Fastest Manicure Ever – The Nail Polish Remover Cream You Need

An at-home mani always seems like it's going to be a fun moment of self-care -- until we break out the nail polish remover.

Drying, messy and a true test of our spa-like state of mind, nail polish remover is the necessary evil we've been forced to fuddle with in order to get a good quick manicure in at home. Until now the beauty category has remained remarkably unchanged, so when we came across this polish remover cream we were skeptical, but full of hope. Here's why we'll use it for life and never look back (not sponsored, people!), plus the incredible new 7-free nail polishes you should use when you're through!

THE SIGN TRIBE REMOVE AND CHILL ENAMEL ERASER | Akin to a bottle of toothpaste, this polish remover cream can be dotted on to nail beds quickly and cleanly. After just a few minutes, the cream (which barely touches the skin, unlike a stripping liquid remover!) can be wiped away with a tissue taking all nail polish with it. We've never experienced a quicker, cleaner and less annoying than with a cream remover! We instantly loved this product, had to check several times to be sure it was natural -- too good to be true? --  and are thrilled to confirm that the formula truly is made with natural oils and little else. A must try. CHECK OUT

While we're talking manicures, here are our favorite new non-toxic nail polish launches and discoveries to coat on once you try the cream...

Olive and June's new polish line  | We've been waiting for LA's most adorable nail salon to launch polishes, like, forever. Olive & June's new line is finally here, filled with skin-flattering shades of peach and pink we love -- and everything is 7-free. CHECK OUT

veque nudes for all skin shades | Veque is a newcomer to the clean polish game and coming in strong with these beautiful nude shades. Their line of skin tone-inclusive nudes is impossibly chic -- we literally love every single hue. Women of all colors define nude shades differently. Veque gets that and we love that they've created these beautiful options. Their polishes glide on like a dream and actually last longer than some of the most toxic polishes we've (unfortunately) tried.  CHECK OUT

J. Hannah's new launch | We flipped when jewelry designer, Jess Hannah, launched a line of modern-hued nail polishes last year. From an almost-black espresso shade named Carob to this brand new, perfectly peachy gold color shown above, everything in the collection is 7-free and ultimately chic. CHECK OUT

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Make The Quinoa + Dandelion Greens From The Salad Bar At Erewhon

Dandelion greens might not get as much hype as spinach and kale, but these dark leafy greens are loaded with nutrients and deserve a permanent spot on your grocery list. These prebiotic-rich plants are powerful detoxifiers and full of vitamins and minerals. The key to enjoying them is finding a simple recipe that can be whipped up in a flash and enjoyed for any meal.

Erewhon (LA's luxe and addictively amazing healthy grocery chain) linked up with our peeps at Free People for this simple, nutrient dense recipe we love. This easy and seriously nutritious recipe is one of our favorites at the Erewhon prepared foods bar -- and will definitely be a staple in our spring recipe rotation...

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Scoop up Erewhon's recipe for adaptogenic lemongrass bone broth here.

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The 5 Summer Hair Accessories We’re Swooning For Now

unless you count l.a.'s endless sea of wide-brimmed hats, we haven't seen a new hair accessory trend around for quite some time. Then barrettes happened.

We've spotted vintage-style barrettes on the runway and the street all season and we've fallen for them hard. Whether you're looking for a way to tame your post-gym tangle before brunch, or wanting a chic yet lazy solution for weekend errands, these pretty items are some of our favorites...

Farrow Renee Clip in Tortoise | This simple acetate clip is a dream for casually dressing up thin to medium hair. We're getting French-girl vibes from this classic tortoise shell number that's perfect for stashing in your bag all summer. CHECK OUT

Madewell Knotted Headband | Not a headband. As long as we're talking hair accessories, we thought we'd sneak this headband in as well. Slide this summery gal on when you're cooking up a storm, lying on the beach or running weekend errands to hold hair in place and make a mess of hair look chic in a sec. CHECK OUT

Solid Salon Slide Set | These vintage-inspired, salon-style clips keep hair out of your face and add an instant pop of color blocking we love. Braid up your mane and pinch one (or more, if you're feeling extra) of these in. They're perfect post-workout when you don't want to shower but also don't want to look like it either. CHECK OUT

Night Sky Bobby Pin Set | Gym to date kind of night? This fancy sparkling set adds demure polish to any updo. Tuck a star pin into free-flowing hair for a subtle sparkle. Pair it with layers of delicate gold necklaces and you've got a whole look happening. CHECK OUT

Charlotte Chesnais Small Egg Hair Clip | This arty 18 karat gold vermeil clip is made in France and more like jewelry than anything else. We love the organic shape and the fact that it can turn the simplest of hairstyles into something far more styled. CHECK OUT

 

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30 Clever Ideas For Meaningful Mother’s Day Gifts

Here's the thing about great gifts -- they don't always seem as genius as they are at first glance. Sure, flowers, diamonds and chocolates have instant impact (candles too), but some of the best gifts we've ever been given have taken time to sink in and give us a delayed thrill.

