October 12, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Exactly 36 hours after a newish friend invited me to join her and a group of people I’d never met before on a weeklong sailing trip on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, I was ready to go, with a plane ticket and everything. I’d met Sydney, the friend who invited me, the year before at a wedding and knew she and a bunch of her Italian friends embark on an annual sailing trip to various destinations. This year though, the group ended up being a crew member short. My general travel (and life) philosophy is to jump at new opportunities. So, although Croatia was low on my travel bucket list, I knew nothing about sailing, and wasn’t necessarily keen on traveling with strangers, giving that immediate “yes” RSVP was a no-brainer. It wasn’t until the tickets were booked that I started backpedaling…. “Wait, this boat looks pretty small—are we sharing that minuscule-looking closet as a bedroom?” I asked Sydney. “Yes,” she said. “Will we be bored just floating around all day long without wifi or any distractions? Will we get seasick?” “Maybe.” “What if we don’t all get along and it’s super awkward and there’s nowhere to escape! It’s two couples and us—is that weird?!” “Bring a good book.” “Wait, it’s SEVEN days? I thought it was only five. Crap, I read the text wrong…this is a long time to spend traveling with strangers in the middle of the ocean!” Luckily, excitement won
Category: Fashion
The reflective activewear pieces that are just as flashy at night as they are in the light
October 11, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Running at night or early in the morning can be scary. And no, I’m not just saying that because I spend all my free time listening to true-crime podcasts. Even though you’re doing your body good by working up a sweat, you could still be putting yourself at risk if you’re not wearing glowy, reflective clothing. When you’re running in low light, it can be really hard for cars to see you. Luckily, there’s no need to change your routine. One easy way to help drivers spot you is by upgrading your activewear collection with clothing that glows in the dark or reflects when light bounces off of it. From leggings that light up like the night sky to sneakers that are flashy in the best way, these are the reflective finds to stock up on before your next run. The best reflective activewear pieces for your runs 1. Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Crop II Reflective, $118 Don’t let the camo print on these leggings fool you. They have reflective details by the ankles that ensure you’re easily seen in the dark. 2. Adidas Women’s Nite Jogger Shoes, $130 These sneakers are just as flashy at night as they are during the day thanks to all the reflective details. 3. Nike City Reflect Running Tights, $140 Beyond the cool color (I mean, could it be prettier?), these high-waisted tights have reflective seams around the hips that can’t be missed. 4. The North
We need naked yoga (and its confidence-boosting magic) now more than ever
October 09, 2019 at 05:33PM by CWC Yoga has approximately four bajillion variations within its fitness umbrella. There’s vinyasa, yoga nidra, kundalini yoga, mandala yoga, ashtanga, bikram, goat yoga, and the list goes on and on (and on). Rounding out how flexible the options for practicing out there are (see what I did there?) is, of course, naked yoga. Naked yoga, as you’d probably imagine, is like regular yoga but sans leggings…and a shirt…and a sports bra…and, yeah, underwear too (though you can wear these if you want). It’s not something that’s just offered as an exercise class at nudist colonies, but it’s actually done in naked yoga studios all over the United States, and it’s been around for a while now. “It’s not a fad,” says Willow Merveille, yogi and founder of Naked in Motion, which offers classes in New York, Seattle, and Boston. “It’s been practiced for centuries.” In actuality, naked yoga looks just like regular yoga (with bare bodies), but the purpose behind it is more abstract than just getting your flow on. “There’s heightened self-awareness and freedom,” says Monika Werner, yogi and co-founder of Bold and Naked, a studio in NYC. “You have to experience it for yourself, but the freedom of movement, the energy of the class, and the openness and increased self-awareness are the main benefits.” Before you actually start practicing the yoga, it’s typical for a naked yoga class to begin with a clear explanation of rules. “At Naked in Motion, we read
Leggings with pockets are the best thing since dresses with pockets
