Year: 2018

December 19, 2018 at 09:28AM If money was no object, I’d do a lot of things differently (oh, and I bet that my financial wellness would be outstanding). I’d undoubtedly own several properties, take on a jet-setting lifestyle in which I’d stay at only the most luxurious wellness hotels, get unlimited memberships at all of the boutique fitness studios, and own at least a dozen pedigree cocker spaniels. But I can’t ignore talking beauty, arguably the most exciting thing to contemplate of all if money grew on trees. Imagine a world in which—despite the heftiest of price tags—you could add any skin-care products to your beauty cabinet? That means slathering your skin with only the most high-quality ingredients, having the most coveted #shelfie of all time, and basking in the glow of your own radiant complexion. Ah, goals. I’m not just sitting here daydreaming, though—I recently stumbled across a Twitter thread asking a very interesting question: If money was no object and you could only use one skin-care line for the rest of your life, what would it be? This takes the game to a whole other level—to me, as a beauty editor, that’s like asking to pick a favorite child. After much deliberation, though, I’ve come up with my choice: Biologique Recherche, aka the French brand that makes the all-famous $67 P50 toner.  The funny thing is that, after asking other Well+Good staffers their picks, not all of them were uber-fancy. What would you choose? For inspo, keep scrolling to see what W+G staffers

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December 19, 2018 at 07:09AM Cosmologically speaking, 2018 will be remembered by quickie engagements, an ultra-rare eclipse, and (anecdotally) the *most* retrograde of retrogrades. (Am I right, or am I right?) As for 2019, rockstar astrologer Susan Miller says the universe has an equally complex interstellar equation in store. Some will find love. Some will find fame. Some will find themselves in search of a new suitcase. Others will have to spend this year dismissing the part of their lives that no longer serves them (and make room for when 2020 deals them a new hand). So to find out what your forecast looks like—and to prepare your New Year’s resolutions accordingly—just keep reading. Below, Susan Miller gives her best prediction for your year ahead—according to your sign. Graphics: Well+Good Creative “For Aries, it’s about going out into the world and learning: to travel, or to go back to graduate school, or to get into publishing and broadcasting. If the Aries is already there, they’re going to do really, really well. This is a house ruled by information, and it’s a house where you need to prepare. You need a passport, you need to get tickets, you need to take tests to get into college. But it’s a broadening influence, so it’s great.” Graphics: Well+Good Creative “Taurus is the one that really needs to have money to feel secure, and they’re going to be so happy with the way the money comes in this year. They’re finally going to make the money they

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December 19, 2018 at 07:00AM There’s no denying that running is a solid workout. It’s been around since the dawn of time as an exercise modality, and is a sure-fire way to work up a good cardio sesh while utilizing muscles all over your body. But if you’re consistently dashing day-in-and-day-out, chances are you’ll start to feel like, well, a hamster on a wheel. That’s where a HIIT running workout comes in: By simply integrating interval-style training into your running routine, you can switch things up and keep on your toes. High intensity interval training has the perk of incorporating all of your muscles in a short (but, of course, intense) burst of time, and it’s even an ideal way to enhance your runs. “Short, HIIT-style workouts are the best bang for your buck, body, and time,” says Matt Nolan, an instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp. “Often, those who are running longer distances neglect strength training in general because running can be so time consuming. You should still make time to make your legs as strong as they can be so they can handle all of the miles you run on a weekly basis.” “Often, those who are running longer distances neglect strength training in general because running can be so time consuming.” —Matt Nolan It’s also important to work other parts of your body (because you’re working more than your legs during runs!). “The same goes for your core and upper body, since you need to be able to aid in the

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December 19, 2018 at 06:47AM If your spirit animal is Bashful from Snow White or Neville from Harry Potter…yeah, it’s probs a safe bet that you’re shy. And you’re not alone: A whopping 40 percent of people consider themselves shy—almost half of the entire population. While popular culture seems to venerate outgoing, bubbly personality types, there is nothing bad about being shy. “I would never want someone to think that they need a personality transplant,” says clinical psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, PhD, author of How To Be Yourself. Dr. Hendriksen says that shyness (a personality trait where one typically feels awkward and tense during social situations, according to the American Psychological Association) is a result of both nature and nurture. “Part of it is just how you’re pre-wired when you come out of the womb, but how you’re brought up also plays a role,” she says. “If your parents are on the shy side, you might not have grown up with as many social interactions as someone who isn’t as shy, and you might learn to model their behavior of, say, not asking for help at the grocery store if you can’t find something,” she says. Shyness is not the same as introversion, which is when someone is more inwardly focused and likes interacting in small groups or one-on-one rather than big groups. “You can be both introverted and confident, but if someone is shy, there’s inherently a lack of confidence since you are perceiving that social situation as a threat,”

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December 19, 2018 at 03:00AM For most, ferociously Googling “how to treat dry skin” is just as much of a winter activity as snowball fights and refreshing our sweater wardrobes. And while you’ve likely slathered on what feels like every cream, balm, and lotion that the Internet has to recommend, there’s one solution you may not have tried yet: essential oils for dry skin. As any wellness junkie worth their meditation app membership knows, essential oils boast an extensive roster of benefits—from plummeting stress and helping you sleep (looking at you, lavender) to working antimicrobial magic on skin (hey there, tea tree). An interesting tidbit, about how these delightful smelling cure-alls actually work: They’re created within aromatic plants that help protect them from bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and when these compounds are extracted into essential oils they can have similar benefits for us. Cool, right? “Essential oils are absorbed into the skin via the hair follicle,” explains Kimberlee Geng, the American Director of Education at Aromatherapy Associates. “All essential oils are believed to have nonpathogenic, anti-bacterial properties; some are antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. Essential oils also contain antioxidants which help to prevent cell damage caused by oxidization and protect against the buildup of toxic waste in skin cells, thereby helping to reduce the signs of aging.” But before you run off to shower yourself in straight-up EOs, it’s important to be aware that when they’re undiluted, they can actually cause a lot of irritation and have a drying effect on the skin. AKA: The opposite of what you

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