Ted Cavanaugh
As seen in:
MSN,
Yahoo Life,
The Wall Street Journal,
Aol,
Men's Health,
Popular Science,
Real Simple,
Bon Appetit,
Epicurious,
Refinery29
and
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Ted Cavanaugh
The 25 Best New Products That Truly Deliver
Best Lipstick CHARLOTTE TILBURY PILLOW TALK BLUSH BALM LIP TINT Sheer, buttery, and blurring, this low-maintenance lipstick is made for mirror-free touch-ups. Even better: The balm’s pH reacts with your lips to create your ideal hue. (Like a subtle mood ring for your lips!) “It feels like such a treat to use,” says Leigh Barie, 34, an accounting manager in Crozet, Virginia.
Doctor’s Orders
Strength Train at Least Two Days a Week It helps with nearly every aspect of our physical and mental well-being, says Sarita Khemani, MD, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University and a physician at Stanford Medical Center specializing in longevity.
Pretty Smart
1. STROKE OF GENIUS Applying foundation or a serum using this silky brush feels like a spa treatment. It also means thinner layers and less product waste. Yay! More yay: The other side is a massager. 2. EASY DOES ZIT It’s as if a spot treatment and a pimple patch had a baby! Salicylic acid helps shrink pimples, while the gel turns into a clear peel that keeps you from picking. 3. CLEAN SLATE Way more than just a cleanser, this cream is rich in amino acids and ceramides.
Shake It Off
Yes, these little pieces look like dollhouse furniture. Also yes, they can help when you’re feeling stressed. Made by a company called Anxiety Bookshelf, the books (they’re mini versions of popular reads!) are meant to be dumped out and carefully reshelved whenever you need a distraction. Choose from the original (which comes with over 260 books), a mini (with about 60 books), this adorable book nook or rolling cart, and more.
Care for Your Cashmere
1. PRETREAT STAINS With this high-maintenance fabric, “gentle” is the word of the day, even when it comes to removing stains. To treat oily splotches, sprinkle superabsorbent cornstarch directly onto the stain ASAP, and leave it be for a few hours. For non-oil-based stains, work a few drops of castile soap into the fabric with your fingers; let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. 2.
Genius Beauty
1. QUICK DRAW These creamy, chubby crayons can be used as shadow, blush, and lip color. You’ll have a fresh face in two minutes flat. (It helps not having to hunt for three different things!) Artist Color Crayons, $35 each; makeupforever.com 2. LIQUID GOLD Yes, this silky serum delivers an instant sheen. Also yes: It has derm-favorite niacinamide, which smooths and soothes skin over time. Luminizing Glow Serum, $38; jouercosmetics.com 3.
Editor Raves
Williams Sonoma Mulling Spices “I love curling up with a blanket and a mug of hot apple cider in the fall. Mulling spices take the experience to the next level. My mom gave me this blend years ago, and I’ve kept a jar in my cabinet ever since. I taste the cinnamon, cloves, and orange in every sip.
The Books List
Poems That Hit Home How About Now, the spectacular new collection by bestselling poet Kate Baer (What Kind of Woman), is all about change: the effects of getting older, what it’s like to watch your children grow, how relationships evolve (or don’t). Touching on everything from text chains to bridesmaid speeches to panic attacks, the poems uncover the profundity behind our seemingly ordinary lives. Keep this slim book on your nightstand—it reads like words of compassion from your wisest friend.
These Vacations Are Totally Lit
Knowing that so many REAL SIMPLE readers (heyyy!) love to read as much as they love to explore, we decided to combine the two pastimes and create some page-turning book-themed itineraries. See the real-life settings that inspired your favorite tales, learn about the lives of the authors who spun iconic narratives, and write some new chapters of your own.
Refresh Your Makeup Brushes
1. GET SOAPY These poofy little brushes can hold a lot more than foundation, and not cleaning them could lead to a fungal, E. coli, or even staph infection—yikes! So about once a week (or after every use if you wear liquid makeup, like concealer), give them a quick, um, brushup. Skip the special formulas and just mix warm water with a bit of liquid hand soap or shampoo in a small bowl. Note: Steer clear of dish soap, which can dry out the bristles.