October 09, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC By this point, you’re probably well aware of the amazingness that is dresses with pockets. Once it became a trend, women all around the world rejoiced for finally having a place to put their things. And now that the practical trend has expanded to leggings with pockets, going about your workouts hands-free is a breeze. Whether you’re heading to the gym, a class, or going on a run, rocking a pair of leggings with pockets enables you to have a safe place for your phone, keys, and credit card—basically everything you need. That means no more storing anything in your sports bra (we’ve all done it!) or putting your important possessions in a cubby… and hoping they’re still there once you return. If you want to give leggings with pockets a go, these nine options are both cute and functional. 9 pairs of leggings with pockets that’ll change your life 1. Lorna Jane All Day Booty Ankle Biter Tight, $120 It’s not just the cozy, supportive fabric that will make you fall in love with these ankle-length leggings. It’s the phone pocket, which gives you a place to store your cell while you’re getting your workout in. 2. 90 Degree By Reflex Power Flex Yoga Pants, $25 You won’t believe these high-waisted leggings are only $25. With nearly 8,000 reviews—and a 4.2 of 5-star rating!—they’re just as high-quality as what you can get from pricey boutique fitness brands. Aside from the comfortable material and
“The fear and anxiety I felt was the hardest part of my mastectomy”
October 08, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC In the United States, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, with over 270,000 new cases a year. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. It doesn’t matter if you’re reading this in Mississippi or New York, if you’re 16 or 62, what ethnicity you are, or how much money you have—the odds are that you or someone you know has been affected by this disease. The majority of women faced with a diagnosis are confronted with a crucial decision: whether or not to get a lumpectomy (surgery to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue from the breast), mastectomy (removing the whole breast), or a double mastectomy (removing both breasts). According to a 2017 study, 33 percent of breast cancer patients between the ages of 20 and 44 (and 10 percent of breast cancer patients aged 45 and up) decided to get a double mastectomy in 2012—regardless of whether or not they have cancer in both breasts. In 2004, those rates were 11 and 3 percent, respectively. Mastectomies in particular can be life-saving surgeries, but for better or for worse, breasts are so deeply tied to identity and self-esteem in American culture that for many patients, losing one or both of their breasts is a lot to process mentally. How do you navigate your relationship with your new body when you’re literally just trying to survive—and when your new scars and shape
It’s (faux) leather weather! 10 chic ways to incorporate the look into your athleisure wardrobe
October 06, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC Ever since I saw the Friends episode where Ross gets stuck in his leather pants, I’ve had a major aversion to wearing leather in situations that involve sweat. This is problematic because I’m very into the whole biker-jacket-and-leggings look for running around town post-workout. Luckily, the fashion powers-that-be have got my back this season with loads of faux leather jackets, bottoms, and bras—all of which have the slick look of the real deal, but are vegan-friendly and can stand up to a broader array of conditions. (Hot fitness classes included.) On one end of the spectrum are pieces that are actually made to exercise in: leggings, sports bras, and cropped tanks made from sweat-proof activewear materials with a leather-like sheen. On the other are silhouettes that you probably wouldn’t wear during a workout, but could throw on over your outfit after class—think bomber jackets, joggers, or button-down shirts. And if swathing half your body in faux leather is a little extra for your taste, you can always opt for a leather-like accessory to get in on this perennial cool-weather trend. As you’ll see from the edit that follows, the best of fall’s faux leather looks are rendered in classic black, which means they can be seamlessly styled with pretty much any item in your athleisure wardrobe—and your regular wardrobe, too. (If you were looking for a way to extend the life of your midi skirt and sneakers after summer, this is it.) Carbon38 Double
10 Pinterest-perfect braided hairstyles that make you feel like a girl on fire
October 05, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC When it comes to doing my hair, I have two main styles: down and wavy or straight, or up in a ponytail. As you can probably tell, there’s not much experimentation going on here. Now don’t get me wrong: I used to rock my fair share of butterfly clips and pigtails back in the day. There’s one area I don’t have as much experience in, though: braids. While I can handle the basics, you won’t catch me doing a French fishtail braid anytime soon. But now’s your chance to freshen up your style. If Katniss Everdeen can nail the look, so can you. Switch things up with these braided hairstyle tutorials [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3PEEPI_UXU] 1. French fishtail braid I always thought fishtail braids looked hard, but this step-by-step tutorial makes them seem easy. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyGIiw4XoTw] 2. Bubble braid Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi made a big impression with her braided bubble ponytail, and here’s how you can master the look at home. Instead of using a traditional braiding technique, you’re getting a braided appearance using small elastic hair ties. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FydhU_gnBQ] 3. Braided top knot You’ve probably seen this braided bun style all over Pinterest. Because you’re only braiding a small section of your hair, it’s quick and easy. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm0omGre9D0] 4. Hair scarf milkmaid braid The most effortless way to give your milkmaid braid a pretty upgrade is to add in a scarf. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ouuFyXEYI?start=47] 5. Side braid There’s a secret to creating a
