March 04, 2019 at 07:58AM by CWC You know what’s annoying? White marks on your nails once you’ve finally given them a breather from all those pretty polishes. A quick dive down the Google rabbit hole can result in some pretty scary stuff. But those white marks on your nails are probably caused by leukonychia, also known as milk spots. Such discoloration requires a rather unremarkable explanation. Leukonychia is commonly caused by a simple trauma or injury to the nail base, something that you probably don’t even remember doing. “The white marks on nails can make people worry, but they’re most likely the cause of white marks is minor injury, such as being bumped or bitten or knocked on something accidentally,” says Amy Ling Lin, founder of Sundays, a New York City-based non-toxic nail salon. According to dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, MD, the marks can also be caused by a reaction to nail polish, acrylic nails, or a simple manicure if your cuticles are pushed back too hard at the nail salon. What most people don’t realize is that you might not even notice the marks until a month or so after the injury occurs. Luckily, they’ll eventually go away—even if it takes a little longer than you’d like. “It’s important to note that it may take 3 to 6 months for these spots to grow out,” he says. Although minor trauma is the most common cause of the white spots, there are some health problems that could be responsible as well. “Infections—such as fungal
Year: 2019
I went to a sexting coach, and now I feel like an erotica author whenever inspiration strikes
March 04, 2019 at 07:12AM by CWC If there’s anything better than enjoying pristinely white sneakers, a perfectly ripe avocado, or pajamas that are just-got-out-of-the-dryer warm, it’s gotta be receiving an expertly crafted NSFW message from someone you’d like to, have been, or plan to take to bed. Sexts hold the power to take me from zero to hero in a split second (read: aroused hero). Yet even as someone who’s been in the sexting game since the days of Motorola RAZR phones, sometimes I still feel like my messages are less so akin to a bona fide erotica author than they are an immature kid giggling at dirty words. So naturally, when Brianna Rader, founder and CEO of sex and relationship coaching app Juicebox, introduced me to to her app—explaining that the platform’s sexperts offer coaching on nitty-gritty—I was intrigued. Could I learn to sext like true arteest? Rader suggested I try. So through the app, I connected with intimacy coach Stella Harris, author of Tongue Tied: Untangling Communication in Sex, Kink, and Relationships, who gave me some blush-worthy actionable tips in the art of sexting. Check out five things I learned below. (Spoiler: I now feel like I unlocked the power to turn on some nonexistent filthy filter whenever I pick up my phone and sexy inspiration strikes.) 5 tips to sext like an erotica author 1. Give the recipient a heads-up before sending a sext Let’s clear up any confusion: You need to ask for consent before sending a sext or
15 upcycled clothing ideas you’ll actually want to wear
March 04, 2019 at 07:10AM by CWC Viewed from the outside, the fast-paced fashion industry appears to be all glitz and glam. There’s a new trend to jump on every day, and that means store shelves are constantly being restocked with plenty of tantalizing new looks. Unfortunately, it’s not so shiny behind the scenes. By keeping an eye on what you wear and the environment, learning how to upcycle clothes allows you to showcase your style and keep up with the latest trends without hurting the planet. Upcycling creatively transforms the products you already own in order to cut down on waste. It’s nothing new, but with global warming threatening the future, there’s no better time to start doing it yourself. Creating a more sustainable closet requires little more than a few pieces of clothing you already own. A cozy old sweater can quickly be updated with a little imagination. Those jeans you haven’t worn in years are just begging to be transformed into a cute pair of shorts or a denim skirt. A smattering of creativity can revive your tired wardrobe. Plastic and material waste is a problem that plagues a variety of industries—and retail is no exception. More than 75 percent of the plastic produced in 2015 ended up in a landfills and more than 270 million tons pollute the world’s oceans. In the same year, the fashion industry was responsible for 92 million tons of waste sent to landfills. That’s just the beginning of the negative impact it has on the environment, though. Past studies
We asked a psychologist how to cope when you really, really miss someone
March 04, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Sometimes feelings of deep longing for someone who is no longer in your life creep up when you least expect it. Maybe it’s because a song comes on your Spotify playlist they totally loved. Maybe it’s because Netflix just announced the third season of a show you used to watch together. Or maybe you’re home alone and can’t help but reminisce on all the fun times you used to have together. Whatever the reason, it always totally sucks. “There’s no one answer about what to do when you miss someone—it really depends on the situation,” says psychologist Gregory Kushnick, PsyD. To his point, grappling with feeling of missing an ex versus a friend who moved away or a loved one who has passed away are all completely different scenarios. Fortunately, he has experience helping clients through these hard times, and he’s sharing his tips here too. Keep reading for expert tips from a psychologist about what to do when you miss someone. Photo: Stocksy/Bonnin Studio 1. If you miss someone who lives far away It can really suck when your partner-in-crime is no longer just a text away from being able to meet up for happy hour or a spin class. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have long distance, virtual dates. “It helps to have set times planned to talk on the phone,” Dr. Kushnick says. “That way, it gives you both something to look forward to and a time to catch up
The definitive ranking of retinols from most gentle to most potent
March 04, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC I’ve been using a trusty retinol serum for several years now, and it’s probably the prized possession of my skin-care routine. If you’re not already using vitamin A, know that it’s revered for its anti-aging, glow-inducing, and acne-fighting prowess—and that’s due to its profound ability to speed up your skin cell turnover process and increase collagen production within skin. While shopping for one of these MVPs, however, you may have noticed that there are roughly zillions of retinoid-related terms on the back on ingredient labels that are tough to tell apart (like how the heck is retinyl palmitate different from retinol esters?). So to help shed a light on just what exactly these retinol-related ingredients are and what they do, I called in the pros. Know this: Everyone I talked to said that incorporating a vitamin A derivative into your routine is the single best thing that you can do for skin. “Retinoids are the umbrella term for retinol products, which are all proven to improve skin tone, texture, and pigmentation over time,” explains Jennifer Chwalek, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City. “Within these categories, there are different concentrations and formulations which consequently affect the strength of the product. For instance, a 0.025 percent cream is not as strong as a .5 percent cream, and a .025 percent cream isn’t as strong as a .025 percent gel.” So yeah… it’s complicated. To make choosing a retinoid even more
The Healthiest People We Know Share The No. 1 Energy-Boosting Food
March 04, 2019 at 07:07AM Bookmark this for your next 3 p.m. slump. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Stay In Ketosis With These 5 High-Fat, Low-Carb Desserts
March 04, 2019 at 07:03AM Low-carb, low-sugar, totally delicious. Continue Reading… Author Stephanie Eckelkamp | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
4 things amethyst is good for—other than looking pretty in Instagram posts
March 04, 2019 at 06:30AM by CWC When it comes to crystals, amethyst, a type of quartz (yes, as in the Instagrammable rose quartz), is one of these photogenic and ubiquitous ones. Its popularity, however, isn’t just about its ultraviolet hue. The crystal has been referred to as a spa day in a stone—with a reputation like that who wouldn’t want to incorporate amethyst in their life? As a common crystal, you’ve likely seen it occupying prime real estate on your office mate’s desk or noticed it in beautiful pieces of jewelry. The stone is also the birthstone of February babies (alongside bloodstone) so it tends to draw an especially strong attraction from Aquariuses and Pisces, according to crystal expert and co-founder of Energy Muse Heather Askinosie. Generally speaking, “amethyst brings peace to your life. It clears your mind of stress and worry so you can connect to your inner peace in a moment of quiet, even on the busiest of days,” Askinosie says. Here are 4 more amethyst healing properties that make it a crystal worth carrying. 1. It facilitates peaceful sleep “As a calming crystal, amethyst guides you toward relaxation and restful sleep,” Askinosie tells me. If you regularly suffer from restless sleep or find it difficult to fall asleep you should place the crystal in your bedroom (on your nightstand perhaps). 2. it helps with intuition and communication “Because of its purple color, amethyst is connected to the sixth chakra, located just above the center of your brows,” Askinosie
I gave my home a sustainable makeover—here’s how I did it
March 04, 2019 at 06:30AM by CWC I wanted to create a home sanctuary that was just as chemical-free as the organic grain bowls I eat for lunch—but I’ll be real with you: Going non-toxic and eco-friendly in my space seemed impossible. How would I do it on a 23-year-old-level budget in a not that small, but pretty small Brooklyn apartment? After a little self pump-up chat, I realized I didn’t have to change my entire way of living to make much-needed changes to my home (and for our pal, the earth). I also got to chat with Alexandra D’Andrea, co-founder of Avocado Green Mattress, a Los Angeles-based brand that started when D’Andrea and her husband were searching for a green mattress for their home that just didn’t exist yet. “We assembled a small team with a deep expertise in technology, design, manufacturing, marketing, and customer service to create our first product and build our brand,” she says. “We used our own modest funds to design an honest, simple product that’s unlike almost everything else in the marketplace.” If anyone knew how to help me take on my green-ifying adventure, it’s D’Andrea. “Old habits can be difficult to break. Especially in today’s world where it’s so easy to hit ‘add to cart’ without considering the true impact of our decisions—both on the people that are making these products as well as on our own health,” she says. “It’s so easy to hit ‘add to cart’ without considering the true impact of our
5 Real Reasons People Cheat (No, It’s Not Just “Because They’re A Bad Person”)
March 04, 2019 at 05:44AM A psychotherapist explains. Continue Reading… Author Tammy Nelson, Ph.D. | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue