Ask the Editor: Vol. V, No. One

January was not easy. February was rough. March began with a sunshine, a healing child, and a deep breath. So let’s reach into the mail bag and start the month off with some reader questions.

From my DMs: Would you review Gruns vitamins for a Saw It On Social?

No. And here’s why.

Like you, I have been absolutely inundated with ads, sponsored posts, and the like for Gruns green, gummy bear vitamins. So after a few weeks, I succumbed to the temptation to order them. But I hadn’t even completed the purchase when the Proactiv-adjacent levels of scammy-ness made me rethink my decision.

First, off the vitamins are list-priced at $88 per month without the subscription and $79 per month with it. That is an eye-popping and completely unrealistic price (more on that later) designed to make you think you’re getting a deal when they offer you 40% off of the subscription ($47) and 35% off the single purchase ($58). But this math ain’t mathing, when you see what they actually sell for at retail.

If you buy Gruns at Target, they cost $19.99 for 12 servings. That means 60 days worth is $100, or (if my Algebra is right, and my sixth-grade teacher would wager that it’s not), $50 per month.

So I can buy the same product at Target, without a subscription for just $3 more than the 40% off subscription price? Hmm, that feels like one of those slimy corporate “discounts” you hear about on the news. But at least if I buy them in the store, I won’t get stuck with multiple months of vitamins and charges I don’t want while I likely struggle to cancel the subscription that I never wanted in the first place.

So if you want to try Gruns (and I still might), grab them at Target. If you’re not shopping at Target right now, I like the Smarty Pants gummies, which I can sometimes find at Costco.

Longtime reader, first-time question-asker! I’m excited about all the possibilities in denim these days….except that everything is still so very high-waisted. Am i the only one who has a short torso? And who gets a tummy ache after wearing high-rise pants for longer than an hour or two? i’m not asking for the inch-long rises of yore (looking at you, Britney spears in 2002), but a rise that doesn’t meet my bra line or suffocate my kidneys. Does this exist and, if so, where can i find it?

Laura

Jeans have rises that fall into three categories: high rise, mid rise, and low rise. High rise jeans sit above the navel. Mid-rise jeans sit right under the navel. Low-rise jeans sit at least 2″ below the navel. So the first thing you need to do to find a pair of jeans that fit you in a comfortable place, is to measure your inseam.

This 13-second video shows you how to measure your ideal rise height. All you need is a soft measuring tape and a mirror so you can gauge where you want the jeans to sit. I Love Jeans has a diagram that can help you figure out the best height, which is usually right under your navel.

High-rise jeans usually have an inseam over 10-inches. As a long-torsoed woman, my current favorite jean has an 11 7/8ths inch rise. So I love a high-rise jean, but they’re not for everyone. As for low-rise jeans, most, including this great Abercrombie pair, have rises 8.5-inches or less. These mid-rise jeans are an affordable option for summer, in a bright white, flare leg and a 9.5-inch rise.

The key to finding a comfortable fit is taking your measurements. Once you know what rise you’re looking for, you can search for them on Nordstrom’s website or at a denim retailer. Good luck.

From the DMs: Can you recommend a chapstick for really dry lips?

I use Blistex Medex and The Outset’s Lip Oasis. The Medex is a traditional chapstick that heals chapped lips. The Lip Oasis gives a great gloss while being extremely hydrating.

Abra,

I suffer from frizzy hair that gets worse in the spring and summer because of the humidity. Before kids, I had hours to spend blowing it out and a getting salon treatments to control the frizz. I need a miracle. Can you help me? I don’t know if I need a conditioner, styling products, tools or all three.

LGH

I don’t struggle with frizz, so I reached out to a friend who lives in central Florida and has a similar issue with humidity. Her recommendation was twofold: First, the Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray. She considers this the Holy Grail of frizz products. In a pinch, she also likes Drybar Final Call to smooth hair (it also controls static).

Second, she recommends the L’Oreal Steampod Flat Iron Styler. She explained that the Steampod is a gentle way to smooth, straighten and shine your hair. She says it’s perfect for quickly styling or refreshing hair. She says it take a little practice, but once you master it, you never need a salon blowout again.

From the DMs: What are those socks you wear?

These ones from Celersport. I love them. I’ve even convinced Kyle to start wearing them. Though now it’s tough to tell our socks apart when our terrier steals them and hides them under the bed.

We’ll have more reader questions this week, since I’m behind digging through the mail bag. As always, if you have a question, use the contact page to send it.

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