October 25, 2019 at 06:00PM by CWC It happens when I’m stressed, under a deadline, or right as the plot twists in a movie. Sometimes it happens when I’m nervous, or annoyed, or even when I’m bored. Whatever the case may be, when tense times strike, you can find me biting my cuticles. Often. “Biting your cuticles can cause damage to the nail, create more hangnails, jagged edges, and even cause infection,” says Sarah Gibson Tuttle, founder and CEO of Olive & June. According to her, this creates an unhealthy condition, which is not optimal for nail growth. When nails are dried out, we have a tendency to pick at them more, so maintaining well-moisturized fingertips can be helpful. “The more hydrated the cuticle, the less tempted you’ll be to pick or bite,” says Tuttle. Yet—I have always found moisturizing my cuticles to be annoying. A lot of the times cuticle moisturizers come in oil form, and leave your fingers sticky and damp for awhile after you apply them (not to mention they leave their mark—just look at my keyboard, which is fully stained from oily-fingertips). This was all until I found the Olive and June Cuticle Serum ($16), which helped to halt my cuticle biting compulsion. Photo: Olive & June Instead of a sticky oil that I haphazardly drop onto my nails, this one’s applied with a fuzzy ball tip that’s infused with moisturizing ingredients, including cactus flower. It feels like you’re giving your nail beds a kiss from
Category: Your Regeneration
Pro tip: AMRAP workouts push you to go even harder
October 25, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC The first time a fitness trainer told the class we were doing AMRAPs, I went into panic mode. If you’re not familiar, AMRAP stands for “as many reps as possible,” which means you’re about to kick your body into high gear and work. This puts you in charge of how much time you get to recover, because the faster you get done with the exercise sequence, the more time you have left to breathe… before you start all over again. It’s definitely intense, which is why you’ll find AMRAP in so many HIIT workouts like Crossfit or Barry’s Bootcamp, but it’s a really effective way to push yourself to work harder. “AMRAP is a popular training method that results in muscle fatigue, or near failure,” says Kate Lemere, an instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp. “You’ll do as many reps or sets as you can in a given period, and they’re a fantastic way to progress any given drill by introducing both elements of intensity and frequency, thus recruiting all available motor units within your primary muscle driver.” So when you’re working with AMRAP in a workout, time is your variable—so it “will push you to your limit and create an incredible burn and pump that you can feel,” says Lemere. The AMRAP that I did the other day, for instance, involved cycling through seven reps of three different arm exercises within a minute, which repeated for about five minutes… so my speed determined my recovery.
This drugstore concealer is the best thing to happen to my under-eyes since Tarte Shape Tape
October 25, 2019 at 03:40PM by CWC Up until this morning, I hadn’t touched a tube of concealer since middle school. Not because I haven’t had my share of blemishes and skin woes (oh, believe me, I have), but because using the stuff always leaves me looking like an over-iced cake. That is, until I got my hands on a bottle of L’Oréal Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer ($13). I fully intend to use the product to dab, dab, dab my under-eye circles away for my remaining year on planet Earth. Found in the beauty aisle of any drugstore, the concealer comes in 25 shades, ranging from “porcelain” (it me) to “espresso.” After making an emergency trip to Walgreen’s for what Well+Good’s beauty director calls “the Holy Grail of Concealer,” I carefully read the instructions to recall how to apply the beauty staple. A little bit “goes a long way,” and I took this to heart. I dabbed a small amount on my ring finger and began the application to my face. The formula’s smooth texture means it goes on without creasing and seamlessly blends away the blue and purple shades of sleep under-eyes. Clearly on a roll here, I went ahead and concealed the acne scarring my BB cream never quite hides as well as a very much alive pimple on my left cheek. I emerged from the bathroom with skin that looks ready for the day (not ready to crawl into bed). The best thing of all? The
Crystal shapes matter—here’s what they mean and how to amplify their power
