March 11, 2019 at 07:52AM by CWC Even the fanciest hotel rooms aren’t always as clean as you’d expect. I was forever scarred by an episode of Inside Edition that exposed how bad it can get. (In on instance, hotel staff didn’t even change the bedsheets between guests!) Whenever I check into my room, I immediately scan the bed for any sign of another person’s presence before settling in for the night, but I’ve been overlooking a certain area when it comes to hotel room cleanliness. Harrison Jacobs, Business Insider‘s international correspondent, spent 300 nights hotels and Airbnbs throughout the past year. In his opinion, checking the electric kettle or coffeemaker is a great way to tell if your room has been well maintained, since moisture is ever-present in both devices. “I’ve found that consistently the best barometer of cleanliness is the coffeemaker or electric kettle. Almost every hotel room has one and it can tell you a lot about how detail-oriented the housekeeping is,” he writes. “If they aren’t cleaned regularly—and I mean with vinegar, not rinsed with hot water—they quickly become gross. As such a small item and a tedious one to clean, I’ve found that coffeemakers and electric kettles are frequently overlooked by less diligent hotels.” While the coffeemaker and electric kettle can give you an idea as to whether the hotel prioritizes sanitation, Jason “The Germ Guy” Tetro, host of the Super Awesome Science Show and author of The Germ Code, says the sniff test is another great indicator of hotel room cleanliness.
Month: March 2019
Apparently you can wear retinol during the day—but there are rules, people
March 11, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC As a retinol devotee, I’ve learned a few key things about the all-star acne-fighting, glow-inducing skin-care ingredient: The most important of which is that vitamin A derivatives should go on once the sun goes down. That’s why I was surprised and intrigued that some new retinols instruct users to slather them on in the a.m. and p.m. Gasp! Wondering what to make of the rule-bending intel, I consulted dermatologists and skin-care gurus alike. “Retinol traditionally has been used in the evening because the molecule is highly unstable in the presence of UV light,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. This is because retinoids are a derivative of vitamin A, which doesn’t really hold up with the sun. “Retinoids are naturally photo-unstable, meaning they break down in sunlight, making them less effective,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a dermatologist with New York’s Schweiger Dermatology Group. “Retinoids are naturally photo-unstable, meaning they break down in sunlight, making them less effective. —Rachel Nazarian, MD Besides the UV stability dilemma, retinoids also change your skin in a way that makes it more prone to sun damage. “All retinoids cause a slight thinning of the outermost layer of dead skin cells, and therefore makes it slightly easier to burn in sunlight,” says Dr. Nazarian. Hence the true need to wear sunscreen at all times (but TBH, you should be doing that anyways). “Regardless of whether you apply your retinoid in the morning or at night, you
We asked 6 women to share their thoughts about body positivity. They didn’t hold back.
March 11, 2019 at 06:52AM by CWC If you ever want to witness the phenomenon of gassing up—where friends boost each others’ confidence with effusive praise and appreciation—just gather together a bunch of smart, funny, interesting women who have never met each other before. That’s just what happened when Well+Good invited six New York women to join us for a photo shoot celebrating bodies, confidence, and self-love. These women—April, Jessica, Aurea, Helen, Kiara, and Yesenia—were all perfect strangers at the beginning of the day. But over the course of a few hours together, they were sharing meaningful stories about their lives, gushing over each others’ go-to confidence outfits (which we asked them to wear to the shoot), and laughing together like old friends. At the end of the day, they all exchanged contact info in order to stay in touch long after the camera flashes subsided. In a world that has never felt so divided, so fraught with tensions and complications, there is nothing more powerful than seeing six completely different women with different life experiences come together with so much love and compassion—for each other, and also for themselves. —Jessie Van Amburg, senior editor April Christina, 33, endometriosis advocate and beauty blogger Photo: Tim Gibson W+G: When you hear the words “body positivity,” how does it make you feel? AC: I think I like [the words] “body positivity,” but I like “self-love” more. Because when I think of body positivity, self-love is the first thing that comes to my mind—especially
Let down your hair with trendiest long hairstyles of the moment
