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Over-exfoliating happens to the best of us. From increased sensitivity and irritations, it can be uncomfortable dealing with this skincare woe. Fortunately, it’s possible to get your complexion back on track with a few changes to your routine. We spoke with skincare experts for advice on treating over-exfoliated skin and preventing it from happening altogether. What are the signs of over-exfoliated skin? Irritated, sensitive skin commonly signals over-exfoliated skin. “One of the first signs of any skin irritation, including over-exfoliation, is that your skin will burn or sting when applying lotions to it,” says Robert Finney, M....

“Your hair reverts to its natural state when it comes in contact with moisture,” explains Joseph Maine, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Trademark Beauty. “Since humidity is high levels of moisture in the air, you will see any wave or texture begin to coil up. We often refer to it as frizz because the humidity will primarily affect those little fine hairs or shorter pieces that have less weight to combat the moisture....

Pomegranate seeds are touted for their protective antioxidants, are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin K, and are a good source of dietary fiber and folate. Use the seeds in desserts, salads, and more; drink the pomegranate juice or use it in dressings or sauces. Yes, pomegranate fruits look daunting, but once you remove the pomegranate seeds (aka arils), making homemade pomegranate juice is easier than you might think....

Pick the Perfect Type of Christmas Tree Your local Christmas tree lots, farm, or nursery may sell only a couple of tree varieties, but if you have a broad choice, go for “true firs,” like noble, Fraser, Nordmann, and Turkish, because they’ll last the longest (four to six weeks). Trees with the second-longest life span include Douglas fir, Scotch pine, balsam, and grand fir. Spruce trees last only two or three weeks....

But because apple season is right around the corner, we’re down to speed things up. That’s why we consulted superstar chef Thomas Keller, founder of The French Laundry, Per Se, and apple pie technique instructor at Masterclass on pie-making skills not to skip. It’s all in the apples. His top tip for baking the perfect apple pie is controversial. Keller says to incorporate both diced and grated apples into your filling....

We’re ready to move on to more advanced carbs, which is why we consulted Paul Baker, the master baker and co-founder of St Pierre, America’s fastest-growing European Bakery brand. He provided us with tons of helpful tips on baking brioche, croissants, popovers, and French baguettes. First step? You should probably start stocking up on butter. Balance Your Ingredients. Nailing the balance and ratios of ingredients is key to avoiding brioche that’s either too crusty or over-enriched....

Set Up Stations If you have a fairly spacious deck, patio, or backyard, setting up areas for different functions can make parties flow better. Dmar Interiors used this concept in this L.A. backyard. “We wanted to create various areas for different types of entertaining: lounging, swimming, dining, and cooking,” they explain. An area with outdoor sofas was designed for sipping drinks and chatting. Another station has lounge chairs for relaxing and reading poolside, while a third zone is outfitted with an outdoor kitchen and a dining table for al fresco dinners....

Acquania Escarne, lead wealth strategist at the Purpose of Money, and Paco de Leon of the The Hell Yeah Group, a financial firm for creatives, say that folks on a fluctuating income should focus on these three money matters: realistic goals, emergencies, and taxes. Keep your ambitions high—but your budget realistic. It is tough to budget consistently when your income is a moving target, but Escarne says that it’s best to take an average income from the last three months and create a budget around that round figure....

If you have diet plans, store your tighter clothes elsewhere and bring them back after you reach your goals. The act of swapping out larger sizes for smaller ones might even make you feel more accomplished. To store those aspirational pieces you’ll soon be wearing, pick up a few durable storage containers like the MISSLO Oxford three-piece set. Its durable design—with metal zipper and airtight closures—means no dust, dirt, or mold can enter while your goods are stored....

Going from mayhem to organized isn’t as difficult as you may think. Whether your space is teeny-tiny or awkwardly large, you just need to nix the clutter, create a spot for everything, and focus on pragmatism above all else. To become a pro at laundry room organization, start with these expert tips. Remove Everything & Declutter Before starting your reorganization project, take stock of everything in your laundry room and remove anything that isn’t working in your favor....

Give all your utensils a proper place to rest when they’re not hard at work with the following ideas for organizing a utensil drawer. And never misplace your favorite spatula again. 1. Personalize Your Utensil Organizer This might sound obvious but you most likely already have something to corral your everyday utensils. But are you using one that really works for you? For example, if you have seven types of utensils in regular use but your organizer only has five or six slots, a couple of them are might not have a home....

How to Peel Garlic Follow our Test Kitchen’s best way to peel garlic so you’ll always have fresh garlic cloves for your recipes. Step 1: Remove the Garlic Cloves from the Head Remove the number of cloves you need from garlic bulb. The remaining cloves won’t dry out as quickly when stored as part of the bulb. To remove the garlic cloves, peel enough of the outer layers of skin to be able to grab a side of one clove....

Furniture “Just because a price tag displays a certain number doesn’t mean it’s final,” says Nicole Lapin, a financial expert and the author of Rich Bitch. You can research online prices and ask if a store will match that—or try for a discounted floor sample. What to do: Strike up a conversation with a friendly salesperson, and lead with a compliment: “I love your store and really want to buy this piece....

Tanja’s story may sound extreme, but the truth is, a lot of people can reduce their working years, with a little financial foresight and planning. “Many middle-class-and-up folks could retire earlier than they think, even without having big advantages,” says Hester, who now lives in Lake Tahoe, Calif., and recently wrote Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way ($10; amazon.com). In fact, there’s an entire movement of people retiring in their 30s and 40s—they call it FIRE (financial independence, retire early)....

One Week Before Thanksgiving: Plan Your Menu and Secure Your Turkey By the Thursday before Thanksgiving you should have planned your menu, cleared out your fridge, and have a turkey on the bottom shelf. Knowing which Thanksgiving sides and other dishes you want to serve will help save you time at the store—cue the grocery list—and with preparing and serving your menu. Need help plotting the feast? “Think about making things that you can reheat and it won’t affect the quality,” Matijevich says....

“Being good consumers of healthcare costs is always a challenge, and you might be anxious about going to a doctor and getting a prescription not knowing how much it’s going to cost,” says Ramzi Yacoub, chief pharmacy officer at SingleCare. “This is just a really easy tool for people to use to understand their costs beforehand.” If you go this route, still do your own homework. “[These options] can save you a lot of legwork, although it’s always a good idea to confirm the lowest price directly with the pharmacy,” says Kate Ashford, a Medicare specialist at NerdWallet....

Selling belongings online or IRL isn’t just a great way to declutter and avoid landfill waste—it’s also big business. Partly spurred by the trend of bypassing fast fashion (and retail prices), the resale market is valued at a whopping $35 billion, and that figure is expected to more than double by 2026, according to a report from ThredUp, an online resale store. The RealReal, a luxury consignment site, has seen a 36 percent increase in first-time buyers since 2020....

“Some people will go into debt to give money to someone else, and that’s a huge financial mistake,” says personal finance advisor Lynette Khalfani-Cox. “You have to set firm boundaries and determine the type of help you will give and under what circumstances.” Yes, this includes siblings, children, and aging parents—all people with whom it may be especially hard (but all the more important) to set those boundaries. So, how do you stop family members from asking for money?...

With that in mind, here are three ways to soften cream cheese in a matter of minutes so you can follow food safety guidelines and put yourself in good shape for recipe success, whether you’re making a dip, frosting, cheesecake, or other culinary creations. How to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly Try one of these three methods below to soften cream cheese in less than 30 minutes. That way, you can get to the rest of your recipe in next to no time....

Having a heightened sense of taste isn’t always a joyride for your taste buds, though. Supertasters—it’s a real thing!—may inadvertently limit their diets to avoid things they’re averse to, and many find it difficult to include a wide variety of foods in their overall diet—something that’s essential for getting a spectrum of nutrients and supporting a diverse gut microbiome. What exactly is a supertaster, and how common is it? “A supertaster is going to experience the flavors and aromas of any given food or meal more intensely,” explains Jenna Volpe, RDN, L....