August 14, 2019 at 01:04PM by CWC Pineapple and watermelon tend to get all of the credit as our fruit-favorite summer skin saviors. In addition to being picnic basket and beach snack staples (because, really, is it even a beach day if there isn’t a bag of watermelon packed and ready in the cooler?), they also happen to be heavy hitters when they’re used in our products: One is packed with enzymes, while the other is a full-on hydrating hero. But get ready to see another fruity fave making its way from our beach blankets into our beauty cabinets, because cherry—aka my favorite summer snack—has a whole lot to offer for our faces, too. “Cherries contain anthocyanins which are a great source of antioxidants,” explains board-certified dermatologist Shari Sperling, MD. “They also contain vitamins A, B, C, and E, which are great for keeping skin healthy, and they can help with pigmentation and skin rejuvenation.” For anyone keeping track, that is four different vitamins that cherries have to offer, plus antioxidants. Vitamin C specifically is great for brightening and helping to fight off free-radical damage (aka aging), while vitamin A helps with cell turnover, which is where the skin rejuvenation that Dr. Sperling mentioned comes from. And vitamins B and E are known to be great hydrators, making cherries not only great for use on your skin in the summer, but also all year round. Farmacy Beauty recently launched their first foray into cherry skin care—their Very Cherry Bright 15% Clean
Day: August 14, 2019
This super-intense plyometric move combines the two hardest glutes exercises into one killer butt workout
August 14, 2019 at 12:53PM by CWC Walking into New York’s Dogpound fitness studio, there’s no question that you’re about to put in work. There’s a huge black tire outside beckoning for you to flip it over (like supermodel Ashley Graham does on the reg), a boxing ring, assault bikes (which make me tremble in fear), a weighted sled meant for pushing down the street (casual), and weight machines galore. It’s known as a hotspot for supermodels to get their workouts in at, but it’s also just a really good place to HIIT it out until you literally. And that is precisely what I did there this morning: After cycling through different stations in which I did everything mentioned above (and a whole lot more), I came up to the “lower body” section. The two trainers had me do resistance band butt stuff, clamshells, weighted squats and curtsy lunges… and then finish things off with a very hard plyometric combo move that is basically my two least favorite exercises combined. The move in question? Jump lunges-into-jump squats, no standing up allowed. “The jump lunge-squat combo is a great dynamic movement to bring your heart rate up,” says Rhys Athayde, founding trainer of Dogpound. “It helps with quad, hamstring, and glute development as well as targets the hip flexors and calves.” The reason you have to stay low, which makes it even harder? “By staying low, your lower body stays in a constant state of stress which burns more calories and increases your
25 seaweed recipes that prove it’s delicious beyond sushi
August 14, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC While seaweed may not be the sexiest superfood (It’s green! It’s slippery! It’s texture is meh.), the ultra-nutritious underwater plant has stepped into the spotlight as one of the “it” foods on the market over the past few years years. Yes, it’s often rolled up in rice and served up as sushi roll, but a quick perusing of the World Wide Web shows that its uses go far beyond holding together your California roll. It’s even in breakfast foods now—no. joke. In case you’re not quite sure why the slimy plant should get a spotlight in your diet, listen up. Seaweed’s major claim to nutritional fame is that it contains iodine: a critical antioxidant that helps keep your thyroid up to snuff. It also contains about 4 grams of protein per tablespoon and trace amounts of other nutrients. As you’ve likely observed in all your time splashing by the ocean shore, seaweed comes in many iterations, including salty-savory nori to pasta-substituting kelp noodles. It’s time to deconstruct your sushi into a bowl, or even top your morning oatmeal with nori (trust us on this one). Nori You probably recognize nori as the papery green seaweed that holds your sushi together or the snack taking over shelves at Whole Foods. The member of the red algae family is rich in protein and fiber. Eat it dried as a snack, or use it recipes ranging from risotto to pizza. Sushi Pizza with Miso Ginger Dressing You read that
Meet the plant-based protein that will help you sleep better tonight
August 14, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSMO1uvTaE] Pesto can be the perfect bedtime eat when you add just one secret ingredient: spirulina. Get the recipe here. We love a good bedtime snack, especially when it’s full of nutrients that can promote sleep. In our newest episode of Plant Based, herbalist and holistic health practitioner Rachelle Robinett explains that spirulina can do just that. Also known as blue-green algae, spirulina was the first plant life on Earth, she says. (A true superfood!) Technically, spirulina is a bacteria, but don’t let that put you off. It’s super high in protein—about 70 percent by weight, Robinett says. “It’s also one of the few plant foods that are complete protein, which means that it contains all of the essential amino acids that our body needs but can’t make,” she adds. One of those essential amino acids is tryptophan, which Robinett explains is a precursor to serotonin (meaning your body needs tryptophan in order to make it), the happy neurotransmitter. It can help boost your mood and calm you down. Serotonin is also the precursor to melatonin, which Robinett says can help you sleep better. Those two chemicals are essential for, what else, a good night’s rest. Downside: Because it’s algae, spiriulina tastes a little… fishy. Robinett turns it into a delicious pesto to make it a bit more fun (and palatable) to eat. To get the recipe and learn about all of spirulina’s other health benefits, be sure to watch the full video
Like a rom-com protagonist, I told my best friend I was in love with him
August 14, 2019 at 10:25AM by CWC Harry and Sally. Ross and Rachel. Dawson and Joey. Sam and Diane. Cher and Josh. Monica and Chandler. Robin and Barney. Etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera. Few love stories appeal to me so much as do those centered around best friends-turned-lovers. In my cynical mind, something about the level of intimacy, of authenticity, that exists in friendship makes love feel less hormonal/doomed when it blooms between them than when it does between strangers. Harry and Sally knew each other, really knew each other, before they fell in love. All the warts were on display and yet they still chose to be together. That’s the kind of relationship origin story I have always craved, especially as an introvert, and it’s become ever more appealing in the era of smoke-and-mirrors internet dating. The stage was well set for me to get this, my version of a fairy tale, back in college. After my older boyfriend moved to Japan post-graduation, his friends adopted me into their circle. One in particular became my bestie, acting as a big brother figure of sorts as I finished college. We partied together, served as each other’s wingmen as well as plus ones, supported each other through tough moments, and shared friends and family with one another until our lives were very much intertwined. It was lovely, but it wasn’t love. When I fell in love with my best friend, it hit me like a ton of bricks—suddenly. Until, one day, it was.
This month’s full moon is all about following your heart—here’s exactly what that means for your sign
August 14, 2019 at 10:23AM by CWC After having survived what felt like the longest Mercury retrograde ever (not to mention the aftershocks of its lingering Mercury retroshade, we’re all due for some good vibes. And tomorrow, August 15, with the full sturgeon moon in Aquarius, that’s exactly what we can all expect to get. Despite this full moon’s decidedly unsexy name, the celestial period is all about following your heart and your passion. “This full moon features the Leo-Aquarius axis, with themes of expressing yourself in the context of the larger community,” says intuitive astrologer and healer Rachel Lang. “It emphasizes following your heart (Leo) and letting your passion run through your veins, circulating momentum for innovative ideas or making a contribution to the world (Aquarius).” Aquarius is inventive, and the full moon in this sign “encourages us to think way outside the box to solve any issues that come up in our lives,” Lang says. “Aquarius is also the sign of community and friendships; you could discover ways to become more involved.” And since the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Mars are all in Leo, Lang also prescribes having fun as a creative influence for inspiration. “You might decide to take a break and enjoy the day or gather a group of friends for a night out,” Lang says. And since Aquarius and Leo are fixed signs, it’s best to remain as flexible as possible to reap the benefits of the full sturgeon moon. “One of the best ways
The glycemic index pinpoints foods that can mess with blood sugar, but there’s a catch
August 14, 2019 at 09:57AM by CWC When it comes to healthy eating, it’s official: Sugar, not fat, is the “big bad” of the nutrition world. Excessive sugar intake is linked to Type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation, and other long-term health consequences, and most of us are eating way too much of it. When recommending ways to cut back on added sugar intake, one buzzword is frequently thrown around by nutrition experts: the glycemic index. The glycemic index (GI) essentially assigns scores to various foods with carbohydrates, rating them on how big or how small of an impact those foods can have on your blood sugar levels. This ranking system shows that not all carbs are created equal when it comes to your blood sugar—some have a minimal impact, while some can cause huge spikes that can lead to a rollercoaster crash later on in the day. But while some experts swear by the glycemic index to help people be more mindful of their sugar intake, the ranking system is a bit more nuanced than just determining which foods are “good” for blood sugar and which ones are “bad.” Here’s what you need to know about the nutrition buzzword. How does the glycemic index work? The glycemic index was originally developed for the diabetic community. “It created a numerical index or ranking of carbohydrates based on how they impact blood sugar levels when eaten without any other foods,” says Robert Glatter, MD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwell
Scientists take steps toward a vaccine for chlamydia, one of the most common STIs
August 14, 2019 at 09:32AM by CWC A new study published Tuesday in The Lancet shows promise for a chlamydia vaccine in the near future. As STI rates reach a record high, it can’t come soon enough. In 2016, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 2 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. The mounting statistics have created a renewed urgency in making scientific steps to prevent these life-altering—and sometime life-threatening—diseases. Chlamydia, which is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the world, proves especially tricky because of its under-the-radar symptoms, reports Time. While the STI can be remedied early on with antibiotics, it can increase an individual’s risk of infertility and pelvic pain if left untreated. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that chlamydia is often resistant to antibiotics; in rare cases, even early treatment proves ineffective. The trial—which included a small sample size of 30 healthy women between the ages of 19 and 45—seeks to prevent people from receiving the STI in the first place. Participants in the study received one of two vaccines formulations or a placebo. Because the trial is still in its early stages, researchers haven’t yet assessed women who tested positive for chlamydia. Instead, they evaluated the ability of a vaccine to kickstart the production of the antibodies necessary to fight off the bacteria responsible for the disease. One vaccine proved slightly better than the other, and scientists will likely move forward by testing it on people
This super common skin-care ingredient could be messing with your brow game
August 14, 2019 at 09:01AM by CWC Oh, benzoyl peroxide. Over the years it’s helped me battle acne like a champ. One thing I didn’t really appreciate, though? How it completely ruined every towel I ever owned, leaving unsightly stains that are impossible to get rid. And be careful: Cotton isn’t the only thing it bleaches. A Reddit user recently shared how using benzoyl peroxide ruined more than her towels. After using the cream daily every morning, it wasn’t long before she started seeing a change in her eyebrows, too. “I started to notice blonde tips on my eyebrows, but chalked it down to summer, even though I don’t go in the sun often. I started to look at past pictures and that’s when I noticed just how stark the difference is,” she wrote. “I’ll still be using the cream, but will definitely make a point to avoid my eyebrows. RIP brows.” Many users didn’t want to believe that’s what causes the stark difference in her brow shade. “Yes, benzoyl peroxide can absolutely bleach your brows,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. “Benzoyl peroxide is a bleaching agent. That’s one of the effects of most peroxides.” ad_intervals[‘415098_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘415098_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Luckily, using benzoyl peroxide on the regular doesn’t mean you have to get used to rocking a lighter shade of brows. “The best way to avoid having your eyebrows lighten is to avoid contact of the product with your
We found the very best sunscreens for people with sensitive skin
August 14, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC SPF seems like a skin-care product that should be considered one-size fits all.” Because no matter what skin type you have, everyone needs to protect their faces, and that’s kind of that. But sensitive skin—the kind that’s more prone to allergic reactions, dryness, or eczema—has certain requirements from a sunscreen’s ingredient label for the sake of being properly protected. The most important things when picking out sunscreen for sensitive skin? Wear it…365. “Sunscreen doesn’t just protect you from sunburns, it also reduces the appearance of sun damage like hyperpigmentation, red spots, dry skin, and evens out the tone of your skin,” says Gretchen Frieling, MD, a Boston-based board certified dermatopathologist. “Not wearing sunscreen if you have sensitive skin is just not smart. You are only going to aggravate your skin, worsening the problem.” So not only is it important to wear sunscreen for sensitive skin, but it’s also crucial that you’re using the right stuff. “When looking for a sunscreen, people with sensitive skin should look for formulas containing physical blockers only with either zinc or titanium dioxide, as these active ingredients are less likely to cause a reaction,” says Rita Linkner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. In fact, zinc oxide is a key ingredient in many diaper rash creams, meant to soothe babies’ irritated skin, making it a great ingredient for those sensitive types looking for a sunscreen. ad_intervals[‘414501_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘414501_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); While chemical filters