Year: 2019

March 01, 2019 at 04:01AM by CWC I dipped my toe in the audio fitness fad with extreme trepidation. As in, *shakes head*, there’s no way, no how that a pre-recorded coach shouting at me through my earbuds could replace the heart-pumping joy of dropping in to a boutique studio class. Wow, was I wrong. Within a week of queueing up my first-ever treadmill workout on Aaptiv—an on-demand fitness app that offers almost every sweat modality, from boxing to HIIT—I wouldn’t shut up about it. Seriously, I became the company’s unofficial PR rep who blurted out my undying love for the app both to those who asked (like my charitable friends) and those who didn’t (my humble apologies, cashier(s) at Trader Joe’s). I’m not alone in my fanfare: All-in-all, the app creates heart-pumping content for 200,000 members in 20 countries across the globe. My mom, my sister, my cousin, two of my friends, and a few colleagues are now among them—so I’ve compared notes with a small pool of fellow-obsessives. While no, I haven’t done all 3,000 classes available on the app, I have sweated through enough to know which ones emerge supreme—at least, IMO. Below, I’ve rounded up 10 of the best-of-the-best with the hope that you, too, will be psyched to gush about your latest digitally-led strength training session to anyone in earshot. (And if you don’t have an account yet, consider hopping on their free trial.) Behold, the 10 best Aaptiv workouts to queue up for your

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March 01, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC Feeling irritated and agitated isn’t necessarily an uncommon occurrence for me—it’s something I attribute to my very unchill, George Constanza-like nature. But even as someone who harbors strong opinions about things as seemingly benign as black coffee and low ponytails, I’m still able to recognize that the random anger and frustration I feel toward friends and family after waking up from particular dreams is irrational and uncalled for. But I also don’t think I’m alone. Think about it: You’ve definitely had dreams in which your parents, say, shared you’re their least favorite child; or maybe your partner hit on someone right in front of you; or maybe your BFF told your deepest, darkest secret to your crush. Any number of dreams can push your subconscious buttons to an extent that makes you feel angry upon waking up. And even when you can’t recall the exact narrative of what happened in your dream-verse (not all dreams are lucid, after all),  whatever transpired left a sour taste in your mouth—or, more precisely, on your mood. Aside from having to contend with the immediate sensation of annoyance upon waking up, getting out of bed with a grumpy mind-set doesn’t really set up your day for success. But since dream rage can plague truly anyone, I tapped a couple of experts for advice on how to keep the snoozy negativity from putting a damper on your day. 3 tried-and-true methods for not letting your dream-anger hangover ruin your day. 1.

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March 01, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC While some products in my skin-care regimen never change—like the Biologique Recherche P50 toner ($67) and Neutrogena Hydroboost Hydrating Serum ($23)—I typically keep the rest in rotation in order to explore the wide world of beauty products. If a facial cleanser runs out, I’ll try another brand. Same with everything else, from my body lotion to my face cream. Sure, I use a facial moisturizer twice a day, but I’m forever testing out a new product. But now that my skin’s been introduced to the brand-spankin’ new Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream ($68), I’m never switching face creams again. As the newest concoction from the J-beauty brand Tatcha—a brand already beloved by many—the moisturizer takes the star ingredients from its famous Dewy Skin Mist ($48) and inserts them into a cream that’s all about bestowing your face with legit dewy skin. It’s got Japanese purple rice, soothing botanical extracts, a Japanese algae blend, and hyaluronic acid, each working to gently plump and hydrate your skin. Fun fact: Purple rice used to be forbidden in ancient Japanese culture because it was reserved for the rich and noble. It’s a key skin booster because it contains a potent antioxidant that protects your complexion from pollution. Photo: Tatcha “The active ingredients in the cream help replenish ceramides, protect the skin from stress, replenish the moisture reservoir, and help to retain hydration,” says Tatcha founder Victoria Tsai. “The formula took about a year and a half to develop—we

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