May 21, 2019 at 06:37AM by CWC Geminis are like the Carrie Bradshaws of the zodiac: Broadly speaking, they’re social, quick-witted, and a little bit flaky (in the most charming way possible). But what if you were born between May 20 and June 20 and you’re more of the responsible, reserved type? No, this doesn’t mean the cosmos were taking a rest day when you entered the world. Rather, since your sun sign only tells a small part of your astrological story, a lot of the nuance of what makes you distinct doesn’t fit with the common profile. There are eight other planets (and a few asteroids) that star in your natal chart, each of which affects the way your Gemini traits express themselves. One of these is the moon, which is said to rule a person’s emotions. If you know your birth time and place, you can get a copy of your natal chart for free, and it’ll show you your moon sign—the spot in the sky where the moon was hanging out when you were born. “The moon sign is the intimate or even secret side of your personality that you don’t always let everyone see,” says astrologer and women’s empowerment coach Natalia Benson. “If you get to know your moon sign, you can get to know your emotional responses and what you need in intimate relationships.” When the energies of your sun and moon signs collide, they create a portrait of you that’s more nuanced than the
Category: 2019 Health
These 7 body lotions are the next best thing to slathering La Mer from head to toe
May 21, 2019 at 06:18AM by CWC While I treat the skin on my face with the utmost TLC, my body’s constantly moving from sleep to showers and sweaty workouts, enduring pollution from the outdoors, and being stuffed into all sorts of both breathable and non-breathable materials. And yet—it doesn’t get, say, a 10-step skin-care routine like my precious face does. Really, my body skin gets to use two products, and two products only: body wash and body lotion. And because body lotion is the only one that gets to stay on my skin—as opposed to just washing down the drain—I put special care into finding ones that are the most nourishing for my skin, have the most intoxicating scents, and make the skin on my body just as healthy as that on my face. I’m not the only one, either. My fellow beauty editors at Well+Good are also particular about the body lotions they use, especially because they cover so much surface area. To help you navigate the wide, wide world of body lotions on beauty shelves, I’ve rounded up our absolute favorites for our skin—including one that works double duty as a sunscreen, and one that smells like cherry blossoms. Photo: Necessaire Necessaire The Body Lotion, $25 “As soon as I started slathering on this body lotion, I fell in love. It’s unscented, but—just like its packaging—it’s chic AF. Not only does my skin drink it up immediately, but it’s jam-packed with the most complexion-boosting ingredients, like all of
These 7 body lotions are the next best thing to slathering La Mer from head to toe
May 21, 2019 at 06:18AM by CWC While I treat the skin on my face with the utmost TLC, my body’s constantly moving from sleep to showers and sweaty workouts, enduring pollution from the outdoors, and being stuffed into all sorts of both breathable and non-breathable materials. And yet—it doesn’t get, say, a 10-step skin-care routine like my precious face does. Really, my body skin gets to use two products, and two products only: body wash and body lotion. And because body lotion is the only one that gets to stay on my skin—as opposed to just washing down the drain—I put special care into finding ones that are the most nourishing for my skin, have the most intoxicating scents, and make the skin on my body just as healthy as that on my face. I’m not the only one, either. My fellow beauty editors at Well+Good are also particular about the body lotions they use, especially because they cover so much surface area. To help you navigate the wide, wide world of body lotions on beauty shelves, I’ve rounded up our absolute favorites for our skin—including one that works double duty as a sunscreen, and one that smells like cherry blossoms. Photo: Necessaire Necessaire The Body Lotion, $25 “As soon as I started slathering on this body lotion, I fell in love. It’s unscented, but—just like its packaging—it’s chic AF. Not only does my skin drink it up immediately, but it’s jam-packed with the most complexion-boosting ingredients, like all of
The best lip balms with SPF to keep your pout safe in the summer sun
