Latest news with #JuliaRichardson
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Record-breaking' solstice crowd at Stonehenge
About 25,000 people have celebrated the summer solstice at Stonehenge - a record breaking crowd. The event is one of the few occasions people can walk next to the stones at the ancient site near Salisbury in Wiltshire. It comes on what could be the UK's hottest day of the year so far with temperatures predicted to peak at 34C. Stonehenge's operations manager Julia Richardson told the BBC it had been a peaceful event with an "amazing atmosphere". She added it was a "perfect combination" of the warm weather and solstice falling on a weekend that brought the crowds out. Jennifer Wexler, Stonehenge's curator of history, said the sunrise had been "amazing". "It's a really wonderful way to come and mark this seasonal moment in time," she added. Wiltshire Police said this year's celebration at Stonehenge was "a safe and successful occasion". "There were some traffic issues due to vehicles being abandoned which meant we had to close some roads around the site for the protection of pedestrians on the A303 and A360," it said. "Once the car park at Stonehenge was full motorists chose to park along the main roads, which caused further safety concerns and traffic management issues. "We appreciate the patience of those effected by the delays." The solstice attracted people from as far away as Hong Kong and America, along with thousands from the UK. Abigail Ng, 28, has lived in the UK for more than a decade and said she felt she had to visit Stonehenge before moving back home to Hong Kong. She said she was drawn to Stonehenge after hearing about the atmosphere and pagan festivals and traditions. "I had to come here before I left," she said. "So I grabbed my best friend who lives up in Edinburgh and dragged her here this morning." And, one family from Atlanta, Georgia, celebrated an 18th birthday at Stonehenge. They said when she was born they would take her to Stonehenge for the landmark birthday. "The weather has been absolutely amazing, the people have been amazing," said mum Kerri Hobson-Pape said. She said it is "really special" to be there for the solstice. Elsewhere, a crowd gathered on Glastonbury Tor to watch the sunrise ahead of the music festival next week. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Thousands celebrate solstice at Stonehenge as UK faces 34C heat on longest day of year Yellow storm warning issued as UK heatwave set to continue English Heritage
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Summer solstice at Stonehenge draws 'record-breaking' crowd
About 25,000 people have celebrated the summer solstice at Stonehenge - a record breaking event is one of the few occasions people can walk next to the stones at the ancient site near Salisbury in comes on what could be the UK's hottest day of the year so far with temperatures predicted to peak at operations manager Julia Richardson told the BBC it had been a peaceful event with an "amazing atmosphere". She added it was a "perfect combination" of the warm weather and solstice falling on a weekend that brought the crowds Wexler, Stonehenge's curator of history, said the sunrise had been "amazing"."It's a really wonderful way to come and mark this seasonal moment in time," she solstice attracted people from as far away as Hong Kong and America, along with thousands from the Ng, 28, has lived in the UK for more than a decade and said she felt she had to visit Stonehenge before moving back home to Hong Kong. She said she was drawn to Stonehenge after hearing about the atmosphere and pagan festivals and traditions."I had to come here before I left," she said. "So I grabbed my best friend who lives up in Edinburgh and dragged her here this morning."And, one family from Atlanta, Georgia, celebrated an 18th birthday at said when she was born they would take her to Stonehenge for the landmark birthday."The weather has been absolutely amazing, the people have been amazing," said mum Kerri Hobson-Pape said it is "really special" to be there for the solstice. The A303, which runs past the ancient stone circle, was closed during the night after motorists parked their cars on the side of the Police said: "We would like to remind motorists to drive safely and cautiously due to the increased risk of pedestrians walking in the road." Elsewhere, a crowd gathered on Glastonbury Tor to watch the sunrise ahead of the music festival next week.
Buzz Feed
13-03-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Eeeek – 37 Products With Gross Yet Satisfying Result Photos That Truly Prove Their Worth
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · In this scenario, gross = good. 1. Bio-Oil, which reviewers swear helps to diminish scars and stretch marks so well it should probably be called "bye-bye oil." It *also* does a fabulous job moisturizing sensitive skin. It's filled with rosemary, lavender, chamomile, vitamin A, vitamin E, and PurCellin oil to help keep your skin feeling (and looking!) great. Promising review:"What kind of sorcery is this? I used this for the first time last night on some recent acne scars, and I'm in utter shock. They look like they've been healing for weeks.... this stuff must be made of pixie dust or something. It's way too good to be true. From now on, I will be putting this all over my skin before bed every night! I don't even care if it means washing my sheets more often — SO WORTH IT!" — Julia Richardson Get it from Amazon for $10.26 (also available in a 24-pack). 2. I Dew Care's "Tap Secret" — a mattifying powder shampoo that's benzene-free, comes in five hair colors, and will be your savior when, oops, you've overslept again before work. Sleepyhead? Certainly not you!!! The powder-based dry shampoo works just like spray formulas — apply to the area you're looking to refresh and then shake out excess powder with your fingertips or a brush. Promising review: "This stuff works better than Batiste at absorbing oil. I have very wavy, fine, greasy hair and I can go an additional day without washing it now." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $18 (available in six shades). 3. An exfoliating foot peel mask that'll make you feel like a snake shedding your skin (is this a hidden Easter egg that Taylor Swift's dropping the re-recording of Reputation soon? 🤡) — it'll be grossly satisfying to watch the progress and the results will be mindblowing! Lavinso is a small business! Promising review:"These foot masks work as stated. You wear the masks (bags, basically) for about an hour. A week or so later, your feet will peel so much they look like zombie feet! Both my daughter and I have used these, so it's not just me. I will say that, depending on the condition of your feet, one application may not be enough. One application did improve my feet about 50%, but I plan to use the masks once a month until the three-pack is gone. That should greatly improve my feet by sandal season! I will definitely purchase again, as needed." — Trisha Get it from Amazon for $15.95 (available in three styles). 4. Lumify eye drops *so* beloved on TikTok that they've been selling left and right on Amazon! Reviewers adore them because they reduce redness in their eyes nearly instantly — an absolute must-have if you haven't been getting much sleep thanks to your all-too-busy schedule. Learn more about different kinds of eye drops and what they can do at Cleveland Clinic. Note that eye drops can potentially mask symptoms of eye conditions, so you should talk to your eye doctor about what's right for you. And according to Mayo Clinic, you should avoid redness-reducing drops if you're looking for dry eye relief. Promising review:"I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it. No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." — Angela Leonard Get it from Amazon for $11.93. 5. SweatBlock wipes that'll become your saving grace if you're running around so much, you're constantly dripping in sweat. These babies are prescription strength and designed to take on hyperhidrosis, nervous sweating, and hormonal sweating. These wipes did NOT come to play! Amazon, This stuff is VERY strong, so if you have sensitive skin, consider doing a spot test before going all-in. Promising review: "For anyone who might be skeptical, please allow me to put you at ease. If you have hyperhidrosis, meaning it can be 9 degrees outside and you're still sweating under your arms, this product has the potential to change your life. I would sweat THROUGH a sports coat before noon. Enter the Sweat Block product. I've had it for three weeks, and it is life-changing. I DO NOT sweat under my arms anymore. I'm still on the original box that I bought three weeks ago. I had to write a review after I was cleaning the garage today in 85-degree heat. I was sweating through my shirt on my back — BUT NOT MY UNDERARMS. It is amazing!" — Frosty McGee Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $19.99. 6. A tea tree oil body wash jam-packed with mint, aloe, and tea tree soap to help moisturize skin and soothe common skin irritations (not to mention it also smells DELIGHTFUL thanks to the addition of jojoba oil, coconut oil, and olive oil). 7. Mighty Patch hydrocolloid stickers that'll save you when a big ol' pimple pops up the night before the date you've been excited about all week (and you SHOULD be — it's with that cute guy from the coffee shop you've been daydreaming about asking out for months!). BuzzFeed editor Amanda Davis is a fan. "I've tried various (countless 😅) pimple patches in the past and Mighty Patch definitely takes the cake. I stick it on and honestly forget that it's even there. The adhesive is strong, so it stays on during my tossing and turning at night, but I often wear it during the day, too! I work from home, and it's not noticeable during my video calls, which I truly, truly appreciate. For more deets, check out my full Mighty Patch review!" Hero Cosmetics is an Asian woman-founded brand and home of The Mighty Patch. Ju Rhyu launched the brand in 2017, which has evolved with products such as cleansers, toners, nose strip Mighty Patches, and more! Promising review:" Using this product has been a game-changer. It's as if the adhesion of it literally pulls all of the bad stuff from the spot, and you'll know when it's time to remove it when it turns up white on your sticker — so easy to remove, and my spot has gone drastically down. I'm on my fourth box, or maybe fifth? They're my go-to at the slightest spot I get to try to nip it in the bud. Might I add that my hormonal cystic acne spots have been majorly suppressed by these — as soon as I feel one coming on, I take a hot washcloth to the area and put a sticker on overnight for a couple of nights, and the deep underneath, feeling of that spot is gone. I love these so much, and you will too." — DebH Get a pack of 36 stickers from Amazon for $11.97. 8. La Roche-Posay triple repair moisturizer to help revive the dry skin of everyone in your household. It's safe for babies, children, and adults, so it helps reduce the number of products on your bathroom vanity! It's nongreasy and formulated with shea butter and niacinamide to restore the skin's protective barrier. Promising review:"This cream has been a lifesaver this winter. A little goes a long way, and it has completely changed my dry skin. I use it every morning, and it keeps my skin hydrated all day. It is lightweight and super creamy without being heavy and greasy. I can't say enough about how effective this cream is at a great price point." — Diane Delbrook Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes). 9. Skin1004 Zombie Pack face masks that'll make you temporarily look like a zombie while you impatiently wait for season two of The Last of Us (and the return of Pedro Pascal to our screens). This entertaining mask will tighten your pores and minimize the appearance of wrinkles while providing you with the opportunity to take some *very* silly selfies. Promising review:"Smells great! This face mask does exactly what it says. My skin is nice and lifted, hydrated, with a noticeable reduction in fine lines, improved texture, reduced pore size, and eliminated some newly developed rough patches forming around the hairline. Couldn't be more satisfied with this product! I have pretty good skin for 37, but this mask has really helped take my skin to the next level." — Samantha Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $24.86. 10. CND SolarOil — a must-have for anyone who is tired of cracked, brittle nails and wants to try and fix 'em once and for all. You and your manicurist will be hugging and jumping for joy once you see the end results. Promising review:"I had peeling, weak nails for years. Tried everything. I bought this in February. This size bottle lasted a bit more than a month religiously applying it two to three times a day. I was really seeing great improvement so I bought another bottle in late March. By May, all the peeling had grown out and my nails were getting stronger every day. I then bought the big 4-ounce refill bottle because I never want to run out of it again! Cannot recommend this stuff enough!" — Diana Get it from Amazon for $9.90+ (available in three sizes). 11. Venus Visage teeth whitening pens you apply directly to your teeth, let it sit a minute or two, hum "My Shiny Teeth and Me" from The Fairly OddParents, and enjoy your fresh-looking pearly whites. You can use each pen about 20 times and should expect your teeth to lighten 4–8 shades. Promising review:"I have only used the two original pens that I purchased and can already see an improvement. I am older than 60 and drink coffee daily and red wine weekly." — vicki houska Get a two-pack from Amazon for $17.95. 12. A fungal-nail renewal treatment with reviewer photos that, honestly, make me gag a little bit — if your toe looks like this, the good news is IT DOESN'T HAVE TO! This product helps with fungal nail damage and might possibly help with the discoloration, thickness, and brittleness you've also been experiencing. Sandal season is coming — let's conquer this once and for all. Promising review:"I've been dealing with a bad fungus nail for about three years. I've been trying to use products off the shelf and bought one here, you know, the ones with the brush. It never worked 'til I bought this one. Let me tell you, it only took just under a week to see GREAT results. It's pretty much gone, and it's been less than two months. Buy it and don't think about it! You won't regret it!" — itslilac Get it from Amazon for $16.97. 13. A vegan ingrown hair oil for anyone who is tired of red, itchy bumps pestering them throughout their day. (We have enough other things to worry about, don't we?) This oil is packed with jojoba seed oil and anti-inflammatory tea tree oil that'll help soften and soothe skin — bye-bye bumps! Bushbalm Bushbalm is an Ottawa-based small skincare brand creating products for our most sensitive areas. Get it from Amazon or Bushbalm for $26. 14. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel you can break out to conquer the rough skin on your tootsies and heels when you simply don't have the time to head out for a legit pedicure. Just presoak feet, apply the gel, let sit for 5–10 minutes, and rinse! It's recommended you go back in afterward with a foot file just to make sure no residue or dead skin is left behind. Promising review:"Best product I've ever got from Amazon. This thing is really what everyone said it is: MAGIC. I cannot believe, after one use, the results of my calluses, just years and years of pain, shaved down without any surgical treatment! WOW! I seriously have no words. If I could give this product 1 million stars, I would. If you're someone who's had horrible calloused feet for years, PLEASE BUY THIS!" — jess Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three styles and packs of two). 