June 06, 2019 at 09:57AM by CWC Last night, I celebrated my 28th birthday in the best possible way: with dinner at the Olive Garden. I treated myself to unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, an unfathomable amount of pasta, plus something called an “Italian margarita” that I will think of fondly for the rest of my life. There was also a “chocolate lasagna” with a candle in it, of course, because when you’re there, you’re family. It was truly one of the most wonderful culinary experiences I have ever had, and I went to bed with visions of mozzarella sticks dancing in my head. But this morning, I had a literal rude awakening when I discovered the consequences of consuming a lifetime’s worth of garlic salt in the span of a single meal (… I will neither confirm nor deny how many of those breadsticks I actually consumed). My face was swollen to approximately twice its normal size, and while the breadsticks were 100000000% worth it, something needed to be done before I headed out into the world. And so: I immediately placed some emergency calls to my network of dermatologists, and begged them for any and every tip they had for fighting facial bloat. According to board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, a twice-swollen face is likely caused by too much salt (check) and alcohol (check), and can be compounded by too little sleep (triple check). She suggests using a cream with caffeine in it, like The Inky List Caffeine Eye
Category: 2019 Health
The 3 things that’ll fight facial bloat from salt overload, according to derms
June 06, 2019 at 09:57AM by CWC Last night, I celebrated my 28th birthday in the best possible way: with dinner at the Olive Garden. I treated myself to unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks, an unfathomable amount of pasta, plus something called an “Italian margarita” that I will think of fondly for the rest of my life. There was also a “chocolate lasagna” with a candle in it, of course, because when you’re there, you’re family. It was truly one of the most wonderful culinary experiences I have ever had, and I went to bed with visions of mozzarella sticks dancing in my head. But this morning, I had a literal rude awakening when I discovered the consequences of consuming a lifetime’s worth of garlic salt in the span of a single meal (… I will neither confirm nor deny how many of those breadsticks I actually consumed). My face was swollen to approximately twice its normal size, and while the breadsticks were 100000000% worth it, something needed to be done before I headed out into the world. And so: I immediately placed some emergency calls to my network of dermatologists, and begged them for any and every tip they had for fighting facial bloat. According to board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, a twice-swollen face is likely caused by too much salt (check) and alcohol (check), and can be compounded by too little sleep (triple check). She suggests using a cream with caffeine in it, like The Inky List Caffeine Eye
4 self-starting zodiac signs are in the cardinal quadruplicity—here’s what that means
June 06, 2019 at 08:49AM by CWC Nearly like clockwork, my most cosmically inclined musician friend tends to release a record around Aries season, like the true cardinal sign she is. That she creates and does so much around her birthday is really a reflection of her inner Aries harnessing the energy from her quadruplicity. I know, I know—I’ve probably lost you by now. So, let’s backpedal, shall we? If you’re an astrology novice who only knows that Aries is “the ram one,” then allow me to explain (with the help of a astrologer who really knows her stars from her moons) what you need to know about cardinal signs and astrological quadruplicities. There are three quadruplicities on the zodiac “Every sign is endlessly complex and layered,” astrologer Stefanie Iris Weiss tells me. “The signs stand alone, but they’re also deeply intertwined and grouped in various ways.” When it comes to grouping signs, there’s a chance you’re slightly familiar with the concept of the elements: Earth, fire, water, and air signs. For example, I’m a Taurus, so throughout my entire life, I’ve heard that I’m Earthy AF. But these elements are totally separate from the quadruplicities. “The elements, fire, Earth, air, and water are more about temperament,” Weiss says. “The three quadruplicities or modes show us how each element directs its energy—often in terms of behavior. The modes are cardinal, fixed, and mutable.” The way that things are divided in this characterization is that four signs belong to each mode.
How to ditch frizz and keep curly hair happy all summer long
June 06, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC For girls with curls, summertime can be a frizzy affair. Just one step into the balmy, thick air and spirals can instantly grow in all directions. So when the great outdoors call with healthy barbecues, stargazing adventures, or—let’s be honest—just your morning stroll to the subway platform, it pays to set up your ringlets to stand up to steamy temps. “Summer can be a very deceiving season when it comes to our hair-care routine because we may feel inclined to push off a cut or trim and maybe even use fewer hot tools,” says Ursula Stephen, a superstar hairstylist who’s impressive clientele includes Rihanna, Kerry Washington, and Rita Ora. “These things are great, but activities like sweating, swimming, and spending extended periods of time in the sun that can take a toll on our strands.” Below, she and hairstylist Ashley Rubell share every summer tip you need to make it through the hottest months, bounce in tact. Photo: Stocksy/Karma Images Before taking a dip in the pool or ocean: Spray in leave-in conditioner and frizz-preventing spray While a crystal blue pool might look good enough to dive right in, Rubell says to take a beat to care for your hair first (and slather on some sunblock while you’re at it). She recommends taking a two-pronged approach to pre-habbing before executing the perfect cannonball. First, spritz in a leave-in conditioner spray: “It’s a lightweight moisturizer that really locks your curls together and prevents your
How to ditch frizz and keep curly hair happy all summer long
June 06, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC For girls with curls, summertime can be a frizzy affair. Just one step into the balmy, thick air and spirals can instantly grow in all directions. So when the great outdoors call with healthy barbecues, stargazing adventures, or—let’s be honest—just your morning stroll to the subway platform, it pays to set up your ringlets to stand up to steamy temps. “Summer can be a very deceiving season when it comes to our hair-care routine because we may feel inclined to push off a cut or trim and maybe even use fewer hot tools,” says Ursula Stephen, a superstar hairstylist who’s impressive clientele includes Rihanna, Kerry Washington, and Rita Ora. “These things are great, but activities like sweating, swimming, and spending extended periods of time in the sun that can take a toll on our strands.” Below, she and hairstylist Ashley Rubell share every summer tip you need to make it through the hottest months, bounce in tact. Photo: Stocksy/Karma Images Before taking a dip in the pool or ocean: Spray in leave-in conditioner and frizz-preventing spray While a crystal blue pool might look good enough to dive right in, Rubell says to take a beat to care for your hair first (and slather on some sunblock while you’re at it). She recommends taking a two-pronged approach to pre-habbing before executing the perfect cannonball. First, spritz in a leave-in conditioner spray: “It’s a lightweight moisturizer that really locks your curls together and prevents your
This tattoo pain chart uses a scale of ‘0 to Pass Out’—is it really gonna hurt to get inked?
June 06, 2019 at 06:50AM by CWC If you’re looking to express yourself, you can do it through your activewear collection, your Instagram feed, or by rocking temporary tattoos that smell like essential oils. But if you’ve got the urge to do something a little more permanent, you’ll want to consult a tattoo pain chart before booking that appointment. Unfortunately, tattoos involve needles, and needles don’t exactly tickle. Certain parts of your body are much more sensitive to pain than others. But where does it hurt the most to get inked? The aptly named website Tattoos-Hurt.com uses a color-coded tattoo pain chart, ranging from “irritation” to “pass out,” to advise the tattoo-curious. According to the diagram, getting a tattoo on the upper arm, forearm, calf, or thigh is generally considered tolerable, but it’s going to hurt like hell if you choose a sick design for the back of the knee, underarm, nipples, rib cage, or groin. Photo: Tattoos-Hurt.com If you’re thinking about ink, you’ll definitely want to reference this tattoo pain chart first, but remember that it’s not just where you decide to get a tattoo but when. If you schedule an appointment during your period, prepare yourself. Your body is more sensitive to pain throughout your cycle, and that could leave you wishing you’d waited a week. No matter when you go, tattoo newbies might just want to stick to something small in the yellow regions. Then later, if you dare, you can make the move up the pain
This tattoo pain chart uses a scale of ‘0 to Pass Out’—is it really gonna hurt to get inked?
June 06, 2019 at 06:50AM by CWC If you’re looking to express yourself, you can do it through your activewear collection, your Instagram feed, or by rocking temporary tattoos that smell like essential oils. But if you’ve got the urge to do something a little more permanent, you’ll want to consult a tattoo pain chart before booking that appointment. Unfortunately, tattoos involve needles, and needles don’t exactly tickle. Certain parts of your body are much more sensitive to pain than others. But where does it hurt the most to get inked? The aptly named website Tattoos-Hurt.com uses a color-coded tattoo pain chart, ranging from “irritation” to “pass out,” to advise the tattoo-curious. According to the diagram, getting a tattoo on the upper arm, forearm, calf, or thigh is generally considered tolerable, but it’s going to hurt like hell if you choose a sick design for the back of the knee, underarm, nipples, rib cage, or groin. Photo: Tattoos-Hurt.com If you’re thinking about ink, you’ll definitely want to reference this tattoo pain chart first, but remember that it’s not just where you decide to get a tattoo but when. If you schedule an appointment during your period, prepare yourself. Your body is more sensitive to pain throughout your cycle, and that could leave you wishing you’d waited a week. No matter when you go, tattoo newbies might just want to stick to something small in the yellow regions. Then later, if you dare, you can make the move up the pain
The wellness industry is a breeding ground for scams—here’s why they’re so easy to fall for
June 06, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Here’s some throwback wellness trivia for you: In 2014, essential oil brands Young Living and doTerra made headlines right as their popularity was soaring—for getting smacked down by the FDA. Independent sales reps from both multi-level marketing companies were claiming, via social media posts, that the products could be used to prevent or treat all manner of serious illnesses, from cancer and Alzheimer’s disease to the Ebola virus—which, as any medical professional worth their salt will attest, is just plain untrue. You might think this kind of sketchy messaging (and the ensuing government warning) would cause a serious dip in consumer trust, but that didn’t seem to be the case. In fact, for the first time, both brands reported over $1 billion in sales the following year. In my mind, essential oil gate was an eerie harbinger of our current wellness-world landscape, a time in which anyone with a social-media account can brand themselves as a wellness guru, regardless of their qualifications, and say whatever they want without being fact-checked. To wit: A recent study by University of Glasgow researchers found that eight out of nine leading UK-based bloggers hawking weight-loss advice presented false or misleading health intel in their posts. The sample size was obviously very small, but I can personally attest that my own iPhone is a minefield of questionable claims these days. A few weeks ago I heard a well-known wellness podcaster claim that the CBD she was advertising could
The wellness industry is a breeding ground for scams—here’s why they’re so easy to fall for
June 06, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC Here’s some throwback wellness trivia for you: In 2014, essential oil brands Young Living and doTerra made headlines right as their popularity was soaring—for getting smacked down by the FDA. Independent sales reps from both multi-level marketing companies were claiming, via social media posts, that the products could be used to prevent or treat all manner of serious illnesses, from cancer and Alzheimer’s disease to the Ebola virus—which, as any medical professional worth their salt will attest, is just plain untrue. You might think this kind of sketchy messaging (and the ensuing government warning) would cause a serious dip in consumer trust, but that didn’t seem to be the case. In fact, for the first time, both brands reported over $1 billion in sales the following year. In my mind, essential oil gate was an eerie harbinger of our current wellness-world landscape, a time in which anyone with a social-media account can brand themselves as a wellness guru, regardless of their qualifications, and say whatever they want without being fact-checked. To wit: A recent study by University of Glasgow researchers found that eight out of nine leading UK-based bloggers hawking weight-loss advice presented false or misleading health intel in their posts. The sample size was obviously very small, but I can personally attest that my own iPhone is a minefield of questionable claims these days. A few weeks ago I heard a well-known wellness podcaster claim that the CBD she was advertising could
This morning yoga routine is more energizing than a cup of coffee
June 06, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Getting up in the morning is hard (coming from a dedicated snooze button hitter), but getting up in the morning to work out is exponentially more difficult. I’ve tried almost every exercise out there to get my bod going for the day, from boot camp to running and SLT (which is a killer), but finally I’ve discovered the one a.m. workout that I actually look forward to: my morning yoga routine. Yoga in particular is a wise workout of choice because not only are you getting its regular multitude of benefits—more space in your body, enhanced flexibility, and better balance—but practicing it in the morning can help with your sleep and mood. Seriously. “One of the major benefits of practicing yoga in the morning is better sleep,” says Kelly Clifton Turner, director of education for YogaSix. “Once you make your morning yoga flow a habit, your body will get used to waking up at that specific time. And this will help to regulate your circadian sleep cycles, which we often throw out of whack by varying when we go to sleep and wake up.” Working through some vinyasa first thing is also key for getting your body moving on the inside. “Incorporating a few twists into your morning yoga flow will also help stimulate your digestive system, which helps to get rid of any bloating from last night’s dinner and essentially setting you up to feel great,” she adds. Looking to cut back on