December 13, 2018 at 11:11AM Having exceptionally sweaty feet stinks. Literally. Not only does the problem—known as hyperhidrosis, which also affects other areas of your body—turn your favorite pair of heels into a straight-up Slip ‘N Slide (minus the fun!), but all that wetness can also have some other less-than-stellar consequences, too. So how can you ditch the problem for good? According to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), there’s no solid explanation on why hyperhidrosis occurs. Because it tends to happen all the time—whether you’re actually hot or not—it’s thought to be something that’s inherited, eventually giving the feet a whitish and wet look. Unfortunately, whether you’re just super-sweaty or you actually have the condition, that wetness is a slippery slope toward additional problems. “Sweaty feet can be inconveniencing and the catalyst for other feet issues, like odor and infections,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist. On top of the physical symptoms, the APMA says the constant worry about your feet sweating or stinking could majorly mess with your mental health, too—maybe even more so than it does physically—causing emotional stress, anxiety, and even isolation. Luckily, there are plenty of different ways you can take on the issue. Before scheduling an appointment with a podiatrist for treatment—which involves everything from heavy-duty antiperspirants for your feet and oral prescription meds to botox and even surgery—try these natural methods you can do right in the comfort of your own home. Here are six ways to help stop—and control the side effects of—sweaty feet. 1.
Category: Fashion
True or false: Taking a bath is totally disgusting
December 12, 2018 at 08:57AM Although I am a fan of bathleisure, and really any trend in which I get to wear a robe and call it #fashion, I don’t actually like taking baths. And yet, over the last few months, it seems like I can’t stop coming across studies and articles that claim baths are good for alleviating depression and reducing inflammation. I’m still not sold, however, on the concept of basking in a hot bucket of water with no ventilation. To me, baths have always been a last resort—something you do if you’re at an old-timey bed and breakfast that has only a clawfoot tub. This is something that was further cemented by living in New York as an adult and finding that bathtubs aren’t usually an inviting part of the washroom set up. But when this came up at the Well+Good office, it derailed a meeting, sending us into a deep discussion of bath etiquette and whether it’s relaxing…or disgusting. Below, the four sudsy sides of the debate. The anti-bath argument The minute my parents allowed me to choose between a bath and a shower, I stopped taking baths. To me, the concept has always been…icky, to say the least. Aside from the discomfort and potential hazards of stewing in a cauldron of hot water (pruny-ness, heat exhaustion, dead skin floaters), it’s an oxymoron to marinate in your own filth to get clean. And yes, I hear and understand the argument that it’s relaxing, but you know what else
7 French fashion brands that’ll give your style—from the studio to the street—a chic update
December 12, 2018 at 08:47AM The most authentic way to embrace the French lifestyle is planning a trip to Paris. But because of you know—time, work, and money—the next best thing is to embrace those little life and style hacks that will bring you joie de vivre (or happiness). But dressing like a French girl doesn’t mean a lifetime commitment to berets. You can make things easier on yourself by simply shopping from French brands and thereby automatically applying that inexplicable, je ne sais quoi-quality to your wardrobe. Sure, chances are that the big French fashion players (Chanel, Kenzo, Dior, etc.) are already on your radar—but there are some really amazing boutique brands to know about, too. These are the more affordable French sneaker, athleisure, hygge-ready, and ready-to-wear lines you should bookmark, ASAP. 1. Veja Okay, so this one isn’t exactly “under the radar” per se, but Veja is still not a household name the way footwear brands like, say, Puma or Adidas are. Still, this French brand, which specializes in sustainable sneakers, has quietly turned into a street style darling. Plus, it counts Meghan Markle as a fan. View this post on Instagram welcome @bonne.arrivee A post shared by MAISON CHÂTEAU ROUGE (@maisonchateaurouge) on Jun 15, 2018 at 10:11am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js 2. Maison Chateau Rouge Combining inspiration from the African diaspora and traditional French aesthetics, Maison Chateau Rouge is one of France’s most promising and popular streetwear brands. Its tees, which hat tip to sportswear, come in an array of
5 major reasons why sleeping next to your S.O. is so freaking hard
