October 24, 2018 at 12:54PM Every winter, brittle weather rolls in and leaves lips parched and cracking. So many lip balms that make restoring claims just don’t deliver—and here at Well+Good, we’re, calling B.S. on hyped balms, and seeking derm-approved advice for picking out an option that will actually get the job done. “Lips are primed to be chapped because they have a lower density of oil glands, are in daily contact with saliva that contains alpha-amylase (a digestive enzyme that can break down skin), and are always exposed to the elements so they take a beating from the sun, the cold weather, the wind, and the heat,” explains Dendy Engelman, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. To combat those effects, search for three ultra-hydrating main ingredients when you’re scouring the web or shelf for lip-soother. Look for balms that form an occlusive seal on lips such as beeswax and the moisture magnet hyaluronic acid which locks on to water from within the skin. “Lips are primed to be chapped because they have a lower density of oil glands, are in daily contact with saliva that contains alpha-amylase (a digestive enzyme that can break down skin), and are always exposed to the elements so it takes a beating from the sun, the cold weather, wind, heat.”- Dendy Engelman, MD Simply put: If your balms don’t rock one of these, toss ’em…or save ’em for a day when you don’t need heavy-duty conditioning. Where your stockpile of useless balms once lay, you can now make
Day: October 24, 2018
This cozy sweatshirt will make you rethink everything you know about recycled plastic
October 24, 2018 at 12:21PM Not since Mean Girls has being plastic been such a big deal. At the moment, every socially responsible fashion company seems to be working on ways to literally weave more of the recycled material into its clothing—inorder to keep some of the 8 billion tons of plastic currently on the planet out of the oceans. Among them is the modern basics brand Everlane. Today it dropped its first capsule completely devoid of new synthetics. Fittingly called the ReNew collection, the focus of the line is on what Everlane dubs “outerwear with an outlook.” And its POV is as clear as its radically transparent policies. “Plastic is destroying our planet and there is only one solution—stop creating virgin plastic and renew what’s already here,” said Michael Preysman, Everlane’s founder and CEO, in a recent press release. Because outwear is primarily made from synthetic textiles, Everlane chose to focus on that category first as part of a bigger plan to switch over entirely to recycled plastic by 2021. It reused 3 million plastic bottles to make the 13 piece capsule ofpuffer coats, parkas, and fleece pullovers. The collection ranges in price from $55–$198 and a real standout is an ochre (or golden brown) fleece sweatshirt that is the muted fall iteration of this summer’s turmeric yellow trend. It’s hard to fathom that its fuzzy shell is woven out of water bottles. Yet, right now, in its recycling facility, the San Francisco-based company is turning these discarded drink containers
The 10 best beauty advent calendars to stock up on this year for *all* the daily gifts
October 24, 2018 at 12:19PM The holidays are a time of giving, so why not make sure you’re treating yourself, too? Advent calendars are traditionally used to count down the days leading up to Christmas, often offering a special mini treat with each passing date. But given that so many people feel festive this time of year, regardless of their beliefs or how they choose to celebrate, everyone can get in on the Advent calendar fun—and brands know it. There are plenty of different types of these interactive products available—including one full of healthy treats for your dog, thanks to Trader Joe’s. When it comes to fun choices for beauty buffs though, the options are practically endless. There’s a fancy candle-filled calendar from Diptyque that will literally burn away all of your stress and anxiety, and an option from Susanne Kaufmann that has all the self-care essentials you could ever need—muscle release oil, included. Whatever you need in the beauty department—whether that’s a conditioning hair mask or a new shimmery gold eye shadow for your upcoming holiday party—these Advent calendars have your back, and then some. There’s a fancy candle-filled edition from Diptyque that will literally burn away your stress and anxiety; an option from Susanne Kaufmann that has all the self-care essentials you could ever want, including some muscle-release oil to help banish post-workout soreness; and, of course, Sephora’s calendar that features lip stain and sudsy bath bombs alike. Basically, there’s nothing better than getting to open up little beauty-focused gifts
5 of the most common running injuries and how to fix them
