December 07, 2018 at 04:26AM Is there anyone who hasn’t dealt with annoying bloating at some point (if that’s you, I want to know your secret ASAP). Whether you experience a little gassiness on the reg, or maybe just occasionally, it doesn’t hurt to have a few tools in your wellness arsenal to use when it strikes. One powerful, yet unexpected one that you probably already own? The foam roller. And if you, like me, might be wondering how to use a foam roller to banish bloat, I’ve got you. The foam roller is most commonly tapped to help work out sore muscles, but it can also be used like a yoga block to support poses that ease tumultuous digestive episodes. Just ask Lauren Roxburgh, body alignment specialist and fascia expert, who’s worked with a roster of A-listers that range from celebs to star athletes to high-profile surgeons. When I try the foam rolling sequence that she’s created, just for this, I find that it’s a nice meeting point between yoga and a massage (win!), with many of the same yogic moves that my instructors say help to promote healthy digestion. “Twisting and inverting both help gentle pressure to the belly, like an internal massage for our intestines. This rolling sequence uses deep breathing twisting and forward folds to help stimulate the abdominal organs, while also increasing the efficiency of the bowels, relieving constipation and helping minimize belching and gas,” she says. Here, the six moves you can do anytime the bloat struggle is real
Category: Fashion
Holy hygge! These Vans sneakers are like a puffer coat for your feet
December 06, 2018 at 10:22AM As a sometimes insomniac and full-time style editor, I’ve lost track of how many hours I spend searching online for things I really need (fine, want) like the perfect white T-shirt or pair of non-stretch jeans. More often than not, these browser window shopping sessions lead to me unearthing something I wasn’t looking for, but immediately can’t imagine living without. While this is probably not the most fiscally responsible way to spend my free time, it serves a purpose: uncovering cool things that I then share with you. So let’s call it a win-win, shall we? My latest discovery came at the bottom of a rather deep rabbit hole that found me losing hours (okay, several minutes) of my life on Need Supply Co.’s website. How do I describe Need Supply Co.? (*Strokes imaginary beard and one very real chin hair.*) The site started out as an online vintage shop in Richmond, Virginia in 1996, but has since moved on to become a purveyor of very cool clothing and accessories for women, men, and homes. It’s a mix of mainstream brands and indie designers that’s as good as any GORP you’d find on a nature hike. The one item that caught my attention on this visit, however, was a pair of Vans that are basically a puffer coat for your feet. I live for (and in) low-top white sneakers beginning that perfect spring moment, when exposing my ankles won’t immediately end in a bad case of
Why I’m ditching party dresses for embellished sweatshirts this year
December 06, 2018 at 09:42AM I was trying on dresses the other week for my cousin’s upcoming New Year’s Eve wedding, and I thought I had come across the one. It fit perfectly and was emblazoned with festive AF emerald sequins—but I could tell it was going to be uncomfortable… just like every other sparkly dress I tried on. I’ve spent too many otherwise enjoyable functions being slowly lacerated by the sequins on my dresses. As I stared at my reflection, I realized I could not—nay, would not—shove myself into another uncomfortable dress for a holiday occasion. I’ve spent too many otherwise enjoyable functions being slowly lacerated by the shiny disks on my dresses. (One time a strapless, sequined sheath gave me such bad, itchy marks that it looked like a had a weird rash under my arms for weeks.) Enter: embellished sweatshirts and sweaters. Sure, they aren’t foolproof (get some sequins too close to the neckline and it’s game over), but in my humble opinion, I’ve found them to be, on the whole, much more comfortable than sparkly dresses/blazers/pants/you name it. And they come in so many different options—you can go for an oversized zip-up hoodie á la this Nicole Miller one that’s so shiny it would make The Rainbow Fish jealous. Or, go for a monochromatic look that plays with texture like this DVF crewneck that I would probably Rumplestiltskin my first child for. (I know that’s not very festive, don’t @ me; it’s called hyperbole.) If you
What’s better for your bod: fish oil or krill oil supplements?
December 06, 2018 at 09:22AM The vitamin aisle can be an overwhelming place—like, more baffling than figuring out what kind of sneakers you should be wearing to bootcamp class. The sheer number of supplement options alone is enough to cue vertigo. Take omega-3s, for example. I thought fish oil was the end-all, be-all, but now it seems so many people (particularly people on the Bulletproof train) are touting the benefits of krill oil. But what the heck is the difference? To find out, I checked in with dietitian Whitney Crouch, RDN, CLT. While both krill oil and fish oil contain the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA—the ones credited with improving cardiovascular and cognitive health—she says there are a few key points of difference between the two. Supplement showdown: Krill oil vs fish oil First up: Both fish oil and krill oil are animal sources of omega-3s with slightly different origins. “Krill oil is derived from krill, which are small crustaceans,” Crouch explains. “Fish oil is derived from fatty fish, often sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and salmon.” One key difference between the two, she says, is that the EPA and DHA fats in each one take slightly different forms. “The fatty acids found in krill are delivered to the body in phospholipids (PL), while the EPA and DHA found in fish oil is delivered in a different formulation called a triacylglyceride (TAG).” She notes that although krill oil was once thought to be more bioavailable than fish oil—in other words, more easily utilized
How to make your place look presentable for guests in 30 minutes or less
December 06, 2018 at 06:54AM If you’re as into Hallmark Channel holiday movies as I am, you probably have an idealized mental picture of what a festive gathering should look like: an apartment dripping in pine tree boughs and fairy lights, a Pinterest-worthy cheese plate and kombucha punch bowl on the kitchen counter, and you clad in some cozy-glam combination of statement earrings, cashmere, and impressively contoured eyeshadow. The reality? If you’re not a fictional character played by Lacey Chabert, having friends over usually goes a bit differently. In my case, it involves frantically stuffing my living-room clutter into a closet, lint-rolling cat hair off the sofa while ordering pizza on Postmates—and barely having time to swipe on some red lipstick before the doorbell rings. As someone with a more-than-full-time job and lots of extracurriculars on my iCal, I simply don’t have hours to spend getting my home party-ready. (Or, like, even one hour.) If this plight sounds familiar, however, there’s no need to stress. As I recently learned from a few pro organizers, all you really need is 30 minutes and some tricks of the home styling trade to clean up before guests arrive. Take their advice, and you’ll free up precious pregaming time for what really matters—like perfecting your chocolate hummus recipe and crafting the perfect “Thank U, Next”-centric playlist. Here’s how to clean house fast when you’re short on time. Photo: Getty Images/Cavan Images 1. Be strategic about which rooms you clean While you might feel like you
Asking for a friend: Is it gross to reuse makeup wipes?
December 05, 2018 at 11:53AM In an increasingly sustainable world where everyone is constantly promoting the “reduce, reuse, and recycle” lifestyle, people might be taking the slogan a little too far. Early this year, the CDC had to plead with the public to stop washing and reusing condoms (yep…)—and now there’s a skin-care PSA regarding your makeup wipes you should know about for the sake of your complexion. First thing’s first: Makeup remover wipes can definitely be pricey. Biodegradable and natural options can run you up to $26 for a pack of 30, so it’s no wonder why those who want to get their money’s worth try to get a couple uses out of each of those precious towelettes. The only issue? According to Dendy Engelman, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist, doing so could totally disrupt the very fragile ecosystem of skin. “The purpose of cleansing is two-fold: The first is to cleanse the skin of oils, impurities, makeup, and pollution particles, and the second is to aid the penetration of the products you’ll be applying afterwards. Clean skin will allow active ingredients to penetrate better and work more effectively,” she tells me. But when you’re reusing makeup wipes, watch out: You’re basically doing the exact opposite of what you’re trying to achieve. “Using a makeup wipe over again will smear old makeup and bacteria back onto your skin instead of removing it. Leaving bacteria and toxins on the skin increases your risk of inflammation, clogged pores, and breakouts, and it can even accelerate aging over
Rihanna’s new Fenty lingerie collection is the inclusive holiday miracle we’re here for
December 05, 2018 at 07:45AM Sorry, Santa, but you can keep your partridges, pear trees, and leaping lords this year. All I want for Christmas is something from the new Savage x Fenty holiday collection, which Rihanna, queen of size-inclusive intimates, dropped today. In fact, I want to create my own advent calendar out of its underwear, which evokes a winning combo grown-up AF and casually glamorous—kind of like the singer herself. “My vision for Savage X has always been having women feel confident expressing themselves through a little lace, a little corsetry, and a little T-shirt bra,” writes Rihanna on her site. And you’ll find a lot of all the above in her latest seasonal offering, which includes more than 200 new pieces—all available for about $100 or less. I’m not sure if wearing a pair of leopard-print lace underwear with metallic tulle ($30) will make me shine bright like a diamond, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Same goes for a tiger-striped satin pajama top ($32) that’s giving off big-cat bathleisure vibes. And her thong bodysuits that won’t require a butt tuck to wear. I’m not sure if wearing a pair of leopard-print lace underwear with metallic tulle will make me shine bright like a diamond, but I’m willing to give it a shot. What I really love about the collection, though, is that there’s so much diversity. I don’t just mean the models, but also the designs themselves. Because some days call for a super-chill sports bralette, while others,
12 luxe looking totes, purses, and carryalls that are elevating ethical accessories
December 05, 2018 at 05:11AM It used to be that embracing ethical accessories meant sacrificing on style, from crunchy, synthetic fabrics to natural fibers with granola vibes. But like faux fur, sustainable handbags have evolved as brands innovate with new materials and design techniques. It’s made it possible to find socially responsible offerings that look and feel just as good as expensive designer style or trendy, fast-fashion iterations—whether you’re searching for an essentials-only wristlet or day-to-night carryall. Brands like Stella McCartney, Von Holzhausen, and Angela Roi are leaders when it comes to innovative and directional design, but new brands enter the category all the time, attracted to the whitespace (or blank canvas) it affords. “We have the opportunity to be creative in our approach,” says Shivam Punjya, founder and creative director of the new ethical bag brand, Benho. “In our latest collection, we have a limited-edition bag handcrafted from drop cloths used by block-print artisans. The cloth is…usually discarded once saturated with dye. We decided to use this chaotic, one-of-a-kind, wabi-sabi print and embroider the fabric for our signature Ina silhouette.” It’s exactly that type of evolutionary thinking that makes sustainable fashion so interesting to follow right now. Every day, it seems, someone’s discovering a new method for creating really beautiful pieces in ways that aren’t exacerbating the fashion industry’s massive pollution problem. But there’s still room for innovation, as designer Angela Roi explains. “With even more advanced technology, the new vegan, sustainable materials will threaten the highest leather as well in the near
What running the NYC marathon taught me about myself—and my bod
December 05, 2018 at 04:45AM I don’t exactly recall the first mile I ever ran but I do know this: It wasn’t my idea. (If I were guessing, it probably had to do with proving I was a physically fit third grader to my gym teacher for the Presidental Fitness Test.) But I do remember the first mile I chose to run on my own. I was 14 and to make the basketball team, I had to clip along at an eight-minute pace. I didn’t do it. So, the next day I set out again, and again, and again to hit this mark and somewhere along the way, the pursuit hooked me. I guess you could say that, for me, running was always about something other than the miles. Becoming a runner felt like finding religion or falling in love and making it last a lifetime. Every route has its own fingerprint—no two are the quite the same. You can factor in things like the distance, the location, and the temperature, sure, but what I’m really talking about is the symphony that strikes up when the breeze whistles through the leaves and the sun lights up your face between the tree branches, the birds chirp, and your laces click together, and every step plants you into a multi-sensory moment that is uniquely present and forward-looking. And of course, reminiscent as well. I’d venture a guess that for many runners, what started as a way to torch calories or make the basketball
Gorpcore has its sights on your sneaker collection
December 04, 2018 at 03:45AM This was undeniably the year of the chunky sneaker—and in 2019, sneaks are getting yet another “ugly chic” make-under. While extra-cushioned kicks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon (good news for anyone just getting in on the trend), their mainstreaming has many wondering…are fugly shoes here to stay? For at least another 12 months, the resounding answer is: Yes! In 2019, you can expect to see “hiking- and outdoor activity-inspired sneakers with rugged soles, bungee cords, and technical performance details like waterproofing,” says Rachael Wang, a stylist and brand consultant who’s worked with Kendall Jenner, Chloe Sevigny, and Julia Roberts, as well as brands like Fila, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nike and Opening Ceremony. The trail-inspired shoe, in particular, shows just how deep the wellness world’s impact on style runs. More women than ever are embracing active lifestyles, and as a result, more fashion brands are focusing on functional design that isn’t just for show but for sport, too. It’s given way to a style of dressing called gorpcore (gorp being another name for “good old raisins and peanuts” trail mix), that’s inspired by the types of clothing you’d wear to go hiking, camping, or forest bathing. Think: anorak jackets, fleece vests, and yes, trail and hiking shoes. These utilitarian items are being paired with everything from leggings to jeans to dresses, both on runways and in real life. Think: anorak jackets, fleece vests, and yes, trail and hiking shoes. They’re being paired with everything from leggings