October 25, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Not only do crystals come in all sorts of colors (amethyst, rose, aquamarine) and serve different intended purposes (improved sleep, added protection, attracting abundance), but they’re also found in many different shape formations. Just like the colors of the crystals convey unique meanings (since they often signify what type of stone, exactly, it is), crystal shapes also matter. Experts say the structure of a crystal doesn’t change the type of energy it emits, but the shape does affect the way you receive said energy. “Crystal shapes can help to amplify your intention and your experience with them,” says Heather Askinosie, crystal expert, co-founder of Energy Muse, and author of CRYSTAL365. “Choosing a crystal shape that pairs well with your intention will enhance and magnify your transformation.” Below, a few experts weigh in to help demystify the different crystal shapes, what they mean, and how to use them. It’s great intel to note next time you find yourself roaming the shelves of a metaphysical shop in search of a new crystal or simply perusing your own crystal collection. Learn what 7 common crystal shapes mean—and how to best use them. 1. Cubes If you need some grounding vibes in your life (don’t we all?), a cube-shaped crystal might be the perfect gemstone companion for you. Askinosie says meditating with cubic crystals in your hands can help you connect to the energy of the Earth. You can also place them in each corner of a room to
Checks+Balanced: How going from a high-paying job to start-up life *really* changes a budget
October 25, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC Even in a world where questions about menstrual cups and the ins and outs of sex are completely (and blessedly) normal, somehow the ever-ubiquitous use of money remains a touchy subject for many. People want to live their healthiest life ever, but—#realtalk—it can add up. Have you ever wondered how your colleague who makes less than you do (or so you think) can afford to buy a $5 matcha and a $12 chopped salad every day? Or how your friend’s budget allows her to hit up $34 fitness classes three times a week? It’s enough to make anyone want to ask, “Ummm, excuse me. How do you afford that?!?” That’s where Well+Good’s monthly series Checks+Balanced comes in. By lifting the thick, tightly drawn curtain to expose how much women of varying income brackets spend on wellness, we’re spreading transparency and hopefully providing some inspo that’s possible to copy. Because no matter how much you make, it’s possible to cultivate healthy habits that work within your budget. This month, Elizabeth Giannuzzi, a 29-year-old living in San Francisco, reveals how her spending habits changed after leaving a high-paying job in finance to launch her food startup, Siren Snacks. With wellness being a major priority for Giannuzzi, being able to afford the start-up costs meant deciding what she could sacrifice—and what she would find a way to pay for, no matter what. (Spoiler alert: She’s been dishing out for way fewer spin classes.) Keep reading to see how her budget looks now. Here, a 29-year-old entrepreneur
Take your Sweetgreen salad order to the next level with these dietitian-approved picks
October 25, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC Trendy salad eatery Sweetgreen is a fast-casual haven for healthy eaters. Whatever location across the country you frequent, when you walk through the door, you’re immediately hit with a faint whiff of kale—and the sight of an out-the-door line if you go during peak hours. Maybe you’ve come to Sweetgreen because you’re an OAHE, aka an Over Achieving Healthy Eater. For you, it’s not enough to order a bowl full of greens; you want your compostable salad bowl to be filled with the most nutrient dense ingredients ever. (Hey, you’re shelling out $15 for this, you might as well get your money’s worth.) Because OAHEs often subscribe to a specific meal plan, I enlisted registered dietitian Karen Collins, RD, for advice on the healthiest salads to order for ketogenic, vegan, and Mediterranean diet eaters. Here, she shares her recs on what to get, whether you want to go with something on the menu as-is, or you want to build your own bowl. Keep reading to see her tips and get ready to walk out the door with the healthiest lunch ever. Ketogenic diet Menu picks: Guacamole greens; kale Caesar What an RD says: According to Collins, both the kale Caesar (a classic salad order if there ever was one) and the guacamole greens are great keto wins because they’re low carb, yet high in fiber and protein. The avocado in the guac greens adds healthy fats, and you can add one to the kale Caesar
Plant-based eaters can’t seem to agree on their stance on honey—so the Well+Good vegans weighed in
October 25, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC If you need proof that veggie-forward eating is on the rise, you don’t have to look very far—a quick Google search for “plant-based diet” will return hundreds of millions (!) of results. People tout the eating plan for being good for your health and the environment, but the “rules” about being a plant-based eater are a little murky (hence all those search results). Is plant-based the same as vegetarian? Or vegan? How much meat can you eat? And what about desserts? Among that litany of questions is one that has been dividing plant-based eaters since long before the diet was trending: honey or no honey? The official vegan stance is that honey is a no-go since it’s an animal product, but some vegans and other plant lovers are down with the sweet stuff. So which side is right? While we weren’t able to settle the debate (sorry), we did ask the vegans in the Well+Good office for their takes on a plant-based alternative. Pyure Organic Harmless Hunny is organic, sugar-free, high-fiber, and satisfies the craving for honey without involving bees since it’s made from plants. Because sometimes you’re just in the mood for something sweet—without a side of debate. Keep reading for these two plant-based Well+Good staffers’ perspective on vegan honey. Photo: Pyure Amanda Copping, account manager Copping was diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance three years ago, which is when she switched to a plant-based diet. “Since PCOS is a hormone disorder,
3 redness-provoking products that aren’t doing your sensitive skin any favors
October 25, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC I have the skin of a middle-aged Irishman who drinks beer for breakfast, which is to say it is very, very red. Whenever I see a facialist, they tell me my skin is “exceptionally sensitive” in a foreboding tone that makes me scared to look into the mirror after they’ve done their work. (Google “Santa Claus” for an approximation of the reflection with which I’m met, or “Home Alone” for my typical reaction to it.) So I’ve finally set out to identify the cause of facial redness. I’m rather careless with the products I pile onto my skin, which is definitely not doing it any favors, says New York-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. Irritation from skincare products makes blood vessels dilate as blood rushes to the surface, causing redness. With so many cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and masks crowding my cabinets, though, it’s difficult to discern which are exacerbating my crimson glow and which are harmless (or even calming). So I asked the experts what to expel from my arsenal ASAP in order to keep my “cheery” complexion at bay. Common skincare products that might be the cause of facial redness 1. Harsh cleansers Merrady Wickes, a makeup artist and beauty director for The Detox Market, tells me that harsh cleansers which strip away the skin’s moisture barrier are often low-key culprits for redness. (Counterintuitively, soothing oil cleansers may fall into this category.) Rubbing your face with cleansing wipes can also irritate the skin,
This simple trick totally transformed my fear of public speaking
October 25, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Confession: Like most people—a full 90 percent, according to Forbes—I do not find public speaking fun. Like, at all. As a reporter, I can interview people one-on-one with no jitters at all. But as soon as I’m asked to speak to a room full of people, I start sweating. (Like, a lot.) I’ve been dealing with this most of my professional life, which is definitely an issue, since speaking in front of people is a relatively regular part of my job. So when my boss asked me to host an event last month, I attempted to deal with my impending fear by reaching for an advanced copy of a book I was recently sent: You Got This by Caroline Foran. (Out in April 2020.) The intel that changed everything Like me, Foran is terrified of public speaking, and her book is a scientific investigation of how the brain processes fear—especially when it comes to things that aren’t genuinely life-threatening, such as asking someone on a date or going on a job interview. Her book gives tips on how to work with fear and anxiety so it doesn’t hold you back. As I dug into the book in the days leading up to the big event, a seemingly simplistic piece of advice really jumped out at me. Foran writes that the brain doesn’t know the difference between physical threats and emotional threats (being confronted by a tiger and public speaking, for example). To address
Real talk: A dermatologist says applying collagen to your skin doesn’t do anything
October 24, 2019 at 11:30PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtAmkXSCQTI] Welcome to ‘Dear Derm,’ our new beauty series in which dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD shares serious skin-care realness. In each episode, she’ll answer your most burning beauty questions and give you all the tools you need to take your glow game to the next level. Collagen is a fibrous protein that basically holds our bodies together via our bones, connective tissues, and our skin—which is why zillions of products exist to boost it. But, even though it’s well studied, there are so many myths surrounding it. This is why Mona Gohara, MD, board-certified dermatologist, is talking all about collagen in the latest episode of Well+Good’s video series Dear Derm. The biggest myth-bust of ’em all? Slathering collagen on your skin topically isn’t going to do anything for you. Seriously. The molecules are too large to actually penetrate your epidermis. Shook? Don’t worry—there are plenty of other ways to boost your collagen. In your skin-care regimen, it’s all about using ingredients to stimulate collagen, rather than applying the ingredient itself. Dr. Gohara reveals the best three ingredients that do this all-important task to keep our skin healthy and thriving (click the vid above, we share all—promise!). As for those other myths I was mentioning? Dr. Gohara has some thoughts on ingestibles (like collagen powders, gummies, and supplements). And she also doles out the truth about whether your body’s collagen production stops as you age (Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.) Really though, Dr. Gohara’s main point is that collagen is