September 08, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC In my 10-plus years as an esthetician, I’ve treated an innumerable amount of folks who all want to know one thing: the secret to beautiful, youthful-looking skin. Ninety percent of them ask about the most effective serums and masks on the market, even if those comes with an extravagant price tag. But, what if I told you that there isn’t just one secret to youthful skin, but many—and none of them involve a single product? It’s true: Daily lifestyle habits can make a serious impact in your skin’s health, and I’ve seen the results firsthand from my clients. Because, let’s be frank: Do you think any magical serum will amount to anything if you’re going to sleep with your makeup on or pull all-nighters to binge-watch Game of Thrones? I don’t think so. However, instilling these habits into your daily lifestyle will not only help your skin flourish, but boost your overall well being as well. Keep on scrolling to find out what they are and to add them to your routine now. 1. Figure out your skin type During the initial consultation with any new client I see, I examine their skin thoroughly to figure out what their skin type is and sometimes it takes more than their initial visit. Everyone’s skin is different, which means there’s no one-size-fits-all routine. When you know your skin type, you’ll know which ingredients and routines will work best for you. If you’re unsure of how to
Category: You and your body
Make your hamstrings feel like *butter* with the “waterfall stretch”
September 08, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC My hamstrings are like violin strands or Spandex-laced skinny jeans. Read: Extremely tight. As such, I tend to lift one foot up onto any raised surface I come across during a stroll or a conversation, and then bend over a bit to stretch them out. It may look funny, but whatever—my hammies need some love. From now on though, you’re going to catch me doing the “waterfall stretch.” This involves slightly bending one knee while sticking the other foot slightly in front of you, toes pointed up while keeping that heel planted. Then you outstretch your arms, folding your body over the front heel, and flowing gracefully back up in a waterfall-esque motion. Adidas running coach Jessie Zapotechne enlightened me with this stretch right before we knocked out a 5K (while testing out the new Adidas headphones, which—BTW—are really great), and my legs truly felt like butter, and so much more loose than they typically feel after my regular hamstring stretches. “The waterfall stretch is one of my favorites for runners because it stretches out the entire back side of your body—think glutes, hamstrings, and calves, as well as your lower back and shoulders,” she tells me. “It’s a simple move, but you’ll often see elite distance runners doing this as a dynamic warm-up before running or racing.” It makes perfect sense, considering how many trainers praise the perks of a dynamic (rather than a static) warmup before exercise. “Dynamic warm-ups activate specific muscle
The one thing your hairstylist wants you to stop doing after new color
September 08, 2019 at 06:01PM by CWC You just left the salon with a fresh new color, and you’re fully basking in that post-appointment glow. (You know the what I’m talking about.) But if you plan on hopping in the shower and sudsing up your strands within the next 48 hours, you might want to snap some selfies now. According to the pros, it’s the quickest way to take your hair from fab to faded. Not many people know there’s a hair-washing rule after coloring. Unfortunately, not abiding by it is one of the biggest mistakes you can make for your color—and your bank account. “After you dye your hair, don’t wash it for at least two days because the hair is still sensitive and therefore will be more like to fade faster,” says Sergio Pattirane, a hairstylist at Rob Peetoom in New York City. “We recommend waiting to wash it so that the color stay fresh and longer.” It’s not just the initial wash that matters—it’s really every wash. In order to keep your color looking as fresh as possible between appointments, it’s recommended to keep washes to a minimum throughout the week, as well as switching up your washing habits in the first place. “Wash your hair two days a week—one day with conditioner and the other day with a mask,” he says. “Also avoid washing your hair with water that’s too hot, as this will cause the hair cuticles to open and then cause the color to fade away.”
