October 18, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC When you think of physical exfoliants, your mind probably goes to the ones you can clearly see in your scrubs, like sugar and salt. Sure, they do a great job buffing away dead skin, but when it comes to getting silky-smooth skin the safe way, experts say smaller grains are a much better choice. Plus, they’re just as effective if not more so. While larger, more coarse grains are great for pedicure soaks or scrubs where you’re dealing with hardened layers of skin on your feet, they’re too harsh to use on the rest of your body, says Sheel Desai Solomon, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in North Carolina. In fact, they can even cause damage to your skin. “When it comes to the body, especially the face, finer grains cause the least amount of irritation to the skin while efficiently exfoliating. They’re less harsh on the skin while helping polish the epidermis and clear the dead skin and dirt at the top,” she says. “Coarse, large, or irregularly-shaped grains, on the other hand, can cause microtears in the epidermis. Over time, these minuscule cracks in the skin will affect the protective barrier found in the epidermis.” Those tiny cracks won’t just leave you with chronic inflammation and dry or flaky patches. They can also open your skin up—literally!—to other problems as well. “Our skin is designed to provide a protective barrier for us from the outside environment,” says Caren Campbell, MD, FAAD, a
Category: Your Regeneration
This no-rinse anti-pollution cleanser made me break up with my micellar water
October 18, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC Even though I’m a stalwart for the double cleanse, I still like to swipe something over my skin afterwards (yes—that’s a third swipe we’re talking) to make sure there’s absolutely zero trace of the day left. I’ll usually rotate between my dependable acid toner (#P50forlife) or micellar water, but now all I want to use is my Odacite Blue Aura Cleansing Water ($39). Not only is it appealing because of its Miami Beach ocean-blue color, but this cleansing water is truly a no-rinse face wash (… unlike a lot of micellar waters, which dermatologists actually say should be removed afterwards. It’s a concoction of skin-boosting ingredients that swirl together to remove your makeup, pollution, and any other debris while leaving your skin really fresh and soft. Photo: Odacite The base ingredient is aloe vera (not water!), which gives you the most gentle foundation, and then there are the Ayurvedic herbs like turmeric, neem and holy basil that work detoxifying magic on your skin. This trifecta, along with the cleansing water’s gently exfoliating salicylic acid, are especially helpful for breakouts and blackheads. To top it all of, it even has micelles in it… so that takes care of your makeup removing efforts. I haven’t even told you about the smell yet. The scent of this potion is an intoxicating, earthy fragrance mixed with, well, just the scent of clean. It even kind of smells blue, if you know what I mean. It’s divine, and once I am done
How to color-match your lipstick to find your perfect neutral shade
October 17, 2019 at 11:15PM by CWC When I hear “color matching,” I think of finding the just-right foundation shade, looking for shirts that match my ugly nail colors, and wearing shoes that correspond to the hues on the rest of my outfit (just me?). Then, as I gazed upon the hundreds of lipstick hues one day while browsing beauty shelves, I thought: Shouldn’t we color match our lipstick, too? Color matching your foundation involves choosing the shade that matches your skin undertones, which, of course, makes your formula blend as seamlessly as possible with your complexion. With lipstick, it’s the same idea: You pick colors that match your undertones and lip color. “It’s important to color match your lipstick so the color flatters your skin tone and brings out your best features,” says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman. “If your lipstick is the wrong match, it can make skin look sallow and detract from your eye color.” This is actually why Clinique just launched their Even Better Pop Lip Color Foundation ($20), which is a line of 28 shades of lipstick, from which you can find your perfect neutral. The brand uses “shade-match science,” which guides you through your foundation color match (there are 56 foundation shades), then uses an algorithm to get you the best lip options to go along with it. The whole idea’s particularly helpful when looking for a more neutral lipstick, which is probably the hardest one to find. “Neutral shades can be very tricky,
These earrings on Amazon cost under $20 and can be on your doorstep tomorrow
October 17, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC Getting dressed when it’s cold outside is about as much fun as waiting for your number to be called at the DMV or getting your vagina waxed. As in, it’s literally zero fun. Like, at all. The grossness of the weather doesn’t exactly offer much as far as outfit inspiration goes, and if you’re anything like me, you wind up throwing on some iteration of the same sweater-jeans-boots or black skirt-sweater-tights combo every single day until March. But in my years of cold weather uniform dressing (… the most creative I get is swapping my blue jeans for black ones, but that’s only on fancy occasions), I’ve learned a handy little trick that helps me avoid my coworkers constantly asking me, “um, didn’t your wear that yesterday?” Which is: I dress up every outfit with a pair of earrings. It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised how much a simple set of statement earrings can take a boring all-black outfit and make it seem totally different. Going for a bohemian vibe? Try something with tassels. Want something a bit more elevated? Dress up your look with some sort of bling-y element. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a good, old-fashioned, gold or silver situation. Earrings are the easiest way to add some color or flare to literally any look, and thanks to Amazon you can have an entire earring wardrobe in less than 24 hours for under $20 a pop. Check out
The ‘dragon flag’ is a martial arts-inspired ab exercise that sets your core on fire
October 17, 2019 at 09:30PM by CWC World-famous martial artist Bruce Lee was known for many things, including his signature abdominal strength-training move known as the dragon flag—the ultimate test of core strength. And considering it involves essentially turning your body into a human flag on a flag pole, I’d have to say it probably works pretty well. If you can do perform the dragon flag, you’re probably at a good place with your core work and able move on to even harder bodyweight exercises, like one-arm pushups and front levers. And if you can’t quite do it just yet, we’ve got the break down. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ28-rSbiP8] Here’s exactly how to do a dragon flag To get the base level of core and lower back strength required to do a dragon flag, start with these progressions recommended by THENX Elite Calisthenics. Then, you’ll eventually move into the full dragon flag. Progressions: dragon flag flutter kick single-leg dragon flag raises dragon flag switching legs dragon flag negatives dragon flag hip raises How to do a dragon flag: Lie on your back with your arms overhead holding onto something stable, like a pole. Lift your legs up into the air with your feet, legs, and torso sturdy and in a straight line. Only your upper back should be on the floor with all your weight in your shoulders and upper back. Keeping that straight line, slowly lower your body back down until it’s hovering parallel to the ground. Remain controlled in order
A functional medicine doctor’s favorite snacks for all-day energy
October 17, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC It makes me feel a little better knowing the dreaded afternoon slump affects everyone. Even functional medicine doctor, Mark Hyman, MD, whose new book: Food: What the heck should I cook? arrives next week, need a few midday snacks for energy at work. Yesterday, Dr. Hyman hosted an Ask Me Anything in Well+Good’s private Facebook group, Cook With Us. Several members wanted to know what his go-to snacks were—especially when he needed an energy boost. Dr. Hyman was quick with his hit list of healthy snacks, and I have to say, they sound pretty darn good. “Snacks are important. I always keep snacks on me to avoid a food emergency, especially when I’m traveling,” Dr. Hyman told the group. “Some of my favorites are grass-fed jerky, dark chocolate, berries, make-your-own trail mix, guacamole and cut veggies, and Mary’s Gone crackers.” Yep, even Dr. Hyman has chocolate in his snack drawer. (The key is to go dark.) If you have a little more time to whip up a snack, Dr. Hyman offers up a two-ingredient favorite: sweet potato and coconut yogurt. Because of the carb-protein balance, it works to keep blood sugar levels balanced throughout the rest of the day. It’s time to give your snack stash a doctor-approved makeover. And considering jerky and chocolate make the cut, it will be a healthy bounty you’ll actually want to dig into. We’ve got even more tips on eating for energy from a registered dietitian: [youtube
Here’s what happens to your mouth when you don’t change your toothbrush
October 17, 2019 at 08:30PM by CWC Serious question: When’s the last time you got a new toothbrush? If you’re not quite sure how often you should change your toothbrush, you’re not alone: Past data shows 42 percent of people don’t change their toothbrush as often as they’re supposed to. It might not seem like a huge deal—it looks fine, so it must be fine!—but experts say it could set you up for some unpleasant problems with your mouth. According to Inna Chern, DDS, a New York City-based dentist, your toothbrush should be changed every 3 to 4 months in order to avoid bristle breakdown, enamel damage, and bacterial overgrowth. One of the most common issues that can result from using an old toothbrush is some seriously bad breath. “When you don’t change your brush in the recommended amount of time, the bristles can become frayed. Frayed bristles are less effective in removing plaque and food debris around the teeth,” Dr. Chern says. “Less effective plaque removal can lead to excess bacteria in the mouth, which causes bad breath.” Another issue that can occur when you don’t brush your teeth often enough is even more serious. “A frayed toothbrush also harbors more bacteria, which can get redeposited in the mouth causing reinfection and increased gingivitis,” she says. “I also recommend changing your brush after a recent illness—like a cold, flu, or bacterial infection—to avoid reinfection and infecting a neighboring toothbrush owner.” Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to make sure you
