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Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool Review: The Best Investment I’ve Made


It might be new to some people, but working from home has been my personal “normal” for the past three years as a freelance writer and editor. I like to think that I’ve become something of an expert at creating a comfortable home office—but I’m at a bit of an advantage. I’m lucky enough to have an entire room in my house as a dedicated workspace, so I’m always on the hunt for little (or big) additions to make my home office feel all the more cozy—whether it’s a new lamp, some art to go up on the walls, or a new plant baby. And now that we’re stuck working from home for the foreseeable future, I’ve slowly been making additions to my home office to make it the most productive environment for me, which is why Dyson’s new Pure Humidify+Cool has become a total necessity.

I know, I know. How can an $800 machine be a necessity? I’m already a huge Dyson fan—the company’s vacuums actually make me excited to clean, and I’ve recommended the Airwrap to everyone I know—so I’m inclined to believe that I’ll love every product they launch. For me, it has everything to do with improving my overall quality of life while I’m working at home, which will continue to be the case even after the coronavirus passes.

Kristin Corpuz

To be honest, I never thought much about air quality in my home before I tried out the Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool. Of course, I’m big on wearing sunscreen indoors and am hyper-conscious of the fact that Los Angeles (where I live) doesn’t have the best outdoor air quality—not to mention, it is much too dry for someone with my skin type. But I thought that running a small humidifier on my desk and shutting off our central A/C would be sufficient enough to maintain decent air quality at home, and wow, was I wrong.

The new Dyson machine has seriously changed the way I think about the air in my space. Not only does it purify a room by filtering out particles like allergens, bacteria, pollen, and formaldehyde, but it also blows out cool air (which is perfect for those hot L.A. summers). While it’s filtering and blowing air, it also works as a humidifier to keep your space comfortably moist—a godsend if you have dry skin and hair like me. And the best part is that everything is customizable. I can turn it to just one of the settings (or any combination of the three) and can even adjust how each function works; whether I want more or less humidity, or if I want the fan to feel more like a breeze than a blast of cool air. And if I want to monitor what the air quality is like in my space, all I have to do is check the Dyson Link app to read stats picked up by sensors on the machine.

An issue that I’ve always had with room humidifiers is that I forget to clean them out. The water scales inside, and bacteria collect in the still water—which then gets pumped out into the air when I turn the machine back on. Of course, Dyson thought of everything and built in a one-touch deep-clean cycle that does all the cleaning for you. It keeps my mind at ease knowing that I’m using an appliance that really works to keep my home’s air quality as pure as possible, and it sure doesn’t hurt that it’s one less thing to clean in my house right now.



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Coronavirus: ‘I’ve Never Seen Nurses As Anxious And Fearful As They Are Right Now.’


I have been a nurse for 13 years—I specialize in critical care and even worked as a medevac flight nurse—and this pandemic is by far the worst thing I’ve experienced in my career.

I arrive at work at 6:45 each morning and count the confirmed positive COVID-19 patients listed on our staffing board. Currently our 30-bed ICU unit is full of these patients, and we have opened up off-site ICUs where we have 4 patients so far. Almost all of our patients are on mechanical ventilation and are extremely ill, and in need of very high levels of critical care. The number of admissions to the ICU is almost double what we would see on a normal day.

Staffing at our hospital has survived so far, but as we open additional ICU beds in off-site areas, many questions are being asked about who is going to take care of those patients. Our doctors are running nonstop, trying to care for the rapidly declining COVID-19 patients and also trying to care for the other patients in our unit. Even during a pandemic, we still have to take care of the heart attacks, strokes, and all of the other patients that we would see on a normal daily basis.

Hospitals have been running lean for years with barely enough staff and equipment. But now we’re in a famine. COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU require serious resources—staff, equipment, medication. Nurses are asking, Do we have enough ventilators? Enough IV pumps? Enough medication to keep these patients comfortable and alive throughout their illness? There are no good answers.

Soon we will not have enough supplies to save lives—that’s when we start making life-or-death decisions.

Nurses enter into the health care field to help people. We know that we cannot heal everyone, but we can do our damned best to promote survival. But during the coronavirus pandemic, we may not have the luxury of being able to do everything possible to save a life. There may come a time when we have to send the least likely to survive home to self-quarantine because we just don’t have the equipment to try to save them. It’s a traumatic, brutal reality. I’ve never seen nurses as anxious and fearful as they are right now.

This is beyond stress—this is a war. We are about to confront a situation that most of us have never encountered. We signed up to help people, not risk our lives due to poor planning and supply shortages. I’ve spoken with nurses from all over the country and the general sentiment is: “I am terrified.” I foresee many health care providers with some form of PTSD when this is over.

When I’m not in the ICU, I’m trying to take care of myself. But I am not sleeping well. I’m up every few hours with racing thoughts about what may or may not happen at work. I am self-isolating. I am not seeing my family. I can’t physically or morally leave my job at this moment.

I am lucky enough to live with another travel nurse that works in the same unit as me. I have known her for over 10 years. She is like a sister to me. Coming home and being able to talk to someone that actually understands what I am saying and can relate to it is invaluable. In the last few days, we have had moments of trying to laugh it off and preserve our ICU bravado, but these usually end with some tears and us confessing to each other how afraid we are of what is happening and what the coronavirus situation could evolve into.

There are moments of hope. When my roommate went to the grocery store the other day, the store employees thanked her, handed her flowers, and applauded. I am so grateful to everyone who has sent food to our hospital and made generous contributions to first responders and health care professionals around the world.

Courtesy of Rachel Norton



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Jillian Bell: I’ve Had a Lot of Different Body Sizes, and They’re All Important


Q&A interviews are an interesting part of my job. I do a project. I promote it. I attend screenings and after there’s usually a question-and-answer portion. There are a few questions I’ve gotten used to answering. “What was it like working with the cast?” “Were there any on-set pranks?” Stuff of that nature. But every once in a while, someone will approach me after to ask something they didn’t want to say into a mic in front of a large crowd.

That happened recently, at the Provincetown Film Festival. I was there to promote my movie Brittany Runs a Marathon, which tells the story of a woman who feels stuck in her life and decides to set an epic goal: to run the NYC marathon. It’s based on a real woman—the amazing and inspiring Brittany O’Neill—and is the first script I’ve read that really showcased the highs and the lows of a transformation tale. I was inspired to go through the same physical journey the character takes on in order to prepare for the role, so I started running. And I lost 40 pounds, like Brittany did. It was hard and emotional, but it connected me to the character in a way I hold very dear.

But back to that Q&A in Provincetown: After, a woman approached me and asked if I found myself feeling more confident in my own skin after I lost the weight. I told her the truth: No.

For me, I was less in my head when I had a little more body to my body. When I lost weight, however, I was constantly comparing myself to other women. “Am I bigger than her?” I found myself thinking. “Smaller?” At times, I was frustrated when people didn’t comment on my weight loss. But if someone commented in a way that felt hurtful to my old body, I was upset too.

Courtesy of Jillian Bell

The woman’s question had me thinking about all of this. So when I came back to Los Angeles, I continued the conversation with my good friend and fellow actor Vanessa Ray. Vanessa and I often sound like mad scientists—like we’re one step away from figuring out the cure to the dreaded “I hate my body” disease. On this particular night, we got into a discussion about all the different bodies we’ve had throughout our lives. I was skimming through pictures of me at my skinniest and at my heaviest and telling her that in both of the pictures I had times of confidence and also times of insecurity.

Two sidebyside photos of Jillian Bell
Courtesy of Jillian Bell

I realized in both of these bodies I had experienced love and loss, laughter and tears, first kisses and kidney stones. (Kidney stones SUCK, by the way.) Both bodies had experienced panic attacks and movie premieres and way too many nights in watching The Office. We thought, “What would happen if we tried to celebrate all stages?” What if everyone saw old pictures of themselves and stopped judging those women? What if we focused on the experience we were having at the moment, rather than whether or not our pants look too tight?



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Buying My First Vibrator Was The Most Empowering Thing I’ve Ever Done


Until recently I was among the percentage of individuals who believed that, to experience a mind-blowing orgasm, one needed a partner. Then I bought my first vibrator.

The idea of purchasing a sex toy occurred to me when I began brainstorming methods to spice up my three-year relationship with my boyfriend at the time. Our sex life had been fulfilling, but lately it felt as if we had entered into an alternate sexless universe void of any creativity or zest. I wanted to breathe new life into our bedroom and return to a state of mutual passion and excitement.

As a sex-toy virgin, I wasn’t sure where to begin; I was overwhelmed by the sheer variety of vibrators on the market. A plethora of shapes, sizes, and colors awaited me online, all promising swift transportation to a magical realm of pleasure. Eventually, after hours of rigorous analysis, I settled on the Ina 2 Rabbit from Lelo. I chose it primarily because of the rave reviews, but also because of the clitoral and G-spot stimulation it promised. The moment I finalized my purchase, I got an instant rush of excitement. This small purple silicone device was going to be the ammo that sparked animation back into our sex life. I was certain of it.

Unfortunately, three days before my new vibrator arrived in the mail, my boyfriend and I got into an explosive argument and called our relationship quits. I guess some problems are so big even the promise of really good sex can’t fix them. When the package finally arrived on my doorstep, I wasn’t excited. I was angry, frustrated, hurt, and sad—the emotions washed over me like a wave.

But the crying eventually subsided, and in its place, a new feeling: curiosity.

My new vibrator was patiently waiting inside its matte black box. When I opened it, I was met with a surge of hope—and another familiar feeling further south. At first I was nervous. All I really knew was penile penetration. How would the soft purple nubs of the Rabbit compare? Would it feel the same? Would I be able to achieve an actual orgasm? Would I turn into Charlotte York, becoming insatiably addicted to the toy and locking myself in my apartment for days?

There was only one way to find out. So I took the plunge.

I’m not going to lie, using a vibrator for the first time took a bit of getting used to. But after playing with the settings and figuring out which vibration mode I preferred, I was able to find that sweet spot. When I had my first orgasm with the vibrator, it was one of the most gratifying sensations: Suddenly gone were the crappy one-night stands and wondering when my next orgasm would occur. Not only was I able to reach an earth-shattering climax that lasted for what felt like an hour, but I was able to engineer that orgasm without the assistance of a man. There is something deliciously satisfying in taking control of my own pleasure and being able to experience a toe-curling orgasm whenever I want.

I realize a sex toy can’t replace the intimacy you experience with another person in the room. But enjoying partnered sex doesn’t mean sacrificing pleasure merely because you’re alone—I enjoy masturbating with my vibrator and sex with an actual partner. Sometimes it’s healthy to step back and explore what real pleasure means to you.

Since purchasing my vibrator, I’ve never felt more empowered. In the beginning of this breakup, I honestly felt lost. I thought it would take a while before I experienced genuine, heart-racing pleasure. But thanks to a little battery-operated device, I’m able to have incredible sex with someone I truly love, respect, and admire. How many individuals can say the same?

Sandra Rose Salathe is a writer and die-hard feminist residing in Washington, D.C.



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The Best Non-Smudge Mascara I’ve Ever Tried


There’s something about back-to-school time that calls for a refresh. That’s why this week, we’re throwing it back to the basics: putting “easy” makeup hacks to the test and a spotlight on the simple products that’ll make a big difference. Class is now in session.

Sometimes I think the lash gods have it out for me. How else do I explain the fact that every single mascara, even the most smudge-resistant, waterproof of the bunch leaves me with dark circles ringing my eyes? “Stays in place all day long!” “Won’t come off without 14 gallons of makeup remover!” “This will be on your lashes for the rest of your life!” Yeah, I’ve heard all of the claims. Maybe for someone blessed with less oily lids than mine, but “on for the rest of my life” in my case means “on until you order lunch.”

I’d resigned myself to a life of accidental walk-of-shame mascara smears until I stumbled upon L’Oréal’s Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara. This unsung hero of the mascara world launched way back in 2008, when I was nothing more than a wee baby beauty editor. It’s a double-sided situation, with one end housing a primer and the other a lash “topcoat” (marketing speak for mascara, apparently).

What makes this particular lash lengthener so special is the technology. You’ve probably heard of mascara tubes before—they were a big thing back in the ’00s—but at the time it was revolutionary. For those unfamiliar, tube mascara involves a formula that uses a type of polymer to create a physical coating around the lash, physically lengthening and thickening each strand.

PHOTO: Courtesy of brand

I’m not big on primers, so I ignored the nourishing basecoat and zeroed in on the mascara. The brush is nice and fluffy, as I wholeheartedly believe all mascara brushes should be. I swiped it through my lashes and applied a second coat for good measure. Then I went off along my merry little way.

Fast forward a few hours to the afternoon and my daily bathroom-mirror check. Usually, this would be the part of the day where I would be dabbing a tissue under my eyes, trying to get rid of the dark shadows while simultaneously maneuvering to avoid rubbing off the undereye concealer hiding my hereditary dark circles. Instead, I was staring confusedly at a conspicuous lack of smearing. What was this, a trick mirror?

As the day wore on, my mascara stayed right where I’d put it, never migrating or succumbing to the oil attempting to dislodge it. Convinced it was a fluke, I used it all week, checking the mirror each afternoon and finding the same smudge-free results. It even lasted through a happy hour turned margarita rager I felt the need to partake in on a weeknight. I suffered mightily for that one, however my mascara did not.

Now, you would be forgiven for thinking that a mascara this hearty would require a complicated removal process involving multiple rounds of cleanser. The really high-tech aspect here is that you actually don’t need product to remove it—the polymer casing detaches when it comes in contact with warm water and some gentle smoothing with your fingers. Fair warning: The tubes come off whole, so they resemble your actual lashes. I had a mini-stroke after the first wash after looking down into the sink and seeing what looked like my lashes molting.

Ever since that first week of testing, I’ve been hooked and use it religiously. My lashes look longer, are clump-free, and are cured of the chronic smudges that plagued me for the majority of my makeup-wearing years. Suck on that, lash gods.

L’Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara, $9, amazon.com

Related Stories:
–This Was the Most Popular Mascara on Pinterest Last Year
–We Tried Glossier’s New Mascara, and These Are Our Honest Thoughts
–Nars’ New Mascara Is So Good They Named It ‘Climax’



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Al Franken Apologizes—Again: 'I Feel Terribly That I’ve Made Some Women Feel Badly'


Earlier this week, the Huffington Post reported that two more women have accused Minnesota senator and former SNL star Al Franken of touching them inappropriately. This comes on the heels of allegations from radio host Leeann Tweeden, who shared the now-infamous photo of Franken seemingly groping her breasts during a USO tour in 2006. Franken subsequently issued an apology to Tweeden. On Monday, another woman, Lindsay Menz said that Franken groped her at a state fair in 2010.

Franken has already stated that he would comply with an ethics investigation in the Senate and has offered no indication that he is going to resign. But after this week’s new allegations, he issued another apology on Thursday via a statement to his home state’s Star-Tribune. Franken said in the statement that he’s a “warm person” and “hugs people,” but adds that recent stories have given him fresh insight into how his actions may have been received, saying that he “crossed a line for some women.” He goes on to express that he “feels terribly” that he made some women feel badly and wants to make sure that it never happens again, adding that he hope to regain the trust of Minnesotans.

It remains to be seen if he can make that happen. A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that half of voters think that Franken should resign and 66 percent believe that the Senate Ethics Committee should investigate the matter.

Franken’s full statement is below:

*I’ve met tens of thousands of people and taken thousands of photographs, often in crowded and chaotic situations. I’m a warm person; I hug people. I’ve learned from recent stories that in some of those encounters, I crossed a line for some women — and I know that any number is too many.

Some women have found my greetings or embraces for a hug or photo inappropriate, and I respect their feelings about that. I’ve thought a lot in recent days about how that could happen, and recognize that I need to be much more careful and sensitive in these situations. I feel terribly that I’ve made some women feel badly and for that I am so sorry, and I want to make sure that never happens again.

And let me say again to Minnesotans that I’m sorry for putting them through this and I’m committed to regaining their trust.*

Related Stories:
–A Second Woman Has Accused Senator Al Franken of Inappropriate Touching
–Al Franken’s Female ‘SNL’ Colleagues Wrote a Letter to ‘Stand Up’ for Him
–7 Quotes That Perfectly Explain Night One of the DNC





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