When to Pat and When to Rub in Skincare Products

Beth Wischnia
Apr 09, 2018
skincare products
If you've ever watched a skincare routine video from your favorite vlogger, you've probably noticed that everyone has different ways of applying their products. But when should you pat a cream in versus rub it? And does it really make a difference? Read on to understand what these varying techniques mean for you and your skin.


Rubbing: That circular motion you use to drive products deep into your skin could do more harm than good. "Rubbing in skincare products can cause friction, stretch the skin, and break down collagen and elastic which will cause wrinkles and sagging," explains Glow Recipe co-founder and co-CEO Sarah Lee.

Patting:“This technique is more gentle because it doesn't tug or pull at your skin, and has the added bonus of helping with blood circulation," Lee says. “It also ensures even distribution, which means that you're getting the most out of your skincare, and is especially important around the delicate eye area, where patting is the priority."

When to Rub vs. When to Pat: Almost your entire skincare regimen — toners, essences, serums, moisturizers, and eye creams included — should be patted into the skin, since liquids, creams, lotions, and gel-based offerings absorb best with this technique. Leave the (gentle!) rubbing for cleanser application, where the motion helps activate the foam.

To get the most out of your pat, apply the product to your hands and rub them together. This helps make sure you have an even layer on your hands. “Gently pat products onto the face, starting from the inside areas moving outward, applying the remaining product on your most oily areas, like the T-zone," she says. “For an extra glow, pat an additional layer on the high points of your face."

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6 Sephora Birthday Gifts You Can Score On Your Big Day In May!

May is here, and we're celebrating it by sharing which Sephora birthday gift you can get this month. That's right — I'm talking about all the freebies you can find! Well, not all of them — just enough to help you find new makeup, skincare, or haircare products to add to your vanity. After looking at the options Sephora has to offer this month, we're sure you'll have a hard time choosing from all the great options.

Let's jump into the 6 glamorous Sephora birthday gifts you can get this month!

How do I redeem my free birthday gift?

In order to redeem your birthday gift, you have to become a beauty insider. Signing up is completely free.

Are birthday gifts only available online?

Some of them are, but some can be picked up in-stores. You'll want to look online to see if the birthday gift you want has the "Available online only" or "Available in Store only" label.

Can I redeem more than one gift?

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have all the things? Unfortunately, you can only choose one birthday gift set.

Am I able to redeem a VIB or Rogue birthday gift if I haven't reached those tiers?

If you recently became a beauty insider, you'll be in the 'insider' tier. Here's the requirements to reach the next tiers:

  • VIB: Spend $350 in one year
  • Rogue: Spend $1000 in one year

You'll have to continue spending those amounts to maintain your VIB or Rogue status. At that point, you'll be able to redeem a VIB or Rogue birthday gift.

Other than that, you have free reign to choose from 7 other great options! Here's everything you can choose during your birthday month!

Kosas Lip & Brow Birthday Set

What's included:

  • Wet Lip Oil Plumping Treatment Gloss in Shade 'Unbuttoned' (Soft Warm Blush)
  • Air Brow Clear + Clean Lifting Eyebrow Gel with Lamination Effect

Kosas is known for their skincare-friendly makeup which makes this birthday gift so exciting. You'll get one of the best lip oils that'll gives your lips a boost of hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid and it'll make them look kissable. Additionally, you can give your eyebrows a little boost with Kosas' air brow gel!

Youth To The People Cleanse & Hydrate Skincare Birthday Set

What's included:

  • Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser
  • Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
  • Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Night Cream + Mask with Vitamin C
We stan a good skincare set that features different options for us to try. If you choose this birthday option, you'll get to sample Youth To The People's goodies that can easily be incorporate into your morning or nighttime regiment. From a pH-balancing cleanser to a Vitamin C-infused mask, your skin will appreciate this moisturizing birthday gift.

Moroccanoil Ultimate Hydration Birthday Set

What's included:

  • Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil
  • Hydrating Shampoo
  • Hydrating Conditioner
  • Hand Cream
Give your hair some TLC with Moroccanoil's ultimate hydrating set. Each product is infused with argan oil so you can trust that your strands will receive hydration that results in sleek hair.

Sephora Birthday Gift 250 Bonus Points

Then again, you can decide to have an extra 250 bonus points added to your account. I reached the VIB rogue tier by choosing this option one year and my total accumulated points allowed me to save $10 off my next purchase. It's a win even if it's not a gift set.

