April 12, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Oatmeal baths have been a savior for itchy, dry skin for ages—and the perks they offer aren’t simply anecdotal, either. Yep, dermatologists also swear by the soaks from a medical POV. “Oatmeal has long been used in skin care because of its moisturizing and soothing benefits,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. And for a second opinion (hey, gotta do your due diligence), dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, MD, agrees: “It’s also anti-inflammatory and reduces itch. Oatmeal is soothing and can repair dry, inflamed, and damaged skin,” he says. Of course, you don’t need to have a skin issue—like eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, poison ivy, insect bites, or a sunburn, among other conditions—to enjoy the benefits of oatmeal. While it’s a great option for people who struggle with an itchy skin condition, it’s also perfect for simply pampering your skin when you’re in the mood, Dr. Zeichner says. But rather than just rubbing your benefits-laden bowl of Quaker Oats on a patchy area of skin, set the scene and draw yourself a hygge-approved, mood-boosting bath. Considering how simple it is to make a homemade oatmeal bath, you’ll be wondering why you waited so long to start the practice. In fact, there’s a solid chance you’re already the proud owner of every required ingredient. Here’s what you’ll need for a homemade oatmeal bath: Some kind of grinder, like a blender, coffee grinder, or food processor 1 cup of unflavored quick or instant oats (organic is better, if
Category: 2019 Health
Asking for a friend: What can I do if I forgot to put on deodorant this morning?
April 12, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC This a.m., about halfway through my SLT class when the instructor came over to adjust my form, I had a horrible realization: “Ohmigod,” I thought, “I forgot to put on deodorant this morning.” I started to panic, because not only was I sweating so, so much more than usual—but I straight up stank. So much so that I felt genuinely bad for the girl on the Megaformer next to me. And the worst part was knowing that since I didn’t have time to shower before heading into the office, the B.O. that had already taken hold would still somehow manage to peak through for the rest of the day, no matter how much Secret Clinical Strength I swiped under my pits. Woof. Finding myself in this sticky stinky situation, I had to know: Is there anything you can do to get rid of B.O. after you’ve forgotten to put on deodorant? Having been in this situation before (…more times than I would like to publicly admit on the Internet), I can confirm that the solution of “wipe your armpits with a tissue, apply some D.O. and hope for the best” just won’t cut it. So I decided to ask the pros WTF to do so that my poor coworkers didn’t have to suffer with the scent of me all day long (you’re welcome, Rachel). First, it’s important to understand why just slapping on some deodorant won’t fix the issue of odor once the damage
Ariana Grande’s brain scan shows her PTSD—but we shouldn’t need to see it to believe it
April 12, 2019 at 12:46PM by CWC Ariana Grande is constantly surpassing her own boundaries. She breaks her own records in the music industry, yes, but her triumph is set to the tune of a cultural consciousness. Last summer, the singer first spoke publicly about her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of a 2017 bombing at her concert in England, which claimed lives of 22 people. In the time since, Grande has shown courage and stamina that extends to practicing mental health transparency with her fans. In sharing her trauma, the 25-year-old pop icon displayed fierce vulnerability. “I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry,” she told British Vogue at the time. Yesterday, in a coup for everyone (not just celebrities) pushing mental health to the forefront of the conversation, Grande took to Instagram to display the physical imprint that PTSD leaves on the brain. A series of brain scans, including her own, displayed the very visual consequences of PTSD, reports Refinery29. The photos are arresting; “hilarious and terrifying,” Grande called them. The internet snapped to attention when Grande shared the scans. In the mental health conversation, such observable evidence can help to banish stigma—clearly something is “wrong,” we can see it right there on the screen. The next step is accepting that the whole gradient of mental wellness isn’t so visible. In fact, much of it is invisible. And we need to learn to “believe” mental illness—even without visual
6 healthy grilled cheese sandwiches for grown-ups
April 12, 2019 at 10:11AM by CWC Sometimes there’s just no way to stop a craving for classic comfort foods. Maybe it’s on rainy days. Or a couple cocktails. But when the craving strikes for something warm, gooey, and dense, only a healthy grilled cheese sandwich satisfies every time. (A bowl of tomato soup for dipping is totally optional.) But the gluten! The dairy! Your body feels best when you fill it with nutrient-dense foods and not just processed ingredients. You’re an adult now. Wonder Bread and Kraft Singles, while delicious, aren’t the only the ingredients required to make your favorite childhood sandwich. 6 healthy grilled cheese sandwich recipes that satisfy the craving for comfort food. Photo: Well+Good Creative 1. Cauliflower crust grilled cheese You know how cauliflower crust is everywhere, taking over the frozen food section at every grocery store? I’ll let you in on a little secret: you can use it for more than just pizza. At Well+Good, we pack cauliflower crust with white cheddar cheese, avocado, and mustard for a next-level healthy grilled cheese. Photo: Love and Lemons 2. Tart cherry grilled cheese with sage Love and Lemons creator Jeanine Donofrio has perfected the formula for making a grilled cheese that hits all the right sensory notes—thick grainy bread, sharp cheese, fresh herbs, and fruit. That last one is a bit of a wild card, right? Her go-to is tart cherry, with a flavor strong enough to hold its own against the cheese. Photo: The Foodie Dietitian
Doing 3 dance cardio workouts in a row is just like a night in the club—right?
April 12, 2019 at 09:54AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRG0gUGOvc] Sometimes, ya just wind up dancing all night in a dance club. Or, okay—at a wedding. So a dance cardio class should be a breeze. But three of them? In one day? Well, Well+Good’s senior video producer Ella Dove, a self-professed fan of shaking her rump, thought she’d test it out to see just how a dance cardio-class extravaganza compares to those nights out in which you have a serious case of the twinkle toes. In the latest episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series, What the Wellness, Dove tries this very bold thing: “I’m going where many have gone before, but not quite like this,” she says. “I’m going on a dance marathon. More specifically, a dance cardio marathon.” So she signs up—voluntarily—to do three of these classes in a row. It all started in Megan Roup‘s studio for a one-on-one sesh of private dancing and sculpting. Easy (ish). Once that was over and done with, Dove felt as though that could definitely count as her workout for the day. But alas—the early evening rolls around and she hits up another New York City studio, 305 Fitness—which brings a live DJ (and a light show!) to the dance cardio sesh. Then she hit up Banana Skirt Fitness later in the night for a more music video-esque workout involving Missy Elliot-themed choreography (and twerking). Watch how Dove impressively holds up in her dance cardio marathon—does she really?—and whether she thinks doing such a thing is
You can skip the gym this many times before you lose your motivation
April 12, 2019 at 08:26AM by CWC I do a pretty good job when it comes to keeping up with my workout schedule. I’m usually on it every single day without a complaint. Every so often, though, I’ll have to skip two days in a row, maybe three. If I’m missing workouts here and there, no big deal, right? But does gym motivation disappear altogether after a certain time? When I do skip the gym, I’m always full of excuses. (I’m too tired, too busy, too hungry, etc.) And according to Eric Rakofsky, director of fitness at The Well, it’s good to know that sometimes these excuses are totally justified. “Time is something that many of us simply can’t find enough of,” says Rakofsky. “It’s incredibly easy for one missed workout to turn into two, or three, and then before you know it you’re playing catch-up with yourself. It is important to understand that there are going to be times when you miss a day or two. That’s life.” Rakofsky says the key is to never skip more than two workouts in a row if you don’t want to lose your gym motivation. But the healthy habit you’ve created for yourself shouldn’t make it harder to accomplish your fitness goals by interrupting the rest of your life. Just a quick 20-minute at-home workout counts. “Your body is constantly burning calories, and workouts only ramp that up. So you want to constantly be in that state while also making sure you’re
When Beyoncé’s makeup artist gives you a lip tip, you listen
April 12, 2019 at 07:47AM by CWC I have to admit I was pretty jealous when associate beauty and fitness editor Zoe Weiner told me she got to hang out with Beyoncé’s makeup artist, Sir John. Naturally, I asked her to spill every tip she got from the in-demand makeup artist. And girl delivered, too. Get this: You know how Beyoncé’s lips always have just the perfect amount of shine? (Enough to make lips look fuller, but not enough where there’s a scary reflective quality?) Well, it might be eye cream that deserves the credit. I know, right?! According to Sir John, using eye cream on your lips adds the perfect amount of sheen—and gives a better feel, too. “The skin on your lips and your eyelids is so thin, so it won’t change the texture of your matte,” he says. View this post on Instagram When @beyonce’s #makeupartist gives you a lip tip, you listen 💄👄Head to the link in our bio for more beauty secrets from @sirjohnofficial, including Queen Bey’s no-budge lip gloss. #iamwellandgood #beauty #makeup #lipgloss #sirjohn #beyonce A post shared by Well+Good (@iamwellandgood) on Apr 9, 2019 at 12:05pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Not that this matters to Beyoncé (probably), but when your eye cream doubles as your lip gloss, it’s cheaper, too. And that’s one less product to stash in your makeup bag. Pretty f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s beauty advice, right? Now that you’ve got a tip straight from the lips of Beyoncé’s makeup artist, throw on your
Dermatologists say to layer on your products in this exact order
April 12, 2019 at 07:30AM by CWC Whether you have a 10-step regimen or like to use two simple products in tandem, everyone can benefit from a little skin-care 101, because the order in which you put on your serums, oils, moisturizers, and SPFs can make them work even harder. “It’s important to not only choose the right products for your particular skin type, but layer them correctly as well,” says New York City-based dermatologist Michele Farber, MD of Schweiger Dermatology. “Typically, products should be applied from thinnest to thickest in terms of texture.” The general rule is to layer your skin-care products based on weight. “Typically, products should be applied from thinnest to thickest,” she says. Keeping that in mind, here, Dr. Farber and Joshua Zeichner, MD, another NYC dermatologist help me to suss out the right order in which to apply skin-care products. If you don’t tend to use a particular product, just skip over it to the next one, to build your ultimate, personalized regimen. Keep scrolling for the order you should layer on your products. Photo: Getty/Narisa Ladak 1. Cleanser Literally none of your skin-care treatments would work if you didn’t have a clean canvas to start with, which is why cleansing in the morning and at night is essential. The first rule: Choose a face cleanser that benefits your skin type, says Dr. Farber. “Those who have dry skin should look for a face wash with ingredients like ceramides and glycerin to boost the barrier, and if your
FDA bans 28 active ingredients in hand sanitizer
April 12, 2019 at 07:27AM by CWC Hand sanitizer is ubiquitous in some of America’s germiest hotspots. Airports, doctor’s offices, classrooms, gyms, portable toilets—you name it. The safety of the antiseptic substance has been hotly debated for some time now. On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned manufacturers from using 28 active ingredients in over-the-counter bottles of hand sanitizer. The government organization first announced its intention to analyze safety data on the antibacterial gel back in 2016. Now, less than three years later, the FDA is specifically calling out toxic actives with a history of health concerns, like triclosan and benzethonium chloride. Although 28 ingredients sounds like a substantial number, however, the change will effect less than 3 percent of the hand sanitizer marketplace. Most bottles of hand sanitizer you’ll find on the shelves at the drugstore use ethyl alcohol as the antiseptic. “Our action today aims to help provide consumers with confidence that the over-the-counter hand sanitizers they’re using are safe and effective when they don’t have access to water to wash with soap.” “Our action today aims to help provide consumers with confidence that the over-the-counter hand sanitizers they’re using are safe and effective when they don’t have access to water to wash with soap,” says Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in a press release. The organization will continue to study the public safety of three other chemicals sometimes found in hand sanitizer—benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, and
These inflammation-fighting drugstore moisturizers are like Xanax for skin
April 12, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC Every once in a while, it can feel like every single problem that skin could possibly have pops up at the same time. It’s red, it’s itchy, it’s swollen, and frankly it’s just all-around unpleasant. As anyone who’s dealt with it knows all-too well, inflamed skin is no joke, and requires being treated with kid gloves—or at the very least, the right products—to help it calm down. So, when I came across a subReddit thread wherein one Redditor called La Roche-Posay B5 soothing repairing balm “Xanax for inflammation,” I pretty much decided then and there that I need to figure out why inflamed skin happens and what ingredients should be used to help send it packing once-and-for-all. And we’re in luck! There are plenty of moisturizers on the market that are specifically formulated for inflammation, making them like anti-anxiety treatments for complexions. There are a number of reasons why you might wake up one morning with your face looking like a swollen nightmare (#beenthere), most of which come from external forces. “Inflammation is the body’s response when something harmful and/or foreign comes in contact with the skin, including pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, chemicals, and more,” says Curology founder David Lorscher, MD. “Signs of inflammation include redness, heat, swelling, and pain.” According to Dr. Lortscher, there are a few ingredients that you should be looking for on labels when it comes to inflammation-fighting moisturizers. “Azelaic acid acts via its antimicrobial activity against P.