February 26, 2020 at 10:25PM by CWC On Wednesday, makeup and skin-care distributor Sephora announced new standards for the CBD beauty products it sells in-store and online, making it the first national prestige retailer to do so. Certain CBD-specific retailers, like Standard Dose, spell out similar guidelines. “We’ve seen clients’ demand for transparency continue to grow, and it’s important to Sephora that we are a trusted resource,” Cindy Deily, vice president of merchandising and skin care at Sephora, tells Byrdie. “With the amount of products flooding the market, there can be confusion and mistrust.” Take a look at the Sephora CBD standards: Inclusion of only full- or broad-spectrum CBD from U.S. grown hemp CBD must be tested at least three times for quality and purity A Certificate of Analysis (COA) that verifies the CBD content matches any label claims must be available upon request All products must meet Sephora’s Clean at Sephora standards While these regulations are an important step in the right direction, it doesn’t guarantee that these products actually work, says Adam Friedman, MD, a dermatologist and professor of dermatology at George Washington University. “These are just quality assurance measures that you’re getting what you’re paying for,” he says. “We need science to prove that a certain concentration delivered in a certain way works.” CBD is often sought out in beauty products for its potential ability to fight inflammation. “CBD has been shown to have a soothing effect on the skin, and has been used in the treatment of
Day: February 26, 2020
The stretches for glutes that will take the edge off an intense leg day
February 26, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Whether you kickbox, spin, or do scrambled eggs on a Megaformer, you’re likely all too aware of how tight your bum can get after a good old-fashioned leg day. Instead of wincing for 48 hours following your workout, it’s time to add a few stretches for glutes into the mix. “It’s the workout of the week I never miss,” says Kate Ligler, a certified trainer and MINDBODY wellness manager. “But leg day also requires attention to detail in terms of recovery. Tightness and adhesions (aka ‘knots’) in your body’s tissue are a natural response to exercise intensity. The good news is that releasing tension at the hips and glutes through some simple movements can help to release tissue and muscle tension, restoring range of motion and helping to re-engage muscles to their full strength and power following a workout.” To ensure that you stretch out your booty in a soothing and effective way, Ligler and a couple other trainers offer up their wisdom to help you get the job done. Ahead you’ll discover a handful of stretches to incorporate into any recovery routine. Double pigeon stretch [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1gEGLtF1p0] “One of my favorite glutes stretches is a double pigeon stretch,” Andrea Dusel-Foil, a says Lagree NY megaformer instructor, noting that it stretches your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back. “Sit on the floor with the right leg bent (almost like you are going to sit crosslegged). Keep the right shin parallel to the front edge
Wear foundation? Dermatologists don’t go a day without recommending this one
February 26, 2020 at 09:00AM by CWC The idea that foundation is inherently at odds with your skin is officially dead. We now know that most of the current offerings won’t do anything bad (or anything at all, really) to your pores, and that many modern formulas actually offer skin-care benefits. In other words, as long as you wash your makeup off at the end of the day, your skin will likely remain happy, healthy, and unbothered. But while there are plenty of “good” foundations on the market as far as skin is concerned, according to dermatologists there’s only one that’s earned a spot as “the best.” Dermablend Cover Creme ($39) currently holds the crown for the number one most dermatologist-recommended foundation, a title that makes sense given the brand’s history. It was developed in 1981 by dermatologist Craig Roberts, MD, and his wife, makeup artist Flori Roberts, as a way to provide people with high-performing, dermatologically-savvy cosmetic coverage that worked for all skin types, tones, and conditions. In the last three decades, the products have become known for their long-lasting, color-correcting capabilities. And just as the creators hoped, these have become the go-to choice for anyone looking to even out significant discoloration and textural concerns on their skin. Photo: Dermablend Dermablend Cover Creme, $39 Dermablend offers four different facial foundations—a cream, two liquids, and a powder—each of which gives high-impact coverage while still being kind to all skin types. “All our foundation formulas are non-comedogenic, and developed specifically to
The best sex hits all 4 phases of the sexual response cycle—not just orgasm
