have to be religious about root touch-ups every 3-4 weeks to avoid stark lines of demarcation. “Balayage lasts for between 3-6 months, whereas highlights need a touch up every 4-6 weeks, so you can save money with a balayage with more infrequent salon visits,” she says.

According to Linet, it’s also important to factor in the condition of your hair, if you have a ton of breakage from previous bleach jobs or excessive heat styling, a bleach and tone or platinum highlights, aren’t ideal. “Balayage [tend to be] the least damaging because the bleach doesn’t go all the way up to the root, and there are fewer pieces of hair bleached compared to highlights or babylights,” she says. Regardless of which technique and tone you decide, ensuring you protect the integrity of your hair (another popular salon term, I’ve heard numerous times), selecting the right products to maintain your hair’s health and keep your locks bright and brass-free is essential.

The two products she recommends to her blonde clients? A good bond-builder and violet-hued shampoo. “Olaplex will keep the hair strong and healthy! Purple shampoo only once a week to keep it bright, otherwise, it will start looking grey,” she suggests. See below for some of our favorite blonde looks and find out exactly how to ask for them.

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. Sally Beauty is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. 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 of ImaxTree.

Icy Platinum Bleach & Tone

A bleach and tone service involves the process of applying bleach in section to the entire head to a pale yellow or white level and then applying a toner to get the desired undertone. This icy (white, cool-toned cast) is achieved by using a purple or ash-toned glaze over pre-lightened locks. As mentioned, bleach and tone blondes should expect a high-maintenance and expensive salon routine because root regrowth looks stark compared to sectional highlights, hand-painted balayage, or super blended babylights.

Courtesy of Color Lux.

Color Lux Cleansing Conditioner

Using a color-depositing conditioner formulated for platinum blondes will help keep your hair fresher for an extended amount of time. Color Lux’s Cleansing Conditioner in the platinum will help counteract unwanted warmth and keep brass at bay in between your salon appointments.

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Butter Blonde Highlights With Smudged Root

Butter blonde tones are universally flattering on a wide range of skin tones, and they require much less upkeep with maintaining the tone than ash, ice, platinum, and cooler-toned hues. She also appears to have what’s called a smudged root: a process that involves the colorist adding a glaze or demi-permanent gloss darker than the blonde color applied over your roots to soften any harsh lines from your highlights and to help make the grow-out look a bit more natural for those who prefer to only visit the salon for touch-ups a couple of times a year.

Courtesy of GemLites.

ColorLites Color-Depositing Shampoo

This pigmented color-depositing shampoo comes in a variety of hue-enhancing shades, including options for white platinums, golden highlights, and beige blondes. The shade “sandstone” is perfect for maintaining buttery blonde shades.

Buy: GemLites Color-Depositing Shampoo $35

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Mushroom Blonde Color Melt

Mushroom blonde is probably one of the biggest hair color trends swirling about this summer, and for good reason. The ash-based hue is a combination of grayish-brown and neutral blonde, infused with highlights and low-lights in a myriad of different shades and tones for an ultra-natural look that still delivers ample dimension and character. The color melt technique is a popular way to nail this look because it concentrates on lighter shades at the bottom of the hair with a gradient effect from the root to strands. It’s one of the most fuss-free hair services you can choose from, and it complements the multifaceted ‘shroom shades beautifully.

Courtesy of Fanola.

Fanola No Yellow Shampoo

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this violet-tinged shampoo is the ultimate brass-blocker I’ve found. Colorists swear by it — even to use in place of an actual toner. It’s that good. This formula will help keep the mushroom tones nice and ashy and will counteract brass.

Buy: Fanola No Yellow Shampoo $24.99

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Golden Blonde Babylights

Babylights are one of the go-to highlighting methods used on clients looking for a super-natural looking blonde that mimics the enviable soft dimension you’ll see on naturally blonde tresses of children (most people lose this lustrous effect with age). This method offers a super-subtle look and tends to grow out beautifully depending on how light you go.

Courtesy of FEKKAI.

FEKKAI Baby Blonde Shampoo

This blonde-enhancing shampoo helps keep golden locks looking shiny and vibrant, but isn’t as pigmented as other purple-toned shampoos, so it won’t leave your locks looking ashy or silvery.

Buy: Fekkai Baby Blonde Shampoo $19.99

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Silver Blonde Bleach & Tone

Another bleach and tone example, this striking blonde has been bleached to a pale yellow and toned with an ash or silver toner to create a grayish hue. If you choose to rock this look, prepare for some serious commitment when it comes to your maintenance routine. We advise investing in silver or violet-hued shampoo to maintain the brilliance and counteract brass (especially if your natural hair color is darker) in between salon visits.

Courtesy of Luesta.

Luesta Hair Brightening Mask

This two-in-one hair mask delivers anti-brass powers to keep yellow tones at bay, while also conditioning the hair to reverse breakage and bleach damage.