December 12, 2018 at 07:37AM Falling asleep—and staying asleep—can be a struggle even in the best of circumstances. A fluffy duvet and a California king-sized bed aren’t always enough to counteract bedtime anxiety, a crying baby, or neighbors who love to rock out to heavy metal at 2 a.m. But an extra obstacle to getting that sweet, sweet shut-eye: your significant other. A 2018 survey of 2,000 people who live with their partner found that one in five people say their partner is the biggest reason why they have trouble sleeping. And having a partner snoring in bed was the biggest complaint on the list. For more insight, I called two of the most respected sleep experts in the industry: Shelby Harris, Psy.D, C.BSM, who is the director of the behavioral sleep medicine program at the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center (she’s also an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine), and Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine owner W. Chris Winter, M.D., a sleep researcher, neurologist, and the author of The Sleep Solution. Regardless of what the issue is, both experts stress that having the exact same sleeping preferences as your partner isn’t always in the cards—and that’s normal. The key is to approach it with compassion. “You should care about your partner’s sleep quality,” Dr. Harris says. “If you don’t—or they don’t care about yours—that’s a whole other discussion.” Here, they share some of the biggest sleep problems for couples—and how to deal with them. If you
Bury me in chenille: a love letter to winter’s softest, most underrated material
December 12, 2018 at 06:42AM There are two stages of winter—there’s the part where you can wear either a jacket or a thick sweater and then there’s the part where you have to wear both (at the minimum). And I know this goes against the idea of sweater weather and the rest of it, but I’m not big on the layering staple. My skin is sensitive and I end up with real and phantom rashes whenever I put straight up wool on my body. So come winter, the only word I want to hear—and the only cloth I want to feel—is chenille. It’s the best winter fabric in my opinion. It feels like being hugged by the physical embodiment of softness and unconditional love. Chenille, which is the French word for caterpillar, in case you were wondering, is a yarn usually made from 100-percent cotton, silk, or a synthetic material, that’s got a pile-face weave (which makes it tufted and fuzzy to the touch). The stuff is like a cross between plush velvet and the unidentifiable magical property that makes the LoveSac so comfortable. It feels like being hugged by the physical embodiment of softness and unconditional love. If hygge season had an official fabric, given the comfort and warmth it provides, chenille is the mind-blowingly obvious choice. Over the last two years of my obsession with the material, I’ve found a wild number of ways to incorporate it into my wardrobe and home. It started with the obvious selection—chenille sweaters. It’s soft
Can you have it all—just like the leads in this year’s *dozens* of made-for-TV holiday movies?
December 12, 2018 at 05:30AM There’s an interesting thing that happens around this time of year—and it’s not the fact that you’re spending the better part of your salary (y’know, the part usually reserved for self care or your travel fund) on gifts for everyone in your life. Rather, if you have a device that streams content or a cable connection, you’re inundated with made-for-TV holiday movies. Somehow, most of these festive flicks—the Hallmark Channel alone features 37 holiday movies and a matching checklist app to ensure you don’t miss a celebratory second—feature a female protagonist who peddles the same trope. She’s a career gal, but she wants love too; heck, she wants to have it all. Many of the stories go as follows: Ms. Business Lady (perhaps a chef, quaint bookshop employee, or interior designer) falls head over heels for Mr. Hometown Hunk. There’s snow! There’s cookies! There are eager looks shared in front of a fire—and probably a heartwarming game of Christmas charades! Plans are ripped up, and a newfound commitment to work-life balance is struck. Because, simply by deciding to do so, it’s possible in these movies to be everywhere, do everything, and reap the maximum rewards of happiness and fulfillment without any sacrifice—all while being well-rested, of course. So basically, just scatter my ashes at Hallmark HQ for all of eternity when the time comes, because these fictional worlds sound like heaven. A quick scroll through the Hallmark Channel’s website provides evidence enough that this storyline is a
Want to make your HIIT workout more effective this winter? Take it outside
December 11, 2018 at 12:57PM I know, I know. Winter weather and outdoor workouts don’t exactly go together. Usually, the only time most of us—with the exception of some very brave runners and cyclists—voluntarily brave the cold in pursuit of a sweat sesh is during the walk to and from the gym. But instead of thinking of the cold as an obstacle, why not think about it as an asset that you can use to your advantage? “I think the science can serve as a credible prompt to get people to see cooler climates as an ally rather than an enemy,” says Jimmy T. Martin, co-founder of BRRRN, a boutique fitness shop in NYC that offers classes at cooler temperatures (from 45° to 60°F), in what can best be described as the exact opposite of hot yoga. “Outdoor athletes, such as runners and cyclists, can attest to the benefits of a chillier workout environment. It’s actually quite fascinating the things your body can do when heat doesn’t get in the way.” Before you balk at the suggestion to get outside and start HIIT training when its zero degrees, consider that there’s some (pretty cool!) science that supports the benefits of working out in colder temps. Research shows that the body can burn more calories at cooler temps. Plus, studies have found that shivering boosts your metabolism, and you’ll be less likely to fatigued when it’s chilly, so you’ll be able to workout (in the words of Kanye West) harder, better, faster, stronger. While all of this