VIB

Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Look Birthday Set

What's included:

  • Matte Revolution Lipstick in shade Pillow Talk
  • Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
  • Magic Cream Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
If you've reached the VIB or Rogue tiers — congratulations! You'll get to take home this Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Look birthday set! If the pretty packaging doesn't catch your eye, then the gorgeous packaging and award-winning products will!

VIB

Summer Fridays On-the-Go Hydration Birthday Set

What's included:

  • Jet Lag Mask
  • Lip Butter Balm for Hydration & Shine in Shade 'Vanilla'

While Sephora's other birthday gifts won't change in April, there's a new Rogue VIB option to look forward to! Sephora loves surprising their amazing customers with hydrating birthday gifts and this set is right on time for all your vacation needs. The air on airplanes can be drying so you'll need Summer Friday's jet lag mask for your face and their lip butter balm for your lips!

Which of the Sephora birthday gifts will you be taking home this month?

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post is updated each month to reflect new Sephora birthday gift deals.

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Nicole Kidman Is Officially Back For "Nine Perfect Strangers" Season 2

There's something appealing about an anthology show. You know, the ones where we get a new cast every season but the location or the themes remain the same (hello White Lotus and American Horror Story!). Your next TV show obsession is right around the corner because Hulu just announced the full lead cast for Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 and it's literally almost too good to be true. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

When does Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 come out?

Image via Vance Valitutti/Hulu

We don't have an official release date for Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 yet, so feel free to rewatch season 1 as many times as you want ;). Production *did* begin in January of 2024, and considering there was a year between the filming of season 1 and its release, it's safe to assume we'll see Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.

Who's in the Nine Perfect Strangers cast?

Image via Vance Valitutti/Hulu

Hulu just announced that Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 will star Murray Bartlett from The White Lotus and The Last of Us, Annie Murphy from Schitt's Creek, and Christine Baranski from Mamma Mia. We'll also see Dolly De Leon, Aras Aydin, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, musician King Princess, and Lucas Englander. The latest additions to the cast include our AMC queen Nicole Kidman and A Simple Favor's Henry Golding, as well as Mark Strong and Lena Olin.

What is Nine Perfect Strangers about?

Image via Vance Valitutti/Hulu

Nine Perfect Strangers season 1, which is based on the book by Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty and stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall, and Samara Weaving, follows nine strangers who meet at a health and wellness resort to unwind from the stress of city life. However, their 10-day retreat quickly spirals into something completely different — and a little more sinister — than they expected.

Will there be a season 2 for Nine Perfect Strangers?

Image via Vance Valitutti/Hulu

Yes, we're getting a Nine Perfect Strangers season 2! Even though the show was supposed to be a limited series, it was so popular Hulu decided to announce the renewal in June 2023. Thank goodness.

How is Nine Perfect Strangers different from the book?

Image via Vance Valitutti/Hulu

There are some pretty big difference between Nine Perfect Strangers and its novel. It seems like they just wanted to up the ante for television viewers because the main differences are in the intensity of scenes or character traits, like Carmel being much more expressive than she is in the book, and the series cutting out a five-day silence. It's super cool to see how Hulu adapted this series — and since it's based on a single book, Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 will feature a whole new plot!

What does the ending of Nine Perfect Strangers mean?

Image via Vance Valitutti/Hulu

Throughout the series, there are lots of themes of trust and whether or not we're actually able to find happiness as humans. The Nine Perfect Strangers ending during season 1 wraps it up perfectly by leaving happiness as a more open-ended concept full of hope — one that shows it's never outside the realm of possibility, even if it's not a definite guarantee.

Keep checking back here for the latest news on Nine Perfect Strangers season 2, and check out our TikTok for more pop culture news!

Lead image via Hulu

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16 Foods To Instantly Give Your Skin An Inside-Out Glow For Summer

What you eat can greatly affect your skin, causing different side effects, both good and bad. Luckily, there are so many foods that can revitalize your skin and get it back to feeling radiant and looking glowy from the inside out — and just in time for summer! If you don't know where to start, we've got you covered with expert advice on all the best foods for your skin, plus all those bites you might wanna avoid.

Best Foods For Your Skin

Photo by Olena Bohovyk/Unsplash

Grapes, Strawberries, Blood Oranges, and Watermelon

Elina Fedotova of Elina Organics, says that colorful fruit are key to achieving good skin! She says, "Colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, and healthy fats like butter or plant oils help improve skin immunity and protect against environmental UV damage. Liquid collagen is popular as a skin-rejuvenating food or supplement, but when you do that, make sure you are making the smoothie with collagen peptides. The collagen is broken into small pieces called peptides which absorb much better and signal your body to regenerate collagen." So clearly, collagen is vital if you want to have glowy skin.