Buy: Luesta Hair Brightening Mask $26.90

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Ash Blonde With Platinum Accent “Money Piece” Highlights

This ash-blonde look is accented with a touch of face-framing highlights positioned strategically around the face for a sun-kissed effect. I’ve also heard these accent or face frame highlights referred to as “pops,” money pieces, crown highlights, and frosted tip highlights in salons.

Courtesy of Kerastase.

Kérastase Blond Absolu CicaFlash Conditioner

This fortifying hair treatment will keep your brighter pieces healthy, strong, and hydrated while also boosting their brightness when your in-between visits to your colorist. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid fills, which work to help repair damage and prevent further breakage.

Buy: Kerastase Blond Absolu $49.99

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Honey Blonde Balayage

Giselle’s signature beachy highlights look effortless and sexy — and they’re actually just as low-key when it comes to maintenance and grow-out as they seem. Balayage is a process of highlighting that (usually) favor the hand-painting technique for placement rather than foils for a more natural look. Balayage often has a rootier look, without being full-on ombre.

Courtesy of CHI.

CHI Ionic Illuminate Golden Blonde Conditioner

Keep your golden strands bright and healthy with this subtle color-depositing conditioner, which also doubles as a bond builder for repairing and restricting damage.

Buy: CHI Golden Blonde Conditioner $15.04

Courtesy of ImaxTree.

Bronde With Ribbon Highlights

Bronde (you guessed it, a slightly blonder brunette shade) is a great option for those on a budget or those who don’t want to fuss with frequent salon appointments to deal with roots. It adds just a touch of dimension and brightness to your natural (or color-treated) hue without a huge investment or commitment. This bronde shade has a pop of blonde with cascading, ultra-thin “ribbon highlights” position around the entire head (as opposed to accent highlights) where the sun would naturally hit.

Courtesy of DP Hue.

DP Hue Gloss+ in Dark Blonde

This color-refreshing gloss gives the perfect pick-me-up to keep warm bronde hues fresh. This low-maintenance look requires little upkeep, but adding a gloss like DP Hue’s will help you push back frequent visits to the salon.

Buy: DP Hue Color Gloss $35

Kyle Richards’ Pink One Shoulder Dress at the Erase MS Event

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Instagram Fashion

Kyle Richards looked pretty in pink in her one shoulder dress at the Race Erase MS Event this past Friday alongside her Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast mates and family including Sutton Stracke, Dorit Kemsley, sister Kathy Hilton and hubby Mauricio Umansky. It was really a total treat to see them—and their fashion—at an event again!

And while this photo is a great lesson in fashion, the real schooling took place in the car on the way to event where Kyle and Dorit explained to Kathy what being a “Stan” is (as a Detroit born Eminem fan they left out some important deets, but were in the ballpark) and Dorit also schooled us on the best lighting in a car situation to take an Instagram story in. So while we won’t be getting our hands of Kyle dress, at least we got our hands on some knowledge in other departments by tuning into her stories.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her Alex Perry Warner Dress

Click Here to Shop it in Black in Limited Stock

Click Here to See her Amina Muaddi Pumps

Click Here for a Fab Style Stealer

Click Here to Learn more About Race to Erase MS and Donate 

Photo: @KyleRichards18

Originally posted at: Kyle Richards’ Pink One Shoulder Dress

A decade ago, Tarte launched its Amazonian Clay Foundation to huge success. Fans continue to love the unique whipped texture and the full-coverage formula. But just because something is great, doesn’t mean it can’t get better. I’ve always liked the entire Amazonian Clay line so when I heard from the brand that the foundation was getting an upgrade, I knew I had to do a new Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation review. Let’s see how it’s different, shall we?

The first thing you’ll notice about the new Amazonian Clay Full Coverage 16-Hour Foundation is the clear bottle so you can find your shade a lot easier. Speaking of shades, the brand fully reworked each hue so the new formula has a whopping 46 options. But don’t worry—it still has the whipped texture everyone loves. If anything, it actually feels lighter. It’s vegan and oil-free with the same soft matte finish that truly doesn’t cake up—even on my dry skin. (I hydrated first, of course.)

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.

QVC.

I can’t say if the foundation lasted a full 16 hours because, to be honest, I rarely have makeup on that long. It did last through the East Coast’s 95-degree temperatures and a nap. That’s more than enough long-lasting power for me. Although Amazonian Clay Foundation is full-coverage, I didn’t feel overly made up. Somehow it still looked like my skin, while covering red spots and blemishes. Although I have skin that’s on the dry side, this is great for all skin types. That’s thanks to hydrating water-coated pigments, as well as sustainably sourced Amazonian clay that absorbs excess oil and mattifies.

Although it doesn’t claim to be, I found this foundation really buildable. One swipe with the Buffer Brush and my pores and red spots vanished but you could still see some of my freckles. That’s the perfect amount of coverage for me. But for testing purposes, I added some more foundation onto my brush and I was able to a full-coverage look that still wasn’t cakey.

You might be wondering when it’s coming to Tarte’s website, Sephora and Ulta. Well, you have to wait a bit for these retailers. (June 20 and 27th respectively.) But you can get it now on QVC with a FREE Buffer Brush. That’s a $73 total value so you probably shouldn’t wait.