I tried a bunch of different brow gels—these are the top performers

February 14, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC If there’s one product in my makeup bag that makes me giddy and excited, it’s brow gel. To me, slicking down my arches is like putting on a perfect structured blazer—only, you know, on my face. Brows have the ability to frame the entire complexion in a matter of swipes, which is why I wanted to hunt down the best brow gels out there. Brow gels, kind of like mascara, differ in color, wand size, brush type, texture, and consistency. “The main thing with brow gels is getting a good brush and finding the right tone to match your hair color,” says Jimena Garcia, bicoastal brow pro. “Depending on the consistency, it can goop up, and it can be messy, so finding a consistency for you is key.” Just as with hair types, your brows, too, can differ in texture. “If you have thick, coarse hair, it’s really nice to have a softer gel, and if you have thin hair, it’s good to go with a thicker consistency,” says Garcia. “You also want to look for a really small brush.” As far as color goes, it’s more about the look you’re going for. If you want a bolder brow, Garcia says to go with a shade darker than your actual hair color. In terms of your style, Garcia says everyone should brush all of the brow hairs up. “Brushing them up makes them look thicker, and it automatically creates a wider brow. When you

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The four-letter word for February that’s not love

February 14, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC Love is in the air, and whether you’re single or partnered, spiritual empowerment coach Kelsey Patel has sage advice: Instead of seeking romance, seek freedom. Here, the Well+Good Council member explains the four-step process to opening your heart in a healthy, fulfilling, self-affirming way. You’ve heard it every single year for likely as long as you can remember. February is the month of love, Valentine’s Day, candy and chocolate, cards to classmates, red roses, extra-expensive February 14 dinners—and now, in the time of the wellness boom, everyone talking about self-love. So while you’re in the midst of all the highs, the lows, and those delicious magnetic and heart-opening vibes, I’d like to offer a fresh perspective—looking beneath and behind the bliss and romanticism to find something deeper and perhaps more expansive than even the high-vibe feeling that love brings. Freedom. Pure, open, expansive, and joyful freedom. In freedom lies your deepest truth: awareness of who you really are and what you truly desire. From that place of connection, you are able to express an even deeper form of love. Love to yourself, love into your work, love to the ones who you choose because you are free. How can you open your heart wide and create a life you imagine—a life of love? How else can you allow yourself to be free? So take a moment this February to find out where in your life you feel free, where you may feel stuck,

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OK, but really, let’s clear up these long-held lies about six-pack abs

February 13, 2019 at 02:26PM by CWC The menu of benefits that comes with a workout is delectable: a boost in mental health, increase in energy and focus, improved sleep and sex…I could go on. But for many people, the #sixpack remains the pinnacle of fitness goals—and it has a hashtag with over 10 million posts to prove it. But what do visible abs actually say about someone’s health or fitness level? Not a whole lot, says Jessica Ash, a functional clinical nutritionist and certified personal trainer. She points out that the pursuit of a six pack can be a healthy one for some; but for other body types, it can signify that their diets are too restrictive, workouts that are too aggressive, or that their overall expectations are unrealistic. “I’m not demonizing having abs at all, but it’s important to know the facts and that everyone’s a little bit different,” says Ash. That’s because healthy recommendations for body fat in women tend to fall between 20 to 25 percent, while engineering a visible six pack requires dropping those body fat percentages down to somewhere between 16 to 19 percent (or lower), according to many trainers. Ash says that six-percent drop can bring on some unwanted side effects in women, including hormonal imbalances, which can cause amenorrhea (missed periods). “This is what you should think about before you work your butt off to try to attain that maybe unrealistic goal,” she advises. That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with wanting to have a strong core. (A strong

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Want to try keto but don’t eat meat? Introducing the Ketotarian diet

February 13, 2019 at 02:18PM by CWC When someone says the words “ketogenic diet,” the first things that come to mind are probably butter, bacon, and avocados. That’s because the trendy diet has a rep for being heavy on the animal-based fats. (Just look up “ketogenic recipes” and you’ll see what I mean.) This makes the eating plan appealing to carnivores…but what about those of us who might want to reap some of those much-touted keto benefits (less brain fog, balanced hormones, healthy weight management, etc etc) without loading up on meat? Enter the “Ketotarian” diet, outlined by Will Cole, D.C., functional medicine practitioner in his book Ketotarian: The (Mostly) Plant-Based Plan to Burn Fat, Boost Your Energy, Crush Your Cravings, and Calm Inflammation. He essentially argues that it is possible to go plant based (or mostly plant based) while still sticking to a ketogenic diet. Color me intrigued! Here’s what you need to know: What is the Ketotarian diet? Ketotarian takes the traditional ketogenic diet and adds a plant-based, pescatarian twist. “It allows those who prefer to be more plant-based or have sensitivities to these foods to still take advantage of the benefits of ketosis,” says Cole. A high-fat, moderate protein and very low-carb eating plan, the Ketotarian diet eliminates meat and dairy and focuses on plant-centric sources of fats. It also allows some animal sources of protein and fats, including eggs, ghee, and fish—although those foods aren’t required. If you’re vegan, you don’t eat them on this plan; if

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