February 16, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC Melatonin has long been the go-to for sleepless nights of tossing and turning. In fact, there’s a bottle next to my bed, and we’ve had our fair share of midnight (and, okay 9 p.m.) rendezvous. And now, you can expect to start seeing a whole lot more of the snooze-inducing ingredient somewhere other than on your bedside table. Namely, in your skin-care cabinet. The conversation around topical melatonin for skin has been buzzing amongst dermatologists for a while now, and lately it’s started to hit the mainstream by popping up in products. And, if preliminary research is to be believed, it may be just as good for your skin as it is for your REM cycle. “Melatonin is a hormone produced in the skin as well as in the body,” explains Austin-based dermatologist Ted Lain, MD, noting that it tends to be mostly concentrated at night. “Melatonin can act as an antioxidant helping prevent sun damage and protecting from the effects of pollution on the DNA in your skin cells as well as protecting the collagen in the second layer of your skin.” As an antioxidant, it can help neutralize free radicals and promote healthy collagen production to help stave off wrinkles. And, no—it won’t make you sleepy when you apply it topically. “For skin cells, melatonin is able to slow down and even reverse UV-induced damage, protecting cellular DNA from free-radicals,” says Marko Lens, MD founder of Zelens, which recently launched their
Category: 2019 Health
How to make a chakra bracelet that will balance your look (and possibly, your energy)
February 16, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC Sure, a solid-gold ring stack or a chunky chain necklace can bring balance to your outfit—making, say, your slouchiest sweatpants feel brunch-appropriate. But can they also harmonize your chakras? Doubt it, which is where crystal jewelry comes in. It’s thought that crystals’ molecules vibrate at restorative frequencies that our bodies can pick up on, which is why many people use them for energy healing purposes. “Much like tuning forks, crystals work with the principle of sympathetic resonance,” explains Mariah K. Lyons, the crystal healer, herbalist, and reiki master behind high-vibe gemstone footwear line Astara. “As they hold and radiate a specific harmonic frequency, the body responds and aligns itself to that healing frequency. When we wear or place crystals on our body, our energetic field is able to respond accordingly and realign with balance and harmony.” And since chakras are believed to be vortexes of concentrated energy within us—each one connected to certain aspects of our bodies and lives—crystals are considered a powerful tool in correcting imbalances within these chakras. Not sure if your chakras are out of whack? Hate to break it to you, but if you’re a human living in the world today, they almost definitely are. “Chakras can fall out of balance from stress, fear, neglect, stagnation, [past or present] trauma, accidents, emotional wounds, and environmental triggers,” says Lyons. One way to bring your chakras back into alignment, metaphysical experts claim, is to keep a crystal (or several) on you
5 ways to harness the energy of rose quartz, the crystal with a love-magnet rep
February 16, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Rose quartz is the coconut oil of the crystal world—pretty much every wellness-obsessed gal has it somewhere in her home. No, it’s not just because she needs something millennial pink to compliment her monstera plant and macramé wall hanging. Ask any gemstone expert, and they’ll tell you that rose quartz healing properties are super powerful, particularly where love’s concerned. (And let’s be real: Coupled up or solo, who couldn’t use a little help in that department?) “Rose quartz, or the stone of emotional healing, is associated with all the properties of high-vibrational love energy,” says Well+Good Council member Kelsey Patel, reiki healer and founder of lifestyle brand Magik Vibes. She notes that the stone’s molecules are said to vibrate at an energetic frequency of 350Hz, and that when you make contact with this frequency, it’s thought to “elevate and harmonize” your heart chakra. “The high vibration of rose quartz can soothe emotional wounds and brings about a balanced energetic state of acceptance, healing, bliss, and love,” she says. Of course, you’re unlikely to find any Western mental health practitioners prescribing chunks of rose quartz for emotional turmoil. But even if you’re skeptical of the stone’s supposed energy healing properties, you might find that its ancient symbolism alone helps to put you in a more heartened headspace. “Traditionally, this stone has been used in jewelry and in talismans with a more symbolic meaning,” Patel explains. “In one Greek legend, Cupid and Eros brought rose quartz to