May 21, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Slathering yourself from head to toe with sunscreen is a top priority under the summer sun. And you have multiple products tucked away that get the job done, from your gentle streak-free facial sunscreen you use on the daily to the reef-safe body lotion that’s always in your beach bag. But when’s the last time you used lip balms with SPF to protect your pout? The lips are often forgotten about when it comes to sunscreen application. And nope—that pretty color you swipe on before work looks cute, but probably isn’t doing anything when it comes to deflecting the sun’s harmful rays. Make it your mission to protect your pout just as often as you do the rest of your body with these lip balms with SPF that add moisture and shine. The best lip balms with SPF Buy Now HURRAW! Sun Protection Lip Balm SPF 15 $7 Buy Now All Good Lips Zinc Coconut SPF 20 $8 Buy Now Sun Bum SPF30 Lip Balm, 3-Pack $12 Buy Now Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 $8 Buy Now Alba Botanica Lipcare SPF 25, 3-Pack $10 Buy Now COOLA Organic Liplux Sport Original Formula SPF 30 $12 Buy Now EltaMD UV Lip Balm Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 31 $11 Buy Now Vanicream Lip Protectant SPF 30 for Sensitive Skin $5 Buy Now Supergoop! Fusion Lip Balm SPF 30 $10 Yes, sunscreen does expire. Here’s what you should know, straight from a dermatologist. Also,
The best lip balms with SPF to keep your pout safe in the summer sun
May 21, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Slathering yourself from head to toe with sunscreen is a top priority under the summer sun. And you have multiple products tucked away that get the job done, from your gentle streak-free facial sunscreen you use on the daily to the reef-safe body lotion that’s always in your beach bag. But when’s the last time you used lip balms with SPF to protect your pout? The lips are often forgotten about when it comes to sunscreen application. And nope—that pretty color you swipe on before work looks cute, but probably isn’t doing anything when it comes to deflecting the sun’s harmful rays. Make it your mission to protect your pout just as often as you do the rest of your body with these lip balms with SPF that add moisture and shine. The best lip balms with SPF Buy Now HURRAW! Sun Protection Lip Balm SPF 15 $7 Buy Now All Good Lips Zinc Coconut SPF 20 $8 Buy Now Sun Bum SPF30 Lip Balm, 3-Pack $12 Buy Now Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 $8 Buy Now Alba Botanica Lipcare SPF 25, 3-Pack $10 Buy Now COOLA Organic Liplux Sport Original Formula SPF 30 $12 Buy Now EltaMD UV Lip Balm Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 31 $11 Buy Now Vanicream Lip Protectant SPF 30 for Sensitive Skin $5 Buy Now Supergoop! Fusion Lip Balm SPF 30 $10 Yes, sunscreen does expire. Here’s what you should know, straight from a dermatologist. Also,
Here’s when you need to use “tough love” in your relationships—and when you don’t
May 21, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC “It’s time for some tough love.” I have to mentally buckle up when I hear these words. I strain myself trying not to burst into tears. Until recently, I’ve translated this phrase to mean: “Get ready. I’m about to be a jerk.” But licensed clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD, tells me that this kind of advice is effective with the proper time, venue, and audience. “Tough love can definitely have a place, but it’s not always a good first move,” she says. “If you see red flags for abuse, or there’s some other emergency, then yes. Maybe. If it’s less urgent, try something more cooperative, like pointing out what’s bothering you and talking about how the problem can be solved.” In other words, this stinging form of adoration works best in severe situations—not when you need to inform your bestie that her bangs are all wrong for her face shape or tell a coworker they’ve been slacking on their responsibilities. “The problem with tough love is that it feels really good to deliver, but if it’s too harsh, it won’t work.” Dr. Daramus confirms my suspicions that—all too often—the impetus for tough love is one’s desire to be “right” over the feelings of others. “The problem with tough love is that it feels really good to deliver, but if it’s too harsh, it won’t work,” she warns. Even worse, the tone that accompanies tough love often becomes confrontational. You can end up causing
Here’s when you need to use “tough love” in your relationships—and when you don’t
May 21, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC “It’s time for some tough love.” I have to mentally buckle up when I hear these words. I strain myself trying not to burst into tears. Until recently, I’ve translated this phrase to mean: “Get ready. I’m about to be a jerk.” But licensed clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD, tells me that this kind of advice is effective with the proper time, venue, and audience. “Tough love can definitely have a place, but it’s not always a good first move,” she says. “If you see red flags for abuse, or there’s some other emergency, then yes. Maybe. If it’s less urgent, try something more cooperative, like pointing out what’s bothering you and talking about how the problem can be solved.” In other words, this stinging form of adoration works best in severe situations—not when you need to inform your bestie that her bangs are all wrong for her face shape or tell a coworker they’ve been slacking on their responsibilities. “The problem with tough love is that it feels really good to deliver, but if it’s too harsh, it won’t work.” Dr. Daramus confirms my suspicions that—all too often—the impetus for tough love is one’s desire to be “right” over the feelings of others. “The problem with tough love is that it feels really good to deliver, but if it’s too harsh, it won’t work,” she warns. Even worse, the tone that accompanies tough love often becomes confrontational. You can end up causing
