Year: 2018

December 23, 2018 at 03:00AM I used to think something was wrong with me. Regardless of how many expensive facial treatments I’d get or skin-care products I’d try (after several years as a beauty editor, there’s gotta be hundreds) in the name of vanquishing my breakouts, nothing would work—and I mean nothing. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent reading deep into product reviews or Reddit skin-care subthreads in order to learn about serums or masks or spot treatments that have magically cleared people’s acne, and then proceeding to buy it for myself—only to have it do absolutely nothing to my skin. It confounded me. My breakouts wouldn’t budge, and yet these zillions of acne solutions have given zillions of other people the radiant, clear skin that I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve gone with my metaphorical tail between my legs to dermatologists desperately seeking help a few times over the decades, only to be put on topical treatments that also—you guessed it—didn’t work. That was all until a derm visit earlier this year finally changed my life (at the age of 30, mind you). My acne is now completely gone. And ya know what did the trick? A pill. Spironolactone, a hormone-regulating prescription medication, has zapped my pimples into nonexistence. It wasn’t instantaneous—there were tons of rebellious flare-ups during the first couple of months (which led to bouts of hysterical tears)—but after plenty of patience and pill-poppin’ diligence, I’m in the clear. For the first time, my skin-care routine feels normal, not like a

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December 22, 2018 at 07:00AM Rice cakes have been a health-food favorite since the 1980s, when low-fat eating was all the rage. But unlike TCBY and SnackWell’s, they’ve had undeniable staying power; rice cakes are still a pantry staple in many healthy kitchens. A rice cake has fewer calories than a slice of bread, which suggests it’s a healthier vehicle for almond butter or smashed avocado. But not so fast. “Bread can be a very healthy choice depending on the ingredients, so I would hesitate to say that a rice cake is a better option,” say registered dietitian Maya Feller. “Some whole grain breads have more fiber than rice [cakes] and supply more vitamins and minerals.” As you probably already know, fiber is key to maintaining a healthy metabolism and keeping your digestive system running properly. Holley Grainger, RD, says that it really comes down to the type of bread you choose, considering the nutrient profiles for white bread, whole-grain bread, and gluten-free bread differ greatly. That said, most breads are likely to be more filling than any rice cake. “When swapping a slice of bread for a rice cake, it’s likely that you’ll be decreasing the amount of satiating protein, fiber, and carbohydrates that you would have otherwise eaten,” says Grainger. “Also, most commercial breads are made with flour that has been fortified with iron and folic acid, so know that you’ll be slashing these nutrients and will need to find other ways to make them up.” The takeaway: Yes,

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December 22, 2018 at 05:29AM Sometimes I see a a dog with a super-shiny coat or a glistening, oily breadstick and wonder, “What highlighter she use?” For real: I can find beauty inspiration in many, many things. So this winter, I’m looking around for particularly moisture-ridden animals/food/objects to take cues from. Certain boiled vegetables and glazed donuts have stricken my fancy, sure. And also the hot duck, which looks like he’s dripping in finesse hydration. But then, in a twist of fate, as I dug through the Reddit Skin-care addiction subthreads, I stumbled across the king of all moisturized creatures: a monkey frog. In what might just be the most inspirational beauty video I’ve seen in my entire life, the monkey frog—an especially waxy amphibian—covers its entire body in its own skin secretion (it sounds gross, but hear me out). He utilizes his itty-bitty limbs to carry out some sort of genius moisturizing method, ensuring to reach each and every bit of its skin. It’s iconic. His ambidextrous feet hydrate his rump and his back (astounding, TBH), and then he proceeds to use his front hands to moisturize his head to his snout, then down to his décolletage and stomach, all in the correct direction to stimulate his lymphatic drainage (brilliant). The end result is pure glowy radiance that I could only pray for in the midst of winter. The frog’s technique deserves some sort of skin-care reward or recognition. While I sadly can’t copy his foot-to-back moisturizing method, I’m

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