Day: February 7, 2019

February 07, 2019 at 01:15PM by CWC Let me count the ways that people wash their faces: There’s team wash in the morning and team twice a day. There are staunch double cleansers (like myself). And then, there are those who wash their faces in the shower versus those who wash at the sink (a major debate). And while, it’s fine to choose whichever method you wish, it’s key to use the right products to do so, which generally falls to the debate of makeup remover or cleanser. The thing is, these products are often used interchangeably—when, in reality, makeup removers and facial cleansers are different products entirely, despite almost doing the same job. There are certainly cleansers that also remove makeup—but it’s good to know how they actually differ so that you can find what your skin needs in different scenarios. Allow me to decipher between the two. For that, keep on scrolling. Makeup removers Makeup removers—which you’ll see in everything from wipe to liquid to balm form—give the illusion that you’re cleaning your skin, since they take all of the gunk and makeup off. But in reality, that’s not what’s happening. “The big difference between makeup removers and facial cleansers is that makeup removers aren’t going to cleanse your skin—it just helps pull off the layer of makeup from your skin,” explains Maddie Clary, education pro at Follain, a clean beauty boutique. You’ll need to use one particularly if you wear eye makeup. “The biggest factor for removing makeup is whether or

Read More

February 07, 2019 at 12:50PM by CWC It’s safe to say we’re living in a golden age of contraceptives as far as the sheer number of options go. The pill, the patch, the shot, the ring. Implants and condoms and fertility awareness apps that track your safe-to-have-sex days. There truly are more ways to get busy without making babies than ever before. (Choices that are super-effective and side-effect free, however? Or birth control for dudes? Science hasn’t cracked those codes yet, sadly.) Out of all the players on Team Birth Control’s roster, one in particular has recently emerged as the fan favorite: the intrauterine device, or IUD. The small, T-shaped piece of plastic gets inserted into the uterus, where it works in the background to prevent pregnancy for up to a decade. Some IUDs secrete small amounts of synthetic hormones to get the job done, while others are wrapped in copper, which creates an inhospitable environment for sperm. If it seems like all your friends are suddenly talking about their IUDs, there’s a reason for it. There was a 22 percent spike in the insertion of IUDs and other long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) in the four weeks immediately following the 2016 election, according to a research letter published Monday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. The rate of daily IUD insertions, the letter reports, increased from 13.4 insertions per day per 100,000 women to 16.3 per day per 100,000 women. “I can tell you, we ask thousands of women about their birth

Read More

February 07, 2019 at 11:35AM by CWC I may as well have the phrase “drugstore beauty is getting better and better!” tattooed across my forehead at this point, because it seems like I utter (and type) the phrase multiple times per day to anyone who will listen. The all-accessible skin care, hair care, and makeup aisles have all seriously upped their game over the last few years, and now an unlikely category of products has added itself to the ranks of stuff worth getting excited about on your toilet paper runs: deodorant!!! I know, I know—deodorant isn’t quite as fun to shop for as, say, a new red lipstick or a serum that promises to make your skin glow. And it may not seem totally deserving of the “!!!” treatment. But, with new innovations in D.O. technology hitting the drugstore shelves, that’s about to change. Aluminum-free options have made themselves permanent fixtures in the beauty aisle as of late, which is pretty exciting news for anyone looking to treat their pits to the more natural side of things. A quick aluminum refresher: The metal is present in antiperspirant deodorants, and works to plug sweat glands to keep your underarms from getting wet. It’s literally what makes it an “anti-perspirant,” which stops you from sweating, rather than just a deodorant, which really just masks the scent. There’s been a lot of debate over the last few years about whether or not the ingredient is problematic, though the American Cancer Society has repeatedly said

Read More

February 07, 2019 at 11:25AM by CWC When I’m working out, I’m all about doing cardio first—then I go about with my strength training routine. It just feels right to me to get my heart rate up by running and follow that by lifting a few weights. On the flip side, I know people who are adamant about doing things the other way around. Then, there’s the Barry’s Bootcamp lot who intersperses cardio and strength training together. So what gives with all the different sequences, and which one should you do first to make the biggest impact in your workout? “If you think about the physiology of training, the sequencing of your workouts matters,” says Matt Nolan, an instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp.  “That also tends to go hand-in-hand with what your specific training goals are. Based on individual priorities, the best sequence for one person will be different than that for another person.” Of course, even though doing one first over the other has its own line of benefits (and more on that in just a few), the most important thing of all is that you’re working out in general. “Really, keeping it fun is the main thing,” says Selena Samuela, a Peloton instructor. “You know your body better than an expert or a study—so if it feels good to do cardio first, that’s what you should do. And the other way around—listen to your body.” Nolan agrees, noting that “the best exercise is always the exercise that you’ll do.” But

Read More

February 07, 2019 at 11:19AM by CWC “Where do health and wellness begin?” When an audience member asked that (kind of existential) question at the most recent Well+Good’s most recent TALK in New York City, it brought about an answer from panelist Daphne Javitch that would be absolutely ridiculous if it weren’t totally true. According to the holistic nutritionist and founder of Doing Well, you should make sure you’re connecting with other humans on a regular basis. And also pooping. Like, often. “I would say: ‘When was the last time you pooped?’ because a lot of times, holding waste in the body creates congestion, creates buildup, [and] residue,” she says. And just to illustrate her point, she reminded everyone in the room that kids (and dogs, for that matter) get really, really jazzed after they’ve, ahem, cleared their pipes. “Getting waste out of the body has profound effects, so creating flow—physical flow—ultimately leads to emotional and energetic flow as well.” I had a gut feeling she was right, but just to be sure, I did a little digging. And guess what? Science has her back: Gastroenterologist Anish Sheth, MD, co-author of the book What’s Your Poo Telling You? told the Australian site News that this physiological phenomena is known as “poo-phoria.” And well, it’s basically exactly what you think it is. “The distension of the rectum that comes with the passing of a large mass of stool causes the vagus nerve to fire,” he said. The feeling is described as almost orgasmic, and the nerve is fondly referred

Read More

February 07, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC My dermatologist asking me if I wear sunscreen every day used to be the equivalent of my dentist inquiring  about my flossing habit (or lack thereof). These days I slather moisturizer sunscreen all over my face even on winter’s shortest days. Of course, reaching for a bottle of SPF 50 is undeniably important when the sun is shining, but the number you really need to focus on is 365. Don’t let dark skies fool you. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, UV rays can cause harm year-round; on cloudy days, up to 80 percent can penetrate your skin. When there’s snow on the ground in winter, the sunlight is reflected just like it does off water at the beach in on a hot summer afternoon. Even if you’ve escaped the cold in your apartment, major damage can be done through the windows. I get it, though, sticky sunscreen isn’t something I want to put on my face every day. Luckily, a clean-feeling moisturizer with SPF does the trick. Moisturizer sunscreen fights dryness and cracking while protecting against skin cancer and sun-related aging. Once you see how much your complexion loves your new routine, there’s a strong chance you’ll become just as obsessed as I am. SPF 365, for the win. 9 moisturizers with built-in SPF Buy Now Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer $9 Buy Now CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion $12 Buy Now Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer $46 Buy Now Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream $64 Buy Now EltaMD UV Clear $33

Read More