November 01, 2018 at 01:00PM Hairstylist and celeb Jonathan Van Ness‘ mane is the stuff of beauty legends. (I mean, has the grooming guru with the shiniest strands had a bad hair day in his life? Ever?) Since the Queer Eye star has gained notoriety for refashioning even the most unkempt of manes into Patrick Dempsey-level hairdos, I couldn’t resist asking him about the best strategies for collaborating successfully with a new hairstylist. Because entrusting someone new with your tresses can totally elicit some feelings of stranger danger. “I’m most off put by a new client who sits down and immediately says ‘no hairdresser gets it right.’ Don’t open new relationship by explaining why the last one didn’t work,” Van Ness straight-up preaches. After all, you wouldn’t (or rather shouldn’t) start a first date by agonizing over your last S.O.’s shortcomings. So, the same logic applies here. “Don’t say ‘do whatever you want!’ You have a baseline understanding of what you’re looking for—collaboration is what you’re looking for.” —Jonathan Van Ness Once you sit down, great attitude and all, set into motion Van Ness’ next tip for making the most magic happen: Bring lots of pictures and show your new hair guru. “Don’t say ‘do whatever you want!’ You have a baseline understanding of what you’re looking for—collaboration is what you’re looking for,” he says. In other words: Own that haircut, honey! Walking out with a fresh snip that makes you feel effervescent starts with asking for exactly what you want. When you’re picking
Author: CityWomen
Bored with ‘booch? Water kefir’s the new fermented drink you’ve gotta try
November 01, 2018 at 12:49PM For the past several years, kombucha‘s had the probiotic beverage market on lock. But there’s a new fermented drink on the rise that just might give your old fave a run for its money. It’s called water kefir, and it’s even being hailed as—dare we say—the new ‘booch. Chances are, you’re already familiar with “regular” kefir. “Traditionally, kefir is made from milk that is fermented, which means that it contains beneficial bacterial strains,” says functional nutritionist Brigid Titgemeier, MS, RDN, LD. (It looks and tastes like a drinkable yogurt, says Christy Brissette, RD, president of 80 Twenty Nutrition in Chicago.) Water kefir, on the other hand, is a dairy-free, vegan alternative. Granted, the bacteria in milk kefir helps break down the lactose—so people who are lactose intolerant may still be able to have it, says Brissette. But it may still contain milk proteins like casein and whey, and some people are sensitive to those, adds Titgemeier. Instead of milk, “water kefir is made by fermenting water [or coconut water] with kefir grains, a combination of lactic acid, bacteria, and yeasts,” explains Brissette. The term “kefir grains” simply comes from the way they look—they’re not actual grains. The result is a kombucha-like beverage loaded with gut-healthy bacteria, but one with lots of benefits all its own. There are a few main differences between water kefir and kombucha While water kefir is fermented with kefir grains for a day or two, “kombucha is made using black or green tea, sugar,
Here’s how to tell how much water to drink while sweating
November 01, 2018 at 12:49PM There are a whole lot of things you’ve got to take into consideration when you’re tackling a run. What should I wear? What route should I take? Am I going to do it alone, or should I hit up a friend? Something that commonly gets overlooked: How much water should I drink when running? When it comes to exercising, your hydration strategy is just as important as your training plan. And if you’re one to overlook getting in the necessary amount of H2O before, during, or after your workout—the work itself can suffer. “Our metabolism runs on a lot of different things, but we need water available to function properly,” says Heather Milton, MS, RCEP, CSCS, an exercise physiologist and clinical specialist at NYU Langone’s Sports Performance Center. “When you are dehydrated, even just a little bit, it can cause reductions in performance. In order to get the most out of your workouts, you’ll want to be on top of your water game.” Dehydration also decreases your sweat rate, which is how your body regulates temperature. When you sweat less, the effort can feel harder (an increase in what science types refer to as “rate of perceived exertion”) and you’re at a greater risk for overheating. So what’s the Goldilocks amount of hydration? Exercise aside, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest women drink 2.7 liters (91 ounces) of total water each day. To prep for effort, the American College of Sports Medicine
Why every woman should own a pair of seamless leggings—whether she works out or not
November 01, 2018 at 12:35PM From pastel colors to leopard print, certain activewear trends hold the spotlight only for a season or two. Then, there are those with staying power such as seamless. (No, I’m not talking about the delivery food app.) Whether they advertise it or not, many top workout labels like Varley, Alala, Alo, and more create leggings, bras, and tops from seamless textiles. In technical terms, that equates to a fabric that is knitted in a circular fashion before the pattern is cut and stitched together. “Seamless doesn’t mean ‘no seams’, it means fewer seams because of this production process,” explains Andrew O’Sullivan, chief marketing officer of the Swedish activewear brand, Casall. “Seamless garments are really flexible, both in the fabric and styling.” —Andrew O’Sullivan, chief marketing officer of the Swedish activewear brand, Casall “Seamless garments are really flexible, both in the fabric and styling,” O’Sullivan adds. “The fabric is figure hugging and moves in harmony with the body, providing the opportunity to style across the day from wake up, to work, to work out, to wind down.” Alissa Benishai, founder and chief executive officer of Phat Buddha, started her line seven years ago and has been a leader in the seamless space ever since. “The consumer is more educated now than ever before and has discovered the pure luxury and comfort of wearing a seamless garment.” As the boundaries between work wear, streetwear, activewear, and loungewear continue to blur, seamless pieces fit in across all categories from
I had no idea how to apply eyeshadow so I ask 3 makeup artists to teach me
November 01, 2018 at 11:56AM Sometimes I feel like I’m hiding a dirty secret. I can put together a skin-care regimen like a pro and dab on BB cream and highlighter without even thinking about it, but when I look at eyeshadow palettes, I draw a blank. I’m a beauty editor who has absolutely no clue how to apply eyeshadow. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone, though. A quick poll around the office found similar confusion regarding the feat of applying color to one’s eyelids: “I don’t know how high to take it up,” one colleague said. “One color on the whole lid is fine, anything else I have no clue,” another chimed in. (Ignoring that one coworker—hi Abbey—who does have the skills down pat, noting: “Two words: competitive dance.”) So that I (and others) can finally handle eyeshadow with dexterity—and look really cool in the process—I tapped some pro makeup artists to walk me through how to do so. First things first: Don’t go hard in the beginning. “I always suggest starting out with a small amount of product,” says Mario Dedivanovic, celebrity makeup artist who works with celebs like Kim Kardashian and reps Olly Vitamins. “It’s easier to add more eyeshadow than to take away if it’s too heavy.” Also, until you work your way up, start off using just one hue. “I say use just one color in either a cream or powder,” recommends Molly R. Stern, celebrity makeup artist. “Use it all over the lid and up to
5 beauty benefits of argan oil that make it a healthy hair must-have
November 01, 2018 at 11:28AM Having oily hair isn’t exactly the goal (just ask the thousands of bottles of shampoos bought up this very minute), but many women are utilizing oil as a haircare tool to bring on the shine, soften ends, and keep scalp health optimal. Although it’s especially great for curly hair, it’s really suitable for all hair types, and TBH that’s why we’re here. The oil, which is made from nuts native to Morroco, is full of vitamins A, C, and E and is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids like omega-6, too. “One hundred percent pure argan oil works beyond the surface by hydrating and nourishing deep down for healthier hair from the inside out,” says Josie Maran, who’s built an entire beauty line around the liquid gold. “Feeding each strand with essential nutrients keeps hair looking shinier, stronger, and all around better-looking.” While argan oil is incorporated into many products these days, Maran says you’ll still get the best results if you reach for the pure stuff, plain and simple. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t still do your research. “While all argan oils may look the same, they can be very different because many on the market aren’t pure or they’re mixed with other ingredients, which dilute the natural goodness and effectiveness of the pure ingredient.” Beyond this, she says that the way in which the argan oil is treated is also imperative to its efficacy—cold pressing the oil will help retain all of
Don’t be scared to admit you hate dad sneakers and boyfriend jeans—Chrissy Teigen is with you
November 01, 2018 at 11:23AM Boyfriend jeans and dad sneakers are a #lewk for sure, but that doesn’t mean they’re everyone‘s look. Just ask Chrissy Teigen, who recently told Byrdie that she’s not clamoring for those cult-beloved Filas or pillaging denim racks for a loose, laid-back cut. In fact, she wouldn’t be too upset if both trends disappeared into fashion obscurity. “Those horrible sneakers are killing me,” she says, clarifying that she means the “high-fashion orthopedic” variety that have pretty much dominated 2018’s streetwear scene. “But maybe I’m just personally offended because I look so stupid in them. I walk differently. I’ve tried to wear them, and everyone’s just like, can’t you walk normally?” And while she can totally appreciate boyfriend jeans on others, she certainly wouldn’t seek out a pair for herself, she says. Cute, floral headbands—or HBOTD—that flawlessly disguise her gym hair are more her speed. “Those horrible sneakers are killing me…. I walk differently. I’ve tried to wear them, and everyone’s just like, can’t you walk normally?” —Chrissy Teigen, on dad sneakers She feels the same way about boyfriend jeans, which she says she loves on other people. The takeaway? Fashion is a take-it-or-leave-it (or take it sometimes, and leave it others) kind of thing. So just because folks line up for clunky designer kicks or spend months frequenting vintage shops on the prowl for slouchy Levi’s, it doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Speaking of trends you may (or may not) want to be part of, these are our editors’ favorite white tees,
Get to know the lesser-known citrus essential oil with major health cred
November 01, 2018 at 09:40AM It’s hard to play favorites in the vast world of essential oils. If you’re an herb fanatic, picking your top essential oils is like choosing your fave child. Alas, despite all herb extracts having numerous benefits and signature scents, ya can’t help but gravitate towards a certain few. Personally, I’m a major fan of citrus and bergamot essential oil uses abound. Whenever I catch a whiff of that sweet, spicy citrus aroma, I experience all of the feels—and for good reason. “Bergamot is a pear-shaped fruit and comes from the same family as orange in the Rutaceae family,” says Linnette Carrierre, Saje product trainer and educator. “The citrus bergamia tree stands as tall as 12 meters and is covered in long, green leaves and white flowers when it blossoms. The essential oil is captured from the rind of the greenish-orange colored fruit through machine abrasion. The rind is pressed and the oil released and then bottled.” So the magic stems from the fruit of a tree—but it’s not the type that you can also nosh down on. “Although the fruit of the bergamot is too bitter to eat, its essential oil is very popular among tea drinkers who enjoy Earl Grey tea,” says Carrierre. This is because the famous tea leaves feature bergamot, which gives it a fruity yet floral aromatic profile. If you decide to incorporate this essential oil into your diffuser or essential oil routine, it’s important to take note of a few
Hey celiacs, how about a bagel? A new vaccine will soon let you eat gluten again
November 01, 2018 at 08:14AM Plenty of people choose to live a gluten-free lifestyle by choice, but for the 1 in 100 people worldwide who have celiac disease, avoiding bread, pasta, and other foods containing the problematic proteins is a must; it’s crucial to their health and wellbeing. If someone with the autoimmune disease accidentally eats gluten, their body becomes inflamed and they experience a reaction to the protein that involves everything from bloating and diarrhea to damage to the small intestine. Good news, though: There’s a new vaccine that could stop those problems for good. According to People, the vaccine—called Nexvax2—has the ability to combat that harmful inflammation by directly targeting the immune system of those who suffer from celiac. Since there’s no treatment for the disease, this would enable them to slowly build up an immunity to gluten, allowing them to eventually eat it again. “The vaccine is designed to target the 90 percent of celiac disease patients with the HLA-DQ2 genetic form of disease. A successful therapy that can restore normal gluten tolerance would revolutionize celiac disease management,” head researcher Jason Tye-Din, PhD, told the Sydney Morning Herald. Right now, researchers are preparing for Nexvax2 to enter its clinical testing phase in Australia, where it will be used on 150 patients from around the world—United States, included. Hopefully it won’t be long before the vaccine can be given to the masses so gluten allergies don’t stop anyone from living their best lives. Because even celiacs can admit…gluten-free bagels just aren’t quite the same. These new
I’m really sorry but your earbud usage is permanently damaging your hearing
November 01, 2018 at 07:26AM I’m a little deaf in my left ear. It hasn’t always been that way, but in the last few years, I’ve noticed that if someone is trying to talk into it in a crowded room, I have to offer them my right ear instead. This is no coincidence. I’ve loved loud music since I was a teenager—in the car, in my earbuds, in SoulCycle—and according to Alison Grimes, AuD, Director of the Audiology Clinic for UCLA Health, exposure to high-intensity noise permanently destroys your ability to hear. Period. “Cells in the inner ear are physically damaged and do not regenerate,” she says. Filed under “not fair”: Some people do have “tougher” ears than others, says Dr. Grimes, which means they won’t experience hearing loss with the same exposure as others; however, she tells me there’s no way to predict in advance which category you’re in, which means you won’t know you have delicate ears until it’s too late. “If, after taking out your earbuds or earphones, your ears feel ‘stuffy,’ ‘cottony,’ or sounds sound dimmed or muffled, then it was too loud and the damage is done.” —Alison Grimes, AuD These individual variances are the reason it’s impossible for Dr. Grimes to tell me exactly how loud is too loud, or what volume level is safe for your earbuds and beyond. There are regulations in place for occupational noise exposure, but she says these are based on averages—and again, not everyone has an “average” threshold.