January 09, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC Everyone wants healthy-looking skin, and here’s the good news: Getting the glowing complexion you want doesn’t have to be a heavy lift. Here, Jillian Wright—a trained esthetician, indie beauty expert, and a member of the Well+Good Council—shares four simple ways to improve your skin ASAP. This is the time of year when people often look to shake up their lifestyles in order to discover the best version of themselves in the new year. Here are four ways to instantly rehab your routine and make sure your year starts with glowing, healthy skin. Step up your spot treatment For years, dermatologists and aestheticians alike have been battling the myth that toothpaste works well for acne spot treatment. Not so. But calamine lotion—yep, the pink stuff—does wonders, all due to its anti-inflammatory zinc. Zinc also increases your body’s absorption of the vitamins A and E, which are important for healthy skin. Get to know glutathione Glutathione is an antioxidant that can prevent damage to important cellular components (like your skin) caused by free radicals, peroxides, and heavy metals. Consider getting an IV vitamin drip. I like Nutridrip at Clean Market in NYC, or simply make cabbage soup—the leafy stuff naturally offers glutathione and is a diuretic, too. Relax Stress can cause your skin to behave badly. CBD is being touted by consumers and doctors for its ability to de-stress and relax. Try using a tincture. Place a drop or two of Yuyo Botanics or Holistic
Category: 2019 Health
Here’s where to practice Kundalini yoga in NYC and LA
January 09, 2019 at 02:37AM by CWC Most people are quite familiar with yoga. Yes, it’s a mind-body practice that boosts your physical strength and ability to be present your breath through different bendy poses—but there are so many ways to go about doing it. Essentially, there are different kinds of yoga, which range from the traditional vinyasa flow to ashtanga (a more rigid, repetitive style) to yin (a very slow method of holding positions)—and then there’s Kundalini yoga. The thing about Kundalini yoga is that it seems to be a bit more mysterious. “Kundalini is the yoga of awareness,” says Abigail Devine, instructor, healer, and guide who leads the Devine Sound Journey once a month at bodē nyc. “It uses movement, breath, sound, and mantra to work with balancing the energies in your body.” While other yoga modalities are more about embracing the physicality of flowing between poses, Kundalini is more, well, abstract. “Kundalini yoga emphasizes the flexibility of the spine, which is where the Kundalini energy runs,” Devine explains. “Each class is unique, but will all start with an opening mantra and breathing exercise, followed by a series of physical exercises. It’ll end with a meditation.” Since its practice is different than your go-to vinyasa flow, for instance, Kundalini’s main benefits are “deep energy work and connecting with your highest self,” as opposed to just getting in a sweat sesh. But it also has the “physical, emotional, and mental purification” benefits of other yoga practices. In other words: You’re still getting a
Here’s a hint that hair loss might be attached to stress
January 08, 2019 at 02:25PM As a woman with long hair, shedding is a part of life. A few strands in your hairbrush or the shower drain (followed by the inevitable “clean up your damn hair” text from your live-in partner) is nothing to worry about—you’ve got hundreds of thousands of ’em on your head, after all. But if you’re pulling out hair by the fistful or waking up with a full-blown nest on your pillow every morning, it could be a sign that you’re losing your hair due to stress. “Women are mostly complaining of shedding—they’re losing hair in the shower, they’re losing hair when styling, they’re losing hair when they’re running their hands through their heads, and that shedding is our clue that it’s coming from a stressful source,” explains naturopathic doctor, Tess Marshal, ND who works with hair-growth supplement Nutrafol. “When we’re stressed, our adrenal glands produce this hormone called cortisol, and then the cortisone signals our hair follicles to shift from the growth phase, out of growth phase into catagen [a transition phase], and then hair will fall out.” This is called telogen effluvium. If you’re losing more than 150 strands per day (it depends on the length of hair, but it should be a relatively sparse palmful) or noticing a significant change in how much hair you’re losing, stress could be to blame. In addition to shedding, hair loss from stress may also happen primarily around your temples. I know, I know: Just what all need in 2019,
The surprising impact chronic illness can have on your social life—and how to deal
