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jakeperalta · 3 years

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omg please give a track by track breakdown when you can form coherent thoughts hehe

ok so these are my second listen thoughts now i’m beginning to be able to form sentences again! first things first i love all the songs so here we go

willow: so cute gosh i love so many of the individual lines and love how it can be interpreted in lots of ways (also loved the video!) - definitely feels like a grower, same as how with cardigan i was initially like “wow great song!” and now i’m like that song owns my entire soul

champagne problems: put this at the bottom of my predicted rankings based on the title because i don’t drink and am uninterested in songs about getting drunk but as soon as it started playing i was like well that was wrong i love it. absolutely love the concept (already discussed it but it gave me all my rory/logan shipper rights) and it’s just beautiful but also “she would’ve made such a lovely bride, what a shame she’s fucked in the head” SCREAM

gold rush: lyrically/thematically reminds me a lot of “everybody wants you” by red hearse which is interesting because that’s one of jack’s projects and that always reminded me of taylor’s lyrical style. also “the coastal town we wandered round had never seen a love as pure as it” love that line sooo much!!!

tis the damn season: mmm love this concept! “there’s an ache in you put there by the ache in me” is poetry!! she really said cheesy hallmark christmas movie about a city girl coming home and reigniting an old flame over the holidays but make it a masterpiece

tolerate it: when i first heard the opening lines i thought this might be about andrea in that idea of carefully watching someone and them being older and wiser and yourself feeling like a child... but obviously it’s not! gives me big dear john vibes. the concept of having so much love to pour into someone and them just tolerating it is absolutely heartbreaking

no body no crime: ok!!! she really popped off with this one!!! love the drama of the intro with the sirens and the “he did it” whisper. love the storytelling and the haim feature. gives me big country vibes actually, specifically reminds me of something the chicks might write.

happiness: “there’ll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you. both of these can be true.” is such a beautiful concept i really love that line. also this feels like one of her most mature songs ever. the way she acknowledges we made it each other happy but we also hurt each other but one day we will be happy again and will be able to be happy for each other. also the gatsby reference of the beautiful fool and the green light?? ok literary queen

dorothea: this is the first and only one so far that i connected with another song because i was straight away like oh she’s totally the one coming home in tis the damn season! very sweet, also i have a little sister called dorothea who’s only three but one day i will have to play it for her so i’m glad dorothea gets quite a nice story

coney island: so beautiful and interesting!! feel like i need to live with this one for a while to truly appreciate all its intricacies but taylor and matt’s voices are lovely together

ivy: honestly after two listens i can only vaguely remember it sounding soft and nice but i didn’t pick up on any of the lyrics, i think i need more time to appreciate it on its own. interesting reading the lyrics that it has illicit affairs type vibes

cowboy like me: was expecting this to be a bit more overtly yeehaw but still great. feels like an alternative/country version of getaway car 🤠

long story short: fun change of tempo! love this new take on the Bad Time and “no more keeping score, now i just keep you warm, and my waves meet your shore ever and and evermore” is just lovely!!

marjorie: just beautiful and moving and sweet. that is all.

closure: the production on this is kinda stressful to listen to skdfnsdknf idk don’t really have other thoughts on this one? feels a bit less lyrically rich than the others

evermore: beautiful!!!! sadder than i expected but love the hopeful note it ends on. also this is how i expected exile to sound when we found out bon iver would feature and it’s cool to hear the duet with justin’s voice being higher than taylors! also love that i was correct in guessing taylor and joe wrote it together

#taylor swift #Anonymous #answered

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dawnasiler · 5 years

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From REN to Sisley: 32 of the Best New Skincare Products In Stores This Fall

This article may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information.

It's not easy saying goodbye to summer—but a slew of new fall skincare products certainly helps! Especially when they can get our skin ready for the new season with ingredients that brighten, fade pigmentation, hydrate and clear breakouts.

Thanks for watching!

September is always the biggest month for launches, which is why I've got more than 30 to show you here. Some of the highlights: silicone-free primer, copper peptide serum, brightening and clarifying treatments, and mists and cleansers galore!

Here are the latest products you need to know about....

New Skincare Products for Fall 2019

New skincare products from Olio E Osso, Reversa, BioClarity, Sisley, REN, Kopari and L'Occitane.

REN Perfect Canvas Clean Primer

Thanks for watching!

REN Perfect Canvas Clean Primer is one of the only silicone-free primers on the market—perfect for controlling shine, blurring pores and improving the longevity of your makeup without aggravating acne and dryness. This formula originally launched in 2018 as a "skin-finishing serum," but JUST got a new name and new packaging. The texture is a lightweight gel, and it's got skin-friendly ingredients like glycerin and probiotics.

Dr Roebuck’s Ningaloo Firming Serum

Dr Roebuck's Ningaloo Firming Serum

I'm so excited that Dr Roebuck's Ningaloo Firming Serum has copper peptides, one of the best ingredients for treating signs of aging (on par with retinoids!). That's why it's blue in colour; it also features two types of hyaluronic acid and a hydrating plant extract. Oh, and get this—there are only six ingredients in total!

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum helps keep pores clean and prevents blackheads with a combination of AHAs and BHAs. (Glycolic, mandelic, lactic and salicylic, to be exact, although the brand doesn't specify the percentages.) It's also got a mushroom extract to mattify, and adipic acid to smooth the skin surface. This formula is also silicone-free.

Sisley Radiance Foaming Cream

If you feel like splurging on a face wash, you won't be disappointed with Sisley Radiance Foaming Cream. It's a makeup remover and sulfate-free cleanser in one, with a creamy, foaming texture and a gorgeous fresh scent. The light lather rinses clean and doesn't leave your skin feeling tight at all.

RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up Cream Foundation

RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up Cream Foundation

RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up Cream Foundation is a cream foundation version of the original "Un Cover-Up" with higher coverage and a formula that's nearly as clean. (I believe foundation IS skincare!) It's made from a blend of oils, including jojoba, castor seed, meadowfoam, coconut and buriti, and comes in 16 shades.

Summer Fridays CC Me Serum

Summer Fridays CC Me Serum is a silicone-free brightening serum for dark spots, pigmentation and overall glow. It's packed with some of my favourite ingredients, like niacinamide, vitamin C (in the form of ethyl ascorbic acid and ascorbyl glucoside) and squalane.

Clear Skin Days by Sephora Collection Clarifying Serum

Clear Skin Days by Sephora Collection Clarifying Serum is a lightweight serum that targets acne, excess oil and large pores. The short ingredients list features two percent salicylic acid, five percent glycolic acid and one percent hyaluronic acid (and no silicones!). This is part of a six-piece limited-edition collection—the other products include a Cleanser + Mask, a Toner, Peel Pads, a Spot Eraser Stick and a Mattifying Powder.

Tower 28 SOS (Save.Our.Skin) Daily Rescue Facial Spray

Tower 28 SOS (Save.Our.Skin) Daily Rescue Facial Spray is a three-ingredient face mist that treats "stressed out" skin. Inside is water, salt and hypochlorous acid, a compound naturally found in white blood cells that inhibits bacteria and stimulates wound healing. So it should help with irritations, breakouts, scars, sun damage and more.

Farmacy Very Cherry Bright 15% Clean Vitamin C Serum

As an alternative to L-ascorbic acid, Farmacy Very Cherry Bright 15% Clean Vitamin C Serum boasts a 15 percent concentration of vitamin C derivatives and acerola cherry extract (a natural source of vitamin C). These ingredients are more stable, and are great for brightening; there's also hyaluronic acid for extra hydration.

Ursa Major Vital Spring Face Lotion

Ursa Major Vital Spring Face Lotion is a lightweight moisturizer for all skin types. Aloe vera, olive oil fatty acids, marula oil, glycerin and shea butter create a milky texture without the need for silicones or petrochemicals.

Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser

For oily, acne-prone skin and large pores, there's Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser. It's a gel-to-foam formula with salicylic acid, but unlike most cleansers of its kind, it is sulfate-free and non-drying.

Tatcha The Silk Peony Melting Eye Cream

Tatcha The Silk Peony Melting Eye Cream is a buttery balm that melts upon contact, releasing ingredients like hydrolyzed silk, squalane, glycerin and botanical extracts to moisturize the eye area. It's low in silicone and has less than one percent synthetic fragrance.

Dermaflash Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor & Serum Infuser

Just when you thought you didn't need another skincare gadget, Dermaflash Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor & Serum Infuser comes along. You start with the Extract mode, which uses sonic vibrations to deep-clean your pores (basically by "jiggling" the gunk out!). Then, you can use the Infuse mode to enhance the penetration of your serums and moisturizers.

Kopari Coconut Melt Wipes

Kopari Coconut Melt Wipes are biodegradable cleansing cloths saturated in coconut oil—that's it! Swipe them over your skin to remove dirt, makeup and sunscreen. They even double as a convenient, wipe-on face and body moisturizer.

Ole Henriksen PHAT Glow Facial

Ole Henriksen PHAT Glow Facial is an exfoliating and brightening mask that's made with PHAs, a.k.a. polyhydroxy acids, which are a gentler alternative to alpha-hydroxy acids. It also has glycerin and propanediol to hydrate, kaolin and bentonite clays to clarify, and less than one percent synthetic fragrance.

Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Essence

Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Essence is a spray-on liquid made with all-natural brightening and hydrating ingredients. Think: caviar lime, willow bark, larch tree, phytic acid and hyaluronic acid. Use it after cleansing, and it will also boost the absorption of your serums. (There happens to be a matching Serum, too.)

Odacité Bioactive Rose Gommage Pineapple + Hyaluronic Acid Baby Soft Peel

Inspired by gommage, a French exfoliation technique, Odacité Bioactive Rose Gommage Pineapple + Hyaluronic Acid Baby Soft Peel might be the most satisfying mask ever. You paint on a thin layer of the enzyme-rich gel (it's got papaya and pineapple extracts), and once it's almost dry, roll it off with your fingertips to reveal baby-soft skin.

Skinfix Barrier+ Nutrient Water Misting Tonic

Skinfix Barrier+ Nutrient Water Misting Tonic is a moisturizing mist that preps your skin for other products, sets your makeup, and refreshes your skin throughout the day. Coconut water, rose water, cucumber extract and panthenol are some of the hydrating ingredients in this blend.

Tarte Micellar Magic Makeup Remover & Cleanser

If you're looking for a cleaner micellar water, Tarte Micellar Magic Makeup Remover & Cleanser could be just the ticket. It gets off long-wearing and waterproof makeup, but thanks to glycerin and babassu oil, won't strip skin of moisture. It also has a convenient push-top dispenser!

Volition Celery Green Cream

Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin was the brains behind Volition Celery Green Cream, an oil-free and silicone-free moisturizer for oily skin. Inspired by the celery juice she used to drink before training, it uses celery seed extract, hyaluronic acid and peptides to minimize pores while delivering lightweight hydration.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner

Unlike most toners, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Wild Oat Hydrating Toner is actually moisturizing, thanks to its blend of glycerin, squalane, honey and propolis extract (and no alcohol!). It also contains colloidal oatmeal, which is famous for its ability to soothe and protect dry skin.

Goop Beauty GoopGlow Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator

Inspired by professional microdermabrasion, Goop Beauty GoopGlow Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator gives you both physical and chemical exfoliation. First, you massage it on to polish with the quartz, garnet, alumina and silica minerals. Then, you leave it on for three minutes for the glycolic acid to dissolve dead skin cells.

Naturally Serious Illumi-Nation Anti-Fatigue Power Serum

Naturally Serious Illumi-Nation Anti-Fatigue Power Serum is all about that "glass skin" look. So besides hydrating with propanediol and glycerin, this silicone-free serum creates instant glow with mica particles and a natural blush tint.

L’Occitane Cleansing Milk

L'Occitane Cleansing Milk

L'Occitane Cleansing Milk has just landed with a new formula and new packaging. It's now infused with soothing honey and fig extract, along with the brand's signature shea butter. Plus, you can use it to remove even waterproof makeup.

REN ClearCalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel

REN ClearCalm Non-Drying Acne Treatment Gel is a natural alternative to harsh spot treatments. It clears blemishes with 0.5 percent salicylic acid derived from willow bark, while glycerin, pine extract and propanediol minimize dryness and irritation. It dries clear, so you can even wear it in the daytime.

Olio E Osso Shave Oil

Olio E Osso Shave Oil is an all-natural oil blend that helps you get the perfect shave. The base is olive oil (the brand's signature ingredient), which softens skin and hair, and prevents nicks and razor burn. Bergamot, frankincense and neroli give it a light scent.

Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar

Made with 24-karat gold, Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar is the most luxurious way to sculpt your skin. Its subtle vibrations feel like a firm massage, to give your skin a temporarily more toned and lifted look. Makeup artist Jillian Dempsey discovered the tool on a trip to Japan and now uses it on all her celebrity clients!

Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water Hydrating Face Mist

The recently reformulated Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist is now even more hydrating, thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid. The brand has also swapped the rose water for organic rose hydrosol, and changed the dispenser to emit a super fine mist.

Reversa Retin[A]list Cream

This one's for the Canadians out there—Reversa Retin[A]list Cream is a silicone-free and fragrance-free emulsion featuring 0.3 percent retinol. Other ingredients include hyaluronic acid, coconut fatty acids, propanediol, fatty alcohols and glycerin for a light, fast-absorbing texture.

Biossance Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm

Biossance Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm is a vegan, clean beauty alternative to beeswax- and petroleum-based lip balms. Castor seed oil, squalane and ceramides are among its moisturizing emollients, and rose extract gives it a light rose scent.

Peter Thomas Roth Pro Strength Lactic Pore Treatment

All you need are two to three minutes, once or twice a week, to use Peter Thomas Roth Pro Strength Lactic Pore Treatment. It's a rinse-off exfoliating gel with a powerful 30 percent lactic acid complex. The addition of five percent glycerin means it is also hydrating.

BioClarity Dewy Dew Multi-Tasking Mist

BioClarity Dewy Dew Multi-Tasking Mist is a moisturizing face mist and setting spray that leaves your skin with a slight sheen. Alcohol-free and low in silicone, it includes rose extract, chamomile, witch hazel and chlorophyll.

Shop New Skincare

Have you tried any of these products yet? Which ones are you excited about?

From REN to Sisley: 32 of the Best New Skincare Products In Stores This Fall syndicated from The Skincare Edit

#skincare #beauty #makeup

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rolypolywl · 5 years

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Welcome to day 24!

So last time I was specifically talking about prescription medications. Today I’m talking about diet pills. Now, before you jump to either attack or defend, let me clarify. There are over-the-counter and as-seen-on-tv and late night infomercial kinds of diet pills. And then there are actual, doctor-prescribed medications. We’re going to talk about the first kind today.

Healthline explains how most of these things work:

Of course, the first question is then, do they actually do those three things?

The Mayo Clinic cuts right to the chase. “There's no magic bullet for losing weight. The most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is by eating a healthy low-calorie diet and being more physically active. Weight-loss pills — prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, herbal products or other dietary supplements — are all, at best, tools that may help with weight loss. But there is relatively little research about these products. The best studied of these are prescription weight-loss drugs.”

So, that said, let’s look at non-prescription pills first.

WebMD is not impressed. “Anyone who has watched TV after midnight has heard the claims. Eat all you want, never exercise, and still lose weight with this little pill. Unfortunately, scientific research has not borne out such claims. These products are categorized as dietary supplements, not as drugs. According to current FDA regulations, that means nobody has to prove that they work.”

Yes, you heard that right. They don’t even have to work. That means, that instead of having to be proved effective first, they can just be sold to people by any schmuck. And if people get hurt, you don’t have to stop selling them until the FDA proves they are bad. MADNESS!

So, that said, what are in these supplements? Well, there are all kinds of different “main ingredients” in these things, and they can be marketed in different ways. Some are pills or capsules, some are liquid drops or shots, and sometimes they are made into drink mixes or snacks or things.

And they, as Healthline notes, can work in different ways. First are Fat-trappers. “Fat-trapping products generally contain chitosan. It comes from the powdered shells of shrimps, crabs, and other shellfish. Supposedly it binds to fat in the food you eat, keeping it from being digested. While there is evidence that it does help prevent you from absorbing dietary fat, its effects may be too small for you to actually notice anything. A few small studies have shown that people on calorie-restricted diets lose slightly more weight if they're taking chitosan.”

Of course, there are good fats, and good things that hitch a ride on fats, like vitamins, that can be excluded by these supplements.

Then there are fat-burners and appetite suppressants, which tend to go hand in hand. “Fat burners are generally some combination of herb-derived stimulants, essential fatty acids, chromium picolinate, pyruvate, and/or hydroxycitric acid. [...] Two or three of these stimulants are usually 'stacked' together in one weight loss product, often along with aspirin or willow bark. They are supposed to increase energy while stimulating fat burning. Most experts agree they do work when combined with exercise. Their safety, however, is another matter.”

And we’ll explore those more in depth now.

So first I’ll look at Garcinia cambogia extract, which “became popular worldwide after being featured on the Dr. Oz show in 2012. It is a small, green fruit, shaped like a pumpkin. The skin of the fruit contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA). This is the active ingredient in garcinia cambogia extract, which is marketed as a diet pill.”

Now, as much as you might love Dr. Oz, Healthline reports that he might have missed the mark here, because a year earlier. “A 2011 review that looked at 12 studies on garcinia cambogia found that, on average, it caused weight loss of about 2 pounds (0.88 kg) over several weeks”.

Now, generally speaking, improving your diet and exercise just slightly often results in losses of a pound or two a week, so 2 pounds in several weeks is not that impressive.