Case in point? Dyson's hairdryer, W&P's ceramic travel bowl and Countertop's golden breakfast spices. None of these gift ideas (perfect for Mother's Day on May 12) packs a punch as they're unwrapped over brunch, but -- trust us -- they are the kinds of gift you get calls about months later.

Great gifts are the ones you didn't know you couldn't live without til you receive them and most of the items in this month's The Shop qualify.

You might balk at the idea of gifting a hair dryer, but, like all things from the tech nerds at Dyson, this one is life-changing. Countertop's Ayurvedic-inspired ghee and spice blends will change your mom's mornings for the better every single day. Trust us when we say she'll reorder the stuff when she runs out. The spices also make a great gift set for a new mom who could use a few quick and easy wellness tools in the kitchen.

Other great gifts for new moms include Nurture by birthing phenom, Erica Chidi Cohen, the stunning scents from Ellis Brooklyn that'll let mama detox her beauty routine for safety and still smell amazing. We also included one perfect pair of actual mom jeans here, because, well, if the shoe fits...

For moms that have seen it all, why not gift a somewhat trendy straw bag or hat. Timeless, yet modern. Jill Dempsey's vibrating gold facial tool is also likely to be a hit. The absolutely beautiful kitchen goods and classic cookbooks are no-fail gifts. The cozy ceramic coffee travel mug and jade roller for the body will delight any mother in step with all things 2019.

Enjoy our very giftable curation of Mother's Day gift ideas and let us know what you end up loving most!

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5 Effortless Hacks To Make Everything You Cook Healthier

big life goals are often conquered by beginning with the tiniest of life hacks. Small, conscious changes can have major impact. We love these tips from Healthier Together, a new cookbook all about cooking well with a partner -- be it a roommate, a best friend or a bae.

Liz Moody is a writer and the author of the newly released cookbook Healthier Together: Recipes for Two — Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Relationships, which is already a #1 best-seller. The book features gut-healing, inflammation-fighting, hormone-balancing recipes for two people that still prioritize drool-worthy flavors (think Salted Caramel Crack Popcorn, the viral #besthealthycookies and General Tso’s Cauliflower). Here, Liz shares five secrets to make everything you cook a little bit healthier...

5 Effortless Hacks For Healthier MealsAdd all the spices | Spices are the original superfoods. Before we loaded up on adaptogenic powders and potions, we used spices for their incredible healing benefits and flavors. I love to add turmeric and ginger to smoothies and stir-fries, a pinch of cinnamon or smoked paprika to red pasta sauce and fenugreek to add gut-soothing nutty sweetness to curries and roasted vegetables.

Swap bone broth for vegetable broth | Bone broth is a wonderful staple for fighting inflammation, aiding joint health and helping to seal the gut lining. While I love sipping it straight from a mug on cold mornings, I regularly sneak it into my diet by subbing it for vegetable or chicken broth in recipes. I store Bonafide Provisions broth in my freezer, then use it to deglaze vegetables or to make bolognese. In Healthier Together, it becomes the base for an easy Ginger-Basil Bone Broth Ramen, which tastes better than takeout. Amazing for digestion and inflammation, bone broth also helps build healthy skin, hair and nails.

Let garlic breathe | Many recipes call for garlic to be added at the beginning, which not only makes it prone to burning and ruining its delicate flavor, this also eliminate its health benefits. Garlic is one of the most potent antiviral, antibacterial and antibacterial foods around, but in order to activate its magic, you need to chop or mince it it then let it sit for 20 minutes. This activates a compound called allicin, which is responsible for the many healing properties of the pungent food. In the Immune-Boosting Daal recipe from my book, I do exactly this, then cook the garlic just enough at the end to take away its sharp flavor, while preserving all of its health benefits.

Use citrus zest, liberally | I’m a huge fan of citrus juice in recipes — the acid in a squeeze of lime or lemon will often bring the whole dish to life — but many people forget about the zest, which has a sweeter more concentrated flavor and tons of health benefits. It’s been linked to killing cancer cells and helping with any other oxidative-related diseases, including skin problems and neurodegenerative disorders. I use lime zest in the crispy tortilla crumble of the Enchilada Lasagna and lemon zest is the secret, flavor-popping ingredient in my World’s Best Simple Salad. I also love to use citrus zest in my daily green smoothies — it adds a bright, bold flavor that makes the smoothie taste amazing.

Add fermented foods, strategically | I love the slightly sour, umami-rich flavor that fermented foods like sauerkraut, beets and kimchi give my food, but the probiotics in the ferments are sensitive to heat, so it’s important to add them at the very end of a dish. I’ll finish off a grain bowl with a heaping spoonful of whatever fermented vegetable I have around, use fermented blueberries and their juices to glaze vegetables (a trick I learned from Noma chef Rene Redzepi) or even replace the vinegar in salad dressing with kombucha.

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In The Studio With The Ridiculously Charming Illustrator Mari Andrew

Mari Andrew's unmistakable wit and style have made her one of the most beloved illustrators on the 'gram. The NYC-based writer first turned to illustration as an outlet when she was going through a season of personal grief. Quickly her playful but poignant drawings gained her a devoted audience of over one million Instagram followers.

Mari's new illustrated workbook, Getting There - a workbook for growing up and book of charming life-occasion postcards serve up exactly what we're looking for from the talented artist -- as does her interview below. Her ultimate message is that we should recognize and embrace that we all are going through something and the best way to move through tough times is to acknowledge there's always a bright side and a lesson to be learned.

Get In The Studio with Mari in the latest installment of our series with artists we love -- dive into their creative process and find out what keeps them inspired in their work.

To get the creative juices flowing: I listen to Bossa Nova.

Daily necessity: A really good breakfast with lots of butter.

My favorite current project is: Learning how to dance Flamenco! Work-wise, writing a book.

Favorite object in the studio: The Sharpie pens I use: cheap, satisfying, useful.

Current inspirations: Hydrangeas, Rilke, books about travel, flamenco dancers, sunny mornings, rainy nights, falling in love, heartbreak, talking to people who are really in touch with their emotions, first dates, long walks alone, autumn, soulful music, Greek mythology, big cities, South America, painted ceramics, my friends, red wine, long dinners and strangers with good energy.

Soundtrack in the studio: Mac Miller

Most common visitors to the studio: Mice?

Favorite spots in the neighborhood: Tompkins Square Park, The Immigrant, my corner bodega

Other photographers/artists inspiring me right now: Jon Batiste, Jedediah Jenkins, Ashley C. Ford

Whey I’m not in the studio I am: On my yellow couch, eating or chatting or journaling or watching Golden Girls.

My art supply obsession: The paint color fuchsia.

Favorite gallery/museum in the city: The Cloisters!

Currently reading: Instructions For A Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell

Organizational item I can’t live without: My paper calendar.

My aesthetic in three words: Changes with mood.

Current mantra: Be a blessing.

Get in the studio with our artists we love here.

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Rhubarb Sours + Rose Salt: Inside Floral Libations, The Prettiest Cocktail Guide Ever

Nothing lifts our spirits as quickly as a gorgeous arrangement of fresh flowers. So why limit our enjoyment of botanical beauty to the vase? One of the most beautiful books to come into our office this year is Floral Libations -- an absolutely stunning collection of floral-infused cocktails we can't get enough of this season.

The brand new book is a visual dream, and the recipes are magnificently whimsical -- and actually workable. We can picture pitchers of these beauties at brunches, friend gatherings and every special occasion from now until eternity.

Recipes include Rosewater Gin and Tonic, Pansy Margaritas and Rhubarb Whiskey Sours. There are also floral morning drinks like the below Lavender Cafe Au Lait.

This pink grapefruit and chamomile Paloma is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, infused with calming chamomile and dressed up with a rose petal salt rim(!) you won't soon forget...

Palomas are perfectly delicious — tart, thirst quenching, refreshing and not too sweet. Using freshly squeezed grapefruit juice makes a world of difference, and adding a touch of chamomile and orange zest turns this simple recipe into a special treat. The result is a libation perfect for your next Taco Tuesday extravaganza.

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