I want to tell you about my suicidal thoughts
September 08, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet it is still treated with shame and silence. In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week, we’re sharing stories about suicide in order to encourage awareness and combat stigma. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. I’ve struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts since I was a teenager. But by the time I was 29, I thought I had things under control. I took antidepressants and talked to a therapist every week. I had a full life with my husband of three years. Trips were ventured, friends gathered together, and there were plenty of nights on the town. Everything appeared fine from the outside. It’s just that there’s this one single thing that I slowly began to notice until I could no longer deny its presence in my life. I was gay. In my mind, being gay meant the destruction of the one thing that I thought kept the demons at bay: my marriage. I was in love and he had this uncanny ability to draw me out from the dark side. Being married to this wonderful person, I thought, would solve all my problems. So now to be gay, and lose him and all that he represented? I wouldn’t dare make that leap. To even think about it was too painful, too terrifying. As I grappled
The telltale Sagittarius traits that describe the freedom-loving, fun-having zodiac sign
September 08, 2019 at 02:09PM by CWC Along with living life in the limelight, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, and Brad Pitt all have other things in common: a whole bunch of Sagittarius traits. But—beyond being born somewhere within November 22 and December 21—what does that really mean? Whether you’re curious for yourself or the other Sags’ in your life, consider your bases covered. Below, astrologers spill the details regarding what you need to know about the ninth sign of the zodiac. Find expert intel about Sagittarius traits, strengths, compatibility with other signs, and what these archers need most in order to be happy and live their best life. Telltale Sagittarius traits Before diving deep into explaining typical Sagittarius traits, Juliana Rose Teal, resident astrologer at Miraval Arizona, debunks the misconception that all people of the same sun sign (which is what you use to read your daily horoscope) always embody the same characteristics. Rather, she says, no two Sagittarians are identical, and what the sun sign represents are the positive qualities we’re meant to grow into. “We are not necessarily born into all the traits of our sign,” Teal says. “As we consciously work on developing the positive traits of our sun sign, we become our unique selves and grow in confidence.” So, when it comes to Sagittarius traits specifically, this means growing into a sense of optimism. Sagittarians naturally see the world through rose-colored glasses. And when they embody that trait, they can be helpful and kind to others. “They
This genius convertible tote is basically three bags for the price of one
September 08, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC I recently learned that I am a person who is perhaps prone to mistaking “instamacy” for intimacy. The key difference is that one is an instant, intense connection while the other is a connection that continues to develop over time. I’ve done this both in relationship-type situations, as well as with my wardrobe. (That initial rush after purchasing a new item you think will be life-changing is heavy, people.) I bring this up because the love affair I have with the Cuyana Convertible Satchel is definitely the latter. And as a person who has both owned and coveted many handbags in her lifetime, I feel qualified in saying that it is the perfect bag. At $425, it’s not exactly a steal, but believe it when I say that it is basically the only bag you’ll need for anything ever. It’s the J. Lo of handbags—a true multi-hyphenate. Going to work? Off to hide the body of your friend’s manipulative ex? This bag has got you covered. It nails the size-to-pockets ratio. You know what I’m talking about. Too few pockets, and there’s not enough space to store your lip butters and CVS receipts, so they end up lining the bottom of your bag like the world’s saddest “what’s inside your bag” segment. Too many pockets, and it’s like looking into Hermione’s bag with the undetectable charm, only without the magical ability to call forth exactly what you’re looking for. This bag serves an
Reiki? I don’t know her… so I had experts break down the energy healing practice
September 07, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC Of the holistic healing modalities gaining in popularity—acupuncture, healing stones, qigong meditation, to name a few—reiki remains one of the most opaque. And if you’ve seen reiki therapy performed, with a practitioner hovering their hands a few inches above the person they’re treating, it can seem pretty out there. So, I asked a few reiki experts to break down the practice for me, including how to do reiki on yourself. What is reiki? “Reiki is an alternative therapy commonly referred to as energy healing,” says Leslie Saglio, life coach, reiki practitioner, and yoga instructor. “It was introduced in 1920 by a Buddhist monk [named Mikao Usui] in Japan. Then it was brought to the U.S. through Hawaii in the 1940s and then to Europe in the 1980s. The word reiki itself comes from the Japanese language. Rei means universal consciousness, and ki means life force energy.” On her website, reiki master Kelsey Patel describes the practice by writing, “Everything in life is, on a scientific level, made up of energy. Your body is made of energy. Everyone is energy. And, as energy, we have the ability to emit and absorb energy as well.” Following that philosophy, during a reiki session, a practitioner will either place their hands directly on the client’s body or let hover them above the body in order to channel the life force energy through their hands. “It allows any stuck or stagnant energy to basically release itself,” Saglio says.
How to reap all the nutritional rewards of black beans—without the digestive discomfort
September 07, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC Even if you’re a die-hard meat lover, it’s impossible to ignore the rise in plant-based eating. Alt-products just keep getting more accessible and better tasting—a win no matter what you’re eating plan of choice is. Of course when you’re swapping meat for a vegan option, one of the main dilemmas is figuring out where to source that protein. Pretty often, black beans, come to the rescue as the solution. (It helps that they’re cheap and easy to find, too.) As plant-based eating continues to dominate, you can expect these humble little beans to take center stage in your food even more frequently. Which raises the question of just what sort of nutrition they bring to the table (literally). Are black beans healthy? Here’s a quick run-down of what a typical serving of black beans gets you: 15 grams of protein (the goal is to get roughly 46 grams a day), 15 grams of fiber (more than half of what’s recommended per day), and 40 grams of carbs. It’s that high-carb content that tends to trip people up when it comes to black beans, causing many to think that they aren’t, in fact, healthy. But Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center registered dietitian Samantha Cochrane, RD, says it’s nothing to stress over. “Part of black beans’ carb source is fiber,” she says. “Fiber is very healthy—especially because in this case, it’s in the form of soluble fiber, which is linked to lowering LDL cholesterol.”
How a minimalist bedroom helps you to declutter the rest of your life
September 07, 2019 at 06:01PM by CWC Creating a minimalist bedroom is easier said than done—especially when you live in an apartment. I mean, there’s a Pilates reformer chillin’ next to my bed, a mini office set-up in the entryway, and a closet that’s overflowing with things that don’t fit anywhere else. Even though I keep things as tidy as possible, it’s always beneficial to do some rearranging, whether you live in a tiny space or a five-bedroom house. When you’re surrounded by clutter—even if that’s just piles of clothes or too tightly-packed furniture—you’re left feeling stressed overwhelmed—the opposite of what you want in a room that’s purpose is helping you unwind and rejuvenate. “Sleep is one of the most important needs for well being. It’s a necessity to ensure we stay at our prime, from our immune systems, to our mental health and day to day function,” says Becky Shea of Becky Shea Designs. “The less you have in the space to distract your mind, the more you can focus on the value of sleep.” So, what exactly should your minimalist bedroom include? “Any minimalist space includes just enough and not much more,” says Megan Hopp, creative director at The Everset. “A minimalist bedroom should have three staples no matter what: a bed, a bedside table, and a light source. The rest can be played depending on the circumstance. It should always create a place of calm, and clutter can tip those scales into chaos quite easily.” Having the
Homemade bubble bath will give you a luxurious soak *without* a side of skin irritation
September 07, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC As a child, I adamantly tried to turn every bath into a bubble bath. You could find me squeezing shampoo under the running faucet trying to create movie magic-level bubbles in vain. Bubble baths still have a permanent place in my self-care repertoire—but now I reach for products that are a little more sophisticated—because, when you’re a bath person, slipping into a steamy tub always feels luxurious. But wherever there’s a rose, there’s a thorn. The ingredients responsible for lather and bubbles are surfactants, some of which can be irritating if you have sensitive skin or a condition like eczema, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. Likewise for commonly used ingredients like synthetic dyes and fragrances. Enter: the homemade stuff. “The advantage of using your own bath additives is that you can control exactly what your skin is coming in contact with,” Dr. Zeichner says. Whipping up homemade bubble bath is almost as simple as running soap under water, and only takes a few ingredients you probably already have around your home. What you can use for homemade bubble bath base Body soap Dr. Zeichner recommends using a foaming body wash you know you like, since the product is already designed to be gentle on skin. Nix those thoughts of using shampoo (5-year-old me didn’t know a darn thing), which can be irritating after extended exposure. We don’t really have to say this, but shampoo does its best work in your hair—not your body.