I think we’re all reeling a bit from 2020 and grateful to turn the page on a new year. I’ve been thinking about New Year’s resolutions and know from experience that it’s one thing to intend to do something and quite another to actually commit to a specific action or outcome.

Take brain health for example. Through my work, I feel like I’m always expanding, often straining my brain. Yet I realized that although I’ve read extensively about brain health and ways to maximize cognitive function over a lifetime, I’ve not really committed to “exercising” the brain in ways that are proven to impact all aspects of brain health.

So, this year I’m making a commitment to activate what I know about brain health and decided to share some of the best research and practical strategies on this topic.

Just the Facts

Research shows that brain function may start deteriorating at least 20 years before symptoms of cognitive dysfunction appear, so by the time a diagnosis is made, it’s very difficult to impact the outcome. Prioritizing brain health long before you have any concerns offers your best chance for lifelong cognitive well-being.

Age, genetics, and family history are all risk factors for dementia. However, research shows that the following lifestyle habits work together to help prevent and mitigate cognitive challenges:

• regular exercise
• Mediterranean-style diet (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fats)
• adequate sleep
• regular cognitive stimulation (especially exposing the brain to novel challenges),
• reduction of cardiovascular risk factors (what’s good for the heart is good for the brain)
• stress management strategies
• positive social connections and support

Goals

The brain continually remodels itself in response to your daily habits and experiences – either for the better or worse. Learn what puts you at greater risk and then commit to taking small actions daily to reduce those risks.

For example, the region of the brain essential for short-term memory (the hippocampus) shrinks in response to chronic stress and grows in response to meditation and exercise. A high level of chronic stress significantly increases the incidence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

After a year like 2020, stress reduction is no longer a “should do” but a “must do” to re-build and re-enforce our defenses against stress related changes in the brain!

Form habits in each of the identified areas that support – rather than diminish – the brain’s ability to adapt to new stimuli and form new nerve cells throughout your full lifespan.

The Practical Steps

Evaluation of Current Nutritional Habits

Evaluate your nutritional habits to see if they are perpetually supporting or diminishing your chances for cognitive health – then make a choice!

Start with small changes like replacing french fries with roasted vegetables most of the time. This isn’t about deprivation but gradually making sustainable changes you can live with day after day. Move from the mindset of “I should eat better” to “what am I willing to do to maintain brain health.”

Commitment to Physical Activity

Commit to increasing physical activity – especially aerobic activity that circulates blood to the body and brain. Much of the positive impact of exercise on the brain stems from bathing the brain in oxygenated blood! Think brisk walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, etc. that require continuous movement.

Multiply the positive impact by doing these activities with others. For example, social dancing demonstrates some of the best outcomes – likely because it fully integrates physical activity, novel movement that challenges the brain, and positive social interactions!

If you’re social distancing, put on your favorite music and dance like no-one’s watching, or have a ZOOM dance party with friends.

Creating Meditation Times

Designate specific times in your day for stress reduction activities. Sitting meditative practices for as little as 12 minutes a day have a significant impact on both brain and physical health.

In addition, moving meditation practices like yoga, tai chi, and qigong that combine movement, attention/focus, and slow/paced breathing improve both brain and physical health.

Engaging in Activities that Stimulate Neuroplasticity

Stimulate your brain with activities that induce neuroplasticity – meaning the brain has to be challenged enough to start building neurons and making new connections. Novelty is your brain’s friend! Even small things, like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand, requires the brain to “re-program.”

Pick several routine activities and perform them with your non-dominant hand for at least 2 weeks. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your brain adapts to make the task progressively easier. Consider joining with friends for novel activities outside of your normal routine for even more positive impact.

All Connected

Brain health doesn’t just exist in the intellectual domain. It’s directly connected to physical, social, and emotional well-being as well. Gratefully, the habits that support brain health also support overall well-being for lifelong independence and vitality.

Visit my site, Brilliant Aging, for free resources and downloadable tools to support overall well-being.

What do you consider the biggest barrier(s) to eating well? What activities do you currently do on a regular basis that support brain health? Is there one thing you could add to your lifestyle this year that supports brain health?

It’s finally here, everyone. An unbelievably affordable concealer that’s actually full-coverage. The Ordinary’s Concealeris what you would expect from the brand: well priced and high performance without all the bells and whistles. It’s Deciem, the parent company’s, first concealer and we’re pretty sure it won’t be the last. If you’re already a fan of The Ordinary skincare, well, get ready.

The full-coverage concealer dropped after The Ordinary rolled out its second foundation, the Coverage Foundation ($6.90 at Ulta) adding to the Serum Foundation ($6.70 at Ulta). One is heavier and one is more lightweight but neither is cakey. It just depends on what type of coverage you’re looking for. It’s looking like The Ordinary doesn’t just want to be known as a skincare brand but a full beauty company.

But enough about foundation. When you just want to cover up a pimple, hide dark circles or tone down redness, concealer is often the way to go. This one has 36 shades taking into account undertones. Here’s how you find yours. 1 is for lighter tones, 2 for medium tones, 3 for dark/deep tones and 4 for deeper tones. Each shade category is then classified even more by a second digit from 0 to 4 to indicate depth within each category. A letter is then added to identify the undertone: P (pink) and R (red) indicate cool undertones; N indicates a neutral tone; Y (yellow) indicates a warm undertone.

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.

The Ordinary.

I go back and forth with a few different concealers in my everyday life. Sometimes I want a medium-coverage one such as Kosas’s Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream ($28 at Sephora) for a laid-back look. And when I want a full face-beat, I go for Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. The Ordinary’s formula is surprisingly more towards Tarte’s full-coverage one.

Although the tube looks tiny, you only a really small amount to cover any areas of your face. I found it gave off a natural finish that wasn’t too matte or dewy. If you have oily skin, you might want to set it with powder but I was great without it—and it held up. I was able to run around all day without reapplying. Plus, since it’s from The Ordinary, we can trust it’s made without oils, alcohols, nuts and gluten, and it’s vegan and cruelty-free.

Right now you can only get it on The Ordinary’s website and you know how often products sell out there. Hurry and pick up your shade STAT.

All the Single Ladies, listen up. When it comes to home ownership, we’ve come a long way, baby! We’ve got the single guys beat more than double.

According to the National Association of Realtors, single women are the second leading homebuying demographic in the country, right after married couples. In fact, single women make up 17 percent of U.S. homebuyers, compared to just seven percent for single men.

Mortgage data confirms many more single women are opting for home ownership. According to Freddie Mac, the number of mortgages acquired by single women grew a whopping 30 percent between 2010 and 2019.

My Personal Journey

I jumped onboard again last year. Going through a divorce, I lived temporarily in my 19-foot camper near the beach. As fun and free as that seemed for a while, the day I signed the papers on my own home felt like the true start of my independence.

When I bought my first home in my 20s, interest rates were insane. Still, buying made more sense to me than doling out rent. Owning that townhouse on a nice park about a mile to my corporate job felt like success.

Even though I married and moved to another state a couple years later, that equity was mine, and it grew with me over the years. Now, in my 60s and single again, I realize owning real estate over the years is the biggest reason I am financially independent now.

Why Single Women Want Home Ownership

But home ownership for single women is about way more than building a financial future. There’s security in knowing you‘ve signed your last lease. You can stop worrying about what you’ll do if the landlord decides to sell. You are home!

Making a house your haven is a joy in itself. If you want a pink bathroom, go buy a gallon of paint and have at it! It costs way less than a good pair of shoes and creates a hell of a lot more pride.

You’ve probably heard the term “forced savings,” which is exactly what owning a home helps you do. Your principle payments create equity in a non-depreciating asset. You’ll also learn the value of an emergency fund so you can manage the big expenses like a new roof or HVAC.

Building Equity Rather than Just Spending Money

Sure, the housing crisis of ‘08 taught us that home values don’t always go up. But historically, putting your money to work in a home is a great investment compared to spending your money on a fancier car or a week at a secluded spa.

When I look at my own single girlfriends, a big majority are homeowners. Most are moms, and nothing makes them happier than getting the guest room ready for family visits. Check! One more reason for us single ladies to own our homes.

As a realtor, getting a single mom into a home of her own is one of the most satisfying rewards of the job. I hope when her friends see her personal success, they’ll start thinking about homeownership, too. Owning a home really does change lives.  

So here’s to all the Single Ladies!

Do you own your home or do you rent? What does owning a home make you feel? Have you considered buying your own home? Please share your story about owning your own home.

Stephanie Hollman’s “Hello Vacation” Tee

Real Housewives of Dallas Season 5 Episode 3 Fashion

Based on Stephanie Hollman’s graphic tees during tonight’s episode of The Real Housewives of Dallas—which included this “Hello Vacation” tee and another version reading “Out of Office”—she needs a vacation. And based on the fact I have been wearing a lot of the same outfits 24/7 while working in bed for going on just about a year, I need a vacation too. Unfortunately it looks like I won’t be able to get myself Steph’s shirt to wear when it eventually happens.  Thankfully the Style Stealers listed are here to give me a lil’ much needed break.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to See her 1901 Vacation Graphic Tee

Originally posted at: Stephanie Hollman’s “Hello Vacation” Tee

She’s been teasing us for months and now, JLo Beauty is finally here. You might not be able to shop it yet but we have all the details so you can game-plan what to add to your skincare routine. Because if the 51-year-old uses her own line, well, we know it seriously works. Just look at that “JLo Glow.”

JLo Beauty was inspired by Lopez’s lifelong mantra, The Five S’s: sleep, sunscreen, serum, supplements and sano—from the Spanish phrase, vivir sano, meaning live healthy. Lopez is all about that life, shunning drink and smoking, eating well, exercising and drinking lots of water. Self-care and skincare go hand-in-hand with this ethos.

Growing up, Lopez’s skincare routine was much simpler: Ivory soap and Avon. Her mother told her olive oil was a cure for everything so Lopez made her it was the base for her skincare line. “It’s all about the family tradition of using olive oil for skin and hair,” she told STYLECASTER. The line aims to give you hydration and a “full, youthful, glowy look.” Not that looking younger is the key to looking beautiful. Lopez tells herself, “I’m beautiful and youthful at any age.”

“I think there’s an unnatural standard with all the filters and fillers in the world right now,” she continues. “Aging in a graceful way is a crazy thought. You look great, whatever age you are. Not great for 50, great period!” Not that she wakes up feeling amazing every day. Lopez is actually human. “I have mornings I wake up and feel like crap,” she admits. “I tell myself, like my idol Barbra Streisand, ‘Hello, gorgeous!’ I tell myself I’m going to have the best day ever, the best day yet.”

Source: Instagram

Keep reading for all the details on the new eight-piece line that officially launches January 1. But set your iCal, because you can get early access to shop on December 8.

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.

JLo Beauty.

That Fresh Take Eye Cream with Peptides

This hydrating eye cream is packed with patented peptides to help smooth fine lines, sugar-derived matrix for firming and a blurring complex to hide the look of dark circles.

JLo Beauty.

That Hit Single Gel-Cream Cleanser

This gel-cream cleanser features the brand’s Olive Complex, an antioxidant-rich, olive blend of
squalane, fermented oil, extra virgin oil and leaf extract for all-day hydration.

JLo Beauty.

That JLo Glow Serum with Olive Complex

Here’s that JLo-glow promise in a tube. It contains the Olive Complex, as well as yeast-derived ferment for softer skin, Japanese rice sake ferment for brightening and sugar-derived matrix for firming.

JLo Beauty.

That Limitless Glow Sheet Mask

Keep the glow going with serum-packed sheet masks.

JLo Beauty.

That Star Filter Highlighting Complexion Booster

Would it be a JLo line without bronzer and highlighter? In three shades, mineral pigments give an instant glow. Use it alone or add it to moisturizer.

JLo Beauty.

That Inner Love

Lopez says “you can’t really have great skin if you don’t do something from the inside out.” This supplement contains olive extract, vitamin E, manganese and copper. Check with your doctor to make sure they’re the right vitamins for you.

JLo Beauty.

That Blockbuster Wonder Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

Along with the Olive Complex, this “wonder cream” is full of antioxidant-rich peptides, hyaluronic acid and yeast-derived ferment for silky smooth skin.

JLo Beauty.

That Big Screen Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Forget having great skin without sunscreen! Not only does this one have broad spectrum SPF30, but it also contains marine bamboo to help protect skin from blue light, as well as hyaluronic acid,
glycerin and natural sugars for hydration. 

Additional reporting by Alana Peden.