October 24, 2018 at 12:11PM Whether or not you’re a big-time runner, landing yourself on the injured list is never fun. But when you’re training for a big race, it’s almost inevitable: increased mileage means more stress on the body, which can often translate to some unwanted ailments. And as if that’s not enough, Don’t worry, sister. We’ve got you covered. We checked in with Tyler Nightingale, DPT, a physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments in New York City, to get the lowdown on the most popular running injuries and what you can do to treat them so you can be in tip-top shape come time to toe the starting line. Photo: Stocksy/Bonninstudio 1. Runner’s Knee What is it: Another name for patellofemoral pain syndrome, runner’s knee typically presents itself as pain in the kneecap. Essentially an irritation of the cartilage on the underside of the patella, it’s caused when your knee isn’t moving properly on the correct track. “It tends to occur when you have biomechanic factors that overload the knee during repetitive movements like running,” says Nightingale. When you feel it: Going down stairs, sitting with a lot of knee bend or after a long run Who’s most at risk: People with poor eccentric (or, the lowering phase) control of foot pronation, hip adduction and internal rotation, all of which will allow your knee to turn inwards with each weighted step Running modifications: Try to reduce your mileage and downhills while pain is most severe, suggests Nightingale. “If pain
How microdosing cannabis helps me be less stressed and more productive at work
October 24, 2018 at 12:11PM Back in the day, dabbling in cannabis meant one thing—getting high. But as more information emerges about pot’s health benefits and it becomes legalized in a growing number of states, more nuanced uses for the plant are stepping into the spotlight. Some people are using CBD-infused products to reduce stress with zero buzz, while others are turning to tiny amounts of psychoactive cannabis—aka microdosing—for a mildly lit lift during their day-to-day activities. (Office tasks included.) For insight into this burgeoning trend, we turned to Anna Duckworth, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Miss Grass, an elevated lifestyle shop and publication for women and cannabis. Read on for the 411 on 420’s latest evolution. Be honest: You’re reading this because you’re skeptical that microdosing cannabis could make for a better-than-usual workday. But you’re also hoping, in your heart of skeptical hearts, that there’s some truth to that claim. I know there is, because I microdose cannabis myself. Not all the time, but some of the time. I exercise and meditate (occasionally) and take deep breaths to relieve stress, but a very low dose of cannabis is normally what I need to manage the exceptionally anxious moments. By the middle of a workday, it’s not unusual for me to feel tightly wound, and that’s when a tiny hit off of a vaporizer or a few drops of a tincture can level me out and make my to-do list feel much more manageable. It makes me feel relaxed right away, it restores my
If your yoga mat feels more like a Slip ‘N Slide, you need to know this teacher’s genius trick
October 24, 2018 at 12:06PM Picture this: You order a brand-spanking-new yoga mat that’s ideal for your asana style of choice, don your dearest pair of leggings, and settle in for some flow-y fun. Then the unthinkable happens. Your fingers start slipping forward in your first downward dog. Rather than throwing your hands up and retiring yet another Slip ‘N Slide mat, yoga teacher and physical therapist Lara Heimann has a solution that’ll support even the sweatiest-palmed yogis. (Present!) She suggests fast-forwarding the natural process of breaking in your mat. “Take a little sandpaper and lightly scrub across the mat where your hands and feet typically are, doing less at first and then testing it out,” she instructs. Repeat the buffing process until the product has your desired level of wear-and-tear. Once the mat has your back, er, hands in every pose from plank to handstand, you’re ready to flow through your warriors without accidentally landing in the splits. And hey, buying a square of sandpaper will also set you back way less cha-ching than splurging on an additional mat. If you’re packing up for vacay, these compact mats will fit seamlessly into your suitcase. And when you’re done flowing, clean up your mat with this solution. Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good Selected by iversue
Next time you go to the salon, ask for a dry haircut
October 24, 2018 at 11:33AM Regardless of where you go to get your hair cut, the experience is often pretty much the same. It starts with a quick consultation where you tell your stylist your hair dreams, and then you’re moved through the shampoo, condition, cut, and dry four-step process. You know the drill. And that’s all well and good, but more and more stylists are going by way of the dry cut. This is something that women with curls are well accustomed to, because by cutting hair dry, stylists are better able to account for the texture, the part, and truly see how hair falls to give you good hair days on repeat. And it’s something that everyone can benefit from doing, says Jon Reyman, celebrity hair stylist, educator, and owner of cool-girl salon Spoke & Weal. I’m ready to put it to the test. When I arrive at the salon in New York’s Soho—long, damaged tresses in tow—I see several people getting their hair cut with their lengths completely dry. “Have you ever had your hair cut dry before?” Reyman (who’s rocking some dope Balenciaga sneakers, might I add) asks me upon sitting down into his client chair. “No,” I respond, feeling somewhat ashamed for not having tested this before. “I’ve never done it so this is going to be our first time,” he quips. “[Cutting dry hair] gives me a clear understanding of your length and your density.” —Jon Reyman He’s kidding, of course. Reyman is not only a
