December 28, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC The 1980s may have been known as “the glitter days” (in the words of Joey Ramone, at least), but the 2020s are about to take hold as the biodegradable glitter days. As we look towards sustainability in all of our beauty products, brands have begun to rethink the way they manufacture glitter. Traditionally, sparkly makeup has been made of plastic, which anyone with access to the Internet knows is not good for the environment. But the new wave of products is made from materials that break down in nature, and won’t hang around in our oceans and landfills from here until eternity. Thanks to makeup artists like Pat McGrath and Doniella Davy (and the entire cast of Euphoria), glitter makeup is no longer reserved for teenagers and Halloween costumes. There are plenty of sophisticated ways to make glitter appropriate for adults, any day of the year. Read on to find out why biodegradable glitter will be taking over your makeup bag (and not our water supply) this year, plus makeup artists’ favorite ways to use it IRL. What is biodegradable glitter? Biodegradable glitter is different than regular glitter in that it, well, biodegrades or over time decomposes in the environment. “Regular glitter is made up of thin sheets of copolymer or PET plastics that are cut up into tiny pieces, whereas biodegradable glitter is made from plant-based cellulose,” explains Detox Market makeup artist Merrady Wickes. “Regular glitter is basically microplastic which ends up in our water, and
Day: December 28, 2019
6 of the best chiropractor-led warm-up exercises on YouTube
December 28, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC Even though warm-up exercises are just as important as your actual workout, not everyone takes the time to do them. (Guilty as charged.) Where there are many different warm-up techniques, leave it to chiropractors to know the best ways to prepare yourself all the hard work ahead. There are certain types of warm-ups suited for different workouts based on their intensity levels, but chiropractors are pros at knowing the friendly feel-good movements that help safely prepare your body for just about any activity. Here are some of our favorite chiropractor-led exercises to start with. The best chiropractor-led warm-up exercises on YouTube [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ede3PqGNftY] 1. Full Potential Chiropractic 6-minute warm-up exercise Whether you’re going on a run or strength-training, this six-minute warm-up will help your body with marching high knees, arm circles, squats, lunges, and planks. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Ly5aHEsG8] 2. Prince Chiropractic warm-up exercises This chiropractor-approved routine involves holding deep stretches, walking rotational lunges, and single-leg balancing exercises. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJzS31JE3WA] 3. Universal Chiropractic warm-up exercises When you do them correctly, crunches make for a great warm-up, and that’s the focus in this sequence. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sbrg2kmkrI] 4. Kalkstein Chiropractic top 3 warm-up exercises These are the three simple exercises chiropractor Blake Kalkstein, DC, has everyone do before working out to help open up the hips and upper back. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_xuezsa1_I] 5. Cleveland Clinic’s quick 4 It doesn’t take long to warm up your body before your workout, and these four simple exercises are proof. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjYHKWwHJlk]
A dermatologist is begging you to stay away from this ingredient if you’ve got dry skin
December 28, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC When it comes to selecting products for a dry skin routine, I like to play ingredient bingo with the labels. “Hyaluronic acid,” “ceramides,” and “colloidal oatmeal” are all winning picks to use, plus bonus points for buzzwords like “cream,” “milk,” and “hydrating.” But equally as important as the ingredients you’re slathering onto your skin are the ones you’re leaving off of it. One common culprit that board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, wants you to stay far, far away from if you’ve got dry skin? Sulfates. Sulfates are a type of surfactant, which is what make cleansers lather and foam, and help with removing dirt, oil, and debris from your skin when you wash your face. For some people, sulfates are totally fine, but that’s not the case if your skin’s dry. “Harsh cleansers disrupt your epidermal barrier which is the top layer of your skin, and it’s the most important thing that’s responsible for keeping water locked in and from evaporating out,” says Dr. Gohara, explaining that sulfates are typically what make a cleanser considered harsh. “The moment that barrier is disrupted, it’s game over for dry skin.” In addition to looking for the word “sulfate-free” on your cleanser (or, at the very least, making sure “sodium lauryl sulfate,” the most common sulfate, is nowhere to be found on the ingredient list), Dr. Gohara suggests seeking out terms like “gentle,” “hydrating,” and “pH neutral” on your products. And one common misconception worth keeping
What it really means if your love language is acts of service and how to master it
December 28, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC While some people feel the most loved when they hear the words “I love you,” for folks whose love language is “acts of service,” it’s more meaningful when you actually do something to show them your love. In other words, actions speak louder than words. Backing up for a sec in case you’re not familiar with love languages. They were introduced by Dr. Gary Chapman’s best-selling book The 5 Love Languages. “Love languages are specific ways that each individual is wired and/or conditioned to receive and value love,” says Kendra A. O’Hora, PhD, LCMFT, and owner and therapist at HarCo Marriage and Family Therapy and Wellness Center. “Dr. Chapman suggests that when your gas tank is running low, you need more and more love to sustain healthy levels of functioning. If you’re running on empty in your relationship, then being kind, generous, supportive, loving, considerate, selfless, etc. becomes desperately difficult.” While the other four love languages are pretty self-explanatory (physical touch, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time), acts of service is one that can be a little tricky to understand. (If you’re not sure what your love language is, you can take an online quiz). Dr. O’Hora says some tangible examples of acts of service include running an errand for your partner, filling up their car with gas, or doing household chores like laundry and dishes. The acts of service love language can encompass so many things, though, where do you even start? How do you
Zodiac intel that basically turned us into human Co-Star apps this year
December 28, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC At the beginning of the 2019, I knew I was a Taurus, and that meant I’m “stubborn” and beauty listicles would always recommend that I buy brown lipstick because I’m Earthy. But now—after learning about astrology a lot in the past 12 months—as the year comes to a close, I also know I have my Mars in Cancer, a genius aspect in my chart, and that I prefer to eat my eggs hard-boiled (lies, I already knew that last bit). It seems we were all learning about astrology (and other types of personality indicators) in 2019, more than ever before, at least. Maybe it’s due the the app-ification of horoscopes, or maybe it’s due to the overall focus on holistic birth charts over star signs alone. Whatever it is, I don’t see this astro-obsession slowing down in the new decade. With that in mind, you’d be wise to refresh your memory on some out-of-this-world astrological revelations we had in the past year, so you can use them for a more comically aligned 2020 and beyond. Check it out below. Learning about astrology? Bookmark 7 out-of-this world pieces of intel below: 1. Your moon sign is as important as your sun sign when it comes to your astro-identity This year, we really dove deep into our charts and got friendly with a whole bunch of planets. (your Mars sign can uncover sex and fitness preferences—who knew?) But your moon sign really speaks to your inner,
6 editors share the mental health advice that got them through 2019
December 28, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC 2019 has been A Year. It’s the end of the decade, which, insert 200 mind-blowing emojis. The year was filled with highs (Baby Yoda! Anytime Lizzo does something!) and lows (a less enthusiastic list containing the further destruction of our planet, burnout, and the return of platform sneakers). “Is there an option to ctrl-z things IRL?” I have found myself asking pretty frequently. There is just a lot happening at all times, which puts a strain on our mental health. That said, there were some good moments for mental health this year, as the stigma around it continues to disappear. We reflected on the past year to see the pieces of advice got us through the year. And while I personally believe there should be a moratorium on the word “reflect” during the month of December (see also: my notes about saying “Winter Is Coming), it does feel apt here. So without further ado, Well+Good editors share the best mental health advice they received all year. 1. Delete Instagram on the weekends “Instagram is my one social media vice. Unfortunately, it’s kind of a must for work, but I’ve taken to deleting it on the weekends and filling my would-be social media moments with other things. Even if it just means staring at my shoes on the subway platform.” —Kells McPhillips, staff writer 2. Ask for help “I am generally a very independent person who likes to solve problems ‘on my own.’ But
I’m a functional medicine doctor, and this is the most common mistake with intermittent fasting
December 28, 2019 at 01:47PM by CWC With well-intentioned resolutions at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now, chances are you’ve got at least one friend who says she’s going to start the new year with intermittent fasting. Or maybe it’s you who wants to try IF, having read about intermittent fasting for weight loss or getting a better sleep at night. The eating plan—which calls for eating only during certain time periods—always seems to be part of the wellness conversation, but it’s making headlines yet again this week due to a just-released study published in the New England Journal of Medicine offering new intel on the best way to go about IF. The study suggests that instead of jumping straight into it, it’s more effective to ease into it, slowly increasing the duration and frequency of the fasting periods. As a functional medicine doctor who is known for preaching a food-as-medicine message, Mark Hyman, MD, is used to patients asking him all sorts of IF questions—or coming to him complaining that it hasn’t worked for them. Dr. Hyman says the new information makes sense and even says IF is linked to a myriad of health benefits. “Intermittent fasting, or eating your meals within an eight hour window can be effective, especially in terms of changing unhealthy eating behaviors,” he says. But he also says he’s seen people go about IF the wrong way, too. “I think people get caught up in the terminology of it, not knowing what intermittent
Why alt-meat brands are turning to algae for vegan-friendly omega-3s
December 28, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC Plant-based eating has taken over the food space in a serious way, and while it’s awesome you can get an Impossible Whopper at Burger King or a Beyond Meat breakfast sandwich at Dunkin’, consumers are hungry for more than just beef substitutes. That’s why plant-based chicken and fish alternatives (a small but growing part of the alt-meat market) aregoing to really start taking off on store shelves in 2020. While vegan-izing meat always comes with challenges nutrition-wise, plant-based fish in particular offers its own hurdles. Fish is one of the best sources of brain- and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids—a nutrient that can be difficult to obtain from non-animal sources. But vegan fish is potentially closer than ever to mimicking its seafood counterpart both in taste and nutrition…by sourcing omega-3s from algae. How omega-3s from algae compare to omega-3s in fish AlgaPrime DHA is one company that sources omega-3s from algae in order to provide a sustainable food source to aquaculture and livestock companies. “Fish get their omega-3s by eating smaller fish, and smaller fish eat algae. Algae is the original source of the omega-3s,” says Jill Kauffman Johnson, AlgaPrime DHA’s head of global market development. “Certain [types of] algae are the original form of the omega-3s EPA and DHA,” agrees registered dietitian Amy Gorin, RD. “So when a fish eats that algae, this is one of the main ways the fish gets omega-3s in its system.” Gorin says that it is possible to