Is Your Daughter a ‘VSCO Girl’?
10 SIGNS TO LOOK FOR THIS SPRING Is your daughter obsessed with scrunchies? Does she love posting on TikTok? Has it been more than six months since you’ve seen her without her Hydro Flask? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you just might be living with a VSCO Girl. What is a VSCO Girl? The term VSCO Girl first appeared in Urban Dictionary in July of 2019, and it’s been in the news ever since. The word VSCO (pronounced “vis-co”) comes from the name of a popular editing app for photographers. Like Instagram, VSCO offers filters and other features to enhance photographs. These “looks” are so distinctive that teens and 20-somethings who used the filters became known online as “VSCO Girls.” From there, a simple obsession with an app spiraled into an entire identity based on the vibes that the filters gave off. Self-identified “VSCO Girls’’ are eco-friendly, laid-back, and feminine in a cutesy, Lisa Frank kind of way. Look up #VSCOgirl, and you’ll find more than a million videos of people either mocking or displaying VSCO Girl traits. Even two years in, #VSCOcam is one of the top 100 hashtags on Instagram. How can you spot the signs? If you want to know whether your daughter fits the VSCO trend, you’re in luck: There are dozens of visible markers to look for. According to Teen Vogue, a “VSCO Girl Starter Kit” includes pastel clothes (specifically scrunchies, T-shirt
dresses, Crocs, and high-waisted shorts), Vans shoes, lip gloss, Hydro Flasks, reusable straws, canvas tote bags, Birkenstocks, disposable or instant cameras, strands of twinkle lights, and an obsession with curling hair and eyelashes. On their own, these are all innocuous traits, but together they scream “VSCO Girl.” Now what? There’s nothing inherently wrong with being a “VSCO Girl.” If your daughter identifies as one, the only thing that might be worth worrying about is how much time she spends on Instagram or TikTok. So instead of quashing her aesthetic, try using your newfound knowledge to bond a little. If you take her scrunchie shopping or share an article about saving the sea turtles, you just might win the title of “cool parent.”
ARE THEY REALLY SAFE? The Truth About Essential Oils
If you’ve ever visited a spa or tried a “natural” perfume, then you’ve probably been exposed to essential oils. These fragrant oils are derived from plants and have become a fad among health nuts, yoga practitioners, and even chefs. Many devotees believe that a few drops of oil added to a diffuser, mixed with food, or rolled onto the wrist can do just about anything, like reduce anxiety and ward off the common cold. In 2019, the global essential oil market was valued at more than $7 billion, and sales are expected to soar above $14 billion by 2026. But there’s a catch: Some doctors now warn that essential oils are not a panacea — and they’re not as safe as they seem. What do the experts say? According to Rose Ann Gould Soloway, a clinical toxicologist at the National Capital Poison Center, essential oils can be safe and beneficial. However, they have harmful side effects when misused. Many oils can cause rashes and even poison users if they’re swallowed or rubbed directly onto the skin. In addition to this, incorrectly breathing in an essential oil can cause pneumonia.
How are essential oils misused? When it comes to essential oils, there are two big mistakes people might make: They either overuse essential oils with their children or they apply them the wrong way. When essential oils are concerned, proper application and amount can make a life-or-death difference. Nutmeg oil, for example, tastes delicious in food but can cause hallucinations and even comas when mishandled, and eucalyptus oil, which can soothe a cough, can also cause seizures if ingested. Another example is sage oil; it has beneficial applications, but even small amounts can make a child very ill. How can you use oils safely? If you use essential oils or oil-based products, it’s vital that you follow the instructions that come with them and keep bottles of pure oil locked away from your kids and pets. When you’re using oils topically, dilute them with a barrier substance like a non-essential oil, lotion, or aloe jelly; and when you’re inhaling them, use a waterless or water-based diffuser. Finally, when in doubt, do your research! The American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram journal, AromaWeb.com, and databases like ScienceDirect and PubMed Central are great resources. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital also offers an expert safety guide for using oils on kids.
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