November 08, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC Christmas is great and all, but—nowadays, I’m way more excited to wake up and remove a pimple patch than to unwrap presents. Because there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a flattened zit, ya know? Much to my luck, beauty shelves are chock-full of acne patches in all shapes and sizes to choose from. But there’s one particular pimple patch that Target literally cannot keep in stock: Alba Botanica Anecdote Pimple Patches ($7). These patches are all the rage because they work—they’re little clear adhesives that are spiked with a special concoction of pimple-squelching ingredients. Unlike the majority of pimple patches that just use hydrocolloid, the Alba Botanica ones use the zit-zapping ingredient plus tea tree oil (a superstar antibacterial), witch hazel (with soothes inflammation), and salicylic acid (which exfoliates gunk) to really give your pimple no chance of survival. Photo: Alba Botanica So it’s no wonder why these babies are flying off of the drugstore shelves. They’ve been four-out-of-five stars on Target’s website, and fans have left rave reviews about how effective they are. My fellow Well+Good editor Kells McPhillips swears by them, noting they help prevent her from picking at her pimple (the worst crime), and “bring the redness down to let me focus on other things that aren’t the giant zit on my chin.” The best news is that these are available at the drugstore, so you don’t have to schlep to a specialty beauty boutique to take care of an angry
Day: November 8, 2019
No, Boys Aren’t Better At Math & Now Brain Scans Can Prove It
November 08, 2019 at 09:45PM It’s time to challenge our own assumptions. Continue Reading… Author Jamie Schneider | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
There are 9 basic relationship structures—this quiz helps you find which is best for you
November 08, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC If you’ve ever felt pressured to conform with the rules of monogamy or casual dating, you may actually be better suited for one of nine different relationship structures, according to certified sexologist Shan Boodram. To help you determine whether or not this is the case, she’s devised an online relationship quiz, which takes about 15 minutes to complete and helps you better understand your own needs, beliefs, and tendencies. “I think it’s a great entry point to starting a conversation about dating, to say, ‘How do you like your love? How are you interested in partnering at this time? What feels good for you?’” says Boodram, author of The Game of Desire. The key is to let go of your expectations around the results and reactions of another person (your partner, for example). “There is no wrong response, there is no ideal response, there is only somebody’s truth and your ability to get to it as fast as possible before making an investment that’s not logical based on your incompatibility.” Broaching the subject of relationship structures is touchy with someone new—like the guy who told me he’d like an open relationship before we’d even met—and it’s likely to be even more sensitive with a current partner. For example, I know that my boyfriend would not be super stoked read my result: “open relationship.” (Oh, the irony!) But Boodram says this doesn’t mean I should shy away from discussing it with him. “We can
This at-home spin bike is one of Oprah’s Favorite Things
November 08, 2019 at 07:15PM by CWC Oprah Winfrey‘s list of Favorite Things for 2019 has arrived, meaning it’s now socially acceptable to commence holiday shopping. Only this year, you’re going to have to buy a whole lot more wrapping paper because one of the her top finds is a spin bike. And it’s not Peloton. Featured in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, Winfrey’s list has everything from eco-friendly reusable coffee cups to cozy matching holiday pajamas. Something that really caught her eye, though, is the Flywheel Home Bike ($1,600) with the optional built-in tablet. Winfrey says she can’t handle airplane small talk and prefers to keep chatting with strangers to a minimum, so I can see why she’d prefer to spin at home. At-home fitness innovations like The Mirror, Hydrow, and Tonal have changed the way we all work out. If you’ve been debating getting into spinning at home, Winfrey’s list might be the push you need. Once something is Oprah-approved, how can you not click “add to cart”? No bike? No problem. There’s no equipment required for this workout: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFu_jqhOT3w] Would you rather row? Here’s the machine that will let you at home. Or find out how The Mirror is the ultimate workout device of the future. Continue Reading… Author Tehrene Firman | Well and Good Selected by CWC
Yes, fiber is good for your gut—but did you know it’s amazing for your skin, too?
November 08, 2019 at 06:50PM by CWC I have always associated fiber with pooping. Out of all the diet essentials that we’re supposed to get, fiber’s undoubtedly the least sexy, regardless of how healthy it is… mainly because of its reputation for keeping you on the toilet. Hot take, though: Fiber’s sexier than you ever realized—because it’s a secret beauty booster. Right alongside its abilities to promote your gut health, lower “bad” cholesterol, and keep you regular is its potential to beautify your hair, skin, and nails. “Fiber alleviates bloating, it helps with weight management, because it keeps you full for longer, it helps with energy, and it helps with amazing hair, skin, and nails,” says Lo Bosworth, founder and CEO of Love Wellness, a women’s personal care product line (which just launched its very own fiber product called Sparkle Fiber). “Nobody talks about this.” She’s right—while people incorporate all the collagen and vitamin C they can for the sake of good skin, fiber remains a nutrient that about 95 percent of people don’t get enough of in their diet (the FDA recommends about 25 grams a day). But fun fact: your collagen and vitamin C might not be doing the most for your body if you’re skimping on fiber. “Fiber increases the absorption of essential nutrients and antioxidants,” says Lisa Richards, CNC, nutritionist and author of The Candida Diet. “Certain nutrients like lutein, lycopene, and vitamin C are needed for collagen production, and eating enough fiber enables your digestive system to absorb
Harvard’s ranking of the 5 most effective exercises includes something for everybody
November 08, 2019 at 05:30PM by CWC When it came time to rank the best workouts, Harvard Health asked experts on staff to name the fitness modalities that contribute the most to overall health and happiness. You won’t find trampoline classes or pole dancing on the list, but the five workouts that make the cut ensure there’s a little something for everyone—whether you love cardio, feel empowered by lifting heavy things, or rely on your workouts for mental clarity. The 5 best workouts, according to Harvard Health 1. Walking A good old stroll gets Harvard’s seal of approval. Walking for just 30 minutes has been found to boost immune function, and the activity may also lessen joint pain. “Start with walking for about 10 to15 minutes at a time. Over time, you can start to walk farther and faster, until you’re walking for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week,” say the experts. If you have a chance to walk as your commute to and from work, then you may log these minutes without even noticing. 2. Swimming Swimming gives you all the cardio benefits of of running without taking a toll on your joints. It’s been linked with improved mental health, decreased joint pain, and even strengthening your lungs. So if you have a chance to take a dip, for health’s sake, dive right in. 3. Kegel exercises I know what you’re thinking—Kegel exercises seem like a weird addition to this list. Well, they’re not. Both
3 food rules a dietitian follows for healthy late-night dinners
November 08, 2019 at 05:08PM by CWC For anyone who leads a busy life (so, like, all of us), there are nights when it feels impossible to eat dinner at a respectable hour. Even when it only takes a few minutes to prepare a meal, I know I’m not the only one who is curious what makes for a healthy late-night dinner that won’t mess with my sleep or digestion. Whatever keeps you from sitting down to dinner at a reasonable hour, there are a few food rules to follow for late-night eating. During an Ask Me Anything with Well+Good’s Facebook group Cook With Us, registered dietitian and author of The Better Period Food Solution Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, shared her recommendations for putting together a healthy late-night dinner. How to navigate late-night eating, according to a dietitian 1. Choose something rich in magnesium Magnesium-rich foods might help you sleep better better. “Go for foods like oily fish, beans, lentils, brown rice, and seeds,” says Beckerman. Proteins like fish, beans, and lentils are easier to digest than meat, which makes your digestive system work a bit harder—something you definitely don’t want when you’re trying to sleep. 2. Add a high-calcium food Beckerman points out that calcium is another nutrient linked to good sleep, so she recommends pairing your magnesium-rich food with something like spinach, broccoli, or cheese. 3. get your probiotics “Add a side of kimchi or sauerkraut to sprinkle some probiotics into your gut before bedtime to help ease Sunday
This month’s full beaver moon basically doubles as a time-out from Mercury retrograde
November 08, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC If you’ve been feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, the November 12 full beaver moon in Taurus might just provide the help you need in order to power through. “Taurus is a tenacious sign. It’s stable, reliable, and stubborn at times,” says Rachel Lang, intuitive astrologer and healer. With the moon in Taurus and the sun in Scorpio, the potent combo of these fixed signs can “give you staying power to commit to anything you start,” Lang says. “This could be favorable for working through a relationship challenge or for finishing up a home project.” This full moon gets its name from—you guessed it—beavers. It marks the time of year when beavers start to retreat into their lodges for the winter. And the major theme for this specific full beaver moon is the practical versus the esoteric. “The Taurus-Scorpio axis line features themes of self-reliance (Taurus) versus merging with others (Scorpio),” Lang says. “Taurus is grounded in the material, while Scorpio plays in the unconscious realms.” You may also find yourself dealing with issues regarding money, whether that means having difficult conversations about money with your partner or rethinking your budget. “It’s the time to lay everything on the table and be real with yourself and your partner,” Lang says. If you’re worried about having difficult conversations while Mercury is in retrograde (through November 20), Lang says not to worry. This full beaver moon gives us a much-needed break from the communication issues that can
Is It Better For Your Gut To Eat A Big Breakfast Or A Big Dinner?
November 08, 2019 at 02:42PM Experts all pretty much agree. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
“Alphabet workouts” are the most fun way to stay fit since H-O-R-S-E
November 08, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Graphic: Well+Good Design For some, running is the be-all-end-all; for others, it’s a yoga 365 love affair, and while loving and leaning into a workout that fires you up each day is all well and good, sometimes variety is necessary. So, bless-up that we’ve found yet another way to bring the childhood game of H-O-R-S-E into our adult fitness lives using “alphabet workouts.” Alphabet workouts are pretty much what they sound like: Each letter of the alphabet corresponds to a short burst of basic strength training or a cardio move. While you can spell out whatever you want (or just go through the entire alphabet), my fave option is to spell out my name—last name optional—or ya know “horse” if it’s a TBT. About a zillion alphabet workout variations exist all over the internet, but we at Well+Good created our own, which will have you doing burpees (sorry!!), squat jumps, push-ups, crunches, and the list goes on, but you are certainly very familiar with all of the moves. We tried to make it as well rounded as possible, targeting every square inch of your body. If you’re ever crunched for time but still want to squeeze in a workout, this one’s really easy to knock out. I tried doing “Rachel” the other day at the gym, and was winded (I’m assigned 20 squat jumps, for goodness sakes). You’ll definitely work up a sweat and get in some cardio and fire up a ton