15. Plus, a foot file to transform your scaly dragon-like heels into soft soles that'll be so smooth your partner won't even recoil if you accidentally touch their leg in bed. Promising review:"BEST THING EVER! It's a MUST-HAVE! I have the WORST dry heels. It doesn't matter if I wear socks all the time; I always get dry heals. Bought this thinking it would work pretty average or similar to others I had used. I was sooo wrong. It is literally the most amazing product ever. It works SO WELL! Usually, it takes me a good 15–20 minutes at least to achieve somewhat of a soft heal. Enter this. It took me five minutes tops. I've never had softer feet! It honestly works even better than going to get a pedicure professionally. Seriously, so happy I found this." — Mickenzie Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 16. Wart-removing pads you can use to cover and treat the pesky puss-filled demon trying to take over your body, ahem, I mean the little annoying wart on your finger. The medicated pads are waterproof and can be changed every 48 hours until the wart is *finally* gone. Promising review:"I had a wart on my finger that I had been trying to get rid of for a while. I used all different kinds of freezing medicines and wart removers and ended up with this as a last resort before going to a doctor. These had my wart come off my finger within a week — no pain, literally just came off when I decided to change my bandage. Amazing!!" — K Pic Get a 14-pack from Amazon for $7+ (available in three styles). 17. An easy-to-use ear washer bottle with results that'll have you clutching your chest saying "Oh, my word!" — it'll help you safely clean out built-up ear wax, blockages, and impacted wax. The kit includes the washer bottle and three disposable tips. Using it is simple: Fill the bottle with your preferred ear cleaning solution, attach the disposable tip, and then spray the cleaner into your ear. This will loosen up wax and cause it to basically just fall right out of your ear! Doctor Easy started 20 years ago with the invention of the Elephant Ear Washer by a doctor who saw the need for a better method of treating patients' earwax impactions. Promising review:"Gross photos. My husband has had a lot of earwax impaction problems in his life, and up until this point, we have paid to have a professional take care of it. But recently, he suddenly lost about 80% of his hearing and just couldn't wait for an appointment, so we bought this item. From the reviews I have read, it was a particularly easy solution for my husband. Nasty huge chunks start falling out after just a couple of squirts. Cleared everything out, no problem. Highly recommend." — Tea Get it from Amazon for $29.50. 18. Or an earwax removal kit made with carbamide peroxide to help beckon out all of that yucky wax you've accidentally pushed further into your ear canal via cotton swabs (oops). The results might be jarring but will be oh-so-satisfying. Promising review:"Folks. Buy it. This is like head lice treatment. If you are looking at it and thinking about it, YOU NEED IT. And this stuff. Is. Awesome. Literally, chunks of ear wax came out of my ear holes the SIZE OF CORN KERNELS. Where was this coming from? Why is my body making so much wax? Where was it being stored? I did NOT think ear canals were that spacious, but apparently, there are some storage closets in there or something because, HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, the ear nuggets are real. My ears feel so squeaky clean! And get this, my hair makes sounds. Like I put it up in a hair tie afterward, and I could HEAR MY HAIR MOVING ON MY HEAD. What is that?! Seriously?! If you also did not know that moving hair creates a sound, you need to buy this product ASAP." — Samantha Get it from Amazon for $5.98. 19. Peach Slices hydrocolloid nose patches you can pop on before bed as a first line of defense against excess oil, irritating pimples, and enlarged pores. Just wait until morning when you see how much gunk is stuck to the patch — ew, but also, yay! Peach Slices ins a small business! Promising review: "I use these nose patches on my actual nose, my forehead, and my chin because I have very oily skin, and WHEW do they draw out the gross gunk in my pores. My skin feels AMAZING after I use them!!" — Lillie Blanton Get a pack of seven from Amazon for $9.98. 20. A stainless-steel tongue scraper with before-and-after photos that prove it really works and will also likely make you a bit nauseous. More importantly, once you introduce this to your dental hygiene routine, you'll feel more confident than ever when sticking your tongue out during selfies. 😜 Promising review:"This product works!! High-quality material, well made, easy to clean, corrosion resistant, at least in my experience. I can tell this will last a long time. And it works!!!! Got rid of a coating on my tongue that other tongue scrapers and the tongue cleaners on toothbrushes did nothing for!! Noticed it got a lot off the first use!!! My tongue looks healthy, and my throat feels better. Once a thicker layer starts on the tongue due to postnasal drip, there's nothing else that gets rid of it. It's easy to hold and doesn't gag me at all. It comes with a travel case, which I love because I don't want anything that goes in my mouth loose in a bag." — Saffire Dragon Get it from Amazon for $5.49. 21. And a Mouthwatchers' flossing toothbrush that has two layers of bristles designed to *really* deep clean your teeth and in between your gums. Your pearly whites will feel as fresh as they do after the dentist but without the ordeal. Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord couldn't help but sing the praises of this toothbrush: "I personally bought this and love it! I use an electric toothbrush usually, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. I've switched to using this in the morning and the electric one at night and definitely see a difference in that area in particular." Promising review: "This was another one of my TikTok purchases! I was skeptical, but my kids hate flossing their teeth, so I thought this might help in between making them floss. They work amazingly! My kids said they could see and feel a difference on the first use and I agree! They are definitely worth a try! I would suggest not pushing too hard, those tiny bristles really get in there and if you push too hard you nights be sore like I was. It felt like after going to a dental cleaning." — Amy N. Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.99. 22. Exfoliating skincare mitts designed to lift away dead skin (and remove a spray tan that's seen better days) — an excellent way for you to kickstart a spa-like experience at home or, you know, give you an excuse to send some gross before and after pics to your pals. Seraphic Skincare is a small business! Promising review:"If you're trying to find something for body is it. Just this glove, water, and some time. I soaked in the bathtub for about 10 minutes, then got to exfoliating." — Kari Shawhan Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 23. Affresh cleaning tablets to toss into your dishwasher and quickly get rid of disgusting build-up and that off-putting smell that comes from putting food-covered dishes into a machine to hang out until you're ready to run it. I have these tablets and use them all the time! They work especially great after the bottom of my dishwasher has gotten stained with residue from detergent or rusty-looking liquid after I've run my baking sheets through the wash. I love knowing I can just pop one into the dishwasher 1, 2, 3, and end up with a clean machine. Promising review:"After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and just not getting clean. Then, I saw a product test review for Affresh in Good Housekeeping magazine. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway, so I added that to my order. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I am amazed!" — Sheila Get it from Amazon for $8.95 (available in four styles). 24. A makeup brush-cleansing shampoo, because — surprise! — you need to clean those! It'll remove all the leftover residue from your beauty products right before your eyes like ✨magic✨. After reading about how necessary it is to actually clean your makeup brushes (I know, I KNOW, I should've been doing this for years), I was super grossed out and motivated to order the right supplies to do the job. I've heard good things about Ecotools makeup brush-cleansing shampoo, so I figured I'd start there. The Amazon listing also suggested buying a silicone makeup brush cleaning pad to go with it, so I figured... why not? Well, now I'm patting myself on the back because ordering these two items was a LIFE-CHANGER! I could not believe how much residue came off my brushes in just one cleaning. You only need to use a little dab of the shampoo, so one bottle will definitely last a long time. The silicone pad made it super easy to thoroughly lather the brushes without leaving my bathroom sink in shambles. I also loved how each section was labeled with which brush should be cleaned in each area. My brushes look brand new! Don't hesitate like I did — buy both the shampoo and the mat ASAP. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in three sizes). 25. A bottle of mold and mildew remover, so your bathroom's grout can resemble the likes of a fabulous White Lotus resort (but without all the murder and drama). There wasn't a lot of ventilation in my apartment bathroom, so during the summer, the grout used to get gunky and gross-looking from the humidity. I had been battling this specific bathroom grime for weeks and tried a whole array of products to no avail. Finally, I purchased Skylarlife Home Mold and Mildew Remover Gel. The results were outstanding. It's super simple: put on a pair of gloves and apply the clear gel around your grout. Let it sit for five to six hours (I suggest opening all your windows; it's got a strong smell), then rinse it off with cold water. Promising review:"Wow! I would give this 10 stars if I could. We've had issues for a few years with the caulking behind the handle of our kitchen faucet turning black from mildew. We've scrubbed with what seems like a million different products with no luck. We were actually just talking about ripping out the caulking and doing a total replacement. But my husband saw this online the other day and decided to order it. Almost immediately when he applied it, you could see it was starting to work. We left it on overnight, and the black is COMPLETELY GONE! It's incredible. 1,000% worth the (small) investment." — Nicole D. Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 26. Dawn Powerwash dish spray, which will become your right-hand man in the kitchen from here on out — it comes in various delectable scents and works wonders on caked-on food and grease. All you have to do is spritz, let it sit, then rinse it off! Reviewers are obsessed with it — it has over 89,000 5-star reviews. (WOW!!!) I use this stuff constantly and can confirm it's fantastic. I use it on my frying pans and the grill pans from my griddler (which is ALWAYS a pain to clean). It loosens all the gunk and makes cleaning burnt bits and pieces much easier. It also really does smell incredible — very fresh and delightful! I recently swapped from the "fresh" scent to the "apple" one, and, wow, it smells delicious. It also works great for removing stains on clothes (I've seen it remove coffee from a white tee with my very own eyes). Promising review:"This Dawn Powerwash makes it so easy to keep my sink clear of dishes. I use it constantly throughout the day. Every time I use a dish, I give it a quick spray, wash it, rinse it, and put it in a dish drainer. It is wonderful. I wish it was a little cheaper as I'm constantly using it, other than that I love it." — Linda W Get a pack of four Amazon for $16.88 (available in four scents). 