There’s never been a better time to buy an inexpensive serum—and these under-$35 options are proof
October 04, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC With so many great serums on the market filled with it-ingredients that you’ve just gotta have for your routine, it’s hard to resist going gaga over them all… like a child pining for every doll in the toy store. Beauty shelves are minefields of options, and it makes it far too easy to empty your wallet in pursuit of a healthy complexion. So what’s a girl to do? With a seemingly infinite number of skin-care serums out there to choose from, there are more affordable—and effective—options than ever. Formulators have nailed how to pack actives like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide into products that everyone can manage to snag for themselves without breaking the bank. The Ordinary has been dutifully offering potent skin-care serums since 2016, with not one bottle running past $29 (and for what it’s worth, that single $29 serum is double the cost of the rest of the line). Over the past year or so, even more wallet-friendly skin-care brands have infiltrated the shelves: There’s Versed, a solution-oriented collection you can get at Target; The Inkey List, a London-based beauty brand where nothing costs over $15; Sweet Chef, a spin-off line from buzzy K-beauty brand Glow Recipe that’s sold at Target and makes nutrient-dense serums for much less than its sister brand; and Ghost Democracy, a derm-backed skin-care line offering the most coveted ingredients at more cost-effective prices than most. Drugstore staple brands like Neutrogena and Olay have even caught
If vegetables had Coca-Cola’s ad agency, we’d all be addicted to them, too
October 04, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC Every time I stroll through the cereal aisle at the grocery store I hear a familiar tune in my head: “Hearts, stars, and horseshoes, clovers and blue moons, unicorns, rainbows, and tasty red balloons!” It’s catchy, sure, but a new study published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that the breakfast Leprechaun is also using a clever marketing strategy to convince you to add a box of cereal to your cart. When it comes to selecting what we buy and what we pass by, researchers found that healthy food labels with marketing driven by taste rather than healthiness wins over the consumer. To reach this conclusion, academics from Stanford University partnered with Menus of Change University Research Collaborative—a network of U.S. universities dedicated to promoting healthy and sustainable eating for college students—to study how labeling foods influences decision-making in the cafeteria. After tracking 140,000 decisions made about 71 vegetable dishes either labeled with taste-focused, health-focused, or neutral labels, researchers found that the taste reigned supreme. In fact, cafeteria-goers put veggies on their plates 29 percent more often when the labeling focused on flavor than when it stressed the health of the vegetable. With more research, the Stanford team also learned that vegetables sold as delectable had to actually follow through on that promise. Otherwise, students abandoned the healthy foods on their plates. “This is radically different from our current cultural approach to healthy eating.” —Alia Crum, PhD Alia Crum, PhD, an assistant professor
3 fail-proof ways to remove your makeup so that every last bit is gone
October 04, 2019 at 05:22PM by CWC Over the last few years, the double cleanse has become about as popular as leopard midi skirts or posting pictures of yourself as an old person to Instagram—nearly everyone has gotten involved. Thanks to K-Beauty, we know now that if we wear makeup, sometimes we need more than one pass with a cleanser to get rid of all the stuff chilling in our pores. While choosing which cleanser to use for that second part is determined by skin type, making the decision of which makeup remover to use for step one isn’t so clear. “You need to start off with a clean slate before you put on to anything else,” says K-Beauty expert Charlotte Cho, the brains behind Soko Glam and Then I Met You. Thanks to skin-care technology, there are a whole lot of options out there that will help you get rid of the remnants of your lipstick, foundation, and mascara to create a clean slate before you wash your complexion. There’s micellar water, cleansing oil, and of course good old-fashioned makeup remover, all of which do the job just fine. But which one are you supposed to reach for? The pros, it seems, have some opinions—and spoiler alert, but one method reigns supreme. Photo: Getty/Dougal Waters How to get off every kind of makeup imaginable Cleansing oil: Surprisingly enough, cleansing oil is actually the best makeup-removing option for most skin types. “Cleansing oils often contain vitamins C and E, which