March 13, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC I will never forget my first SoulCycle class. I was 22, in the midst of my first “adult” breakup, and I let my friends convince me that spending $36 to cry on a bike would make me feel better. They were right. Riding in a dark, grapefruit-scented studio, alongside 60 other people was the closest thing I’d ever had to a religious experience. Not only did it make me feel better for the first time in weeks, it also helped me to fall in love with exercise for the first time in my entire life. The cycling studio—which launched as a single brick-and-mortar in New York in 2005 and now has 93 locations across the U.S., UK, and Canada—built its brand on sweat as a sanctuary. And this week, the brand announced its first-ever, at-home bike linked to on-demand classes. The only question that remains: Does at-home spin have the same soul? As of today, the bike, with a $2500 price tag, will be available for pre-order in select cities: Austin, Dallas, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In addition to the bike, SoulCycle’s parent company, Equinox, will also be launching its first foray into digital fitness through an app called Variis. The additional $40-per-month app—which includes content from a number of Equinox-owned brands—gives users access to on-demand SoulCycle classes through their phone, tablet, or a built-in screen on their shiny new at-home bike. In addition to SoulCycle, Variis also has running
Category: Beauty
Does living like a rom-com lead guarantee happily ever after? I tried it to find out
March 13, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC After watching the highly-anticipated second installment of Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (TATBILB), cheekily entitled P.S. I Still Love You, I started thinking about what makes romantic comedies the satisfying viewing equivalent of biting into a piece of 10-layer chocolate cake. They’re full of predictable tropes like implausible meet-cutes and guaranteed happily ever afters, but they somehow always make you ravenous for more and more bites of the same. And after watching that movie’s bookish protagonist Lara Jean Covey once again find herself in the arms of high-school heartthrob Peter Kavinsky, I started to brainstorm ways to bring that movie magic to my IRL love life. Because I, much like Lara Jean, love love and refuse to believe that it’s “nothing like how it’s portrayed in the movies.” Thus began my off-screen romantic comedy dating experience, led by lawyer-turned-relationship-therapist Rachel DeAlto, JD. DeAlto sent me a list of five rom-com assignments to complete throughout the week (think: sprinkling rose petals on the bed) so I could see just how romantic I felt both toward myself and my boyfriend. Would the clichés of this romantic comedy dating style stand their ground under the harsh lights of reality? I tried it for a week to see what happened. Here’s what happened the week I tried romantic comedy dating to manifest a happily ever after. Task 1: Create a lovesick soundtrack for my life The TATBILB sequel really (and I mean really) leans
J-Beauty “doubles” are the key to happier, more hydrated skin
March 12, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC It wasn’t until a few months ago that dermatologists woke us up to the idea of “moisturizer layering,” which involves using moisturizing ingredients in every step of your routine in order to maximize hydration. But in Japan, this methodology—referred to as “doubles”—has been a way of life for generations. Japanese skin-care doubles refers to the J-beauty method of double cleansing, first with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based one, then double moisturizing with an essence and a cream as a way to ensure hydration at every step. According to Junko Gomi, CEO of Japanese skin-care brand H2O+, it’s a common skin-care practice in Japan, and one that is taught from a young age. “Double cleansing is popular because the Japanese are very particular about removing dirt. For example, Japanese people take off their shoes when entering the home, they take baths and wash their hair every day, and when worshipping god at the shrine, it is common practice for Japanese people to wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify the body,” she says. As for doubling up on moisturizer, Gomi explains that adding layers of hydration helps to soften skin and even out the texture. Because of this, many Japanese skin-care brands, like Tatcha and DHC, sell basic skin sets featuring four items: an oil cleanser, a gentle water-based cleanser, a hydrating essence, and a moisturizing cream. “Having optimal skin hydration is the primary solution to achieving soft, healthy-looking skin
7 easy care indoor plants you won’t be able to kill
March 12, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC One of the first things I bought when I moved into my current apartment was a little ivy plant for my bedroom. I loved it to death. I put it in mug because who needs drainage holes when the mug is so much cuter than all the pots I’ve seen? I over-watered it. I consistently left for the day without opening my blinds for it to get some light. By the end, it was bald and a little smelly. I’ve since recovered from the loss, but am still a little leery to give this plant lady thing another go. But, Jesse Waldman, director of marketing and e-commerce at Pistils Nursery in Portland, Oregon, says it’s worth it. All I have to do is choose beautiful indoor plants that are easy to care for. “Plants soften spaces which makes them feel more lived in, welcoming, and comfortable,” says Waldman. Requisite for achieving this cozy aesthetic is making sure your plants aren’t sad and brown. Enter easy care indoor plants. “Low-maintenance plants require a bit less time and thought to care for, which is great if you’re not super experienced with caring for plants,” says Walman. When it comes to finding an easy care indoor plant, Waldman says it’s about finding a plant that’s needs meet your environment and plant care style. “Succulents have a reputation for ease of care. However, if you have a dark home and like to water your plants daily, a
I’m a gynecologist, and I’m begging you not to masturbate with these 3 things
March 12, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC Something I’ve known since the dawn of time—at least since the dawn of American Pie—is that people can get really creative when it comes to masturbation. Even though the diversity of vibrators that are available for purchase is great, many of us have turned to DIY sex toys either in a pinch or to simply explore a sexual curiosity. But alas, while the pursuit of pleasure is one we can all get behind, health is remains the number-one priority, and because of this, some of us could use some help learning the differences between what is and what is not a sex toy. And okay, while some household items can make for totally healthy impromptu sex toys in the heat of the moment (like, ice, for one), there are other things that don’t belong anywhere near your sexual organs. To help clear up the confusion, find out which items gynecologist Alyssa Dweck, MD, OB/GYN, says are not a sex toy at all. 3 things that are definitely not a sex toy, according to a gynecologist 1. Produce As Well+Good previously reported in a piece about household objects that can double as sex toys, while phallic-shaped foods can safely be used erotically, they carry a list of safety precautions that should give you pause. “Despite their phallic shapes, fresh fruits and veggies, such as bananas, zucchinis, and carrots, should be avoided in the vagina,” says Dr. Dweck. “First, they can disintegrate inside and be
Recovery sneakers have arrived, because we all deserve a foot massage after the gym
March 12, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Sneakers are getting smarter. Last year, Nike designers launched the Zoom Vaporfly Elite to make the sub two hour marathon a reality, and On added a little extra bounce to our steps with their pillowy CloudTec soles. The same technology once earmarked for performance, is now laser-focused on recovery. A crop of companies has started creating the footwear equivalent of foam rollers. Leading the charge is Oofos: a shoe designed to absorb 37 percent more impact than the average sneak. Shock-absorbing footwear, designed to propel you forward with maximum energy return is hardly new: Adidas Boost hit the market in 2013 and Nike React foam cushioning followed suit five years later in 2018. But Oofos president Steve Gallo says that the brand’s signature recovery sole—”Oofoam Technology”—has no desire to emulate those products. In fact, the brand wants to do the exact opposite. “Our foam, which is the entire footbed, is made out of a proprietary mix of different chemicals and foam, and what it does is the exact opposite of what you see with Nike React and Adidas Boost. The idea is, when you step down on it, it actually requires less ankle power when you walk,” says Gallo. In other words, the technology doesn’t just absorb the shock of your foot hitting the ground; it literally makes every step easier. (Oofos’ brand-sponsored University of Virginia lab study found that Oofoam technology reduces ankle exertion by up to 20 percent.) In theory, that means
The top 3 buzziest beauty product categories in the Whole Foods skin-care section
March 11, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC You love Whole Foods for its organic fruits and vegetables, hot bar filled with a never-ending supply of work-lunch favorites, and the cool innovations like being able to bottle your own almond milk. But if you’re not hitting up the beauty aisles at Whole Foods for skin-care products, you’re seriously missing out. Whole Foods just released its annual list of beauty trends, and there are some super buzzy product categories every beauty buff should know about. And from March 11 through March 17, all the beauty items are on sale. The grocery store might not be as well-known for its skin-care section as massive retailers like Sephora and Ulta, but it’s one of the most underrated places to find clean beauty items to add to your skin-care routine. The top 3 buzziest beauty categories you can shop at Whole Foods 1. Blue light defense Everyone knows how important it is to protect your skin from harmful UV rays with sunscreen. Now, the focus is on protecting against blue lights, too, through blue light defense products. Whole Foods says there are multiple different types of products that offer protection, from serums to sprays. One product you’ll find on shelves is DERMA E Blue Light Shield Spray ($17), which uses lutein to “shield your skin from free radical damage and blue light aggressors,” reads the website. 2. Bakuchiol If you haven’t heard of bakuchiol yet, you’re about to see it everywhere. The ingredient—which comes from