27. A bag of FryAway cooking oil solidifier — a seemingly magical substance you can sprinkle on top of your grease-coated pan and watch as it turns to a solid. No more waiting ages for it to cool and then having to grossly scrape it out of your pan with a paper towel or accidentally clog your pipes. FryAway is a US-based small business specializing in planet-friendly cooking waste solutions. Promising review: "I will always keep this stocked in my house! My husband sent me a TikTok, I know I know, and I thought it couldn't hurt to try it out. I loved after the first night! I could easily remove the hardened oil and throw it out." — Roberta Get it from Amazon for $9.97. 28. The Frida Baby The 3-Step Cradle Cap System that'll remove dry skin from baby's scalp so gently they won't even notice — it comes a sponge, a brush, and a comb that'll all work together to get your kiddo's scalp looking good. Amazon, Read more about cradle cap — aka seborrheic dermatitis — at Seattle Children's and the American Academy of Dermatology. My daughter had WAAAAY more cradle cap than my son did as an infant, so I was prepared to really tackle it head-on (pun intended). This system was SO useful and made removing the cradle cap so simple. I paired it with a gentle shampoo, rubbed it in with the sponge side, scrubbed it well (but gently) with the scrubbier brush, rinsed it out, and repeated 3x. In the end, I combed all of the particles out of her hair. It made such a difference! Promising review:"My baby is 2-months-old and has been suffering from cradle cap. I didn't want to pick it out. So I ordered this product. When I tell you it took EVERYTHING out and DIDN'T take out his hair! I'm VERY APPRECIATIVE!" — Ahonesty Get it from Amazon for $14.39. 29. A robotic vacuum to lend you a helping hand in all your cleaning endeavors — Cheetos dust, coffee grinds, endless strands of hair; none of these stand a chance against you and your new partner in crime. They'll get the cleaning done so you can conquer another task on your to-do list. (Sigh, it's laundry, isn't it?) This robotic vacuum can easily move between hard floors and low- to medium-pile carpets/rugs and can pick up all the accumulated dust, dirt, and hair while you go about your day. It has an infrared sensor to avoid knocking into obstacles (like furniture and walls) and drop-sensing tech so it won't fall down stairs and off ledges. And if it starts to run low on battery, it'll just return to its base for a recharge! Reviewers do recommend keeping stray items like socks and cords off the floor before running this. Promising review:"This robot vacuum is incredible! I have three dogs and a cat; this vacuum is a time saver. I run it each day, and it has done an incredible job of keeping pet hair, dirt, and debris picked up in my home. Works well on carpet, hardwood, and tile floors. Wish I had purchased it sooner!" — t. hampton Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (also available in three other models). 30. A squeegee-broom contraption with an extendable handle that'll give you an excuse to sing Taylor Swift's lyrics "Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place" a la her famed "All Too Well" while you clean — except the thing that's fallen on your carpet is oodles and oodles of hair instead of majestic red, orange, and yellow foliage. Check out our full review of the pet hair broom for more deets. Promising review:"I have two dogs — a terrier mix and a short-hair dachshund mix. I have a navy woven couch that LOVES my dachshund's fur. I have tried pretty much everything to get the fur out — traditional lint roller, those blue fuzzy lint rollers, special vacuum attachments, etc. The terrier's fur comes out great with all of those options. The dachshund's fur, much like the dachshund herself, remains stubbornly on my couch. I got this product as the new 'let's see if it works' item of the month with low expectations. THE FUR ACTUALLY CAME OUT, GUYS. It acts like a broom for my couch — sweeping the fur (with some elbow grease) basically onto the floor where I vacuum it up! Give this a try if my story sounds pretty similar to yours!" — Janielle Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three styles and various sets). 31. Sticky insect traps to catch unwanted pests trying to feed off your plants and buzz annoyingly around your apartment. Toss your fly swatter in the garbage. You won't be needing it anymore. GreenKeeper is a small business! Promising review:"So lately, the little flies have gotten out of control inside my home. If I put a drink down within minutes I had little flies in my drink. Ordered these babies, and within an hour, there were a lot of flies stuck on them. The next day, double the amount; by day three, I hardly see any fly movement. Highly recommend these. There are so many in the package I have only used six, and they are still sticky and trapping more of these little buggers." — Kelli Silva Get them from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in a variety of shapes and quantities). 32. A pet hair remover with a unique patented brush design that'll let you invite guests to sit down without fear of them being covered head-to-toe in your cat's hair. You and I both know the couch is Fluffy's domain and they just let you and your friends sit on it once in awhile. From BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jenae Sitzes: " I've been using the ChomChom for quite a while now. It took 10 seconds to rid my velvet couch ottoman (yes, velvet...a terrible cat owner choice, I know) of the hair my two gray kitties are constantly leaving everywhere. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of using this roller — at first, I thought you only brushed down in one direction, and was confused why it wasn't picking up hair. It's important to do a push-and-pull brushing in *both* directions so it actually pulls the hair inside, which does require you to apply a bit of pressure. Afterward, you'll just dump out the hair that's been trapped inside." Promising review: "I've had it in my possession for like two hours, and I've cleaned everything. The couch, the blinds, the cat tree pad, the chair; I'm obsessed. I feel like this thing should win an award for being so awesome. I feel like it should be in raffle baskets and giveaways and silent auctions for every event that highlights 'things cat people need.' It's better than those sticky rollers, and it's better than the one-directional velvet wand thing that I always use the wrong way. It's the best." — Meowser Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four colors). 33. A baseboard and molding cleaning tool to scrub away the dust and grime that somehow congregates on one of the hardest-to-reach spots in your home — save your knees and tidy up with this handy dandy addition to your lineup. Amazon Promising review:"One of the best cleaning tools I own in my home. I use it for everything I need to dust. Not just for baseboards anymore!! Plus, it can be washed and air-dried!! Love my Baseboard Buddy!! The pole is long enough that you can even use to to do your fan blades. 😉 The pads are super absorbent, and you can even add a touch of soap and a couple of drops of water or cleaner for those troubled areas as well. I highly recommend this product!!" — Lori Sitzler Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 34. Plus, a pack of duster sponges you can simply dampen then start attacking all the various dusty surfaces in your home — the dust and pet hair on your baseboards, coffee table, end tables, etc. don't stand against this genius lil' cleaning tool. BuzzFeed editor Maitland Quitmeyer is a fan, "I bought a pack of these recently, and so far love dusting with them! All the dust sticks right on, so you don't end up breathing in all the dust you just tried removing. It's great for baseboards, too!" Promising review: "I had low expectations for this. But I'm really happy to find that they do work really well for a much better price than the name brand. It's pretty much the same as the name-brand damp duster, except that the grooves are slightly wider. Dusted the tops and fronts of my cabinets in about five minutes, but I'm most impressed with how well it removes pet hair from my couch and clothes even better than sticky rollers. I have Pomeranians blowing out their winter undercoats, so it's my new fav thing." — onon Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in six color packs). 35. An all-natural tile and tub cleaner to effectively remove mold, mildew, and rust — just think of *how* satisfying your "before" and "after" photos will be. Promising review: "I have an old shower/bathtub. I tried name-brand shower cleaners and bleach to try and clean the soap scum off the tiles and tub. I had no luck and I would cough and get sick because of how strong the smell was. I thought I would try this to save my lungs. I sprayed my entire shower and left it for about 15 minutes. I came back and rinsed off the walls, and they were shiny! I've never had such a clean shower. The smell is amazing and subtle. All I smell is tea tree and it didn't affect me at all. The price is also a good deal since the bottle is pretty large. It came with the sprayer separate and the bottle sealed so it wouldn't leak in the box. I highly recommend this." — Amber Erwin Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.68. 36. An electric pressure washer that'll have you wishing for more grime on your fence, outdoor furniture, siding, and patio so you can enjoy the immediate satisfaction of how sparkly clean this gadget will make 'em. Promising review:"Power washer was delivered Monday. It's Wednesday, and I have washed two cars, cleaned the driveway and sidewalks, cleaned the back fence, and the work keeps piling up; everything I see now needs to be cleaned! This little dude does not back down, has plenty of power, and it's surprisingly not too loud. Soap dispensers work great, and the tips are easy to change." — Mar Get it from Amazon for $149. 37. And, of course, a jar of internet-beloved The Pink Stuff, which is an all-purpose cleaning paste that'll help you tackle all of your messes but make it *~pretty in pink~* at the same time. Heather Braga / BuzzFeed After hearing what incredible things The Pink Stuff can do, I finally ordered it and tried it for myself. Honestly, wow! It really does work wonders. I tried it first on my Le Creuset cast iron pan (seen above, right) and really was amazed at how just one pass with The Pink Stuff (and a scouring brush) took off almost every stain! I can't wait to try it on literally everything in my home that needs a deep cleaning. Promising review:"I'm very impressed! It removed stubborn mold and grime from my shower tile grout with the use of a hard bristle toothbrush. It removed hard water stains from my sinks and faucets. I noticed it really does remove mineral buildup, but it takes a lot of elbow grease and repetitive applications before you start seeing progress. The texture feels similar to when you mix honey with sugar to make a lip scrub, except it's super fine grit and more pasty like putty or clay. It works amazingly so far! No overpowering smell (barely any smell at all), easy to use, and a little product goes a long way. I haven't tried it on rust yet, so we'll see how that goes. Over all very pleased and impressed so far. Highly recommend!" — Marissa Get it from Amazon for $5.49. Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Euronews
06-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Trump's remote work ban: What does it mean for carbon emissions and climate goals?