“It’s not my race, it’s her race:” What it’s like to guide a visually impaired runner for the New York City Marathon
October 17, 2019 at 08:21PM by CWC Imagine spending the better part of the calendar year training for a marathon. Early mornings, or possibly late nights, logging double-digit miles, feeling so depleted from long runs and speed workouts that all you want to do is nap and eat. Perhaps you battle adverse weather conditions, dodge potholes and are working tirelessly on your rhythm of consuming nutrition as you run. Now, imagine you are adhering to this rigorous training block and are blind, have severely limited vision, or a disability that prevents you from being able to run solo. Picture not being able to see the ground, nor have peripheral vision, nor make out any object further than 50 feet in front of you. My friend Melissa is a visually impaired athlete who cannot see contrast on the road so with my help, as her guide, it is my duty to make sure she runs safely and crosses the finish line without injury or obstacle. The first weekend in November, she is set to run her fourth New York City Marathon, and I will be right by her side for the experience—cueing her for all 26.2 miles. Melissa and I met four years ago at an Achilles—an organization that pairs able-bodied athletes with disabled athletes to act as guides through races—practice on a chilly Saturday morning in Central Park and clicked immediately. We bonded over our shared love of fashion, running, and food—and we started running together from that day on.
Meet the registered dietitians who are serving up mindful savings advice
October 17, 2019 at 07:33PM by CWC Together with Citi, we’re finding out how inspiring entrepreneurs saved to make their dreams reality. Learn how to save money from Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones—registered dietitians, diabetes educators, and co-founders of Food Heaven—below, and get more info on how to be smarter with your savings here. If you’ve ever listened to Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones’ podcast Food Heaven, then you know that the registered dietitians and BFFs are all about keeping it real—nutrition style. From demystifying intuitive eating to talking about diversity within the professional nutrition space, they cover how food affects us and society at large. “I want Food Heaven to be the go-to nutrition resource for all people, especially for those who don’t see themselves represented within the wellness industry,” says Lopez. The two are on a mission toward making the world a healthier place, not only through their wellness podcast, blog, and social-media footprint, but also through their financial real talk. Lopez’s original career was in counseling, and Jones was initially a journalist. While both had a passion for helping others, neither career was the right fit and it took some strategic savings plans to work toward their goal in nutrition. “I decided that I wanted to be in a career that was directly helping people live healthier lives,” explains Jones. “I liked the idea of nutrition because it could merge my nerdy science brain with my passion for helping people. I was really drawn to the idea that you
Shop once, eat five times with this delicious, plant-based dinner menu
October 17, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Plant-based eating has never been a bigger deal—but given that animal products are totally off the table, food options can feel kind of limited to newbies. There’s only so many times a person can eat lentils and broccoli, amirite? That’s where meal planning, combined with a little creativity, comes in handy. “Meal planning is a great tool when you’re trying to maintain your health and wellness goals. It allows you to have a plan when it comes to what’s for dinner and helps to save time, money and calories throughout the week,” says Maggie Michalczyk, MS, RD. “I think it’s also a great opportunity to flex your cooking muscles and try incorporating foods you didn’t think you liked in fun ways.” That’s true even for plant-based food—pinky promise. If you’re feeling stuck with your vegan meal plan game, Michalczyk has a week’s worth of delicious dinners that should inspire you to think outside the box a bit. The best part? You only have to go to the grocery store once to nab everything you need. What you should buy: 1 head of cauliflower 1 bag of shredded carrots or large carrots 1 bag snow peas 1 head of lettuce 1 spaghetti squash 1 sweet potato 1 zucchini 1 ear of corn or frozen corn 1 butternut squash 1 bunch of kale Dried or fresh bay leaf 4 red, orange, or yellow bell peppers 1 red onion 1 bunch green onion 1 bunch cilantro 2