Another one that you’ve probably heard of, and which has slightly more impressive stats, is Hydroxycut. This has several “weight loss” ingredients, including caffeine.

There has only been one study on this, apparently, but while it did conclude that users would lose 21 pounds in three months, one short term study isn’t super reliable.

Of course, 3 months is roughly 12 weeks, and 21 pounds in 12 weeks is again, 1-2 pounds a week, or what you can easily achieve with slightly better diet and exercise.

Other people try straight caffeine pills, Green Tea Extract, or just lots of coffee or green tea to try to lose weight. People also take Green Coffee Bean Extract, which is basically just raw coffee beans, and again, that’s for the caffeine.

But, Hydroxycut and all other caffeine-heavy supplements run into the same problem, as Healthline warns. “If you are caffeine sensitive, you may experience anxiety, jitteriness, tremors, nausea, diarrhea and irritability. Caffeine is also addictive and can reduce the quality of your sleep.”

So I used to work with this gal who was so lazy; she would want to sit around and not even do our jobs. And then if she had to actually do something, she would pop a caffeine diet pill and it was like she was on a mild form of speed. She would hurry around, fussing with things, and still not getting anything effectively done, and then she would be jittery and annoyed the last half of the shift.

So this is not a great way to live. And again, the weight loss effects seem minimal.

Now, one supplement that works in a very different way is Glucomaannan. According to Healthline, “Glucomannan absorbs water and becomes gel-like. It "sits" in your gut and promotes a feeling of fullness, helping you eat fewer calories. [...] Glucomannan is a fiber that can feed the friendly bacteria in the intestine. It can also lower blood sugar, blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and is very effective against constipation.”

So that’s different, and makes some sense. Again, though, the results are 8-10 pounds in 5 weeks, which is 1-2 a week.

Meratrim, like Hydroxycut, only has one study on it, and again the results are in the 1-2 pounds a week range. But, like Glucomannan, it has a kind of unique process. “It is claimed to make it harder for fat cells to multiply, decrease the amount of fat that they pick up from the bloodstream, and help them burn stored fat.”

Finally, something called Raspberry Ketones. Theoretically they break down fat and thus cause weight loss. But, there is only one human study, from 2017, and the Mayo Clinic points out so huge problems with the data.

Of the just 70 people who participated, only 45 completed all eight weeks. Which is ridiculously short, for a trial, FYI. And their average weight loss was just 4.2 pounds, which in 8 weeks is barely more than 1 pound a week. That’s low, as these things go.

“The eight-week trial used a multi-ingredient supplement with raspberry ketone, caffeine, bitter orange, ginger root extract and garlic root extract, as well as other herbs, vitamins and minerals. [...] All of the participants were placed on a restricted diet and exercise program.”

Of course, as Mayo explains, “the supplement included multiple ingredients, making it impossible to judge which ingredients helped the weight loss.”

So those are super modest, short term results, from one of the dozen things in that pill (Which, remember, includes caffeine), or possibly just from the diet and exercise they also did.

I buy that even less than the other things I’ve covered today.

Now, relatively speaking, these are “healthy”, or at least “not too dangerous” supplements.

There are dangerous ones.

“Conjugated Linoleic Acid,” or CLA, causes slight weight loss (0.2 pounds a week), but has these side effects, according to Healthline. “CLA can cause various digestive side effects, and may have harmful effects over the long term, potentially contributing to fatty liver, insulin resistance and increased inflammation.”

And that’s nothing on ephedrine!

This one you might have heard about on TV, as it was banned, but it isn’t as gone as you might think.

Harvard Health explains. “In December 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it was banning the sale of products containing ephedra. This announcement heralded the first time the agency has banned an herbal supplement. Its decision was based on extensive research involving more than 16,000 reports of adverse health effects from products containing ephedra. These studies clearly indicate that ephedra is dangerous. And it can kill. Roughly 155 deaths have been blamed on the amphetamine-like stimulant.”

Yes, amphetamine-like. Remember when I compared caffeine diet pills to mild speed? Well this is the non-mild version. And it sped up people’s hearts so much that they died.

“A variety of studies associate ephedra use with cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure, palpitations, and heart attacks. Side effects of the herb include heart palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. More than 800 dangerous reactions have been reported - among them, heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and sudden death. Psychosis, insomnia, and heatstroke have also been reported.”

But there are people who don’t seem to care, and just want their speed back. In fact, according to Harvard Health, “Some people who think ephedra helped them lose weight are looking to new herbs and natural extracts to replace the banned dietary supplement. Topping the list of new ingredients is caffeine.”

Yeah, there’s that caffeine connection again. And, it isn’t alone.

“A type of orange called bitter orange contains the compound synephrine. Synephrine is related to ephedrine, which used to be a popular ingredient in various weight loss pill formulations. [...] Synephrine shares similar mechanisms with ephedrine, but is less potent. It can reduce appetite and significantly increase fat burning”

Now, there are few studies on synephrine itself, but it appears to have the same potential heart issues and can be addictive! So, you know, like speed!

I mean, I feel like this should go without saying, but the world we live in right now… *Don’t take supplements or drugs to lose weight that act like speed!*

And, of course, the Mayo Clinic warns, “If you're considering weight-loss pills, be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you have health problems, take prescription drugs, or are pregnant or breast-feeding. It's also important to get advice on possible interactions with your current use of medicine, vitamins or minerals. Your doctor can also offer advice on losing weight, provide support, monitor your progress or refer you to a dietitian.”

So like how last time our theme was “Don’t stop before you talk to your doctor,” today the theme is “Don’t start these before you talk to your doctor!” These might be over the counter, and not need a prescription, but that doesn’t mean that they might not interact with your prescriptions.

So talk to your doctor. Again. ;)

And another quick disclaimer that goes along with this comes from a different WebMD article on what NOT to do to lose weight.

““The potential risks associated with abusing drugs such as cocaine, speed, and meds prescribed for attention deficit disorder, thyroid disorders, or diabetes to lose weight far outweigh any health benefit you may get from weight loss," says nutrition counselor Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo, PhD, RD. Risks include addiction, relationship and financial problems, anxiety, severe headaches, stroke, and heart, lung, and kidney problems.”

Again, this might seem like a no brainer. Don’t use coke or actual speed or whatever to lose weight. But the important part isn’t the illegal drugs. The important part is the prescription meds. I know in college lots of people would talk about buying ADD meds so they could focus and stay up all night to write a paper, even though they don’t have ADD.

And lots of people have found that there are prescription meds that can have a side effect of making you lose weight. But, like, *DON’T DO THAT*.

Okay, so that is what I wanted to cover with non-prescription diet pills and supplements. And keep in mind from last time, when we talked about inactive ingredients, that supplements can have just as much gunk in them! So if you do decide to try one of these, be careful of that too!

This has been Roly Poly Weight loss. As always, I am your host, Roly Poly. If you feel comfortable, please share your experiences with the hashtag #DietPill. Are there any supplements you’ve heard of that I haven’t mentioned? Please share!

And please join me next time!

#RolyPoly #DietPill #dieting #heath #healthy #Health & Fitness #fitness #fitblr #weight loss #losing weight #weightloss #workout #working out #Workout Plan

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kennethherrerablog · 5 years

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Want to Sell Goods Online? Here Are 4 Online Marketplaces to Consider

Thanks to the rise of e-commerce, small business owners no longer have to set up brick-and mortar stores to sell their goods. Now they can just sign up on a website, add their items and watch the sales roll in, right?

Eh, not quite.

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an online marketplace: What are the costs? Do they charge a flat, up-front payment or ongoing fees? Are there restrictions on who can join and what can be sold? What type of products do well? What is the overall ease of use?

Itâs a lot to consider, but this is your business weâre talking about, after all. You want to make sure the time, effort and expenses youâre putting into a platform are paying off.

Thatâs why we broke down the features of the top online marketplaces and also talked to actual small business owners to get the 411 on each.

Here Are Four Online Marketplaces to Consider

Amazon

Letâs go ahead and start with the biggest player in the online selling scene: Amazon. Maybe youâve heard of it.

The online bookstore turned e-commerce goliath has become a one-stop shop for practically any item your heart desires. That means that, as a small business owner, regardless of your product, you can probably peddle it on Amazon (although, some categories require prior approval).

A perk of selling on Amazon is the sheer number of people visiting the site, which could potentially mean more customers seeing your product. But at the same time, youâre also competing with a lot of other sellers. Itâs a small fish, monstrous pond scenario.

Jennifer Boaro, owner of The Cat Ball, sells on multiple platforms: Amazon, Etsy and Shopify. The huge audience is a big reason she likes Amazon, but she says itâs one of the more difficult ones to learn, especially if youâre not particularly computer-oriented.

âIf you have never done this before and suddenly youâre faced with that interface, it can be daunting,â she says. âHowever, Amazon does have an easy-to-use self-search help tool.â

Pricing and Features

Amazon offers two selling plans, Individual and Professional, with varying fees depending on your product.