January 08, 2019 at 02:24PM If you are like the millions of Americans who have a chronic illness (a disease like fibromyalgia, diabetes, or MS that often has no cure and requires ongoing treatment), you’re probably well-familiar with the medical side of your illness. You’re frequently in pain, spending lots of time at the doctor’s office or on the phone with your insurance company, and often feel physically weak—even though from all physical appearances you “look” totally fine. However, certified life coach, wellness entrepreneur, and chronic illness advocate Nitika Chopra says there’s one surprising place where your condition can have a big impact: your social life. The reality is that sometimes having (and treating) a chronic illness often impacts your ability to do otherwise “normal,” day-to-day activities—like meeting up with your friends after work, going on a weekend trip with your family, or even going to work. It can be extremely isolating. And that was true for Chopra. She was diagnosed with a very bad case of psoriasis arthritis (a form of arthritis that includes flareups of red, scaly patches on the skin along with joint pain and inflammation) when she was 10 years old. In the 26 years since her diagnosis, she says there have been many periods of her life where she’s been in so much pain that she literally hasn’t been able to leave the house. In Chopra’s experience, you sometimes miss out—and it can really take a toll on your well-being. Here, she shares what has gotten her through
Yoga isn’t the only workout you should be doing barefoot
January 08, 2019 at 01:33PM Walking around the gym with your shoes off sounds super weird and maybe a little unhygienic. But people are ditching their footwear in the weight room with good reason. For starters, weightlifting barefoot builds strength and helps you to find the optimal firing position. According to San Francisco-based personal trainer Austin Lopez, CSCS, the main reason why lifters go barefoot is that it allows for a stronger connection. “When you’re barefoot, there’s little to nothing impeding your ability to feel your foot gripping the ground,” Lopez says. And that’s important. Direct contact with the ground means you’re able to fully utilize the tiny nerves on the bottom of your feet, which is crucial for control and stability, says podiatrist Emily Splichal, DPM. Balance and control certainly come in handy when you’re lifting a few (or a few hundred) pounds off the ground. “Particularly with heavy leg exercises, if you’re properly gripping the ground, you’ll not only activate your glutes more effectively, but you’ll also create sufficient space for your femur to exit the hip socket,” says Lopez. “That combination stabilizes the movement and increases range of motion. It really helps build a neuromuscular connection.” Increased awareness helps you tap into your full potential in addition to enhancing your overall experience at the gym: “You can enjoy truly feeling a lift you’re doing,” says Lopez. And if people look at you funny, just smile and remember you know something they don’t. It might feel a little off at first, but it
Psst…you totally can eat these low-sugar fruits if you’re keto
January 08, 2019 at 12:58PM Things that are on the “yes” list for the keto diet: butter, bacon, avocados, “fat bombs,” MCT oil, grass-fed beef. Things that are on the “no” list…well, basically everything else. Okay, maybe that’s an over-simplification. But the keto diet (arguably one of the biggest food trends of the past year) is famously restrictive thanks to its focus on eating lots of fat and very few carbs. Which leaves people who love carby foods like bread and pasta out in the cold. But having one little orange or apple isn’t that big a deal on keto, right? Not necessarily, according to Rachel Gargiulo, a certified nutrition consultant at Nourishing Journey in Baltimore, Maryland. “Carbs are usually the body’s preferred substance for producing and using energy,” she says. “However, when adhering to a keto diet, the body switches from using carbs, in the form of glucose, to using fat reserves instead.” This process is called ketosis and it’s linked with all kinds of benefits (from weight management to improved mood). But staying in ketosis depends on you limiting your carb intake—which is where fruit can get kind of tricky. Generally, most keto plans call for eating 30 grams of carbs per day max. For context, eating just one mango (which has over 50 grams of carbs per fruit and roughly 45 grams of sugar) puts you well over your day’s carb limit. And those extra 20 grams of carbs make a difference. “Entering ketosis usually takes anywhere from three days to a
Dear derms: Why is my skin is clearer when I use zero products?
