Growing up, not having my ears pierced often left me feeling like the odd one out. In Puerto Rican culture, many parents pierce their children’s ears shortly after they’re born. It was often a rite of passage, and being without my own pair seemed to confuse some people. I was often asked why my mother…

By most sound estimates, only about two percent of the world’s population is naturally blonde. And while statistics are inconclusive as to how many of us are blonde by other means — “unnatural” blonde is so harsh, no? — we’re willing to bet good money that blonde is the most-requested shade in the hair salon,…

For those rocking shorter hair, pomades are an excellent styling product that can shape and slick down hair with ease. Warm-up a dollop of Baxter of California‘s strong yet flexible Clay Pomade with your palms to add texture and/or change up your hairdo throughout the day, as you see fit. If your hair is in…

In addition to packaging, formulating, and marketing practices, the “formulated without” list now includes octinoxate (the chemical sunscreen ingredient already facing bans over its suspected impact on reefs), PFAS or PFCs (perfluorochemicals, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says are “very persistent in the environment and in the human body,” don’t break down, and may…