February 26, 2020 at 08:30PM by CWC My boyfriend doesn’t orgasm. He does this—or rather, doesn’t do it—by choice. At first, this was uncomfortable for me, as I thought it meant he wasn’t enjoying himself; however, he says it allows him to extend the other phases of the sexual experience, which enhances the whole situation for us both. After getting used to the whole no-finish thing, I’d have to say I’m now converted to his method. TMI, but often we cycle through the other three phases of sexual response multiple times in a night. (Well, I hit all four usually, but him only hitting three allows us to rinse and repeat until we fall asleep or die.) I know, I know… I picked a winner, as many men think there are at most two phases of sexual response: excitement and orgasm. You’d be forgiven for thinking that, too, as neither formal sex education nor porn features much else. Jess O’Reilly, PhD, host of the @SexWithDrJess Podcast, covers the phases of sexual response in her Mindful Sex E-Course. “Early sex researchers [William H.] Masters and [Virginia E.] Johnson divided the sexual response cycle into four sections: excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution,” she explains. “Helen Singer-Kaplan [later] proposed a three-phase model (desire, excitement and orgasm), noting that sexual response is also cognitive and psychological.” Others, she said, have since added “anticipation” to this updated model. Before we delve into the details of each phase, Dr. O’Reilly notes that each sexual experience is
Well+Good TALKS: How Women are Advancing the Wellness Start-up Space
February 26, 2020 at 08:24PM by CWC Female entrepreneurs are leading the way in wellness—launching and scaling innovative, sustainable companies (and workplace cultures) that are disrupting conventional industries. Alexia Brue, Well+Good’s co-founder, will moderate this special conversation in honor of Women’s History Month. You will learn from three founders & CEOs at various stages of their entrepreneurial journeys—from early boot-strapped days to proof of concept to scaling quickly with venture funding. You’ll hear in-the-trenches stories from visionary founders about what it takes to build your own business, from tools and skills to temperament and funding. EVENT DETAILS Tuesday, March 24, 2020 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location: WeWork Now | 902 Broadway, New York, NY 10010 THE PANEL Sarah Larson Levey | Founder + CEO, Y7 Studio Sarah Larson Levey is the founder and CEO of Y7 Studio, which she created at age 26 to answer her desire for a yoga experience other than the traditional practices available to her. Since launching in 2013, Y7 has been breaking down the barriers of yoga, making it accessible and inclusive (all while flowing to the latest beats), and it has expanded to a national business with studios across New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Her industry-disrupting efforts earned her a spot on Create & Cultivate’s 100 for 2020 and Entrepreneur’s 100 Most Powerful Women for 2019, among other honors and awards. Elisa Shankle | Co-Founder, HealHaus Elisa Shankle married her love for design (she holds an interior design degree from Pratt Institute) with her passion
What pros have to say about using hemp oil for hair
February 26, 2020 at 07:00PM by CWC Long before CBD was the cannabinoid star of the beauty aisle, hemp seed oil reigned supreme. The OG plant-derived ingredient—which has always been legal—might not have the same name recognition as its buzzier cousin, but it does have plenty of benefits worth being aware of. One worth diving into? Hemp oil for hair. But before we get into the wonders of coating your strands with hemp seed oil, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what’s what in the world of cannabis derivatives. Certain ingredients—namely hemp oil and hemp seed oil—may sound the same, but ultimately, these ingredients do different things for your hair and skin, so it’s important to understand what you’re spending your money on. Allow us (and the pros!) to break it down for you, so you know exactly what’s worth buying… and why. The difference between hemp seed oil and hemp oil First things first: you need to understand the terminology, because hemp oil and hemp seed oil are two completely different things. They both come from the cannabis plant, but hemp is derived from the leaves and the stalk. Meanwhile, hemp seed oil is derived from—you guessed it!—the seeds, and is cold-pressed the same way other carrier oils like jojoba and sunflower seed. The biggest difference between the two is that hemp oil is chock full of cannabanoids, like THC, CBN, and CBD, while hemp seed oil doesn’t have any of these. Hemp seed oil,
I didn’t expect Harvey Weinstein to be convicted—and that’s a problem
February 26, 2020 at 06:22PM by CWC On Monday, a jury in New York convicted producer Harvey Weinstein on two of the five charges for which he faced trial: rape in the third degree and criminal sexual assault in the first degree. As the news broke, my colleague Katie (who asked to use a pseudonym) and I—both victims in our own right—were shocked; we didn’t think Weinstein’s victims would be believed or protected. And that, I think, is a pretty good indication of how far we still have to go in the war against sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination, despite sporadic victories yielded by the #MeToo movement. My #MeToo experience involved the movie business, and it has given me an empathy for the victims that I just didn’t think Weinstein’s jury would be able to muster. Much like his victims, I’d had to walk a tightrope; on one side, my livelihood was threatened and on the other, my sense of safety. In order to report the male executive who was harassing me (I was an assistant), I’d had to strategically circumvent the “old boys club” that ran the studio. I knew that if I told my (male) boss what was happening, he would protect the (male) perpetrator, and that I would be the one to lose my job. I was too scared to approach the (male) colleague who headed human resources department, so I instead confided in his (female) assistant. She told me she had to report it to her
