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
Category: Your Healthiest Relationship
How to create an ‘earscape’ with earrings that look cute together, because decisions are hard
December 20, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC I’ve always envied the people who can pair and layer jewelry together effortlessly, without looking like they just threw on every single bauble that they own. When it comes to accessories, actually, I’m definitely in the “less is more” camp, unless it comes to my earrings. My ears weren’t pierced until I was 20, and then after that I wasn’t happy with just the lobes. No, I wanted all the piercings. My ears are adorned with about 10 piercings, but the tricky part lies in creating the earscape—aka finding out how to pair earrings and selecting the perfect constellation. I tend to get overwhelmed by all the options out there and then just end up in a spiral of indecision (also an accurate description of my life in general heyo). “A good way to start is to pick a theme,” Lisa Bubber, co-founder and CMO of Studs in NYC, says. They put together different cohesive looks to make the process easier for customers. “Constellation piercings custom-designed to your ear that are decorated with gold, pave, CZs, zodiac signs, geometric shapes, and stars are really popular right now,” she says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Studs (@studs) on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:06pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js If you’re the kind of person who takes 10 years to decide on a polish color at the salon before settling on the same pale pink shade you always go for, consider trying
Next year’s ‘it’ plant is going to make your place look so rich
December 20, 2019 at 12:30AM by CWC Fiddle leaf fig? Sorry. The Money Tree is poised to take over in 2020, according to Bloomscape’s Plant Mom, Joyce Mast. “Many people believe that Money Trees signal good luck and good fortune to come. In fact, it is a popular plant in Feng Shui as it’s believed to create positive energy in a space,” she says. I don’t know about you, but after this year I am highly ready for some energy that isn’t “deeply chaotic” or “gloomy” or “perpetual malaise.” Plus, they’re nice to look at with their braided trunks and vibrant, green leaves. The Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) is native to Central and South America. In its natural habitat it can grow up to 60 feet tall—but the ones you bring home are usually about 1 to 8 feet tall. “The Money Tree is actually multiple trees painstakingly braided together during growth,” Mast says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bloomscape (@bloomscape) on Sep 25, 2019 at 11:52am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js “Along with its status as a luck-magnet, money tree plants are incredibly easy to care for. They only require indirect light and infrequent watering, making it an easy plant for beginners,” says Mast. Money Trees like medium to bright indirect light and humidity. And never feed them after midnight. (Jk.) According to Mast, you also want to turn it every time you water it to make sure that it grows evenly. It also prefers “deep
A derm reveals how to tell the difference between regular shedding and hair loss
December 19, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0cqx5nN4DY] Hair sheds. It’s a normal, natural part of life that happens to everyone on a daily basis, and the reason why our bathrooms, hairbrushes, and black sweaters are so frequently covered in those pesky individual strands. But at what point does “regular shedding” turn into a hair loss problem worth being concerned about? In the latest episode of Dear Derm, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, reveals that most women lose roughly 100 hairs each day as a part of their normal shedding cycle. While you may not be counting the exact number of strands swimming in your shower drain, it’s worth paying attention to if you notice a sudden change in the volume of what’s in there. “You know when you’re losing more hair than usual,” she says. “Always remember that you know your body best, so if you feel like there’s something on, go see a board-certified dermatologist or your primary care doctor.” As anyone who’s ever gotten a crap haircut or bad dye job knows, hair is an important part of our identities. That’s why when it starts to fall out, it can be particularly jarring, especially when you don’t know what’s going on. There are six different things that could be causing hair loss—some physiological, others environmental—which Dr. Gohara lays out in the episode. But the most important thing, she says, is not to worry—there are ways to deal with them all. “I don’t want you to panic—I
The surprising Ayurvedic breathing technique that promises better digestion
December 19, 2019 at 08:00PM by CWC It’s probably not news to you that scarfing down your food while multitasking (finishing emails, driving, walking home from the gym…) isn’t exactly the greatest for your digestive tract. Slowing down and being mindful during mealtime is a staple of Ayurveda, the five-thousand-year-old Indian medicinal practice. But this type of mindfulness goes beyond resisting the urge to multitask—your breath plays a role, too. “Breathing techniques are central to Ayurveda and Ayurvedic physicians will use specific types of breathing exercises to help resolve certain health problems,” says Lisa Joy Mitchell, an Ayurvedic expert and the author of Sacred & Delicious. When it comes to preventing bloating and indigestion, one breathing technique that is used is right nostril dominance breathing. Never heard of it? Here, Mitchell along with Nick Bitz, ND, a licensed, board-certified naturopathic doctor and the chief scientific officer for Youtheory, explain how it works and how it can be used as your guide for optimal digestion. Understanding your nose, sun channel, and moon channel If the only time when you’ve given your nostrils any thought was when they were all plugged up from a cold, you’re probably not alone. But even when your nostrils are both free and clear, Dr. Bitz says that your airflow is rarely even; one nostril typically has dominance over the other at any given time. This is called the “nasal cycle”—your nostrils switch off over which one is doing the majority of breathing throughout the day. So
Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid isn’t a diet—and that’s why dietitians love it
December 19, 2019 at 07:30PM by CWC Sugar, chronic stress, and environmental toxins all contribute to inflammation—your immune system’s response to irritants in and outside of your body. Your internal systems use inflammation to protect you, but when the relationship gets thrown off balance, it can affect your overall health. That’s why registered dietitians Wendy Lopez, RD, and Jessica Jones, RD, hosts of the Food Heaven podcast, recommend one anti-inflammatory food list to their clients again and again. In a recent episode, Jones and Lopez, joined by guest Hadis Ghoghaie, RDN, referenced an anti-inflammatory food pyramid created by Andrew Weil, MD, founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. “It’s great because it’s not a diet. It’s not saying you have to eat this or not that. It’s really just different foods to add to your diet for more variety. It has a really large number of vegetables [in it], and I tell people: ‘Listen, if you can even add two vegetables or three a day, that’s great,’” said Ghoghaie. The pyramid doesn’t restrict your diet; instead, it suggests foods to add for their anti-inflammatory effects. “It is becoming increasingly clear that chronic inflammation is the root cause of many serious illnesses—including heart disease, many cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease,” writes Dr. Weil on his website. He offers an in-depth breakdown of how to create an entire diet that keeps inflammation protecting your body rather than harming it. But Ghoghaie, Lopez, and Jones agree:
Is it possible you’re with the right person even if you have doubts?
December 19, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC The saying “when you know, you know” is used to describe the theoretical realization one might have after finding the right person or “the one.” But in practice, that a ha moment may not come, and as a result, it’s hard to know—for sure—whether you’re in a happy, healthy, committed partnership. Because while you may well really like a person, and perhaps even love them, you may not feel certain that you’ll be able to get everything you need from them and your relationship in order to be happy. This situation begs the question: Is not being totally sure about your partner a red flag about your hypothetical future together? To get to the bottom of the conundrum (so you can stop mentally spinning), relationship experts weigh in on how to handle the notion of being currently happy and satisfied in your partnership, but not overcome with future-tense confidence. First, know that worrying about finding the right person is common “Think about the other decisions you’ve made in your life; did you feel 100 percent certain at all times that you were making the right decision?” says sex therapist Carly Haeck, LMFT. “Most likely, you probably questioned what you were doing; it’s human to question.” “Think about the other decisions you’ve made in your life; did you feel 100 percent certain at all times that you were making the right decision?” —Carly Haeck, LMFT The difference with relationships versus other decisions you may
‘No added sugar’ is the most misleading nutrition claim of all
December 19, 2019 at 05:52PM by CWC The long-awaited nutrition label change the Food and Drug Administration has been pushing for finally goes into effect at the start of the new year. One of the most notable updates is that for the first time all food and drink brands will be required to call out the added sugar in their products in addition to the total content. Sounds helpful, right? While being armed with as much knowledge as possible about what you’re putting in your body is a benefit, registered dietitian Brigitte Zeitlin, RD, feels strongly that it’s still way more important to pay attention to the total sugar than the added sugar. “Whether it’s eating healthier, reducing inflammation, alleviating digestive issues, clearing up your skin, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing inflammation, or lowering your risk of chronic illnesses, keeping an eye on total grams is what is going to get you to your goals,” she says. “No added sugar” is a confusing marketing term more than anything else, says Zeitlin. “Foods made from fruits, whole grains, and dairy can say they have no added sugar because they don’t. For example, a large bottle of orange juice—made from whole fruit—will still contain more sugar than you should consume in a day,” she says. “But because they write no added sugar on it, people are unknowingly sabotaging their goals but drinking the entire bottle.Your body can’t differentiate between sources of sugar. That’s why the total content matters so much. You should
The only thing my dry, rosacea-prone skin needs is a tub of this hydrating AF moisturizer
December 19, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC My mom and I have a pretty consistent Christmas tradition. She always calls me a few days after Thanksgiving, requesting that I send along my Christmas list so that “Mrs. Claus” knows what I want. I then reply that I don’t really want anything. She scoffs on the other end of the phone, then follows up with text messages ridden with Santa emojis and crying cat faces, begging for my list. Inevitably, I always cave and send her over a short list that always, always includes the Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer ($40). The truth is, this humble jar of pink Clinique moisturizer truly is the only thing I ever want for Christmas, every single year. I first bought it at a Sephora a few years ago during a particularly brutal winter, when my oily, rosacea-afflicted skin was drier than the jokes on Fleabag. After slathering a few tester moisturizers on the back of my hand, this one was the winner in terms of texture—it’s a gel that is super lightweight and blends into skin almost immediately without leaving behind a greasy residue. But don’t let the thin, light texture fool you: This baby is potent. (The name “moisture surge” isn’t for nothing.) It’s got the moisturizing trifecta of glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe, so it’s deeply hydrating yet gentle… which is good for my sensitive AF skin. And it’s spiked with green tea and birch extracts, both of which are anti-inflammatory, which takes
“Rocker sneakers” are built to help you move faster and go farther than ever
December 19, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC For years, it’s seemed like running shoes were getting smaller. It was all about minimalism—the fewer bells and whistles (and weight) on the shoe, the better. But the running sneakers you’ll be seeing everywhere are going in a totally different direction, adding foam to the mid-sole to create a U-shaped curve (versus a flat one) that aims to help your stride get faster and make miles feel easier than ever. Meet: The rocker shoe. HOKA, which was one of the first to bring the technology to market, uses a cambered midsole in their shoes “to help propel a runner or walker forward by enabling them to roll easily from impact to toe-off,” says Gretchen Weimer, global VP of product at Hoka One One. “It’s designed to create a smooth ride and provide the feeling that the shoe is working with, rather than against, one’s natural gait cycle.” ASICS released their Glide Ride shoe in late 2019, which features an ergonomic curved sole. Testing conducted by the brand found that the shoes reduce total energy loss at the ankle joint, which is where runners expend the most energy, and reduce weight in the foot while maintaining stability. The increased cushioning at the sole provides more comfort during long runs, and the shoe offers a shock-absorbant landing zone to lessen the fatigue in your leg muscles. Nike has also introduced similar technology into their latest line of runners. The Vapor Fly 4% Flyknit and soon-to-be-released