This yoga-based abs workout can super-charge your core power, in just 10 minutes a day
February 16, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC If you want to run away whenever you get to the abs portion of your workouts, you’re not the only one. Core exercises can be pretty daunting—especially when there’s a seemingly never-ending list of bicycle crunches and sit-ups to check off. But it’s important—and no, not just for washboard abs. Upping your core strength can help with everything from lower back pain to bad posture, and you really only need to devote 10 minutes a day. Kajuan Douglas, founder of Merge New York, created a routine for the studio’s Integration class as a way to build up core strength in minimal time. And instead of doing hundreds of crunches, he uses a mix of yoga and Pilates moves to tighten and tone. “It’s not always about how long you do something, but the quality of time you spend doing it. The key to its success is precision.” —Kajuan Douglas, founder of Merge New York “I personally practiced this workout for about 10 minutes a day and it’s made me stronger, removed my distended belly—my wine pouch!—and stopped some minor lower back pain,” he says. “After 90 days in a row, it completely changed my body. It’s not always about how long you do something, but the quality of time you spend doing it. The key to its success is precision.” Even if you start slow, you can feel the positive effects. “I worked up to continuously doing these exercises without a break,” Douglas says. So
Tuesday’s supermoon kicks off a new 8-year cycle of healing—here’s what’s in the stars for you
February 16, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC Finally feeling like you can breathe easy again after last month’s total lunar super blood moon eclipse? (I mean, just typing that out was exhausting.) Prepare for a fresh wave of intensity—the full moon in February is set to be just as transformative, with a bunch of other planets and cosmic bodies getting in on the action, too. First, let’s discuss the full moon itself, which is taking place on Tuesday, February 19, at 10:53 a.m. Eastern. You might find that this one feels extra powerful because it’s a supermoon—the biggest and brightest one of the year. “A full moon happens whenever the earth crosses between the sun and the moon. A full moon becomes a supermoon when the moon is super close to Earth, the closest it can be within its orbit,” explains astrologer Virginia Mason Richardson. “Because the moon is closer, it appears larger and more beautiful than usual. In theory, we may feel the effects of a supermoon more than a typical full moon simply because of its proximity to Earth.” This particular full moon is happening in Virgo, the sign associated with practicality, perfectionism, and health-consciousness. Since full moons are a time of wish fulfillment, celebration, and release, you may find that you’re experiencing some sort of culmination in the Virgo-associated areas of your life. But that’s not all, says Richardson—there’s tons of cosmic activity happening this week besides the full moon. “On February 18, the sun enters Pisces, and Chiron enters
7 bras for small breasts—and no, none of them are push-ups
February 16, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Things people with small boobs are sick of hearing: You’re so lucky, you can probably just go without a bra all the time. First of all, thanks for the reminder that your boobs are so full and dense that you simply must wear a breast cage to confine them. Second, yes, we are fully aware that having big boobs comes with its own set of issues. Third, all boobs are beautiful. Full stop. To help address some of the common issues women with smaller chests face when doing something as intimate (get it? ba-dum-cha) as bra shopping, I consulted Michelle Lam, founder of True&Co, and Helena Stuart, founder of Only Hearts, for their tips. “The most common issue small-breasted women have when bra shopping is the pressure to push up,” Stuart says. “Lots of brands think the best option for small breasts is to create volume, leaving women with few choices other than gaping cups or cups filled with foam padding.” Hear ye, hear ye. How many of you have been down that road before while bra shopping? Instead, she recommends avoiding a full-overage bra (which can make your breasts seem smaller and overwhelm a small frame), and opt for one with stretch in the cups or a strappy bralette in a triangle shape. “Lots of brands think the best option for small breasts is to create volume, leaving women with few choices other than gaping cups or cups filled with foam padding.”
I don’t care what fashion week says, wearing a low ponytail makes me look like Gaston
February 15, 2019 at 01:56PM by CWC We’re in the midst of the fashion week sprints (just as the catwalk lights in New York dim, they flash on in London)—a time I usually love because of all the fresh wardrobe, makeup, and hair inspo I’m able to absorb. I usually welcome all the haute trends, from bedazzled faces to cozy fleece dresses, with open arms. But this year, I feel personally attacked by one specific look—the low ponytail. It started innocuously enough with Ariana Grande trading in her signature high pony for an elastic secured at the nape of her neck. This, however, wasn’t an isolated incident—the hairstyle then spread like disease across red carpets, street style photos, and runways without discrimination. J. Lo and Camilla Cabello both sported the look at the Grammys, and what felt like a million designers (Ralph Lauren, Cushnie, Christian Siriano, Oscar de la Renta, the list goes on…) sent models down the runway this season with low-riding ponies. Being the trend fiend that I am, I’ve spent the better part of the last two weeks trying to wrestle my hair into this look—and let me tell you, it is not going well. Every single time I move my ponytail to the lower quadrant of my scalp, I look like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast—the animated version. View this post on Instagram Whose gonna let me do this on them next??! #justinemarjanhair for @csiriano A post shared by Celebrity Hairstylist (@justinemarjan) on Feb 11, 2019 at 10:56am PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js Just
This one mistake we’re all making during streaming workouts can lead to serious neck pain
February 15, 2019 at 12:16PM by CWC I was streaming a workout yesterday from my mat, and—while struggling through a forearm plank—the instructor said to stop looking at her and to instead focus on a spot on the floor six inches in front of my hands. Whoops. The issue? If you continue to look up at the screen during certain moves, you put yourself at risk for alignment issues. And, worse, neck pain. It’s definitely a thing. I’ve noticed that whenever I’m following an digital workout (AKA practically every single day), I’m always straining to keep my eyes on the instructor. After all, I’m trying my best to imitate their every move. But it turns out you shouldn’t always be looking at them for cues on what to do, particularly when you’re in certain poses that require proper alignment. “Having to look at a screen while working out is difficult because it can throw off your alignment, and it also takes away from your overall bodily awareness,” says Meghan Takacs, Aaptiv trainer. “Working out is essentially a conversation between your brain and your body—you’re the one who tells your body where to go and how to get there, and so before movement becomes a reality, you have to tell your body what to do, not be shown what to do.” That’s (obviously) not to say that you need to quit your workout streaming habit, though—It’s just key to be mindful of your movements and not get too hypnotized by your instructor.
Asking for a friend: What causes really smelly farts? (And how can how can “she” fix it?)
February 15, 2019 at 11:54AM by CWC As the lifestyle guru Shrek once said, “Better out than in.” But seriously, the gastroenterologist I spoke with this morning invoked the green ogre’s words of wisdom about farts. Now, we all know everybody gets a little gassy now and then. But depending on what you’ve had to eat, everyday flatulence (that’s the fancy word for farts) ranges from the mildly stinky to the hideously fetid. “Basically, the first thing to remember is that all flatulence will have a certain amount of odor,” says gastroenterologist Niket Sonpal, MD. Our bodies cannot digest certain materials— compounds like cellulose, high-fiber foods, starches in vegetable products (particularly of the cruciferous variety, like cauliflower and broccoli), meat products, and artificial sugars found in diet sodas or coffee sweeteners. “Sometimes a lot of these products can’t be full digested,” he says, “and this gives rise to something called hydrocarbons.” Hydrocarbons (another technical term for “gas”) have to exit your body somehow, so they do. Dr. Sonpal says it can be useful to think of gas in two categories: normal (you know, quotidian farts) and smellier than usual. “Now if it’s a one-time, room-clearing kind of fart, then that could be usually related to something. It could be a touch of food-poisoning or enteritis,” says Sonpal. In other words, make like Shrek and foster a little bit of self-acceptance toward your flatulence. Or you can cut down on the cruciferous veggies and coffee creamer, if you so choose. “Better out than in.”
I couldn’t get this best-selling $10 mascara to clump if I tried
February 15, 2019 at 11:52AM by CWC The U.K. has given us a lot of things worth obsessing over: The Spice Girls, David Attenborough documentaries, and Harry Styles, to name a few. One other thing to add to the list? No7’s “The Full 360” mascara, AKA my new favorite lash lengthening product. According to the brand, a tube of the mascara sells every nine seconds in the U.K., which is… wild. In the time it’s taken you to read those four sentences, at least two bottles of the stuff has flown off of the shelves. So as a beauty editor who has (literally) made a full time job out of testing the latest and greatest in mascaras, I had to see what the hype was all about. It only took two swipes before I was utterly hooked. The product lengthened my lashes without making them look fake or overdone, which is something I’ve traditionally struggled to find in a mascara. It essentially made them look like their natural selves but better. And a whole lot longer. My boss told me my lashes looked “long and wispy,” which made me feel like the 2019 version of Twiggy, and lemme tell ya: I didn’t hate that. Plus, the curved brush gave my lashes the perfect upward inflection to make me look more awake, which is always greatly appreciated in a product—especially on a Friday morning. The most impressive thing about the No7 mascara, though, is that it doesn’t clump. Like, at all. I