December 23, 2019 at 05:22PM by CWC I can think of few things more appropriate to end this year than a NASA alert stating that a giant asteroid will speed past Earth at 27,500 miles per hour on the December 26. Once again, we shall narrowly escape disaster. Just kidding. Space rock CH59 is technically classified as “potentially hazardous,” but I wouldn’t worry too much about that. The asteroid will be closest to our home planet—4.5 million miles away—at 2:54 a.m. ET the day after Christmas. This is 19 times farther away than the moon, in case you’ve also seen Armageddon one too many times and are alarmed by this splashy news. Also, it’s just one of 5,000 “potentially hazardous” asteroids whizzing around up there. All joking aside, this is an astrologically significant event, which is great because the zodiac is the only thing keeping most of my friends sane at this point. (Was there ever a more 2019 sentence than that?) “Asteroids represent very specific things in our natal charts, and you can tell what those are by looking at the name of the asteroid and its associated myth, as well as some of the events that were happening the time it was discovered,” says intuitive astrologer and healer Rachel Lang. “Since this one doesn’t have an exact name—just a number—we will have a clearer idea of what this one means after December 26, when it draws more attention to itself.” Lang tells me that whenever a new object in space
Category: Beauty
Drunk Elephant raised our expectations of what clean skin care can do and we’re never going back
December 23, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC Tiffany Masterson has always been an entrepreneur. As a Houston stay-at-home mom, she had a knack for the side hustle: She was a representative for the direct sales cosmetics company Arbonne, developed a healthy pantry renovation company called Holy Pantries, and sold an independent company’s bar soap that, used alone, was heralded as a save-all for skin. Then, of course, she founded Drunk Elephant, which grew to be a brand worth $845 million dollars in just seven years before being acquired by Shiseido in October 2019. Dazzled by the reviews and accolades from beauty editors, dermatologists, and consumers, it’s easy to miss that the “clean beauty” category didn’t exist outside of a choice few (e.g. Ren, Skinfix, First Aid Beauty) when Masterson, who was crowned one of our 2020 Changemakers, began creating her candy-capped empire. Yet, as the decade chugged along, her point of view on skin care—what’s in your products is only as important as what’s not—became the standard for clean beauty that the entire industry would come to know as gospel. It also catapulted the demand for clean, clinical products at large, which today has grown to be a massive section of the beauty industry. In fact, market researchers at The NPD Group have indicated that roughly half of all prestige skin-care lines make claims about their clinical ingredients (such as retinol, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C). Of these clinical brands, those touting “clean ingredients” are rising by upwards of 100
A special new moon solar eclipse this week ensures a super-positive holiday time
December 22, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC As we enter the last days of the year and decade, we have exciting astrological aspects to look forward to as well. With the solstice behind us, and yuletide festivities in full effect this week, the cosmos throw even more magic into to mix. On Christmas night or early in the morning on the 26th, depending on your geographic location, the new moon solar eclipse in the sign of Capricorn will glisten with potential and power. An eclipse can often feel like an astrological wild card, but trust that this one brings robust positivity. The sun and moon conjoin at 4 degrees of Capricorn, with Uranus in Taurus making a beautiful trine to the sun-moon conjunction. This formation creates the potential for breakthrough, power, surprises, and creativity. Furthermore, Jupiter, the planet of good luck, good fortune, and expansion, also joins the sun and moon for a rare and glorious combination that assures the feel-good vibes to roll this holiday. On the 27th, in fact, Jupiter and the Sun conjoin, forming what many astrologers refer to as the most promising aspect and day of the year. On the 27th, Jupiter and the Sun conjoin, forming what many astrologers refer to as the most promising aspect and day of the year. New moons provide an opportunity to set intentions for desires and growth, and solar eclipses (which only occur during new-moon phases) magnify the potential of these unique new-moon moments, multiplying the potential exponentially. Add
9 controversies and scandals that changed the trajectory of wellness in 2019
December 22, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC Jade eggs in 2017, the great 2018 celery juice craze—every year brings a few wellness-related topics that divide the nation. But in 2019, the most buzz-worthy wellness news had a sense of gravity and urgency that sparked people to take action beyond a casual retweet. Some marched in the streets to support a strike organized by teen climate activists. Others sent donations to Planned Parenthood after the organization withdrew from the Title X grant program, or boycotted their favorite fitness studios to make a political statement. And then there were the stories that were just flat-out scandalous, like the one accusing a high-level Nike trainer of mental and physical abuse. Here, we look back on the most controversial news items to hit the wellness scene in 2019, all of which are sure to reverberate into the new decade. One thing’s for sure: If this year were a season of The Bachelor, Chris Harrison would definitely be calling it the most dramatic one yet. 1. Celebs and influencers called for a boycott against SoulCycle and Equinox In August, news broke that Stephen Ross, an investor in SoulCycle and Equinox, would be hosting a fundraiser for Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection bid. Although both brands issued statements saying they had no involvement with the event, celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Billy Eichner still urged their social media followers to boycott. Equinox later responded by pledging to donate $1 million to several charities, while SoulCycle’s then-CEO, Melanie
The 10 skin-care rules dermatologists live by will seriously change your skin
December 22, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC In 2019, skin-care was as important a part of our cultural conversation as the Hot Priest and whether or not Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper were in love. Here at Well+Good, we talked about it a lot—with dermatologists, facialists, product formulators, and even Dr. Pimple Popper herself. We’ve spent the better part of this year collecting skin-care tips and advice on everything from how to treat acne scars to how to keep your skin moisturized all day long and used the intel to publish hundreds of skin-care stories over the last 365. Considering how many good skin-care tips we’ve gotten this year (seriously—there have been thousands of them) it was nearly impossible to narrow things down to just the top 10. But we dipped into the archives to round up the best of the best pieces of advice we got this year, many of which changed our editors’ own routines for the better. Scroll through and check out the best skin-care tips of 2019 in order to make 2020 your most radiant—and healthy-skinned—year yet. A good skin-care routine starts with a cleanser Cleanser may not seem like the most exciting element of a skin regimen, but it is one of the most important. In addition to getting rid of the dirt, oil, and debris that can clog pores, it helps turn your complexion into a clean slate so that the rest of your products can do their jobs properly. Once you’ve found something that
How breakfast by candlelight brightens my dark mornings
December 22, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC So many ancient traditions center around lighting candles at this time of year, as the days grow darker and then darker still before the winter solstice on December 21. There’s Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, Advent, which I celebrated as a child, and Hanukkah, too. There is nothing as prettily cozy as the glow of candles on a dark night. That famously soothing glow can heighten romance or help us into a meditative state, and is an intriguing part of the human legacy. But while so many of us these days know about the physiological effects of blue light and the benefits of good sleep hygiene, and while some might have already introduced warmer wavelengths, and even candles, into our end-of-day routines, my own favorite winter ritual is breakfast by candlelight. It started one cold winter here in dark Maine, an extra dim season during which I tracked my daughter’s mounting anxiety, which seemed to have no discernible source. She was in first grade and would wake up full of worry about anything—everything—from her first breath, a pattern that set the rest of the day spinning in all the wrong directions. I read books. I made adjustments—vitamin D, dietary shifts (more avocado), bedtime rituals. But speaking on the phone one night with a friend, who is also a very wise pediatrician, it suddenly became clear. “That transition between being awake and asleep is really dramatic for some people,” she explained. “It’s not
Drop the contour: This highlighter hack will sculpt your face like none other
December 21, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Highlighter is one of those beauty products, like red lipstick and liquid eyeliner, that can backfire really quickly. With one accidental sweep of a brush, what started as a way to add a little radiance can easily become what looks like a glitter bomb exploded all over your face, and not quite the “natural, inside-out glow” you were going for. The best way to avoid looking like you’re heading to Coachella all year-round, according to makeup artists, is to apply product only to the parts of your face where the light would normally hit. When you think about what highlighter is, this theory makes sense: Highlighter should highlight areas where the light shines. But if you’re anything like me, you could wind up twisting in front of a makeup mirror with your phone flashlight trying to figure out what the heck that means. A far, far easier way to think of it? Use your facial bones as a guide. “You always want to hit [highlighter] on the bones—that’s ideally where you want the light to reflect really nicely,” says Covergirl makeup artist Brittany Whittfield. Think: your temples, cheek bones, brow bones, and nose, otherwise known as the “high points” of your face. If you want some glow on your body, too, the same method applies—look to your clavicle and breastbone, for example. For best results, Whittfield suggests pulling the skin tight, which “forces the skin to hit that bone that you want to hit,”
