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Day: August 10, 2019

You and your body

Scalp scrub isn’t one size fits all—here’s when you really need it, and how to pick the best one

4 min read

August 10, 2019 at 12:02PM by CWC You know how important scalp health is to hair health. When your scalp is happy and clean, your hair is able to grow long and strong. But if you don’t start taking care of your hair at the root—making sure your scalp gets all the attention it needs—you’ll wind up with build-up that can make your follicles weaker over time. And that’s where scalp scrub comes in. Scalp scrubs do wonders for your hair. Just like facial and body scrubs, they exfoliate dead skin cells, get rid of any product build-up from all those mornings you reached for the dry shampoo, and fight off any excess oil—all things that leave you with healthy, thick, and shiny hair. But it’s not one size fits all, and—contrary to popular belief—not everyone benefits from using one regularly. According to Sheel Desai Solomon, MD, a North Carolina-based dermatologist, scalp scrubs aren’t a good choice for anyone who suffers from skin conditions on the scalp, including psoriasis, acne, eczema, or any cuts and sores. “Scrubbing can aggravate the condition and might cause even more flaking and irritation,” she says. Also, be weary if your scalp is flared with seborrheic dermatitis or irritated for any other reason: “If that’s the case, a scalp scrub may not be the best solution,” adds dermatologist Keira L. Barr, MD, founder and chief wellness officer of Resilient Health Institute. ad_intervals[‘413576_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413576_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); With

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Yoga You and your body

HIIT or LIIT? Incorporating both is the surefire way to get stronger

6 min read

August 10, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC When it comes to maximizing your fitness gains, it’s not just enough to do one type of workout, like running or yoga, or to focus solely on a specific muscle group. Instead, you should be targeting the whole body and working on integrating variety and different styles of training into your routine so you can continually shock your body and get some pretty mean results. How might these different methods work? Well, you can think of them as being “opposites,” like doing active or passive recovery post-workout or choosing a HIIT class over a LIIT class (the former being high-intensity and the latter being low-intensity). And your best bet at leaning out and getting strong all over is by using both models together for an efficient workout and optimal recovery. If you’re not totally sure how to blend them—don’t worry—here’s a breakdown to doing both methods like a champ. ad_intervals[‘393886_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘393886_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); Active and passive recovery Active recovery might be for LIIT days, where you’re choosing an activity that’s of a lower intensity to let your body recover while still getting in a workout or where you might try low-impact moves post-workout to cool down, explains Jackie Vick, CSCS, a trainer at Gold’s Gym. “Active recovery movements during lifting take the focus off the primary movement. In strength workouts, if the focus is deadlifts and the workouts have double-unders then the double-under is

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You and your body

How to buy a bra that actually fits you, even if you still have no idea what your size actually is

6 min read

August 10, 2019 at 08:00AM by CWC I have not been fitted for a bra in a laughably long time. My cup size? I don’t know her. And obviously, not knowing my cup size makes buying a real bra online pretty risky. Not risky like, buying an already ripe avocado risky, but more in the sense that I’ll arbitrarily guess a size and when it comes it won’t really fit. My two options are then to try and make it work, or pack it back up and promise myself that I’m going to return it tomorrow, but then tomorrow stretches into infinity and it just sits there in the corner of my room forever. Neither option is good for my boobs. So I just end up stocking up on bralettes, which are easier to guess my size in, even though I’m in need of a new “real” bra. So to spare my boobs from a lifetime of uncomfy fits (and my apartment from a corner filling with boxes of unreturned bras) I turned to a few experts to get their tips on what to look for when buying a bra, whether you’re shopping online or in a store. ad_intervals[‘401029_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401029_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100);   Just get a bra fitting, already The most common mistake Danielle Iserlis, Journelle‘s Associate Marketing Manager, sees is women wearing bras with too-small cups and too-large bands. Taking the time to actually get a bra fitting would help

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You and your body

Help! My loved ones are gaslighting me about my mental health struggles

5 min read

August 10, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC My mom’s heard me describe the malaise that’s plagued me since puberty…pretty much since I hit puberty. But only recently was I able to give the situation a name: It’s persistent depressive disorder, a chronic form of depression characterized by an ongoing low mood. “I’m just like, sad as a default,” I told her again—my constant refrain—in a mall food court as my voice broke and tears streamed over my bourbon chicken. “And sometimes there’s no reason to explain it, but stress can aggravate it, so I really need you to work with me on this.” (Note: Sometimes my mom stresses me out.) She seemed to finally understand…until we were in the car leaving the mall, when she repeated her refrain: “Why are you sad? There’s so many good things going on in your life right now.” “Ugh. Seriously, Mom?” Does this situation sound familiar at all to you? Because despite initiatives happening to squelch the mental health stigma in society, I often feel weighed down by all the people who don’t “believe” in my struggles. And when these are top-tier figures in your life who you love, trust, and see regularly, it’s especially damaging. ad_intervals[‘410784_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410784_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); In at least some sense, we all want to feel validated and accepted, so when a loved one essentially gaslights you by ignoring or even denying the reality of your struggle, it can be especially tough

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Vegetarians You and your body

7 healthy grilled corn recipes that are a step beyond just slathering it with butter

3 min read

August 10, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Throwing a few ears of corn on the grill and hearing them hiss and pop as they char to perfection…this is what summer eating is all about. But to only top off your grilled corn with plain ‘ol butter would be an injustice. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to seriously step up your corn game; often just adding a few key spices will do the trick. Rounded up here are seven grilled corn recipes that will transform the summer vegetable from basic to finger-licking masterpiece. Make the most of these precious last summer weeks by trying them all out. Photo: Simply Sated 1. Grilled corn with spicy mayo PSA: Butter isn’t the only creamy add-on that pairs well with corn. This recipe combines mayonnaise with chili powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, and a touch of Parmesan cheese for a spicy Mexican-inspired twist. Make the mayo a bit healthier by going for an avocado oil-based version. ad_intervals[‘413268_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413268_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Sweet C Designs 2. Grilled corn with cilantro cashew pesto If you’ve never thought to pair pesto with corn, this one’s a game-changer. Blending cashews in with the other ingredients makes it super creamy—and ups the protein. And the cilantro and serrano chili balance each other out perfectly, ensuring freshness and zest with every bite. Photo: Minimalist Baker 3. Grilled corn with sriracha aioli Let’s be real here, everyone loves sriracha—and aioli.

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Beauty You and your body

How this facial cleansing brush completely transformed my sensitive skin for the better

4 min read

August 10, 2019 at 02:02AM by CWC I don’t know about you, but I vividly remember when facial cleansing brushes became a thing. Back during the Clarisonic boom, it seemed like everyone had added the Oprah-approved device to their skincare routine. Well, everyone except me. Even though they were in every magazines I flipped through, I couldn’t justify spending the money. Plus, as someone with incredibly sensitive skin, it wasn’t just the price of those OG facial cleansing brushes that scared me—it was also the rough-looking bristles. Imagining them doing high-speed twirls across my skin had about the same effect as fingernails on a chalkboard. But years later I stumbled across a new wave of products made from silicone that changed my view of the cult product entirely. At a first glance, the Foreo Luna 2 ($169) definitely doesn’t look like a skincare product. But trust me—it is. Made from silicone, it looked super gentle. Something I could potentially use on my skin without making things worse. Also, unlike other options on the market, there’s no brush heads you need to replace, it only takes a couple seconds to clean, and a single charge is said to last for up to 7 months. (Currently even longer for me.) There’s no harsh bristles to worry about, either. The silicone tough-points remove dirt, makeup, dead skin, and blackheads without irritation through 8,000 T-Sonic (transdermal sonic) pulsations per minute. ad_intervals[‘414241_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘414241_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); I’ll

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