The first wellness purchase our editors would’ve made if they’d won the lottery
October 24, 2018 at 10:49AM By now, you’ve probably heard there’s a secret someone in South Carolina that’s the proud new owner of a hefty $1.5 billion dollars thanks to the Mega Millions lottery. Or, you know, $878 million in cash before taxes. (And you’re welcome, you lucky dog, you—I personally contributed around $30 to your newfound riches over the past week.) While this is great news for one person, the rest of us who were banking on the slightly small chance (AKA 1 in 302,575,350) of becoming more wealthy than Taylor Swift are sadly back at square one. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t dream a little, right? Wellness can be a little pricey. SoulCycle classes are around $34 a class, matcha lattes add up quick, leggings now cost more than a pair of nice jeans, and going on a relaxing vacay to a tropical oasis? Yeah, it’s probably going to set you back a bit. All in all, these purchases certainly make your life better, but it’s not exactly something everyone can just pull out their credit card for without first building it into their budget. With a lottery win, though, that could all change. With millions of dollars dropped into your bank account, it might be hard to decide what your very first wellness-focused purchase would be with so many options. Honestly…not that hard, though. Here’s exactly what Well+Good editors would spend their money on if they won the lottery. 1. A dream vacay to a tropical island “If I won the
A dermatologist’s hack for making your eye cream work double duty
October 24, 2018 at 10:08AM Eye creams are notorious dark circle savers—just ask derms. However, if you’re only slathering your go-to formula under your lashline, the rest of your eye area—namely, your lids— may be experiencing FOMO…on collagen (the protein responsible for structuring your skin). “I believe in putting your eye cream all around your eye, including the eyelid,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. Since the layer of skin surrounding your eyes is the thinnest on your entire body, this part of your face is also more prone to aging brought on by the loss of collagen and elastin. “We tend to touch and rub the skin of the eyes more than other areas—especially in those who wear contacts, so this can contribute to stretching of the skin as well,” adds the dermatologist. Eye creams, in turn, can help stimulate collagen production, de-puff lids which can get swollen overnight, and may even tighten the skin. “I believe in putting your eye cream all around your eye, including the eyelid.” – Dendy Engelman, MD Next time you’re performing your nightly 20-step skincare routine, Dr. Engelman recommends extending the half moon fingertip motions you’d normally use to apply the cream to your under eyes into full moon-shaped circles. Just don’t stray too close to the lashes, or the product might slip into your eyes. If you still haven’t fallen head over heels for an eye cream yet, she recommends trying out the SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair ($102), which offers antioxidant protection with Vitamin A, C,
Does your sky-high libido have any health implications?
October 24, 2018 at 10:03AM Ask 100 people on the street what the “right” amount of sex to be having is, and you’ll get 100 different answers (well, at least a hearty range of opinions). For some, getting it on every day is exhausting and overkill. For others though, the prospect of a daily slip between the sheets is totally titillating. If your desire skews more toward “romp on the regular,” you may find yourself wondering, Is my sex drive too high? Is it unhealthy? First keep in mind that the idea of what constitutes a “high” sex drive is as subjective as, say, how much meditation is too much. “What’s high for one person may seem totally run-of-the-mill for others,” says Dr. Megan Stubbs, Ed.D., board-certified sexologist and relationship expert. Basically, there’s no medically agreed-upon definition for what constitutes a higher-than-normal need to get it on. There’s no medically agreed-upon definition for what constitutes a higher-than-normal need to get it on. Dr. Stubbs says there’s really no harm in feeling randy at a higher rate than “normal” (however you define that): Your sex drive can peak and plummet depending on what’s going on in your life, and certain medications can affect your libido too. Some folks see sex as a coping mechanism, and they may choose a sack session as a kind of balm. But these are normal fluctuations—i.e., no cause for concern in that department. That said, if your high libido leads to compulsive behavior, it’s time to