First for Women January 3, 2022

Bliss in every bite Yuletide yum! “In my house, December is when the jellyroll pan comes out,” says Emily Boyette, FIRST Associate Food Editor. “And this Yule log cake is easy to make—and fun to decorate! I mix 1 box of angel food cake mix with instructed ingredients and bake in a parchment-lined jellyroll pan at 375°F for 20 minutes. Once cool, I spread 1 cup of caramel sauce on top and sprinkle with 2 Tbs. of cinnamon. Then I lift the parchment on the sides to gently roll into a log, discarding the paper and transferring the log to a plate. To finish, I coat the log with 2 cups of milk-chocolate frosting, make lines down the sides to mimic wood and top with sprinkles and berries. It always wins rave…

Easily salvage a shrunken sweater Oops! You accidentally threw your favorite cotton sweater into the dryer, and now it’s tiny. The good news: Reviving it is simple. First, saturate the garment in cool water, then gently wring it and stretch it out on a towel until it’s your desired size. Next, weight each corner of the sweater with a heavy candle or canned good so it maintains its shape, and let air-dry. Cotton fibers will reshape as they dry, returning your top to its original glory! QUICK POLL How do you see better in the dark? Winter’s dark nights can make driving difficult, especially since 70% of us struggle with night vision. Here, how FIRST readers stay safer on the road 51% ♥ this idea! Don sunglasses for 20 minutes before driving to speed the eyes’…

Blazer Avoid bold buttons ✓ Whittles the middle Buttoning a velvet blazer should help cinch the waist, but contrasting buttons that stand out end up magnifying the area instead. The fix: A blazer worn open with same-toned buttons keeps focus moving vertically so the belly and body appear slimmer overall. ✗ Adds 10 pounds A dress made of the already-bulky fabric combined with shape-erasing billowy pleats and an uneven leg-thickening hem, causes the figure to look heftier. Dress Opt for a simple style ✓ Carves out curves The simplified design of a structured pencil dress not only skims seamlessly over any trouble spots, but the figure-flattering fit also spotlights the body’s beautiful feminine shape. Pants Pick fit-and-flare ✓ Shrinks legs A pair of velvet trousers with wide legs through-out visually widens the lower half for a stocky appearance. But pants that “cling” to…

Long hair? The height of a pompadour-infused half-up ’do creates the illusion of a fuller head of hair. Plus, it offsets the volume-sapping nature of longer locks as they cascade beautifully down the back. To do: Back-comb hair at the crown; then, leaving a 1" tendril on each side, gather a 3" section of hair from above each ear on each side and twist them together loosely in back; secure with pins. Medium length? A plump ponytail adds pizzazz to limp shoulder-length hair while adding 360 degrees of volume. To do: Curl hair, then tease at the roots in 1" sections. Secure hair into a loose pony at the back of the crown. Gently tug on small sections on top to add gorgeous oomph. Short hair? Sweeping a crop up, back and over props hair off the…

The invitations are rolling in, and we can’t wait to celebrate with friends, family and co-workers. But finding the perfect outfit for one, let alone many, gatherings can be daunting and pricey! Dazzling for HOSTING A HOLIDAY DINNER Start with your own sweaterdress… The cozy knitwear not only allows you to move around with ease when entertaining guests in your home, it’s like a blank slate, making it so easy to dress up, says stylist Amanda Sanders, who’s worked with Marilu Henner and Rosie Perez. “Plus, no matter what color your dress is, the fitted design hugs curves, and the material’s ribbed, vertical lines visually elongate and slim the body all over.” Update it with gilded ornaments Wearing gold accessories from head to toe creates pretty pizzazz that instantly transforms a more casual sheath into…

Stickers that make acne disappear Verified Amazon reviewers can be relied upon to tell it like it is, and they’re raving about Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original (Amazon.com). The reason? These “stickers,” made of absorbent plant-based material hydrocolloid, flatten pimples, mask inflammation and draw out the bacteria, dirt and oil that causes acne in a pinch. One reviewer called them the best product ever and also said, “They blend in with skin, making them unnoticeable…I would even wear these in public if needed.” Green ‘beads’ that erase redness After 6 million TikTok viewers saw L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier Color Correcting BB Cream Anti-Redness (Target.com) in action, the cream sold out nationwide. What sets this BB cream apart: It’s made with green encapsulated beads that instantly neutralize redness (since red and green are…