January 11, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC You might apply your skin-care products like you’re icing a cake: layer by layer. But dermatologists say that if you’re doing so with active ingredients, you’re likely wasting a ton of your favorite formulas (and a lot of money)—but there’s a pretty easy fix when you’re trying to figure out how to make skin-care products last longer. First, identify the actives in your routine. “Active ingredients are those that have a therapeutic effect in the skin, either to improve skin tone, texture, wrinkles, or even acne,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Actives include ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and glycolic acid. “The actives are the ingredients that get the job done, as opposed to the inactives which are ingredients that make up the base formula.” And because they’re so potent and powerful, it’s easy to overdo it. If you do feel more comfortable applying one layer at a time, Dr. Zeichner recommends following a new protocol. “I typically recommend using one green pea-sized amount of your product containing active ingredients for the entire face. Spread a tiny bit on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead then rub in and connect the dots,” says Dr. Zeichner. Alternatively, you can also combine your active ingredients, says Tiffany Masterson, Well+Good Changemaker and founder of Drunk Elephant. Just make sure not to combine products that work against each other. (If you can, it’s best to consult
Year: 2020
These are the Trader Joe’s snacks nutritionists buy for themselves
January 11, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Trader Joe’s inspires a kind of unbridled devotion. There are entire Instagram accounts devoted to scouting the newest product launches. My stocking may have been filled with nothing but Everything But The Bagel seasoning this past Christmas. Even my dad, a grump, was delighted by their inexpensive Trader Joe’s snacks when I forced him to take me there during my last trip back home. He bought eight bags of dried fruit that fateful day. I think I converted him. It can be easy to lose yourself among the array of appealing foods lining the hallowed halls of a Trader Joe’s store. Between the kale gnocchi, dark chocolate almond butter bites, and Cruciferous Crunch, welp, better just buy everything to save time instead of making decisions, right? If only my wallet would allow. Since you already know the best salads to buy at TJ’s and the definitive ranking of all the alt-pastas the retailer sells, let’s talk about Trader Joe’s snacks, baby. I asked three nutritionists to share their favorites. Nutritionists love these Trader Joe’s snacks 1. JERK STYLE PLANTAIN CHIPS “These sweet and savory chips provide the perfect combo of fiber, flavor, and crunch to satisfy those midday munchies,” says Whitney English Tabaie, RDN. (Can confirm, these are delicious.) 2. RANCH SEASONED CRISPY CHICKPEAS “These savory little bites provide a major boost of fiber and plant-protein with the added bonus of tasting like Cool Ranch Doritos,” says Tabaie. 3. JUST A HANDFUL OF
This fitness app is putting personal training into the palm of your hand for only $15
January 11, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC Personal training hasn’t ever been all that accessible (unless, perhaps, you’re Kim K). Because of this, most of us have to schlep it to boutique fitness classes or rely on digital offerings to work up a sweat. But as of late, at-home workouts have been blurring the lines between boutique-level quality and accessibility, and you can bet that streaming services are going to do the very same for personal training. One company that’s out front? Openfit. While there have certainly been advancements in at-home personal training—the digital fitness platform Mirror, for example, recently introduced the option for $40 training sessions on their $1,495 device—none has, until now, made it truly accessible for everyone. The digital fitness app Openfit is looking to democratize access to a personal trainer. On its streaming service, workouts are led by an instructor who can give you everything an IRL personal trainer would—form adjustments, motivation, you name it. All you do is allow the app access to your camera (this is optional), so that it’s focused on you as you workout. This way, the trainer watches you in real time so they know exactly how to coach you through the exercises. It costs about $15 per month, or $100 annually, and all you need is your phone to participate. “Our goal with Openfit Live is to democratize the [boutique fitness class] experience and make it possible for everyone to benefit from accountability, community, and results that come from having a
Introduce your winter blues to koselig, Norway’s loneliness-fighting version of hygge
January 10, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC One of my happiest memories takes place in February, which is hilarious because February is a frigid, dark, gray month. It was a winter wedding weekend at mountain resort, where the snow is somehow always fresh and you can ice-skate safely on the river. The marriage didn’t last, but the memories of log beds with plaid blankets and hot chocolates by the fireplace will keep me emotionally snuggled forever. To describe it succinctly, it was pure koselig. If that word feels foreign, that’s because it literally is. Koselig is a concept from Norway that embraces this ski-lodge-vacation-with-your-loved-ones type of energy. It doesn’t translate smoothly, but the best English equivalent is “cozy.” Let me guess what you’re thinking now: Koselig sounds a lot like that tough-to-pronounce Danish concept of hygge. If so, you’re right again because, well, it kind of is Norway’s version of hygge. Koselig and hygge are both rooted in the belief that there’s nothing better than coziness. But where hygge life emphasizes JOMO and a love of solitude with the likes of Netflix binges and weighted blankets, koselig calls upon a more adventurous spirit and social desire. “Embracing this idea of leaning into the winter and finding positive ways to enjoy it can lead us to feel less alone, more positive, and closer to those who we care about.” —Jennifer Silvershein, LCSW While there’s no wrong way to practice self care, we tend to trust Scandinavian countries when it comes to joy: Norway, after all, landed
The 7 pantry staples you’re not storing in the refrigerator—but definitely should
January 10, 2020 at 09:30PM by CWC Perishable items—like fruit, veggies, eggs, and milk—go in the fridge of course. And everything else is packed into the pantry. But prepare to be shook, because everything you know about food storage and pantry items is about to change. A lot of the healthy staples you currently store in your pantry—like nuts and matcha—should actually be in the fridge in order to keep them fresh and nutritious. So what to refrigerate, and what not to refrigerate? We asked chefs and nutritionists to name the pantry items you might want to move to your refrigerator. The pantry items that should be stored in your refrigerator 1. Nuts and seeds Nuts and seeds are pretty much always found in the pantry. But by storing them in the fridge, they’ll last way longer. “The biggest reason to store dry goods in the refrigerator is to prevent the oils in nuts and seeds from turning rancid,” says Emily Brekke, executive chef at Mint Kitchen. Storing them in airtight containers like Mason jars instead of the bags they come in is helpful, too. 2. Nut butter It’s not just nuts that do better in the fridge—it’s also their respective butters. “Once opened, nut butters will be fine at room temperature in a cabinet for a few months, but if you want to maximize their life, they will stay twice as long in the fridge,” says Allison Scheinfeld, RD, a Brooklyn-based registered dietitian. “This is especially true for natural
This retinol oil has completely transformed how bright and even my skin looks
January 10, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC When my hormonal acne wouldn’t budge, I had to end my love affair with facial oils as I figured out a game plan for clear skin. This saddened me, because although facial oils are luxe, nourishing ways to hydrate and feed your skin, lots of dermatologists advise against acneic skin types using oil-based beauty products. Now that my breakouts have been under control for a little over a year (praise be), I’m in a committed relationship with one particular facial oil: the Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Oil ($120). I’ll admit I was scared to slather an oil onto my temperamental skin after such a long break, but felt hopeful about this one since it is packed with so many of the top skin-boosting ingredients out there (retinol and algae, for starters). Plus, when this Mara Beauty creation launched right before the new year in 2019, it quickly garnered one five-star review after another on every beauty retail website out there. And so, after one week of nightly use, I became attached—or devoted, really—to the retinol… because it was transforming my skin into the glowiest and brightest that it’s ever been, and I now refuse to live without it. Photo: Mara Beauty Shop now: Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Oil ($120) I was first intrigued by this oil because it’s riding the wave of the algae in skin care trend—an ocean-derived ingredient that retains moisture and is filled with skin-friendly nutrients and minerals, and has
Scientists say these 5 healthy habits extend your healthspan by 10 years
January 10, 2020 at 07:45PM by CWC As humans strive to live longer and healthier lives, longevity experts are on a mission to prolong not only your lifespan, but to increase the number of years you’ll live free of debilitating disease. Scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health assembled an international research team to discover how healthy lifestyle habits you adopt now can extend your healthspan by up to 10 years. The study, published in The British Medical Journal on January 8, looked specifically at years lived without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Researchers examined self-reported data collected every other year since 1980 from nearly 175,000 healthcare professionals age 30 to 75. They found that people over 50 who had never smoked, maintained a healthy weight, ate a healthy diet, exercised regularly, and drank only a moderate amount of alcohol lived about 84 healthy years—a full decade longer than those who did not. “In many ways, these health behaviors are interconnected,” says XinQi Dong, MD, a gerontologist and director of Rutger University’s Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research. “This study enables people to better quantify the years added. The message is laudable.” While the study suggests practicing all five of these habits provides maximum benefits, Ross Arena, PhD, a physical therapist researching rehabilitation and prevention says adoption of just one can be helpful. “What are you willing to do? Can you go for a walk a couple times per week? Something is better than
Yale’s ultra-popular ‘Science of Well-Being’ course opens enrollment today—and it’s 100% free
January 10, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC With all it has to offer, it might come as a surprise to you that one of the most popular courses at Yale University focuses on teaching students to be happier. If you’re not enrolled at the Ivy League institution, you can still take the Yale happiness class for free, right on your computer. Psychology and the Good Life is the most popular course in Yale’s 318-year-old history, reports The New York Times. In fact, regular enrollment is so high, it had to be moved to Woolsey Hall, which usually hosts symphony performances. The demand for the course basically proves that college students— especially those at schools known for academic rigor—are prioritizing wellness. The online equivalent of the course, “The Science of Well-Being,” opens enrollment today. Once you’ve made an account online, you’ll have access to all the course materials without dropping thousands of dollars you would to walk the halls of the esteemed university. If you do want to make things official though, you can order a $49 certificate of completion to hang over your desk. “The Science of Well-Being” opens enrollment today. Once you’ve made an account online, you’ll have access to all the course materials without dropping the thousands of dollars that you would to walk the halls of the esteemed institution. “The purpose of the course is to not only learn what psychological research says about what makes us happy but also to put those strategies into practice,” reads the syllabus.
Exercise and Mental Health
Exercise and Mental Health: What you Need to Know We hear it everywhere; regular exercise is good for the body and the mind. There are the obvious physical benefits of exercise like gaining muscle mass, weight loss and increased stamina which are all valuable in improving the quality of life. But what is the scientific link between exercise and mental health exactly? In the UK, approximately 16 million people suffer from a type of mental illness, that’s one-quarter of the UK’s population – a pretty significant proportion if you ask me. Mental health is such a broad term, and because of that, it’s commonly misunderstood and previously considered a taboo topic. Mental health disorders can range from stress, anxiety and depression to PTSD, OCD, bipolar and personality disorders. So how can exercise help with these serious mental health issues? And could it be a natural alternative to medication? We hear the term “exercise gives you endorphins” get thrown around as a very ambiguous answer, but what does that even mean? I’m not a healthcare professional, and I can only share the information I’ve uncovered and speak from my own experiences. For more information on mental health, please consult your doctor or a qualified professional. As you move your body and start getting the blood flowing quicker, your heart rate increases which trigger the brain to enter a “Fight or Flight” mode. The reason your brain does this is that exercise puts your body under stress which makes you release cortisol,
Menstrual Cycling: What you Need to Know
Let’s face it, periods can be seriously crappy and there shouldn’t be any taboo or any embarrassment talking about it either. It’s a natural process for some people, just like poop, farts and wee! We have a monthly cycle, throughout which our hormones break out in a civil war, and all of our emotions and food cravings are just collateral damage. So let’s look at it from the exercise perspective and see how these hormones and mood changes effects our monthly cycling. Day 1 – Day 7 Let’s take day 1 as being the first bleed of the month. For this week, your body sees an increase in Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) which is responsible for helping the ovaries prepare an egg to release later in the month. This tends to be the time when you feel the least amount of motivation to get up and do anything. The only thing you want to do during this first week is to cocoon yourself in blankets, comfort-eat the cramps away and kidnap the cat to make him love you. However, this is actually a great time to get out on the bike and exercise because your oestrogen levels are fairly low and for this reason, your body uses carbohydrates as fuel rather than fat. Make sure you increase water intake to compensate for fluid loss, and remember, exercising can help stretch and relax the pelvic muscles responsible for cramps! Day 7 – Day 14 Now the bleeding has stopped (phew!), around