Month: December 2019

Posted on

Closing critical gap in weather forecasting

Scientists working on the next frontier of weather forecasting are hoping that weather conditions 3-to-4 weeks out will soon be as readily available as seven-day forecasts. Having this type of weather information–called subseasonal forecasts–in the hands of the public and emergency managers can provide the critical lead time necessary to prepare for natural hazards like heat waves or the next polar vortex.
Posted on

Nissan’s Most Powerful GT-R Supercar Is Coming in 2020

For well over a year, we’ve been awaiting an arrival date for the Italdesign-styled Nissan GT-R50—a 50th anniversary tribute poised to be the most powerful version of the Japanese automaker’s flagship supercar. Now comes word that this so-called “Godzilla” is finally arriving in 2020. 

In case you’re unfamiliar with what’s billed as the “ultimate expression” of the vehicle that’s lovingly nicknamed after Japan’s most iconic monster, this pumped-up version started life as a 600-hp Nismo GT-R, the top-end model in the GT-R range.

The Turin, Italy-based luxury design house then souped it up with beefier wheel flairs, a more pronounced hood bulge, and glistening gold accents around the front grill, cooling inlays and tailgate. Provided art shows it dressed in blue, green, black and mint, but more colors will be offered. 

Engineers with Formula racing pedigrees from Nissan’s NISMO division hand-assembled and tuned the GT3-spec twin-turbochargers and 3.6-liter V6 to produce 110 more horses, giving the GT-R50 a grand total of 710 hp. To handle the extra guts, the dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission, differentials, rear transaxle and drive shafts were all reinforced. 

We don’t know all of these upgrades translate on a track, but the 2020 GT-R Nismo hits 62 mph in 2.7 seconds, so it’s safe to say that the GT-R50 will be pretty damn fast. 

A total of 50 examples were originally available for a whopping $1.1 million each, and some of those have already been reserved ahead of their late-2020 delivery date. If interested, we’d recommend contacting Nissan online before the finalized GT-R50 debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March. 

Posted on

13 Reasons January Jones Looks Half Her Age

We’re not sure exactly when it was that we first became fans of January Jones. Was it her most iconic role to date as Betty Draper? Or smaller “Oh my god, it’s January Jones!” roles in classic films like Love Actually circa 2003? Either way, we have major love for the actress’s quirky real-life demeanor and, of course, amazing style and beauty aesthetic. (We have dozens of screenshots on our camera rolls to prove it.) Between her practically pore-less complexion, playful approach to makeup, and super-shiny strands, we desperately want to know all her beauty secrets, especially considering she looks roughly half her 41 years.

We’re super appreciative that we’re not alone in our admiration, and Jones regularly listens to her fans’ Instagram requests by posting ample intel about her beauty routine—from the supplements she swears by to the extensive skincare rituals she credits her glowing skin to. We did some major digging (the kind of digging that takes us from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to compile a 13-point list featuring all of Jones’s best beauty tips, secrets, and favorite products. Keep scrolling! Ahead, 13 reasons January Jones looks half her age. 

Take a scroll through Jones’s Instagram, and you’ll immediately notice the actress has a flair for a pretty punch of pink makeup—be it on her eyes or lips. The juicy hue brightens her complexion and definitely supports her youthful glow. We’re not sure of the exact product ID here, but the latest Norvina launch from Anastasia Beverly Hills is the only palette people can talk about at the moment. 

Jones knows that SPF is only one part of the equation for ample sun protection. She’s always decked out in sun-shielding hats and sunglasses.

According to Jones, she’s always changing her mind regarding her cut and length, which not only keeps her look fresh but keeps her strands healthy and bouncy thanks to the regular trims. Plus, the A-list and beauty editors alike are obsessed with this cult-loved cream from Virtue Labs. The smell is intoxicating, and it’s an amazing fix for rough ends in between your salon appointments. 

After perusing her Instagram, we noticed she stays loyal to her skincare treatment plan and regularly visits Jason Diamond, MD, in Beverly Hills for non-surgical Diamond InstaFacials, which entail lasering, injections of platelet-rich plasma (from the patient), micro-needling, and a soothing mask to finish. 

“I just recently tried the PRP blood facial or ‘vampire facial’ by @drjasondiamond and am starting to see the results of that, it was fascinating, I’m trying to decide if it was worth the $$. I’ll let you know,” she explains in this post.

After noting she’d been sick and stressed (and healing with the help of a really great bubble bath—a theme we consistently notice on her IG), Jones touched on her gratitude and thankfulness. We’re pretty sure that kind of recognition is just as important to aging gracefully as a decadent bath bomb or bath elixir.  (BTW—we know the actress is a big fan of beauty haven Violet Grey, and the above is our favorite bath accessory from the retailer.)

We see Jones decked out in white face masks more than we do her chic swimsuits. Here’s a few we’ve spotted in her bathroom cabinets in addition to the ones she says are her current favorites (including the infamous Hanacure All-in-One Facial, $29).

“These are my current favorite masks for exfoliating and moisture,” she explains in an Instagram caption. “These change all the time depending on what my skin is needing,(factoring in weather, travel and stress).”

We love how playful Jones is when it comes to her style, and we frequently see her grid stamped with sweet barrettes, vibrant headbands, and other fun accessories we want to try ASAP.

“This is me using the @deessepro mask, I try to use it 20min/day, results are immediate,” she explains. She also shares that she holds her beauty and skincare routine really sacred and that even though her routine isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s something she really loves to do. “It’s my favorite self-care indulgence, and I find it very meditative to do masks, and I am always trying new products.”

“My face washes and a gentle exfoliator—I only wash my face at night, in the morning I splash water or spray rose water so I don’t lose the previous night’s moisture,” she shares in her IG post here. 

“These are all my fav serums which I rotate,” says Jones. “Some for a.m. some for p.m., but I use all of them daily.”

“These are the retinols from Shani Darden for every skin type (unless pregnant or nursing), Texture Reform is a tad lighter and can be used every night, I use the Retinol Reform every other night,” she explains. 

“My face oils and balms are reserved for before bedtime only, after the Active Serum or Retinol,” Jones adds.

“I stopped using lotions and instead dry brush my skin before I bathe and then use oil-based scrubs in the shower or an oil afterward,” she explains.

We love the actress’s approach to #balance. Here, she shares her dedication to glow- and health-boosting supplements like probiotics, enzymes, collagen, vitamin C, and Sakara’s Beauty and Detox Water Drops, but she’s also transparent about the joy of pairing burgers with Pilates. 

Up next: Drew Barrymore Doesn’t Look 44 Years Old—Here Are 17 Reason Why

Posted on

Blazers’ Rodney Hood Suffers Torn Left Achilles vs. Lakers

Blazers forward Rodney Hood suffered a torn left Achilles tendon against the Lakers, the team announced Friday.

Blazers forward Rodney Hood has suffered a torn left Achilles tendon, the team announced.

Hood exited Friday’s game against the Lakers after suffering a non-contact, lower left leg injury nine minutes into the first quarter. He needed assistance leaving the floor and was unable to put any weight on his leg.

The Duke product re-signed with Portland in July after emerging as a key cog in the team’s Western Conference finals run last spring. Entering Friday, Hood was averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in just over 30 minutes of action.

The former No. 23 pick in 2014 NBA draft is just the latest Portland player to suffer a long-term injury this season. In early November, big man Zach Collins had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder.

The Blazers entered Friday night with a 9-13 record as they try to rebound from a slow start to the season. 

Posted on

11 Perfumes Every Fashion Girl Will Be Wearing This Winter

Winter is near, and it’s one of our favorite times of the year. Not only is the season chock-full of holidays, but the cooler temperature lends itself to new opportunities for layering coats, scarves, and boots to our heart’s content. Another wardrobe component that gets extra consideration during the equinox is our perfume choice. After all, we’ll need scents that won’t get smothered under all those clothes, and, of course, that smell as chic as we look.

Just in time for the turn of the season, we hit up some of our most fashionable friends to get their hot takes on the olfactory goodness they’re already loving for winter. From woodsy scents to intricate florals, and even some unexpected scent cocktails, our trusty clique gave us the lowdown on the perfumes they’ll be spritzing until the L.A. rain goes away.

Ahead, find the 11 that made the cut and where to get them.

“I never felt that I found ‘my’ scent until I tried Le Labo’s AnOther13. It’s an exclusive fragrance that the perfumery collaborated on with AnOther Magazine, and, as the two put it, it’s both hypnotizing and utterly unique. Rich notes of musk balance lighter hints of jasmine along with 12 other ingredients that are forever a mystery to me. It’s the perfect everyday fragrance for someone like me who prefers something a little deeper, and I love that the oil-based formula is more concentrated than most, so a single spritz is all you need.”

Leave it to Craig, who you might know as Bag Snob online, to get creative and blend two fragrances together to create her signature scent. She loves Kai gardenia oil mixed with Le Labo Lys 41.

“Kai gardenia oil is sweet, and Le Labo Lys 41 is has a white floral musk, which is a great balance,” she shared.

“Portrait of a Lady is my go-to scent for fall and winter. The fragrance is sophisticated, sensuous, and alluring all at once. It pairs perfectly with a red lip and elevates a dark fall wardrobe. The top note is an evocative oriental rose that perfectly captures glamour and mystery. It’s entirely irresistible.”

“I’m currently crushing on Acqua di Colonia Cinquanta by Italian scent specialists, Santa Maria Novella. The fragrance takes me back to a golden era of luxury perfumes. I love the combination of floral and woodsy notes.”

“I should say Dior, but I love this line called Eight & Bob,” Dello Joio told me. Her favorite scent from the brand is a complex blend of bergamot, néroli, and petitgrain inspired by the Carribean island it’s named for.

“Not only is this perfume bottle ultra chic, but it actually smells incredible. I’d be lying if I said I had never purchased a perfume solely because I like the bottle and the way it looked on my dresser, but this one really checks all the boxes. As someone who has been wearing Chanel Chance basically my entire life, it takes a lot for me to jump ship scent-wise, but Gucci Bloom is the one that did it for me. It has a floral scent without being too sweet and actually smells better the more it sits on your skin. Even though the bottle has total spring vibes, this is one perfume you can wear year-round, hands down.”

“I was originally looking for scents for my boyfriend. I love how unisex it can be and how it smells completely different on him than it does on me. Sharing is always caring.”

“I Love Chanel Coco, It’s sexual, mysterious, and intelligent. I feel powerful when I wear it.”

Ibrahim is a busy lady, so it’s no surprise that she likes the switch up her scent for daytime meetings versus evening events. “The Gucci Mémoire I love during the day because it’s light, airy, delicate, and not overpowering. It’s one of those scents that’s faint, but when you walk past someone they’d ever so sweetly notice it.”

“Dior Pure Poison I love for the evening because it’s a little dark and a little intense. It’s like my sexy smell–that liquid confidence you spray on before you leave the house.”. Up next, 13 drugstore BB creams that will trick everyone into thinking you have perfect skin.

Posted on

SOS—These 17 Lip Balms Will Actually Protect You From Chap City This Season

According to our beauty editors.

Finding your ultimate lip balm is kind of like finding your ultimate partner. We want a multipurpose product that can weather the storm when the going gets rough, something composed of the utmost quality, and that will never leave us hanging in Flake City. That said, when it comes to lip balms (even the “best” formulas), we’re all too often left disappointed, quickly kicking them to the curb. My beauty PIC Courtney Higgs and I have kissed a lot of frogs within the lip balm dating pool, and just in time for winter’s chap- and flake-instigating temperature drops, we’re here to set you up with our favorite very eligible lip balms. From formulas spiked with SPF and skincare-grade ingredients like hyaluronic acid to to the prettiest tubes packed with the most flattering of tints and finishes, we swear the below 17 options will do some serious battle against bitter winds and bone-dry conditions this season. Keep scrolling!

Why you’ll love it: “I’ve been wearing this $8 strawberry-flavored lip balm since high school, and it keeps my lips hydrated for a full 24 hours—no re-application necessary.” 

Why you’ll love it: “This advanced therapy version of Fresh’s cult-classic balm is one of my favorites. It goes on clear, plumps your lips, and offers an extra-strong dose of smooth, hyaluronic acid–infused hydration that lasts and lasts and lasts. It’s amazing under lipstick.”

Why you’ll love it: “This is the balm I always have with me at the airport and when I’m traveling—it delivers a slick coat of dewy, creamy nourishment and has the most addictive orange-vanilla scent.”

Why you’ll love it: “This raspberry-popsicle tinted balm from Tata Harper is one of my favorite beauty products of all time, in all categories—it hydrates, boosts lip volume, treats, and delivers the most flattering punch of juicy color.”

Why you’ll love it: “Perhaps the most iconic of any lip balm, La Mer’s signature peppermint-patty smelling balm features the brand’s trademark Miracle Broth to instantly give your lips a softer, smoother, all-around healthier feel. It’s the one I keep on my nightstand because it’s not too slippery or greasy, so I don’t feel like it gets all over my silk pillowcases like some other balms.”

Why you’ll love it: “This is the best lip-plumping balm in existence—plus, it actually keeps your lips smooth and moisturized and adjusts to the unique pH of your lips for a customized shade of pink. The shade Big-O is my fave.”

Why you’ll love it: “If you’re a fan of Nars’s cult-classic blush, you also need this shiny, peachy-pink lip blam in your life.”

Why you’ll love it: “I’m convinced Kosas makes the very best lipsticks in all the land, but I reach for these tinted balms when my lips need a little more TLC and I’m looking for a slightly more understated lip color sitch. I’m obsessed with both Rush and Pulse and am begging the brand come out with even more color options—that’s how much I adore the formula.”

Why you’ll love it: “I’m obsessed with this lip treatment balm from It Cosmetics—it’s a pH-adjusting, shade-shifting rosy hue that’s been in my makeup bag for years, and I’m convinced it is the best antidote for makeup and no-makeup days alike. Plus, it keeps lips supremely shiny, soft, and moisturized—even in the dead of winter and bitter winds and cold!”

Why you’ll love it: “I’m so damn obsessed with this iconic blam from Glossier. Untinted, the flavor called Birthday not only tastes and smells like fluffy Funfetti sheet cake, it also has the prettiest flecks of glitter and shimmer without looking tacky or like you’re trying too hard. I love layering it underneath and on top of my favorite lipsticks.”

Why you’ll love it: “Literally every single celebrity and makeup artists is obsessed with Dr. PawPaw. The brand makes a number of lip formulas, but this adjusting peachy-pink shade of lip balm is my favorite—it’s $7, and you can even use it on your cheeks for a sweet flush of color that also banishes chap and windburn.” 

Why you’ll love it: “This Parisian lip twist from Sisley is another one of my favorite makeup products of all time and across all categories. The colors are divine, the finish is glossy and hydrating, and they’re just the all-around perfect lip balm. I’ve hoarded quite a few of the colors over the years, but this bright shade of coral is a standout. Or, if you don’t want so much tint, there are also nude and super-sheer pink options.” 

Why you’ll love it: “I agree with Erin, this salve is wonderful. It’s nice and thick without being sticky and actually leaves your lips feeling hydrated instead of just greasy. I can’t remember what life was like before BDC, but I can only imagine that I was living a perpetually parch-lipped existence.” 

Why you’ll love it: “This naturally derived overnight mask stays put on your lips no matter how much tossing and turning you do throughout the night. I love waking up with soft, hydrated lips.”

Why you’ll love it: “This velvety smooth lip conditioner is the perfect companion to keep on hand when you’re on the go because it doesn’t require any fingertips for application. It’s super light and refreshing. Once you swipe it on, there’s no fussing to keep hair from getting stuck in it.”

Why you’ll love it: “You never think about the possibility of your lips getting sunburnt, until your lips get sunburnt. It’s no fun, and this SPF 30 balm makes sure that never happens.”

Why you’ll love it: “This tried-and-true ointment can be used to treat dry skin anywhere on the body, including lips. No frills here, but it gets the job done.” Up next: The 9 Best Lipsticks, According to Mindy Kaling