Elina also says, "It is a scientifically proven fact that people who eat very high levels of antioxidant-rich diets with fruits and vegetables and anthocyanosides — they can stay in the sun without any protection much longer because their body can protect them naturally from UV damage." Her three rules for healthy skin?

  1. No processed foods.
  2. Eat tons of antioxidants.
  3. Use an SPF — preferably one that is a mineral Zinc Oxide based — alongside protective hats in the sun.

So not only can certain foods make your skin look radiant, they can also protecting you from the sun with proper precautions! We love to hear that!

Photo by Dose Juice/Unsplash

Leafy Greens, Broccoli, Asparagus, and Edamame

Leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, and edamame are some of our favorite foods to eat that will give you that inside-out glow. Nutritionist and wellness expert Jessica Green says, "Silica rich foods are a great place to start — these include celery, asparagus, banana, cucumber, green beans to name my favorite. When you juice some of these, they can become more bio-available. Celery juice for instance is excellent at giving your skin a beautiful natural glow. Collagen rich foods can help improve skin elasticity — bone broth is my absolute favorite for not only its skin benefit but bone broth is also very calming for the gut."

Skin elasticity can easily be improved through these foods and can make you look 10 years younger! I definitely notice a significant difference in my skin when I regularly eat collagen-rich foods than when I don't!

Photo by Thought Catalog/Unsplash

Avocado and Olive Oil

Avocados and olive oil are really going to up your skin game, and giving you that gorgeous glow for summer we're really looking for. Kristen White, RDN, CLT, says, "Clean fats like olive oil, avocados, coconut oil, and tallow in our diet help replenish needed vitamins and fatty acids to help skin look its vibrant best." That's exactly what we want!

In regards to olive oil, it really is the must-have when it comes to achieving a glowy complexion. Jenny Jiles, a holistic nutritionist says, "Olive oil is the GOAT. We know why all of those women in the Mediterranean look so vibrant and sexy as they age, because olive oil is such a staple in their diet. Don’t be afraid of this healthy fat, it’s filled with antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids which help protect your skin from free radicals to reduce those fine lines and help you glow from the inside out. Add olive oil to any and all of your meals, savory or sweet (yes, trust me on that)." So I guess the key to looking like an Italian goddess this summer (and always) is olive oil!

Photo by Maddi Bazzocco/Unsplash

Chia, Flax Seeds, and Sunflower Seeds

Many seeds and grains are going to be crucial in giving you radiant skin. Plus, they have so many healing properties that can help reduce redness and inflammation in the skin. Christine Glaser, CEO of DIY Skincare Business, says, "Chia and flax seeds are also helpful for all skin types and can aid in toxin removal." And sunflower seeds actually have antibacterial properties too that help get rid of toxins in order to keep your skin looking fresh and clear; thus the radiant skin we're trying to achieve here!

Photo by María Sainz Cabezalí/Unsplash

Red Bell Peppers, Carrot, and Tomatoes

You always want to have a variety of colors when eating fruits and vegetables because this will help you get the most out of your diet and achieve maximum radiance. A health expert and dietician, Chrissy Arsenault of Kori, says, "Eat lots of fruits and veggies. Choose 2-3 colors of fruits and veggies at every meal – fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C, E) that protect your skin from damage." And tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers are very rich in color so they will give you so many great nutritional benefits that will assist in giving you a perfect inside-out glow!

What foods should I avoid for my skin?

Photo by MART PRODUCTION/PEXELS

If you want radiant, clear, acne-free skin then you definitely want to avoid foods high in dairy or sugar. Jessica Green says, "When it comes to foods to avoid for radiant skin, sugar and dairy float to the top. Both are inflammatory. Sugar causes glycation which damages the skin's elasticity. Dairy (cow dairy specifically) tends to be one of the most common foods that cause reactions for people including acne and puffiness." I'm definitely taking note to try and cut our these foods now!

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Sabrina Carpenter And Barry Keoghan Made Their Red Carpet Debut At The Met Gala

Before they were publicly seen together, we were dying to know if singer Sabrina Carpenter was actually dating actor Barry Keoghan. Rumors about their relationship cropped up in late 2023, and they're definitely not rumors anymore!

The pair made their *official* debut at the 2024 Met Gala, and they looked so cute together. Barry also enthusiastically supported Sabrina's Coachella performance last month, and we've been obsessed ever since. Since the two have been romantically linked for a while now, we’re taking a deeper look at their history and their chemistry.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sabrina Carpenter and her boyfriend, Barry Keoghan!

