September 27, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC Earlier this year, Well+Good surveyed readers about how they feel about the sleep and rest they’re getting. Many findings emerged, but the big and enduring takeaway is that we’re tired. In fact, 92 percent of us are fatigued at least once a week, and though many report having tried different strategies and solutions to improve their chronic sleepiness (CBD, meditation, natural sleep aids, you name it) it’s clear that some more guidance would be useful. And according to astrologer Kyle Thomas, taking your zodiac sign into consideration might just help you optimize your night routine in a way other strategies can’t. “When it comes to relaxation and evening mindfulness, each zodiac sign has a special way to harness their strengths and bring more focus and energy to prepare for the upcoming day,” he says. Below, check out Thomas’s recommendations for the best night routine for you, based on your zodiac sign. Below, get astrological insight about the best night routine for your sign. Graphics: Well+Good Creative Aries: Take a social media detox “Aries are prone to craving adrenaline and not knowing how to shut off their minds,” says Thomas of this passionate first fire sign. “The best way to calm down and get great sleep is to unplug from social media at least an hour prior to bed.” Graphics: Well+Good Creative Taurus: Eat early Ruled by Venus and lovers of fine food and luxurious situations, Taureans tend to like decadent dinners. But since
Day: September 26, 2019
Mattel’s new ‘gender-neutral dolls’ can’t possibly encompass every queer experience—but they’re a start
September 26, 2019 at 10:07PM by CWC Mattel‘s most famous creation, Barbie, made her debut 50 years ago at the 1959 New York Toy Fair. Since then, she and her plastic significant other, Ken, have ruled a heteronormative universe that tells the same story again and again with little more variation than a costume change. In response to changing American beauty ideals (and plummeting sales), Barbie and her pals got diverse body types in 2016. And now, in an effort to more accurately reflect the human experience in 2019 and beyond, the company’s new line of “gender-neutral” dolls, released earlier this week, includes six kits, each containing a doll with a different skin tone, two hairstyle options, and “endless styling possibilities.” Certainly even Mattel’s Creatable World dolls still fall short of comprehensive representation, but the toy offers powerful visibility, says Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R, a trans and gender-queer identified therapist specializing in LGBTQ issues. “There infinite ways in which gender could be expressed,” Jacobs tells Well+Good. Creating a real-life world in which we recognize the diversity of gender expression significantly benefits from a world of play fueled by a parallel mission. “There are a lot of youth who are exploring gender and this gives them yet another model, so to speak, to feel validated. To feel like they can be who they feel themselves to be inside. Whereas beforehand, when we just had very heteronormative Barbies and Kens, a lot of people really felt like they were left out of
If a dermatologist’s house was on fire, she’d save her fam and *this* skin-care product
September 26, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-Uii3ZJD8] Welcome to ‘Dear Derm,’ our brand-new series in which dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD shares serious skin-care realness. In each episode, she’ll answer your most burning beauty questions and give you all the tools you need to take your glow game to the next level. There’s one skin-care ingredient out there (aside from SPF, that is), that’s recommended by dermatologists every single day of the week. Whether you’re 15 and dealing with acne and uneven texture or 50 and combatting wrinkles and dark spots, chances are that this skin savior can help. That’s exactly why board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, jokes that if her house were on fire, it’s the one thing she’d save (after her family, that is). The ingredient in question, of course, is retinol, a potent vitamin A derivative that’s basically like glass skin in a bottle. It can do a whole laundry list of different things for your complexion, including fighting acne, speeding up cell turnover, and stimulating collagen when used properly; however, when slathered on incorrectly, it can result in flakiness and skin irritation. So how do you find the sweet spot that makes retinol so good you’d save it from the burning embers? In the latest episode of Dear Derm, Dr. Gohara breaks down everything you need to know about skin care’s most significant—and admittedly most complex—ingredient. “If you asked 100 dermatologists the one thing that they all agreed on, besides sunscreen of course, is that everyone should be
We found a drugstore buy that’s the 3 most effective skin-care ingredients rolled into one serum
September 26, 2019 at 08:58PM by CWC At age 28, I finally have my “skin-care wardrobe” down pat. Sandwiched in between my cleanser and moisturizer is my trifecta of serums, each of which help to target a different issue: hyaluronic acid twice a day for hydration, vitamin C in the morning in for brightening dark spots, and retinol at night for texture issues. But with the launch of its new Bright Boost Illuminating Serum ($20), Neutrogena just introduced a product that can replace my usual three steps with a single application. The brand just rolled out its Bright Boost line, which was created by millennial women for millennial women (aka me, aged 28) to target their initial signs of aging—like dullness, dark spots, dryness, and texture issues. The star ingredient is a molecule called NeoGlucosamine, an amino sugar that serves as one of the building blocks in oh-so-hydrating hyaluronic acid. And man oh man, does this thing put in work. When used on its own, it does a lot of the same things that I rely on in my three-ingredient combo. It helps to boost cell turnover—aka retinol’s claim to fame—to 10 times faster than usual, according to Neutrogena; reduces the appearance of dark spots by disrupting the skin pigmentation process, which we usually turn to vitamin C to do; and hydrates and plumps skin, à la hyaluronic acid. While there are no studies comparing the relative effectiveness of NeoGlucosamine to its counterparts, it certainly does give them a run
This post-natal core workout is low-impact and super effective
September 26, 2019 at 07:18PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov9UjTdq2WE] Your body changes in a lot of ways during and post-pregnancy, but one of the major changes happens to your abdominal for, you know, obvious reasons like it had to expand to accommodate a baby. Strengthening your core postpartum can help you avoid issues like leaky bladder and lower back pain. That said, it’s important to be gentle with your body. This workout from fitness trainer Rahel Ghebremichael is a low-impact way to build core strength. “Think about doing the work from the inside out,” says Ghebremichael. Meaning: really focus on doing the movements from your core, and don’t speed through the reps. “We’re gonna take it nice and slow, and focus on your form,” she says. “Really just focus on strengthening your core to use it as a unit. Especially after kids, it’s super super important that you just focus on getting your engagement together.” The series involves four movements, done for 12 reps, and repeated twice. Ghebremmichael says that they look deceptively easy—so really focus on moving slowly, engaging your core, and you’ll feel results. As with everything pregnancy-related, check out that you’re all clear to work out with your doctor before starting anything new. And then watch the Ghebremichael’s post-natal core workout above, and check out a breakdown of the movements below. Post-natal core workout 1. Heel slide: Lie down on your back and let your hands rest by your sides, keeping your shoulders away from your ears.
NutriBullet’s first full-size blender has arrived—and it’s *so* much cheaper than a Vitamix
September 26, 2019 at 05:45PM by CWC Being a food writer—and, well, a food lover—I’ve tried out my fair share of blenders over the years. NutriBullet’s original single-serving personal blender was one of the first that made its way into my kitchen. Now I also own a Vitamix, but the NutriBullet is still my preferred blender to make everything from smoothies to pasta sauces because it gets the job done and cleans up fast. Now, there’s officially a full-size version on the market. But how does it stack up to its competition? NutriBullet’s newly-released NutriBullet Blender is pretty impressive—and not just because of the chic countertop-worthy design and $99 price tag. The full-size blender is 64 oz., letting you prepare much bigger batches than you could previously. And the 1200-watt motor blender (which is double the power of the Magic Bullet’s 600-watt motor) has multiple blending options: low, medium, and high speeds, a pulse function, and an extract button that’s specifically designed for blending smoothie ingredients, like ice, greens, and fruit. With one touch, it automatically blends everything up then shuts off once it’s done. The NutriBullet Blender Combo, which retails for $140 on Amazon. While smoothies are what the NutriBullet brand is best known for, this blender makes it easy to make multiple different types of food. Just like the Vitamix—which prices range from $350 to $720—it allows you to make creamy soups and sauces. It also has a vented lid cap that enables you to blend up hot
If passing the U.S. Army Fitness test feels out of reach, master this move first
September 26, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC The perfect push-up is like the holy grail of exercise moves. It works everything from your arms to your shoulders to your core (if you’re doing them right, that is), and just the thought of having to drop and give someone 10 (let alone enough to pass the U.S. Army Fitness Test) is enough to get even the fittest among us quaking. But building up to flawless form is no easy feat, which is why if you’re just starting to flex your push-up muscles, you may want to start at the wall. Think of wall push-ups as push-ups with training wheels—a way to get your body prepped and ready for the real thing. They’re performed perpendicular to the floor, with your hands against the wall, and give your body a chance to get used to the movement of a push-up without having to exert quite as much strength as the regular floor version would. “It allows individuals to introduce proper pushing-pressing mechanics without overloading the core, making it ideal for someone lacking sufficient core stability and proprioception, an awareness of how one’s body is moving through space,” says Marcel Dinkins, a Founding Coach at Rowgatta. The move is accessible to people at any fitness level, and just because they’re easier than the real thing, you’ll be happy to learn that they come with comparable benefits. Like regular push-ups, the move works your pectoral muscles, anterior shoulders, and triceps, but are easier because you’re
Want To Cut Back On Impulse Buying? Use These Financial Therapist-Approved Tips
September 26, 2019 at 04:21PM Asking for a friend, of course. Continue Reading… Author Alexandra Engler | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
‘I’m a nutritionist, and here’s how I save money buying all the healthy food on Amazon’
September 26, 2019 at 04:01PM by CWC Getting Amazon Prime was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Instead of hunting down hard-to-find products or carrying multiple bags of groceries home, I can get everything I need with nothing but a couple taps on my phone—and it’ll all be at my door in 48 hours or less. Well, not surprisingly, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with the service—nutritionists are, too. You can essentially find anything you could ever want and need on Amazon. I recently snagged an organic sea kelp blend to season my pasta with—because, yes, that’s a thing. The only downside is because of how effortless it is, the service can quickly go from something that can save you time and money to something that eats up all your paychecks. Luckily, there are some simple ways to save big when stocking up on wholesome goodies. From knowing exactly what to buy online (and what to get at the grocery store) to the hacks that will keep your bank account happy, here’s how four nutritionists shop on Amazon. 4 nutritionists share their favorite Amazon hacks 1. Go for large quantity orders When you have foodie friends, you can turn Amazon into a quick-shipping Costco-like experience that allows you to get everything your heart desires. “I often go in with someone else for large quantity orders,” says Sonya Angelone, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Because when you buy in bulk, you’ll always
It’s Oatmeal Season! Here Are 6 Easy Ways To Make It Healthy & Delicious
September 26, 2019 at 03:33PM No. 5 is a total game-changer. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC