January 15, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC Editor’s note: This piece might be triggering for people with a history of disordered eating. I was 10 years old when I made myself throw up for the first time. I have grappled with disordered eating for as long as I can remember. I was bulimic through my parents’ divorce when I was a kid, numbing my confusing feelings by binging and then guiltily making myself get sick. I starved myself through my first real breakup when I was 16 so I would have something to focus on other than the heartbreak. I then became addicted to exercise after I graduated college and tried to pursue a career in dance. Even when I was in the first stage of my eating disorder recovery at age 25, I became fixated on “clean eating,” assuming that if only I ate healthy, “virtuous” superfoods, then all my issues with eating would automatically be fixed. (They weren’t.) I have spent most of my adult life healing my relationship with my body. Many things have contributed to my recovery—namely cognitive behavioral therapy and somatic experiencing (a specific type of therapy designed for trauma recovery), intuitive eating (a mindful way of eating with an anti-diet focus), coupled with holistic bodywork like acupuncture, reiki, breathwork, massage, and meditation. But despite all the progress I have made in my recovery, I still brace myself when the calendar flips to January 1, and the entire world becomes fixated on making New Year’s
Month: January 2020
I’m a dermatologist, and these are the mistakes I see people make when treating eczema
January 15, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC Having dehydrated skin is one thing, but dealing with eczema takes dry skin woes to another level. Since we’re smack in the middle of winter, a lot of people are experiencing eczema flareups, and there are a few key things to keep in mind when combatting this type of irritation that go above and beyond your usual dry skin treatments. As in: You’re going to need more than your trusty hyaluronic acid serum. “Eczema is a skin disease that’s characterized by dry skin that becomes inflamed,” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, a Miami-based dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skin care. You’ll typically see the skin condition, also known as atopic dermatitis, show up as extra-dry patches of inflammation, which she says tend to be really itchy. “Drier, colder weather can worsen it, as can using certain skin-care ingredients like alcohol and coloring,” says Dr. Ciraldo. While there are definitely things you can do to dry skin that also help with eczema, eczema is more about giving extra attention to your skin’s barrier. “People with eczema have skin that doesn’t function well as a barrier,” says Shirley Chi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. So it takes an extra level of TLC, and that includes avoiding certain lifestyle habits (one, for example, happens in the shower). Keep scrolling for the most common mistakes that dermatologists see people make when treating eczema. 1. Using heat Basking in hot water in your shower can feel good, but
How to use your foam roller for lymphatic drainage (because it works for that too)
January 15, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC Foam rolling is one of the most dependable ways to relieve muscle soreness, get myofascial release, and help with flexibility. Another benefit for your body? Foam rolling helps with lymphatic drainage, too, which means that fluid buildup around your fascia gets broken up, allowing you to move better. “The network of lymph is directly connected to the fascia, which sits right underneath the skin,” says Esther Gauthier, founder of Aqua Studio in New York, where you can now find foam-rolling classes on the studio’s menu of offerings. “This vast network of connective tissue surrounds and stabilizes all muscles, organs, joints, and bones, and plays an important part in the internal health of our bodies.” With everyday stressors, however, she points out that your body can experience a stagnation of the lymphatic fluid along with inflammation in the body, which is where foam rolling comes in. “Foam rolling oxygenates the blood, which will hydrate the fascia, activate your lymphatic system, and help to create movement and flush the buildup.” The good news is that you don’t have to really change much up in terms of your foam rolling technique in order to reap the benefits of lymphatic drainage, because it happens naturally with the pressure you’re applying. “When you foam roll, you relax muscle tension, you activate your lymphatic system, you reduce pain and soreness—it all goes hand in hand,” says Gauthier. That said, there are certain factors that’ll up the lymphatic drainage benefits
When you buy a super-expensive beauty product, this is what you’re paying for
January 15, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC Call me a beauty snob (or just very gullible), but I’ve always assumed that luxury skin-care products are superior to their budget friendly counterparts—the higher price point must mean they’re more effective and less likely to trigger my highly sensitive skin, right? But the more I witness the Well+Good beauty team raving over their favorite drugstore finds, the more I’ve started to question that logic. According to my extremely discerning colleagues, it’s totally possible to find hard-working serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen for less than $20, and the quality of mass-market beauty products just keeps getting better. So what’s really the difference between, say, a $30 retinol cream and a boutique version that costs $100? According to cosmetic formulator Stephen Alain Ko, ingredients all play a role in the cost of a beauty product—things like sourcing, purity, and the difficulty of manufacturing a given add-in. Take green tea extract, for example. “Green tea extract is a relatively common ingredient, but the purity of the ingredient can change the cost of the raw material by many magnitudes,” he says. This could be one reason why a 2010 investigation found that making a $320 jar of Crème de la Mer with standard ingredients would only cost around $20—the brand responded by saying that the sea kelp it uses is rare and sustainably sourced, rather than the more commonplace sea kelp found in lower-priced products. (Of course, in this extreme case, branding probably also has something to
‘Melting’ cleansers completely erase makeup so you can kiss the double cleanse buh-bye
January 15, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC When it comes to the first (and most basic) step in your skin-care routine—cleansing—there are somehow a lot of things to think about. Dermatologists and facialists suggest optimizing your cleanse by using warm (but not too hot) water, choosing a face wash that rids your pores of gunk without stripping your skin, and being sure to double cleanse so that every bit of debris is washed away. To make things easier, “melting” cleansers are a new trend on the shelves, meant to deliver a double cleanse in a single tube (which they do by changing textures—think: oil to cream, balm to mask). Superstar facialist Renee Rouleau has noticed the rise of these double-duty cleansers, which she writes on her blog are meant to cut your cleansing routine in half. “The goal of a melting cleanser is to remove makeup,” says Rouleau. “It’s not a gel and it’s not a lotion, but a hybrid of the two.” Typically, the product will start off as a gel or a cream, and then as you massage it into skin, it will change textures (usually becoming a foam or a milky emulsion). Sure it’s a cool party trick, but what do these melting or bi-phase cleansers actually do for your skin? They function as both steps of the double cleanse, removing makeup with their oil base and then whisking it away with a frothy lather. That means that you’re getting the benefits of two types of cleanses with only
5 ways to participate in effective activism, according to two experts
January 15, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC As we begin living in 2020, it’s hard not to feel frustrated, confused, and concerned about the state of the world. Less than 48 hours into the new year, the Department of Defense issued a statement announcing a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. Iran responded on Wednesday by firing ballistic missiles at two Iraqi air bases housing U.S. forces. In the same week, the devastating effects of climate change have been thrown into stark relief: Australia’s wildfires have burned through 15.6 million acres of land since September, destroying nearly 2,000 homes and claiming the lives of at least 25 people and 1 billion animals. Thousands of miles away, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Puerto Rico—a Caribbean island heavily affected by climate change over the last 20 years—in what some residents are saying exceeds the devastation that Hurricane Maria wrought two years ago. And the tragedy doesn’t stop there. From an uptick in anti-Semitic attacks in New York City to mass shootings across the country, the unsettling news cycle has led some to release fear in search of effective forms of activism. Activist Deja Foxx advises people to leverage the tools they have at the moment, starting with their smartphones. Foxx, who is the founder of GenZ Girl Gang and served as Influencer and Surrogate Strategist for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, believes social media can be used to effect significant change. “I see a lot of people saying it’s just ‘clicktivism’ and
6 luxe African safaris that are making wellness a serious focus
January 15, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC The idea of luxury African safaris most commonly conjures dreams of peeping majestic animals in their natural environment. And, sure, that’s a fair primary focus of such a travel experience, but the trip can be so much more. While offering health-boosting benefits that accompany communing with nature, the pace of a safari also caters to wellness-oriented wanderers who relish rising with the sun, enjoying nutritious meals, relaxing during ample downtime, stargazing, and hitting the sack at a reasonable hour. To that point, many lodges for luxury African safaris have incorporated well-being elements—like yoga classes, in-room massages, and sound healing—into their offerings to provide travelers a more holistic experience, says Rachel McGuire, an Africa and safari specialist at luxury travel agency Scott Dunn. “There are a number of options that do a fantastic job immersing visitors in the wonder of the continent, while delivering a major dose of R & R.” Rounded up below are six of those options. Read on for 6 luxury African safaris embracing wellness in their offerings. Photo: Singita Kwitonda Lodge 1. Singita Kwitonda Lodge Rwanda “Singita Kwitonda Lodge near Kinigi, Rwanda, combines the thrill of gorilla trekking with gracious hospitality and modern accommodations,” says McGuire. Not only do suites come with all the creature comforts you’d want—including private plunge pools and heated floors—but the expansive bathrooms feature massage tables for tension-melting rubdowns in the privacy of your room. So, after being able to watch critically endangered gorillas live freely
5 insider tips for aging like a French woman
January 15, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC Aging, no matter which number you’re edging toward, is uncharted territory with new milestones, new hair colors, and new skin-care needs to consider—but why does all the change have to be something to fear? “Because we are living in a time and society that rejects the idea [of accepting that we age] and only values youth,” says Caroline de Maigret, co-author of Older, But Better, But Older, the follow-up to the bestselling How to be Parisian Wherever You Are from Doubleday Books that offers savvy advice on life, love, and more from a fabulously French, mature woman’s perspective. Instead of fearing maturity and trying to run from it (because, spoiler: you can’t), de Maigret has made her age something she fully owns—and she advises you do the same. “To quote Shakespeare, ‘What cannot be eschewed must be embraced,’” de Maigret says. “This does not mean that aging is an absolute pleasure (it’s not, and that’s not the point of our book).” “To quote Shakespeare, ‘What cannot be eschewed must be embraced.’” There’s no sugar-coating it—sometimes getting older can be a downer, but it’s how you approach the changes that makes the journey more enjoyable. “Over time, I got to know my body, my desires, and what brings me pleasure,” de Maigret says. “Shakespeare was right: Embrace everything, and especially yourself.” De Maigret uses Older, But Better, But Older to divulge all the life secrets that helped her along her journey, and she’s sharing five
Hate to say it, but complaining only gets you what you want when it’s ‘problem-solving’
January 15, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC I am very infamous for my champagne complaints, my prosecco problems, if you will. This makes me a very hilarious companion during Happy Hour, and then, one unhappy hour later, very annoying to everyone including myself. That’s because complaining has hard limits when it comes to making someone feel better. Luckily, as one recent New York Times piece points out, there is an art to learning how to get exactly what you want by complaining in a healthy and, let’s be real, effective manner. Well, okay, “art” is maybe a stretch. Instead, it’s more about the awareness of the different types of complaining. Just like it’s important to know that not all gossip is bad, complaining can be a valid and useful way to communicate with others. The caveats tend to depend on who you’re complaining too, and for how long. A little confused? You don’t have to be. With the help of clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD, we broke down the three main types of complaining, what their mental health limitations pros and cons are, and how to check yourself before you fall down a misery well at after well. To wit, this is how to complain to get what you actually want. Radical thought! 1. Ruminating or Dwelling This means you’re repeating something over and over, you’re stuck in a sort of groove. It’s the Peloton of complaining, you’re pedaling in circles and not going anywhere. Also, you friends low-key get
2020 numerology promises we’ll (finally) work things out as people this year—here’s why
January 15, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Given it’s an election year, and one in which the country is divided to an unprecedented degree, I highly doubt anyone went into 2020 thinking, “Finally, the chaos will stop and we can all relax.” No, 2020 does not seem to be shaping up as anything other than a contentious nail-biter, unless that is you dig into the significance of the year from a numerology perspective. Here, there is good news. Numerology, for the uninitiated, is one of the divinatory arts (think astrology or tarot). Its practitioners rely on the significance of specific numbers—your birthdate, birth name (and its corresponding numbers), for example, and more—to glean information about an individual and the trajectory of their life. As is the case with astrology, numerology can also be used more broadly to tell stories which apply to all of humanity. One way in which this is done is to look at the significance of the numbers which make up a year. Numerologist Josh Siegel tells me there is quite a bit to learn about what lies ahead of us from the numbers 2020. “2020 is two 20s together, and I’ve noticed since the year 2000, when we started going into these 20-related cycles, there’s been kind of a polarization between people picking one side or another that’s political but also just more general,” he says. “The opportunity in a year like this is for us to awaken to more of a balanced, harmonious picture—trying to