March 10, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC Sometimes, to-do lists grow so long, it’s tough to focus on the items that are actually important. That resulting endless-feeling slog can make completing anything at all feel difficult and draining rather than empowering. Furthermore, sometimes what we think will help us actually goes against what will make us feel better. That’s where considering self care for zodiac signs may inspire some helpful, unique-to-your-sign energy-boosting ideas. Below, check out the top tips from astrologers Kyle Thomas and Lisa Stardust to help you get the energy you need to crush your goals for the rest of the year. The best self care for zodiac signs, so each star sign can stay energized all year. Aries: work out These fiery rams are all about racing toward their goals at breakneck speed, which can also lead them to burn out faster than anyone else. Thomas suggests these cardinal signs channel their aggression in another way: at the gym. “For Aries, scheduling time for lifting or cardio will help them feel strong in their bodies and allow them to get out of their heads,” he says. Taurus: prioritize quality sleep Taureans are very reliable, stable earth signs, but they also tire quickly. “Taureans need sleep more than any of the other zodiac signs in order to keep their strength and stamina up,” says Thomas. “Shutting off their phones so that they don’t stay up in bed all night will help .” Gemini: read for pleasure These chatty
Category: Beauty
I’ve tried hundreds of hyaluronic acid serums, and this drugstore pick is the best
March 10, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Hyaluronic acid is the ultimate people pleaser of the beauty world: It’s recommended by every single dermatologist for keeping moisture within your skin, it works on all skin types, and it plays well with the rest of your routine. Because of its hydrating powers—and because I’m a beauty editor—you can bet that I’ve tried practically every one out there. My favorite? It’s a drugstore find: La Roche-Posay hyaluronic acid serum ($30). When we talk about ghosts of HA past, my complexion has absorbed a very wide range, from over $300 options to those that cost less than $10 (and hundreds in between). This one won me over because it is incredibly effective in moisturizing my skin and you don’t really have to shell out a lot of money to reap its benefits. Photo: La Roche-Posay Shop now: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $30 The most important thing an effective hyaluronic acid serum needs is different molecular weights so that it can hydrate both the top and innermost layers of your skin. This one has that, plus added benefits of B5, which is a water-soluble vitamin that delivers moisture and helps to plump and protect your skin barrier. Studies have also shown that the vitamin helps to reduce redness and hyperpigmentation, which explains why my skin looks so radiant and even when using the serum. Dermatologists are fans of the drugstore serum, too. “It satisfies all the criteria: it’s hypoallergenic and great for
This 64-year-old is the oldest woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean—it took her 84 days
March 10, 2020 at 12:30AM by CWC Just in time for International Woman’s Day, 64-year-old British rower Sara Brewer stepped onto dry land for the first time in 84 days. She, along with her rowing partner Ann Prestige, 35, completed a trans-Atlantic trip in a 30-foot row boat on Saturday. Brewer is now the oldest woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean. And according to the Guardian, she just picked up rowing just six years ago. “I would like to say that I finally decided to row the Atlantic Ocean after carefully considering at least some of the facts, including some of the obvious dangers and difficulties associated with such an endeavor, but that would not be strictly true,” Brewer writes on her team’s website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Talisker (@talisker) on Mar 9, 2020 at 9:59am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Brewer and Prestige completed the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua, on March 7, 2020. The team of two was one of 35 teams (ranging between one and five rowers) to compete this year. The challenge requires each teammate to row for two hours, then sleep for two hours non-stop for 24 hours. Brewer and Prestige met in 2013, one year after Prestige began rowing, at the Poplar, Blackwall and District Rowing Club in London. Their team name, Row Off The Wall, was inspired by the rowing club. Prior to this race, the duo rowed a marathon,
Exactly how many consecutive days you’ll feel sleepy thanks to Daylight Saving Time, according to a sleep doctor
March 09, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC Waking up in a panic has kind of become a mainstay for me, but waking up late in a panic? That could only mean the arrival of Daylight Savings Time. Your most chipper friends will talk about how lovely it is to spring forward. For the rest of us with already-wonky sleep schedules, losing a whole hour makes for some serious Daylight Savings Time sleep problems. Why does this happen, and dear God, when will it end? “Any time you change the body’s circadian clock even by something seemingly as small as an hour, it really throws off all the hormones and cellular clocks in your body,” says sleep expert Shelby Harris, PsyD, author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia. “Our biological clocks are so well set that even an hour’s difference in light exposure can create changes in the body, making for greater sleepiness in the morning and insomnia at bedtime at the Daylight Savings change. We see major spikes in car accidents and hear attacks in the first few days after the time change, and it can often take upwards of five to seven days to adjust fully to the new time, light, and clocks.” Okay, by next Monday I’ll be able to get out of bed without Daylight Savings Time sleep problems. Chill. But is there any way to expedite this process? “In the coming few weeks, get as much daylight as you can—especially given that so many of us are stuck indoors nowadays due to
Derms tell us if ‘For All Skin Types’ products are too good to be true
March 09, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Skin-care routines have reached peak customization. With companies like The Ordinary and The Inkey List releasing pure active ingredient serums, it’s now easier than ever to play beauty chemist and curate your own regimen. But there are still tons of all-skin-type products. Are they legit? Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan, says yes. “Products that are designated for all skin types are typically made up of ingredients that are gentle enough for sensitive skin but yet effective to be used by majority of people who use it,” says. Dr. Garshick. “Although it is always good to consider your individual skin type, there are various products that can be tolerated by all skin types.” If you have any particular skin issues, Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, says your better off using products that are a bit more targeted. For example, “if you are acne- or rosacea-prone, an all-skin-type products might make it worse. It’s best to stick to oil-free, noncomedogenic, fragrance-free products for those skin types generally speaking. It can be different for each individual patient,” she says. Dr. Garshick says some products are better than others to buy in an all-skin-types formula. “Often gentle cleansers are a great option for all skin types,” she says. She likes the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser ($10) and Dove White Beauty Bar ($4). “Even those with oily skin can benefit from a gentle cleanser as part of their regimen, as you never want to dry out the skin too much.”
The Myers-Briggs breakdown of the 3 remaining 2020 presidential hopefuls
March 09, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC Have you ever thought about how the unique personality of each potential 2020 presidential winner would impact their approach to the country’s highest office? Regardless of the personal similarities and differences of each hopeful (candidate or incumbent), it’s obvious that a bold, impulsive leader like President Donald Trump would run the country differently than a passionate idealist like Senator Bernie Sanders. That’s how the Myers-Briggs personality of each possible president comes into play. Although the only way to formally validate a person’s true Myers-Briggs type is by taking the official MBTI test, we’ve broken down the type of each presidential hopeful using a detailed analysis of their cognitive functions. Using this intel, it’s helpful to see how each operates in the world. (Haven’t learned about the eight Myers-Briggs cognitive functions yet? You’re in luck: Here’s a full guide.) So, curious how a President Joe Biden, for instance, might compare to a President Trump? Let’s detail their similarities and differences below, according to their cognitive function stacks (a.k.a. the order in which each person uses their personal functions). The answers may just surprise you. Biden, Sanders, Trump MBTI breakdown: Find out how each potential 2020 presidential election winner stacks up. Joe Biden: ESFP Se: Former Vice President Biden’s history in politics is marked by resourcefulness and personableness, which are both key traits of extroverted sensors (Se). During his long tenure as an elected official, he’s been able to work across party lines and win
How to clean reusable tote bags—because you put your groceries in there
March 09, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC I’ve been using the same canvas grocery bag for years. And after unloading a recent grocery haul, I peered into the bottom of the bag to find—you guessed it—filth! To make sure that my freshly produce isn’t arriving home grimy, I consulted two experts about just how to clean canvas tote bags (and how often you really need to). Jason Tetro, microbiologist and author of The Germ Files says that there’s one condition in which you should wash your reusable grocery tote ASAP: if it gets wet. “Unless your bags have a wax coating, they will be able to absorb water and usually that also includes microbes,” he says. “Most water sources are not worrisome, but if you happen to be packing raw meats or produce, then you need to be aware of the potential for bacterial growth and also virus spread.” If chicken juice or beef blood seeps into your tote, don’t let it sit and fester too long. “Keeping your bags clean is as important as your clothing,” says Katie Brown, owner of Rytina Fine Cleaners in Sacramento. “If you are toting home your meat, fish, and dairy products and you find a leak and a spill wash immediately.” As for how often? “It really depends on how badly the bags are soiled. If they are always dry and clean, it’s probably not all that necessary. But as soon as they get wet, you want to be sure you are giving them
How to read your astrological chart using just your hand, according to a palm reader
March 09, 2020 at 03:00PM by CWC The ethos of palm reading is that the secrets of our personality are right in front of us, at literal arm’s length. A similar ethos governs astrology (but less literally, unless, of course, your hand is on your phone, ready to open your Co-Star app). And while you might think that conceptual guiding premise is the extent of what these two disciplines have in common, get ready to be surprised. Palm reading in astrology is definitely a thing (you might even think of it as “hand astrology” or “handoscopes”). It’s reflected primarily through the language of astrological elements, with fire hands, air hands, water hands, and Earth hands. As a refresher about the astrological elements or the triplicities, they determine someone’s basic temperament. The fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, and they’re adventurous and action-oriented. Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, and they’re highly intellectual with a brain that works a mile a minute. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, and they’re intuitive and even psychic. And Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, and are, unsurprisingly, grounded. “Our hands represent one of the four elements, just like astrology, Earth, air, fire, water,” says palm reader Helene Saucedo, author of Handful of Stars: A Palmistry Guidebook and Hand-Printing Kit. “And the way that you tell the elements of a hand is by the proportion of the palm to the fingers.” “Our hands represent one of the four elements, just like
These 4 ingredients are the only ones you need to stop acne in its tracks
March 07, 2020 at 10:00PM by CWC When you’re dealing with acne, it can be tempting to pile on as many zit-zapping ingredients as possible in the hopes that they’ll come together to magically banish your breakouts. You need them to work fast, and logically a “more-is-more” approach seems like the best way to get the job done. But in reality, that’s not quite the case. Contrary to what you might think, the best way to treat pimples actually isn’t by going full throttle with every anti-acne product in your arsenal. Instead, it’s about trusting only the best-of-the-best acne ingredients, and using them properly to get tried-and-tested results. The magic number, according to dermatologists? Four. From a product standpoint, that’s generally all it takes to clear your pores, fight inflammation, and stimulate cell turnover in order to get rid of your current breakouts and fend off future ones. Of course, some situations are more serious than others, and may require attention from a dermatologist to deal with. If the over-the-counter stuff just isn’t doing it for you, be sure to schedule an appointment with a doc. In the meantime, scroll through for the best acne ingredients to stock your arsenal with—your breakouts don’t stand a chance. The four best acne ingredients, according to dermatologists Photo: W+G Creative Benzoyl peroxide is known to be the most effective OTC acne treatment out there—you probably know it well from the ingredient label of nearly every pimple product you’ve ever used. It lowers the
Everything you need to know about straightening natural hair
March 07, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC From ages 6 to 18, I got my hair chemically straightened every six weeks. Then, in college, I started my natural hair journey, finding refuge in big, curly wigs and sleek box braids. I’m loving the journey of embracing my natural texture, but sometimes, I still like silky-straight hair. And if you’ve ever tried to straighten kinky curls, you know the struggle of maintaining the look without also frying your hair—but it can be done. Here’s how. Choose a stylist and method—carefully The first step, says Anu Prestonia, a hair care consultant and the founder of natural beauty line Anu Essentials, is finding a stylist who has extensive experience with various hair textures. That stylist can help you choose between two straightening methods: a blowout or a silk press. Both straighten the hair, but one can work better for you depending on your hair texture. “A blowout usually works best for someone with naturally straight hair or hair that straightens easily,” says hairstylist Ursula Stephen, who’s touched the heads of stars like Rihanna and Laverne Cox. Prestonia adds that blowouts are also appropriate for people with super-fine hair, since the less-intense heat is better for hair that’s susceptible to damage. But a blow dryer alone isn’t enough to get thick, kinky curls pin-straight. For people with naturally curly, coarse hair, Stephen suggests a silk press. “The hair is blown out, then flat-ironed to give it a sleek, shiny finish,” Stephen says. This style