December 06, 2018 at 10:14AM Every time the Pantone Color Institute announces its color of the year, it starts popping up everywhere. In the past, there’s been Ultra-Violet—which is often associated with mindfulness practices—and even Rose Quartz, everyone’s favorite feminine energy-loaded crystal. But prepare for a serious reawakening with 2019’s pick. Living Coral is the newest color of the moment. It’s a hue that, according to Pantone’s vice president Laurie Pressman, can be described as a “saturated orange base with a golden undertone” that instantly makes you feel warm and welcome—something she thinks is especially important right now. “With everything that’s going on today, we’re looking for those humanizing qualities because we’re seeing online life dehumanizing a lot of things,” she told the Associated Press. “We’re looking toward those colors that bring nourishment and the comfort and familiarity that make us feel good. It’s not too heavy. We want to play. We want to be uplifted. It’s the emotional nourishment. It’s a big hug.” Aside from providing many feel-good vibes in the form of color therapy—and giving an important nod to the deteriorating coral reefs that are in dire need of protection—this color is also bound to make next year your most exciting and passionate one yet. How? It’s in the same category as orange, the color for the second chakra, Svadhisthana, which is all about sex and creativity. So, bringing some Living Coral into your life is an easy way to tap into those important parts of yourself and bring them into balance so
Month: December 2018
Why the death of Tumblr porn is especially bad for women
December 06, 2018 at 10:10AM Tumblr has announced that, starting December 17, it will ban all adult content, which it defines as “photos, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content—including photos, videos, GIFs, and illustrations—that depicts sex acts.” The move comes after Tumblr was removed from the App Store in November due to child pornography availablility, and though the platform has since upped its screening, and flagging, and content-removing practices, it has yet to be restored to Apple’s good graces. But this reaction by the site, which feels harsh to me, certainly doesn’t put it in my good graces. For the uninitiated, Tumblr has long been a respite for erotica artists and folks who create, curate, consume GIFs from porn. And for women like me, the 11-year-old website has been a trusty destination for female-friendly porn that feels more so for me than a lot of the material available on other sites. I discovered Tumblr porn in college, after feeling underserved by traditional porn sites that provided a bevy of videos that seemed to be expressly for male pleasure. Tumblr destinations—which, it’s worth mentioning, were free—like Lady Cheeky (NSFW), though, offered loop after loop of sexy smut that felt more female-focused. In fact, many of the Tumblr pages touting porn were by women and for women. And since they existed on a social platform, sharing and watching the naughty GIFs felt, well, social. Maybe it sounds weird or fringe, but considering porn is still somewhat
Solid skin care is now a thing, and my carry-on will never be the same
December 06, 2018 at 10:05AM There are three main reasons that most skin-care products meet their tragic, untimely deaths: You accidentally drop and shatter the bottle, you spill them all over your bathroom floor (or in the case of my favorite vitamin C serum, all over SoulCycle’s bathroom floor), or they’re confiscated by a TSA agent, who just doesn’t understand just how important your $125 vial of glycolic acid really is. No matter how your fave product kicks the bucket, it’s heartbreaking to say goodbye to your favorite toner, cleanser, or moisturizer before you’ve had the chance to use it to the very last drop. …And that’s where “solid skin care” comes in. In an industry that has always been dominated by serums, creams, and “essences,” a new wave of products has cropped up make your skin-care routine more concrete by way of solid toners, cleansers, and moisturizers. Picture the glue sticks you used to use in all of your childhood arts and crafts projects, but instead of Elmer’s they’re chock full of good-for-you ingredients that are easier than ever to apply. View this post on Instagram All day glow for unbelievably #toned and #dewyskin Water is the main ingredient in #solidwater so your skin is supple and super hydrated #STICKTORECREATION —————— —————— —————— #recreationskincare #sweatbeauty #sweatstyle #activebeauty #wearewild #runningday #skincareroutine #beautyful #skincarejunkie #beautyaddict #beautyessentials #skincarecommunity #motd #strongisbeautiful #athleisure #sportsluxe #sportsstyle A post shared by We are Wild (@wearewildskincare) on Sep 26, 2018 at 5:14am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js “Solid skin care
Why I’m ditching party dresses for embellished sweatshirts this year
December 06, 2018 at 09:42AM I was trying on dresses the other week for my cousin’s upcoming New Year’s Eve wedding, and I thought I had come across the one. It fit perfectly and was emblazoned with festive AF emerald sequins—but I could tell it was going to be uncomfortable… just like every other sparkly dress I tried on. I’ve spent too many otherwise enjoyable functions being slowly lacerated by the sequins on my dresses. As I stared at my reflection, I realized I could not—nay, would not—shove myself into another uncomfortable dress for a holiday occasion. I’ve spent too many otherwise enjoyable functions being slowly lacerated by the shiny disks on my dresses. (One time a strapless, sequined sheath gave me such bad, itchy marks that it looked like a had a weird rash under my arms for weeks.) Enter: embellished sweatshirts and sweaters. Sure, they aren’t foolproof (get some sequins too close to the neckline and it’s game over), but in my humble opinion, I’ve found them to be, on the whole, much more comfortable than sparkly dresses/blazers/pants/you name it. And they come in so many different options—you can go for an oversized zip-up hoodie á la this Nicole Miller one that’s so shiny it would make The Rainbow Fish jealous. Or, go for a monochromatic look that plays with texture like this DVF crewneck that I would probably Rumplestiltskin my first child for. (I know that’s not very festive, don’t @ me; it’s called hyperbole.) If you
What’s better for your bod: fish oil or krill oil supplements?
December 06, 2018 at 09:22AM The vitamin aisle can be an overwhelming place—like, more baffling than figuring out what kind of sneakers you should be wearing to bootcamp class. The sheer number of supplement options alone is enough to cue vertigo. Take omega-3s, for example. I thought fish oil was the end-all, be-all, but now it seems so many people (particularly people on the Bulletproof train) are touting the benefits of krill oil. But what the heck is the difference? To find out, I checked in with dietitian Whitney Crouch, RDN, CLT. While both krill oil and fish oil contain the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA—the ones credited with improving cardiovascular and cognitive health—she says there are a few key points of difference between the two. Supplement showdown: Krill oil vs fish oil First up: Both fish oil and krill oil are animal sources of omega-3s with slightly different origins. “Krill oil is derived from krill, which are small crustaceans,” Crouch explains. “Fish oil is derived from fatty fish, often sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and salmon.” One key difference between the two, she says, is that the EPA and DHA fats in each one take slightly different forms. “The fatty acids found in krill are delivered to the body in phospholipids (PL), while the EPA and DHA found in fish oil is delivered in a different formulation called a triacylglyceride (TAG).” She notes that although krill oil was once thought to be more bioavailable than fish oil—in other words, more easily utilized
This one-minute stair-climbing test measures whether you’re getting enough exercise
December 06, 2018 at 08:43AM There’s something about taking the stairs that truly messes with your confidence. You can feel like the most in-shape person in the world, totally killing it during HIIT seshes, turning up the RPM on your spin bike like you’re gunning to win the Tour de France. Then the second you start ascending to the front door of your walk-up apartment, you’re suddenly more winded than you’ve ever been. Well, it turns out all those flights are the ultimate fitness test and can say a lot about whether you have solid exercise capacity—or the ability to handle high levels of physicality—breathless or not. In a new study published by the European Society of Cardiology, 12,615 participants did a treadmill evaluation to test heart strength by measuring metabolic equivalents (METs). One MET is the amount of energy your body uses to sit quietly (walking is matched with 3 METs and jogging 6 METs), Today reports. And, you guessed it, that’s where the stairs come in: If you can quickly climb four flights in 45 to 55 seconds without stopping, it equals the max of 10 METs, meaning you have great exercise capacity (and deserve a pat on the back). And if you can’t do it? You probably aren’t getting enough exercise. If you can quickly climb four flights in 45 to 55 seconds without stopping, it equals the max of 10 METs, meaning you have great exercise capacity. Furthermore, a follow-up test found that for every MET increase participants achieved in the exercise test, the
We found the most comfortable compression tights around
December 06, 2018 at 08:40AM Whether you’re running errands or running on the treadmill, life is simply better in leggings. I’d go so far as to call them the most comfortable pants on the planet, and the last few years, the selection has become chicer than ever. But on the days when you’re wearing leggings to the actual gym (instead of, ya know, to sit on the couch and watch The Christmas Prince), it’s worth keeping in mind that they’re more than just a cute and comfy pair of pants—they’re also a part of your workout. Enter: Compression tights—which do a whole lot more than just make your butt look perky in the gym mirror. These extra-tight leggings hold muscles in place and tout all kinds of purported body-boosting benefits, like extra support and increased circulation (though they do not, as we recently learned, make you run faster). But with so many options on the market, how can you figure out how to select the right set? “When choosing any pair of tights, it’s important to keep in mind the product’s feel, function, and fit,” says Tom Waller, SVP Whitespace, Lululemon. “Ensure that any performance claims are directly related to how you want to use the leggings and any specific needs you might have in terms of your workout, recovery, or injury management.” While that all makes sense, the most important factor, IMO, is comfort, comfort, comfort. “For feel, you want to consider a fabric’s performance properties like sensation profile, breathability, stretch, abrasion resistance,
How to make your place look presentable for guests in 30 minutes or less
December 06, 2018 at 06:54AM If you’re as into Hallmark Channel holiday movies as I am, you probably have an idealized mental picture of what a festive gathering should look like: an apartment dripping in pine tree boughs and fairy lights, a Pinterest-worthy cheese plate and kombucha punch bowl on the kitchen counter, and you clad in some cozy-glam combination of statement earrings, cashmere, and impressively contoured eyeshadow. The reality? If you’re not a fictional character played by Lacey Chabert, having friends over usually goes a bit differently. In my case, it involves frantically stuffing my living-room clutter into a closet, lint-rolling cat hair off the sofa while ordering pizza on Postmates—and barely having time to swipe on some red lipstick before the doorbell rings. As someone with a more-than-full-time job and lots of extracurriculars on my iCal, I simply don’t have hours to spend getting my home party-ready. (Or, like, even one hour.) If this plight sounds familiar, however, there’s no need to stress. As I recently learned from a few pro organizers, all you really need is 30 minutes and some tricks of the home styling trade to clean up before guests arrive. Take their advice, and you’ll free up precious pregaming time for what really matters—like perfecting your chocolate hummus recipe and crafting the perfect “Thank U, Next”-centric playlist. Here’s how to clean house fast when you’re short on time. Photo: Getty Images/Cavan Images 1. Be strategic about which rooms you clean While you might feel like you
Your adaptogen habit is getting the gummy treatment
December 06, 2018 at 06:12AM The go-to way to get a daily dose of stress-reducing adaptogens is usually to put a tablespoon in your smoothie or coffee. But let’s be honest: The earthiness can totally change the taste of your morning beverage—and not in a good way. Well, get ready for a much sweeter means of reaping their benefits: Herbalist and Supernatural founder Rachelle Robinett just launched adaptogenic gummies. The formula is called Nerve Less because the blend was specifically crafted by Robinett to help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress holistically—consult your doc before starting any new treatment regimen, FYI. Here’s what’s inside: lavender, skullcap, oat straw (AKA avena sativa), and ashwagandha. “Skullcap very specifically targets the nervous system,” Robinett says in a press release. “Some of its active compounds bind to the same receptor sites in our brain as benzodiazepines. In other words, this strong calmer is nature’s Xanax.” Oatstraw, she explains, is also a nervine, or medicine on a mission to help the body mellow out. Ashwagandha has been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and soothe the parasympathetic nervous system. And lavender, of course, is best known for its calming qualities. The gummies are also organic, vegetarian, gluten-free, non-GMO, and have no artificial ingredients or food coloring. They go on sale today, for $25 a bottle. Is it possible to take too many adaptogens? Find out before you eat your whole gummy supply in one setting. And another delicious way to reap their benefits: These yummy
Spend your star-studded astrotourism getaway at one of these 4 US destinations
December 06, 2018 at 05:30AM Astrotourism is basically the JOMO of wanderlusting vacations—there’s very little to do beyond simply looking up and watching. Furthermore, it’s on the up and up. Airbnb even named astrotourism a bona fide trend earlier this year after seeing booking surges in accordance with celestial events, like the total solar eclipse in 2017. (The platform reports that more than 50,000 Airbnb guests from 26 countries traveled to the United States to see the full eclipse). But what even is it? Well, as its name suggests, astrotourism is rooted in all things astronomy and the stars; it’s about gazing up and nerding out about the galaxies beyond us. You’d be right to point out that this just sounds like good old “stargazing,” but the uptick in people dedicating their precious vacation days to chasing the best celestial sights rightfully calls for a new name. While there are plenty of gold-star (had to) destinations for stargazing (hello, aurora borealis views from Iceland), our own United States of America offers plenty of perfectly shiny locales for pausing and taking in the literally out-of-this-world views. Might sound like good old “stargazing,” but the uptick in people dedicating their precious vacation days to chasing the best celestial sights rightfully calls for a new name. Ready to plan your own stargazing trip without having to dust off your passport? We’ve got you covered. 4 cities in the US perfect for an out-of-this-world astrotourism getaway. Getty Images/Jingle Photography: Fairbanks, Alaska 1. Fairbanks, Alaska Known as