Why do we keep coming back to 100-year old beauty products? Because they work
March 11, 2020 at 05:10PM by CWC Pond’s Cold Cream has been around since 1846, Vaseline just celebrated its 150th birthday, and it’s estimated that 60 Dove Beauty Bars—first invented in 1957—are sold every single second around the world. Despite the fact that new beauty brands are launching every week, beauty enthusiasts continue to sing the praises of tried-and-true products, decades (and centuries!) after they were first introduced. Given that innovation drives the multi-billion dollar beauty business forward, what’s behind the back-to-basics mentality? “The beauty industry is always needing to reinvent itself to sell new products, but just because something is new, doesn’t mean it is better,” says Caren Campbell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco. That point is easy to miss in the age of shelfie. Overflowing cabinets and countertops are leaving many consumers with a try-it-all mentality that ultimately results in confusion about the options at hand. As such, using tested, dermatologist-backed products is a clear-cut way to combat this. “I think that more people are going back to the basics because they feel like they’ve been let down by multi-step routines that cost a lot of money and time,” says Papri Sarkar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Brookline, Massachusetts. “They want something simple that they can do in their sleep…or right before sleep, in this case.” And some dermatologists even point to fewer, simplified steps as being better for skin. Older products tend to be blander, and these products are meant to keep moisture within skin,
Why you should be skeptical of natural products claiming to treat COVID-19
March 10, 2020 at 05:30PM by CWC With confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 34 states, a host of natural “wellness” companies are attempting to capitalize on public fear by advertising products that “cure” or “prevent” coronavirus. On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration swiftly replied by issuing warnings to seven companies with one resounding message: Don’t be fooled, there’s no “natural treatment” for the virus. The seven companies warned—including GuruNanda, Vivify Holistic Clinic, and Herbal Amy—have been given a 48 hours to correct their violations before facing legal consequences. Herbal Amy, for example, is selling a “Coronavirus Protocol” for the steep (and ineffective) price of $150. Vivify, meanwhile, sells a tea made to drink six times a day that offers “antiviral action.” The FDA—along with the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice—is poised to ensure false advertising doesn’t sway people from getting the treatment they need and deserve. “There already is a high level of anxiety over the potential spread of coronavirus,” said Joe Simons, chairman of the FTC, in the statement released to the New York Times. “What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims.” “What we don’t need in this situation are companies preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims.” —Joe Simons, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Attorney General William P. Barr echoed the sentiments of the FTC in a similar statement. “The Department of Justice stands ready
How compatible are the 6 ‘Love Is Blind’ couples, according to their Myers-Briggs types?
March 10, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC On the Netflix reality series Love Is Blind, cast members looking for marriage were tasked with finding their soul mate by going on dates where they couldn’t see the other person. Within days, real and committed couples emerged with six ultimately getting engaged, all without having seen each other. The rest of the series follows each of the Love Is Blind couples as they navigate how the introduction of physical factors and real-life issues impacts the health of their relationship. Ultimately, they decide whether or not to get married in the final episode. As a viewer, were you surprised about who clicked, who didn’t, who said “I do,” and who said “I don’t?” Thanks to the analytical powers offered by the Myers-Briggs personality typology, I, for one wasn’t the least bit shocked. Because although the only way to formally validate a person’s true Myers-Briggs type is by taking the official MBTI test, according to my own armchair analysis of the cast members’ types and resulting compatibility with their mate, the results make sense. Check out my MBTI breakdown of each of the Love Is Blind couples below (and watch out for spoilers!). How the 6 Love Is Blind couples stack up, according to their Myers-Briggs compatibility 1. Lauren Speed (ENFP) and Cameron Hamilton (INFJ) Cameron and Lauren are one of the two Love Is Blind couples who got married on the show—and they are indeed well-matched. She’s an outspoken, creative, activism-focused ENFP, and he’s