Month: March 2019

March 01, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Feeling irritated and agitated isn’t necessarily an uncommon occurrence for me—it’s something I attribute to my very unchill, George Constanza-like nature. But even as someone who harbors strong opinions about things as seemingly benign as black coffee and low ponytails, I’m still able to recognize that the random anger and frustration I feel toward friends and family after waking up from particular dreams is irrational and uncalled for. But I also don’t think I’m alone. Think about it: You’ve definitely had dreams in which your parents, say, shared you’re their least favorite child; or maybe your partner hit on someone right in front of you; or maybe your BFF told your deepest, darkest secret to your crush. Any number of dreams can push your subconscious buttons to an extent that makes you feel angry upon waking up. And even when you can’t recall the exact narrative of what happened in your dream-verse (not all dreams are lucid, after all),  whatever transpired left a sour taste in your mouth—or, more precisely, on your mood. Aside from having to contend with the immediate sensation of annoyance upon waking up, getting out of bed with a grumpy mind-set doesn’t really set up your day for success. But since dream rage can plague truly anyone, I tapped a couple of experts for advice on how to keep the snoozy negativity from putting a damper on your day. 3 tried-and-true methods for not letting your dream-anger hangover ruin your day. 1.

Read More

March 01, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC While some products in my skin-care regimen never change—like the Biologique Recherche P50 toner ($67) and Neutrogena Hydroboost Hydrating Serum ($23)—I typically keep the rest in rotation in order to explore the wide world of beauty products. If a facial cleanser runs out, I’ll try another brand. Same with everything else, from my body lotion to my face cream. Sure, I use a facial moisturizer twice a day, but I’m forever testing out a new product. But now that my skin’s been introduced to the brand-spankin’ new Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream ($68), I’m never switching face creams again. As the newest concoction from the J-beauty brand Tatcha—a brand already beloved by many—the moisturizer takes the star ingredients from its famous Dewy Skin Mist ($48) and inserts them into a cream that’s all about bestowing your face with legit dewy skin. It’s got Japanese purple rice, soothing botanical extracts, a Japanese algae blend, and hyaluronic acid, each working to gently plump and hydrate your skin. Fun fact: Purple rice used to be forbidden in ancient Japanese culture because it was reserved for the rich and noble. It’s a key skin booster because it contains a potent antioxidant that protects your complexion from pollution. Photo: Tatcha “The active ingredients in the cream help replenish ceramides, protect the skin from stress, replenish the moisture reservoir, and help to retain hydration,” says Tatcha founder Victoria Tsai. “The formula took about a year and a half to develop—we

Read More

February 28, 2019 at 01:40PM by CWC As an early 30-something, I recently started noticing a shift in conversation topic among my peers. Where we once talked about which bars to try on Saturday night and how to find an affordable apartment that isn’t cockroach-infested, long talks now center on career aspirations, finding a life partner, and if we want kids—and if so, exactly how long we can wait to start “trying.” While my friends’ reasons for not having kids at the moment vary (some people are still paying down student loans; other people might not have found the right partner), one thing I hear consistently across the board goes something like this: “My mom got pregnant with me on her first try and she was 39, so I feel like I can wait.” Or alternatively: “My mom had a really hard time getting pregnant, so I should probably start early.” Long story short, it seems like a common assumption that our mothers’ ease (or difficulty) with fertility predicts our own. But is there any truth to this? I asked the experts to do some myth-busting for me. Is fertility genetic? Kind of. Hate to break it to you, but just because your mom got pregnant naturally on her first try as a 40-something doesn’t mean you necessarily will have the same luck. “Every egg and sperm combination is different, so in that respect, fertility is somewhat random and hard to predict,” says Lynn Westphal, MD, FACOG, chief medical officer

Read More