FitSugar

Back to Basics: The Best Shaving Creams

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:00:13 PDT

These shaving creams worked for my dad, and they still work for me. When I began shaving in my early teens, I used these with a single blade razor. Nowadays, I use a four-blade razor for sensitive skin, and these creams work even better without breaking the bank. I’m a firm believer in splurging in some areas and saving in others, and these drugstore brands have never let me down. Do you have a brand preference when it comes to shaving creams?

Edge Advanced Shaving Gel For Sensitive Skin ($3.23) OK, so this isn't the most feminine product that I own, but I've been using this gel-to-cream formula for ages and I love the texture and the masculine scent. Also, this slightly new and improved formula contains aloe to help soothe even the most sensitive skin.

Barbasol Shaving Cream ($2.49) is the one, the original, the very first shaving cream I ever used. Not only did I love using this thick and creamy formula on my legs, but while at Summer camp, I'd write my bunk number on the lawn outside of the mess hall. I was a happy camper.

To check out another one of my favorite shaving creams,

Wow, I used to love the smell of this Skintimate Moisturizing Shave Gel For Dry Skin ($3.14). I still use the product because it's gentle and provides a smooth shave that never skips and causes nicks. It also leaves my legs feeling silky smooth and moisturized. It's like I'm wearing pantyhose, when I've got nothing on.

Why Bouncing and Stretching Don't Mix

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:45:00 PST

I remember taking a dance class when I was a little girl. We would always do floor exercises to warm up before dancing. My favorite was called Flying Butterfly. We'd sit down, facing the mirror of course, and put our feet together and our knees out wide. Then the teacher would say "Fly, butterflies, fly," and we'd flap our little knee wings.

Now we know that bouncing your body while you stretch is a big no-no. But why?

Bouncing can cause microtrauma in the muscle, which must heal itself with scar tissue. The scar tissue tightens the muscle, making you less flexible, and more prone to pain. This type of repetitive, bouncing stretch is called Ballistic Stretching and it can strain your muscles and tendons because they aren't quite warmed up yet.

Think of it this way. Your muscles are like bubble gum. If you stretch a cold piece of gum, it'll snap rather than stretch. Your muscles work the same way. They've got to be warmed up in order to be pliable.

Static Stretching, where you you hold one position for a period of time is much gentler on your body, because you ease your muscles into it. When you stretch, you want to work your edge, lengthening the muscle as far as you can, feeling a stretch, but NOT feeling pain.

Fit's Tips: Make sure you breath while you're stretching because holding your breath can increase your blood pressure, making you feel dizzy.

Alexis, Olivia, Jordana, and More Show Off Cool-Girl Summer Style at the Coach Fete - Who's Most Fab?

Marisa Tom — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:24:00 PDT

For a super Summer-inspired fix of flirty frocks, colorful bags, and must-have sandals, look no further than the stylish celebs making the rounds at Coach's cocktail-cum-charity benefit party in LA yesterday evening. Aside from the brand's slick leather-and-tassel satchels providing a cool accessorized boost, we loved the variety of sunny styles - girlie, muted sophistication, and all-out brights - spotted on the likes of Alexis Bledel, Olivia Munn, Jordana Brewster, and Kristen Bell. While Olivia opted for a Naven neon pink miniskirt and Jordana kept it cool in silver-gray tones, Alexis chose a butterfly-printed Tucker dress for the occasion. For a tougher edge, check out Malin Akerman's leather Mandy Coon number, or for a more Parisian-chic vibe, channel Nikki Reed's Finders Keepers shirtdress look. Click through now for a stylish selection of enviable celeb ensembles, then tell us in the comments who gets your best-dressed vote!

A Veggie-Filled Indoor Picnic

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:45:46 PDT

A sandwich of asparagus and mushrooms could be kind of dull - or, as Between the Bread demonstrates, it could be a triumphant lesson in culinary restraint.

Ann Arbor's famed Zingerman's Deli is known for its corned beef sandwiches, but it's also not shy when it comes to packing on farmers market fresh veggies.

This recipe, dubbed Rodger's Big Picnic, comes from my trusty Roadfood Sandwiches cookbook, which describes this sandwich as Zingerman's ode to Michigan produce and particularly asparagus.

Putting this recipe together, I worried it would be too dull. The mushrooms are just broiled, not marinated, and the sandwich is adorned with nothing but sharp cheddar and Dijon mustard.

But with perfectly cooked, totally fresh produce, two ingredients are all you need. The sandwich was unexpectedly graceful, simple yet full-bodied, and hard to put down.

For the recipe, keep reading.

Wear One Mint Green Top 3 Ways

Allison McNamara — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:51:44 PDT

Fashion is totally having a pastel moment thanks to Spring runways at Louis Vuitton, Vera Wang, and Tory Burch. So, we headed over to Intermix's newest location in Brentwood, CA, and styled out one mint green blouse for three different occasions. Whether you want to mix it with rich textures, go colorblocked with a bold bright, or edge it up for a night out, we've got something for everyone in today's installment of Ways to Wear. On Allison McNamara: A.L.C. top, A.L.C. shorts.

iWant: A Pac-Man Delicacy

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:04 PDT

We'll unapologetically wear our old-school gaming pride on our sleeves, but when the occasion calls for something a little more refined, costume baubles just don't fit the bill. To the rescue - as he always was during Summer days at the arcade - is the charming Pac-Man, who this time adds an adorable edge to a delicate, gold-filled chain ($32).

Poised to gobble up a villainous ghost, the one-inch vermeil Pac-Man charm sits center stage on the 16-inch cable chain from Etsy seller Lisa Loren. It has all the class of fine jewelry with high scores in personality.

Cream or Powder? How to Choose the Right Blush For You

Jessica Cruel — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:03:00 PDT

When you walk into a beauty bar, there are numerous choices when it comes to blush. But basically it boils down to this: Should you go with a powder or cream-based formulation? Although both have their merits, celebrity makeup artist Jake Bailey reveals the biggest differences between the two. Read more to get his tips on achieving a rosy glow.

We're With the Band: Rock the Vintage-Tee Trend For an Infinitely Cool Outfit Twist

Hannah Weil — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:53:09 PDT

A look at Ashley Madekwe, Jessica Stroup, and Kristen Stewart's looks inspired one thought: these girls look seriously cool. The common denominator in each of their ensembles is a sweet, vintage-feeling t-shirt that takes jeans and shorts to an infinitely more awesome place. Sure, a white cotton tee or your favorite tank could top your separates just as easily, but a t-shirt that pays homage to your best-loved bands or touts a favorite saying delivers the kind of cool-girl edge that makes these style-setters' looks pop. Dress up the look à la Ashley Madekwe with pointed pumps and statement earrings, or add a blazer and studded loafers for a pulled-together everyday style that delivers more of a statement. If you're feeling Jessica Stroup's take on the trend, then reach for lacy shorts and ankle boots to further the '90s feel. Any way you choose to wear yours, the effect is universally cool. Just shop our editors' picks to find your own tee, or head to your local thrift stores and flea markets to seek out the style that suits you best.

What to TiVo: Saturday

Maggie Pehanick — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:59:00 PDT

8:00 Spider-Man 3

8:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (repeat)
9:00 Criminal Minds (repeat)
10:00 48 Hours Mystery (new)
11:30 Saturday Night Live (new, season finale, with guests Mick Jagger, Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, and Jeff Beck)

7:00 Major League Baseball

8:00 Harry's Law (repeat)
9:00 The Firm (new)
10:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (repeat)

Battleship: Needs a Lifesaver

Maggie Pehanick — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

I don't remember aliens making an appearance in my own childhood sessions with Battleship, but I suppose when you try to make a toy into a feature-length film, you're afforded a few liberties. Unfortunately, the producers of Battleship may have spent too much time finding creative ways to explode things and not enough time on a plot, ending up with underutilized actors, in a wishy-washy destruction story.

Battleship starts out in 2005, when the US establishes the Beacon Project, an effort to reach out to potential life forms on a planet that has a similar climate as the Earth. The government sets up a powerful signal on Hawaii capable of sending transmissions to the foreign territory. Little do they know the frequencies are being received, and not by friendly folks. Enter brothers Alex (Taylor Kitsch) and Stone (Alexander Skarsgard). Stone is clean-cut and responsible while Alex is generally a mess. We first meet them in a bar scene that turns to Alex breaking into a convenience store to steal a chicken burrito for his future girlfriend, Sam (Brooklyn Decker). Thanks to Kitsch's surprising physical comedy skills, the scene is the highlight of the movie. It all goes to the aliens after that.

Read the rest of my thoughts on Battleship after the break.