July 01, 2019 at 06:00AM by CWC When I was in junior high and obsessed with reading my horoscope in Sassy magazine (RIP), I always secretly wished that I hadn’t been born a Cancer. Every zodiac sign has its requisite shadow traits, but I felt Cancer especially had a lacking reputation; Cancers are known for being moody homebodies with a hard shell—and who wants to hang out with that girl? (Cancer literally translates to “crab” in Latin.) But as I’ve learned more about astrology, I’ve made peace with my Cancer traits, because I know there’s so much more to the sign than its few unflattering stereotypes suggest. Astrologer and women’s empowerment coach Natalia Benson agrees there’s a lot to love about those born between June 21 and July 22. “Cancer is a very interesting, complex sign,” she says. “Cancers are protective, nurturing, and very emotionally intelligent. They have a strong intuition and are really good at making money and building it, because they are so focused on security.” And since Cancer is ruled by the moon, the sign is prone to experiencing lots of emotional highs and lows. “The moon represents our emotional, intimate nature, and it changes signs every one-and-a-half to two days,” says Benson. “If your ruling planetary body was shifting zodiac signs every other day, you’d probably be moody too.” This lunar link also means Cancers are deeply affected by their moon signs. ad_intervals[‘404885_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404885_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Your
Category: 2019 Health
A makeup artist’s genius mascara hack will help you avoid racoon eyes all summer long
July 01, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Just when you thought allergy season was over and you could finally (finally!) step outside in mascara without having to worry about raccoon rings under your eyes… summer weather set in. Between the humidity and the face sweat that are pretty much unavoidable during this time of year, your eye makeup doesn’t stand a chance of lasting for more than 10 minutes after you step outside. And don’t even get me started on days when you’re planning on heading to the pool or the beach. Thankfully, makeup artist Misha Shahzada has a genius hack to ensure that everything stays put, no matter how sweaty and gross your face gets in this heat. “In the humid summer months, I always avoid applying mascara to the lower lashes, and if applying liner too, the lower lid,” says Shahzada. “It’s best to keep the liner on the water line —only using waterproof liner, of course—which will help you avoid a smudgy mess.” And obviously, you’ll want to use a waterproof mascara, like Crunchi Lashes For Days ($28). ad_intervals[‘402704_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘402704_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); On extra-humid days, prep your lids with an eyeshadow primer—Shahzada is a fan of Marc Jacobs Undercover ($39)–before applying mascara and eyeshadow. The result? No drippy, droopy makeup in sight. A few other ways to make your entire face of makeup survive even the hottest days of summer: Start with a primer, like Beauty Blender Selfie
How this healing practitioner found her calling—as a baby
July 01, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC Wellness in Color is a new series highlighting prominent wellness practitioners of color who are doing healing work in their communities. Featuring conversations led by Latham Thomas, a Well+Good Council member and the founder of Mama Glow, these stories shine a spotlight on energy workers, nutrition experts, sexuality doulas, and other wellness luminaries. Here, integrative skin therapist and healing practitioner Shayla Boger discusses her calling—and the surprisingly early age at which she began healing rifts within her own family. Latham Thomas: Can you share a bit about who you are and the work that you do? Shayla Boger: I’m an aesthetician and I also practice energy healing. I feel like my job as a healer started when I was a baby. My dad’s parents were white, and they were racist. They actually tried to keep my parents apart. When I was 13 months old, my dad showed up at their house with me, and told them that he was married to my mom, who is black and Creole. That was a shock to them. But it was ultimately really beautiful, because I feel like my essence is based in love, and my grandparents felt that. They dropped all the judgments and the things that were holding them back from a deeper connection. They ended up having a gorgeous relationship. So that’s a really big thing that started early on for me—being that healing presence of love for my family. ad_intervals[‘403924_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function ()
Yep, it’s totally possible to be a successful activist who struggles with anxiety