Using this beauty device for 5 minutes obliterated my facial puffiness
December 20, 2019 at 05:04PM by CWC After a weekend spent imbibing, on Monday morning, I woke up and felt like my face was puffier than it usually is on Monday mornings. I’d like to hope that I’m not alone in discovering this, given that it ’tis the season for holiday parties and gatherings galore. And so, I frantically pored through my cabinet of beauty products, until I got my hands on a microcurrent device that’s said to help with lymphatic drainage and squelch puffiness. The Nuface Trinity ($325), is a handheld microcurrent facial device, known for sculpting and defining the contours of your face. “In the short term, microcurrent does work [to help reduce puffiness],” says Shirley Chi, MD, a San Francisco-based dermatologist. She explains that it causes muscle contractions that help your face to appear less puffy. Plus, it lifts facial features like cheeks and eyebrows, which can help you look more awake and ready to take on the day. See more about it from Dear Derm star Mona Gohara, MD: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL4fkeHmC6c?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] It’s legit: The Nuface has been FDA cleared to improve facial contouring, and so I put it to the test. I slid the device from the tip of my chin up towards my cheek, pausing at the topmost point of my cheekbone to help lift it. After a few minutes, I stopped and looked at the right side of my face compared to the left side, noting how much more lifted it looked. I followed
Tap these six products to nail the natural holiday makeup look (and it only takes five minutes)
December 20, 2019 at 02:16PM by CWC You’ve got shopping to finish, gifts to wrap, and parties to attend—so the last thing you want to do is spend hours cooped up in your bathroom prepping for said parties. When you need to get ready in a flash but still want to look glam (so like, always) keep this speedy, natural makeup tutorial in your back pocket, which was demonstrated by Beautycounter makeup artists at our latest Wellness Collective event with Athleta. Bonus: Beautycounter regularly lobbies congress for stricter personal-care legislation (Well+Good’s beauty editor Rachel Lapidos even joined in), so yes: It is possible to get the look without the harsh ingredients you’re trying to avoid. First, you start with a tinted moisturizer to create an even, natural-looking canvas for your look. “Foundation says it all in the name,” Brittany Hudson, makeup artist and Beautycounter ambassador says. “It’s like building a house—that’s what you need to do first.” Then, apply concealer under your eyes and to any spots or blemishes, making sure to tap rather than smear the product onto your face, which can cause more shadows. Next up: brows. Fill in your eyebrows with a pencil, starting from the middle and working your way outward before going back to the beginning. If you really want to dial up the brow boldness, brush against the hair, then smooth it out with a spoolie or a clear brow gel. Smile to find the apples of your cheeks, and sweep blush onto them moving
I’m a dermatologist, and this powerful skin-care serum is like microdermabrasion in a bottle
December 20, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Retinol and alpha hydroxy-acids have traditionally been the Taylor Swift and Kanye West of the skin-care world: They don’t exactly play nice when they’re together. Both ingredients are known for their intense skin resurfacing properties—retinol by way of cell turnover, AHAs as an exfoliant—and when combined, it can cause skin irritation that’s as cringe-worthy as the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards (#TBT). To avoid any sort of “Look What You Made Me Do”-level drama, derms usually recommend separating the ingredients in your routine, either by alternating days or using one in the morning and one at night. That said, the team at Skin Better Science, a line of expert and research-backed skin-care products, figured out how to get both gold-standard ingredients into one bottle with minimal irritation. The result? The brand’s AlphaRet Overnight Cream ($120), or as we like to call it, “microdermabrasion in a bottle.” The super-science-y formula contains lactic acid, glycolic acid (which are both AHAs), and retinoids, which all promote exfoliation and cell turnover, plus squalane, niacinamide, ceramides, and fatty acids to moisturize the skin barrier and defend against irritation. “It delivers glycolic acid with a stabilized form of retinol to enhance exfoliation, cell turnover, and collagen production, which translates to a brighter complexion and improved skin texture,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, of Zeichner Dermatology. Thanks to this potent formula, fine lines—and other textural issues—don’t stand much of a chance. In addition to its two hero ingredients, the cream