Tag Archives: Beauty

The best self-care gifts for 2024

Posted on by

Caring for yourself can be as simple as sitting down to do a breathing exercise or curling up under a weighted blanket. Or it can be getting a massage, going for a workout or dressing up for a fancy dinner. There are plenty of things you could get for someone that not only shows how much you care about them, but also remind them that it’s worthwhile to take time for themselves. And while there’s nothing wrong with an aromatherapy candle, it’s more fun to go beyond the obvious choices and look at what tech products could help your loved ones feel their best. Our picks include things like styling gadgets and grooming devices, but also less techy options like a hair turban and face masks.

It’s worth calling out that these beauty tech and personal care suggestions are highly personal, so it’s important that you take time to learn about your giftee’s preferences. What type of hair do they have? What are their skincare concerns? What aches and pains have they been feeling lately? Getting just a few more details from them can better inform your holiday shopping and improve your relationships, too.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-self-care-gifts-160025041.html?src=rss

Ring refreshes its basic battery-powered doorbell with improved video

Posted on by

Smart doorbell company Ring has launched an updated basic model in its battery-powered line. The Ring Battery Doorbell includes feature upgrades to match some of the company's other products at a lower price point.

Longevity is critical for a product with 'battery' right there in the name. The Ring Battery Doorbell promises a 23% improvement in battery life over its previous iteration. It also comes with a new pin-push mount intended to make installation easier as well as simple detachment for recharging.

The Ring Battery Doorbell has been updated with the company's Head-to-Toe HD video, offering vertical visibility in line with the more expensive Ring Battery Doorbell Plus and Ring Battery Doorbell Pro models. The device also offers color night vision. It comes with the same motion-detection and real-time alerts of other Ring products, and can be linked to Alexa-compatible devices. And of course, Ring also sells a subscription package to provide customers with smart alerts and more detailed notifications.

Preorders for the Ring Battery Doorbell begin today direct from the company and on Amazon for $100, and shipments will go out starting September 4.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/ring-refreshes-its-basic-battery-powered-doorbell-with-improved-video-203832129.html?src=rss

This cute pink blob could lead to realistic robot skin

Posted on by

Someday, we may have humanoid robots so real, they have skin that looks and feels, heals and moves just like ours. A team of scientists from the University of Tokyo and Harvard University are looking into how to make that happen, and the process includes creating some pretty curious, partly terrifying and partly adorable experimental machines with skin. In their paper published in Cell Reports Physical Science (via TechCrunch), the researchers explained that current molding techniques used to create skin equivalents that can fit 3D structures like robotic fingers perfectly do not have a mechanism that can "fix the skin to the underlying subcutaneous layer." For their study, they used a technique they're calling "perforation-type anchors," which is inspired by skin ligaments, as a solution to that problem. 

Diagram showing layers of the skin.
University of Tokyo

Simply put, skin ligaments keep our skin attached to the tissue and muscle underneath, so it doesn't get loose and go all over the place like fabric on a mannequin whenever we move. The team intends for its perforation-type anchors to take the place of those ligaments in machines. To demonstrate the method's effectiveness in attaching synthetic skin to a "3D objects with intricate contours," the researchers molded fabricated skin equivalent onto a fake head. 

They also created a robotic face covered with a dermis equivalent that can smile. When the machine produces a "sliding motion" to mimic the movement of our face when we smile, the fabricated skin deforms to create a smiling expression. While the result could come across as creepy for some, we think the cute pink blob looks like the Moisturize Me meme after it's been thoroughly moisturized, or a very ruddy and shiny Thomas the Tank Engine. 

A pink, smiling blob.
University of Tokyo

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-cute-pink-blob-could-lead-to-realistic-robot-skin-130019452.html?src=rss

Overwatch 2 resurrects Pink Mercy cosmetic for a charity fundraiser

Posted on by

Finally, something the whole Overwatch community can get behind! For a limited time in 2018, Blizzard sold the Pink Mercy skin as a fundraiser in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. That was back in the day when Overwatch cosmetics only came in loot boxes, so the chance to directly purchase a skin while supporting a worthy cause was a big deal for the player base. Sales of the legendary look during that drive generated $12.7 million for the BCRF. And later this month, you can be pretty in pink once again.

The original Pink Mercy skin will be available for $14.99 starting June 25. Blizzard is also boosting its charity game with a brand new Rose Gold Mercy bundle for $19.99. For both items, 100% of the purchase price (minus any platform fees and taxes) will go directly to the BCRF. Players can buy these items through the Overwatch 2 in-game shop, or from the digital storefront on their platform of choice, such as the Battle.net shop, Microsoft Store, or PlayStation Store.

Pink Mercy charity skin bundle
Activision Blizzard

The preview Blizzard shared shows that the Rose Gold Mercy skin has a slightly different color scheme than the original, giving the support hero some rosy hair instead of her signature blonde. It also includes a heroic weapon skin, so that you can apply the pink look for her Caduceus Staff to any Mercy skin. The rest of the bundle includes three name cards, three sprays, and three player icons, all themed — you guessed it! — pink.

The BCRF charity drive will run from June 25 through July 8. It's a good time to get back into the game, especially since Blizzard has unlocked all new heroes and has made changes to reduce mid-match quitting.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/overwatch-2-resurrects-pink-mercy-cosmetic-for-a-charity-fundraiser-225022341.html?src=rss

King Ice teases bejeweled Pokémon bling

Posted on by

If you’re looking for a birthday gift for the Pokémon fan who has everything (and we mean, every toy, card, item of apparel, game, Happy Meal collectable, etc.), the jewelry brand King Ice may have the solution.

King Ice posted a photo on X and its website Wednesday teasing a new line of Pokémon jewelry pieces. The photo features the familiar face of Pikachu with a Poké Ball on his head decked out entirely in jewels. The X caption reads: “Collection dropping 6/14/24.”

This is not the first time the jewelry and clothing brand have collaborated with a big video game franchise. King Ice also sells a line of bejeweled Xbox themed necklaces, rings and earrings. It's also made necklaces and other keepsakes featuring characters from games like PAC-MAN, Sonic the Hedgehog and Halo with a completely blinged out Master Chief full figure and helmet. King Ice has also made necklaces and rings for other pop culture icons such as Batman, Chucky and Tiffany from the Child’s Play horror movie and TV show franchise, Looney Tunes characters based on the Space Jam movies and Ren and Stimpy.

This also won’t be the first time that Pokémon has been honored with its own jewelry line. Tiffany & Co. released a line of Pokémon jewelry pieces in November designed by Daniel Arsham featuring characters like Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Jigglypuff, Cubone and Mew. The Tiffany necklaces came in 18K yellow gold with diamonds or sterling silver and even have their own Tiffany Blue Poké Balls, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/king-ice-teases-bejeweled-pokemon-bling-222344432.html?src=rss

Dyson’s new lightweight ‘Supersonic r’ hairdryer looks a lot like a periscope

Posted on by

Dyson's signature Supersonic hair dryer hasn't changed much since its launch back in 2016, so the brand caught us by surprise when it unveiled a brand new model with a completely different look at New York Fashion Week earlier today. The "Supersonic r" is a tube-shaped hair dryer that dwarfs its predecessor, and it's lighter as well, weighing just 325g (around 11.5 ounces) — almost half that of the original Supersonic, which my hairstylist friend said was too heavy for all-day use. 

This impressive weight and size reduction is largely thanks to some re-engineered heating elements, which allowed the team to replace the old design's large head with just a bend at the end of the shaft — like a lower case "r," hence the name. (Remember the HTC RE camera?) Miniaturized heating grills consisting of 99.9% copper microfins are lined up along the pipe's curve, to ensure the high-pressure airflow is heated evenly with high precision (via intelligent heat control) to achieve better hair shine. The elements are also laid out in a way that avoids hot spots being generated, which may otherwise cause heat damage on your hair.

Dyson Supersonic R
Dyson

The buttons for three precise airflow settings and four heat modes (including constant cold shot) are just a thumb-click away. The air inlet at the bottom of the handle now comes with a longer-lasting depth-loaded filter, which captures air pollutants typically present in hair salons.

In addition to Dyson's improved Hyperdymium motor in the handle, the Supersonic r is also equipped with an RFID sensor to recognize its magnetic accessories — diffuser, flyaway attachment, wide tooth comb, pro concentrator and a new powerful air attachment. This feature allows the hair dryer to automatically adjust the motor and heater accordingly, in order to deliver optimal airflow and temperature to suit the purpose. On example is that the diffuser is set to low flow and low temperature, which reduces frizz and enhance curls. Each attachment can also save your customized settings for future use.

Dyson Supersonic R
Dyson

Dyson's Supersonic r is asking for $570, but it's currently aimed at professionals, meaning us mere mortals will have to figure out other ways to get hold of one. If you happen to be a US-based hairstylist with a valid cosmetology license, feel free to join the waitlist, and your salon can pick up a Supersonic r as soon as April.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dysons-new-lightweight-supersonic-r-hairdryer-looks-a-lot-like-a-periscope-085820478.html?src=rss