December 10, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC The past decade of fitness has been set to the tune of “harder, better, faster, stronger,” but the only thing fast about next year’s “it workout” is how quickly you’ll see it pop up in a city near you. Pilates-reformer-inspired Megaformer workouts—which use a machine that looks like a medieval torture device to activate slow-twitch muscle fibers that help build endurance and stamina—aren’t themselves new, but in 2020, they’re going to be inescapable. Haven’t yet joined the ranks of Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle as a Megaformer devotee? Here’s a crash course. In the early aughts, certified Pilates instructor Sebastien Lagree began experimenting with a way to add bodybuilding techniques to the classic Pilates reformer workout. And in 2010, he debuted the Megaformer, a souped up version of the reformer that features two platforms and a series of pulleys, springs, bars, and handles that can be mixed and matched to create hundreds of exercises. The workout that results, says Gauri Dhamnaskar, senior physical therapist at NYU Langone Health’s Sports Performance Center, is a low-impact “combination of cardio, Pilates, and strength-training.” In the years since Lagree began teaching Megaformer technique at Lagree Fitness, studios like SLT, BodyRok, and Solidcore (which opened in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively) developed small but loyal followings to their own Megaformer-inspired classes. But just like your favorite indie band, this style of workout is poised to hit the mainstream in 2020—in a big, big way. According to the fitness
Month: December 2019
Skin care is the reigning beauty queen—and in 2020 she’ll rule the world
December 10, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC If you’re a human who has gone to the drugstore, logged onto YouTube/Instagram, or gotten caught in a wild conversation about the multiple-weight hyaluronic acid serum your friend Suzy uses, allow us to state the obvious for you: Skin care is having a major moment. And we will see Phase Two of this mega-trend dominate 2020… and beyond. Conservative projections state that in five years’ time, the global skin-care market will be valued at $180 billion. To put that into perspective, that’s a 30-percent climb from 2018. The expansion is so huge that skin care has dethroned makeup as the top seller at L’Oreal Paris, the world’s biggest beauty company, and market-researchers at The NPD Group place 60 percent of all growth within the beauty industry squarely at skin care’s baby-soft feet. Fueling 2020 growth, new indie brand launches soar to numbers we’ve not seen before—look out for huge growth from Necessaire, The Inkey List, and Corpus Naturals. And big, old-guard beauty companies are modeling their businesses differently by creating internal incubators that are nimble enough to launch trending skin-care products more quickly. For example, Unilever, the maker of heritage brands like Dove and Suave, has launched and acquired over 10 new skin-care-focused brands in the past five years, with another two set to reach consumers in 2020. While Proctor & Gamble brought their lighthearted 2018 New Zealand skin-care acquisition, Kiwi, Stateside late this year and have plans to grow its presence over
We’ve got a crush on sports bras that finally work with your body
December 10, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC It’s time to prepare a eulogy for the uniboob: Sports bras are getting the high-tech engineering treatment once reserved for sneakers, resulting in options that are more comfortable, stylish, and performance-friendly than ever before. And we say it’s about damn time. Until recently, people with breasts have either had to choose between a bra that compresses their chest like a literal booby trap (sometimes using two of them at the same time), or one that leaves their breasts bouncing. This has historically created a major barrier to entry for physical activity. For instance, researchers in Australia found that women opt out of higher-intensity activities because their breast size negatively impacts their ability to work out. But as we move into a new decade, activewear brands are investing in technology that solves for these issues, indicating that a sports-bra revolution is underway. There’s certainly a demand for it: The sports-bra market has grown 10 percent in dollars spent and 2 percent in units sold in the last year, according to Maria Rugolo, a Fashion Business Analyst with market research firm NPD Group. This means that not only are people buying more sports bras, but also that they’re willing to pay more for them. “We think that we’re going to continue to see growth in this space for the next few years as the product and technology continues to get better,” says Rugolo. Indeed, Market Watch expects the sports-bra market to grow at a compound
New tech is putting our health data at our fingertips—and our health care in our hands
December 10, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC When the Apple Watch was first announced in late 2014, the general public’s reaction was, basically, “Why?” Why do I need a mini phone on my wrist when my phone is in my pocket? Why do I need to pay $350 (or more) for a step tracker when my Fitbit costs less than a third of that? Now, five years later, the answer is becoming clear: Thanks to rapid advances in technology, the Apple Watch and other wearable fitness trackers aren’t so much mini smartphones as they are personalized health-care devices, arming users with easy-to-digest snapshots of their activity and recovery data in order to optimize their health and wellness. And in 2020, new gadgets, features, and health-care applications for this tech will reach more people than ever before. The smart wearables market is booming—by 2022, it’s estimated to be worth $27 billion, which is double its 2018 value. Market analysis firm CCS Insight projects that 85 million smartwatches will be sold globally in 2019, with the Apple Watch accounting for approximately half of all smartwatch units sold between January and June (the Chinese brand iMoo, Samsung, and Fitbit are second, third, and fourth in sales). In November, Google’s parent company Alphabet threw its weight behind Fitbit, purchasing the step-tracking pioneer for $7.35 per share in cash (the equivalent of about $2.1 billion). That same month, the sleep and activity tracker Whoop secured an additional $55 million in funding for “consumer acquisition, membership
Step Aside, CBD—Another Crowd of Cannabinoids Is Ready for Its Moment in the Spotlight
December 10, 2019 at 02:30AM by CWC There’s no question that the U.S. market for CBD products is riding high—analysts believe it could be worth an estimated $23.7 billion by 2023. (To put this number into perspective, that’s almost as much as the alt-dairy market, which is tipped to be worth $29.6 billion.) But in a landscape that’s becoming saturated with CBD-rich tinctures, balms, and beauty products, how’s a brand to stand out? For many, it’s now about looking beyond CBD and elevating other non-psychoactive compounds in the hemp plant—namely, minor cannabinoids such as CBC, CBG, and CBN—to star-ingredient status. Although CBD, or cannabidiol, is the most abundant cannabinoid found in hemp, it’s just one of many that are thought to be supportive in the face of mental or physical stress. CBG (cannabigerol) and CBC (cannabichromene) have been touted as anti-inflammatory agents. CBN (cannabinol) shows some promise as a sleep aid. While CBD is also believed to have these benefits, some product developers believe they can create more nuanced, targeted solutions by incorporating higher levels of these secondary cannabinoids. “CBC, CBG, and CBN are all being isolated and purified by formulators so they can reintroduce them into bespoke product formulations,” says Mills Miller, founder of hemp wellness brand Mineral. “We have created proprietary hemp genetics on our farm to produce plants which are higher in each of the different cannabinoids to serve our different products.” Mineral’s post-workout Recovery tincture and Maison salve include high concentrations of CBG alongside a broad
Alt-Meat Moves Beyond Beef
December 10, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC It started with the alt-burgers. Meat eaters—who make up 70 percent of the people buying products from Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods—couldn’t believe the “bleeding” patties they were biting into were made from plants. While you can expect the burgers to continue to make headlines in 2020 (look for more fast food chains jumping on board), don’t expect the alt-meat conversation to end with beef. Consumers want variety in their plant-based proteins—and brands are innovating in never-done-before ways to meet the demand. In 2020, get ready to see plant-based chicken and fish alternatives reach alt-burger status. Established vegan brands, like Gardein, have changed their formulas to rely less heavily on soy, and new brands, like plant-based seafood company Good Catch, are joining the fray. Even restaurants are getting in on the trend. This month, vegan cult-favorite By Chloe launched “chicky,” plant-based chicken made from tempeh, which they added to the menu in the form of chicken nuggets, a crispy chicken salad, and chicken parm. Fast-casual chain Tender Greens has also introduced a soy-free vegan chicken (comprising only pea protein and wheat protein, plus spices) sourced from Abbot’s Butcher, and Chiptole investing in vegan seafood brand Sophie’s Kitchen, a hopeful hint of what’s to come. “When people are looking to go plant-based or meatless, they want more than just burgers,” says Tara Rozalowsky, the vice president and general manager of Gardein’s parent company Conagra Brands, of why the trend is taking off. “Chicken is
I literally use bottled sunshine to get myself through the dark days of winter
December 10, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Except in the sense that it’s dark by 4 p.m., in which case it is the bleakest and most awful time of the year and I hate it. I find it so hard to get out of bed, weighed down with layers of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), my year-round dysthymia, and my crumb-covered but oh-so-cozy comforter. You probably know that a natural light lamp can help you rise and shine whether you’re dealing with SAD or going into the frigid temperature just makes you feel sad. My solution? Grabbing a bottle of sunshine. Okay, so that makes it sound like I ran to the bodega, picked up a can of sunlight, and now my depression is cured. There were a lot of like, middle steps that factored into this, but let’s first recap the very nature of SAD. The Mayo Clinic notes a few symptoms of SAD as feeling depressed day-in and day-out, having low energy, feeling sluggish or agitated, and having problems sleeping. While there isn’t a clear-cut explanation as to why individuals experience SAD, one theory is that the lack of light messes with circadian rhythms. Natural light or rather a lack of it is what signifies our body that it’s time for sleep. A lack of natural light also decreases feel-good serotonin levels, if you see where I’m going here. Just as Daylight Saving Time started to mess with my biological clock, I
This is the MVP breakout-fighting ingredient to turn to if you’ve got rosacea and acne at the same time
December 10, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC One of the main reasons why rosacea is the number one most misdiagnosed skin condition is because people often think that it’s acne. While these two conditions are two totally distinct and different things, they can happen simultaneously… and are a real pain to try and treat at the same time. Most acne-fighting ingredients tend to irritate rosacea-prone skin, so even though they might help to banish a breakout, they’ll inevitably leave an angry red rash in its place. The answer to this conundrum, according to both a cosmetic chemist and dermatologist? Azelaic acid, aka the must-have ingredient for treating pimples and pustules in sensitive skin types—including rosacea. Azelaic acid is an active skin-care ingredient that your body naturally produces, says Michelle Wong, cosmetic chemist and founder of LabMuffin, who notes it’s great for “mild to moderate acne and papulopustular rosacea.” She explains that the acid is antimicrobial and helps to reduce a specific bacteria that contributes to acne, yet is gentle enough for sensitive skin to use because of its anti-inflammatory nature. “Azelaic acid is an FDA-approved [ingredient], and used in prescription form to treat the bumps and pus pimples of rosacea,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, who adds that the ingredient also helps to block abnormal pigment production, so it can “even skin tone and brighten dark spots” as an added perk. Also helpful for both acne and rosacea is the ingredient’s ability to reduce inflammation. According
Mary Cain’s workouts are now all about the joy of movement
December 09, 2019 at 10:08PM by CWC Mary Cain’s Spotify Wrapped for 2019 includes song after song by Dermot Kennedy. “He’s the only person I listen to when I run. There’s something about his very soulful singing that can really pump me up but also keep me relaxed,” she says. Nowadays, Cain’s workouts are just as she describes Kennedy’s music: soulful. On a Friday night at Outdoor Voice’s brand new Flatiron location in New York City—shortly before the 2013 World Championships finalist steps on stage to speak on a panel to a packed room of those who resonated with her powerful story—Cain tells me that her workouts are now led by the joy of movement. When I ask her about her workout of the day, she smiles: “I went up to Central Park, and I did about 10 miles worth of work because I didn’t really do a very long cool down. I kind of skipped on that,” she laughs. What Cain has pinpointed in her workout regimen is an acknowledgement of fitness as a fluid and flexible part of life. Sure, there’s nothing casual about going to the park and running multiple miles around Central Park’s six-mile loop, and the runner doesn’t pretend like the workout is no big. But, she’s quick to celebrate movement of any kind as a positive. “It’s super important to recognize that you can do things outside of an organizational structure. You can go do sprints in the park, you can go play frisbee
Nike just launched a shoe to help you stabilize your plank for (much!) longer
December 09, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC Our sneakers used to have one job to do. If you were a runner, that job was to help you log injury-free miles; if you were more into strength training, it was to keep you grounded for your lifts. But with the rise of boutique fitness, and more specifically of HIIT workouts, our sneakers are now forced through dozens of different movements in the course of a single session—from sprints to burpees to jump lunges. And so, Nike set out to develop a shoe that could do it all. The brand created their latest SuperRep family of shoes specifically with today’s fitness classes in mind. “Fitness classes are booming around the world,” Jamie Jeffries, VP and GM of Nike Training said in a statement. “Working out is its own sport, and Nike’s SuperRep shoes are designed to deliver on the performance needs [that are] specific to these activities.” The first shoe in the collection, the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep ($120), is meant to make HIIT workouts easier on athletes’ bodies. The diverse movements performed in these types of routines put forth a lot of impact on your joints (think: jump squats and high knees), which means that the right sneaker needs to have cushion and support. But Nike noticed that most of the options out there only offered one or the other, forcing people to choose which was most important to their movements. And so, the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep has air pockets