Why you (and only you) should have the final word on what goes on your plate
May 21, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I can’t remember the very first time someone’s comments on my food sparked a mental shame spiral, but one instance has stuck in my memory. I was 16 and home alone on a Friday night. I ordered a large pepperoni pizza and ate slice after slice until half of the pie was gone. When my parents got home, the sight of the missing carbs prompted a statement like, “You ate that all yourself? That’s like a thousand calories.” It sounds silly and small, but that comment made a lasting impression on me—to the point where those words echo in my head whenever I go all in on an “unhealthy” craving. I know that my parents’ words weren’t intended to make me feel bad about my eating habits. But it’s not harmless—and I’m not the only one who melts into a shame spiral any time someone turns their attention to what’s on the end of my fork. There’s a whole Reddit thread, “Please stop commenting on my food!” dedicated to the topic. And when I started asking around, friends, family, and coworkers chimed in that they, too, feel deeply insecure under nutritional scrutiny. As Judith Matz, LCSW, co-author of The Diet Survivor’s Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care, explains, “intention isn’t the same as impact.” When we comment on the contents of somebody else’s plate (no matter how well-intended), we’re potentially feeding their harshest inner critics. And for women in particular, those
Why you (and only you) should have the final word on what goes on your plate
May 21, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC I can’t remember the very first time someone’s comments on my food sparked a mental shame spiral, but one instance has stuck in my memory. I was 16 and home alone on a Friday night. I ordered a large pepperoni pizza and ate slice after slice until half of the pie was gone. When my parents got home, the sight of the missing carbs prompted a statement like, “You ate that all yourself? That’s like a thousand calories.” It sounds silly and small, but that comment made a lasting impression on me—to the point where those words echo in my head whenever I go all in on an “unhealthy” craving. I know that my parents’ words weren’t intended to make me feel bad about my eating habits. But it’s not harmless—and I’m not the only one who melts into a shame spiral any time someone turns their attention to what’s on the end of my fork. There’s a whole Reddit thread, “Please stop commenting on my food!” dedicated to the topic. And when I started asking around, friends, family, and coworkers chimed in that they, too, feel deeply insecure under nutritional scrutiny. As Judith Matz, LCSW, co-author of The Diet Survivor’s Handbook: 60 Lessons in Eating, Acceptance and Self-Care, explains, “intention isn’t the same as impact.” When we comment on the contents of somebody else’s plate (no matter how well-intended), we’re potentially feeding their harshest inner critics. And for women in particular, those
Working out high may be fun, but can it actually make you a better athlete?
May 20, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC As someone who can’t stand cardio, I’ve never experienced the runner’s high that everyone talks about. (Runner’s rage? With that I am very familiar.) But I’ve been tipped off to a practice that may finally spark that euphoric feeling—running while high. Yep, you read that right. As legal marijuana reaches more and more states, a growing number of folks are using the plant before, during, and after their workouts, in an effort to boost both endurance and enjoyment. Some people claim that sweating while stoned makes the experience more mindful. “I like to use cannabis when I’m exercising outdoors, typically a vape pen with a high sativa,” says California resident Diane Day Kim, co-founder of the Cannabish lifestyle and wellness newsletter. (There are two major types of cannabis: sativa is more energizing; indica is more relaxing.) “All of a sudden, I’ll notice the little mundane details of my neighborhood and that will make my exercise routine feel less boring. Being high also amplifies all of the great feelings of just breathing fresh air and feeling the sun on my skin.” Others, like Colorado-based media agency co-founder Bri Rios, say cannabis gives the ability to hash out a tough workout. “It helps me laser focus on form, allows me to push through when fatiguing, and helps uplift me mentally,” says Rios, who eats half of a Cheeba Chews sativa edible before going on long-distance runs. “Sometimes finishing the last couple miles on a run