Get Toasted: Artisan Carbs At This Weekend’s L.A. Pop-Up

Need an excuse to head to an adorable outdoor cafe in the Arts District this weekend? Neither do we! But this little foodie pop-up certainly has us doubling down on our DTLA plans... Matthew Jung-Quillen has spent the past year dabbling away from his day job into kitchens across L.A. We've seen amateur foodies get serious about their restaurant obsessions before, but never has one turned out to benefit us so personally! After spending time in the kitchens of Eggslut, The Springs, Superba Snack Bar, and Alma, Matthew is taking his passion for the culinary arts smack into the center of one of our favorite categories: toast.  This weekend, head over to his pop-up at the Daily Dose Cafe in the Art District to have your daily avocado toast habit ruined forever! Check out a few of his recent creations below and tell us you're not inspired. [olists num=1]

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The 5-Minute Beauty Practice That Could Change Your Skin

We've discovered a new beauty blogger we love: Katja Kokko. Isn't it amazing to find anything new under the sun these days? When looking for lifestyle inspiration, it's not rare for us to turn to the Swedish bloggers - but just a hop, jump and a skip away in Helsinki, Katja seems to have her finger on the pulse of that Northern European cool we love, too. Here she is talking about a simple beauty practice we can personally vouch for...  Today we will talk about my current favorite subject: facial cloths and facial cleansing. Possibly my biggest realization when it comes to skincare is: how to clean your face in the gentlest possible way, no matter what your skintype is. For years I loved cleansers with fluffy creamy foam, because my skin was very oily, with enlarged pores and clogging on the cheeks and forehead. I would get blemishes every so often. At the same time I was talking about the importance of toners and serums, and how maintaining the balance of the hydro lipid barrier – the protecting film on the surface of the skin – is the biggest priority in skincare. When we treat our skin, we are especially treating the barrier, the protecting film on the surface of the skin. Supporting this barrier is the number one thing in skincare. The surfactants found in foam and gel cleansers wash away the skin’s own oil-in-water emulsion, and even though a toner will restore the skin’s pH balance, there is no need to scrub your skin with these kind of products. They are the cause for many skin troubles, and will cause imbalances in oily skin as well. When you wash away the protecting barrier of your skin, you are asking for trouble – lack of moisture, loss of glow and elasticity and a messed up sebum production. Many people who don’t have problems with clogged pores and blemishes don’t realize that their skin could be even more beautiful if they used a gentler cleanser – the secret is not always the most expensive serums. I should mention that atopic and extremely thin and dry skin lacks this protective barrier altogether, so anyone with this skin type should avoid foams, gels and soaps. Then again – I think everyone should. Among cosmetologists, there are many schools of thought when it comes to this subject, but nowadays I definitely root for gentle efficiency. You can rinse out make up and impurities just as efficiently with gentler products, and avoid disrupting the balance of the hydro lipid barrier. The main reason consumers love foaming cleansers is that we think skin isn’t clean until it feels “squeaky clean”. As if this is the right kind of clean feeling on the skin, and if your skin is left soft we think it’s oily and dirty. So we think a cleansing milk, balm, cream or oil won’t remove makeup, dirt and sebum efficiently enough. Or we think the product gets clogged inside the pores and we can’t remove it as thoroughly as a foaming cleanser. Foam contains compounds that lower surface tension, and therefore it will first remove dirt and oil (also the skin’s own, beneficial oil) and after that rinse out easily with water. Nowadays some cleansing milks and oils also contain ingredients that help rinse them out with water easily, but my biggest epiphany is to use a facial towel or a cloth with these gentler cleansing products. In fact, a facial towel is necessary with many cleansing balms and oils. A towel is also the answer when using gentle products for enlarged pores and oily skin – without a towel these products might not feel “that efficient”. This is of course not a new invention. Cosmetologists use warm compresses – towels dipped in warm water – to remove products during facial treatments. When I made towels a part of my home skincare routine as well, the wonderful world of facial cleansing opened up, there were fireworks and fairy dust, my skin started to glow like never before and the clogged pores on my cheeks finally disappeared. You have no idea how stupid I felt when I realized I hadn’t thought of this before. So, dear friends, after this long introduction, let me present to you a couple of different facial towels. Nowadays I have quite a collection for different purposes. Cleansing sponges, especially the very popular konjac sponges, are also good for removing cleansers – though not my personal favorite. Facial cloths remove cleansers all the way from pores and lines, gently exfoliate the skin and work as facial compresses that open up the pores. The cloth should be washed after each use, using soap and water. Sometimes clients will say they don’t want to use towels because it takes up too much time. Seriously? Put on a timer and think: are you really not willing to invest a bit of time each day in the well-being of your skin? Spend five minutes less on social media. I always say that if you take shortcuts, you can expect results according to that.

THE 5-MINUTE TOWEL FACE CLEANSE

I dip the towel in hot water (naturally not scorching hot), press it on my face and let it sit there for a while, so the warmth will activate the ingredients on the cleanser, open up pores and bring out the aromatic scents – thus turning cleansing my face into an aromatherapeutic session. If your skin is very delicate and sensitive, I recommend using the face cloth by Neal’s Yard Remedies, which is gentler. You should also avoid using a cloth this exfoliating after using a fruit acid peel. My favorite towels: Muslin cloth by The Organic Pharmacy This is my favorite along with the cloth from Neal’s Yard Remedies. This one by The Organic Pharmacy is thick and the most coarse out of the bunch (but definitely not scratchy). I use this for rich and heavy balms, such as May Lindstrom Honey Mud, The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter and Neal’s Yard Remeries Wild Rose Beauty Balm. It’s also good for Juice Beauty Cleansing Oil. Neal’s Yard Remedies Muslin Face Cloth This cloth is included when you buy Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm or Frankincense Refining Cleanser, but it’s also sold separately. This cloth is thinner and gentler than the one by The Organic Pharmacy and it’s suitable for all skin types and all types of cleansers. I use this when I want to use a lighter cloth, especially when removing masks. This cloth is not suitable for removing a fruit acid peel. Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Cotton Flannel This organic cotton facial towel is very soft and works like a facial compress. You can use this to remove all kinds of cleansers and masks and use it as an all purpose facial towel (I hope you never use the same towel for your hands and face!). I use this to remove masks, and as an everyday facial towel. Balmuir linen facial towel The size of these linen waffle cloth towels (30×30 cm) is perfect for using as an all-purpose facial towel and removing cleansers. This one is very soft and works for sensitive skin as well. Patyka Cleansing Towel The towel by Patyka is very soft and smooth, perfect for atopic, delicate and sensitive skin. This towel is the only one I would recommend for removing fruit acid peels, because this will not exfoliate your skin at all, and is therefore gentle enough to use after a strong exfoliating treatment. So there, I have spoken. Hopefully I didn’t sound too imperative! In the end, everyone should do whatever works for them. Next time I will introduce you to my all time favorite cleansers – though I reserve the right to change my mind if I discover something new in a year or so.

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Good Eeeats: What’s For Lunch At The Darling Magazine HQ

The women of Darling Magazine, one of our fave cause-driven print mags, work from an office surrounded on all sides by just about every Eastside eatery on our must-visit list from Echo Park to Los Feliz. But do they ever make it away from their desks for a good bite? We know you're always on the lookout for new healthy eating inspirations - from recipes to reservations - so we asked the Darling crew to let us in on what they're having for lunch each day in and out of their L.A. offices. From one editor's farm-to-table faves to another's inventive avocado toasts (we hear you, Ziza), whether you prefer your meals a la deskside or out on the town, these girls have you covered on tips for quelling hangry pangs and keeping afternoon energy on the up...

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Chocolate Breakfast Recipes: 3 Ways To Get Your Cacao On In The A.M.

Chocolate for all the meals! Okay, maybe not...but if we had things our way, there would definitely be some sort of cacao worked into every single minute of the day - beginning with breakfast. We're fully in-sync with the team over on Cameron Diaz's Our Body Book who are sharing these healthy breakfast recipes that feel like dessert, but are packed with nutrition...  I am a bit of a chocoholic. Okay, quite a bit of one to be perfectly honest. I love it pretty much in all forms and have spent the longest time denying myself chocolate because I thought it was unhealthy. Of course, I was thinking of commercially prepared chocolate candy and fudge that is loaded with refined sugar. Those are definitely unhealthy for you. However, as I learned more about ingredients and became more creative in the kitchen, I found ways to enjoy chocolate that wasn’t unhealthy. In fact, when prepared correctly, it can be good for your body! Especially your heart. Cocoa expands the blood vessels in the heart and helps all that lovely blood of yours flow through with ease. A relaxed and properly working heart is something we all need, so I’m encouraging you to dive into healthy chocolate recipes with your mouth and mind wide open. In fact, start with breakfast! Chocolate for breakfast sounds like a health faux pas and the dream of school-age children, but you can absolutely add chocolate back onto the breakfast menu with this trio of healthy recipes. [olists num=1] [olists num=2]

For more chocolate breakfast recipes, head over to Our Body Book by clicking though here!

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Cash Warren’s Father’s Day Gift Guide

We're doling out Father's Day advice from the winner of our unofficial World's Most Adorable Dad award: Cash Warren. This is a man who's got the work-life balance thing on lockdown. We first fell in love with this actor-turned-entrepreneur on the big screen, but just like his oh-so Honest wife, we quickly realized that the star's business savvy was nothing to overlook either! Cash has made an ultra-cozy niche in the apparel world with Pair Of Thieves, his line of quirky, ready-for-anything socks just for men - and their kids. We can only imagine he is inspired in part by the other two ladies in his life, daughters Honor and Haven. Cash is sharing his Father's Day know-how below - his wish list, favorite traditions, even a few tips on what to get the dads that seemingly have everything. From breakfast at the local deli to his best Father's Day memory, Cash's list is refreshingly sweet and surprisingly simple. Get out a pen and jot down some notes - your pops will thank you.  

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The Non-Toxic Manicure: 5 Things To Make You Think Twice About That Cheap Mani

Oh boy. Manicures - of all things - should be fun and simple. They're a non-essential beauty treat we all love to get and the perfect way to kill an afternoon with a bud. There's no reason your painted talons should cause anyone distress - right?  We don't want to kill anyone's beauty vibe, but, the truth is, there's a lot of discussion lately about nail salons - the fumes, the health of the salon technicians - and of course, the quality of the nail products you're using in and out of the salon (something we talk about often.) Get the full scoop on the debate about health and salon employees here at the New York Times. It's pretty intense, and, if you've logged as many hours in a nail salon as most girls, you can guess what the issue might be. There are questions about the overload of chemicals, the fumes and soaking materials, as well as the treatment of workers who are largely young female immigrants vulnerable to the abuse of labor laws. We know it's a lot to take in. Is a fresh coat of coral paint before our next beach trip too much to ask for? Navigating the world of beauty these days isn't always so pretty. But it doesn't have to stay this way. Below, we're offering five quick ideas to help take your manicure in the right direction. No need to kick your grooming habits to the curb entirely. Just find a few practical ways to improve what you're already doing. We're including a few of our favorite products along with tips from Sarah Gibson Tuttle, the owner of the Beverly Hills' nail salon we love, Olive & June.

5 Things That'll Make You Think Twice About That Cheap Mani

1 - frequent salons with Mindful practices: Finding salons that use 3-free polishes and the like is becoming easier and easier. Sarah of Olive & June says, "Working with soaps, lotions, polishes, and polish removers that are non-toxic or organic, is better for everyone. Every time a technician applies a moisturizer to a client, they are applying it to themselves too. They come into contact with it more often than anyone else! Better for them that they are able to work with products day in and day out that are free from potentially harmful chemicals."

2 - Ask your salon owner Questions: The ethical treatment of salon employees has become a point of concern in many cities. As a salon owner herself, Sarah advises, "Ask the manager how they compensate their employees. Someone who is operating an ethical business will be happy to share. It will help you make an informed decision. "

3 - Trust your gut: This one is easier said and done. Many of us feel a little "off" about the fumes that fill an average salon, and everyone's been in a salon whose staffing situation makes you wonder. Sarah notes, "If you feel like prices are too low and suspect that things may not be on the up and up, then choose to have your nails done elsewhere. Or, if you have a manicurist that you have really connected with and want to continue to support, tip based purely on performance, not on price. Do what you feel is right and fair."

4 - To Gel Or Not To Gel:The gel manicure is as popular as ever these days. But is there any cause for concern? Here's where we stand on the popular gel mani: Short Term Beauty Fix Or Long Term Health Risk? 5- At-Home Mani Picks: If you're more of the DIY kind of girl when it comes to manicures, stick with a few of our favorite "3-Free" and "5-Free" brands that formulate without the most toxic offenders. The non-toxic manicure has come a long way. We love neutral colors from RGB and brights from Aila and Kure Bazaar. Great salons, like Olive & June, keep non-toxic polish options stocked, but remember you can always also bring your favorite 5-Free polish from home when the time comes for a pro job. 5 - Non-Toxic Polish Remover:Some green beauty choices are easy to make: we hate the smell of nail polish remover, changing to a non-toxic formula is a simple choice to make. We're obsessed with this natural polish remover from Aila, it's the best we've ever tried! Get more info on the socially-responsible manicure with #HandleWithCare! Pay attention to what they're up to in New York and get involved. 

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In My Gym Bag: Julie and Elizabeth of SoulCycle

Our 'In My Gym Bag' feature is one of our readers' favorites when it comes to fitness, and we love this version from the queens of cycling themselves, Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice, co-founders of SoulCycle. SoulCycle has transformed the way so many of us workout and we love the turn toward a more mindful mind-body experience the studios have inspired across the board. Pick up tips and top picks from Elizabeth and Julie below and join us all month inside each Pressed Juicery location for a sweepstakes and celebration of wellness - including a year's worth of juices and a ten-class pass to a SoulCycle near you!

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