OtherPress2015Vol42No14.pdf-17

issue 14 // volume 42 life & style // no. ‘Wi

My Cycles

» An app for the modern woman




* Brittney MacDonald
| Life & Style Editor
M lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca

N: woman likes getting their

period. It’s an awful time

the desire to punch everyone
you see in the face—especially
if they assume your desire to
do so is specifically linked to
the fact you are on your period.
It’s a weird system. | didn’t
make it up. That’s just the way
it is. Fortunately, managing
your period has become a
little bit easier thanks to the
modern, technology-driven
age. Of course, I’m talking
about a smartphone app!

My Cycles by MedHelp
allows you to keep track of your
symptoms, moods, flow, etc.,
while on your period. The app
uses this information to predict
when your next ovulation cycle
and period cycle will begin
based off of the timing of your
previous ones. It also warns
you about what symptoms you
might have if certain ones are
especially common during your
menses. Speaking of symptoms,
there’s an option that allows you
to keep track of what medication
you took and whether it was
successful, meaning you won't

: be expected to remember what
: types of aspirin or ibuprofen

: are the ones you can take,

: and which ones just make you
: feel nauseous and cranky.

My favourite aspect of

filled with pain, sweatpants, and : the app is how simple it is.

: [hate things that try and

: overly feminize the menstrual
: experience—I mean, come

: on? When I have my period I

: don’t need shallow attempts at
: reminding me how great it is

: to be a woman, or references

: to my uterus being a flower

: (I’m looking at you, tampon

: ads). [need a simple, discreet

: pop up on my phone that says
: “Oh, by the way, expect your

: period in the next couple days,”
: so I can plan accordingly.

This app caters to that

: desire for simplicity by having a
: customizable design, calendar

: function, countdown clock,

: colour-coded cycle warnings,

: reference guide, and summary
: analysis page, and just being

: in general very user friendly.

: Reviews online also state that

: the response times for the app’s
: customer support is incredibly
: fast, which is always nice.

: And those pop-up messages

: about your period? Yeah, they

: also have them for when you

: should expect your ovulation

: cycle—which I didn’t even

: think about until after I got

: this app. Apparently, your

: ovulation cycle can also affect

: your moods, sex drive, and

: fatigue level, so it’s worth it to

: keep track of it as well. Being

: aware of your ovulation cycle is

Next Period

v1

rpm belt

.

Taare

: also beneficial if you're looking
: to get pregnant, or wanting
: to make sure you avoid it.
So you may be asking
: yourself how much this app
: costs. That’s the best part—
: the app is entirely free on
: both Android and iOS! The



Image via www.medhelp.org

: app wasn’t created to make

: money, but simply as a tool

: to help maintain feminine

: health and wellness, and also

: to help women better recognize
: when there is an abnormality

: within their cycle that they

: should see a doctor about.



Beauty on a Budget

» Skin care for the holidays





Lauren Kelly
Assistant Editor
M assistant@theotherpress.ca

Tenn care of your skin

is important, but it can
be expensive. Going into the
holidays, I wanted to tell you
about tWwo of my favourite
skincare steals to help you look
fresh faced for any festivities!
Face Mask Sheets: These

popular in Korea and have been
brought to a Western market
by stores such as Sephora and
The Face Shop, are one time use
only. Each comes in a separate
package filled with various
serums, such as vitamin C,
rose, pearl, green tea, and aloe,
which serve different purposes
such as anti-aging, brightening,
tightening, and hydrating. They
are incredibly easy to use: You
wash your face well, unfold the

wait about 20 minutes before
taking it off and massaging the
remaining serum into your skin.
These masks, which are ideally
used every day, will put you out
$8 a piece at Sephora, making
them incredibly unaffordable

: for almost anyone who wants

: to use them that often (or

: even once or twice a week).

: However, they can be purchased
: at Asian supermarkets like

: T&T for about $1 each, or in

: bulk for an even better deal.

E.l.f. Zit Zapper: If you

: struggle with breakouts, this

: clear roll-on gel from E.Lf. is

: very effective. Zit Zapper is

: filled with ingredients famous
face masks, which are incredibly : for helping with acne, such

: as tea-tree oil, witch hazel,

: and salicylic acid, and it also

: contains camphor, which

: works as an anti-microbial and
: anaesthetic when applied to

: the skin. Make sure your skin is
: completely product free before
: applying it or else it won’t be

: able to work properly. People

: have reported this making a

: big difference in their skin in

: as little as a couple days. And

: its all-natural contents make
mask, lay it across your face, and : it the perfect option for people
: with sensitive skin. Zit Zapper

: is also an easy gamble if youre

: concerned about whether it will
: work for you; I picked up a tube
: at Old Navy for $3, and it should
: be about that price anywhere

: you can buy E.|.f. products.



Image via aprilfoolromance.blogspot.ca