The individual plan is for people who plan to sell fewer than 40 items a month. It doesnât have a monthly subscription fee, but sellers pay 99 cents per sale, plus the other selling fees. For those selling more than 40 items a month, thereâs the professional plan. Itâs the opposite of the Individual plan: There are no per-item fees, but there is a $39.99 monthly subscription fee â plus the regular selling fees.

So what are these mysterious selling fees? First, youâve got the referral fee, which is a percentage of the total price of each item sold. It varies by category but typically ranges from 3% to 45%, and almost all categories have a minimum referral fee of $1.

Other costs that can factor into your Amazon selling are closing fees, high-volume listing fees, refund administration fees and shipping.

Amazon sellers can either handle shipping on their own or use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), which of course will add more costs to your list.

Boaro uses FBA for some of her products and thinks itâs worth the price because customers who see the Amazon Prime logo are more inclined to buy â gotta have that free two-day shipping, baby!

Another reason she likes the FBA option is because it just makes her day-to-day life easier.

âIt also allows me to get items out of my garage and into their warehouse,â she says. âItâs less work for me to send one box of 10 than send 10 shipments.â

If youâre torn, Amazon has a nifty revenue calculator to help you out.

Itâs also important to point out that there are technically two different platforms for sellers: the standard Amazon site and Amazon Handmade.

Amazon Handmade requires approval to join, and all products you sell must be entirely made by hand, hand-altered or hand assembled. For Handmade, the company waives the monthly subscription fee, but there is a 15% referral fee for each item sold.

One caveat for Handmade: When consumers search for a product on the regular site, Handmade items wonât be listed unless they specifically choose that category.

Some Standout Features:

Itâs one of the worldâs largest online retailers, with reportedly 44% of online shoppers starting with Amazon before anywhere else.

Fulfillment by Amazon can alleviate day-to-day business tasks.

The Amazon Prime feature can draw in more buyers.

Etsy

If your small business is in the, er, business, of handmade or craft goods, consider selling on Etsy.

Etsy is similar to Amazon Handmade, but itâs more of a niche marketplace for artisans looking to sell their wares. One notable difference: Etsyâs requirements are less stringent. Sellers can list goods that arenât necessarily handmade, such as craft wares or vintage items.

The platform is particularly popular for unique and quirky things you wouldnât find elsewhere, such as jewelry, artwork, home decor, costumes and gift-type items.

Katrin Lerman owns a handmade jewelry shop called Frosted Willow and started selling on Etsy nine years ago. In the years since, she has started selling through Amazon Handmade and Shopify, but Etsy is her favorite.

The majority of her business comes from the site, she says, because Etsy customers tend to come with more intention to buy a specific item than Amazon shoppers. She also thinks Etsy is the easiest platform to use and the least expensive way to start out for small business owners.

âEtsy really caters to the handmade,â she says. âThey understand [handmade] better than Amazonâ¦ [which] is very strict with all of the rules.â

Pricing and Features

There arenât any monthly subscription fees to sell on Etsy, but of course there are the various selling fees.

Sellers pay a listing fee â 20 cents per item â and listings will be active for either four months or until they sell. Lermanâs shop has over 700 items, and she stresses that strategic keyword usage is imperative for getting eyeballs on your store.

Then there is a fixed transaction fee, 5% on the sale price of each item you sell, not including shipping. Finally, the Etsy payment processing fees come out to 3% of the the total sale price, plus 25 cents.

When you sign up to sell on Etsy, you get access to free tools that can help you manage and grow your business. Some examples include the Sell On Etsy app, advertising tools, access to discounted postage and the option to promote sales or coupons.

If you like the free resources but youâre willing to fork over a little extra dough, you can sign up for the Plus plan at $10 per month. Youâll get access to extra marketing materials, discounts on custom shipping boxes, more options for customizing your shop and the ability to email customers when you restock an item.

Some Standout Features:

No monthly subscription fees.

Caters specifically to the handmade/artisan community.

Free promotional and advertising tools made available to vendors.

Shopify

A relatively new e-commerce platform, Shopify is a good option if you want a little more control. Instead of just listing your goods on aggregate selling sites like Etsy and Amazon, Shopify gives you the means to have your very own online store.

Shopify started as an online store itself before transitioning to an e-commerce platform, and it now hosts over 600,000 businesses around the world, earning its spot as a top online marketplace.

One is Permafrost Beards, an Alaska-based company owned by Nick and Courtney Adkins.

The couple browsed other platforms such as Etsy but ultimately didnât feel like the others were a good fit for their beard care products. Plus, a friend and fellow small business owner recommended Shopify, so the rest is history.

Pricing and Features

Shopify has three plans â $29, $79 and $299 per month â and lets sellers try the platform for free for 14 days. Obviously, your plan choice will depend on your needs, but the basic $29 plan is likely enough for most small business owners. (Itâs the one the Adkinses use.)

On top of the monthly subscription, Shopify also charges various payment processing fees â all of which decrease with each plan upgrade. Each plan also gives access to shipping discounts with the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and DHL Express. Similar to the payment processing fees, the more expensive your plan, the bigger the discount you get.

Upon signing up, youâre given a free myshopify.com domain name. Alternatively, you can use a previously purchased domain name or buy one through Shopify that doesnât include the âmyshopifyâ part.

Now for the fun part: building your website. Shopify has over 100 free, customizable themes and templates to choose from. And the best part is, the user interface is pretty easy to pick up even if youâre not particularly tech- or design-savvy.

When Nick Adkins retired in 2016 after serving more than two decades in the Army, he barely had experience with smartphones, let alone building a website.

âIâm OK with computers. Iâm not amazing,â he says. âBut [Shopify has] some of their own videos to tell you how to do things.â

He and his wife sat down, did some research and watched some videos, and within eight hours had the Permafrost Beards site up and running.

A major selling point for Shopify is the amount of free resources it offers. There are guides covering topics such as analytics, marketing and fulfillment and tools like a pay-stub generator and gift-certificate templates. But one drawback is the lack of an easy way to print invoices, according to Nick Adkins.

As far as expenses go, weâve only talked about the subscription and payment processing fees, but itâs worth mentioning that an app store exists within the platform, with both free and paid versions.

Permafrost is currently using two paid apps, Parcelify for shipping and Pop-Up Window, which asks visitors to join the mailing list and alerts customers when theyâre on vacation. Each costs about $5 per month.

âDepending on what youâre doing, these fees can add up,â Nick Adkins says. âAs you get different apps and want to do more thingsâ¦ youâve got to assess the value.â

Some Standout Features:

User-friendly interface with hundreds of free website templates.

A built-in app store to add features to your site.

Free marketing, promotional and analytics resources.

Squarespace

Similar to Shopify, Squarespace is a platform worth considering if youâre interested in having your own online store instead of listing on a third-party selling site. That was a big reason Blake Wingard, owner of Glass By Blake, has stuck with the platform after trying a few others over the years.

Currently, Wingard has a Squarespace website and an Instagram page, which features a link to his Squarespace shop. He used to have an Etsy store as well, but didnât stick with the platform for long.

A glassblower by trade, Wingardâs pieces typically range anywhere from $100 to $1,000. He felt that the prices he was selling at didnât quite mesh with the audience visiting his shop on Etsy. People werenât buying, so he decided it was best to stop funneling money into a platform that wasnât paying off.

Pricing and Features

Like Shopify, you get a free 14-day trial.

Squarespace offers four plans broken into two categories: websites and online stores. (The basic website plan is the cheapest, but itâs just a personal site without e-commerce capabilities, so weâre going to skip that.)

The other website option is listed as a âbusiness planâ and includes a free custom domain name, fully integrated e-commerce and an unlimited inventory option. It costs either $216 annually or $26 month to month, and also charges a 3% transaction fee per purchase.

Alternatively, you can opt for an online store plan. The basic plan is $312 annually or $30 month to month. The advanced plan is $480 annually or $46 month to month.

Both plans come with everything you get from the business website plan and then some. Extra features include integrated accounting, access to business metrics, label printing and the ability to sync your listings with Instagram. Also, that 3% transaction fee is waived from the online store plans.

Squarespace integrates Stripe, PayPal and Apple Pay for payment options, and youâll have to pay those processing fees, which are typically 2.9% plus 30 cents.

The platform also offers marketing tools, such as email campaigns and search engine optimization assistance. Wingard says he pays an extra $10 per month so his page ranks higher on Google searches.

Wingard acknowledges that Instagram is the biggest player when it comes to his sales, and the majority of his website traffic comes from his followers rather than straight from Google. But he says the Squarespace website gives his business a professional look and doesnât foresee leaving it behind anytime soon.

Some Standout Features:

Free two-week trial period.

Four different plan options offer business owners flexibility.

Free custom domain name.

Kaitlyn Blount is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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