Who is Sabrina Carpenter?

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter is a 24-year-old actress and singer. Her most popular acting roles began on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017 with Girl Meets World and 2016’s Adventures in Babysitting.

Sabrina has been releasing original music since 2014, and her 2022 album titled Emails I Can’t Send landed her her first-ever top-40 chart entry. Her songs “Nonsense” and “Feather” are two of her top-listened tracks on Spotify.

Sabrina also opened for Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour in 2023.

Additionally, she's worked as a brand ambassador for Converse, Aeropostale, and Samsung, and launched a fragrance line in collaboration with Scent Beauty.

Sabrina was suspected to be dating singer Shawn Mendes last year, but he dispelled rumors about it very publicly in March 2023.

Who is Barry Keoghan?

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Barry Keoghan is an award-winning 31-year-old Irish actor. He’s well-known for his roles in Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Eternals, and Saltburn. He has also been in several TV series, from HBO’s Chernobyl to Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air.

Barry was previously dating girlfriend Alyson Kieran since September 2021, but the pairbroke up in July 2023 after Barry started seeing success for his performance in the film The Banshees of Inisherin. An inside source close to the couple said “they’ve grown apart over recent months and things have finally come to a head. As far as [Alyson is] concerned, it’s over.”

Barry and Alyson still share a young son named Brando, born in August 2022.

Is Barry Keoghan Sabrina Carpenter's Boyfriend? A Relationship Timeline

Catherine Powell / Getty Images for MTV

September 2023

In late September 2023, Sabrina attended an NYC advanced screening of Saltburn, a dark comedy film in which Barry stars. The pair was not seen together, but they were definitely in the same place at the same time.

The pair reportedly met for the first time during Paris Fashion Week at the Givenchy spring/summer 2024 show, just a week after the advanced screening.

Amy Sussman / Getty Images

December 2023

Sabrina and Barry were spotted on a casual dinner date in Los Angeles in December 2023. They weren’t quite visibly affectionate or close together in photos, but shared the same car.

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

January 2024

Sabrina and Barry were suspected to attend the 2024 Golden Globes together to debut their relationship, but the pair ended up attending separately.

The two were later spotted out and about at LA’s Luna Luna interactive art installation later in January.Eyewitness accounts said "it definitely seemed like a date.” 👀

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February 2024

In early February 2024, the duo was seen gettin’ cozy with each other at a Grammys after party. Someone had snapped a pic of them sitting next to each other, but it appeared they were pretty shy about showing their whole faces. Cute!

The couple confirmed their romance just around Valentine's Day with a fun-filled weekend in Los Angeles (with plenty of PDA, of course). They started out with dinner at Nobu before checking into Hotel Bel-Air. They next day, they spent time together at Sabrina's house in Hollywood and then went out on the town in style!

As much as we can tell, Sabrina and Barry are just having fun with it!

Amy Sussman and Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

March 2024

The 2024 Oscars marked Sabrina and Barry's first red carpet appearance as a couple! The pair pulled up in semi-coordinating outfits – her wearing a black sequined Tory Burch gown, him wearing a sleek black suit by Amiri.

Barry also accessorized his Oscars look with a beaded friendship bracelet (a la Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) that spelled out Sabrina's name!

Photographed side-by-side several times, the couple also took the chance to reference their silly Grammys photo by hiding their faces for the camera. Love!

IG @sabrinacarpenter

April 2024

On April 1, Barry left a fiery comment on Sabrina's Instagram. She posted a carousel promoting the new spring 2024 intimates collection from Skims, packed with steamy pics of her wearing pieces from the drop.

Barry's comment was "🔥🥵 barbie emoji," which is just too cute. Since Sabrina is known over social media as a Bratz doll, we love to see this brand new Barbie side!

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella

April 2024

Barry – being the supportive boyfriend he is – was spotted in the crowd at Sabrina's Coachella weekend 1 set, and the couple shared a few cute moments even when they were apart!

Barry was seen happily snapping pictures on his phone like a proud parent during the high-energy performance. Sabrina also cutely waved to Barry from the stage, and he was definitely fangirling over it! We would be fangirling too, TBH! 🔥

After Sabrina's set, the pair was spotted together in the crowd at Ice Spice's performance alongside friends Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The four appeared to just be hanging out and chatting among themselves in between songs!

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May 2024

The couple stepped out together to attend the 2024 Met Gala. Sabrina sported a gorgeous black gown with blooming blue details while Barry's look channeled a 19th century Englishman. They posed together with their signature 'hands over the face' pose, with Barry using his hat as a shield. We are enamored by these two!

Stay updated on the latest celebrity relationships with Brit + Co!

Lead photos by Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for The Met Museum / Vogue and Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images.

This post has been updated.

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5 Reasons Ryan Gosling Is The Ultimate Girl Dad

After The Gray Man and a year full of Barbie and Ken, The Fall Guy (plus the upcoming Ocean's 11 prequelwith Margot Robbie) continues to prove Ryan Gosling is THE definition of a star. And between his friendship with Emma Stone and his relationship with Eva Mendes,Ryan seems like the kind of guy we'd all want to be best friends with — and not just because of his endless #Kenergy.

Not only is Ryan the sweetest partner, he's also the ultimate girl dad to daughters Esmeralda and Amada. Their "interest in Barbie and disinterest in Ken," as Ryan tells People, get him to Barbieland in the first place, but he also just revealed they "asked specifically" he avoid one The Fall Guy stunt. “My kids didn't want me to be set on fire,” he says. “Even though I said, ‘Well, it's actually, technically the safer thing to do because there's a lot of protective stuff involved, [they] were like, ‘No. No fire.’ So I didn't do it.”

It's clear that Ryan Gosling's children are spitfires and I love to see it! Here's everything you need to know about Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling's kids — and every single time Ryan Gosling was the ultimate girl dad.

How many children do Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have?

Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have two children, Esmerelda Amada and Amada Lee. Amada was named after Eva's grandmother — both my sister and I have family names and I love seeing the way different families carry on that tradition!

How old are Ryan Gosling's kids?

Image via Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

Esmerelda was born in September 2014, meaning she'll turn 10 this fall. Amada just turned 8 at the end of April!

How does Ryan Gosling prioritize his kids?

Image via Lionsgate

In his recent profile with WSJ, Ryan Gosling revealed he only picks roles that will benefit his whole family. "I don't really take roles that are going to put me in some kind of dark place," Ryan says. "The decisions I make, I make them with Eva and we make them with our family in mind first."

"I think La La Landwas the first," he continues. "It was sort of like, 'Oh this will be fun for them too, because even though they're not coming to set, we're practicing piano every day or we're dancing or we're singing.'"

Every couple needs to figure out what prioritizing their kids looks like for them, and considering how much I love all Ryan's recent roles, I'd say this is a shift that benefits everyone ;).

When did Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have their daughters?

Image via Andrew Toth/Getty Images for New York & Company

Eva Mendes gave birth to Esmerelda on September 12, 2014 and later had Amada on April 29, 2016.

Are Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes still together?

Image via Sonia Recchia/Getty Images

Yes, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are still going strong, and thank goodness. Eva just revealed that Ryan provides a ton of support for her. "When I was 40, it was a big deal for people when I was pregnant, and it wasn't for me," she tells People. "And then I was 42 and I was pregnant with my second one and people were like, 'Oh my God, you're going to be so tired. That's why people have kids in their 20s.' I was like, that's the most sorry, asinine thing I've ever heard."

"[Ryan supports me] in all the ways I need to be supported," she continues. "He's got me in all the ways."

How has fatherhood affected Ryan Gosling?

Image via Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Considering Ryan Gosling's daughters are such a huge part of his life now, it's hard to believe that earlier in life, he wasn't sure he wanted kids. "After I met Eva, I realized that I just didn’t want to have kids without her," he tells GQ. "And there were moments on The Place Beyond the Pines where we were pretending to be a family, and I didn’t really want it to be pretend anymore." Now, I'm going to need you to pause and reread that quote because I can't believe that's a real sentence. I'm obsessed!

A source also told People in 2023 that "Ryan is such a fun dad. He is goofy and his girls love it."

Via WSJ, we also know that since Ryan Gosling's kids have started learning Spanish, they now call him Papi. "It kills me every time," he says. "There's just nothing, nothing better than that."

What has Eva Mendes said about their daughters?

Image via Eva Mendes/Instagram

Eva Mendes is just as obsessed with her and Ryan Gosling's children as he is, and she's talked about how they make life so much better. "Oh April…I have such a complicated relationship with you," she says on Instagram. "[April 2] would have been my brother’s birthday…..in a couple of weeks from now is the day we lost him…but then, the end of April we got the biggest blessing of all, my little girl was born 8 years ago. I hate you April. But I love you more."

Check out our email newsletter for the latest celebrity news and trending content, and check back here for the latest news on Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling's kids!

Lead image via Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

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