July 01, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC There are seemingly innumerable important decisions to be made and initiatives to speak up about in the world right now—like abortion rights, climate change, and inclusivity, just to name a few—that sitting on the sidelines as a bystander feels like an unthinkable course of action.Protests and other forms of activism take place regularly in communities across the country, meaning there’s no shortage of ways to make yourself seen and your voice heard. But getting out there and fighting for what you believe in is tricky when you don’t know how to deal with anxiety that gets in the way of your protesting efforts. Even when you care deeply about a cause (or causes), if you’re struggling with an anxiety disorder, as more than an estimated 40 million American adults do every year, hitting the picket lines or a City Hall meeting is tough because being around others, especially big crowds, sends you into a state of total panic. But according to pros, the best thing you can do in this case is treat the mental-health issue like the very thing you’re trying to protest: fight it head-on. David H. Rosmarin, PhD and founder and director of the Center for Anxiety, says exposure therapy is your friend for this, and whether you struggle with a panic disorder, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anything else, the strategy can help you treat the issue so it no longer acts as an obstacle keeping you from your
On the low FODMAP diet? Here’s what you need to know about getting enough fiber
June 30, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Some people fill their extracurricular time with reading, photography, or growing a house plant garden. Me? All my extra energy over the past four years has been devoted to fixing my gut issues. This journey has involved copious amounts of research, and a lot of trial and error with pretty much every digestive health solution in hopes of solving the mystery of my incessant bloat and constipation. Among the methods I’ve tried is the low FODMAP diet—an eating plan developed by Monash University that requires removing certain food groups (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols, to be exact) from your diet for two to six weeks to identify potential triggers of GI symptoms. I followed it for the full six weeks, and it helped! I felt almost complete relief from my digestive woes, and once I went through the re-introduction portion (when you systematically add high-FODMAP foods back into your diet to see which ones produce symptoms), I was able to determine which foods my body most disagreed with. ad_intervals[‘400407_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘400407_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); What I didn’t know at the time was that I was missing a piece of the gut-health puzzle that could have further enhanced my symptom relief: tracking my fiber intake, which turns out is a whole lot more important than I thought. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was missing a piece of the gut-health puzzle that
Everything that touches this healthy French onion dip becomes the perfect snack
June 30, 2019 at 02:02PM by CWC Yes, guacamole and hummus are great, but just thinking about French onion dip makes me drool. For a while it go overshadowed by other dips (ranch dip, anbody?), but a healthy French onion dip recipe puts it back on the scene, and it’s healthier than ever. This year, the plant-based company Good Karma released a line of dairy-free dips that are making their way into healthy homes nationwide. Seeing a healthy French onion dip definitely stopped me in my tracks. This version is upgraded from the typical sour cream version with a coconut oil base that’s contains just 30 calories and 1 gram of sugar per serving. Not too shabby. You can also make your own dip at home in minutes that’s just as good paired with carrots and celery as it is veggie chips. Ashley Page, the plant-based chef behind Happy Plates, shared her own French onion dip recipe on Instagram that will finally make you devour all the chopped produce in your fridge. It’s easy, too. After soaking some cashews overnight (or giving them a quick 15-minute boil), all you need to do is blend them up with a handful of ingredients, including apple cider vinegar, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix in caramelized onions and let it chill in the fridge before it’s ready to eat. ad_intervals[‘404561_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404561_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); I don’t want to say French onion dip has changed my
If you’re a chronic procrastinator, this spirit animal needs to be your new BFF
June 30, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC A bad case of couch-itis (as in, you’re having trouble getting off of it, metaphorically or literally) can be a serious drag on your productivity—and your life. If you’re ready to break free of procrastination, this is the month to do it, says “RockStar Shaman” Alyson Charles. Here’s everything you need to know about the spirit animal Charles sees coming in for July, the antelope—and how it can help you take action and reach for your dreams. Wow, June took us so many different places! Internally and externally, June showed us ways to explore and started to connect us more with our dear planet again. Here in the northern hemisphere, with the warmth of the sunshine and flowers fully blooming, it helps us to remember what a miracle Great Mother Earth truly is, always. As we head into July, there will be some very powerful and juicy feelings of stretching and expanding. When you are presented with situations that are taking you out of your comfort zone—that are requiring a version of you that’s a bit beyond what you usually do—embrace them and lean into them. ad_intervals[‘404968_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404968_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Antelope is more apt to align with you and your energies if you have a defined, clear goal—even more reason to take some meditation time right now and make some decisions you’ve put off making. The blessed spirit animal who is with us all
The dermatologist-approved secrets for preventing acne from ever happening
June 30, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC One of the best parts about my job is that I have plenty of dermatologists on speed dial. Since I’m always researching and writing about skin, I love having free reign to pick their brains. My fave topic to talk about? Acne. Their favorite responses to nix it? Spot treatments, light therapy, and skin-care products to squelch the situation. Then, one of the derms I spoke to said something a little different: The best way to treat acne is to stop it from happening in the first place. Yeah, it sounds obvious. But, despite knowing that the absolute ideal scenario is to prevent acne from ever showing up on your skin, I’ve still managed to have breakouts for more than half of my 31 years on the planet. So, riddle me this: How does one successfully keep acne at bay? Allow me to share with you the derm-approved acne prevention secrets. Why prevention is the name of the game “People spot treat, and that is completely off of the course—you want to prevent that,” says Dennis Gross, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. “Spot treating is fine, but you’ve already lost the battle. The important thing is to use something all over your face on a regular basis, at least in the zones where you’re prone to acne in the first place—that’s the key thing.” ad_intervals[‘389636_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘389636_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100);
A toxic-exposure expert spills her secrets on how to keep your home toxin-free
June 30, 2019 at 11:30AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMC1mNTy4FA] Want to detox your home? Watch the video. Sophia Gushee is all about living a non-toxic lifestyle: The Well+Good Council member is a toxic-exposure expert and author of A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. And in the latest installment of Self-Care Nation, the Well+Good YouTube series focused on different ways people prioritize—you guessed it—self care, Gushee shares how she keeps her home clean, comfortable, and free of household toxins. “It wasn’t until I was about 34 years old, when I became a mother for the first time, that I started becoming concerned about the toxic chemicals and heavy metals in our everyday products,” Gushee says. “So as I tried to figure out all the simple things that I can control, I ended up with hundreds of tips. And then I realized I need to prioritize, strategize—what are the high-impact tips?” ad_intervals[‘404776_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404776_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’);}); } }, 100); It turns out they’re really simple. For one, Gushee uses carpet tiles instead of wall-to-wall carpets for a super-practical reason. “Carpets are tricky,” she says. “They’re a reservoir of dust and allergens, and if you have carpet that is wall-to-wall, or really large so it’s under heavy furniture, it’s really hard to clean properly.” That’s why carpet tiles are a great solution; you can take them outside to clean in the fresh air. Another hack for banishing household toxins shes’s a
There’s a new moon and an eclipse this week—so you may have a massive life reboot coming your way
June 30, 2019 at 11:00AM by CWC The cosmic calendar is crowded this week: a new moon, a solar eclipse, and even some Venus movement that spells L-O-V-E. But all this activity holds the potential for something pretty wonderful, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi. Here’s her best guidance on making the most of what the cosmos has in store right now. Welcome to July. The month begins with Mars, the planet of action, leaving Cancer and entering into Leo, a sign it’ll stay in until August 18. With this animated planet leaving the sensitive sign of the crab and entering into joyful Leo, the cosmos unleashes the potential for enthusiasm. Mars, in Leo, brings the drive to create, and the desire to see and be seen. This bodes well for peak summer vibes. Come July 2, we have a potent total solar eclipse. The new moon eclipse happening at 3:16 p.m. Eastern occurs at 10 degrees of Cancer. Cancer represents home, family, the desire for safety and security, as well as traditions. This new moon offers a fresh start when it comes to creating new traditions in your family, friends, and self. However, with Saturn on the south node of karma, opposing the north node of fate as well as the sun and the moon too, we can expect this eclipse to bring things to the surface that need to be also healed. ad_intervals[‘404948_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404948_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); This is a combination that