Day: January 23, 2019

January 23, 2019 at 01:14PM by CWC When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the Oscar nominees, the Twitterverse responds like clockwork with equal parts criticism and congratulation, pecked out as pithy 280-character commentary. This year, the Academy snubbed Timothée Chalamet for his role in Beautiful Boy. (Twitter is sad.) Black Panther made history as the first film in the superhero genre to be nominated for the best picture category. (Most people are psyched.) Lady Gaga is nominated for best actress in a leading role. (And, of course, the people of the Internet have feelings about it.) We’ll have to wait until February 24 to see how it unfolds, but all the chatter surrounding the big show raises the question: Why put so much weight on the end of a sentence that begins “And the award goes to…”? And why do 33 million people  tune in to watch the Academy validate—or veto—their box-office heroes? The pass-the-popcorn version of public approval fulfills a basic human need, says Jennifer Guttman, PsyD, the author of A Path to Sustainable Life Satisfaction. “We crave validation because as social beings we feel comfort in a ‘group think’ mentality,” she says. “It’s reassuring to believe that other people think the way we do because it gives us a feeling that we’re ‘right’ about our choices and behaviors.” The only thing more fun than declaring your undying love for Bradley Cooper is having millions of people agree that he’s a total dreamboat, right? “Award shows like the Oscars are exciting and entertaining because they reinforce our belief that people

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January 23, 2019 at 12:12PM by CWC   To me, curly hair is a blessing and a curse. Yes, on a good day I feel like Cher, but on a bad day, not so much. Part of the problem is that I’m lazy and I haven’t been able to find a solution to second-, third-, or let’s be real, fourth-day, hair that doesn’t involve rinsing my strands with water. It’s these mornings when I roll out of bed to hop in the shower that I wish to myself that my third-day hair dilemma could be a greasy scalp, for which dry shampoo  is an ace up the sleeve. Instead, I’m left with flat, lifeless curls that need some oomph. Enter: Resetting spray. On day 1, I usually wear my hair down, but my go-to move at night is to wrap a scrunchie around my 3A curls before bed. Usually, this stretches them out enough that on day 2, I either have to wear it up or wet it down since water is the easiest way to reset my curls. In the name of hitting snooze for 20 extra minutes of ZZZs, I went on a search for an alternative and came across a few very enthusiastic reviews from friends about Bumble & Bumble Bb. Curl Re-Style Primer ($28). Here’s how it works: The products that are typically used to style curly hair can contain drying ingredients like alcohols. In part, that can mess with curls, making them more prone to frizz as the

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January 23, 2019 at 11:17AM by CWC There’s a buzzy new ingredient that’s got the wellness world’s attention as of late: bee pollen. You’ve probably seen the crunchy nuggets as the latest garnish atop a smoothie bowl, but it has more purpose than looking good on the ‘gram. In particular, there’s been talk about taking bee pollen for allergies. But before we get to that, let’s step back and discuss what, exactly, bee pollen is in the first place. Basically, bee pollen feeds a hive (and it’s a superfood for humans, too). To create it, bees collect flower pollen and pack it into small granules using saliva and a bit of honey. It’s chock full of nutrients like protein, amino acids, and a litany of vitamins—and it’s also believed to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Dr. Moday likens the effect of bee pollen to allergy shots, which create resistance against an allergen so the body reacts less when it’s around. Its ability to fight inflammation is, in part, why people eat bee pollen for allergies. (It goes without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway: You should always consult a doctor before taking anything to treat a medical condition.) That’s because one way to manage allergies—if you have mild symptoms and want to avoid over-the-counter meds because they don’t work or have bothersome side effects—is to help your body build up a tolerance through exposure to the culprit. “The idea is that when you ingest pollen on a daily basis, it’ll

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January 23, 2019 at 10:30AM by CWC Between the rhythm, the choreography, and the (hard AF) isolations, there’s a whole lot to think about during spin class. One thought that shouldn’t have to occupy your brain, though? Flashing your top half to the entire room while you’re busy trying to tap it back to the beat. As a front row fixture who is constantly worried about my girls falling out of my top, I can confirm firsthand that a spin class friendly sports bra has to go above and beyond the regular call of duty. In addition to keeping my melons from bouncing up, down, and all-around while I move to the music, it also needs to keep them secured while I ride. This is something the instructors at SoulCycle are all too familiar with, especially considering that they’re spinning on a platform in front a room full of riders. To solve the problem, the mega-spin studio partnered with Lululemon to create a line of seriously functional workout wear that includes a sports bra that covers the entire chest. To develop the line, Lululemon invited a group of SoulCycle instructors to their HQ in Vancouver to test out the merch, and give feedback on exactly what they’d need to do a series of middle-bar pushups in peace. “I was mostly concerned not just with comfort—less pull on the straps but not having to compromise the support—but also for me feeling confident while teaching means not flashing my class with cleavage from the

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January 23, 2019 at 09:54AM by CWC Online grocery store Brandless has amassed a cult-following among many of the people obsessed with wellness, particularly those who either can’t or don’t want to devote their entire paycheck to beauty products, food, and supplements. On Wednesday, the retailer announced that it has expanded with about 400 new items to include baby products and pet supplies. “Since day one, our Brandless community has asked us to expand our assortment of high-quality, affordable stuff to their babies and pets,” CEO and co-founder Tina Sharkey says in a press release. “It’s finally here. We started creating these collections on day two, including premium diapers, clean care, organic first foods, and a selection of sustainable and cruelty-free goodness,” Like the majority of products the company stocks, most of the new products will sell for $3, including baby food pouches (with a wide selection of flavors), wipes, diaper rash cream, teething rings, and dog shampoo. For the first time, Brandless is introducing items priced at $9. New releases at this price point include diapers, pet multi-vitamins, dog collars, and chew toys. It’s still pretty affordable, TBH—especially the diapers, which sell for double the price when name brand. Companies such as Brandless continue to dispel the notion that wellness is only for people with a certain income, proving that it is indeed possible to sell healthy products without a luxury price tag. And it’s not the only one out there making wellness more accessible—we see you, Costco, Walmart, and Trader

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January 23, 2019 at 09:05AM by CWC To say that Venus Williams is a forced to be reckoned with on the court would be like saying “the Earth is round” or “the sky is blue”. Because, duh: She’s one of the greatest athletes of all-time. But what you see on the clay is the result of thousands of hours of training—yes, at the net, but also in the gym. “Strength training is empowering,” she says. “You feel better than your best when you nail a workout. It’s that victory mindset that drives you on your fitness journey—whether you’re hitting the court or not. I always say you have to be an eleven out of ten, and strength training makes you feel that way.” This idea of being an “eleven out of ten” is the impetus behind the tennis pro’s activewear line, EleVen, which is meant to inspire women to push themselves to the fullest at the gym and give them the wardrobe to make it possible. “As an athlete, I understand how clothes have to perform no matter the workout. As a designer, I want to create something beautiful for my audience,” she says, citing the brand’s latest Caracas collection (launching Wednesday) as one of her favorites yet. “You’ve gotta wear clothes that move with you and support your hustle.” “I’ve got to praise the plank here,” – Venus Williams. And, for her, the hustle involves mixing it up. “No two workouts are the same for me—I’m always on the go traveling or in tournament mode so

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