FitSugar

Definition: Orbital Bone

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:14:44 PDT

Remember that scene in Legally Blonde where Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) wins her court case because she knows the scientific breakdown of the chemicals involved in a permanent wave? Now you, too, can be a beauty scholar, with our weekly vocabulary lesson, the Bella Glossary.

The glossary term of the week is the orbital bone. I've gotten several questions about this term, as it often shows up in instructions involving eye makeup. We're told, for instance, to pat eye cream around the circumference of the orbital bone and apply highlighter just below the orbital bone. So what the heck is an orbital bone?

Also called "the orbit," the orbital "bone" is actually seven strong bones that make up the encasing of the open socket of the eye; these bones come together to house the actual eye. The peri-orbital skin is the skin/area around your eye. This is the area commonly referred to with beauty products and their application.

Source

Eat Kale: Leafy Greens in Honor of St. Patty's Day

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:00:00 PDT

Since St. Patrick's Day is March 17th, why not eat something that's green and loaded with good stuff (instead of the green bagels like they have at my bakery)?

Kale is a member of the same family that you'll find broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and cauliflower in, so you know it has got to be good for you. Not only is kale healthy, it's considered to be one of the most highly nutritious vegetables, with powerful immune-boosting antioxidants, as well as a unique rich flavor.

Although you can find this beautiful leafy green vegetable throughout the year, it is in season, and the sweetest tasting from mid-winter through the beginning of spring.

Why is kale so nutritious? It contains something called phytonutrients that may prevent cancer, because they can help to neutralize potentially carcinogenic substances in your body. Kale is also known for its health benefits for your eyes and lungs.

Its deep green color lets you know that kale is an excellent source of all the basic nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. It is also a very good source of dietary fiber, calcium, copper, and potassium. This combination of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients makes kale a vegetable celebrity.

Fit's Tips: Raw kale can have a tough texture and bitter taste. You can lightly steam a few leaves and eat it plain, or add a little dressing and some sesame seeds to it. Or you can rip up the leaves and sauté them with other veggies in a stir-fry.

Want to know how you can get your very own "Eat More Kale" shirt? Then

read more Check out these t-shirts that say "Eat More Kale." They're handmade in Vermont and you can order them from the EatMoreKale.com website. They have women's, kid's, and men's short and long sleeve shirts. They cost $18 - 28.

Sty In My Eye

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 12:15:00 PST

"Oh my - I'll try not to cry but there's a sty in my eye."

I used to say that all the time when I was in junior high; my hey day of sharing eye liner and mascara. One too many styes made me wise up and use my own make-up.

What exactly is a sty, anyway?

A sty is an acute infection or inflammation of the secretory glands of your eyelid. The gland gets blocked, the oil produced by the gland backs up and forces itself out through the wall of the gland. This forms a little annoying and unexpectedly painful bump on your eyelid.

Bacteria can infect the blocked gland, causing it to become even more irritated and inflamed. If it gets really bad, the infection can cause the white part of your eye to get red, and sometimes the outside of the eye and cheek can become red as well.

The actual bump appears with a whitish or yellowish spot (kind of like a pimple). Multiple styes can form on one lid and they will disappear as soon as the blocked gland is relieved.

Want to know how to prevent the evil sty in the first place? Then

Don't share make-up (including eyelash curlers and eye make-up brushes). It's a great reason to get rid of your old make-up and buy new stuff.
Remove eye make-up completely every night before going to bed.
The obvious - Try not to touch or rub your eye unless you've just washed your hands.

If you do get that frustrating little sty:

Apply warm compresses (with your eye closed) to the infected area for about 15 minutes to help with the drainage.
Very gently wash your eyelid with warm water and nonirritating soap like baby shampoo (again - keep your eye closed).
Very important - Do NOT squeeze or puncture your sty - it may get even more infected.
Ditch the eye make-up and eye creams you were using because they may also be infected.
If you're a contact lens wearer, you may want to switch to your glasses until it goes away.

12 Ways to Get a Craigslist Missed Connection

Tara Sharp — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:05:57 PST

If you spent Valentine's Day on your own or out with girlfriends, you may be scouring your local Craigslist Missed Connections today for a fellow single guy who caught your eye on the romantic holiday. These online personals range from funny to creepy to sweet, but who can resist the thought of finding love in such an unlikely way? Sure, cheesy or awkward Missed Connections can be fun to laugh at, but they can also be a fascinating way to look at modern dating habits. Brooklyn artist Sophie Blackall has even turned Missed Connections into art, becoming an expert on the ads along the way. And numerous studies across the US have been done on these Craigslist ads, deciphering where, how, and why they happen. So if you're hoping to see a Missed Connections with your name on it, check out these tips we've gleaned from the experts on how to make it happen!

Impress Your Friends With This Fun, Flirty Eyeliner Trick

Jaime Richards — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:00:00 PST

If you're looking for a runway look to copy now, but you want something that's neither too ordinary nor too avant-garde, let Naeem Khan's Fall 2012 eye makeup be your inspiration. Using Italian actress Monica Vitti as a muse, James Boehmer, Nars director of global artistry, painted on precise, sharp liner for a "pushed up and quirky" finish.

Photo: Getty

5 Staples of a Mediterranean Diet

Leta Shy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:08:45 PST

There are already many proven benefits to following a Mediterranean diet, and now we can add another one: a new study of the dietary habits of about 1,000 people found that the high levels of monounsaturated fats found in a Mediterranean diet may help your smarts by protecting against small vessel damage in your brain. That benefit may help slow cognitive decline as well as prevent strokes.

Past studies have found that following a Mediterranean diet can help lower the risk of heart and eye complications, control your weight, and help you live longer, so there are more than a few good reasons to eat like you live overseas. Read on for five staples of the Mediterranean diet you should be eating.

Sources: Thinkstock, Flickr Users bochalla and Gustty

50 Insanely Chic Street Style Snaps Straight From NYFW

Hannah Weil — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:54:57 PST

Even before you step foot inside Lincoln Center, you can see it plainly - FW is in full force outside the tents. The bi-annual style stampede that descends on NYC every Fashion Week is in full force as we head into day six. This season is already bringing out a range of creative ensembles from our favorite fashion insiders with the chicest plays on Winter style - forget the predictable; this crew delivers a slick mix of leather, fur, bold color, and killer accessories. As always, the inspiration is seemingly endless - click through to feast your eyes on 50 of our favorite snaps from NYFW so far.

Bright Idea: the Gilded Lids at Betsey Johnson

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:35:54 PST

This Fashion Week has been exceptional for its eye makeup, but the creative use of oversized gold glitter on lids at the Betsey Johnson show was easily a standout. Instead of overwhelming eyes with lots of chunky glitz or shimmer, the makeup artists instead used just a few strategically placed flecks of gold to accentuate the shapes of models' eyes. Combined with bright gold liner in the inner corners and v-shaped taupe shadow to define the crease and lash line, it was a little bit Studio 54 and a lot unexpected glamour. Plus, it's the kind of edgy but alluring look that's actually achievable at home. So next time you're going out with the girls, keep this golden idea in mind.

Trailer: Greta Gerwig Tries to Help Her Fellow Damsels in Distress

Becky Kirsch — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:26:16 PST

Just in time for Valentine's Day comes the trailer for Damsels in Distress, which follows a group of college ladies determined to save depressed girls and set them on what they deem to be the right track. Greta Gerwig leads the pack, and Analeigh Tipton (who you may remember from Crazy, Stupid, Love) is the wide-eyed newbie that Gerwig and friends are determined to make over. This isn't your typical Mean Girls-style group though: the ladies seem genuinely interested in helping people (and also, there's tap dancing).

The preview is reminiscent of many movies we've seen before (Clueless immediately come to mind), but it's more deadpan and perhaps a bit deeper than those types of comedies. I'm not totally in love with Gerwig as the queen bee, but I am most definitely on board with Adam Brody as Tipton's off-limits love interest. I was also excited to see some familiar faces like Aubrey Plaza and The Office's Zach Woods added to the mix.

See the trailer for yourself when you

5 Ways to Make Your Morning Routine Faster

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:25:54 PST

Do you find yourself skipping makeup and hair in the morning just so you can grab 15 or 20 precious extra minutes of shut-eye? Or worse, are you losing sleep to an overlong makeup routine? Don't do it! There's no need to suffer for beauty in the mornings, and we've got a few beauty tricks up our sleeves that can speed up anyone's maquillage. See five of our easiest ways to make mornings less painful below.