10 places sneakerheads actually shop at in New York City
December 11, 2018 at 11:48AM New York City is both an incubator of streetwear and an institution that houses some of the most serious and diverse sneaker stores in the country (if not the world). Do a Google search for sneaker stores in the Big Apple and prepare to very quickly be overwhelmed with your options. Every brand has a behemoth of a flagship and then there are the boutiques, which are the ones I’ve chosen to focus on (because you can find an Adidas store pretty much anywhere). These are both the most-hyped and the under-the-radar sneaker stores that NYC streetwear fanatics and gym rats alike have on their radar (or should). View this post on Instagram FC Miami x @teyanataylor A post shared by Flight Club (@flightclub) on Nov 23, 2018 at 5:30pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js 1. Flight Club Flight Club is one of the OGs on New York’s sneaker scene. They used to have two locations but now just have one mega-sneaker heaven. At Flight Club, you’ll be able to find those rare styles or drops that sold out so quickly. But part of the reason they’ve become so renowned is that they brought the idea of high fashion consignment to the luxury sneaker market—you can both buy and sell a pair of covetable kicks here. Flight Club, 812 Broadway, New York, New York, 10003; (888) 937-8020 2. Rime If you’re interested in stepping up your sneaker game but don’t know where to start, Rime is a great place to
#MyMentalStateIn5Words is trending on Twitter, so I want to know: “Why is brie so expensive?”
December 11, 2018 at 10:05AM Translating the blob of feelings inside of you into spoken words can feel like a real chore. I mean, is there a term for when you’re sleepy, stressed, angry, disillusioned by the government, tangry, and euphoric from your morning boxing class all at the same time? Merriam-Webster, you need to get on it! Since no such vocabulary exists yet, Twitter users have taken to expressing their inner turmoil in tweets followed by #MyMentalStateIn5Words. And you guys, things are looking about 95-percent bleak. One user typed “Very well hidden shit show,” another: “A dumpster fire on steroids,” and: “Want to hibernate ’til spring.” To all these moods, I say same, same, and same. But just to confirm that everyone is embodying a combination of the “dizzy faced emoji,” the “zany face emoji,” and the “woman shrugging emoji,” I challenged the Well+Good edit team to write their own five-word odes to their mental health. And several themes seemed to crop up over and over again. Theme 1: Puppies are the only answer “I want a cocker spaniel.” “Puppy cuddles and Netflix, please.” theme 2: Can we please just swipe left on everything leading up to Christmas? “‘thank u, next’ to everything.” “Just smile and wave, boys.” “Is IV coffee a thing?” “Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia.” (Note: This person hails from the Land Down Under) “Nothing’s on fire here, thanks.” “How many days ’til Christmas?” “Watching Love Actually on repeat.” Theme 3: the political landscape is a garbage fire “Why does Brett Kavanaugh exist.” “When will the
These bras are so comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing them
December 11, 2018 at 09:56AM This time of year, like every year, I’m all about comfort. In a bra that means no wire, compression, or digging. Minimizers need not apply. Even tags are on my naughty list. What I do want are bras that deliver support and separation, all while being as cozy as my favorite cotton cami. This used to only be an option for women with smaller boobs. But bra companies have been listening and the dream is now real for all of us. Brands like Lululemon and Lively offer wireless up to a DD and DDD (that’s an E and F in bra lingo), while brands like On Gossamer, Blush, and Natori are inclusive up to size XL. So, it’s time to unhook that digging wire bra and pull it out your sleeve because comfortable bras now come in all styles, so whether you’re looking for the most basic Pima cotton tank bra or a fashion bra with lace or metallic detail, look no further. Below are nine bras so comfy you’ll forget you’re even wearing them. Photo: Blush Blush Enamored Bralette, $48 Photo: Everlane Everlane The Tank Bra, $22 Photo: Hatch Collection Hatch Collection The Bra, $48 Photo: Lively Lively The Metallic Busty Bralette, $35 Photo: Lululemon Lululemon Like Nothing Bra, $68 Photo: Natori Natori Bella Wireless Convertible Bra, $52 Photo: Negative Underwear Negative Underwear Silky Non-Wire Bra in Black Marble, $65 Photo: On Gossamer On Gossamer Next to Nothing Mesh Wireless Shimmer Bralette, $34 Photo: Yummie Yummie