January 08, 2019 at 12:56PM Have you ever taken an “it’s not you, it’s me” break from your skin-care routine, and found that your complexion looks glowier than ever? Admittedly, it can be really confusing when you go to sleep without slathering on your usual serums and wake up with flawless looking skin, and can have you wondering whether the skin-care routine you’ve invested time and money in is really worth it. To find out once and for all why skin can sometimes look clearer when you use no products at all, I asked Austin dermatologist Ted Lain, MD to (pardon the pun) clear things up. “Usually it’s either because a person’s using the wrong products for their skin type, or they’re using the right products and they’re using too much and it’s causing dermatitis,” he explains. “It’s because their skin is not meant for the products that they’re using, so it’s causing irritation and maybe even acne.” If your skin-care regimen is giving you anything other than the gorgeous skin you deserve, Dr. Lain suggests taking a few days off from what you’ve been using and starting back at square one. “You should stop everything and just use bland cleansers and moisturizers for a few days,” he says. Then, it’s all about reevaluating whether you’re using the product correctly or whether it works for you to begin with. The best way to assess this is to use something gentle with no active ingredients. And in case you’re considering ditching your
Refillable beauty is about to change the way you shop for makeup
January 08, 2019 at 12:49PM At first glance, there’s nothing wrong with your #shelfie. Your deodorant is all-natural and so is your favorite lipstick, lotion, serum, and oil. But look again: How many of those beauty and personal hygiene products are packaged in plastic? Those containers might not seem like a big deal—they’re recyclable after all—but even the most eco-minded among us play a part in contributing to the 270 million tons of plastic drifting around the world’s oceans. In a bold move toward sustainability, some of the biggest beauty brands are rethinking the user experience from the outside in. If you aren’t familiar with the refillable beauty trend, listen good. In response to the outrageous amount of pollution in our seas and its impact on both the environment and ocean wildlife, several companies are packaging beauty products in reusable containers. When the product is gone, simply refill the bottle. Based on research by the LCA Centre, Refinery29 reports that switching to a brand that offers refills is the overwhelmingly sustainable choice. View this post on Instagram Still full from last night? Yup. Us too. Recover from your couch while shopping for your next deo. #bettervibesdaily A post shared by Myro (@itsmymyro) on Nov 23, 2018 at 2:47pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js In the makeup department, Stila offers an impressive assortment of refillable cosmetics, including powders to eye shadows. Dior is a newcomer to the trend with reusable lipstick tubes. Le Labo lets customers bring empty fragrance bottles back to the store for refills. Clean-beauty brand Kjaer Weiss sells plenty of inexpensive
I uncovered a subreddit that’ll help you locate any piece of clothing you’ve ever looked for but couldn’t find
January 08, 2019 at 12:24PM After spending a frustrating amount of time trolling the internet looking for a suitable dress to wear to my sister’s wedding, one night, while scrolling through the vastness of my Instagram’s explore page, I came across an option that seemed perfect: It was a black, with a light-blue lace overlay and beaded accents on the cuffs and collar. There was one hitch, however—the photo had no information, hashtags, or links to help me figure out where I could find it in real life. I spent the next three days running a screenshot of it through reverse Google image search and typing random descriptive phrases into my browser’s search field like “pastel blue lace dress,” “beaded long sleeve lace dress,” “long sleeve lace overlay dress” hoping it’d render some results. Needless to say, it didn’t. I was about to give up. But then I inadvertently stumbled upon the solution to my problems in the form of a subreddit called Find Fashion, which does, well, exactly what it says it does. I uploaded a screenshot of my dream dress and then waited. Two days later I had an answer: It was a Diane Von Furstenberg number that I was then able to find online in my size …and on sale. With my own fashion crisis averted, I began to dig deeper into the subreddit and discovered that so far 24,000 people have shared pictures or descriptions of pieces of clothing, shoes, and accessories that they need help identifying. Users upload
Feeling run down? Whip up this vegan bone broth in your Instant Pot
January 08, 2019 at 12:16PM Bless the Instant Pot for making life easier in no fewer than a million ways. If you’re a proud owner of the trendy countertop appliance, chances are you’ve already mastered fall-off-the-bone chicken, perfectly tender sweet potatoes, and family-size servings of chili. The Instant Pot saves time in so many ways, including—wait for it—making a batch of bone broth. Using ordinary methods, homemade bone broth can take up to six hours. (A lovely way to spend a Sunday, if you literally have nothing else to do.) But holistic nutritionist and Simply Quinoa blogger Alyssa Rimmer shares a recipe using an Instant Pot that not only cuts the time commitment in half, but makes it vegan, too. And yes, Rimmer’s Mushroom Vegan Bone Broth is still plenty nutritious, thankyouverymuch. “My first recipe in the Instant Pot and I’m legit obsessed with this vegan bone broth! Its healing, nourishing, and delicious just without the bones,” Rimmer writes on Instagram. “We’re using mushrooms, seaweed, and a bunch of other goodies to make an absolute winter staple. It’s so, so good.” Other ingredients in Rimmer’s recipe include carrots, celery ribs, onion, garlic cloves, peeled tomatoes, dried chickpeas, and miso paste. Miso is a completely underrated probiotic source, upping the count of the good bacteria in the gut (key to keeping your immune system in order). Tomatoes are full of antioxidants and seaweed packs so many anti-inflammatory nutrients that it’s considered one of the healthiest sea vegetables around. In other words, consider Mushroom Vegan Bone Broth