March 11, 2019 at 06:01AM by CWC Growing your hair out is like a second job. Once it gets past your shoulders, keeping it vibrant and healthy requires so much more work. And if it seems like your hair has suddenly hit a plateau as you strive to find the perfect long hairstyles, you might be making a common mistake. It sounds counterintuitive, but regular trims are essential when you’re growing out your hair. According to celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend, who regularly works with Dakota Johnson and the Olsen twins, it’s the only way you’re going to achieve the length you want. “As long as you do get those regular trims, your hair will grow. When you don’t, your hair splits. It starts at the very bottom and starts working up the hair shaft, splitting all the way up,” Townsend explains. “That’s where all your frizz comes from: the cuticle can never ever lay down. And because it’s split, it’s half the size it used to be, making it so much weaker and causing it to snap and break.” If your hair is constantly getting split ends, there’s no way you’re ever going to get those long hairstyles you’ve been dreaming of. Your strands will just keep breaking off. “A perfect example is Mary-Kate [Olsen]. She wanted long hair no matter what and got extensions that ruined her hair. But she kept growing it,” he explains. “Neither Ashley nor Mary-Kate likes getting their hair cut, so I just keep my scissors in my
How to keep pre-workout anxiety from affecting your sweat sesh
March 11, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC I have been to roughly a bajillion workout classes and can confidently say that I’m adept at doing everything that’s required of me: squats, sprints, and even burpees. Still, I’m surprised every time that I get pre-workout anxiety. Before I go into a class—particularly a more intense one—I feel butterflies in my stomach as if I’m a middle schooler gathering up the courage to speak to my crush. My heart rate shoots up, I start pre-sweating, and a wave of nervousness washes over me. What the heck gives? “Pre-workout anxiety and jitters are very common, even for people who work out on a regular basis,” says Janine Delaney, PhD, psychologist and fitness expert. “Sometimes the thought of knowing you have to work out on certain days can cause stress and anxiety that feels counterintuitive.” Ain’t that the truth. Essentially, your emotions are signaling a “threat”—in the form of a spin class or hot yoga sesh—which makes you question your confidence and ability to tackle the task at hand. Whether it’s a class you’ve been to before or not, it all comes down to how your body’s processing what’s about to happen. “When you look at the nervousness and anxiety symptoms, it’s a fight or flight response in the body, which is a chemical reaction,” explains Hillary Cauthen, PsyD, CMPC, a certified mental health performance consultant with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Essentially, your emotions are signaling a “threat”—in the form of a spin
This App Has Helped Almost 1 Million People Waste Less Food
March 11, 2019 at 05:37AM Think of it like Poshmark for your pantry. Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
3 steps for channeling your inner assertive HBIC and getting exactly what you want
March 11, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Think back to the last time you were seated by the restrooms at a restaurant or when your partner forgot to take out the trash for the third consecutive day. Did you say anything? No judgment if you took the “Oh, no worries!” route. Assertiveness might not be your forte right now, but it certainly can be tomorrow. But, to be clear, while being chronic people pleaser isn’t the goal, neither is constantly wearing metaphorical boxing gloves. If either of these archetypes seems to describe you, it’s worth working to reframe your thinking in order to approach your communication-style more openly. Being assertive doesn’t mean being a bully; rather, it’s about having the skills to express your needs and wants in a direct, honest way while staying respectful of the other person. If you don’t want to be a doormat, you can’t treat others like one, either. Communication #goals is being able to both resolve conflicts and also stand up for yourself—i.e. being assertive. Productive assertiveness helps to quell resentment, and it also has a domino effect in strengthening relationships and harnessing inner confidence. “You’re trying to say, ‘I need to voice my complaint in a way that this person can actually receive it and make a change from it,’” says therapist Kerrie Thompson Mohr, LCSW. Basically, remove your verbal crutch of “they just doesn’t understand” from your vocabulary. And if this doesn’t come easily to you, it’s not game over. Mohr says assertiveness isn’t
This Healthy Kale Caesar Is Low-Key Packed With Protein & Fiber
March 11, 2019 at 04:07AM It’s also fiber-filled and packed with protein! Continue Reading… Author Caroline Muggia | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Meet The Couple Bringing Indigenous Wellness Into The Modern Day
March 11, 2019 at 03:04AM “Indigenous wellness can be useful not just for indigenous people but for all people.” Continue Reading… Author Emma Loewe | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
The Oft-Forgotten Area Of Your Life That Needs Decluttering & How To Do It
March 11, 2019 at 02:25AM Free up time in your schedule fast. Continue Reading… Author Pedram Shojai | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue