GeekSugar

Chic Cases For Your DS

GeekSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:45:00 PDT

If you're tired of carrying around that same old lame nylon DS case everywhere you go, I have good news for you! There are other options besides the kiddie-fied cases that have pics of Yoshi and Mario on the front.

And trust me, once you get something a little more fashionable, you won't be as embarrassed to whip out your stylus on the bus and start gaming away! Check out a few of my favorite (and fashionable) DS Lite cases in this slideshow.

Why Exfoliating Before Cleansing Might Work For You

Jaime Richards — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:00:00 PST

Most skin care lines will have you cleansing first, exfoliating second, and then moisturizing and sunblocking to top things off. But celebrity dermatologist Dr. Harold Lancer, creator of the unique, step-reversing Skin Revival system, says that exfoliating at the beginning might get you better results.

"If you are thinking about the top layer of the skin, with all the pollution and debris, if you just use a cleanser first, the majority of that debris is not removed," he explains. That's why he advises using a polish first to blast the skin's surface. "The polish ingredients are linked directly to prime the skin for the cleansing step. Then there is a epidermis that is ready to soak up the nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals," he adds. And that's when the nourish - aka hydrating - step comes into play. It's a method that goes against the status quo, but next time you're standing over the bathroom sink, give it a try. You might just become a cleansing-second convert.

15 Days of Holiday Giveaways, Day 11: Win a Limited-Edition 700 Series Roomba

PetSugar — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:00:00 PST

It's the holiday season, and we're getting in the spirit with our third annual 15 Days of Holiday Giveaways! Every day for the first 15 days of December, one of the PopSugar Network sites - plus our sister sites PopSugar Shop, Fashionologie, and ShopStyle - will feature a new fabulous giveaway.

For our 1th day of holiday giveaways, we are giving away three limited-edition iRobot Roomba 780s. The iRobot Roomba has a three-stage cleaning system to remove all the dirt, pet hair, and other debris that your four-legged friend may track into your house. This robot will have your house clean in no time, and all you have to do is turn it on. Did we mention we are giving away three?
This giveaway has ended.

After you enter our giveaway above, don't forget to enter GeekSugar's giveaway of two Xbox Kinect prize packages, BuzzSugar's giveaway of a year of movie tickets for you and a friend from MovieTickets.com, BellaSugar's giveaway of $2,000 to Saks Fifth Avenue, and Fashionologie's giveaway of a $1,000 shopping spree to Theory. Good luck and happy holidays!

Facials and Acne

Allure — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:05:00 PST

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

Getting facial treatments with extractions may reduce premenstrual acne, but the timing seems to be important, according to a report in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. When performing comedone extraction (steaming and gently pressing on the skin around blocked pores to remove dirt, oil, and debris), "I observed that when I did this with my clients midcycle, just after ovulation, they had less acne prior to their periods," says study author Katerina Steventon, a cosmetologist in the United Kingdom.

Her hypothesis: Such facials should be done around ovulation, because pore size decreases afterward, and because the skin becomes more oily and vulnerable to bacteria before menstruation; all these conditions may make extraction less efficient in preventing premenstrual acne. This needs to be tested in a clinical study, she adds.

Space Junk Hits Hazardous Peak

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:55:25 PDT

According to a new report by the National Research Council, space junk has reached its "tipping point" and is set to become a crucial problem for future space travelers in the next 10 to 20 years.

The effects of space debris were seen in June when the crew of International Space Station evacuated to the escape capsule when it appeared that a chunk of debris would hit the station. Luckily, the docking of the Atlantis shuttle pushed the space station just far enough away to avoid a collision while the objects sped by at nearly 17,000 mph.

Per the council's report, there is currently enough debris in orbit "to continually collide and create even more debris, raising the risk of spacecraft failures." The committee recommends that NASA investigate a plan to track the space objects and ways to mitigate their potential harm on humans in space and robotic equipments, such as the satellites we use back on Earth to power our communication networks. Further complicating matters, only about 30 percent of the debris is from the US, which may make dealing with foreign satellites and technology a sensitive issue.

Source: NASA

5 Must Dos For Hiking in the Rain

Michele Foley — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:34:10 PDT

Even in the Summer, rain happens; but, don't let that stop you from going on a hike. With some careful planning and the proper gear, you'll be set to enjoy a hike in the rain wherever you may be. Always check the weather before heading out, and if rain seems imminent, follow these simple hiking tips to keep you safe and dry.

Wear waterproof and moisture-wicking clothing - Having a top layer of waterproof clothing is essential when hiking in the rain. A good waterproof jacket and pair of pants are what will keep you from being a cold, weighted down, soggy mess. To keep warm, wear a layer of moisture-wicking clothing under your waterproof gear. I'm a fan of a wool; in the off chance that your bottom layer gets wet, wool dries fast, and even when wet, it will keep you warm. To keep your head and face dry, pick a jacket with a hood or wear a wide-brimmed hat. When buying hiking gear, make sure the label reads waterproof - you'll end up soaked if you hike in gear that is merely water-resistant.
Wear waterproof shoes that have sticky rubber soles - Given that you'll be splashing around on wet trails and walking through puddles and small creeks, you want to wear shoes that will keep your feet dry. Look for hiking, approach, or trail running shoes that are waterproof and have sticky rubber soles. A specialized sticky rubber sole helps add extra grip to the bottom of your shoe, which proves especially helpful in uneven terrain.

See more tips on hiking in the rain after the break!

Tips For Summer Contact Lens Wearers

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:11:00 PDT

I wore bright magenta glasses from fourth grade until my 13th birthday when my dad took me to get my first pair of contact lenses. It felt so liberating not to have anything on my face and to still be able to see. I quickly realized that there's a lot of extra care that comes with being a contact lens wearer. Now that Summer has arrived, here are some helpful tips to keep your eyes protected and happy.

Choose sunscreen wisely. It's a no-brainer for contact lens wearers to use waterproof sunscreen on their faces so when they sweat or swim, it doesn't drip into their eyes (youch!). But make sure the sunscreen you slather on the rest of your body is waterproof as well, so when you accidentally touch your face or wipe the sweat off your forehead with your arm, you won't risk that painful sting.
Wear UV protecting sunglasses. They not only protect your eyes from damaging rays, but sunglasses also prevent debris from blowing into your eyes. I also found wearing sunglasses prevents dry eyes caused by warm wind.
Invest in some UV blocking contacts. I didn't even know they made these until I looked on my box of Acuvue Oasys contacts. Look for ones that say Class 1. This is the highest protection available in contacts and it means they block up to 96 percent of UVA and 100 percent of UVB rays.

For more must-know tips, keep reading.

The 5 Widespread Beauty Myths No One Tells You About

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:00:00 PDT

There are a lot of common beauty myths people are eager to disprove: drinking water makes your skin more moist, popping pimples makes them go away, etc. But there are some misconceptions that are just as pervasive and don't get nearly as much attention. To see if you've been deceived, just keep reading.

10 Tips For Air-Drying Your Laundry

Elka Karl — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:42:39 PDT

Yesterday, surrealist artist Andrew Baines staged an art installation consisting of eight clotheslines accompanied by eight "moms" hanging the wash on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The project was meant to highlight the loss of backyard space that many families experience due to high-density living - but for me, it also highlighted the need to review some tips for air drying our laundry. Even though it's not as common in the United States, many families across the world air-dry their clothes. You don't need a backyard to air-dry your laundry, or even patio space. See how it's done with these tips.

If you do have outdoor space . . .

Invest in a clothesline that you'll use. This may mean simply stringing rope between trees or a fenceline, or going for something more compact and cute, like this Deluxe Bamboo Collapsible Clothesline ($95).
Plastic clothespins will survive wear and tear (and rainstorms, if you forget the pins on the line) better than wooden ones. That said, I prefer the look and feel of wooden clothespins for line drying; just like your clothesline, pick pins that you'll actually use. Look for either kind at your local hardware store.
If you're not a fan of stiff towels, transfer your almost-dry terrycloth towels to the dryer for the last five minutes of drying time. This will effectively fluff your towels.
In the past, I've had a few clothing items fade in direct (and harsh) sunlight. To avoid this possibility, turn clothing inside out before placing it on the clothesline on an extremely sunny day.
Take a few seconds to organize your clothes before hanging them. For instance, try to clothespin your socks in pairs. This way, when you take your clothes off the line, you can immediately roll them into pairs, cutting down on the amount of time you spend folding and organizing your fresh, sunshine-dried laundry
Since dust and debris can build up on your clothesline, clean it every few months by running a damp cloth over it from end to end.

Don't have an outdoor space for air-drying? Keep reading for tips on drying your clothes in the great indoors.

Company's Coming! How to Speed Clean Your House

Mandy Harris — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:10:00 PDT

There's a time for giving your house a deep Spring cleaning, but preparing for unexpected guests is not that time. If you find out with just a couple hours - or a few minutes! - notice that company's coming, no need to panic. All it takes is a little prioritizing and a few shortcuts, and your house will be visitor-ready in no time flat. Read on for my tips on how to speed clean every room in your house!

The whole house: Skip the vacuum. Use a DustBuster to pick up noticeable debris in high-traffic areas, and follow with a dry Swiffer if needed. Avoid strongly scented cleaners like bleach and Pine-Sol, and opt instead for Mrs. Meyers Basil Countertop Spray ($4) or Method Multi-Surface Wipes ($4). Light a couple scented candles, and open all the windows.
The entry: Hang up jackets and scarves, and either put away shoes or line them up neatly. Relocate stacks of mail to the office or a letter basket, and spritz the entry with a fresh-smelling room spray - I'm partial to Crabtree and Evelyn's Lavender Room Spray ($16).
The kitchen: If you don't have time to wash and dry the dishes lying around, give them a quick rinse and stack them neatly in the sink to get them out of the way. Wipe down the counters with a cleaning wipe, and take out any stinky trash like compost.
The living room: Pick up any out-of-place items and toss them in a basket. Refold throws, straighten sofa cushions, and put throw pillows back in their rightful place. If you have pets, give their areas a quick shot of Febreze.
The bathroom: Wipe down the bathroom counters, sink, and faucet with a premoistened, flushable cleaning wipe, like these from Method ($4). Spritz a little cleaner into the toilet bowl and give it a quick swirl with a toilet brush.

Just before your guests arrive, dim any overhead lights, light a few more strategically placed candles, and open a bottle of wine. I guarantee no one will be looking around for what you missed! How do you speed clean to prepare for unexpected guests?