What to eat before a 5K, according to a race-loving registered dietitian
February 26, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC You’ve trained. You’ve charged your Airpods. You’ve picked out your race day outfit. Now, you’re counting down the hours until you jog up to the starting line. Unless you already have a whole dresser drawer full of race participant tees, chances are you feel a little jittery in the days leading up to a 5K. For many, questions about fueling properly and avoiding gastric distress linger—especially if you’re aiming to meet a specific race time goal. Here to give her expert tips on what to eat before a 5K, what to avoid, and how else to best prepare yourself is registered dietitian and Cook, Eat, Run author Charlie Watson, RD. Watson is a seasoned pro in helping runners (of all levels) properly fuel their bodies during training and especially at race time. Keep reading for her insight. 5 tips for what to eat before a 5K 1. Stick with foods you know your body digests well. Before getting into the specifics of what to eat, Watson wants to make something clear: Race day is not the time to experiment or drastically switch up your eating habits. “Make sure you practice to establish what works for you,” Watson says. “When it comes to pre-race fueling, what works for one person might not work for another.” Think back to your training: What did you eat before some of your best, long runs? If a food consistently made you feel good during your training, chances are it
Calling all leap-year babies: Here’s the astrological significance of February 29
February 26, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC If you’re stuck with a February 29 birthday, I am…sorry. The day only exists in a leap year, which has 366 days instead of 365, meaning your “real” birthday only occurs once every four years. Your Sweet Sixteen is more accurately a Fabulous Four. And if you’re turning 21? Well, you’re actually still just five. At least if you’re dreading the big 4-0, though, you can take solace in knowing that you’re a mere 10-year-old, in a sense. While strange and annoying for those afflicted, perhaps there’s some February 29 zodiac significance that makes having a rare birthday cosmically worthwhile, right? Because that’s the special thing: A February 29 birthday is rare. Since it happens only every four years, you really only have a 1 in 1,461 chance to be born on the day in question (4 x 365 + 1 extra day. Yes, I did the math. Yes, it was unpleasant.). As such, it’s natural for any February 29 baby—because your star sign is Pisces, which always centers around mysticism—to wonder if there’s anything astrologically important that has to do with being being born on this day. While that answer is…erm, well, no, not quite, there is something glorious and mystical about the February 29 zodiac energy of this leap year, in particular, that should make for an illuminating birthday. “With Mercury retrograde in Pisces on February 29, we might be more attuned to our spiritual paths and be more introspective.” —Rachel Lang,
If Peloton and The Mirror had a baby, it would be this new at-home fitness system
February 26, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC In the last few years, digital fitness has proven that it can do a lot. It can bring an entire spin class into your living room, put a personal trainer in the palm of your hand, and allow you to compete with other at-home athletes all over the world. But there’s always been one area that boutique fitness has the edge: IRL trainers are able to correct your form and prevent you from getting hurt in a way that your cell phone—or even the fanciest piece of at-home equipment—cannot. That is, until now. Tempo, which launches today, is a new at-home gym system that uses Artificial Intelligence to deliver real-time feedback during your workout. The machine employs a 3D light-pulse sensor that tracks users’ motion 30 times every second, and uses the intel to count reps, track progress, and—yup—correct form. “At-home fitness systems, including our direct competitors, have been stuck in the same rut since the days of VHS,” says Moawia Eldeeb, Tempo’s founder and CEO. “Brands often push classes and workouts led by a ‘trainer’ who can’t actually train. If you’re doing something dangerously wrong with your form, you’ll never know.” That’s where Tempo’s first-of-its-kind tech comes in, which tells you when you’re making a mistake so you can fix it right away in order to get the most out of your workout and avoid injury. Classes can be taken live or on-demand, they’re taught by real, human trainers on an interactive, 42-inch