As part of a flurry of executive orders signed on the first day of his presidency, Trump ordered that all government departments require employees to return to work in person. Two days later, guidelines were released that gave federal agencies just hours to update policies on remote work. From then on, remote workers were required to be back in the office full-time within 30 days. How many people are affected by Trump's remote work ban? The US government is the largest employer in the country. According to the US Office of Personnel Management, 2.3 million Americans are employed by the state. Around 1.1 million of these employees have, until now, been eligible for remote work, and Reuters reports that 228,000 work fully remotely. Of those who 'telework' - partly in the office and partly at home - around 61 per cent of their working hours are spent in the office. Demanding these 1.1 million people to return to the workplace could present punishing changes. 'Federal workers who have been working remotely for an extended period are likely to have made significant life decisions based on their flexible working arrangements,' says Dr Julia Richardson, professor of human resource management at Curtin University. 'It may have influenced where they bought a house, what school their children attend, and what their spouse or partner does for work'. Dr Richardson concluded that Trump's order will likely have a 'dramatic ripple effect' on workers and their families. Does working from home cut your carbon footprint? There's another side to the remobilisation of such a huge workforce. Carbon emissions and climate change aren't high on the new president's agenda, but forcing such a large number of workers back into a daily commute could have far-reaching implications for the environment. 'Returning federal employees to full-time office work would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions, ' Fengqi You, professor of energy systems engineering at Cornell University tells Euronews Green. 'Our past research shows that remote work can cut carbon footprints by up to 54 per cent, while hybrid models offer reductions of 11–29 per cent. Shifting entirely back to in-office work would undo these environmental benefits and exacerbate emissions from personal vehicle use, particularly in areas lacking robust public transportation.' Why is sending workers back to the office detrimental to the environment? If you ask any remote worker about the benefits of working from home, they'll likely tell you about their better work-life balance, increased productivity, and time saved by not commuting. What you hear less about is the significant carbon emissions they cut from their lifestyles by not going into the workplace. The bulk of these savings come from not commuting to the workplace daily. A typical passenger in a car in the US emits around 350 grams of CO2 per mile driven. However, when that mile is in stop-start rush hour traffic, emissions can rise by around a third. Energy savings can also be achieved in the workplace, but only if the building is managed correctly. Keeping a large building fully open with fewer people would make any savings negligible, as most building emissions are not sensitive to occupancy. A better solution is to right-size the building and employ seat-sharing, or hotdesking, to accommodate hybrid workers. Cornell's modelling found greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 28 per cent under this strategy. However, the researchers also point out that the environmental impact differs depending on the individual worker and the business. A worker living in a big city with easy access to mass transit options would have a far lower commuting carbon footprint than one who drove a petrol car for an hour to reach their office. Then there are the offsets of more energy being consumed in the home while the employee is working remotely. Oddly, the research found people who worked from home tended to take more frequent personal trips in their cars and, as a family, had more cars. 'Remote work is not zero carbon, and the benefits of hybrid work are not perfectly linear,' says Fengqi You. 'Everybody knows without commuting you save on transportation energy, but there's always lifestyle effects and many other factors'. How will a return to work affect federal carbon reduction targets? Bringing people back to the workplace will come at a carbon cost. As well as commuting emissions, having more people in the building will mean more power consumption, more cooling in the summer, and more water use. Under the previous administration, federal buildings had a target for net zero emissions by 2045, including a 50 per cent reduction by 2023. Details of that policy, held by the Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, are now available via archive only. The current policy on federal building energy efficiency standards, updated on 27 January, maintains some elements of good practice standards. But these policy updates now include more open-ended wording such as 'to the extent practicable' and 'if life-cycle cost-effective'. So although federal buildings are still encouraged to improve energy efficiency and employ renewable technologies, there's always a get-out-of-jail-free card to play. On transport, the previous administration was working towards the Paris Agreement goals, with a matching target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and an interim target of 50-52 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Aggressive targets are necessary here: transportation accounts for one-third of US greenhouse gas emissions. President Trump hasn't specifically mentioned transportation, although he did revoke an order requiring half of all new vehicles sold to be electric. Crucially, he withdrew from the Paris Agreement, so the net zero target is somewhat arbitrary now. More important to the current administration is 'improved accountability of government bureaucrats'. The White House statement further says, 'the American people deserve the highest-quality service from people who love our country,' before stating that only 6 per cent of federal employees work in person. In a sternly worded memo sent out on 22 January, Charles Ezell, acting director at the Office of Personnel Management, described remote working as a 'roadblock' and a 'national embarrassment'. With a directive that will cause several hundred thousand cars to join the hoards struggling into cities every morning, there could be a few more roadblocks on the way. That certainly will be a national embarrassment.
