June 12, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC Summer is officially here, and if 2018 was any indicator, it won’t be long until the breezy 75-degree weather takes a turn for toasty temps nearing the 90s. While that means it’s officially time to swap out our cold-weather wardrobes in favor of sleeveless shirts, retro skirts, and dresses galore, it’s also an indicator of one not-so-fun side effect: chafing. You know when you’re walking down the street just trying to live your best life and enjoy the fact that it’s no longer frigid AF outside, but then your thighs, feet, or braline start to go haywire? Yeah, it’s not fun. In fact, it can be pretty damn painful if we’re being honest. That’s because as the temperatures start to rise, these areas of skin are more likely to sweat, and with the added moisture comes the potential for even more rubbing—whether against itself (in the case of your thighs) or your clothes (in the matter of boobs V bras). ad_intervals[‘396197_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘396197_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); While chafing can be irritating all on its own, it’s the aftermath that’s truly daunting. Think: rashes, blisters, and, in the most extreme cases, bleeding. Nobody has time for that. Luckily, with the perfectly-stocked beauty arsenal, you can avoid it all. The trick is to look for products formulated with moisturizing ingredients—like shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil—that will help create a smooth glide to reduce friction and curb irritation.
Day: June 12, 2019
You can now do Jessica Biel’s go-to workout in your living room
June 12, 2019 at 10:21AM by CWC Jessica Biel, former 7th Heaven basketball star (#TBT to when Mary trashed the gym #neverforget) and current Pilates powerhouse, has always been a source of fitness inspiration (like, have you seen her do that single-leg skater squat?!). And now, the rest of us can get her go-to workout without having to jet off to Hollywood or Soho. As of June 5th, her go-to studio, WundaBar, will be offering nationwide streaming services, which means you can work your core Biel-style right from the comfort of your living room—pants optional. The workout itself combines traditional Pilates with movement and flow at a “cardio-intense” pace, which will leave your entire body burning. In the studio, the series takes place on a machine that founder Amy Jordan refers to as the “Swiss Army Knife of Pilates machines,” which combines the reformer, Wunda Chair, Jumpboard, and a ballet barre. But thankfully, you won’t need a fancy piece of equipment in order to reap the Wundabar benefits at home. ad_intervals[‘400473_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400473_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Instead, you can stream the 30-minute workouts and do them right there on the rug with a set of weights, a resistance band, and a small Pilates ball. And while a single in-studio class will cost you 20 dollars, the at-home stuff will only run you a fraction of that. Plans include a two-week intensive program that includes videos and access to the Wundabar community for roughly 30 bucks,
4 Airbnbs in Athens, Greece, that will make you forget all about Mykonos
June 12, 2019 at 09:30AM by CWC A full third of my Instagram posts (seriously, I counted) are geotagged to Greece. I live in New York City, and the combination of those two facts—where I live and where I wanderlust—provides some apt insight into my love for my motherland (or, more accurately, my parents’ motherland) and also just how often I visit. And it seems like people en masse are following my lead to the Mediterranean destination. A record 33 million foreign travelers ventured to Greece last year—and not just to the dreamy islands. Athens alone has seen the number of visitors climb by 600 percent since 2013. Following—or perhaps fueled by—the financial crisis the country endured about a decade ago, Athens has been churning out all of the culture, art, design, food, music, shopping, and neighborhood-y charm you’d ever need for an interesting city break. Word has gotten out, and suddenly people who used to think of the capital city as just a layover on the way to the islands are granting Athens the “destination status” it deserves. Now, instead of friends and coworkers asking me, “Is there anything to do in Athens apart from seeing the Acropolis?” (ummm, yes), the question I get all the time is, “Where should I stay in Athens?” ad_intervals[‘399314_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399314_div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-6934292-3’);}); } }, 100); I’m of the belief that where you camp out can make or break a vacation, so when it comes to Airbnbs, I
Are your veggies boring you? Here’s what you’re doing wrong, according to a nutritionist
June 12, 2019 at 08:45AM by CWC I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was once the type of person who screamed “veggies are boring” from the rooftops. Fruit? Fun and fresh, always. But unless the vegetable was smothered in peanut butter, hummus, or ranch dressing, I was completely uninterested. That is until I learned some quick tricks that changed everything. As a dietitian, McKel Kooienga, MS, RD, LDN, founder of Nutrition Stripped, hears that phrase all too often, and she’s quick to inform people that if vegetables are boring you, you’re simply not doing it right. “I hear people say the reason they don’t eat or enjoy vegetables is that they’re boring or taste bland. My answer to that is they probably haven’t cooked them or seasoned them well enough,” she writes on Instagram. “Vegetables are full of flavor and add a fantastic texture depending on the cooking and preparation method. In addition to how you cook the vegetables and how you prepare them is how you season vegetables. I promise vegetables can be delicious and a part of every meal you can start getting excited about.” ad_intervals[‘400431_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400431_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Through some simple techniques even beginner chefs can utilize like a pro, you can instantly turn something you despise into something you crave. Take it from me: Broccoli was on my no-way-in-hell list, and now I eat it multiple times a week. Miracles do happen. The next time you’re
Sauerkraut is the OG gut-health star that deserves a second chance on your plate
June 12, 2019 at 08:15AM by CWC Gut health is so hot right now. Eating foods that supports your gut’s healthy bacteria is widely believed to be the key to better health in all aspects: better energy, immunity, mood, digestion, sleep…the list goes on. But while plenty of people are talking about the microbiome, the OG fermented food, sauerkraut, is getting shoved in a dark corner while kombucha, probiotic supplements, and more steal the show. But that’s unfair, because sauerkraut—you know, fermented cabbage—is a probiotic food that offers up a ton of health benefits. (It’s a great addition on a sandwich, too.) Here, nutritionist and registered dietitian Erica Ingraham, RND gives the low-down on sauerkraut’s benefits, plus her top tips on making sure you’re truly getting nutritional bang for your buck when you buy it. What are sauerkraut’s benefits? 1. Yes, it’s good for your gut. This is the major reason why healthy eaters are so into sauerkraut. One small pilot study found that regularly eating sauerkraut can help reduce symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). When researchers analyzed the participants’ stool in the lab, they found an uptick in good bacteria. The fermented food is rich in probiotics, which have been associated with better gut health. ad_intervals[‘400201_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400201_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); “Sauerkraut also contains dietary fiber which aids digestion, balances blood sugar, and may help lower cholesterol,” Ingraham says. “Adding fiber to your meal also makes it more satisfying and keeps you
Women are still doing more household labor than men—let’s break that outdated cycle
June 12, 2019 at 07:52AM by CWC The other day, a friend was lamenting the fact that her live-in boyfriend refuses to cook dinner for them at home. His argument? It’s not a skill that comes naturally to him and, as such, executing a recipe would take up too much of his energetic “bandwidth” after a long day of work. Meanwhile, the woman in question is a successful New York City entrepreneur juggling two different businesses, without much bandwidth of her own to spare. And yet, someone has to put food on the table, so the task inevitably falls to her. I have to admit, I not-so-subtly rolled my eyes when I heard this—but research shows that my pal’s situation is incredibly common, even among dual-earning millennial couples who grew up in an era celebrating non-traditional gender roles. Take this study, for example: In 55 percent of heterosexual American couples with children younger than six years, both husband and wife had jobs outside the home in 2014, and they spent a similar number of hours at work each week. Yet married women perform almost twice the amount of housework as their husbands, per a 2012 study, which also shows that while fathers are spending more time on childcare than they did in the mid-90s, mothers are still devoting twice as many total hours to taking care of the kids. ad_intervals[‘399185_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘399185_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Not only is this straight-up unfair for those
Why you should care about the difference between “running” and “training” shoes
June 12, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC Finding a pair of kicks that perfectly align with your workout goals can feel like hitting your metaphorical (and, okay, physical) stride. Just take it from a girl who fell, um, head over literal heels with running after finally trading in her high school gym sneakers for a pair of high-tech Brooks Ghost kicks. Still, there’s a common roadblock of navigating the overwhelming amount of choices the market offers. Knowing which shoes will help you soar through mile after mile of marathon training and which are better equipped for squats and box jumps isn’t always a straightforward exercise. In fact, lacing up training shoes when running shoes are really your best bet, and vice versa, may open you up to more to injuries. So before you sign up for a HIIT class and slip your track shoes into your gym bag, read on to see why certain sweaty occasions require layers of plushy support while others necessitate you to be just shy of barefoot, according to experts. Of course, you’ll also want to consult with the virtuosos at your neighborhood shoe store who can take an IRL look at your gait to ensure that you and your kicks go sprinting and/or burpee-ing into the sunset. ad_intervals[‘328637_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘328637_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Consider yourself a footwear pro: Here’s how to determine whether you need running shoes or training shoes every single time. Photo: Stocksy/Guille Faingold What to look
The easiest way to relax during a workout, according to fitness experts
June 12, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC In the middle of a recent run, my instructor told the class to unclench our fists. Suddenly I realized that my hands were both actually balled into hard fists, as if I was ready to pick a fight with the treadmill or jump off and start working on my boxing skills. Supposedly, having unclenched—aka relaxed—hands takes away some of the stress of a workout, leaving you with more energy to do the hard work. When I consciously unfolded my hands, I did feel a subtle, newfound zest to run even faster. After asking some fitness pros, I learned that there is some biological magic that happens when you let go of stress via your hands in a workout. “Most long distance elite runners—marathoners or ultra marathoners—want to stay loose in the hands to not expend extra energy,” says Emily Kiberd, DC, chiropractic physician and founder of New York’s Urban Wellness Clinic. “Clenching in the fists works its way up the kinetic chain and creates tension in the arms, shoulders, and neck, which can throw a runner’s gait off. The goal for long distance is to not expend any additional energy that doesn’t need to be expended, like clenching your fists.” But even if you’re not a marathon runner, this tip helps in any run that you may be doing. ad_intervals[‘397697_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘397697_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); The thing about a clenched fist is that that tension works its
I resigned myself to having perpetually meh hair until I met this cleansing mask
June 12, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Aside from a brief period of time where my hair was colored both bright red and blonde at the same time (with swoopy emo bangs), my hair has always been…fine. Never terrible (red-blonde mashup aside), and never amazing. Like the equivalent of your third day of eating meal prep. It doesn’t taste bad, but you’re kind of over the chicken and sweet potatoes you’ve been munching all week. Despite the fact that I have tried many things (perms! tape-in extensions! products galore!), the only times it ever looked better than meh was when it was professionally styled. And even then, it was living on borrowed time. So, one day, I just kind of gave up, until French colorist Christophe Robin came to Los Angeles for a day, and changed my hair with a tub of his Cleansing Mask with Lemon ($49). Robin’s philosophy is to take care of your scalp like you take care of your skin. When products build up on your scalp (ahem, my multiple days of dry shampoo), they can block your hair follicles and weigh down your hair. The solution: mask and exfoliate. ad_intervals[‘388989_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘388989_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Christophe Robin In short: You take a scoop of the product and work it through damp hair—starting at the roots—and let it sit for anywhere from five to 20 minutes. I usually last about five because I am impatient. Then you add a little
I lost socks every time I washed my clothes—until I found this hack
June 12, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC There are many theories about what happens after we die. Here’s mine: Upon passing over the threshold of our earthly existence, we are asked to confront the 1.2 million orphan socks lost in the hamper, dryer, or Tide knows where. All jokes aside, I wish I’d learned this truly genius hack earlier; it makes lost socks a problem of the past. Rather than accepting that socks and other small items will get eaten up by the dryer, Apartment Therapy suggests folding your socks together immediately after taking them off and placing them safely in a delicates bag. Come laundry day, you’ll have a bag of socks still very much coupled with their significant others. No need to fret. Oh, and your favorite sweat-wicking undies and other delicates will all be accounted for, too. It’s an easy fix, right? ad_intervals[‘400226_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400226_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Come laundry day, you’ll have a bag of socks still very much coupled with their significant others. Gone are the days when you had to replace your entire sock collection every few months. Now, your favorite pairs (one of mine has glittery stars across the toes) won’t land in the lost-and-found of dryer purgatory. They’ll stay right in your top drawer—right where they belong. On the market for no-show socks to accent your sneaker collection? We found the best of the best. And if you’re still wondering what compression socks do—here’s the