Genius Beauty
1. MIST OPPORTUNITY I’m taking advantage of this hair and body spritz, with natural oils that don’t bother my son’s sensitive nose. And, yay, the milky emulsion hydrates skin. Josie Maran Fragrance Mist, $26 each; sephora.com 2. EYE OPENER I swipe and blend for a sophisticated wash of color that won’t crease—even on my oily lids. Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow, $25 each; sephora.com 3.
Editor Raves
Thirdlove T-Shirt Bra “As a wide-rib-caged, small-boobed girly, I’ve learned it’s pretty hard to find my size, let alone variety. But Thirdlove has lots of styles in all the measurements. While I like all their bras, the T-shirt one has become my go-to. It’s so comfortable, I don’t feel the need to take it off as soon as I get home.” —Melissa Matthews, senior features editor $72 each; thirdlove.com Hexclad Hybrid Fry Pan “I have three sizes, and they’re the most-used items in my kitchen.
The Books List
Satire with Heart In What a Time to Be Alive by Jade Chang (The Wangs vs. The World), 30-something Lola Treasure Gold is not doing great. Unemployed, she’s living in her childhood home in the Hollywood Hills, and one of her best friends has just died in a skateboarding accident. Then Jade unwittingly stars in a viral video that launches her to fame as a self-help influencer, all while she tries to navigate her own actual, complicated reality.
Eerily Cute
FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES MISTAKES YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE MAKING Front Porch Pitfalls Welcome! Designer Emily Anderson of O’Hara Interiors, headquartered in Minneapolis, helps boost your curb appeal. BY TESS ABRAHAM-MACHT You’re Using Too Much White “The all-white trend has started to go out of style, both inside and outside of homes,” Anderson says. Good! Because the upkeep is hard. For flooring, she likes neutral colors, like medium brown.
Off the Eaten Path
ADVICE, INSPIRATION & A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND When you’re planning your next vacay, keep in mind that there’s no better—or tastier!—way to get to know a place than through its cuisine. Whether you want to arrange your whole trip around eating and drinking or just add a bit of flavor to the itinerary, check out these food-focused activities. At the very least, you’ll come home with memories of amazing meals, and you might even return with some new kitchen skills.
Fuzz Off
Avoid Ingrowns Maybe the biggest summer bummer of them all, ingrown hairs are a common phenomenon. They can be especially prevalent where hair is thick or curly—the bikini area, armpits, and nape of the neck. If you understand why they happen, it’s easy to prevent them, says Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a dermatologist in West Islip, New York. “As the hair grows out, it can get trapped under the skin’s surface.
Degerm Your Hard-Shell Carry-On
1. DISINFECT Your bag likely has a good case of the travel bug: As you drag it around, bacteria can hitch a ride! After each trip, give the plastic shell a once-over with a disinfecting wipe or a microfiber cloth dampened with water and a little liquid dish soap. Don’t forget the handle, the wheels, and all the crevices. 2. REMOVE SCUFFS If you see any marks, make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water, and use an old toothbrush or small soft-bristle brush to scrub them away.
Bet on Red!
FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES MISTAKES YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE MAKING Bathroom Tiles & Tribulations Before your design is set in stone, check out these smart tips from Lane Hering, product design director at Zia Tile. You’re Under-Ordering Because handmade and natural stone tiles often feature varied veining, pits, and tones, Hering says to order 15% to 20% more than you think you need so you have enough to get the mix right.
The Books List
A Couple Adrift True story: In 1972, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey embarked on the trip of their dreams, setting off from England to sail around the world. One year in, a whale crashed into their boat, forcing them to abandon it for a tiny rubber raft, on which they’d float in the Pacific for the next four months. (Yes, this happened!) British journalist Sophie Elmhirst recounts their story in A Marriage at Sea.
Get White Leather Sneakers Looking Like New
1 SCRUB THE LEATHER Even the dingiest sneaks can be saved! Mix up a paste that’s equal parts white toothpaste, baking soda, and warm water. (A tablespoon of each should be plenty.) Dip a toothbrush or microfiber cloth in the mixture and apply it to your sneakers, rubbing gently in circular motions to remove dirt and stains. Then wipe off the paste with a clean, damp cloth. Pat dry with a separate cloth (moisture can damage the leather) and inspect. If any marks remain, repeat the process.
Genius Beauty
1 MANE SQUEEZE The sweet floral scent, luxe lather, and space-saving angled containers get a 10 out of 10. But I give this duo an 11 out of 10 because of how much body it adds to my fine, wimpy hair. Thanks, hydrolyzed collagen! Laura Polko Los Angeles Volume Shampoo and Conditioner, $12 each; target.com 2 GRAY AREA The comblike applicator deposits a formula that increases melanin in hair follicles, reducing my number of sprouting grays (yay for not having to dye just yet!).
The Books List
A Mother of a Memoir Erika J. Simpson’s mom was a fighter: She battled cancer five times and could talk her way out of—or into—anything. In Simpson’s new memoir, This Is Your Mother, she artfully weaves together vignettes from her childhood and young adulthood to tell an evocative story about the moments when you begin to see your parents as people. This unique but relatable portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship is a beautiful tribute that doesn’t shy away from complex feelings.
Big Little Wins
HAVE YOU EVER paid off a student loan or a mortgage or reached a big savings goal and patiently waited for confetti to shoot out of your computer? Why doesn’t that happen? It should! That would be the fanfare you deserve. In fact, we’d argue that tiny pieces of colorful paper should be fluttering around you at all times (don’t worry, it’s recycled and compostable in this hypothetical). Because chances are, you’re consistently achieving less major—but no less important—financial wins.
The Books List
Mysterious Journey In Heartwood by Amity Gaige (Sea Wife), 42-year-old Valerie is nearing the finish line of her Appalachian Trail hike when she disappears in the Maine wilderness. Beverly, the law enforcement officer directing the search, grows increasingly worried as the days slip by without any clues. A few hundred miles south, Lena, a 76-year-old in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes enthralled by the case.
Genius Beauty
About Heather With more than 18 years in the beauty biz, the busy mom of two (hi, Bean and Georgie!) has tried almost every serum, balm, and potion out there. She’s always down to chat about facial hair. PROP STYLING BY SOPHIA PAPPAS; PRODUCT IMAGES COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS; HEADSHOT BY FELIX WONG
Tame the Junkiest Junk Drawer
SORT, SORT, SORT Group like items together—by shape, size, category, or all of the above. Trash old receipts, punch cards to long-gone places, and anything else that’s actual junk. REPURPOSE STUFF See what you have lying around that can be turned into organizers. A pinch bowl can hold coins, a cleaned-out food container can store cords, and an old flatware tray can corral pens and scissors. ACT LIKE IT’S A GAME OF TETRIS Employ your retro gaming skills to really nestle those organizers in there.
Tiny Table Time
FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES MISTAKES YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE MAKING 3 Backsplash Blunders Planning to update your kitchen tiles? Make sure the work is groutstanding with these smart fixes for common misfires, courtesy of Kali Gibson, senior brand manager at Fireclay Tile. You’re Choosing the Wrong Grout Color “If it contrasts too much with the tile, it can dominate the design,” Gibson explains. Unless you’re trying to be extra bold, pick a shade that lands closer to your tile.
Refresh Your Velvet Sofa
1 COLLECT THE SCHMUTZ Pull on a rubber glove and gather any pet (or human!) hair. Then, with a handheld vac or the upholstery attachment on your regular one, make overlapping horizontal and vertical passes to suck up dirt, dust, and dander. Don’t forget the back of the sofa and the arms. Next, take off the cushions and get in there (read: find all the cereal) with a crevice attachment. 2 GET A LITTLE STEAMY Put a handheld clothing steamer on the lowest setting.
Genius Beauty
1 THE REAL DEAL In a sea of brands that overpromise youth, this one makes me excited to be 40. The eye cream, lip serum, and SPF are the best I’ve tried in years. 2 A FINE LINE With a built-in sharpener and smudger, this gel liner (in 10 eye-enhancing shades) helps me create precise or purposely smudgy looks. Smoky eyes? Cat eyes? They’re both doable! 3 ARCH SUPPORT One pass of this white-to-clear pomade sets my brows in place.
The Books List
Family Drama Peter is a 40-year-old asylum lawyer in Manhattan who devotes all his time to work. His mother, Ann, runs a women’s retreat center in Vermont. The two have barely spoken since a pivotal event tore them apart some 20 years ago. But when Peter takes on the case of a young, gay Albanian man, it stirs up emotions he can no longer ignore.
The Books List
Married Life Drama Keru, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, and Nate, the son of a White, working-class family, are a married couple who invite their parents on a trip to Cape Cod. It’s…not relaxing. A few years later, just the two of them vacation in the Catskills, but this trip has its own surprises. The couple’s attempt to negotiate family pressures and personal desires makes Rental House by Weike Wang an insightful, delightfully snarky book.
Busted!
MISTAKES YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE MAKING 3 Laundry Blunders Take a spin through these tips from Wendy Saladyga, stain expert and senior manager of technical performance for the detergent brand All. You’re Only Washing the Usual Stuff By the time you gather everyone’s dirty socks and towels, it feels like you’ve got enough to wash. But look around: “Identify things you can add to regular loads, like throws, couch covers, and pillow covers,” Saladyga says.
Blake Lively’s Best Bets
Blake Lively has quite the bio: She plays iconic TV and movie roles; she’s a producer, philanthropist, and successful entrepreneur; she’s a mom of four with her equally accomplished husband (Ryan Reynolds); and she even styles herself for red carpets. She knows what she likes—so we asked her to tell us what tops the list. FAVORITE FLOWER “Peonies, especially all shades of pink,” Blake says.
Sort Your Holiday Stuff
ORNAMENT CRATE Keep delicate ornaments safe and sound with this storage case, which holds up to 40 globes. Removable dividers offer plenty of padding for keepsakes of various sizes, but you can stuff in extra tissue paper for added security. Got closet space issues? Once the holder is loaded up, slide it under your bed, where it can wait for next year. LIGHT ROLLER Put an end to tangled messes! This organizer has three spools, and each can neatly hold up to 75 feet of string lights.
Genius Beauty
PROP STYLING BY MARINA BEVILACQUA; PRODUCT IMAGES COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS; ILLUSTRATION BY BABETH LAFON About Heather With more than 17 years in the beauty biz, the busy mom of two (hi, Bean and Georgie!) has tried almost every serum, balm, and potion out there. She’s always down to chat about facial hair.
All That Bakeware
Silicone This material is beloved because cakes pop right out and cookies slide off like butter. If tenacious pieces stick, soak the bakeware in warm water with a few drops of dish soap for two to three minutes, then wash with a nonabrasive sponge and warm, soapy water. To combat lingering smells, wash the pan as usual, then bake it on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes.
The Books List
Fresh & Funny Romance After Anna Appleby’s husband leaves her, she decides she’s done with love. She can lead a nice enough life caring for her two kids and working as a magazine columnist. But when the young, slick go-getter in the office starts gunning for her job, she pitches an idea to stay relevant: She’ll write a dating series…and her children will choose her matches. For some of us, figuring out who we are outside of our roles and responsibilities can be tricky.
Your Pots & Pans
PROP STYLING BY MARINA BEVILACQUA; PRODUCT IMAGES COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS
Wax Poetic
FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES MISTAKES YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE MAKING When Picking Gifts for Your Host Heather Taylor, owner of an eponymous Los Angeles–based home goods store (@heathertaylorhome), gives us some tips on how to win the award for best guest. You’re Making the Host Do Extra Work Your gift shouldn’t require any effort on your host’s part. “If you bring flowers, make sure they’re already in a vase,” Taylor says.
The Books List
Poignant Family Tale Known for her ability to describe the intricacies of our emotional lives, Sally Rooney (Normal People) has done it again with her new novel, Intermezzo. Ivan and Peter, brothers living in Dublin, couldn’t be more different: Ivan is an awkward competitive chess player, and Peter is a successful lawyer who appears to conquer each day with ease.
Jennifer Garner’s Go-Tos
An actor, activist, entrepreneur, and mom of three, Jennifer Garner has an intoxicating glass-half-full energy. She can do the red carpet thing, but she also exudes realness. She lives in leggings and says being with her kids at an Angels game is her idea of self-care (awww). We caught up with her to hear about her nonnegotiables and little luxuries. LIP STUFF “The one I’m wearing right now is by Augustinus Bader.
Scary Good
FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES Taper Out We took a basic mantel and creepified it with a cluster of orange and black candles in all sorts of textures. Pro tip: Buy them anytime you see them at thrift stores or yard sales. Ditto for brass candleholders. Go Batty Designer Emily Henderson (@em_henderson) scattered 3D bat decals ($8 for 60; amazon.com) over a wall to make a big impact on a small budget.
Your Yard
Lawn Put down the rake! Our experts suggest mowing your leaves—and leaving the bits and pieces in your wake. Why? They help contain weeds and, as they decompose, fertilize the soil with nutrients your grass needs, like nitrogen. During your final mowing session of the season, keep the grass on the longer side—around three inches. (The precise length depends on your region and the type of grass you have.) Taller grass has longer roots, which are able to reach more nutrients during winter and beyond.
The Inside of Your Car
Start Here First things first: Remove personal belongings and shake out the floor mats. Next, use canned air to force out any crumbs and dust hiding along your dashboard, in the center console, around buttons, and between seats. After you’ve extricated as much as possible, pick up your vacuum and get to work on the floors, seats, and anywhere you can reach. Hit the trunk too! Carpet & Fabric Seats Go with a foaming enzyme cleaner (see right).
You’re Golden
BEST TOOLS EcoTools Good Tan Collection The secret to a streak-free tan? The right tools. These three helpers are made of recycled materials and bamboo. Use the plush body mitt for a flawless head-to-toe finish (move in circular motions); the angled brush to blend product on your face, knees, and elbows; and the body brush to cover your back.
Genius Beauty
1 HEADY STUFF Eye candy on your vanity and sorcery in your hair, this new lineup has a solve for every sitch—fine, flat, dry, etc. The texturizer (my fave) gives oomph without any stiffness. And yes, this is the same Zara where you buy your jeans! Zara Hair Everyday Basics, $23 each; zara.com 2 SPECIAL TREATMENT I’ve been using this gloss, which has hyaluronic acid and rice water, in place of conditioner once a week to boost shine and smoothness.
All Those Shoes
IN THE BAG Zippered shoe bags make for ideal travel buddies (who wants the bottoms of their sneaks touching their clean clothes?). And they’re just as handy at home! Stash your favorite strappy sandals and out-of-season ankle boots inside these cute patterned pouches to keep them dust-free. Line them up on a shelf or under the bed. Compakt Shoe Bags, $38 for 2; calpaktravel.com SHOE-INS No closet?
Canned Goods
FOR SELF-CARE, HOME CARE & ALL YOUR OTHER CARES Ready-to-Drink Drinks Crack one open and enjoy! SPREZZA ITALIAN ROSÉ SPRITZ Ciao, bella! At only 5% alcohol, this is a bubbly pink drink you could sip for a long stretch. Made with white vermouth and rosé, it’s refreshing and sophisticated.
The Books List
No-Filter Family Story Sandwich by Catherine Newman will have you laughing through your tears. It’s set during Rocky’s annual family vacation on Cape Cod, a tradition now 20 years strong. She’s accompanied by her two nearly adult kids, her aging parents, her beloved husband, and her not-so-fun menopausal hormone swings. Feeling every bittersweet moment of this week, she realizes she can no longer hold on to the secrets she’s kept from her loved ones.
Your Linens
GO DOWN UNDER Send out-of-season stuff on a cozy vacation under your bed with breathable canvas carriers that act as mini suitcases. Underbed Storage, $148 for 2; getopenspaces.com DIVIDE & CONQUER Slide these acrylic walls onto your shelves and they’ll keep stacked towels on the straight and narrow. Sorbus Acrylic Shelf Dividers, $30 for 4; homedepot.com BAND TOGETHER Have you ever unraveled a set of sheets only to realize they’re the wrong size? These labeled straps will put an end to that.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Ted
Contact Ted, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack