February 26, 2019 at 01:27PM by CWC I judge my beauty products by their level of importance. My retinol and moisturizer are top dogs because they give me the most apparent results. My rotating face masks are great because they provide a much-needed boost to my skin. If I’ve gotta nix something in my beauty bag, though? It’d definitely be my eye cream. It’s not that I don’t use my eye cream religiously—I just do it because of habit. But out of all the skin-care products I slather on, it’s my eye cream that I don’t really notice any effects from. I’m not the only one who’s wary, either. “I personally don’t use eye cream,” says Shirley Chi, MD, a California-based dermatologist. “I know some people swear by them, but there’s nothing in an eye cream ingredient-wise that’s different than a facial moisturizer.” Mind. Blown. “There’s nothing in an eye cream ingredient-wise that’s different than a facial moisturizer.” —Shirley Chi, MD So, do eye creams even really work? According to Dr. Chi, it’s not that they don’t work—but you can be using other things for the same (if not better) effect. It really comes down to marketing. “If you’re using a good facial moisturizer, an antioxidant serum, and sunscreen, they’re going to do the same thing as an eye cream—eye cream is just marketed differently,” she says. “They’re usually water-based and have glycerin or hyaluronic acid, which is the same as a moisturizer.” Not to mention that sometimes they cost
Day: February 26, 2019
How to upgrade the wall sit: The high school gym staple that’s been firing up your glutes since 9th grade
February 26, 2019 at 01:14PM by CWC Remember high school gym? The itchy uniforms that you washed, like, once every three months? The grueling pacer test? The kickball championships that ended in tears? Yeah, I can’t say I’m all that nostalgic for my days of state-mandated physical education either, but there is one #TBT move that does deserve room in your adult workout regimen: the wall sit. “The wall sit is a great exercise to add towards the end of a lower body focused set of exercises. In other words, it’s a great way to burn out those muscles,”says Bojana Galic, a trainer at New Jersey’s Hoboken Fitness. “Let’s say your set consists of lateral band walks, reverse lunges, and glute bridges—you can add a minute-long wall sit as the last exercise in the set to burn out your glutes, quads, and hamstrings.” Before we talk about how you can modify the booty-burning, let’s talk form. Start by finding a wall at the gym (or wherever you get sweaty!) and sit down in that imaginary chair. “At all times, keep your back flat against the wall. Your hips and knees form a 90 degree angle, feet are flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart. Keep your core tight and arms at your sides,” says Galic. “Don’t let your hands wander to your knees to make the exercise easier!” (You’ve definitely graduated from that shortcut). Once you’re comfortable holding the move statically for 60 seconds, you’re ready to step it up a notch.
The derm-approved, month-by-month guide to taking care of skin
February 26, 2019 at 12:50PM by CWC No matter how badly you want to see results, the truth is, committing to a skin-care game plan is just plain hard—even for beauty enthusiasts. Add in the need to swap things in and out seasonally, hormonal changes, or sporadic weather patterns, and it’s all a recipe for manic skin and a medicine cabinet full of barely used products. Since a glow up is top of mind no matter what the season, we asked a cohort of skin-care experts to help map out exactly what to use (and when!), for the most effective path to perfect skin all year long. Keep on scrolling for your month-by-month break down of how to take care of your skin. Graphic: Well+Good Creative January Now is the time to lay it on thick. Heavier creams, salves, and ointments are particularly helpful during dry winter months because they will do a better job of locking moisture into the skin. More moisture is lost from the skin when the humidity is low, so look for products that combine humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin with emollients like ceramides, petrolatum, and shea butter to draw in moisture and keep it there. You also want to layer on your skin care the same way that you do your clothing this time of year. “I highly recommend keeping at least three steps after cleansing: toning mist, serum, and a moisturizing cream to deeply hydrate your dry skin. For an extra boost, add
The Advice This Doctor Gives To All Her Patients With MS
February 26, 2019 at 12:18PM Selma Blaire opened up about her MS diagnosis, so we asked an MS expert about her best tips. Continue Reading… Author Gretchen Lidicker | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
How to say “let’s *not* catch up” without being rude
February 26, 2019 at 11:42AM by CWC When a chance encounter with someone I barely know ends in the phrase “we should catch up,” my internal eye roll is a Liz Lemon-level “masterpiece.” I smile, of course, but on the inside I’m thinking: We’ve talked maybe twice, ever and Do you even know my last name? and I have approximately 1,500 self-care rituals the FONC-filled human within me would prioritize before hanging out with you. It’s harsh, I know: But according to life coach Mandy Morris, bestselling author of Love…It’s How I Manifest, learning to say “no” to invitations you’re not genuinely stoked about is one more way to set those “healthy boundaries” we’re all striving for. When I ask the coach for the best escape routes for those run-ins that end with the “Let’s…” line, she says there are a few options—all of which will keep you honest about how you want to fill in your free-time (without coming across as a huge jerk). First, if you’re speaking to someone you’ve yet to exchange personal information with, she says offering them your email—rather than your digits—is your best bet. “I usually say something like, ‘let me give you my email’ because normally, if someone really wants to see you and it is genuine, giving out an email instead of a phone number will make them more apt to think through the process of really reaching out,” she tells me. If they do indeed slide into your inbox, you’ll know that they’re really, really invested in making that
A guide to every sporty ’90s style trend you’ll see this spring
