February 06, 2019 at 08:24AM by CWC Ear wax is about as appealing to think about as boogers, which is why I try not to bring up the topic that often. But it’s hard not to be top of mind when you suspect you have a wax problem…you know, when your Air Pods are crusted with yellowish goo and you start having trouble hearing out of one of your ears? [Shudders] First of all: Everyone has ear wax, and as icky as it looks, it’s 1000 percent normal (and necessary). “People think of ear wax as something dirty, but it isn’t,” says Linda Dahl, MD, an otolaryngologist in private practice in midtown Manhattan, and author of Tooth and Nail: The Making of a Female Fight Doctor. Dr. Dahl says that ear wax (or scientifically speaking, cerumen) is a combination of sebum, sloughed-off skin cells from inside of the ear, and secretions from glands in the outer ear canal. It’s designed to seal the very delicate skin that sits above the bone in your ear and act as an antiseptic, says Dr. Dahl. “There’s not a lot of cushioning [in the ear canal],” says Dr. Dahl. “You should aim to have a bit in there at all times,” she says, to ward off infection and keep the area healthy. It’s something your body naturally makes for a reason—although it can still feel excessive at times. “No one knows why some people produce more than others,” she says. (So, some of us are just
Month: February 2019
The expert-approved reasons why you should literally cheer yourself on during your workout
February 06, 2019 at 07:53AM by CWC I was in the middle of a particularly grueling HIIT workout the other day when—seemingly out of nowhere—my instructor told the class to vocally cheer. “Let’s hear it, you guys—make some noise!” they exclaimed, hoping everyone would enthusiastically shriek out words of encouragement as they’re dying through some dreaded jump squats. (This is of course the point where one person yells “Wahoo!” and then the trainer has to ask the class again to really yell.) I actually tried it—as in, I yelped out a solid “Woo!” while tackling a series of explosive lunges—and I’ve got to tell you that it was cathartic. Typically, I’m the silent sufferer in a workout. I am pouring sweat and undoubtedly grimacing, but I don’t say anything out loud or make noises, save for the occasional curse word in moments of serious need (which, by the way, science backs up by saying swearing during a workout boosts performance). I’ve always chocked the cheering exercisers up as a rare breed—a person who is finding way too much joy in brutal workout moves than normal. But apparently, there’s actual an psychological reason to let out a little “woot woot” when you’re suffering through your squat routine. “Using motivational cues, validation statements, and high energy cheers can be beneficial during high intensity group training,” says Hillary Cauthen, Psy.D., CMPC and Association for Applied Sport Psychology representative. “Encouraging statements are great during group exercises to help change the momentum and energy in the room. The endorphins are flowing,
The 2-product solution for covering up acne scars—if that’s your thing
February 06, 2019 at 07:31AM by CWC Despite what your Instagram Discover page may have you believe, hardly anyone on the planet has a perfectly even skin tone (without the use of FaceTune or a filter, that is). Whether it’s old acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, or something else entirely, most all of us have got a little somethin’ somethin’ going on when it comes to discoloration on our faces. For me personally, it’s the acne scars that have been on my cheeks since middle school, when I didn’t realize that ignoring my mom’s pleas to “STOP PICKING” really would have the lasting impact that she’d promised. I’ve tried multiple different lasers and pretty much every skin-care product on the planet to get them to go away, and while they’ve certainly faded over time, I’ve learned to accept the fact that we’re probably a package deal by this point. Most days I’m fine with it. Some days, though, I look in the mirror and feel horribly self conscious about them, and that’s when the full-coverage foundation comes out. While there are a number of skin-care solutions that can help you to actually treat pigmentation, if you want them to disappear this very moment (which tends to be how I feel about them), that’s a task for makeup. To find out how, exactly, to get the most out using makeup to cover dark spots, I turned to celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, who has hereby changed the way I conceal those frustrating acne scars for, well,
Don’t fight the universe—stay at the perfect vacation rental for your zodiac sign
February 06, 2019 at 07:05AM by CWC When you’re knee-deep in Pinterest pins while on the hunt for travel inspo, the sheer number of possibilities can feel overwhelming. After all, the world is ginormous, full of majestic lights, tropical jungles, and pig-populated beaches. So when in doubt, why not entrust the decision to the cosmos? Rental-property platform VRBO recently curated properties around the globe that appeal to each of the 12 zodiac signs. Pisces needs to take their PTO to chill the eff out, Tauruses need to indulge, and Leos crave some me, me, me-time (no surprises here). Below, learn which destination is basically written in the stars for your next adventure. Here’s the vacation rental that’s ideal for your sign. All Photos: VRBO Aquarius: Grand Canyon National Park, starting at $150 per night Aquarius folks thrive on being fiercely independent at every opportunity. So when you’ve blocked out a week on your Google Cal to GTFO of the office, go bold with your destination of choice. Pisces: North Oregon Coast, starting at $109 per night The fish zodiac sign is a big fan of the “do not disturb” sign…from the first to the last day of their vacay. Choose a spot, like this Pacific Northwest respite, where you can chill in deep solitude. Aries: Honolulu, HI, starting at $1,200 per night According to VRBO, an Aries needs “action” during vacation. However you interpret that advice, my guess is you’ll have a better time doing it in Hawaii than pretty much anywhere else. Taurus:
For Plump, Hydrated Skin This Winter, Stock Up On Houseplants
February 06, 2019 at 05:16AM Green beauty at its finest! Continue Reading… Author Stephanie Eckelkamp | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
This Is The Diet That Gives You A Faster Metabolism, An Endocrinologist Explains
February 06, 2019 Here’s how your liver can impact your weight Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
How EdenEat’s Eden Grinshpan satisfies her sweet tooth
February 06, 2019 at 05:28AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqHUybNr4U] James Corden belts out top radio hits with his famous guests, Jerry Seinfeld gets coffee in cars with his, and here at Well+Good, we like to do our interviews while the celebrity, healthy chef, or wellness luminary in the hot seat enjoys their favorite avocado dish for The Avocado Show. The Avocado Show, Well+Good’s new YouTube series, has arrived with chef and restauranteur Eden Grinshpan helping to kick things off. A total #girlboss, Grinshpan is co-founder and executive chef of Dez, a contemporary Middle Eastern fast-casual food joint that opened its doors last year in New York City. For the inaugural episode of The Avocado Show, Grinshpan dishes details about her restaurant, her fitness routine, and the power of women-led businesses—all with an avocado pita in hand. Grinshpan’s Instagram followers love her down-to-earth approach to healthy eating, which is frequently injected with a healthy dose of humor. A native to Canada, Grinshpan satisfies her sweet tooth in a most Canadian way, hyping the country’s stickiest export. “My love for maple syrup, I put it on a lot of food,” she says. “Any excuse, if you need something sweet, it’s just got such a beautiful [flavor]. When it’s the right stuff—Canadian maple syrup, guys!” We just have one question to leave you with: How many avocados have you had this week?” Want to catch up on Well+Good’s other YouTube series You Versus Food? Find out if green juice is really the end-all, be-all of wellness. Or, see what a top nutritionist actually
5 reasons to add vinegar to your laundry if you want your clothes to be as fresh and clean as possible
February 06, 2019 at 05:15AM by CWC Plain old vinegar (not even talking apple cider here!) is one of the most versatile products you can keep in your household for cleanliness and other little life hacks. My household has a rule that anything that touches raw meat or eggs gets rinsed down with vinegar to prevent smells—experts say it’s a great way to deep clean your dishwasher, and it’s an easy way to avoid a fruit fly infestation. Something else vinegar is A+ at cleaning? Laundry. “Vinegar is absolutely your secret weapon when it comes to redeeming difficult laundry quandaries,” says Marilee Nelson, an environmental consultant and co-founder of the plant-based cleaning products brand Branch Basics. Because vinegar is acidic, Nelson says it has properties that help remove lime and rust, can dissolve leftover soap, and has disinfectant qualities among a slew of other properties. Vinegar is, in fact, so multifaceted as a cleaning product that you can find a laundry list of ways to use it below. Photo: Getty Images/Sigrid Gombert 1. It’s a water softener Hard water is a problem for many people depending on where you live. The phrase “hard water” essentially refers to water that has metals and mineral deposits in it. While you might know that it’s abrasive on your skin, “hard water is a laundry enemy as it dulls clothes, leaves mineral deposits and inhibits the cleaning power of your laundry products” Nelson says. To make the most of vinegar’s water-softening properties, Nelson suggests adding
Hear me out: A few bugs in your organic veggies won’t kill you
February 06, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC One morning two weeks ago, a rare thing happened: I woke up motivated (and with enough time) to make my own breakfast before heading out the door. But something nightmarish happened while I was making my celery juice. As I broke off a few stalks to throw in the blender, a dead bug popped out from the folds of my organic celery. Context: Bugs and I don’t get along. I’m a 22-year-old who’s unashamed to wake up her dad at 3 a.m. to kill a creepy crawler (shout out to my roommates for assuming his role in my new apartment). Consider my bliss ruined. I threw out the offensive, bug-hiding celery, vowed to never again buy organic, and headed to Juice Generation for my green fix. Later, when I’d had time to recover from the Great Bug in Celery Incident of 2019, I wondered if I’d overreacted about the whole thing. Maybe finding bugs in my celery wasn’t the work of the devil but a part of nature that any organic shopper should be prepared for. “There’s no reason to get freaked out about bugs whether they’re alive or dead on your produce,” says Brian Nault, PhD, a professor of entomology at Cornell University. “They’re harmless especially when they’re dead.” He says washing off pests will leave behind perfectly safe food, but even if you *gag* accidentally eat one, he says you’re in the clear. So yes, I def overreacted. Thankfully Sonya Angelone,
Lyft Announces A New Commitment To Sustainable Transportation
February 06, 2019 at 04:00AM This morning, the ride-sharing service announced an electrifying plan to clean up our cities. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue