January 31, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC Whether you’ve been to a single yoga class or practice on the reg, there’s a good chance you’ve been instructed to flow through poses that “flush out your lungs.” If the phrase has ever had you raising an eyebrow in confusion, allow me to demystify: Certain yoga moves help to open up your lungs for better, more open breathing. “On the most basic level, it’s aeration of the body,” says Beth Cooke, a yoga instructor with Sky Ting, who says that certain yoga poses work to release stale air and energy. “In Chinese medicine, the lungs are qi masters that take in oxygen, giving us energy and expelling that which we don’t need.” She stresses that the lungs should be kept “as clear as possible” during these yoga breathing exercises to support our everyday physical life. Through yoga, flushing the lungs can help with more efficient breathing to powers your movement on and off the mat. “Although just breathing more deeply expands your lungs, adding specific movements or shapes in the body that open up your chest and lungs also allow you to breathe deeper,” says Cooke. “When we breathe deeper, we drop into our parasympathetic nervous system.” In your yoga flow, that often means flipping your wrists to open up the chest. “This opens up more space to deepen your breath by opening the collarbones, sliding your shoulder blades down the back, and pushing your lungs forward like a puffing sensation,” she
Month: January 2020
This creamy multi-use avocado aioli instantly ups the flavor of every single meal
January 31, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Adding chef-level flavor to your meals doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use herbs and spices, a squeeze of citrus, or—my personal favorite—a sauce. In particular, you can use this creamy avocado-loaded aioli that tastes good on literally everything. I’m talking roasted veggies, salads, scrambles, and more. Avocados From Mexico just launched AvoEatery in Dallas, Texas, and the entire menu is focused on the beloved green fruit. Aka a dream come true. While the main dishes—from Texas-sized avocado toast and grilled avo-topped zoodles—are always a win, the humble avocado aioli’s multi-use powers are seriously impressive. “Avocado aioli is so versatile and can really give a dish an extra something special,” says David Spirito, the senior director of foodservice and culinary for Avocados From Mexico. “You can use it as a dip with veggies, pitas, and chips to make a fun appetizer or as a side dish. You can also use it to dress up your favorite sandwich (whether it’s hot or cold), add it to your breakfast or lunch, or add it to a burger. You can even use it as a base in a salad dressing. The possibilities are really endless for this simple sauce.” To try it out for yourself—and, let’s be honest, add it to every meal you possibly can—whip up Spirito’s recipe below. Once you have a batch ready to go, you can use it all week long. AvoEatery’s avocado aioli Yields 2 cups Ingredients 1 ripe avocado,
This drugstore serum sells a bottle every minute, and is basically a chemical peel in a bottle
January 31, 2020 at 09:30PM by CWC Every so often, a product comes onto the market and becomes an instant classic. Remember when Glossier’s Balm Dotcom came out? I certainly do, because it was so dang hard to get my hands on one. But the latest launch to immediately elevate itself to cult-fave beauty product status is not only really good, but it’s also available at the drugstore. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum ($23), which launched in October, 2019, has already skyrocketed to selling a bottle every minute in the United States. The formulation was developed by dermatologists, and the 10-percent pure glycolic acid is enough to resurface skin the same way a chemical peel would… for a whole lot less than what it would cost you for a peel at a derm’s office. The OG chemical exfoliant is lauded for its ability to improve skin’s tone and texture, getting rid of discoloration as well as fine lines. Historically, though, getting your hands (and face) on a glycolic product that actually works would cost you a pretty penny, but considering the affordable price tag on this particular serum, it’s no wonder that the masses have fallen in love with it at first sight. Board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD is also a fan, noting that in addition to having a powerful amount of glycolic, the serum also has hydrating components like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to balance things out. Since glycolic acid helps remove dead skin cells
These reusable paper towels are the prettiest way to kickstart a zero-waste kitchen
January 31, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC Switching to more of a zero-waste lifestyle can be daunting—especially when it comes to the kitchen. It’s the land of plastic bottles, Ziploc bags, and K-Cups, after all. But you don’t have to swap everything for more eco-friendly versions all at once. Just start with reusable paper towels and go from there. I’ll be the first to admit I go through a lot of paper towels. I use one every time I dry my hands, whenever I’m cleaning, while cooking… the list goes on. Unfortunately, that’s not great for the planet: The United States uses more paper towels than any other country, and the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that results in 7.4 billion pounds of waste a year from paper towels and other tissue materials, like toilet paper. Yikes. The good news is there’s a reusable alternative that looks pretty on your countertop and is super easy to use. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marley’s Monsters (@marleysmonsters) on Jan 1, 2020 at 8:00am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js One of the most popular items from Marley’s Monsters, an Oregon-based company that sells handmade reusable and zero-waste products, are the UNpaper Towels ($16 to $54, depending on the pack size). They look and work like any other roll of paper towels, except they’re completely made of cloth. The towels naturally cling together, so when you have them on a paper towel holder, you can easily pull one off as needed. Then
This is the super healthy, satiating, protein-packed snack every RD we know recommends
January 31, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC It’s a truth universally known that eating enough protein is important for healthy, stable energy levels. It’s important for muscle recovery and repair, it’s great at working with fiber to stabilize blood sugar, and it helps keep you full. “I always recommended protein and fiber-rich snacks to help keep you energized and satisfied. It’s a bonus if those snacks are plant-based and portable,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, RDN, author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. But let’s face it: eating foods like hard boiled eggs—the traditional go-to for easy protein—can get old, fast. While there are a bunch of other good healthy snack options that are high in protein (think Greek yogurt, string cheese, nut butter packs, and more), I was surprised to find that there was one food that every dietitian I know says is an excellent choice for mid-afternoon hunger pangs. No, it wasn’t a protein bar. It was roasted beans. Wait, why do experts recommend beans as a snack? Surprised? So was I. But all of the RDs I spoke to said that they’re a big fan of the roasted beans trend—which includes chickpeas, broad beans, and edamame—because it’s a near-perfect healthy snack. For starters, beans and legumes in general are high in protein and fiber, which helps fill you up, keep blood sugar levels stable, and satiate you until your next meal. They can be incorporated into a variety of eating plans, making them a good option for vegans, vegetarians, Med
This skin-care ingredient is better than any primer for smooth-looking foundation
January 31, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC Dry, winter air and a flawless makeup application exist on two different planets (and if anyone has figured out how to make them work together on this one, HMU). No matter how hydrated skin is after applying a rich moisturizer, inevitably you’re faced with environmental aggressors like extreme cold or man-made ones like heaters that cause dry patches to appear. And that makes applying foundation kinda tricky. But dermatologists say that applying polyglutamic acid-spiked skin care can help. Much like hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid is also hydrating (not exfoliating, like a lactic acid). “Polyglutamic acid is similar to hyaluronic acid in that it adds moisture to your skin, and it actually improves your skin’s ability to absorb moisture,” says Shari Sperling, DO, a board-certified dermatologist. The ingredient, which she explains comes from fermented soybean mucilage, works to increase skin elasticity as it plumps. And, pros say that it’s better than any primer at nixing dry patches and providing a smooth foundation application. “What makes polyglutamic acid different from hyaluronic acid is that it forms a film on the skin that stops water from evaporating,” says Mark Curry, cosmetic chemist and co-founder of The Inkey List. “Not only is it a humectant that draws more water into the cells, but it holds it there too and it’s great for dry patches.” And if you think that film-forming bit sounds a lot like what primer does, you’re right, but according to Curry PGA is even
5 agility exercises that’ll boost your speed (and strength) in workouts
January 31, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC A formula for a good fitness routine includes cardio, strength, endurance, and power. We tend to think a lot about the first two, but if you add agility into the mix, you’ll be even stronger (and faster) in the given workout you’re trying to perform. “When you think of agility, you may conjure images of top athletes with cat-like reflexes,” says Corey Phelps, a Washington, D.C.-based fitness trainer. But you don’t have to be a pro athlete to benefit from agility exercises, because having these skills will improve your coordination, which is key in any training regimen. “The benefits range from better balance and flexibility to the ability to control and maintain good posture and alignment,” says Steve Stonehouse, trainer and director of education for Stride. Agility is your body’s ability to be “quick and nimble while maintaining control,” says Phelps. Agility training can have everyday benefits too: “Think of how important it is to be able to pivot and change directions quickly, like if you go to cross the street and have to dodge a big pothole without falling, or moving swiftly to catch your brand-new iPhone before it hits the floor,” says Phelps. Those quick reflexes come in handy IRL, which is all the more reason to add some agility drills to your sweat sesh. Keep scrolling for trainers’ go-to agility exercises to try for yourself. Agility exercises 1. Plyometric box jumps: This is a fave of both Phelps and Stonehouse. Find
Your ultimate guide to sugar substitutes and natural sweeteners
January 31, 2020 at 03:12PM by CWC Sugar, especially the white, refined kind we all grew up with, has never exactly been considered a health food. It spikes your blood sugar, increases inflammation, and can spur further cravings that can impact a person’s healthy eating goals. And artificial substitutes like Splenda and Sweet ‘N Low come with chemical baggage we’d rather avoid. But life without something sweet every now and then doesn’t seem worth it, IMO. So we asked Erica Giovinazzo, RD, Clay Health Club’s resident nutritionist, and Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, host of Well+Good’s YouTube series You Versus Food, if there are any benefits to the natural white sugar alternatives flooding the market. They helped us sort through the options and the marketing—from agave to stevia and even Sugar in the Raw. Here’s the 411 on sugar and all its aliases, straight from a registered dietitian: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lw-OEaThp0] Just remember, Giovinazzo says, “naturally derived sugars are still sugars. They’re not a health food. But if you’re going to have sugar, there are more nutritious ways to get it.” Here’s your guide to the most common natural white sugar substitutes… Photo: Wikipedia/Maltose Agave Pro: Agave has a lower glycemic index, meaning your body absorbs it more slowly than refined sugar, so you avoid the typical blood-sugar spikes (and crazed rush). And it’s vegan. It also has some anti-inflammatory properties, Beckerman says. Con: Agave, which comes from the same cactus as tequila, is primarily fructose (90 percent). While fructose breaks down
Cult-favorite skin care sells every second—what makes it so much better than the rest?
January 31, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC “There’s an entire Instagram account dedicated to people who want to buy this perfume,” my sister-in-law Nicole tells me of Francis Kurkdjian’s best-selling Baccarat Rouge ($300) fragrance as we inhale the warm, smells-like-a-pretty-teacher aroma at the dinner table in Texas. For a scent I’ve caught on actors going through airport security in Chicago (Anthony Anderson, I’m talking to you!) and praised on FatMascara’s beauty podcast, it was enough to spark the question: What makes cult favorite beauty products? Is it a game of numbers and sales? Is it simply the power of word of mouth? Even as beauty staples evolve into more natural formulations and eco-friendly packaging, our lens on aspirational purchases remains fixed on classics like Creme de la Mer (from $90) and Diorshow mascara ($30). To gain a clearer view of what makes a product a sensation, we went straight to the sources. Take the numbers game, for instance. As the top prestige loose powder foundation in America, one jar of BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation ($32) is sold every 25 seconds. It’s a powerhouse brand carried by almost every major beauty retailer; plus, it was one of the first mineral SPF options on the market–so that loyalty began decades ago. Cartier’s most iconic scent, La Panthere Eau De Parfum ($129), sells 1,111 flasks of fragrance every day. The storied house carries the kind of clout that makes customers clamor for its classic red and gold designer logo, even if just emblazoned on the shopping bag. Amika,
4 factors that determine whether you actually get the pay raise you asked for
January 31, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC You stayed up until midnight doing salary research. You set up a meeting with your manager at their favorite coffee shop. You even prepared an airtight case for why you deserve a pay increase, complete with visual aids. Now all you have to do is ask, and your direct deposit will be fatter by next month, right? Well, not necessarily. Asking for a raise is just the first step in what’s often a months-long process of receiving one—and your job performance is only one contributing factor that goes into whether you get the financial bump. “There’s a lot of misconception about what goes into giving people a raise,” says Lauren McGoodwin, career expert and founder of Career Contessa, who formerly worked as a recruiter for Hulu. “It’s not as simple as you asking, and then [your boss] thinks about it and approves it.” Timing, budgets, and your coworkers’ performance also play a role in the outcome of your ask. When you know about these factors ahead of time, you can avoid surprise disappointment and preemptively strategize ways to overcome some of the obstacles that you might face. “There’s a lot of misconception about what goes into giving people a raise. It’s not as simple as you asking, and then [your boss] thinks about it and approves it.” —Lauren McGoodwin, founder of Career Contessa Below, experts lay out four common considerations that go into granting someone a raise, along with actionable tips you can use