February 26, 2019 at 10:42AM by CWC Today’s retro athleisure style has me wishing I had kept all those long-lost favorites from the actual ’90s. (R.I.P. hot pink hoodie and matching bike shorts. Sigh) The silver lining to not having my old mainstays, however, is that it gives me a chance to scope out this season’s takes on ’90s style trends. To chat about the sporty styles that truly seem as though they’re here to stay—at least for a long time to come—I turned to stylist and street style pro Rachael Wang. Of the ‘90s style trends, she says, “I’m not a historian or an economist, but I do know that fashion trends reflect what’s happening in the world culturally, morally, technologically, and economically. Right now, fans of fashion are craving the rebellious authenticity of the ‘90s—a time when people really leaned into their interests and made it their lifestyle; whether that was hip hop, sports, grunge, or minimalism.” And, what’s more, these head-turning athleisure pieces and oversized silhouettes are effortlessly being woven into the wardrobes of all types of fashion-lovers once again. Wang shares that her favorite ways to mix the ‘90s into her own wardrobe is by “pairing a sporty item, like bike shorts, with something unexpected and of a different era, like a low kitten heel strappy sandal and a checked menswear blazer. It keeps the trend from being too literal.” For a full run-down on the ‘90s style trends expected to everywhere this spring, below are
Thanks (in part) to the Mediterranean diet, Spain has been declared the healthiest nation in the world
February 26, 2019 at 09:08AM by CWC The renaissance of the Mediterranean diet has prompted many to shake up their usual shopping list to include items Kalamata olives, whole grains, fatty fish, and high-quality olive oils. The Blue Zone-beloved eating plan is a frontrunner in the ongoing fight against inflammation, and now you have one more reason to join in on the hype: The retro regime helped crown Spain the healthiest country in the world. In a global health Index that ranked 169 countries based on criteria like life expectancy and environmental factors, Bloomberg gave Spain the highest health grade: 93 percent (that’s a solid A), while the U.S. came in 35th with a score of 73 (eek, that’s a D…minus). A 2018 review by Spain’s European Observatory on Health Systems observed a decade-long decline in cardiovascular diseases and deaths from cancer, and researchers say the Mediterranean eating plan—which is really just normal eating Spain—might be the reason why. A study published in 2018 in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 7,447 participants who were are a high cardiovascular risk found that those who ate a Mediterranean diet accompanied with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts had lesser incidence of major cardiac events when compared to a reduced-fat diet. And researchers believe that may well provide evidence for why Spain took the top spot (with Italy in close second earning a health grade of 92). Apart from taking those health ticker benefits to (*ahem*) to heart, it’s also important to remember that the
How to choose which crystal facial roller is right for your skin and your energy
February 26, 2019 at 09:32AM by CWC Crystal rollers might just be the chicest way to boost your skin. Not only do they make the most beautiful vanity décor—when they’re not chilling in the freezer, of course—but they also come with plenty of benefits for your face. But with so many different types available, how do you even know which one to choose? Despite using different crystals, jade, rose quartz, and amethyst rollers all seem like they do the same thing—and one expert says that’s generally pretty true. “In all honesty, the physical impact is very similar. It’s a hard, smooth surface that enables the user to roll and massage over the surface of the skin with a density that won’t crack too easily under heat,” says Abigail James, international facialist and skin-care expert. Because of their similarities in structure, you’ll notice beloved benefits from all of them, like de-puffing, increased blood circulation, improved skin elasticity, and lymphatic drainage. One major difference among rollers variety, though? Their spiritual healing properties. Since your skin can show improvements with each of the three options, your choice really comes down to choosing which crystal you want to introduce into your skincare routine. Here’s what you should know about each. 1. Jade rollers At this point, ultra-popular jade rollers are popping up just about everywhere. And there’s a lot of meaning behind that stunning green stone. “Jade is a happy stone that’s frequently used in the beauty industry globally, as well as in Chinese medicine,” James says. “It’s praised
“I’m going to try to stay alive if only to spite my insurance company”
February 26, 2019 at 09:00AM by CWC Here’s something I recently said over the phone to a customer service representative from my insurance company: “I hope your children don’t get diabetes, but if they do, then you’ll know what this is like.” And: “I know your employers would prefer it if I died.” And: “You work for an evil corporation and what you do is immoral.” And: “I’m going to stay on this insurance forever so when I have to get my foot amputated because you denied my claims you’ll have to pay for that, too.” And: “Forgive me. I know it’s not your fault. It’s just that I’m so afraid, all the time.” I’ve been a type 1 diabetic for 16 years. Up to 10 times every day, I test my blood sugar by pricking my finger and feeding some of my blood into a small plastic strip. Without insurance, each blood test strip costs $1.40. After I test my blood sugar, I often have to inject myself with insulin. One vial of Humalog, the insulin I use, costs $270 (up from $50 the year I was diagnosed). One vial lasts me about 10 days, roughly the same amount of time I would be able to live without it. At a minimum, that’s $1,230 each month—an amount I cannot afford. Insurance companies deny claims like it’s their job (because it is). I’ve had more than six different insurance plans (of a wide range of quality) and every one has
This May Be The Key To Being Happy At Work, Study Says
February 26, 2019 New research highlights the importance of being authentic at work—which can do wonders for your happiness Continue Reading… Author Elizabeth Gerson | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue